Iraqi PM Al-Maliki Tells Parliament To Cancel Vacation

I congratulate PM Al-Maliki on this statement. He seems to be one of the few there with any common sense. With only half the benchmarks met, it's ridiculous they are considering taking vacation for the entire month of August. All because it's too hot. The Iraqi gov't needs to be told that for every day they take off, is a day our troops can kick back and relax.

BAGHDAD  —  Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, meanwhile, urged parliament to cancel its summer break or at least limit it to two weeks, expressing frustration over the failure to pass key legislation aimed at promoting reconciliation and stemming support for the violence. Al-Maliki's office said the Shiite leader "hoped that the parliament would cancel its summer vacation or limit it to a fortnight to help the government solve the pending issues on top of which was the vacant ministerial posts." Al-Maliki discussed the failure to pass many draft laws during a meeting Saturday with U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and presidential adviser Meghan O'Sullivan, according to his office. Indicating a tough road ahead regardless of the assembly's vacation plans, an influential Shiite politician rejected calls for a law that would let former members of Saddam Hussein's ruling party return to government jobs — one of the so-called benchmarks demanded by Washington.

 

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Parliament, Nouri Al-Maliki, Summer Vacation

Dirty Bomber Gets Beatdown In Prison

I guess prisoners have some morals. Hopefully; it happens again.

An al-Qaeda plotter who planned to kill thousands of people in the UK and US in "dirty bombings" has been badly injured in an attack by fellow prison inmates. Dhiren Barot, 35, from Kingsbury in north-west London, had been serving life at HMP Frankland near Durham. He spent five days in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary after the assault. [...] At his trial at Woolwich Crown Court Barot was described as a determined terrorist who prepared meticulous plans for al-Qaeda figures on a series of synchronised attacks in the UK. These included exploding gas tankers hidden in limousines, flooding the tube network and a radioactive "dirty bomb". He was jailed for life, with a recommendation that he serve a minimum of 40 years, but this was reduced to 30 years following an appeal.

 

 

Technorati tags: Terrorists, Dirty Bomber, Dhiren Barot, UK, United Kingdom, Prison

State-Sponsor's Of Terror Flock Together

Looks like war with Israel is close. Iran should probably be using that money to develop an infrastructure in their country.

Iran has reportedly agreed to help Syria acquire a massive arsenal of weapons in exchange for Syria refusing to enter into peace talks with Israel. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Syrian President Bashar Assad reached the agreement last Thursday in Damascus, Ynetnews.com reported Saturday, quoting a story published in the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper. Iran has agreed to transfer $1 billion to Syria to buy 400 advanced T-72 Russian tanks, 18 MiG-31 warplanes, eight Sukhoi fighter jets and eight Mikoyan helicopters, it was reported. Iran also offered to help Syria build a mid-range missile-making plant, equip the Syrian army with Iranian-made armored vehicles and tanks, and assist Syria in developing a nuclear research program. In return, Assad pledged not to enter peace talks with Israel. In a news conference after the meeting, Ahmadinejad said Iran and Syria are united against common enemies. "We hope the summer will bring victories to the region's nations and failures to their enemies," Ahmadinejad said, refusing to elaborate.

 

 

Technorati tags: Iran, Syria, Terrorism, Middle East, Israel, Weapons

Islamist Abukar Arman Exposed, Cries Islamophobia

The self-professed terrorist sympathizer is mad he has been exposed. The man is Abukar Arman. I posted about him July 13th. He was appointed to a panel that oversees the Ohio Homeland Security Department.

Have a tissue handy as he discusses his feelings.

As a beneficiary of the climate of hysteria and suspicion resulting from those heinous acts of terrorism that shock the world on 9/11, pseudo news outlets such as Front Page Magazine has been raised to prominence in certain Islamophobic circles. They persistently preached their politics of hate in order to sustain what could only be described as the worst foreign policy initiative undertaken by the United States of America- the Iraq war and a never-ending military quest to conquer a deadly mirage known as “global war on terror.” To keep this “overblown threat” ubiquitously alarming, any effort to rationally put the security threat in its appropriate perspective or to build a bridge of understanding between Islam and the West must be viewed as outright dangerous or dubious at best. Unlike the Middle East Forum which is operated by Daniel Pipes, a man many regard as the Islamophobe par excellence, Front Page Magazine, founded by David Horowitz, a man who is no stranger to controversy, does not pretend to foster any analytical objectivity when it comes to Muslims and Islam. In his own description, his on-line magazine is dedicated to fighting one particular brand of terrorism; you guessed it, “Islamic terrorism.” However, both Horowitz and Pipes are considered as “experts” in a network of Islamophobes made of individuals, think tanks, lobby and media groups whose primary goal is to marginalize Muslims and kick these “Little Green Footballs (LGFs)” out of the orbit of influence. [LGF is also the most popular website that the network has] Coincidently, in a span of less than a month, Front Page Magazine has dedicated three or so articles aimed to smear this writer and activist’s name along with other Muslims of good community standing. All three vicious diatribes were authored by the same man, Patrick Poole- an obscure character who apparently specializes in maligning Muslims and Islamic organizations. And in the hyperbolic nature of his argument and paranoia-driven logic that he employs, Poole sounds as someone inspired by Paul Sperry’s propaganda book ‘Infiltration’ in which he claims that the LGFs have been infiltrating their way up to the White House and that it is incumbent upon the good guys to stop them. Whatever the case may be, this Front Page hit-man has unleashed a barrage of disinformation, half-truths, and innuendoes that implicates many Muslims whose only crime seem to be that they hold a different opinion of the Israeli/ Palestinian issue.

You can read the rest of the heart-felt article here.

 

h/t: LGF

 

Technorati tags: Abukar Arman, Islamist, Terrorist Sympathizer, Ohio Homeland Security, Somali Islamic Courts

Good News From The War On Terror 7/20

Iraqi, Coalition Forces, detain Al-Qaeda leader in Mosul

BAGHDAD – Members of the 2/2nd Iraqi Army Battalion, Ninewa SWAT, with Coalition Forces as advisors, detained an alleged battalion commander for an al-Qaeda affiliated group in western Mosul July 19 during an intelligence driven operation. Iraqi Forces also detained a second individual who allegedly controls 20 fighters who build and emplace improvised explosive devices in western Mosul. Five other suspected terrorists who were present during the operation were also detained. The primary suspect is believed to be a former regime Army officer who controls six other emirs throughout Mosul. He reportedly is the liaison between the west side of the al-Qaeda affiliated group’s commander and other battalion commanders. Iraqi Forces detained the targeted individuals without incident. They also seized extremist propaganda, a cell phone, forged identification cards and an Iraqi passport.

 

One insurgent killed, 9 others detained in Baghdad raid

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces and Coalition Forces killed one al-Qaeda insurgent and detained nine others suspected of insurgent activities during an early morning intelligence driven raid in western Baghdad, July 19  Iraqi and Coalition Forces received enemy-fire while conducting their raid on a local residence.  Iraqi forces killed the insurgent and carried out the mission. Iraqi and Coalition Forces also detained nine individuals who were at the objective location. The primary targets of this operation are alleged to be responsible for conducting small-arms fire and improvised explosive device attacks on Coalition Forces and local Iraqi civilians in the western Baghdad area. They are also believed to be responsible for the kidnapping and execution of two Iraqi Soldiers.

 

Weapons stockpiles destroyed near Iranian border

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq — Iraqi border guards led Coalition Forces to two weapons stockpiles near the Iranian border, a sign they are taking steps to secure their nation. Iraqi border guards from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Region Department of Border Enforcement led members of U.S. Border Transition Team 4321, known as Team Nomad, to a stockpile of 35, 122mm rounds July 13, during a patrol in Dehnuk, Iraq, near the Iranian border. The weapons were staged to be sold or moved to insurgents, according to Col. Mark Mueller, team leader for BTT 4300. Weapons are often collected at one location and then smuggled into al Kut, he said. The Iraqi border guards led Team Nomad to a second weapon stockpile July 14 along the Iraq/Iranian border. The stockpile consisted of six 122mm rounds, five RPG-7 grenades, 10 81mm mortar rounds, and six 60mm mortar rounds. All of the weapons are believed to be leftover from the Iran and Iraq War and were destroyed during control detonations by the Khazakstani Explosive Ordnance Team, Coalition partners also serving at FOB Delta. BTT 4321, from Fort Riley, Kan., is part of Task Force Shocker based at FOB Delta.

 

Coalition Forces Capture High Value Terrorist with Ties to IRGC-QF

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces captured a suspected terrorist with close ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) in a raid Thursday in Kharnabat near Baqubah.  No shots were fired when Coalition Forces conducted a raid to capture or kill a highly-sought operative with connections to senior leaders of the IRGC-QF.  The captured terrorist is suspected of facilitating the transport of weapons and personnel from Iran into Iraq.  The captured terrorist is also believed to have facilitated the flow of deadly Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFPs) into Iraq from Iran to be used against Coalition Forces. During the raid, Coalition Forces confiscated a large sum of U.S. currency, weapons and photographs of juveniles with weapons.

 

MND-B aircrews kill three insurgents

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Multi-National Division - Baghdad attack helicopter crews killed three insurgents who were transporting weapons from a mosque and destroyed two enemy vehicles west of Baghdad at approximately 10:30 a.m. July 18. The Apache crews from 4th “Guns” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, were called in after receiving reports of insurgents carrying weapons outside of a mosque. The Apache crews observed insurgents putting weapons into a cargo truck. The pilots engaged the vehicle as it was traveling, destroying the vehicle and killing three insurgents. The aircrews also observed an armed insurgent get into a silver sedan. Once the insurgent left the vehicle, the aircrews received clearance from the ground unit to engage the vehicle and destroyed it.

 

3 terrorists killed, 44 suspects detained in Coalition operations

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained 44 suspected terrorists during operations around Iraq Friday targeting terrorist leaders and their operational cells. Coalition Forces conducted a broad operation south of Baghdad, raiding 10 buildings in search of a terrorist who is reportedly a Shari’a judge and cell leader for al-Qaeda in Iraq.  As the ground force approached the first target, a Coalition security team saw two armed men taking up tactical positions against the force.  Coalition Forces, reacting appropriately to the hostile threat, engaged the two armed men, killing them. As Coalition Forces secured the series of buildings, they detained 16 suspected terrorists who are believed to have ties to the targeted individual. Coalition Forces raided five buildings in the city during a raid targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader there.  As the ground force cleared the buildings, one man armed with an automatic weapon attempted to maneuver into a position to assault the force.  Coalition Forces, reacting appropriately to the hostile threat, engaged the man, killing him. The ground force detained 10 suspected terrorists on the scene for their alleged involvement with the al-Qaeda in Iraq cell. Also in Baghdad, Coalition Forces targeted and captured two suspected terrorists allegedly involved in terrorist media operations.  Intelligence reports indicate the two individuals work with media cells in Baghdad and Baqubah.  Two additional suspects were detained during the raid. Coalition Forces captured a suspected bombing cell member in Baghdad.  The individual is allegedly part of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network operating in the capital city. Coalition Forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq financial emir and four of his associates during a raid east of Ramadi.  Intelligence reports indicate the targeted individual is also a close associate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq emir and recently returned from Syria, where he allegedly facilitated the supply of weapons to terrorists in Iraq. In Mosul, Coalition Forces detained eight suspected terrorists during three coordinated raids targeting the al-Qaeda emir of Mosul, who is also believed to be the al-Qaeda in Iraq deputy emir of northern Iraq.

 

Rocketman, assistant captured during Marne Avalanche

KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi soldiers and U.S. paratroopers captured the ringleader of a cell responsible for conducting rocket attacks on the people and security forces of North Babil, July 18. Soldiers of the 8th Iraqi Army Division and Paratroopers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, conducted an air assault and joint raid as a part of the ongoing Operation Marne Avalanche and captured the rocket cell leader and another member of his team. The joint force also captured nearly 130,000 Iraqi dinar, six AK-47 assault rifles with 16 loaded magazines, an Uzi submachine gun with two loaded magazines, a bolt-action sniper rifle with 95

 

3rd HBCT nabs top insurgent

BAGHDAD — Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment detained one of the Multi-National Division-Center’s most wanted insurgents, along with four other individuals early Friday morning near Jisr Diyala. Leaders from 3-1 Cav. gained intelligence early Friday morning that the known insurgent and a number of his associates were within their area of operations.  Soldiers conducted a surprise raid and captured the individual with no U.S. forces injuries or damage to equipment, by surrounding the house following a 2-mile walk into the suspected insurgent’s neighborhood.  It was well-known to the Soldiers that the individual was on the look out for Army aircraft and would move if he heard helicopters approaching.  The detained “high-value individual” is believed to be responsible for the recent increase in explosively formed projectile improvised explosive devices and indirect fire attacks against Coalition Forces east of Baghdad.  He is also suspected of intimidating Iraqis that work with U.S. forces, as well as, kidnapping and murdering rivals of his cell. In addition to his terrorist activities, the detainee is a member of an organized crime network in the Mada’in Qada, which is part of the Baghdad province.  Coalition Forces believe the detainee has extorted the local population through his water distribution company and gas station enterprises. The 3-1 Cav. is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team and is from Fort Benning, Ga.  The unit deployed to Iraq in March 2007.

 

 

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Military, Coalition, Terrorists, Insurgents, Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Quds, Middle East

Rocket Launcher Tube Found Near N.J. Airport

It was supposed to be a surprise lawn ornament. While this had no explosives in it, and apparently could not be used again to fire that specific type of rocket, I am sure it could be rigged to launch other types of explosives.

Federal investigators are examining what appears to be an inoperative military rocket launcher tube found Friday morning on the front lawn of a Jersey City home that sits directly in the flight path of busy Newark Liberty International Airport. Jersey City Police removed the tube, and the incident is now being investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The New York office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms told FOX News that it appeared to be a military firing tube, and that there was no evidence of any explosive device discovered at the scene. The Associated Press reported that the tube was an inoperable military training device, and that it was given to Army officials at Fort Monmouth. Police said the device was believed to be about 20 years old, and that it posed no hazard. It may have been used for anti-tank training, police told the AP.

 

Technorati tags: Rocket Launcher, New Jersey, Airport

Cheney Is President!!!!

For a few hours anyway. Maybe he will order that strike against Iran that has been needed for months.

US President George W. Bush will undergo a "routine colonoscopy" at the Camp David retreat on Saturday, temporarily ceding his powers to Vice President Dick Cheney, the White House said Friday. Cheney will serve as acting president until such time as Bush, who will be under anesthesia, says he is ready to resume his duties, presidential spokesman Tony Snow told reporters.

 

Technorati tags: Cheney, Bush, President

Good News From The War On Terror 7/19

Senior al-Qaeda in Iraq foreign terrorist identified

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces positively identified a third foreign terrorist killed in an operation June 23 south of Hawija. Ahmed Sancar, also known as Khattab al-Turki, was a known terrorist and senior leader in al-Qaeda and a key financier and facilitator for the terrorist group.  Sancar was killed during the same operation that killed Mehmet Yilmaz, also known as Khalid al-Turki, and Mehmet Resit Isik, also known as Khalil al-Turki.  Yilmaz was a close associate of Khalid Shayikh Muhammad, the mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.  Yilmaz also led a group of Turks to Afghanistan in 2001 to fight against Coalition Forces. Intelligence reports indicate that Sancar, like Isik, performed key communication and logistic roles for al-Qaeda in Iraq and coordinated with other senior al-Qaeda facilitators.  Intelligence reports also indicate that prior to Sancar’s death, he was aggressively pursuing a plan to attack northern Iraq, specifically focusing on the Kurdish-controlled areas to increase al-Qaeda in Iraq’s operational reach in the country. Coalition Forces killed the three foreign terrorists and senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in an operation June 23.  During the course of surveillance operations, Coalition Forces identified a vehicle which they assessed to contain Yilmaz and three associates traveling together.  When the vehicle stopped, Coalition Forces moved to detain the four individuals.  The four men exited the vehicle, which was followed during surveillance operations, with weapons in hand.  As Coalition Forces moved to detain the armed men, the four armed terrorists fired on the forces.  Responding in self-defense, Coalition Forces engaged the armed men, killing all four. Inside the vehicle, Coalition Forces found rocket-propelled grenades, an RPG launcher, numerous AK 47 rifle magazines, a pistol and suspected homemade explosive materials.  They safely destroyed the vehicle and weapons on site.

 

Spartans strike dual targets for Marne Avalanche

KALSU, Iraq — As part of the ongoing operation Marne Avalanche, paratroopers and Iraqi Security Forces conducted raids against two targets in North Babil, early July 16. Marne Avalanche is the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division’s response to anti-government influence in North Babil and is designed to root out Sunni and Shia extremists alike. Eight men were detained as suspects responsible for conducting improvised explosive device attacks in North Babil by paratroopers east of Haswah during the early morning raid. The paratroopers of Strike Force Geronimo, the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, conducted an air assault and captured one of the cell leaders and seven of his lieutenants. The paratroopers also captured a car used as a mobile IED factory, five AK47 automatic rifles, two RPK heavy machine guns with ammunition belts, four ammunition load carrying vests with magazines, two welding tanks, two sets of scales, $2,700 U.S. dollars, 1,000 Iraqi Dinar, an Iraqi police uniform and a large quantity of identification cards. The second operation was a joint cordon and search conducted in Jabella with more than 550 Iraqi army soldiers and nearly 100 paratroopers from the 4th BCT to root out rogue Jaish Al Mahdi militia, who had used a murder and intimidation campaign to terrorize the city’s populace. The combined assault swept through the city with no resistance and re-established an Iraqi Security Force presence inside the city providing a safe and secure environment to the local people.

 

Iraqi informants lead U.S. Soldiers to weapons, IED caches

RUSHDI MULLAH, Iraq — Iraqi informants led Coalition Forces to three significant caches north of Rushdi Mullah, Iraq, July 18. Accompanying the informants were Soldiers of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., who helped seize the caches just 20 miles south of Baghdad. All three caches were found buried in 55-gallon drums within 100 meters of one another. The contents of the caches included 13 rocket propelled grenades, 150 bags of Russian mortar propellant charges, two 57mm mortar rockets, an armor-piercing rocket propelled grenade, four cylindrical explosive charges, two square explosive charges, two hand-launched star cluster flares, a Russian fragmentary hand grenade, 25 mortar propellant charges, 100 12.7mm DiSHKA heavy machine gun rounds, 20 25mm rounds, a 75-rounds Ak-47 ammunition drum, three sniper rifle scopes, two mortar sights, 10 cell phone chargers, five radios, a pressure plate, a machine gun lower receiver, two 7.62mm machine gun barrels, two bottles of glucose, four vehicle cell phone chargers, an improvised explosive device command wire initiator, a hands-free telephone headset, an eight-battery holder, four cell phone batteries, a 4.8 voltage rechargeable battery, a seven-piece antennae, two flip-open cell phones, four Motorola talk-abouts, a cordless phone, a cordless phone base, a toy cell phone IED initiator, two phone cords, an antennae extension, two keyless-entry devices with IED initiator switches, two magnets, two circuit boards and various nuts and bolts. The radio and cell phone accessories are commonly used to detonate IEDs. The ordnance was destroyed by an explosive ordnance disposal team.

 

12 detained in Coalition operations

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 12 suspected terrorists during operations Wednesday and Thursday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives in central and western Iraq. During a precision raid Wednesday, Coalition Forces captured the alleged leader of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cell in Baghdad.  Intelligence reports also indicate the suspected terrorist was being considered for a higher position within the al-Qaeda in Iraq network. An associated raid in Baghdad Thursday netted five suspected terrorists allegedly tied to the leader of a VBIED cell who supplies IED components and vehicles for the bombing network. A suspected terrorist allegedly tied to al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders surrendered himself to Coalition Forces during a raid north of Taji.  The individual is also believed to have worked with three terrorists killed during a Coalition Forces operation July 17. Coalition Forces detained four suspected terrorists during two coordinated raids east of Ramadi Thursday while targeting direct associates of a Syrian who facilitates the movement of foreign terrorists into Iraq. Northeast of Fallujah, Coalition Forces detained one suspected terrorist allegedly working with an al-Qaeda in Iraq media cell member with access to high-level al-Qaeda in Iraq communications.

 

ISF, CF continue clearing ‘Old Baqouba’

BAQOUBA, Iraq – Iraqi and Coalition Forces continued operations in the eastern part of Baqouba, known as Old Baqouba, in renewed efforts during Operation Arrowhead Ripper July 18. Throughout the day Soldier from the 5th Iraqi Army Division, along with the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, and 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion made several arrests and discovered several weapons caches as they moved through the neighborhood. In one incident, 5-20 IN Soldiers arrested a man suspected of being an improvised explosive device builder.  A search of his home revealed various IED components and two other individuals were arrested at that location. In another incident, two individuals were arrested after they were found to have al-Qaida propaganda materials in their possession. While clearing the neighborhood, 5-20 IN Soldiers discovered multiple weapons caches containing AK-47 rifles, AK-47 magazines, and a rocket propelled grenade. The cache items were all confiscated. Since the beginning of Operation Arrowhead Ripper, at least 67 al-Qaida operatives have been killed, 253 have been detained, 63 weapons caches have been discovered, 151 improvised explosive devices have been destroyed and 24 booby-trapped structures have been destroyed.

 

Five militia suspects detained in Karkh

BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers detained five suspected militia members during a combined operation with Iraqi Security Forces in central Baghdad July 17. Soldiers from Troop C, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, working with Iraqi troops from 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division conducted searches of targeted homes in the central Baghdad Karkh District, detaining five suspected militia members.

 

Three Suspected Special Groups Terrorists Detained by Coalition Forces

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained three suspected Special Groups terrorists during a raid before dawn on Thursday in al-Aamel.  No shots were fired when Coalition Forces conducted a precision raid to capture or kill Jaysh al Mahdi rogues known as “Special Groups” suspected of facilitating the flow of Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFPs) and other lethal aide into Iraq from Iran. These Special Groups terrorists are also suspected of killing Sunni Muslims, directing EFP attacks against Coalition Forces, conducting sniper attacks and promoting sectarian violence.  It is believed that these terrorists received weapons, explosives and training from Iran. During the raid, Coalition Forces confiscated pistols, military equipment, fake forms of identification and other questionable documents.

 

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Military, Coalition, Terrorists, Insurgents, Middle East

"Making America Less Safe" Brought To You By The Democrats

They want to guarantee we are attacked again. On Thursday, Democrats stripped the "John Doe" amendment out of a bill that would protect American citizens from lawsuits when reporting suspicious activity.

Congressional Democrats today failed to include a provision in homeland security legislation that would protect the public from being sued for reporting suspicious behavior that may lead to a terrorist attack, according to House Republican leaders. "This is a slap in the face of good citizens who do their patriotic duty and come forward, and it caves in to radical Islamists," said Rep. Peter T. King, New York Republican and ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee. Republicans wanted the provision included in final legislation, crafted yesterday during a House and Senate conference committee, that will implement final recommendations from the September 11 commission. Mr. King and Rep. Steve Pearce, New Mexico Republican, sponsored the provision after a group of Muslim imams filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against US Airways and unknown "John Doe" passengers. The imams were removed from US Airways Flight 300 on Nov. 20 after fellow passengers on the Minneapolis-to-Phoenix flight complained about the imams' suspicious behavior.

The imams on the flight have been dubbed "The Flying Imams". This was nothing more than a stunt by the terrorist funding organization, CAIR (Council of American Islamic Relations). Their plan worked perfectly. It was their intent to provoke passengers into reporting them so they could sue the other passengers. If they were successful, citizens would be afraid of lawsuits, thus, Arab terrorists would have free reign to plan and carry out attacks without interference.

Great Job Democrats! The feelings of terrorists trump United States citizens safety.

Here's the roll call. 60 votes were required. Remember this at re-election time.

The Yea's (57):

Alexander (R-TN) Allard (R-CO) Barrasso (R-WY) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Bennett (R-UT) Bond (R-MO) Bunning (R-KY) Burr (R-NC) Chambliss (R-GA) Clinton (D-NY) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Coleman (R-MN) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Craig (R-ID)

Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) Dole (R-NC) Domenici (R-NM) Dorgan (D-ND) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Gregg (R-NH) Hagel (R-NE) Hatch (R-UT) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Kyl (R-AZ) Landrieu (D-LA) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lott (R-MS)

Lugar (R-IN) Martinez (R-FL) McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY) Murkowski (R-AK) Nelson (D-NE) Roberts (R-KS) Schumer (D-NY) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Smith (R-OR) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (R-PA) Stevens (R-AK) Sununu (R-NH) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (R-VA)

The Nay's (39):

Akaka (D-HI) Biden (D-DE) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Byrd (D-WV) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Dodd (D-CT) Durbin (D-IL) Feingold (D-WI)

Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Kennedy (D-MA) Kerry (D-MA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lincoln (D-AR) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) Mikulski (D-MD)

Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Salazar (D-CO) Sanders (I-VT) Stabenow (D-MI) Tester (D-MT) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting (4):

Brownback (R-KS), Feinstein (D-CA), Johnson (D-SD), Obama (D-IL)

 

However; it's not dead yet. Ranking Republicans and Joe Lieberman will work to get it into another bill.

 

h/t: LGF, Michelle Malkin

 

Technorati tags: John Doe, Senate, Democrats, Terrorists, CAIR, Imams, Flying Imams, US Airways, Homeland Security

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit By Valerie Plame In CIA Non-Scandal

How do you like that, you wretched beast?!

A federal judge on Thursday dismissed former CIA operative Valerie Plame's lawsuit against members of the Bush administration in the CIA leak scandal. Plame, the wife of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, had accused Vice President Dick Cheney and others of conspiring to leak her identity in Plame said that violated her privacy rights and was illegal retribution for her husband's criticism of the administration.

This is breaking news, I will update later when/if more information comes out.

 

Here's the latest.

Former CIA operative Valerie Plame lost a lawsuit Thursday that demanded money from Bush administration officials whom she blamed for leaking her agency identity. Plame, the wife of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, had accused Vice President Dick Cheney and others of conspiring to disclose her identity in 2003. Plame said that violated her privacy rights and was illegal retribution for her husband's criticism of the administration. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates dismissed the case on jurisdictional grounds and said he would not express an opinion on the constitutional arguments. Bates dismissed the case against all defendants: Cheney, White House political adviser Karl Rove, former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. Plame's lawyers said from the beginning the suit would be a difficult case to make. Public officials normally are immune from such suits filed in connection with their jobs. Plame's identity was revealed in a syndicated newspaper column in 2003, shortly after Wilson began criticizing the administration's march to war in Iraq. Armitage and Rove were the sources for that article, which touched off a lengthy leak investigation. Nobody was charged with leaking but Libby was convicted of lying and obstruction the investigation. Bush commuted Libby's 2 1/2-year prison term before the former aide served any time.

 

Technorati tags: CIA, Valerie Plame, Non-scandal, Lawsuit, Joe Wilson

Good News From The War On Terror 7/18

Update: Detainee captured June 28 identified

BAGHDAD – A detainee held in Coalition custody since June 28 and alleged to be a key leader of a rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi militia element, known as a Special Group, is identified as Sheikh (Ahmed) Mohammad Hassan Sbahi Al Khafaji. Al Khafaji was detained during an operation in Nasiriyah. During the operation, Iraqi Special Operations Forces, with Coalition Forces present as advisors, detained Al Khafaji without incident and also detained five other suspicious individuals during the operation. Al Khafaji is allegedly responsible for direct attacks on Coalition Forces, rocket attacks on Coalition bases and has been implicated in the kidnappings and murders of Iraqi citizens.  It is also believed he provides financial support to weapons trafficking networks which supply Iranian affiliated Special Groups in the Baghdad area. The Special Groups received training, arms and funding from Iran’s Quds Force.

 

Coalition Forces kill three terrorists, detain two suspects

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained two suspected terrorists during two coordinated operations targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq weapons facilitator July 17 southwest of Tarmiyah. During the first precision operation, Coalition Forces approached a vehicle believed to contain a terrorist weapons facilitator connected to al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders.  As Coalition Forces neared the vehicle, three men emerged from the vehicle and engaged them with small arms fire.  Coalition Forces, responding in self-defense, returned fire and killed the three armed men. Nearby, Coalition Forces conducted a second precision operation targeting associates of high-level al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and detained two suspected terrorists.

 

Iraq Army and Coalition Forces detain two al-Qaeda Iraq leaders in Baghdad

BAGHDAD – Members of the 1/6th Iraqi Army Scout Platoon, with Coalition Forces advisors, detained two suspected al-Qaeda leaders July 16 during an intelligence driven operation in western Baghdad. The operation was conducted simultaneously at three separate locations. At one location, Iraqi Forces subdued a suspect who attempted to engage the team with a screwdriver.  Thirteen other suspicious individuals who were present during the operation were also detained. The primary suspect is believed to command three cells under the al-Qaeda Iraq banner.  He allegedly distributed money, weapons, and equipment among his subordinates. The second suspect is alleged to lead at least two of those cells.  He allegedly constructs vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, conducts cells meetings at his home and creates terrorist video propaganda materials. The targeted individuals are suspected of using foreign fighters to facilitate attacks against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces, using direct fire and improvised explosive devices.  They are also accused of kidnapping and extorting local Iraqi civilians who disrupt al-Qaeda Iraq efforts in the area.

 

Iraqi National Police officers graduate from NCO Course

BAGHDAD — Twenty Iraqi National Police corporals graduated from the Warrior Leader Course at Forward Operating Base Falcon in the Rashid District last week. Five corporals from each of the three battalions of the 7th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division and the unit’s headquarters attended the class and graduated, said Lt. Col. Michael E. Lonigro, commander of the 7-2nd’s National Police Training Team. The course consisted of classes on noncommissioned officer responsibilities, force protection techniques, close quarter battle drills, map reading, a sand table exercise, basic medical training and human rights, he said. Iraqi Brig. Gen. Karim, gave a 10-minute graduation speech, lauding the course and the hard work put in by the graduates.  He told the policemen that their discipline and training and non-sectarianism will help the country. Lonigro said the course takes place every other week.

 

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Military, Coalition, Terrorists, Insurgents, al-Qaeda, al-Qaida, Quds, Iran, Middle East

British RAF Scramble To Intercept Russian Jets

It appears they're looking for a fight with Britain also.

Two RAF fighter jets were scrambled on Tuesday to intercept two Russian planes on course for British airspace, it emerged yesterday. The incident marked the latest escalation of tensions in the standoff between London and Moscow. As Moscow hesitated in its response to Britain's expulsion of four Russian diplomats, two Tornado fighters raced to meet the Tu95 "Bear" bombers that had been dispatched from their base near the northern port city of Murmansk in the Arctic Circle. The planes turned back before they reached British airspace. The incident, now rare according to the RAF, but once commonplace during the Cold War, may be seen as a show of defiance by the Kremlin. But Moscow said the Russian planes were on a training flight unrelated to the current diplomatic crisis over the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.

 

 

Technorati tags: Britain, U.K. Russia, Cold War

Parents Force Their Children, 5y And 2y, To Snort Cocaine

They receive a measly 5 year sentence. It's pathetic that the lives of children have become meaningless to liberal politicians and the courts. Children don't ask to be created, it's caused by either the intent or stupidity of adults post-pubescent individuals.

In a 5-year-old’s eyes, his parents’ greatest sin was stealing. Living in the back seat of a green 1994 Buick — between mushed food in the seats and overturned drinks on the floorboard — the child was appalled that his parents would steal four food trays, dinner rolls and a half-gallon of tea from a Piggly Wiggly to feed them. As for the “white medicine” he said his parents forced him and his sister to snort through a straw, all he knew about it was that it made his nose burn and his 2-year-old sister throw up. The boy’s parents — 24-year-old Brandon Suggs and 30-year-old Ragane Suggs — pleaded guilty Wednesday to child abuse with great bodily injury. Judge Kenneth Goode sentenced them each to five years in prison. Detective Danielle Belk interviewed the 5-year-old boy for the Cayce Department of Public Safety. “He was very explicit as to that they had to suck it up through a straw, him and his sister, and that sometimes (his sister) would cry and it would choke her — and that mom and dad were present,” she said. The parents admitted to smoking crack cocaine in front of their children, but both vigorously denied forcing their children to snort the drug.

These parents should be charged with attempted murder. Every time those kids snort coke, it could be their last. They could O.D. or the coke could be mixed with something else. I know a person, who is now clean and sober for many years, who ended up snorting coke mixed with Cascade automatic dishwashing detergent. It caused him temporary blindness and profuse bleeding.

 

Technorati tags: Child Abuse, Cocaine, Drugs, South Carolina

Lab Worker Steals Nuke Secrets

He was planning to sell the secrets to a "unspecified" country. I would like to know which country. If he was planning to sell it to a state sponsor of terrorism, he should be charged with treason. After all, we are engaged in a War on Terror. That includes terrorists and the countries that harbor them.

Federal prosecutors on Thursday accused a low-level contract worker at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory — birthplace of the nuclear bomb — with stealing highly classified information about how to make enriched uranium, a key ingredient in nuclear weapons. The suspect was allegedly caught trying to sell it to someone he thought was representing another country, someone who turned out to be an undercover FBI agent. Federal officials will not say which country the agent was pretending to represent. Federal officials told NBC News that the suspect worked as a contract employee at East Tennessee Technology Park, located on the Oak Ridge reservation. He worked at a site that is conducting clean-up on Cold War items that are being decomissioned. WNBC’s Jonathan Dienst reported the suspect was arrested Thursday. Sources reportedly said money, and not ideology, was the motive for the theft. An official announcement about the sting was expected later in the day. The alleged security breach was discovered before it could do any damage, officials said. But the incident also exposed another serious security breach at the national laboratories. Last fall, for example, a large cache of classified documents from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico was discovered when police, looking for drugs, conducted a search of a mobile home.

The man who stole classified documents from the Los Alamos National Laboratory and was selling them to Iran, was charged with violating a trade embargo. You read that right, he was charged with violating a trade embargo.

 

Technorati tags: Nuclear, Laboratory, Classified Documents, Treason

Russian Military Predicting War With United States

Sounds like they're looking for a fight. All we need is another cold war arms build-up and they will go broke again.

The blood-curbing declarations have been made: Moscow military experts are suggesting terrible scenario according to which the USA is going to attack Russia for providing itself with access to the Siberian natural resources .The cold war participants’ assumption is very clear, Manfred Quirring from the “Die Welt” German edition writes. “The war between Russia and the USA is probable in the near 10-15 years”, Major- General Aleksandr Vladimirov does not exclude. And its aim, according to him, “is obvious even now. It is the removal of the powerful geopolitical rival capable of deleting the USA from the earth’s surface within 30 minute”. Furthermore, according to the military man, the USA wishes to provide itself with access to the natural resources of Siberia and the Far East and threaten the rest of the world with “armed victory and technological power of its weapons”. Vladimirov is the vice-president of the Russia’s board of military experts. He met with other Russian distinguished military experts and specialists on the global security for discussing when and why the USA is to unleash war against Russia and whether it is going to enlist it or not.

 

Technorati tags: Russia, United States, War, Cold War, Military

Man Pays $110,000 In Child Support, 30yrs Later Finds It's Not His

This is what happens when you engage in relations with whores.

A former Morris County man who learned 30 years after his son was born that the child was not his cannot recoup $110,000 spent in child support from the biological father, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled yesterday. The 7-0 decision overturned an appellate court ruling in 2005 and found there is no exception in the New Jersey Parentage Act to extend the deadline in a paternity case beyond the child's 23rd birthday. "The Legislature evidently knew what has been known since time immemorial -- that children would be born of adulterous relationships and that the true identity of the father might not be known for more than 23 years," Justice Barry T. Albin wrote. The 28-page ruling lets the biological father, who had been a close family friend and the child's godfather, off the hook for the cost of raising him. Albin noted the biological father had not engaged in "overt trickery" and at worst simply kept quiet about the possibility he fathered the child. "The decision makes clear the paramour has no duty to intrude into the family relationship," said Melvyn Bergstein, the biological father's attorney. "It says if you don't say anything, we're not going to sock it to you after the statute of limitations runs out."

Her name should be public. But it's doubtful she would be embarrassed. It would just bring in more "clients".

 

Technorati tags: Child Support, New Jersey, Parentage Act, Paternity

This Day In History: July 19, 1969, Sen.Ted Kennedy Killed Mary Jo Kopechne

Everything you wanted to know about Chappaquiddick.

 

 

Technorati tags: Massachusets, Senator, Ted Kennedy, Mary Jo Kopechne, Chappaquiddick, The Swimmer

Large Weapons Cache Found In Dallas Apartment

"...tenant travels to the Middle East frequently" 

Federal sources tell CBS 11 News that law enforcement officers have confiscated a large cache of weapons found in an apartment near the federal building in downtown Dallas. Sources say a maintenance man entered the apartment in the 300 block of North Akard to work on some plumbing. Once inside, authorities say, the man found the weapons. He took pictures of them with his cell phone and showed them to police. Police are still taking inventory of all the weapons seized. Among those discovered were two AK-47 rifles, an Uzi 9 millimeter submachine gun, a TEC-9 submachine gun, a 40 millimeter ordnance launcher, a handheld ordnance launcher, and about 500 rounds of ammunition. The tenet left during the police search and hasn't been seen since. Police seized the weapons even though they say they may have been obtained legally. Suspected child pornography was also found in the apartment, which could lead to criminal charges. As of 7 p.m., authorities had not yet arrested anyone, but were searching for the tenant of the apartment. Authorities tell us the tenant travels to the Middle East frequently and just returned from there this morning. That information and the amount of weapons found lead to the involvement of the North Texas Terrorism Task Force. However, authorities say there is no reason to suspect terrorism as a motive.

A "presumed" Middle-Eastern male, travels to the Middle East frequently and just returned this morning, yet there is no reason to suspect terrorism. WOW!

I should note that the kiddie porn wasn't as shocking once I finished reading the article. After all, their prophet Mohammed (Piss Be Upon Him), was a child molester.

Finally, why would the police let him leave during the search?

 

Technorati tags: Weapons Cache, Dallas, Texas, Terrorism, Middle East

New York Steam Pipe Blast

It looks like a volcano eruption.

An underground steam pipe explosion tore through a Manhattan street near Grand Central Terminal on Wednesday, swallowing a tow truck and killing one person as hundreds of others ran for cover amid a towering geyser of steam and flying rubble. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the explosion was not terrorism, though the blast caused a brief panic about a possible attack. "There is no reason to believe whatsoever that this is anything other than a failure of our infrastructure," he said of the 24-inch steam pipe installed in 1924. One person was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital from an apparent heart attack, Bloomberg said. About 30 people were injured, at least four seriously. Authorities could not immediately account for how the most seriously wounded victims were injured. The explosion caused widespread chaos as residents and commuters heard a huge blast — and feared for the worst. Thousands of commuters evacuated the train terminal, some at a run, after workers yelled for people to get out of the building. A geyser of steam and mud shot from the center of the blast, generating a tremendous roar. The initial burst of steam rose higher than the nearby 77-story Chrysler Building, one of Manhattan's tallest buildings.

More pics:

 

       

Technorati tags: New York, NY, Steam Pipe, Explosion

Dems Wake Up Alone After Senate All-Nighter

The defense bill was introduced 2 weeks ago and no one would debate it. All of a sudden, the Democrats, not happy with their 14% approval rating, aim for single digits. They insist on round-the-clock debate. They even brought in little cots just in case some of our Senators needed to rest. Those cots weren't needed because the senators went home.

A weary and sharply divided U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked a Democratic effort that would have brought all American combat troops out of Iraq by the end of April 2008. Capping an around-the-clock debate, a majority of senators voted in support of the legislation that would have begun the troop withdrawals within 120 days, but fell short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a procedural hurdle and move forward. The vote was 52-47. The U.S. House of Representatives already has passed similar Iraq war troop withdrawal legislation, which President George W. Bush has threatened to veto. The White House, backed by most Republicans in Congress, has demanded that any change in Iraq war policy be put off at least until mid-September, when the Pentagon is supposed to assess the effectiveness of Bush's troop surge aimed at securing Baghdad more than four years after the U.S.-led invasion.

Even after Petraeus gives his report in September, it isn't likely the Dems will change their mind. They already said they won't believe him if he says the surge is working.

 

 

Technorati tags: Senate, Democrats, Liberals, Political Theater, War on Terror, Iraq, Troop Withdrawal, Military

Another Top al-Qaeda In Iraq Leader Captured

It must be tough these days being al-Qaeda.

The highest-ranking Iraqi leader of al-Qaida in Iraq has been arrested and told interrogators that Osama bin Laden's inner circle wields considerable influence over the Iraqi group, the U.S. command said Wednesday. Khaled Abdul-Fattah Dawoud Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who was captured in Mosul on July 4, carried messages from bin Laden, and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, to the Egyptian-born head of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Ayub al-Masri, said Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner, a military spokesman. "Communication between the senior al-Qaida leadership and al-Masri frequently went through al-Mashhadani," Bergner said. "There is a clear connection between al-Qaida in Iraq and al-Qaida senior leadership outside Iraq." The relationship between the two groups has been the subject of debate, with some private analysts believing the foreign-based leadership plays a minor role in day-to-day operations. Some have suggested that linking al-Qaida in Iraq to bin Laden is simply an attempt to justify the Iraq war as an extension of the global conflict that began with the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. But the U.S. military has insisted that there are links between the local al-Qaida group and the bin Laden clique and has released captured letters from time to time, suggesting the foreign-based leaders provide at least broad direction. Bergner said al-Mashhadani had told interrogators that al-Qaida leaders outside the country "continue to provide directions, they continue to provide a focus for operations, they continue to flow foreign fighters into Iraq." Pointing to the foreign influence in al-Qaida undermines support for the organization among nationalistically minded Iraqis, including some in insurgent groups that have broken with al-Qaida.

 

Oh, and the supposed leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi...totally fictional. He was created to give the impression that an Iraqi was leading AQI, not a foreigner.

 

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Military, Coalition, al-Qaeda, al-Qaida, al-Mashhadani, AQI, Terrorists

Shooting Investigation Leads To Possible Terror Plot

More Muslim males between the ages of 18-30 involved in possible terror plot.

A search warrant filed in Hennepin County connects a shooting investigation to a possible terror plot. According to court documents, four Somali teenage males were riding in a cab on June 24 the same night a man was shot in the chest around 9:00 p.m. Video surveillance at the Glendale Housing Projects captured the cab fleeing near the scene of the shooting. Police were able to identify the taxicab and located the vehicle at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport four days later. Inside the cab, police found a handwritten note describing acts of terrorism and bombings. Police questioned an 18-year-old relative of the cab owner who confessed to being the driver of cab on June 24. Minneapolis Police turned the terrorism note over to federal authorities and said they will "Further aid in their investigation of possible acts of terrorism against Unites States."

 

Technorati tags: Muslim, Terrorism, Terrorists, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, Somali, Islam

Good News From The War On Terror 7/17

Attack weapons team engages IED triggerman

TIKRIT, Iraq – Attack helicopters from the 1st Squadron 82nd Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade engaged and killed two insurgents and wounded another three in two engagements July 13, near Samarra, Iraq. The first attack weapons team observed a fuel tanker burning after being struck by an IED on a local main supply route.  The team identified and engaged the emplacers, killing one and wounding the other two. Coalition ground forces from D/2-505 Parachute Infantry Regiment moved in and recovered small arms and ammunition and a video camera with tape containing video of mortar, IED and SVBIED attacks. A second engagement took place when attack helicopters observed two insurgents digging and placing an IED next to a road near a village in Tikrit, Iraq. Coalition Force helicopters engaged the emplacers, killing one insurgent and wounding the other.

 

Homemade explosives uncovered

BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, working together with Iraqi Army troops, discovered two caches totaling approximately 700 lbs. of homemade explosives in the early morning hours of July 15. The 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment made the cache finds during Operation Purple Haze, part of an ongoing effort to establish security in the western Baghdad Jamiya’a neighborhood. The homemade explosives, 14 50-lb. bags, were found in an abandoned house along with ball bearings and detonation cord.  An explosive ordnance disposal unit conducted a controlled detonation of the one bag of homemade explosives at the site of the discovery.  The bag was torn and the explosives were leaking, making the bag unsafe for transportation.  All other items in the cache were removed from the house prior to demolition. In a separate raid during the same operation, a smaller cache of munitions and weapons was discovered.  Two machine guns, one AK-47 assault rifle and a variety of knives, grenades and other small explosives were uncovered in a second abandoned home in the neighborhood.

 

One call, 30 residents prevent car bombing in Adhamiyah

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — A phone call to the Adhamiyah Joint Security Station and residents of the eastern Baghdad district helped foil an attempted car bombing July 16. The Adhamiyah JSS received the call, providing the location of a possible vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in the area.  Elements of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division and 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment investigated the area. When the troops arrived at the scene, approximately 30 residents identified a parked vehicle as a possible car bomb.  The explosives were removed from the vehicle and safely detonated without injury or damage to the community.

 

Insurgents killed during Rusafa District firefight

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq — Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops killed approximately 12 insurgents during a firefight in eastern Baghdad after coming under attack by insurgents with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades July 16. Insurgents attacked paratroopers from the 1st “Red Devil” Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, in the Fadhl neighborhood of the Rusafa District. The firefight began as Soldiers received fire from the Islamic Bank Building, with insurgents attacking the troops with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades at approximately 2 p.m. Coalition Forces returned fire and called for attack aviation support in a three-hour engagement.  The insurgents were heard using the public address system of a local mosque in an appeal for more of their forces to engage Coalition Forces.

 

Iraqi Army, Coalition Forces capture Al Qaeda Emir in Qayyarah

BAGHDAD – Elements of the Iraqi Army Second Division, with Coalition Forces as advisors, captured the alleged emir of Qayyarah for Al Qaeda during an intelligence driven operation July 15 in Qayyarah. During the operation, Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces also detained three other individuals at the residence and recovered terrorist propaganda, passports and Korean currency. The capture of this individual will disrupt terrorist networks operating in eastern Ninewa Province. The individual has high level contacts in the Al Qaeda network, cells for foreign fighters and improvised explosive devices.

 

Coalition Forces detain suspected al-Qaeda senior leader in Mosul

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists during operations in Mosul targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders Tuesday. Coalition Forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader in Mosul who is believed to have been promoted within the organization after recent Coalition operations created numerous vacancies in the terrorist leadership structure.  Intelligence reports also indicate the individual is responsible for mortar and sniper attacks against Iraqi forces and a December attack against Coalition Forces.  Two other suspected terrorists were also detained during the Tuesday operation.

 

Precision-guided munitions kills top al Qaeda leader

BAGHDAD — The top target for al Qaeda in Iraq south of Baghdad was killed July 14 in Arab Jabour by precision-guided munitions, the Excalibur. Shortly after 12 p.m., 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, received a call that Abu Jurah and 14 anti-Iraqi forces were meeting at a house in Arab Jabour. Abu Jurah was an AQI cell leader and was responsible for improvised explosive devices, vehicle-borne IED and indirect fire attacks on Coalition Forces in Arab Jabour. At approximately 1:12 p.m., the house was positively identified allowing 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment to fire two Excalibur rounds destroying the meeting house. An unmanned aerial vehicle observed persons leaving the house, loading injured individuals into a sedan and fleeing the scene. An AH-64 Apache helicopter engaged the sedan destroying it. Three people were observed running from the meeting house to a nearby house. A U.S. Air Force F16 Fighting Falcon dropped two 500-pound GPS-guided bombs on the second house.

 

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Military, Coalition, Terrorists, Insurgents, al-Qaeda, Middle East

Dow Hits 14,000; AP Downplays The News

I've heard the media is biased. This is a great example of how the media can take good news and try to smother it with bad news. They are in full freak-out mode now because it's becoming harder to silence news about economic growth. Bush's economic plan is working.

NEW YORK - The Dow Jones industrial average swept past 14,000 for the first time Tuesday after a relatively tame inflation report gave investors reason to extend an extraordinary — but questionable — Wall Street rally. The stock market's best-known indicator crossed 14,000 in the first half-hour of trading and rose as high as 14,011.79, having taken just 57 trading days to make the trip from 13,000. Stocks have risen fairly steadily since the spring amid a continuum of buyout news and evidence that despite higher fuel prices and the ongoing problems in the housing market and mortgage lending industry, consumers are spending and companies remain optimistic about the future. With the Federal Reserve ever vigilant about inflation, any news that prices are rising at a moderate pace has added to the market's momentum, as it did Tuesday. The release of moderately upbeat earnings reports helped reassure a market that had worried that a slowing economy and rising energy prices would slash into corporate profits. But the Dow's latest accomplishment does raise questions about whether investors are buying more on speculation than fundamentals. A week ago, the average tumbled nearly 150 points after disappointing forecasts from Home Depot Inc., Sears Holdings Corp. and homebuilder D.R. Horton Inc., but only two days later, the Dow barreled 283 points higher as investors chose to put a positive spin on a generally lackluster series of retail sales reports.

In late 2002, the effects of the terrorist attacks and the dot com bubble-burst hit Wall Street. On September 24th, the Dow lost 27% of it's value from Jan 1, 2001. On that day it closed at 7286.27. Fast forward five years later, it has almost doubled. Add that to the near historic low unemployment rate around 4.4%, and it makes one wonder how people can continue to believe the economy is so bad.

 

Technorati tags: Dow, Economy, Stock Market, Bush, Media Bias, AP, Unemployment