CAIRO - State-run newspapers splashed accusations of a US plan to spread "anarchy" in Egypt, escalating a dispute that Washington said on Tuesday must be resolved to ensure their continued military cooperation.
Boy howdy, good thing Obama is going to give them economic and military aid. Just think what the Egyptians would think of us otherwise...
Based on remarks by a government minister, the headlines marked another low in the crisis between Washington and Cairo triggered by the investigation into US-based non-governmental organisations that has resulted in criminal charges against Americans who have been banned from leaving the country.
Another low. Seems like we've had a lot of those since Hosni got tossed...
We are an ambitious people, ever striving to break barriers.
"America is behind the anarchy," declared the front page of Al Gomhuria newspaper. "American funding aims to spread anarchy in Egypt," read the front page of Al Ahram newspaper. The papers are two of Egypt's most widely distributed dailies.
Newspapers have to sell, governments need enemies...
The headlines were based on comments made in October to the investigating judges by Minister of International Cooperation Faiza Abul Naga - but which only came to light on Monday when they were released to the state news agency MENA. Like Al Ahram and Al Gomhuria, MENA is part of a state-run media loyal to the government and which has long been a tool for shaping public opinion in favour of the establishment.
In her remarks, Abul Naga linked what she said was a surge in US funding for civil society groups last year to an attempt to steer the course of the post-Hosni Mubarak transition in "a direction that realised American and Israeli interests".
If we wanted to do that we would have just implemented the Bernard Lewis map...
"All the indications show that there was a clear desire to abort any chance for Egypt to emerge as a modern democratic state with a strong economy," she was quoted as saying, adding that such a prospect would be a threat to "American and Israeli interests".
Egypt insists the NGO case is a judicial matter and that all NGOs, regardless of origin, must heed Egyptian law. But the timing of the statement's release is as telling as its contents, coming just days after Egypt's military ruler appeared to try to contain the tension that now threatens $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid to Cairo.
No, it underscores that they know they're going to get the money anyway, so they can say what they like and threaten our citizens. They've taken Obama's measure and know that he's weak.
General Martin Dempsey, the top US military officer as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a US Senate hearing on Tuesday he had tried to convince Egypt's ruling generals of the gravity of the case.
"I spent about a day and a half in conversation with them encouraging them in the strongest possible terms to resolve this so that our mil-to-mil (military-to-military) relationship could continue," Dempsey told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"I'm convinced, potentially they were underestimating the impact of this on our relationship. When I left there, there was no doubt that they understood the seriousness of it," Dempsey said of his visit to Cairo at the weekend.
And notice how the generals reacted, sir.
U.S. officials have called for the travel ban to be lifted, and the US Congress has warned that the dispute could endanger aid to Egypt.
Don't worry, Harry Reid will find a way to push the money through.
While the White House announced plans on Monday to keep aid to Egypt at the level of recent years, a State Department spokeswoman said that "if we cannot resolve the current impasse it could have implications for this relationship and for our ability to disburse this money".
Until we cave...
Dempsey said he was opposed to proposed legislation in Congress that would break off military relations and cut off aid. "My personal military judgment is that would be a mistake," he said.
Senator John McCain, the top Republican on the panel, assured Dempsey he was seeking ways to avoid Congress adopting the legislation. But he said he hoped Egyptian officials understood the situation was unacceptable to the United States.
"Our relationship with Egypt is vital, but the fact is that the welfare of our citizens (is) even more vital," McCain said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/15/2012 00:00 ||
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#1
Spreading entropy, yes. Anarchy spreading, no.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/15/2012 13:54 Comments ||
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Tunisia has broken up a "terrorist organization" and placed in long-term storage 12 members who had received military training in Libya and were seeking to set up an Islamic state, Interior Minister Ali Larayed said on Monday.
"Those accused in this case had mostly been in prison on terrorism charges and a number of them received training in Libya during the Libyan revolution," he told news hounds.
"We have confiscated several weapons including 25 Kalashnikov rifles and 2,500 bullets," he added. "They were intending to establish an Islamist state."
For a map, click here For a map of Coahuila state, click here
For the second time in two months a Secretaria Seguirdad Publica (SSP) or police chief of Saltillo, Coahuila has been killed, according to Mexican news accounts.
Sergio Armando Sibeles Alvarado was shot to death Tuesday morning in front of his home in the Lomas de Guadalupe colony in the southwest quandrant of the city at about 0800 hrs.
Sisbeles Alvarado was only two months on the job after his predecessor, Emmanuel Almaguer Perez, was shot to death December 5th. Like Sisbeles Alvarado, Almaguer Perez was shot in front of his home, this time in the Magisterium colony of Saltillo.
Saltillo is the capital of Coahuila state, and has been the scene of a large number of shootouts between Mexican security forces and drug gang shooters.
Four armed suspects were killed last January 23rd in the Ramos Arzipe colony after they were cornered by a Mexican Army unit at a residence. To read the Rantburg.com report on the January 23rd shootout between drug bad guys and the Mexican Army, click here
KARACHI: Three people, including two activists of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistain ...a Sunni Deobandi organization, a formerly registered Pak political party, established in the early 1980s in Jhang by Maulana Haq Nawaz Jhangvi. Its stated goal is to oppose Shia influence in Pakistain. They're not too big on Brelvis, either. Or Christians. Or anybody else who's not them. The organization was banned in 2002 as a terrorist organization, but somehow it keeps ticking along, piling up the corpse counts... (SSP), were rubbed out in a fresh spate of murders across the metropolis on Tuesday.
Two activists of banned SSP were bumped off near Rickshaw Stand, Nazimabad within the precincts of Shamim Shaheed police check post.
Two friends 35-year-old Shabbir, son of Wakeel and Ateeq, 40, son of Hanif, also the activists of SSP were on a cycle of violence when unidentified gunnies in a hi-roof van sprayed bullets. As a result, Shabbir was struck down in his prime whereas Ateeq was critically injured. The culprits managed to flee after their swift operation.
Subsequently, police rushed to the scene and shifted the body and injured to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where Ateeq also departed this vale of tears during treatment. Soon as the news spread, scores of Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat - ASWJ (formerly known as SSP) activists rushed to the hospital.
SHO Rao Ehsan said culprits used 9mm pistols and both victims were affiliated with SSP. He further informed that police assume that the victims were killed over sectarian bias. Officer further said both victims were the residents of Firdous Colony, Gulbahar and Shabbir used to run a sweet shop whereas Ateeq was an air-conditioning technician. Later police handed over their bodies to the heirs.
ASWJ front man Maulana Taj Hanfi, condemning the incident, said both victims were the activists of ASWJ, Gulbahar unit. He informed that at least 15 activists of the ASWJ had been killed in the current year and the police had failed to arrest any single culprit.
Meanwhile, ...back at the Hubba Hubba Club, Nunzio had his hands full of angry bleached blonde... funeral prayers of both victims were offered at Khajji Ground, Nazimabad. Case could not be registered till filing of this report.
Separately, a butcher was rubbed out in an act of murder at Bhimpura within the remit of Risala cop shoppe. Police officials said that the victim was identified as Saleem Qureshi, son of Abdul Aziz. He was sitting at a friend's shop when two armed motorcyclists shot him four times and decamped.
The victim was struck down in his prime and body was taken to the Civil Hospital Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... for an appointment with Dr. Quincy. Police officials said that the dear departed lived in New Bloody Karachi and was a butcher by profession.
#4
Yeah, well, it certainly sounds like the city that Superman defends. Should have just said Karachi in the headline, it's more informative, and I would have known to not even bother clicking on it.
#6
metropolis
1.
any large, busy city.
2.
the chief, and sometimes capital, city of a country, state, or region.
3.
a central or principal place, as of some activity: the music metropolis of France.
4.
the mother city or parent state of a colony,
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/15/2012 14:12 Comments ||
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#8
Metropolis is the analogue to New York City in comic books and their related films, not out in the real world. Nor is New York "the City", no matter what parochial residents might think.
#9
Proper nouns get capitalized. These are the names of people, places and things. Therefore the Metropolis in the Superman comic books is capitalized. But the common noun metropolis is not capitalized and can be used in reference to any big city.
There's your English lesson for the day, folks. That's why it's important when writing to use both upper and lower case letters.
PESHAWAR: A Frontier Corps (FC) soldier deployed at the US consulate general died of bullet injuries on Tuesday, authorities said.
The soldier, Sadiq, was on duty when all of a sudden the sound of bullet being fired was heard... He was on ground in an injured condition, authorities said. A public affairs officer at the US consulate general refused to comment on the incident.
As for the report on the Frontier Constabulary shooting, we refer you to the police/MoI (Ministry of Interior) for any inquiries, the officer said in an email message. An investigation is underway to know the reason behind the soldiers death, authorities said, adding that he could have committed suicide using his own pistol or might have been killed by an accidental fire.
Sure. Happens all the time around US consulates...
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/15/2012 00:00 ||
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QUETTA: Nine people, including seven labourers, were killed and two others injured in separate incidents in Miskan area of Bulieda Kech and Qila Saifullah on Tuesday.
According to the Balochistan Levies official Mujeeb Ahmed, a group of terrorists armed men opened fire on labourers who were busy in construction of Turbat-Bulieda road. As a result, five labourers were killed on the spot and four others were injured. The Balochistan Levies officials rushed to the spot and shifted the bodies and injured to the District Headquarters Hospital where two of the injured also died.
The banned outfit Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) spokesman Duda Baloch accepted the responsibility for the attack. Calling from an undisclosed location, he urged private companies to avoid working in Balochistan.
Meanwhile, unidentified armed terrorists men gunned down two people in Ali Khail area of Qila Saifullah. The victims were identified as Muhammad Hussain and Shah Wali and the terrorists assailants fled from the scene after committing the crime.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/15/2012 00:00 ||
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Better, and less explosive, living through chemistry.
Posted by: Mike Ramsey ||
02/15/2012 00:00 ||
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#1
While this would be good for foreign manufacturers, especially in Pakistan, they would only do it if they got perpetual subsidies from the US to do it.
And, if the baddies made an investment, they could convert ammonium sulfate to ammonium nitrate fairly easily. It would cost twice as much, but could be delivered in volume.
#2
Shh.....
Actually something better was done in the USA.
It's cheap, it works, it's in use.
Shhh...
Posted by: Water Modem ||
02/15/2012 12:21 Comments ||
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#3
Actually I am not worried. There are so many things that can be turned into explosives out there, St. Darwin gets a regular supply of fools who can't resist mucking with them.
#4
Good point 'moose. I remember my 4th grade "talented and gifted" science class project involved blowing the lid off a paint can with nothing more than a candle and 2 tablespoons of flour.
Extra credit: Anyone ever sprinkle non-dairy creamer powder above a cigarette lighter?
Doctors at Chulalongkorn Hospital said Mr Moron Moradi remains unconscious but in a stable condition after undergoing 10 hours of surgery on Tuesday for severe injuries to his stumps legs, stomach and right eye.
Chulalongkorn Hospital is top-rate, probably the best in Bangkok.
A third Iranian suspect sought after bomb blasts in Bangkok has been arrested in Malaysia. A statement from Malaysian federal police says that Masoud Sedaghatzadeh is being investigated for terrorism linked to the blasts in Bangkok.
Thailand today charged two Iranians over an alleged bomb plot against Israeli diplomats, increasing pressure on Tehran over accusations of a terror plot against the Jewish state. Iran has angrily rejected accusations that it was to blame.
Thai authorities said they had pressed criminal charges against two Iranian suspects accused of involvement in a string of blasts in Bangkok yesterday.
One of the men -- named as 28-year-old Saeid Morati -- blew his own legs off as he hurled an explosive device at Thai police while fleeing an earlier blast at a house in the capital city. I think most Rantburgers are still chuckling about that.
A second Iranian suspect was detained trying to board a flight leaving country and a third suspect is believed to have fled to Malaysia. And has since been caught by the Malays.
A senior Thai intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "These three Iranian men are an assassination team and their targets were Israeli diplomats including the ambassador. Their plan was to attach bombs to diplomats' cars."
Police said that explosives and magnets were later found inside the partially destroyed house. The two suspects were charged for explosion and attempting to kill police officers and others.
Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said, "We cannot say yet if it's a terrorist act, but it's similar to the assassination attempt against a diplomat in India."
Iran, which had already denied responsibility for the Delhi and Tbilisi incidents, said it had no link to the Bangkok blasts and blamed what it called "elements linked with the Zionist regime."
However, the use of motorbike assassins to blow up targets' cars is similar to the method used to kill nuclear scientists in Iran.
Israel's ambassador to Thailand, Itzhak Shoham, said the Bangkok suspects seemed to be "part of the same network" that targeted Israeli embassy staff in India and Georgia.
#1
One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can't be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me
The Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ended a three days of peace talks in Malaysia with both sides making a deal that would extend joint anti-criminality campaign in areas where guerrillas are actively operating. Peace negotiators renewed for another year the mandate of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG).
The MILF and the Philippines reached an agreement in 2004 that paved the way for rebel forces through the AHJAG to help authorities hunt down terrorists and criminal elements in areas where the MILF operates.
Iran struck back against a European oil embargo by cutting supplies to six European countries Wednesday as state media in Tehran said that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was being briefed "on new nuclear achievements" expected to be announced later in the day. The oil cutoff affects the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Portugal.
The announcement appeared timed to convey the defiant message that the increasingly harsh Western economic sanctions imposed on Iran were having no effect on the government's determination to proceed with its disputed nuclear program. The defiant stance seemed ever more pronounced on Wednesday when Press TV, a state-financed satellite broadcaster, said Tehran planned to cut oil exports to the six European countries in response to the latest sanctions imposed by the European Union against Iran's energy and banking sectors
No further details of the Iranian measures were immediately available.
The Iranian response had been expected since late January when the European Union agreed to impose a phased ban on oil purchases from Iran that officials said was needed to help force a shift in policy and avert the risk of military strikes against Tehran.
Under the embargo, European Union countries will not sign new oil contracts with Iran and will end existing ones by July 1. The ban will cover imports of crude oil, petroleum products and petrochemical products. It will also cover the export of major equipment and technology for the sector. The European market accounts for about a fifth of Iran's oil exports.
Underlining the high stakes and at times nervous confusion arising from the nuclear stand-off, Iran's Oil Ministry denied a state media report that it had cut off oil exports to six European Union states. Brent crude oil prices jumped up $1 a barrel to $118.35 in reaction to the announcement.
"We deny this report ... If such a decision is made, it will be announced by Iran's Supreme National Security Council," a spokesman for the ministry told Reuters.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/15/2012 11:02 ||
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Decided they needed the cash, did they?
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
02/15/2012 11:44 Comments ||
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The American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, shadowed by Iranian patrol boats.
But there were no incidents on Tuesday as the Lincoln's battle group crossed through the narrow strait, which Iran has threatened to close in retaliation for tighter Western sanctions.
#1
Perhaps the Abraham Lincoln should deploy some SH-60 Seahawk's in an anti-ship configuration to shadow the Iranian patrol boats.
Of course, having a B1B do a full engine climb from near sea level over those self same boats might also have the desired affect...
Posted by: Mike Ramsey ||
02/15/2012 0:22 Comments ||
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#2
As long as US-NATO Warships stay offshore + no ground invasion takes place, Iran feels it can survive any International Sanctions levied agz it + still get its Nukes [2012/13-2015].
However, any Israeli attack on Iran may cause Iran BFF? Russia to push for closure of the NDN supply routes into Afghanistan, which the US-NATO use for the majority of their supplies ever since Pakistan formally closed off its domestic land routes. IFF IT DOES OCCUR + THE NDN STAYS CLOSED FOR YEARS, IT WILL PREVENT THE US = US-NATO FROM SUPPORTING POST-2014 AFGHANISTAN, ESPEC IFF BALUCHISTAN STAYS DIVIDED BETWEEN SOVEREIGN IRAN + PAKISTAN. The US-NATO will have to resort to cost-prohibitive Air Delivery, as opposed to the current cheap Land Routes.
--------
* WORLD NEWS > ISRAELI MINISTER: IRAN WANTS TO BE A [major = global] SUPERPOWER WID NUCLEAR BOMBS.
Plus that whole "revive the great Persian Empire" thingy.
#7
We're sweating this one out here in our den and have broken open our MRE/Sterno/stick matches module from the doomsday crate in the garage. We place our faith in Him, our Pharaoh and teleprompter prophesy interpreter. Pharaoh say, Newport cigs will soon be liberally distributed across this great country of His. Stand-by for Blessings...
Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Despoiler of Deraa... 's regime has used chemical warfare in order to ease its entrance into Homs, said Awad Al-Razak, an officer who defected from the Syrian armed forces.
Al-Razak, who served in the chemical warfare department of the Syrian military, told the Al-Arabiya network that the government used nerve gas under the supervision of Russian and Iranian scientists, and intends to do so again in other parts of the country.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/15/2012 00:00 ||
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Happy Birthday/Daily Gam Shot
Ashley (Cafagna) Tesoro aka Ali in "The Skulls II (Video 2002)" aka Young Dorothea in "Lord of Illusions (1995)" aka Eleanore Crane in "Frankenstein & the Werewolf Reborn! (2005)(France)" aka Eleanore Crane in "The Werewolf Reborn! (1998)" aka Susie in "Mystery Monsters (1997)" (age 29)
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
At least six Taliban 
Doctors at Chulalongkorn Hospital said Mr 
A third Iranian suspect sought after bomb blasts in Bangkok has been arrested in Malaysia. A statement from Malaysian federal police says that 
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
