C.A.I.R. Demands Hollywood Studio Change Movie Title (Film Is Entitled "Towelhead")

This is hilarious! The radical islamists at C.A.I.R. have decided that they simply cannot have an American film hit the movie screens across the country with the title of "Towelhead!" Hahahaha!
As most of you know, I refuse to link the CAIR's website but you can find the story at CAIRcom if you like and I've excerpted the whole thing at the end of this post, but here's what the resident Los Angeles asshat from CAIR wrote to the executives at Warner Bros.:

In the letter to Warner Bros Chairman and CEO Barry M. Meyer, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said in part:
“The title…is of great concern to us, since the word is commonly used in a derogatory manner against people of the Muslim faith or Arab origin…We have no desire to inhibit the creative process or your right to produce any film you wish. However, I ask you to take the above concerns into consideration and examine the social implications of releasing the film under its current title, ‘Towelhead.’”

Further he writes:

“It is unfortunate that a major film studio would choose to exploit an ethnic slur as a sensational promotion for a movie,” said Ayloush. “Mainstreaming a bigoted term in this manner will only serve to legitimize and normalize anti-Muslim prejudice in our society.”

I don't know about you but i'm a helluva lot more comfortable in using the term "raghead" than "towelhead." In fact, I haven't seen the term towelhead used in a long time. Haha.

But on a serious note, this is just further example of how CAIR does not seek the protection of Islamic rights in America, they seek EXCEPTIONS for muslims in America! They want special protections and special treatments for muslims - always have, always will. They cloak their terrorism in a veil of relations between muslim-americans and Americans yet in truth, they seek DOMINANCE for muslim-Americans. Simple truth.

I'm guessing CAIR hasn't found out about the latest porn offering from Ackbar Films entitled " Mo Does The San Jose Goat Convention."

CAIR Asks Studio to Change ‘Towelhead’ Film Title

LOS ANGELES, CA, 8/25/08) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today called on Warner Bros. and Warner Independent Pictures to consider changing the title of the soon-to-be-released film “Towelhead” because that derogatory term is offensive to American Muslims and Arab-Americans. CAIR says Muslims and Arab-Americans view the term “towelhead” as a racial and religious slur.
In a letter sent last week to studio executives, the Islamic civil rights and advocacy group asked that the film be called “Nothing is Private” – a title previously used in some markets.
Click here to view the "Towelhead" trailer.
In the letter to Warner Bros Chairman and CEO Barry M. Meyer, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said in part:
“The title…is of great concern to us, since the word is commonly used in a derogatory manner against people of the Muslim faith or Arab origin…We have no desire to inhibit the creative process or your right to produce any film you wish. However, I ask you to take the above concerns into consideration and examine the social implications of releasing the film under its current title, ‘Towelhead.’”
Ayloush said that although Warner Bros. executives have made it clear they intended no offense, the use of such a derogatory term by a major film studio will serve to increase its acceptability in public discourse.
“It is unfortunate that a major film studio would choose to exploit an ethnic slur as a sensational promotion for a movie,” said Ayloush. “Mainstreaming a bigoted term in this manner will only serve to legitimize and normalize anti-Muslim prejudice in our society.”
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Russia Warns That It Will Respond To Any Agrression

The words are heating up primarily between Europeans and the Russians as some members of the EU are trying to take a tough stance on Russia's invastion of Georgia. Here's some of the details of Russia's warning here at Reuters:

"Russia does not want confrontation with any country. Russia does not plan to isolate itself," Medvedev said in an interview with Russia's three main television stations.
But he added: "Everyone should understand that if someone launches an aggressive sortie, he will receive a response." He said Russian law allowed the Kremlin to impose sanctions on other states, though it preferred not to go down that path.

One of the toughest critics of Russia right now is Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown who said this:

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Russia's intervention in Georgia was dangerous and unacceptable.
"In the light of Russian actions, the EU should review -- root and branch -- our relationship with Russia," Brown wrote in a comment published in Britain's Observer newspaper.

Now, too many of the Europeans are too indebted to Russia for their natural gas and oil needs to make any real sanction type moves but I am fairly impressed by the tough talk coming out of Britain's Prime Minister.

And I think Russia's Medvedev is second-guessing some of the manuevers the Russians made in the conflict. Even if the Europeans continue as usual with their importing of Russian oil and gas, those same Europeans hold some pretty powerful financial links in Russia and by playing a game of it, they could hurt Russia at a time when she was starting to see some daylight.

Russia warns it will respond to "aggression"

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia does not want confrontation with the West but will hit back if attacked, Kremlin leader Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday, a day before EU leaders meet to draft a response to Moscow's actions in Georgia.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would press fellow European Union leaders to review ties with Russia in retaliation for Moscow's decision to send troops to Georgia and recognize two Georgian breakaway regions.
But underlining the differences in approach inside the 27-member EU, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier took a softer line, saying isolating Russia would harm the interests of the bloc.
A senior U.S. diplomat said Washington hoped the EU would express concrete support for Georgia's territorial integrity, and urged Europe to reduce its dependence on Russian energy.
Medvedev faces growing condemnation from the West, which accuses Russia of occupying parts of Georgia, while the Kremlin said it acted to prevent what it called genocide against the separatist regions.
"Russia does not want confrontation with any country. Russia does not plan to isolate itself," Medvedev said in an interview with Russia's three main television stations.
But he added: "Everyone should understand that if someone launches an aggressive sortie, he will receive a response." He said Russian law allowed the Kremlin to impose sanctions on other states, though it preferred not to go down that path.
GEORGIAN CALL
Georgia urged the European Union to impose sanctions against those doing business with the two separatist regions, authorize a civilian mission to monitor buffer zones around them and give Tbilisi about $2 billion to help to help repair damage.
"Europe can do a lot, starting with sending a mission of civilian monitors, which would lead to an international peacekeeping mechanism that would replace the presence of Russian troops," Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze told Reuters in Brussels.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Russia's intervention in Georgia was dangerous and unacceptable.
"In the light of Russian actions, the EU should review -- root and branch -- our relationship with Russia," Brown wrote in a comment published in Britain's Observer newspaper.
The German foreign minister said Moscow deserved criticism but Europe needed cooperation with Russia.
"Europe would only be hurting itself if we were to get full of emotion and slam all the doors shut to the rooms that we will want to enter afterwards," Steinmeier said.
Russia supplies more than a quarter of Europe's gas needs. Some observers say this makes tough EU sanctions unlikely.

Iranians Warn That Any U.S or Israeli Agression Will Result In "world war"

Yes folks, it's time for the weekly dose of tough talk from the chickenshit Iranians. Let's look at the latest round of threats from the asshats of Persia as reported here at Khaleej Times:

"Any aggression against Iran will start a world war," deputy chief of staff for defence publicity, Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri, said in a statement carried by the agency.

"The unrestrained greed of the US leadership and global Zionism... is gradually leading the world to the edge of a precipice," Jazayeri said, citing the unrest in Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and Georgia.
"It is evident that if such a challenge occurs, the fake and artificial regimes will be eliminated before anything," he said, without naming any countries.

"Some of the equipment of our armed forces have been announced but there are important things hidden whose effect would be shown on the day (of any attack)," deputy army commander Abdolrahim Mousavi told Fars news agency.

So when they say the "fake and artificial regimes will be eliminated before anything" that simply means the United States and Israel. Now, that isn't new to the rhetoric of the Iranians but it is a bit ironic how the world being brought to a "precipice" is blamed on the U.S. and Israel while Iran's nuclear weapon development has been documented as the single biggest threat to world security. These Iranians are liars, they are schemers and they are unworthy of world position.

Iran warns any attack would start ‘world war’

TEHRAN - A senior Iranian military commander has warned that any US or Israeli attack on the Islamic republic would start a new world war, the state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday.
"Any aggression against Iran will start a world war," deputy chief of staff for defence publicity, Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri, said in a statement carried by the agency.
Iran is under international pressure to halt uranium enrichment, a process which lies at the core of fears about Iran's nuclear programme as it can make nuclear fuel as well as the fissile core of an atom bomb.
"The unrestrained greed of the US leadership and global Zionism... is gradually leading the world to the edge of a precipice," Jazayeri said, citing the unrest in Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and Georgia.
"It is evident that if such a challenge occurs, the fake and artificial regimes will be eliminated before anything," he said, without naming any countries.
Iran does not recognise Israel, which is often described by officials in Tehran as a "fake regime."
The United States and its staunch ally Israel, the region's sole if undeclared nuclear armed nation, accuse Iran of seeking atomic weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear programme.
Iran has vehemently denied the allegations, insisting its nuclear drive is aimed solely at providing electricity for a growing population when its reserves of fossil fuels run out.
The United States has never ruled out military action against Iran over its defiance of international demands for an enrichment freeze, but so far is pursuing the diplomatic route with calls for more sanctions.
Iran has repeatedly vowed a crushing response to any attacks and it has flexed military muscles in recent years by holding war games and showing off an array of home-grown weaponry and missiles.
Another top military commander said Iran was prepared to "take the enemies off-guard" and would unveil more weapons in case of an attack.
"Some of the equipment of our armed forces have been announced but there are important things hidden whose effect would be shown on the day (of any attack)," deputy army commander Abdolrahim Mousavi told Fars news agency.
During war games in July which provoked international concern, aides to the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Iran would target US bases and US ships in the Gulf as well as Israel if it was attacked.
Iran also test-fired its Shahab-3 missile which it says puts Israel within range.
Iran is under three sets of UN Security Council sanctions over its refusal to freeze enrichment and risks further sanctions for failing to give a clear response to an incentives package offered by six world powers in return for a halt to the sensitive work.
Iranian officials have repeatedly said they have no intention of freezing enrichment and that the country is currently operating about 4,000 uranium enrichment centrifuges and installing several thousand more.

Insurgent 101: We Call The AH-6 "Little Bird" - You Can Call It "Hell"

Gaza's Islamic Jihad Threatens Israel With 'the fires of hell'

And as Israel has said, since Hamas runs Gaza, anything that Islamic Jihad says, Hamas says. Here's what the terrorist group, Islamic Jihad, said in Gaza yesterday per the Middle East Times:

"We will unleash the fires of hell if the Zionist enemy continues its crimes," said the group's military chief Abu Hamzeh after the parade by around 800 Islamic Jihad members, an AFP journalist reported.
"We're getting ready for the next round," he added, saying "the Zionist enemy will have neither peace nor security while it occupies our land."
Abu Hamzeh said his group had "hundreds of rockets" ready to launch at southern Israel.

So, once again, we are back to square one in the Middle East scenario. Throw out the peace agreements put together by Jimmy Carter, ignore the feeble attempts by Bill Clinton, and erase the absurdity of olive branches extended by Condoleeza Rice, this all comes down to the same fact since day one with the terrorists that inhabit Palestine - and that is that they view the nation of Israel as occupying their land and the only solution is to obliterate and destroy Israel.

And that is what Islamic Jihad threatened to do yesterday. How in the world the Israelis didn't target this gathering with F-16's is beyond me. With all indications that Israel will opt for Livni as the new Prime Minister, she will have to make the decision whether she will follow the same operating procedure of Olmert in appeasing a group like Islamic Jihad that has threatened to kill Israelis or whether she will give Islamic Jihad and Hamas a choice: either renounce your threats to Israel or face your own destruction.

My guess is she will throw on her Olmert mask and continue to spiral Israel into its most vulnerable position since the creation of the country.

Islamic Jihad threatens Israel with 'the fires of hell'

KHAN YUNES, Gaza Strip (AFP) The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad on Saturday threatened to unleash "the fires of hell" on Israel, as it staged a military parade in the south of the Islamist-ruled Gaza Strip.
"We will unleash the fires of hell if the Zionist enemy continues its crimes," said the group's military chief Abu Hamzeh after the parade by around 800 Islamic Jihad members, an AFP journalist reported.
"We're getting ready for the next round," he added, saying "the Zionist enemy will have neither peace nor security while it occupies our land."
Abu Hamzeh said his group had "hundreds of rockets" ready to launch at southern Israel.
Khader Habib, a political leader in the group, said Islamic Jihad "will not rest until we have liberated all of Palestine," referring to the movement's aim to create a Palestinian state in Israel's place.
Earlier the militants staged exercises using assault rifles rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns.
The parade took place on the site of the former Jewish settlement of Gush Katif, which was evacuated when Israel withdrew settlers and forces from the Gaza Strip in August 2005.
Since June 19, Islamic Jihad has generally respected an Egyptian-brokered truce between Israel and Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas. The truce applies to Gaza only, and Islamic Jihad said it reserves the right to respond to Israeli attacks in the West Bank.

Pakistani Government Suspends Military Action Against Taliban - For Ramadan

Good grief. These guys truly ARE slow learners, aren't they? Why didn't the government of Pakistan call up Maliki over in Iraq and ask, "Yo Dude, do these terrorist types pack things up during Ramadan?" Hahaha. Anyway, here's part of the report out of Zee News:

The Pakistan government on Saturday announced that it would suspend military operations against the Taliban in the country's northwestern tribal areas in view of the holy Islamic month of Ramzan but warned that any action by the militants would meet with a firm response. Rehman Malik, who functions as the Interior Minister, said operations against militants by the army and law enforcement agencies would be suspended between August 31 and the second day of the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of Ramzan."This move should not be considered as a sign of weakness on the part of the governmentIf there is any action (by the militants) against the security forces, a firm response will be made," he told reporters.

Now, Ramadan apparently starts on September 2nd and so perhaps I should start a pool here at Holger Awakens where readers can put in their guess as to how long it will be before the Taliban take out about 30 Paki soldiers or bomb a girl's school DURING Ramadan!

It just amazes me how people in that part of the world just can't put a face of evil on these Taliban minions. I guess a few more hundred deaths might get the Pakistani government a little closer to understanding what we already know.

Pak Govt suspends military operations against Taliban

Lahore, Aug 30: The Pakistan government on Saturday announced that it would suspend military operations against the Taliban in the country's northwestern tribal areas in view of the holy Islamic month of Ramzan but warned that any action by the militants would meet with a firm response. Rehman Malik, who functions as the Interior Minister, said operations against militants by the army and law enforcement agencies would be suspended between August 31 and the second day of the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of Ramzan."This move should not be considered as a sign of weakness on the part of the governmentIf there is any action (by the militants) against the security forces, a firm response will be made," he told reporters.The holy month of Ramzan is expected to begin in Pakistan on September two or three after the sighting of the moon.The Pakistan Army and paramilitary forces are currently engaged in operations against Taliban fighters in the tribal Bajaur Agency and the scenic Swat valley in the North West Frontier Province. A total of 562 militants had been killed in the operations so far, Malik said.He made it clear that there would be no ceasefire and that the security forces would only suspend their operations against the militants.The suspension was being done only for the month of Ramzan, he said.The government "reserves the right to reinitiate law enforcement actions and military operations" if the militants begin regrouping or carry out any attacks on the security forces, he said.

Video: Who Do You Think The Troops Want? McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden?

Hat Tip to Maggie at maggiesnotebook.blogspot.com

Insurgent 101: One Way ...Or Another We're Coming Into Your House

Pakistan Breaks Out Fighter Aircraft To Kill 40 Taliban

I'm starting to believe that Pakistan has, in essence, declared war on the Taliban. After all the peace treaty and cease fire bullshit, the government of Pakistan has resorted to military operations against the Talian in the North West Frontier Provinces and now, the government has even dusted off its fighter jets to join the attacks. Here's some of the details from the report at Breitbart:

Fighter jets bombed Taliban hide-outs in Pakistan's troubled northwest while troops pushed into militant territory on the ground, killing at least 40 insurgents in a 24-hour siege, the army said Saturday.
Separately, five others died when an explosion ripped through a house near the Afghan border, local officials said. Claims that it was a missile strike could not immediately be confirmed.
Pakistan's five-month-old civilian government has been plagued by violence and political instability since Pervez Musharraf was forced to resign as president two weeks ago, adding to the many challenges ahead in the Muslim nation of 160 million people.

This of course is great news and one can only hope that the Pakistani military won't let up - it would be perfect to see the Taliban start to feel the pressure so bad that they feel they have to move into Afghanistan and there, flying along the Paki/Afghan border will be NATO's contingent of air support.

I believe the final straw in all of this was when the Taliban, with al Qaeda help, attacked that munitions factory in Islamabad and killed over 100 people - I think that finally put the government over the edge that they couldn't wait any longer. Well, took 'em fucking long enough.

Pakistan jets kill 40 Taliban in new fighting

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Fighter jets bombed Taliban hide-outs in Pakistan's troubled northwest while troops pushed into militant territory on the ground, killing at least 40 insurgents in a 24-hour siege, the army said Saturday.
Separately, five others died when an explosion ripped through a house near the Afghan border, local officials said. Claims that it was a missile strike could not immediately be confirmed.
Pakistan's five-month-old civilian government has been plagued by violence and political instability since Pervez Musharraf was forced to resign as president two weeks ago, adding to the many challenges ahead in the Muslim nation of 160 million people.
The economy is sinking, power outages are common, there are food shortages, and many drivers cannot afford to fill up their tanks.
But with a string of suicide bombings, including one that left 67 dead near the capital, Islamabad, tackling extremism is a priority.
Leaders initially offered to hold peace talks with insurgents—something Musharraf also briefly tried before his ouster—but have since resorted to what some are calling all-out war.
Army spokesman Maj. Nasir Ali said at least 40 Taliban were killed Friday when fighter jets pounded militants in Swat Valley, which was a popular tourist destination not long ago.
A cache of ammunition exploded when it was hit in one of the strikes, he said, adding that ground troops were advancing into the region Saturday to root out other militant fighters.
Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said eight of his men, including a local commander, were killed.
The violence followed news that Asif Ali Zardari, who seems poised to be voted Pakistan's next president in a Sept. 6 election by lawmakers, had moved into a tightly guarded government compound because of security fears.
His late wife, Benazir Bhutto, a two-time former prime minister and an outspoken critic of Islamic extremism, was assassinated in a Dec. 27 gun-and-bomb attack during a campaign rally.
Officials say that fighting in Swat and Bajur, a rumored hide-out of Osama bin Laden, have left nearly 500 militants dead in August alone. There are no separate statistics for civilians, but witnesses say dozens have died.

Video Tribute: Until They All Come Home

Pakistani Forces Withstand Triple Suicide Bomb Attack

This could have been a helluva lot worse than it was as the Taliban threw a three pronged attack at a Pakistani military camp guarding the Kohat Tunnel. Here's some of the details from The Long War Journal:

Three suicide vehicles were used in the attack, Geo TV reported. The first bomber attempted to breach the main gate of the complex but was stopped just outside the gate after troops opened fire on the truck, causing the vehicle to explode just outside the camp.
Casualties were sustained in the first explosion. Five civilians were killed and 37 Pakistani paramilitary troops were wounded. The chief of security for the tunnel was among those wounded.
The second suicide bomber detonated his explosives after hitting the camp wall. The third suicide bomber left his vehicle at the main gate and ran away. The Taliban also destroyed two bridges on the Indus Highway, severing traffic between Peshawar and points south.

Now, take a look at this section from the article:

The attack resembles past attempts by al Qaeda in Iraq on US and Iraqi military bases. An initial suicide bomber would be used to breach a wall or main gate, and the follow-on vehicles would attempt target key points inside the complex, such as headquarters or barracks to inflict maximum casualties.

It's been documented how the flow of foreign jihadists into Pakistan has increased significantly and it's my conjecture that there are a TON of al Qaeda who have left Iraq that are now in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. With that said, it is apparent, to me anyway, that al Qaeda has certainly influenced the Taliban in their attack strategy. You can see above how Bill Roggio has put these two together. Triple bombings are a trademark of al Qaeda and what this means to the Pakistanis and the Afghans is that when you couple the tenacity and boldness of the Taliban with the pinpoint explosives expertise of al Qaeda, you have yourself big trouble.

Which begs the question...at what point in time will the Pakistani government understand that it just cannot handle this onslaught on its own? At what point will they suck it up and invite NATO over the border to finally start a clean up of these dredges?

I would say that if the Pakistanis wait until the swarm of Taliban and al Qaeda start moving south, it's going to be way too late.

Pakistani forces thwart triple suicide bombing attack

The Taliban likely had two goals for today's strike. First, the Taliban hoped to inflict mass casualties on Pakistani security forces. Second, the attack was likely part of a bid to retake control of the strategic tunnel, a vital link on the Indus Highway that connects Peshawar to the southern tribal agencies and settled districts.
The Pakistani military and the Taliban have fought intense battles in Orakzai and neighboring Kohat this year in an effort to maintain control of the strategic tunnel. Pitched battles were fought in the city of Darra Adam Khel and at the Kohat Tunnel in January.
The fighting began after Taliban forces hijacked a military convoy in Darra Adam Khel and seized weapons destined for a military operation in South Waziristan in late January. Clashes ensued as the Pakistani military moved forces into the region to battle the Taliban, but the military backed down and quickly formed a “peace jirga” to negotiate with the Taliban.
The Taliban responded by taking control of the Kohat Tunnel. The Taliban kidnapped more than 50 paramilitary troops from the Frontier Corps during the fighting at the Kohat Tunnel. Several soldiers and paramilitaries were beheaded and mutilated. The government retook the Kohat Tunnel after days of fierce fighting, but not before the Taliban damaged the tunnel during an attempt to destroy it.
On May 1, the Pakistani military pulled out from Darra Adam Khel. The Taliban immediately re-emerged and began levying taxes on vehicles traveling on the Indus Highway. The Pakistani Army, backed by tanks, rolled back into Darra Adam Khel on May 11, and fighting ensued. The fighting shut down the Indus Highway.
The Taliban campaign continues
Today's attack is the ninth major strike in Pakistan since Aug. 12. Taliban bombers have struck in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Wah, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, and Bannu, killing more than 165 Pakistanis and wounding more than 220, according to numbers compiled by The Long War Journal.
The Kohat attack is the latest in a series of strikes against Pakistani military facilities. The largest attack targeted the Pakistani Ordnance Facility in Wah, just west of Islamabad. More than 70 Pakistanis were killed and 100 were wounded. Yesterday, six policemen and three civilians were killed in an improvised explosive device attack in Bannu.

Turkey Detains 21 Al Qaeda Operatives

This is a very brief article that I will excerpt fully below from Todays Zaman, but it does showcase how Turkey is becoming more and more of a target of al Qaeda and radical islamic jihad. Here's the article:

Turkey detains 21 in anti-al Qaeda raid

Turkish police on Friday detained 21 people in Istanbul in an operation against the Islamic militant group al Qaeda, state Anatolian news agency said.


The detainees are believed to have trained in Afghanistan and were planning to carry out attacks, it said. No more details were provided.
Islamist militants have carried out bomb attacks in Turkey in the past. In 2003, al Qaeda militants killed more than 60 people in a series of bombings in İstanbul.

You see from the article that it has been nearly five years since a major al Qaeda attack in Turkey but if these 21 were plotting something, you gotta believe it was going to be big. Turkey is one of the top targets of al Qaeda as it continues to hang on to its secular form of government and of course, al Qaeda can't put up with that - they must ensure that sharia law be cloaked up on the population of Turkey.

However, Turkey won't be an easy target for al Qaeda - their intelligence is generally pretty darn good and although the islamists in the country have made huge gains recently, as long as the military is tied to the secular government, al Qaeda will have a tough time.

British Media Grudgingly Admit That The 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit Conquered Taliban In Garmsir

Okay, the first thing I'd like you to look at from the article here at from The Independent which is a British media source, is the title of their article:

"How British forces took Garmsir from the Taliban "

So that's the headline...and they then proceed to blah blah blah about how dangerous the Taliban have been in the Garmsir area of southern Helmand province like this:

This was the front line between British forces and the Taliban pouring over the border from Pakistan. Until a few weeks ago, it was prime enemy territory, an unforgiving warren of trenches that British troops entered at their own peril.
Looking out over the deceptive calm of the newly planted corn fields, Captain George Aitken said: "We uncovered 37 bunkers. We found their sleeping bags. It was First World War trench warfare around here."

So, you ask, just how, HOW did the British manage to turn this hotbed zone of Taliban into a docile area? Wait for it..... :

Everything changed with the arrival of 1,000 US Marines from 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit. As A Company, 5 Scots battled and cleared south of the district centre, the Americans moved east and then further south down through the "Snake's Head", a tangle of small irrigation canals, destroying the enemy in their path. Now the new frontline is 10km to the south. The key question remains whether the Taliban will remain at bay when the American show of strength departs next month.

That's it for the mention of U.S. Marines in the article...there is literally no mention of the Brits doing anything to change this situation but they admit in that one paragraph that the Marines mowed through that area, that they cleared it out like a buzz saw going through a field of saplings.

And yet that headline certainly makes you believe the Brits did it. Right?

Well, I'm sure the 24 doesn't need press releases to make them feel good - just knowing that they kicked Taliban ass just like the 24 did in Ramadi is enough for them. This is an awesome fighting force folks and although I'm bitching about the British media not owning up to who the real heroes are here, at least the Brits mentioned it in the story - more than I can say for the ZERO reporting of these heroics by American MSM outlets. Bastards.

How British forces took Garmsir from the Taliban

"Annabel", as the British had codenamed the tiny biblical Helmand village of mud compounds, was no more. The shattered wreck of crumbling walls and a giant crater left by a 2,000lb aerial bomb bore testament to the ferocity of the fighting that had taken place.
This was the front line between British forces and the Taliban pouring over the border from Pakistan. Until a few weeks ago, it was prime enemy territory, an unforgiving warren of trenches that British troops entered at their own peril.
Looking out over the deceptive calm of the newly planted corn fields, Captain George Aitken said: "We uncovered 37 bunkers. We found their sleeping bags. It was First World War trench warfare around here."
Just 100km (60 miles) north of the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, these small compounds in Garmsir were deserted by farmers long ago to be replaced by the invaders from the south. Garmsir – it means "too much heat" – proved a thorn in the British side for a long time. The impenetrable front line was 100 metres from a lookout where the British soldiers and insurgents could eyeball each other.
Nearby, 180 soldiers in the small outpost of FOB (Forward Operating Base) Delhi – the most southern point of the British area of operations – battled to stem the tide of insurgents coming up from the border to be "blooded" on their way north.
But this week there were signs of a return to normality. Small groups of families, the first intrepid pilgrims to return to their former homes, stood staring as a patrol from 5th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) trod carefully through the compounds. The farmers' expressions were neither hostile, nor welcoming, simply guarded.
Everything changed with the arrival of 1,000 US Marines from 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit. As A Company, 5 Scots battled and cleared south of the district centre, the Americans moved east and then further south down through the "Snake's Head", a tangle of small irrigation canals, destroying the enemy in their path. Now the new frontline is 10km to the south. The key question remains whether the Taliban will remain at bay when the American show of strength departs next month.
Capt Aitken, an Irish Guard attached to the Scots, led a patrol through the compounds, all named after soldiers' girlfriends and wives. The Taliban may have been routed from their old home ground but pockets of resistance evidently remained somewhere.
"They keep us on our toes," said the guardsman, explaining that, a fortnight ago, two of their number were injured here by a roadside bomb. Another recent patrol was ambushed as they tried to extract a heat casualty.
Moving tactically through the maze of compounds, vegetation and irrigation ditches, they scaled mud walls to surprise any enemy, maintained a watch from one compound as another was cleared and swept for mines.
"Annabel" was destroyed and "Emily" deserted while two lone men stood suspiciously watching from the roof at "Debbie". But in "Charlotte" – or the village of Abdull Ghani – there were signs of hope. Two months ago British troops were fighting, bayonets fixed, through the compound. Now they are back with a civil military aid team of Royal Engineers to talk to the locals, to see what work needs to be done and help them claim compensation for battle damage.

Hezbollah Gets Caught For Shooting Down Lebanese Army Helicopter

Hahahaha! Apparently the Hezbollah jihadist that the terrorist organization turned into the government today for shooting down an army helicopter missed the training session on what a Star of David looks like on an Apache! The Lebanese army pilot of that aircraft was killed in the attack. Here's some of the details of the Hezbollah blunder from Reuters:

Lebanon's Hezbollah turned over to the authorities on Friday one of its gunmen who shot at an army helicopter and killed its pilot, security sources said.
The incident occurred on Thursday over Iqlim al-Touffah region. The area is controlled by the powerful political and military group Hezbollah, which fought a 34-day war with Israel in 2006.
Lebanon's as-Safir newspaper reported that Hezbollah gunmen had targeted the aircraft because they thought it was Israeli. It said the helicopter had landed and taken off again in a training drill. Hezbollah gunmen in the area "thought that there was an Israeli landing attempt (under way) and opened fire in the direction of the helicopter, hitting it", it said.

Can anyone say....trigger happy? Now, I'm sure the Lebanese army and government will just turn their other cheek over this but it does show how itchy Hezbollah is right now. Not only is it Nasrallah jumping two feet into the air everytime a car backfires but apparently even the lowest of ranks in Hezbollah is a bit skiddish.

Hezbollah gunman shot Lebanon army aircraft: sources

Hezbollah said earlier in a statement that it would cooperate fully with an investigation into the matter. The group described what happened as a "very tragic and painful incident".
The army said on Thursday the helicopter had made a forced landing after it came under fire from "armed elements". It said the incident was under investigation.
The army deployed in the southern border region, along with a reinforced U.N. peacekeeping force, after Israel's war with Hezbollah guerrillas in 2006. The incident occurred north of a region where the U.N. peacekeepers have a mandate to operate.
Hezbollah's weapons are already a controversial issue in Lebanon and were at the heart of an 18-month political crisis that pushed the country to the brink of a new civil war.
The Iranian- and Syrian-backed group, whose military wing is far stronger than Lebanon's army, says it needs the weapons to defend the country from Israel. Hezbollah enjoys generally good ties with the army.
The policy statement of a new national unity government recognizes Hezbollah's right to use all means possible to liberate Israeli-occupied land claimed by Lebanon.

Insurgent 101: Psssst....You Can't Outrun An AH-64

CNN Poll: McCain Leads Obama In Commander-in-Chief Role

This is just bloody awesome. And these numbers, these numbers are staggering. Let's look at the poll results from the article at Rediff:

As Barack Obama was officially named the US Democratic presidential candidate, a new poll suggests that the African-American senator trails Republican rival John McCain on the issues of terrorism and Iraq. A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll on Wednesday, indicated that the American public considers McCain better than Obama on terrorism and Iraq.



Fifty-eight per cent of those questioned think Obama can handle the responsibilities of commander-in-chief, but that pales in comparison to the 78 per cent who feel that way about McCain. By a 51 per cent to 41 per cent margin, voters regard the senator from Arizona as a stronger leader, and they think he would have better judgment than Obama in an international crisis by a 52 per cent to 43 per cent spread.

Those polling results are landslide-like for McCain. It's my belief that the Democrats are going to try and sell to the American people that terrorism just isn't the issue - it's all about the mortgage crisis and healthcare but didn't John Kerry try to do that same thing? And look again at these numbers... McCain is perceived as a stronger leader by a margin of 10 percent - that is huge.

I've said it many times that when it comes down to the nitty gritty in a U.S. Presidential election, the American people usually put an "x" in the box of the person they feel is a LEADER. No matter how Barack Hussein Obama tries to use his charms and snake oil, he will never come off as having a handle on the war on terror and his advocacy against radical islamic terror.

The Presidential election could very possibly play out like the last two - who really is the more qualified leader and who is more prepared to handle the inevitable crisis that is on the horizon.

Obama trails McCain on terrorism, Iraq, says poll

As Barack Obama was officially named the US Democratic presidential candidate, a new poll suggests that the African-American senator trails Republican rival John McCain on the issues of terrorism and Iraq. A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll on Wednesday, indicated that the American public considers McCain better than Obama on terrorism and Iraq.

The poll also suggests that McCain is a stronger leader who would have better judgment in an international crisis. Fifty-eight per cent of those questioned think Obama can handle the responsibilities of commander-in-chief, but that pales in comparison to the 78 per cent who feel that way about McCain. By a 51 per cent to 41 per cent margin, voters regard the senator from Arizona as a stronger leader, and they think he would have better judgment than Obama in an international crisis by a 52 per cent to 43 per cent spread.

On the issue of the Iraq war, McCain supported the US-led invasion and has consistently called for seeing the conflict to a successful conclusion, without so-called timetables. However, the senator from Illinois opposed the invasion.

Pakistani Tribesmen Kill Taliban Suicide Bomber

An extremely brief report on this here from Daily Times but I think it is a pretty significant event. Here's the detail from the report:

Tribesmen shot dead a suspected suicide bomber and arrested two armed Taliban militants when they barged into a gathering of tribal elders, officials said on Thursday. The tribal leaders were meeting in Pashak town to support the government’s campaign against the Taliban.

My point of significance here is the meeting where these tribesmen were gathering in support of the government of Pakistan's military campaign against the Taliban. Does that ring any bells? Do I hear "Awakening Council", anyone?

We saw in Iraq that after time, al Qaeda in Iraq more than wore out their welcome in most parts of Iraq due to their treatment of the general populace and eventually, those civilians and tribes said "enough is enough" and took up arms against al Qaeda in Iraq. This is the third story of this nature that I have seen in Pakistan where local tribes are taking a stand against the Taliban. And it is especially significant because in the past, not only did these tribes willingly accept the Taliban into their villages and huts, but they ACTIVELY PROTECTED those same Taliban.

And that all has changed...because the Taliban, like their al Qaeda in Iraq cousins, have beheaded one too many, have blown up one too many schools and have bombed one too many innocent people.

Suspected bomber shot dead, two arrested

KHAR: Tribesmen shot dead a suspected suicide bomber and arrested two armed Taliban militants when they barged into a gathering of tribal elders, officials said on Thursday. The tribal leaders were meeting in Pashak town to support the government’s campaign against the Taliban. Security forces killed five militants in attacks on Taliban hideouts in Bajaur Agency. The security forces pounded various areas of Khar tehsil including Saddiq Abad, Loyesam, and some areas of Mamoond tehsil, killing five militants and injuring seven, an official said. Meanwhile, militants blew up a government girls’ middle school in Khar.

U.S. Marines and Afghan Troops Kill Over 100 Taliban In Last Three Days In Helmand

Whoa! Huge numbers of Taliban dying like maggots in Helmand province of southern Afghanistan...what awesome news! Now, the article will not mention U.S. Marines because it's a fucking report out of Reuters here - and of course Reuters hates America so they even try to allude that these were British forces involved with the Afghan troops (notice they say that mostly British have been fighting in Helmand for the past three years). But what Reuters doesn't mention is that U.S. Marines went into Helmand back in April and have kicked ass ever since and so believe me, these were Marines kicking Taliban butt.

Here's some of the article:

Afghan and U.S.-led coalition forces have killed more than 100 Taliban in the southern Afghan province of Helmand during three days of fighting, the U.S. military said on Thursday.
Violence has surged in Afghanistan with more than 2,500 people, including 1,000 civilians, killed in the conflict in the first six months of this year, according to aid agencies.
"Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and coalition forces killed over 100 insurgents during combat operations in Helmand province August 25-28," the U.S. military said in a statement.

Mainly British troops have been engaged in heavy fighting with Taliban militants in Helmand province for three years.

Let's face it - 100 Taliban dead in three days is huge - and the Taliban have tried desperately to hang onto Helmand. Helmand is critical to supply routes for the Taliban into Pakistan and there is also a ton of poppy in Helmand that needs to get transported out of there. But when the Taliban lose this many in just a few short days, they have got to be damn nervous about their grip on this key province.

More than 100 Taliban killed in Afghanistan

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan and U.S.-led coalition forces have killed more than 100 Taliban in the southern Afghan province of Helmand during three days of fighting, the U.S. military said on Thursday.
Violence has surged in Afghanistan with more than 2,500 people, including 1,000 civilians, killed in the conflict in the first six months of this year, according to aid agencies.
"Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and coalition forces killed over 100 insurgents during combat operations in Helmand province August 25-28," the U.S. military said in a statement.
"ANSF and coalition forces were conducting security patrols in the province when they were attacked multiple times by insurgents using small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and mortar fire, sparking numerous engagements," it said.
The patrols returned fire and called in close-air support.
Mainly British troops have been engaged in heavy fighting with Taliban militants in Helmand province for three years.
They and U.S.-led coalition troops working alongside Afghan forces have inflicted many hundreds of casualties on the Taliban, but it is still one of the most active places for the insurgency and the centre of opium production.
Earlier, the Afghan Defence Ministry said its troops were engaged in fierce fighting with Taliban insurgents in the Nad Ali district of Helmand, but it was not clear if it was referring to the same clashes.
"Heavy casualties were inflicted during fierce fighting between Afghan soldiers and insurgents, but the exact number of casualties is not known," the Defence Ministry said.

China and Asian Alliance Tell Russia To F*ck Off

Poor Russia. They tried to bolster some support of their illegal invasion of Georgia by going to their Asian Alliance members which includes China and a few of the old Soviet satellite countries and the Alliance basically came back and said, "No Way Jose!" While the alliance didn't exactly condemn the invasion, they didn't do Russia's bidding by issuing their support of Russian actions and actually took a stronger stance against just that.

Here's some of the details from Breitbart:

China and several Central Asian nations rebuffed Russia's hopes of international support for its actions in Georgia, issuing a statement Thursday denouncing the use of force and calling for the respect of every country's territorial integrity.
A joint declaration from the six-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization also offered some support for Russia's "active role in promoting peace" following a cease-fire, but overall it appeared to increase Moscow's international isolation.
Russia's search for support in Asia had raised fears that the alliance would turn the furor over Georgia into a broader confrontation between East and West, pitting the U.S. and Europe against their two main Cold War foes.

As the article states, this had the potential of really becoming an East/West showdown and could have shaped those two forces against each other politically for some time, but the Chinese aren't exactly stupid and they weren't ready to put their asses on the line for a Russia who hasn't exactly been their biggest friend the past 10 years. At the same time, those central Asian "stans" have enjoyed the benefits of good diplomatic relations with Europe and the U.S. and to hop on a Russian bandwagon would have seriously hurt them.

The Russians now find themselves on an island in the international realm of opinion and no matter how much lipstick they put on that invasion of Georgia, it's still one ugly pig.

Asian alliance rebuffs Russian plea for support

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (AP) - China and several Central Asian nations rebuffed Russia's hopes of international support for its actions in Georgia, issuing a statement Thursday denouncing the use of force and calling for the respect of every country's territorial integrity.
A joint declaration from the six-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization also offered some support for Russia's "active role in promoting peace" following a cease-fire, but overall it appeared to increase Moscow's international isolation.
Russia's search for support in Asia had raised fears that the alliance would turn the furor over Georgia into a broader confrontation between East and West, pitting the U.S. and Europe against their two main Cold War foes.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had appealed to the Asian alliance, which is made up of China, Russia and four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations, for unanimous support of Moscow's response to Georgia's "aggression."
But the alliance, which was created in 2001 to improve regional coordination on terrorism and border security, opted to take a neutral position and urged all sides to resolve the conflict through "peaceful dialogue."
"The participants ... underscore the need for respect of the historical and cultural traditions of each country and each people, and for efforts aimed at preserving the unity of the state and its territorial integrity," the alliance's statement said.
None of the other alliance members joined Russia in recognizing the independence claims of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, in an interview with CNN, accused the U.S. of orchestrating the conflict in Georgia to provide a talking point in the American presidential campaign. The White House press secretary Dana Perino called the claims "patently false."
Russia's decision to recognize Georgia's separatist regions Tuesday sparked another storm of criticism from the West because both provinces make up roughly 20 percent of Georgia's territory. The West had already criticized Russia for what it calls a disproportionate use of force in fighting this month with Georgia, its small southern neighbor that wants to join NATO.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Robert Wood expressed satisfaction about the Asian group's statement, saying "it wasn't what I would call an endorsement of Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia."
China has traditionally been wary of endorsing separatists abroad, mindful of its own problems with Tibet and Muslims in the western territory of Xinjiang. The joint statement, which was unanimously endorsed, made a point of stressing the sanctity of borders—two days after Russia sought to redraw Georgia's territory.
The Asian alliance's statement offered some praise of Moscow's actions, at least in the context of the peace deal signed five days after the war began Aug. 7. The alliance said it supports "the active role of Russia in promoting peace and cooperation in the given region."
The four Central Asian members of the group—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan—all seemed reluctant to damage their relations with Europe and the U.S.

First Combat Use of LASER Joint Direct Attack Munition

Insurgent 101: As Always, Apaches "REIGN" On Your Parade

Iraqi Troops To Take Over Control Of Anbar Province

This is a huge pivotal time in the Iraq War as U.S. troops transition the control of Anbar province over to Iraqi troops and Awakening members. Let's not forget that at one time, Anbar province was OWNED by al Qaeda - U.S. troops at one time called Anbar the most dangerous part of Iraq. And now, U.S. troops will basically be on call there and will look to be shifted to other areas. Here's some of the details over at CNN:

Anbar would be the 11th of Iraq's 18 provinces to revert to local security control. The move comes amid a big drop in violence in Iraq and calls from Iraqis for the United States to come up with a troop withdrawal timetable.
The other provinces that have transitioned to Iraqi security control are Duhuk, Irbil and Sulaimaniya in the Kurdish region and Karbala, Najaf, Qadisiya, Muthanna, Thiqar, Basra and Maysan in the Shiite south.
Anbar would be the first Sunni-dominated province to revert to Iraqi security control.

What this truly represents is the defeat of al Qaeda in Iraq - it's a symbolic event, for sure. People forget how Anbar province was probably the clearest signal of what was really happening in the Iraq War. While confused politicians like Joe Biden and John Murtha and Harry Reid all called the Iraq War a "civil war" between Sunnis and Shias, the real fact was evident in Anbar that al Qaeda had taken over and were busy killing local Iraqis and U.S. troops. Anbar became the shining star of al Qaeda in Iraq. Then, with the brilliance of Petraeus' surge couple with the birth of the Sunni Awakening in Anbar, al Qaeda found themselves in a dogfight and eventually, their control and plans were decimated.

Iraqi troops to take control of former restive province

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S.-led coalition troops are scheduled to hand over control of a onetime hub of the Sunni insurgency in Iraq to Iraqi forces on Monday, a senior American military official said.

The security transfer in Iraq's Anbar province originally was set for June, but it has been delayed twice.
The first postponement was blamed on a sandstorm, but days before the ceremony was to take place, there was also a suicide bombing at a meeting of tribal sheikhs in an Anbar town west of Baghdad.
The official said the handover was rescheduled after the sandstorm, but a new transfer date was not announced. The transfer then was delayed because Iraqi officials disagreed over how they would handle certain issues, the official said.
More than 25,000 U.S. troops, mostly Marines, serve in Anbar province. They will remain for the time being, the official said, but will shift their mission to supporting Iraqi forces when needed.
The turnover comes as Gen. David Petraeus -- the top U.S. commander in Iraq -- is scheduled to begin making his recommendations to President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates on U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, the official said.
The proposals could come as soon as month's end or in early September and could cover withdrawals over the next six to eight months, the official said.

U.S. Captures Senior Special Groups Leader In Baghdad

This sounds like a huge capture for U.S. troops as a senior Special Groups leader flew into the Baghdad airport and apparently the U.S. had info he was on his way. Let's look at the details here from the report at The Long War Journal:

The leader, who was not named, is described as being "part of the most senior social and operational circles of Special Groups" by Multinational Forces-Iraq. "The man has been known to travel in and out of Iraq to neighboring nations including Iran and Lebanon, where it is believed he meets and helps run the Iranian-backed Special Groups in Iraq," Multinational Forces-Iraq reported in a press release.
The leader is said to be behind the deadly bombing at the Sadr City District Advisory Council meeting on June 24 that killed two US soldiers, two members of the US State Department, and six Iraqis.

That last part makes this capture even more sweet - this POS was behind that Sadr City bombing and most likely a number like it. The thing to notice here is that with al Qaeda cowering from the U.S. and Iraqi troops and more or less fleeing Iraq in droves, we are still seeing these Special Groups personnel actively trying to bring Iran's mission of death and violence to Iraq.

Hopefully, this asshat will sing like a bird under interrogation and we can nab even more of his jihadist buddies.

Senior Special Groups leader captured at Baghdad airport

The unnamed Special Groups leader is likely to have close connections to Hezbollah and Iran's Qods Force, which has established a command to fight a covert war inside Iraq. Hezbollah and Qods forces have established groups such as the Hezbollah Brigades and the Army of the Righteous to attack Coalition and Iraqi forces and to target Iraqi leaders with assassinations.
The US military claims the Mahdi Army is not part of the Special Groups, but the fighting this spring and early summer in Sadr City, Basrah, and much of southern and central Iraq was aimed at Mahdi Army strongholds. The senior most wanted Special Groups leaders are all senior Mahdi Army commanders.
The US military uses the term Special Groups as part of its strategy to divide the Mahdi Army and provide room for the moderate elements of the militia to join the political process.
The Mahdi Army took heavy casualties while opposing the Iraqi security forces in Basrah and the South and against US and Iraqi forces in Sadr City during operations to secure the areas in March, April, and May. More than 1,000 Mahdi Army fighters were killed in Sadr City alone, according to a Mahdi Army commander in Baghdad. Another 415 were killed in Basrah. More than 400 were killed during fighting in the southern cities of Najaf, Karbala, Hillah, Diwaniyah, Amarah, Samawah, and Nasiriyah in late March and early April, according to numbers compiled by The Long War Journal. Thousands more have been wounded our captured.

Israel Slams Jordan For Cozying Up To Hamas

I blogged about the new relationship between Hamas and Jordan a few weeks ago and now, the Israelis are not happy about this historic reversal on Jordan's part. Here's what the Israelis are saying according to the report at Haaretz:

Israel on Wednesday criticized Jordanian overtures to the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, saying the Hashemite Kingdom's reversal of long-standing policy is "unhelpful to the peace process.

And here's the details about what Jordan is up to:

In an about-face, Jordan is reaching out to Hamas amid fears that a collapse of Mideast peacemaking would bring an influx of refugees. But the U.S. ally must walk a delicate line to avoid angering its U.S. and Israeli friends. Hamas is outlawed in Jordan, which has accused the group in the past of trying to destabilize it. But Jordanian intelligence chief Mohammed al-Dahabi held two covert meetings with top Hamas leaders this month, ending a nearly decade-long banishment of the group.

Now, I've put forth some theories on why Jordan would take this step - one being a genuine fear of being on the wrong side of Iran but I think it is more likely that Jordan is more concerned about the wave of al Qaeda spreading into Jordan upon their demise in Iraq and also, the growing al Qaeda presence in Gaza.

It's my opinion that the Jordanians fear some real reprisals from al Qaeda for past crackdowns and the Jordanians are trying to have a "rent a thug" in the region, namely Hamas.

Pretty crazy, huh? Well, the Jordanians have been a waiting prize for the terrorists for a long time and with this move by Jordan, what they have already done is piss off Israel and that will be a long term mistake for them. Jordan has enjoyed a relationship with Israel that has been at least calm for many years and considering the bad stuff that eventually will explode in the Middle East, I'm not so sure the Jordanians have really thought this out.

Israel slams Jordan's talks with Hamas as 'unhelpful to peace process'

The talks don't mean Jordan, which signed a 1994 peace deal with Israel, is embracing the militant group or is turning its back on Arab-Israeli negotiations. But the kingdom has clearly decided it's better to rebuild a relationship with Hamas than keep shunning it as an enemy amid doubts over the peace process' future. "We're at a crossroads and Jordan must protect itself and its national interests," said former Jordanian parliament speaker Abdul-Latif Arabiyat. Jordan fears that the possible failure of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks backed by the Bush administration, which leaves office early next year, could embolden Hamas in the neighboring West Bank, as well as Muslim extremists in Jordan and across the Mideast. Quiet contacts with Hamas could mollify any fallout for Jordan if that happens. Also, Jordan is worried a failure of talks will revive Israeli hardliner calls for ejecting West Bank Palestinians to Jordan or for parts of the West Bank to form a confederation with the kingdom as an alternative to an independent state. Jordan, which ruled the West Bank from 1950 to 1967, strongly opposes such a move, as do Hamas and other Palestinians. Jordan's worries are demographic: Roughly half of its 5.8 million population are of Palestinian descent, from families that were displaced to the kingdom in two wars with Israel since 1948. Jordan is ruled by an elite drawn from its native, Bedouin-rooted clans. Another flood of Palestinians could overwhelm Jordan and even spark civil unrest. In 1970, the Palestine Liberation Organization tried to overthrow Jordan's Hashemite monarchy by setting up a Palestinian government. But Jordan fought a bloody war, known as "Black September," as it evicted the PLO from its territory. Jordan's contacts with Hamas have already irked Israel and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose U.S.-backed Palestinian Authority controls the West Bank and has been battling to end Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip last year. Abbas sent his interior minister, Abdel Razak Yehiye, to Jordan last week to "find out what the Jordanians are up to and if their contacts with Hamas meant dropping support for the Palestinian Authority," said an Amman-based Palestinian official, insisting on anonymity citing diplomatic sensitivities. Israeli Embassy spokesman Itai Bardov in Amman called Jordan's contacts with Hamas "unhelpful to the peace process." "We're against any negotiations with Hamas because we regard it as a terrorist movement," he said. "We should find ways to strengthen the Palestinian Authority instead of legitimizing Hamas, which made an illegal military coup in Gaza."

40 Taliban Killed In Battle In Eastern Afghanistan

Whoa! Now THIS is good news for a hump day, eh? Now, there's conflicting reports from the local Afghans and the Taliban as to how many Taliban were actually killed - I'm gonna put my money on the locals instead of the pathological liars in the Taliban. Here's the details from China View of what happened:

Clash between security forces and Taliban insurgents left more than three dozen rebels dead in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province, provincial governor Mohammad Akram Khapalwak said Wednesday.
"The battle took place in Sarobi district when militants attacked government checkpoints on Tuesday and Afghan troops called in air support during which 40 enemies were killed," Khapalwak told Xinhua.
He also said that six Afghan soldiers sustained injuries in the fire fight.
Meantime, Salahudin Ayubi who claims to be Taliban commander in the area, told media form unknown location that only three Taliban fighters were killed in the gun battle while government troops received huge casualties.

What this battle shows is just another example of how quickly NATO air support can arrive on a battle scene or ambush site. I only wish there was a video of this!

Afghan battle leaves dozens of suspected Taliban dead

KABUL, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Clash between security forces and Taliban insurgents left more than three dozen rebels dead in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province, provincial governor Mohammad Akram Khapalwak said Wednesday.
"The battle took place in Sarobi district when militants attacked government checkpoints on Tuesday and Afghan troops called in air support during which 40 enemies were killed," Khapalwak told Xinhua.
He also said that six Afghan soldiers sustained injuries in the fire fight.
Meantime, Salahudin Ayubi who claims to be Taliban commander in the area, told media form unknown location that only three Taliban fighters were killed in the gun battle while government troops received huge casualties.
No independent source was immediately available to verify the claim. Warring sides in Afghanistan often exaggerate the casualties inflicted on rivals.
Early in the day the U.S.-led Coalition forces said in a statement that over a dozen insurgents were killed in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province on Monday.

Taliban 101: When You Walk Away From A Hellfire Missile Attack...Did You REALLY Escape?

Bombing Of Cafe In Islamabad Kills 8

The Taliban have renewed their bombing and attacks on Pakistani targets outside of their strongholds in the northwest section of Pakistani by bombing a cafe in the nation's capital. Here's some of the details at The Long War Journal:

Eight Pakistanis were killed and twenty were wounded in a bombing at a cafe in Islamabad. Today's attack is the latest in the Taliban's new terror campaign outside the tribal areas.
The bombing occurred at a restaurant on the outskirts of Pakistan's capital. The cafe was frequented by laborers and travelers, Daily Times reported. The bomb contained about eight pounds of explosives and left a one-foot deep crater. Witnesses indicated a child may have placed the bomb. Initial reports indicated a propane cylinder caused the explosion, but the cafe owner denied he used propane for fuel.

This of course is all about the Taliban (and al Qaeda) reacting to the government's continued military operations in the North West Frontier Provinces and also the government's new call to ban the Taliban. Typically, the Taliban try to reach out further into the country and in particular, into the country's metro areas when they are really feeling the pinch in their home neighborhoods. It's usually a good sign that the Taliban are feeling the heat when they call for such bombings in the capital or other major cities.

The Taliban figure that if they can take out enough citizens in Pakistan, the new government will cave from pressure from Pakistanis who fear the violence. It will be interesting to see if the new government will stick to its guns (pardon the pun) if we see several more of these types of bombings.

One of the parts of the article that I had not seen before was this:

On July 23, Prime Minister Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani and his cabinet were told that more than 8,000 foreign fighters were operating in the tribal areas.

Now THAT is a ton of bad guys in the NWFP! Now, I'm not sure how Pakistan plans to rid that area of all that evil but until they do, they will see these kinds of bombings for a very long time.

Eight killed in Islamabad bombing

Eight Pakistanis were killed and twenty were wounded in a bombing at a cafe in Islamabad. Today's attack is the latest in the Taliban's new terror campaign outside the tribal areas.
The bombing occurred at a restaurant on the outskirts of Pakistan's capital. The cafe was frequented by laborers and travelers, Daily Times reported. The bomb contained about eight pounds of explosives and left a one-foot deep crater. Witnesses indicated a child may have placed the bomb. Initial reports indicated a propane cylinder caused the explosion, but the cafe owner denied he used propane for fuel.
The Taliban have targeted cafes in Islamabad in the past. Last March, one civilian was killed and 15 wounded in a bombing at an Italian restaurant known to be frequented by foreigners. Twelve foreigners were wounded in the bombing.
The Taliban have reinitiated their attacks in Pakistan's major cities after the government refused to halt security operation in the Swat district and the Bajaur tribal agency. In response, the government recently outlawed the Pakistani Taliban and threatened to seize assets and detain senior leaders.
The Islamabad attack is the fifth major strike since Aug 20, and the seven since Aug. 12.
The bombing in Islamabad occurred the same day the Taliban targeted the senior US diplomat in Peshawar. The US consulate's principal officer and her driver evaded an ambush on the streets of Peshawar as she was driving to her office. Gunmen blocked the road an opened fire on her vehicle.
A suicide bomber killed 16 Pakistanis, including policemen, and wounded 20 in an attack on a police station in Swat on Aug. 23. A pair of bombers detonated outside the main gates of the Pakistani Ordnance Facility in Wah in Punjab province on Aug. 21. The day prior, a suicide bomber detonated in a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan. Thirty Pakistani civilians were killed and 25 were wounded.
Nine Pakistanis, including five policemen, were killed and more than 35 were wounded after a suicide bomber struck during Pakistan’s Independence Day celebration in the city of Lahore in Punjab province on Aug. 13.
The day prior, the Taliban took credit for a deadly bus bombing on a Pakistani Air Force bus in Peshawar. Thirteen Pakistanis, including 10 security officials, were killed and more than a dozen were wounded in the provincial capital of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province.
The Taliban, al Qaeda, and allied terrorist groups maintain secure bases in Pakistan's tribal areas and in some of the settled districts of the Northwest Frontier Province. These groups have established 157 training camps and more than 400 support locations in the tribal areas and the Northwest Frontier Province, US intelligence officials have told The Long War Journal.
On July 23, Prime Minister Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani and his cabinet were told that more than 8,000 foreign fighters were operating in the tribal areas.

Taliban Kill Captured Japanese Aid Worker In Afghanistan

Another dead foreigner in Afghanistan, another victim of the Taliban, another victim of the Religion of Peace. The Japanese aid worker who was just captured by the Taliban just on Tuesday, was killed and his bullet-ridden body found in eastern Afghanistan. Here's the details from Reuters:

A Japanese aid worker kidnapped in eastern Afghanistan was found dead, the governor of Nangarhar province said on Wednesday.
"He has been killed. Police have recovered his body and are trying to bring it down from the top of the mountain," Gul Agha Sherzai told Reuters.
Kazuya Ito, a 31-year-old aid worker from Japan, was kidnapped by gunmen on Tuesday in Nangarhar. Afghan police launched a rescue operation on Wednesday

.

The Taliban hasn't made any claims about the capture or the killing but I'm sure they will spew some sort of threat later today. But what this demonstrates is further evidence why the War in Afghanistan is so critical. We could go on for hours as to why the Iranians are such a threat to world peace and how they have to be stopped but the Taliban represent a different reason for fighting the Long War. As human beings, we simply cannot allow the Taliban to exist on this planet.

The Taliban represent the worst of the worst. These are islamists who place children outside of the doors to their meeting places, these are the jihadists who behead women, these are the minions of Satan that blow up thousands of innocent bystanders. I've said it many times before that defeating the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan is different than defeating al Qaeda in Iraq. The Taliban are like a cancer - they need to be cut out, they needed to be irradiated. In Iraq, al Qaeda has been beaten and they simply fade away or move off to other areas and disband. The Taliban, left to live another day, multiply and renew their efforts another day.

Kidnapped Japanese aid worker killed in Afghanistan

SHEWA, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A Japanese aid worker kidnapped in eastern Afghanistan was found dead, the governor of Nangarhar province said on Wednesday.
"He has been killed. Police have recovered his body and are trying to bring it down from the top of the mountain," Gul Agha Sherzai told Reuters.
Kazuya Ito, a 31-year-old aid worker from Japan, was kidnapped by gunmen on Tuesday in Nangarhar. Afghan police launched a rescue operation on Wednesday.
Sherzai, together with Afghan police and international troops, traveled to the village of Shewa to recover the body. A Reuters reporter saw the bullet-riddled body of the victim after it was brought down from the mountain.
"It's the worst thing that could possibly happen. It's what we hoped would never happen," Mitsuji Fukumoto, who worked for the same Peshawar-kai aid agency, told reporters in Fukuoka.
"We must not waste Ito's efforts. I believe we should continue our activities," he added, at one point bowing his head and wiping tears from his eyes.
Taliban insurgents, who have been behind a series of abduction of Afghans and foreigners in recent years, said they had no information about the abduction.
Japan does not have troops in Afghanistan, but its navy runs a maritime refueling operation in support of U.S.-led military operations in the country.
Peshawar-kai, based in southern Japan, was set up in 1983 and provides medical services in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Afghanistan, Karzai Demand NATO End Attacks On Afghan Villages

Okay, there is still plenty of debate going on about just how many, if any, civilians were killed in the NATO air raid a few days ago that killed a Taliban commander and 30 of his fighters but now the U.N. has stuck its nose into this and is, of course, taking the side of Afghan President Karzai in reprimanding NATO for the attack. Look at some of this bullshit from the article at The Guardian:

The ministries of foreign affairs and defence said they would seek to regulate raids with a status of forces agreement and a negotiated end to "air strikes on civilian targets, uncoordinated house searches and illegal detention of Afghan civilians".
The UN mission in Afghanistan has backed the government. Afghan and foreign soldiers entered the village of Nawabad in Shindand district last Friday and called in air strikes, villagers told UN investigators.
The UN special envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, said in a statement that an investigation "found convincing evidence, based on the testimony of eyewitnesses and others, that some 90 civilians were killed, including 60 children, 15 women and 15 men. Fifteen other villagers were wounded.

Okay, so let's cut through the bullshit here. The U.N. is not the problem here and NATO could care less about what the U.N. thinks. The problem here is Karzai. Now, this guy has been a pretty damn good leader for Afghanistan and a good ally of the West in trying to bring the Taliban down to elimination but he's been on this kick for a year now about the loss of civilian loss of life. And quite frankly, I'm sick and tired of his misplaced criticisms and whining. Karzai has gone on for a week about this attack that supposedly killed 90 civilians and yet Karzai doesn't say a fucking thing when 125 civilians are blown up each and every week from suicide bombings and IED's from the Taliban.

Let's get to the nitty gritty. Karzai has to decide whether he wants his country and its government as it now exists...to stay that way OR does he want the Taliban to take over again and control the country prior to the coalition's intervention in 2001/2002. That's the choice this clown has to make. If the Taliban are to be defeated, you will have to allow civilian deaths - it sounds horrible but it's just a fact of how the Taliban fight. The Taliban are renowned for conducting attacks on NATO and Afghan troops, then retreating to villages and compounds where they use civilians as human shields. So, under Karzai's plan, the only opportunity to kill Taliban is in the actual attack or before they can get to a village.

In other words, the Taliban conduct an attack killing 2 NATO soldiers and 10 Afghan soldiers, an Apache catches up with them as 30 of the Taliban enter a home on the edge of a nearby village. So that Apache pilot, whether he is American or Dutch or British, has all 30 of the Taliban who just drew NATO blood below him in that one building and he is supposed to slowly turn around and go back to base??!!

I'm sure at some point, NATO commanders will sit down with Karzai and inform him that if he insists that the Taliban be fought with one arm behind our back, then he's on his own. And I have no problem with walking away from this war if this asshat can't make that right decision.

Afghanistan demands end to Nato air strikes on villagers

Tensions increased today between Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai, and US and Nato troops, with the government ordering a review of foreign military activities amid claims that dozens of civilians have died in raids and air strikes over the past week.
The ministries of foreign affairs and defence said they would seek to regulate raids with a status of forces agreement and a negotiated end to "air strikes on civilian targets, uncoordinated house searches and illegal detention of Afghan civilians".
The UN mission in Afghanistan has backed the government. Afghan and foreign soldiers entered the village of Nawabad in Shindand district last Friday and called in air strikes, villagers told UN investigators.
The UN special envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, said in a statement that an investigation "found convincing evidence, based on the testimony of eyewitnesses and others, that some 90 civilians were killed, including 60 children, 15 women and 15 men. Fifteen other villagers were wounded.
"The destruction from aerial bombardment was clearly evident with seven to eight houses having been destroyed, with serious damage to many others," Eide said. "Local residents were able to confirm the number of casualties, including names, age and gender of the victims.
"This is matter of grave concern to the United Nations. I have repeatedly made clear that the safety and welfare of civilians must be considered above all else during the planning and conduct of all military operations.
"The impact of such operations undermines the trust and confidence of the Afghan people in efforts to build a just, peaceful and law-abiding state."
The US military has launched an investigation after saying it was unaware of any civilians killed. An American spokesman said the strike targeted a known Taliban commander and killed 30 militants.
Captain Mike Windsor, a spokesman for Nato, said the force had not received any official notification about the government decision. He said Nato's mission was based on a UN mandate and carried out at the invitation of the Afghan government.
In an angry statement, the government said officials had "repeatedly discussed the issue of civilian casualties with the international forces and asked for all air raids on civilian targets, especially in Afghan villages, to be stopped".
"The issues of uncoordinated house searches and harassing civilians have also been of concern to the government of Afghanistan, which has been shared with the commanders of international forces in Afghanistan," it said.
"Unfortunately, to date, our demands have not been addressed. Rather, more civilians, including women and children, are losing their lives as a result of air raids."