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Thousands flee North Waziristan region on last day of evacuation
Today's Headlines
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Foreign Affairs Members ‘Concerned’ After First Briefing on Iran Nuke Talks
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 19:30 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:


-Land of the Free
U.S. Citizents overseas being shaken down for more taxes
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 18:43 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It is as if the US government almost wants them to renounce their citizenship or something.

Or the government is just completely tone deaf, greedy and stupid.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 18:44 Comments || Top||

#2  ..can't be both?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 19:16 Comments || Top||

#3  When it comes to the insiders running our government... I ain't ruling anything out.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 19:25 Comments || Top||


Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Grants Itself Authority to Shut Down Any Business Anytime
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 14:45 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  You will not make any waves, disagree or complain. Otherwise you will be persecuted until you can't make a living and taxed until you can't pay. Then you go to jail.

Welcome to the Socialist States of Amerika.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 14:46 Comments || Top||

#2  Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc'-ra-cy)

A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 15:22 Comments || Top||

#3  this agency is a child of the Dodd-Frank Wall st reform and consumer protection act

it has overlapping responsibilities with the SEC, Dept of Treasury, credit union administration, FDIC, Fin Industry Regulatory Authority and several others -

if they limited themselves to putting out consumer advisories, they would be mildly useful, but that limited agenda doesn't allow for power, bigger budgets, etc.
Posted by: lord garth || 06/24/2014 18:13 Comments || Top||

#4  Sen. Fauxcahontas Approved
Posted by: Frank G || 06/24/2014 18:48 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Meriam Ibrahim Re-Arrested in Sudan Just Day After Being Freed
[NBCNEWS] A mother who was freed from death row for refusing to renounce Christianity has been re-placed in durance vile
Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages!
just one day later while trying to leave Sudan, her lawyer told NBC News on Tuesday. Meriam Ibrahim, 27, was "very happy" after an appeals court on Monday overturned a death sentence imposed because she married a Christian man and allegedly turned her back on Islam. But lawyer Elshareef Ali Mohammed said a group of 50 security force personnel arrested her and family members during an angry confrontation at Khartoum's airport on Tuesday.

Mohammed, who said he was at the airport with Ibrahim, said no reason was given for her re-arrest. Britannia's Foreign Office said it had received confirmation that Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service had detained Ibrahim and her husband Daniel Wani, an American citizen who told the Guardian following his wife's release that he hoped they could start a new life in the U.S. The couple were with their two children at the time of their detention, including the baby Ibrahim gave birth to while she was on death row in a women's prison. When contacted by NBC News, a State Department spokeswoman said Ibrahim was "safe," but declined to say where due to security reasons.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 14:28 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Sen. Ted Cruz was wondering why the State Department had her leave the US Embassy and go to the public airport instead of having a military plane ready for her since she had been threatened with torture and death by the Muslim government.
Posted by: Thineng Angailet7166 || 06/24/2014 19:24 Comments || Top||

#2  Ransom. Played the Christian slave game the same way. It worked before, why not try again, and again, and again. Now if we had some drones in the area it would be time to make an offer they can't refuse. If we were really concerned about Christians. Not that this administration cares that much beyond the PC types (see-Presbyterian Church).
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 20:20 Comments || Top||


Meriam Ibrahim: First photos of Sudanese woman reunited with her family
[TELEGRAPH.CO.UK] The Sudanese woman on death row for refusing to recant her Christian beliefs has at last been reunited with her family, after spending six months behind bars.

Meriam Ibrahim, 27, left Omdurman women's prison on Monday afternoon, just hours after state media announced that the Supreme Court had overturned the sentence.

Accompanied by her two children, Martin, almost two, and baby Maya, born in prison a month ago, Ms Ibrahim was taken to a safe house in the Khartoum area. In Sudan, which imposes Sharia law, apostasy is a crime punishable by death — and earlier this month Ms Ibrahim's own brother called for her execution unless she "returned" to Islam.

On May 15 she had been ordered to hang for abandoning the Islamic faith — even though she insisted that she had been raised as a Christian, and was never a Mohammedan in the first place. Some people saw the charges as the result of a family feud — and an attempt by Ms Ibrahim's family to gain control of her successful small businesses.

The sentencing caused outrage around the world, and lead to an international campaign to secure her freedom.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 14:27 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan


Home Front: Politix
The story isn't that Hillary Clinton is rich
h/t Instapundit
After previously trying to justify her six-figure speaking fees by claiming she and Bill Clinton were “dead broke” when leaving the White House, she's come under fire for stating that she wasn't that “well-off.” This has led to a spate of stories about whether the Clintons' enormous wealth would weigh on her presidential ambitions in a nation with growing populist sentiment. But the deeper takeaway from her recent dustups isn't her wealth, but that she's an overrated politician.

...Because the Clintons are often viewed in tandem, a lot of people have mistakenly transposed Bill's political acumen onto Hillary. But in reality, her political career has involved winning a Senate seat in New York over a weak Republican opponent in a year that Al Gore carried the state by 25 points -- and squandering a massive lead against candidate Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic nomination battle.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/24/2014 14:23 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The story is that she's a traitor, wholly owned by the Chinese since they bought her husband.
Posted by: Silentbrick || 06/24/2014 15:48 Comments || Top||

#2  But, but, but you must remember my vriend, I actually started the movement, not these classless, Arkansas hinterwylders. I have made billons since leaving government from facilitating the industrial takeover of the US trade with the Chinese.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 16:01 Comments || Top||

#3  Hillary, dead broke. You do the math.
Posted by: badanov || 06/24/2014 22:04 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
MI Judge Postpones Custody Hearing for Deployed Sailor
A deployed U.S. sailor faced the prospect of losing custody of his daughter because he could not appear at a hearing today. The judge in the case has now ordered a delay, saying she didn't know Matthew Hindes is deployed in the Pacific Ocean.
Oh Really? He filed for a delay which she denied. Apparently she isn't even reading the briefs filed in her court. Or else she is simply lying to cover her ass.
That's not necessarily an "or" situation...
Posted by: OldSpook || 06/24/2014 12:12 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Prolly looked out her window and saw the torches and pitchforks.
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 06/24/2014 12:34 Comments || Top||

#2  Apparently the uproar made her realize her reelection next year was in serious doubt and she couldn't screw this guy over.

I say she should still get her black robed tyrant wanna be ass thrown out of office.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 13:54 Comments || Top||

#3  I looked up the phone number of the court, called the Judge's court clerk last week who referred me to voice mail. I called back and said I was not leaving a voice mail to tell the Judge to step down right now. I hope I was just one of many to bother calling.
Posted by: Thineng Angailet7166 || 06/24/2014 14:23 Comments || Top||

#4  If she's lying, she doesn't need to be a judge. If she isn't lying, then she didn't read all the paperwork, and she doesn't need to be a judge.

And she probably votes, too.
Posted by: gorb || 06/24/2014 14:37 Comments || Top||

#5  She is lying. She shouldn't be a judge. And the only thing she is sorry about is that she was caught being an asshat.

The judiciary is getting stupider by the year.
Posted by: Iblis || 06/24/2014 14:40 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Kurds warned Obama about ISIS plans & offered to help - got no reply
Posted by: frozen al || 06/24/2014 11:37 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State of Iraq

#1  Typical Obama and State policy.

Ignore it until it becomes a poll issue and makes them look bad. Then flail around. Fuck shit up worse. Declare victory and the MSM will parrot the line and go onto some starlet's sex tape as leading news.

Rinse, repeat.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 13:52 Comments || Top||

#2  Not even a "Present"?
Posted by: gorb || 06/24/2014 13:57 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Govt embarrassed as Qadri fizzles
[The News (Pak)] As the government stood ground by not accepting even a single key demand of Pakistain Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri
...Pak politician, and would-be dictator, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and Pakistain Awami Tehrik. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him...
and showed patience, he finally became flexible and put up an innocuous condition for face-saving to disembark the foreign airliner, writes Tariq Butt.

It was not at all difficult for the government to consent to sending Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar to the plane for talks with Dr Qadri to end the logjam. Thus, Sharifs' choice for the gubernatorial slot paid as he amicably ended the grueling interlude.

As the government implemented its well-considered decision, taken after the Lahore tragedy, not to fire even a single shot even in the face of worst violence from the PAT workers, a whopping number, 100 plus, of coppers received injuries because of the beating by the protesters in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. This policy demonstrated that authorities learnt a lesson from the Lahore killings, which could have been avoided by prudent handling and management.

The government, though deeply embarrassed and scared, was eventually satisfied over the peaceful finish of the saga as not a single bullet was fired by police and only batons were used and tear gas shells fired to disperse crowds where necessary. All the time, the government dreaded even the thought of a single death in the emotionally charged fracas.

The seven-hour long drama, starting from 8 am, the landing time of the plane carrying Dr Qadri at the Islamabad airport and ending around 3 pm at the Lahore airport, once again painted Pakistain as an unruly state on the global map where one leader, having a few thousands of followers but unable to win even a solitary seat in parliament, can hold the entire country hostage for hours.

While ensconced in his first class sofa, Dr Qadri kept making one demand after the other. First, he protested diversion of the plane to Lahore and urged that it must be flown back to Islamabad. It was not accepted by authorities.

Then, the PAT chief stressed that a Pakistain army representative should meet him in aircraft to work out details of his personal security by the military personnel because he has no faith in the protection to be provided by the "terrorist" government. Its non-acceptance was natural. Meanwhile,
...back at the dirigible, Cynthia backed into the galley, the barbecue fork held in front of her. Jack! she called. Where the hell are you?...
different rounds of talks between him and senior government officials continued in the plane.

Finally, he opted for Chaudhry Sarwar, who is his personal friend, to come to the plane for negotiations with him to enable him to disembark. The government was thrilled to accept the condition. The governor was asked to reach the aircraft and he did that within no time and the situation was saved from getting out of control.

At the same time, Dr Qadri also demanded that his personal bulletproof high-powered jeeps and his personal coppers, comprising retired army commandos, should be allowed to reach the tarmac to take him to his residence. The government instantly accepted it.

At the end, it was Sarwar's "friendship" with Dr Qadri that brought the impasse to a close cordially. But the PAT chief made it clear that he was talking to the governor and has accepted his plea only as a personal friend and not as a government representative.

However,
those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things...
regardless what he said Chaudhry Sarwar is undoubtedly the government's man.As far the provision of the government's security to Dr Qadri was concerned, it was in any case available to him otherwise it was not possible for him to visit the Lahore hospital to inquire about the health of his workers injured in the June 17 bloody violence. The security to be provided by the Punjab government will be available to him everywhere he will go during his stay in Punjab.

There were also some other highly important aspects of the alarming developments. First, the government is relaxed that it succeeded in implementing its decision not to let Qadri hold any public meeting at the airport and travel to Lahore via Grand Trunk Road, campaigning against it in the way. In addition, it did not create any disastrous situation. The government strategy was to wear out Qadri and test his endurance till the time he gives in.

Second, despite heavy odds and government's relentless efforts to block them through different means, the PAT supporters assembled in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to express solidarity with their leader and jammed the two cities. It was their great success. Dr Qadri will take solace in the fact that he has the capacity to create such a situation. Although his poor electoral power is no secret, he demonstrated once again that he can gather a good number of people to protest.

Third, it was proved once again how thankless job police have to perform in such situations. If they retaliate, they are in the dock, but if they don't adequately respond to violence by protesters, they receive severe physical beating and serious wounds. They had to follow orders of their superiors. However,
those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things...
the way the cops were hammered, it humiliated the force and the rule of law was consigned to dustbin.

Four political orphans who pinned high hopes to the instant "revolution" being brought about by Qadri that was going to sweep away the present dispensation were crestfallen as the show ended peacefully.

Eventually, it was established that it was Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, who played the fundamental role in wrapping up the drama as he conveyed to Dr Qadri in a lengthy telephonic talk the threat of the foreign airline to file hijacking charges of its plane.

Afterwards, he separately talked to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif
...Pak dynastic politician, brother of PM Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab...
, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
...Currently the Interior Minister of Pakistain. He is the senior leader of the Pak Moslem League (N) and a close aide to Nawaz Uncle Fester Sharif. He is noted for his vocal anti-American railing in the National Assembly. However (comma) Khan told the U.S. ambassador that he was in fact pro-American but he and the PML-N would have to be critical of US actions in order to remain publicly credible. Khan cited his wife and children's US citizenship as proof, which means he's lying to one side or the other and probably both. He wears a wig, but you probably guessed that. since hair doesn't grow naturally in that shape or texture...
and his Punjab counterpart. He communicated them Qadri's demands. He again contacted Qadri and it was decided that Chaudhry Sarwar would go to the plane to break the standoff.

Among other demands that Qadri presented to the Punjab governor, he also urged reconstruction of barriers near his Lahore residence and office within 24 hours that were removed by the Punjab government on June 17. He also emphasised that cases against PAT workers should be withdrawn. While concluding an agreement with a team of the then government in his famous container last year, he had also demanded withdrawal of a criminal case lodged against some PAT activists by the Islamabad police. In a nutshell, Qadri displayed a remarkable flexibility on the same pattern that he offered last year and ended his protest despite none of his demands was accepted now or before.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 10:29 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Iraq
Kerry urges Kurds to save Iraq from collapse
[REUTERS] U.S. Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry
Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat, conqueror of Cambodia, and current Secretary of State...
held crisis talks with leaders of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region on Tuesday urging them to stand with Storied Baghdad in the face of a Sunni hard boy onslaught that threatens to dismember the country.

Security forces fought Sunni armed factions for control of the country's biggest oil refinery on Tuesday and turbans launched an attack on one of its largest air bases less than 100 km from the capital.

More than 1,000 people, mainly civilians, have been killed in less than three weeks, the United Nations
...an idea whose time has gone...
said on Tuesday, calling the figure "very much a minimum".

The figure includes unarmed government troops machinegunned in mass graves by hard boys, as well as several reported incidents of prisoners killed in their cells by retreating government forces.

Kerry flew to the Kurdish region after a day in Storied Baghdad on an emergency trip through the Middle East to rescue Iraq after a lightning advance by Sunni fighters led by an al Qaeda offshoot, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 10:29 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq

#1  There is little incentive for the Kurds to try to keep some coalition of Sunni, Shite, and Kurds together in some sort of government in Iraq. The Baathists (secular Sunni) did not treat them well under Saddam. He gassed them with WMDs.
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/24/2014 10:55 Comments || Top||

#2  how about some advanced weaponry for the Kurds?

if you want them to help, they have to be able to do it don't they
Posted by: lord garth || 06/24/2014 10:58 Comments || Top||

#3  I second LG. The Kurds need artillery and ground attack air support. If you want them to attack better make that self propelled artillery.
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 14:13 Comments || Top||

#4  The headline gave me a big laugh.

Isn't that like asking the Juice to save them surrounding, imploding Airbs from themselves?
Posted by: Snusort Spomose2148 || 06/24/2014 15:59 Comments || Top||

#5  them
Posted by: Snusort Spomose2148 || 06/24/2014 15:59 Comments || Top||

#6  Why do I get the image of Rorschach saying "No"?
Posted by: Charles || 06/24/2014 19:26 Comments || Top||


Government
The VA scandal is another government example of the failure to follow a collective mission
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 09:42 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Wonder how concerned about performance if instead of bonuses with their civil service tenure, they got a four contract not subject to administrative renewal or were subject every four years to a centralized selection board who's mission was to cut 10 percent (or more) from that year's group?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 10:26 Comments || Top||


-Land of the Free
Cloward-Piven Everywhere
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 09:04 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Cloward-Piven is strategy is a political strategy outlined in 1966 by American sociologists and political activists Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven that called for overloading the U.S. public welfare system in order to precipitate a crisis that would lead to a replacement of the welfare system with a national system of "a guaranteed annual income and thus an end to poverty". Cloward and Piven were a married couple who were both professors at the Columbia University School of Social Work. The strategy was formulated in a May 1966 article in the liberal[1] magazine The Nation titled "The Weight of the Poor: A Strategy to End Poverty".
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 9:33 Comments || Top||


#3  Sort of a 'flat-earther' awakening, but Fox's 'Talking Points' tonight is supposed to endorse something akin to the Cloward-Piven theory. I reckon this might indicate screaming mad Irishmen can eventually be convinced of the obvious.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 10:24 Comments || Top||

#4  Like most socialist schemes it just turns out the opposite. They'll create more poverty, not less. Why work if there's a adequate guarantee income? We already have a large proportion of the population already practicing that. Soon workers creating resources (not to be confused with government workers who consume resources) will be the minority. The only way the central planners can keep feeding the beast is to print gobs of useless paper money (see-Venezuela).
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 10:35 Comments || Top||

#5  Buying votes is a simpler explanation of the ongoing phenomenon.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 06/24/2014 12:24 Comments || Top||


Government
Obamacare Exchanges Are ‘Disappointing’ With Fewer Than 4 Million Newly Insured.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 08:59 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Don't worry. The government will soon run the health insurance companies out of business and everyone will be covered.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 9:00 Comments || Top||

#2  and everyone will be covered

with what?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/24/2014 9:04 Comments || Top||

#3  Single pay insurance!!

Doesn't mean there will be a doctor or hospital left to see you, but you will be covered dammit!
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 9:06 Comments || Top||

#4  Frankly, I can think of nothing regarding this administration that isn't disappointing. Surprising? No, but still disappointing.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 9:26 Comments || Top||

#5  So the insurance for the 4 million new insured costs about $1.5 million each?
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 06/24/2014 10:15 Comments || Top||

#6  Must be something like that, Bill. The insurance companies are already raising my rates to pay for it.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 06/24/2014 12:02 Comments || Top||

#7  Why do I think sometimes that programs such as Obamacare are just huge statist money laundering schemes? A single payer system would have just made it easier and worse. I try not to have these bad thoughts but they just keep coming back.
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/24/2014 16:44 Comments || Top||


Trey Gowdy Nails The IRS Commisioner To The Wall In Congressional Hearing
Posted by: Beavis || 06/24/2014 05:47 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Finally, a smart guy with cajones.
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/24/2014 8:06 Comments || Top||

#2  I can think of no better argument for the abolishment of the IRS than this fellow Koskinen. His obstructive comments and facial expressions exude contempt, insolence, and disdain.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 8:13 Comments || Top||

#3  Mr. Koskinen is a long time Democratic party operative and major funder. Wonder if anyone's looked at his taxes lately?

No, actually I don't wonder at all.
Posted by: Steve White || 06/24/2014 8:23 Comments || Top||

#4  Wonder if anyone's looked at his taxes lately?

Taxes? No. Unfettered feet thrashing wildly from 18 inches off the ground, and the evacuation and bowels and bladder..... please call me immediately. I'd gladly purchase a ticket to watch, and picnic on the grounds.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 8:41 Comments || Top||

#5  Koskinen Democrat Donor to the tune of about $100,000. Former IRS Commissioners Schulman and Miller were "well placed" also. There has been quite a bit of turnover in Commissioners at the IRS. Makes it easier for Commissioners to say: "I don't know. I wasn't here at the time. Wasn't on my watch." More and more distance between smoking guns and those at the top.
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/24/2014 8:58 Comments || Top||

#6  Here you go, 'soeker. I figure the dweeb weighs apx 180 lbs.
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 06/24/2014 9:08 Comments || Top||

#7  ... it's environmentally friendly and not subject to FDA approval.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 9:10 Comments || Top||

#8  I hope Gowdy's taxes are impeccably accurate and documented, because he's sure to get a thorough audit or ten.
Posted by: Glenmore || 06/24/2014 11:31 Comments || Top||

#9  Gowdy is a former prosecutor. I expect he knows every trick in the book these kind of people will use to attack him, and I would hope he is well prepared.
Posted by: OldSpook || 06/24/2014 12:20 Comments || Top||

#10  By the way, it now appears they have Koskinene caught in 2 specific instances of lying under oath. When will the GOP grow a pair and prosecute these Obama administration liars?
Posted by: OldSpook || 06/24/2014 12:22 Comments || Top||

#11  OS,

Sometime between slim and none. And Slim left town.

I would hope they don't until after November. The press could convince too many people that this is a witch hunt. If the Repubs reclaim the Senate, I would hope they would go after this whole criminal organization through the RICO act.

But they won't.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 13:57 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
Live Rounds Fired at US from Mexico At Border
MCALLEN, Texas—A trusted law enforcement source is reporting that shots are currently being fired on the Mexican side of the U.S. border. The shots are intended to harass the increased presence of Texas law enforcement personnel.
Posted by: Thineng Angailet7166 || 06/24/2014 01:07 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Shoot back.

With artillery.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 9:07 Comments || Top||

#2  Bah, create a border zone using radioactive waste and other toxic materials...on the Mexican side of the border. Density should be sufficient to inflict a lethal dose of whatever, to ensure a lifespan of about 10 days of anyone crossing about 10 feet of the zone. Problem solved. Evolution in action.
Posted by: Silentbrick || 06/24/2014 9:15 Comments || Top||

#3  And if Mexico complains, wipe out their government. It's hostile anyway. In fact, I honestly believe a state of war exists between the US and Mexico. Time to start fighting back.
Posted by: Silentbrick || 06/24/2014 9:16 Comments || Top||

#4 
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 9:19 Comments || Top||

#5  Good opportunity for some Civic Action Teams to train local law enforcement on sniper acquisition equipment and TTP developed in Iraq/Afghanistan. BTW, local law enforcement training is authorized under Posse Comitatus.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 9:44 Comments || Top||

#6  Roger. Best defense against a sniper is.... a better trained sniper.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 9:47 Comments || Top||

#7  Texas could create early hunting season on varmints.
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/24/2014 10:57 Comments || Top||

#8  I am surprised that shots don't get fired across the river from Detroit to Windsor. There is quite a bit of daily gunplay in the former Motor City.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 06/24/2014 12:27 Comments || Top||

#9  Really, you guys?
Pretty extreme when there are already unenforced measures in place. Random(profiling) spot checks, in any border state, for 'papers' with free bus trips to Mexico-side refugee holding camps would get my vote.
The penalty for transgression should be worse than current conditions.

Posted by: Skidmark || 06/24/2014 13:41 Comments || Top||

#10  I'm just wondering when the aircraft 'laser-lighters' are going to switch to .308 slugs.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/24/2014 13:44 Comments || Top||

#11  Live rounds or kookies? You do the math.
Posted by: badanov || 06/24/2014 20:16 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Hafter orders Turks and Qataris out of eastern Libya
Turks and Qataris in eastern Libya - "from Sirte to Musaid" (on the Egyptian border) - have been told to leave the country. The stark warning came from General Khalifa Hafter's spokesman, Mohamed Hejazi. He told the Libya Herald that they had to go "within 48 hours" of the warning.

"We captured people from Al-Qaeda in Benghazi and they told us about Turkish intelligence and Qatar intelligence operating from Sirte to Musaid."

The warning was for them, he said. When asked what would happen if they did not go, he replied: "After 48 hours you will see".
He worked for Qadaffi, so we have an idea...
There are far more Turks than Qataris in Libya. However, numbers are unknown. In the case of the former, no figures are kept because Turks can travel to Libya without visas. Nonetheless, Turkish officials estimate that there are at least 5,000 living and working in the country, most of them in Tripoli and the west. In the east, there are thought to be about 500.

It is also not clear if the statement has Hafter's approval although last week he criticised Sudan saying its position on terrorism in Libya was ambiguous.

Qatar has been widely accused in Libya of interfering in Libyan politics and of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamists, an accusation it denies.
Not us; it's them Emirates.
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 00:14 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hear, hear.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/24/2014 3:42 Comments || Top||

#2  /me cues up The Monkeys playing Last Train to al Clarksville.
Posted by: SteveS || 06/24/2014 3:51 Comments || Top||

#3  "funtime's over. All you dirtbags out of the pool"
Posted by: Frank G || 06/24/2014 10:11 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syria Says Israeli Airstrikes Aid Anti-Assad Rebels
[Ynet] The Syrian government has acknowledged that Israeli warplanes struck targets inside its territory in its first comment on the incident. A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry says Israeli forces carried out "a new aggression" on Sunday and Monday on positions inside Syria.

It says the air raids were a sign of the "direct and continuous support" that Israel is giving to rebels fighting to topple Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
The Scourge of Hama...
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  Maybe it's because Israel doesn't like you.
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 1:09 Comments || Top||

#2  We've had the ability to wipe you all out for decades. And we're very very tired.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/24/2014 3:46 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Fatwa declares Zarb-i-Azb a jihad
[DAWN] Over 100 ulema from various schools of thought declared on Sunday Zarb-i-Azb, the military operation being carried out against terrorists and militants in North Waziristan Agency, as jihad.

The decree [fatwa] was issued after a meeting of religious scholars which was organisd by the Sunni Ulema Board here on Sunday.

The decree referred Verse No 33 of Surah-i-Almaidah, which says: "Crushing of the attempts to disrupt peaceful atmosphere in a Muslim state is jihad."

The decree said that the nation was bound to support the ongoing operation in North Waziristan Agency and according to Shariat the people opposing it were rebellious.

Nation is bound to support the NWA military operation
It said that the state had the right to deal rebels with an iron hand as the militants had murdered hundreds of innocent people and targeted schools, shrines, hospitals, etc. Islam, it added, did not allow individual jihad.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Afghanistan
Amarkhail Resigns in Wake of Fraud Allegations
[Tolo News] The Independent Election Commission's (IEC) Secretariat Chief, Zia-ul-Haq Amarkhail, announced his resignation on live television Monday afternoon.

The announcement came just a day after presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah released phone recordings of conversations allegedly between Amarkhail and members of the campaign team of his opponent, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. The recordings suggest a broad plot to conduct fraud during the runoff election, however, the identities of the voices on them have yet to be confirmed.

Announcing his resignation at a press conference alongside IEC Chairman Ahmed Yousuf Nuristani, Amarkhail claimed his decision was not forced and was not made in light of the recordings. He claimed the phone taps were fake and that he had never had the conversations.

"I have not resigned under the pressure of anyone," Amarkhail said. "I have only resigned for the sake of the process and national interests."

Amarkhail "strongly rejected" the accusations against him, and said there had been a longstanding conspiracy to try to oust him from the IEC. He claimed he had rejected many bribes and offers for positions over the course of the past year.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Iraq
Obama Lining Up ISIS Targets and Keeps 'Prerogative' To Strike
[ABCNEWS.GO] President B.O. is lining up ISIS targets in Iraq and may launch an attack on the krazed killer Islamic militia that is threatening Storied Baghdad even if he does not get an agreement with the Iraqi regime, Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry
Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat, conqueror of Cambodia, and current Secretary of State...
said today.

Speaking in Storied Baghdad after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
... Prime Minister of Iraq and the secretary-general of the Islamic Dawa Party. Maliki imposed order on Basra wen the Shiites were going nuts, but has proven incapable of dealing with al-Qaeda's Sunni insurgency. Reelected to his third term in 2014...
and other politicians, Kerry said Obama is "each day" gaining more certainty of the targets he would strike if the United States decided on its own to take military action.

"He has reserved the right to himself, as he should, to make a decision at any point in time if he deems it necessary strategically," Kerry said.
He's a better general than his generals, too.
Obama has said he would not provide Iraq more military support unless it forms a government more accepting of religious minorities, but Kerry stressed that Obama wouldn't hesitate to have the U.S. conduct its own military operations if necessary.

"The president has moved the assets into place and has been gaining each day the assurances he needs with respect to potential targeting," Kerry said.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State of Iraq & the Levant

#1  Kerry said Obama is "each day" gaining more certainty of the targets he would strike if the United States decided on its own to take military action.

Once the target folders have been built and the Iranian Air Force is ready to conduct strikes, ISIS targets will be engaged.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 1:59 Comments || Top||

#2  Warning them in advance?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/24/2014 3:46 Comments || Top||

#3  "Present!"
Posted by: gorb || 06/24/2014 11:45 Comments || Top||

#4  Maybe former President Clinton can tell Cmdr. Zero what isis?
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 06/24/2014 12:38 Comments || Top||

#5  I see what you did there, Uncle Phester. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara || 06/24/2014 13:24 Comments || Top||

#6  Shut up John. Stop talking.
Posted by: irishrageboy || 06/24/2014 15:47 Comments || Top||

#7  They couldn't take out pencil neck so I guess Iraq was something to try.
Posted by: Thineng Angailet7166 || 06/24/2014 20:07 Comments || Top||

#8  Has anyone in the administration or the MSM confirmed which side Obama is on?
Posted by: Airandee || 06/24/2014 20:29 Comments || Top||

#9  See also TOPIX > OBAMA TO MAKE SURE ISIS CAN'T ATTACK US, KERRY TELLS ABC.

Jaawhn says ISIS aka ISIL have the will to attack the US, but fortunately don't yet have the capability.

* FREEREPUBLIC > [WND.com] IRAQ INVADERS THREATEN NUKE ATTACK ON ISRAEL [CLAIM THEY ALREADY HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS?].

* WASHINGTON TIMES > [CRS Report] ISIL HELL- BENT ON CREATING ISLAMIC STATE TO BE LAUNCHPAD FOR ATTACKS ON US.

Once again, people, wid feeling - D *** NG IT, DON'T BE SILLY, AMERICA = AMERIKA WILL HAVE LEGAL SHARIA LAW BY THEN.

VERSUS

* WORLD NEWS > [National Journal] IRAQ A TERRIBLE FIRST TEST FOR OBAMA'S NEW FOREIGN POLICY.

True enuff as it is, but could be much worse iff ... ...
> IRAN refuses to leave Iraq once ISIS/ISIL is defeated or effec contained.
> Pro-Qaeda Boyz launch atacks + begin to destabilize Jordan, + KSA, Emirates = Saudi Peninsula. Iran intervenes again to save local Shias but then refuses to leave???

ABOVE ALL, IFF SHOOTING WAR(S) START IN EAST ASIA BETWEEN CHINA + US ALLIES, IN ECS ANDOR SCS + INDIA - IN EAST ASIA VEE CHINA THERE IS THE DANGER THAT SEVERAL SOVEREIGN COUNTRIES MAY BE INVOLVED AT ONE TIME DURING A DE FACTO US-CHINA MILITARY CRISIS, NOT JUST THE "SOLE" SYRIA OR "SOLE" UKRAINE OR A "SOLE" IRAQ.

The Bammer hasn't even begun vee Rising China + PLA = [Globalist-desired?]OWG Co-Superpower China yet, + its not clear iff the Bammer can avoid any mil clash agz same before he leaves office come Jan 2017.

* RUSSIA TODAY > UNKNOWN PLANE BOMBS ISIS POISTIONS IN IRAQ [at Al-Qaim], PENTAGON DENIES ITS US, saying it twas prob the Assad's Flyboyz = Syrian Air Force.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 06/24/2014 22:37 Comments || Top||

#10  OOOOPPPPPSSSS, forgot FREEREPUBLIC > [McClatchy]ISLAMIST FIGHTERS REPEATEDLY ATTEMPTING TO ENCIRCLE BAGHDAD.

As per Jaawhn, am keeping my fingers crossed that the Bammer's "assessments" don't take much longer,
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 06/24/2014 22:40 Comments || Top||

#11  Kerry said Obama is "each day" gaining more certainty of the targets he would strike if the United States decided on its own to take military action.

A masterful use of the conditional subjunctive mood, future tense.

"He has reserved the right to himself, as he should, to make a decision at any point in time if he deems it necessary strategically," Kerry said.

To boldly decide, where no one has decided before...

Jawn is a strong candidate for the Nobel Prize in Bloviation.

Posted by: SteveS || 06/24/2014 23:00 Comments || Top||


-Land of the Free
Presbyterian Church (USA) takes the blue pill
by Herschel Smith

I'm not part of the PCUSA, but having attended Reformed Theological Seminary, I know something about the history of Presbyterianism in the U.S. The problem started with the Auburn Affirmation, and even before then from the theological liberalism that led directly to that abomination.

Notice that the denomination doesn't just engage in tactical blundering and hot air. To be sure, there's plenty of that to go around. Reliance on LEOs during period of peril to your life or the lives of your loved ones means that the fight is over by the time (8 — 15 minutes) a LEO arrives.

They go beyond their tactical incompetence and recommend bankruptcy of gun manufacturers when their weapons are misused (similar recommendations for Stanley, Kobalt, Craftsman and other manufacturers of hammers probably won't be forthcoming when crimes are committed with hammers). And if that's not good enough, they recommend new laws that would end with confiscation and civil war when SWAT teams are sent to the doors of patriotic Americans who won't allow their means of self defense to be confiscated. So the PCUSA recommends what would inevitably become a bloody mess with cops laying dead in the streets and innocent citizens laying dead in their doorways.
Posted by: badanov || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Guns not BDS, BDS was yesterday. Boy, are we tired of being the canaries in your mine.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/24/2014 5:51 Comments || Top||

#2  'Course, y'all heard about the Presbyterian BDS too. Right? They love their Jewish brothers and sisters which is why they are doing everything they can to ruin Israel's economy.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 06/24/2014 11:54 Comments || Top||

#3  I'm afraid American Protestant churches have become easy targets for Alinskyite organizers. Kinda makes me squirm in the pews when preachers stray from the Gospel.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 06/24/2014 11:57 Comments || Top||

#4  Unfortunately, the "straying" is not limited to Presbyterians.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 13:00 Comments || Top||

#5  Find a different pew (in a different church), EU.
Posted by: Barbara || 06/24/2014 13:25 Comments || Top||

#6  The attempts at inclusion and pandering by clergy in regions facing demographic shifts is particularly galling. Increased emphasis on prison ministries, the failure to mention the plight of Israel, along with the absence of discussion of the murder of the unborn are among key indicators. As always, what is NOT discussed or mentioned is oftentimes more revealing than what is.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 13:39 Comments || Top||

#7  I never miss a chance to remind these anti-Israeli (anti-Jewish, really) clowns that Jesus was a JEW, and if he physically showed up on earth today he'd attend a Synagogue (and not a Reformed one, either)
Posted by: Barbara || 06/24/2014 14:34 Comments || Top||

#8  ..and don't forget mom and dad (in both sense of the word).
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 17:19 Comments || Top||

#9  and they also voted for an upgrade to their pro abortion and pro gay marriage policies at that same meeting
Posted by: lord garth || 06/24/2014 18:01 Comments || Top||


-Lurid Crime Tales-
Head Of Times Square Alliance Calls For Regulations On Costumed Characters
[NEWYORK.CBSLOCAL] They call themselves street performers — costumed, anonymous and not always well behaved.

As CBS 2's Dave Carlin reported, there has been a string of crimes in character. The latest alleged incident happened Friday night when a Spider-Man was arrested for allegedly groping a New Yorker, police said.

Moussa Rabaoui, 22, of Queens, is accused of grabbing a woman's breasts and backside after putting his arms around her. He was charged with misdemeanor forcible touching.

Now, the president of the Times Square Alliance is calling for regulations on costumed characters, saying they've gotten out of control.

"In the last 10 days alone, we've seen two Statues of Liberty arrested, a Spider-Man convicted of harassing a tourist, and now a third character arrested for groping a woman in Times Square," Tim Tompkins said in a statement on Saturday. "The situation is out of control and a licensing and regulatory scheme must be put in place."
It wasn't all that long ago that Times Square was a seedy area where you wouldn't want to bring your kids unless they were into peep shows. Giuliani cleaned it up, but after that everybody voted "independent" for Nanny Bloomberg and now they're back to voting the straight Tammany ticket. Tell the kids the peep shows will be back, to go with the costumed Arabs groping Mom.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1 

This straight out of The Tick.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/24/2014 7:44 Comments || Top||

#2  I'm more concerned about the crimes and transgressions of the group in the big grey building on Times Square. They're the ones causing the damage.
i.e. 'The NY Times'
Posted by: ed in texas || 06/24/2014 7:55 Comments || Top||

#3  Moussa Rabaoui, 22, of Queens, is accused of grabbing a woman's breasts and backside after putting his arms around her. He was charged with misdemeanor forcible touching.

This is reserved for our ersatz nobility, like Bill Clinton in the White House. How dare he assume droit du seigneur reserved for his betters.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 17:26 Comments || Top||

#4  Apparently "KICKASS 3" it taint.

Yesterday it was a proposal to tax every operating car-mile, now its Cosplay???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 06/24/2014 19:53 Comments || Top||


Police in Italy solve 105-year-old NYPD mob detective's murder
[FOXNEWS] It may have taken more than a century, but Italian police have finally figured out who killed an undercover NYPD detective in Sicily.

Giuseppe "Joe" Petrosino, known as "the Detective in the Derby," was a pioneer in taking down organized crime back in the early 1900s and was the NYPD's secret weapon when it came to fighting Italian mobsters.

He was dispatched to Sicily in March 1909 on a special job to investigate the Sicilian Mafia's ties to its American counterpart the Black Hand, a group of thugs that targeted Italian-American immigrants.

American media outlets caught wind of Petrosino's mission and leaked the details, but Petrosino refused to abort the mission. He believed the Sicilian mafia would not kill a police officer as was the case back in New York.

But he was wrong. Petrosino was waiting for an alleged informant in downtown Palermo when he was ambushed by gunnies and shot four times.

Amid reports of Petrosino's liquidation, cops rounded up every Black Hand suspect they could get their hands on, according to the March 13, 1909 article published in The Evening Post, the Post's name until 1934.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  shoulda checked behind the toilet tank. Enjoy the cannoli
Posted by: Frank G || 06/24/2014 18:44 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
150 injured in clashes
[DAWN] Over 150 coppers and activists of the Pakistain Awami Tehrik (PAT) were maimed during festivities on Monday.

Apparently, the government's instruction to the police not to deal with PAT activists harshly helped the latter to manhandle the officials and reach the airport. Early in the morning, police personnel in riot gear reached Koral Chowk to take action against the PAT supporters. However,
man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them...
the authorities concerned did not allow the police to use force against the activists.

Clashes erupted when the PAT supporters while going towards the airport found hurdles placed on I.J. Principal Road near I-9 at about 2am. The activists tried to remove the blockades and clashed with the police. In response, the police resorted to baton charge and fired tear gas shells. The activists succeeded in removing the hurdles near I-10, Faizabad, Khana Bridge and Koral.

The police unsuccessfully tried to intercept the activists at Faizabad, Khana Bridge and later at Koral Chowk. The PAT workers staged a sit-in at Koral Chowk and also offered Fajr prayers there.

When the police tried to disperse them, a scuffle erupted.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Arabia
Winning: The Decline Of AQAP
[StrategyPage] June 20, 2014: AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) has suffered major setbacks since a new government offensive began in April. It's not the end for AQAP, but the group is now a lot less of an international threat than it was in early 2013.

Much of what the UAVs do is to simply report the location of AQAP men, which is often followed by an army raid. The tribes frequently get caught in the middle and suffer casualties and economic losses.

So the recent offensive not only cost AQAP its last few bases in Shabwa and Abyan provinces but also most of the support it had from the local tribes. The tribal leaders have made deals with the government to be "neutral" in the ongoing battle between the government and AQAP. The Islamic terrorists of AQAP are looking for a new home and having a hard time of it.
Finding a new home is always difficult; you have to compare the schools and property taxes. Add to that finding good escape routes and it is a nightmare.~
A major reason for the April offensive was intelligence obtained by the Saudis and Americans indicating that many Saudi, Iraqi and Yemeni Islamic terrorists fighting in Syria had agreed to move to Yemen and plot a major operation against Saudi Arabia. After all AQAP was created to overthrow the Saudi monarchy, even though Saudi Arabia has since 2004 proved too hostile an environment for Islamic terrorists to operate in.
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Europe
Danish Court Cuts Brothers' Sentence for Training with Al-Shebab
[AnNahar] A Danish court on Monday cut a prison sentence given to two Danish brothers of Somali origin convicted for attending a training camp run by Somalia's Islamist Shabaab rebels.

A court in the central city of Aarhus cut the jail sentence for Guleed Mohammed Warsame, 25, and Nuur Mohammed Warsame, 20, to two years from three and a half years for conspiring to send, and sending, the 25-year-old to a Shabaab-run training camp in Somalia.

The previous conviction by a district court was the first under a new Danish law against training with the aim of carrying out a terrorist act.

"A majority didn't find sufficient basis that (the older) came to be trained in bomb-making, use of weapons or similar," the High Court of Western Denmark said in a statement.

"There was only a basis for finding the defendants guilty of attempt(ing)" to be trained, it said.

Both men had been tossed in the clink
Please don't kill me!
for just over two years and were released after the verdict was announced.

The younger brother had stayed behind in Aarhus, where they have lived for more than 16 years, and from where he helped plan the trip and provided his brother with "advice and encouragement."

Somalia's Shabaab have carried out a string of Dire Revenge™ attacks for Kenya's military role in southern Somalia, including last year's siege of the Westgate shopping mall that left 67 people dead.

Attacks earlier this month on the coastal Mpeketoni district left at least 60 dead and were claimed by Shabaab Death Eaters, though President Uhuru Kenyatta blamed "well-planned, orchestrated and politically motivated ethnic violence" carried out by "local political networks".
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Shabaab


EU Imposes Sanctions On 12 Syrian Ministers
[Ynet] European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
foreign ministers agreed on Monday to impose an asset freeze and travel ban on 12 Syrian government ministers, accusing them of "responsibility for serious human rights
...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty...
violations".

The ministers' names will only be published in the EU's Official Journal on Tuesday, when the sanctions will take effect, the EU said in a statement.

The decision brings to 191 the number of people targeted by EU sanctions on Syria, which has been plunged into civil war for the last three years. Fifty-three companies or other organizations, including the central bank of Syria, remain under an EU asset freeze.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Germany gives up on repatriating its gold from the US & UK
The Germany government, that was for a time insistent on bringing its entire $141 billion gold reserve home from New York and London, has concluded that stashing half its bullion abroad is prudent after all.
The Bundesbank, Germany’s central bank, sent a delegation to the New York Fed’s vault in 2012 for spot checks on the hoard. As the gold’s guardian, the Frankfurt-based Bundesbank is obliged to ensure its safety.
And they believed Obama when he told them, "When you want your gold, you can have your gold." BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
“It’s my view that the gold reserves should be stored wherever they might be needed in an emergency,” Juergen Hardt, a member of Merkel's CDU, told reporters in May. There’s no evidence that German gold at the New York Fed has been tampered with, he said.
Is there reliable evidence that the "German gold at the New York Fed" still exists? The top men of Germany's central bank seem to think so. Top men!
German gold reserves, the second-biggest in the world after those of the U.S., totaled 3,386.4 tons on March 31, according to World Gold Council data. Due to German postwar history, the biggest part is stored at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; the rest is in London, Paris and Frankfurt.

After World War II and the export revival of West Germany’s “economic miracle” in the 1950s, the central bank accumulated dollars it swapped for gold at the Federal Reserve. With Germany split between capitalist west and the communist East German state until 1990, storing most of the gold abroad was a way to keep it out of Soviet reach during the Cold War.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If we thought our gold was no longer there we'd simply (slowly) sell it (and buy from different sources).

Much easier.
Posted by: European Conservative || 06/24/2014 6:40 Comments || Top||

#2  No doubt the honest walls street vault lords show each country the same pile of gold painted lead as 'their country's gold'. Merely change the little country flag on the wall as the stooges walk to the vault.
Posted by: Airandee || 06/24/2014 7:08 Comments || Top||

#3  Over the Fed's doors is a famous inscription :"Abandon all hope ye who enter here".
(I think that's the FED...)
Posted by: ed in texas || 06/24/2014 7:58 Comments || Top||

#4  ..basically, the same management team. There might be a ownership dispute but Congress hasn't gotten around to granting copyright perpetuity, yet. I'm sure they're working on it now.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 8:29 Comments || Top||

#5  Invented by Dante, it's public domain.
Sorry but that kind of speculation about gold being replaced by lead is on the same level as the chemtrails conspiracy.
Posted by: European Conservative || 06/24/2014 8:34 Comments || Top||

#6  Au-Plated Tungsten. It's the new gold!

Billie Sol Estes would be proud.
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 06/24/2014 8:58 Comments || Top||

#7  How many Democratic administrations could a pile of seized foreign gold endure? I'm guessing not one.
Posted by: Iblis || 06/24/2014 11:05 Comments || Top||

#8  "Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves?"

Posted by: Yosemite Sam || 06/24/2014 13:57 Comments || Top||

#9  LOL Oddball: Muck4Doo commands a tank platoon.
We know Big Joe is really Pappy
Crapgame is really Tu
Posted by: Shipman || 06/24/2014 19:04 Comments || Top||


Government
Dem Rep: Illegals Won't Show Up In Court Or Be Sent Back
[BREITBART] Rep. Henry Cuellar
...Dem representative for Texas' 28th congressional district, serving since 2005. He was a professor at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) in Laredo. He has positioned himself as a strong advocate for education. Prior to being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives he was a member of the Texas House 1987 to 2001....
(D-TX), stated in an interview on Laura Ingraham's radio show on Monday, that the undocumented Democrats who have been released from detention centers across the southwestern United States will not show up for their court dates, and thus will not be sent back.

He estimated "over 8,000 individuals were released in the last two months" were released with court dates in south Texas alone, and the total number of illegals released is "over 40,000" and argued "after you travel thousands of miles, you pay of dollars, went through a very difficult situation, you get over here and they tell you to appear in 90 days, I would say the vast majority are not going to show up."

Cuellar added that he was "disappointed with the [Obama] administration," and said that the influx of undocumented Democrats has been going on for over a year and the White House "could have seen that increase coming."
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The answer to that is simple, when they are first captured, gather all biometric data needed to reconfirm their identity later. If they don't show up and are caught again, they should be immediately executed as a spy/terrorist/whatever. No ifs ands or buts. They are not citizens or legal immigrants and therefore have no rights.
Posted by: Silentbrick || 06/24/2014 9:10 Comments || Top||

#2  Your are wrong, Silentbrick. They have the right to vote!
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 06/24/2014 12:07 Comments || Top||

#3  They should be treated like foreign brides, assign them to any of a long list of bleeding hearts for amnesty and tell them 'they' have to financially support them till they're 18. Given numerous jurisdictions deal the same way with men who years later find out "you're not the father" but still have to pay child support, I think we have a way to address two issues. See how they feel when it comes directly out of their personal income rather than the collective.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 17:23 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Police Shoot Youth Dead in Indian Kashmir
[AnNahar] Government forces rubbed out a youth in Indian Kashmire Monday during protests following an overnight gunbattle in which one suspected rebel was killed and another was believed to have escaped.

The incident happened in the volatile town of Sopore, 45 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of the main city of Srinagar, during protests by residents at the end of the gunbattle which had started Sunday evening, a police officer said.

"One civilian was killed and four were maimed in the firing," the officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Residents said police jugged
Please don't kill me!
two young men from the area following the gunbattle on suspicion of involvement with the rebels.

This infuriated residents further and hundreds more joined the protest. They clashed with police shouting "We want freedom!" a witness told AFP by phone.

Gunbattles between suspected rebels and government forces break out frequently in the disputed territory. These often trigger anti-India protests and bring out thousands during funerals for slain rebels.

Kashmire has been divided between India and Pakistain since the two countries gained independence from Britannia in 1947. Each claims the territory in full.

About a dozen rebel groups have been fighting in Indian Kashmire since 1989 for independence or merger with Pakistain. The fighting has left tens of thousands, mostly civilians, dead.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Zarb-i-Azb: Air strikes, ground troops kill 25 militants in NWA
[DAWN] At least 25 suspected forces of Evil were killed in air strikes and by ground troops of Pak armed forces in North Wazoo as the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), fleeing the cordoned area, crossed 430,000 on Monday.

"Eight terrorist hideouts around Mirali, North Waziristan Agency were destroyed by jet aircraft early morning today," said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

"15 bad boyz were potted in the strikes. Tunnels were spotted in the targeted areas."

Meanwhile,
...back at the pound, the little lost dog backed into the corner and showed its teeth. And what big teeth they were!...
10 suspected bad boyz were potted while fleeing from the cordoned off area in Spinwam and Mir Ali areas, said the Army statement. "Two soldiers embraced shahadat (martyrdom) in exchange of fire," it added.

The statement said that the Pakistain Army troops have foiled several attempts by forces of Evil to flee the cordoned off area.

Aerial surveillance, vigorous patrolling and cordon around the area housing forces of Evil continue as the operation Zarb-e-Azb progresses as per plan, said the ISPR statement.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Iraq
Bombs Kills Five Iraqi Kurdish Fighters
[AnNahar] Two roadside kabooms struck a patrol in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh on Monday, killing five Kurdish security forces members, a front man said.

The blasts, which went off in the Rabia area near the Syrian border, also maimed three Kurdish security personnel, according to Halkurd Mulla Ali, front man for the ministry responsible for the Kurdish peshmerga forces.

A major myrmidon offensive, spearheaded by jihadists from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original...
but also involving other groups, has this month overrun large areas of five Iraqi provinces, including Nineveh.

Iraqi security forces wilted when faced by the onslaught, in some cases abandoning uniforms, positions and vehicles to flee.

Forces from Iraq's Kurdish region took control of the Rabia border crossing between Nineveh and Syria after Iraqi forces withdrew in the early days of the myrmidon drive.

The offensive has cleared the way for Iraqi Kurds to begin realizing long-held territorial dreams, moving their forces into areas that the federal government has long opposed them adding to their autonomous northern region.

But this has also put Kurdish forces directly in the line of fire from myrmidons.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:


Iraqi Kurdistan gets around $100 million for first major oil export as third oil tanker
Third tanker loaded with Kurdistan oil to leave Turkey's port of Ceyhan. Energy Minister, Taner Yildiz says Turkey does not know who bought the oil.
Israel claims they already received it. But Turkey has not been officially informed of this, and it's rumoured that President Obama will look without fondness on anyone facilitating the breakup of Iraq by buying what Kurdistan hasn't official govenrment approval to sell.
Yildiz said in a press statement Monday "The Kurdistan oil's sales are being deposited to a Turkish government bank."
More in the article.
Perhaps that last is one reason Turkey has looked so favourably upon Kurdistan recently.
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Kurdish officials have pledged to stick by Iraq's revenue-sharing framework, which sees Erbil take 17% of the proceeds from all national oil sales. But successful deposits for their oil would give more leverage to the KRG as it seeks greater economic independence, and could pave the way for Kurds to access international loans to fund their budget.

"When we approach international finance houses, they look to whether we can export and sell the oil. Now that we have done that, it is easier to get loans," KRG spokesman Safeen Dizayee said Monday in an interview. "There are serious negotiations, and I think we will get a deal soon."
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 0:05 Comments || Top||

#2  President Obama will look without fondness

He'll hate Israel more than he does now?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/24/2014 3:48 Comments || Top||

#3  Under a 2003 agreement sales of Iraqi oil were to be deposited in an account held by JPMorgan Chase in NY city. Thus, the deposit of funds received for sale of Kurd oil through Ceyhan, Turkey, in the Turkish bank will likely make Kerry's head explode.
Posted by: Muggsy White8658 || 06/24/2014 8:32 Comments || Top||

#4  will likely make Kerry's head explode.

We can only hope!
Posted by: Old Patriot || 06/24/2014 22:15 Comments || Top||

#5  Kookie r gud
Posted by: badanov || 06/24/2014 22:21 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Indictment: Security Prisoners Planned To Abduct A Soldier
[Ynet] Southern District State Prosecution has filed seven indictments at Beer Sheva District Court against five Paleostinian prisoners accused of planning to abduct a soldier for the purpose of negotiating the release of additional prisoners.

According to the indictment, one of the prisoners, who is tossed in the calaboose
You have the right to remain silent...
for two consecutive life sentences, contacted other inmates in order to execute the attack.

Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, was supposed to arm and fund the operation via a contact whose job was to transfer weapons, cell phones and cash to inmates who had served their time.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Army Informed about Recruitment of Fighters in Europe
[AnNahar] The Lebanese army obtained satellite information from major countries that several Middle Eastern states that have embassies in Europe are recruiting fighters to engage in terrorist acts, An Nahar newspaper reported on Monday.

The daily said that the mentioned embassies are mostly recruiting north African nationals to train them to carry out security operations in the region.

The report noted that a certain embassy recruited 1,800 Tunisian members.

However,
facts are stubborn; statistics are more pliable...
the newspaper said that western countries that have satellites in the Middle East briefed the army on the matter, which indicates that Leb will not become "another Iraq."

A member of the Internal Security Forces was killed and at least 30 people were maimed in a boom-mobileing that targeted an ISF checkpoint in the Dahr al-Baydar area on Friday.

The army recently boosted its security measures after obtaining information of a terrorist act planned to be carried out across Leb by a group linked to the Abdullah Azzam Brigades
... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed...
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original...
(ISIL), which grew from the ranks of al-Qaeda before splitting with the global terror network, is active in both Syria and neighboring Iraq and seeks to set up an Islamic state that straddles both countries.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Jordan Reinforces Border with Iraq
[AnNahar] Jordan has reinforced its border with Iraq after Sunni Arab turbans overran a crossing with Syria, a security official said on Monday.

"The Jordanian army has dispatched more troops, tanks, rocket launchers and armored personnel carriers to the border with Iraq," the official told AFP.

"The army will not tolerate any kind of infiltration."

Information Minister and government front man Mohammad Momani described the measures as "precautionary".

"Such measures are contentious and precautionary... in accordance with developments on the ground," Momani told AFP.

Iraqi officials said on Monday that Sunni Arab turbans have seized the Al-Waleed border post between Iraq and Syria.

The capture of the post means that all official crossings with Iraq's neighbor to the west are outside government control.

The two other official crossings between Iraq and Syria, Al-Qaim and Rabia, are also outside government hands, with turbans holding the first and security forces from the country's autonomous Kurdish region in control of the second.

There is only one official crossing between Iraq and Jordan, at Tirbil, some 370 kilometers (230 miles) east of Amman.

There is confusion over who controls the Iraqi side of the crossing, with some reports saying fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original...
(ISIL) has overrun it and others saying it is under the control of Sunni tribes.

Jordanian officials say trucks and cars are passing through the crossing normally.

An offensive in Iraq led by the powerful ISIL has sparked fears in Amman that the jihadists will take the fight to Jordan.

Already struggling to cope with hosting more than 600,000 Syrian refugees, Jordan has long faced a challenge in dealing with its own jihadists, many of whom have joined ISIL and other Al-Qaeda-linked groups in neighboring Iraq and Syria.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Hizbullah, Syrian Army Incursion Compels Residents of Tufail to Leave Homes
[AnNahar] The residents of the town of Tufail were forced to leave their village after an infiltration by the Syrian army and Hizbullah
...Party of God, a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as The Resistance and purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory...
fighters that was accompanied by air raids.

According to al-Mustaqbal
... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...
newspaper published on Monday, the residents of Tufail, which lies in eastern Leb in an area surrounded by Syrian territory, informed Lebanese authorities that the town has been under attack for the past two days.

Higher Relief Council acting chief General Mohammed Kheir told the newspaper that around 50 Lebanese families left their homes in Tufail on Sunday and headed to the town of Arsal, while only eight families stayed there.

He pointed out that 60 Syrian families also left the Lebanese village and headed to several areas, in particular, the border town of Arsal.

In April, the village of Tufail was isolated after the only road that leads to the town came under the control of Syrian government troops.

The town is located at the end of the eastern mountain belt's plains, in an area that is 24 kilometers inside Syrian territories. Tufail is surrounded by Syrian lands to its north, east and south, and by the Lebanese villages of Ham, Maarboun and Brital to its west.

More than 4,000 Lebanese nationals reside in Tufail, Christians and Mohammedans, among them there are around 25 soldiers in the army and some 5,000 Syrian refugees.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah


Syria: Assad Army Kills Rebels From Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia In Quneitra Area Battles
[Ynet] Syrian military officials have said that in the past 24 hours their forces attacked terror centers in Ophania village in northern city of Quneitra near the Syrian Golan heights area, SANA news agency reported.

According to Syrian government reports, some 40 rebels of Qatari, Jordanian and Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
nationalities were killed in the area. Syrian opposition sources reported that in the past day the area has seen intense battles between the sides.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Around 2,400 Tunisians Fighting in Syria
[AnNahar] At least 2,400 Tunisian jihadists are fighting in Syria, most of them rebels affiliated to the radical Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original...
(ISIL), Tunisia's interior minister said Monday.

"According to what we have gathered, there are 2,400 Tunisians who have gone to Syria to fight with al-Nusra Front and the majority of them -- 80 percent -- with (ISIL)," Lotfi Ben Jeddou told news hounds, without specifying his source.

In February, the minister said Tunisian authorities had prevented 8,000 people from traveling to Syria, while some 400 Tunisians had already returned from fighting there.

ISIL, one of the main forces battling the regime of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Lord of the Baath...
, controls certain key regions in northern and northeast Syria and has cut a swathe through northern Iraq in recent weeks.

It is also the most extreme jihadist group in Syria, aiming to create an Islamic state the straddles the border with Iraq but renowned for its abuses of civilians.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State of Iraq & the Levant


India-Pakistan
'US, India aiding militants in Fata'
[DAWN] LANDI KOTAL: Commandant Khyber Rifles Colonel Mansoor Janjua has claimed that bully boyz in tribal areas are getting financial support from the United States and India to wage war against their own Mohammedan brothers on the pretext of jihad.

Speaking at the passing out parade of 44 new recruits of Khyber Rifles here at the army garrison on Monday, Colonel Janjua said that blood of thousands of innocent rustics had been spilled in the name of religion and also to destabilise Pakistain at the behest of the enemies of the country. "It is time people of Fata joined hands with security forces to cleanse the area of all miscreants and establish lasting peace there," he said.

The army official said that protection of lives and properties of the citizens was the top priority of the security forces and they would fulfill their responsibility at all costs. Speaking about the ongoing military operation in North Wazoo, he said that it would continue till the elimination of the last bad boy from the region. "Those who took weapons and fought against Pakistain would not be tolerated," he said.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


-Short Attention Span Theater-
The end of the hipster: how flat caps and beards stopped being so cool
[THEGUARDIAN] Now that cocktails in jam jars have made it to EastEnders, what's next for those who would be 'alternative'?
Go buy a Brooks Brothers suit and go to the opera so you don't look and act like everybody else.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  LMAO. Go with the timeless stuff, and disregard the dipshits that change every few years because some gay designer in NY/LA decided to call something else "fashionable".


Posted by: OldSpook || 06/24/2014 0:13 Comments || Top||

#2  The hipster look can't die soon enough.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 0:21 Comments || Top||

#3  I'd love to see one of those dipshits change a tire. Took me six and a half minutes to do that off the Mass. Turnpike last week, and I was pissed at myself for taking too long. Granted, a completely shredded tire and frozen lugs didn't help, but still!
Posted by: Raj || 06/24/2014 0:33 Comments || Top||

#4  Is there a German word that means "endless wanking over infinitesimal differences"?
Posted by: SteveS || 06/24/2014 0:39 Comments || Top||

#5  Endlesswankingoverinfinitesimaldifferences?
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 1:00 Comments || Top||

#6  I think der Dummkopf is the word you are looking for Steve
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 1:20 Comments || Top||

#7  Can we please get rid of all of those tattoos? Especially on women?

Al
Posted by: frozen al || 06/24/2014 10:54 Comments || Top||

#8  One of our g-daughters showed up to a family function over the weekend wearing jeans embellished with holes and tears. I remarked that it was apparent the banking business (her vocation) must not be doing very well. She was not, er, amused, and Mrs. Phester, shockingly enough (/sarc), took her side.

Guess I'll never understand fashion.
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 06/24/2014 12:27 Comments || Top||

#9  "Gee, you guys are so unhip it's a wonder your bums don't fall off"
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 06/24/2014 12:32 Comments || Top||

#10  Cocktails in jam jars? Why, weez'all head of duh treeend out hear...Whisky and bourbon are cocktails right? Or is this some hipster slang I don't want to know about.

What is a flat cap, or ditto the previous worry?
Posted by: swksvolFF || 06/24/2014 16:16 Comments || Top||

#11  It's a cocktail if it's mixed with something.

Otherwise it's just booze.
Posted by: Pappy || 06/24/2014 17:09 Comments || Top||

#12  That's the sound of a thousand hipsters exhaling in relief.

...unless ice/water counts.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 06/24/2014 17:36 Comments || Top||

#13  And what's white white coffee?
Posted by: Shipman || 06/24/2014 18:42 Comments || Top||

#14  Why Mr.swksvolFF a flat cap is a Yorkshire thing, it is a cap and it is flat. you can carry your lunch in your flat cap or water your dawg in the field with your flat cap. You can adjust it and think, take it off and scratch your head and think, admire the fine tweed and think you can also carry 4 kittens in it in a pinch. A fine piece of haberdashery. Highly recommended. Think Sir Jackie Stewart, but not Scotish, Yoirkish.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/24/2014 18:45 Comments || Top||

#15  Ah, so like an Andy Capp.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 06/24/2014 20:07 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
TuQ and Model Town: How internal politics did PML-N in
[DAWN] It's a true saying that politicians do not need enemies; they just need time as they are their own worst enemies.

The statement holds true for practically all political parties in Pakistain. It took the PPP five years at the top to wipe out its presence from three provinces.

It took Imran Khan
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Afghanistan
Afghan Forces in Heavy Clashes With Helmand Taliban
[Tolo News] Officials reported that at least 17 Taliban murderous Moslems, 13 coppers and nine civilians have bit the dust amid heavy festivities between bully boyz and the Afghan cops in southern Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
province over the past three days.

An additional five Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and five coppers have suffered injuries.

The festivities began in Sangin and Nawzad districts of the province after hundreds of Taliban snuffies stormed police outposts, Helmand Governor Mohammad Naeem said on Monday. Four outposts fell into bad boy hands in Sangin district.

Governor Naeem said the non-combatants were killed by related Taliban missile attacks.

The festivities are reportedly still ongoing and reinforcements have been deployed to assist the security forces already in the area.

Meanwhile,
...back at the pond, the radioactive tadpoles grown into frogs. Really big frogs, in fact...
Helmand Police Chief Abdul Qayoum Baqizoy claimed that nearly 800 Taliban snuffies stormed the outposts in Sangin district.

"We have informed the Interior Ministry and Defence Ministry to seek support," Baqizoy said. "If they don't send support teams, the Taliban will take control of Sangin district."

More than 300 families are said to have fled Sangin over the past couple days because of the escalating violence.

Self-identified Taliban front man, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, confirmed the flare-up, but claimed more than 12 outposts have been destroyed in Sangin.

Helmand is known to be a hotbed of bad boy activity and has long been the focus of NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions...
coalition attention. Over the past few years it has been the primary base of operations for British troops stationed in Afghanistan.

However,
alcohol has never solved anybody's problems. But then, neither has milk...
in preparation for the coalition's withdraw by the end of this year, Afghan cops have taken on increased responsibility throughout Helmand as well as other restive provinces around the country.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syria: 4 killed, 9 wounded in Israeli airstrikes
[BUSINESSWEEK] The Syrian government said Monday a series of Israeli Arclight airstrikes targeting its troops in retaliation for a deadly cross-border attack killed four people and maimed nine others, in its first comment on the overnight incident.

It said the attack was a "flagrant violation" of Syrian illusory sovereignty, but in a departure from previous incidents when Israeli warplanes struck targets in Syria, the government did not vow retaliation.

Israel's prime minister on Monday warned the warring parties in Syria against any attempt to heat up tensions along the disputed frontier, hours after the Israeli air force carried out a string of Arclight airstrikes in Syria in response to the attack, which killed an Israeli teenager riding in a civilian vehicle.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  Are the vermin smart enough to get the message?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/24/2014 3:41 Comments || Top||

#2  It said the attack was a "flagrant violation" of Syrian illusory sovereignty

Aw, come on! If you can't Arclight people in a war zone, where can you?

And yeah, the breakfast drinks are on me. Mimosa?
Posted by: SteveS || 06/24/2014 3:49 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Karzai Forms Delegation to Address Election Issues
[Tolo News] President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
has assembled a special delegation to work on solutions to problems that have cropped up around the election process over the past week, Attorney General Mohammad Ishaq Aloko said on Monday.

Speaking at a gathering held in Kabul by the Qizilbashan Public Council, Mr. Aloko said that Karzai is actively working to resolve the disputes between presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah
... the former foreign minister of the Northern Alliance government, advisor to Masood, and candidate for president against Karzai. Dr. Abdullah was born in Kabul and is half Tadjik and half Pashtun...
, his opponent Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and the election commissions.

"President Karzai appointed a delegation to find an agreement," Aloko said. "The Attorney General's office has not yet received any issue about the election and hopes not to receive any in the future either; we hope the issues of the election will be solved."

The Attorney General did not specify who was on Karzai's delegation, but indicated that it included tribal elders. "There are some elders working on the issue and Karzai has asked the two candidates to meet with each other," he said. "We believe in two candidates, they are very popular figures."

The election process took a controversial turn shortly after Election Day when presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah began launching accusations of fraud against the election commissions, his opponent and Karzai himself. Abdullah demanded the suspension of a top election official and decided to boycott the Independent Election Commission (IEC) when his demand went unmet. He also called for the voting process to be stopped.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:


Votes From Kandahar, Helmand Isolated Under Suspicion of Fraud
[Tolo News] Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) officials from southern Kandahar province said on Sunday that votes from 17 polling sites have been separated out of the vote counting process for further review after suspicions of fraud arose from complaints filed by presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah
... the former foreign minister of the Northern Alliance government, advisor to Masood, and candidate for president against Karzai. Dr. Abdullah was born in Kabul and is half Tadjik and half Pashtun...
. Election officials of nearby Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
province have said votes from 13 sites have been isolated.

The announcements come over a week after Abdullah leveled accusations of aiding and abetting runoff fraud in favor of his opponent - Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai - against the Independent Election Commission (IEC). He then followed up those allegations with claims that President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
has supported the IEC's actions.

Kandahar ECC head Shamsuddin Wafa said that the complaints filed by Abdullah's campaign had led to the isolation of thousands of ballots from across the province. He said one of the polling sites was in Kandahar city and the others spread across nine outlying districts.

He also confirmed that the complaints from Abdullah's team were primarily "against Independent Election Commission (IEC) employees and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai's electoral team."

Although Abdullah withdrew his observers from the election commissions and demanded the vote counting process be stopped last week, national election officials have pressed on with the process. The only clear developments his pronouncements seem to have caused were to prompt the United Nations
...an organization originally established to war on dictatorships which was promptly infiltrated by dictatorships and is now held in thrall to dictatorships...
to step in as a mediator and fuel tensions between his supporters and those of Ashraf Ghani.

On Election Day, reports emerged from Kandahar of observers being forced out of voting places. Abdullah supporters have also pointed to a surprisingly high turnout in Maiwand district as a sign of possible ballot stuffing, along with similar cases in a number of eastern provinces.

The statements of the Kandahar ECC head follow the announcement by neighboring Helmand's ECC office that votes from 13 polling sites had been set aside for further investigation. The sites in question were located in Musa Qala, Gereshk, Nad Ali and Marjeh districts.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Police Superintendent's Killer Captured, Was Released In Trade for Gilad Shalit
[Ynet] Cleared for publication: Police Chief Superintendent Baruch Mizrahi was killed by Ziad Awad, a Paleostinian freed from an Israeli jail as part of the prisoner deal that freed Gilad Shalit.

The killer of Baruch Mizrahi, the senior Israeli police officer killed in a Passover eve terror attack near Hebron, was a Paleostinian released in the prisoner exchange deal which saw Gilad Shalit freed in 2011 in return for 1,027 Paleostinian prisoners, it was cleared for publication Monday.

An indictment was filed Monday against Ziad Awad, a resident of the village of Idna near Hebron, for murder and attempted murder.

Awad was freed in the first tranche of the Shalit prisoner exchange deal, after he was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Paleostinians who had collaborated with Israel.

Chief Superintendent Mizrahi, a senior officer in the Israel Police, was killed when a gunman armed with what is believed to have been a Kalashnikov opened fire on Israeli cars near Hebron, as they travelled to a Passover Seder in the Kiryat Arba settlement. His wife and nine-year-old son were maimed in the attack. Mizrahi left behind five children.

Awad, 42, was locked away
Book 'im, Mahmoud!
last month by the Shin Bet and the police in a special joint operation with the IDF. He was arrested together with his son Izz a-Din, 18, who helped him plan the attack as well as flee the murder scene and hide afterwards. Both father and son are members of Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,.

During their interrogation, it emerged that Ziad Awad rode a cycle of violence to the scene of the attack, having obtained the Kalashnikov rifle beforehand. According to the Shin Bet, he visited at the place somew 10 days earlier to better plan his attack.

Before launching the attack, Awad confided in his son that he had religious motivation, saying that, "according to Islam, whoever kills a Jew goes to heaven."

According to a senior IDF source, "the murder was conducted in professional manner, and (Awad) then expeditiously departed at a goodly pace on a cycle of violence, returning to his home in the village."

Freed before completing half of sentence
During the investigation into Mizrahi's murder, security forces located the Kalashnikov rifle allegedly used by Awad.

Despite initial assessments, the investigation pointed to the attack being carried out by a lone terrorist. The assumption was based on the large number of shells found at the scene. What led Sherlocks to Awad was DNA evidence collected from the shell casings. The IDF and Shin Bet are still searching for other suspects involved in the shooting.

Ultimately, physical evidence allowed Sherlocks to create a profile for the murder, which helped them close in on Awad.

Awad was initially arrested in 1999 and began serving what was supposed to be a 27-year prison term for murdering Paleostinian collaborators, but he was released in 2011 as part of the deal to free Shalit, who had been held captive in Gazoo for five years.

A few days after his murder, Mizrahi's wife, Hadas, recalled coming under fire and ordering her children to stay down.

"We passed the Tarqumia checkpoint and a traffic circle, and then Baruch saw a terrorist," she said. "He told me, 'they're shooting, they're shooting, they're shooting. There's a terrorist.' Baruch put his foot down on the gas pedal."

"I felt a pain in my back. I told the kids, 'take off your seatbelts and lie down on the floor'. I took the steering wheel, shifted into low gear and used the handbrake to reduce the speed," she said. I used a rag to wipe up the blood; I saw that Baruch was dead. When the soldiers arrived, I told them to dress my wounds and put the children in a protected vehicle, so that they didn't see their father lying dead."

Mizrahi was the head of the tech division of the Israel Police. He had served for 25 years in the IDF, holding senior posts in elite intelligence units. A police statement said that his contributions to Israel's security had been "substantial".

Large numbers of IDF troops have been deployed to the West Bank over the past 10 days, following the abduction of three Israeli teens in the Hebron area on June 12. Awad's arrest is not connected to the search for the three boys, the Shin Bet said.

Netanyahu: Mizrahi's killer is Hamas man, I've ordered forces to demolish his house
Golly. Consequences -- whodathunkit?
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Last of Syria's declared chemical weapons removed from country
[MIAMIHERALD] The last known components of Syria's chemical weapons arsenal steamed away from that war-torn nation Monday. While their removal came a bit behind schedule, it was hailed by experts as a major milestone that makes the world a safer place.

The final load of chemicals used to produce deadly and dangerous weapons such as sarin and mustard gas left Syria aboard a Danish ship that sailed from the port of Latakia. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, Netherlands, which oversaw Syria's chemical disarmament, noted that never before had weapons of mass destruction been removed from a country embroiled in armed conflict.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Home Front: WoT
U.S. Eliminates Multi-Warheads on All Minuteman 3's
The United States this week finished altering its ground-based, long-range nuclear missiles to each carry just one warhead, the Great Falls Tribune reports.
Somehow I don't feel safer...
Crews carried out the final modification of an intercontinental ballistic missile at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, the newspaper reported on Wednesday. The service implemented the alterations under a nuclear-arms pact with Russia.

The New START strategic arms-control treaty called for the change to the nation's Minuteman 3 ICBMs, which were previously able to carry three "Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles." The United States maintains roughly 450 of the missiles, deployed at the Montana facility and at bases in North Dakota and Wyoming.

"This was the last Minuteman 3 in the Air Force to be 'deMIRVed,' and this is a major milestone in meeting the force structure numbers to comply with the New START requirements," Steve Ray, a member of Air Force Global Strike Command's missile maintenance division, said in a released comment.

"This is historic because we've had MIRVs in the field for more than 40 years, since 1970 when the first Minuteman 3 came on alert," Ray said.

In its 2010 Nuclear Posture Review, the Obama administration said "deMIRVing" the weapons would "enhance the stability of the nuclear balance by reducing the incentives for either side to strike first."

Meanwhile, the Air Force is still reviewing alternatives for a next-generation ICBM capability, U.S. Strategic Command head Adm. Cecil Haney said on Wednesday. The existing Minuteman 3 fleet can remain in service through 2030, he noted in comments referenced in a Defense Department news release.
Posted by: Steve White || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  By treaty, the Trident D5 is limited to eight W88 thermonuclear warheads in a MIRV configuration.

Just saying.
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 0:34 Comments || Top||

#2  Besides overwhelming non-nuclear ABM defenses, A MIRV warhead is capable of laying down a star pattern. The overpressure zones overlap increasing the destructive power (i.e. increasing the pounds per square inch on structures in the blast radius) at the center.
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 0:45 Comments || Top||

#3  Early cluster bombs. Less localized overkill.

So 2x450 surplus warheads? They going in a embassy warehouse somewhere?
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/24/2014 2:26 Comments || Top||

#4  Given the issues in the AF Strategic Command nuke forces, it's a lot easier to account for them on top of the missiles than where they go now.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 8:36 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
A Fence Might Have Prevented Abduction
[Ynet] Under pressure from settlers, defense establishment failed to complete separation barrier in area where teens were kidnapped.
Idiots. Of the Cloud Cuckoo Land variety.
The kidnapping of Israeli soldiers and citizens, whether in order to murder them or as a bargaining chip to secure the release of Paleostinian prisoners, is a working premise the defense establishments have been dealing with for many years.
That's because the defence establishments aren't idiots.
This threat is handled in a variety of patterns such as information, movement and transportation procedures and a roadblock system.

The Seam Zone project stood out as part of Israel's preparedness for the wave of terror which hit us in the second intifada. It focused on setting up the barrier aimed at preventing Death Eaters from infiltrating Israel but also reducing the friction between the large population centers by separating between then.

Surprisingly and unfortunately, due to considerations which had nothing to do with security, this measure is absent from the Gush Etzion region where the teens were kidnapped.

There are some 65,000 Israelis living in the Gush Etzion area, almost one-fifth of the Israelis in Judea and Samaria. Whoever passes through gets the wrong impression that it is a friendly vicinity, with no Paleostinian population and security-related threats and filled with weapon holders.

But the truth is that the overwhelming majority of residents, about 40,000, are haredim living in Beitar Illit. Add that to thousands of high school and yeshiva students, most of whom lack military training and are unaware of the nature of the threats surrounding them.

This bloc of communities is located between Bethlehem and Hebron, and the main traffic route — Highway 60 which crosses it — continues to an area characterized by massive support for Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,. For example, a center for Salafi activity has developed in recent years in the town of Yatta near Hebron, forcing the Paleostinian Authority's security organizations and the IDF to invest many efforts against the hostility of part of the population.

This fact makes it difficult, for example, to arrest those responsible for the killing of IDF soldier Gal Kobi in Hebron nine months ago and policeman Baruch Mizrahi* two months ago. These are two serious incidents which have joined the wave of attacks suffered by the bloc.
*It was just revealed that the Mizrahi miscreants were caught a month ago. And Bibi himself announced their house is to be knocked down.
Despite this history, and despite the investment of hundreds of millions of shekels in the basic infrastructure of the fence, the defense establishment chose to inform the High Court of Justice in 2009 that it did not intend to complete its construction.

A defense establishment announcement that it would resume the construction of the fence in Gush Etzion in 2013 was subject to a political and PR counter-attack from the bloc's leaders.
Fools.
Their objection is based on the understanding that they would not get the High Court's approval to build the fence in the suggested greedy outline which is very lacking in its security aspects.
Ah. Correction: greedy fools.
The council heads took Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin and many others on a tour, as part of a huge PR and political effort to prevent the erection of a fence on a security outline in the Gush Etzion area.

The council head argued that "the fence might separate between the eastern part of the bloc and its western part, leave several communities outside the fence, destroy the fabric of life with the Paleostinians and create a narrow passageway around the road to Jerusalem and the lowland."

In other, more accurate words, the construction of the fence would have created a clear border and prevented the expansion of the settlements northward to Jerusalem and eastward to the Herodium area.

The defense establishment couldn't cope with the pressure, and Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Naveh announced that the fence would not be built.

The council head rushed to declare, "We are happy and excited to receive the news that after an long battle against the completion the separation fence, we managed to influence its freezing. I welcome the decision and believe we will be able to maintain our good relations with our Arab neighbors."
Are he and his council still quite so pleased with themselves now?
This isn't the only incident in which settlers' political considerations overpowered security needs. A remarkably similar decision was made in regards to the construction of the fence in Ma'aleh Adumim, where another 40,000 Israelis live.

No one could have guaranteed that the completion of the fence would completely prevent abductions in light of the terror organizations' huge motivation. Hamas and Hezbollah have managed to kidnap soldiers engaging in operational activity on Israeli territory. But it can reduce the potential of this threat and others threats.

In addition to our hopes to bring the boys back safely, we must demand that the Israeli government and defense establishment recognize these threats, as long as we are far from an agreement with the Paleostinians, prepare for them according to security considerations and ward off extraneous considerations.

Colonel (res.) Shaul Arieli is a member of the Council for Peace and Security and one of the Geneva Initiative negotiators.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Only one way to prevent terrorism, and it ain't fences.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/24/2014 5:53 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
VDH: The decline of western civilization in a few paragraphs.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1 
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 2:28 Comments || Top||

#2  It took Mr. Hanson this long to figure it out? One only has to subject themselves to two weeks of Springer to have fathom that observation.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 8:31 Comments || Top||

#3  In a nutshell: the perpetrator is now the victim. It's the Left's overriding modus operandi and we see this played out in our society every day, from the current prezident and all the way down to the thug on the street. No one is accountable for their actions and personal responsibility is sacrificed at the altar of equality and "social justice" (WTHTM).
Posted by: Eltoroverde || 06/24/2014 13:23 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Qadri threatens to topple govt, vows to lead 'revolution'
[DAWN] Pakistain Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri
...Pak politician, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him...
, a Canada based Islamic holy man, returned to Pakistain on Monday to try to start what he has called a "peaceful revolution" against the government, as his supporters engaged in violent festivities with police.

He touched down in the eastern city of Lahore after his flight was diverted from Islamabad following violence at the capital's airport that police said left more than 70 of their officers injured.

In January last year Qadri drew tens of thousands of people to a sit-in protest in Islamabad. His return comes at a sensitive time for the government, potentially adding to pressure on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
.

The military is in the midst of a major offensive against Talibs in the northwest, and nine people were killed when Qadri's followers clashed with police in Lahore a week ago.

On Monday his supporters, armed with sticks and bricks, clashed with baton-wielding police at Islamabad's airport, where Qadri had been due to arrive on an Emirates flight.

A front man for Islamabad police said more than 70 officers were maimed, with several suffering broken bones and head injuries.

The plane was diverted to Lahore "to ensure the safety of the passengers and aircraft," according to a civil aviation official. But for several hours Qadri refused to get off.

The 63-year-old demanded protection from the military before agreeing to disembark. He finally left the aircraft accompanied by Punjab provincial governor Mohammad Sarwar and opposition politician Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi.

Qadri said he held the prime minister and his brother Shahbaz Sharif
...Pak dynastic politician, brother of PM Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab...
, chief minister of Punjab, responsible for the killing of his party workers last week, comparing the pair to "Hitler and Mussolini".

"I will Dire Revenge™ InshaAllah (God willing). I will Dire Revenge™ for the labourers, helpless, poor and deaders," he said at a Lahore hospital as he visited those maimed in last week's festivities.

Addressing workers at his residence later, Qadri said he would "announce a date for revolution" shortly. "I will give a sudden call," he said.

"The rulers will try to run away, but I won't let the looters run away."
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Three 'foreign militants' killed in Sohrab Goth 'encounter'
[DAWN] Three suspected snuffies were rubbed out in an 'encounter' in the militancy-infested area of Sohrab Goth on Sunday, bringing the corpse count to more than 12 snuffies within the past three days, demonstrating an intensification of the targeted operation in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
following the launch of the military operation in North Wazoo, the officials said.

Acting on a tip-off, the police raided a suspected hideout of snuffies in Sohrab Goth.

On seeing the police, the alleged snuffies attacked the law enforcement agencies personnel with guns and grenades, damaging a police mobile of the Sohrab Goth DSP, Additional Inspector General of Police of Karachi Ghulam Qadir Thebo said.

In retaliation, the police bumped off three suspects, who appeared to be foreigners belonging to the banned the Tehrik Taliban Pakistain, he added. The police also detained 10 suspects, including a few foreigners, and found kaboom and arms and ammunition at the scene of the crime.

Sohrab Goth SHO Shoaib Ahmed told Dawn that contingents of the Malir police raided an alleged hideout of snuffies in Pioneer Homes off the Superhighway at around 2pm.

The police had received secret information that snuffies were hiding in a bungalow whose door was locked from outside.

He said that the suspects, whose number was stated to be 12-13, opened fire on the police in their bid to flee. The police retaliated and after a fierce shootoutrubbed out three alleged snuffies while the others managed to escape.

The bodies were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

According to a hospital official, the dear departed were aged between 30 and 35 years. One deceased received eight bullet wounds on different parts of his body while the two others sustained four bullet wounds each. Their identity could not be ascertained immediately.

The police claimed to have seized 20 kilograms kaboom, two kilograms kaboom in ready position, four hand-grenades, one rifle, one 9mm pistol, one 30-bore pistol, one cycle of violence and other ammunition.

The city police chief told Dawn that in the wake of the military operation against snuffies in North Waziristan and a possible threat to law and order in Karachi, the law-enforcement agencies had adopted a three-pronged strategy to meet any eventuality in the placid provincial capital.

Security had been enhanced at all vital installations, particularly establishments belonging to the police, Rangers and armed forces, who could be the prime target of the bully boys, he added.

Secondly, the rapid response force comprising 40 highly-trained police commandoes was established at zonal level of Karachi, who would respond to any emergency situation. Thirdly, Ghulam Qadir Thebo added, "previously, we were defensive, but now we are offensive against the bully boys." As part of the 'offensive strategy,' 'targeted operation' had been launched in militancy-infested areas of Karachi "to keep snuffies on the run so that they would not be in a position to attack".

Therefore, over the past three days, more than a dozen suspected snuffies had been killed in the metropolis during different encounters, added the city police chief.

He admitted that threat or retaliation from the Taliban could not be ruled out.

In fact, he added that suspected snuffies on Saturday had targeted a police checkpoint in Gulshan-e-Maymar with kaboom. The post was destroyed along with a parked cycle of violence of a policeman.

Replying to a question, Mr Thebo said that they had received intelligence reports in the wake of the military operation in North Waziristan that snuffies in Karachi might try to create chaos and a hostage-like situation and since there was an alleged nexus between the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
... a 'more violent' offshoot of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistain. LeJ's purpose in life is to murder anyone who's not of utmost religious purity, starting with Shiites but including Brelvis, Ahmadis, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Rosicrucians, and just about anyone else you can think of. They are currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of al-Qaeda ...
and the Taliban, therefore, the Shia community might be a target. However,
Switzerland makes more than cheese...
he added that the prime target of the snuffies would be the police and law enforcement agencies.

Earlier on Friday morning, five suspected snuffies were rubbed out after a fierce shootout between the police and Rangers and snuffies in another militancy-infested area of Manghopir in which three Rangers personnel were also maimed.

Separately, two more snuffies were killed in 'encounters' in Kalakot area of Lyari
...one of the eighteen constituent towns of the city of Karachi. It is the smallest town by area in the city but also the most densely populated. Lyari has few schools, substandard hospitals, a poor water system, limited infrastructure, and broken roads. It is a stronghold of ruling Pakistan Peoples Party. Ubiquitous gang activity and a thriving narcotics industry make Lyari one of the most disturbed places in Karachi, which is really saying a lot....
and SITE areas of the city on same day.

On Saturday, three TTP men were rubbed out in an 'encounter' in Steel Town by the CID police in which one kidnapped doctor of Gulshan-e-Hadeed was also recovered.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Pakistan


No profit, no loss for Qadri
[Pak Daily Times] Political persuasion and administrative steps on the heels of last-resort plane diversion was the best that the under-pressure PML-N federal and provincial governments could come up with to finally wind up the much-trumpeted Islamabad-Lahore GT Road political show of Dr Tahirul Qadri
...Pak politician, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him...
, and avoid any major fireworks.

The nine-hour-long sit-in of sorts in a foreign airline plane at the Lahore airport, followed by negotiations and then sojourn along with Punjab governor, however, gave Qadri at least something to cheer, for the time being. He lost nothing big, gained nothing substantial. With security scare and June 17 bloody event of Lahore still fresh in minds, both sides knew fully well their limits, bearing strictly in mind to stay away from a full-blown political contest in the backdrop of operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Wazoo.

Dr Qadri's appeal to garrison all day long on Monday proved a D-Day, as he had to be content with a smoke screen in the shape of Punjab governor as representative of the state rather than the government, more of a political pawn of his arch adversaries, the Sharifs. Ironically, the tactful Sharifs, on this day, seemed to have run out of credible political faces in stock, but Governor Sarwar, to do the difficult job.

Earlier on Monday, apart from some controlled skirmishes in the twin-cities, both the federal and Punjab governments seemed over-cautious, especially in the backdrop of unfortunate events of Lahore, which had turned Qadri's otherwise marginalised show into a keenly observed political happening all over the country. Sans presence on the GT Road, the hours long coverage on media, however, provided Dr Qadri an easy access across the country — enough space to live to fight another day.

The situation at hand will give enough time and space to Qadri and associates to plan and re-group for a post-monsoon political offensive against the PML-N government — maybe a long march towards capital Islamabad — provided the schedule does not collide with army's sensitivities in North Waziristan. Till then, this new Sharif hater club will have to plug in an important missing link, and win over PTI's Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree...
through a loosely bonded or tightly knit political alliance that can prove a major morale booster for them.

Short of it, the whole plan might not click. But till now, conspiracy theories apart, Imran does not seem convinced an alliance with Qadri and Chaudhrys of PML-Q will prove a sane political move. Some of Khan's close aides may think of Qadri as an "anarchist of sorts" intending to shake the very system in which PTI is a major stakeholder. But the big question for the weeks to come remains: can the PML-N being the biggest stakeholder in the present system offer something to Imran (election reforms and recount on four national constituencies of his choice) to convince him to give up agitational politics? Or be left alone to be lured into the new, Imran- or Dr Qadri-led alliance, in foreseeable future? In either case, it will be a full-scale test of political skills of both the Sharifs.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
We Can Eliminate the Major Tornado Threat in Tornado Alley
To eliminate the tornado threat for the entire Tornado Alley, we may need to build three great walls. The first one should be close to the northern boundary of the Tornado Alley, maybe in North Dakota. The second one should be in the middle, maybe in the middle of Oklahoma and going to east. The third one can be in the south of Texas and Louisiana.
As a proof of concept, we can build the 3rd wall first on the Texas/Mexican boarder. Yeah, that is the ticket. Get all the great plains states to join with the boarder states to get it done.

We are saving lives!
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  '... the wall needs about 300 meter high and 50 meter wide."

THIS IS SELF SATIRE
Posted by: lord garth || 06/24/2014 0:17 Comments || Top||

#2  THIS IS SELF SATIRE

It is not the reality that matters. It is how it makes you feel.

How else are you going to sell a boarder wall to the donks?
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 0:24 Comments || Top||

#3  Used to chase twisters. Watched them when they were over head funnel clouds spinning along up near the clouds. Watched them dance along the ground like little erratic dust devils, watched them move slowly along like a huge monster when they became a mile wide. They moved sometimes in one direction, sometimes in another, sometimes they skipped along for miles, other times they touched down for just a few feet, or never touched down at all but tore everything up that was 20 feet above ground and up.

The science of a tornado predictability is something I do not see man ever being capable of predicting unless they have a direct line of communication with Providence.
Posted by: Thineng Angailet7166 || 06/24/2014 0:34 Comments || Top||

#4  TA7166,
As I understand it, tornado alley is caused by a wobble in the jet stream which is in turn caused by the Rocky mountains. The jet stream goes almost due north. The walls would break up this flow.

In Philadelphia, there is one skyscraper building, Comcast Center, about 300 meter high. From the cost of Comcast Center, we estimate that to build one mile such wall, we need about $160 million. On the other hand, the damages caused by single tornado attack in Moore, Oklahoma on May 20, 2013 alone were multi billion dollars. Therefore, it seems that the cost for building such a wall is affordable.

The ROI is good. :-)
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 0:53 Comments || Top||

#5  Huh.
I thought it was the propensity of trailers mobile homes.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/24/2014 2:20 Comments || Top||

#6  the propensity of trailers

Yeah, all that aluminum. Hey, what if we built a giant aluminum pyramid out in the middle of nowhere and used it as a giant tornado magnet to divert them from populated areas?
Posted by: SteveS || 06/24/2014 3:57 Comments || Top||

#7  Tornados have been recorded in every US state, all Canadian provinces, and most countries of the world. The anomaly in 'Tornado Alley' is repeat incidents and longevity, mostly caused by topography and prevailing weather conditions. Ground clutter does not stop them from forming, or even slow them down. (You haven't been through anything til you've shared a deep pine forest with a funnel cloud.)
About 15 years ago, a F4 went though downtown Fort Worth, and one of the buildings that took significant damage was the 'Cash Pawn' skyscraper, of whom the largest tenant was the FBI (stone serious here). The funnel blew out windows and sucked out filing cabinets, spraying a five mile long area with papers with 'Secret' stamped on them. They asked people to return the documents, but please don't look at them.
Posted by: ed in texas || 06/24/2014 7:50 Comments || Top||

#8  But then what shall we call it?
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 06/24/2014 12:36 Comments || Top||

#9  The Great Beeramid of WIC.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 06/24/2014 13:38 Comments || Top||

#10  SteveS, I'm beginning to get the 'Federal Grant' tingle. I'm thinking a Eco-study is in order.
Not to prove anything of course. Just to identify there is some(p<.05) data that might suggest, something. Maybe a Leyden Jar effect when the microwave and TV are on and the blowing wind wraps a negative static charge on the shell.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/24/2014 13:58 Comments || Top||

#11  Even better, we should begin instrumenting can shaped grain silos. instead of a pyramid.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/24/2014 14:01 Comments || Top||

#12  I'd sure as hell hate to be the one doing the Phase I Site Assessments for these boondoggles walls.

On the other hand, it would guarantee work for a couple of lifetimes, particularly when the Greenies get involved and start sueing the Feds and all the state gummints involved.

We could call the authorizing legislation "The Full Employment for Lawyers and Engineers Act."

(All snark aside, this "idea" is boggle-worthy. But I agree - let's test it first along the Mexican-U.S. border.)
Posted by: Barbara || 06/24/2014 14:27 Comments || Top||

#13  Something that I eventually learned about in Texas - after a long while - is the "Dry Line". It's basically a dry front moving east after the moisture is dried out pushing over the Rockies.

The combination of warm air from the south, cool air from the north, and dry air from the west causes a lot of instability at the south end of Tornado Alley. Plus causes a lot of other violent storms without twisters.

The Great 2000 Fort Worth Tornado occurred on March 28, 2000 and made the Bank One/Cash Pawn building (see #7) uninhabitable because it twisted the building on its foundation - like 1.5 degrees. I suppose no engineer would tackle the task of figuring out how to remedy that!
Posted by: Bobby || 06/24/2014 14:28 Comments || Top||

#14  What I don't understand is why people ignore their own history. What about revetments (aka glacis)? After watching what was done to a OK school house how expensive would it be to put revetment facing north, west, and south around the schools? When men started to put horizontal energy against curtain walls with cannon about five hundred years ago, they figured out putting revetments around those walls cause the force to either die in the revetment or glance over the curtain wall, minimizing damage. Sure, you'd lose a roof or two, but basic building structures would remain rather than collapse on people. It's not like tornado dig canals in the earth they traverse.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 15:43 Comments || Top||

#15  Lets build it around the beltway...
Posted by: 49 Pan || 06/24/2014 17:50 Comments || Top||

#16  Only if we then fill it up with water 49.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 06/24/2014 17:53 Comments || Top||

#17  A giant poo pond. Excellent !
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 17:57 Comments || Top||

#18  start along the border
Posted by: Frank G || 06/24/2014 18:45 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Egypt: Army Take Out 22 Terrorists In Northern Sinai
[Ynet] The Egyptian army has killed 22 Death Eaters in northern Sinai over the past 24 hours, in an operation which saw fire exchanges with the gunnies, Arab media reported.

According to one report, the Death Eaters tried to plant an bombs at a Multinational Force and Observer's (MFO) camp in the Sinai Peninsula.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Afghanistan
Taliban Free 33 Kandahar Lecturers
[Tolo News] After two weeks in Taliban captivity, 33 professors from Kandahar University were freed on Monday in nearby Ghazni province, according to local officials.

Dawa Khan Menapal, a front man for the Governor of Kandahar, told TOLOnews on Monday that all of the lecturers who were kidnapped by snuffies over two weeks ago will soon be joining their families.

He said the releases were brokered by tribal elders, a common method of negotiations between Afghan officials and murderous Moslems. "The teachers were released with mediation by the tribal elders of Ghazni province," Mr. Menapal said. "The teachers are in good health condition."

The 33 university lecturers were on their way to Kabul earlier this month when their bus was stopped by the Taliban in Ghazni's Qarabagh district.

Taliban front man, Zabihullah Mujahid, also confirmed the releases. "The teachers were released respectfully after full investigations," he said. He did not make it clear why snuffies had kidnapped the teachers in the first place.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa North
Outrage as Egypt jails Jazeera journalists
[DAWN] An Egyptian court sentenced three Al-Jazeera
... an Arab news network headquartered in Qatar, notorious for carrying al-Qaeda press releases. The name means the Peninsula, as in the Arabian Peninsula. In recent years it has settled in to become slightly less biased than MSNBC, in about the same category as BBC or CBS...
journalists including Australia's Peter Greste to jail terms from seven to 10 years Monday in a verdict denounced internationally as "chilling" and "unjust".

Greste and Egyptian-Canadian Mohammed Fadel Fahmy each got seven years, while Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed received two sentences, one for seven years and another for three.

Eleven defendants tried in absentia, including one Dutch journalist and two British journalists, were given 10-year sentences.

The verdict provoked an international outcry and raised fears of growing media restrictions in Egypt.

"Today's conviction is obviously a chilling and draconian sentence," US Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry
Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat, conqueror of Cambodia, and current Secretary of State...
told journalists in Storied Baghdad, a day after he visited Cairo where he urged Egyptian leaders to uphold press freedom.

The Australian government said it was "shocked" by the verdict.

"We are deeply dismayed that a sentence has been imposed and appalled at the severity of it," Canberra's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.

"It is hard to credit that the court in this case could have reached this conclusion," she added.

Al-Jazeera chief Mustafa Sawaq said in Doha: "We condemn... this kind of unjust verdict. ... We are shocked. "Greste's brother Andrew said he was devastated.

"It is definitely not what we were expecting. I was hoping for acquittal... we will continue to fight for his freedom," he said.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Arabia
UAE Sentences 7 Over Alleged Al-Qaeda Ties
[Ynet] The United Arab Emirates' state news agency says a security court has found seven people guilty of participation in a group linked to al-Qaeda.

The WAM news agency said the defendants were sentenced by the State Security Circuit at the Federal Supreme Court in the capital Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia


India-Pakistan
Four bodies recovered from Karachi's Baldia Town
[DAWN] Four bodies bearing torture marks were recovered from Karachi's Baldia Town area on Monday, DawnNews reported.

According to police, the bodies were recovered from Baldia Town's Raees Goth area.

The victims were blindfolded and their bodies bore torture marks and gunshot wounds.

Nine MM shells were also discovered near the bodies.

The victims could not be identified immediately.

Their bodies were shifted to a hospital for postmortem.

Karachi is riddled with targeted killings, gang wars, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism. Targeted operations led by Rangers' forces with the support of police are ongoing in the city under a directive issued by the federal government against criminals already identified by federal, military and civilian agencies.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  this is only a test
Posted by: Bangkok Billy || 06/24/2014 8:43 Comments || Top||


Thousands flee North Waziristan region on last day of evacuation
[DAWN] Residents of North Wazoo have until the end of Monday to leave the remote mountainous North Waziristan tribal region ahead of a widely anticipated major ground offensive by the army against Islamist bad boys.

At least 430,000 people have fled the region into nearby areas of Pakistain as well as neighbouring Afghanistan, the biggest movement of refugees in Pakistain in years.

"Today is the last day for the people to leave the tribal region," a military official told Rooters by telephone from the North Waziristan capital of Miranshah
... headquarters of al-Qaeda in Pakistain and likely location of Ayman al-Zawahiri. The Haqqani network has established a ministate in centered on the town with courts, tax offices and lots of madrassas...
. "The curfew will be then imposed and preparations made for the ground offensive."

Many of those who stayed behind, their number is unknown, said they could not afford to pay for cars to take them to safer places such as Bannu, a dusty town on the edge of the region, where most refugees have settled.

"Those who could afford it have left the tribal region, but some are still there and could die in the fighting as they don't have any means to come out of Waziristan," Zakirullah Khan said after arriving in Bannu.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Pakistan


SC suspends SHC decision to remove Musharraf's name from ECL
[DAWN] The Supreme Court of Pakistn on Monday suspended the Sindh High Court's earlier decision to strike off former military dictator Gen (r) Pervez Perv Musharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
's name from the Exit Control List, DawnNews reported.

A five-judge larger bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, accepted the government's plea challenging the SHC's ruling which ordered the removal of Pervez Musharraf's name from the ECL.

While issuing its order the SHC had said the operation of its judgment was suspended for 15 days enabling the federation to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
The consequences of Syria - Obama's secret alliance with Iran
Posted by: frozen al || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I suspect Lee Smith has it right, but such a complex scheme could have never been hatched in the simian mind of our Champ. Actually, I doubt he writes any of his own material. I'd wager John Brennan was the author and finisher of the Iraqi fate. Smith's conclusions are at least partially validated by the hands-off approach toward the obviously monitored combat preparations of ISIS.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 1:36 Comments || Top||

#2  Lee acts somewhat surprised that the MSM has given up all journalistic reporting standards; that they no longer engage in any investigative reporting. Instead, they carry water for progressive politicians and give them cover. We no longer have a free press. A largely unreported story is the one about linkages between the MSM and progressive money (Soros comes to mind) and organizations. Now that would be a story.
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/24/2014 8:35 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Intelligence-based action ordered against militants
[DAWN] PESHAWAR: Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani has directed the coppers to prepare themselves for any eventuality and make full-fledged contingency plan to avert any untoward incident keeping in view a possible reaction of the North Wazoo military operation in parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...

The police chief termed the ongoing operation essential for survival of the country and directed the participants to identify the hub of gunnies and vulnerable places in their districts and launch intelligence-based action.

"The tempo of the ongoing search and strike operation must be reflected in the police action against bully boyz in settled areas," said the IGP while presiding over a meeting of all district coppers (DPOs) at the central police office here on Monday.

Additional IGPs operations, special branch and FRP, CCPO and DIGs operation and headquarters attended the meeting. The DPOs presented a detailed briefing about the law and order and possible reaction of the gunnies in their respective districts on this occasion.

"We have no other option, but to win this war at all costs," said the IGP and directed the officers to coordinate with the rapid response force in their districts and do mock exercise of their action against bully boyz by personally leading it. The DPOs were asked to take steps under the recently-passed Tenant Verification and Hotel Security Restriction Act 2014.

Mr Durrani directed the participants to adopt foolproof security measures for busy public places like markets, bus stands, cinemas and banks. He asked them to ensure checking of all vehicles, particularly cycle of violences, through vehicle verification system and properly interrogate the tossed in the clink
Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages!
persons.

He said that any police checkpost must ensure an effective deterrence against gunnies and safety of the posted officials. He asked the DPOs to visit these checkposts regularly.

The IGP directed the district coppers to personally become complainant in cases of extortion and militancy and ensure 100 per cent conviction in such cases. They were further asked to do geo-tagging of the occurrences, prepare list of ghost employees and adopt professional approach by securing scene of the crime.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Who knows, might work. Its probably an improvement on all those unintelligent strikes.
Posted by: OldSpook || 06/24/2014 0:14 Comments || Top||

#2  I hate unintelligent strikes.
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 0:34 Comments || Top||

#3  They are getting rid of Obama, the Secretary of Defense and the State Department!?!?

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Oh... nevermind.

So business as usual where they fuck shit up even worse and claim it is good.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 1:17 Comments || Top||

#4  As the old saying goes "There is human intelligence, animal intelligence, and military intelligence.".
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/24/2014 3:44 Comments || Top||


Government overreacts in panic, seals capital
[DAWN] The full force of the government seemed to be at work on Sunday as law-enforcement agencies and the district administration put the twin cities into lockdown ahead of Dr Tahirul Qadri
...Pak politician, and would-be dictator, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and Pakistain Awami Tehrik. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him...
's expected arrival at Benazir Bhutto
... 11th Prime Minister of Pakistain in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistain People's Party, who was murdered at the instigation of General Ayub Khan. She was murdered in her turn by person or persons unknown while campaigning in late 2007. Suspects include, to note just a few, Baitullah Mehsud, General Pervez Musharraf, the ISI, al-Qaeda in Pakistain, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who shows remarkably little curiosity about who done her in...
International Airport on Monday morning.

All roads leading to the airport were sealed with containers and road blocks and access to the capital city was severed as police took up positions to stop workers of Pakistain Awami Tehrik (PAT) and its allies from marching on Islamabad.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
...Currently the Interior Minister of Pakistain. He is the senior leader of the Pak Moslem League (N) and a close aide to Nawaz Uncle Fester Sharif. He is noted for his vocal anti-American railing in the National Assembly. However (comma) Khan told the U.S. ambassador that he was in fact pro-American but he and the PML-N would have to be critical of US actions in order to remain publicly credible. Khan cited his wife and children's US citizenship as proof, which means he's lying to one side or the other and probably both. He wears a wig, but you probably guessed that. since hair doesn't grow naturally in that shape or texture...
said in a statement that no-one would be allowed to march on the federal capital.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Home Front: Politix
The feud between the Obamas and 'Hildebeest'
[NYPost] As Bill Clinton went on about his managerial experience, Obama began playing with his BlackBerry under the table, making it plain that he wasn't paying attention to anything Clinton had to say. He was intentionally snubbing Clinton. Others around the table noticed Obama thumbing his BlackBerry, and the atmosphere turned even colder than before.
heh...
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Pass the popcorn. This gossip is great.
Posted by: dk70 the scantily clad || 06/24/2014 0:14 Comments || Top||

#2  ... and the atmosphere turned even colder than before.

Aren't colder atmospheres caused by Global Warming?
Posted by: Raj || 06/24/2014 0:38 Comments || Top||

#3  "Thumbing his Blackberry under the table". So thats what they call wanking off now.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 06/24/2014 7:16 Comments || Top||

#4  Was he also chewing gum and did he have his feet cocked up on the table?

When (enemies) are warring with each other, encourage them to continue.
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/24/2014 8:05 Comments || Top||

#5  I am no great fan of Edward Klein, but I could wish no man greater investigatory or literary success.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 8:29 Comments || Top||

#6  Well planned and well timed out for Hillary's run. Speaking of distancing herself from Obama, well done.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 06/24/2014 12:16 Comments || Top||

#7  But you still wont get my vote and I will still go out and help campaign against you.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 06/24/2014 12:17 Comments || Top||

#8  "In which the Democrats, including The Hildebeest, pretend they didn't help make us have to pretend this asshole wasn't an asshole for the past five years."

I'm unimpressed.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 06/24/2014 13:10 Comments || Top||

#9  They deserve each other.
Posted by: gorb || 06/24/2014 14:32 Comments || Top||

#10  Thumbing his Blackberry. That's because Michelle keeps the big ones in her safe.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 06/24/2014 20:57 Comments || Top||

#11  With raisins so shrivelled and shrunk from disuse,
And nibbling on kale and arugula mousse,
It is nice to get loose
From beneath her caboose:
The Blacker the Berry, the sweeter the juice!
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 06/24/2014 23:09 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
At Least 12 Hurt in Suicide Bombing near Army Checkpoint, Cafe in Tayyouneh
[AnNahar] A suicide boom-mobileing took place around midnight Tuesday in the Tayyouneh area at the entrance to Beirut's southern suburbs, leaving at least 12 people maimed.

The kaboom happened near an army checkpoint and a cafe where football fans were watching the World Cup.

The Lebanese Red Thingy said "no one was killed in the bombing, which caused light injuries among the customers at the Abou Assaf Cafe."

Quoting medical sources, al-Jadeed TV said 12 people were maimed, most of them lightly.

State-run National News Agency also said that twelve people were lightly maimed.

Military sources told LBCI television that no soldiers were hurt in the attack.

MTV said a "female jacket wallah" wanted to cross the checkpoint but blew up the vehicle "when troops detected her suspicious behavior."

Meanwhile,
...back at the wreckage, Captain Poindexter awoke groggily, his hand still stuck in the Ming vase...
media reports said "General Security members shot up the car before it blew up."

A witness told a TV station that he saw a white Mercedes car traveling fast on the wrong side of the road before exploding.

NNA said "a suicide bomber went kaboom! inside a Mercedes 180 carrying a license plate with the number 144631."

"The force of the blast ejected the terrorist's corpse to the wall of the fourth floor of a building at the site of the kaboom," the agency added.

The boom-mobileing came three days after a suicide kaboom at the Dahr al-Baydar checkpoint in the east of the country left one person dead and 30 maimed. The attack was the first inside Leb since March.

On the same day, the busy Hamra district in Beirut was the scene of a major security crackdown, with security forces raiding two hotels in the area and interrogating around 102 people.

Around three suspects remain in jug, including a French national with Arab origins who reportedly confessed to plotting a terrorist attack against a certain Lebanese region.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
Sensible suggestion
[DAWN] IN calling for a suspension of the military operation in North Wazoo until all civilians have left the area, Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
chief Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality problems...
has spoken sense. The exodus from the conflict zone has, understandably, had an air of panic about it. Bannu has been flooded with people, and thousands of families have literally walked miles since transport was either not available or available at too jacked-up a price. So far, according to the Fata Disaster Management Authority, over 400,000 of the internally displaced have been registered, which indicates that the bulk of the population in North Waziristan has already evacuated. Yet that is not every single non-combatant man, woman and child, and while the loss of civilian life in such situations can never be acceptable, the contours of this particular conflict demand that all-out effort be made to ensure there is no collateral damage, for that would foster further disaffection. The army has said that it has laid siege where Death Eaters are present, which means that fighters can be weeded out; given that, there is no reason why a few days should not be allowed for citizens to depart with their preparations in place.

The fact that Pakistain in general fails to see — partly because it, too, has suffered so grievously — is that these people are already victims of a conflict not of their making. Those affected by earlier military operations in other areas, such as Swat, returned to devastated homes and villages, and had to rebuild their lives from scratch. All that can be done, should be done, now, to ensure that the impact of displacement on the North Waziristan IDPs is mitigated as much as possible. This includes financial and food-related assistance but most of all, it requires an attitude of accommodation. The stance taken by Sindh and Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
towards their compatriots is unsavoury, and should change through putting in place mechanisms whereby the provinces' legitimate concerns are addressed while people fleeing conflict face no closed doors.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Africa Subsaharan
Bomb at Nigeria College Kills at Least 8, Wounds 12
[AnNahar] A kaboom at a public health college in Nigeria's second city of Kano killed at least eight people on Monday, in the latest violence to hit an area repeatedly attacked by Boko Haram
... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality...
Body parts, burnt-out vehicles and pools of blood were visible at the bomb site on the grounds of the School of Hygiene, which lies near the heart of the ancient northern city, an Agence La Belle France Presse news hound said.

It was not yet clear who carried out the attack but initial suspicion fell on Boko Haram, the Islamist forces of Evil who have bombed many educational targets during a five-year uprising.

"So far 20 were taken to hospital and of that eight have been confirmed dead," Kano state police chief Aderele Shinaba told journalists at the scene.

A man believed to have planted the bomb, which went off at around 1 pm (1200 GMT), has been nabbed
You have the right to remain silent...
and his car impounded, according to Shinaba.

The kaboom came from a parking lot near the office of the school's provost, and while there were no classes on campus because of a term break, new students were reportedly on the grounds for registration.

Access to the area was being tightly restricted by the military who had deployed in large numbers around the college, causing massive traffic build-up in the congested city.

Attacks blamed on Boko Haram were once a near-daily occurrence in Kano, but the security services have had some success in containing the violence in recent months.

Much of the conflict has shifted to Nigeria's remote northeast, including the April 14 mass abduction by the forces of Evil of more than 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok, an attack which brought unprecedented global attention to the half-decade conflict.

Kano was hit by a suicide car kaboom on May 19 in a mostly Christian area of the city, killing four people, including a young girl.

The military, which has been waging an offensive against Boko Haram in the northeast for more than a year, had claimed that the forces of Evil were on the run and no longer capable of attacking major population centers.

But a string of major attacks in key cities including central Jos, twin blasts on the outskirts of the capital Abuja and the bloodshed in Kano have reinforced the serious threat the Islamists pose to Africa's most populous country and largest economy.

Kano was also put on edge earlier this month amid festivities that followed the controversial appointment of the area's new Moslem monarch.

Boko Haram's uprising, which the group says is aimed at creating a strict Islamic state in the north, has left thousands dead since 2009.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under: Boko Haram


Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Happy Birthday to Minka Kelly, 34 today !

American actress who starred as Lyla Garrity in the television series Friday Night Lights from 2006 to 2009 and played Valerie Stahl in 2013's Almost Human. Before acting she briefly pursued a medical career, working as a surgeon's assistant and scrub tech.
Posted by: Alexander || 06/24/2014 12:41 Comments || Top||

#2  Thanks!!!
Posted by: 49 Pan || 06/24/2014 18:53 Comments || Top||

#3  Minka Kelly, June 24th

You do the math...
Posted by: badanov || 06/24/2014 21:49 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
China Arrests 380 in First Month of 'Terrorism' Crackdown
[AnNahar] China has tossed in the slammer
Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un!
more than 380 suspects in the first month of a year-long crackdown on "terrorism", media said Monday as authorities grapple to curb rising violence stemming from mainly Moslem Xinjiang.

A total of 32 "violent terrorist" gangs were broken up as part of the campaign launched after a deadly attack on a market in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi, state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said.

Assailants in two vehicles killed 39 people last month, one of several high-profile attacks blamed on bully boyz from Xinjiang. In recent months these have spread beyond the far-western region and targeted ordinary citizens rather than government or security personnel.

The day after the Urumqi market attack Beijing announced that "gunnies and bully boyz will be hunted down and punished" as part of a year-long campaign, which also targets "gun and explosive manufacturing dens and terrorist training camps".

A total of 264 devices capable of detonating 3.15 tons of explosives were also confiscated, the report said.

Xinjiang is the resource-rich homeland of China's mostly Moslem Uighur minority, and much of the violence stems from ethnic tensions.

CCTV's report did not detail the ethnicities of those arrested.

China executed 13 people last week for "terrorist attacks" in the violence-racked region as three others were condemned to death over a fiery
...a single two-syllable word carrying connotations of both incoherence and viciousness. A fiery delivery implies an audience of rubes and yokels, preferably forming up into a mob...
car crash at Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Authorities in Xinjiang also sentenced 55 people for offenses including terrorism at a mass sentencing in May.

In the most recent confirmed flare-up of violence, police rubbed out 13 people Saturday after they drove into a police building in a county outside Hotan and set off an kaboom.

Exile groups say cultural oppression and intrusive security measures imposed by the Chinese government are the main causes of tension, along with immigration by China's Han ethnic majority, which they say has led to decades of discrimination and economic inequality.

Beijing says the government has helped improve living standards in Xinjiang and developed its economy.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Politix
Schumer Concerned World Cup Fans Returning To U.S. Might Bring Back Mosquito-Borne Virus
...and, yet, those coming over the border illegally are A-OK.

Go figure...
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Test joe Biden first. He was down there yoking it up with the other malaria, Ebola, disease infested world leaders just last week.
Posted by: Airandee || 06/24/2014 7:10 Comments || Top||

#2  Doctors Without Borders: 'Ebola out of control.' 20 June 2014
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 11:12 Comments || Top||

#3  Mosquitoes are no big deal. I'm worried about importing soccer fans. Ugh.
Posted by: Iblis || 06/24/2014 14:38 Comments || Top||

#4  what about the active TB the Central American urchins are bringing across?
Posted by: Frank G || 06/24/2014 18:50 Comments || Top||


Government
U.S. Warns Undocumented Child Migrants Will Be Deported
[AnNahar] U.S. authorities have stressed that thousands of underage migrants rushing to make it into the United States, most of them from violent regions of Central America, will face deportation.

"While some might make asylum requests, I want to make very clear that asylum is very difficult to obtain. Very few people get asylum in the United States," Esther Olivarria, an adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, said Monday.

The United States has seen a huge surge in young migrants fleeing gang violence and poverty in Central America, mostly Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

U.S. officials say they have detained more than 47,000 unaccompanied children trying to enter the country in the eight months ending in late May 2014 -- nearly twice the number detained in the 12-month period ending in late September 2013.

Some enter the country and request asylum. Others contact relatives already in the United States and petition to remain.

There has also been an increase in the number of mothers traveling with their children, officials say. Many reports say smugglers fuel rumors that some U.S. permit or temporary status may be granted for minors, apparently to keep business booming.

But Johnson himself wrote in a lengthy editorial in U.S. Spanish-language media at the weekend, insisting that the United States would not grant residents' permits to undocumented youths.

"To the parents of these children I have one simple message: Sending your child to travel illegally into the United States is not the solution," Johnson wrote.

"In the hands of smugglers, many children are traumatized and psychologically abused by their journey, or worse, beaten, starved, sexually assaulted or sold into the sex trade ... (and) there are no 'permisos,' 'permits' or free passes at the end.

"If your child is caught crossing the border illegally, he or she will be charged with violating United States immigration laws, and placed in deportation proceedings — a situation no one wants.

"The document issued to your child is not a 'permiso,' but a 'Notice To Appear' in a deportation proceeding before an immigration judge," Johnson underscored.

Vice President Joe Foreign Policy Whiz Kid Biden
The former Senator-for-Life from Delaware, an example of the kind of top-notch Washington intellect to be found in the World's Greatest Deliberative Body...
, on a visit to Guatemala on Friday, said Central American child migrants leave their countries because of poverty, violent crime and a failure of local legal systems.

Guatemalan President Otto Perez has blamed the problem on Washington's failure to reform its immigration policy and provide a path to citizenship for 12 million immigrants already in the country.

The increased flow of migrants "is a serious humanitarian issue standing alone ... and ... it is a fundamentally shared problem for the United States, Mexico, and this entire region," Biden said.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Three, four months before Obama's second election I tuned in to a hip hop station that was always extremely pro_Obama/ACORN, all kinds of praise for Zero, and heard a commercial about free Obama phones. Did not hear that commercial on Jazz, Country, Classical, or talk radio, only on Hip Hop stations around the nation. It was a very pointed marketing scheme to buy votes.

When I heard that Central American stations were promoting get in America free spots I knew the same White House bunch that were targeting Hip Hop voters were now targeting Central America to deluge red states with undocumented Democrats.

This clearly got the White House some big backlash in recent days. And would the White House rats running this scam give a damn about the people who bit the bait, went through hell to get here, and now suddenly being told go back through hell to get back to Guatemala, Peru, etc.? Or give a damn about the federal employees going through hell to deal with this stunt? Hell no. Their own asses is what comes first. And this time, the human suffering, even to the point of moving children around to avoid social services inspections of the suffering, should be enough to have everyone in the White House including the scrawny ass occupying the Oval Office desk chair kicked again and again for the rest of their decadent lives. The fallout from the big lie to the Central American people will grow and grow and grow like other historical atrocities and THIS kick them square in their teeth.
Posted by: Thineng Angailet7166 || 06/24/2014 0:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Why not just use them for medical experiments?
Posted by: SteveS || 06/24/2014 1:07 Comments || Top||

#3  I'd like to see a rumor get started that unaccompanied children under the age of five or so, whose families have clearly abandoned them at the border would be made wards of the court and available for adoption by American families.
That might give pause to those considering sending toddlers north as an opening ploy for later getting the whole family to the US.
Posted by: Sgt. Mom || 06/24/2014 8:49 Comments || Top||

#4  Not to mention that states can also charge said parents with child abandonment and endangerment. Like most crime, you have to make examples to keep the frequency down. Past time to start in this case. If anyone pipes up in the Beltway that they in anyway contributed to this situation, then conspiracy charges can also follow. State conviction are not subject to Presidential pardons.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 9:07 Comments || Top||

#5  If your child is caught crossing the border illegally, he or she will be charged with violating United States immigration laws,

BULLSHIT.
Posted by: Redeck Jim || 06/24/2014 10:31 Comments || Top||

#6  Call it what it is, slavery. And charge the parents with human trafficking.
Posted by: Silentbrick || 06/24/2014 10:46 Comments || Top||

#7  I thought Mike Huckabee had a good proposal. The foreign aid promised to these same Latin countries to combat gang should be used to deport them so their host nations can deal with their own problems.
Posted by: Flaiger Uneamp8181 || 06/24/2014 11:50 Comments || Top||

#8  "U.S. Warns Undocumented Child Migrants Will Be Deported"

Just like the ones parading around with "Undocumented and Unafraid" banners, right?
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 06/24/2014 16:07 Comments || Top||

#9  We are the ones who will likely one day be "deported" or leave voluntarily in total disgust. The Champ's Zimbabwefication continues.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 16:10 Comments || Top||

#10  There's more to this. No way 65k plus families just give up their kid(s) without being incentivized and some kind of local assurance. Either someone put the word out through Coyotes, who aren't cheap, and/or some trusted local entity was selling this, like an NGO. That's the real story that needs to be followed. We already know they were setting up infrastructure in January.
Posted by: Jefe101 || 06/24/2014 17:15 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Emirates Airlines imposes lifetime ban on Qadri
[Pakistan Today] Emirates Airlines has imposed a lifetime travel ban on Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri
writer of a 600-page Fatwa on Terrorism, which is claimed by him to be an "absolute" scholarly refutation of all terrorism
and is also considering initiating legal proceedings against him for keeping the aircraft 'hostage' for several hours at Lahore airport after the flight was diverted by the Pakistani government to Lahore from Islamabad over security concerns, a private news channel has reported.

According to the channel, the airliner was forced to take the decision after Qadri refused to get off the aircraft in Lahore and also barred other passengers from disembarking until he negotiated a deal with the provincial authorities.

The airliner believes that this act of Qadri was tantamount to hijacking therefore it was mulling legal options.
No peanuts for you.
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  According to the AP, Pakistan diverted the passenger plane carrying Qadri to Lahore on Monday out of security concerns, said an official, leading to a standoff in which the cleric refused for hours to get off the aircraft while it waited on the tarmac.
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 0:11 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Longtime congressman Rangel finds himself in political peril in New York primary
[Washington Post] The birthday boy, turning 84, stood near the back of the room beneath white and gold balloons as friends, allies and supporters lined up for photos. Between photos, he stole swigs of the Corona Light gripped tightly in his left hand as the upbeat sounds of a local Latin band echoed off the dark walls.

The crowded fundraiser this month was a departure from Rep. Charlie Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Rangel
Congressman-for-Life from Harlem, who became what 20 terms in Congress turns you into ...
's legendary birthday bashes of the past, which often were headlined by the likes of Aretha Franklin
...The Queen of Soul. She denies ever having been in a fistfight with Patti Labelle...
and Dionne Warwick and attended by New York's black political royalty — former New York City mayor David Dinkins
...the former mayor of New York. He sez he lost to Rudy Giuliani in 1993 because of racism, which is pervasive in places like Manhattan...
, the civil rights hustler Al Sharpton
...Tawana Brawley's spiritual advisor...
and singer Harry Belafonte.

This year, many of the speakers were lesser-known Dominican activists and political strategists. The headliner was Dominican entertainer Frederick Martinez, also known as "El Pacha," a popular Spanish-language radio and television host.

Those changes to the guest list tell almost the entire story of the political peril that threatens to end one of the iconic careers in American politics.

Over his 44 years in office, Rangel, "the congressman from Harlem," became one of best-known political figures in American politics and a defining voice in the nation's black politics.
Notice that he's not threatened with losing his seat because he's so old he used to date God's grandmother. Nor is he in danger of losing his seat because of being censured by the House ethics committee, which really takes some doing.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  84 year old fraud, tax cheat, loser, and racist POS....and he can't retire? Graceless hack Ol' Chollie can't let go of power
Posted by: Frank G || 06/24/2014 9:48 Comments || Top||

#2  Something to be said for providential term-limits.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 9:50 Comments || Top||

#3  Between photos, he stole swigs of the Corona Light gripped tightly in his left hand as the upbeat sounds of a local Latin band echoed off the dark walls.

The demographics are changing in Harlem. More and more Hispanics are moving in. Is that old scallywag morphing into a Hispanic for re-election?
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/24/2014 10:01 Comments || Top||

#4  ...just part of the 'under the bus' for that old special interest group of the Donks, now in pursuit of Hispanic voters. When you sale your soul, things like that happen.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 10:38 Comments || Top||

#5  Will most likely be recount after recount until the desired result is achieved.
Posted by: Thineng Angailet7166 || 06/24/2014 16:17 Comments || Top||


Bangladesh
Mufti Hanan to swing for Ramna Batamul killings
[Dhaka Tribune] Chief of banned bad boy outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Mufti Abdul Hannan and seven of his aides have to walk the gallows for killing 10 people in a kaboom incident during the traditional celebrations of the Bangla New Year at the capital's Ramna Batamul in 2001.

For the same offence, six other HuJI
Founded in 1984 by Fazlur Rehman Khalil and Qari Saifullah Aktar. The Bangla branch was established in 1992 with assistance from Osama bin Laden. Recruits come mostly from Deobandi madrassahs. HuJI and Fazlur Rehman Khalil are signators of bin Laden's declaration of war on the west.
members were sentenced to life term imprisonment for conspiracy, plotting and carrying out the attack on commoners who were visiting the place to observe the day, 13 years back, on April 14.

Judge Ruhul Amin of the Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka read out the verdict in a jam-packed courtroom amid tight security measures yesterday morning.

The court also fined the 14 convicts Tk50,000 each.

Before reading out the sentences, the judge, in his observation, said the incident had no political link, and that the case was not a political one. Those who had died had gone to the place with their family members, kith and kin and children to celebrate the Bangla New Year. They were common people.

This celebration is not meant for any particular party, class, ideology, group or religion. That day, several thousand people of different religions, castes, groups, sexes and ages gathered at the venue.

The judge said from the confessional statements of the accused and depositions of witnesses, the court learned that two powerful bombs had been planted technically in the spot early in the morning, hours before the programme began.

According to bomb experts, two remote control devices were used to detonate the bombs.

The first bomb went kaboom! around 8:05am and the other 10-15 minutes later. Seven innocent people was struck down in his prime during the first kaboom and 20-25 people sustained injuries. Later three persons died at hospitals while undergoing treatment.

"The attackers did not target any certain person, object or group. The [organiser] Chhayanaut is also a non-political organization," the judge said.

"The motive of the attacks was to create political turmoil and panic, to pollute the cultural arena and stop cultural activities in the country. What the attackers and the planners did that day was heinous, barbaric and cruel. There is no scope to show sympathy or favour them," the court observed.

According to the accounts of the accused, there was no religious or social clash between the attackers and the victims. It was an attack on Bengali culture so that the people refrained from celebrating the day.

"It is one of the most heinous, barbaric and shameful attacks on general people since the country's War of Independence," the court said.

During the trial proceedings, six of the injured gave their depositions while eight more people who were present on the spot described the incident before the court. The other witnesses included eight relatives of the victims.

The court said the prosecution had succeeded in proving the charges against the accused based on the witness accounts and documents. Confessional statements of three accused, especially HuJI chief Mufti Hannan's statement, had helped the court to draw its conclusion. In his statement made on November 19, 2006, Hannan said they had carried out the attack since the programme was "anti-Islamic."

The death row convicts are Mufti Abdul Hannan Munshi alias Abul Kalam alias Abdul Mannan, Arif Hasan alias Suman alias Abdur Razzak, Maulana Akbar Hossain alias Helal Uddin, Alhaj Maulana Md Tajuddin (absconding), Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar (absconding), Maulana Abu Bakar alias Hafez Selim Hawlader (absconding), Mufti Shafiqur Rahman (Absconding) and Mufti Abdul Hye (absconding). Of them, Hannan, Akbar and Arif Hasan admitted their involvement in the incident. Later they submitted petitions to withdraw the statements, but those were rejected.

The lifers are Hafez Maulana Yahiya, Maulana Shawkat Osman alias Sheikh Farid, Maulana Sabbir alias Abdul Hannan, Maulana Abu Taher, Shahadat Ullah alias Jewel and Maulana Abdur Rouf. Hannan is facing 24 other cases.

The judge started reading out the verdict around 11:45am.

Nine HuJI men including Hannan were produced before the court around 10:50am. In the courtroom, they looked tensed and pale. Lifer Maulana Abu Taher cried after hearing the verdict.

'HuJI chief wanted no bloodshed'

In his confessional statement, Hannan said Hafej Abu Taher, who was the president of Ranangan Shilpi Gosthi, a cultural wing of HuJI, had met HuJI's former secretary Maulana Sheikh Farid in Dhaka. He proposed to Farid that they should launch a kaboom on the Bangla New Year ceremony to stop the programme.

"Sheikh Farid came to our city unit office, which was situated in the capital's Mohammadpur between the Shia Mosque and the Rahmania Madrasa. After a discussion among myself, Maulana Abdur Rouf, Yahiya Sabbir, Jahangir Badar, Abu Bakar and some others, Sheikh Farid asked Taher to launch the kaboom," Hannan said.

But at one stage of the discussion, the leaders at the meeting decided to consult the matter with HuJI chief Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, for approval. Farid, Abu Bakar and Jahangir went to Shafiqur's place to finalise the plan.

"After they came back, Farid told me that the chief had given his approval but had asked all to carry out the attack in a way so that no one was harmed."

The HuJI chief had instructed Sabbir and Jahangir to make the bombs. They were ordered to hand those over to Taher. The duo followed the instructions.

On the day of the incident, several HuJI men including Hasan and Omar Faruque (who used to introduce themselves as students of Dhaka College) planted the bombs.

Two cases — one for the killing and the other under the Explosive Substances Act — were filed with the Ramna cop shoppe.

On December 30, 2008, the Criminal Investigation Department pressed the charges against the 14 accused in both the cases. Earlier, the court recorded statements of 61 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant of the case.

The case involving explosive substances has remained stuck till now. In 2009, the Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 of Dhaka sought the Supreme Court registrar's opinion on whether both the cases could be tried together. The registrar has yet to respond on the matter.

Hannan claims himself innocent

After the judge delivered the verdict, death row convict Hannan, who had appointed no lawyers to defend him, immediately told news hounds that he had not received justice. "I was a prey of political vengeance. The prosecution failed to prove the charges against me. I am innocent," he stated.

Abu Taher claimed that he had known nothing about the incident. "God will decide my fate on the day of final judgement," he said.

Additional public prosecutor SM Jahid Hossain said they were somewhat happy, mentioning, "The state will file an appeal with the High Court seeking death penalty for the six HuJI men who have been awarded life sentences." On the other hand, one of the defence lawyers Jasim Uddin said they would also appeal against the judgement.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: HUJI


India-Pakistan
Scenes of chaos
[DAWN] IN the end, perhaps all too expectedly, it was a forlorn hope that better sense would prevail. The Canada-based Tahirul Qadri
...Pak politician, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him...
's return to Pakistain was marked by scenes of chaos, violence, near-comical grandstanding by Mr Qadri and a thorough overreaction by the PML-N. Mr Qadri is back in Pakistain and, while his true political relevance is still minimal, he and his supporters have taken centre stage and seem determined to milk their second round in the limelight for everything it is worth. Even now, with his purported and so-called 'revolution' seemingly under way, it is difficult to make sense of Mr Qadri's politics or his demands. In essence, it appears to boil down to the following: remove Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
and his government and replace them with a pro-establishment, undemocratic set-up simply so the real decision-makers in this country remain unelected, anti-democratic forces. Beyond that, there is little on grounds of policy that appears to so agitate Mr Qadri against the PML-N.

Amusing too is the presence of Mr Qadri's newfound allies. Former chief minister of Punjab Pervaiz Elahi was prominent yesterday among the cohort defending Mr Qadri and lashing out against the government. And yet, those with memories longer than what Mr Elahi would perhaps like Paks to have will recall what his government in Punjab did when Shahbaz Sharif
...Pak dynastic politician, brother of PM Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab...
attempted to return to Pakistain after years in exile in 2004. Like yesterday, much of Lahore was shut down and barricaded and an overwhelming show of force by the Punjab administration and police forced the younger Sharif brother to leave Pakistain a couple of hours after returning. What apparently was perfectly acceptable for Shahbaz Sharif in 2004 is not palatable for Mr Qadri in 2014, at least if Mr Elahi's claims are to be paid any attention to. Somehow, while farce repeats itself in Pakistain every few years, the principals who once stood on one side of history try to wriggle across to the other side of history with a scurrilous disregard for propriety and consistency.

Yet, for all the patent self-serving theatre and faux threats individuals like Mr Qadri would like to serve up, there is also a separate fundamental reality that cannot and should not be forgotten: if anti-democrats are out to destabilise the country's politics, it is really the government that should rise above such challenges and reinforce its democratic credentials and regard for the democratic project. Unhappily, the PML-N appears to have failed spectacularly in this area thus far. Prime Minister Sharif and the PML-N are not just the country's elected leadership in present times, they are also the principal custodians of the democratic project and transition to democracy. Condemnable as the anti-democrats' assault on democracy may be, democracy will only be strengthened if democracy's custodians demonstrate restraint and unflinchingly adhere to the law and the Constitution.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Senior IDF officer: Palestinians understand we're against Hamas, not them
[Ynet] High-ranking member of the Central Command says that West Bank population realizes kidnapping crossed line; since operation began, two to three million shekels confiscated from Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,.

The Paleostinians know that the IDF action currently underway in the West Bank targets Hamas and not them, a senior army officer told Ynet on Monday. The IDF launched Operation Brother's Keeper last week, following the abduction of three Israeli teens near Hebron on June 12.

"We are well within the boundaries of legitimate action in the eyes of Paleostinian public," said the officer, a high-ranking member of the Central Command.

"The Paleostinian public understands that the kidnapping was an aberration and our response was predictable. They know that we are not working against them but rather against Hamas. The Paleostinian public understands that a red line has been crossed."

"The operation against Hamas infrastructure in Judea and Samaria has exhausted itself, with no connection to the intelligence operation to locate the abductees, which will continue for as long as necessary."

Regarding the number of Paleostinians maimed and the Paleostinian resistance to Operation Brother's Keeper, the officer said that the casualty rate was low.

"I wish every army in the world could take 5,000 soldiers into villages with the resistance we encountered, and the result would be four Paleostinian deaths, with three of them justified," he said.

The officer said that the army had not changed its orders to the troops, nor did IDF leadership feel they were constrained by time factors.

"We have no indication either way about the situation of the abductees. Therefore, every special unit's action and exercise operates under the working assumption that they are still alive. There has been progress in the investigation, and we always take notice of what the reports say. We have to remember that if someone wants to be swallowed up in a population of 300,000 people, it's not that difficult."

In the meantime, the pressure on Hamas welfare institutions has begun to make itself felt. The officer believed that the IDF and Civil Administration have confiscated a total of between two to three million shekels from the organization in Judea and Samaria since the operation began. The military has also seized a great deal of equipment and vehicles. He says that the institutions in the West Bank that the IDF raided are no longer active, and are now "just four walls."

Meanwhile,
...back at the palazzo, Don Smilzo looked for an avenue of escape. The only window opened a hundred feet above the moat. The nearest of the hired assassins hold a bloody axe.
The window was looking better all the time....

intelligence efforts continue. In recent days, the IDF has seized almost 150 security cameras in Paleostinian homes and business, not only in the area of the kidnapping, north of Hebron, but also in other areas such as the southern Hebron Hills and villages east of Gush Etzion. The confiscations, the army says, are undertaken to enable the IDF to keep learning and compiling a full intelligence picture.

Regarding claims by PA officials that Israel has not yet proven that Hamas was behind the kidnapping, the senior officer said, "We can prove unequivocally that this is Hamas. We also did not wait for a terror attack in order to arrest those freed in the Shalit deal. We have high expectations that the kidnappers have not completed their escape."

The officer also said that catching the turbans before the abduction would have been extremely difficult.

"We have to ask ourselves questions regarding this incident. What we knew and how much we knew. There was no specific alert in this sector, and we have to bear in mind that if two people are planning to carry out an (attack), it is very hard to trace them. In my opinion, not one based on hard intelligence, there is a small number of kidnappers involved."
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  If only they could assist others with their.... 'understanding.'
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 2:10 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Iraq Militants 'Turning Back Clock' in Captured Mosul
[Tolo News] In the two weeks since it was seized by Sunni turbans, some residents of the northern Iraq city of djinn-infested Mosul
... the home of a particularly ferocious and hairy djinn...
feel the clock has been turned back hundreds of years.

The turbans, led by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original...
(ISIL) jihadist group, have begun imposing an extreme interpretation of Islamic law in the days since they took the city, residents reached by telephone told AFP.

"These faceless myrmidons will return us and our country hundreds of years backwards, and their laws are the opposite of the laws of human rights
...which are often intentionally defined so widely as to be meaningless...
and international laws," said Umm Mohammed, a 35-year-old teacher.

"We live in continuous fear of being subjected to new pressures," she said. "We are afraid of being prevented from working and contributing to building the community."

The city, known before 2003 for its historic sites and parks and in later years as a hub for deadly violence, fell on June 10 to the turbans, who subsequently overran surrounding Nineveh province and swathes of other territory.

Security forces in Mosul, a city of some two million people before the offensive, wilted in the face of the onslaught, in some cases abandoning uniforms and even vehicles in their haste to flee.

After seizing control, gunnies declared Nineveh a part of their Islamic state and issued a document outlining new rules.

The 16-point document announced the prohibition of the selling and consumption of alcohol and drugs as well as smoking, and forbade gatherings and carrying weapons.
Women are to wear non-revealing clothes and keep to their homes, while "shrines" are to be destroyed.

- Statues of poets removed -

All depictions of people are considered idolatrous under the turbans' extreme interpretation of Islam, and gunnies have removed various statues from the city in recent days, including some depicting famous poets.

Abu Ramzi, one of Mosul's Christians who did not flee the city, said faceless myrmidons destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary in front of a church.

"We have not received any threat from any side yet," Abu Ramzi said. "We will not leave our houses and city even if they slaughter us."

The faceless myrmidons also distributed a document to mosques in the city ordering that they not make or publish any statement not approved by ISIL, and designated a specific mosque for the acceptance of the "repentance of apostates".

ISIL has also appointed representatives for different areas of the city who are to conduct a survey of its residents.

One resident who fled said a neighbour told him that gunnies came to check empty houses in the area and find out who owns them.

"They asked about my house, my (religious) sect and my phone number," he said.

The gunnies left a message that he had two days to return and renounce his Shiite faith, or the house would be burned.

Militants are deployed in most areas of Mosul, some on foot and others moving either in civilian vehicles or those captured from security forces when they withdrew, one resident said.

Some wear civilian clothes, while others dress in military uniforms or black.

The turbans, some of whom mask their faces, are armed with a variety of weapons, including Kalashnikov assault rifles and pistols.

- Major electricity shortage -

There is a major electricity shortage in the city, and fuel is also in short supply, with hundreds of people waiting for hours at petrol stations to fuel their cars and trucks.
But not all residents of Mosul view the faceless myrmidons in a negative light.

"The gunnies in Mosul are decent people, they are treating the residents well," said Umm Abdullah, a woman who was among half a million people who fled the city in the wake of the turban takeover.

"We're not leaving because of them, we're leaving because the government is bombing and has cut the electricity and water in Mosul," she said.

"To be honest, I'm happy they took control of Mosul. I see them as rebels, not gunnies, and I think they will make the city better."

But another resident, Abu Ali, 40, said that the city has just moved from restrictions by Iraqi security forces to others by the turbans, who are imposing "a new style of life on us".
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State of Iraq & the Levant

#1  imposing "a new style of life on us".

Ahh, the essence of Islam in a nutshell.
Posted by: AlanC || 06/24/2014 8:08 Comments || Top||

#2  Clocks are not Islamic.
Posted by: Snusort Spomose2148 || 06/24/2014 16:01 Comments || Top||

#3  Mr. Obama must have mistakenly thrown the "WABAC" switch instead of the one reserved for "Stopping the Oceans From Rising."
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 06/24/2014 16:12 Comments || Top||

#4  Well now Phester old man, you gotta admit

The planet's now chillin
MooShells thrillin in the garden from 9-5
The press lines up screaming Arooooooooogula! Aroooooooogula!
And the man keeps talking jive.

So yeah it's a different switch, full of change.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/24/2014 18:36 Comments || Top||

#5  imposing "a new style of life on us".

And that's why the lefties appreciate them. Kindred spirits.
Posted by: KBK || 06/24/2014 18:58 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Death row Sudanese Christian 'apostate' freed: lawyer
[Beirut Daily Star] A Sudanese Christian who gave birth in prison after being sentenced to hang for apostasy was freed Monday, her lawyer said.

The case of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, 26, sparked an outcry from Western governments and rights groups after a judge sentenced her to death on May 15.

"Meriam was released just about an hour ago," Mohanad Mustafa told AFP Monday afternoon.

"She's now out of prison," he said, but authorities will not issue the reasons for her release until Tuesday.

Born to a Moslem father and an &Aliga;†thiopian Orthodox Christian mother, Ishag was convicted under Shariah law that has been in force in Sudan since 1983 and outlaws conversions on pain of death.
Islam closely resembles a Roach Motel in that respect, doesn't it?
Twelve days after the verdict, Ishag gave birth to a daughter at the women's prison in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman. And a few days later, Ishag's husband, Daniel Wani, told AFP he did not believe she would be freed.

The couple's 20-month-old son was also incarcerated with Ishag and their daughter.

EU leaders called for revocation of the "inhumane verdict," while U.S. Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry
Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat, conqueror of Cambodia, and current Secretary of State...
urged Khartoum to repeal laws banning Moslems from converting.

British Prime Minister David Cameron
... has stated that he is certainly a big Thatcher fan, but I don't know whether that makes me a Thatcherite, which means he's not. Since he is not deeply ideological he lacks core principles and is easily led. He has been described as certainly not a Pitt, Elder or Younger, but he does wear a nice suit so maybe he's Beau Brummel ...
said the way she had been treated was "barbaric and has no place in today's world."

Mustafa and four other human rights
One man's rights are another man's existential threat.
lawyers handling her case for free had appealed the verdict but word of her release was unexpected.

"It's great," a church source said of her release, after last week expressing optimism she would be freed due to international pressure on Sudan.

But Moslem turban groups were lobbying the Islamist government over Ishag's case, prominent newspaper editor Khalid Tigani has said.

Ishag was born in eastern Sudan's Gedaref state on Nov. 3, 1987, but her Sudanese Moslem father abandoned the family when Ishag was 5, leaving her to be raised according to her mother's faith, an earlier statement from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Khartoum said.
Posted by: Fred || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan

#1  she has been arrested again
Posted by: lord garth || 06/24/2014 12:02 Comments || Top||


-Land of the Free
Media Restricted at Mex Border, Fed Agent Cites Safety Concerns
[Breitbart] GRANJENO CITY, Texas"--A remote section of the U.S.-Mexico border near the Anzalduas International Bridge is one of the few places where media can witness and record the mass crossings of minors coming from Central America. The U.S. Border Patrol is now restricting journalists' access to the area citing safety concerns.
Safe enough that the Agent can park his IBA (Individual Body Armor) in the passenger seat however.
Pakistain doesn't allow reporters on the ground in North Wazoo either.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  And the Journos comely, meekly lest they make Obama look bad. What fucking disgusting sheep.
Posted by: OldSpook || 06/24/2014 0:10 Comments || Top||

#2  "Unsafe" for journalists, but plenty safe enough for 3-5 year old children.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 1:55 Comments || Top||

#3  Aka... don't show the sleeping American public what is really going on or they might ask questions and realize we have been lying to them for decades.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/24/2014 2:20 Comments || Top||

#4 
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 2:21 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
More Apache gunships for Indian Army Strike Corps
A government that can make the important decisions -- how refreshing!
The government has approved the raising of three squadrons of the iconic American-made Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Army. This marks a big win for the Army in its epic war with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the control of helicopter gunships.

"The Army will get 39 Apache attack helicopters at an estimated cost of over $2.5 billion after the first tranche of 22 of these gunships, currently being negotiated with the US, is delivered to the IAF," disclosed an exultant officer at Army Headquarters.

All future acquisitions of attack helicopters will thereafter be for the Army, an indication that a reluctant IAF will gradually cede this role of providing close helicopter support for ground troops in combat entirely to the Army, which hopes to start getting its Apaches after 2018.

The new Apache squadrons will be integrated with three existing strike corps of the Army, which are tasked with an offensive cross-border role. "This was a long-standing service requirement for a combined Army team concept," explained the senior officer, arguing that an integrated attack helicopter element will mean better synergy with invading ground forces. Sources indicated that Apache elements will also be provided to the Mountain Strike Corps, which is in the process of being raised.

At the moment, India's Mi-35 and Mi-25 gunships are operated by the IAF under the command of the Army, which is now happier at the prospect of the Army Aviation Corps owning and flying the attack helicopters.

The Army's demand for integral attack helicopters gained currency after the Kargil War of 1999, where it clashed with the IAF in its insistence that helicopter gunships be used against Pakistani fighters entrenched on mountain tops. This even led to a stand-off between the then Chiefs of the Army and the IAF, General V.P. Malik and Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis.

The IAF's squadrons of heavy and slightly dated Mi-35 Russian-made gunships were not suited for operations at such heights as Kargil's. Under pressure from the Army, the IAF used an Mi-17 transport helicopter as a makeshift gunship against the Pakistanis, who shot it down with a Stinger missile, inflicting both a setback and ignominy on the IAF.

"The Army insisted on the use of attack helicopters. We kept asking them to tell us the task, and leave the choice of assets to be used to us," recalls Air Marshal P.S. Ahluwalia, a former commander-in-chief of the Western Air Command. The IAF believes that the Army does not understand application of air power as well as a specialist Air Force would.

Also, it will take many years for the Army to operate the gunships independently, cautions Air Marshal Ahluwalia. "It'll take some time for Army pilots to be trained in fighter tactics and survivability," he warns, shrugging that the process of training the Army in this role would have to be midwifed by the IAF. The slow-moving, low-flying attack helicopters are vulnerable to surface-to-air and air-to-air missile attacks.

The Army nibbling away at the Air Force turf has soured ties somewhat between the two forces, but observers believe that time is a healer. In the past, the IAF also strongly resisted relinquishing the maritime air role to the Navy, but today, naval aviation has matured into a potent specialist force operating everything from surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to contemporary multi-role fighters. The Navy's aviation arm has produced three chiefs in the last 25 years.

Having tasked blood with its success in wresting the attack helicopter role, the Army is now eyeing integral fixed-wing aircraft as well. Sensing further turf erosion, the IAF is reminding the Army that in the age of jointmanship and resource crunches, assets and roles must not be duplicated. The last word is yet to be said in the continuing inter-service rivalry.
Posted by: John Frum || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Report: Iran, Russia To Finalize New Nuclear Plants Deal
[Ynet] Under agreement, Russia will two more 1,000 megawatt plants next to Iran's sole existing nuclear plants in Bushehr.

Oil-rich Iran says it wants to operate at least 20 nuclear power plants capable of producing 20,000 megawatts of electricity, as a way of decreasing dependency on its vast oil and gas resources.

"It is possible that in addition to the two nuclear power plants, we will also discuss further power plants," Kamalvandi added.

The Bushehr nuclear power plant that came online in 2011 uses Russian-provided fuel, and is not of international concern.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Terrorists & Kleptocrats: How Corruption is Eating the Palestinians Alive
Hat tip to David Gerstman at Legal Insurrection. He has his own thoughts on the issue.

Quick quiz: which legal entity has been the only one willing to take on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority to try and make life better for the average Palestinian? Why, the Israeli government, of course.

Very much worth the read.
Posted by: Steve White || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If you enjoyed Menenberg, you may also like John Koskinen's My Time at the IRS.

Other Menenberg material.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 1:52 Comments || Top||

#2  ...and Buddhists...
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/24/2014 8:33 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Iraq Air Force attack on ISIJ positions in Baiji
Or an object lesson in the foolishness of armor sans air superiority.


Youtube.
Posted by: Squinty || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State of Iraq


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Eight People Arrested For Belonging To Jerusalem Area Terror Groups
[Ynet] Eight people were tossed in the calaboose
Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'!
for belonging to a hostile organization in the villages of Abu-Dis and Azaria, near Jerusalem. According to the police, incitement material as well as equipment needed for demonstrations was found during the arrest.

The suspects were brought in for questioning at the Ma'aleh Adumim cop shoppe.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Iraq
Imminent Danger Pay and immunity for Iraq bound SF personnel.
[Mil.com] Special Forces troops heading to Iraq to advise the Iraqi security forces will receive combat pay and also have immunity from local law, Pentagon officials said.

"Imminent Danger Pay is, and will be, in effect for service members deployed to Iraq," Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen, a Pentagon spokesman, said in an e-mail statement Saturday.
If they [US Military Personnel] fall under the command and control [C2] of the Ambassador to Iraq and the State Department, they are then covered by Diplomatic Immunity [black passport]. Sounds great, until someone in the Iraqi government declares them persona non grata (PNG) in which case they must immediately leave the country.


Perhaps we could ask retired General Carter Ham what his views might be with regard to Foggy Bottom subverting the purview of the regional Combatant Commander and Specified Commands.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  More likely the immunity was granted under 'executive memorandum'; not requiring the Iraqi legislature to be involved (as in the case of a SOFA.)
Posted by: Pappy || 06/24/2014 13:15 Comments || Top||

#2  Yes, John Bolton indicated this morning that it might have been accomplished via some sort of executive memorandum.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 13:27 Comments || Top||

#3  It is not a declared war. All military fall under the command and control of the Ambassador. We had a lot of issues with this in the Philippines. The JFTF commanders that do not understand US and international law believe they are in a military Area of Operations, when in fact they are not. Further, without a declared war or a SOFA these troops are not protected by any laws other than host nation laws. They are not covered by the Geneva accord, or US law. SO if they are to be protected under any laws we need one of three things, a SOFA, Declared hostilities, of make them embassy members with full diplomatic status.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 06/24/2014 13:55 Comments || Top||

#4  The JFTF commanders that do not understand US and international law believe they are in a military Area of Operations, when in fact they are not.

Awkward indeed when the DEFAT is a rank or two below the Joint Task Force element Commander. Even more awkward when the JFT Cdr [or designated rep] is not invited to the daily Embassy staff meetings. Been going on for a very long time. Needs to come to a fok'n stop.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 14:04 Comments || Top||

#5  You are so right. We invited the JTF commander to the country team meetings. 1500 miles away he could not attend. He sent a permanent rep to the multitude of daily meetings and the commander attended once a month. We were fortunate in that the DEFAT, we called them the DAT, was in a supporting roll to the JUSMAG in this event. The JUSMAG chief reported to the ambassador and to the same CINC the JTF commander reported to, making it easier. The JUSMAG kept a rep in the JTF to represent the embassy. When the JTF commander understood the relationships, limits, and politics of it all, things went well. When they treated it as a JOA they ended up getting a personal flight home.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 06/24/2014 16:12 Comments || Top||

#6  Prior to the second Gulf War, the ARCENT Commander, General Tommy Franks wisely made a habit of rotating baby generals and promotable colonels through the skeleton JTF at Camp Doha, KU in 30 day increments as "JTF Commanders." One of the first bullets on Frank's 'lets talk this shit over list' was the command relationships piece. The new generals not only gained a month of theater 'boots on the ground' and updated SA, they gained the vital political perspectives. General David Petraeus thought the experience was so valuable, he volunteered for and received a second tour.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 16:29 Comments || Top||

#7  The first commander was one of the SF group commanders, he got it and was excellent. We did not have an ambassador at the time and the Charge' struggled with all of the DOD arriving and advisers helping out. Once we got a career type ambassador the CINC put a general down with us, the SOCPAC commander. While he did not have the political savvy initially, he was a quick study and performed well. It was when they rolled some newly promoted 06 in there and he began intel reporting on the embassy and staff. He also began to coordinate around the embassy with secretary level officials in the host nation that conflicted directly with US policy and directives. If we would have done something like GEN Franks did I believe the whole JTF event would have been a different event, both in host nation relations and lethality to the enemy.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 06/24/2014 17:48 Comments || Top||

#8  It was when they rolled some newly promoted 06 in there and he began intel reporting on the embassy and staff. He also began to coordinate around the embassy with secretary level officials in the host nation that conflicted directly with US policy and directives.

Hopefully, he was quickly reassigned to Fort Polk or the Pentagon.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 17:55 Comments || Top||

#9  Besoeker what are your thoughts on General Franks?
Posted by: Shipman || 06/24/2014 18:40 Comments || Top||

#10  LOL, I mean if it doesn't identify you of course.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/24/2014 18:41 Comments || Top||

#11  Besoeker what are your thoughts on General Franks? Posted by Shipman

He was a Vietnam veteran and enlisted intelligence analyst who came up through the ranks. He knew the AOR very, very well as did his G2, COL Bill Moore, who Franks kept in his back pocket. He was very highly respected by the CENTCOM Commander, his staff at ARCENT, and senior personnel within the Kuwaiti army. His assault on Iraq and Baghdad during the second Gulf war was a total success. General Franks is a great American.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/24/2014 19:16 Comments || Top||


Bangladesh
Bangladesh Sentences 8 Islamists To Death Over 2001 Attacks
[Ynat] DHAKA - A Bangladeshi court sentenced to death eight members of an outlawed Islamist Death Eater group in connection with a series of kabooms 13 years ago that killed 10 people, lawyers said on Monday.

The Islamists, including the head of the Death Eater group Harkat-ul Jihad Islami ((HuJI
Founded in 1984 by Fazlur Rehman Khalil and Qari Saifullah Aktar. The Bangla branch was established in 1992 with assistance from Osama bin Laden. Recruits come mostly from Deobandi madrassahs. HuJI and Fazlur Rehman Khalil are signators of bin Laden's declaration of war on the west.
)), were found guilty over the attacks during the traditional celebrations of Bengali New Year in the capital on April 14, 2001.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: HUJI


Iraq
Sunni Tribes Seize Iraqi Border Crossing With Jordan
[Ynet] Sunni tribes took control of a border crossing between Iraq and Jordan late on Sunday after Iraq's army pulled out of the area following a clash with rebels, Iraqi and Jordanian intelligence sources said.

The major Turbail crossing was now in the hands of officials following orders from Sunni tribal fighters in Iraq's western Anbar province, the sources told Rooters on Monday.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/24/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:



Who's in the News
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5Govt of Syria
4Hamas
3Islamic State of Iraq & the Levant
2Govt of Sudan
2al-Qaeda in Pakistan
2HUJI
2Islamic State of Iraq
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1Arab Spring

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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.
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Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2014-06-24
  Thousands flee North Waziristan region on last day of evacuation
Mon 2014-06-23
  Syria Army, Hizbullah Seek to Oust Rebels from Qalamun Foothills
Sun 2014-06-22
  30 militants killed in Khyber Agency, N Waziristan air blitz
Sat 2014-06-21
  Lebanon security chief escapes suicide attack
Fri 2014-06-20
  Zarb-i-Azb operation: 23 militants killed in fresh strikes
Thu 2014-06-19
  Iraq Battles ISIL for Control of Baiji Refinery
Wed 2014-06-18
   Iraqi PM sacks senior security officers over failure in fighting insurgents
Tue 2014-06-17
  Iraq calls for Iranian help to fight militants
Mon 2014-06-16
  Mighty Pak Army launches operation in North Wazoo
Sun 2014-06-15
  Iraq Rebels Stall North of Baghdad
Sat 2014-06-14
  Iran sends forces to Iraq as ISIS militants press forward
Fri 2014-06-13
  Iraqi security forces withdraw from Syrian border
Thu 2014-06-12
  'They have lined the streets of Mosul with the heads of police and soldiers'
Wed 2014-06-11
  Maliki asks for state of emergency
Tue 2014-06-10
  Mosul Falls to Insurgency

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