Pakistan cedes Hangu to the Taliban

The Peace at All Costs crowd will be pleased. By allowing the Taliban a region to train and consolidate they are endangering the entire region. Of course, if the Hangu district is autonomous enough that the Pakistani Government refuses to take responsibility there, then NATO might have to step in and finish those Talibani terrorists off. Even if the foolish Left cry about it.

Pakistan cedes Hangu to the Taliban - The Long War Journal: "The Pakistani government has signed yet another peace accord with the Taliban in a settled district of the Northwest Frontier Province. Just one day after the military canceled an operation in Hangu, the provincial government cut a deal with the Taliban.

The peace agreement in Hangu largely mirrors the accords signed throughout the tribal areas, according to details published in Dawn. The Taliban are required to recognize the government’s writ, stop attacks on government security forces, and refrain from running a parallel government and legal system. In exchange, the government will withdraw the Army from Hangu and “pay compensation to people who were affected during the operation.” In the past the Taliban received direct payments from the government.

Both sides are required to release prisoners. The government detained seven Taliban, including three “high profile” leaders in mid-July, including Rafiuddin, a Taliban leader in Hangu and a deputy of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud. The release of Rafiuddin is high on the list of the Taliban’s demands. An additional 30 Taliban fighters were detained during a one week operation in the district. The Taliban are currently holding 29 government officials and security officers.

The Hangu tribal jirga, which represented the Taliban during talks with the government, is said to be heading to the Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency to conduct talks with a Taliban commander named Mohammad Karim Khan. The government cut a deal with the Taliban in Khyber on July 9, and the extremist now control wide swaths of the tribal agency."

Obamamessiah rocking and rolling

Obamamessiah rocking and rolling straight into the sermon on the mount! Hilarious Satire from England! He ventured forth to bring light to the world | Pierre Legrand's Pink Flamingo Bar: "Obamamessiah rocking and rolling straight into the sermon on the mount! Hilarious Satire from England! He ventured forth to bring light to the world

Brilliant bit of satire that captures perfectly the idiocy the campaign of Obamamessiah. Naturally an Englishman wrote it.

And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness.

The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow.

When he was twelve years old, they found him in the temple in the City of Chicago, arguing the finer points of community organisation with the Prophet Jeremiah and the Elders. And the Elders were astonished at what they heard and said among themselves: “Verily, who is this Child that he opens our hearts and minds to the audacity of hope?”

In the great Battles of Caucus and Primary he smote the conniving Hillary, wife of the deposed King Bill the Priapic and their barbarian hordes of Working Class Whites.

And so it was, in the fullness of time, before the harvest month of the appointed year, the Child ventured forth - for the first time - to bring the light unto all the world.

He travelled fleet of foot and light of camel, with a small retinue that consisted only of his loyal disciples from the tribe of the Media. He ventured first to the land of the Hindu Kush, where the

Taleban had harboured the viper of al-Qaeda in their bosom, raining terror on all the world.

And the Child spake and the tribes of Nato immediately loosed the Caveats that had previously bound them. And in the great battle that ensued the forces of the light were triumphant. For as long as the

Child stood with his arms raised aloft, the enemy suffered great blows and the threat of terror was no more.

He ventured forth to bring light to the world | Gerard Baker - Times Online6
"

2 Marines Kill Another Marine Over Stolen Drug Money

The Corps has the lowest incidence of criminal behavior, but a few of these scum still get through. It is too bad that these idiots were not discovered in time to save a life. Bury them under the brig.

FOXNews.com - 2 Marines Kill Another Marine Over Stolen Drug Money - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News: "Carney, 21, and Lovely, 20, are charged with one count each of murder and making a criminal threat. They also face a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm. Carney also faces a charge of attempting to dissuade a witness.

Both have pleaded not guilty."

Boundless Arrogance - NYT Update II (Heh)

Wolf Howling: Boundless Arrogance - NYT Update II (Heh): "I blogged below on the Drudge Report's story about the NYT editor, David Shipley's decision not to run a McCain opinion piece that responded to Obama's 'My Plan for Iraq' editorial that the NYT published last week. I updated that with Mr. Shipley's incredibly arrogant e-mail reposnse to the McCain Camp in which he, in essence, only would agree to publish a McCain response if it was substantailly reworked to mirror Mr. Obama's call for timetables for withdraw. It was a display of arrogance and bias writ large. I thought that the matter ended there, but that is not the case. TNOY has obtained the notes of David Shipley wherein he has helpfully edited the McCain editorial to show them what he would find acceptable"

Media Donates $ to Democrats By 100-to-1 Ratio So Far This Cycle

The Jawa Report: IDB: Media Donates $ to Democrats By 100-to-1 Ratio So Far This Cycle: "What's all this rightwingnut fearmongering about a 'liberal press?' LOL

An analysis of federal records shows that the amount of money journalists contributed so far this election cycle favors Democrats by a 15:1 ratio over Republicans, with $225,563 going to Democrats, only $16,298 to Republicans .

Two-hundred thirty-five journalists donated to Democrats, just 20 gave to Republicans — a margin greater than 10-to-1. An even greater disparity, 20-to-1, exists between the number of journalists who donated to Barack Obama and John McCain.

Searches for other newsroom categories (reporters, correspondents, news editors, anchors, newspaper editors and publishers) produces 311 donors to Democrats to 30 donors to Republicans, a ratio of just over 10-to-1. In terms of money, $279,266 went to Dems, $20,709 to Republicans, a 14-to-1 ratio.

Forget that pesky MSNBC 'follow the money' expose of media political contributions that put donations from many high-profile media managers, editors, writers and broadcasters at 9 to 1 in favor of Republicans.

Just kidding! Wanted to see if you're still paying attention."

Three covert Palestinian networks coordinate attacks in Jerusalem, say security sources

The terrorists are happy to work together because they know that the Liberals around the world are on their side and want to see the West destroyed. Thank the Lord for the few world leaders, like Bush, who are willing to fight back against these pigs.

This is not a good development, but is logical considering how they are changing to consolidate their meager wins in politics and the Media.

DEBKAfile - Three covert Palestinian networks coordinate attacks in Jerusalem, say security sources: "Masses of weapons and explosives are cached in the Palestinian villages and districts of Jerusalem, where three Palestinian terrorist networks are working together to coordinate attacks in the city, according to security-intelligence sources. They decide whether the lone killers use firearms, explosives, knives or mechanical weapons, like the diggers which smashed through Jerusalem’s main streets twice this month. With much of Jerusalem under intense development and Arabs employed at many building sites, police fear a future attack could be carried out by toppling a crane on a densely populated district.

Shin Bet director Yuval Diskin said Wednesday, even before the second bulldozer attack which injured 29 people, that going into Jerusalem’s Shuafat is more dangerous than the Jenin refugee camp. “A security vacuum encircles Jerusalem,” he said, “through which terrorists are free to enter the capital.”

Meir Sheetrit, minister of interior, reported after research that the Palestinian family reunion program approved by Israel had been used to plant scores of active terrorists in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Shin Bet probes in the Arab districts of Jerusalem have turned up close cooperation between Hamas and the fiercely radical Hizb al-Tahir, which is attracting increasing numbers of Palestinian terrorists to its ranks.

Hizb al-Tahrir now controls the mosques on Temple Mount and its environs, having pushed out and replaced the Muslim Waqf sentry posts at the shrine and organized them on the lines of a terrorist militia.

Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah and pro-Jordanian elements, which once ruled Arab sectors of Jerusalem, have lost out to the Islamic fundamentalists.

According to DEBKAfile’s security sources, the Galilee Liberation Brigades – Imad Mughniyeh fighters, an offshoot of the Lebanese Hizballah among Israeli Arabs, works hand in glove with the Hizb and Hamas.

Counter-terror experts fear that the police, including the Border Guards, which are in charge of security in Jerusalem, are out of touch.

According to one official, their methods of operation were adequate for the traditional law and order tasks of yesterday – but cannot cope with the cycle of terror overtaking Jerusalem in the past year. Jerusalem needs young, vigorous police chiefs with special training in combating terror and organized crime - which often overlap - to replace the old school of police officers who still categorize every attack according to outdated criteria which place terrorism and crime in separate boxes. They then complain they are helpless against the new brand of terrorist, the one-wolf killer."

Iran, Syria Want To Wait Out Bush For Next War

Not exactly news to anyone who thinks critically. At least it is finally getting into the Media, even if it is just a small article in the Middle East that the Liberal Media can safely ignore.

I can't wait until Bush leaves, but neither of his potential replacements are going to scare the bad guys. One of them actually makes the bad guys happy! What a disaster.

Iran, Syria Want To Wait Out Bush For Next War - MiddleEastNewsline: "The Israeli intelligence community has assessed that Iran
and Syria have decided to maintain restraint until the departure of U.S.
President George Bush.
The intelligence community, in an assessment that echoed that of
Washington, has determined that Iran and Syria would continue preparations
for war with Israel and the United States. But the Israeli intelligence
agencies assert that Damascus and Teheran would seek to maintain regional
calm until Bush leaves office in January 2009."

Taliban leader surrenders as British special forces close in

Only in the UK would anyone dare to post news as good as this! Even then the BBC will avoid it and find something negative to say about the British troops. They might even throw in a few compliments for the terrorists and the good work they do by slaughtering innocent women and children and reducing the world's population.

The British Commandos are arguably the best in the world and the bad guys know it. Surrender now and lets get the War over so that we can rebuild the world as a better place.

Taliban leader surrenders as British special forces close in | Mail Online: "The most senior Taliban commander in Afghanistan's wartorn Helmand province has given himself up because he feared being killed by British special forces.

The news will be a massive blow to insurgent forces.

Mullah Rahim surrendered to authorities in Pakistan, the Ministry of Defence said last night.

Rahim - thought to be one of the five main Taliban commanders - is reported to have handed himself in to Pakistani police near the border and is being held in the town of Quetta.

The success of a Nato campaign directly targeting the Taliban leadership has led to hopes that a power vacuum at the top has weakened the group. Hours after Rahim turned himself in, British forces killed their third senior Taliban leader in little more than three weeks.

Top British commanders said Rahim's surrender was a massive breakthrough that would plunge militants in Helmand into disarray.

Forces spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Robin Matthews said last night: 'The Taliban's senior leadership structure has suffered a shattering blow.

'They remain a dangerous enemy, but they increasingly lack strategic direction and their proposition to the Afghan people-is proving ultimately negativeand self-defeating.' Gulab Mangal, Governor of Helmand, urged militiamen to join the Government side.

He said: 'I advise all those Taliban who are engaging with terrorist actions that the fighting has no benefits. Choose a good, bright and honourable way.'

The three Taliban chiefs killed by British troops include Abdul Rasaq, known as Mullah Sheikh, who died in a precision missile strike after Rahim surrendered.

It came eight days after the death of an associate of Rahim called Bishmullah, and 24 days after leading bomb-maker Sadiqullah was killed in a helicopter missile strike."

Maliki and the US

This is just the conclusion of an excellent article about politics. Go read the rest if you want to understand the conclusions better.

BLACKFIVE: Foreign Relations: Maliki and the US: "Greyhawk and Matt are perfectly correct that Maliki's statements in the past have always been overconfident of his capacity to ask America to leave. It's also clear that his current situation favors a continuing presence of US allies, to continue to train his security forces in the short term; his air force in the medium term; and to provide a useful alliance and security guarantee v. Iran and others in the long term. You can trust the man to understand these matters, but in public, he must appear strong and defiant in order to retain the confidence of his governing coalition, and the broader Iraqi public.

If we recognize that, we will come to an arrangement that suits both our peoples, and can be sustained in the long term without political stress. Success in COIN requires a state of the type Iraq is starting to appear to be: strong, independent, and a legitimate voice for the interests of its population. That is how you get them to turn to politics as a way of expressing their interests.

The other thing successful COIN requires is the maintenance of popular will to sustain the effort. "An arrangement that suits both our peoples, and can be sustained in the long term" is just what we need to make a free Iraq concrete and permanent. This is the way to get it. What is done in private is one thing, but in public, Maliki and Iraq must be seen to "win."

The US does not need to "win." This is the government we have so carefully nurtured, and at such cost. We will win -- if they do."

A nameless group is up and showing support for Greenlanders

Interesting. That is all I will say until I learn more.
A nameless group is up and showing support for Greenlanders « SIOE Stop Islamisation Of Europe: "A nameless resistance group has taken responsibility for the action. There were banners hung up along the motorway in Denmark saying “stop Islamic racism” and “stop Islamic racism, long live Greenland.” Mohammed has also been hanged on lamposts around the country with signs hung around his neck with inscriptions like “pedophile highwayman.”

The editors received these images with the wording:

“Here are the first pictures from our action on Zealand. We send the other images from Funen and Jutland and the rest of Zealand in the next few days. Our action will continue until the Islamic Religious Affairs controls the racists in Gellerup, allows Greenlanders to come back, treats them properly and gives each of them a personal apology. We will continue to hang muhammed until this happens. “"

Blackwater plans shift from security business

Blackwater plans shift from security business - Marine Corps News, news from Iraq - Marine Corps Times: "Blackwater Worldwide said Monday that it planned a shift away from the security contracting business that earned it millions of dollars and made it a flash point in the debate over the use of security contractors in war zones.

“The experience we’ve had would certainly be a disincentive to any other companies that want to step in and put their entire business at risk,” company founder and CEO Erik Prince told The Associated Press during a daylong visit to the company’s North Carolina compound.

Blackwater executives say they have unfairly become a symbol for all contractors in Iraq and thus the company is a target for those opposed to the war. It will continue guarding U.S. officials in Iraq but its future will be focused on training, aviation and logistics."

Meet the 4000

Military News, benefits, careers, photos, discussions - Military Times HOME

This is a link to the list of our Heroes who have been killed in this War. Go read it and say a prayer for them.

Community frets over loss of chem weapons jobs

Not sure how to feel about this. I am happy! But the loss of the jobs is kind of sad, too. I wonder if a chemical company can buy the property and hire a large number of people.

Community frets over loss of chem weapons jobs « BGG: "Who’s sorry to say goodbye to a thousand tons of old slime? The people who make their livings by babysitting it, of course. But all good things come to an end, like the extremely hot villain in Hellboy II. Damn it all. Er…but I digress.

By the end of this month, the last of 1,269 tons of VX will be eliminated, and dismantling of the Newport Chemical Depot will begin. About 130 jobs will be gone permanently by September, according to the Kentucky-based operating contractor Mason & Hanger. After that, depending on the time it takes to dismantle the facility, jobs will be lost in waves. The total closure process could take until 2012, according to officials.

Since the Depot opened in 1941, it has been the largest employer in Vermillion County, employing about 1,000 workers in recent years.

…“We’ve always looked at that facility as about a thousand jobs.”"

Bush law chief seeks conflict declaration on Qaeda - Yahoo! News

This is about time! Force the Democrats to admit that they don't WANT to declare war on the terrorist groups that have declared war on us. Make them explain that they do not believe the terrorist's assertions about wanting to kill us all. I want to be able to plaster their lies right next to clips of what our enemies are saying.

This might just be fun!

Bush law chief seeks conflict declaration on Qaeda - Yahoo! News: "Congress should explicitly declare a state of armed conflict with al Qaeda to make clear the United States can detain suspected members as long as the war on terrorism lasts, U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey said on Monday.

Mukasey urged Congress to make the declaration in a package of legislative proposals to establish a legal process for terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo, in response to a Supreme Court ruling last month that detainees had a constitutional right to challenge their detention.

'Any legislation should acknowledge again and explicitly that this nation remains engaged in an armed conflict with al Qaeda, the Taliban and associated organizations, who have already proclaimed themselves at war with us,' Mukasey said in a speech to the American Enterprise Institute.

'Congress should reaffirm that for the duration of the conflict the United States may detain as enemy combatants those who have engaged in hostilities or purposefully supported al Qaeda, the Taliban and associated organizations,' he said."

Dirty Jobs for the Common Good™

Groupthink :: View topic - DNC: Dirty Jobs for the Common Good™: "The scandalous new cover of New Yorker Magazine, depicting Barack Obama dressed as a Muslim and his wife Michelle as a militant black supremacist, turns out to be nothing more than the first step in a bold new Democrat strategy of playing both hands while the opponent simply watches, stated Earnest Trutok, Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of Media Relations in the Obama Camp. "We have prepared a large pile of dirty and revolting images that show Barack and his family in a much worse light than this," Trutok added, admitting that the forthcoming cartoon is jarringly out-of-place in the traditionally progressive New Yorker. "We have no choice but to run them ourselves in the friendly media due the refusal of the Republican Party to play its proper role in the final months of the campaign," Trutok stated.
~

Race-baiting is ugly when the Republicans do it. But when it can advance progress, it's OK.
"Our entire strategy was based on the predictable Republican race-baiting and Islamophobia, that's why we chose Obama over Hillary," explained Trutok. "She was only a white woman, but Barack's color and Muslim roots were a double whammy and a total shoe-in! And we were exactly right, except the Republicans have refused to play bigots.

"Therefore, we must not only brilliantly defend the integrity of our candidate, but also stage vicious attacks against him that would prove to the American Public that the Republicans are nothing more than racists and alarmists. The average voter will merely assume that such attacks are coming from the McCain camp," Trutok said.

"Our most potent weapon in this election is the continued victim status of our candidate," agrees Allyce Safir-Simpson, Senior Poll Analyst for the Obama campaign.

"We noticed a sharp downturn in poll numbers whenever Barack took any concrete position," she explained, referring to a dilemma that has dogged Sen. Obama since the early days of the campaign. "Our main point has always been Hope and Change, but it can get uncomfortable when some busybody asks what we actually mean by this. However, we notice a jump in the Senator's poll numbers every time we manufacture an incident that seems to imply that he is the victim of some form of hate crime." "

Irony: Evil Inflation Causing Ohio Women to Starve

This is just too funny! NPR and the Left Media (is there another kind? ) are worried about these poor women who can't find a job since they have never worked and could not even get through high school. Now, their welfare checks aren't keeping up with inflation and they might have to eat less. And lose a hundred pounds or so. Poor girls.

Rusty's take on it is wonderful! Enjoy!

The Jawa Report: Irony: Evil Inflation Causing Ohio Women to Starve: "Though probably not any time soon. Via NPR

A generation ago, the livelihood of Gloria Nunez's family was built on cars.

Her father worked...

And apparently he was the last to do so.

Nunez's van broke down last fall. Now, her 19-year-old daughter has no reliable transportation out of their subsidized housing complex in Fostoria, 40 miles south of Toledo, to look for a job.

I bet the van wanted to die!

Nunez, 40, has never worked and has no high school degree...

...Even if she could, she says it's particularly hard to imagine how she'll keep it. She says she needs someone to give her a lift just to get to an interview. And with gas prices so high, she's not sure she could afford to pay someone to drive her to work every day."

Second Palestinian bulldozer rampage injures 24 on Jerusalem main street

The Media kept claiming that the first terrorist to do this attack was just a lone-wolf, even though the GLB claimed it. Now they do it again, will the terrorists finally get credit for it?

The Palestinians complain about the lack of their people being allowed to work in non-Palestinian areas, but when they do get work they use the access to kill. What a great way to make it seem like they want peace.

DEBKAfile - Second Palestinian bulldozer rampage injures 24 on Jerusalem main street: "A quick-thinking passing civilian and a border guard shot the driver dead after five vehicles and a bus were rammed opposite the Liberty Bell Park on King David Street, 200 yards from King David Hotel where UK premier Brown stayed Monday. Twenty-four people were injured, one seriously. Two are children.

The bulldozer burst out of a nearby building site in Yemin Moshe.

The terrorist was Ghassen Abu Tir, 22, from Umm Tuba, a Palestinian village in southeast Jerusalem, who was employed at the building site. He was a relative of Muhammed Abu Tir, a Hamas lawmaker held in an Israeli jail.

The Hizballah-sponsored Galilee Liberation Brigades claimed this attack like the first bulldozer rampage of July 2 when another Jerusalem Palestinian killed three people and caused heavy damage on Jerusalem’s Jaffa Street."

San Diego Police Rescue, Then Kill, Aggressive Man

San Diego Police Rescue, Then Kill, Aggressive Man: Top News Stories at Officer.com: "Police said the man was on the cruise with at least 800 other people when he somehow ended up in the water after 11 p.m. He was identified today as Steven Paul Hirschfield, 37, of Los Angeles.

The boat's captain sent a distress signal, and two Harbor Police boats and one Coast Guard vessel pulled Hirschfield from the water.

But Hirschfield began fighting with police as soon as he was on board, said San Diego Harbor Police Sgt. Dave Fouser.

'You're trying to help some guy out the water, and he's fighting,' Fouser said. 'He became very combative with the officers, and somewhere in the course of the fight, he was able to get one of the officer's Tasers away from him.'

Fouser said Hirschfield knocked one officer to the deck and then used the Taser to strike him in the face.

When Hirschfield then tried to grab one of the officer's guns, Fouser said, the other officer shot him.

Hirschfield was taken ashore to an ambulance and was pronounced dead from the single gunshot wound, Fouser said.

The San Diego Police Department's homicide unit was investigating the shooting along with the San Diego Harbor Police Department and the county District Attorney's Office."

World warned over killer flu pandemic

World warned over killer flu pandemic - Health News, Health & Wellbeing - The Independent: "The world is failing to guard against the inevitable spread of a devastating flu pandemic which could kill 50 million people and wreak massive disruption around the globe, the Government has warned.

In evidence to a House of Lords committee, ministers said that early warning systems for spotting emerging diseases were "poorly co-ordinated" and lacked "vision" and "clarity". They said that more needed to be done to improve detection and surveillance for potential pandemics and called for urgent improvement in rapid-response strategies.

The Government's evidence appeared in a highly critical report from the Lords Intergovernmental Organisations Committee, which attacked the World Health Organisation (WHO) as "dysfunctional" and criticised the international response to the threat of an outbreak of disease which could sweep across the globe.

The Government said: "While there has not been a pandemic since 1968, another one is inevitable." Ministers said it would could kill between two and 50 million people worldwide and that such an outbreak would leave up to 75,000 people dead in Britain and cause "massive" disruption.

Peers joined ministers calling for urgent action to build up early warning systems across the Third World that can identify and neutralise outbreaks of potentially deadly new strains of disease before they are swept across the globe by modern trade and travel. Peers also called for new action to monitor animal diseases, warning of the potentially disastrous effects of conditions such as the H5N1 bird flu virus jumping to humans and demanded that Britain step up funding for the WHO to tackle the threat.

With international tourist journeys now reaching 800 million a year, giving unprecedented potential for epidemics to spread across borders, and many cities rapidly growing in developing countries, which would provide "fertile ground" to spread disease, peers on the committee warned that conditions such as Sars, avian influenza and ebola "have the potential to cause rapid and devastating sickness and death across much of the world if they are not detected and checked in time". "

Palestinians: Israel uses rats agains Arabs

This is either funny or scary.

Funny: trained Jewish rats. HAHAHAHA!
Scary: Muslims pumping the city full of poisons and claiming it is to kill rats.

Palestinians: Israel uses rats against J'lem Arabs | Israel | Jerusalem Post: "'Rats have become an Israeli weapon to displace and expel Arab residents of the occupied Old City of Jerusalem,' Wafa reported under the title, 'Settlers flood the Old City of Jerusalem with rats.' The report continued: 'Over the past two months, dozens of settlers come to the alleyways and streets of the Old City carrying iron cages full of rats. They release the rats, which find shelter in open sewage systems.'

Wafa quoted unnamed Arab residents as saying that they had tried to eliminate the rats with various poisons, but to no avail."

Now for the Hard Part: From Iraq to Afghanistan

For an insightful and thoughtful read, go read this full story. It is worth the length!

Now for the Hard Part: From Iraq to Afghanistan | Stratfor: "That is why the critical question for the United States is how many troops it can retain in Iraq, for how long and in what locations. This is a complex issue. From the Sunni standpoint, a continued U.S. presence is essential to protect Sunnis from the Shia. From the Shiite standpoint, the U.S. presence is needed to prevent Iran from overwhelming the Shia. From the standpoint of the Kurds, a U.S. presence guarantees Kurdish safety from everyone else. It is an oddity of history that no major faction in Iraq now wants a precipitous U.S. withdrawal — and some don’t want a withdrawal at all."

Para Hero Slams Treatment Of Frontline Troops

The military knows that they have a job to do, and they are more than willing to do it and make the world a better place.

Colonel Tootal, take the Liberal jerks on and I pray that you can win. They control the government and will try to paint you as a bloodthirsty maniac who loves to slaughter little kids for fun. They will try to make you look like the Taliban and the Taliban look like you and your troops.

You beat the terrorists and thugs who wanted to kill you and your men. Now you have a worse and more insidious enemy - the Liberals. I will pray for you, sir.

MoD News - Para Hero Slams Treatment Of Frontline Troops: "A highly decorated commander who led British troops in Afghanistan has strongly criticised defence officials and the government for poor treatment of frontline soldiers and for being 'stuck in a Cold War mentality' that has denied troops in the field key equipment.

In his first public statement since leaving the army last week, Lt Colonel Stuart Tootal, who led 3rd battalion of the Parachute regiment in Afghanistan in 2006, said he had been deeply shocked by how 'our wounded soldiers were not being looked after'.

'All the guys I fought with were really motivated and really professional and the least a grateful nation owes them is the right gear and the right support,' he told The Observer

Tootal, who received the Distinguished Service Order for his role in Afghanistan, agreed that conditions for injured soldiers were much improved but said that wounded servicemen being on mixed NHS wards with civilians remained 'unacceptable' and that, though changes proposed by the government's Command Paper on service personnel welfare announced last week were a 'welcome positive step', they were 'late in the day'.

The senior officer's resignation after 20 years in the army caused consternation among defence chiefs when news leaked last year. Last month another senior soldier who served in Afghanistan, Brigadier Ed Butler, a former SAS commander, left the army amid reports of frustration with equipment shortages and budget cuts. "

The War In The Pacific

I bet you thought this was going to be about the Second World War!

The Drug Gangs are getting smarter and this is not a good thing. Of course, part of that is the Communist regimes who are slipping them State support. Anyone reading this full article should understand why the US is activating a Fleet in the Caribbean for the first time in decades. It might be a good thing to use more military resources in Columbia too, but that is not our territory.

The War In The Pacific: "The War In The Pacific
by James Dunnigan
July 20, 2008

The submarine war off the northwest (Pacific) coast of South America is getting, well, strange. For the last few years, the cocaine producing gangs of Colombia have been having considerable success exporting their product via submarines. About a third of the 600 tons of cocaine coming out of Colombia each year leaves via the Pacific coast. Most of this is being carried in submarines, that move the cocaine to North American. Off the Pacific coast, it's believed that only about five percent of these subs have been caught.

These are not submarines in the true sense of the word, but "semi-submersibles". They are 40-50 foot fiberglass boats, powered by a diesel engine, with a small "conning tower" above the water, providing the crew (of 4-5), and engine, with fresh air, and permitting the crew to navigate the boat. A boat of this type is the only practical kind of "submarine" for drug smuggling. A real submarine would be much more difficult to build, although you can buy commercial subs for a million dollars or so. These, however, can carry only a few hundred pounds of cargo, and not for long distances.

The semi-submersibles are built, often using specially made components brought in from foreign components, in areas along the Colombian coast, or other drug gang controlled territory). Russian naval architects and engineers have been discovered among those designing and building these boats. Based on interrogations of captured gang members, these subs cost about $600,000 to construct, and carry about ten tons of cocaine.

At one point it was thought that as many as half of them were captured or lost at sea. But this is apparently not the case. That's because most of these "subs" are built for a one way trip. This keeps down the cost of construction, and the cost of hiring a crew. That one voyage will usually be for about a thousand kilometers, with the boat moving at a speed of 15-25 kilometers an hour. So the average trip will take a day and a half.

Some subs have been caught while being towed by a larger ship. Apparently this enables the semi-submersibles to cover longer distances, and then be cut loose for the final approach to the shore of California or some area in Europe or on the east coast of North America. While the subs are most frequently used from the Pacific coast of Colombia, they are showing up elsewhere as well.

These subs are not stealthy enough to avoid detection all the time. However, it appears that these semi-submersibles do work, because the drug gangs keep using them more and more. Delivery by sea is now the favored method for cocaine smugglers, because the United States has deployed military grade aircraft detection systems, and caught too many of the airborne drug shipments. The smugglers did their math, and realized that improvised submarines were a more cost-effective way to go.

The Colombians are trying to get the United States more involved in shutting down this submarine operation, pointing out that terrorists could use similar vessels to attack U.S. warships, or targets along the coast. Replacing the ten tons of cocaine with explosives is pretty easy to do.

Meanwhile, the Colombian Army is clearing the Pacific coast of areas that are capable of hiding these building operations (which are usually along a river that empties into the Pacific). This process will take several more years, so for now it's up to the navy and air force to catch these subs after they enter the ocean. "

"Those who don't want to convert will be able to live in peace under the authority of Islam. Then we have to fight -- just like our broth

Once again the terrorists tell us what they want to do and why. Once again the Leftists and the Media ignore them and twist the words to blame us. Or at least America and Bush. Yet again, they want to bring Islam to all and they are following the Koran to that end.

Sura (9:29) - "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."

Jihad Watch: "Those who don't want to convert will be able to live in peace under the authority of Islam. Then we have to fight -- just like our brothers on Sept. 11": " "Look," says Abu Mustafa, whose beard cascades down his chest, "there will be three possibilities. Some will find their way to Islam. Those who don't want to convert will be able to live in peace under the authority of Islam." For those who don't want to accept the hegemony of Islam, however, holy war is the only recipe. "Then we have to fight -- just like our brothers on Sept. 11," Abu Mustafa says.

This is in accord with Muhammad's directions: "Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war…When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them….If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya [the tax on non-Muslims specified in Qur’an 9:29]. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah’s help and fight them. (Sahih Muslim 4294)

The attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. seven years ago were a response to the contempt held for Islam by the Western world, he says. "If Muslims are attacked anywhere in the world, one has to hit back, and it doesn't matter where." Salafist Islam is like a cat, he says. "It is very friendly, but if it is attacked, it turns into a tiger."

This idea -- that "one has to hit back" -- is traditional Islamic theology: that defensive jihad is fard ayn, obligatory on every Muslim to aid in some way, if a Muslim land is attacked."

Hizballah’s No. 2: War not over, more Israeli soldiers may be abducted

When you give a thug what he wants, he will try it again. And again.

Send in the military and fight these scum to a standstill and then kill off the leaders. Let commandos hunt them like the Nazi hunters are still hunting down the Nazis. Pig bastards.

DEBKAfile - Hizballah’s No. 2: War not over, more Israeli soldiers may be abducted: "Sheikh Naim Kassem, deputy secretary-general of Hizballah, said Saturday, July 19, that abductions of more Israeli soldiers may not be ruled out “in order to achieve the organization’s goals.” He declared that his pro-Iranian Shiite group remained at war with Israel.

His statement to the Qatari Al-Arab paper was at variance with the tenor of the speech his boss, Hassan Nasrallah, made in Beirut three days ago, after completing a bodies-for-prisoner exchange with Israel.

The war would go on as long Israel “occupies the Shaba Farms, the village of Ghajar and the Kfar Shuba hills [Mt. Dov on the Hermon],” said Kassem.

Regarding future kidnaps of Israeli soldiers, he said “I won't speak about this issue because it has to do with military activity in the struggle with Israel and with the question of whether this confrontation will demand such an action. These are details which will become known in the future.”

Hizballah had yet to exact revenge for the assassination of military commander Imad Mughnyieh in February, he said.

The tenor of Hassan Nassrallah’s speech in Beirut, after trading the remains of two kidnapped Israeli soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser for five Hizballah prisoners, was different. He stressed the importance of inter-factional dialogue in Lebanon as his organization’s first priority.

This reflected Tehran’s current strategy of diplomatic engagement with Washington, whereas his deputy Kassem spoke on Saturday in bellicose terms of continuing the war with Israel, more in keeping with the Hizballah’s war preparations."

Obama's aides furious at McCain for blabbing about Dem's Mideast trip

Poor Obama. He is such a troubled guy that everyone picks on.

Obama's aides furious at McCain for blabbing about Dem's Mideast trip: "For weeks now, Barack Obama has closely guarded the details of his planned fact-finding trips to Afghanistan and Iraq, citing security concerns.

But Friday, the Democratic presidential hopeful's Republican rival, John McCain, may have let the secret out of the bag - infuriating some Obama supporters and putting Camp McCain on the defensive.

'I believe that either today or tomorrow - and I'm not privy to his schedule - Sen. Obama will be landing in Iraq with some other senators' who make up a congressional delegation, McCain told a campaign fund-raising luncheon. 'I am sure that Sen. Obama is going to arrive in Baghdad in a much, much safer and secure environment than the one that he would've encountered before we started the surge,' McCain added.

While refusing to confirm or deny anything about Obama's schedule, his aides were furious with McCain's comment. They noted every major news outlet has resisted speculating on the timing or location of Obama's war-zone maneuvers out of safety concerns."

The Story Is About Honor & Valor, Not Victims

This is the true story about what happened at the Combat Outpost in Afghanistan where the US slaughtered the hundreds of attacking Jihadis. It sounds like a great movie to me!

Now that I know the full story, this turned from a horrible incident into a heroic incident. Too bad the MSM could not report it that way.

Wolf Howling: The Story Is About Honor & Valor, Not Victims: " The story the MSM should be reporting has nothing in common with the NYT article. The story is how a reinforced platoon size element of soldiers, vastly outnumbered, defeated a joint Taliban and al Qaeda attack on their position. The nine men who died at that Combat Outpost were not nine victims. They were nine soldiers who paid the ultimate price for their bravery. Their bravery and valor and that of every man on that mountain is the story.

This from Jeff Emanuel provides the entire story:

. . . Three days before the attack, 45 U.S. paratroopers from the 173d Airborne, accompanied by 25 Afghan soldiers, made their way to Kunar province, a remote area in the northeastern Afghanistan-Pakistan border area, and established the beginnings of a small Combat Outpost (COP). Their movement into the area was noticed, and their tiny numbers and incomplete fortifications were quickly taken advantage of.

A combined force of up to 500 Taliban and al Qaeda fighters quickly moved into the nearby village of Wanat and prepared for their assault by evicting unallied residents and according to an anonymous senior Afghan defense ministry official, "us[ing] their houses to attack us."

Tribesmen in the town stayed behind "and helped the insurgents during the fight," General Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh, the provincial police chief, told The Associated Press. Dug-in mortar firing positions were created, and with that indirect fire, as well as heavy machine gun and RPG fire from fixed positions, Taliban and al Qaeda fighters rushed the COP from three sides.

The attackers quickly breached the outer perimeter, and, under a withering barrage of supporting fire, a contingent of a mere 70 U.S. and Afghan soldiers combined were forced to fight for survival on their own outpost against the all-out assault from nearly 100 assailants.

The overwhelmingly outnumbered U.S. troops called in artillery, as well as fixed and rotary-wing air support, to help the repulse the attacking forces.
As recounted by the AP and other media outlets, nine U.S. paratroopers lost their lives -- a full fifth of the American contingent.

Further, fifteen U.S. and four Afghan soldiers were also wounded in the attack, meaning that, against an assault and support force of nearly 500 militant fighters, only 21 U.S. and 21 Afghan soldiers were able to fight at full strength -- and they succeeded not only in killing dozens of attackers, but in repelling the onslaught completely.

. . . Perhaps the most important takeaway from that encounter, though, is the one that the mainstream media couldn't be bothered to pay attention long enough to learn: that, not for the first time, a contingent of American soldiers that was outnumbered by up to a twenty-to-one ratio soundly and completely repulsed a complex, pre-planned assault by those dedicated enough to their cause to kill themselves in its pursuit.

That kind of heroism and against-all-odds success is and has been a hallmark of America's fighting men and women, and it is one that is worthy of all attention we can possibly give it."

Hizbullah moves into 'every town'

Naturally, Israel is worried about Hizballah moving back into the areas that it has announced it will stay out of, since the UN is totally worthless and seems to even be openly aiding them to rearm.

I wonder if nuking southern Lebanon is out of the question? The fallout would travel to Syria... Something to think about.

Hizbullah moves into 'every town' | Israel | Jerusalem Post: "Hizbullah is bolstering its presence in south Lebanon villages with non-Shi'ite majorities by buying land and using it to build military positions and store missiles and launchers, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

The decision to build infrastructure in non-Shi'ite villages - where Hizbullah has less support - is part of the group's post-war strategy under which it has mostly abandoned the 'nature reserves,' forested areas in southern Lebanon where it kept most of its Katyusha rocket launchers before the Second Lebanon War.

Behind the change is the mandate given to UNIFIL by the United Nations after the war in 2006. According to the mandate, the peacekeeping force can patrol freely throughout southern Lebanon but cannot enter villages or cities without being accompanied by soldiers from the Lebanese Armed Forces, which regularly tips off Hizbullah ahead of the raids.

News of the change in Hizbullah strategy came as Israel is trying to persuade the UN to strengthen UNIFIL's mandate to give it the right to patrol the villages freely."

Mandatory Death Sentences for Internet Promotion of Apostasy in Iran

Tolerance? Since when does the Koran tolerate other religions? Well, it does tolerate Christians and Jews who admit that Muslims are their masters and pay money to be allowed to breathe.

Since I personally feel that Islam took a horrible shift at one point and left the Way of Peace for the Way of Jihad and War, I preach that Muslims should return to Judaism and Christianity. This means that if Iran gets its way, I will be dead, but they can piss up a rope until then.

The Jawa Report: Mandatory Death Sentences for Internet Promotion of Apostasy in Iran: "Iran is considering making the death penalty for apostasy mandatory. Not only for the apostate--the person leaving Islam--but for any one who promotes apostasy on the internet.

If the law takes effect, it would replace the current punishment for apostasy which gives the judge the option of imposing the death penalty.

Yes, Muhammad himself declared that apostates should have their heads cut off. Yet, Muslims insist that religious tolerance is part and parcel to the Religion of Peace.

I do not think that word tolerance means what they think it means.

Many liberal Muslims are opposed to anything in sharia that smacks of this kind of religious fascism. But you'd be hard pressed to find a single 'moderate' country with a Muslim majority that legally and openly allows religious conversion out of Islam."

US lawyer wants to promote the cause of terrorists

He wants to what??

Can we refuse to take this admitted terrorist back? Leave him in Yemen!

Besides, the known terrorists held at Gitmo have injured the guards many times, so of course they are carefully searched multiple times a day.

Law Blog - WSJ.com : Covington Partner Demonstrates Treatment of Detainees: "In a recent interview with the Yemen Observer, David Remes, a Covington & Burling partner who was in Yemen working on his representation of 15 Yemeni detainees at Gitmo, told the journalist that he had “two missions” during the visit: “first to meet the families of the men that I represent in Guantanamo and second, to do what I can to promote the cause of these men.”

RemesIt was in the name of this zealous advocacy that Remes (Columbia, Harvard Law) removed his pants at a news conference on Monday. This morning, we caught up with Remes, who had just landed at JFK after a 14-hour flight from Dubai.

“I’d been to Guantanamo in mid-June,” explained Remes, “and there’s a certain amount of normalcy that has settled over the normal miserable conditions of confinement, which amount to solitary confinement without sleep and without sunlight and without anyone to talk to. So at the news conference, I said that, in addition to this torment, which has become so typical that we don’t even talk about it anymore, now the torment also consists of constant body searches in which the men are required to pull their shirts up to their chest, drop their pants, and then the corn-fed U.S. military sticks their"

Police officers attacked by mob over litter row

What silly cops! Don't they know that making a black girl pick up litter is racist? The appropriate response would have been to toss more litter on the ground to make her feel good about herself.

Or to beat her insolent, gang-banging butt into having a little respect for society and the laws there unto pertaining.

Police officers attacked by mob over litter row - Times Online: "Police said violence was sparked after the patrolling officers confronted the teenage girl at about 3pm.

They asked her to pick up a fast food wrapper from a nearby takeaway which she did, before immediately dropping it in front of them.

When they asked her to pick it up again a friend with the girl became aggressive towards the officers.

The incident escalated quickly as a group of 30 people gathered around the officers and attacked them. Around five young females were joined by a group of older males in their thirties and forties. All members of the gang were described as black."

On Samir Kuntar

Before you follow the link, try to answer the question yourself.

I think this terrorist pig needs to be released and then his welcome home rally needs to be bombed flat. The terrorists traded two corpses for this guy and bunch of others. Now make them corpses. It is only fair.

Anyone have a better idea of what to do to this scum bag?

Rantings of a Sandmonkey » On Samir Kuntar: "Samir Kuntar, in case you didn't know, is the main guy that Hezbollah kidnapped the 2 israeli soldiers to get back. This is how Hezbollah sees it:

Lebanese
media refer to Kuntar as the 'dean' of Lebanese prisoners in Israel. He
has been in prison for 28 years, and Hizballah wants him out.

Although
Kuntar was jailed for an attack launched by a Lebanon-based Palestinian
terrorist group before Hizballah was even established, Hizballah
depicts itself as the vanguard of the Islamic campaign against Israel
and regards winning freedom for the prisoners a 'sacred duty.'

What was he jailed for exactly?"

The Debate in Iraq for removing US Forces

It is interesting to see the similarities between the Iraqi and Leftist American positions for the US leaving Iraq. There are some differences, naturally, but even those can be whittled down a little and be even more similar.

The Left in the West does not want the Iraqis to be Westernized if there is anyway to blame failure on Bush and the Right Wing. The Iraqis do not need to be Westernized, just brought up to a civilized modern standard so that they are less tempted to harm others unless attacked first.

Iraq: Shia Saddams Standing By: "The war is basically over in Iraq, but the peace brings with it a return to the corruption and inefficiency that has cursed this part of the world for centuries. There are other annoying habits, like demanding "compensation" for any real or imagined loss that might possibly be pinned on U.S. troops. It's also popular to demand, with a straight face, that U.S. troops fix utilities, schools and whatever else people want, but are unwilling to take care of themselves. Peace has not brought out the best in the Iraqi people.

The war is still going on, but now it's more of a police operation. U.S. and Iraqi forces are searching for several hundred known terrorists. Some of them are showing up outside the country, giving rise to the belief that al Qaeda has abandoned Iraq. This is apparently the case, but there are several other Sunni Arab terrorist organizations that will never give up. For these groups, tolerating Shia Arab rule of Iraq is a sin, and the sinners must be punished. Terror attacks are way down, but they can be expected to continue for years.

The U.S. is negotiating, with the Iraqi government, a renewal of its authority to operate in Iraq. This authority expires at the end of the year. As part of the negotiations, the Iraqis are asking for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. This is popular with many Iraqis, especially those in the government who are getting rich by stealing oil money. As long as the American troops are in the country, auditors have armed protection and can be very effective at revealing the thefts and getting the thieves punished. This makes thieving government officials very uncomfortable. Corruption in general remains a major problem (as it is in all Middle Eastern countries). While many Iraqis would like to see clean government, they are usually not the ones who get elected (elections involve a lot of bribery and trading of favors.) "

Death penalty call for man who spread Koran translation

Sometimes I wonder why we are trying to help these people to return to the barbarian ways. Well, I guess even barbarians can desire to live in peace and freedom for their leaders. They should be able to live in peace, as long as they are not trying to harm others. No war, or get back a war yourself. Just ask the Taliban!

AKI - Adnkronos international Afghanistan: Death penalty call for man who spread Koran translation: "'This is all an American conspiracy to deviate Afghans from their faith,' said Al-Hajj Farooq Hussaini, the leader of a Muslim prayer association in the western city of Herat in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).

'They want us to be converted Christians or simply atheists. This American occupation of Afghanistan is worse than the occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviets,' he said.

Hussaini also referred to the case of Abdul Rahman, an Afghan Christian convert who was granted asylum in Italy in 2006. Rahman escaped a possible death sentence in Afghanistan for becoming a Christian.

'Earlier they protected Abdul Rahman who left Islam and converted to Christianity and now they are encouraging the distribution of the fake translations of Koran,' said Hussaini who is also the leader of a group led by Ismail Khan, Afghanistan's Energy Minister.

'Ghows Zalmay should be given an exemplary punishment for his crime,' he said.

Many Muslim bloggers have labelled some new translations of the Koran, as the 'American Koran', which they say is unauthentic and aimed at distracting Muslims from their faith."

If it weren’t for the Marines

I love these humanitarian stories from the War zones. It is always nice to see Americans taking care of things that are within the abilities of the greatest nation on earth! Especially my Marines! Semper Fi, boys!

Go read the rest of this story to find out if you can help this poor kid. He needs the help. Thank the Lord for the people who help out kids like this.

If it weren’t for the Marines « MK’s Views - Down under on the right side: "Since his birth, Ahmed has suffered from a rare but fatal heart condition that if left untreated, will eventually kill him at an unthinkable, young age. Ahmed’s parents first noticed there was something wrong with their son when he was a year old. The medical condition present in Ahmed’s cardiac system keeps needed oxygen from reaching organs like a normal person’s circulatory system would, causing a bluish coloring around the eyes and on the face. Tasks such as walking up a set of stairs are very tedious for the young boy because of his medical condition.

Ahmed runs completely out of breath performing the simplest of daily activities. “I was extremely worried all these years, that I might not be able to get the help my son needs,” said Mallouki. “In our culture, the first born is very important and this is our first son.” Only recently did the light begin to peak through at the end of a dark tunnel for Ahmed and his family when Marines from Company B, Police Transition Team 8, Regimental Combat Team 1, and a charitable organization called “Gift of Life,” based in Tampa, Fla. intervened.

Ahmed’s condition was diagnosed at Fallujah Surgical when Marines took him in for an examination, said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Craig W. Pasanen, a corpsmen with the team. Doctors discovered a hole in the septum of his heart that causes oxygen and deoxygenated blood to pass through the heart and not the lungs. Mallouki and his son have been working with coalition forces for the past year in attempts to get the money and medical attention that they so desperately need to help Ahmed."

Blagojevich Says Chicago Is 'Out Of Control'

Blagojevich Says Chicago Is 'Out Of Control' - News Story - WMAQ | Chicago: "As Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday signed a new law that will put in place tougher penalties for selling guns to minors, he also announced he's got a new idea to help combat the violence that Chicago is experiencing: he's talking to the Illinois State Police and the National Guard to see if they could help.

The Chicago Sun-Times depicted Blagojevich as the 'new sheriff in town' Thursday morning in its coverage of the governor's plan to form an 'elite tactical team' to help the city fight crime.

'Violent crime in the city of Chicago is out of control,' Blagojevich said at the bill signing ceremony. 'I'm offering resources of the state to the city to work in a constructive way with Mayor Daley to do everything we can possibly do to help stop this violence,' said the governor.

The summer of 2008 will be remembered as especially violent. Blagojevich said there's been a child shot nearly every day since June 26, with 29 Chicago Public School students shot since last fall."

My thoughts on Blackwater

I was recently asked to comment about Blackwater and their PR spin.

Hi, CL

I think that Blackwater might do something like this to improve public relations, but it is also good business for them to work to help their employers (the US military) to do things. Since they work closely with the government at all levels, look at the good they do at the local level in US disaster areas, it is natural that they would help out when they can. By doing a small favor like moving freight, they have made friends in the Guard and Reserve and among the locals. Not a bad deal!

This means that they can now find a little help with locals for labor and interpreters, and maybe even recruit a few of the Americans for their company.

I like Blackwater, and even admit they have faults, but their faults are no where near as horrible and some people would have us believe.

For example, the whole mess that got them examined in Iraq, where they claimed to have returned fire, but it seems they fired first, I tend to split the blame. I think that if you have a bunch of people keyed up for an attack, even a little honest mistake can lead to a big disaster. In a war zone, good people will make mistakes and kill innocents. I feel sorry for the people in the crossfire, but the terrorists have a nasty habit of hiding in crowds before they fire on the security forces. They are the real criminals! It amazes me that the Blackwater boys are able to restrain themselves enough to not make that mistake more often.

Thanks for asking!

Also, you might want to review the use of private contractors since medieval times. General Washington used many private contractors to fight to free America from the British Empire and it has been that way until after WWII. Then the US military removed most, but not all civilian berths and replaced the civilians with trained fighting men. As a Grad Student you are an excellent researcher, I know! Good luck.

The dollar’s slide: 1/3 down and falling faster

I saw this linked in another blog's comments and decided to post it here. It is not a big article and does not draw any conclusions, it allows us to think about the facts and decide for our selves. That is certainly different from most papers who want to tell us what to think about something.

FT Alphaville » Blog Archive » The dollar’s slide: 1/3 down and falling faster: "We’ve posted this before - but as the ailing US currency drops through $1.47 against the euro and $2.10 against sterling, it merits a second (and updated) airing.

The chart comes from Sempra Metals, who make a couple of additional points:

* The US dollar has now lost more than a third of its value (-35%) against a basket of major currencies since Feb 2002.
* The decline is accelerating. The USD has shed -12.5% of its value in the last year, -3.5% in the last month, and -1.5% in the last week alone."

Western Resistance: Russia: An Eye for an Eye, Islam on the Streets

Go read this story! It made me sad for a little, then it turned into an inspirational piece that make me very happy. It is wonderful. Enjoy it.

Western Resistance: Russia: An Eye for an Eye, Islam on the Streets: "Russia: An Eye for an Eye, Islam on the Streets

The story below was told to me by a Russian friend, a most respectable and upstanding person, and so I have no reason to doubt its veracity.... I've typed it below pretty much as he told me over dinner a few nights ago... At the end, some readers might think, ``Well, whatever happened to `Turn the other cheek''... That's a valid comment; but when violent and fanatical Muslims take their malicious plans and aspirations into one's own front yard, the right to self defense is even more valid."

Israelis Helped Secure Betancourt's Escape From FARC rebels

Israelis Helped Secure Betancourt's Escape From FARC rebels - Middle East Times: "Betancourt's captors put her on a helicopter that arrived as scheduled, little knowing that their comrades-in-arms were actually undercover Colombian soldiers. Betancourt and 14 other hostages who had been held in the jungle, including three Americans, were freed.

As Betancourt savored her first moments of freedom, the international media went into a collective feeding frenzy as her face appeared on newspapers and TV screens around the globe.

The Israeli media in particular made a meal of the moment as Betancourt had referred to Israeli help in gaining her freedom. It was ex-Israeli commandos who were responsible for advising and helping Columbian forces to free the captives.

Last year, a group of Israeli military advisers, on receiving approval from the Israeli Defense Ministry, took up residence in Colombia in order to assist the army there, the special units in particular.

This followed a request by Columbia asking Israel for help in its struggle against FARC which had become infamous for kidnapping civilians and military figures for ransom and drug trading."

Iranian Early Warning Station, Anti-Air Base on Lebanese Peak

DEBKAfile - Iranian Early Warning Station, Anti-Air Base on Lebanese Peak: "military sources reveal that military movements carried out in the last two weeks by Hizballah in conjunction with Tehran and Damascus can only be interpreted as preparations for war. Lebanese sources have been saying openly that Syria, Iran and Hizballah are now in position for a new Middle East confrontation.

This development was kept under tight wraps by prime minister Ehud Olmert, the defense and foreign ministers and the chief of staff. Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi.

Senior IDF officers told DEBKAfile: If the new military facts on the ground in Lebanon are allowed to stay in place, the next war Hizballah launches with Syria and Iran will find Israel’s ground, sea and air forces at a grave strategic disadvantage.

Yet there are no signs of Israel’s policy-makers budging."

Cairo to Damascus: St. Patrick's Day with the Green Shirts

Solomonia is doing a history of Islams war on Israel. I like it and figured that any Lefties who read my comment can use the education. Go read this
Solomonia: Cairo to Damascus: St. Patrick's Day with the Green Shirts: "A dust cloud became visible in the distance. A welcoming shout went up. It turned out to be a column of soldiers, marching with their banners in the wind -- a contingent of about two hundred volunteers bound for Palestine under Misr el Fattat auspices. They were dressed in war-surplus khaki and the Arab headpiece...Their faces were bronzed by the Nile sun, their hands bony from toil. They were fellaheen -- those lowest in the social scale, usually tenant-slave farmers or unskilled workers. They joined the Green Shirt columns, and together marched past a guard of honor of Green Shirt officials. I began to photograph the scene with one policeman behind me, the other at my side. Suddenly, as the massed banners and flags passed by, a dozen Green Shirt arms shot out in the old-fashioned Fascist salute. To snap or not to snap! What would the police say? Nervously, I took two photographs of the saluting soldiers. Nothing happened...

...'Take a picture of my daughters,' Hussein said. 'I have named them Faith and Liberty.' Hussein's wife was nowhere in evidence, faithful to the Moslem tradition that no decent woman ever shows her face to strangers. In his military dress and cap, hands on hips, jaw stuck out, Hussein on the balcony of his home imitated Il Duce. Hussein had..."

Lab holding fatal germs loses power

Lab holding fatal germs loses power: "An Atlanta laboratory holding several potentially harmful germs, including a fatal strain of avian flu, lost power for at least an hour, officials said.

Four buildings were left without electricity Friday when a backup generator malfunctioned at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said no employees or members of the public were harmed in the incident.

The power failure is the most recent incident in a series of technical problems at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus, the newspaper said.

It's important for people to understand that even though we lose power to these facilities from time to time, worker safety and the public's safety is not in jeopardy because multiple, redundant systems are in place, separate from those that rely on power, Skinner said."

BORELLI CONSULTING: Recreational Equipment Reviews

I am worried about planning at all times and am often looking for a good survival kit so that when the Left finally gets openly violent and starts to attack everyone else I will be prepared. Mr Borelli is a great guy for advice on this subject and I thought this review might help anyone else who is worried about the same stuff.

BORELLI CONSULTING: Recreational Equipment Reviews: "Depending on your background, whether or not you spent time in the military, what type of family you were raised in, etc you may or may not have received any training in the basic necessities of survival. It’s okay if you haven’t received any training because there are only about a gazillion survival kits available for sale through a boatload of catalogue and online companies. But which one do you need? This isn’t a review of which ones are best, but instead a look at what items such a “kit” should contain. Then you can select which one suits your purposes and/or build one of your own."

Iraq War Media Deceptions 101

SBVOR: Iraq War Media Deceptions 101: "1) Iraq had WMD stockpiles and the United Nations knew it!

If Saddam had no stockpiles of WMD, how do you explain 17 UN Security Council Resolutions over a period of 12 years, 14 of which deal directly with WMD?

Pay special attention to UNSCR 1441, which essentially said to Saddam (paraphrasing):

“Better hide the WMD, The United States will be invading 30 days from today”


But, that notice was given on 11/8/02 and we did not invade until 3/20/03. No wonder we have not found most of the WMD which the United Nations KNEW was there!

Even so, ISG, post war, REPORTED they found limited quantities of WMD. ISG also found clear evidence of intent to produce more WMD, including thermonuclear weapons. They failed to find clear evidence of large quantities of recently manufactured WMD. But, they were also:

“unable to rule out the possibility that WMD was evacuated to Syria before the war.”


Various other sources offer evidence that the WMD was evacuated to Syria.

Given fighter jets were buried in the desert, there clearly exists the possibility that WMD was buried in the desert."

British bust terrorist drug shipment

British bust terrorist drug shipment - UPI.com: "The British Royal Navy announced the seizure of more than 25 tons of narcotics during an operation in the Persian Gulf.

Royal Navy crews from the HMS Chatham, HMS Montrose and HMS Edinburgh, while patrolling the Persian Gulf, discovered the drugs, including hashish, opiates, cocaine and amphetamines, hidden in fishing vessels.

British officials suspect the drugs were part of a terrorist network's efforts to raise funds for insurgency operations in Afghanistan, the British Ministry of Defense reported.

'The scourge of illegal drugs is one of the gravest threats to the long-term security of Afghanistan and a vital source of funding for the Taliban warlords who seek violence against Afghan, British and NATO forces,' Commodore Keith Winstanley, commander of the Royal Navy in the Persian Gulf, said in a statement.

'Our mission in Afghanistan is one of absolute importance, and by seizing these drugs we have dealt a significant blow to the illegal trade.'"

Dogs of War: The founding contractors - UPI.com

Dogs of War: The founding contractors - UPI.com: "According to the U.S. Merchant Marine, during the six years of the American Revolution, the Continental Navy consisted of only 64 ships. The Continental Navy had an arsenal of 1,246 guns aboard its boats and ships; the privateers had 14,872. The Continental Navy captured 196 enemy ships compared to the privateers' 2,283.

If current private military firms had a record like that, nobody would ever question their claims of cost effectiveness. Indeed, their actions were so vital to the creation of the country that private contractors are even referenced in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which concerns the right of Congress to issue letters of marque and reprisal to attack enemy shipping. Today's private military firms can only look enviously at testimonials like that.

This wartime privateering was essentially a conflict between business and morality, and has been central to the way America thinks about military and war issues since the country's beginnings."

The Irish wonder why we are even voting

BLACKFIVE: The Irish wonder why we are even voting: "An email from Ireland to the brethren in the States...a point to ponder despite your political affiliation:



'We, in Ireland , can't figure out why people are even bothering to hold an election in the United States .



On one side, you have a pants wearing lawyer, married to a lawyer who can't keep his pants on, who just lost a long and heated primary against a lawyer who goes to the wrong church who is married to yet another lawyer who doesn't even like the country her husband wants to run.



Now...On the other side, you have a nice old war hero whose name starts with the appropriate Mc terminology, married to a good looking younger woman who owns a beer distributorship.



What in Lords name are ye lads thinking over there in the colonies??"

California Fire Relief

More good news about Blackwater. Thanks for all your help around the world!

Untitled Document: "

Blackwater Worldwide Provides Relief within a Fire
90,000 Acres Burn, 211 Homes Destroyed

Maintaining a source of contractors with firefighting and disaster relief training and experience, Blackwater Worldwide stood poised to come to the aid of southern California amidst recent fires sweeping across San Diego County.

A few miles north of the U.S. and Mexico border, nearly 350 residents from the rural town of Potrero, were trapped by the fires that has destroyed at least 473 homes and buildings and consuming 90,440 acres of prime real estate. In this crisis, residents living a normal life found themselves suffering from lack of power, fuel, food, and relief supplies.

After the wildfires swept through the area, Blackwater donated food and supplies while offering aid in the form of supplies and service. State Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth (R-36th District) announced to the Potrero community that Blackwater has set up a “tent city” at nearby Barrett Junction, providing shelter for 200 displaced residents

Land near Dulzura, California was cleared of debris and flattened with where the tents, donated by Blackwater went up. Brian Bonfiglio, vice president of Blackwater West said, “Each tent has air conditioning, heating and lighting. The tents were inspected by county officials before residents moved in.”

Nearly 10,000 pounds of boxes arrived from Blackwater’s headquarters in Moyock, North Carolina. These supplies included tents, sleeping bags, clothing, televisions, DVD players, VCR’s, microwave ovens, boots and such creature comforts as coffee makers. Trailers arrived shortly after with male and female showers, one including three washing machines and three clothes dryers. These conveniences are being made to local residents, even those who don't stay at the tent city. Blackwater offered a three-month commitment to the displaced residents, including everything from food to shelter all free of charge.

Bonfiglio said, “Blackwater believes in helping communities and in keeping with the American spirit, wants to aid those in California in this great time of need. This is something we've always done. This is what we do.” "

Operation Backpack

I like hearing about good humanitarian efforts that bring goods to the poor, and not to their usually brutal overlords. I am also glad that Blackwater is getting a little good press for their efforts. Of course, it is only a little good press because the Media can not admit that Blackwater could do anything good.

Thank you to the Guard and Reserve units that started this effort. It is guys like you that make America great.

Blackwater Foundation: "Operation Backpack: Blackwater Worldwide in Action -
Camp Alamo, Afghanistan

Blackwater Worldwide logistics and procurement team members are known for their ability to acquire and transport anything, anywhere, and deliver it on time. But it’s not only contract work that motivates Blackwater logisticians to be the best. Working with U.S. and Coalition forces in Afghanistan, Blackwater helped make a dramatic impact on Afghani families living near an American base.

Beginning in late 2006, U.S. Army National Guard and Navy Reserve unit personnel took action to help stem the tide of misery and poverty just outside their base, Camp Alamo near Kabul, Afghanistan. Dubbed “Operation Backpack”, the project began as a small, grass-roots effort on the part of several soldiers and sailors to gather donations; school supplies, clothes, and personal items for the children were in great demand. The response from donors in the United States was overwhelming, but the logistical challenges were daunting as donated items piled up stateside waiting for delivery. With no charitable infrastructure to pack, warehouse, and ship the larger-than-expected donations streaming in, the deployed servicemen turned to Blackwater Worldwide for assistance.

For over six months in 2007, Blackwater donated expertise, time, and supplies to help make Operation Backpack a success. Blackwater logisticians contributed by sorting and loading donated goods stateside and by providing temporary warehouse space until shipments could be sent forward to Afghanistan. Once the flights were scheduled, supplies were crated in tri-wall shipping containers at Blackwater’s North Carolina headquarters, trucked to the airport, and flown to Afghanistan. Upon arrival in Kabul, Blackwater personnel stored the containers in warehouses and helped U.S. servicemen distribute the donated goods to needy families. In all, more than 25 tri-wall containers were packed and shipped by Blackwater to help make Operation Backpack a resounding success. "

Strong Medicine

StrategyPage.com - Combat Information Center analysis, facts and figures about military conflicts and leaders: "Strong Medicine

The launching of H.M.S. Dreadnought in 1905 touched off a naval arms race that saw something like 125 battleships and battlecruisers laid down before the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Of these, almost a third were built by Britain. In a show of imperial unity, several dominions and colonies offered to help defray the cost of this great shipbuilding program. In this way, two new battlecruisers of the Indefatigable Class were laid down in 1910, sponsored by Australia and New Zealand, and named, appropriately enough, in their honor. Of these, Australia became the nucleus of the new Royal Australian Navy. New Zealand , on the other hand, was presented to the Royal Navy, because the Dominion could not afford to man and operate her; in fact, New Zealand had to go into debt to find the £1,684,990 to pay for the ship, a loan that was not finally paid off until two world wars had past.

Displacing some 22,000 tons at full load, H.M.S. New Zealand was an imposing vessel, toting eight 12-inch rifles at speeds up to 26 knots. Shortly after she was commissioned, in November of 1912, the Royal Navy thoughtfully sent the new battlecruiser on a good will visit to New Zealand, to show the folks what all that debt had gotten them.

While touring New Zealand in April, May, and June of 1913, the ship was visited by a delegation of Maori chiefs. The chiefs pronounced some traditional Maori blessings on her, and also presented a number of gifts. One of these was a ship’s wheel made from native woods and inscribed with the defiant war cry of the famous Maori chief Rewi Maniapoto, "Ake! Ake! Ake! Kia Kaha! –We will fight on, for ever and ever and ever!” In addition, the ship’s captain was given a green stone tiki pendant and a traditional Maori piu-piu, a black and white flax war kilt, and told that if he wore these in battle the ship would never come to harm.

New Zealand’s captains followed these instructions. And no harm befell the ship at the battles of Helgoland Bight (August 14, 1914) and Dogger Bank (January 24, 1915). Indeed, at Dogger Bank, when Vice-Admiral David Beatty came aboard New Zealand after having to abandon his flagship due to damage, he found Captain Lionel Halsey wearing both the tiki and piu-piu.

At Jutland (May 31-June1, 1916), New Zealand’s skipper, John Green, wore only the tiki, for he was little too plump to look good in the piu-piu. Nevertheless, Green kept the piu-piu close at hand, hanging in the ship’s conning tower. Even so, the talismans provided excellent protection; of six ships in the Battle Cruiser Fleet, two blew up under enemy fire, Indefatigable and Queen Mary, while Princess Royal, Tiger, and Lion, were heavily damaged, suffering several casualties, Lion only surviving by chance and raw courage. In contrast, New Zealand took a single hit, and lost only one crewmember, a pet canary.

The battlecruiser returned to visit New Zealand in 1919, carrying Admiral Lord Jellicoe on a good will tour of the Dominions. She was shortly afterward decommissioned, and was scrapped in 1922 as part of international arms reduction efforts.

Battlecruisers were known for the weakness of their armor, but H.M.S. New Zealand was clearly much better protected than most. And the tiki and piu-piu? Well, they’re preserved at a museum in New Zealand, but are apparently not currently on exhibit."

Red Cross spokeswoman equates Nato with the Taliban over civilian casualties

I think that if the Red Cross can't tell the difference between the Taliban and NATO, then they should be able to ignore the difference between my contributions and my lack of contributions. When they learn to distinguish between suicidal bombers attacking a market and a NATO bomb accidentally destroying a party, then they will get my money again.

The Monkey Tennis Centre: Red Cross spokeswoman equates Nato with the Taliban over civilian casualties: "The BBC has been making hay with the news that a US airstrike in Afghanistan last week apparently killed around 50 civilians, sending its reporters hiking through the mountains to collect first-hand accounts of the tragedy, and generally giving the incident the sort of coverage that it wouldn't give to a story about 50 civilians being killed by the Taliban.

It's no more than we've come to expect from the BBC, and the Western news media in general. But grudging credit where it's due: when Peter Allen of the Beeb's Radio Five Live interviewed Carla Haddad, a spokeswoman from the International Committee of the Red Cross, about the incident he at least attempted to make a distinction between civilians being accidentally killed by Nato forces, and the Taliban's deliberate targeting of civilians.

Haddad was having none of it. Despite being invited to do so by Allen, she refuses to accept that there's any difference between Nato's actions and those of the Taliban, instead falling back on platitudes about appealing to 'all parties' in the conflict, and generally doing a passable imitation of a greased weasel playing Twister."

17 Women Freed From UAE Slavers In Brussels

I thought that the Black Panthers in the US became Muslims because Muslims did not have slaves? So, I guess the UAE is starting to allow other religions! This is good news!

Well, it is good if you believe in crap like I spewed above. To me, it is just further proof that Muslims refuse to live by the standards of the local population, as they enforce in their own lands. Free the Slaves! Ban True Islam!

(Just kidding! I respect the early Islam that Mohammad preached, but lost it as the Prophet became very violent. )

Gateway Pundit: 17 Women Freed From UAE Slavers In Brussels: "17 'slaves' were freed from an Arab royal family at a hotel in Brussels.
The 17 women were enslaved by the widow of a senior royal figure from the United Arab Emirates and her four daughters.
The Telegraph reported:

Seventeen women have been taken by police from a luxury hotel in Brussels amid allegations that they had been enslaved by an Arab royal family.

Police officers and officials from Belgium's Labour Audit Authority raided the Conrad Hotel, the city's most prestigious and the preferred choice of many national leaders during European Union summits, on Tuesday evening."

Israeli Lifeguard Finds 2,500-Year-Old Sea Relic

This is a cool find. One of the things I love about Israel is that they have so much history. So many civilizations have passed through that area that it is possible to frace most of the world's history from finds in Israel. Very cool.

FOXNews.com - Israeli Lifeguard Finds 2,500-Year-Old Sea Relic - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News: "An Israeli lifeguard taking his regular morning swim off the Mediterranean coast in southern Israel discovered a 2,500-year-old marble talisman to ward off the evil eye, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Sunday.

The lifeguard turned over the ancient disc that once adorned the bow of an ancient warship or cargo ship to keep evil away, the Israeli archaeology body said.

Experts say the relic, discovered off the coast Palmahim beach where the ancient Yavne-Yam port city once stood, dates back to the 5th or 4th century B.C. The white disc, flat on one side and convex on the other, measures 8 inches in diameter. The center of the disc is perforated, and the remains of two circles are painted around the center of it to represent the pupil of an eye."

Taliban launch deadly attack on a combat outpost in Afghanistan's Kunar province

Honest bad news from the front. Still, in any other war the loss of nine guys at a forward outpost would not make a headline. If this is the best the Taliban can do to harm our troops, then they are doomed.

Taliban launch deadly attack on a combat outpost in Afghanistan's Kunar province - The Long War Journal: "The Taliban launched a complex attack against a newly established combat outpost in the Pech district in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar. Heavy fighting is currently underway, and US forces have taken multiple casualties in the attack. Nine US soldiers have been killed during the battle.

The Taliban launched the attack early this morning at approximately 4:30 AM according to a press release from the International Security Assistance Force. The Taliban initiated the battle 'with small arms, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars using homes, shops and the mosque in the village of Wanat for cover.'

Afghan and US forces based at the outpost have fought back and called in artillery and helicopter support and airstrikes.

Afghan, US, and Taliban casualties had not been released as the fighting is ongoing, but ISAF reported that 'there have been casualties on both sides of the fight.' The Associated Press reported that nine US soldiers have been killed. ISAF later confirmed nine US troops were killed, and 15 US soldiers and four Afghan troops were wounded. The attack is one of the largest incidents of US casualties during a ground engagement in Afghanistan."

For more information this is good:
FOXNews.com - Officials: More Than 100 Militants Attacked, Breached U.S. Base - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News: "An insurgent force of more than 100 fighters breached the outer walls of a small, remote U.S. outpost that was built just last week, allowing insurgents to attack American soldiers from the inside, where they inflicted heavy casualties, officials said Monday.

The assault early Sunday killed nine American soldiers and wounded 15 in the deadliest attack against U.S. forces in Afghanistan in three years.

The insurgent assault was launched from multiple sides and was a "concerted attempt" to overrun the small base completed on Friday, said an official with NATO's International Security Assistance Force who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.

A huge wave of insurgents attacked the outpost and an unknown number of militants got inside, the reason the fighters were able to inflict such high casualties, a second military official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

After the breach, U.S. troops pushed back against the invading militants, and attack helicopters swooped in. The second official said more than 40 insurgents were killed in the fighting.

The insurgent force was described as being in the "low three figures," meaning low hundreds, the first official said.

Ghulam Farooq, a top police official in Nuristan province, which neighbors Kunar and the region of the attack, said that Afghans living in the village of Wanat deserted the area on Friday and Saturday — the days the U.S. base would have been first constructed.

Farooq said the insurgent forces of Hezb-i-Islami, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, and the Taliban are in the area. He said Arab, Chechen and Pakistani fighters operate there.

The militants fired on the American outpost from homes and a mosque in the village of Wanat. The attack began around 4:30 a.m. and the fighting lasted much of the day."

Mediterranean union wants to rid Mideast of WMDs

This 'union' sounds predestined to fail. But it is a nice idea.

Mediterranean union wants to rid Mideast of WMDs: "Forty-three nations, including Israel and Arab states, pledged Sunday to work for a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction at the close of a summit to launch an unprecedented Union for the Mediterranean aimed at securing peace across the restive region.

In a final declaration, Israel, Syria, the Palestinians along with countries across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa agreed to 'pursue a mutually and effectively verifiable Middle East Zone free of weapons of mass destruction.'

The countries committed to 'consider practical steps to prevent the proliferation' of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their delivery systems. It was unclear, however, how the signatories—who included Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Syrian President Bashar Assad—would enforce the pledge.

Israel is widely believed to have a stockpile of nuclear weapons but neither confirms nor denies it has them—an ambiguity meant to scare potential enemies from considering an annihilating attack while denying them the rationale for developing their own nuclear deterrent."

Gloves Off in Pakistan?

About freakin time that someone started to notice this. If the Jawa has, then the Media might not be far behind.

The Jawa Report: Gloves Off in Pakistan?: "The problem the Pakistanis face is that a majority of their own population has some sympathies with the Taliban. To directly confront them would be a disaster. To do nothing would also be a disaster. So they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Letting us do their dirty work for them while the publicly make a stink about us is about as good as it's going to get for the world's largest failed nuclear state.

This IBD editorial has background:

It appears hawks within the Pentagon and CIA have won a long-running policy battle with risk-averse officials in the administration and diplomats at the State Department. The result is a more aggressive, go-it-alone policy in response to Pakistan's failure to disrupt terrorist training camps and cross-border attacks against our troops and the Afghan government....The U.S. military confirms it is sending extra air power to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border by moving the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. The battle group ostensibly will provide air support for special forces who reportedly have been given the green light — after tumultuous debate within the White House — to conduct raids deep inside Pakistan's tribal belt to eradicate al-Qaida and Taliban bases.

Unfortunately, we will never have a solution to the Pakistan problem. The best we can hope for is that when the smoke clears from the inevitable escalation of what already is a civil war, that the anti-Taliban factions will hold all the keys to Pakistans nukes."