Iraq & Immigration

Iraq Study officials question March goal

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer

17 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The co-chairs of the Iraq Study Group said Monday they were unsure whether the panel's goal of pulling combat troops out of Iraq by March 2008 remains valid.

The blue-ribbon panel's five Republican and five Democratic members concluded six months ago that most combat troops could be out of Iraq by the 2008 date if certain steps were taken. They said a smaller contingent could be left behind to train Iraqi security forces and conduct other narrowly defined missions.

The report received a tepid response by the White House and Congress until recently, as administration officials contemplate their next step in Iraq and congressional Republicans look for a solution to end the politically unpopular war.

Addressing a National Press Club luncheon, James Baker and Lee Hamilton said they believed the group's findings were still meaningful.

But the 2008 date "would, of course, be something different, in my view at least, because we were talking that date when we came with the report in December of 2006. This is now June of 2007," said Baker, secretary of state during the first Bush administration and Republican co-chairman of the group.(link)

Pretty much a non-story here, the ISG admit that times have changed, bla bla bla. Interesting quote though

"One thing I do know and believe very affirmatively, and that is if Iraq was not the center of the war on terror before we went in there, it certainly is now," Baker said.

Makes you wonder why the ISG and the left would be wanting to leave so fast if they truly believe this? (yes I realize Baker is a Republican in name, but not in action).

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Bush immigration bill push tests clout

By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer

1 hour, 22 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush is putting his influence within his own party to the test Tuesday as he pleads personally with skeptical Senate Republicans to resurrect his immigration bill. Despite his confident tone Monday about the measure's fate, Bush is facing a hostile audience that has shown little appetite for following his lead on the contentious issue.

[snip]

Still, weakened by his sagging poll numbers and a sense within GOP ranks that the president has lost touch with his core supporters on immigration, Bush may well lack the clout he would need to persuade Republicans to back the measure, say lawmakers and strategists.(link)

Read that last paragraph well, seems that the A(w/t)P thinks the immigration bill is having problems because W has low poll numbers. Instead of looking at the fact the bill is having problems because NO ONE wants that bill, telling.
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Reason amongst the dhimmikrauts

Labels: illegal immigration, Iraq, ISG, law, TWoT, W

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 21:16   | View blog reactions |

Light Reading Two things I want you to read:

Do not surrender to hopelessness.

Do not succumb to defeat.

Do not give in to fear.

Rise above the political pressures of the moment to do what is right for America. (link)

You'll never guess who is doing the speaking if you didn't read the first part. Great thanks go out to Senator Lieberman for his speech. This speech is something that should have been said long ago by ANYONE in Washington, luckily it looks like someone at least is still paying attention to the world and our part in it.

Number 2 comes from the (anti) Climate Porn sector:

Climate change will be considered a joke in five years time, meteorologist Augie Auer told the annual meeting of Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers in Ashburton this week.(link)

Read the whole thing. They don't give a location to the data they use, so I can't claim it is 'proven', but the article is just as much proven as Al Gore's movie and book.
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Reason(s) to think
Filed: Joe Lieberman, reason, war on terror, Climate Porn, Augie Auer, BlogPower, LordNazh

Labels: climate porn, Iraq, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 19:25   | View blog reactions |

Damn Surge More bad news from the Surge front:

Middle East

This is the most recent version of this article. View article history.

Death Squad Leaders Seized in Baghdad

(AP Photo/Mahmoud al-Badri)
A man passes by cars destroyed in a car bomb explosion in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007. A parked car bomb went off in central Baghdad's Karradah neighborhood, killing at least two people and injuring another four, police said.

Printer Friendly | PDF | Email | digg
By BRIAN MURPHY, The Associated Press
Feb 27, 2007 4:00 PM (39 mins ago)
Current rank: # 296 of 15,729 articles

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S.-led strike forces seized suspected Shiite death squad bosses Tuesday in raids that tested the fragile bonds between the government and a powerful militia faction allowing the Baghdad security crackdown to move ahead.

The sweeps through the Sadr City slum were part of highly sensitive forays into areas loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who has ridiculed the 2-week-old campaign for failing to halt bombings by suspected Sunni insurgents against Shiite civilians.

Al-Sadr withdrew his powerful Mahdi Army militia from checkpoints and bases under intense government pressure to let the security push go forward. But the U.S.-backed government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also worries that al-Sadr could pull his support if he feels his militiamen are being squeezed in Baghdad. (link)

Of course you have to look at in context... it's bad news for the retreat crowd. Just another day in the life I guess.
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Reason to surge

Labels: Iraq, Middle East, TWoT, war

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 17:41   | View blog reactions |

Detentions at the border The U.S. issued a rapid apology for the detention of Al-Hakim's son on a return trip from Iran, but should they be that sorry?

Shiites decry detention of leader's son

By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer 54 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Thousands of Shiites rallied in the holy city of Najaf on Saturday to protest the nearly 12-hour detention of the eldest son of Iraq's most influential Shiite politician as he crossed back from Iran.

Amar al-Hakim, who was taken into custody on Friday, complained Saturday that U.S. soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded him before his release and "strongly abused" his bodyguards.

"Is this the way to deal with a national figure? This does not conform with Iraq's sovereignty," he said.

He said cell phones, licensed weapons and two-way radios were among items confiscated. (link)

Sounds like a case of a needed apology and maybe a change in the procedures doesn't it? But if you read on down the article, you'll see some more relevant details emerge:

The U.S. military said Saturday that al-Hakim was stopped in an area where smuggling between Iraq and Iran is common and detained after members of the convoy "did not cooperate with coalition forces and displayed suspicious activities." He was released to Iraqi authorities and his possessions were returned after further investigation, the military said.

Now it sounds more like simply the U.S. forces doing their job. I understand people in positions of power (in all countries) act and think they are above the law, but they shouldn't be. If you or your company will not cooperate with authorities when stopped in a suspicious area, then you will be detained and questioned. Seems like a simple concept.

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Reason to stop

Labels: Authority, Iraq, Middle East, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 10:53   | View blog reactions |

Iraqi War I don't know what the surge is going to do, but since it's inception, there's been alot of good news from the war front. The latest:

AP Photo: Sgt. Marcus Gibbs, 26, from Pensacola, Fla., stands guard with the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry...

5 minutes ago BAGHDAD, Iraq - The leader of al-Qaida in Iraq was wounded and an aide was killed in a clash Thursday with Iraqi forces north of Baghdad, the Interior Ministry spokesman said. The clash occurred near Balad, a major U.S. base about 50 miles north of the capital, Brig. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said.

Khalaf said al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri was wounded and his aide, identified as Abu Abdullah al-Majemaai, was killed.

Khalaf declined to say how Iraqi forces knew al-Masri had been injured, and there was no report on the incident from U.S. authorities.

Deputy Interior Minister Maj. Gen. Hussein Ali Kamal said he had no information about such a clash or that al-Masri had been involved. (link)

Of course if you take out the leader, there will be another one to take over, but sooner or later it will be harder to fill that position if you keep targeting them.
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Reason to fight

Labels: Iraq, Middle East, TWoT, war

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 17:07   | View blog reactions |

The (anti) Surge "We don't have a plan, but we don't want you to have one either." That seems to be the word from the Dems (and some 'republicans') in the Senate. Not only are they going to attempt to pass their non-binding resolution, they've taken out the part about it 'not being in the interest of the U.S.' on the surge.

Since the nbr was specifically against the surge, now exactly what is it for? Oh yeah, votes. That's what drives most politicians. They legislate with polls and voter sentiment. The democrats I can (sorta) understand, Bush's numbers are low and support for the war is low. But for the 'republicans' it's really hard to figure. Three out of four Republicans support the war, the President and the Surge; so what's the thinking behind alienating your voters? Who knows, but hopefully these politicians will pay the ultimate price for their shenanigans: ie. loss of job.

Senate corners Bush over troop increase

Mark Tran
Thursday February 1, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

US marines patrol west of Baghdad. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images.

George Bush was today facing further political isolation over his policy on Iraq after top Senate Democrats and Republicans agreed on a provisional resolution opposing a troop increase.

The White House has been lobbying fiercely to head off such a resolution and its failure to do so underlines the unpopularity of Mr Bush's plan to send an extra 21,500 troops to Iraq.

Several proposals had been circulating in the Senate, but the Democratic chairman of the senate armed services committee, Carl Levin, and his predecessor, the Republican senator John Warner, have managed to craft a resolution designed to attract maximum support from both parties.(link)

The article didn't give a specific list of 'republicans' who support this measure (and the one that will go around the House), but I'm sure it's the same thugs who were signing on earlier (represented in the Pledge). If you haven't signed up for the pledge, do so now. Let these politicians (and the NRSC) know that we do not support these people.
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Reason to care

Labels: Iraq, senate, TWoT, war

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 09:26   | View blog reactions |

Yes everyone else has already posted this, but I had a physical today and rough day at work, so I didn't get to do it earlier (heh).

Seems that the Iraqis are trying to step up. Granted they had to get help, but in a fight this size thats not necessarily a bad thing right now. (of course, the key is how will they handle it when we leave)

Iraqi army kills leader of Shiite cult

By KIM GAMEL, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq -

News | News Photos | Images | Web

Iraq's army announced Monday it killed the leader of a heavily armed cult of messianic Shiites called "the Soldiers of Heaven" in a fierce gunbattle aimed at foiling a plot to attack leading Shiite clerics and pilgrims in the southern city of Najaf on the holiest day of the Shiite calendar.

Senior Iraqi security officers said that as part of the plot, three gunmen were captured in Najaf after renting a hotel room in front of the office of Iraq's most senior Shiite spiritual leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, with plans to attack it.

The fierce 24-hour battle was ultimately won by Iraqi troops supported by U.S. and British jets and American ground forces, but the ability of a splinter group little known in Iraq to rally hundreds of heavily armed fighters was a reminder of the potential for chaos and havoc emerging seemingly out of nowhere. Members of the group, which included women and children, planned to disguise themselves as pilgrims and kill as many leading clerics as possible, said Maj. Gen. Othman al-Ghanemi, the Iraqi commander in charge of the Najaf region. (link)

Also, I would like to point out to any of the 'cut-and-run' or redeploy or whatever you call it crowd the easiest way and fastest to end the U.S. intervention in Iraq is to get the Iraqi Government to ask us to leave. All the protesters and feckless Senators need to simply convince Maliki to ask Bush to pull the troops out and per our agreement and the U.N. mandate, we will simply leave. That would be much easier than Hillary Clinton claiming that it is irresponsible to not pull the troops out before the next President (wonder who she's voting for?) is sworn in.
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Reason to fight

Labels: Iraq, Middle East, senate, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 19:22   | View blog reactions |

Whats a mahdi? Via HotAir comes this nice little clip (nsfw language) showing U.S. forces engaging the Mahdi army in Baghdad. Nice little clip.



Warning: Language content (mature)

Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy

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Reason to fight

Labels: Iraq, terrorists, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 10:24   | View blog reactions |

The Pledge Victory trumps party!

6684 people have signed The Pledge thus far. Will you?

If the United States Senate passes a resolution, non-binding or otherwise, that criticizes the commitment of additional troops to Iraq that General Petraeus has asked for and that the president has pledged, and if the Senate does so after the testimony of General Petraeus on January 23 that such a resolution will be an encouragement to the enemy, I will not contribute to any Republican senator who voted for the resolution. Further, if any Republican senator who votes for such a resolution is a candidate for re-election in 2008, I will not contribute to the National Republican Senatorial Committee unless the Chairman of that Committee, Senator Ensign, commits in writing that none of the funds of the NRSC will go to support the re-election of any senator supporting the non-binding resolution. (link)

I signed the pledge and I hope everyone will.
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Reason

Labels: politics, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 09:42   | View blog reactions |

What a bargain Outrage Alert!

From Ms. Underestimated via TexasFred:

Angry Kitty

This has also been verified by Snopes. Not that they’re the be-all/end-all, but to me if it’s made it to Snopes, at least some verification has been done on the subject.

Folks, this is a call to arms, so to speak, on this matter. Boycott doesn’t even cut it. We need to make sure this business has NO business, no customers who want to buy from them anymore, and all the negative publicity they can get. Are you ready to get busy on this one? It’s already starting. (link)

Want to know what's got the kitty so mad? Read the link. It is indeed an outrage, but typical of left-affiliated businesses.

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Reason to close

Labels: business, Iraq, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 08:32   | View blog reactions |

In the about time department:

Iraqi leader drops protection of militia

Reuters Photo: A policeman stands guard in front of a burning minibus shortly after a bomb attack...

By STEVEN R. HURST, Associated Press Writer 59 minutes ago BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's prime minister has dropped his protection of an anti-American cleric's Shiite militia after U.S. intelligence convinced him the group was infiltrated by death squads, two officials said Sunday. In a desperate bid to fend off an all-out American offensive, the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr last Friday ordered the 30 lawmakers and six Cabinet ministers under his control to end their nearly

two-month boycott of the government. They were back at their jobs Sunday.

Al-Sadr had already ordered his militia fighters not to display their weapons. They have not, however, ceded control of the formerly mixed neighborhoods they have captured, killing Sunnis or forcing them to abandon their homes and businesses. (link)

This is bad news for the democrats militias and good news for the people that actually want to see the Iraqi government work. There is no doubt that the U.S. forces can defeat any militia that you put against it, provided that they can actually fight it.

I'll expect outrage from the left sometime soon for this latest development in the civil war secretarian violence.
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Reason to shoot

Labels: Iraq, TWoT, war

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 19:25   | View blog reactions |

Pakistan and TWoT Since the time of Pakistan's 'peace-treaty' with terrorists, many people have been worried about what will happen in Afghanistan and the world with the killers being allowed free rein in their own little neighborhood.

Pakistan has co-operated in the past on missions to attack the terrorists, but you still never knew really where they stood. The news today is heartening in that aspect, although it won't answer all the nagging little questions, it does help.

Pakistan Hits Al Qaeda Hideouts Near Afghan Border

Monday, January 15, 2007

• E-MAIL STORY
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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistani troops destroyed three suspected Al Qaeda hideouts near the Afghan border, killing several members of the terror group, the army said Tuesday.

The military carried out the operation in South Waziristan tribal region after receiving information that 25 to 30 Al Qaeda members were hiding there, said army spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan.

"We believed several of them were killed, but we don't have a body count," he said.

Sultan said some of terror group members at the sites were foreigners, but "no high-value target was believed to be there."

Sultan said the destroyed Al Qaeda hideouts were located in an isolated area near the village of Zaoola, located in the general area where the government in September had signed a controversial peace deal with tribal elders to halt military operations against militants.

In return, the local militants and tribal elders at the time had promised that they would neither shelter any foreign militants, nor they would target Pakistani security forces and pro-government elders. (link)

If the bad guys aren't safe in Pakistan's hinterlands, where are they safe at? (besides Europe of course) Maybe soon, the world will start pitching in and we can get to a decent 'terrorist-free' level of living. Just don't make any large wagers on it.
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Reason to cheer

Labels: Asia, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 22:10   | View blog reactions |

Iraq Democrats and other anti-war 'activists' need to take note. You guys are talking/protesting the wrong government. You guys need to direct your actions toward the Iraqi government, as soon as they say go, we go.

Kurdish General Training Troops for Baghdad Mission; Iraq's P.M. Says He Backs Bush Plan

Saturday, January 13, 2007

• E-MAIL STORY
• PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

KIRKUK, Iraq — An Iraqi army brigade based in the northern Kurdish region is undergoing intensive training in urban combat and will be dispatched to Baghdad as part of a new joint U.S.-Iraqi security drive in the sprawling and violence-ridden city, the commander said Saturday.

The brigade is one of two coming from the Kurdish region and a third brigade will come from southern Iraq. The second Kurdish brigade will come from the northern city of Sulaimaniyah.

"We will head to Baghdad soon. We have 3,000 soldiers who are currently undergoing intensive training especially in urban combat and how the army should act inside a city," said Brig. Gen. Nazir Assem Korran, commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 2nd Division of the Iraqi army that is based in the city of Irbil.

Click here for more news on Iraq.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, in his first comments on the new Bush administration plan for restoring security in Baghdad, said the proposal was "identical to our strategy and intentions."

Al-Maliki, however, continued to avoid naming the Mahdi Army Shiite militia of one of his key supporters as a target of the military operations to cleanse the capital of Sunni insurgents and Shiite militia gunmen and death squads.(link)

As long as the Iraqi government wants us there and W is in the whitehouse, we'll be there. Democrats on Capitol Hill won't pull funding and risk votes in '08 (just look at their promises vs their actions, they are looking ahead, not worrying about today). So you're only chance to end this war early is to get the Iraqi government to say it's over.

Note: Nifong got his wish and is pulled from the Duke (no)Rape Case.

Sports: Anyone that watched the Ohio State - Tennessee game, tell me how the OSU guy walks out of bounds (at the end of the game) and there is no call?
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Reason for ire

Labels: basketball, college sports, federal government, Iraq, law, Middle East, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 14:17   | View blog reactions |

As the war turns

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If you are searching flights to amsterdam on the malaysian airlines, you might just not make it. You stand a higher chance of getting las vegas flights on the midwest airlines instead. This is just like expecting travel lodge where even travel trailers are a rare sight.

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Finally getting serious with the militias?

Iraq PM tells Shiite militias to give up

1/10/2007, 7:05 p.m. ET By STEVEN R. HURST and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA The Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Iraq's prime minister has told Shiite militiamen to surrender their arms or face an all-out assault by U.S.-backed Iraqi forces, senior Iraqi officials said Wednesday, as President Bush said he will commit an additional 21,500 American combat troops to the war.

Under pressure from the U.S., Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has agreed to crack down on fighters controlled by his most powerful political ally, Muqtada al-Sadr, a radical Shiite cleric, according to officials. Previously, al-Maliki had resisted the move.

"Prime Minister al-Maliki has told everyone that there will be no escape from attack," a senior Shiite legislator and close al-Maliki adviser said. "The government has told the Sadrists: 'If we want to build a state we have no other choice but to attack armed groups.'"(link)

It seems that finally Al-Maliki is strong enough (or perceives he is) to tell Al-Sadr to go rot. For any 'nation-building' to have any chance of success, the government of Iraq must be totally involved and this looks like a promising step. Of course there have been other steps that didn't pan out, but I'll be optimistic on this one until I see the results.

If nothing else, the Iraqi government's intention to allow attacks against the militias may cut down on the violence that the everyday Iraqi faces, as the militias will become defensive. They cannot stand against the U.S. backed Iraqi forces if the latter is given the green light to go all out.

The Anchoress is tieing up all the loose ends on the surge and reactions to (against) it.
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Reason for optimism
Filed: Iraq, terrorists, Maliki, Sadr, LordNazh

Labels: Iraq, TWoT, war

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 18:39   | View blog reactions |

Execution and execution (of) Interview in Der Spiegel with the Iraqi executioner of Saddam Hussein. It's a good read and refers specifically to the comments between Saddam and the people in the room. Focusing on the insults and such that were hurled at Hussein before his sentence was executed.

"The Execution Was Done Correctly"

Iraqi prosecutor Munqith al-Faroon, 53, discusses the execution of former dictator Saddam Hussein and the investigation into the execution video that is now circulating on the Internet.

AFP

Munqith al-Faroon: "It isn't unlike the hunt. First you hunt down the animal, but once you look your prey in the eyes, you ultimately feel pity. That was the way I felt."

SPIEGEL: Mr. Prosecutor, you were a witness to the execution of Saddam Hussein. What did you see and hear?

Faroon: I, together with 13 other official observers, was flown by helicopter from the Green Zone to the execution site. There were seven of us in each helicopter. We entered the execution chamber, where there were already four other people: the condemned man and three masked men. Two of these men prepared Saddam Hussein for the execution, and the third man later opened the trap door.

SPIEGEL: How many people were present in total?

RELATED SPIEGEL ONLINE LINKS

• SPIEGEL 360: Our Full Coverage of Iraq

Faroon: Only the 14 official observers, Saddam and three masked men. However, the door between the execution chamber and another room was open, and a few men gathered at this door over time -- guards who had been assigned to protect this facility.

SPIEGEL: Who shouted the first insults at Saddam?

Faroon: It was one of those guards, who called out the name of Muqtada al-Sadr.

SPIEGEL: If this man can be identified -- did he commit a crime?

Faroon: No. And I attach importance to the conclusion that the execution was done correctly -- as required by the law. Otherwise I would have stopped the procedure at that point. (link)

Read all of it. Interesting piece, but then again, Der has had alot of good interviews lately.

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Democrats in Congress (the newly minted BMOC) are preparing to stop the President's plans involving Iraq.

Democrats Vow to Challenge Bush's Iraq Proposal

By Ann Scott Tyson

Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 7, 2007; 2:38 PM

Democratic leaders of Congress vowed today to use their powers of spending and policy oversight to challenge President Bush's expected proposal this week for boosting U.S. military forces in Iraq by as many as 20,000 troops.

Calling Iraq a nation in "complete chaos," new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and other Democrats cast the anticipated Bush plan as an escalation of the Iraq war rather than the significant change of course sought by American voters, and said as a result they would treat the plan -- and new funding requests -- with strong skepticism.

"If the president wants to add to this mission, he's going to have to justify it," Pelosi said on CBS's "Face the Nation," emphasizing that while Congress will not cut off funding for troops now in Iraq, the White House will no longer have a "blank check" for expanding the war effort.(link)

Of course, I can't see any amount of justifying that the President could do for Pelosi to give her go ahead for any extra funding. It will be hard enough to keep EXISTENT funding going much less get more.

I wonder (hopelessly) what it will take to get the democratic side of America to realize just what type of war we are involved in.

Well, that was fun :) Heading back to work tonite, hopefully the back will do ok. Got plenty of meds (although I'm not going to take them to work, as they make me feel terrible) and have had plenty of rest in the past few days. Wish me luck.

Also, welcome EvilMidniteBombr to the team, if he ever posts anything that is ...
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Reason amongst the dhimmikrauts

Labels: democrats, Iraq, Middle East, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 15:11   | View blog reactions |

James Brown / Iran in Iraq A legend is gone:

Legendary Singer James Brown Dies at 73 Dec 25 4:15 AM US/Eastern

By GREG BLUESTEIN Associated Press Writer ATLANTA James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said. He was 73. Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday and died around 1:45 a.m. Monday, said his agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music. Longtime friend Charles Bobbit was by his side, he said. Copsidas said the cause of death was uncertain. "We really don't know at this point what he died of," he said. Pete Allman, a radio personality in Las Vegas who had been friends with Brown for 15 years, credited Brown with jump-starting his career and motivating him personally and professionally. "He was a very positive person. There was no question he was the hardest working man in show business," Allman said. "I remember Mr. Brown as someone who always motivated me, got me reading the Bible." Along with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and a handful of others, Brown was one of the major musical influences of the past 50 years. At least one generation idolized him, and sometimes openly copied him. His rapid- footed dancing inspired Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson among others. Songs such as David Bowie's "Fame," Prince's "Kiss," George Clinton's "Atomic Dog" and Sly and the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song" were clearly based on Brown's rhythms and vocal style. (link)

Prayers goto the family and friends, he was a great man who lived a long life.

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Anyone tell the ISG?

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December 25, 2006

U.S. Is Holding Iranians Seized in Raids in Iraq

By JAMES GLANZ and SABRINA TAVERNISE

BAGHDAD, Dec. 24 — The American military is holding at least four Iranians in Iraq, including men the Bush administration called senior military officials, who were seized in a pair of raids late last week aimed at people suspected of conducting attacks on Iraqi security forces, according to senior Iraqi and American officials in Baghdad and Washington.

The Bush administration made no public announcement of the politically delicate seizure of the Iranians, though in response to specific questions the White House confirmed Sunday that the Iranians were in custody.

Gordon D. Johndroe, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said two Iranian diplomats were among those initially detained in the raids. The two had papers showing that they were accredited to work in Iraq, and he said they were turned over to the Iraqi authorities and released. He confirmed that a group of other Iranians, including the military officials, remained in custody while an investigation continued, and he said, “We continue to work with the government of Iraq on the status of the detainees.” (link)

Of course we should talk to Iran, these guys are just looking for peace (heh^TM).
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Reason

Labels: Middle East, music, terrorists, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 07:57   | View blog reactions |

For Nuri A little background on the Spanish problem:

The Jihadist Dream to Liberate Spain

By Aaron Hanscom
FrontPageMagazine.com | December 22, 2006

Earlier this year a jihadist document calling for the liberation of so-called occupied territories and issued by the al-Qaeda-linked group Nadim al-Magrebi was posted on the Islamic extremist website Alansar. In most European capitals, where the cult of Palestinianism reins supreme, such demands are often met with approval since the occupied land in question is usually Israeli. But this time the statement addressed Spain—not Israel. It warned of a “holy war against the infidel Spanish state which has occupied the two cities.”

The two cities in question are Ceuta and Melilla, Spanish enclaves on the North African coast which Spain gained control of nearly 500 years ago. Melilla, with a population of 64,400, is home to 26,400 Muslims; Ceuta’s Muslims number 27,000 out of a population of 71,500. The Spanish newspaper El Pais reports that Muslims will become the majority in the next decade.

Demographics, however, don’t pose the only threat to Spain’s future. This month 11 Islamist radicals, ten Spaniards and a Moroccan, were arrested in Ceuta for planning to stage terrorist attacks in the country. (Two of the brothers of Hamed Abderrahaman Ahmed, the one-time Guantanamo prisoner who was eventually exonerated by a Spanish court, were among those arrested.) The seven suspects later detained by Judge Baltasar Garzon were charged with belonging to the Salafia Yihadia terrorist group which forms part of the al-Qaeda network in North Africa. In a statement Garzon said that the group had considered stealing weapons and explosives from a military base and carrying out an attack during Ceuta's annual fiesta. Sources claim that at least one member had already written a suicide note. The investigation of the group which began in March of 2005 also revealed that the individuals detained were in contact with two Spanish soldiers of Moroccan origin from whom they hoped to obtain explosives and strategic information. (link)

A little reading for you about the Spanish difficulties with Islamic Jihad and what they (jihadis) propose for your country.

Spain, like France has no beef in the ongoing War on Terror in the Middle East. They have pulled all their troops out of Iraq and as a country decided to stay out of it. What will they do when the war comes to them?

Filed under: Dhimmitude by Chad Evans at 3:24 pm EDT

From The Brussels Journal:

Spain will no longer burn effigies of the Prophet Muhammad. Muslim armies occupied Spain from 711 to 1492. For the past five centuries the Spanish have traditionally celebrated the 1492 liberation from the Moors (as the Muslims were locally called) with local village festivals during which the battles against the Moors were reenacted and effigies of the Muslim prophet – the so-called “la Mahoma” – were mocked, thrown from the windows, and burned.

Last year the town of Bocairent near Valencia decided to discontinue the tradition of centuries. The town did not want to risk becoming the target of Islamic suicide bombers. On Monday the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that this year the other Valencian towns are also abolishing ancient traditions which are perceived to be offensive to Muslims. The people of Beneixama used to stuff the head of the Mahoma with firecrackers which went off as the onlookers applauded. This year Beneixama decided to abolish this part of the celebration. Antonio Valdés, the local mayor, told El Pais: “This was not an essential part of the festivities. It could hurt the sensitivities of some. We decided to avoid that.” The reconquista will still be commemmorated, but without “aggression” towards Muhammad.

The former Moorish provinces of Spain, or “Al-Andalus” as Islamists call it, are the only part of the world besides Israel which was once Muslim territory but was lost to Islam. Osama bin Laden dreams of recapturing it. By renouncing their ancient traditions the Spanish seem to indicate that they deserve the return of the Moors.

That, like the German theater closing down a three year-old play, is Islamophobia. (link via IntheBullpen blog)

Fold is what it looks like.
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Reason amongst the infidels

Labels: Europe, muslim, Spain, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 08:51   | View blog reactions |

ACLU and illegal activities OxyMoron I know, but the ACLU is at it again (via Jay):

U.S. Subpoenas ACLU Over Possession Of Secret Document

by Jay on 12-13-06 @ 3:13 pm Filed under ACLU, War On Terror, 1st Amendment, News

Via the ACLU we find out the U.S. government is finally being proactive against the ACLU in protecting classified information from being leaked for our enemies to know.

Read the rest at StoptheACLU, it's positively scary what the ACLU thinks that should be protected and what's not worthy of protection.

Basically they are and you aren't.
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Reason amongst the dhimmikrauts

Labels: ACLU, liberty, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 18:39   | View blog reactions |

Raids in Iraq The A(w/t)P reports that coalition forces have raided an Al-Qaeda stronghold. Read the article and you'll see that the forces were searching through buildings and were attacked, they then returned fire. This doesn't sound like a 'raid' to me, but a defense.

Coalition raids Iraq areas, killing 20
	By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 33 minutes ago BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S.-led coalition forces killed 20 insurgents, including two women, Friday in fighting and air strikes that targeted al-Qaida in Iraq militants northwest of Baghdad, the military said. The mayor of the area said 19 civilians were killed, including seven women and eight children.
AFP/USMC/File Photo: US Marines attach a howitzer to a helicopter for transportation to western Iraq in November...	Under continuing fire, the troops called in air support, killing 18 insurgents, including two women, the command said in a brief statement. The military declined to specify which branch of the coalition was involved, but the U.S. provides the bulk of the air support in most of the country. "Al-Qaida in Iraq has both men and women supporting and facilitating their operations unfortunately," it said.

Redacted in light of "Clif"'s remarks.

Btw: the article has changed from the first publish, but the parts I quoted are still in there.

Update: As "Clif" points out, the wording does indeed include the women in the insurgency. I apologize to the A(w/t)P.
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Reason amongst the dhimmikrauts

Labels: AP News, bias, Iraq, terrorists, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 09:28   | View blog reactions |

Syria wants Peace Dec. 5, 2006 22:39 | Updated Dec. 6, 2006 7:51
Syrian reps tell Kadima MKs in Amman they want peace
By GIL HOFFMAN

Negotiations on a peace agreement between Israel and Syria should start immediately, for the benefit of both peoples, Syrian legislators told Kadima MKs Majallie Whbee and Amira Dotan in Jordan on Sunday. The Kadima lawmakers were attending a forum of parliamentarians from several Middle Eastern countries, including Syria, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Algeria that was organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Whbee said there was a consensus among representatives from all the countries to return to the negotiating table and end violence and terror.(link)

Syria's visiting Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, second left, and Iraq's Foreign Affairs Minister Hoshyar Zebari, second right, arrive for a media conference in Baghdad Tuesday. Photo: AP

It's too bad that the Syrian delegation has no authority (Syria is run exclusively by the President and his Baath party). It sounds like they are truly ready for peace. Of course, Israel would have to be careful as the middle eastern countries have talked peace before and there is still not peace in the middle east.

Israel must look for any means to establish peace simply because the 'international' world will not allow it the one way to guarantee peace. Militarily, Israel could and has defeated all of its enemies (hard to call the Hizbollah/Israel war a win/loss for anyone; militarily Israel big, publicly; Hiz) and will continue to do so. The international community should be putting pressure on the other countries and regimes of the middle east to secure peace, instead of stepping on Israels hands every time an arab stubs his toe.
(h/t Capt. Jamil Hussein) /sarc
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technorati tags: Israel, Syria, Jerusalem Post, peace, Jamil Hussein, Baath, lordnazh

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Labels: Israel, Middle East, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 19:10   | View blog reactions |

Free Jamil Hussein Posted over at ALF:

AP: "24" and ticking
A NOTICE to the Associated Press:

If, within 24 hours of this posting, your Iraq bureau has not given definitive proof of the existence and authenticity of "Police Captain Jamil Hussein," this blog will declare that the AP has admitted that this "official source" is a fake, and that no less than 16 Associated Press reporters thereby have been implicated in one of the greatest frauds in the history of journalism.
You have 24 hours. No further notice will be given.

ALI-BUBBA
Alabama Liberation Front

I second his motion.
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Reason amongst the dhimmikrauts

technorati tags: Ali-Bubba, ALF, freealabamastan, AP, Jamil Hussein, fake news, lordnazh

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Labels: ALF, Fake News, Iraq, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 03:49   | View blog reactions |

Peace in the M.E. Here's the suprise news of the day:

Palestinian unity government won't bring peace: Peres

Wed Dec 6, 2006 3:34am ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres said on Wednesday a Palestinian unity government would be a facade aimed at easing Western economic sanctions rather than a new framework for seeking peace with Israel.

"Hamas doesn't want peace, even if we give them 1967 borders," Peres told Israel Radio, referring to the governing Islamist group and the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, territory Israel captured in a war that year.

Peres said Hamas, which advocates Israel's destruction, would effectively be at the helm of a unity government of non-political technocrats it has been trying to form with moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction.

"Hamas wants to use Fatah as a cover, a facade, so they can get money," Peres said.(link)

At least someone in office in Israel has figured out that Hamas DOES NOT WANT peace. Unless of course you count the piece that comes with all the Israelis dead. [heh]

Maybe one day there will be peace in the middle east, but I rather doubt it.
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Reason amongst the dhimmikrauts

technorati tags: Israel, Palestine, Shimon Peres, peace, lordnazh

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Labels: Israel, Middle East, TWoT

 posted by Lord Nazh @ 03:14   | View blog reactions