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AZ Sheriff: Border Patrol Abandoning Parts Of Border
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Happy Birthday/Daily Gam Shot

Julie Newmar aka Catwoman in "Batman" (TV) aka Stupefyin' Jones in "Li'l Abner" (age 77)


Women Who are About to Bathe


08/15 Happy Birthday/Daily Gam Shot

Barbara Bouchet aka Miss Moneypenny in "Casino Royale" aka Ava Vestok in "Agent for H.A.R.M." (age 67)


Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 08/16/2010 1:21 Comments || Top||

#2  Catwoman? About to bathe? That ought to be interesting.



Well, OK, maybe nine reasons ....
Posted by: gorb || 08/16/2010 4:05 Comments || Top||

#3  Barbara Bouchet aka Miss Moneypenny

Yow. Miss Moneypenny? More likely to get by the censors than some of the other names in the James Bond movies--although censors didn't seem to care much.

Serena Scott, Dr. Molly Warmflash (Casino Royale)
Maud Adams, Octopussy (Octopussy)
Lois Chiles, Dr. Holly Goodhead
Lana Wood, Plenty O’Toole
Honor Blackmon, Pussy Galore
Margaret Nolan, Dink
Posted by: JohnQC || 08/16/2010 10:03 Comments || Top||

#4  Don't forget:

Ursula Andress as Honey Rider (Dr. No)
Eunice Gayson as Sylvia Trench (Dr. No)
Mie Hama as Kissy Suzuki(You Only Live Twice)
Jill St. John as Tiffany Case(Diamonds Are Forever)
Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight (The Man With The Golden Gun)
Cassandra Harris as Countess Lisl von Schlaf (For Your Eyes Only)
Lynn-Holly Johnson as Bibi Dahl (For Your Eyes Only)
Michaela Clavell as Penelope Smallbone (Octopussy)
Virginia Hey as Rubavitch (The Living Daylights)
Denise Richards as Dr. Christmas Jones (The World Is Not Enough)

Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 08/16/2010 10:32 Comments || Top||

#5  P.S.
Talisa Soto as Lupe Lamora (Licence To Kill)
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 08/16/2010 10:35 Comments || Top||

#6  That name yielded one of the best Bond one-liners...


Plenty O'Toole: Hi, I'm Plenty.
James Bond: But of course you are.
Plenty O'Toole: Plenty O'Toole.
James Bond: Named after your father perhaps?
Posted by: No I am The Other Beldar || 08/16/2010 11:23 Comments || Top||

#7  Thank you very much GolfBravo for the retrospective on the Bond girls. Haunting background music, Kim Carnes singing "Bette Davis Eyes."
Posted by: JohnQC || 08/16/2010 13:34 Comments || Top||

#8  James Bond: What would it take for you to see things my way?
Pussy Galore: A lot more than you've got.
James Bond: How do you know?
Pussy Galore: I don't want to know.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 08/16/2010 13:59 Comments || Top||

#9  Bond: I tend to notice little things like that--whether a girl is a blonde or a brunette...
Tiffany: And which do you prefer?
Bond: Well, as long as the collars and cuffs match...
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 08/16/2010 14:13 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
7 Special Forces soldiers to get Silver Star for Afghan valor
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 08/16/2010 13:29 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It seems that many of these deeds would qualify for the MOH in previous wars. These men are indeed brave men.
Posted by: JohnQC || 08/16/2010 14:12 Comments || Top||

#2  cookie setting
Posted by: Water Modem || 08/16/2010 20:25 Comments || Top||


Abu Baqir Got Drone-Zapped
Roggio gives his usual detail on this event that took place on August 13th.
A Coalition air weapons team killed an al Qaeda commander who also served as a Taliban leader in the volatile northern Afghan province of Kunduz.

Abu Baqir, who was described as "a dual-hatted Taliban sub-commander and al Qaeda group leader," was killed along with another Taliban operative after he and other members of his cell attacked the police station in the district of Alibad. Two other Taliban fighters were wounded in the airstrike, and were captured at a hospital while receiving treatment for their wounds.
One hopes they are willing and able to give lots of useful information to their 'interviewers' before succumbing to sepsis.


This article starring:
Abu Baqir
Posted by: Glenmore || 08/16/2010 13:23 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Airstrike on Captured Tankers
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 08/16/2010 10:48 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The seems to be a lot of deliberation involved before finally pulling the trigger. 140+ dead, 40 of which were civilians? How is that determined - Taliban don't wear uniforms. Could be all talibs, or all civilians - they're not mutaually exclusive.
Lastly - you live in a bandit culture, you should expect to be treated as a bandit.
Posted by: Rob06 || 08/16/2010 12:20 Comments || Top||

#2  The tankers were stuck in a riverbed - not in the middle of a village, on a road, or in a city.

I doubt those were 'civilians' - at least not until after they were dead (and disarmed).

Of course that doesn't fit the 'narrative' does it?
Posted by: CrazyFool || 08/16/2010 12:33 Comments || Top||

#3  I seem to recall this was some time ago, and commentary was that a number of local villagers etc. came with containers to collect fuel from the stuck trucks, by invitation of the Taliban.
Posted by: Glenmore || 08/16/2010 12:48 Comments || Top||

#4  Thou shalt not steal not in the Koran I guess.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 08/16/2010 13:01 Comments || Top||

#5  When the dancin's done, you STILL have to pay the piper. Sometime the payment's a bit steep. The moral here is that if you steal from Uncle Sam, you just might have to pay a very hefty price for doing so. I'm just sh$$ out of sympathy for the idjits in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 08/16/2010 14:11 Comments || Top||

#6  At least they didn't cut off their noses and ears and then leave them to die and then blow up the tankers.
Posted by: miscellaneous || 08/16/2010 20:11 Comments || Top||


20 Haqqani Group Militants Killed in S Afghanistan
[Tolo News] At least 20 insurgents have been killed in joint operations conducted by Afghan and coalition forces in the southern Paktia province in the past 5 days

Among the killed insurgents who belong to Haqqani terrorist network, there are Chechen, Pakistani and Arab rebels as well, a NATO Press Release said.

The operations were conducted in mountainous areas bordered by the southern provinces of Paktia and Khost.

Most of the insurgents are reportedly killed in NATO air strikes.

NATO forces have surrounded hundreds of militants of the Haqqani network in the province's Zadran district, where militants conducted attacks on Kabul-Gardiz highway, the Press Release adds.

In the operations that had started on Wednesday, scores of the Haqqani network militants were arrested along with heavy and small arms.

Afghan and NATO forces have escalated their counter-insurgency attacks in Afghanistan's volatile regions, in an effort to wipe out Taliban militants in these areas.

Taliban insurgents have suffered the most casualties in these operations.
Posted by: Fred || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What bothers me is that the Chechen think that Afghanistan is an easier gig than Chechnya itself. We should definitely keep working to change that calculation. Keep the good work up Afghan and coalition forces.
Posted by: Mike Ramsey || 08/16/2010 8:40 Comments || Top||

#2  Sad too say the Chechens know that it is probably easier too fight in Afghan that Chechnya. Who would you rather face Us soldiers who are being held back by rediculous ROE or pissed off Russian soldiers who don't give a flying shit about ROE and if they did their government is not gonna prosecute them for the slightest infraction and be merry while doing it.
Posted by: chris || 08/16/2010 9:23 Comments || Top||


Afghan police seize explosives at Pakistan border
[Dawn] Afghan police said Sunday they had seized 17 tonnes of explosives hidden in paint and pickle tins at a customs office on the southern border with Pakistan.
Helluva bill of lading
Were they kosher dills?
The explosives had been trucked from the Pakistani city of Quetta to Afghanistan's Spin Boldak and were brought to the official customs point for tax payment, police chief General Shafique Afzali told AFP.

Two people were arrested but Afzali said it was unclear if the pair were merely transporting the goods or were involved in militant activities.
A distinction without a difference?
"Further investigations will determine if the two arrested are involved or not," he said.
Invoice read: Deliver to Amaso Nib Nedal on Jihad street, in the back, come at midnight, and no smoking!

Nope, couldn't be involved!

The explosives are believed to have been destined to make crude roadside and suicide bombs — the weapon of choice for Taliban insurgents fighting Afghan and US-led NATO troops.
Not for painting murals and providing pickle snacks for painters?
Afghanistan shares a long porous border with Pakistan and relies heavily on imports of goods from its neighbour, including food products. Torkham and Spin Boldak are the two main entry points from Pakistan into Afghanistan.

Kabul has long accused elements in Pakistan of secretly sponsoring the Taliban in Afghanistan, providing them with training, weapons and explosives, an accuation always met with angry rebuttals.
Posted by: Fred || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  Kabul has long accused elements in Pakistan of secretly sponsoring the Taliban in Afghanistan, providing them with training, weapons and explosives, an accusation always met with angry rebuttals.

What, is the Pak's Inter-Services Intelligence upset that we keep minimizing all their hard work?
Posted by: Mike Ramsey || 08/16/2010 8:46 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Batna bomb kills ANP soldier
[Maghrebia] Two bomb blasts killed an Algerian soldier in Theniet Boussalah, Batna province, El Watan reported on Sunday (August 15th). Four civilians and another ANP troop were wounded in the attack, which occurred on the first day of Ramadan. The civilians were injured when their car hit a roadside bomb. The second bomb exploded when soldiers arrived at the scene.

In other news, Algerian security forces on Saturday launched a major operation in Skikda. The action followed the arrest of two men in Kerkera on charges of disseminating jihad and recruiting fighters among young people in the region.
Posted by: Fred || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa

#1  "Batna bomb"? Sounds like a rather harsh interpretation of the old negotiating concept of Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement
Posted by: lex || 08/16/2010 2:30 Comments || Top||


AQIM cells vie for control of Spanish hostages
[Maghrebia] Radical al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) cell leader Abdelhamid Abu Zeid "is doing everything possible to endanger the lives" of the two Spanish hostages held by another AQIM branch in the northern Mali desert, a Malian negotiator told AFP on Saturday (August 14th).

Algerian national Abu Zeid, who was responsible for beheading British hostage Edwin Dyer in 2009, is reportedly pressuring rival AQIM cell leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar (aka Lâaouar) not to release humanitarian aid workers Albert Vilalta and Roque Pascual. The men were kidnapped last November in Mauritania and are now in the hands of Belmokhtar's group.

In related news, Malian national Omar Sid'Ahmed Ould Hamma (aka Omar Sahraoui), whose 12-year forced labour sentence for kidnapping the Spaniards was upheld last week by a Nouakchott court, will be extradited to his home country, Journal Tahalil reported on Saturday.
Posted by: Fred || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


Arabia
Local Al-Qaeda leader surrenders in Yemen
[Dawn] A local Al-Qaeda leader in Yemen who sheltered foreign militants, including Saudis, has surrendered to authorities, a Yemeni security official said on Sunday.

Jamaan Safian was responsible for the organisation's activities in the Al-Jawf province, northeast of the capital Sanaa, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The source did not provide details on how the surrender was negotiated, or when it took place. Sufian's name does not appear on the Yemeni government list of most wanted Al-Qaeda militants.

In the past, Yemeni tribal leaders have negotiated agreements for the surrender of Al-Qaeda members.

The local branch of Osama bin Laden's organisation is especially active in Yemen's east.
This article starring:
Jamaan Safian
Posted by: Fred || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia

#1  "Local Al-Qaeda leader surrenders in Yemen"

"Escape scheduled for next Tuesday"
Posted by: American Delight || 08/16/2010 18:21 Comments || Top||


Bahrain arrests Shiite clerics on security fears
[Al Arabiya Latest] Bahraini security official says four leading Shiite activists have been arrested as the kingdom's Sunni leaders try to end violent confrontations between Shiite protesters and anti-riot police.

Three of the arrests were made on Sunday, while the fourth, Abduljalil al-Singace, a leading figure in the Shiite opposition association Haq, was detained late on Saturday, said the official from Bahrain's National Security, cited by the BNA state news agency.

Mohammed Habib Mansur al-Safaf, known as Sheikh Mohammed al-Moqdad, and Saeed Mirza Ahmed, known as Sheikh Saeed al-Huri, as well as Abdulghani Ali Issa Khanjar, a Shiite activist, were the others arrested.

The four men were taken into custody "over charges of forming with ... Singace and others, an organized network aiming to shake the security and stability of the country," he said, without specifying they were Shiites.

The unnamed official said the network had been involved in "illegal practices and other acts that would harm the stability of the kingdom of Bahrain and its civil peace, as well as endangering lives and properties."

The group was calling for "violence and terrorist acts" while using "places of worship for other than their designated purposes," he charged.

The official said the public prosecution issued a warrant to search Singace's home and belongings, while investigations were ongoing "to uncover the remaining members of the network."
Posted by: Fred || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


Caribbean-Latin America
Blast hits Mexicos Televisa TV station in Monterrey
The television journalists kidnapped last month were from Televisa Torreon, not Televisa Monterrey. The attack Saturday was more likely a response to Televisa covereage of the "narcobloques" early Saturday morning in Monterrey. I did not see any footage from that coverage, however, an unconfirmed story said one of Los Zetas top dawgs was killed Saturday morning. That may be what gangs are mad about.
[Iran Press TV Latest] Mexico's largest television broadcaster and the largest producer of Spanish language content in the world, Televisa,
Unknown assailants threw a grenade early Sunday in front of the station, which shattered some of the building's windows, but there were no reports of casualties.
has come under attack in the northern city of Monterrey.

Unknown assailants threw a grenade early Sunday in front of the station, which shattered some of the building's windows, but there were no reports of casualties.

Investigators say it was a warning for journalists to stay away from reporting on drug war violence, Reuters reported.

Alejandro Hernandez, a cameraman for Televisa as well as Javier Canales, another cameraman for Multimedios Television, were abducted last month by drug traffickers in the northern state of Durango. The journalists were kidnapped along with a Televisa reporter, Hector Gordoa, after they had covered a prison scandal.

Protests at the jail in Gomez Palacio erupted after state prosecutors accused officials of releasing inmates to carry out targeted killings.

Mexico is regarded by some press organizations as the most dangerous country in Latin America for journalists.

At least seven journalists have been killed in the country so far in 2010. Many more reporters have received threats from drug gangs.
Posted by: Fred || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


More Mexican Mayhem
27 Die in Chihuahua

The death toll in ongoing drug and gang related violence in northern Mexico extended to 27 Sunday, violence which included eight dead from two separate attacks on house parties.
  • Five unidentified individuals were shot to death in Juarez Sunday morning, say Mexican press accounts. The shooting took place at a birthday party held at a residence near the intersection of calles Lucha y Esfuerzo and Teófilo Borunda in the Infonavit Solidaridad district. Witnesses say several armed suspects burst into the home shooting a young man and his father and three other guests, then fled the scene.

  • Ten individuals were shot to death and two others were knifed in several separate crimes in Juarez, according to the Mexican daily La Polaka. Francisco Castillo Ramos was shot to death near the intersection of calles Las Torres and Reyes Estrada. In the Galeana district Salvador Mendoza Granados, 40, was shot to death using .40 caliber pistols. Adolfo Antunez, 33, and an unidentified man were both shot to death near the intersection of calles Zafra and Capulin de Heroes of the Revolution. Ruben Hernandez Mendez, 30, were killed near the intersection of calles Costa Brava and Costa Vasca in the Parajes de San José district. Gustavo Muñoz Castillo, 32, was killed in the Infonavit Solidaridad district.

  • Five individuals were shot to death and four others wounded in Juarez Sunday, say Mexican press reports. The attack took place at a rented residence near the intersection of calles Manzanilo and Angeles in the Industrial district when a lone armed suspect with an AK-47 assault rifle along with another unarmed man were invited into the residence during a house party and started shooting. Three of the dead and four of the wounded were women in their 20s.

  • A severed human head was found near railroad tracks in Chihuahua, Chihuahua Sunday, say Mexican press reports. The find was made on Avenida de las Industrias where a head was found inside an Oxxo branded foam cooler. A message was left inside but its contents was not revealed.

  • Two unidentified men were found shot to death and decaying in northern Chihuahua, Chihuahua, say Mexican press reports. The discovery was made on the Chihuahua-Juarez highway at Km. Maker 23. The victims were gagged and barefoot.

  • Four unidentified men were found shot to death in Juarez, say Mexican press accounts. The discovery was made on Camino Real a short distance from the Casa Grandes junction. Reports say the victims were previously kidnapped.

  • A Televisa facility in Monterrey was attacked with a hand grenade Saturday night in Monterrey, Nuevo leon, according to Mexican press reports. Damage from the attack was limited to a nearby office and to a Toyota pickup truck parked outside. No one was reported hurt. Witnesses say a group of armed suspects riding aboard a pickup truck drove by the facility near the intersection of calles Albino Espinosa and Jose Marroquin and threw the hand grenade.
Posted by: badanov || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


AZ Sheriff: Border Patrol Abandoning Parts Of Border
Sheriff Larry Dever of Cochise County, Ariz., one of four Arizona counties contiguous with the U.S-Mexico border, said Friday that the U.S. Border Patrol has pulled back from parts of the border in his and neighboring counties because manning those areas has become too dangerous.
They've been saying this for a while, but other reports say that the counties aren't necessarily more dangerous. I'd want more proof before I buy all this.
"And you frankly have Border Patrolmen--and I know this from talking to Border Patrol agents--who will not allow their agents to work on the border because it is too dangerous," Dever said in a videotaped interview. "Now what kind of message is that for crying out loud?"

Dever stressed that the Border Patrolmen are ready and willing to perform their mission of securing the border, but that Border Patrol managers had determined that in "some places" the danger was too great and they wanted to avoid the risk of an international incident such as a cross-border firefight.
Cochise County is home to Tombstone and Bisbee. It also hosts Fort Huachuca.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  because manning those areas has become too dangerous

Boggle.

The border must be manned. Especially those sections that contribute to problems here inside the US.

Do they plan on bringing in NG or something?

And why doesn't the BP have the tools at its disposal to take care of the problem? What is the BP for, anyway? Why not have the UN there instead if the BP is the BP in name only?
Posted by: gorb || 08/16/2010 0:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Do they plan on bringing in NG or something?

Yes, 1,200, but not until October, supposedly. Basically they're to be "entrance identification teams", i.e. lookouts.
Posted by: Pappy || 08/16/2010 0:33 Comments || Top||

#3  What Pappy said. The NG scam is the political class's favorite ruse: they come in, do nothing, leave after 6 months, move along now nothingtoseehere...
Posted by: lex || 08/16/2010 2:28 Comments || Top||

#4  Hey, They are killing Americans citizens on their own land, taking over border towns with helios and hummvees/high powered weapons, putting markers on our LEO's, and the government may fail near term.

Declare war and secure the damned border already.
And vote out every scum sucking democrat you can - I mean it.
Posted by: newc || 08/16/2010 6:08 Comments || Top||

#5  Hey, They are killing Americans citizens on their own land, taking over border towns with helios and hummvees/high powered weapons

What can be done?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 08/16/2010 8:39 Comments || Top||

#6  about 50 million mines should do the trick and don't give the maps of the fields too some shithead that is gonna leak them next week.
Posted by: chris || 08/16/2010 9:26 Comments || Top||

#7  For some reason the R. Lee Ermey Geico commercial quote comes to mind concerning BHO's treatment of the border problems:

"You know what makes me sad? YOU DO! Maybe we should just chug on over to Namby Pamby Land, where maybe we can find some self-confidence for you, ya jack wagon!"
Posted by: JohnQC || 08/16/2010 10:23 Comments || Top||

#8  Personally, I like the idea of hiring a small band of veterans who are capable with long range rifles, and you know what I mean and I think you do. Their ROE is "your discretion". They are professionals, "Them fellas know their business."

Make a deal with some of the ranchers that officially, these men will be trespassing, so they have no knowledge of them or their activities.

Since Border Patrol duties are apparently too challenging, they can now be called "Body Patrol", to clean up the mess left behind. I'm sure their managers will approve.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 08/16/2010 11:09 Comments || Top||

#9  Maybe Sheriff Joe can get them a deal on some .50 caliber machine guns.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 08/16/2010 11:44 Comments || Top||

#10  A couple of "Global Hawk" drones up high, and a dozen or two Predators down low - half with Hellfire missiles, the other half with 7.62 mini-guns. Back 'em up with a few AC-130 gunships with four Gatling guns, its own IR, and a 105 in the back in case the Mexican Army makes trouble. Declare a one-kilometer free-fire zone on BOTH sides of the border, and enforce it. Nuke Mexico City when Calderon goes ballistic.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 08/16/2010 15:38 Comments || Top||

#11  If a US Army or Marine sniper team shot ONE PHUECHING MEX for climbing the fence or crossing the ditch, and the hit was televised on the MSN, illegal crossings would end overnight.

It just takes ONE, along with the will to stay the course.
Posted by: Besoeker || 08/16/2010 18:20 Comments || Top||


Iraq
11 killed in persistent Iraq violence
[Arab News] Drive-by shootings and a spate of bombings killed 11 people and wounded dozens more Sunday in fresh reminders of persistent violence across Iraq despite an overall drop in attacks nationwide.

At least 30 people were injured in separate and apparently unrelated attacks, Iraqi police hospitals officials said. Five of the dead were Iraqi police and security forces.

In the most gruesome example, gunmen opened fire on worshippers as they were leaving dawn prayers in town of Jurf Al-Sakhr just south of the capital, killing three and wounding one, said Maj. Muthana Khalid, the spokesman for Babil province police.The attack occurred at about 4:00 a.m.

Worshippers converge in high numbers to mosques during the holy month of Ramadan -- a period devoted to prayer and dawn-to-dusk fasting.

Hours later, rush-hour bombings across Baghdad hit commuters on their way to work, killing four and injuring at least 16.

The deadliest strike came when a roadside bomb exploded next to a minibus heading from the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City into downtown that killed three people, including a police officer, a police officer said.

Nine others were wounded in the attack which occurred at about 7:15 a.m. A hospital worker confirmed the casualties.

Few minutes earlier, three bombs planted a few yards (meters) away from each other in a downtown business district blew up simultaneously. Police and hospital officials said a bystander was killed and seven injured.

Another roadside bomb targeted a traffic police patrol in eastern Baghdad, killing one and injuring eight people, a police officer said. Two traffic policemen were among the wounded.

Traffic police, many of whom are unarmed, have become a new target for attackers. More than a dozen have been killed in shootings and bombings across Iraq recently.

An attempted assassination of a senior police official from the northern Ninevah province visiting Baghdad killed one of his bodyguards and wounded another when a bomb attached to his car exploded in the southern Dora neighborhood.

Meanwhile, gunmen in a speeding car attacked an Iraqi army check point in Ninevah provincial capital Mosul, killing one soldier and injuring another, local police said.

A bomb attached to the car of a local commander of an anti-Al-Qaeda militia in the western Baghdad suburb of Abu Ghraib exploded, killing him and wounding two of his bodyguards.
Posted by: Fred || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State of Iraq


Rush hour blasts kill four in Baghdad
[Dawn] A series of rush-hour bombings across Baghdad hit commuters on their way to work, killing four and injuring at least 16, Iraqi police said.

Sunday's deadliest strike came when a roadside bomb exploded at 7:15 a.m. local time next to a minibus heading from the Shia neighbourhood of Sadr City into downtown.

Police said three people were killed, including a police officer, and nine were wounded.

A hospital worker confirmed the casualties.

Earlier, three bombs planted a few meters away from each other in a downtown business district blew up simultaneously. Police and hospital officials said a bystander was killed and seven injured.
Posted by: Fred || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State of Iraq


4 ships robbed off Iraqi coast
[Al Arabiya Latest] Gunmen robbed the crews of four ships anchored off Iraq's southern oil hub Basra last week in Iraqi regional waters patrolled by the U.S. Navy, a Navy official said on Sunday.

Two men armed with AK-47 rifles boarded the American ship Sagamore in the vicinity of an Iraqi oil terminal in the northern Persian Gulf at 4 a.m. on Aug. 8, taking computers, cell phones and money from crew members before fleeing the vessel after about 40 minutes on board, according to Lt. John Fage, a spokesman for the Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

He said three other ships -- the Antigua-flagged Armenia, the North Korean Crystal Meth Wave and the Syrian Sana Star -- were also robbed under similar circumstances during a two-hour period starting about 2 a.m. the same day. Other information about the attackers, including their nationalities, was not known, Fage said.

The seaborne robbery occurred about 32 kilometers (20 miles) off the port of Umm Qasr in an area that is patrolled jointly by the U.S. Navy and Iraqi sailors. American vessels in the area for routine security operations, including a guided missile destroyer, responded to the attacks, Fage said.
For a moment there I thought he was going to tell us that the destroyer also had been robbed, at which point I would have said that things were truly slipping ...
Posted by: Fred || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Pirates

#1  "Strictly a private-enterprise operation."
Posted by: mojo || 08/16/2010 13:57 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Anti-shooting wall on Jerusalem outskirts razed
[Al Arabiya Latest] Israeli troops on Sunday began demolishing a huge concrete wall erected nine years ago to prevent shooting attacks towards Gilo, a Jewish neighborhood in occupied east Jerusalem.

Soldiers wearing construction helmets began removing the towering slabs from one of the streets, lowering them onto a truck, an AFP correspondent said, in operation likely to take a fortnight.

The two-meter-high concrete barrier was set up in 2001 along several streets on the southernmost edge of Gilo which sits just across the valley from the West Bank Palestinian village of Beit Jala.

The military said the wall was being razed as a result of the long spate of calm prevailing in the area.
Posted by: Fred || 08/16/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority

#1  If it is so calm why are soldiers being used and not construction workers to take down the wall.
Posted by: BernardZ || 08/16/2010 7:06 Comments || Top||

#2  Pretty much the same phenomenon as here in America where liberals ask, "If the crime rate is so low, why are so many people in prison?"
Posted by: M. Murcek || 08/16/2010 7:44 Comments || Top||

#3  long spate of calm prevailing in the area

Any bets?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 08/16/2010 8:35 Comments || Top||

#4  The logical idea is that the Paleos who used to menace the Jews are no longer living there, so the wall likely is no longer relevant.

Moving the Arabs out of East Jerusalem would have been so much easier had it been done all at once, as a response to any one of the major Muslim attacks against Israel.

Israel has to learn how to play defense and offense at the same time.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 08/16/2010 10:31 Comments || Top||



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