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January 13, 2006

Joshua Sparling On Sean Hannity's Radio Show

The Political Teen has posted audio of Joshua Sparling's interview on Sean Hannity's radio show. Sparling is the wounded soldier who received a death wish written in a Christmas card.

Michael Crook, the founder of the vile "Forsake the Troops" website, initially denied involvement, then admitted guilt for the card, which was signed, "Miguel".

But Crook, a notorious media whore, conveniently lost any proof that he had actually sent the card. Crook has a history of making false claims for publicity. In May, 2005 he faked his own death with a post to his website, and Crook originally came to regional notice by claiming to have found a soldier's camera and demanding $1,000 "finder's fee". He later admitted that he didn't have the camera.

Also posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto.

Posted by: Bluto at 12:02 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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January 12, 2006

Al Qaeda vs. Islamic Army in Iraq?

We've heard periodic reports of native terrorists fighting foreign terrorists in Iraq, but this report via Captain Ed is odd news, if true. The Islamic Army in Iraq is not just another 'insurgent' group. These are your hardcore headchoppers, hostage-takers, and civilian murderers.

These are the guys who recently murdered American civilian Ronald Schulz, and who have been implicated in the hostage taking of four Western peace activists. The group has, in fact, cooperated with al Qaeda in various operations in the past.

If The Islamic Army in Iraq has begun to fight with al Qaeda, then I'm afraid it is more likely a turf war than anything else. The news that other groups, which are more nationalist in orientation, though, fighting against al Qaeda, is probably more accurate. Der Spiegel:

According to an American and an Iraqi intelligence official, as well as Iraqi insurgents, clashes between Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia and Iraqi insurgent groups like the Islamic Army and Muhammad's Army have broken out in Ramadi, Husayba, Yusifiya, Dhuluiya and Karmah.
In town after town, Iraqis and Americans say, local Iraqi insurgents and tribal groups have begun trying to expel Al Qaeda's fighters, and, in some cases, kill them.

UPDATE: More from NY Times via Lawhawk and Say Anything:

In October, the two insurgents said in interviews, a group of local fighters from the Islamic Army gathered for an open-air meeting on a street corner in Taji, a city north of Baghdad.
Across from the Iraqis stood the men from Al Qaeda, mostly Arabs from outside Iraq. Some of them wore suicide belts. The men from the Islamic Army accused the Qaeda fighters of murdering their comrades.
Â“Al Qaeda killed two people from our group,Â” said an Islamic Army fighter who uses the nom de guerre Abu Lil and who claimed that he attended the meeting. Â“They repeatedly kill our people.Â”
The encounter ended angrily. A few days later, the insurgents said, Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia and the Islamic Army fought a bloody battle on the outskirts of town.
The battle, which the insurgents said was fought on Oct. 23, was one of several clashes between Al Qaeda and local Iraqi guerrilla groups that have broken out in recent months across the Sunni Triangle.

Like I said, turf war. This battle does not represent a turn of the tide against terrorists. That tide was turned long ago and has nothing to do with terrorist on terrorist bloodshed. It would be a lot like the Taliban turning on al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Whoever is the victor, the results would be the same.

Update II: Via James Joyner I read this over at Rantingprofs. I would simply add that The Islamic Army in Iraq and al Qaeda both share the same short-term goals (ousting the U.S.), intermediate goals (harsh Sunni sharia in Iraq), and long-term goals (restoration of caliphate). Both are salafiyist groups and are violent jihadis of the worst kind. I'll say it again, the dispute between the two groups is about who controls the new Iraq, not what that new Iraq should look like. Various pundits would do well if they had a cursory background of the terror organizations named in the article.

Posted by: Rusty at 09:37 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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1 Criminal thugs are the same the world over.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at January 12, 2006 10:08 AM (0yYS2)

2 This isn't a new story though - Bill Roggio and others have been reporting for months that various insurgent groups and al Qaeda have been getting into red on red fights, with the US and coalition looking on in amusement. That it appeared above the fold on the NYT front page is a big deal though. It would be a backhanded admission that al Qaeda is on the losing end of the conflict in Iraq.

Posted by: lawhawk at January 12, 2006 11:09 AM (eppTH)

3 Here's hoping they wipe each other out.

Posted by: KG at January 12, 2006 11:57 AM (eRMCR)

4 Damn straight!

Posted by: George Ramos at January 12, 2006 01:33 PM (5E0ex)

5 Regrettably, one of Saddam Hussein's only redeeming virtues was his secularism. Secularism in Iraq is doomed face backlash along with everything else the Iraqis hated about the old regime. The Sunnis are more conspicuous in this because they have the greater grudge against us, but I bet the Iraqi Shia are going the same way. Since their allies are better practiced and more motivated they'll be the worse source of terrorism in the long run.

Posted by: ShannonKW at January 12, 2006 02:29 PM (dT1MB)

6 Regardless of how the Iraq war ends, the problem of a radical, resurgent Islam is not about to go away, and will likely get worse in most parts of the World. So I agree with ShannonKW on this, however I think the Sunni will still be the majority of the terrorists, mainly because they exist in huge numbers vis a vie the Shia. I would recommend that we be observant in SE Asia, especially Malaysia, Indonesia and the Phillipines, as the Islamists have become very active in these areas. Another major cause of concern is Africa, where jihadists are training and indoctrinating the former moderate Muslims. The West will be in a long, hard fight for its survival. Right now, I doubt whether most people in the West are in any way ready to confront these people. Only in parts of the US and Australia is there the spine for a real fight.

Posted by: jesusland joe at January 12, 2006 04:04 PM (rUyw4)

7 Hell Shannon, secularism is dead in America. The fact is that humans are so conditioned to religion that it has become an addiction. We'll have to let the masses have their opiates if it keeps them happy, and just try to keep the holy wars to a minimum.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at January 12, 2006 04:25 PM (0yYS2)

8 Anyone else notice that the places joe mentions have something in common? Namely, the lack of capitalism and, in turn, representative government. Not to be a root cause guy (mainly because I hate that crap) but I can't help but think there might be a connection. I'm guessing that jihadis would have a harder time taking hold in places where there is economic opportunities for the populous.

Posted by: KG at January 12, 2006 04:33 PM (eRMCR)

9 True, KG, but the other thing these areas have in common is Islam. Without Islam there would no doubt be problems in these countries, but the wild card in all this terrorism is Islam. Money that could have been used to improve the life and living standards in these countries is now being used to build and maintain Salafist teaching mosques. I also disagree with your jihadist theory with respect to developed countries and economic opportunity. In Britain the jihadists came from wealthy families in some cases, so again I say radical Islam is the root cause. I am a root cause guy.

Posted by: jesusland joe at January 12, 2006 04:54 PM (rUyw4)

10 KG, Lebanon has a famously strong capitalist tradition, and they are home to Hezballah, among other groups. That's not to say that poor economic policy couldn't contribute to the problem. A big population of Muslims who have nothing to lose seems to breed terrorism; and bloated, corrupt governments that own everyting in the country are real good at producing those conditions. Maximus, On the bright side, while we are a bit less secular than we were when I was a kid, the U.S. is very far from the Christian analogue of Islamism. I don't think it could happen in my lifetime, either. It would conflict with our individualism. Americans (with notable exceptions) are too prone to interpret their holy Book for themselves rather than have a politician do it for them.

Posted by: ShannonKW at January 12, 2006 06:06 PM (dT1MB)

11 ShannonKW, I think you nailed it in your answer to IM. The particular concept you refer to is called the "priesthood of the believer". It means that I can read the Bible myself and come to my own conclusions. That is why Christianity has adapted to the modern World and Islam has not. Islam allows little or no interpretation, and what interpretation is allowed comes from the imans. It is a top down religion, and only a remaking of Islam itself will allow for reform.

Posted by: jesusland joe at January 12, 2006 08:05 PM (rUyw4)

12 The possibility that the locals might be taking on Al Qaeda is kind of beside the point when it comes to the threat still confronting the US military. My reading of the Iraqi situation is that there are plenty of grass roots unsurgents who may not share bin Laden's vision, but who also have no love at all for the US. Some of these will be what Rumsfield has referred to as "Saddamists". This is a really tough predicament for the US military. I have to admit to having deep reservation when I hear the President talk about "victory" in the context of this type of fight. It's very hard to defeat an enemy that is faceless and can blend with the local population at will. Tiny Northern Ireland is only a fraction of the size of Iraq, and yet the British military never succeeded in defeating the provisional IRA volunteers, who in some cases were only teenagers. The only way to defeat this type of enemy miltarily, is to use draconian measures and international law (Geneva included), makes this type of approach untenable. So a standing army has to use all its intellgence resources and non-conventional tactics to try and manage the security situation to the best of its ability. I certainly feel great deal of respect for the young GI's in Iraq who are required to walk this dangerous line every day. It can't be easy. The next six months or going to be crucial. I was on a blog recently and read a post from a young Iraqi woman who spoke of rising ethnic/tribal tensions and she fears a descent into civil war. With Ahmadinejad on the loose in Iran, let's hope this fear is unfounded.

Posted by: Aidan Maconachy at January 13, 2006 01:33 AM (ki9mX)

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January 11, 2006

Congressman Moran gets Pwned

Click here to see an Iraq war veteran take Moran to task over his stance on the war.

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January 10, 2006

U.S. Forces Raid Umm al-Qura Mosque

U.S. forces raided Baghdad's Umm al-Qura mosque Sunday after receiving a tip that activities related to Jill Carroll's kidnapping were going on inside:

ABC OnlineÂ—Sunni Arabs in Iraq have branded a US raid on a mosque complex a "sinful assault" and say it will worsen their relations with the US military.
The United Nations (UN) has also criticised Sunday's military operation.
Sunni Arab political parties say the raid on the Baghdad offices of the influential Muslim Clerics Association targeted the clergy and violated a place of worship.
Witnesses say US soldiers slid down ropes from helicopters as troops on the ground burst into the mosque complex, blowing doors off hinges and ransacking offices.
It came two days before the major religious holiday of Eid al-Adha.
A UN statement from the office of special envoy Ashraf Qazi says he "noted with regret the incident at the Umm al-Qora mosque" and that it "underlined the importance of all parties respecting the sanctity of holy sites and places of worship".
A UN spokeswoman, amplifying the statement, says Mr Qazi was referring specifically to the US and Iraqi military operation. ...

The United Nations criticized the raid. I say leave no stone unturned ...

Resources:

These images show that the Umm al-Qura mosque is very near the Al-Adel district where Jill Carroll was kidnapped:

Satellite image: Umm al-Qura mosque
Satellite image: Umm al-Qura mosque/Al-Adel district in west Baghdad
Google maps: Al-Adel district in west Baghdad

Cross-posted at OpinionBug.com

Related at Rocket's Brain Trust

Update (1/10/2006 9:37pm):

Here is a story about SRSG Ashraf Qazi's reaction to the Umm al-Qura raid:

UNÂ—Reacting to an incident at the Umm al-Qura mosque in Iraq, the senior United Nations envoy to the country today stressed that all parties must honour the sanctity of holy sites.
In a statement released in Baghdad, Ashraf Qazi voiced regret at the event yesterday, when some security forces entered the mosque.
Mr. Qazi called on the responsible authorities to ensure that the issue is investigated as quickly and transparently as possible.
This incident, following others in recent weeks involving places of worship, should serve as a reminder of the need to eschew violence and build mutual trust and confidence, Mr. Qazi said, calling on all concerned to support a fully inclusive political process that would increase stability and a peaceful future for the people of Iraq. ...

Before I blow a gasket I want to respond to Mr. Qazi's outrageous remarks.

Mr. Qazi, a "holy" site becomes unholy when it allows terrorists to defile it.

Mr. Qazi, the raid on the Umm al-Qura mosque was the direct result of intelligence that indicated activities related to Jill Carroll's kidnapping were going on inside.

Mr. Qazi, a young woman was kidnapped and her companion murdered in cold-blood and you express regret and call for an investigation into a raid whose sole purpose was to possibly rescue her? How dare you Sir!

And Mr. Qazi, you say the raid on Umm al-Qura should be a reminder of the need to eschew violence and build mutual trust and confidence? Eschew violence? How dare you Sir! What about the senseless violence directed at Jill Carroll? What about the blood of Alan John Ghazi spilled on an al-Adel street!

With all due respect Sir, your remarks are about as asinine as any I've ever read. And by them, you make yourself a part of the problem rather than a part of its solution.

"Leave no stone unturned."

Posted by: OpinionBug at 02:47 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 Who gives a shit about their stupid f'ing religion! If they are doing anything terroristy in a mosque, it is fair game. Bomb the place. At this point, is there really any hope of mending the schism between the west and Islamofascism anyway? NO! So let loose the tomahawks and to hell with those hadjis. If their religion was so sacred, they wouldn't use the mosques as rallying points for insurgents and IEDs anyway. Violence is the only thing these people understand, so lets oblige them. Enough pussyfooting around; we need to take lessons from the Israelis and simply brutalize these people. Beat them into submission. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am so f'ing sick of these people kidnapping and killing noncombatants, planting roadside bombs and all manner of other cowardly shit, staging all of it from mosques, and then becoming outraged when these same mosques are targeted for raids. Are IQs just lower in that part of the world? It is the same logic that makes them think it is their duty to come to America to destroy buildings, which is cool, but the thought of an infidel in the holy land is cause enough do do what? Come to America and destroy buildings. Beheading someone in the name if Islam is cool, but conducting a search of a mosque is a inconsolable outrage. Enough is enough. Fuck their religion and fuck respecting their religion. Nuke them until they glow and then shoot them in the dark. Thats my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

Posted by: Jack's Smirking Revenge at January 10, 2006 05:07 PM (CtVG6)

2 As I have said, these people deserve neither compassion, sympathy, OR respect. They have no problem with killing any of us, our women, or even children. Nothing is off limits to them. NO apologies, NO symapthy. They hate us and our way of life, it's that simple. They hate that we have a system that, while not perfect, enables to live far better than their rat-like existences. They hate that our ideals enables us to have choices in life while they remain dominated and ruled by a backward set of beliefs under threats of losing their heads. THEY CAN'T STAND IT These people cannot be fixed or reasoned with in any sense. They will never have peace, they would not know how, nor are they willing to learn! War and death are all they know or understand. I am all for getting this problem under control in any manner necessary so that the rest of us can live peaceably.

Posted by: Dee at January 12, 2006 01:24 PM (HUims)

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January 09, 2006

It's Chimpy's Fault, Dammit!

The sturmtruppers of the only real terrorist nation make Iraqi women cry.

That's an update to my earlier post.

In unrelated news, welcome back Rusty, you're just in time to mark the real Grim Milestone that the media will surely fail to note:

UPDATE:

The AP is reporting that the first surgery was successful.

Posted by: Vinnie at 12:50 AM | Comments (19) | Add Comment
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1 News articles that begin with a melodramatic vignette make critical readers cry. That initial paragraph to the effect of "Awwww, look at the poor widdle bayy-bee" is a red flag to anybody with an interest in facts. When you see that crap you know there's no point in going any further. Even more repellant is the thought of what sort of idiot comprises the target market for this garbage. I'm picturing in my mind's eye some moon-eyed old lady or teen mother, a total sucker who can be talked into anything, utterly convinced that a single untreated case of spinal bifida constitutes a significant problem in war-ravaged Iraq. These people vote. Scary stuff.

Posted by: ShannonKW at January 09, 2006 06:52 AM (dT1MB)

2 You know what's scarier? people who are so cynical of any good news, or deeds by our Soldiers, that they feel the need to bad mouth it at any turn. This is the fruits of the seeds sown by our Soldiers who have tried to get her treated in the U.S. to help her live. Much to everyones disappointment people such as yourself continue to yawn and wait for the news of a carbomb to make the Iraq "quagmire" talking point. sickening.

Posted by: dave at January 09, 2006 07:31 AM (CcXvt)

3 Dave, You're goddamn straight I'm cynical, and proud of it. The U.S. needs a lot more of us. Cynics don't let sob stories about gimpy babies and weepy mommies drive our policy judgments. We also tend not to wet our pants every time someone sparks up a pipe bomb in Baghdad. Cynicism used to be a fashionable pose in this country. Then 9/11 happened, and I watched all the wannabes melt into blubbering puddles of impotent fear. I'll have you know that while Dan Rather was heralding "the death of cynicism" I was keeping the flame alive, cracking jokes. My best one: Me: That was an impressive deed. Boss: How could somebody do something like that? Me: I guess they really believed they're going to Heaven for it. Boss: Well, I don't think they're going where they thought they were going! Me: Neither is anybody else on the plane. The whole office laughed at this, and then accused me of not being funny. And this kind of funk ran through the whole country, from the little people on up to the Old Man himself, with Bush bleating out a prayer for God to defend us as if we don't have Marines for that! So far as I can tell, the only public figures who kept their testicles on and didn't surrender to hysterical emotionalism were Donald Rumsfeld, Rudolph Giuliani, and Ann Coulter (which is all the more remarkable when you consider that only one of these has a functioning prostate gland). If we lose our nerve and turn tail in Iraq because IEDs are scary and they make servicemen's mommies cry, people like me won't be the ones responsible. Pretending the occupation is about "saving the children" won't stiffen the public's spine either.

Posted by: ShannonKW at January 09, 2006 08:55 AM (dT1MB)

4 >>>Cynics don't let sob stories about gimpy babies and weepy mommies drive our policy judgments. Then why are you a Liberal? Liberals policy is entirely anecdote-driven. And regarding cynics being "needed", I've found cynicism amongst the Liberal proles is entirely one-sided. You cynics were sucking Clinton's cock when he was bombing milk factories and Kosovo without U.N. authorization. Now THAT'S cynical.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 09, 2006 08:59 AM (8e/V4)

5 I'm in awe, at how the murder of some 3,000 of your fellow countrymen provided you the gumption to provide some good old rib-tickling funnies for your co-workers. One could only hope, that no one snuffs out one of your loved ones like a candle, and that no one provides a real funny knee-slapper about it for you. I'm sorry people were scared, and saddened in the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil, however not everyone looked at it as a twisted form of entertainment, evidently unlike yourself. I'm sure it's hard for someone such as yourself to look at Soldiers as anything but death-dealing robots, that we unleash till we put them back in their cage, but they are your fellow countrymen who have children, emotions and ideals, and most genuinely wish to help the people of Iraq.

Posted by: dave at January 09, 2006 09:11 AM (CcXvt)

6 Carlos, I was against any U.S. involvement in former Yugoslavia. As the U.S. has no interests there I was cynically content to watch all the warring factions spill each other's guts. It created a refugee problem for Europe, but we were in no way put out by it, so we should have let them handle it. For similar reasons I was against the first Gulf War. So Iraq strolls in and kicks over an anemic little oil monarchy. Why should we care who turns the spigot when we fill our tankers with Kuwaiti crude?

Posted by: ShannonKW at January 09, 2006 09:16 AM (dT1MB)

7 Dave, Shannon simply has a dry sense of humor, which is really the best psychological survival mechanism there is. SF guys, almost to the man, have a dry sense of humor, which allows them to face the hazards they do without going insane. The reason the comment about the airplane was funny to some people was because it was true. I don't think Shannon's really a liberal like Michael Mooron et al, but rather he seems to be more independant minded, like me, although I'm not sure what the hell he's talking about at times. Too many people, conservatives and liberals, let urban legends and their emotions control what they think and do, but some of us, a very few, tend to think for ourselves, and are hated for it by pretty much everyone else, which is fine with us if that's the way it has to be.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at January 09, 2006 09:21 AM (0yYS2)

8 Im: I am British, and I am well versed in the "stiff upper lip" routine, and am often termed as having a "dry sense of humor" by American's around me. However I did not find the need to create a stand-up comedy routine to my fellow colleagues around the unfolding events on September 11th. I enjoy your comments here, due to the fact you can draw the moonbats out, like moths to an open flame with a single post, and much like yourself I am no fan of the current Administration, however I agree on their strong stance against radical Islam, this character however comes out swinging like a moonbat on some posts, and nods his head like a novelty dog in a car window in others. hard to make anything of it.

Posted by: dave at January 09, 2006 09:35 AM (CcXvt)

9 And regarding Shannon's office "humor". Disgusting.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 09, 2006 09:42 AM (8e/V4)

10 I'm with you, Dave, on this one. Shannon can find no good in anything, and cynic is not what he is, regardless of what he says. I have another word to describe him, but I'll hold off for now. Let's just say you nailed him.

Posted by: jesusland joe at January 09, 2006 10:09 AM (rUyw4)

11 I understand your sentiments, but Shannon does make some valid points now and then, and should not be dismissed out of hand.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at January 09, 2006 10:23 AM (0yYS2)

12 Shannon: One can be cynical and still display optimism through these kind acts toward children in Iraq. Contrary to what you imply here that "weepy mommies" are being used to drive policy, the focus should be on a different aspect of the story. It's called "winning hearts and minds" as merely a secondary means of gaining support. Or simply just doing the right thing. And there's nothing wrong with it. One can only hope that these children will grow up in a democracy which will cause them to reject the hateful or intolerant ways of some of the older population in Iraq. While cynicism is healthy, it can be a hindrance when the whole world is looked at from that viewpoint. As far as your attempt at office humor, I'm trying to figure out why anyone laughed. It was true maybe, but not funny. Unless of course it was simply nervous laughter. Which is understandable - sort of. I've laughed at innappropriate things at times.

Posted by: Oyster at January 09, 2006 11:40 AM (osKlJ)

13 The important thing to remember Oyster is that he said everyone else laughed, but did he mean for them too? I kinda doubt it. Also, he's right about the weepy mommies thing, as emotion is a dangerous foundation on which to build policy.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at January 09, 2006 01:48 PM (0yYS2)

14 Yes, I agree. What I don't agree with is that people are using this to to determine how they feel about the war or any other actions we take. We bitch non-stop about all the negativity coming forth and when a good story gets told some cynic says "Don't buy it." C'mon. It's just a story about some good being done. That's all.

Posted by: Oyster at January 09, 2006 02:35 PM (osKlJ)

15 Which is why I'm going to follow it, and continue to post about it. Now for some real cynicism. There are roughly 280 million people in this country, of which Shannon makes up one. So who cares what he thinks anyway. Like the Sith Master repeatedly has said: Dude, it's just a blog.

Posted by: Vinnie at January 09, 2006 02:49 PM (Kr6/f)

16 All those terrorist attack casualties put together are less than the monthly violent deaths in your own country, monthly death toll being about 1/50 of yours. Fix your own problems before going crazy about the "horrible destructive forces" lurking in the desert. Terrorist problems were completely voluntary, your Saddam, your Bin Laden, your greed, your brainless urge to oppose freedom of everyone else, your fault.

Posted by: A Finn at January 10, 2006 03:27 AM (cWMi4)

17 Good point Oyster. Cynicism has its uses and its proper place, but I like the baby Noor story myself, although I'm not sure they were doing her a favor by saving her life, considering that she will likely never walk and may be retarded due to fluid on the brain. Through their acts of humanity, they've sentenced her to a miserable life. Like they say, the road to hell is paved with the best of intentions.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at January 10, 2006 12:15 PM (0yYS2)

18 Finn, go away. I didn't miss you while you were gone. There are plenty of moonbat blogs for you to go to and spout your ignorant opinions. Try Indymedia or Democratic Underground, they are perfect for moonbats with tin foil hats like you.

Posted by: jesusland joe at January 10, 2006 04:40 PM (rUyw4)

19 Tin foil hats intensify most frequencies reserved for government and military usage, despite their ability to weaken regular frequencies... Indymedia and Democratic Underground, I'll probably check those out, just that this blog has become a habit in moments of boredom and endless wrath towards unification of the world into a retarded western media&popularculture empire.

Posted by: A Finn at January 11, 2006 05:23 AM (cWMi4)

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January 07, 2006

Female American Journalist Kidnapped In Baghdad

Terrorists have kidnapped a female American journalist and killed her Iraqi translator:

ScotsmanÂ—According to Mohamadawi, the translator told police before he died that she had been kidnapped and that they had been heading to meet Adnan al-Dulaimi, head of the Sunni Arab Iraqi Accordance Front who lives in the Adel neighbourhood - dominated by Sunni Arabs and considered one of toughest in Baghdad.
According to Samir Najim, a guard at al-Dulaimi's office, three armed men in a red Opel car intercepted the journalist's car and shot the translator before taking her in their car and driving away. ...

The journalist's name hasn't been revealed.

Cross-posted at OpinionBug.com

Update (1/7/2005 12:16pm):

The identity of the kidnapped woman remains unconfirmed, but two sources indicate she is Jill Carroll, a correspondent of the Christian Science Monitor:

Sources:

Euro News [ Euro News has removed all references to Jill Carroll ]
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
La Repubblica

Hat tip: Free Republic

Update (1/9/2005 3:58pm):

The Sunday Times Online had a story yesterday in which they said Al-Qaeda had released a statement claiming responsibility for her kidnapping:

Times OnlineÂ—Attempts were being made last night to locate an American journalist who was kidnapped in Baghdad yesterday after a meeting with a senior Sunni politician. Her Iraqi translator was killed, writes Ali Rifat.
Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the kidnapping in a statement posted on the internet. ...

Jill, we're praying for your safe return.

Posted by: OpinionBug at 07:33 AM | Comments (18) | Add Comment
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1 A number from 2 to 9, no questions, I'll check tomorrow.

Posted by: A Finn at January 07, 2006 08:38 AM (lGolT)

2 Apparently she didn't get the memo - these people are crazy fanatics who accept the most ruthless indiscrimate violence directed at innocent men, women and children as completely legitimate - and anyone not with them are either infidels or heretics. I guess she wants to understand them. good luck.

Posted by: hondo at January 07, 2006 09:25 AM (3aakz)

3 If she's a euro-commie, she'll live. They're on the same side.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 07, 2006 09:35 AM (8e/V4)

4 Anti-American - yes. But the left walks a strange fineline with radical islamic fundamentalists. Beyond the first line they have nothing in common, except suppressed hatred and fear. One day, it will blow up in their faces - what is apparent is the left's fear and willingness to be intimidated by it. In an odd way - being anti-American is safe.

Posted by: hondo at January 07, 2006 09:46 AM (3aakz)

5 Note - typically the MSM and leftists would be tripping all over themselves to physically embrace and interview these guys - but this is not the case. They will do it only from afar - less the make a mistake like her.

Posted by: hondo at January 07, 2006 09:51 AM (3aakz)

6 It's extra-special news when a *female* journalist gets kidnapped, so that goes right out in front of the headline. I'm kinda jaded lately, so female journalists aren't high enough on my pity hierarchy to work me into a lather. Now, if she had been a developmentally disabled, blind, Jewish, HIV positive female journalist, that would have made my day, but the media let me down again. I feel so unmotivated.

Posted by: ShannonKW at January 07, 2006 10:04 AM (dT1MB)

7 Common sense would say that if one chose to travelling to a notoriously dangerous neighbourhood in a dangerous country, that necessary precautions would surely constitute more than just a translator - perhaps pay for armed body guards or an unmarked police escort or maybe just do the interview over the phone. Whatever the case, I hope she makes it out okay.

Posted by: Graeme at January 07, 2006 10:35 AM (xI1Fi)

8 I read this article last night at blackfive: http://www.blackfive.net/main/2006/01/cnn_despicable_.html#comments note this reference: When we were doing offensive operations out here, we had 25 plus reporters from CNN, USA Today, the NY Times, Time Magazine, among others. Now that the bombs aren't dropping and the cities have been stabilized... we had 1 reporter here for the elections. She is from the Christian Science Monitor. He was talking about elections, around the Syrian border. might not be referring to the same, however.

Posted by: dave at January 07, 2006 12:24 PM (CcXvt)

9 These female terrorist sympathizers seem to be deadly for the males involved. The poor driver killed. It was also the Intelligence Agent that was killed trying to ransome the horrid Italian communist journalist Sgreana. Of course, the Italians have handled this very maturely by deciding to charge the American soldier at the checkpoint instead of the cavalier communist whose antics led to the agent's death. If the journalist does not issue a sympathetic statement on behalf of her misunderstood captors, I apologize for being too harsh.

Posted by: Kate at January 07, 2006 01:20 PM (n6ufo)

10 She's American, not a communist European. The four peacekeepers are probably dead but I could be wrong.

Posted by: George Ramos at January 07, 2006 02:10 PM (5E0ex)

11 And yes, apparently she didn't get the "GET THE HELL OUT OF IRAQ" memo. We'll being seeing her in a hostage video in a few days. She's an American so she will be held for some political demand.

Posted by: George Ramos at January 07, 2006 02:13 PM (5E0ex)

12 She may be as anti-American as can be, but just the fact that she is American will probably get her killed. I hope she makes it out OK, but like I've said before, anyone walking around that country without a belt-fed machine gun pretty much deserves to be kidnapped simply out of principle. Darwin at work maybe?

Posted by: Jack's Smirking Revenge at January 08, 2006 01:18 AM (CtVG6)

13 Does anyone know the name of the translator who was murdered?

Posted by: byrd at January 10, 2006 03:06 PM (G8flx)

14 The Christian Science Monitor says his name is Allan Enwiyah; other sources say he is Alan John Ghazi.

Posted by: Tim at January 10, 2006 03:42 PM (5rYy9)

15 Shes crazy tring to make a report, while in middle of a battle zone! but she'll be missed when her deadline expires & gets killed. I wonder if they're going to have a video of her execution like they do the other american or other hostages?

Posted by: Jeremy at January 18, 2006 06:23 AM (ZqEK2)

16 Now is the time to Pray, Pray, Pray!

Posted by: Sue at January 19, 2006 04:23 PM (xzwzw)

17 It is time to Pray but also time to understand that what She did was for the common good and that should be for both American and Iraqi people! And as the people for common good I apeal to the hearts of those who have her. Please free her she is full of love and grace you can see it her face!

Posted by: Omyra at January 19, 2006 11:51 PM (O+jgl)

18 She is anti-American, she deserves it!!!

Posted by: Jay at January 23, 2006 12:54 AM (KgZHj)

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December 23, 2005

Italy Goes After U.S. Marine In Nicola Calipari Shooting

Italian prosecutors have launched an official investigation targeting a U.S. Marine for the shooting death of Nicola Calipari which it considers a Â“murder":

ANSAÂ—A United States marine has formally been placed under investigation here for the murder of an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq last March .
The Rome prosecutorÂ’s office identified the marine as Mario Lozano .
Intelligence officer Nicola Calipari was killed on March 4 when US troops manning a temporary roadblock opened fire on a car carrying him, another agent and a released hostage to Baghdad airport. . . .

State Department spokesman Sean McCormick today said that the Calipari case is considered Â“closedÂ” but he referred questions about legal actions to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Nicola Calipari was the Italian intelligence officer that negotiated Giuliana SgrenaÂ’s release from Iraqi terrorists back in March 2005. He was killed when the car transporting Giuliana Sgrena and himself failed to stop at a U.S. Military checkpoint and was fired upon. At the time, Italy had decided not to share its rescue plan with the United States and I believe that is what led to CalipariÂ’s tragic death, not a young Marine doing his job.

Cross-posted at OpinionBug.com

Posted by: OpinionBug at 11:19 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
Post contains 217 words, total size 2 kb.

1 I see the Eurotards are having no trouble reconciling being dhimmis and useful idiots at the same time. We should have let the Nazis have Europe.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 23, 2005 12:14 PM (0yYS2)

2 This is getting personal. I'll have more information after Christmas when I check in to the unit tues or Weds on WTF is going on here. Mario is home with his family decorating the tree - n' he ain't goin' nowhere!

Posted by: hondo at December 23, 2005 01:12 PM (3aakz)

3 BTW - HE'S NOT A MARINE! No offense Rod Stanton

Posted by: hondo at December 23, 2005 01:27 PM (3aakz)

4 It would be interesting to see them try to get him...

Posted by: CDR Salamander at December 23, 2005 04:48 PM (m64uD)

5 Yes, it would, but if I were him, I would not travel out of the US. That aside, where does this Italian court claim to get its jurisdiction over this case? Just curious.

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 23, 2005 07:23 PM (rUyw4)

6 Any country that tried to arrest him would have a major fight with the US on their hands. Plus does the American Service members Protection Act apply here. I would remind our Italian allies of this fact. Plus it is insulting having these idiots call a friendly fire incident a murder. This is their attempt to get compensation for the widow, not a cent.

Posted by: Kate at December 23, 2005 07:37 PM (C7pu/)

7 Agent Jones says that Jester Maximus' fiery mix of goatboys and knifeboys will be handed the keys to a fleet of GPS-tagged Maseratis, courtesy of the Italian taxpayer and under the unblinking aegis of the Architect.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 24, 2005 06:30 AM (AovCV)

8 What the hell is that stupid crap? I swear to God smith, you're the biggest fucking dumbass since greg, and if I find out that you're the one who posted that crap about me on the indymedia site, I will find you.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 24, 2005 10:23 AM (0yYS2)

9 A PR stunt in Italy to appease the left for "The Holiday They Dare not speak Its Name". Mario was completely cleared where it counted - and with Italian authorities too ... this is all Civil/political BS. Smith - I don't get it either - what are you - trippin' n' typin' now?

Posted by: hondo at December 24, 2005 12:14 PM (3aakz)

10 Who is Greg?

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 25, 2005 01:10 AM (moNXA)

11 Nobody

Posted by: hondo at December 25, 2005 12:33 PM (3aakz)

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December 20, 2005

Luuuuucy, You Got Some Splainin To Do

WTF?

BAGHDAD, Iraq Â— About 24 top former officials in Saddam Hussein's regime, including a biological weapons expert known as "Dr. Germ," have been released from jail...

Got me, I don't understand it either.

As far as deeming some of these people as no longer a security threat, you mean to tell me that "Dr. Germ" wouldn't be welcome to ply her trade in any number of Middle East Jew-hating dictatorships?

Posted by: Vinnie at 06:11 AM | Comments (37) | Add Comment
Post contains 85 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Well, here we go, back to the old Arab tradition of corruption, bribery, and betrayal. Arabs do not deserve to mingle with civilized people, or even live on the same planet.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 20, 2005 09:17 AM (0yYS2)

2 You act surprised.... You realize there were no WMD? You realize that John Lewis, the FBI's deputy assistant director for counterterrorism said in Senate testimony the biggest terrorist threats in the US were: 1) Animal Rights Activists 2) Environmental Activists Which certainly explains why we need to short circuit FISA don't it? listening to uncritical supporters of this administration reminds me of this old joke: Q. What do you say to a woman with two black eyes? A. Nothing. She obviously doesn't listen.

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at December 20, 2005 09:21 AM (wsdWU)

3 Wow, the moonbats are up early! Anyway, I'd be guessing that some of these persons are under close observation. The doesn't mean that they can't just slip away, but since these are scientists, not terrorists, they're likely to go where their services are needed. I doubt any one of them are the true "doctor evil". Background Noise, Do you even know what you're talking about or going off the playlist? What is known to have occurred was acts of data colection (the likes of which any self respecting telemarketer would be embarassed by) and wire tapping (not phone tapping) that took place between entities communicating internationally. (Yes, this is 100% legal even without a court order) Nothing else has been proven to my knowledge. Do you have some secret stash of information you're not sharing?

Posted by: Jeremy H. Bol at December 20, 2005 09:32 AM (A20i1)

4 Obviously, Background Noise is about 16 years old. Either that or he's a 50 year old 'hacker' living in his mother's basement off of Hot Pockets and Mountain Dew. They're the only ones with 'cool' names that use numbers or bastardized English in their handle. I'm only surprised that he didn't spell it 'noyz'. Dr. Germ's life isn't worth a plugged nickel walking down the streets of Baghdad. Justice will be served quietly and violently by the survivors if she sticks her head up out of the hole she'll be living in.

Posted by: slug at December 20, 2005 09:51 AM (wcNc2)

5 Don't feed the trolls. According to the article linked, some of them have left Iraq already.

Posted by: Vinnie at December 20, 2005 09:54 AM (Kr6/f)

6 Actually, I find this noisy idiot kind of amusing, because he's as stupid as greg, and there's none of the cut-n-paste crap. I need guys like this to remind me why killing liberals will be a humanitarian act when TSHTF.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 20, 2005 10:02 AM (0yYS2)

7 slug, I'm going with the 50 year old hacker. He may be John Ryan with a new name, since I have never seen the two post simultaneously. Irregardless, he has now become our resident troll.

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 20, 2005 10:03 AM (rUyw4)

8 As of this moment, I have been unable to get further information beyond the original story. This is an AP story whose source is AN UN-NAMED IRAQI LAWYER! Before accepting it lets get a little verification and some details Pllleeeeeaaassseee! Loved the NYT Iranian tanker with the ballets story too!

Posted by: hondo at December 20, 2005 10:05 AM (3aakz)

9 I thought you were leaving the land of the ignorant Background Noise. Can you fill in a little detail on your comment: You realize that John Lewis, the FBI's deputy assistant director for counterterrorism said in Senate testimony the biggest terrorist threats in the US were: 1) Animal Rights Activists 2) Environmental Activists How many people have they killed so far, and could you tell me how long they get to the three thousand people killed in September 11th. How people with a brainstem post comments like that, I have no clue.

Posted by: dave at December 20, 2005 10:09 AM (CcXvt)

10 Also Background, you might accept the current media status quo of no WMD in Iraq, I think most of the people with an idea of B/W don't think that was totally the truth either.

Posted by: dave at December 20, 2005 11:05 AM (CcXvt)

11 Pity him. He and the entire left's argument is totally dependent on whether this NSA program targeted American citizens domestically with no connection whats so ever with AQ-9/11 etc. And that's their problem - because otherwise the American people are gonna say - well duh! No legs - and this could get really comical.

Posted by: hondo at December 20, 2005 11:05 AM (3aakz)

12 I would guess that these scientists would remain unemployed for some time to come. The countries of the Middle East are already awash in bio and chemical weapons, so it's not like their expertise are desperately needed. With Iran uping the ante with nukes, nuclear experts are the guys who'll be in demand. The report says that some of them have already left the country. If I had to speculate as to where they'll end up, I'd say either London or Paris.

Posted by: Graeme at December 20, 2005 11:15 AM (F8fK2)

13 I'm not accepting the story as true without further information.

Posted by: hondo at December 20, 2005 11:17 AM (3aakz)

14 Graeme hit the nail on the head, Dr. Germ will probably have a two bedroom council house, and a dole check from the U.K Government within the week.

Posted by: dave at December 20, 2005 11:22 AM (CcXvt)

15 You guys do realize this story has since "disapeared". No other outlet followed up and picked it up either ... Given the proported subject matter, makes ya think - huh?

Posted by: hondo at December 20, 2005 12:13 PM (3aakz)

16 Has anyone read this story on LGF: BEIRUT - Hezbollah member Mohammed Ali Hamadi has returned to Lebanon after being secretly released in Germany, where he was serving a life sentence for the 1985 hijacking of a TWA jetliner and killing of a US navy diver, Hezbollah and Lebanese security sources said Tuesday. ... Commentators have speculated that Hamadi’s release may be connected to the freeing Sunday of German hostage Susanne Osthoff in Iraq. German authorities had already tried to use Hamadi as a bargaining chip in the late 1980s to secure the release of German hostages in Lebanon. wow?

Posted by: dave at December 20, 2005 12:19 PM (CcXvt)

17 Yes - and it does look like a trade.

Posted by: hondo at December 20, 2005 01:30 PM (3aakz)

18 Dave, You're right.... it's clear that you folks just don't believe or care that the crowd you act as cheerleaders for has been and will continue to lie to you. Instead of wrapping your heads around that factoid, you protect your fragile little world with invective and hyperbole for anyone who dares to point out stuff that should be glaringly obvious to you... you're being played for suckers. This NSA thing is only the latest in a series of problems. You honestly think Poindexter shut down TIA because it was of questionable legality? If you believe that, you probably think OJ and Michael Jackson are innocent too. You want to reinforce each other's paranoid delusions go ahead... but you come across like battered housewives who keep making excuses for their drunk husband who beats the crap out them. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming already in progress.

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at December 20, 2005 02:42 PM (wsdWU)

19 1) nowhere near topic 2) battered housewife/drunk husband???? That's supposed to be some kind of definitive insult? 3) .... already in progress. Thank you

Posted by: hondo at December 20, 2005 02:47 PM (3aakz)

20 background: Whenever you can dissect my points in a coherent manner, please, let me know. If I wanted to hear babble; I would just buy a wino a jug of rum.

Posted by: dave at December 20, 2005 02:48 PM (CcXvt)

21 "Graeme hit the nail on the head, Dr. Germ will probably have a two bedroom council house, and a dole check from the U.K Government within the week" I partially agree but I'm saying she had better not stick her head out in public for very long. There are still many in Iraq who are going to want her popped. People like her who walk around freely don't generally have a long lifespan no matter where they live. Arafat only lived as long as he did because Israel didn't want to make a martyr out of him. Dr. Germ isn't exactly the voice of the people and a fine Iraqi citizen would love to make a hero out of himself. However, I don't think she'll wind up in the UK after terrorists hit their busses and a biological attack against the Underground was thwarted. I think France, Spain, or one of the other apologist nations will set her up with a nice retirement package.

Posted by: slug at December 20, 2005 02:49 PM (wcNc2)

22 slug As far as I can tell, the story was bogus - and designed to make the new Iraqi Gov, the US military, the Administration and the whole war effort look stupid. This happens often enough with current "reporting". My question is " WTF! Why do some of you guys fall for this shit?"

Posted by: hondo at December 20, 2005 02:55 PM (3aakz)

23 hondo... since you asked for the name of the lawyer.... Badee Izzat Aref And count on the story to get lots of play with a rebound when Tariq Aziz is released in the next couple of weeks. Of course why believe anything that doesn't come from the mouth of US military right? Whassat..... who? Lieutenant Colonel Barry Johnson ooh... he said what? He said "the prisoners, considered senior members of the administration overthrown by US forces in 2003, posed no threat to security, were neither charged with crimes nor material witnesses and had no intelligence value. " Still don't think you were lied to?

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at December 20, 2005 03:05 PM (wsdWU)

24 Badee I know Aziz - alleged release Details are slowly trickling out - what its starting to look like is "a few deals are being cut - business as usual". You doubt some kind of under the table dealin' going on? Then - feel free to enlighten me why their "quiet" release and removal from country.

Posted by: hondo at December 20, 2005 03:36 PM (3aakz)

25 I should have invested in Reynolds Aluminum and ALCOA long ago, because idiots like greg and noisy must spend hundreds of dollars a month on the stuff. Hey noise, you're so stupid it's funny. Say something else.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 20, 2005 03:39 PM (0yYS2)

26 Curious ... If they surprisingly show up at Saddam and others trials as State's witnesses ... ... and start telling stories of life under Saddam thru other venues ... Will you then dismiss them as CIA dupes?

Posted by: hondo at December 20, 2005 03:42 PM (3aakz)

27 I think BG is confused. There are plenty of sites that criticize Bush and the military from dawn to dusk, 24/7. We say here what we want, when we want, and do not have to answer to BG or any of his ilk. I've seen plenty of criticism of Bush and others here, so BG is wrong, nobody that I know on this site follows anyone lockstep. No, there are more independent thinkers here than just about anywhere, that's why I comment here. Now, back on topic, I think I'll wait and see how this one plays out. The release of these people wouldn't surprise me. Nothing does, even when BG criticizes the military for lying about something that he obviously agrees with. He's a stinker.

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 20, 2005 03:49 PM (rUyw4)

28 hondo, Care to speculate who BG is under the pay of?

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 20, 2005 04:17 PM (rUyw4)

29 BG is self-deployed (intentional misspell if he's dense) This story is breaking very slowly under the radar - the first report was an AP stringer dispatch which triggered the thread topic. I know how stringers work (especially the AP) so I didn't accept it at face value without further verification. It appears now to be true. The way the AP presented it & BG read it (and sadly - others here interpreted) was with an automatic negative spin ... actually a kneejerk reaction depending on your persuasion. BG & his ink want this to be an embarrassment for the war and the administration - but as of now I don't see how they can stretch that out of this. They will try though. BG and his like believe the Iraqi government is nothing more than a puppet of the US and will do as it is told with real power held in Washington - So why then did the US government release these prisoners? So to embarrass themselves????? There is a deal going on here - strictly business - don't know any particulars ... to read it any other way would be naive and foolish. BG is welcome to it.

Posted by: hondo at December 20, 2005 04:51 PM (3aakz)

30 I don't need to want this to be anything... fact is that Aziz will NOT be testifying against Saddam, that the guy who headed their supposed nuclear program ....Humam Abd al-Khaliq? He was the guy who surrendered with camera and media present so there was no doubt he came in willingly and without any resistance. Anyway...he will probably be released soon too. So much for mushroom clouds, nuclear weapons programs, and smoking guns. Not only aren't they charging these people with crimes alleged by Wolfie, Rummy, Bush & Co.... these guys aren't even Material Witnesses Of course, Rummy knew where the WMD were. When Wolfie gets called on his obvious bogus claims, he shrugs and says "I don't have to explain anything." You guys want to pretend you weren't lied to fine. If it makes you feel better to call me names, fine. But spare me the crocodile tears for the men and women who have been thrown into that meat grinder while you cheered.

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at December 20, 2005 05:15 PM (wsdWU)

31 So, why were they released BG?

Posted by: hondo at December 20, 2005 05:45 PM (3aakz)

32 lol Lefties like BG think that Iraq had no B/W programs, because they get their experience from hollywood movies like "The Rock", He probably thinks WMD have a big Skull & Crossbones on them too (along with "Handle with care" in Arabic.

Posted by: dave at December 20, 2005 06:13 PM (CcXvt)

33 BG Bad intel? Hey, I heard of some real dozzies in the past. Not the first time and not the last. Multiple reasons actually given for Iraq - I can live with it. Don't recall calling you any names - I typically tend to deliberately avoid that - not my style. Last part - aaaahhhhh the soldiers ... Thanks to the volunteer military system, which we thankfully returned to 30 years ago, the current military (from generals to Privates) is a reflection of our culture - or in this case - our cultural divide or some would say cultural war. The rank and file are (to say lightly) are massively alien to you and that segment of the population you represent. Your concern for them is feigned whether war or peacetime - I know it and they know it. They are a faceless entity to you, to be used as a tool in your evergoing agitprop. Even Iraq itself is tool to you - the "issue of the day" in a wide arcing drama of cultural performance art. I do cry for soldiers - 'cause I do know them - as my friends, family, and now (after 28 years) as my sons and daughters. They have faces, phone numbers, addresses, hobbies, kids, dead batteries in winter, need a few bucks at the end of the month, etc. etc. don't cry for us BG you are a foreigner in your own land We simply share the same borders

Posted by: hondo at December 20, 2005 06:52 PM (3aakz)

34 BG may be a foreigner period. I doubt he was born in the US. Perhaps so, but as hondo says, a stranger in a strange land.

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 20, 2005 08:18 PM (rUyw4)

35 hondo, my comment re epithets was more a general one than particularly directed at you... The responses are right there on the page (unless Howie feels compelled to sanitize things) so you don't have to take my word for it... look at what people are writing in "response" to what I write. Improbus is so wounded the only thing he can think of in response is to shoot me in the head...JC can't reply to what I say so he translates it into "Libspeak" props up a straw man, knocks it down and does a happy dance. jj wanders off into delusional paranoid musings about who/what/where/how I am and forgets the topic at hand.... greyrooster just throws feces around...Oyster pouts.... Howie deletes stuff that offends him or locks people out....Rusty denies his own writings.... and you think I'm crying for you? c'mon.... how much projection can one joint handle? All in all a pretty sorry response to a single guy who wanders in and not only provides documentation when challenged, but hasn't said anything about you guys being the enemy. I realize why the regulars here are so angry.... you are afraid. You are afraid of what you don't know. You are afraid you are wrong. You are afraid of losing whatever it is that you think you have. When people lash out in blind anger they are terrified. Ever tried to rescue someone who thought they were drowning? Sometimes you have to punch the motherfucker in the face. The difference here is as much as folks flail... I don't have to worry about being pulled down with you. I don't expect you to believe this but for the record the soldiers are not nameless or faceless to me. There's plenty of military service in my family. I've got family buried at Arlington. I know people deployed. People with kids deployed. I know a divorced mom who lost her only child a few weeks before Thanksgiving in 2003. How do you set that table? I learned a friend just sent her 18 year old off to the Army. He wants to be Special Forces. There's plenty of military service in that family. So far there are 14 left of the original 50. I think he has even odds to be one of the last 4 or 5 to get through. He is ready. His dads a doc. He don't worry about his son being killed. He knows it could be worse. He could be maimed. I look at him and wonder how such a beautiful boy would find the courage to walk into a Starbucks missing an ear and so badly burned that little children would cry? I've seen that. Who do you feel worse for in that situation? The kid? Her parents? The guy? Or the girl behind the counter whose shaking so bad they have to help her at the register? It took me awhile, but I learned the trick is you have to look past the disfigured face, to really make eye contact and relate to the person still inside. Then all the scars become a kind of mask they are wearing, but it's not who they are. Sometimes there is a moment when both of you forget about the scars. I know more about mechanical limbs than I ever wanted to know. Those new German models with the computer chips so the limbs swing more naturally and save you 80% of the stress of standing up... But don't kid yourself. I'm not crying for you. I don't have that much compassion. That's what makes the CPT 4 better men than me. They have that compassion. Compassion for people who blindly follow leaders regardless of the damage they do to themselves and everyone around them in the process. Listening to the denizens of this place has been helpful to me. I am beginning to understand what Tom Fox was talking about when he said he wanted to reach a place "beyond anger and fear"... It's hard work. But I think it's the only way we get out of this alive. Finally, to answer your most recent question: I think the reason they are releasing the high profile detainees is simply this: They don't have anything to charge them with. And if that is not a clue that you were lied to by the people who KNEW where the stuff was.... then you are no different than the battered spouse who pretends the guy beating the crap out her really cares for her, he just doesn't know how to show it. 10-7

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at December 20, 2005 11:36 PM (wsdWU)

36 Ah BG! An evil government would never "acknowledge" a mistake. It would simple leave them in prison, "arrange evidence", or even ... an accident. It would not (dare say) quietly "slip them out of the country" - a country where many of their fellow citizens would just love to talk to them and give them presents like a tire necklace. No one here is afraid - angry - Yes! So am I - we all manifest our anger differently though. I know the left all too well! Absorbed in self-examination of their own fears and pathos - personalizing the "dangers" around them - eager to emote as a ritual requirement. You define yourself by your fears - and have a need to believe that if you are afraid then others who disagree with you must be terrified. They are not - sorry. Your tone alternates and waivers. If it is an acknowledgement from me - or a hug you seek - it will not be forthcoming. Oyster pouts?????

Posted by: hondo at December 21, 2005 12:22 AM (3aakz)

37 Sorry, email full, comments closed

Posted by: Vinnie at December 21, 2005 12:40 AM (Kr6/f)

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December 19, 2005

New CSIS Report on the Iraq War

Tony Cordesman, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies has a new report on the Iraq War (h/t: Dan, at WoC). Some key excerpts:

The insurgency so far lacks any major foreign support other than limited amounts of money, weapons, and foreign supporters. It does not have the support of most Shi'ites and Kurds, who make up some 70-80% of the population. If Iraqi forces become effective in large numbers, if the Iraqi government demonstrates that its success means the phase out of Coalition forces, and if the Iraqi government remains inclusive in dealing with Sunnis willing to come over to its side, the insurgency should be defeated over time -- although some cadres could then operate as diehards at the terrorist level for a decade or more.

Apparently he didn't get the memo about the conflict being unwinnable, but he does genuflect in that general direction:

To succeed, the US must plan for failure as well as success. It must see the development or escalation of insurgency as a serious risk in any contingency were (sic) it is possible, and take preventive and ongoing steps to prevent or limit it. This is an essential aspect of war planning and no Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, service chief, or unified and specified commander can be excused for failing to plan and act in this area. Responsibility begins directly at the top, and failures at any other level pale to insignificance by comparison.

Well I don't have the endowments of Cordesman, but let me offer a few observations. First, one must assume that he's not suggesting we "plan to fail," although some will probably accuse him of that. Rather, what he suggests is that our war planning is too infused with "happy talk," and is therefore not realistic about the capabilities of this enemy. Although I have a great deal of confidence in our military, it's possible that Cordesman is right and we aren't taking the threat of "failure" seriously enough. Which raises the next issue.

There's a lot of difference between "planning for failure" in the sense of having contingencies should Iraq, or the Ummah, descend into civil war, and addressing the specific set of conditions that could lead to civil war. Conflating the two is like saying that knowing what you intend to do after the divorce is the same as dealing with the marital difficulties that could lead to divorce. Cordesman seems to imply the second meaning, but the first is also important. After all, Victor Davis Hanson doesn't think a civil war in the Middle East necessarily the worst that could happen. And if Hanson is right then what we ought to consider is what role we might play in such a war, since the consequences are probably not something we could just afford to ignore. Whether or not we "fail" in that sense isn't entirely up to us. The onus rests partly on the Iraqis.

But finally, the phrase "planning for failure" just doesn't strike this reader as appropriate to war strategy or tactics. I'm fairly certain that Eisenhower considering Project Overlord, and Grant when he made the right turn to steal a march on Lee, were both fully cognizant of the risks and contingencies involved. But I'm also pretty sure they never used the phrase "planning for failure" to describe how they dealt with those contingencies. The words don't seem to emerge from the lexicon of military planning, but from the world of diplomacy. And if we're in a war then diplomacy has already failed in the first instance. So what we're really talking about is not "failure" but cascading failures, and whether the cascade can ultimately be halted before reaching the third conjecture.

And that's the whole point behind going into Iraq in the first place. The next plateau in the cascade would be a civil war, but even that's not as bad as it gets.

[Update: The link to Three Conjectures has been corrected. Apparently the old links I had to that series have been degraded as a result of some sort of Blogger glitch.]

Posted by: Demosophist at 11:34 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
Post contains 667 words, total size 5 kb.

1 We failed ourselves when we learned that the reasons congress gave GW the power to use force were not as given, and we did not demand of our congressional leaders that they stop the war in Iraq at once. Now we and our grandchildren will pay for this inhumane act.

Posted by: Clyde Preston at December 19, 2005 06:11 PM (QQwQt)

2 And you and your future grandchildren were just fine with the inhumane Saddam Hussein?

Posted by: hondo at December 19, 2005 06:27 PM (3aakz)

3 I am surely guilty of playing fast and loose with rhetoric. It offers another perspective as an exercise at least. Iraq War: A "controlled" civil war from day one imo. Hiding in plain sight is a historically unique War. Unique, at the very least, because another superpower is not organized and involved. In the world's most volatile region a Superpower/Coalition attacked an agressive front by creating Democracy (and free markets) in a violently ruled country. The knowledge of three factions grabbing at a post-invasion power vacuum in Iraq could not have been overlooked by the US/Coalition. Let's give the big monkeys some credit! /allusion /sarcasim NEXT: To me it is utterly irrelevant what rhetoric justified cause for War. There are other obvious reasons for a power move in the postsoviet era; Just one is MidEast regional stability which pertains to all industry worldwide fueled by oil. And that is basically "ALL" industry. Who else has the power to do such? The Russian Soviets were a control on some of these now active Muslim populations. It is the amoral struggle for power which is eternal and always present in anything human from the general to the specific. NEXT: Why question the possibility of a civil war in Iraq when the Arab/Persian/Muslim locals constantly dream of destroying Israel. A full blown civil war in Iraq with heavy support from neighboring states would cost the MidEast nations. They know the USA will wear them down. So my guess is that they would attack Israel, as many times before, to maintain their totalitarian states before they would they would ever want to fuel a severe civil war in Iraq. Of course the MSM agitprop could spin any reality into a different perspective. Proof: The MSM has never called the Iraq War a controlled civil war even though most of the attacks in Iraq are sectarian. NOTE: By the above remarks I am not discounting the long term reality of attacks in Iraq. Though any minute now the number of bomber deaths will be less than the car crash death rate just as everywhere else in the world.

Posted by: postsoviet at December 19, 2005 11:39 PM (kgN3A)

4 I forgot to mention the Kurdish region which probably has a lower crime rate than South Centrral LosAngeles or Camden New Jersey. Turkey is afraid that the Kurds will attack them. Why, relatively speaking, is that funny when we're talking about civil war in Iraq...?

Posted by: postsoviet at December 19, 2005 11:49 PM (kgN3A)

5 Agent Jones had the plan: DRAFT NOW!! Flood Iraq with 500,000 American Troops, make an alliance with the Baathists, take down the terrorists and then deal with panty-head Jihadidad.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 20, 2005 05:58 AM (7pPFo)

6 Hey Clyde, just so you know; you're an idiot, and probably should seek help, because you're stupid enough to be a danger to society.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 20, 2005 09:23 AM (0yYS2)

7 FRANCE IS WORST! THEN ARAB/GAZA! THEN MALASIA! I ALSO FORGOT to mention that the Kurdish Region probably has a lower crime rate than FRANCE!!! DAMN! Fell into that trap of disserve to the Nation by rhetoric. I should check the stats on those places 'cause the rates are probably actually down. Too Much Lib Media!

Posted by: postsoviet at December 20, 2005 01:56 PM (iO4Bq)

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December 15, 2005

Q&A Time

Q: How does a Jew respond to seeing his people murdered routinely by Arab Muslims?

A: Click to find out.

That boy's not naive. He knows that in order for Israel to be at peace, first the surrounding nations need to be at peace with themselves.

Getting Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, Turkomen, Assyrians, et.al. to find common cause is a first step to getting them to realize that Israel is not the enemy.

Getting them to realize that "we are endowed by our Creator, with certain inalienable rights...that all men are created equal" would do wonders for the Middle East.

Call me an optimist, but I see the day when Iraqi diplomats stand up in the U.N. to denounce the constant criticism of Israel in that body.

After today, it could happen.

[personal note: I'm sick of off-topic comments by everyone showing up in my email. Stick to the subject or STFU]

Posted by: Vinnie at 11:59 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Whats to say here? Ok. It would be nice if everyone in the middle east got along. Of course, we really know that it will not happen as long as Islam says I kill you in the name of God. A cover up for I kill you for other reasons. Land, power, wealth, jealousy, race etc:

Posted by: greyrooster at December 16, 2005 04:03 AM (kkjRj)

2 >>>How does a Jew respond to seeing his people murdered routinely by Arab Muslims? That depends. Is he a Leftwing Jew? In which case he'll wring his hands and blame it on christian evangelicals.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at December 16, 2005 08:51 AM (8e/V4)

3 Agent Brown says they have been killing each other for three thousand years, and a purple finger will stop it?

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 16, 2005 06:43 PM (oC6D4)

4 Hey agent from S.T.U.P.I.D., all of humanity have been killing one another for countless millenia for reasons various and sundry, and we occasionally decide to stop killing one another for as many reasons, so yes, to put it in terms childish enough for you to understand, a purple finger just might actually do it.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 16, 2005 07:17 PM (0yYS2)

5 Agent Smith says to Improbulus, the original program your species rejected, so this one has all the grotesqueries you wanted so bad. Keep pulling purple fingers in tight quarters and smell the air quality.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 17, 2005 03:17 AM (oC6D4)

6 Thanks for the shout-out. My next hope is that the US will someday allow Israel to aggressively pursue its foes to the same degree that the US does. Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,59711,00.html): Tuesday, August 06, 2002 WASHINGTON Â— The turnover of territory from Israel to the Palestinian Authority wonÂ’t do anything to improve security, according to the U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. ThatÂ’s because the Palestinian Authority is involved with terrorist activities , Rumsfeld said during a Â“Town HallÂ” meeting with Pentagon civilian and military workers. Â“There is no question but that the Palestinian Authority has been involved with terrorist activities,Â” Rumsfeld said, adding that Israel canÂ’t turn over territory to Â“an entity that has a track recordÂ” like the Palestinian Authority. Rumsfeld also did not call on Israel to abandon Jewish settlements , as has been a provision of most of the peace plans emerging, including one from the Bush administration. The West Bank and Gaza were seized during the 1967 Middle East War in which Egypt, Jordan and Syria sided against the Jewish state. Israel won, and U.N. resolutions since then have called for a return to pre-war borders. Â“My feelings about the so-called occupied territories are that there was a war,Â” Rumsfeld said. Â“Israel urged neighboring countries not to get involved in it once it started. They all jumped in and they lost a lot of real estate to Israel because Israel prevailed in the conflict.Â” Rumsfeld said that Israel repeatedly has offered to pull back but Â“at no point has it been agreed upon by the other sideÂ…Â” Â“It seems to me, focusing on settlements at the present time misses the point,Â” he said. Â“The real point is to get an effective interlocutor. The real point is to get a condition so that you can have a peace agreement. Why are we acting in league with Condhimmi Rice and the Saudi-pensioned State Department instead of Rummy??? Rummy-Hanson '08! There is a policy that the US should say clearly: wear the bandana or wave the banner of Hamas, Islamic Jihad or the like and you choose to be framed by a crosshaired scope and that hiding behind civilians puts the civilian death on the heads of those who used them NOW and FOREVER.

Posted by: Aaron's cc: at December 17, 2005 10:06 PM (ov6Vw)

7 shaking in my boots

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at December 20, 2005 10:48 PM (8e/V4)

8 shaking in my boots

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at December 20, 2005 10:50 PM (8e/V4)

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It's Time

Our soldiers have sacrificed life and limb. Our citizens have traveled thousands of miles away from family to pitch in. You, me, and every other tax-paying American have spent our hard-earned money.

The polls are open in Iraq.

Don't let us down.

The Sandcrawler's own Dread Pundit Popeye's Nemesis is on it.

I thought I saw something else on this site that said someone in Iraq might be covering it, but that might just be my imagination.

My fellow 'droid hustlers are free to update and bump this post throughout the day as election news comes out, if they wish.

Updated by Howie:

Surprise Surprise Surprise!!!!!

IraqiÂ’s are voting their asses off. Wait a minute could this be Â“successÂ”? Nah nyay nya nya nya!!!!

Iowahawk has another of his "Live with the Zarkman" interviews direct from Iraq.

A few other links below the break for those of us basking in the glow of success.

more...

Posted by: Vinnie at 01:20 PM | Comments (22) | Add Comment
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1 Agent Brown says most of America hasn't pitched in enough, start the draft now and join the battle for Iraqi Freedom!

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 15, 2005 05:28 AM (n1vAy)

2 No Draft! In fact, lets end finally again Registration! No forced conscription!

Posted by: hondo at December 15, 2005 09:36 AM (3aakz)

3 The large percentage of idiots and cowards you get in the draft far outweighs any advantage in numbers.

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 15, 2005 10:07 AM (rUyw4)

4 Our veterans of Vietnam and Korea and WWII appreciate your views joe

Posted by: john Ryan at December 15, 2005 10:56 AM (ads7K)

5 Draftees have only ever fought at all because they knew they'd be stood up against a wall and shot, or spend half their lives in prison if they didn't serve. Army studies in WW2, Korea, and Vietnam show that only about 10% of any unit fought during any battle, excepting notably the all-volunteer units such as the Airborne, etc.. And old WW2 vet once told me that he, as a squad leader, had personally executed a coward, which is as it should be. You fight with your brothers, or you die. This isn't to say that some draftees didn't fight, quite the contrary, many did, and earned honors, but most didn't want to be there, and just tried not to get killed. Any day, any battle, I'll take one man who wants to be there, rather than a hundred who don't. If someone doesn't have the balls to volunteer, I don't want them to burden me with their presence.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 15, 2005 11:02 AM (0yYS2)

6 "veterans of Vietnam, Korea & WW2 ..." ????? Do you realise John that volunteers made of a big portion (and the majority in some cases) in those conflicts? Do you know that draftees were disportionally (significantly) represented in disciplinary actions, AWOLS, desertions, crimes etc. There is a myth surrounding draftees that came out of WW2 - most were OK both others .... People like Studs Turkel helped build it - and glossed over the problems.

Posted by: hondo at December 15, 2005 12:35 PM (3aakz)

7 I can't believe Agent Smith started a thread that people are taking seriously.

Posted by: Jester at December 15, 2005 01:43 PM (wBDaS)

8 Oh God! Your right!

Posted by: hondo at December 15, 2005 01:59 PM (3aakz)

9 John Ryan, Why do you want to be a troll? You know damn well that things have changed since WWII. And yes, just like my father volunteered to go to Korea, MOST WWII soldiers volunteered to go to that war. You can't be as stupid as you seem. I personally think you are a liberal troll. My observation, but I think several others here have observed the same thing.

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 15, 2005 03:30 PM (rUyw4)

10 Yes, JJ, I think he is as stupid as he seems.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 15, 2005 04:13 PM (0yYS2)

11 I'm sure you guys have seen on the news channels that this election is very different from the last two, the sunnis are participating, voting stations are being open for extra time, less blood and mayhem, even some insurgents are encouraging people to vote, some of them are even protecting polling booths. It seems George Bush's 'stay the course' is paying off big time, even his opponents are admitting it. watch the death throes of alqaeda. Thanks to the US Soldiers, Americans and their 'spine of tempered steel' president.

Posted by: MathewK at December 15, 2005 05:33 PM (pVHqF)

12 It was the draftees who were most at risk in Vietnam. They were the ones that bore the brunt of the fighting. Most people who volunteered for 3 years were not placed in infantry units. You are entitled to your own opinion about their performance while there. "Troll" perhaps. cheerleader no. Did my designation troll come from the post about how much money was lost on the movie The Alamo ? I apologize, I know people are often emotional about historic icons. About 9 million men served in the Armed Forces 1965-72 about 1/3 went to Vietnam. Of those that went only about 12% were combat veterans. 10% Fighting 90% in the rear with the beer. Sometimes it seems from war stories that the ratio should be reversed. http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/2004217.asp

Posted by: john Ryan at December 15, 2005 07:51 PM (ads7K)

13 1965? I know the routine and motive for choice of date. Its 1961 and no wishful thinking or faded memory is ever going to change that. Combat units had a very high percentage of volunteers. Its a cultural thing you probably can't understand or comprehend that. Sorry, draftees were not the most at risk or bore the brunt of the fighting - but that is part of the mythology isn't it - along with things like higher percentage of minorities and poor. There are others some here are familiar with. Where have I heard this all before? Oh, force structure and distribution - best to leave what you don't understand alone. I'm opposed to a draft - so have others here stated - but you? - what? You want it both ways don't you - like Rangel huh - idolize it on one hand so you can attack it and the war on the other. Sorry John - no luck today.

Posted by: hondo at December 15, 2005 09:05 PM (3aakz)

14 Hey John, maybe you should tell my neigbor, the disabled veteran who volunteered for the Army, the Infantry, and Vietnam that he didn't serve. Moron.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 15, 2005 09:08 PM (0yYS2)

15 maxie Go to rusty's haiko thread and pick up your present before Goggle deep six's it!

Posted by: hondo at December 15, 2005 09:22 PM (3aakz)

16 IM & Joe: At last something we disagree on. The value of the draft. We are in totally opposite corners. Do all military members want to fight? Or did they join for a job? Think back to your highschool and college days. Did the best of your class join the military? I worked for the military for many years. My wife retired last July after thirty years as a military officer. My son is a Capt. in the Marine Corps. I'm a ex Marine, both enlisted and Officer. My father was killed in 1943 as a pilot in the Army Air Corps. I know the military. I know them during peace time and war time. To me they are (1) Better during wartime. The Officers tend to spend more time on other things besides getting promoted. (2) In serious conflict, our standing military allways gets its ass kicked until the draft kicks in. (Revolutionary war, war of 1812, WW1, WW2, Korea. Think about Pearl Harbour, Kasserine Pass, etc: Take a walk around Keesler Air Force Base as I did the other day. Unmarried black women with 3 out of wedlock kids, dressed in boots and fatigues do not make for a winner. The draft gets mainstream America into the fray. And mainstream America cannot be beat in anything it gets serious about. Besides, I take particular delite in seeing a liberal democrat shipping out with full pack. They get to do their part to ensure that the wonderful lifestyle we have here continues on. If we was to lose, what would they have to complain about. They become better citizens after getting up close and comfortable with what it takes keep it going.

Posted by: greyrooster at December 16, 2005 07:25 AM (kkjRj)

17 Greyrooster has a point. I'm a grandmother who has not served, but my family comes from a long line of men who have - Army, Air Force (my dad) and Marines - all the way back to the Revolutionary War. Some enlisted and others were drafted, yet, they all feel they learned a profound respect for what our country stands for, which they may not have without knowing what it is to serve proudly with their brothers. Hell, even my husband served willingly, not drafted, and he's an Italian citizen. He is very proud of his service and loves America above his own Italy. That's why it absolutely disgusts me to see and hear natural American citizens denigrate our country.

Posted by: Oyster at December 16, 2005 08:12 AM (YudAC)

18 Our first draft came a couple of years into the Civil War in the North. Prior to that, we still had significant force superiority but were getting the crap kicked out of us by the South. The response of some was forced conscription for even more manpower in what appeared to be a losing effort. The true reality however was leadership in the field - when McClellan and his cronies were dumped everything changed - and the draft had little to do with it. The draft was haphazardly enforced and had numerous "problems". Much of what people know about the draft comes from Vietnam and the myths surrounding WW2. you would be surprised at the reality of it.

Posted by: hondo at December 16, 2005 09:41 AM (3aakz)

19 Wow, what a commotion! What I intended to convey was this. Right now, in this war, we do not need the draft, and if we had it, I believe a large number, but not neccessarity the majority of people drafted, would not have the motivation we need in this particular conflict. I believe we would capture a large number of drug users and unmotivated individuals in a draft. I also believe that the draft itself would cause a large number of people to turn against the war effort. And that's exactly the reason people like John Ryan and others of his ilk would like to see a draft. In the case of a WWII type conflict there is no question the draft would be neccessary. I hope I clarified my original statement, but frankly, I didn't think that would be neccessary here, but I did forget about John Ryan. He is easy to forget.

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 16, 2005 10:19 AM (rUyw4)

20 Guess Mr Smith won by successfully steering everyone of topic. Point Smith.

Posted by: hondo at December 16, 2005 03:21 PM (3aakz)

21 I don't disagree with your Rooster, I just happen to see things differently. I think liberals should be the first to be drafted and sent to the front as cannon fodder, which is exactly what they're good for, but if faced with the choice of ten volunteers or a hundred draftees, I know who I would choose to stand with me. Any man that has to be coerced into fighting is a gutless wretch in the first place.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 16, 2005 03:48 PM (0yYS2)

22 Agent Smith agrees with Greyrooster that our military needs to stop trying to fight this war with one hand tied around our balls. The draft will pump up the ranks with hundreds of thousands of red-blooded American troops are going to go over there to find those IED planting sons-of-bitches and clean those fucker terrorists' clocks once and for all. It is payback time.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 16, 2005 11:44 PM (oC6D4)

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On Media Differences

A great day, with all this election business in Iraq. Historical, some would say. Yea, nearly all headlines talk about the historic-ness (yes, I just made that a word). But a few news outlets have a curious phrasing in their stories...

"...the first full-term parliament since Saddam HusseinÂ’s ouster..."

Um, can we, like, not count anything during the Hussein era as democratic? Hell, Nazi Germany had a full-term parliament throughout the war. Doesn't mean it was comparable to a truly elected body. Only Fox News seemed to have the right idea to include this clarification (though they also include the stock phrase from before):

"Some Iraqis said Thursday's vote was a symbolic gesture of democracy that had been suppressed for years under the brutal rule of Saddam Hussein."

Because, no matter what some in the media think, this does NOT count as democracy. Then again, this might explain a lot of why the media cannot see any progress in Iraq -- once again, they have no idea what to look for.

Posted by: wineaholic at 09:24 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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December 11, 2005

Iranian Militants Abducted in Iraq

From a CENTCOM press release:

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Two members of the PeopleÂ’s Mojahedin of Iran, Hossein Pouyan and Mohammad-Ali Zahedi from the City of Ashraf, were reported to authorities as abducted on Aug. 4 in eastern Baghdad while on a routine logistics trip. The residents of Camp Ashraf have been considered protected persons under the fourth Geneva Convention since June 2004.
Upon receiving reports of the abduction, Multi-National Force - Iraq requested that the Iraqi Police investigate the incident and is assisting in attempts to locate the missing individuals.
MNF-I requests that anyone in possession of information on the whereabouts of these two individuals to contact the Iraqi Police or MNF-I at the email address below.

The PMOI, also know as Mujahedin-e Khalq, is a little-known group, apparently welcomed into Iraq by the Saddam Hussein regime during its war with Iran. PMOI was designated as a "terrorist organization" by the US State Department in 1997, and the organization's UK-based media arm has been fighting to get the designation changed.

No reason has been given for the long delay in reporting the abductions.

Also posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto.

Posted by: Bluto at 01:32 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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December 09, 2005

You Won't See The Sunni Clerics On This One, Either

Karim Salam.

You can debate all you want as to whether this hostage or that deserved their fate, we don't think any of them deserve it, unless it can be conclusively proven that it was staged.

But I dare anyone to defend this.

Do it. I dare you to justify the kidnapping of an 8 year old boy.

Go ahead, try it. Those of you who think the CPT people are getting their just due, tell me how this boy is getting his. Those of you who scream Bush lied people died, you tell me how someone who would kidnap an 8 year old boy is a "freedom fighter" or a "minuteman."

Go ahead, I f'ing dare you.

Posted by: Vinnie at 08:15 PM | Comments (38) | Add Comment
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1 Those of you who think the CPT people are getting their just due, tell me how this boy is getting his. God forbid anyone be able to tell the difference between two different situations. Karim -- innocent. Lives there. Has nothing to do with either the terrorists or the government, beyond his father's occupation. CPT -- guilty of supporting terrorists in Iraq and the PA. Don't live there. Get in the way of the Iraqi government, with the intent of providing aid to the terrorists. I don't care if the CPT profess to be pacifists; their actions say more than their words.

Posted by: Robert Crawford at December 09, 2005 09:01 PM (Gn9tM)

2 Nobody deserves to die as a hostage in Iraq. Islam is a religion of hate. Amen

Posted by: Jester at December 09, 2005 09:08 PM (a6n28)

3 Islam is not a religion of hate and CPT does not support terrorists or armed groups of any sort. Although things are understandably sensitive right now, I recommend informing CPT of Karim's plight and requesting their assistance in raising international awareness. Sadly, Karim's plight is hardly rare in Iraq today. From a CPT report filed in Iraq on April 26, 2005: "The insurgency has been targeting physicians. Dr. Al-brhim [not his real name] mentioned at least a dozen who have been killed in the last several months, three in the last six weeks. Not only does he live under constant fear that his clinic will be looted, but he lives also under threats to his life. He has already paid ransom to protect his children from kidnapping." - http://www.cpt.org/archives/2005/apr05/0032.html

Posted by: Rob at December 09, 2005 10:27 PM (Wl7Nx)

4 Thank you Robert. By all means, provide the court documents that prove that the 4 CPT hostages are guilty. The fact that CPT is an unapologetic group of moonbats doesn't make those 4 hostages any less innocent than this little boy.

Posted by: Vinnie at December 09, 2005 10:31 PM (Kr6/f)

5 Vinnie I think a lot of the kidnapping that is done over there is also being done by people withe neither religious or political intent. Just plain ordinary street criminals who may sell their victims to others or attempt to collect a ransom themselves. The security situation is abysmal.

Posted by: john Ryan at December 09, 2005 11:37 PM (ads7K)

6 I need a clarification, John. Do you think the son of this bodyguard of an Iraqi judge was kidnapped by common criminals?

Posted by: Vinnie at December 10, 2005 12:34 AM (Kr6/f)

7 Agent Brown declares that no one should get their head cut off.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 10, 2005 01:11 AM (6LOUW)

8 Any American murderers...errr....American mercenaries....errrr.....I meant "security consultants" get their just due today? Just wondering.

Posted by: Screw em at December 10, 2005 02:03 AM (R+YwI)

9 Hark! here comes one of the DailyKos crowd! Did you hear the Israeli's steal Palestinian Children's eyes? or that Kennedy was killed by a microwave mind control ray that took control of Oswald? how about the earthquake generator in the nose of the space shuttle? Project Blue Beam? Project Seafarer? Project SnowBird? or Project AQUARIUS, GOD HELP US!!! the United States Evil GubberMint is going to kill us all!!! You DailyKos boys, go back to your tinfoil hat talk, leave the adults to the real conversation, thanks.

Posted by: dave at December 10, 2005 05:25 AM (CcXvt)

10 Agent Smith declares that Dave is afraid of tinfoil, but doesn't flinch when children are napalmed in our name.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 10, 2005 06:26 AM (6LOUW)

11 not to worry, because all these "agent" characters are moron's. I've seen several idiot characters on this site "Bush Lied Soldiers Died", or "Downing Street Memo" it's not an original routine, "Agent Retard" is another to add to the list.

Posted by: dave at December 10, 2005 07:54 AM (CcXvt)

12 Agent Smith--how is Colin Baber?

Posted by: youngbourbonprofessional at December 10, 2005 08:53 AM (tdhAh)

13 Hey Rob, you haven't died from malignant stupidity yet? If you, being the retarded moron that you are, think that anyone here, other than the other visiting retarded Kos Kiddies, is going to take seriously anything you say, then you're exactly as stupid as you sound. Why don't you morons save us the cost of bullets and rope and just commit mass suicide? Your day is coming.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 10, 2005 09:18 AM (0yYS2)

14 Agent Smith, the United States doesn't go around dropping napalm or any other types of munitions on children on purpose. For one thing, it's very wrong to do so. Another reason is that it's a waste of napalm since children aren't the ones cutting off the heads of hostages or planting IEDs in dead dogs at the side of the road. War being the chaos that it is, sometimes, tragically, accidents do happen. So it's nonsense to equate accidentally wounding or killing children to deliberately stalking and kidnapping an innocent child to terrorise his parents and manipulate the course of justice. But then again logic might be a bit complicated for the matrix.

Posted by: Graeme at December 10, 2005 09:45 AM (wnWIl)

15 I am confused. All this talk about napalm ... Napalm is only actually effective in open area engagements and its not a precision dropped munition. Its not very effective (and pretty much useless) in built up areas - particlarly on ones that rely heavily on stone, mortar and concrete construction - add to that design layout - narrow streets, courtyards and alleyways between multiple story structures with building materials see above. I know during the overall conflict situations may have arose where is was an effective option (we actually pick and chose the tools for the job on the spot - (hugh diverse inventory!), but seems to me they would have been few. I watched portions of that RAI doc - was it just me - or the only actual film footage of napalm being deployed was old vietnam war material? (BTW - liked the sound track). Its not like its not noticable when being used (like WP no less!). What exactly is the problem with documenting the claims? Batteries dead that day on the Camcorder(s)? After-injuries don't cut it - I've seen injuries - got tons of TMs on them and treatment - you can't simply pass off any type of warzone injury as napalm - its dumb! No pictures - fine - how about materials. Napalm has a very distinct burn signature on materials (organic and non) plus an extremely distinct chemical signature and residue that can be readily analysed. Its actually easy for God's sake! I just don't know! I try to be fair and give many on the left the benefit of a doubt regarding their actual intelligence. Some here actually criticise me for that approach - but I have to wonder sometimes - maybe they really are morons. Graeme - I believe you are a Brit - and you may have travelled a bit. Maybe you can explain to some of these idiots that building materials vary greatly around the world - and in that part of the world concrete block, brick n' mortar are #1. They hold up extremely well against napalm (good protection). HE with good concussion and precision-guided munitions with reactive shaped HE warheads however ... that's another story.

Posted by: hondo at December 10, 2005 11:03 AM (3aakz)

16 Don't waste your breath Graeme, these idiots are far too stupid to comprehend reason or even reality. The sooner they are all killed and dumped into mass graves, (I say that if they think it's good enough for Iraqis, then I think it's good enough for the leftards), the better off all humanity will be. The gene pool has become polluted, and must be cleansed of their stupidity.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 10, 2005 11:03 AM (0yYS2)

17 Actually hondo, I'm not a Brit. I just suffer (thankfully)from a bad case of old fashioned British thinking. I agree with IM that's it's a waste of time arguing with the trolls that come here. They're all set in their ways, just like we're set in ours. The difference is, their thinking will result in global catastrophe. Using big words like "high explosive", "shaped charge" and "concussive effects" will get you nowhere. The left's knowledge of military hardware is still stuck in the 1960s since Vietnam was the last hard fought war. That's why when they have to name US weaponry, all they can think up is napalm and WP.

Posted by: Graeme at December 10, 2005 12:54 PM (wnWIl)

18 Sorry Graeme I'm hoping your not Irish then I would owe you a serious apology.

Posted by: hondo at December 10, 2005 03:57 PM (3aakz)

19 Not to worry Hondo, I'm not Irish either. I'm from the Caribbean, hence my ex-colonial semi-Britishness.

Posted by: Graeme at December 10, 2005 04:51 PM (wnWIl)

20 Dave, You didn't answer my question. Did anymore mercenary security consultants get their just due today? And if being in favor of truth, the constitution, and being opposed to destroying our military and economy through asinine warmongering such as neanderthal chickenshits like you and your ilk means "being a kid". Heh, you can have your fantasy that you're an adult.

Posted by: Screw em at December 10, 2005 04:58 PM (UfKum)

21 Look at Screw em attack the straw man he built, he sure is courageous, look at him go! next he will get a puppy and kick it. Tell us, does talking tough on the internet make you feel like a man? opposed to when you normally "feel a man" (in a truckstop bathroom for $10)

Posted by: dave at December 10, 2005 05:06 PM (CcXvt)

22 Oh look! Some boy just rang out doorbell and ran off to hide in the bushes and giggle! How quaint!

Posted by: hondo at December 10, 2005 05:08 PM (3aakz)

23 Agent Jones says Colin Bourbon is another alliance that has proven a nuisance to the Core Network that Smith, Brown and Jones guard on behalf of the Architect. What you think is irrelevent. You are needed to help bring a known terrorist to justice.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 10, 2005 07:08 PM (RfI6W)

24 Talk about hypocrisy. Here's little screw em coming in here and celebrating the death of a human being while the scum he is allied with(the Left and liberals) came in here last week and chastised us because we didn't have any sympathy for the 4 fools who went to Iraq for God knows what reason. These liberal scum all deserve to be sent to Iraq. Perhaps then the pukes might see the light. Nah, they are too hypocritical for that.

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 10, 2005 08:02 PM (rUyw4)

25 Dave, Little screw em is more likely to get with a group of his fellow girlie boys, buy a Playboy or Penthouse, and proceed with a circle jerk. That's about his speed.

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 10, 2005 08:23 PM (rUyw4)

26 Divide and conquer. Fall into the do each other better and the focus will waiver. We have differant ideas. Freedom foremost. Substantiated facts. Not verbal vomit.

Posted by: dick muesser at December 10, 2005 10:08 PM (dMHCB)

27 YEAH!!!! WHAT HE SAID!!! .... Er, I have absolutely no clue! Could be one of those creative writing software programs off on its own - early generation no less.

Posted by: hondo at December 10, 2005 10:31 PM (3aakz)

28 Sorry Dick, But verbal vomit is all we've had from these liberal Kos trolls who come in here for no other reason than to insult and obstruct. Do you think they deserve any respect from us? I don't bother arguing with a fool who has drunk the kool-aid of the radical Left while wearing a tin foil hat. It's useless and counterproductive.

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 10, 2005 11:27 PM (rUyw4)

29 I don't bother either - but I do use the opportunity to creatively plink n' have some fun.

Posted by: hondo at December 10, 2005 11:40 PM (3aakz)

30 Screw 'em - Your sentiments are appreciated but your trolling is not. I've asked the resident denizens to treat the four CPT members with some measure of respect and I now ask you to show the same to Mr. Schultz and to his friends and family in what I know all too well to be a difficult time. You and I may not agree with why he went to Iraq and what he was doing there but there's nothing to be gained and much to be lost by your mockery.

Posted by: Rob at December 11, 2005 12:00 AM (Wl7Nx)

31 Poor Dave, It's such a simple question. Why are you so scared to answer it? Hell you're more scared to answer the question than you are to enlist. Chickenhawk is too nice a term for you. You can't even fight from your keyboard. Poor little sad skurred-of-brownies bitch. Do you shake in your boots whenever you see an Arab in close proximity? Do you get on your cell and call mommy and tell her to come get you back to the basement pronto? Bitchass pussy. Screw em!

Posted by: Screw Em at December 11, 2005 04:49 AM (hRM9L)

32 Rob, Your sentiments are worthy of recognition but they are nothing this blog has sought to display either in the front page posts or in 90% of the commenters opinions. This blog and the grand majority of its commenters are the ultimate in hypocrisy. You obviously see that just as I do. SCREW EM.

Posted by: Screw Em at December 11, 2005 04:51 AM (hRM9L)

33 Why don't you leftard trolls just fuck off and die like good little useful idiots? One day soon, the shit will hit the fan, and you will be dragged out into the streets and your stinking corpses hung from every available structure, and mine will be the last face many of you see. Go ahead, start your little revolution, I beg of you.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 11, 2005 09:21 AM (0yYS2)

34 pretty ironic calling me a chickenshit from the safety of your keyboard, seeing as in real life that would get your teeth rammed down the orifice you normally save for your boyfriends genitalia. See, idiot you can come here and talk all the bitch smack like the hippy you are, you pussies lay away at night thinking the U.S government is plotting to kill you, because you "know to much" and you know the "truth". People that think the Government is going to get them suffer from their feelings of being insignificant, being the target of something bigger makes them feel better about themselves. No need to keep your dirty laundry in a safe big boy, the Government doesn't want to steal your DNA, or your deficient brain waves. Talk it up and feel the big man, we all know how you cower under your urine soaked bedsheets at the thought of the Government, people like you are more an object of pity than anger.

Posted by: dave at December 11, 2005 11:27 AM (CcXvt)

35 Sure dave, sure. You're such a big, bad man aren't you? My, that's frightening to know that I'm being threated by a big wussy libtard like yourself. You're probably one of the badasses who vandalize property of anyone with whom you disagree, then run off to brag about it to your little chickenshit friends. I tried to get greg to meet me, and I'd love to meet you, nice and private, because I'd like to see how long you could live without any skin. The day you meet me is the day you die bitch.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 11, 2005 07:13 PM (0yYS2)

36 You might want to read the reply to me, from Screw `em?

Posted by: dave at December 11, 2005 07:49 PM (CcXvt)

37 Doh! All apologies dave, I was recovering from a stomach problem, (spent all day in the throne room), and not completely coherent. I shouldn't blogsurf when sick.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 12, 2005 09:35 AM (0yYS2)

38 no problem, with all the morons of late it's hard to separate the Wheat, from the Chaff as they say!

Posted by: dave at December 12, 2005 04:11 PM (CcXvt)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Iraqis Turn in Al Qaeda 'Butcher of Ramadi'

Another victory in the war on terror. Another one bites the dust.

Centcom:

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, Iraq Â—The number three terrorist on the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (28th Infantry Division) High Value Individual list was detained Dec. 9 in the provincial capital of ar Ramadi.
Amir Khalaf Fanus, an al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist in the Ramadi area, was wanted for criminal activities including murder and kidnapping. Today, local Iraqi citizens brought him to an Iraqi and U.S. Forces military base in Ramadi.
Fanus, also known in Ramadi by his Iraqi moniker, Â“the Butcher,Â” was well-known for his crimes against the local populace. He is the highest ranking al Qaeda in Iraq member to be turned into Iraqi and U.S. officials by local citizens.
His capture is another indication that the local citizens tire of the terroristsÂ’ presence within their community. Iraqi and U.S. Forces have witnessed increasing signs of citizens fighting the terrorists within Ramadi as the Dec. 15 National Elections draw nearer.

America, F*** YEAH!! More good news here including oodles of terrorists caught with their pants down and other stuff the MSM will bury in the back pages.

ITB also on the case.

Posted by: Rusty at 01:59 PM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
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December 03, 2005

(Images/Video) Terrorist Videos Reveal Weakness and Lies of Insurgency

UPDATE: The video has been debunked and is NOT the Fallujah attack but some other attack. See this post.

The Islamic Army in Iraq has released a video of an IED attack against Marines in Fallujah. The attack killed 10 Marines. Images from the video are posted below. They are not graphic, but may be disturbing.

Al Qaeda in Iraq has also released a video of its Ramadi offensive. Images posteed below and right. For links to video, please e-mail author.

The video shows a Marine patrol and a Hummer rolling down an alley or a narrow road, on which civilians are present. The Hummer passes the Marines as it approaches the terrorist's position. The IED explosion is large and does damage to the Humvee, but the driver inside appears to be able to continue to drive the vehicle. Civilians can be seen panicking and fleeing. The video then becomes shaky as the terrorist flees the scene.

The video reveals why the IED attack was so devestating. Presumably, like most incidents of this nature, the IED was planted with the expectation that it would be exploded as a vehicle or convey passed. The terrorists, it would seem, just got 'lucky' in that on this particular day a foot patrol decided to walk down the wrong alley.

Despite media reports of 'mounting casualties', attacks are down in Iraq. The IED attack reveals that the so-called insurgents cannot mount even an effective attack against U.S. positions.

Yesterday, propagandists for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq posted a message claiming they had taken 'control of Ramadi'. This despite the fact that the terrorists were only able to fire a single mortar shell at a U.S. position and less than 300 U.S. troops and 200 Iraqis were used in the counteroffensive. The counteroffensive turned out to be nothing more than the troops entering Ramadi unnoposed and turned into a routine search and sweep operation.

The only evidence that al Qaeda offered that they 'controlled' Ramadi was a short video by their IMC media arm showing a group of masked young men in cheap warm-up pants and tee shirts slowly going down a narrow alley. There are no more than seven or eight terrorists in the group. That's right, 7-8 terrorists with AK-47's and a single RPG! An image from that video is posted above and a few more are posted below.

Oddly enough, the IMC (Islamic Media Center) cameraman hides from the terrorists while he takes the video. The IMC has recently pledge its loyalty to Osama bin Laden and urged others to do the same. It appears that even the jihadi supporters are afraid of the brave and noble mujahidin!

So, if the 'insurgency' cannot hold any territory, is not very popular in the eyes of even Sunnis these days, and must resort to remotely detonated bombs and hostage taking, in what lies their hope of victory?

The media and spineless politicians in Washington D.C.

The spinmeisters at al Jazeera, Jihad Unspun, and Uruknet report the communique as fact and then, trying to turn this into some grand irony, announce that the Ramadi 'victory' comes only days after Bush announced his strategy for victory. As if a single IED and a handful of sweat-pants clad 'insurgents' are a threat to U.S. victory in Iraq!

It would all be very laughable if the U.S. media wasn't so busy hand-wringing and having LSD induced flashbacks of Vietnam. The media spin then leads the American public to think that this insurgency poses an actual threat and that somehow we cannot win in Iraq. All of this is not helped by the extreme Left wing of the Democratic party which is all to eager to see America lose in Iraq.

Folks, the only threat to our long-term victory in Iraq comes not form the terrorists, but from spineless politicians in the U.S.

Images below. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 02:40 PM | Comments (43) | Add Comment
Post contains 672 words, total size 6 kb.

1 Yet more evidence that these bastards must be high as kites to think as they do... too bad a lot of US politicos must have raided their stash of 'shrooms, as you said. But come on, Rusty, you give these guys a hard time. Have you ever worn Addidas warm-up pants? Those things are so comfortable! How could one ever go pack to a crap-soaked one-piece after those pants? I think it is simply more evidence of the CIA corrupting the noble Holy Warriors.

Posted by: Wine-aholic at December 03, 2005 04:11 PM (sH4J5)

2 "Despite media reports of 'mounting casualties', attacks are down in Iraq." Oct was the 4th deadliest month. I haven't yet found a site with monthly attack numbers. The analysis of the pant leg and bicycle is wrong on the image. That's the left pant leg that's rolled up. A bicycle chain is on the right side.

Posted by: actus at December 03, 2005 04:15 PM (dFCoa)

3 actus: despite all your wishing, they won't win!

Posted by: dave at December 03, 2005 04:29 PM (CcXvt)

4 This seems to have casualties reported by month. I am surprised you had not found it... As a larger question, are we mixing terms here? Are we taking "number of deaths" or "number of attacks" as the metric? The two are certainly different.

Posted by: Wine-aholic at December 03, 2005 04:43 PM (sH4J5)

5 "This seems to have casualties reported by month. I am surprised you had not found it... As a larger question, are we mixing terms here? Are we taking "number of deaths" or "number of attacks" as the metric? The two are certainly different." I know about icasualties.org. Its a site about # of attacks that I don't know of, not # of dead.

Posted by: actus at December 03, 2005 04:50 PM (dFCoa)

6 this will convince the Liberals that jihadis have reconquered Iraq, because that's exactly what they need to believe. What else are they going to run on in '08.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at December 03, 2005 06:04 PM (8e/V4)

7 Agent Jones reports that the VC used bicycles to travel quietly in Vietnam in order not to attract attention. Agent Brown realized that bicycles were used by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka for transporting explosives and suicide bombers. Agent Smith knows that the Seattle Police Department also uses bicycles to stealthily approach and subdue suspects.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 03, 2005 06:08 PM (VDGim)

8 Is actus right about the bicycle pants leg? If so I told this guy is sharp! maybe its like an islamic hip hop gang thing - kinda like their colors. They don't seem to have any basebal caps to wear sideways so I guess their are making due with cheap hotel towels. How would rap actually sound in arabic? Anybody wanna give it a shot?

Posted by: hondo at December 03, 2005 06:16 PM (3aakz)

9 Dirka-dirka, my bitch is in Burka, like Mohammed did Jihad, I rock the Baghdad, the soldiers, they don't see me, rollin' in my VBIED, under tha' seat, the RDX blew, my virgins bitches, they number seventy-two, Alah Ackbarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! short notice, what can I say ;/

Posted by: dave at December 03, 2005 06:31 PM (CcXvt)

10 Agent Brown has discovered that, historically, when a strong army fights fragmented and weak enemies, the strong army becomes weakened and the weak enemies are strenghtened. The ragtag, bicycle riding enemies are a most dangerous signal.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 03, 2005 07:30 PM (VDGim)

11 I think we discussed this the other day, not only is this insurgency no different than any other insurgency, counter-insurgency methods are already undermining both the terrorists, and insurgents alike. The average insurgency lasts nine years, I would say we're well ahead of schedule, would you not?

Posted by: dave at December 03, 2005 07:44 PM (CcXvt)

12 a reoccuring post to follow ... Agent Smith Mort Sahl was a satirist and an ultra-liberal and was quite funny and good at it. Al Franken is a satirist and an ultra-liberal and not funny at all - he's actually quite bad at it. You wish to be a satirist (as opposed to a comedian - there is a difference) - and follow in the footsteps of lil' Al. Well - those are tiny shoes to fill, and you are doing an adequate job of it.

Posted by: hondo at December 03, 2005 08:08 PM (3aakz)

13 Agent Smith says that Hondo still needs training wheels on his bicycle.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 03, 2005 08:21 PM (VDGim)

14 Of course, the left may tend to argue that the bicycle clip proves the "insurgents" are also eco-warriors who eschew mechanised transport. On the other hand, don't forget that the principle means of transport of NVA and VC was the bicycle, used to shift many thousands of tonnes of supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Historically, all "insurgencies" tend to die after an average of six years of determined suppression. E.g, the Boer rebellion, Malaya and Aden. Viet Nam was an exception, yet it remains perversely touted as some kind of paradigm. The question remains one of having the determination to persist.

Posted by: booyakka at December 03, 2005 08:37 PM (n66qx)

15 Can I just say something about our media? The other day I heard an interview of a reporter in Iraq. He commented on the very videos and pictures shown here and also commented about how the Pentagon issues its press reports. What amazed me was this MSM reporter took the insurgent's videos and images completely at face-value while commenting on the "spin" the U.S. military uses to issue reports. When are these media people going to wake up and realize that they're being completely and utterly manipulated by a terrorist insurgency?

Posted by: J at December 03, 2005 09:32 PM (/P1rH)

16 Agent Smith researched the 2007 war with Iran and how it played out. Once Iran controlled Sistani-land in the south of Iraq, the retreating Americans were harassed all the way back to Kuwait. It was a bad scene, for which President Bush was finally impeached in the latter half of 2008.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 03, 2005 09:37 PM (VDGim)

17 >>>"The question remains one of having the determination to persist." The Left's only determination is to see the mission fail. They believe failure in Iraq is the only way to regain their political power. Loyalty to party supercedes loyalty to country. They are traitors.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at December 03, 2005 10:34 PM (8e/V4)

18 Agent Brown opines on the statement, "Loyalty to party supercedes loyalty to country." Loyalty is a concept that is prevalent in all human societies. Like you, in our quest to secure the core network against all threats, all Agents are fiercely loyal to the Architect and follow every one of his orders, however ridiculous.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 03, 2005 10:49 PM (VDGim)

19 why not save the next post, and have a wank instead.

Posted by: dave at December 04, 2005 12:09 AM (CcXvt)

20 I think Hondo hit the nail on the head. Rappist terrorists.

Posted by: greyrooster at December 04, 2005 07:05 AM (gvOyZ)

21 Iraq use to be one of the most wealthiest financially,and the most Educated people on the planet.But When Sadam Hussein rfused to Jump and rollever" anymore.Embargos, enforced restrictions, secret bombings, crippling Iraqs infrastructures by Americans and its partners the true axis of evil" bought Iraq to the pathetic state its in now.They might have bent them. But the spirit will never be broken. Good on ya freedom fighters kill, maim, murder as many yank, brit and coalition assoles as possible send them back to mom and pops or is it mummy and daddy in bodybags .I,m a kiwi born and bred but even in this bubble i can see scumbag arrogant assoles cornfed on lies by the biggest terrorists Bush,Blair and rest of the Coalition lapdogs you morons emailing in wouldnt have the guts to die for any cause whatsoever.Fighting for Iraqi peoples freedom?You scumbag soldiers,security personel are murdering them and that is the reason you will never win if the people aren,t on side then more freedom fighters you will produce, this invasion proves the stupidity of coalition soldiers fighting for a war based on lies but like the emperor's new clothes" we will pretend we dont see it but I,m hoping like heck Your father's ,mother's sister's, brothers's will see it when your pinebox coffins come rolling off the planes.By the way that kiwi idiot student who happened to be taken hostage along with other do-gooders these vultures just like all the rest are by-products of this illegal invasion please cut his godamn throat and all the others, make it slow and from ear to ear just like that American jerkoff make sure you have it on the net.Good luck insurgent freedom fighters, the road will be very hard and very long but the more American,British, Coalition and do-gooders bodies sent home in bits an pieces maybe will show the world tha this lie of a invasion must come to an end.

Posted by: freedom at December 04, 2005 05:53 PM (cQE8Q)

22 You are not a Kiwi arab dog because you can't even write properly and NZ is an English speaking country. You are just another islamic bastard living it up in the west because your own country is so shitty. How many state benefits have you and your parasitic clan bludged while decrying the efforts of the western world?

Posted by: Jester at December 04, 2005 06:12 PM (wBDaS)

23 freedom? What's ya point?

Posted by: hondo at December 04, 2005 06:22 PM (3aakz)

24 Oh poor jester you got my ethnicity wrong.You also have my employment status wrong.Forgive my my English its not quite up to scratch but when i see innocent civilians, Being fired indiscriminately at.I ask myself as I shake with outrage I'd better get my comments grammatically correct because.Jester the Professor in English my find this more shocking than gutless men mowing down innocent people.eres My ethnicity is Samoan but I would love to meet you so you can walk the talk big man.Jester your obviously a white gutless how did you put it DOG!!

Posted by: freedom at December 04, 2005 06:41 PM (cQE8Q)

25 Samoans would have their head sawn off by Zaqueery too, most are Christian. You'll have to travel a long way to meet me but I'm not gutless having already fought for my country. It's a shame you are Samoan as I have a few Samoan friends from my years in the South Pacific. Siding with the muslims shows you are ill-informed...Talofa dude.

Posted by: Jester at December 04, 2005 07:42 PM (wBDaS)

26 Fought for your country?What and that makes you courageous.Like your soldiers are fighting for their country now?You call Having the largest nuclear arsenal,the most sophisticated weaponry built.Spending trillions on reseach to produce even more futuristic weaponry to kill,maim your fellow man, you call that fighting.You might as well be fighting against people who are using sticks and stones!!an example When you Killed Sadams son's obviously they were such a threat anti tank rockets had to be repeatedly fired into that house.That's your idea of fighting? That's why unlike you these,insurgents I call them freedom fighters have had to resort to suicide bombings now there's real balls, that's real courage.Thats something, us living the West will never understand.I suggest you do a bit reading you sound like an older person.BUT surely you can understand when you try to impose your will another persons country.That's like backing people into a corner. Mate! wake up! They're fighting you back with weapons made in the West! Some even made in the good 'ol USA. Have you found Sadams secret stash of WMD?no Is their a link between 9/11 and Iraq?hell no Are the Iraqi people better off now then they were under Sadam's Regime?bloody hell no the only difference now is, we the almighty West the saviours are murdering them, and you know why mate BECAUSE THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME!! our coalition forces cannot or will not tell the difference between friend or foe so with our own safety in mind kill anything that moves. The Iraqi's have gone from a stable dictatorship under Sadam to this godforsaken Bloodbath. So what was this War all about? Control of their resources?Hell yeah If anybody thought that the deaths of hundreds of thousands on whoever's side just to get rid of Sadam, the reason, grow up.If even a quarter of the trillions spent instead of trying to come up with new ways of snuffing out human beings was spent on researching for alternative energy sources.Then the USA truly would be the beacon of democracy, instead of the overfed bully.Then we wouln't be online like bloody kids, throwing insults an our two cents.

Posted by: freedom at December 04, 2005 09:05 PM (cQE8Q)

27 If freaking bloody jihadists were not trying to take over the World, mr. freedom, we wouldn't have to be over there kicking their asses. The last time I checked the jihadists were taking heavy casualties while ours were light. My God, mr. freedom, 30,000 men were lost trying to protect your sorry ass from the Japanese. Shit, and you call yourself freedom. You need to sober up, you DA.

Posted by: jihadibane at December 04, 2005 09:29 PM (rUyw4)

28 Maybe you need a history lesson your buddie's in the true axis of evil.The Brits found the remains of two japanese one man mini submersibles.It was on BBC. Check it out.Your Navy in Pearl Harbour dropped depth charges on them, they were outside the no spy zone.I mean you rant an moan when your caught spying.Killing of two men OUTSIDE the restricted area was an act of War. That's Why the Japs bombed Your Navy.BUT YOU HAVE A SELECTIVE MEMORY.Growing up I got the fed the usual history lessons,movies books (propaganda) the dastardly yellow peril were to blame.Surprise, Surprise Hey this might even surprise you.The Japs didn't attack you for no bloody apparent reason you attacked them first.But of course your'e always innocent your'e always right as long as you fool the public with half truths ,lies and try to rewrite history.By the way,the way China's going mate you and I are going to have to start learning to speak mandarin or whatever it would have been so much easier if I knew how to speak Japanese.

Posted by: freedom at December 04, 2005 10:15 PM (O2l+4)

29 ...from a stable dictatorship to a godforsaken bloodbath.?????? Actually it was a pretty intense bloodbath prior - simply kept off camera - dictatorships are kinda funny like that. Now you get to see all the blood courtesy freedom of the press from the media - a democracy is kinda funny like that. Can't miss the carnage - what with all those car bombings, suicide bombers, beheadings and such. The target of course is the Iraqi people themselves - men, women and children - the oddest thing is that the ones doing this are loyal supporters of Saddam and islamic fundamentalists. Unless of course you believe its American GIs driving the car bombs and strapping explosives to themselves. Whatever - so when a suicide car bomber kills dozens or a hundred Iraqi civilians do you applaud? I got to stop - I recognize simple-minded anti-Americanism - not worth pursuing - doubt you could find Iraq on the map or give a damn about them one way or the other. So, how's the weather down there - coconut crop going to be good this year?

Posted by: hondo at December 04, 2005 10:34 PM (3aakz)

30 oh please Hondo,anti Americanism If I have a different view .I,ll admit somewhat skewed but my own view isn't that freedom.But, would you know what that is? or is it you need other people to think for you.What's that your lying president said 45min is the time it would take for strike against you.Funny hondo the emperor's wearing invisible clothes but just as long as you pretend to see them.Now that's simple minded.What makes it worse is ignorance is no excuse. You do know this is exactly what,s going on in Palestine, funny how it is, another illegal occupation, suicide bombings.You hondo don't get it.Why are there more civilian casualties then actual combatants?oh me oh my what's that quaint word bandied about Collateral damage.If this is freeing people mate.To you and all your ilk they're all terrorist's' towel heads you could'nt give a rat's.They're opposing the mighty USA so like fleas squashed.Ends justify the means? .Right now I,m watching the 6.00 news.The leading story is your CIA and/or other organizations flying prisoners to other countries just to torture them.Out of sight out of mind.That must sit quite well with you because the impression you give' in your comments is that you care so very deeply for the Iraqi people.Even if you have absolutely no proof of guilt but they must all be tortured just for good measure.By the way I can't find to many coconut trees in New Zealand you would have to be simple to think so .Or do I need to take one of your special sight-seeing flights to re-adjust my view because if I'm not with you I must be against you?

Posted by: freedom at December 04, 2005 11:23 PM (O2l+4)

31 I meant in Samoa - you do keep in touch with the boys back home now, don't you? So how's the coconuts? Must be tough being a stranger in a no so strange land. If anti-Americanism makes you feel better about your place in the world (or lack of) then go for it.

Posted by: hondo at December 04, 2005 11:37 PM (3aakz)

32 hondo don't get excited. I thought we were all entitled to our views but you seem to be quite preoccupied with how coconut crops are growing in Samoa.Dude if you like coconuts so much There,s American Samoa another one of your victories".You could perhaps holiday there one day.Come over to the the Western side.Meet the boys y'know experience the culture, live a little.I've been there on holiday sun, sand, surf, no towelheads to get your blood pressure up you would love it mate. I know living downunder in a backwater, slow-as country like New Zealand wer'e not quite up to your speed with your lot.I mean heres silly ol me thinking I have a right to an opinion.I should tow the line and think exactly whatever you think I should think.Jeez sort of reminds me of one thing us living the land of the long white cloud. Aotearoa. are famous or .SHEEP!!!!!

Posted by: freedom at December 05, 2005 12:03 AM (O2l+4)

33 Agent Smith and Jones concur that "Freedom" is an Iraqi Operation. Agent Brown disagrees and says it is a parallellogram full of lies and distortions.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 05, 2005 05:39 AM (qLtuI)

34 I wouldn't even waste my time on this "freedom" person. He/she is far too bitter and unreasonable.

Posted by: Oyster at December 05, 2005 06:08 AM (YudAC)

35 Talofa Freedom, I would suggest you stop believing Baathist propaganda. Like most oil-rich countries, Iraq has always been a shithole incapable of spreading wealth.

Posted by: Macktastick Rusty Wicked at December 05, 2005 08:56 AM (JQjhA)

36 freedom, Go to school, learn some English, read some history, and come back here in a few years and maybe I will know what the hell you are talking about, because dude, you aren't making a bit of sense to me. Might be your broken English, and I don't have a clue where I can learn Samoan.(Is that your language?)

Posted by: jihadibane at December 05, 2005 09:02 AM (rUyw4)

37 The Japanese sub thing is more fictional than any of your claims. Pearl Harbor was not about that, even the most biased Japanese historian would agree. You are a mixed up dude freedom...and the first pro-jihadist Samoan I have ever come across. If you don't think fighting for your nation is admirable then go away...I bet you've never put your ass on the line for anything other than to vent anger from your safe little haven.

Posted by: Jester at December 05, 2005 01:15 PM (wBDaS)

38 Freedom: Stupid name for a banana eating monkey looking piece of shit who doesn't deserve to know the english language. Back in your tree monkey. You're not ready to climb down yet. And get that stupid bone out of your nose.

Posted by: greyrooster at December 05, 2005 06:16 PM (9Dlss)

39 i cant wait for the day, that people wake up and deport all muslim/arab scum from europe/usa. i honestly wipe my arse on the koran every morning. a couple of pages get your shitty ring just as clean as toilet paper. boycott the arab owned shops and businesses.

Posted by: london defense force at December 06, 2005 02:59 PM (B4Ge0)

40 LDF...thanks for reminding me, I've just run out of toilet paper, time to visit the mosque for more supplies.

Posted by: Jester at December 06, 2005 03:27 PM (wBDaS)

41 Well, I guess no more from the cannibal calling himself FREEDOM. Backward white hating piece of shit headhunter just out of the trees. Or not quite out of the trees. I can see him now. Bone in nose, sticks in his ears walking through the jungle chewing on a bone that used to be his neighbors arm. Washing it down with raw fish eyes and raw half hatched eggs. Friggin big mouthed animal.

Posted by: greyrooster at December 07, 2005 04:45 AM (OvTKg)

42 Must say, just came across this site, but HAD to comment here. What amazes me most is that both the both the pro-islamist and the pro-american seemed to think that propaganda only emerges from the other side. Truth is, the DOD has a really tight hold on what information gets fed to the civilian news services . The BBC has done a somewhat better job of genuinse newsgathering, but the american press seems content to act like farm swine willing to take whatever scraps are tossed their way, be they liberal, or conservative. The US army's Psych-Op are doing a bang up job of media spinning a sows ear into a silk purse. The loose affiliation of competing iraqui islamic factions, for the most part also try and dedicate time and resources to dissimate disinformation but have fairly crude methods in my estimation. What i've seen seems to be political fanatics with axes to grind posting, instead of any reasoned analysis overall. That said, and despite all the cows manure being flung over the newswire, Iraq has not been a stable reigion for over half a millenia. Iraq, geographically, has several native/ethnic populations whom only stop fighting each other if they share a joint enemy, or dictator in common. The country is a toilet bowl, and personally i will be shocked to see anything more than perhaps a decade worth of secular democracy being compromised by Syrian, Iranian, and insurgency splinters into complete meaninglessness. There is a few hard facts that seem to escape people on all sides of this debate i've seen publically speculate here... A) Saddamn Hussain, and Osama Bin Laden were both used extensivly and to great effect by US intellegence services who should have scrubbed their running dogs when they decommissioned them. Bush Sr should have ordered the shot back in 91, and established a resonably secure, permanent base at the time. Instead, now TWO generations of Bush's have done nothing but create a situation where the US will be forced to return to and implement so called "band aid" solutions. B) Too much attention is being given to the pathetic, splintered Iraqui insurgency when clearly the forces funding, equipping, and motivating these factions lie beyond it's borders. Notably Syria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. C) If the west would wean itself off of damned foreign fossil fuels, we could isolate this little crap-hole in Hell and let them busily kill each other until they grew out of political and religious despotism.

Posted by: Entropolis at December 20, 2005 03:45 AM (sS7+z)

43 i have bought myself a mountain and i am going to dig myself a bunker. the end is near!

Posted by: billy the web designer at March 19, 2006 06:19 PM (jjv4x)

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On Liquid Courage

After reading this story about potential pill-popping by "insurgents," I just had to wonder a few things.

Isn't the call to religious jihad enough to inspire true fanaticism? Is the promise of 72 virgins and/or the Divine Protection of the Almighty not enough to inspire courage in all?

And speaking of courage, I know a thing or two about "liquid courage." Being a part of a people who pride themselves on drink, drink, and more drink, I would expect this sort of pill-popping crap from my brothers. But the "insurgents" are far more noble, being Holy Warriors of God, right? They follow strict rules in order to better themselves and obtain the favor of Allah. If these reports are true, I guess there must be a miscommunication between themselves and their Holy Book (and what would the odds be of that hypocracy ever happening in the Religion of Peace?):

"O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed." Quran 5:90

Now I see! The reason we are kicking their asses is because the "insurgents" have gone astray! If only they avoided being meth-heads, they would succeed. If only they had faith, they could truly stand against American and British tanks and destroy them with fireballs from their eyes and bolts of lightning from their arses.

But since intoxicants are the work of the devil, and the United States is the Great Satan, then it follows that OUR government interjected the drugs into these peaceful societies. First the CIA introduces crack into urban communities and now this. Oh, it has all the markings of a KKKarl Rove operation. You magnificent bastard!

Posted by: wineaholic at 12:24 PM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
Post contains 297 words, total size 2 kb.

1 The source is the Mirror UK - I wouldn't give them any credibility. Today a story about insurgent drug use - tomarrow American soldiers abusing Iraqi children of something stupid like that. Its all sensationalist filler for a rag. They're just looking to cover all the bases.

Posted by: hondo at December 03, 2005 12:54 PM (3aakz)

2 Actually hondo, it has been known for a while now that the jihadotards are routinely high as a kite when caught or killed. Even arabs aren't generally stupid enough to stand their ground against US forces. Their drug of choice seems to be opiates.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 03, 2005 01:09 PM (0yYS2)

3 Yes maxie - I know - opiates allow them the illusion of "medicinal" strength and courage - allows them to rationalise their use within islamic culture. I just hate our using the Mirror UK as a suppportive source because their crap.

Posted by: hondo at December 03, 2005 01:26 PM (3aakz)

4 Well, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 03, 2005 02:31 PM (0yYS2)

5 Yeah, I always have to wonder about the Mirror's validity, hence why I added the words "potential" and "if true," because I do remember some real whoppers served up in the past. If anything, I just find the idea interesting if only because I reflect on the stories of Mohammad Atta going to strip clubs and getting drunk regularly while in Florida... I guess jihadists can be very utilitarian "ends justify means" sort of people, when it comes to themselves that is. If only snoops.com could get to the bottom of this one.

Posted by: Wine-aholic at December 03, 2005 02:45 PM (sH4J5)

6 As I posted before : 40 years ago one of the surest ways of identifying a FNG or a REMF was by how much respect they gave the enemy. Googling "drug use among insurgents in Iraq" didn't produce much, one item from nov 2004 in the second battle of fallujah where Marines found adrenaline and amphetamines. Under "opiate use in Iraq" many entries but all seem to be from the same source. with the exact same quotes. "fun fact ....." Of course opiates do have many beneficial medicinal qualities. Great for dysentery and helpful against shock .http://www.israellycool.com/blog/_archives/2005/1/17/251080.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20051121-093501-9601r.htm When deep in the woods I always take along something strong for pain. It will keep keep you going.

Posted by: john Ryan at December 03, 2005 04:35 PM (ads7K)

7 Agent Brown says that delusional and impaired thinking destroys military effectiveness. When delusional and impaired thinking afflicts the leadership of a massive military effort, the effort is doomed to failure.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 03, 2005 07:33 PM (VDGim)

8 a reoccuring post to follow ... Agent Smith Mort Sahl was a satirist and an ultra-liberal and was quite funny and good at it. Al Franken is a satirist and an ultra-liberal and not funny at all - he's actually quite bad at it. You wish to be a satirist (as opposed to a comedian - there is a difference) - and follow in the footsteps of lil' Al. Well - those are tiny shoes to fill, and you are doing an adequate job of it.

Posted by: hondo at December 03, 2005 08:08 PM (3aakz)

9 Agent Brown believes that Hondo is projecting his desires to wear small shoes.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 03, 2005 08:22 PM (VDGim)

10 Winey, you're dead on. They've had to wire up their hostages and their suicide bombers with ketamine and meth to make 'em talk or make 'em fight. Sadr is running Afghan heroin and the Sunnis are running Syrian and Lebanese ganja. And Iran blames the US for all that heroin smuggling from Afghanistan while the mullahs probably have the concession to themselves. Drinking societies are successful societies. Look at the British Empire.

Posted by: See-Dubya at December 03, 2005 11:40 PM (1EyVw)

11 Yeah, and look at Ireland. Oh, wait ...

Posted by: Oyster at December 04, 2005 07:12 AM (YudAC)

12 Go to San Francisco and you will find that the biggest drug dealers and now the muslim dogs. Irony here, that they claim not to use drugs. Maybe they just sell them? Perhaps the stupid koran allows that. Received a E-mail from some dope head muslim freak who says and an ignorant for not reading the koran. Now, I wonder who is the most ignorant. Those who don't read the koran or those stupid enough to believe in such bullshit. ? I used to believe muslims were just backward dumbasses. Now I believe muslims are stupid backward dumbasses.

Posted by: greyrooster at December 04, 2005 07:17 AM (gvOyZ)

13 You disappoint me, Mr. Anderson.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 05, 2005 05:39 AM (qLtuI)

14 So what. You disapointed your parents when you started admiring 8 year old boys.

Posted by: greyrooster at December 05, 2005 06:19 PM (9Dlss)

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November 29, 2005

Suicide Bomber in Iraq was Belgian Woman

A convert to the ROP left France Junior (Belgium) to become a suicide bomber in Iraq. Here's the saddest part: her Muslim husband is said to have talked her into it.

UPI:

A woman who carried out a suicide attack in Iraq two weeks ago was identified Tuesday as the first European female suicide bomber.
The Belgian anti-terrorism unit has confirmed that the woman was a Belgian citizen who converted to Islam after her marriage to a Muslim fundamentalist, news service RTL reported Tuesday.
American military forces identified the woman at a combat scene in Baghdad. She was carrying recently issued Belgian identity papers which revealed she had traveled via Turkey. There are no traces of her radical husband who is believed to have organized her trip.

Europe: breeding ground for radical Islam.

Posted by: Rusty at 04:11 PM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
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1 Somehow the phrase "stupid white woman" entered my mind. But on second thought, I remember something my grandad told me a long time ago, when I was a little boy. He said, and I can almost hear him, "Son, it's like this. When a man(or woman) don't believe in nothing, he'll fall for anything. A man needs something to believe in, something bigger and finer than him, or he will just rot away in his soul". My grandad was a smart man. And what he said 40 years ago is oh so true today. A godless Europe, with nothing to believe in, is ripe for the picking by the radical Islamists, and I have no doubt most of Europe will fall.

Posted by: jesusland joe at November 29, 2005 04:32 PM (rUyw4)

2 This is why muslim communities amongst us in the west are a concern. One suicide bomber is one too many. The situation in the UK has shown that mosques are a breeding ground for evil.

Posted by: Jester at November 29, 2005 04:34 PM (BypR5)

3 Just another muslim who turned to violence to protest being occupied. Oh wait... Belgium isn't occupied. My bad.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at November 29, 2005 04:43 PM (8e/V4)

4 Divorce, Sharia-style.

Posted by: CUS at November 29, 2005 04:51 PM (bbXZq)

5 Typical childish stupidity from the village idiot. Hey greg, do you even realize how stupid you are, or are you too stupid to realize it?

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at November 29, 2005 05:16 PM (0yYS2)

6 Amazing how the Muslim are so into their religion and push it to the ends of the earth, yet we Christians are so willing to let Christ slip out of Christmas.

Posted by: Ernie Oporto at November 29, 2005 05:30 PM (/lpvu)

7 I know I am a little naive about blogging but umm Rusty did you really fart in his face ? Will the spammer be willing to discuss his views on his impression of your diet ? Did spammer feel that any of his emotiomal needs were met by this experience ? Does spammer look forward to repeating this experience either with you or others ? Would spammer be willing to pay money for subsequent experiences. Does spammer belong to a health plan that provides for good mental hygiene?

Posted by: john ryan at November 29, 2005 05:31 PM (ads7K)

8 ". There are no traces of her radical husband who is believed to have organized her trip." No kidding? ------------------------- I can certainly tell you it has been a pleasure to read responses to greg without actually having to observe his frontal lobe releases. My timing has been perfect. I've yet to see a single comment of his for a while now as they're deleted before I get here. Keep up the good work guys!

Posted by: Oyster at November 29, 2005 06:07 PM (YudAC)

9 Marry a muslim dog. Stupid bitch was probably to ugly to marry into her own race. Good ridance to any european who would stoop low enough to marry a muslim dog.

Posted by: greyrooster at November 29, 2005 06:25 PM (ZaAd/)

10 Y'all have been knocking them out of the park for a while great work, Rusty. Pierre

Posted by: Pierre Legrand at November 29, 2005 07:33 PM (LyBIv)

11 You're right rooster, and I hope he beat her daily.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at November 29, 2005 11:28 PM (0yYS2)

12 Agent Jones found no trace of Greg on this thread.

Posted by: Agent Smith at November 30, 2005 06:14 AM (N6ptp)

13 Europeans and Islamic terrorists. You guys can have each other as far as I'm concerned.

Posted by: jonny at December 01, 2005 12:06 AM (nytWC)

14 Just goes to show, it's not an Arab problem, it's a Muslim problem.

Posted by: MegaTroopX at December 21, 2005 05:57 PM (yT/Rw)

15 muslim dogs? where did y'all learn to be so racist- the trailer park? in a perfect world no one would be blowing anybody up nor be hating eachother, thus 'inter-racial' marriage would not be a problem. grow up and stop perpetuating the problem with your racist, ignorant ideas.

Posted by: smith at January 09, 2006 10:06 PM (hfctS)

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November 28, 2005

Al Qaeda Linked Propagandist Captured

Counter-propaganda has always been this blogs main focus. Propaganda is every bit as much a weapon as an IED or an AK-47 and propagandists should be considered combatants and therefore legitimate military targets. Propaganda gives our enemies a reason to fight, recruits new soldiers, and convinces them of the possibility of victory.

It's good to see one more terrorist propagandist has been captured. If the U.S. would take the propaganda war seriously they would close down any and all media outlets which distribute the type of propaganda made by the jihadis. Unfortunately we have seen a lack of resolve by the government in targetting jihadi forums and websites.

From an MNF-Iraq press release (hat tip to Sucram):

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Acting on multiple intelligence sources and tips from concerned citizens, Coalition forces raided a suspected Jaysh al-Mujahideen terrorist safe house in Abu Ghurayb, west of Baghdad, Oct. 23.

Captured during the raid was Ahmad NiÂ’mah Khudayyir Abbas (aka. Abu Shihab), a recently identified Jaysh al-Mujahideen lieutenant who oversaw the propaganda cell and who commanded several mortar and improvised explosive device cells.

Abu Shihab, as the propaganda chief for the Jaysh al-Mujahideen media cell operating in the Baghdad area, initially recorded videos and digitized them to compact disc for distribution to various Jaysh al-Mujahideen and al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist groups. These videos would then be downloaded to various Jihadist web sites as propaganda against Iraqi security and coalition forces.

Additionally, the videos would be used to recruit terrorists and foreign fighters, as well as to provide information on potential targets for other terrorists. As his skills and terrorist connections developed, he began directing and coordinating media operations throughout the Baghdad area for Jaysh al-Mujahideen. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 11:29 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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The Islamofascist Version Of Women And Children First

I've been gone all week, so I saw little news. I do remember seeing a snippet about a suicide bombing, but didn't read anything about it.

I wish I had.

BAGHDAD, Nov. 24 -- A suicide attacker steered a car packed with explosives toward U.S. soldiers giving away toys to children outside a hospital in central Iraq on Thursday, killing at least 31 people. Almost all of the victims were women and children, police said.

If I end up in Hell, I only hope it's in the same cell as Zarqawi.

CP@VAM

Posted by: Vinnie at 12:36 AM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
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1 Michael Moore would be proud.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at November 28, 2005 01:35 AM (8e/V4)

2 It is almost incomprehensible the evil that men do, yet daily the United States is accused of killing civilians without remorse; however the enemy targets even softer targets -- women and children. Tell us - where is the outrage?

Posted by: dave at November 28, 2005 07:24 AM (CcXvt)

3 Dave, There is no outrage because the neo-libs are not concerned about the murder of innocents in Iraq, but the death of Americans soldiers. For them, the more soldiers that die, the better. They should be ashamed, and when the soldiers get back, they should be confronted for the traitors they are.

Posted by: jesusland joe at November 28, 2005 09:23 AM (rUyw4)

4 we shouldn't use children as human shields.

Posted by: actus at November 28, 2005 09:42 AM (CqheE)

5 Damn, Actus, after your comments on neo-lib hate last night I thought you couldn't sink any lower. I was wrong.

Posted by: jesusland joe at November 28, 2005 10:01 AM (rUyw4)

6 That's actually kinda sick actus - on an obvious note - you do acknowledge Iraqi children are not an effective shield from the insurgents - they really don't give a damn - do they?

Posted by: hondo at November 28, 2005 10:03 AM (Jvmry)

7 Actus, of course, would loudly proclaim that he "supports the troops". Never mind his accusing them of a war crime.

Posted by: Robert Crawford at November 28, 2005 10:09 AM (1j9aH)

8 I think we should take steps to keep kids away from military targets. If we are attracting them to military targets, we shouldn't bemoan the fact that the terrorists are killing them.

Posted by: actus at November 28, 2005 11:30 AM (CqheE)

9 Actus, You're kidding, right.

Posted by: jesusland joe at November 28, 2005 11:48 AM (rUyw4)

10 Rectus you are a slimy, lowlife piece of shit, and I would gut you alive if we could just meet. Your glee at the deaths of these children comes through though you try to hide it, and I hope you burn to death very soon.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at November 28, 2005 11:49 AM (0yYS2)

11 "If we are attracting them to military sites, we shouldn't bemoan the fact the terrorists are killing them" I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST SAID THAT! THAT IS SICK AND STUPID! "shouldn't bemoan"?????????

Posted by: hondo at November 28, 2005 12:04 PM (Jvmry)

12 See, hondo. And you said he was intelligent.

Posted by: Oyster at November 28, 2005 01:48 PM (fl6E1)

13 Oyster, I hope he(hondo) has now changed his mind.

Posted by: jesusland joe at November 28, 2005 02:19 PM (rUyw4)

14 See, this is what I'm talking about. Liberals have no problem with children getting killed as long as it can be used against the US or Bush. Liberals are subhuman scum.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at November 28, 2005 03:02 PM (0yYS2)

15 "Your glee at the deaths of these children comes through though you try to hide it, and I hope you burn to death very soon." Oh no. No glee. I think its awful that these kids are near military targets. I think we should be keeping them away, rather than attracting them. "See, this is what I'm talking about. Liberals have no problem with children getting killed as long as it can be used against the US or Bush." Then you're misunderstanding. I do have a problem with it. this shouldn't happen.

Posted by: actus at November 28, 2005 05:32 PM (CqheE)

16 Oh no. No glee. I think its awful that these kids are near military targets. I think we should be keeping them away, rather than attracting them. Those "targets" happen to be your fellow citizens, employed in the U.S Military. Evidently according to your statement, you do not have a problem when its just the Soldiers getting killed? "But, but, I support the troops, I just don't support the War!!" Liar.

Posted by: dave at November 28, 2005 06:21 PM (CcXvt)

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