Insurgent 101: If You Are Going To Snipe Iraqi Civilians, DON'T Do It With U.S. Troops Nearby

Insurgent 101: You Do NOT Want To Meet Up With An OH-58 Kiowa

U.S and Iraqi Troops Kill Six Special Groups IED Placers In Baghdad Area

Excellent news as Coalition troops in several different actions, killed six special groups jihadists that were in the process of placing IED's. Here's the detail from MNF:

Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers disrupted efforts by Special Groups criminals to emplace improvised explosive devices, killing six and wounded another during a joint operation in the New Baghdad security district of eastern Baghdad, June 20. A group of suspected criminals were seen observing U.S. Soldiers in Shawra Wa Um Jidir, at approximately 7:45 a.m. They pointed at the Soldiers continuously and began using cell phones. Then, one of the men ran into a building and returned with an AK-47 rifle, which he aimed at the Soldiers. The Soldiers engaged the suspect, killing him and one of his cohorts. About 35 minutes later, the Soldiers spotted three additional criminals engaged in suspicious activity. The Soldiers engaged and killed one of the men as he attempted to emplace an improvised explosive device. Soldiers at the same location killed another criminal emplacing an IED approximately two hours later. Just after 10:30 a.m., two Special Group criminals attempted to retrieve one of the IEDs. U.S. Soldiers killed one of them and wounded the other. Another criminal was observed digging a hole to emplace an IED when Soldiers engaged and killed him at approximately 1 p.m.

I thought that an interesting bit of information in this report was that two of the special groups (Mahdi Army) jihadists were trying to RETRIEVE one of the IEDs. In other words, they suspected that the placement of the IED had been seen and they didn't want to lose it. Hmm...is the supply of those IED's getting tight? Is there a shortage of IED manufacture expertise? Maybe I'm reading too much into that but it would be encouraging to see these asshats running low on the lethal weapon.

MND-B Soldiers prevent Special Group criminals from emplacing IEDs, kill six

Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers disrupted efforts by Special Groups criminals to emplace improvised explosive devices, killing six and wounded another during a joint operation in the New Baghdad security district of eastern Baghdad, June 20. A group of suspected criminals were seen observing U.S. Soldiers in Shawra Wa Um Jidir, at approximately 7:45 a.m. They pointed at the Soldiers continuously and began using cell phones. Then, one of the men ran into a building and returned with an AK-47 rifle, which he aimed at the Soldiers. The Soldiers engaged the suspect, killing him and one of his cohorts. About 35 minutes later, the Soldiers spotted three additional criminals engaged in suspicious activity. The Soldiers engaged and killed one of the men as he attempted to emplace an improvised explosive device. Soldiers at the same location killed another criminal emplacing an IED approximately two hours later. Just after 10:30 a.m., two Special Group criminals attempted to retrieve one of the IEDs. U.S. Soldiers killed one of them and wounded the other. Another criminal was observed digging a hole to emplace an IED when Soldiers engaged and killed him at approximately 1 p.m. “Neither we nor our Iraqi partners will tolerate attempts by these criminals to inflict indiscriminate violence through the use of IEDs or other means,” said Maj. Joey Sullinger, spokesperson for 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. “These Special Group criminals who do not lay down their arms and embrace Iraq’s peaceful and prosperous future will be pursued, captured or killed.”

Taliban Kidnap 17 Pakistani Police In Khyber Pass - Sure Talk More Peace With Them

Oh yeah, why doesn't the Pakistani government set about talking up several more peace agreements with the Taliban?! I mean, we realize that they kidnap or kill Pakistani officials, police, military troops and innocent civilians every other week but hey, sit down and talk some more peace with them! Here's the details of what went on in the Khyber Pass region of Pakistan on the Afghanistan border from Reuters:

Suspected pro-Taliban Militants kidnapped 17 Pakistani policemen from posts on the road through the Khyber Pass, the latest insecurity on the vital supply route for Western forces in Afghanistan.
Militants attacked four checkposts on the winding road through the pass that leads to the Afghan border on Sunday night, kidnapping the policemen and wounding one in a brief exchange of fire, a senior government official in the region said.

The Pakistani government just can't seem to understand why there is so much more violence in the whole NW tribal areas nowadays - lemme see...do you think perhaps it has something to do with NATO and U.S. success in Afghanistan and that there are about 20 times as many Taliban in your NW area than ever before? Ya think?

If you put a goat in your backyard, it's going to eat your grass. If you put Taliban in your backyard, they're going to kill your people. Simple as that.

Militants abduct 17 police in Pakistan's Khyber Pass

"Our 17 khasadar are missing," said the official in Landikotal, the main town in the Khyber region, referring to members of special police forces raised in ethnic Pashtun tribal agencies.
"The attackers appear to be outsiders, maybe militants from Mohmand," said the official, who declared to be identified, referring to a neighboring region where Taliban fighters operate.
No militant group claimed responsibility and no ransom demand had been received, said the official.
Khyber had been virtually free of militant violence until this year but security has deteriorated sharply in recent months.
Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan was kidnapped in February while traveling through the Khyber Pass. Taliban militants freed him in May. Several aid workers were also kidnapped in the region.
Rival militant factions have also been battling to control the area but according to officials, those militants have no links with the allies of al Qaeda and the Taliban fighting elsewhere along both sides of the Afghan border.
Up to 15 people were killed and dozens wounded in fighting in the region over the weekend.
Many supplies for the U.S. military and other foreign forces in landlocked Afghanistan go through two crossing points on the Afghan-Pakistani border, one at the top of the Khyber Pass and the other to the southwest, at the Afghan town of Spin Boldak.
The government has vowed to restore order in Khyber.

Insurgent 101: Your Odds Never Were That Good

Hamas Truce Being Slammed Inside of Israel

And rightfully so. The Israelis entered into the latest truce with Hamas and even though there hasn't been a rocket attack inside of Israel in three days, you can almost hear the shipments of new arms and rockets arriving in the Gaza Strip. Here's some details from DEBKA of the unrest inside of Israel regarding this latest farce of a cease-fire:

Shin Bet director Yuval Diskin reported more smuggled arms from Sinai were reaching Gaza in the first 72 hours of the Israel-Hamas truce and Palestinian combat training had been stepped up. Mahmoud Abbas’ rival Fatah had taken a serious beating.
Justice minister Prof. Daniel Friedman called the Israel-Hamas truce deal “a first-class strategic blunder.” He condemned the decision to reopen the crossings, especially the Rafah border terminal on the Egyptian border, without obtaining the captured Israel soldier Gilead Shalit’s release, as “mayhem” in governance.

One has to ask the question again - what did Israel get out of this truce? ZIP! Many had hoped there may be a deal for Shalit or that perhaps a deal might go down with Hezbollah for the two Israeli soldiers in Lebanon but neither will happen and once again, Olmert's gang of clowns has allowed Hamas to rest up, to rearm, and to receieve new orders from Iran.

What Olmert doesn't seem to realize is that Hamas is more vulnerable than ever right now - the Iranians have their hands full with sanctions and with the increased threats of possible attacks on their own land and at the same time, the palestinian people are suffering through the worst economic crisis in history. Hamas has destroyed this strip of land financially and while the MSM won't report it, there are plenty in Gaza who know exactly who is to blame and it ain't Israel.

After reading of all of the uproar from Israeli officials about this truce, one has to wonder if Olmert even listens to anyone inside of his country before making these decisions.

Gaza truce faces increasing domestic fire in Israel

Shin Bet director Yuval Diskin reported more smuggled arms from Sinai were reaching Gaza in the first 72 hours of the Israel-Hamas truce and Palestinian combat training had been stepped up. Mahmoud Abbas’ rival Fatah had taken a serious beating.
Justice minister Prof. Daniel Friedman called the Israel-Hamas truce deal “a first-class strategic blunder.” He condemned the decision to reopen the crossings, especially the Rafah border terminal on the Egyptian border, without obtaining the captured Israel soldier Gilead Shalit’s release, as “mayhem” in governance.
In tones of “I told you so,” Israel’s military intelligence (AMAN) director, Brig. Amos Yadlin reported Sunday, June 22, the Gaza truce in force since Thursday
had fulfilled all Hamas goals: ending the siege, opening the door to international recognition of the terrorist group and a permit to continuing building up arms.
In his briefing to the Knesset foreign affairs and security committee, Brig. Yadlin warned that the Palestinian fundamentalists were now advancing on their next objectives, the West Bank takeover a year after their coup in Gaza, followed by the whole of Israel.
The intelligence chief assured the committee that Israel had offered no guarantee to withdraw from Golan for the sake of the indirect negotiations launched with Syria through Turkey’s good offices last month.

Iran Threatens 'devastating' Response To Any Israeli Attack

Apparently, the Israeli test flight of over 20 aircraft the other day, which some have called a "dry run" for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, has gotten the undivided attention of the Iranians. Good. Here's what the Iranian asshat defense minister had to say from the article over at Haaretz:

Iran's defense minister has warned of a "devastating" response to any Israeli attack on the country. Mostafa Mohammad Najjar told Iranian state television Sunday that Tehran would strongly counter any hostile action with a destructive response, considering all options regardless of time and place

Najjar called the exercise an operation of "psychological warfare", and said Iran would not initiate any tension or conflict.

What did he say..."psychological warfare" ??!! Oh, so the fact that your President has said on over six occasions that you, Najjar, would wipe the country of Israel off the map does not constitute psychological warfare? I hope you aren't sleeping at night now, fool.

The Iranians can at times be so dull. Do they really think that any country or coalition considering a military strike on the Iranian nukes has NOT detailed every possible Iranian response? Do they really think they have to tell us that they won't be happy?! Haha.

I think things are heating up on Iran - the fact that the IAEA head threatened to quit is proof that things are in motion and the Israeli exercise was not meant to send a signal. I think something could very well happen within the next few weeks and it's my personal belief that Israel will not be alone in this endeavor.

Iran threatens 'devastating' response if attacked by Israel

Iran's defense minister has warned of a "devastating" response to any Israeli attack on the country Mostafa Mohammad Najjar told Iranian state television Sunday that Tehran would strongly counter any hostile action with a destructive response, considering all options regardless of time and place. The New York Time has quoted U.S. military officials on Friday as saying that Israel had carried out large-scale military exercises over the Mediterranean, apparently aimed partly at warning Iran of its capabilities to attack Tehran's nuclear sites.

Iran would resort to "all means available" if it was attacked: "Iran will come up with a devastating ... response without any time limit to any hostile measure against our country," Najjar was quoted as saying. Iran on Saturday criticized Israeli military exercises which according to a Jerusalem official were reportedly held in preparation for a military raid on Iran's nuclear facilities. The official Iranian news agency IRNA quoted a government spokesman as saying that the exercises demonstrate how Israel jeopardizes global peace and security. The Israeli official told the London-based Times on Saturday that the Iranians should view the exercise as a warning. "Read the writing on the wall" the official urged Iran. "This was a dress rehearsal, and the Iranians should read the script before they continue with their program for nuclear weapons. If diplomacy does not yield results, Israel will take military steps to halt Tehran's production of bomb-grade uranium." The New York Times on Friday cited unidentified American officials as saying that more than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighter jets took part in the maneuvers over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece during the first week of June. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office declined to comment on the reported exercise, but a senior lawmaker in Olmert's Kadima Party said Saturday that diplomatic efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program have failed and that the next 1-2 years would be critical.

Insurgent 101: Are You SURE You Weren't Followed After That Mortar Attack?

NATO In Afghanistan Fires Two Artillery Strikes Into Pakistan

In retaliation, NATO fired two separate artillery strikes across the border into Pakistan yesterday. Taliban forces in Pakistan had started the exchange by firing rockets into Afghanistan and in those attacks, three Afghan children were killed. Let's take a look at the details from the article at Breitbart:

NATO said five rockets were fired at one of its bases in Khost province overnight. At least one hit a house in Kunday, a small village that sits between two military bases, killing the three children. Another hit a NATO base, wounding an Afghan man, the alliance said
NATO said its forces responded "in self-defense" to the attack "with artillery fire on the launch site located about 300 meters (yards) inside Pakistan."

Now, this really could open up some new avenues for NATO in their operations on the border and inside of Pakistan. We have well documented the number of predator drone operations inside of Pakistan and we had the incident two weeks ago of NATO forces following retreating Taliban attackers back into Pakistan - so if the Taliban being this artillery type of barrage from inside Pakistan, I think it is pretty clear that NATO isn't going to think twice.

And let's face it, the new government of Pakistan is in NO position to handle an aggressive NATO - that new government is well aware of the risks they are taking in trying the peace agreements with the Taliban. This whole border back and forth could really end up opening the door wide as a convoy of M1A1's and Bradleys into Pakistan and if that happens, the Taliban (and al Qaeda, for that matter) are in for some very deep shit.

NATO launches artillery twice across Afghan border

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - NATO launched a pair of artillery strikes across the border into Pakistan after attackers hiding there fired a barrage of rockets into Afghanistan that killed three children, officials said Sunday.
The cross-border fighting could heighten diplomatic tension over Pakistan's inability to stop Islamic militants from operating from its territory—and whether forces in Afghanistan have the right to strike back.
NATO said five rockets were fired at one of its bases in Khost province overnight. At least one hit a house in Kunday, a small village that sits between two military bases, killing the three children. Another hit a NATO base, wounding an Afghan man, the alliance said.
An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies of two of the slain children before relatives carried the three caskets, draped in colorful cloths, to a graveyard for burial Sunday morning.
NATO said its forces responded "in self-defense" to the attack "with artillery fire on the launch site located about 300 meters (yards) inside Pakistan."
In an earlier attack Saturday afternoon, three rounds of "indirect fire"—which often refers to mortar or rocket attacks—landed near a NATO outpost in neighboring Paktika province, the alliance said. Three more landed in an Afghan army compound. No casualties were reported.
NATO said those rounds also came from inside Pakistan and responded with artillery fire.
Pakistan's military was notified immediately after each of the attacks, it said.
Afghan and U.S. officials blame surging violence in Afghanistan in part on efforts by the new Pakistani government to make peace with militants on its side of the mountainous frontier.

Female Iranian Student Who Charged Professor With Sexual Misconduct ...Is Arrested

This is the way the Iranians handle this kind of thing. A female college student in Iran leveled charges on her male professor of sexual misconduct which then sparked considerable protests at the college and so what do the Iranian authorities do? They arrested the woman who brought the charges! Here's some of the details from the BBC:

A female student in the Iranian city of Zanjan who alleged she was sexually harassed by a senior male lecturer - triggering a massive demonstration by her fellow students - has herself been arrested.
The nature of the charge against the woman - who said she was molested by the vice-chancellor of the university - is unclear, but the local prosecutor is reported to have said that publicising certain crimes is worse than the crimes themselves.

Did you catch that? They won't even say what she was arrested for. And look again at the words of the Iranian prosecutor:

the local prosecutor is reported to have said that publicising certain crimes is worse than the crimes themselves.

Incredible. In other words, if she would have just kept her mouth shut, she wouldn't be sitting in a jail cell now. This is just another example of how the Iranian regime will stand for zero push back. They have no tolerance for any sort of protest, no matter how grievious the actions against their citizens may be. There are times when the Iranian regime makes The People's Republic of China look like a shining star in the world of human rights.

'Harassed' Iran student arrested

Thousands of students took control of the campus after the allegation came to light, staging a sit-in and catching hold of the official and handing him to authorities.
The situation has since been calmed after the authorities promised to suspend the accused official from his post and take action.
'Both accused'
The woman alleges that the vice-chancellor of the university, in the north-west of the country, harassed her after she went to discuss a problem with him.
Her fellow students have said they have an audio recording of the lecturer sexually propositioning the girl. They have demanded that he be punished and that the university's board of directors resign.
Video of their seizing the vice-chancellor has since been posted on the YouTube website. Pictures of a sit-in to demand action have also been posted online.
But the situation calmed once the university authorities suspended the man and agreed to form a joint committee with students to look into the issue.
The Fars news agency has reported that what they call "both accused" are in custody - by which they mean the alleged victim and perpetrator.
Reporters have quoted the prosecutor saying people should be aware that if they go ahead and publicise crime there will be no more security in society.
In previous years there has been unrest in the universities spearheaded by reformist students, but so far the protests in Zanjan do not seem to have been overtly political.
This in a strictly segregated society where men and women are not supposed even to shake hands and women must hide their bodies from men they are not related to.