Cheney Speaks The Obvious

Cheney Says House Doesn't Support Troops

Vice President Dick Cheney on Saturday accused the Democrat-led House of not supporting troops in Iraq and of sending a message to terrorists that America will retreat in the face danger.

"They're not supporting the troops. They're undermining them," Cheney told a gathering of the Republican Jewish Coalition at the oceanside Ritz-Carlton hotel in Manalapan, Fla., about 60 miles north of Miami.

Anyone who is not a brain-dead liberal understands this, but you cannot tell those people anything. Their Bush Derangement Syndrome is in full flare-up and the psychosis cannot be helped. I am beginning to think their main goal is for the United States to be attacked again. Without self-loathing, there will be not need for liberals.

 

Technorati tags: Vice-President, Dick Cheney, Democrats, Military, Iraq

U.N. Approves New Sanctions On Iran

The Washington Times

The U.N. Security Council unanimously voted Saturday to impose additional sanctions against Iran for its refusal to stop enriching uranium - a move intended to show Tehran that defiance will leave it increasingly isolated.

Iran immediately rejected the sanctions and said it had no intention of suspending its enrichment program, prompting the United States to warn of even tougher penalties.

"The world must know - and it does - that even the harshest political and economic sanctions or other threats are far too weak to coerce the Iranian nation to retreat from their legal and legitimate demands," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told the Security Council after the vote. "Suspension is neither an option nor a solution."

The moderately tougher sanctions include banning Iranian arms exports, and freezing the assets of 28 people and organizations involved in Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

As you can read, Iran is real concerned over these sanctions.

"The world must know - and it does - that even the harshest political and economic sanctions or other threats are far too weak to coerce the Iranian nation to retreat from their legal and legitimate demands,"

They basically said they will continue the nuclear program unless they are attacked. Political and economic sanction will not make them stop. These Muslim countries care nothing about the people. They will still live as good as they did before sanctions. The people will suffer and unfortunately they have little ambition to change it.

 

Technorati tags: Iran, United Nations, Security Council, Sanctions

Iran To Try British Sailors For Espionage

Timesonline.co.uk

FIFTEEN British sailors and marines arrested by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards off the coast of Iraq may be charged with spying.

A website run by associates of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, reported last night that the Britons would be put before a court and indicted.

Referring to them as “insurgents”, the site concluded: “If it is proven that they deliberately entered Iranian territory, they will be charged with espionage. If that is proven, they can expect a very serious penalty since according to Iranian law, espionage is one of the most serious offences.”

The warning followed claims by Iranian officials that the British navy personnel had been taken to Tehran, the capital, to explain their “aggressive action” in entering Iranian waters. British officials insist the servicemen were in Iraqi waters when they were held.

The penalty for espionage in Iran is death. However, similar accusations of spying were made when eight British servicemen were detained in the same area in 2004. They were paraded blindfolded on television but did not appear in court and were freed after three nights in detention.

I'm guessing a possible attack on Iran, turned into a definite. I do know that if Iran would've kidnapped American military, there better be a full out attack until nothing is left of that pig squalor of a country. Hopefully there is some resolve left in Britain to deal with this situation.

 

Technorati tags: Iran, British Sailors, Espionage, Spying, Kidnapped

The Bear Cub Animal Rights Activists Wanted To Kill

 

More pics here

 

Technorati tags: Knut, Polar Bear, Cub, Animal Rights Activists

Good News From The War On Terror 3/22-3/23

NETWORK LEADERS CAPTURED OVER LAST THREE DAYS

BAGHDAD -- Over the past several days, Coalition forces in Basra and Hillah captured Qais Khazali, his brother Laith Khazali, and several other members of the Khazali network, an organization directly connected to the kidnapping and murder in January of five American soldiers in Karbala.

Yesterday in Baghdad, Coalition forces captured the individual believed to be the head of the Rusafa car bomb network, the Al Qaeda-Iraq organization responsible for some of the horrific bombings in eastern Baghdad in recent weeks.  In yesterday's operation and in another operation early this morning, Coalition forces also captured three other individuals believed to be key members of the network, a vehicle prepared as a car bomb, and a cache of weapons and explosives.

Early this morning in Mosul, Coalition forces captured a former Saddam Fedayeen leader involved in setting up training camps in Syria for Iraqi and foreign fighters.

These actions, and others underway, reflect intensified and even-handed efforts to reinforce the rule of law in Iraq.  They have also been complemented by recent initiatives to promote dialogue and reconciliation in Iraq.

We will provide further details of the ongoing initiatives and operations as they become available.

 

KIDNAP VICTIM RESCUED, SIX WEAPONS CACHES FOUND

BAGHDAD – Nearly 1,600 partnered Iraqi security forces and coalition Soldiers continued clearing operations today in the Iraqi capital’s Mansour Security District.  This was the second day of clearing in the southern Ghazaliya and Ameriya neighborhoods. 

     During clearing operations coalition Soldiers from A Co, 1-23 Infantry Battalion, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division rescued a kidnap victim in an empty house handcuffed to a chair.  The victim had three gunshot wounds in his leg and was evacuated to a coalition forces medical treatment facility.  After a more extensive search of the house, Soldiers found a weapons cache consisting of one rocket propelled grenade launcher with 10 rounds; three AK-47 assault rifles; nine 60mm mortar rounds; seven hand grenades; plastic explosives; containers of ferric nitrate, sodium hydrogen and chromic oxide; and numerous explosive making materials.  

     In addition to the weapons cache above, five other weapons caches were discovered today totaling one 155mm artillery shell, three 120mm mortar rounds, two 60mm mortar rounds, three mortar rounds of unknown diameter, two improvised explosive devices, 15 pounds of homemade explosive, three RPG rounds, and two hand grenades. 

     Iraqi Army soldiers also detained two suspected terrorists with two assault rifles and 18 magazines of ammunition. 

     The operation coined as Arrowhead Strike 9 included approximately 500 Iraqi security forces from 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division; 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division; 4th Brigade, 10th Iraqi Army Division; and 5th Battalion, 2nd National Police Brigade.  Nearly 1,100 U.S Army Soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division and 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division were also involved in the operation.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War On Terror, Good News, Military

Dem's Vote For Retreat; Bush Vows To Use The V-word

The Washington Times

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A sharply divided House voted Friday to order President Bush to bring combat troops home from Iraq next year, a victory for Democrats in an epic war-powers struggle and Congress' boldest challenge yet to the administration's policy.

Just over an hour later, an angry Bush accused Democrats of staging nothing more than political theater and said that if the spending bill is not approved and signed into law by April 15, troops and their families "will face significant disruptions."

Ignoring Bush's promised veto, lawmakers voted 218-212, mostly along party lines, for a binding war spending bill requiring that combat operations cease before September 2008, or earlier if the Iraqi government does not meet certain requirements. Democrats said it was time to heed the mandate of their election sweep last November, which gave them control of Congress.

[...]

Joined at the White House by veterans and service family members, Bush said: "A narrow majority in the House of Representatives abdicated its responsibility by passing a war spending bill that has no chance of becoming law and brings us no closer to getting the troops the resources they need to do their job.

"These Democrats believe that the longer they can delay funding for our troops, the more likely they are to force me to accept restrictions on our commanders, an artificial timetable for withdrawal and their pet spending projects. This is not going to happen."

It took 3 months for Pelosi to "do god knows what" in order to secure the votes needed to pass the retreat bill. This "war funding" bill is also pork-laden with nonsense spending. Among one of those projects is to reimburse farm owners for the deepfreeze global warming on farmland this past winter.

 ***UPDATE***

A list of the pork projects included in the Retreat bill can be found here and the PDF version here

 

Technorati tags: House of Representatives, Pelosi, Bush, Retreat, War Funding

The Phoniest Scandal Of The Century (So Far)

Dick Morris

[...] The Democratic assault on the administration over the dismissal of United States attorneys is the most fabricated and phony of scandals, but the Bush people offer only craven apologies, half-hearted defenses, and concessions. Instead, they should stand up to the Democrats and defend the conduct of their own Justice Department.

There is no question that the attorney general and the president can dismiss United States attorneys at any time and for any reason. We do not have civil servant U.S. attorneys but maintain the process of presidential appointment for a very good reason: We consider who prosecutes whom and for what to be a question of public policy that should reflect the president’s priorities and objectives. When a U.S. attorney chooses to go light in prosecuting voter fraud and political corruption, it is completely understandable and totally legitimate for a president and an attorney general to decide to fire him or her and appoint a replacement who will do so.

[...]

But instead of loudly asserting its view that voter fraud is, indeed, worthy of prosecution and that U.S. attorneys who treat such cases lightly need to go find new jobs, the Bush administration acts, for all the world, like the kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. All Republican supporters of the administration can do is to point to Bill Clinton’s replacement of U.S. attorneys when he took office. Because the president and the attorney general insist on acting guilty, the rest of the country has no difficulty in assuming that they are.

Bush, Rove, Gonzales and Co. should explain why the U.S. attorneys were dismissed by emphasizing the importance of the cases they were refusing to prosecute. By doing so, they can turn the Democratic attacks on them into demands to go easy on fraudulent voting. A good sense of public relations — and some courage — could turn this issue against the Democrats for blocking Bush’s efforts to crack down on the criminals he wanted prosecuted.

Amen Dick Morris, Amen. He has finally summarized my disgust with the Bush Administration's lack of dealing with the relentless Democrat attacks.

 

Technorati tags: Bush, Gonzales, Democrats, Rove, Federal Prosecutors

Anti-war Protesters Arrested At Pelosi's Office

TheHill.com VIA LGF 

Four members of the anti-war group CODEPINK were arrested outside the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Thursday afternoon, following an announcement that they would seek to take over the office.

The group’s members had planned to hold a symbolic “Pin the war on the Donkey” demonstration at Pelosi’s office to show their frustration with the Democratic leadership’s inaction on ending the war in Iraq.

However, Capitol Police prevented the taping of a drawn donkey to the wall.

CODEPINK members were crying outside Pelosi’s office. When asked why, Rae Abileah, 24, said she was crying out of “outrage that this is all we can get from the Democrats,” referring to the Iraq supplemental funding bill, scheduled for a vote Friday.

“We’re just heartbroken that Nancy Pelosi has decided to keep funding George Bush’s war, and now the war belongs to the Democrats as well as the Republicans,” said CODEPINK co-founder Medea Benjamin. “We thought we were going to get a change when they came into power.”

I find it unimaginable that Pelosi would turn her back on her base. She must be planning to run for president in four years when the Democrats lose in ' 08.

I also can't help but snicker at the emotional instability of CODEPINK. When they didn't get immediate troop withdrawal they begin crying.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Pelosi, CODEPINK, Troop Withdrawals

Iran Kidnaps 15 British Navy Sailors

Telegraph.co.uk

Fifteen Royal Navy personnel were today captured by Iran while they were conducting “routine boarding operations” in Iraqi waters, the Ministry of Defence said.

“At approximately 10.30am Iraqi time, 15 British naval personnel, engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters ... were seized by Iranian naval vessels,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The boarding party had completed a successful inspection of a merchant ship when they and their two boats were surrounded and escorted by Iranian vessels into Iranian territorial waters.

“We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level and on the instructions of the Foreign Secretary, the Iranian ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office. The British government is demanding the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment.”

This isn't the first time Iran has kidnapped British sailors. Iran should be made to understand that detaining any of the coalition's military would be deemed an "act of war". Though one would think training terrorists in Iraq and providing weapons would be seen as an act of war, but apparently everyone wants to look over that.

 

Technorati tags: Iran, British Sailors, Kidnapped, Iraq

Three Major Terror Busts in Iraq -- Iran, Syria Connections Exposed

The Blotter

U.S. forces have arrested the two leaders of the network believed responsible for the brazen raid in Karbala by terrorists disguised as Americans, in which five U.S. soldiers were kidnapped and later killed in January, U.S. military officials said today.

In operations over the past several days in Basra and Hillah, coalition forces captured Qais Khazali, his brother Laith Khazali and several other members of the Khazali network, a splinter faction of the Mahdi army.

Senior U.S. military sources tell ABC News that hard evidence linking the Khazalis to the Karbala raid, including the ID cards of several of the dead American soldiers, was recovered at the scene.

The coalition also found evidence linking the men to Iran and to an arms smuggling operation that included the high impact Explosively Formed Projectiles, or EFPs, according to U.S. officials.

The network's connection to Iran raises the question of whether the Karbala raid was designed to exchange the captive American soldiers for the Iranian officers arrested by U.S. forces in Irbil in December -- a plan that obviously went awry when the getaway vehicles were chased by Iraqi security, and the Americans were shot.

U.S. military also disclosed today that the leaders and members of the "Rusafa" car bomb network responsible for "some of the horrific bombings in eastern Baghdad in recent weeks" had also been arrested.

And it was also revealed that a "Saddam Fedayeen leader involved in setting up training camps in Syria for Iraqi and foreign fighters" was also arrested in Mosul. Officials declined to name the individual or describe the location of the camps in Syria.

Surprise, surprise. Two state sponsors of terror training and providing weapons to terrorists, who woulda thunk it.

 

Technorati tags: Iran, Syria, Iraq, Terrorists, War on Terror

Exclusive: Embassies in Teheran prepare escape plans

Jerusalem Post

Several foreign embassies in Teheran are updating their emergency evacuation plans should a Western or Israeli attack on Iran occur.

According to foreign sources, foreign diplomats believe a possible attack would take place before the end of 2007. By that time, Iran might have enough enriched uranium to cause a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe from radioactive fallout should its nuclear facilities be damaged or destroyed in an attack.

I think it's a given that someone is going to take care of this problem. I think the surprise may be neither one of the suspects will be responsible.

 

Technorati tags: Teheran, Iran, Israel, United States, Nuclear, Strike

North Carolina City Stands up to ACLU

CitizenLink VIA Jawa Report

Officials in Thomasville, N.C., voted 6-1 Monday to ignore threats from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and allow prayer at city-council meetings.

Mike Johnson, senior legal counsel for Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), provided the council with a proposed policy in compliance with the U.S. Constitution.

“It’s amazing that, in a country founded on religious liberty, the right to open a public meeting with a prayer would be under attack,” he said. “But that is exactly what the ACLU has been doing the past several months – using its familiar tactics of fear, intimidation and disinformation to force municipalities into passive compliance with its agenda to eliminate our First Liberty, religious freedom.”

Councilman Dwight Cornelius said he hopes other municipalities will stand up to the ACLU.

“This is a freedom of speech issue, pure and simple,” he said.

ADF offers assistance to any municipality that’s under attack for “simply continuing a practice that the Supreme Court knows is ‘deeply embedded in the history and tradition of our country,’ ” Johnson added.

Congratulations to the Thomasville city council. It's amazing how the 1st Amendment of the Constitution has been bastardized to fit the ideology of the ACLU communists. The 1st Amendment regarding religion states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

To summarize, it means, freedom of religion, not freedom FROM religion. It is merely stating that we cannot have a "national religion". On a side note, I wonder how many in the ACLU work on Christmas.

 

Technorati tags: ACLU, Religion, Constitution, First Amendment, North Carolina

New Pictures Of The Sun

Dazzling new images reveal the 'impossible' on the Sun

The restless bubbling and frothing of the Sun's chaotic surface is astonishing astronomers who have been treated to detailed new images from a Japanese space telescope called Hinode.

Charged particles follow magnetic field lines that rise vertically from a sunspot – an area of strong magnetic field. On the edges of the sunspot, the magnetic field lines bend over to connect to regions of the opposite polarity (Image: Hinode JAXA/NASA)

Long filaments of plasma connect regions of different magnetic polarity in the chromosphere, a thin layer of the Sun's atmosphere lying between its visible surface, or photosphere, and its outer corona (Image: Hinode JAXA/NASA)

S-shaped magnetic loops such as this one on the Sun are more likely than loops of other shapes to unleash radiation and charged particles, which can damage satellites around Earth. Hinode's X-Ray Telescope took this image (Image: JAXA/NASA/SAO)

 

Technorati tags: Space, Sun, Hinode

Good News From The War on Terror 3/20-3/21

IRAQ

 

NATIONAL POLICE ENTER TWO MOSQUES, SEIZE WEAPONS CACHES

BAGHDAD - Iraqi National Police entered the Al Houda and Al Aqsa mosques during a daytime operation in a southern district of the Iraqi capital March 18.
 The National Police received tips from neighborhood residents of insurgent activities being conducted at the mosques.
Iraqi security forces seized two caches of weapons, munitions and bomb-making materials at each mosque. A total of five people were detained in connection with suspected anti-Iraqi activities and are being held by the police for questioning.
 Six AK-47 assault rifles and a shotgun were found at the Al Aqsa mosque, along with small caliber ammunition and bomb-making materials.
Two AK-47s, and several mortar rounds and bomb-making material were confiscated in the Al Houda mosque.
The 1st Battalion of the 7th Brigade National Police entered the mosques, while MND-B forces provided the outer cordon for the operation.
No MND-B troops entered the mosque or immediate premises.

 

STRYKERS DISCOVER CACHE IN DIYALA PALM GROVES

BAQUBAH, Iraq - Soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, uncovered an anti-Iraqi forces' operating cell with large quantities of weapons Sunday, while conducting combat patrols throughout the palm groves in Buhriz, an area within Baqubah, Iraq.
 As Soldiers conducted operations, they initially discovered weapons and munitions in a one-room concrete building. After securing the site and conducting a more detailed search, the Soldiers discovered more munitions throughout the area, mainly in an underground chamber created by a septic tank.
 "This success highlights the added benefit of the Stryker battalion working in Baqubah," said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav.
commander. "The discovery demonstrates the unique capabilities of this battalion, while simultaneously building the Iraqi army with a different type of force structure, all the while securing the population."
The search resulted in the discovery of large amounts of munitions to include direct-fire weapons systems such as a recoilless rifle, rocket-propelled grenade munitions, more than 1,000 rounds of small-arms ammunition, indirect fire munitions containing more than 30 mortar rounds, and mortar-firing systems; and improvised-explosive device materials to include approximately 300 blasting caps, detonation wire, batteries and timers, and other terrorist documents.
 "Noteworthy is the immediate impact of the Stryker battalion and their discovery of this large cache after only 48 hours of offensive operations," Sutherland added. "They are a vital asset in disrupting the enemy's territory."
 A Coalition Forces' explosive ordnance disposal unit arrived on site to conduct a controlled detonation.

 

IP CAPTURES INSURGENT LINKED TO IED ACTIVITY IN RAMADI

BAGHDAD - Iraqi Police captured a suspected insurgent, reportedly linked to an Improvised Explosive Device cell, during operations with Coalition advisors Mar 19 in Ramadi.  The suspect is allegedly involved in multiple bombing attacks targeting Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces in the area.
Iraqi Forces detained 3 additional persons for questioning.  

 

MND-B SOLDIERS FIND TWO WEAPONS CACHES, KILL ONE INSURGENT

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - A contraband search turned firefight yielded two caches for Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers March 19 in Falahat, Iraq.
Soldiers from Troop C, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment raided three buildings in Falahat, where they detained three suspected insurgents and confiscated two AK-47s, one shotgun and five magazines.
Troop C was preparing to enter a fourth building when a vehicle with four men drove by and fired weapons at the Soldiers, who reciprocated with shots of their own.
Three of the men fled the scene on foot but were captured by the Soldiers. Follow-on searches yielded the day's second cache: one 122 mm artillery shell, four fuses, one grenade, four rocket sleds, four ammunition vests, one AK-47 and more than seven magazines.
No U.S. Soldiers were killed or wounded in the engagement.

 

COALITION FORCES DETAIN NINE SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN RAIDS

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces detained nine suspected terrorists Tuesday during raids targeting the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.
In Mosul, seven suspected terrorists were detained with alleged ties to al-Qaeda in Iraq and attacks against Coalition Forces and the Iraqi police.  One of the detainees reportedly procures chemicals for the production of improvised explosive devices.
In another raid southwest of Abu Ghurayb, Coalition Forces netted two suspected terrorists allegedly involved in moving foreign terrorists into Iraq.

 

FIVE TERRORISTS KILLED, EXPLOSIVES FACTORY DESTROYED

BAGHDAD, Iraq -Coalition Forces killed five terrorists, destroyed a bomb-making factory and detained three suspected terrorists during an operation Wednesday near Taji.
As ground forces entered the target buildings, they encountered several armed men.  Coalition Forces used self-defense measures killing five terrorists and detaining three suspected terrorists.

During the raid, Coalition Forces discovered an adjacent building was being used as an explosives factory.  Inside the building, Coalition Forces found large caliber ammunition and explosive manufacturing materials including numerous 50-gallon barrels of explosive material.

Coalition Forces conducted an air strike to destroy the explosives factory, associated vehicles, ammunition and weapons.

At least four large secondary explosions were noted after the initial bomb was dropped on the target, indicating the destruction of the explosive material within and beneath the structure.

A careful analysis was conducted prior to the strike, and every possible precaution to avoid unnecessary collateral damage was taken. No Coalition Forces or civilians were injured during the operation.

"Coalition Forces will continue to systematically kill or capture al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists regardless of where they may hide or operate," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.  "No place is safe for a terrorist in Iraq."

 

COALITION FORCES DESTROY WEAPONS CACHE, DETAIN 23 SUSPECTS

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces destroyed a weapons cache and detained 23 suspected terrorists Wednesday morning during raids targeting foreign fighter facilitator and al-Qaeda in Iraq networks.

During a raid near Balad, Coalition Forces detained 10 suspected terrorists and found a large amount of weapons in two targeted buildings.

The weapons found included numerous machineguns, assault rifles, AK-47s, grenades, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and a DShK anti-aircraft heavy machine gun.  Due to the large amount of weapons found, Coalition Forces destroyed the two buildings and the weapons inside to prevent further use by terrorists.

West of Taji, Coalition Forces captured three suspects with alleged ties to vehicle-borne IED operations and foreign fighter facilitation.

Six suspected terrorists believed to be involved in foreign fighter facilitation were detained in Mosul.

Coalition Forces also conducted a raid west of Abu Ghurayb targeting foreign fighter facilitators.  During the raid, ground forces detained four suspected terrorists at the targeted building.

"Coalition Forces will continue systematic and methodical operations in order to hunt down and capture or kill terrorists trying to prevent a peaceful and stable Iraq," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.  "This is especially true when those terrorists are employing weapons that can damage or destroy Coalition aircraft or vehicle-borne IEDs that can be used in headline grabbing attacks against Iraqi citizens." 

 

IRAQI POLICE CLEAR CENTRAL RAMADI

RAMADI, Iraq (March 20, 2007) - The Western Ramadi District Police conducted a massive police operation targeting insurgents today in Ramadi. 
Coordinating between several stations within his district, Brig. Gen. Khalil Ibrahim Hamadi, chief of the Ramadi District Police, personally led more than 500 policemen as they conducted house-to-house searches in the capital city of Al Anbar Province.
"The Sons of Ramadi work tirelessly to eradicate criminals and bring them to justice," said Khalil.  "Today we achieved a noble goal in providing security and stability to our families and the people of Ramadi."
During the 10-hour operation, named Operation Lions of Ramadi, police detained more than 45 suspected insurgents, confiscated propaganda material and discovered several caches containing assault rifles, machine guns, and mortar and artillery shells used to produce improvised explosive devices.
Insurgents utilizing an IED during the operation killed one civilian and injured five.  The wounded were transported by local citizens to a nearby Joint Security Station, then evacuated to a Coalition medical facility for further treatment.

 

AFGHANISTAN

 

AFGHAN, COALITION FORCES TARGET TALIBAN IN HELMAND

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan –Three suspected extremists were killed after firing at Afghan and Coalition forces during an operation near Gereshk in Helmand province early today.
The primary target of the operation was a known Taliban leader and facilitator of suicide bombers, believed to have controlled as many as 200 fighters in the area.
In addition to ordering assassinations of Afghan government officials, the militant leader is believed to have helped move suicide attackers into Helmand province by way of Kandahar and other nearby cities. There have been several recent attacks on Afghan and Coalition forces in the area, including improvised explosive devices and small-arms fire.
The combined Afghan-Coalition force responded to numerous shots from within the target compound. There were no injuries to any of the women and children in the compound, and there were no Afghan or Coalition casualties in the operation.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Afghanistan, War on Terror, Good News

An American Beslan?

IBD Editorials VIA Jihad Watch

Homeland Security: As Democrats hold more silly hearings to embarrass Republicans, the FBI is warning local police to be alert for Muslim extremists hijacking school buses. Reality check, please.

We wonder if any of the grandstanding politicians on Capitol Hill are thinking in terms of one of these nuts driving a fertilizer-filled yellow bus up to a government building — or, easier yet, a school. Of course not. They're too busy swooning over Valerie Plame to even notice we're still under threat from the Islamic terrorists they say we shouldn't be spying on.

The FBI and Homeland Security Department last week sent out a bulletin to law enforcement across the country warning that Muslims with "ties to extremist groups" are signing up to be school bus drivers. They also noted "recent suspicious activity" by foreigners who drive school buses or are licensed to drive them.

Recent events come on top of several other school bus-related incidents involving Mideast men that raise suspicion of terror activity.

They include last year's surprise boarding of a school bus in Florida by two Saudi men dressed in trench coats. Authorities suspect they were making a dry run to see how easy it would be to hijack or blow up a school bus filled with American children.

Previously, an Arab man from Detroit was caught trying to obtain a job as a school bus driver in New York using fake Social Security documents.

Authorities fear the school massacre that took place in Beslan, Russia, in 2004 may be a dress rehearsal for what al-Qaida plans to do here. Chechen terrorists tied to al-Qaida seized a building in Beslan on the first day of school and slaughtered 338, including 172 kids.

Three years later, schools and local police in this country are still unprepared to deal with such an assault. Most don't have response plans for handling a single active shooter, let alone a cell of trained terrorists.

Yet terror cells secreted inside America may be planning to use buses as a Trojan horse to infiltrate school campuses and murder students and teachers. Floor plans for schools in Virginia, Texas and New Jersey have been recovered from terrorist hands in Iraq. Videotapes confiscated in Afghanistan show al-Qaida terrorists practicing the takeover of a school.

Simultaneous attacks on schools in multiple states would follow Osama bin Laden's goal of crippling the U.S. economy. If multiple schools were hit, parents would drop out of the work force en masse to protect their children.

A prolonged labor disruption would cost businesses billions of dollars in lost revenue.

It's a grim picture. But don't think for a moment that al-Qaida is above targeting school children. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed said in his Gitmo confession that while he may not like killing kids, they're fair game in jihad. He claims U.S. forces bombed and killed the children of bin Laden's top deputy, Ayman Zawahiri, and arrested and "abused" his own children.

These people have nothing better to do than sit around and think of ways to kill us and our most precious resource, our children. They have many helpers placed inside U.S. cities who canvass targets and perform other logistics for such attacks. And these people will stop at nothing to pull them off. They're just waiting for the right time, when our guard is down.

Are we witnessing with Muslim men trying to obtain bus licenses what some alert (but ignored) agents witnessed before 9/11 when they noticed a number of Muslim men training to obtain pilot's licenses? Are schools and children the target of the next wave of terror attacks?

Parents should be outraged that Washington would continue to play politics with national security. Instead of using hearings to score partisan points, Congress would best serve constituents by using that power to investigate the terror threat to schools and how best to protect our children from attack.

The editorial from IBD is about this article. The FBI issued a warning to law enforcement that terrorists may be trying to obtain school bus driver positions. As far as I am concerned, this editorial is right on. It should also heed as a warning.

 

Technorati tags: Beslan, FBI, Terrorist Attacks, School Bus, Congress, Homeland Security