Month: May 2007

Al Qaeda Appoints New Afghanistan Leader

Al Qaeda has released another video following Ayman Al Zawahiri’s to declare a new leader to the flagging and split Taliban front in Afghanistan. The new leader is Mustafa Abu Al-Yazid aka “Sa’id”.

Al Qaeda has released another video following Ayman Al Zawahiri’s to declare a new leader to the flagging and split Taliban front in Afghanistan.  The new leader is Mustafa Abu Al-Yazid aka “Sa’id”.

Al Qaeda has suffered many failings and setbacks the past two months, starting with overthrow in Anbar by the Salvation Councils, to the ouster of the Uzbeks from South Waziristan, and finally the ignominious death of Dadullah; scrabbling on the floor looking for his leg so he could run away from the Afghan Army.

Here’s the video from Memri, in which Al Qaeda now declares Jihad against Turkey for arresting Al Iraqi as he transited to Iraq — I don’t think the followers of Kemal are impressed for some reason.

The Taliban’s promised massive Spring offensive proved to be a lie, just as the extended mythic tale told by Zawahiri of Dadullah’s death was a lie. Now they have given up on winning and are simply hoping to hold some area in Opium country, since dealing drugs is a major source of their funding. They continue to find an occasional suicide bomber among the halt, the lame, and the mentally deficient, but even the thousands of suicide bombers continually promised by Dadullah and others isn’t there.

The truth is that Al Qaeda is anti-muslim — by agitating to set up the Sultanate, they conspire against those who would have the Caliphate. It’s the ancient, cold and calculated power struggle that pits race against race, tribe against tribe, and sect against sect. It’s truly sad that the Islamic world has not awoken to the fact yet that Al Qaeda has murdered, tortured, maimed, and dishonored more Muslims than anyone from the west has.

The Ends of Extremism

So there you have it folks, Rosie and Fred: bookends on the barren shelf of ignorance.

high-priestess.jpgphelps_mullah.jpgAcross a yawning gulf of ignorance lie two extremes of insanity. At one end Rosie O’Donnell, at the other the Fred Phelps church. Both are willing to attack our troops with raucous theatrical falsehoods to gain their moment of spotlight so they can get their rabid, sick message across. Today Rosie was released from “The View” early, which comes as no surprise.

So there you have it folks, Rosie and Fred: bookends on the barren shelf of ignorance.

Night Off

flowers-and-brick.jpgTaking the night off … it’s been a long day. So a picture, and a poem.

 

 

Libertatis Sacra Fames
by Oscar Wilde

Albeit nurtured in democracy,
And liking best that state republican
Where every man is Kinglike and no man
Is crowned above his fellows, yet I see,
Spite of this modern fret for Liberty,
Better the rule of One, whom all obey,
Than to let clamorous demagogues betray
Our freedom with the kiss of anarchy.
Wherefore I love them not whose hands profane
Plant the red flag upon the piled-up street
For no right cause, beneath whose ignorant reign
Arts, Culture, Reverence, Honour, all things fade,
Save Treason and the dagger of her trade,
Or Murder with his silent bloody feet.

 

3 Naval Strike Groups in Gulf, 17,000 Marines

The USS Stennis and other ships sailed through the Strait of Hormuz unannouced today, putting the largest fleet of US Naval strike forces in the Gulf of Oman since 2003. The USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) are side by side in the photo, each is the flagship of a different naval strike group. The force includes landing ships carrying 17,000 Marines.

uss-stennis-uss-bonhomme-richard-uss-nimitz.jpgThe USS Stennis and other ships sailed through the Strait of Hormuz unannouced today, putting the largest fleet of US Naval strike forces in the Gulf of Oman since 2003. The USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) are side by side in the photo, each is the flagship of a different naval strike group. The 9-ship force includes landing ships carrying 17,000 Sailors and Marines.

Continue reading “3 Naval Strike Groups in Gulf, 17,000 Marines”

Laura Bush Asks China To Join Hands for Human Rights Reforms in Burma

laura-bush.jpgFirst Lady Laura Bush has asked for China to join the US in calling for human rights reform in Burma. The military junta that took power in the 90’s by coup is holding Aung San Suu Kyi and as many as 1,100 other advocates for freedom prisoner.  Update: The EU has now also called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi as the military junta is set to review status this weekend. Story at Yahoo. Continue reading “Laura Bush Asks China To Join Hands for Human Rights Reforms in Burma”

Fort Dix Six Update

Newly breaking reports indicate that one of the suspects in the Fort Dix Terrorism case had applied for police positions in two different cities. This could indicate attempts by the jihadis to infiltrate police departments

fort_dix-plotter.jpgNewly breaking reports indicate that one of the suspects in the Fort Dix Terrorism case had applied for police positions in two different cities, Oakland and Philadelphia. This could indicate attempts by the jihadis to infiltrate police departments. Continue reading “Fort Dix Six Update”

Osama Bin Laden Wanted Base in Iraq: New Intel

What the analysis misses is that if this were released prior to the Anbar and Iraq salvation councils forming and the Anbar awakening, that tide easily could have shifted the other direction. It’s extremely dangerous to our strategy to constantly have to show our hand or telegraph our timetables because loons in Congress want to posture

ABC News reports on newly de-classified intelligence that confirms Al Qaeda’s desire for a base of operations in Iraq.

As usual, the news report dwells more on the timing than the import and content of the intelligence. To them this is another Bush “low blow”, but when your primary mission is being jeapordized by a delusional congress then you must pull out all the stops, even if that includes releasing intelligence reports earlier than you would like to.

The report specifically indicates that Osama Bin Laden charged Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi to plan attacks on western countries, including the US, from Iraq. Zarqawi happily accepted the assignment. It also indicates that the United States would be the priority target. Bush spoke about this in a commencement address at the US Coast Guard Academy today. When trying to find news stories on this I can only locate the original newsire alerts, but no stories. I’ll update if more comes in.

What the analysis misses is that if this were released prior to the Anbar and Iraq salvation councils forming and the Anbar awakening, that tide easily could have shifted the other direction. It’s extremely dangerous to our strategy to constantly have to show our hand or telegraph our timetables because loons in Congress want to posture.

UPDATE: John Stopped by and left a link to the video of President Bush’s speech at the Coast Guard commencement address.

A Wanderer’s Song

searocks.jpgA wind’s in the heart of me, a fire’s in my heels,
I am tired of brick and stone and rumbling wagon-wheels;
I hunger for the sea’s edge, the limit of the land,
Where the wild old Atlantic is shouting on the sand.

Oh I’ll be going, leaving the noises of the street,
To where a lifting foresail-foot is yanking at the sheet;
To a windy, tossing anchorage where yawls and ketches ride,
Oh I’l be going, going, until I meet the tide.

And first I’ll hear the sea-wind, the mewing of the gulls,
The clucking, sucking of the sea about the rusty hulls,
The songs at the capstan at the hooker warping out,
And then the heart of me’ll know I’m there or thereabout.

Oh I am sick of brick and stone, the heart of me is sick,
For windy green, unquiet sea, the realm of Moby Dick;
And I’ll be going, going, from the roaring of the wheels,
For a wind’s in the heart of me, a fire’s in my heels.

–John Masefield

Chinese to Launch Moon Mission in 2007

The first Chines moon mission of sending a lunar orbital probe is part of a three-phase multi-year plan to put a lunar rover on the moon and return, the first rover is slated for 2012.

chinese-lunar-rover.jpgThe first Chinese moon mission of sending a lunar orbital probe is part of a three-phase multi-year plan to put a lunar rover on the moon and return, the first rover is slated for 2012. Continue reading “Chinese to Launch Moon Mission in 2007”

Australian Cameraman Caught in Blast in Yala

The Islamist separatists in Thailand are adopting Al Qaeda technique. In the film you will see them set off the secondary blast as aid arrives for a Buddhist they shot to death.

The Islamist separatists in Thailand are adopting Al Qaeda techniques. In the film you will see them set off the secondary blast as aid arrives for a Buddhist they shot to death. The cameraman, Mr. Blekinsop from Australia survived with facial injuries.