U.S. Naval Commander Says Iran Will NOT Close Strait Of Hormuz

Okay, there is only one way to start this story out and that is the quote:

The commander of the US navy's Fifth Fleet warned on Monday that the United States will not allow Iran to shut the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf sea lane through which much of the world's oil is supplied.
"They will not close it... They will not be allowed to close it," Vice-Admiral Kevin J. Cosgriff told a press conference in Bahrain, where the Fifth Fleet is based.

That's from the article here at Khaleej Times Online. And you gotta love this Vice-Admiral, don't ya? Let's look at more of what Cosgriff has to say:

Cosgriff said: "The latest Iranian statements are not helpful."

Okay, the interpretation of that is: Shut your fucking mouths, Iran! Hahaha. Anyway, there is some commentary in the article where Cosgriff says he doesn't think the Israelis need to attack Iran right now, but quite frankly, I think that is the position that all commanders are going to put out for the next few months up until an attack does happen.

It's just good to see a naval officer stand up and say they aren't gonna do it on his watch.

US ‘won't allow' Iran to shut key Gulf oil route

MANAMA - The commander of the US navy's Fifth Fleet warned on Monday that the United States will not allow Iran to shut the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf sea lane through which much of the world's oil is supplied.
"They will not close it... They will not be allowed to close it," Vice-Admiral Kevin J. Cosgriff told a press conference in Bahrain, where the Fifth Fleet is based.
His remarks followed comments by the chief of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Ali Jafari, who issued a new warning last week against any attack against his country over its controversial nuclear drive.
"It is natural that when a country is attacked it uses all of its capabilities against the enemy, and definitely our control of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz would be one of our actions," Jafari said.
The strait between Iran and Oman is a vital conduit for energy supplies, with as much as 40 percent of the world's crude passing through the waterway from Gulf suppliers.
"Certainly if there is fighting... the scope will be extended to oil, meaning its price will increase drastically. This will deter our enemies from taking action against Iran," Jafari said.
Cosgriff said: "The latest Iranian statements are not helpful."
He insisted that that the international community will work to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that any action by Iran "will not be an action against the United States but against the international community".
According to news reports, more than 100 Israeli warplanes staged a training exercise with Greece earlier this month to prepare for a possible long-distance strike and as a warning to Tehran.
But Cosgriff said he did not see "any reason for Israel to strike Iran" in the short term.
Iran has been slapped with three sets of UN sanctions over its defiance of Security Council ultimatums to suspend uranium enrichment, the process which produces nuclear fuel for civilian reactors but in highly extended form can also make the fissile core for an atomic bomb.

Taliban 101: You Didn't Think An Apache Could Do This, Did You?

Insurgent 101: When A Cobra Is Called In It's Lights Out

Hezbollah Official Claims Prisoner Swap With Israel Shows Strength Of Hezbollah

What a putz this asshat is...this is what Hezbollah had to say, from Jerusalem Post:

Hizbullah official says prisoner swap deal shows group's strength

Hizbullah said the Israeli government's approval of a prisoner swap shows the strength of the Lebanese terror group.
Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV has quoted a senior official, Executive Council chief Hashem Safieddine, as saying the swap also shows that the terror group's word is supreme.
Bassam Kuntar, the brother of Lebanon's longest held prisoner in Israel, Samir Kuntar, also praised Hizbullah's 2006 capture of the two Israeli soldiers.
Kuntar told Al-Manar TV that the return of Lebanese prisoners from Israel shows that the "resistance is ready."

What Safieddine doesn't know or won't admit is that Israel will deal with anyone to get the return of its soldiers...anytime, anywhere. And since Hezbollah is returning DEAD IAF soldiers to Israel, Safieddine might just wanna think about keeping his mouth shut about the deal.

If I were sitting at the helm of Israel, after the prisoner swap, one of my first actions would be to target Safieddine and shut his trap permanently along with the scum Kuntar who will be released. I doubt that the Israelis will allow Samir Kuntar a whole lot of peace the rest of his life - they got him once, they can get him again.

Female Suicide Bomber Gunned Down Before Detonation In Iraq

The 20th Iraqi woman to strap on a suicide belt and attempt mass murder in Iraq didn't make it to her destination as Iraqi Awakening Council guards gunned her down setting off her suicide belt explosives. Her target was the headquarters of the Awakening Council's headquarters in Diyala province. Here's some of the details from CBS:

Iraqi guards opened fire on a female suicide bomber on Sunday and triggered her explosives belt before she reached their headquarters, foiling the latest of more than 20 suicide missions by women this year, military officials said. The bomber was targeting the headquarters of an awakening council - Sunni volunteers who have turned against insurgents - about 60 miles northeast of Baghdad. One of the guards was wounded in the blast, the Iraqi military said.

Al Qaeda in Iraq's strategy of recruiting women as suicide bombers has been one of their most deadly in the past six months but this is proof that U.S., Iraqi and Awakening forces are looking for this now. The scary part of it all is once the strategy has been identified, al Qaeda in Iraq is usually on to another one.

Suicide Bomber Gunned Down In Iraq

(AP) Iraqi guards opened fire on a female suicide bomber on Sunday and triggered her explosives belt before she reached their headquarters, foiling the latest of more than 20 suicide missions by women this year, military officials said. The bomber was targeting the headquarters of an awakening council - Sunni volunteers who have turned against insurgents - about 60 miles northeast of Baghdad. One of the guards was wounded in the blast, the Iraqi military said. The number of female suicide attackers has risen from eight in 2007 to more than 20 so far this year, according to U.S. military figures. Including Sunday's attack, at least nine have occurred in Diyala province, a former al Qaeda stronghold where the extremist group is trying to regroup after setbacks last year.

A female suicide bomber struck outside a government complex a week ago in Baqouba, the capital of Diyala province, killing at least 15 people and wounding more than 40, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials. The attacks are part of an uptick in violence against Iraqi security forces and local administrations. A truck bomb detonated by remote control Sunday killed six policemen and an awakening council member in Duluiyah, some 45 miles north of Baghdad, said police Col. Mohammed Khalid.

In other violence, gunmen killed the head of Basra's intelligence department Saturday in a drive-by shooting in eastern Baghdad, local police said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Iran Moves Missiles Into Position To Strike At Heart Of Israel

Things are heating up in the inevitable confrontation between Israel and Iran. The Iranians have moved their Shahab-3B missiles into positions that may just be able to hit the suspected location of Israeli nuclear weapons. Here's the details from TimesOnline:

The movement of Shahab-3B missiles, which have an estimated range of more than 1,250 miles, followed a large-scale exercise earlier this month in which the Israeli air force flew en masse over the Mediterranean in an apparent rehearsal for a threatened attack on Iran’s nuclear installations. Israel believes Iran’s nuclear programme is aimed at acquiring nuclear weapons.
The sources said Iran was preparing to retaliate for any onslaught by firing missiles at Dimona, where Israel’s own nuclear weapons are believed to be made.
Major-General Mohammad Jafari, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, told a Tehran daily: “This country [Israel] is completely within the range of the Islamic Republic’s missiles. Our missile power and capability are such that the Zionist regime – despite all its abilities – cannot confront it.”

Now, what Jafari is saying might just sound pretty impressive and ominous but umm...let's look at this from the end of the article:

President George Bush has approved the linking of Israel to a US infrared satellite detection system that could spot Shahab missile launches within seconds.
This should enable the Israeli air force to destroy such missiles in the booster stage. The system will also give the Israelis about 15 minutes to seek shelter before any warhead hits.

The ultimate cat and mouse is shaping up and there is one option to this standoff that I have not seen proposed by anyone. And that is, when the time is drawing nearer and nearer for the Israelis to attempt their knockout of nukes in Iran, Iran might just turn the tables and conduct a preemptive strike on Israel. Israel and the U.S. are building contingency plans for the Iranian response to an Israeli/U.S. attack, but if the Iranians were to strike first with the Shabab missiles into the heart of Israel with coinciding attacks from Hezbollah and Hamas, it could very well force the Israelis to call off the nuclear targeted attack and pull back for defense purposes.

One other thing I am convinced of - when there is an Israeli attack, it will NOT come at the predicted time - it will be as unexpected as the attack on Syria.

Iran ready to strike at Israel’s nuclear heart

Iran has moved ballistic missiles into launch positions, with Israel’s Dimona nuclear plant among the possible targets, defence sources said last week

An editorial in a government newspaper, Jomhouri Eslami, said: “Our response will hit right at their temple.”
The sabre-rattling coincided with a visit to Israel yesterday by the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, for talks with his Israeli opposite number, Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi. This intensified speculation that Israel was seeking US approval for a possible attack on Iran.
“Although the visit had been planned well in advance, we got the feeling he was coming to make sure we’ll obey the strict timetable agreed with the US,” said an Israeli defence source. He refused to elaborate.

Hamas 101: The IDF Is Your WORST Nightmare

Insurgent 101: Blackhawks Do NOT Bring The Welcome Wagon

Israeli Cabinet Approves Hezbollah/IDF Prisoner Exchange

The Israeli Cabinet voted 22-3 in favor of a deal to swap a top level Lebanese prison for the two Israeli soldiers kidnapped back in 2006. Earlier in the day, the Israeli government declared that the two IDF soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, are dead. So, this is a deal to get back the remains of the two Israeli soldiers.

Here's some of the details from Breitbart:

Israel's Cabinet overwhelmingly voted in favor of a deal Sunday with Hezbollah to swap a notorious Lebanese prisoner for two captured soldiers who were declared dead earlier in the day.
The proposed deal also needs the approval of the Lebanese militant group's secretive, decision-making Shura Council.
The agreement had sparked a fierce public debate over whether Israel would be giving up too much or carrying out its highest commitment to its soldiers to do everything possible to bring them home if they fell into enemy hands.
The Cabinet debated the deal for nearly six hours before voting 22-3 to back the agreement, said Olmert's spokesman, Jacob Galanti. There was no immediate reaction from the soldiers' families or Hezbollah.

I, personally, am in favor of this swap. The Israelis have always been adamant about retrieving their captured soldiers whether they are dead or alive, but at the same time, I take the stance that once the exchange is made, that retribution is back on the table. Not only did Hezbollah kidnap these two soldiers in a cowardly act, they have refused for two years to allow the Red Cross to determine if the prisoners were alive or being well cared for. Once the bodies of those two soldiers are back in Israel, I would propose that Israel takes all measures to take out the Lebanese prisoner they release and also, at least two key Hezbollah leaders be targeted - two dead IDF equals two dead Hezbollah leaders.

The signal needs to be sent that in the future, for any IDF soldier captured, a Hezbollah leader will die.

Israeli Cabinet approves Hezbollah prisoner deal

Hezbollah had offered no sign that Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were alive and the Red Cross was never allowed to see them.
Ahead of the vote, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said for the first time that Israel has concluded the two soldiers were dead—killed during the raid or shortly after.
"We know what happened to them," Olmert said, according to a prepared statement given to the Cabinet and released by his office. "As far as we know, the soldiers Regev and Goldwasser are not alive."
Goldwasser's father, Shlomo, said he was not surprised by the declaration, but wanted proof the soldiers were dead.
"There have been assessments for a long time," he said. "But none of this matters because it is not fact. ... They were alive when they (were) kidnapped and no one has provided us with evidence to the contrary."
In Beirut, Lebanon, Hezbollah said the Israeli decision reflected the guerrilla group's strength.
"What happened in the prisoners issue is a proof that the word of the resistance is the most faithful, strongest and supreme," the group's Al-Manar TV quoted Hezbollah's Executive Council chief Hashem Safieddine as saying.
Israeli media said the soldiers' bodies would be sent to Germany and identified by Israel before Kantar is released. The identification process and swap are expected to take 10 to 14 days, Israeli media reported.
Germany has been trying to mediate a prisoner exchange since Israel's war with Lebanon ended in August 2006.

U.S & Afghan Troops Kill 32 Taliban In Southern Afghanistan

Yesssss! Another big day for U.S. and Afghan troops in Uruzgan province in southern Afghanistan with 32 Taliban cold and dead. Let's take a look at the details reported here at Reuters:

Afghan and U.S.-led coalition troops killed 32 Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan, including some who dressed as women in an attempt to escape, the U.S. military said on Saturday.
The Taliban opened fire with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades on a patrol of Afghan security forces and coalition troops in Uruzgan province on Thursday, the U.S. military said in a statement.
The patrol returned fire then moved to higher ground and called in air strikes, killing three militants.
Militants soon attacked the patrol again, the statement said, and 29 more insurgents were killed.
"During this engagement, insurgents attempted to disguise themselves in women's clothing in order to escape," it said.

Can't you just picture these Taliban, seeing over 30 of their fellows shot up and dead start pulling burqas out of their back packs and then scurrying along mountain trails trying to walk like women when .....well, there aren't any women within 100 miles? Hahahaha.

I've said it before that the Taliban just cannot resist this type of ambush on convoys - it's like a gambling addict trying to walk by a blackjack table where the winners are whooping it up. The problem the Taliban are having is they are running into convoys of U.S. and Afghan troops that have the training on how to react to these ambushes and they also have a ton of air support simply a call away.

Anyway, a world with 32 less Taliban in it is a better world.

Afghan, U.S. troops kill 32 Taliban in clashes

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan and U.S.-led coalition troops killed 32 Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan, including some who dressed as women in an attempt to escape, the U.S. military said on Saturday.
The Taliban opened fire with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades on a patrol of Afghan security forces and coalition troops in Uruzgan province on Thursday, the U.S. military said in a statement.
The patrol returned fire then moved to higher ground and called in air strikes, killing three militants.
Militants soon attacked the patrol again, the statement said, and 29 more insurgents were killed.
"During this engagement, insurgents attempted to disguise themselves in women's clothing in order to escape," it said.
The number of NATO and coalition troops in Afghanistan has been increased and more Afghan soldiers and policemen are on duty, but there has been no let-up in the violence and the Taliban insurgency shows few if any signs of weakening.
More than 6,000 people were killed in Afghanistan last year and there are signs that this year the toll could be higher, with neither side able to gain the upper hand.

Italy Expels 38 Illegal Egyptian Immigrants

Ahhhhh...it's good to have Berlusconi back at the helm of Italy! Egypt gets to welcome home 38 dredges of society who tried to move into Italy and bring their vision of hate and insubordination to that land. Here's some of the details from Breitbart:

Italy said on Saturday it had expelled 38 Egyptians as part of a crackdown ordered by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government on illegal immigration.
In a statement, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, of the anti-immigrant Northern League party, said he was pleased at the expulsion of the Egyptian immigrants, who were flown to Cairo aboard a chartered plane.
Maroni also defended his plans to fingerprint Roma children. Roma people, known in Italy as "nomads", are blamed for much of the crime in Italian cities.

Berlusconi is not gonna fuck around - he watched on the sideline for too long how the socialists of Italy caved to every terrorist threat in the world and began welcoming into Italy these scourges from islamic land. A month or so ago, the majority of Italians participating in a poll said they oppose ANY new mosques being built in Italy. Well, that kind of sentiment is rolling over Italy and if you are an illegal islamic immigrant, you better look for a new home.

This outcry over the Italians beginning to fingerprint the children is a farce. Italy is experiencing the same kind of crime waves from its "youths" that France has had to deal with for quite some time but Berlusconi, like I said, doesn't fuck around. There is no wonder why this man was put back in power - the land of Italy was falling apart at the seams and this man isn't going to let that happen.

Italy expels 38 Egyptians in immigration crackdown

ROME (Reuters) - Italy said on Saturday it had expelled 38 Egyptians as part of a crackdown ordered by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government on illegal immigration.
In a statement, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, of the anti-immigrant Northern League party, said he was pleased at the expulsion of the Egyptian immigrants, who were flown to Cairo aboard a chartered plane.
Maroni also defended his plans to fingerprint Roma children. Roma people, known in Italy as "nomads", are blamed for much of the crime in Italian cities.
"We don't know who lives in legal (nomadic) camps let alone the illegal ones. We don't know the nationalities of the residents so we have to do a census," Maroni told the newspaper Corriere della Sera.
Berlusconi took office in May pledging tough measures to stem illegal immigration, including legislation to make the act of crossing into Italy illegally itself an offence punishable by imprisonment.
Some immigrants seeking residency in Italy are fingerprinted already, but not usually children or European Union citizens.
The Catholic charity Fondazione Migrantes, which is linked to the Italian bishops' conference, questioned why Roma people were being singled out.
"It incomprehensible why fingerprints are being taken solely from minors from this tiny ethnic minority," it was quoted as saying by Italian news agencies.
"All of this will not reduce fear and give peace to our people, but set the stage for unearthing a type of xenophobia, or worse, of racial discrimination."

Insurgent 101: You Can Run, You Can Hide, But Escape A Predator?

Al Qaeda In Iraq 101: A Training Camp Does Kind Of 'Stick Out'

Pakistan Launches Offensive In Peshawar Against Taliban

Ever heard the expression....too little, too late? Well, the Taliban OWN Peshawar and only then, does the Pakistan government react with a military offensive. I have clamored over here at Holger Awakens for months for the Pakistani government to wake the hell up and stop this policy of appeasement and ass kissing with the Taliban. The Taliban are sons of Satan and I warned it was all a ruse. Well, I have just found the most intuitive, correct paragraph EVER in a news article on the Pakistani/Taliban situation. Look at this from the article at Breitbart:

Security experts said the appearance of the Taliban in Peshawar, just two hours drive west of the capital Islamabad, reflected the military and political failure to halt an Islamist tide rolling in from tribal areas that have become strongholds for the Taliban and al Qaida.

That says it all - the Taliban HAVE been like a tide rolling in and instead of the Pakistani government throwing some force at them, they've let them roll while they've sat at bargaining tables with the likes of the pig, Baitullah Mehsud. It's my prediction that within the next two months, the new government of Pakistan will reach out to NATO for help because the Taliban will have the capital of Islamabad in sight.

Pakistan launches offensive against Taliban near Peshawar+

ISLAMABAD, June 28 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The Pakistani military on Saturday launched a large-scale offensive against Taliban fighters near the northwestern city of Peshawar which is effectively under their control.
By Saturday afternoon, the paramilitary Frontier Corps began shelling suspected militant hideouts in the mountains in Khyber, local official Muhammad Siddiq Khan said, according to the Associated Press.
"There has been no resistance, so far. No casualties, so far," Malik Naveed Khan, the police chief of North West Frontier Province told Reuters news service.
Security experts said the appearance of the Taliban in Peshawar, just two hours drive west of the capital Islamabad, reflected the military and political failure to halt an Islamist tide rolling in from tribal areas that have become strongholds for the Taliban and al Qaida.
Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, based in the most remote tribal region, South Waziristan, telephoned a Reuters correspondent to declare that he was suspending peace talks.
"The talks will remain suspended until the government stops talking about operations and attacks against us," he was quoted as saying by satellite phone from an undisclosed location.

Al Qaeda in Iraq's Top Leader In Mosul Killed By U.S. Troops

Hooray for the troops in Iraq! This is a big fish they took down, for sure. Here's the full story out of the International Herald Tribune:

US says "emir" of al-Qaida in northern city of Mosul killed in raid

BAGHDAD: Al-Qaida's top leader in Mosul was killed during a raid this week in that northern city, the U.S. military said Thursday.
The "emir" of the terror movement in Mosul, known by his nickname Abu Khalaf, was killed along with two other extremists in a gunbattle Tuesday, the U.S. said.
One of those killed was a woman who was shot as she tried to detonate the explosive belt of one of her dead comrades, the statement said.
Associates identified one of the dead as Abu Khalaf, the statement added. It said the third extremist was a Syrian known by his nickname Abu Khalud.
According to the U.S., Abu Khalaf had been a deputy of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al-Qaida in Iraq who was killed by a U.S. airstrike in Diyala province in June 2006.
U.S. officials say Mosul is the last major Iraqi city where al-Qaida has a significant presence.

So there you have it, yet ANOTHER key top leader of al Qaeda in Iraq busy trying to find the 72 virgins and I gotta believe this guy left behind a treasure trove of intel on his computer and in his belongings. Won't that come in handy?!!

As you noticed in the article, a woman was killed trying to detonate a suicide belt and this just goes to show that al Qaeda in Iraq continues to successfully recruit these Iraqi women. Most reports are that these are often Sunni women who have lost their husbands or male relatives in the insurgency and apparently feel they can attain some revenge this way.

Osama bin Laden must be so proud to see that his mighty al Qaeda has been reduced to an army of widows. /sarc off

Crowd Of Thousands Of Pakistanis Cheer Taliban Execution Of Two Afghans

Believe me, this is not going to go over well in Afghanistan. Let's look at the details of this disgusting act by the Taliban, from the article at Breitbart:

gang of Pakistani militants executed two Afghan prisoners in front of thousands of cheering supporters Friday, beheading one man and shooting the other after accusing them of aiding a U.S. missile strike.
The executions in the Bajur region highlighted the power of local Taliban forces in lawless tribal areas near the Afghan border.
Militants calling from the loudspeakers of mosques summoned people to the banks of a stream outside the town of Khar, about 120 miles northwest of Islamabad. At least 5,000 people gathered to watch the executions
Gunmen with daggers then pounced on one of the men—identified as Jan Wali, 36—decapitated him and waved his bloody head to the cheering crowd, according to an Associated Press reporter and AP Television News footage from the scene.

Now, I know I don't have to remind any of you about the monster status of the Taliban but look at the reaction of the crowd of Pakistani citizens:

The militants then argued over how to kill the other man because he may have been a teenager, before one lost patience and shot him with an assault rifle.
The crowd erupted in cheers of "God is great!" and gunmen fired in the air in jubilation.

And finally, even in this dark display of barbarism, with the crowd smiling up and cheering to their false prophet mo, JUSTICE was served. Yes, sweet justice was dealt to these pigs who cheered this cold blooded execution:

The celebratory gunfire killed two bystanders and wounded six, local official Fazal Rabbi said.

As a side note, how would you like to be a Pakistani muslim with the last name of "Rabbi"? : )

Crowd watches Pakistan militants kill 2 Afghans

KHAR, Pakistan (AP) - A gang of Pakistani militants executed two Afghan prisoners in front of thousands of cheering supporters Friday, beheading one man and shooting the other after accusing them of aiding a U.S. missile strike.
The executions in the Bajur region highlighted the power of local Taliban forces in lawless tribal areas near the Afghan border.
Also Friday, a top U.N. official expressed fears that Pakistan's peace deals with militants were sparking a wave of similar abuses.
Militants calling from the loudspeakers of mosques summoned people to the banks of a stream outside the town of Khar, about 120 miles northwest of Islamabad. At least 5,000 people gathered to watch the executions.
Masked militants pulled the two blindfolded Afghans from a car and forced them to kneel on the ground.
Waliur Rehman, a local Taliban commander, told the crowd that the two men had confessed to aiding in the strike on a house in the border town of Damadola that killed 14 people last month. The men disclosed the names of others accused of involvement, who would be killed as well, Rehman said. Pakistan's army lodged a formal protest to "allied forces" in Afghanistan after saying Pakistan had concluded the attack was launched by drones from across the border. The U.S. did not comment on the incident.
"Whoever, for the sake of money, for the sake of America, harms the interest of the Islamic world will meet the same fate," Rehman said.
Gunmen with daggers then pounced on one of the men—identified as Jan Wali, 36—decapitated him and waved his bloody head to the cheering crowd, according to an Associated Press reporter and AP Television News footage from the scene.
The militants then argued over how to kill the other man because he may have been a teenager, before one lost patience and shot him with an assault rifle.
The crowd erupted in cheers of "God is great!" and gunmen fired in the air in jubilation. The celebratory gunfire killed two bystanders and wounded six, local official Fazal Rabbi said.
There was no immediate reaction to the killings from U.S. or Pakistani officials.
The recently elected Pakistani government has supported negotiations that would give local tribes and militants broad authority over some tribal areas. The U.S. says those deals will only give Taliban and al-Qaida forces in the border region more freedom to attack Afghanistan.
A deal has not yet been reached over Bajur, but the militants are clearly able to operate freely in the area.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said Friday she was concerned that the peace deals undermined state authority and left residents vulnerable to a range of human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings.

Insurgent 101: Just When You Think You're The Only One To Escape That Hellfire...The Strafing Comes

Insurgent 101: Did You Get The Memo About Hiding In A Mosque When You Are Sniping U.S. Troops?

U.S. and Iraqi Forces Capture 16 Al Qaeda in Diyala Province

This is a very brief report here from Aswat Aliraq but oh so important - 16 al Qaeda jihadists were captured in Diyala. Here's the full article for you:

16 al-Qaeda gunmen detained in Diala

Baaquba, Jun 26, (VOI)- Joint Iraqi-U.S. forces on Thursday arrested 16 al-Qaeda gunmen, including four wanted men, during a military operation in northeast of Baaquba, a security source said."A joint force of Iraqi and U.S. personnel waged a military operation targeting al-Qaeda in Blour village in Muqdadiya, northeast of Baaquba," the source, who wished to be unnamed, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq (VOI)."16 al-Qaeda gunmen, including four wanted men, were arrested in the operation," he added.Baaquba, the capital of Diala, is 57 km northeast of Baghdad.

While the capture of 16 al Qaeda in Iraq jihadists is significant in its own right, the key to this is the intel that we will get out of these prisoners. Diyala province remains one of the strongest holds of al Qaeda - some might say it is their last stand so any intelligence that comes out of these captives will be worth its weight in gold.

There has been a significant spike in successful al Qaeda attacks recently and this operation shows the continued determination of U.S. and Iraqi forces. I have argued against some of the commentary that al Qaeda in Iraq is all but finished - that would be like saying the Taliban were destroyed when the U.S. and Coalition forces kicked them out of Afghanistan - these enemies are more resilient than that and quite frankly, with the fact that al Qaeda in Iraq is still successful in recruiting Iraqi women as suicide bombers, the threat will continue for a long, long time.

Palis Fire More Mortars Into Israel, Gaza Border Crossings Tightened

Oh well...it's not like I didn't tell them so. Pali jihadists fired two more mortars into Israel today with no casualties reported while Israel backed off on further openings of crossings into Gaza. Currently, Israel isn't allowing food items into Gaza due to the mortar and rocket attacks. Here's some of the newest details from Breitbart in the crumbling of the Egyptian-brokered truce between Hamas and Israel:

For the third day in a row, Israel prevented food trucks from entering Gaza by closing crossings in retaliation for repeated Palestinian rocket attacks, Israeli army spokesman Peter Lerner said. Later in the day, Palestinian militants fired two mortar shells toward Israel, Israeli police said, but no injuries or damage were reported. It was not immediately clear which militant faction fired the shells.
The six-month truce worked out during months of Egyptian mediation began June 19. But only five days into the cease-fire, the Islamic Jihad group fired three rockets toward Israel, injuring two Israelis, and prompting Israel to close the crossings beginning Wednesday. Since then, Israel has not allowed food into Gaza, Lerner said.

Probably the most encouraging comment made from anyone in Israel, was this:

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni called for retaliation for the attacks.
"I am not interested who fired and who didn't fire at Israel," she told reporters Thursday. "It is a violation, and Israel needs to respond immediately, militarily, for every violation."

Livni is absolutely right and I would add that Israel should just "respond immediate, militarily" but that it should respond militarily agains HAMAS LEADERSHIP. The key to subduing Hamas and Islamic Jihad is to target their mid level and upper level leadership - when a Hamas commander knows there's a bullseye on his back if a mortar or rocket is fired into Israel, the mortar or rocket isn't fired.

It really is that simple.

Israel closes Gaza, Palestinians fire mortars

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel refused on Friday to fully open crossings with the Gaza Strip and Palestinian militants attacked Israel with mortars, further testing an already fragile truce.
For the third day in a row, Israel prevented food trucks from entering Gaza by closing crossings in retaliation for repeated Palestinian rocket attacks, Israeli army spokesman Peter Lerner said. Later in the day, Palestinian militants fired two mortar shells toward Israel, Israeli police said, but no injuries or damage were reported. It was not immediately clear which militant faction fired the shells.
The six-month truce worked out during months of Egyptian mediation began June 19. But only five days into the cease-fire, the Islamic Jihad group fired three rockets toward Israel, injuring two Israelis, and prompting Israel to close the crossings beginning Wednesday. Since then, Israel has not allowed food into Gaza, Lerner said.
Israel has said it will not let a humanitarian crisis develop in the territory of 1.4 million Palestinians.
As part of the cease-fire, Israel had begun easing the closure Sunday, letting in shoes and other goods in addition to the basic foods that were allowed in before the truce. Israel imposed the blockade when the Islamic Hamas seized power in Gaza a year ago, and intensified it in response to ongoing rocket attacks on Israeli communities.

Citizens of D.C. Get Their Right To Bear Arms Back!

This is fucking HUGE! Yessssss! The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that the ban on handguns in the nation's capital of Washington, D.C. violated the 2nd Amendment rights of people in the city and the hand gun ban is over. It's done. It's history! This is awesome and makes the current score: Constitution of the United States 1 Socialist Oppressors of America 0. Here's how the court voted on this:

Voting AGAINST the ban on handguns:

Chief Justice Roberts
Justice Scalia
Justice Thomas
Justice Alito
Justice Kennedy

Those voting to keep the unconstitutional ban and defy U.S. citizens of their rights:

Justice Ginsburg
Justice Souter
Justice Stevens
Justice Breyer

Here's some of the recap from the article here at CNN:

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a sweeping ban on handguns in the nation's capital violated the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

The justices struck down the ban in a 5-4 decision, with Justice Antonin Scalia writing the opinion for the majority.
Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty said he was disappointed in the ruling but will give the district's police department 21 days to implement a process for registering handguns. It still will be illegal to carry handguns outside the home, and all pistols must be registered with police.

Let's look at what the two opposing views were, first this is from the majority opinion written by Justice Scalia:

"The Constitution leaves the District of Columbia a variety of tools for combating that problem, including some measures regulating handguns," Scalia wrote. "But the enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table. These include the absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home."

And now, let's look at how Justice Breyer viewed this from his chair (adorned with a hammer and sickle):

"The self-defense interest in maintaining loaded handguns in the home to shoot intruders is not the primary interest, but at most a subsidiary interest," he wrote. "The Second Amendment's language, while speaking of a 'militia,' says nothing of 'self-defense.' "

So, in other words, Breyer is arguing that a "subsidiary" interest doesn't qualify for protection? Okay, so in other words...what part of Free Speech is considered a "subsidiary"??? If I am a blogger and want to put out to the world that Barack Obama is lying to the American people, could that be viewed by Stephen Breyer as not necessarily covered by the Constitution? Perhaps he thinks that free speech only applies to what I say about ordinary citizens. How far does Breyer and these left wingers want to take their liberal interpretations?

The 2nd amendment is clear as spring water. The citizens have a right to bear arms. The ban in D.C. violated that right. The Truth won here but believe me, if you listen real closely, you can hear the heads of moonbats and Dems and Leftists from coast to coast exploding over this one and I, personally, would like to say this to each and every one of them: Go fuck yourself and don't EVER try to take our guns away, again.

High court strikes down gun ban

Officials said a hot line would be set up to handle questions about the new regulations.
"It is important to respect the court's authority and to act quickly," Fenty said.
The case's lead plaintiff, Dick Heller, applauded the decision, saying, "I'm very happy that I am now able to defend myself and my household in my own home."
Paul Helmke of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence said his group had a mixed reaction to the decision.
Helmke said the group disagrees with the court's interpretation of the Second Amendment but that the ruling "still allows common-sense gun control laws, restrictions to make us all safer."

The National Rifle Association said the high court had given it the ammunition to challenge other cities' gun-control measures.
At issue in District of Columbia v. Heller was whether Washington's ban violated the right to "keep and bear arms" by preventing individuals -- as opposed to state militias -- from having guns in their homes.
"Undoubtedly some think that the Second Amendment is outmoded in a society where our standing army is the pride of our nation, where well-trained police forces provide personal security and where gun violence is a serious problem," Scalia wrote. "That is perhaps debatable, but what is not debatable is that it is not the role of this court to pronounce the Second Amendment extinct."
Scalia was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, all of whom are considered conservative voices on the court. Justice Anthony Kennedy, often seen as a swing vote, also joined the majority.
Justices John Paul Stevens and Stephen Breyer delivered dissenting opinions and were joined by their liberal counterparts Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter.
District of Columbia officials argued they had the responsibility to impose "reasonable" weapons restrictions to reduce violent crime, but several Washingtonians challenged the 32-year-old law. Some said they had been constant victims of crimes and needed guns for protection.

Taliban 101: U.S. JDAM's Even Shock And Awe The Brits

Insurgent 101: You Won't Be Firing Mortars Anymore

Pakistan In Jeopardy Of Losing Entire NWFP To The Taliban

Pakistani security forces are backed up against the proverbial wall in the violent North West Frontier Provinces of Pakistan and it really doesn't look good. The Taliban have made more and more inroads in the region and as usual, the Pakistani security forces have begun fighting with the hearts of mice.

Here's some details from the article at TimesOnline:

Pakistan’s battle against the Taleban threatened to spiral out of control yesterday after Islamic militants extended their grip in the lawless North West Frontier region.
Emboldened by an increasingly weakened and demoralised security force, Taleban fighters moved in to the outskirts of the provincial capital. Peshawar, surrounding the city and placing it virtually under siege.

With Peshawar under siege, it's apparent that the Pakistani security forces will probably cave in totally and the consequences of all of this are immense. With the North West Frontier areas in total control of the Taliban, we will almost see a new autonomous country set up in this area of Pakistan.

One might argue that this was precipitated by the peace talks and agreements brought forward by the Pakistani government. Many experts warned the Pakistani government against those talks and giving in to the Taliban and Mehsud but of course, they didn't listen and now they are going to pay a steep, steep price.

Taleban 'siege' of Peshawar threatens Pakistan's grip

Army troops have increased patrols in the garrison areas and paramilitary soldiers carrying machineguns are posted at government buildings. But senior security officials said that militants, who now control the region’s main arterial roads, were in a position to cut off communications at will.
Police on the city’s outskirts have long given up patrolling at night for fear of attacks by militants, who are organised under the banner of Tehrik-e-Taleban, the group led by the notorious commander Baitullah Mehsud. Several officers have been killed in rocket attacks on police posts in recent months. “It is a highly alarming situation,” said a senior provincial government official.

The Taleban raided the main government hospital in the heart of the city last week, kidnapping 16 Christians and taking them to the Khyber Agency tribal region outside Peshawar. Although they were freed after a few hours, the incident heightened fears among non-Muslims.
The Khyber Agency, the supply route for Nato forces in Afghanistan, has emerged as the new centre of Taleban activity. Ambushes on convoys have become more frequent.
Yesterday security forces said that they had found the bodies of 22 men who were captured by militants this week and executed after summary trial. Taleban fighters also abducted and killed six thieves and kidnappers in the Orakzai area near Peshawar.
On Sunday militants kidnapped 15 paramilitary soldiers after raiding a checkpoint in the tribal belt only a few miles from the city. The attack occurred hours after security forces in the area foiled a suicide attack involving a teenager.
Tehrik-e-Taleban has virtually established control not only in the tribal areas, but also in several key cities of the North West Frontier Province.
Mr Mehsud, the Tehrik-e-Taleban leader described by Western intelligence agencies as one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists, has been blamed by Pakistan for masterminding most of the country’s suicide attacks last year.

Iraq Integrates 9,000 Awakening Council Members Into Police Force

This is absolutely a brilliant idea on the part of the Iraqis. There have been reports lately that the U.S. was going to be stopping or at least cutting back on payments to most of the Awakening Councils, so the Iraqi government has jumped at the opportunity to blend these valued allies into the police force. Here's some of the report over at Aswat Aliraq:

A spokesman for Baghdad security plan on Wednesday said around 9000 awakening council members were appointed as Baghdad police personnels.“The number of awakening council members(Sons of Iraq) appointed as policemen has come to 9000,” Brig, Gen. Qassem Atta, spokesman for Baghdad security plan, told Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq(VOI).

Not only does this ensure that the Awakening Council members stay in the fight and aligned with the goals of the Iraqi government, but it will bring some excellent leadership and expertise to the police forces.

I'm not sure if the U.S. commanders in Iraq were behind this strategy, but it really is brilliant. At the same time, the links that the Awakening members have to the civilian population will keep a good flow of intel coming into the police departments on the movements and activities of al Qaeda in Iraq. Good, good news.

Iraqi Gov’t integrates 9000 awakening council members into Baghdad police-spokesman

Baghdad, June24, (VOI)-A spokesman for Baghdad security plan on Wednesday said around 9000 awakening council members were appointed as Baghdad police personnels.“The number of awakening council members(Sons of Iraq) appointed as policemen has come to 9000,” Brig, Gen. Qassem Atta, spokesman for Baghdad security plan, told Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq(VOI).The spokesman noted “integrating Sons of Iraq into police personnels is ongoing”, but he did not elaborate the whole number of awakening council across Baghdad areas.Awakening councils are mostly Sunni groups that turned against al-Qaeda network in Iraq(AQI)and have helped US-Iraq forces to wrestle power from the AQI in many western and central Iraqi areas.AM

U.S. Military Chief Due In Israel - Hmmm...Wonder What Is On The Agenda?

Haha. I hope the Iranians are watching this and shitting their pants or robes or burqas or whatever it is they wear. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is headed to Israel and while some of his staff are trying to downplay the timing, it's pretty plain to see (at least from my view) that Iran is going to be topic one and in fact, I wouldn't doubt if an Israeli powerpoint presentation isn't going to be the main topic of discussion - I can imagine some slides of locations in Iran with little red "x's" on em and maybe even some flight routes?

Here's some of the details of the story from Breitbart:

US military chief Admiral Michael Mullen was expected in Israel this week for discussions including Iran, the Pentagon said Wednesday, amid speculation Israel is seeking Washington's tacit approval to strike Tehran's nuclear program.
The press office of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that Mullen left the United States on Tuesday "to go overseas to visit counterparts as well as combatant commands, and Israel is not his only stop."

"The Israelis have been assured by the Bush administration that the Bush administration will not allow Iran to nuclearize," CBS consultant Michael Oren said.

I don't care what anyone says, the Iranians have to be nervous. The talk of attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities has been all of the talk the past week and a half and I'm not really sure if the Iranians are going to rush their schedule or if they are going to plan to hide it better (or protect it better). Either way, this is a good situation because the more talk there is of attack, the greater the chance of it occurring are.

Some of us have been calling for the destruction of Iranian facilities for many, many months - and it would have been a helluva lot easier back then.

Top US military officer heads to Israel with Iran on the agenda

US military chief Admiral Michael Mullen was expected in Israel this week for discussions including Iran, the Pentagon said Wednesday, amid speculation Israel is seeking Washington's tacit approval to strike Tehran's nuclear program.
The press office of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that Mullen left the United States on Tuesday "to go overseas to visit counterparts as well as combatant commands, and Israel is not his only stop."
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters the trip had been on the schedule for "months."
"I believe this is a routine opportunity for Chairman Mullen to engage his counterpart in Israel on military-to-military matters, as he does in much of his travels around the world," Morrell said.
"I will say this, though: Obviously, when Chairman Mullen goes to Israel and speaks with the Israelis, they will no doubt discuss the threat posed by Iran, as we discuss it in this building, in other buildings in this town."
Morrell recalled that Washington was committed to resolving the nuclear threat posed by Iran through diplomacy and international sanctions, "while at the same time holding out the option of a military strike, if necessary."
"But the military strike is not our first choice," he said. "Never has been. And we continue to pursue economic and diplomatic pressures as the policy of this government."
US media have reported that more than 100 Israeli fighter jets participated in a training exercise with Greece earlier this month to prepare for a possible long-distance strike -- a maneuver seen as a warning against Iran.
Iran has defied UN sanctions and international demands by pressing on with its disputed uranium enrichment program, which Washington and Israel fear would be used to build a nuclear weapon.
Israeli Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, a former defense chief, said in an interview published in the Russian press Wednesday that Iran would be "annihilated" if it tried to attack Israel.
But, he said, "we are not planning any attack against Iran."
According to the US television network CBS, Israel does not want to wait until the new administration that will succeed US President George W. Bush in January to strike Iranian nuclear sites.

Insurgent 101: I Have Bad News For You - There's An M1A1 In Front Of Your House

Insurgent 101: We'll Just Call Your Safe House...Rubble Now, Okay?

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Warn U.S.: If You Attack Iran 'you will not have any legs to return on'

Iran's Revolutionary Guards are issuing more threats to the United States regarding a possible military action against Iran. Here's what they said from a piece at Reuters:

"We advise U.S. officials to be careful not to face another tragedy," Mohammad Hejazi, a senior commander of the elite Guards, was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.
"Our last word is that if you want to move towards Iran make sure you bring walking sticks and artificial legs because if you came you will not have any legs to return on," he said.

Yes folks, this is the intellect of the Revolutionary Guards - and as you can see, Iran hasn't fought a war since the early 80's when they pretty much got their asses handed to them by the Iraqis. Perhaps Hejazi thinks the Americans will send troops into Iran like the British did in American in 1775, posing columns of soldiers to walk into battle.

It's my contention that if Iran were attacked by the U.S. or a combination of U.S., Israel and coalition forces, Iran would fold in a matter of three to four days. These asshats have no backbone. The epitomize the military strategy of Mohammed which is to "hide behind a rock" and kill your enemies. Iran's military operations in the past 25 years have been this:

1. Hire Hezbollah to fight the Israelis
2. Hire Hamas to fight the Israelis
3. Send weapons to the Taliban in Afghanistan
4. Train Shia fighters from Iraq to fight Americans in Iraq
5. Send IED materials into Iraq to kill Americans

Yep, that's the "feared" Revolutionary Guards - they aren't warriors, they are a payroll backer for mercenaries. Iran simply doesn't have the balls to fight its own battles and yes, if they are confronted by the air power and military superiority of the U.S., they will fold like a paper house in a tsunami.

But go ahead and issue your threats, fools. We'll see.

Iran's Guards say U.S. to face "tragedy" if it hits Iran

TEHRAN, June 25 (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned the United States on Wednesday it would face a "tragedy" if it attacked the Islamic Republic.
"We advise U.S. officials to be careful not to face another tragedy," Mohammad Hejazi, a senior commander of the elite Guards, was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.
"Our last word is that if you want to move towards Iran make sure you bring walking sticks and artificial legs because if you came you will not have any legs to return on," he said.
Hejazi's comments followed market talk of a military strike against the country's nuclear sites.
The standoff between the West and Tehran has sparked fears of a military confrontation that would disrupt oil supplies. Last week a report said Israel had practiced for a possible strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.
Washington says it is focusing on diplomatic pressure to thwart Iranian nuclear work it suspects is aimed at making bombs but has not ruled out military action if that were to fail.
A senior Iranian official on Tuesday denied market rumours of an Israeli attack on one of Iran's nuclear facilities, which Tehran says are part of a peaceful drive to generate electricity.
The New York Times last week quoted U.S. officials as saying Israel had carried out a large military exercise, apparently a rehearsal for a potential bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities.
Many analysts say Iran's nuclear sites are too numerous, distant and fortified for Israel to take on alone.
They say the United States could unleash vastly superior firepower if it attacked Iran but that Tehran could strike back against its forces in Iraq and disrupt oil supplies vital to the world economy.

52 Percent Of Indonesians Favor Implementation Of Sharia Law

Oh boy. Indonesia is the world's most populus muslim country with over 200 million followers of islam and it appears they want to take the next step and see sharia law implemented in their land. Well, almost. Let's take a look at some of the results from the article here at the Telegraph:

A majority of Indonesians would like to see Sharia law implemented in their country, a new poll shows, although only a minority favour the harsh measures sometimes associated with the system.
The poll of 8,000 people in the world's most populous Muslim country, home to 200 million Muslims, found that 52 per cent favoured some form of Islamic legal code, such as religious arbitration in family disputes.

"A lot of people think the idea is very good, but when you start talking of every day implications, the number dropped," said Ira Soekirman of Roy Morgan Research, an Australian company which conducted the survey.

Well, I'm not sure the Indonesians totally understand it or not but when you put sharia law into place, it's forever kids and there isn't like a Level One to it. It's harsh and it's forever - like herpes.

Indonesia, like so many other muslim countries, is being pushed into a more strict setting of islamic extremism and of course, the end result of sharia law is always the end game for the extremists. So, the majority of the people say sharia law is a good thing but look at this statistic from the polling:

Asked if women should be made to wear a head scarf 45 per cent said yes, while 40 per cent favoured chopping off the hands of thieves.

And I think the crux of all this is a nation of people who really aren't aware of what they are setting themselves up for - if only 40 percent favor the chopping off of hands of thieves, then what percent is willing to see the penalties afforded a woman who doesn't follow the sharia dress code? Bottom line is there are a number of islamists in Indonesia just licking their chops wanting to get sharia law wrapped around 200 muslims. Nothing like sending a quarter of a billion people back to the Dark Ages.

Indonesia backs sharia law, poll shows

A majority of Indonesians would like to see Sharia law implemented in their country, a new poll shows, although only a minority favour the harsh measures sometimes associated with the system.

Indonesia has traditionally practised a tolerant brand of Islam, although there are some trying to pull the country in a more conservative direction.
The government was recently forced to ban an unorthodox Muslim sect by violent street protests staged by hardline groups.
However, the country is regarded as one of the most successful world wide in confronting home grown jihadists.
Jemaah Islamiyah, which perpetrated the Bali bombings in 2002, has been greatly weakened in recent years.
The Indonesian policy towards terrorists has been characterised as more gentle than in other countries.

Why Is The Global War On Terror So Hard To Win?

I thought this was a pretty decent article here over at Family Security Matters - it talks about the book, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, a Chinese general. Take a look at a few of the passages here:

Sun Tzu reflects many themes about attacking enemy weaknesses rather than strengths. In the modern context, he writes extensively about issues that are now embraced by the term "information warfare." To Sun Tzu, "all warfare is based on deception;" and equally good intelligence is an essential precursor to victory. Regrettably, in today's War on Terror (WoT) we are forced to fight mainly on a defensive basis. One of the main problems is that we are not facing an "Army" in the conventional sense, despite the claims of the enemy. As a result we are mostly forced into reactive operations rather than proactive actions - hence, the vast expenditures of effort in time, manpower and treasure on Homeland Security. Since the enemy conducts mainly covert rather than overt operations, defensive measures are mainly preventive rather than offensive. That is a major, and often unrecognized, reason why the WoT needs to be fought in foreign lands such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

I think this paragraph sums up some of the strategies our enemies are using in the GWOT and highlights our weaknesses:

In sum, the enemy in the WoT is pursuing the strategies of Sun Tzu. They are fighting a highly successful information campaign, weakening our resolve and attacking the very fabric of our society. They constantly exploit our weaknesses by such tactics as the litigation suits brought by the "Flying Imams" and many of the Guantanamo detainees, using our own systems against us. The use of the internet to spread the Danish cartoon campaign throughout the Islamic world was another example of their advanced use of information warfare . It is by these and many other means they are working to set the conditions for success.

It really is a good article to read - I learned alot, myself. I'll leave it with a quote from the Chinese general, Sun Tzu:

"So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will fight without danger in battles.If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose.If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself" - Sun Tzu

Exclusive: Why the Enemy’s Methods Make the War on Terror so Difficult to Win

When it comes to foreign relations, business strategy and military operations, arguably the most influential book of all time is The Art of War accredited to Sun Tzu, a Chinese general who lived about 2,500 years ago. While there is much discussion and disagreement about the exact circumstances surrounding the writing of the book and even over the various translations, it has such credibility as a basic tutorial that the campaigns of Mao Tse-tung, Douglas MacArthur and Norman Schwarzkopf were based on it. Today, proponents as unexpected as Donald Trump and Luiz Scolari quote from Sun Tzu and advocate his efficacy.
The Art of War was required reading for all the military leaders of the former Soviet Union and is widely and highly recommended to students of warfare, politics and business around the world today. It remains required study for professional military officers in many nations, notably including the U.S. (it is on the West Point curriculum), China and India. It is a relatively short book (more of a pamphlet at typically only 71 pages) and there are numerous translations and editions available from all the large retailers.
The influence of Sun Tzu is hard to overstate. In a mere 13 chapters, this book lays out the essential strategies to be followed, even today for the successful achievement of any campaign. In this modern information age it is widely available, so it is also worth bearing in mind that it is not only good people who read and understand its concepts. Unlike other ancient treatises, it does not focus on specific tactics or techniques which can become dated with changing technology.
Sun Tzu reflects many themes about attacking enemy weaknesses rather than strengths. In the modern context, he writes extensively about issues that are now embraced by the term "information warfare." To Sun Tzu, "all warfare is based on deception;" and equally good intelligence is an essential precursor to victory. Regrettably, in today's War on Terror (WoT) we are forced to fight mainly on a defensive basis. One of the main problems is that we are not facing an "Army" in the conventional sense, despite the claims of the enemy. As a result we are mostly forced into reactive operations rather than proactive actions - hence, the vast expenditures of effort in time, manpower and treasure on Homeland Security. Since the enemy conducts mainly covert rather than overt operations, defensive measures are mainly preventive rather than offensive. That is a major, and often unrecognized, reason why the WoT needs to be fought in foreign lands such as Afghanistan and Iraq. This was and remains one of the few ways in which we can conduct the offensive operations which are widely recognized by students of warfare as essential to achieving any victory.
Even in these few, difficult offensive operations we are up against a foe that hides in amongst the civilian population, preventing the application of basic principles such as concentration of force. Their strategy allows a physically weaker enemy to engage with some success forces who have much greater strength at every level, by selection of the time and place to concentrate against small patrols using swift "hit and run" tactics. From their perspective this is a sensible ploy allowing them to set the conditions for engagement. It has also entrapped us in a prolonged engagement, which Sun Tzu rightly says is never a successful strategy for a country.

Insurgent 101: And You Thought Firing Rockets At U.S. Troops Was A Good Idea

Taliban 101: The JDAMs Just Keep Getting Bigger

NATO Apaches Kill 15 Taliban After Attack On Govt Building

Very Good! The Taliban attempted another one of their ill-fated surprise attacks, this time on a government building in the eastern province of Paktia in Afghanistan. Here's some of the report out of Yahoo News:

NATO warplanes killed 15 militants after rebels attacked a government building in Afghanistan Tuesday, officials said, while an Afghan policewoman was killed in the first attack of its kind.

Insurgents opened fire on the headquarters of the province's Sayed Karam district but were driven away after a gunbattle which caused slight damage to the building, provincial government spokesman Rohullah Samoon said.
"NATO helicopters then bombed the militants and killed 14 militants on the spot. Our policemen arrested another four wounded, and one of the wounded also died in hospital," Samoon told AFP.
The injured militants were from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, he said.

Now, a couple of things here - the report first says "warplanes" while the local report is that that it was "NATO helicopters"...and I have to believe the local folks are right here as the timing of retaliation seems more likely with Apaches.

The other interesting item in this is the mention of "foreign militants." I find it a bit odd that there were Saudis, Kuwaitis and Turks mixed in this Taliban attack force - not to say that the Taliban isn't loaded with a lot of "foreigners" but to see these Arabs in EASTERN Afghanistan is unusual. At the same time, I don't know when I last saw Turkish fighters mentioned in any Taliban operation. I'm going to look at some other reports of this battle and see if there is mention of these same foreign fighters being captured.

NATO kills 15 militants in Afghan air strike: official

KHOST, Afghanistan (AFP) - NATO warplanes killed 15 militants after rebels attacked a government building in Afghanistan Tuesday, officials said, while an Afghan policewoman was killed in the first attack of its kind.

The violence added to the toll in one of the bloodiest months so far in an insurgency launched by the ultra-Islamist Taliban movement after its ouster from government by US-led forces in 2001.
Several foreign militants were among the dead after the airstrike by the NAT0-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in the eastern province of Paktia, near the troubled border with Pakistan, officials said.
Insurgents opened fire on the headquarters of the province's Sayed Karam district but were driven away after a gunbattle which caused slight damage to the building, provincial government spokesman Rohullah Samoon said.
"NATO helicopters then bombed the militants and killed 14 militants on the spot. Our policemen arrested another four wounded, and one of the wounded also died in hospital," Samoon told AFP.
The injured militants were from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, he said.

The three arrested terrorists have told police that most of the 15 Taliban killed in the air strike were Pakistani nationals and some of them from Arab countries," he said.
NATO's press office for eastern Afghanistan said an unmanned aerial vehicle "positively identified" more than a dozen militants after they clashed with Afghan police and that close air support killed "several" rebels.
The attack came a day after the separate US-led coalition said airstrikes and clashes had killed 55 militants who ambushed a patrol in eastern Afghanistan.
Eastern Afghanistan borders Pakistan's lawless tribal regions, where Afghan and Western officials say the militants have "safe havens" which they use to launch cross-border attacks in Afghanistan.

Mortar Fired Into Israel From Gaza - What Truce?

Okay, they made it five days - which is longer than I said they would, but of course, as expected, the pali scum lobbed a mortar into southern Israel today - no injuries reported. Now, it will be interesting to see what kind of lies come out of Hamas on this. I'm not sure if they will blame it on Islamic Jihad or al Qaeda in Gaza...or hey, maybe they will accuse Israel of firing the mortar themselves to be able to denounce the truce. Here's some of the details here from Breitbart:

Palestinians fired a mortar into southern Israel in the first violation of a fragile truce between Israel and Gaza Strip militants, the military said Tuesday.
No casualties or damage were reported in the attack, which took place around midnight Monday, and troops did not retaliate, the military said. No militant faction immediately took responsibility.
The Egyptian-brokered truce went into effect on Thursday, with the immediate aim of ending fighting that has killed seven Israelis and more than 400 Palestinians—many of them civilians—since the Islamic Hamas militants overran Gaza a year ago.

Israel's Olmert is meeting with the Egyptians today to see if a new angle can be used to secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who is being held by Hamas. And at the same time, Olmert is expected to tell the Egyptians that if Hamas doesn't stop the flow of armaments into Gaza under this truce, that it is over - well, it IS over, Hamas fired a mortar. It's done. Finished.

It's my guess that perhaps Hamas didn't more than likely want this mortar to go off so soon - I think they would have liked a couple more weeks of lull so they could continue to rearm. But, knowing the latest reactions from Israel, they will scoff at this one mortar and say the truce is still binding.

And that, my friends, is the mistake of all mistakes with Hamas. Hamas is like a child, you give them an inch, they want a mile. One mortar under the truce means a dozen air assaults on Hamas members - that's the punishment for this "child."

Mortar fired from Gaza, violating truce

JERUSALEM (AP) - Palestinians fired a mortar into southern Israel in the first violation of a fragile truce between Israel and Gaza Strip militants, the military said Tuesday.
No casualties or damage were reported in the attack, which took place around midnight Monday, and troops did not retaliate, the military said. No militant faction immediately took responsibility.
The Egyptian-brokered truce went into effect on Thursday, with the immediate aim of ending fighting that has killed seven Israelis and more than 400 Palestinians—many of them civilians—since the Islamic Hamas militants overran Gaza a year ago.
It also obliges Israel to ease a punishing blockade of the coastal strip. In a final stage, the sides are to address Hamas' demand to reopen a major border passage between Gaza and Egypt and Israel's insistence that Hamas release an Israeli soldier it has held for two years.
Egypt acted as middleman for the six-month truce because Israel, like much of the international community, shuns Hamas for refusing to recognize Israel or renounce violence.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert flew to Egypt on Tuesday for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The leaders are expected to discuss efforts to release the soldier, Sgt. Gilad Schalit, and Israel's demand that Egypt crack down on arms smuggling into Gaza.
Olmert was quoted on Tuesday in the London-based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat daily as saying that if the smuggling of weapons into Gaza did not end, then Israel would consider the cease-fire agreement violated, and "then we will be compelled to military action."
The cease-fire is meant to avert an Israeli invasion of Gaza, a tiny, impoverished seaside territory of 1.4 million people that Israel evacuated in 2005 after a 38-year military occupation. The deal extends beyond Hamas to all militant groups operating in Gaza but does not include the West Bank.
Early Tuesday, Israeli troops killed a senior Islamic Jihad commander in a raid in the West Bank town of Nablus.

Conservative 101: How To Speak Democrat

Islam Convert Sentenced To 22 Years In Prison For Los Angeles Terror Plot

22 years is a long time but not long enough, in my view. But this is a pretty stiff sentence considering the moonbattery in this land of ours. Here's the details of the sentencing of Levar Washington:

A man who planned attacks on military installations and synagogues in the Los Angeles area for an Islamic terrorist cell was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison today for conspiring to wage war against the United States.

Washington, a convert to Islam, and three other defendants were members of Jam'iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh, a radical Islamic organization formed in prison by cell leader Kevin James. The group is better known as JIS.

So, good old Levar is gonna be able to sit back for the next 22 years and contemplate that conversion to islam - I hope he feels it was worth it.

And since Washington is the first of the four convicted to get sentenced, it should be fun to see what is handed out to the rest, especially to the ringleader, Kevin Lamar James. It's my sincere hope that Kevin Lamar James gets the death sentence.

Man sentenced to 22 years in L.A.-area terror plot

A man who planned attacks on military installations and synagogues in the Los Angeles area for an Islamic terrorist cell was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison today for conspiring to wage war against the United States.Levar Washington told a federal judge in Santa Ana that cell members "flirted with the possibility" of attacking targets but no longer believe "a military solution is possible" because "it belies reality."

Washington, a convert to Islam, and three other defendants were members of Jam'iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh, a radical Islamic organization formed in prison by cell leader Kevin James. The group is better known as JIS.Its members came to law enforcement's attention in 2005 when Washington and another cell member robbed about a dozen gas stations in the Los Angeles area over about a month's time. When authorities searched Washington's apartment they found plans for attacks against military facilities, synagogues and Israeli offices.Washington told the court that the group acted out of opposition to U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and they chose gas stations to rob because oil is a political symbol.Washington is the first member of the group to be sentenced. He pleaded guilty in December.

Afghan, U.S. Troops Decimate Taliban After Ambush - Over 55 Taliban Won't Make Prayer Call

Just a darn shame, too...isn't it? Haha. This must have been one helluva battle - let's go to the play by play from Bill Roggio's report at The Long War Journal:

More than 55 Taliban fighters, including three senior leaders, were reported killed, 25 were wounded and three were captured by a combined air and ground counterattack after a Taliban force ambushed a patrol in Paktika province. "Patrols in the ambush area continue to report additional enemy casualties," the US military reported.
The attack occurred in the northeastern corner of Paktika province, close to the Pakistani border on a road between the districts of Zirok and Orgun districts. The US Army maintains Forward Operating Base Orgun-E in the region to interdict Taliban cross border raids.

One of the best outcomes of this counter-attack was the fact that three senior leaders were offed as a result - and that means the Taliban must have really thought they had this ambush well planned and that it was a given. Obviously, they were wrong. Dead wrong.

Also, from the location of this attack, it happened VERY close to the Pakistan border and you can almost see how things are developing - first off, Afghan, U.S. and NATO forces are operating closer and closer to Pakistan and of course, the Taliban have been used to that safe zone of the border to run back across. It seems logical to me that we are going to see more and more outcomes like this as NATO and Afghan forces become more willing to pursue the enemy, anywhere.

Afghan, US forces kill 55 Taliban after ambush

US and Afghan forces fought a major battle with the Taliban and "inflicted heavy casualties" on the force just miles from the Pakistani border on June 20, Combined Joint Task Force - 101 reported.
More than 55 Taliban fighters, including three senior leaders, were reported killed, 25 were wounded and three were captured by a combined air and ground counterattack after a Taliban force ambushed a patrol in Paktika province. "Patrols in the ambush area continue to report additional enemy casualties," the US military reported.
The attack occurred in the northeastern corner of Paktika province, close to the Pakistani border on a road between the districts of Zirok and Orgun districts. The US Army maintains Forward Operating Base Orgun-E in the region to interdict Taliban cross border raids.
The region borders the lawless Pakistani tribal agency of North Waziristan, where cross border incidents are on the rise. On June 21, six rockets and mortars were fired from North Waziristan into Paktika province, killing one Afghan woman and three children.
The Pakistani Taliban maintains a stronghold in North Waziristan. The powerful Haqqani family is based in the region. The Haqqani family runs several mosques and madrassa, or religious schools, near Miramshah. The Pakistani government closed down the radical Haqqani-run Manbaul Ulom madrassa after the US commenced Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, but the school was reopened in 2004. The Manbaul Ulom madrassa has been described as a center of jihadi activities, where top Taliban and al Qaeda commanders meet.
Siraj Haqqani, the son of renowned Taliban leader Jalaluddin Haqqani, is one of the senior Taliban leaders in North Waziristan. He has close ties to Osama bin Laden and the Taliban. He has embraced al Qaeda's tactics and ideology, and has recruited foreign terrorists to act as suicide bombers and operatives inside Afghanistan. Siraj is believed to be running the Haqqani Network in eastern Afghanistan and has become a focal point of Coalition operations. The US military has put out a $200,000 bounty for Siraj's arrest. Taliban commanders Hafiz Gul Bahadar and Sadiq Noor also operate in North Waziristan.