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> Terrorism, Foreign and Domestic Policy Updates Vol. XI
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Subject: Terrorism, Foreign and Domestic Policy Updates Vol. XI
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/5/2012 at 12:41 PM
It is 2012, and time to chronicle the history of where we are and where we are going. We will start with Afghanistan and Pakistan as they remain the focus and epicenter of the US stated war on terrorism. A lot has changed even since last November 21. During that time the Taliban was not very willing to sit down to peace talks, this was what they had to say.
Recap from Volume X:
The Taliban has reportedly rejected the endorsement by a Jirga of a strategic partnership deal with the United States, that could allow its troops to remain in Afghanistan for years. "All the participants were active government workers. What they discussed at the jirga was what America wanted," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
"In the past 10 years they brutally searched Afghans' houses, they detained Afghans and put them in their prisons, they destroyed people's orchards... and this cruel army still wants to continue its barbarism for another 10 years," he added.
"As we have stated before that in this so called Loya Jirga there were no genuine representatives of the freedom loving people of Afghanistan who would consider the interests of our nation and our Islamic values but rather all the participants were either current governmental officials like ministers, governors, district chiefs, judges and other officials or those faces who had been supporting the invaders for the past ten years and had repeatedly participated in such futile Jirgas. "
"As it was a complete military atmosphere in which they were surrounded by tens of security belts manned by thousands of foreign troops and their mercenary forces so to protect them from the wrath of the Afghan Mujahid nation, it was endorsed with a few superficial and misleading conditions that the occupying America, which has come to our country with hundreds of thousands of troops and with the force and use of different types of weapons and which has for the past ten years raided the homes of Afghans, martyred their relatives or have thrown them in their inhumane prisons, razed their homes and orchards and are still continuing their tyranny on a daily bases an example of which is the beheading of 4 family members a few days ago in Kandahars Ghorak area during one of their raids;
This barbaric army must stay for at least another decade!? "
"As it was a complete military atmosphere in which they were surrounded by tens of security belts manned by thousands of foreign troops and their mercenary forces so to protect them from the wrath of the Afghan Mujahid nation, it was endorsed with a few superficial and misleading conditions that the occupying America, which has come to our country with hundreds of thousands of troops and with the force and use of different types of weapons and which has for the past ten years raided the homes of Afghans, martyred their relatives or have thrown them in their inhumane prisons, razed their homes and orchards and are still continuing their tyranny on a daily bases an example of which is the beheading of 4 family members a few days ago in Kandahars Ghorak area during one of their raids; "
Now things have changed, and so we begin Volume XI to cover it all.
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/5/2012 at 12:48 PM
We'll begin with the proposed establishment of an Afghan Taliban Media office in Qatar. Previously official Taliban media spokespeople denied they were in negotiations of any kind, now they confirm they are now in negotiations.
Re: Taliban Office in Qatar:
There have been meetings with Taliban on both sides of the border, Pakistan and Afghanistan. While it had only been conjecture in the past, there has been confirmation from the Afghan Taliban that they will be amenable to establishment of a political office in Qatar if some conditions are met. The release of prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, and US troops leaving Afghanistan. They will not agree to permanent bases of US troops in Afghanistan.
Afghan President Karzai has agreed to the proposed political office in Qatar, which is surprising because he recently asked why the US had taken Mullah Omar off its list of wanted terrorists. A senior member of Afghanistan's High Peace Council, the government's official body charged with seeking a negotiated end to the country's war, said he welcomed the Taliban move. "It is important for the Taliban to negotiate with the international community, especially with the US, and we welcome their decision to set up a political office," Arsala Rahmani, a top negotiator on the council, told the Reuters news agency.
The Taliban statement rejected some media reports that negotiations with the US had begun, but according to a source in Pakistan early discussions had been held last autumn in Doha, Qatar, between US diplomats and a small Taliban delegation led by Tayyeb Agha, the former secretary of Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
Afghanistan agrees with the negotiations between the United States and the Taliban, which will lead to the establishment of an office in Qatar," Karzai's office said in a statement on Wednesday. The statement comes after American and Taliban officials made a deal, in which the Taliban agreed to open an office in Qatar in return for the release of several high-ranking Taliban figures.
"The Afghan government has called on the US embassy in Kabul to explain about the reports on removing Mullah Mohammad Omar's name from the black list," said Afghan presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi.
The United States is set to release several Taliban leaders from the Guantanamo Bay prison after Washington struck a deal with the militant group agreeing to their opening of an office in Qatar. Former Taliban Interior Minister Mullah Khair Khowa and senior Taliban military commander Noorullah Noori are among the Taliban officials, The Guardian reported on Tuesday. The US may release "high-risk detainee" and former Taliban Deputy Defense Minister Mohammed Fazl, held at Guantanamo since 2002, but hand him over to Qatar, the newspaper said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/03/taliban-leaders-guantanamo-bay- deal
The official Taliban news release statement regarding negotiations for an office in Qatar:
Safar 08, 1433 A.H, Tuesday, January 03, 2012
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
It is a unambiguous reality that the Islamic movement of Taliban arose to establish an Islamic system in Afghanistan, uproot injustice, eradicate narcotics and the local writ of gunmen, strengthen security and to form national unity and with the help of Allah and with the backing and sacrifices of the nation, it was able to eradicate corruption and establish an Islamic government in the various provinces and the capital in a very short period of time. It almost completely eliminated the years of strife and fragmentation in the whole country and was able to bring ninety five percent of the country under the control of the central government. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has always tried to solve the problems with the opposition through talks.
The ongoing issue in the country which came about ten years ago has been between two fundamental elements: on the one side is Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and on the other is the United States of America and its foreign allies.
The stance of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the beginning has been to bring about the end of the invasion of Afghanistan and to let the Afghans establish an Islamic government of their own choosing which does not pose danger to anyone. Through realization and understanding, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has time and again made clear its stance to other nations and has persistently said that the allied nations under the leadership of America will never be able to subdue the Afghans by force in order to realize its aims.
We are at the moment, besides our powerful presence inside the country ready to establish a political office outside the country to come to an understanding with other nations and in this series, we have reached an initial agreement with Qatar and other related sides. Islamic Emirate has also asked for the release of its prisoners from the Guantanamo prison in exchange basis.
Apart from this, the perturbing reports spread by some news agencies and western officials about negotiations have no reality and are strongly rejected by Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Remarks: So there you have it, they are ready to establish a political office outside of Afghanistan.
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/5/2012 at 01:14 PM
Next: The status of what is going on in the war over there, which actually ties into why the US is willing to consider letting out detainees from Guantanamo. Pakistan has blocked the NATO supply route for the US forces turning their trucks back from being able to get into Afghanistan.
Pakistan has turned back hundreds of NATO containers and fuel tankers, headed for Afghanistan, from its southwestern border-crossing to the southern port city of Karachi, Press TV reports.
The NATO containers carrying supplies for US-led forces in Afghanistan started returning to Karachi from the border town of Chaman on Wednesday as they were not allowed to gain passage into Afghanistan through the Chaman border gate.
Pakistan blocked NATO supply routes to landlocked Afghanistan following US-led NATO airstrikes on two Pakistani military checkpoints that killed 24 soldiers in Mohmand Agency on November 26.
The 5-week closure has left tens of thousands of tons of supplies bound for NATO forces in Afghanistan piling up at Karachi port.
Remark: So there is motivation for the US to negotiate with Afghans and Pakistani forces on both sides of the border because the supplies are landlocked.
While there is all this talk about peace, ISAF is still targeting and killing Taliban commanders. Today a commander was killed in Mazar I Sharif in Balkh province. He provided logistical and financial support throughout Nahrin district of Baghlan province.
Assailants shot dead Haji Fazel Mohammad on Wednesday as he was on his way to evening prayers in the volatile of Sangin district of the province. The attackers later fled the scene and their whereabouts are unknown, authorities said on Thursday. Mohammad served on the local council for Sangin, which was a one-time Taliban stronghold and has witnessed frequent militants attacks since Afghan forces regained its control two years ago.
The Pakistani Taliban claim they have killed 15 paramilitary soldiers in the Spin Tal area in North Waziristan. Ahsanullah Ahsan, a spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), said on Thursday the men's bodies were dumped in the area close to the Afghan border.
The 15 members of the Constabulary Corp, a paramilitary force active in the border region with Afghanistan, had been kidnapped from Tank area in South Waziristan on December 22. The Pakistani army said it was investigating Ahsan's claim.
Ahsan said the assassinations were in retaliation for the death of Qari Kamran, an important commander of Pakistani Taliban, who was killed in a recent operation by Pakistani security forces in the Kermina area, near Landikotal, of Khyber Agency bordering Afghanistan. Qari Kamran was killed along with 12 other suspected members of the Pakistani Taliban.
http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/05/pakistani-militants-kill-15-security-officer s.html
It alleged that troops also killed a woman and arrested others, something that was forbidden and illegitimate in Islam as well as against tribal traditions.
Remarks: So the paramilitary forces were killed in retaliation for carnage that happened to Taliban fighters, their women, and their villages where tribal traditions were violated.
PeshawarDenying and reacting angrily to the media reports, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan on Wednesday said that neither Mullah Mohammad Omar has directed TTP fighters to stop fighting with the government of Pakistan nor TTP commanders informed the local and international media that TTP would end war with the Pakistani government.
TTP main spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan and TTP spokesman for Mohmand Agency chapter Sajjad Mohmand, claimed responsibility for Tuesdays attacks in Peshawar and Landikotal, saying that attacks were
launched to avenge the killing of their colleagues by the law enforcement agencies personnel in Landikotal. Both the TTP spokesmen said that attacks were also the evidence that TTP would continue its war against the government of Pakistan till complete implementation of Shariah in the entire country.
They denied the media reports that TTP was negotiating peace deal with the government, saying that current attacks claimed by the TTP would remove the ambiguity that TTP was negotiating any peace deal with the government. The reasons on the basis of which the Taliban were against the US, were present in Pakistan so our fight with the Pakistani government would continue till the implementation of Shariah, Ihsan added.
Spokesman for TTP, headed by Hakimullah Mahsud, confirmed to have agreed with rest of the militant organisations in North Waziristan Agency on avoiding killing of innocent people and kidnapping for ransom, saying that various militant groups were operating in North Waziristan and all the organizations mutually constituted a Shura to deal with any violent act according to Shariah. Ihsan said that the Shuras work was just confined to the North Waziristan and the Shura was formulated because Shariah was not imposed in North Waziristan as implemented by the TTP in other tribal regions.
He said the TTP would extend all kinds of cooperation to the five-member Taliban Shura, established in North Waziristan for the implementation of Shariah in the said tribal region.
Ihsanullah argued that the Taliban joint Shura or council has in fact been formed for tackling two major issues i.e. to find an end to frequent incidents of kidnapping for ransom and killing of innocent people, especially those picked up by unknown people in the tribal areas and executed on charges of spying for the US forces. Asked about reports attributed to the Afghan Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar urging Pakistani Taliban to stop their fight in Pakistan and instead support them in liberating Afghanistan from the occupying forces, he declined that Mullah Omar directed TTP to stop war with Pakistani government but said they would operate both in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He said that Afghan Taliban were fighting in Afghanistan against the US led Nato forces and TTP will continue its war against the Pakistani forces, saying that Pakistani Taliban and Afghan Taliban are brothers and two sides of the same coin.
For us Pakistan is as important as Afghanistan, therefore we cannot stop our activities here, the TTP spokesman insisted.INP
Remarks: So what is going on regarding peace talks? There are peace talks see the next post.
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/5/2012 at 01:21 PM
Back last November we read that there were peace talks going on, even though some denied it. It is not that there was a lack of media coordination about this, I think it is more likely due to the sensitivity and confidentiality of the talks (to occur and be successful without incurring drone attacks), it was necessary for them not to disclose it until after the talks occurred and agreements were made between the Commanders and leaders on both sides of the border (Afghan/Pakistan).
This is what we heard last November:
First, there have been reports that the Pakistani Taliban are in peace talks, but not with the US. They are in peace talks with the Pakistan govt. who is fed up with the US launching drones on their people.
Two rounds of discussions held by a 10-member negotiating committee are focused on SWA region initially
* Taliban nominate Waliur Rehman for talks (he co-commands the Taliban with Hakimullah Mehsud)
* Taliban conditions include troops withdrawing to barracks, military compensating losses, exchange of prisoners, end of ties with US
* Taliban release five ISI officials as goodwill gesture
Last month, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had said that his administration was ready to start talks with all factions of the Taliban, including the Haqqani network. "If negotiations fail to work, the government will launch military operations in the tribal areas," he added.
Yes, we have been holding talks but this is just an initial phase. We will see if there is a breakthrough, said the senior Taliban commander, who asked not to be identified.
Right now, this is at the South Waziristan level. If successful, we can talk about a deal for all the tribal areas.
We never wanted to fight to begin with, said the senior Taliban commander. Our aim was to rid Afghanistan of foreign forces. But the Pakistani government, by supporting America, left us no choice but to fight.
Last month, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that his administration is ready to start talks with all factions of the Taliban, including the Haqqani network. If negotiations fail to work, the government will launch military operations in the tribal areas, he told a small group of journalists at his private residence in Lahore.
Pakistan Muslim League-N President Nawaz Sharif Sunday accusing President Asif Ali Zardari of selling out countrys sovereignty, said the present regime wanted to put Pakistans army under the US control. In his address to a public meeting here where PML-N supporters turned up in a huge number, Nawaz Sharif said: The letter written and sent to Mike Mullen with the help of Pakistan Ambassador in US Hussain Haqqani, sought to put Pakistan army under the US control.
http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/03/al-qaida-taliban-ask-pakistani-militants-for -help.html
LADHA: All jihadi groups, in consultation with Islamic Emirate Afghanistan (shadow Taliban government in Afghanistan), have decided to set up a committee to set aside differences in their ranks and step up support for war against western forces in Afghanistan.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Taliban Shura held at an unspecified place on Monday. A statement issued in the form of a pamphlet to the media in Waziristan after the meeting said: All Mujahideen local and foreigners are informed that all jihadi forces, in consultation with Islamic Emirate Afghanistan, have unanimously decided to form a five-member commission. It will be known as Shura-i-Murakbah.
The committee comprises Maulvi Azmatullah, Maulvi Noor Saeed, Maulvi Saeedullah, Maulvi Sadar Hayat and Hafeez Amir Hamza.
According to sources, Azmatullah (Taliban commander in Barwan) represents the Waliur Rehman group, Noor Saeed (Taliban commander in Barwan) the Hakeemullah Mehsud group, Saeedullah (from Afghanistan) the Haqqani group, Sadar Hayat (from North Waziristan) the Maulvi Gul Bahadar group and Amir Hamza (from Ahmedzai Wazir tribe) the Mulla Nazir group in Wana subdivision of South Waziristan.
Spokesman for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Ihsanullah Ihsan confirmed that the meeting had been held and the statement dated Dec 31 was issued after approval by Talibans supreme leader Mullah Omar.
The sources said the committee had been formed to resolve differences among various militant factions, regroup them and investigate killings on spying charges and excesses, if any, committed by the Taliban against local people.
All Mujahideen, local and foreigners, are informed that they should desist from killing and kidnapping for ransom innocent people and cooperate with this committee in curbing crimes. If any Mujahid is found involved in unjustified killings, crimes and other illegal activities he will be answerable to Shura-i-Murakbah and will be punished in accordance with the Shariah law, the statement says.
The sources said the high command of Pakistani and Afghan Taliban had been trying for two months to reach an agreement on uniting different factions. The first meeting in this regard was held on Nov 27 in Azam Warsak near Wana.
It was attended by Waliur Rehman Mehsud, Hakeemullah Mehsud, Mulla Nazir, Abu Yehya Al Libi and Abdur Rehman Al Saudi of Al Qaeda and Sirajuddin Haqqani of the Haqqani network.
The second meeting was held on Dec 11 in Dattakhel area of North Waziristan. It was attended by Sabiullah Mujahid, Maulvi Sangeen and Maulvi Ashfaq from Afghanistan, Yehya Al Libi and Abdur Rehman Al Saudi of Al Qaeda, Hafiz Gul Bahadar and Maulvi Sadiq Noor from North Waziristan and Hakeemullah Mehsud, Waliur Rehman and Mulla Nazir from South Waziristan.
Talking to Dawn on phone from an unspecified place, TTP spokesman Ihsanullah said the Mujahideen groups had reposed their confidence in the leadership of Mullah Muhammad Omar and recognised him as the leader of Afghanistan.
He said the TTP would send its fighters to Afghanistan after March for waging jihad against US-led infidel forces.
The spokesman denied a media report that the Taliban would not attack Pakistani security forces. It was a misleading and incorrect report.He said the meeting had decided that militants would target the Americans and their allies in Pakistan as well as Afghanistan.
Ihsanullah said the Taliban would also take revenge of what he called humiliation by security forces of tribal women, men and Mujahideen in the ongoing operation in Khyber agency.
It may be recalled that a rift occurred among Taliban groups when Mulla Nazir expelled Uzbek and Masud militants from Wana subdivision after striking a deal with the government during the operation Rahe Nijat.However, Gul Bahadar and Maulvi Sadiq did not oppose the shifting of Mujahideen from South to North Waziristan.
AP adds: For Gods sake, forget all your differences and give us fighters to boost the battle against America in Afghanistan, senior Al Qaeda commander Abu Yehya Al Libi told Pakistani fighters at the meeting, according to a militant who attended it.
http://paktribune.com/news/Taliban-pledge-not-to-target-security-forces-246 351.html
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/5/2012 at 01:50 PM
So where do the peace talks stand?
The Taliban have formed a 5 Member Shura that will represent the groups on both sides of the border. Shura-i-Murakbah.
The committee comprises Maulvi Azmatullah, Maulvi Noor Saeed, Maulvi Saeedullah, Maulvi Sadar Hayat and Hafeez Amir Hamza.
According to sources, Azmatullah (Taliban commander in Barwan) represents the Waliur Rehman group, Noor Saeed (Taliban commander in Barwan) the Hakeemullah Mehsud group, Saeedullah (from Afghanistan) the Haqqani group, Sadar Hayat (from North Waziristan) the Maulvi Gul Bahadar group and Amir Hamza (from Ahmedzai Wazir tribe) the Mulla Nazir group in Wana subdivision of South Waziristan.
Mullah Omar has had longstanding disagreement with those who kidnap and ransom innocent people. Hopefully this Shura will be able to decrease these incidents occuring within their jurisdictions.
http://paktribune.com/news/Taliban-pledge-not-to-target-security-forces-246 351.html
PESHAWAR: On the directive of their supreme leader Mulla Mohammad Omar, the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban on Sunday formed a joint five-member Shura or council with Pakistani militant organisations, making a pledge to stop their fight against their own armed forces and instead focus their attention against the US-led forces in Afghanistan.
Mulla Omar, according to Taliban sources, wanted the Pakistani Taliban groups to focus on Afghanistan, where their fight against the foreign forces was in a decisive phase. "Convey my message to the Pakistani Taliban that you have forgotten the real purpose, which is to fight the invading forces in Afghanistan and liberate it from their occupation," said a Taliban leader quoting Mulla Omar.
Taliban sources said Mulla Omar was not happy with the Pakistani Taliban for carrying out suicide attacks, kidnapping people for ransom and killing innocent people. He had also sent his senior commanders to persuade them to stop the "un-Islamic" activities or to stop referring to him (Mulla Omar) as their supreme leader.
Also, he said Mulla Omar was very upset at frequent kidnapping of people on suspicion of spying for the US forces and their merciless killing and urged them to stop it immediately. Pakistani militant groups, which signed the accord and promised to work together with the Afghan Taliban, stop kidnappings for ransom and killing of innocent people, included Maulvi Nazeer group in South Waziristan, Hakimullah Mahsud group, Maulana Waliur Rahman group, both operating in South Waziristan and part of the TTP, Hafiz Gul Bahadur group in North Waziristan and the powerful Haqqani Network.
The Taliban on Sunday issued a leaflet in North Waziristan in which all militant groups were directed to stop kidnappings for ransom and killing of innocent people; otherwise, the five-member Shura would investigate if it received any complaint and suggest punishment for any group found guilty.
Remarks: Mullah Omar's focus has been to get US forces out of Afghanistan, maintain it's sovereign borders. He wants the fighters to stop killing fellow Muslims and instead focus on the US who came and has been occupying the country since 2001. He does not allow anything un-Islamic even in the fighting of his men. He forbids training children for suicide bombings or fighting; while the Pakistani side (mostly Al Qaida forces) recruited them for that purpose. The Pakistani side has allowed women for that purpose as well. Mullah Omar would never allow that. With this new Shura, things should change and calm down. There are some commanders who were not at the Shura, Faqir Mohammad who has been negotiating peace talks on his own accord for his men, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, who used to be with the Pakistani Taliban under Hakim Mehsud, but left to form his own group.
As US troops leave Afghanistan, peace can be possible. They will not however accept permanent US bases there. I think the offerring of the political office in Qatar was to give them the idea that they should consider relocating to a neutral country like Qatar; as much as they would like the climate better in the winter, Afghanistan is their home, and they are not going to permanently up and leave.
Islamic prophecy is very definite about the future of Afghanistan and it's native born people and the role they will play when the Islamic Mahdi and even Jesus return to the earth to fight the anti-Christ. The prophecies will be fulfilled. Even the establishment of the office in Qatar will help play a role in what was prophecied 1400 years ago, so it is a good thing to have that office, it will help the Mahdi when he returns and goes to Saudi Arabia.
So things are changing. Hamas has a political office in Syria, while their main office is in Palestine, so it is not unfathomable for the Taliban to have an office in Qatar, while their main location remains Afghanistan.
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/5/2012 at 02:05 PM
Other places? The Muslim Brotherhood has gotten most of the votes for the new govt. there. Saudi is going to try to help bring gas prices down for us, the Iranian situation is still being discussed.
Happy New Year, let us hope peace prevails (and there is a good chance it can begin in Afghanistan and Pakistan).
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
True Peach
Posts: 11157
(11157 all sites)
Registered: 9/17/2007
posted on 1/5/2012 at 02:21 PM
I noticed you didn't mention anything about Iraq. Any idea what's going to happen there between the Sunnis and Shiites? I saw this in the news today.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45881411/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/#.TwX2v DUS01I
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/5/2012 at 02:32 PM
Al Qaeda still has fighters in Iraq. They will never accept the Shiites for religious reasons. I think it is a matter of time before there is civil war there which can of course spread to Iran.
http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-72140-Al-Qaeda%E2%80%99s-Islamic-Sta te-of-Iraq-claims-responsibility-for-Baghdad-bombings.html
There are even problems with the Kurds.
http://en.aswataliraq.info/(S(m1ekyc45phiyxx55bg0gnu45))/Default1.aspx?page =article_page&id=146359&l=1
Kurdish deputies have asked for an independent investigation over reports that Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani has a 30,000-strong commando force especially trained to defend him and his ruling party.
Remark: The leader of the Kurds needs a 30,000 member strong commando force for protection. How stable is the country?
For the victory the US obtained, 162,000 Iraqi civilians died. AN estimated 80% of them were civilians according to reports. Can a peace keeping force stop future civil war?
[Edited on 1/5/2012 by gina]
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/9/2012 at 11:32 PM
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Monday of a civil war in neighboring Syria, where forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assads regime persist with deadly crackdown on opponents.
Turkey, which shares a 910-kilometre (570-mile) border with Syria, has stepped up criticism of Assad's crackdown on opposition protests, which has claimed more than 5,000 lives since mid-March, according to U.N. estimates.
[Edited on 1/10/2012 by gina]
[Edited on 1/10/2012 by gina]
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/9/2012 at 11:40 PM
http://www.tehrantimes.com/economy-and-business/94386-irans-sardar-jangal-g as-field-in-caspian-sea-to-yield-880000bpd
TEHRAN - The huge gas field, named Sardar Jangal, which has been recently discovered in Irans territorial waters in the Caspian Sea, has the capacity to produce 880,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, MP Asadollah Abbasi told the Fars news agency.
Ali Osouli, managing director of Khazar Oil Company, announced in December 2011 that the field holds an estimated 8 billion barrels of crude oil. An exploratory well has been drilled in the gas field to give new details on its hydrocarbon reserves, the Shana new agency quoted Osouli as saying.
The Sardar Jangal field holds at least 50 trillion cubic feet (some 1.4 trillion cubic meters) of gas reserves. The field, in waters 700 meters deep, lies wholly within Irans territorial waters. According to Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi, excluding Sardar Jangal, Iran has 11 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves in the Caspian Sea. Qasemi also announced that Iran is now the sole country in the region which has found access to the technology to drill wells in deep waters.
http://www.tehrantimes.com/economy-and-business/94385-iran-plans-to-connect -power-grid-to-russia
Iran is also connecting a power grid to Russia. Iran plans to connect its national power electricity grid to Russia by the next calendar year which will end on March 20, 2013.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran and Venezuela will stand together despite US efforts against the expansion of ties between Tehran and Caracas.
[Remember that BP oil problem? If that explosion in the Gulf had not happened, BP would have been the first to tap into the vein that led to that Venezuelan oil]. The Us does not want any deals with Venezuela and any other country to take place.
Iran's oil exports to South Korea have increased 48 percent in November 2011, emerging as the second largest crude supplier to the South Asian country, a report says.
Remarks: So the sanctions against Iran are not working very well. Iran is moving ahead in their oil and gas and energy sectors.
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
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posted on 1/11/2012 at 06:55 PM
"The anonymous person who posted it included the caption: 'Scout sniper team 4 with 3rd battalion 2nd marines out of camp lejeune peeing on dead talibans.' "
Since the Pentagon is going to investigate, they should start with this particular unit of the military, which someone was kind enough to name. The photos of the people in the unit are clearly visible in the Daily mail photos.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2085378/Video-Marine-Corps-urinatin g-dead-bodies-prompts-investigating.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2085378/Video-Marine-Corps-urinatin g-dead-bodies-prompts-investigating.html#ixzz1jCKIFWV5
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9008702/Pentagon -investigates-video-claiming-to-show-Marines-urinating-on-Taliban.html
http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/11/u-s-marines-investigating-video-urinating-tal iban/
The Pentagon is launching an investigation on a video that seems to show US marines desecrating dead corpses of Taliban fighters.
A caption written by semperfiLoneVoice claimed that the men were members of a scout sniper team from the Third Battalion of the Second Marine Regiment, a unit of around 800 troops based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
A spokesman for the Marine Corps said: "While we have not yet verified the origin or authenticity of this video, the actions portrayed are not consistent with our core values and are not indicative of the character of the Marines in our Corps. "This matter will be fully investigated and those responsible will be held accountable for their actions."
The spokesman confirmed that the unit had been deployed to Afghanistan but could not immediately give dates or the location of their deployment.
The battalion has a distinguished history beginning during the Second World War. In 1943 its members earned the nickname "Betio Bastards" for their role in the bloody battle for Betio, a small Pacific island occupied by the Japanese.
If the footage is verified it is likely to cause outrage throughout the Islamic world and fuel calls from within Afghanistan for an immediate American withdrawal.
Under the Geneva Conventions, the international treaty that lays out the rules of war, bodies of enemy soldiers must be "honourably interred, if possible according to the rites of the religion to which they belonged."
[Edited on 1/14/2012 by gina]
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
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Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/11/2012 at 08:41 PM
As most of you know, there is a lot going on in Iran. The European Union seeks to get countries to support an embargo and stronger sanctions against Iran when they meet January 23. Some nations have already said they will not abide by or go along with the emabrgo or sanctions, these incude Russia, China, Pakistan. The US is sending 9,000 troops to Israel, just in case war breaks out, so the threat of war is quite real. What should worry people is usually the modus operandi is sanctions, institute a no fly zone, then take out the leader of whatever country is being targeted. This was what happened in Iraq, Libya, and now we are doing it to Iran. (the Syrian situation is quite bad also which would result in civil war there). Any war with Israel will involve Palestine, also.
Accompanied by a US aircraft carrier, 9,000 US troops including airmen, missile interceptor teams, marines, technicians and intelligence officers are scheduled to land in Israel in the coming weeks. Many will stay up to the end of the year as part of the US-Israeli Army deployment in readiness for a military engagement with Iran, aiming at a synchronized military front against Iran.
US Third Air Force Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc commented in his visit two weeks ago that the coming action is more a "deployment" than an "exercise,. The joint force will now be in place ready for a decision to attack Iran's nuclear installations or any combat emergency.
These are the other links (from the gas prices thread) which people ought to be mindful of, since we are sending troops to Israel just in case.
Russia, China, Pakistan all say they will not support an embargo or stop doing business with Iran.
US Senators calling for a ban on Iranian oil. China and Japan do not desire to freeze to death right now in the winter, so I don't think they'll be on board with this idea.
So who will support the US on a war with Israel, Britain, Germany, France vs that whole half of the world, who happen to be Muslims? It could start out as an energy war, but it would be perceived as a Holy War, waged by Christian coutries against Muslim countries.
[Edited on 1/12/2012 by gina]
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
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Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/12/2012 at 11:50 AM
Quite a bit to cover today. We'll start with Iran.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Wednesday that a new aircraft carrier strike group had arrived in the Arabian Sea and that another was on its way to the region, but denied any link to recent tensions with Iran and portrayed the movements as routine.
"I don't want to leave anybody with the impression that we're somehow (speeding) two carriers over there because we're concerned about what happened, you know, today in Iran. It's just not the case," said Captain John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman.
Military officials said the USS Carl Vinson arrived in the Arabian Sea on Monday to replace the outgoing USS John C. Stennis carrier strike group, which Iran last week warned not to return to the Gulf after departing in late December.
The Stennis was due to return to its home port in San Diego but the Pentagon did not say when that would happen. Another carrier strike group, led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, concluded a port visit to Thailand on Tuesday and was now in the Indian Ocean. It is on track to join the Vinson in the Central Command area of operations, which begins in the neighboring Arabian Sea.
It is "not unusual to have two carriers in the CENTCOM theater at the same time," a second U.S. military official said. Another official said there had been two carriers in the Gulf region at least twice in the past 18 months.
REMARKS: Okay, they are replacing two carriers, that would be a plausible explanation except for the deployment of the 9,000 troops to Israel for the 'just in case' we are ready scenario, that is why people are on edge.
VOA News
January 11, 2012
The drone stikes begin again. Pakistani officials say a U.S. drone strike has killed four suspected militants in the country's northwest near the Afghan border, the first such attack in two months. The missiles hit a compound near Miran Shah, the main town in the North Waziristan tribal region, late Tuesday. Residents reported seeing the building on fire. U.S. officials confirmed the attack.
REMARKS: Hard to negotiate peace when the drones keep coming.
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
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Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/12/2012 at 12:00 PM
http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan_us_marines_urinating_taliban/24449 241.html
John Kirby, Pentagon spokesman said "Whoever it is, and whatever the circumstances -- which we know is under investigation -- it is egregious behavior and unacceptable for a member of the military,"
The office of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is due to meet in Kabul this weekend with U.S. envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman, said in a statement that the Afghan government "is deeply disturbed" by the video.
Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid today denounced the footage as "barbaric." But Reuters quotes Mujahid as saying "the video will not harm our talks and prisoner exchange" because the political process is in the preliminary stages. He said Taliban fighters will, in the meantime, continue their armed struggle.
"We condemn this action by U.S. soldiers who have urinated on the dead bodies of Taliban fighters. It will harm the peace talks," Amanullah said. "It seems that the United States never wants peace talks to happen in Afghanistan, and this action will increase misery in the country."
Kabul resident Feda Mohammad says anti-American sentiments in Afghanistan have been aggravated.
"The U.S. soldiers who urinated on the dead bodies of Muslims have committed a crime," Mohammad said. "Since they have committed such a crime, we don't want them anymore on our soil. We don't like foreign soldiers to be on our soil. They have to leave."
Kandahar resident Tawab Khan says the perpetrators should be identified and put on trial.
"All of us Muslims condemn this action by foreign soldiers, who have urinated on the bodies of Taliban fighters. It is against Islam and the international community's role," Khan said. "We want the Human Rights Commission to prosecute this brutal action and arrest the criminals of this incident."
Re: PEACE TALKS AND JIHAD:
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the militants had been fighting for the past 15 years to establish an Islamic government in Afghanistan "in accordance with the request of its people."
"It is for this purpose and for bringing about peace and stability in Afghanistan that we have increased our political efforts to come to mutual understanding with the world in order to solve the current ongoing situation," Mujahid said "But this understanding does not mean a surrender from jihad and neither is it connected to an acceptance of the constitution of the stooge Kabul administration."
KABUL, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A total of 42 insurgents had been killed and over 240 others were detained in a series of military operations conducted by Afghan army and NATO-led Coalition force over the past 20 days, a spokesman for the country's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
"The Afghan National Army (ANA) have killed 42 insurgents and detained 241 other suspected insurgents during independent and joint operations with NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) forces over the last 20 days," General Zahir Azimi told reporters in a weekly press briefing here.
However, he asserted that 18 ANA soldiers and officers have been killed in insurgent attacks, military operations and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts around the country over the same period of last time.
CORRECTION TO AN ALJAZEERA NEWS REPORT - from official Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan press release statement:
"Reports about release of prisoners from Guantanamo are untrue Aljazeera television published an unconfirmed report yesterday in which it claimed that 3 officials of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have been released from Guantanamo in exchange for the American prisoner Bergdahl who is held by the Islamic Emirate. Aljazeera channel also said that their claim has been confirmed by officials of Islamic Emirate however the reality is that all these assertions are baseless which are not affirmed by any officials of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
We strongly urge all news agencies to avoid damaging their reputation by publishing such untrue reports. They should also avoid coming under the influence the western media outlets which want to portray as if all the problems have been solved and through which, they want to spread concerns and keep the Muslims masses in the dark. Our enemies must similarly realize that the courageous people of Afghanistan under the leadership of Islamic Emirate will continue their legitimate struggle and armed Jihad until all the occupying forces are expelled from this soil. "
REMARKS: It would be a nice new year's gift to Bergdahl's family if the US negotiated in good faith for his release by releasing some prisoners from Guantanamo. US Ambassador Marc Grossman is going to Afghanistan next week to negotiate on that Political Office for the Taliban in Qatar, there is no reason he cannot add that to his agenda. Hillary confirmed he is going per Reuters.
WASHINGTON: US Ambassador Marc Grossman will visit Afghanistan and Qatar next week for talks with the Afghan and Qatari governments as the United States seeks to promote Afghan reconciliation, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday. I have asked our special representative, Ambassador Marc Grossman, to go to Afghanistan next week to continue our consultations with the Afghans and also to go to Qatar to continue our consultations with our partners in Qatar, Clinton said at a news conference with Qatars prime minister. (reuters)
The former idealogues and policy makers had questionable motives in how they shaped US foreign policy. Examples below:
"Military men are dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns for foreign policy." Henry Kissinger, quoted by Bob Woodward in The Final Days, 1976
The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer. "[The New World Order] cannot happen without U.S. participation, as we are the most significant single component. Yes, there will be a New World Order, and it will force the United States to change it's perceptions." -- Henry Kissenger, World Affairs Council Press Conference, Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, April 19th 1994
"I helped make Mexico safe for American oil interests in 1914," "I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested." Butler acknowledged that he'd spent most of his thirty-three years in the Marines as "a high class muscle man for Big Business, Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism[ts]." US General Smedley Butler wrote in his 1935 classic, "War Is a Racket".
Let us Do Better Than This As A Nation. Can We Stop the War Mongering and Profiteering, Obama's Theme for America was Yes We Can, So We Should Expect Better From America and For America.
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
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Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/12/2012 at 12:56 PM
Back on Dec. 19, 2011, during a Newsweek interview Joe Biden said the Taliban per se were not our enemy. We have to remember that even prior to 2001 our government was trying to work out an oil deal with them. Before the US bombing campaign that began in October 2001, the US asked them to hand over Osama bin Laden. Assassinating Osama was the US goal.
All religions demand providing sanctuary to someone who seeks it, and the Taliban did provide that to Osama under Islamic law and community Pashtunwali customs; but Mullah Omar made it clear that his position and that of his country was that Afghanistan was not to be used as a base to launch attacks against any other country. Osama's goal was worldwide jihad,* Omar was concerned only with the sovereignty of Afghanistan and it's borders. That is why the US is willing to deal with them. They do not have any global ambitions for worldwide conversion to Islam.
[*Osama's beliefs regarding jihad differ in some fundamental ways from Mullah Omar's in the things which are permissible under war. Osama believed there was a global Holy War going on. Omar viewed the war in a more direct way, that the US was attacking only Afghanistan due to Osama's provocative activities. Osama believed his activities were retaliatory, in compliance with Islamic law which says Muslims cannot start wars, they can only respond when attacked. He pointed out the times, places Muslims were being attacked in an ongoing worldwide battle. Al Qa'ida fights globally due to these affronts.
Osama received revelation during his Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca about his role in global jihad; but it started for him when he was a child, he had dreams of his path and that he was to assist the Mahdi who will come and set the stage for the ultimate battle of Muslims against the anti-Christ. The dreams had symbolism in them that he did not understand, but when he told his Father about them, his Father knew his son's path would be very important. As a business magnate, he did not have enough time for all his children, and Osama was left to figure out how to assume his role. His direction and orientation were steered and guided by his mentors. Mullah Omar did not have the worldwide experience and exposure that Osama did, so his vision was more localized. He does not see himself as a messenger, Osama knew that he was chosen a messenger.
Most of the people in the world were influenced by the media's portrayal of Osama and his mission. Governments did not want the people to hear everything he had to say and then think about it for themselves, questioning their own government's foreign policies at which point they stopped letting people even hear his speeches or view his videos.
Both men have been poorly understood by people in the west, but as time goes on, hopefully that will change and there will be greater understanding of the men whose paths have changed the course of the world. ]
Biden believes there are 30-40,000 Taliban still in Afghanistan. This is from 2009, he believes there are only 5% hardcore Talibs, 20% who are moderate, and 70% who are being paid to fight with them. I think that even those whose beliefs may be more moderate than the Taliban, want peace and order in their country, and they know it was restored under the leadership of the Taliban. They don't want the corruption that existed before their rule to have a foothold in their country and they see it happening all around them.
The Taliban have the support of locals who see the atrocities committed against civilian people. The US are foreigners in their land, and most remember what was left after the US sponsored war against the Soviets. There was no meaningful reconstruction, the economy and plight of the people did not improve. They are therefore, not quick to believe it will be different this time.
President Karzai said there is no chance he will allocate provinces to the Taliban, so it remains to be seen what the outcome of that standoff is. The Taliban have said over the years that they would negotiate with Karzai once American troops leave Afghan soil.
Right now, it is important to realize that all parties want peace. The bombing, war activities should stop.
[Edited on 1/14/2012 by gina]
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
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posted on 1/13/2012 at 08:35 PM
We'll start with the terror threat in Thailand, that was believed to involve at least one Hezbollah Member. Hezbollah denies the man is part of their organization. (Hezbollah is from Lebanon). We'll cover Syria, Saudi, the UK tomorrow.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/14/world/asia/arrest-in-thailand-after-us-te rror-alert.html?_r=1&ref=world
Amid public warnings from the United States and Israel of a possible terrorist attack, Thai officials said Friday that they had arrested a Lebanese man believed to be a member of Hezbollah in connection with a plot to strike tourists in Bangkok.
Thailands deputy prime minister, Chalerm Yubamrung, said that the arrest came after weeks of coordination with Israel. The countrys defense minister, Gen. Yuthasak Sasiprapha, said the plot may have involved using car bombs at tourist sites, synagogues and the Israeli Embassy. He said Israel intelligence agents first informed the authorities in Thailand on Dec. 22 that two or three men were suspected of plotting an attack in Bangkok, the Thai capital.
On Sunday, the agents again warned of an attack, possibly set to occur the next weekend at a site popular with Western tourists, like Khao San Road, where many backpackers and other visitors congregate, General Yuthasak said in an interview with the Thai newspaper Naewna.
http://www.yalibnan.com/2012/01/13/thailand-detainee-is-not-hezbollah-membe r-party-official-says/
Ghaleb Abu Zeinab, a member of Hezbollahs political bureau, was quoted as saying by LBC television that the man detained in Thailand for being suspected of involvement in terrorist activities is not one of Hezbollahs members,
The arrest came after the U.S. ambassador to Thailand warned Friday that Americans are under the real and very credible threat of a terrorist attack in Bangkok, the U.S. ambassador to Thailand warned Friday,Ambassador Kristie Kenney was elaborating on an emergency message sent by the embassy to American citizens earlier Friday warning of a possible terrorist attack.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Jan-13/159770-top-us-general -arrives-in-lebanon.ashx#axzz1jOAdDUKg
BEIRUT: Commander of the U.S. Central Command Gen. James Mattis met with some of Lebanon's top officials Friday during an unannounced one-day visit, during which he underlined U.S. support for Lebanons army.
The U.S. general, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly, held talks with Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail, Beirut, in the presence of the Lebanese Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn.
Mattis and Connelly also met Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at his office in Ain Al-Tineh, Lebanon's army commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi in his Yarze office, President Michel Sleiman in Baabda Palace and Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn.
[Mattis] underscored U.S. CENTCOMs support in strengthening the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces, recognizing its importance in serving as Lebanons sole legitimate defense force to secure Lebanons borders and defend the sovereignty and independence of the state, the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.
The statement also said that Mattis, who arrived from Amman, Jordan, on a U.S. military aircraft, discussed the political and security situation in Lebanon and other regional issues.
He also emphasized the strong and sustained military cooperation between the two countries as well as Lebanons initiatives to implement its obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
UN Chief Ban Ki Moon demanded the disarmament of Hezbollah in Lebanon. "I am deeply concerned about the military capacity of Hezbollah and ... the lack of progress in disarmament," he told a news conference after meeting Lebanese leaders. According to Lebanon's English-language The Daily Star, Ban also condemned Israel Friday for "repeated violations of Lebanon's sovereignty" which he described as a "threat to the United Nation's Interim Force in Lebanon."
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Jan-13/159772-uk-diplomat-mo st-likely-candidate-to-assume-un-post-in-lebanon-report.ashx#axzz1jOAdDUKg
BEIRUT: Western diplomats have suggested Derek Plumbly, former U.K. ambassador to Saudi Aarabia, to occupy the post of U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon, a pan-Arab newspaper said Friday.
Israeli warplanes violated Tuesday 1.10.11 morning the Lebanese airspace over the Southern villages of Jezzine and Iklim Al-Toufah on high altitude, the Lebanese National News agency reported.
In parallel, the agency reported that the Israeli forces fired 75 155 mm and 175 mm artillery shells inside the occupied Shabaa farms as part of exercises along the Lebanese-occupied Palestinian borders.
The exercises lasted for three hours and included the deployment of different types of weapons as well as land and aerial units.
Lebanese Security forces were on Tuesday searching for an object that Israeli warplanes dropped between the towns of Talousa and Houla in the South, the National News Agency reported.
NNA said the fighter jets dropped the object in a valley between the two southern towns. But security forces were finding difficulty scouring the area over the presence of cluster bombs left over from the 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon, the agency added.
The incident happened the same day the Israeli military launched three-hour drill in the Lebanese occupied Shebaa Farms and Syrian Golan Heights.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon was on Tuesday conducting patrols along the border with the Occupied Territories after the Israeli entity launched its huge military exercises in the occupied areas of Lebanon and Syria, media reports said.
They said citizens in southern Lebanon heard sounds of huge explosions coming from the Farms zone.
NNA (National News Agency) also reported that Israeli warplanes violated Tuesday morning the Lebanese airspace over the Southern villages of Jezzine and Iklim Al-Toufah on high altitude.
Remarks: There is a report that Israel is willing to receive refugees from Syria when Assad is finally deposed from power more on that tomorrow.
[Edited on 1/14/2012 by gina]
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
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posted on 1/13/2012 at 10:13 PM
Syria today in Homs
More tomorrow.
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/14/2012 at 11:58 AM
While the European Union member countries will meet January 23 to discuss the sanctions and embargo the US wants for Iran, there are other significant things going on in the other bordering countries. Yesterday we told you about Lebanon. The situation in Syria is as important as the Iranian situation.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-12/russia-says-nato-persian-gulf-nati ons-plan-to-seek-no-fly-zone-for-syria.html
Russia received information that members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and some Persian Gulf countries are preparing military intervention inSyria, the head of the Russian Security Council said.
Turkey, a NATO member, may play a key role, Nikolai Patrushev, who used to head the countrys intelligence agency, the Federal Security Service, told Interfax in comments confirmed by his office. The U.S. and Turkey are working on a possible no-fly zone to protect Syrian rebels, Patrushev said.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday that the Arab League monitoring mission in Syria should end after failing to deter the governments 10-month campaign of violence against dissidents. She spoke after meeting Qatari Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al Thani, a day after President Barack Obama held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal at the White House.
Russia, which has a naval base in Syria and sells weapons to the Middle Eastern country, is more concerned that Islamic radicals may come to power, said Irina Zvyagelskaya, a Middle East analyst at the Academy of Sciences in Moscow.
Russian Fear
Our fear is that Syria could collapse and extremist Islamic forces will seize control that no one will be pleased about, Zvyagelskaya said in a phone interview today. This could destabilize the entire region.
While Russia would block any effort to seek UN approval for a no-fly zone in Syria thanks to its veto-wielding power as a permanent member of the Security Council, Western nations and their allies may form a coalition like they did for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, said the analyst.
Defectors from Assads army who have set up an opposition force called the Free Syrian Army called at the end of last year for a no-fly zone and two buffer areas with international backing as they seek to topple the Syrian government.
The group wants a buffer zone in the north, on the Turkish-Syrian border, and another in the south near the border with Jordan to help them bring the fight closer to Assad, Riad al Asad, a former Syrian colonel who leads the Free Syrian Army, said in a phone interview from Turkey on Nov. 18.
Jan 14, 2012
MOSCOW, (SANA) Russian former Prime Minister, politician and academic Yevgeny Primakov, affirmed that Russia will not allow the Libyan scenario to be repeated in Syria through Security Council. Germany has urged its nationals to leave Syria. Diplomatic sources went further, saying Germany would be closing the legal and consular department of the mission in the next few days.
WASHINGTON - The United States said on Friday it had raised concerns with Moscow over a Russian-operated ship that has arrived in Syria and which sources said contained a cargo of bullets.
"With regard to the ship we have raised our concerns about this both with Russia and with Cyprus, which was the last port of call for the ship, and we are continuing to seek clarification as to what went down here," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
The United States had not independently verified the contents of the ship's cargo, she said. "It had bullets. There were four containers on board," the Cypriot official told Reuters. "The ship was carrying a dangerous cargo," the source at St. Petersburg-based Westberg Ltd. said by telephone on condition of anonymity. "It reached Syria on Jan. 11," he said.
Russia has long been a major arms supplier to Syria, where President Bashar Assad is trying to crush a 10-month-old wave of unrest by military force, prompting Western and Arab sanctions against Damascus that Moscow has not joined.
Nabil Al Araby, head of the Arab League warned that he believed Syria was sliding into civil war.
Fri. 1.13.11 troops backed by tanks attacked Zabadani. Tanks are bombarding the town and have entered the outskirts, but they are being met with resistance," Kamal al-Labwani, an opposition leader from Zabadani who fled to Jordan two weeks ago, told Reuters. "The Free Syrian Army (army defectors) has a strong presence in the area." The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said seven civilians were shot dead, four of them in the restive city of Homs. Three others died, including two wounded earlier in the week.
A total of five security personnel, including a lieutenant colonel, were killed and 15 wounded by "armed terrorist groups" in two separate attacks in Homs and the countryside around Damascus, the state news agency SANA reported.
British Prime Minister David Cameron met with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz in Saudi Arabia to discuss The two leaders discussed the importance of the UK-Saudi bilateral relationship and agreed to strengthen cooperation in a range of areas, Camerons office said in a statement, according to AFP. They also discussed recent developments in the region, in particular their shared concerns about the situation in Syria, Iran and Yemen, it added.
A statement issued by the prime ministers office in London said, The leaders will discuss the full range of regional issues, the global economic situation and proposals to broaden and deepen the UK-Saudi partnership on issues from social development to security to business relations.
In March last year, Cameron met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal at Number 10 Downing Street in London in a bid to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia have long been close allies. There are more than 150 joint ventures between British and Saudi companies and some 30,000 British nationals live and work in the Kingdom, which is also the United Kingdoms primary trading partner in the Middle East. The UK has an embassy in Riyadh, consulate in Jeddah and trade office in Alkhobar. Saudi Arabia has an embassy and consulate in London. Annual bilateral trade is worth $23 billion, while Saudi investments in Britain amount to more than £62 billion.
Israel is preparing to receive Syrian Alawite refugees on the occupied Golan Heights when the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad collapses, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Benny Gantz said Tuesday.
Speaking at a Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs committee meeting, Gantz expected a possible military confrontation between Syria and the Israeli enemy, and pointed out that "Assad and the Syrian regime may have a hard time acting against us in the short-term, but we also need to take into account that Syria has advanced weapons systems."
The Israeli army chief of staff also considered that the Syrian regime will fall soon. On the Lebanese level, Gantz stated that the threat from Lebanon toward Israel has grown on every parameter in the last few years. The threats have grown to five times what they were before he added.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated during his visit to Iran that the US missile shield system to be deployed in Turkeys southeastern Malatya provine, under NATO, targets no neighboring country including Iran. He said Turkey will not allow its neighbors to be attacked from Turkish territory.
He met with Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Laricani in Tehran yesterday. (Tuesday). And his Iranian counterpart, Ali Akbar Salehi. Reiterating that Turkeys foreign policy position is that they will not attack any country nor take any step that could negatively impact Iran.
REMARKS: A No Fly Zone involves forces bombing a countries infrastructures like we did in Libya. In addition to those 9,000 troops sent to Israel just in case war breaks out, 15,000 troops were recently deployed to Kuwait as well.
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/15/2012 at 12:37 PM
Tonight There will be remarks from the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on 60 Minutes regarding the Syrian situation. Obama is going to Israel next week for emergency meetings.
More later.
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad met with the people in Umayyud Square this past week (Tuesday 1/10/12), he also did a very interesting interview most of us probably missed with Barbara Walters 12/10/11.
Translation and transcript of Tuesday 1/10/12 speech in Umayyud Square.
When I saw you take to the streets in several squares and provinces of Syria I had a strong desire to be with you in this event, I wanted to be together at Umayyad Square. I had a strong desire to be with you in Umayyad square in the capital of Damascus, the capital of resistance, in the heart of Damascus, the capital of history. For those who dont read history can learn from it in the heart of Damascus, the heart of civilization, that gives civilization for those lacking it. I wanted to be with you in Damascus, in the heart of the capital of the Levant, which they wanted to turn from being the Land of Love and Peace into a land placed with destruction, killing, and devastation, but is is never ever to come true. [Our blood and souls sacrificed for you O Bashar]. This land, the Land of Levant, this blessed land, which Allah and the Prophet loved, had been endowed with this kind people. When I said once that Syria is protected by Allah I never meant were Gods chosen people, like some believed, or that Allah disinguished Syria from other countries and peoples. He loves all the peoples of the world but when Allah loves a land, he bestows on it people which are kind, vigilant and resilient, strong and faithful, like this great people.
[ People want Bashar Al Assad] Brothers and sisters, I wanted to be with you now, because I belong to this mass. Whoever wants to address people should come down into the street and address masses in the street . I was told more than once people want you to address them via tv but I refused saying I only address people directly and if the nature of speech in some cases imposes to address speeches insides halls with figures this is not substitute, from meeting with wide popular base. But when I stood above this podium minutes ago, I spontaneously said Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, what a people, I said Allah is the greatest, what a power, what a dignity, all those things are morals for every state. Not a state can succeed if not supported by the people.
I came here to look what a dynamism, what a power, what a steadfastness, what a dignity. All those things grant morals for every official and state, not a state can succeed if not supported by the people. I came here to put our hands together to look forward to the future of Syria that we love, Syria the strong, the majestic, the dignity ,the pride. To move forward applying reforms in one hand and fighting terrorism in the other. We move forward steadily and surely, where there is no place for defeatists, cowards, opportunists, ignorance and retardation, [ our blood and souls, sacrificed for you oh Bashar].
I wanted to be with you today to draw from your strength in the face of all risks targeting Syria. I have never felt week. To thank you for your power, the compass which points us always on the right track . I wanted to be with you also to thank you and express my love to you and to every Syrian citizen out in every yard, in every city, neighborhood ,street. I greet you as you come out of the mosques, [out] of churches, of schools and universities, standing against westernization and backing Arabization, stressing support to your institutions, primarilyy the army and armed forces, which sacrifice martyrs every day in order to be safe and free.
I express my love to you. I wont say that the nation is exposed to a conspiracy. You are here for this reason, I wont say that we should be ready to answer the call of [the] nation. Patriotic man does not need a call, he is directly self motivated, and you are doing that. The important thing is to have confidence in the future. I have this confidence in the future and with you, undoubtedly we will defeat the conspriacy ,it is last state of conspiracy, we will be the end for them and their plans.
Best regards, I hope to shake hands with everyone in the Arena, in Aleppo, in Illasaka, Qamishii, Darra, and in every place of this dear homeland, I wish luck for you and for every honorable citizen peace be upon you and Gods mercy and blessings.
Interview with Barbara Walters Dec.10, 2011
REMARKS: What came out in the Barbara Walters interview was that he felt he had the support of 1/3 of his people, but that another third were in the middle that they were not with the protesters but not the die-hard supporters. He also said "Dictator and dictatorship is not the same thing, dictatorship is about systems". He said he was revision the Constitution to meet the needs and desires of the people, and he felt that the world was not being told the real situation in Syria. He does not believe Syria is isolated and he said that the sanctions are not implemented by other countries because they would suffer from them if they were. The only thing a President should be afraid of is to lose the support of the people, and he believes he has the support of his people.
[Edited on 1/16/2012 by gina]
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/16/2012 at 11:51 AM
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/26684-iran-confirms-receiving-letter-fro m-u-s-on-strait-of-hormuz
The United States has sent a letter to Iran regarding its threatened closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Irans foreign ministry spokesman said on Sunday, without revealing the letter's contents.
"The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Susan Rice, sent a letter to Mohammad Khazaie, Iran's U.N. representative, which was conveyed by the Swiss ambassador, and finally Iraqi President Jalal Talabani delivered its contents to officials" in Iran, the official IRNA news agency quoted Ramin Mehmanparast as saying.
"We are in the process of studying the letter and if necessary we will respond."
The United States has had no diplomatic relations with Iran since shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution, and Swiss diplomats handle U.S. interests there.
On Friday, 1/13/11, the New York Times, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that Washington had used a secret channel to warn Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that closing the narrow strategic waterway would cross a "red line" and provoke a response.
Tehran threatened to close the strait -- a chokepoint for one fifth of the world's traded oil -- late last month, in the event of a military strike or severe tightening of international sanctions over its controversial nuclear program.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/26638-iran-warns-gulf-states-not-to-make -up-for-oil-ban
IranWarns Gulf States Not To Make Up For Oil Ban
Iran has warned its Gulf neighbors to not step in to make up for any shortfall in its oil exports under new Western sanctions, its OPEC representative said in comments published on Sunday. "We would not consider these actions to be friendly," Mohammad Ali Khatibi was quoted as saying by the Sharq newspaper.
"If the oil producing nations on the Persian Gulf decide to substitute Iran's oil, then they will be held responsible for what happens," he said. Khatibi said Iran would consider any Gulf member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries that "cooperate with the adventurous (western) nations in substituting Iranian oil to be accomplices."
If they did so, "one cannot predict the consequences," he was quoted as saying.Khatibi added that, if the Gulf nations do not cooperate with the West by pumping more oil, "then its 90 percent probable that nothing would occur."
The warning comes as the United States and the European Union step up sanctions to curb Iran's oil exports and revenue. Iran is the second-biggest oil exporter in OPEC, after Saudi Arabia, and it depends on petroleum revenues for more than half its state income.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said last Tuesday that unnamed oil producing countries will boost their output to make up for a planned EU ban on Iranian oil.
"Other countries are ready to increase production to avoid an effect on prices. We have made discreet contacts in this direction. The producers don't want to talk about it, but they are standing ready," he said.
REMARKS: So, if the Straits of Hormuz are closed and other countries boost their oil production output, Iran will retaliate against them. Last week the US deployed 15,000 troops to Kuwait. I think we should send a diplomat who truly understands the geopolitics of this situation to conduct negotiations, and that would not be Hillary. Send Jimmy Carter.
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/16/2012 at 12:05 PM
http://www.albawaba.com/news/more-death-syria-assad-speaks-30000-dead-summe r-408840
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad is being reported as saying that he will quell the uprising within Syria and there could be 30,000 dead by the summer. About 5,800 have died since the insurgency began it's broad based protests in March 2011.
The Syrian governmental opposition groups are reportedly trying to form a united front to increase strength within their movement.
Israel has said they are awaiting and will accept Syrian refugees if/when an all out civil war begins in Syria.
Hezbollah (Shiite resistance movement) has been accused of smuggling weapons to groups in Syria. Sheikh Hassan Nasrullah gave a speech last Friday 1/13/11 on the occasion of Arbaeen.
iArba'een is one of the largest pilgrimage gatherings on Earth, in which over 10 million people go to the city of Karbala in Iraq.[1][2][3][4][5] As it is known by Persian-speaking and Urdu-speaking Muslims in Central and South Asia, Arba'een is a Shia Muslim religious observation that occurs 40 days after the Day of Ashura, it is observed all over the world.
It commemorates the martyrdom of Hussein bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad which falls on the 20th day of the month of Safar. Husayn and 71 supporters died in the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (680 CE), killed by Yazid I's army. Chehelom is also observed 40 days after the death of a family member or loved one. Forty days is the usual length of the time of mourning in many Islamic cultures. The city of Karbala in Iraq, the third holy place of Shia Islam, is the center of the proceedings where, in a show of humility, many crawl through the streets of the city while others fall on their hands and knees as they approach the Shrines of Husayn and his brother Abbas ibn Ali. Many pilgrims travel miles on foot to reach Karbala.
Observance of Arba'een in Karbala was banned for many years when Saddam Hussein, was president of Iraq. For nearly 30 years under Saddam's regime it was forbidden to mark Arbaeen publicly in Iraq. Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the observance in April 2003 was broadcast worldwide.
Jordanian Prime Minister Awn Al-Khasawneh told Hamas that their leadership could live in Jordan but Not have a political office there. They were expelled from Jordan in 1999 when they banned Hamas, due to politics with Israel. Hamas then opened its political office in Damascus, Syria and Khaled Meshaal settled there. Ismail Haniyeh (the man on the right in the photo), lives in Gaza, Palestine.
9.9.11 This report says that Hamas was asked to leave Syria, now with the civil war Syria is embroiled in, it is unclear if Hamas would consider relocating its political office to Cairo, as Mahmoud Zahar said they were considering back last September. At the time, however they denied that they were thinking of moving.
Hamas is continuing to carry out its work in Damascus, said Izat Risheq, a member of the Hamas political bureau. There is no change on our status in Syria.
The London-based pan Arab daily Al-Hayat reported that Syria asked Hamas to leave the country and that Qatar only agreed to receive the movements political leadership The report claimed that Egypt and Jordan refused to receive the Hamas leadership.
REMARKS: The situation in Syria effects ALL of the surrounding countries. Hamas's political leadership is in Syria, if the US institutes a no fly zone (which some analysts have said is being discreetly discussed), they have to move, Jordan will accept them but not to have a political office. Israel has threatened Iran, Palestine would be in the middle of any actions between Israel and Iran. Turkey is willing to let NATO put the missile shield on their border with Lebanon, but not to be used to launch weapons into Lebanon. Lebanon will stand with Palestine and Iran as a Muslim country.
So any war, no fly zone implementation etc. will have implications and involvement of all the Middle East countries. Israel is still on our nuclear missle system with launch on warning status, meaning if a threat is detected, the system will automatically launch nuclear weapons. The war isn't just 'over there' anymore. Russia will stand with Iran as will China.
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/16/2012 at 12:22 PM
And Yes Al Qaida is very interested in the situation in Syria and wants Bashar Al Assad to be deposed.
From The political Committee of Fatah Al-Islam organization:
(Al Sham is Syria)
[Some people become offended when reading Al Qaida's words, therefore the link is provided for those who wish to read what they have to say about Syria. I think it is important because they are involved in the fight/war].
I usually put up the Afghan official statement press releases because the news from there is so jaded amd suppressed it is a great injustice to journalists everywhere for their point of view to not be heard. They differ from Al Qaida in that their fight is regional limited to the sovereignty of their country, yet they are attacked from all sides. It is one of the most beleagured places on the planet.....all because some want to exploit the wealth and resources God put in their land.
I think the world should hear what Al Qaida has to say, think about it and make their own decisions on how they want to live, and who they want to serve. The governments don't want people to think, evaluate anything. Some say Al Qaida just works for the government in a clandestine, covert way. I think we the people have a right to know what goes on in the world, there will come a time where we will not even be able to know about viewpoints different than out own. Controlled by a one world govt. wielding absolute power over all, till Jesus liberates the Earth (with a little help from fighters who don't want to be ruled by a paramilitary junta).
[Edited on 1/16/2012 by gina]
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/16/2012 at 01:12 PM
There have been reports (UNCONFIRMED) that intelligence officials believe Hakimullah Mehsud may have been killed in an January 12 drone strike in Pakistan.
Radio intercepts of discussions between Taliban fighters indicate that Hakeemullah was killed in the Jan. 12 airstrike that took place in the village of Dogga on the outskirts of Miramsham, the main town in North Waziristan. Six "militants," including several "foreigners," a term used to describe members of al Qaeda and allied terror groups, were reported killed in the strike.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/bomb-strikes-shiite-religi ous-procession-in-east-pakistan-killing-13/2012/01/15/gIQAzhDS0P_story.html ?hpid=z3
REMARKS: I think the reports are propaganda by the intel community. There has been NO confirmation from official Taliban media spokespeople to the press, therefore I do not believe the reports. This report has more info about the drone strike.
http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2012/01/saudi_fighter_ reported_killed.php
Tribal sources in Miramshah said the drone early Wednesday morning fired two missiles and pounded a mud-house at Kharmanai village, almost a kilometre east of Miramshah, where an Arab national reportedly hailing from Saudi Arabia lived along with his wife and a young son.
The Arab national was killed in the attack while his wife and son survived miraculously.
"A guest from the holy land (Saudi Arabia) living in a ramshackle house was killed on the spot but his wife and a son staying in the same room survived," a tribesman in Miramshah town said on the phone on condition of anonymity.
He said the wife and son of the Arab national sustained minor injuries. They were taken to a private health facility in Miramshah for treatment. He was a common Arab fighter and lived in the house where an Afghan refugee family resided earlier, tribal sources said.
REMARKS: Hakimullah Mehsud is NOT an Arab national. Therefore he is not the one the drone killed.
I'm not sure if they have misunderstood the name, as it is being reported that
"A newly appointed TTP spokesperson Asimullah Asim Mehsud denied the reports of the group's chief's death, claiming Mehsud was not in the area where the drone strike occurred.
"Our Ameer (chief) is very much alive and in full contact with our groups".
Asim also claimed responsibility for the attack on the District Police Officer's (DPO) office in Dera Ismail Khan. "They were our suicide bombers, and our reaction will intensify with the passage of time," he said while completely denying any peace talks with the government.".
REMARK: THe official spokesman we have previously been aware of is Ehsanullah Mehsud. There have been no reports of his being replaced, nor have there been widely dessiminated reports of Asimullah being additional spokesman. It could be that reporters have Ehsanullah's name incorrectly reported, but it is also possible Asimullah is another member of the media team. Ehsanullah was directly appointed by Hakimullah Mehsud as a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has taken control of yet another major town in Yemen. The AQAP fighters are led by the brother-in-law of Anwar al Awlaki, and they have sworn allegiance to Ayman al Zawahiri, the leader of al Qaeda.
An AQAP force, led by Tareq al Dahab, entered the town of Rada'a in Baydah province on Saturday night and laid siege to the police station and other government buildings, according to Reuters. Two policemen were killed in the assault.
"Al Qaeda has raised its flag over the citadel," a resident in Rada'a told Reuters. "Its members have spread out across the town's neighborhoods after pledging allegiance to Ayman al Zawahri during evening prayers (on Sunday)."
Dahab, the leader of the AQAP force that took control of Rada'a, is a brother-in-law of Anwar al Awlaki, the American citizen who served as a senior cleric and operational commander for AQAP before he was killed in a US drone strike in August 2011. Dahab was recently transferred to Yemen from Syria, which had captured him while he was attempting to enter Iraq, according to Reuters. It is unclear if Yemeni authorities released him or if he escaped from a Yemeni prison.
Rada'a, a town of 60,000 people which is just 100 miles south of the capital of Sana'a, is the latest population center to fall to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
AQAP took control of Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan, in May 2011. The terror group has battled government forces to a standstill in Zinjibar. Three Yemeni Army brigades - one infantry, one mechanized, and one armored - are involved in the fighting in Zinjibar.
The cities of Al Koud, Ja'ar, Shaqra, and Rawdah in Abyan are currently run by AQAP. The terror group also controls Azzan in Shabwa province.
In an official statement released by Ansar al Sharia in May 2011, the group said it wishes to take control of "all administrative, political, economic, cultural, monitoring, and other responsibilities" in Yemen.
AQAP is seeking to build an army to back up its Islamic state. In 2010, Qasim al Raymi, the military commander for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and Mohammed Said al Umdah Gharib al T'aizzi, a senior AQAP military commander in southern Yemen, both claimed that the terror group had raised a 12,000-fighter-strong army in the southern Yemeni provinces. Yemeni officials recently told Al Hayah that "al Qaeda fighters in Zinjibar (the capital of Abyan) number in the hundreds, and perhaps exceed 2,000 gunmen
[Edited on 1/16/2012 by gina]
[Edited on 1/16/2012 by gina]
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/16/2012 at 01:19 PM
WHAT IF WE AS A NATION, took our troops out of the 120 countries we are currently in, and just let each nation decide it's own sovereignty. We stop sending money covertly to proxy forces who create wars and coups and just took care of our own country? Is that possible?
The current conflicts in the Middle East, South Africa, the countries bordering Saudi Arabia do not have to effect us. We could let Iran do whatever it wants, if we do not demand sanctions and embargoes, they will not close the Straits of Hormuz. If Israel cannot defend itself against it's neighbors, then maybe THEY should revise their own foreign policies.
Why does it all have to be our wars? If we continue on the current course, we will have to send troops to Somalia, Djibouti, Yemen, South Africa to contain and deal with the problems there. We will have to send troops to Syria, we already sent 9,000 to Israel.
Islamic prophecy says once the war with Israel and Palestine starts, it will last 7 years, it will take 7 months to bury all the dead from it, the blood and bodies will reach the bridles of horses. The stench from rotting corpses will be so bad, God will send down rain for 30 days to cleanse the earth. (this means floods everywhere as the oceans rise).
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
Zen Peach
Posts: 20469
(20935 all sites)
Registered: 1/19/2002
posted on 1/19/2012 at 04:48 PM
The EU meets next week to discuss deepening sanctions against Iran, meanwhile Turkey and Iran have agreed to increase their trade relationship to $30 Billion dollars. The trade relationship was estimated at $5 billion dollars a few years ago is currently at $15 Billion dollars, pitting the US against the countries who want to continue doing trade deals with Iran, such as China and Japan and Russia who buy Iranian oil.
Turkish PM Reiterates Ankara's Support for Iran's Peaceful N. Program
TEHRAN (FNA)- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi renewed his country's support for Tehran's peaceful nuclear program.
Iranian Culture Minister, Hezbollah Leader Meet in Lebanon
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Culture Minister Seyed Mohammad Hosseini and Lebanese Hezbollah Movement Leader Seyed Hassan Nasrallah in a meeting in Lebanon conferred on the latest regional and international developments.
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/01/19/189232.html?PHPSESSID=0qte kt0trpdlv3abfriud888b7
Iran has never in its history tried to close the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping route at the center of increasing international tension, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said Thursday.
Iran has never in its history tried to prevent, to put any obstacles in the way of this important maritime route, he said in an interview with NTV television during a visit to Turkey. We want peace and tranquility in the region. But some of the countries in our region, they want to direct other countries 12,000 miles away from this region, Salehi said in English during a visit to Turkey.
Theyre talking about all the things they could do on the southern littoral of the Gulf, from missile strikes into Abu Dhabi, into refining centers, or supporting terror groups that could hit Thailand, Lebanon or the United States, Bruce Riedel said, noting that U.S. efforts in Afghanistan could also suffer.
The Iranians are superbly placed to make the war in Afghanistan, which is already difficult, impossible. They can turn out the light literally on half of Afghanistan whenever they want to, he added.
REMARKS: So Iran says they have never wanted to close the Straits of Hormuz (after all that would them too), a CIA analyst says that Iran could launch missiles into Afghanistan (we usually hear that they supply weapons to the Afghan fighters), missile strikes into Abu Dhabi? Supporting terror groups in Lebanon who could launch strikes on Thailand?
(remember the person caught in Thailand recently, whom the US believed was with Hezbollah, but they denied it?). One cannot even speculate on the scenarios that the intel people are thinking about (practicing to thwart attacks with the usual what if such and such happened) but I think we should all be concerned with the potential events that could unfold.
"Mankind is a single nation" "Allah did not make you a single people so he could try you in what he gave you, to him you will all return, he will inform you where you differed". Quran Chapter 2 Sura 213
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