Turkey's Ruling Party Faces Banning Over Passing Headscarf Amendment

Hahaha! I absolutely LOVE this! Turkey's constitutional court basically has told the ruling governmental party of Turkey (the AKP) as well as Prime Minister Tayyep Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul that they will all be BANNED from Turkish politics if they don't make a case of defense in the next 3o days for enacting a lifting of a ban on headscarves (hijabs) for girls attending universities. Remember, this was the decision that caused huge protests in Turkey when the government finally decided to lift the ban on headscarves in a public institution.

Now, there isn't a link available to this story only but you can find it at the main page here at DEBKA. For your convenience, I've excerpted the total article below.

This is, quite frankly, HUGE news in the world of momentum that the islamists have found in recent years. Let me be crystal clear on this by excerpting here part of the article - read these words carefully:

part of a 162-page case which accuses the government of an “Islamic agenda.”

Isn't that beautiful? The Prime Minister and President may just be thrown out of Turkish office because they are pushing an islamic agenda and not holding to Turkey vow to uphold a secular government. Simply Awesome!

Turkish ruling party faces ban over Islamic headscarf ruling

A unanimous decision was taken Monday, March 31, by Turkey’s constitutional court to hear a case for closing down the governing AKP party for actions to weaken the country’s secular system. The chief prosecutor moved for prime minister Tayyep Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul to be banned from politics. They and 69 party officials have a month to prepare their defense in a case which bringsTurkey’s secularist establishment and the ruling Muslim-rooted party to the point of showdown.
Their amendment of the constitution to permit girls at universities to wear headscarves is part of a 162-page case which accuses the government of an “Islamic agenda.”

Al Qaeda In Iraq Linked Commander Captured In Kirkuk

This is HUGE news - it's a very brief report from some unknown-to-me news source but it appears legit and is a huge catch for Iraqi security forces (there is no mention of American troops or special ops so we'll assume local Iraqi security forces acted alone). From the article:

"One of the most wanted persons surrendered to security forces in Haweija, south-west Kirkuk," a Kirkuk police source, who requested anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq – (VOI).The source identified him as Salah Hassan, a senior member in Ansar al-Sunna, one of the armed groups working under the mantra of the self-named Iraq's Islamic state.

That's the guy...Salah Hassan and he is supposedly more than just a senior member - he is one of the top commanders up in northern Iraq. Now, Ansar al-Sunna is a Sunni insurgent group in Iraq but is closely linked to al Qaeda in Iraq so in essence, this is a huge blow to al Qaeda in Iraq. Like I've said before, if we keep picking off these leaders at the rate we have over the past six months, you will see al Qaeda fighters fleeing Iraq or wandering aimlessly.

The fact that this was an Iraqi security force capture leads me to believe this came from a civilian tip and the Iraqi locals had to act quickly to get this done - the article makes no mention of American force involvement.

Here's the full story.

Senior armed group commander surrenders to police in Kirkuk

Kirkuk, Mar 31, (VOI) - A senior fighter of an armed group surrendered on Monday to security force in Kirkuk, a police source said."One of the most wanted persons surrendered to security forces in Haweija, south-west Kirkuk," a Kirkuk police source, who requested anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq – (VOI).The source identified him as Salah Hassan, a senior member in Ansar al-Sunna, one of the armed groups working under the mantra of the self-named Iraq's Islamic state.Kirkuk, the capital city of Kirkuk province, lies 250 km north Baghdad.

Iraq Refuses To Endorse Arab Summit's Statement Due To Lack Of Condemnation Of Iraqi Terrorism

All I can say is... Good For Them! Considering that the Iraqi delegation to the Arab summit in Damascus is just a fledging one, they stood up to the rest of the Arab countries over a statement prepared out of the summit's negotiations. Here's what the Iraqi Vice President said:

"I express reservations on the text because this is not what we have agreed upon (in closed door meetings) "
Abdul-Mahdi said after the statement had been read. "It does not include the efforts of the Iraqi government for national reconciliation and it does not condemn terrorism and violence."

And to understand just why the Iraqis are upset and would take this risk to stand up against the powerful summit, you need to know what the statement was. Here is that Arab summit statement:

In the final statement, known as the Damascus Declaration, the leaders called for their "Iraqi brothers to stop bloodshed immediately and preserve the lives of innocent citizens. " They called for maintaining Iraqi unity and a hastening of the "end of the foreign presence" in Iraq.

See? It's plain as day that the Arabs don't care about the Iraqi people, they care nothing about anything but the "end of the foreign presence." Now, I'm sure you had some members of the Arab summit, such as Syria, who simply wanted to communicate that they want the U.S. and coalition members out of Iraq, no matter what. And their are probably others like Egypt and Saudi Arabia who simply don't want to stir up al Qaeda or the Iranians by telling it like it really is regarding the terrorism and Iranian meddling in the country.

Here's the full story from PR-inside.

Iraq refuses to endorse Arab summit statement for failing to condemn terrorism in the country

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Iraq refused on Sunday to endorse the final declaration of the Arab summit here because it does not condemn terrorism in the war-torn country and demanded the text be changed.Shiite Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi told the gathered leaders at the summit's closing session that Iraq has reservations over the statement
because of the lack of a terror condemnation.

The Iraqi delegation afterward pressed the league to change the text or they would declare a boycott of the summit, an Arab diplomat told The Associated Press. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were closed-door.The Iraqi move underlines the Shiite and Kurd-led Iraqi government's longtime accusation that Sunni-led Arab governments have not taken a strong enough stance against Sunni Arab fighters who made up the backbone of Iraq's insurgency.

Earlier Sunday, Abdul-Mahdi reiterated Iraqi complaints over foreign militants entering Iraq to join the insurgency _ though he did not specify Syria, through which many of the militants pass.«The Iraqi people are waging a fierce battle against terrorism and various forms of violence ... from the recruitment of terrorists from inside and outside the borders,» Abdul-Mahdi said.In the final statement, known as the Damascus Declaration, the leaders called for their «Iraqi brothers to stop bloodshed immediately and preserve the lives of innocent citizens.They called for maintaining Iraqi unity and a hastening of the «end of the foreign presence» in Iraq.

Syrian President Bashar Assad agreed to register the reservations, and the remaining 20 Arab League members present endorsed the declaration.That would normally mean the measure was passed, but it was not immediately clear if the declaration would be amended to reflect the Iraqi concerns.

Muslims Outnumber The World's Catholics

For the first time in history, there are more muslims in the world than there are Catholics. Now as ominous as that sounds, we best realize that if you combine all Christian groups, then Christians still outnumber muslims. But this is significant and to emphasize this, see this quote from the Vatican:

"For the first time in history, we are no longer at the top: Muslims have overtaken us," Monsignor Vittorio Formenti said in an interview with the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano. Formenti compiles the Vatican's yearbook.He said that Catholics accounted for 17.4 percent of the world population — a stable percentage — while Muslims were at 19.2 percent."It is true that while Muslim families, as is well known, continue to make a lot of children, Christian ones on the contrary tend to have fewer and fewer," the monsignor said.

Now, as some of you know, I have a real problem with this kind of reporting since I do not view islam as a religion. But, since that is my view, that makes this even more significant due to the fact that we've seen close to 20 percent of the world now fall under this political ideology. Think about it... what would be the headline if 20 percent of the world were Nazis? If WW2 hadn't been fought and won by the Allies, this is how the world might have looked.

Here's the full story from AOL.

Muslims Outnumber World's Catholics

VATICAN CITY (March 30) - Islam has surpassed Roman Catholicism as the world's largest religion, the Vatican newspaper said Sunday.

"For the first time in history, we are no longer at the top: Muslims have overtaken us," Monsignor Vittorio Formenti said in an interview with the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano. Formenti compiles the Vatican's yearbook.He said that Catholics accounted for 17.4 percent of the world population — a stable percentage — while Muslims were at 19.2 percent."It is true that while Muslim families, as is well known, continue to make a lot of children, Christian ones on the contrary tend to have fewer and fewer," the monsignor said.Formenti said that the data refer to 2006.

The figures on Muslims were put together by Muslim countries and then provided to the United Nations, he said, adding that the Vatican could only vouch for its own data.When considering all Christians and not just Catholics, Christians make up 33 percent of the world population, Formenti said.Spokesmen for the Vatican and the United Nations did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment Sunday.

Great News! 8 Al Qaeda in Iraq Killed, 17 Captured in Northern Iraq

Once again, the U.S. and coalition forces are doing a masterful job of finding al Qaeda in Iraq in even the most remote areas of Iraq. This operation happened in a remote area near Tuz ( hell, I hadn't even heard of the village/town of Tuz to this point) and from the article, this is what happened:

Intelligence confirmed the location of a targeted individual reported to be the al-Qaeda in Iraq – or AQI – leader of a local village operating in a remote area of the Hamrin Mountains southwest of Tuz. The targeted individual and six other armed men were observed conducting suspicious activities in the area. Supporting fixed-wing aircraft were called to conduct an air strike, which killed all seven terrorists.

What the report doesn't say specifically is where the "intelligence" came from but I'd say it's a good bet that villagers in this area, sick and tired of the brutality of al Qaeda in Iraq, phoned in the tip. And that is the best sign of all - al Qaeda in the northern areas is being ratted out like they were in Al Anbar and in Baghdad. The one additonal al Qaeda killed was in a separate operation.

Hopefully, there will be a video up soon of this attack - nothing like sitting down to a morning coffee and watching seven al Qaeda in Iraq pukes turning into dust!

Here's the full story from Multi-National Force.

Coalition targets terrorist leaders, propaganda network; eight killed, 17 detained

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives and leaders Thursday, killing eight terrorists and detaining 17 suspects during ground operations and an air strike in northern Iraq.
Intelligence confirmed the location of a targeted individual reported to be the al-Qaeda in Iraq – or AQI – leader of a local village operating in a remote area of the Hamrin Mountains southwest of Tuz. The targeted individual and six other armed men were observed conducting suspicious activities in the area. Supporting fixed-wing aircraft were called to conduct an air strike, which killed all seven terrorists.
Coalition forces continued to target the AQI propaganda network, after intelligence reports led a Coalition ground force to a building west of Samarra. When the ground force requested that occupants exit the targeted building, two men exited the building, but refused to follow Coalition forces’ instructions and demonstrated hostile intent. Subsequently, coalition forces engaged one man, killing him. The other man then complied and was detained with nine additional suspected terrorists.
Two operations in the Mosul area targeted associates of AQI leaders. A precision operation in the city yielded the capture of a suspected terrorist believed to be associated with AQI senior leaders in the area. Southwest of Mosul, Coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists during an operation targeting associates of AQI senior leaders.
“A tough fight remains ahead, but Iraqi and Coalition forces are on the offensive, capturing or killing al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and members before they are able to conduct their brutal attacks against innocent Iraqis and the security forces that protect them,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman.

Insurgent 101: Death Comes From Above, Chumps

Al Sadr Offers Truce In Iraq, Pulls Militia From Streets

Okay, in life, there is often a story (which we get from the MSM) and then there's the REAL story which we often don't know until much later. The fact that Mookie al Sadr has offered up a truce with the Iraqi government and has offered to pull his troops off the streets of Sadr City and to some extent, Basra will be viewed in several ways. My take on it is this - Al Sadr is not dumb. Al Sadr more than likely has seen enough of U.S. operations in Iraq by now to know that with this latest action by his Mahdi militias, al Sadr himself was now in the cross hairs of Task Force 88 in Iraq. At the same time, for al Sadr to make another emergency retreat into the waiting arms of the mullahs in Iran would have more than likely destroyed any organization he had left.

From the article here at Breitbart:

BAGHDAD (AP) - The Iraqi government has welcomed an order by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to pull his fighters off the streets.
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Iraqi state TV in an interview that the decision is "positive and responsive."
Sunday's offer was contained in a nine-point statement issued by his headquarters in Najaf.

Now, a few points that I think need mentioning:

1. If the Iraqi government enters into an "agreement" on stipulations put forth by al Sadr, this will give some credibility back to Mookie.
2. The Iraqis better understand that old Mookie has zero control over many of the Shiite gangs in Basra as well as the Iranian-backed cells there and also the Hizbullah Brigades of Iraq.
3. The dangerous ground tha al Sadr walks on is the fact that he doesn't control this violence completely and any flare ups will be blamed on him if he tries to portray himself as the head of it all - and he may still find himself on that Task Force 88 wanted poster.

If I was PM Maliki, I would sit down with the British and the Americans and work out a plan to gut Basra and Sadr City systematically - this scourge will never go away - it will be like forming a truce with Hamas in Gaza ...they lay their weapons down for two weeks then pick them up at the drop of a hat.

Maliki best not claim some kind of victory here as it could all blow up again in a matter of days.

Shiite Cleric Al-Sadr Offers Iraq Truce

BAGHDAD (AP) - The Iraqi government has welcomed an order by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to pull his fighters off the streets.
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Iraqi state TV in an interview that the decision is "positive and responsive."
Sunday's offer was contained in a nine-point statement issued by his headquarters in Najaf.
Al-Sadr also called on the government to stop what he calls haphazard raids and release security detainees who haven't been charged.
Violent clashes have broken out over a government crackdown in the southern city of Basra.

Israeli Troops Kill 2 Jihadists Planting Bomb At Gaza Border Fence

Good news! The ever-alert Israeli troops on the Gaza border put a little downer on the plans of two jihadists (Fatah's boys) to place a bomb at the Gaza/Israel border fence. Apparently, Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad are having a bit more trouble messing with this fence than they had when they were able to torch and bomb through the fence in front of the Egyptians! Haha. Anyway, that's two less muj to have to worry about in Gaza tonight. From the article:

They identified the men killed near the town of Beit Hanoun as members of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction.

Now, wasn't it old Mahmoud Abbas that was just complaining about how Israel is messing up all the peace plans? And here we have two of his military wing misfits placing a bomb at a border fence. I mean, is there anyone in the world that would trust one word coming out of the heathen mouth of Mahmoud Abbas?

Here's the full story from Reuters.

Israeli troops kill 2 Gaza gunmen on border-medics

GAZA, March 29 (Reuters) - Israeli forces killed two Palestinians who tried to plant a bomb on the Gaza Strip's northern border fence on Saturday, Palestinian hospital officials and a militant faction said.
They identified the men killed near the town of Beit Hanoun as members of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction.
An Israeli military spokesman had no immediate comment.
Earlier, an Israeli air strike in nearby Gaza City wounded three Palestinians, hospital officials said. It was not immediately clear if they had militant affiliations.
The military said the air force attacked a group of Palestinian gunmen after two rockets and two mortar bombs were fired into Israel from Gaza. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; editing by Richard Williams)

Insurgent 101: Yes The Marines Will Make Fun Of You

This ensued after a long firefight that ended at sunset. A U.S. Marine decided to keep his enemies awake all night. : )

Abbas At Arab Summit: ' Put Arab Peacekeeping Troops In Palestine '

Pali leader Mahmoud Abbas gets more insane everyday. At the Arab summit going on in Syria, this is his latest pearl of wisdom:

Abbas has called in the past for international peacekeepers in the Gaza Strip. But his call Saturday at an Arab summit in Damascus is the first time he has urged Arab countries to send forces. He asked Arab countries to "think seriously of Arab and international protection for our people."

So, here's a guy the world has basically said is the true path leader to peace in the Middle East saying that he wants ARAB soldiers in Gaza and the West Bank as "peacekeepers." Let me get that straight - he wants Syrian and Saudi and Egyptian soldiers walking around with weapons 2 feet from the Israeli border?!! How about tanks Abbas? You want the Arab countries to send in a couple hundred tanks too?

This guy takes a bigger dumb pill every day. And you know, I've personally had it that the U.S. even talks with this piece of shit. The guy is not only a terrorist leader, he's an imbecile. We are the world's greatest power and we waste our time continually with this muppet (yes, he does remind me of Ernie on the Muppets).

Okay, I have one question for you Abbas, that you probably didn't bother to think about. What happens when an Egyptian soldier for your "peacekeeping" force gets his head blown off by a Hamas jihadist? Huh? What happens then? Idiot.

NOTE: The link from Haaretz isn't working correctly right now. I'll put the link here in case it is up later.

At Syria summit, Abbas calls for Arab troops in Palestinian territories

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Arab leaders assembled at a Damascus summit Saturday to send peacekeeping troops to the Palestinian territories, as Arab leaders debated the future of a 2002 peace inititiative. Abbas spoke at the opening of a deeply divided annual Arab League summit that leaders of the U.S.'s top allies boycotted to protest Syria's hard-line stances in nearly every crisis in the Middle East.

Abbas took a sharply pessimistic tone over Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations launched in November. "The coming couple of months are decisive. If we don't reach a solution by the end of this year, it means the whole region will be on the verge of a new era of tension and loss of confidence in peace," Abbas said. He blasted in particular Israeli settlement expansion and recent Israeli military assaults in the Gaza Strip aimed at stopping Qassam rocket fire on Israeli towns. "It has become clear that the Israeli government is imposing on the ground the political solution that it wants," Abbas said. "Negotiations cannot continue under the Israeli bulldozers swallowing our land and building settlements and under the daily Israeli military operations." He urged the Quartet group of international mediators, who include the United States, to pressure Israel to meet the requirements of the U.S. road map peace plan, which include a settlement freeze. The requirements also call on the Palestinians to take action to stop militant violence.

Insurgent 101: This Is Why You Don't Want To Snipe Our Marines

British Defense Secretary: ' We Should Talk To The Taliban '

Oh just great...another spineless wonder from the U.K. And this time it is the Defense Secretary, Des Browne, who is trying to make nice nice with the bloody heathens of the Afghanistan mountains. Here is what this putz, Browne, had to say:

What you need to do in conflict resolution is to bring the people who believe that the answer to their political ambitions will be achieved through violence into a frame of mind that they accept that their political ambitions will be delivered by politics," he says.
There are different varieties of these organisations ... There's no question that some of them, if we succeed, will transfer into the political dimension."

That's it. This guy is a complete idiot. Let me try and refute Browne's argument:

1. The Taliban once ruled Afghanistan with an iron fist - they enslaved women, they closed schools to children and they reaped 100% of the opium profits of the land and made themselves millionaires. You honestly think the Taliban is going to SHARE this country now with the current government?
2. The Taliban follow the most stringent sect of islam - the most extreme form of the ideology and anyone who doesn't follow that, to them, is either an infidel or an apostate - so Mr. Browne, you see these Taliban sitting side to side with apostates and infidels in a parliament making laws and shooting the shit?
3. The Taliban risked everything they had to protect bin Laden. They lost it all. They want it back. You think, Secretary Browne, that a group such as this...one that believes so strongly in the mode of worldwide islamic terror, will simply want to participate in a democratic government that outlaws terror?

The British foreign policy seems to change daily - just when you think PM Gordon Brown might see the error of his ways and starts to talk tough, you get one of the flunkies from his cabinet come out like this and make fools of the Brits. In my view, appeasement doesn't suit a people who at one time, hunkered down in their homes and withstood a bombardment from Nazi bombs day in and day out. The British people deserve better than a yellow belly like Des Browne.

Here's the full story from The Telegraph.

We must talk to the Taliban, says Des Browne

His comments appear to contradict Gordon Brown's pledge last year that Britain would not negotiate with terrorists.
The Prime Minister told the Commons: "We will not enter into negotiations with these people."
But The Daily Telegraph disclosed two weeks later that MI6 had secret talks with the Taliban.
Mr Browne says his experience as a Northern Ireland minister convinced him that the West should be willing to have lines of communication open to Islamist extremists.

Mr Browne admits that his comments will be controversial. But he says the Government faced the same criticism in Northern Ireland.
"Now we see the two extremes sitting in government together and that is celebrated. I don't know anybody who doesn't think that's a better position to be in than hundreds of people losing their lives."
In the interview, the Defence Secretary says he remains "optimistic" about the situation in Iraq, despite this week's violence in Basra.
He rejects criticism of the decision to pull British troops out of the southern city. "We left at exactly the right time."
He insists there is "no plan" for troops to return to the city, although he says "we will do what is necessary to support [the Iraqis]".
He also says that British troops will move towards an "overwatch" position in Afghanistan.
The present level of pressure on the Armed Forces is, Mr Browne admits, unsustainable. "We can't do this for ever and we aren't."

Insurgent 101: Hellfires CAN Get You Behind A Wall!

C.A.I.R. Protests Female Muslim Prisoner Being Denied A Hijab

Oh boo hoo, CAIR. Once again, the terrorists at C.A.I.R. have asked federal and state officials to look into a grievous offense against islam. In this case, there is a muslim woman being held in a Virginia jail that isn't being allowed to wear her hijab (islamic head scarf) and of course, according to the asshats at CAIR, that is a major violation of her rights to her "religion." As most of you know, I don't link to the CAIR website but below this commentary you will find the entire article excerpted for you. Here's a bit of that article:

(WASHINGTON D.C., 3/25/08) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on state and federal authorities to investigate whether a Muslim woman facing deportation in Virginia is being denied proper medical treatment and the right to wear religiously-mandated attire.
According to the Muslim detainee's family, she has been denied the right to wear an Islamic headscarf (hijab) and is not receiving adequate medical care for renal, liver and mental health problems that require immediate treatment. She is being held at Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth, Va., pending deportation to Ethiopia.
"All those held in American prisons or detention facilities deserve proper medical care and the freedom to practice their faith," said CAIR Legal Counsel Nadhira Al-Khalili.

So, did you notice it? The woman is waiting to be deported to Ethiopia. In other words, she was either nabbed here as an illegal alien or she has done such aggregious offenses that the U.S. is shipping her sorry ass back to Africa.

Oh and get this, not only is CAIR asking that the woman being allowed to wear her hijab, they are demanding that the staff members at the jail in Virginia be given mandatory diversity training !

And once again, federal and state officials are burdened once again with a complaint from CAIR. If a complaint was filed every time a muslim in this country had plotted or partaken in violence against American society, our courts would be jammed for five years solid. This is CAIR once again holding a headscarf higher than the Constitution of the United States. This is islamic jihad propaganda like everything else that spews out of the offices of CAIR. It's high time that CAIR is subjected to charges of obstructing justice in this country. It's time that CAIR is sued in civil courts to recoup the monies spent on their false claims and phony law suits.

Below is the piece of crap propaganda from CAIR:

Muslim Group Seeks Medical, Religious Rights for VA Detainee

(WASHINGTON D.C., 3/25/08) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on state and federal authorities to investigate whether a Muslim woman facing deportation in Virginia is being denied proper medical treatment and the right to wear religiously-mandated attire.
According to the Muslim detainee's family, she has been denied the right to wear an Islamic headscarf (hijab) and is not receiving adequate medical care for renal, liver and mental health problems that require immediate treatment. She is being held at Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth, Va., pending deportation to Ethiopia.
"All those held in American prisons or detention facilities deserve proper medical care and the freedom to practice their faith," said CAIR Legal Counsel Nadhira Al-Khalili.
She noted that the Virginia Department of Corrections Division Operating Procedure (856), attachment 3A, states that an inmate is allowed a "religious hat or head covering" if its maximum length is to the shoulder and does not cover the face. Department policies also require that inmates be given proper health care while in custody.
In a letter to Gene M. Johnson, director of the Virginia Department of Corrections, Al-Khalili asked that the Muslim detainee be allowed to wear her religious headscarf and be provided with proper medical care. She also requested that the detainee not face retaliation and that the staff of Hampton Roads Regional Jail be offered diversity training.

Taliban Announce Start Of Spring Offensive

Okay, here we go again. Every year the Taliban come out and announce their annual pilgrimage into Death - that being their "Spring Offensive." If you recall, their touted spring offensive last year was met by countless bodies of Taliban stacked up like cordwood. Last years big push by the Taliban was a complete and utter disaster. Well, according to a new posting at a jihadist website, they are going to try it again. Here's the announcement:

"The winter season is about to end, and here spring looms on the horizon, and in order for the continuity of doing the holy jihad, with the coming spring season, the Islamic Emirate begins a new series of operations under the name 'Admonition'," it said.
"Our aim in these operations is to give the enemy an admonishing lesson through conclusive and painful strikes that he does not anticipate, until he knows and is compelled to end the occupation of Afghanistan and withdraw until the last soldier leaves."

The Taliban has previously sworn to a new campaign of attacks based primarily by suicide bomber and IED and that is probably what the brunt of this "offensive" will be - which really doesn't qualify as an offensive, in my mind. But at the same time, I think the NATO forces will probably see more attacks coming in areas that have been more calm in recent months and years. There are 3,200 new Marines in Helmand province and in Kandahar so the Taliban would more than likely be cut down like cornstalks in any front end assault there.

Will this Spring's offensive be as disastrous as last year's? Probably not. The Taliban more than likely have learned from the large scale frontal assaults and the organized ambushes but at the same time, I doubt there will be the huge impact of any operation that the Taliban are threatening here. Hopefully, the NATO forces have their own offensive planned.

Here's the full story from Reuters.

Taliban declares start of new Afghan offensive-Web

LONDON (Reuters) - The Taliban announced the start of a spring offensive in Afghanistan, promising "painful strikes" to force all enemy soldiers to leave, according to a Web message seen by a U.S.-based monitoring service on Thursday.
NATO-led forces have conducted wide-ranging offensives in southern Afghanistan to disrupt the insurgents ahead of spring, which each year heralds a surge in violence as the snows melt and fighters emerge from their mountain hideouts.
The Web message entitled "Taliban declares beginning of spring offensive in Afghanistan" was from Mullah Bradar Akhund, who styles himself deputy emir of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, according to a translation by the SITE Institute terrorism monitoring service seen in London.

The insurgents have already vowed to intensify attacks on Afghan and foreign troops countrywide, launch a wave of suicide bombings and attack supply lines from Pakistan this year in their campaign to overthrow the pro-Western government.
The Web statement said the Taliban would employ "new types of operations" across the country, according to the SITE Institute.

U.S. Airstrikes Called In For Basra

Some of you long time Holger Awakens readers will remember how vehemently I was opposed to the British withdrawl from Basra many months ago...well, I hate to tell you so, Gordon Brown, but I told you so, idiot! The battles in Basra this week have become so pitched that the U.S. was called in for airstrikes against the Sadrists and the Hizbullah Brigades. The Iraqi Army has been holding its own but I don't think either the U.S. or Iraqi leadership expected this type of resistance. And the whole reason for all of this was the hasty and unplanned retreat from Basra by the British that allowed all kinds of militia jihadists to infiltrate the Basra police ranks.
Here's an excerpt from the story of the air strikes:

A British military spokesman in Basra says U.S. warplanes have carried out at least two airstrikes overnight in Iraq's southern oil port.
Maj. Tom Holloway says jets have been providing air support since clashes between Shiite militias and Iraqi forces erupted in the southern oil port on Monday, but it's the first time bombs have been dropped.

The other issue with the Basra conflict is Iraq's Prime Minister Maliki...this guy needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut. Unlike a military commander who will make no promises of victory or set deadlines, this is the second time that Maliki has made braggadosio threats and predictions in a conflict - first, he promised a huge defeat of al Qaeda in Mosul and that campaign is still going on, painstakingly slowly and now he has been talking of a crushing defeat of the militias in Basra (and now, he has had to call out for help from American air power).

Basra was a marvel of military success by the British and if not for their new dhimmi Prime Minister in Britain, Basra would still be in control and peaceful.

Here's the full story from Breitbart.

US Jets Drop Bombs in Basra

Iraqis have been of control of security in Basra since the British withdrew last December, but Britain maintains troops there to provide assistance when needed.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
BAGHDAD (AP)—Coalition jets dropped bombs overnight in Basra for the first time since clashes between Shiite militias and Iraqi security forces erupted in the southern oil port this week, British officials said Friday.
Shiite militants also clashed with government forces for a fourth day in Iraq's oil-rich south and sporadic fighting broke out in Baghdad, despite a weekend curfew in the capital.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has promised "no retreat" in the fight against militias in Basra despite growing anger among followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army.
The crackdown has intensified Sadrist anger over recent raids and detentions. They say U.S. and Iraqi forces have taken advantage of their seven-month-old cease-fire to target the movement.
Al-Sadr on Thursday called for a political solution to the burgeoning crisis and an end to the "shedding of Iraqi blood." But the statement, released by a close aide, stopped short of ordering his Mahdi Army militia to halt attacks.
The situation in Basra remained tense after the Iraqis asked for airstrikes on at least two locations, a local British official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.
A British defense official in London who also declined to be identified in line with department policy, however, said U.S. fighter jets dropped the bombs while British planes provided air support.
Iraqis have been of control of security since the British withdrew last December but Britain maintain troops there to provide assistance when needed.
In Baghdad, a U.S. helicopter also fired a Hellfire missile during fighting in the Baghdad's militia stronghold of Sadr City early Friday, killing four gunmen, military spokesman Lt. Col. Steve Stover said.
Ground forces called for the airstrike after coming under small-arms fire while clearing a main supply route at 4:10 a.m., he added.
Iraqi police and hospital officials in Sadr City said five civilians were killed and four others wounded in the attack.
The strikes underscore the risks that the U.S. and its allies in Iraq could be drawn into an internal Shiite conflict that has threatened to unravel al-Sadr's cease-fire and spark a new cycle of violence after months of relative calm.

Taliban 101: Do NOT Hide On TOP Of A Mountain!

New Poll: 1 Out of 10 Americans Think Obama Is Muslim

I'm sorry, I just can't stop laughing at this one! At this point in time, with all of the hype and denials and all of the campaigning and all of the articles and all of the MSM coverage, Presidential hopeful Barack Obama is STILL seen as a muslim by 10 percent of the American people, according to a new poll.
Here's the entire brief article from YNET and I've excerpted it below in its entirety:

One in 10 US voters believes Barack Obama is Muslim, a mistaken impression that lingers across party lines, a poll showed Wednesday.
Fourteen percent of Republicans, 10 percent of Democrats and 8 percent of independents mistakenly think he is Muslim, according to a survey by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. Just over half of each group correctly identified him as Christian, while about a third said they don't know his religion.

Haha! I love the fact that only a little over half identify him as a Christian - of course, after watching the way Obama's preacher acts and speaks from a pulpit, that could be pretty understandable.

But if we look at this seriously, this bodes well for the Republicans this Fall. Obviously, there is a major disconnect going on with the Obama campaign - I can see some higher numbers for Republicans polled but 10 percent of DEMOCRATS???!!! Simply put, I love it.

Insurgent 101: This Is How An Abrams Tank Commander Gets Ready For You

We're The Good Guys, They Are The Bad Guys

I ran across this article at Family Security Matters, written by Tom McLaughlin that really does a nice job of underlining why we are fighting the terrorists and also, why we must enter the fray of propaganda in order to make the true position more clear.
It's my view that McLaughlin hits the nail on the head when he describes the following:

Our enemy is winning the war of ideas because they have no opposition. Propagandizing doesn’t mean telling lies the way our enemy does, it means making our case. It’s teaching Americans what our enemies want to do to us. It’s outlining the choices the world has to make, including people in Iran, Syria, and every other country supporting terrorism. Do you want to live under Sharia Law or not? Do you want schools teaching your children to become suicide bombers? Decide. Then take a side. There’s no middle ground.

He details out how and why Americans literally do not view the threat. Some people, including me, simply cannot fathom how ANY American cannot see the threat to our Land from islamofascism. It simply boggles my mind how a person can walk around America and be blind to this threat.
Another example of what the author points out as a fact:

Still others insist that, while it may seem wrong that radical Muslims want to kill us, they’re following the dictates of their culture and we cannot condemn them because all cultures are equal. Ours is no better than theirs. When we fight back, we make Islamofascists angrier, producing more terrorists.

Does that argument sound familiar? Well, for one, that stance has been put out there by the man running for the Office of the Presidency - Barack Obama has said that there were no al Qaeda in Iraq prior to us going in there. He has made the claim that we , the U.S., created that anger and brought terrorists out of the woodwork.

It's my feeling that McLaughlin has really nailed it with his call for the U.S., for people like you and me, to actively engage the Country in this propaganda war. We HAVE to keep hammering the message of the threat. The stakes are simply too high for us to stand by and let the Left and the jihadists control the spin on the World's number one evil.

Why We Fight
Tom McLaughlin

We’re the good guys. They’re the bad guys. It’s really that simple, but Americans don’t know it and that’s why we’re in danger of losing this war. Many hear that we’re the bad guys and our enemies are justified. Most recently it was Barack Obama’s minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, preaching “White America” got what it deserved on September 11th. Before him, it was former University of Colorado Professor Ward Churchill who called the 3,000 victims “Little Eichmans” after the Nazi murderer. Before him, University of New Mexico Professor Richard Berthold taught that: "Anyone who can bomb the Pentagon has my vote."Others scoff at my good guys/bad guys synopsis, insisting it’s not that simple. According to them, there is no good/bad, right/wrong. Everything is gray. Everything is relative, and they believe that anyone who sees this war as I do is unintelligent at best and a warmonger at worst.Still others insist that, while it may seem wrong that radical Muslims want to kill us, they’re following the dictates of their culture and we cannot condemn them because all cultures are equal. Ours is no better than theirs. When we fight back, we make Islamofascists angrier, producing more terrorists.Then there are the pacifists with bumper stickers professing “War is Not the Answer” no matter what the question – even if the question is, “How can we stop those proclaiming ‘Death to America’ from killing us?”Liberals embrace some combination of the above, constantly reinforced by a Mainstream Media reporting only when the war is going badly for us. It’s no wonder America is divided. Clearly we’re losing the propaganda war, which is becoming the most important theater in our struggle against radical Islam. We haven’t even begun to fight it.

Our enemies propagandize so effectively that, although they shoot rockets into Israel every single day, the world sees them as the victims. Hamas terrorists know Israel must kill civilians to take out their rocket launchers and this generates more grist for the propaganda mill. And when it threatens to stop supplying electricity, fuel and water to the very people trying to kill them Israel is condemned! Can propaganda be any more effective than that? I don’t see how.

America's Network Solutions Abruptly Ends Web Hosting With Hezbollah Amid Halting Of Dutch Film Controversy

Isn't it amazing what a little time under the spotlight will do to a company? Network Solutions is the American-based web site registrar that blocked access to the website of Geert Wilders' upcoming movie, Fitna and just yesterday, it was revealed that Network Solutions abruptly pulled the plug on another site it had registered - that site was owned by the terrorist group, Hezbollah. Now, when you pull up the link to the story, the first 3/4 of the article is about the Wilders controversy but there is an update towards the bottom of the article that discusses the nixing of the Hezbollah site. The full story is here from The Washington Post. And here is an excerpt from that update:

Update, Mar. 26, 9:42 a.m. ET: NetworkSolutions on Monday pulled the plug on Hizbollah.org, one of the official Web sites of Hezbollah, a political and paramilitary group in Lebanon. NetworkSolutions spokeswoman Susan Wade confirmed that the company suspended the domain in response to numerous complaints, and to findings that the site violated the company's acceptable use policy.

Incredible, isn't it? Network Solutions makes this out of the blue decision to pull the plug on the Wilders site because they claim it could be to incendiary to muslims and the whole bloody time, these people are hosting a site operated by one of the world's most notorious islamic terrorist groups. So that leads to the TRUE reason why Network Solutions pulled the plug on the Dutch site, doesn' it?

I think it is high time that FBI and Homeland Security officials make a full investigation of Network Solutions and its parent company for terror violations.

Network Solutions Pre-Censors Anti-Islam Site

Update, Mar. 26, 9:42 a.m. ET: NetworkSolutions on Monday pulled the plug on Hizbollah.org, one of the official Web sites of Hezbollah, a political and paramilitary group in Lebanon. NetworkSolutions spokeswoman Susan Wade confirmed that the company suspended the domain in response to numerous complaints, and to findings that the site violated the company's acceptable use policy. As noted in the comments for this post, Hezbollah is rather prominently included under the U.S. State Department's list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. FTOs are designated under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and under that law it is illegal "for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide 'material support or resources' to a designated FTO." So, complaint or no, NetworkSolutions would appear to have been in violation of that law until it terminated its contract with Hizbollah.

Fort Dix Terror Suspects Taped Talking Of Assassination of President Bush

With the MSM busy suppressing most everything concerning the attempted terror attacks in Fort Dix last year, it's hard to find updates but this one reveals more serious plotting by the suspected terrorists. This is an excerpt from the story from NJ.com:

The South Jersey men accused of plotting an attack on Fort Dix talked about getting high-powered rifles and firing on the White House or U.S. soldiers, prosecutors say in new court filings.
One of the defendants, Eljvir Duka, said he wanted to train to be a sniper. "Do you think I could hit George Bush ... " he allegedly asked his brother, Dritan Duka.
At another point, Dritan Duka laughed and said he would join the U.S. military so he could "kill from inside."

So, while the MSM and Dems in America scoffed at the arrests of these jihadists, the proof is coming out now about just how serious they were and to what extent they were planning to carry out their plot.

Oh and of course, the defense attorney for one of these chumps is claiming that his client and the others weren't serious. Well, last time I checked, if you make threats like this, even jokingly, you are in serious shit. And these guys were serious - they might have been inept to a good extent but the fact is they were cooking up a plot and luckily they were caught. And if Americans of the Left keep downplaying this stuff, they will wake up to bigger and bigger nightmares.

Prosecutors: Dix plotters spoke of arms, attacks

The remarks were recorded in February 2007 by an FBI confidential informant who had accompanied the suspects to a firing range in the Pocono Mountains.
Prosecutors disclosed the transcripts for the first time this week, as they asked a federal judge to impose a harsh punishment against the only defendant to plead guilty so far. Agron Abdullahu, a 25-year-old supermarket baker from Buena Vista Township, is scheduled to be sentenced Monday on weapons charges.
Authorities have described the other defendants, four from Cherry Hill and one from Philadelphia, as "home-grown terrorists" and "radical Islamists" who wanted to storm Fort Dix with automatic weapons and kill as many soldiers as possible. Arrested last May, they face a September trial on charges that include conspiring to kill U.S. military members, a crime punishable by life in prison.
Abdullahu wasn't part of that plot, but last fall he pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide illegal immigrants with firearms. Abdullahu, a legal immigrant from Kosovo, brought four guns on a weekend trip to the Pocono Mountains for his friends to shoot.
Federal sentencing guidelines recommend between 10 and 16 months for the crime. Like the others, Abdullahu has been jailed since his arrest, so he could possibly walk free next week.
In their filing, Deputy U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hammer asked U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler to depart from the guidelines and impose a term that would keep him in prison. They say Abdullahu heard his friends rant against America and knew they were devoted to participating in a jihad.
"As the only participant in the 2007 Poconos trip with a firearm license, defendant Abdullahu was single-handedly responsible for putting fireams in the hands of men whom he knew to be extremely dangerous," they wrote.

Gaza Bakeries Go On Strike Because Hamas Won't Raise Bread Prices

Hahahaha! And the World wants these idiots to have a state? Let's face it, Gaza is a bloody mess and I'm not talking about jihadi blood - it is a financial mess and a testament of how stupid the palis were to elect Hamas to ANYTHING.
Here's a bit from the article:

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Bakers in Gaza refused to bake bread Wednesday, charging that Hamas is keeping prices artificially low to head off unrest among their sanctions-weary people.
Gaza has been facing severe shortages during months of international and Israeli restrictions, and the bakery strike sent people into a frenzy. Hundreds converged on bakeries in the middle of the night to stock up on bread.

Here's a bunch of palis lining up to get a loaf of bread while BILLIONS of dollars have been sent to them from the world in aid. Where is the fucking money, Hamas? Abbas, where is the money??? The fact of the matter is that the world is still giving millions and millions in aid to the palis and that money goes to support terrorist acts against the Israelis and pay off debts to Tehran.

These are a disgusting people who don't know their asses from holes in the ground and this story is a perfect example of why Jordan and Egypt and Lebanon and Syria won't take these misfits in.

Here's the full story at Canadian Business News.

Gaza Bakeries Go on Strike Because Hamas Refuses to Raise Price of Bread


GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Bakers in Gaza refused to bake bread Wednesday, charging that Hamas is keeping prices artificially low to head off unrest among their sanctions-weary people.
Gaza has been facing severe shortages during months of international and Israeli restrictions, and the bakery strike sent people into a frenzy. Hundreds converged on bakeries in the middle of the night to stock up on bread.
On Wednesday, bakeries were still selling expensive baguettes and white bread, a luxury for most Gazans. Bakers said their strike is open-ended until Hamas lets them raise prices to cope with the shortage of goods resulting from an Israeli blockade.

Defying the strike, Hamas said it will not budge on bread prices. In recent weeks, Hamas has closed 11 bakeries for trying to raise prices.
A 3-kilogram bag of pita bread, a staple in Gaza meals, sells for $2.30. The owners want to increase it to $2.50. The price in the West Bank is as high as $4.20.
"It is unbearable," said Osama al-Duleimi, a partner in a Gaza City bakery, who said he has lost $15,000 of his own money in the past six months to keep the business afloat. "There is no future this way for us."

Funding From Foreign Donors Shows CAIR's True Agenda

Steven Emerson is one of the only people that can lay out so well the true agenda of C.A.I.R. here in the United States. In an article here at Family Security Matters, Emerson lays out all of the damning evidence of CAIR's lies and deceit and how their links to the Holy Land Foundation and other islamic groups worldwide are proof of CAIR's real intentions. Look at some of these excerpts:

- HLF made a $5,000 donation to the then-newly formed CAIR as early as 1994. Apparently sensitive to the impact public disclosure of their group's funding by HLF could have, CAIR's leaders repeatedly denied any such connection.
Asked during a 2003 civil deposition, "Did they [HLF] give you any money to help start CAIR?" Omar Ahmed, one of its incorporators, flatly responded, "No."

- CAIR, in turn, repeatedly co-sponsored fundraisers for the Hamas-linked organization. Such funding appeals were made in 1999, ostensibly to help refugees forced to flee Kosovo, and again in 2000, at a time when the U.S. Agency for International Development already had announced plans to terminate HLF's USAID registration on grounds that it was "contrary to the national defense and foreign policy interest of the United States."

I hope that comes through loud and clear. CAIR LIED about receiving donations and at the same time, was sponsoring the efforts of a terrorist organization. The proof is there and no amount of spin or lies from CAIR will deny it. Here's another example:

- A Saudi embassy press release issued in August 1999 reported that the Islamic Development Bank, a Saudi-based entity, donated "$250,000 as a contribution to the purchase of land in Washington D.C. to be the headquarters for an education and research center under the aegis of the Council for American Islamic Relations."
- In an article headlined, "US Muslims Split Over Saudi Donations," the Associated Press reported that Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal had given CAIR $500,000.

The evidence is massive and in my view, the U.S. better get back in court with CAIR fast - it's time that CAIR escapes this "unindicted" status and becomes the accused. Under the noses of Congress, CAIR set itself up as a veiled organization that is busy working to support worldwide terrorism and to bring a soft jihad to America. They are a wolf in the midst of a flock of sheep. This evidence doesn't need to be seen in an online magazine's pages but in the middle of a Federal Court. It's my view that the leaders of CAIR need to be tried in the same manner as the terrorists at Ft. Dix - conspiracy is conspiracy.

Funding Ties with HLF and Foreign Donors Show CAIR's True Agenda
Steven Emerson

The Council on American-Islamic Relation (CAIR)'s financing over the years challenges its self-description as a benevolent group out to protect the civil rights of the Muslim community in the United States.
The clichéd admonition to "follow the money" gives a clear picture of the group's actual role as an enabler for organizations linked by the U.S. government to Islamic terrorism, prominently including the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF).
Indeed it shows a two-way flow of support both to and from HLF, which since has been named as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization and indicted on charges of providing material support to Hamas. Our examination of CAIR focuses today on its finances.

- CAIR has received significant financial support from the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), a Saudi-supported group that publishes materials promoting religious hatred – for example, advising Muslims to "teach our children to love taking revenge on the Jews and the oppressors…and make jihad for the sake of Allah." In December 1999, WAMY announced at a Riyadh press conference – attended by Awad -- that it "was extending both moral and financial support to CAIR in its effort to construct a $3.5 million headquarters in Washington, D.C."
- Again, in November 2002, The Muslim World reported that CAIR and WAMY would cooperate on a million dollar public relations campaign and that Awad was scheduled to meet with Prince Walled Ibn Talal.
- CAIR has received repeated donations from the International Relief Organization (IRO), the American branch of the Saudi-funded International Islamic Relief Organization. IRO's Virginia offices were raided by the FBI in 1997 as part of a money laundering and terrorism investigation, and again in 2002 by Operation Greenquest, a federal task force targeting the financiers of Al Qaeda and other international terrorist groups.
Between 2000 and 2003, CAIR received $19,500 from the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT). Significant financial, ideological and personal connections exist between IIIT and the World and Islam Studies Enterprise (WISE), which the U.S. government has identified as a front for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Basra Conflict Represents Defining Moment For Iraq's Maliki

Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is in Basra as I write this, overseeing Iraqi Army operations against a myriad of Sadr militias, Iranian-backed Shiite militias, and the Hizballuh Brigades of Iraq and this represents a hugely defining moment in Maliki's leadership of the new government. Some might say this is a defining moment for all of Iraq. The article here from TIME does a good job of laying out what has happened over the past year in Basra and this is a good snippet of that:

Many Iraqis blame Basra's descent into chaos on flawed British strategy. They contend that in their haste to draw down forces, the British did little to train and bolster the local police force. Instead, many militia fighters were recruited into the police, making the force a part of Basra's problems rather than a solution.

But what I think this means to Maliki is even more. He is personally seeing for himself just how tough the job has been for the American troops that have given so much to see that violence subsides in his country. American politicians have told Maliki that his government needs to make progress politically and quickly and this operation in Basra should show the kind of sacrifice that America has made. This is a tough situation in Basra and also, don't forget that Maliki is also involved personally in the operations going on to try and wrest control of Mosul from al Qaeda.

What Maliki will find out is this: his country would not exist today if it weren't for the defense of it by the Americans and coalition troops over the past 2 years. At the same time, it is good that the Americans have left the Basra operation to the Iraqis - this will test their ability to stand up to the presence that will be there when U.S. troops eventually withdraw. I think the down side here is that the Iraqi Army will find the Basra operation will take weeks, if not months to control - the Iranians, the Sadrists and Hezbollah have a lot invested in Basra and won't give up their control and influence there.

But when it all shakes out and America expresses its disappointment in the political progress in Iraq, Maliki will KNOW just why we are in that frame of mind.

Maliki's Moment of Truth in Basra

The massive operation by the Iraqi army in Basra could be a defining battle against Shi'ite militias. Reports from the southern city — the hub of Iraq's oil industry and gateway to its main ports — say fierce fighting has broken out between government forces and militias. Eyewitnesses have told TIME of several smoke plumes rising out of the city's northern districts, and the sound of explosions and gunfire. Iraqi TV channels have shown images of helicopters flying over the city, and troops sweeping through some streets. At least 22 people were killed, and 58 wounded, in the fighting

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived in Basra on Monday, accompanied by his ministers for defense and the interior, to personally supervise the operation. For Maliki, this is a crucial show of force. For much of the past three years, the Iraqi government has had little influence over Basra. As British troops have steadily withdrawn from the city, it has fallen into the control of three major Shi'ite militias — Moqtada al'Sadr's Mahdi Army, the Iran-backed Badr Brigades and a local group associated with the Fadila Party. The three have recently fought turf battles over large swaths of the city, claiming hundreds of lives.
Although there are over 4,000 British troops at a base outside Basra, they have done little to curb the violence. "We have a capacity to provide air and other specialist support if needed, but at this time British involvement is minimal," a British Ministry of Defense spokesman said, declining to be identified in accordance with department policy. Many Iraqis blame Basra's descent into chaos on flawed British strategy. They contend that in their haste to draw down forces, the British did little to train and bolster the local police force. Instead, many militia fighters were recruited into the police, making the force a part of Basra's problems rather than a solution.
Maliki's government has repeatedly sworn to bring the militias to heel, but this is the first major offensive it has mounted in Basra. Early reports suggest the military drive is targeting the Mahdi Army, which controls much of northern Basra. But Iraqi officials have said Tuesday the operation will continue until all militias have surrendered.
Maliki's government and the Iraqi Army desperately need a big military success. Most of the credit for the reduction in violence across Iraq over the past year has gone to the U.S. military's "surge" strategy, and to the Sunni tribes that switched sides to fight al-Qaeda. The Iraqi security forces have appeared, at best, mere spectators; at worst, they are seen as sectarian militias in uniform. A spectacular win in Basra would help give the army and police some much-needed credibility among ordinary Iraqis.

Battles In Basra, Iraq Are NOT With Sadr's Mahdi Army But Hezbollah

Everywhere you look on the net today you will see headlines such as: Sadr's Mahdi Army Battles in Four Cities or Basra Scene of Sadr Militia Fighting Iraqi Troops. The problem with that is that it isn't primarily Mookie's army that is waging battle, it is Hezbollah's entrant into the Iraq War, namely Hizballah Brigades of Iraq. The fact of the matter is that the Hizballah Brigades and Sadr's bunch of militia misfits are aligned but don't be fooled, this latest wave of violence and attacks is Hezbollah's doing. This is from the article:

It was the governments first challenge to the dominant new armed force, the Hizballah Brigades of Iraq, which our sources report raised its head in mid-January in several parts of the country, including Baghdad

Now, what this opportunity does afford the United States is a unique scenario. If members of the Hizballah Brigades of Iraq are captured and confess to their base of operations being Hezbollah in Lebanon, then we have every right to go after Lebanon operations. It's my view that the U.S. has always been lacking a direct damning reason to be able to attack Hamas or Hezbollah - we have always had to defer somewhat to Israel as they have been the target. Now, WE are the target of Hezbollah and it's time to lower the boom on these clowns.

Who knows, if we are able to lay some hurt on Hezbollah in Lebanon, it may just flush out Ahmadinejad's hand in Iran - and it would be a very good thing to see the Iranians have to play their cards well before they are ready.

Bottom line here is that with the Brits bailing out of Basra, the Iraqi Army and police are not going to be able to match up with Hezbollah training and expertise. Sooner or later, unfortunately, we are going to have American blood spilled by a Hizballah Brigades jihadist and when that happens, I , personally, want to see retribution happen in a Beirut suburb. Yeah, Nasrallah...i'm talking about you, chump.

Here's the full story from DEBKA.

Exclusive: At least 27 killed, 100 injured, in first Iraqi forces' showdown with Hizballah in Iraq

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that heavy fighting was sparked in the southern Iraqi oil hub city Tuesday, March 25, by the major clean-up campaign embarked on by Iraqi government forces under prime minister Nouri al Maliki‘s personal command. It was the governments first challenge to the dominant new armed force, the Hizballah Brigades of Iraq, which our sources report raised its head in mid-January in several parts of the country, including Baghdad. More than 27 dead and 100 injured reported in the first hours of the Iraqi clampdown. The Shiite towns of Kut, Samawa and Nasiriyeh are under curfew.
DEBKAfile reports: Some of Muqtada Sadr’s Mehdi Army followers threatened civil revolt in solidarity with Hizballah. The two radical Shiite groups are closely allied.
The next DEBKA-Net-Weekly out Friday closely examines Iraq’s changing battlefield and brings fresh disclosures.
The new arrival has joined the armed Shiite groups and criminal gangs battling for control of Basra and its oil resources. Ignored by the international media, the Iraqi Hizballah draws on its Lebanese command for orders, fighters, arms and cash. A tentacle of the Lebanese Shiite terror group has therefore quietly grabbed a piece of the insurgent action in Iraq under the aegis of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards al Qods Brigades.
The free-for-all in southern Iraq drove a reduced British force into a closed base in the region last December. They are not involved in the current combat, although “coalition air power” is said to be assisting the Iraqi forces.

Saudi King Calls For Interfaith Dialogue Between Muslims, Christians and Jews

Okay, most of the world is doing back flips because Saudi King Abdullah has called for a worldwide dialogue among the major religions. Here's what the Saudi ruler said:

"The idea is to ask representatives of all monotheistic religions to sit together with their brothers in faith and sincerity to all religions as we all believe in the same God," the king told delegates Monday night at a seminar on "Culture and the Respect of Religions."

Now, for those that know me well through Holger Awakens, I wouldn't trust an islamist as far as I could throw him. And I certainly don't trust this gesture by the Saudi King. Flat out, this is a smokescreen, in my view. Look at what is said specifically about the Saudis and muslims actually meeting with Jews:

Prominent Saudi cleric, Sheik Muhammad al-Nujaimi, said he saw no reason why any Saudi official, including Abdullah, cannot meet with Jewish religious leaders. "The only condition is for the rabbi not to be supportive of the massacres against the Palestinian people," he said.

You see what I mean? This is the same song and dance we've heard for years and decades. These Saudi swine are looking for a world forum to hopefully pressure and embarass the Israelis. Believe me, this is not about religions coming together (afterall, as a muslim, the Saudi King knows he is tasked with overcoming all infidels and making them submit or pay up) ...no this is all about the dredges of palestine - this is a renewed effort to focus the world on those poor innocents in palestine and how unjust Israel is to them. This is bullshit.


Let's not forget one other thing. At the peace conference last year in Annapolis, the Saudis would not even meet in the same room with the Israelis - it was discovered later that the Saudis did not want any chance of having to shake hands with a Jew. When is the world going to wake up to the fact that Islam is NOT a religion and that these messengers of this political ideology are all liars and villains?

Here' s the full story from Breitbart.

Saudi King Calls for Interfaith Dialogue



RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - The Saudi king has made an impassioned plea for dialogue among Muslims, Christians and Jews—the first such proposal from a nation with no diplomatic ties to Israel and a ban on non-Muslim religious services and symbols.
The message from King Abdullah, which was welcomed by Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders, comes at a time of stalled peace initiatives and escalating tensions in the region.
Muslims have been angered by cartoons published in European papers seen as insulting the Prophet Muhammad and by the pope's baptizing on Easter of a Muslim journalist who had converted to Catholicism.
"The idea is to ask representatives of all monotheistic religions to sit together with their brothers in faith and sincerity to all religions as we all believe in the same God," the king told delegates Monday night at a seminar on "Culture and the Respect of Religions."
The specifics of Abdullah's initiative—and who would participate—remained unclear, in particular whether Israeli religious leaders would be invited to a Saudi-brokered dialogue. The kingdom and all other Arab nations except Egypt and Jordan do not have diplomatic relations with Israel and generally shun unofficial contacts.
The call—the first of its kind by an Arab leader—was significant. The Saudi monarch is the custodian of Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina, a position that lends his words special importance and influence. Abdullah said Saudi Arabia's top clerics have given him the green light—crucial backing in a society that expects decisions taken by its rulers to adhere to Islam's tenets.
It also raises the possibility that a religious dialogue could have a political impact in the Middle East, easing tensions between Arabs and Israelis in a way that years of off-and-on negotiations and political conferences have failed to do.
The White House welcomed the king's gesture.
"We think increased dialogue is a really good thing," presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino said Tuesday. "And, of course, when you have someone like the king of Saudi Arabia, and all of his stature, that is recommending such a dialogue, it can only give us hope that there would be further recognition of everyone's right to freedom and freedom of expression and religion. So we are encouraged by it."
Abdullah said he planned to hold conferences to get the opinion of Muslims from other parts of the world, and then meetings with "our brothers" in Christianity and Judaism "so we can agree on something that guarantees the preservation of humanity against those who tamper with ethics, family systems and honesty."
Abdullah, who said he discussed the idea with Pope Benedict XVI when they met at the Vatican in November, framed his appeal in strictly religious and ethical terms, aimed at addressing the weakening of the family, increasing atheism and "a lack of ethics, loyalty, and sincerity for our religions and humanity."
A Saudi official with knowledge of the proposal said it was not intended to have a regional political angle, saying "the initiative is not aimed at the Middle East but at the whole world. It's a global initiative." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Hezbollah's Nasrallah: ' The Zionist Entity Can Be Wiped Out Of Existence '

Once again I ask the question: Why is Hassan Nasrallah still walking this earth? Certainly, it would be ten times easier to take out Nasrallah than it was Mughniyeh. Anyway, I digress. Hezbollah's Lebanese leader stated the following in a speech in Lebanon:

"The Zionist entity can be wiped out of existence," Nasrallah said in his address via video link, referring to Israel. "Our nation is stronger now than ever before," he added.
"There is a military political victory termed the withdrawal of the occupation army from southern Lebanon, but there is also an ideological victory in the battle of consciousness," he said.
"The battle's end is nowhere on the horizon because Israel is smart and cannot be defeated," Nasrallah continued. "However," he added, "we too have waged a war of consciousness with the Zionists, both in our defensive and offensive actions. Today, your sons and Imad Mughniyah and Jihad, who fight in Palestine and Lebanon, are creating a new Zionist consciousness.

Now, I do want to point out an interesting part of this that perhaps you might have missed (I did the first time I read it). Let's look at that first statement about Nasrallah's speech:

"The Zionist entity can be wiped out of existence," Nasrallah said in his address via video link, referring to Israel.

See that? Big old tough guy Hassan Nasrallah, the fearless Lion of Hezbollah, now is cowering in his basement while he addresses his throngs of jihadist supporters. What's the matter, Nasrallah? You a little nervous after Mughniyeh ended up in 1000 pieces?

Make no mistake about Nasrallah though. He is intent on an operation against Israel and I still claim that from the Israeli standpoint, taking the offensive is often your best defense. Here's the full story from Haaretz.

Nasrallah: The Zionist entity can be wiped out of existence

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Monday told tens of thousands of supporters in Beirut that Israel could be eliminated and that the prowess of its army had been exaggerated by "Zionist-American propaganda." "The Zionist entity can be wiped out of existence," Nasrallah said in his address via video link, referring to Israel. "Our nation is stronger now than ever before," he added. Nasrallah's speech was broadcast live at a rally marking the end of the 40-day mourning period for slain Hezbollah military chief Imad Mughniyah, who was assassinated in a car bombing in Damascus last month.

The Lebanon-based guerilla group Hezbollah has repeatedly blamed Israel for the assassination of the group's second in command, but Israel has categorically denied any involvement. Nasrallah also addressed the negotiations over the release of the Israel Defense Forces soldiers held by Hezbollah, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, and confirmed the report in Haaretz Monday that the talks were continuing. "Although the Israelis have killed the pillar of the resistance, we did not halt the negotiations on a prisoner exchange," he said, disclosing that meetings were recently held with United Nations mediators. "We will not stop the negotiations ... because we want to achieve one of the aspirations of martyr Imad Mughniyah, that is, to see our prisoner brothers free among their parents and loved ones," Nasrallah said. In addition to the two Israeli soldiers whose capture by Hezbollah in July 2006 triggered a summer war between Israel and Hezbollah, Nasrallah said in January his group had the remains of other soldiers killed in the fighting. There are believed to be seven Lebanese prisoners in Israeli custody. The Hezbollah leader also criticized what he called joint American and Israeli efforts to distort the truth through the media, saying "Zionist-American propaganda is aiming to harm our nation's consciousness. They, using their violent system, are trying to tell us that we are weak and powerless. They want to tell us that we don't have any hopes of winning." He argued that the victories presented by the Israeli military are blown out of proportion by this propaganda machine, that has been operating for 60 years (since the establishment of the state of Israel.) "The media has aggrandized this army and the Israeli soldier, officer and general," he said.

Israel Unveils New Defense System For Gaza

This is pretty cool - it's like a drone on the ground! haha The IDF has developed a defense system situated on the Gaza border with Israel that utilizes cameras and machine guns in trying to halt any jihadist border attacks. And although the IDF says this doesn't replace troops on the ground, it certainly takes some risk out of some volatile areas. From the article:

The systems, which are equipped with a camera and a machine gun, enable soldiers to watch any activity that takes place near the fence and if necessary to fire at the push of a button. The new system will soon be officially declared "operational."

I predict the first report out of Gaza of one of these systems killing a civilian in about a week after they are operational - the palis will most likely claim that one of these evil zionist machines has cut down some children - unlike the Hamas fighters who strap suicide belts on kids and send them walking through mine fields.
But bottom line is that Israel needs to continually upgrade their defenses. The Gaza border will certainly see its share of activity over the next six months.

Here's the full story from YNET.

IDF deploys new anti-terror system around Gaza

In recent months, the IDF Southern Command has integrated the system into its operational routine and instructed IDF field intelligence troops on using it. The system was developed by the Israel Armament Development Authority.

'System not supposed to replace soldiers'
At this time, one system has been deployed north of the Gaza Strip. Additional systems will be deployed along the fence in the near future.
"The system is not supposed to replace soldiers on the ground, and it won't replace the need to charge at terrorists when necessary," an IDF official said.
"We will be able to distinguish between terrorists and innocent civilians," another military official said. "We won't fire needlessly, yet at the same time we are responsible for protecting IDF soldiers."

"Beyond this, through the system we will be able to upgrade our abilities to identify the enemy and thwart attacks in a more effective manner," he said.
Ever since IDF troops left the Gaza Strip, soldiers were able to thwart hundreds of attempts to breach the border fence and carry out attacks. However, IDF officials stress that terror groups are still highly motivated to carry out attacks, prompting the army to constantly improve its defenses.