Dinah Lord

Iraqi slipper thrower shot by US Military.

They thought it was a grenade.

The wounded slipper thrower
and his mama-->

From al-Guardian 

American troops have shot and wounded an Iraqi man who hurled a slipper at a military convoy in the former insurgent stronghold of Falluja. A joint patrol of US and Iraqi troops is believed to have mistaken the flying shoe for a grenade.

A statement from the US military said that during a patrol on Wednesday an "object" was thrown at the troops, who then fired "in self-defence, wounding the attacker".

US troops gave the man, Ahmed al-Jumaili, first aid before he was taken to hospital by Iraqi police. He was in a stable condition after being treated for a chest wound and two bullet grazes.

The incident came just a day after the release from prison of Muntazer al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George Bush.

Jumaili, a 30-year-old mechanic, said he threw his leather slipper in a knee-jerk reaction. "When I saw Americans patrolling the streets of Falluja I lost my temper, I don't want to see them in Falluja," he told the Associated Press news agency. "Troops have withdrawn from cities, so why they still patrolling here in Falluja?"

Because of a-holes like you, Ahmed. 

(Does being sorry to hear that this idiot Ahmed lived to tell the tale make me a bad person?) 

Guess who's getting a Missile Defense system?

Apparently, President Obama has no problem leaving our allies, Poland and the Czech Republic, defenseless and in the lurch but he's cool with this so-called 'moderate' Islamic country defending themselves.

Turkey to buy missile defence system. 

Turkey's military on Friday said it was planning to spend close to US$1 billion (S$1.44 billion) for its first long-range missile defence system.

The Turkish announcement came a day after US President Barack Obama cancelled a long-planned missile shield for Eastern Europe, replacing a Bush-era project that was opposed by Russia with a plan he contended would better defend against Iranian missiles.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey's move was aimed at strengthening the country's defence, rejecting media speculation that the system is meant specifically to protect the country from Iranian missiles.

'Turkey's purchase of Patriot (missiles) has nothing to do with Iran or directly with any other country,' Mr Davutoglu told CNN-Turk television in an interview on Friday. 'There should absolutely be no connection between Patriots and Iran.'

Unh-huh.  Right.  The Strategy Page has some additional info about the systems being purchased.  Funny how the Russians aren't getting all exercised about these missiles, isn't it??? 

Perhaps because they are too busy testing ways to smuggle them into Iran...

Or perhaps because they're too busy playing all coy about their sale (currently 'frozen') of the S-300 defense system to the Iranians.  If Russia's freeze thaws on these missiles all bets are off.  Israeli MP says S-300 missiles may force airstrike on Iran.

Or perhaps they are just too darn too busy playing our President for the inexperienced fool he apparently is.   For his part, President Obama has sent his all his little aides out with their talking points about 'cost concerns'. 

Make me barf.

Another Lost Boy of Minneapolis bites the dust in Somalia

Sixth man reportedly dies in Somalia. 

Warning:  Jihadism is hazardous to your health.

A sixth Minnesota man is feared dead in Somalia after joining an Islamic extremist group there. But Troy Kastigar stood out from his fellow recruits, because the Minneapolis man was not Somali.

Kastigar, 28, was a Muslim convert who apparently had no personal ties to the lawless east African country.

Troy Kastigar's family received reports of his death within the past week, according to friends of the family. The circumstances of his reported death aren't clear, and the information could not be confirmed by the FBI.

Kastigar's involvement in Somalia is a puzzle in itself. He told his mother that he was going to Kenya when he left the Twin Cities last November.

More at the link.  Including this: 

Before he left for Somalia, he acquired a lengthy rap sheet, filled with misdemeanors ranging from credit card fraud to driving after his license was revoked.

Somali community members believe Kastigar was part of the last wave of Minnesota men who joined the violent militia al-Shabaab in Somalia. While some of the 20 or so men say they left to defend their homeland in a bloody civil war, Katigar's motivations are less clear.

His motivations are less clear?  How clear does it have to get for these people?  He was a MUSLIM and THAT was the only motivation he needed to be a murdering thug.

Too good to check: Baitullah Mehsud died getting 'leg massage'?

From AFP:

Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed last week in a CIA drone attack while getting a leg massage on the roof of his father-in-law's house, CNN said Monday, citing an unnamed US official.

A US counterterrorism official told AFP, meanwhile, that "there are strong indications (Mehsud) is dead" following a drone attack.  "No one is expecting him home for dinner tonight," the official said. (Ed. Note:  Looks like he won't be down for breakfast in the a.m. either.  Bwa-ha-ha!)

US President Barack Obama is being told Mehsud was killed after a "dramatic escalation" of nine unmanned drones specifically targeting the Taliban leader in recent weeks, the US official told CNN television.

On Wednesday night, US surveillance in Pakistan spied a man on the roof of Mehsud's father-in-law's home in South Waziristan.  The description was of a "short, stocky man who was following the physical description" of Mehsud, CNN said, citing the intelligence official.

A woman was massaging the man's leg and the Central Intelligence Agency knew Mehsud had diabetes, experienced pain in his legs, and often sought relief in that way, the report said.

Officials already had authorization from Obama to strike Mehsud if they thought they had a clear shot.

"That's when the CIA decided to move in," the network said the official said.

More at the link.

A follow up to yesterday's UK riots - 'Patriot' league v. 'Anti Fascists'

I've always worried about what would happen if/when the Islamists got together with the Liberal/ Progressives/Unions and formed an alliance.  Well, that appears to be happening in the UK - and it makes me concerned that we are on the cusp of it here in the good old US of A.   Read on, possums.  

According to the Guardian:  'Patriot league' plots more clashes with anti fascist activists.

The conflicts began after backers of the English Defence League, which describes itself as "a mixed race group of English people, from businessmen and women, to football hooligans", gathered outside Waterstone's bookshop in a planned demonstration against militant Islam.

Unite Against Fascism mounted a counter demonstration, telling its supporters that "everyone in the area should come along and show these thugs that their brand of vicious racism is not wanted in Birmingham or the West Midlands". Scores of police officers hemmed in the chanting protest group, which denies it is racist. There were violent skirmishes around the fringes of the demonstration.

From a bystander:  

It was chaos," said Hannah Taylor, 24, from London. "I had only come up to do a bit of shopping, and found myself in the middle of a full-blown riot. People with small children were running into shops for cover. The whole city centre just descended into some kind of war zone."

Photos appearing in the Daily Mail about the melee make it appear that the English Defence League were definitely the ones attacked by Unite Against Fascism and the video I posted yesterday from the BBC sure shows that's what happened as well, but check out how the Guardian describes it:

The move comes after their (English Defence League )supporters fought battles with Asian men backed by Unite Against Fascism activists in front of shocked shoppers at the Bull Ring shopping centre.

Here is additional video from the Sunday Mercury regarding the protests.  It clearly shows the chaos and confusion that ensued. 

Now, compare the attacks shown in the video above to the pictures from the Daily Mail found here.  Please note how in the video the faces of the clearly "Asian" instigators are all turned away from the camera, making it difficult to ascertain the assailant's identity or race.  I found that to be quite curious.  In addition, note how the Guardian slyly attempts to tar the English Defence League as the troublemakers and make it sound as if it was ALL their fault:

The move comes after their supporters fought battles with Asian men backed by Unite Against Fascism activists in front of shocked shoppers at the Bull Ring shopping centre.

This is after opening their article with:

Groups that say they are opposed to Islamist extremism are plotting fresh clashes with anti-fascist organisations this summer after violent battles between the two sides in Birmingham city centre led to 35 arrests over the weekend.

The English Defence League and Casuals United, two linked groups, are planning protests against what they see as militant Islam in Manchester, Luton, Harrow and other as yet secret locations, according to a website.

But they somehow neglect to tell you this:  Police ready for clashes at BNP festival.  (from Lancaster Unity - a site dedicated to "taking on the BNP and the other riff-raff on the far right."

Police are to conduct a huge security operation in a Derbyshire village this week amid fears of clashes at an annual British National Party gathering. Eighty coachloads of anti-Fascists (Looks like they are bussing them in - sound familiar?) are to protest over the Red, White and Blue festival in Denby, which is likely to attract thousands of supporters next weekend.

Up to a thousand police officers will be stationed in the village. There was violence last year and greater disruption is expected this time. It is the BNP’s first mass gathering since it won two European seats in June.

Lee Barron, a trade union organiser of the protest, said that a peaceful march was planned and that violent protesters should stay away.

Weyman Bennett, of the Unite Against Fascism group, said that the BNP rally would be a “magnet for Fascists and neo-Nazis from across Europe”. Mr Bennett said: “We want to make sure that there is opposition.”

About the upcoming festival, Lancaster Unity claims:

The BNP advertises its festival as a family event involving historical re-enactments, Morris dancing and a dog show. However, previously there have been complaints by local people about skinheads with vicious dogs descending on their village and playing tapes of Third Reich martial tunes.

Stay tuned, there's surely more to follow.

An update on Pfc Bowe Bergdahl.

12/7/09 Update upthread:  MIA in Afghanistan: Army PFC. Bowe R. Bergdahl - at last an update.

Original post:  You haven't heard much about Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl lately so I was glad to see this in this evening's UK Telegraph.

"It was the first news of Pfc Bowe R Bergdahl, 23, made public since a Taliban video was released on July 18.  (photo from video)

Maulvi Sangin, an insurgent commander for eastern Afghanistan, said the Taliban's governing body was awaiting a response to demands it made to the US for his return.

"The American's fate is in the hand of (leadership), which is waiting until a response from the Americans to its demands," Sangin told The Associated Press.

Sangin would not elaborate on the demands or say if any deadline had been given. A spokesman for Sangin had previously said the soldier would be killed unless the US stops air strikes in two areas of eastern Afghanistan."

The Taliban spokesman, speaking from Pakistan, refused to identify where Pfc. Bergdahl is being held and a spokesman for the U.S. Military had this to say:

"Lt Cmdr Christine Sidenstricker, a US military spokeswoman in Kabul, would not comment on the status of Bergdahl's case. "We do not want to do anything that compromises his safety or efforts to recover him," she said. "Recovery efforts remain one of the largest ongoing operations and we are doing everything we can to get him back safely.""

Amen.

 FYI - yesterday morning the Pocatello POW-MIA Awareness Rally Association teamed up to take part in the "Standing with Bowe motorcycle run.  God bless them.

The ride started in Chubbuck at the Ramada Inn and then headed west picking up riders along the way from Elko, Nevada and other cities around our area.

Hundreds of motorcyclists from throughout the state got together and rode to Hailey to show support for Bowe and his family.  Pocatello POW-MIA riders say the motorcycle run is important to let people know that Bowe is not forgotten.

They aren't the only bikers that have been riding for Bowe.   Dated July 22nd, 2009. (Warning: heartwarming video ahead.)

India: England's Badminton team threatened by Muslim terror group L-e-T

... and are forced to withdraw from the World Championship. 

From the Daily Mail.

England has withdrawn from the World Badminton Championships in India after a Muslim terrorist threat was made against the competition.

The eight-strong squad, including Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson, has pulled out of the Hyderabad tournament, which starts tomorrow, following reports of a threat by extremist group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Badminton England chief executive Adrian Christy said: 'This was an incredibly tough decision and one we didn't take lightly.

AQIM gets busy with first suicide attack in Mauritania.

From France 24 - video and more background at the link.

Yesterday, a Muslim suicide bomber attacked the French embassy.  Luckily, only two embassy employees suffered minor injuries.  The first Muslim suicide attack in the country's history occurred three days after their new president, Abdel Aziz (following his successful coup attempt) was inaugurated.  Aziz claims his administration will "fight terrorism".

And on June 23rd (while I was MIA)Christopher Leggett, an American citizen working in Mauritania was shot and killed by an Al Qaeda in the Maghreb member, but there's no such thing as a jihad according to our dear leader, m'kay?

Mr. Leggett ran a school for computer science and language and also helped people obtain small business loans.  From Cleveland TN, he leaves behind a loving wife, 4 children and grieving parents.  I am sorry for their loss.

(But I'm even sorrier that the Obama administration continues to dance around the reality of Islamic Terrorism.)

Somalia: US to double arms, ammunition aid to region

While I'm kind of happy to see the Obama administration taking this action.   (If only they could do something about that nasty Somali Sharia law.  Just saying.)   But can you imagine the hue and cry that would be raised by the moonbats if this had happened during the Bush administration?  Now that Obama is in charge?  There's nary a peep. 

From The Vancouver Sun:

The United States plans to double the amount of arms and ammunition it is providing Somalia's transitional government, a State Department official said Thursday, signalling deeper U. S. involvement in the conflict there.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the plan was to double supplies of arms and ammunition to 80 tonnes from 40.

The official also said Somalis were receiving military training in Djibouti, where the U. S. military has a base covering the Horn of Africa.

Earlier, in Nairobi, U. S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged "very strong support" for Somalia's transition federal government in a meeting with its president, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

Clinton also warned Eritrea to stop supporting Al-Shebab, an al-Qaida inspired Islamic militant group fighting the transitional government for control of the impoverished east African country.

Separately, U. S. President Barack Obama's chief counter-terrorism adviser expressed concern about the group's "tentacles" outside the region, including the United States, noting that some Somalis with U. S. citizenship have returned there to fight.

o rly?

More on Eritrea's role in the conflict...

As it boosts aid to Somalia's weak interim government to fight an al-Qaida-linked Islamist militia, the Obama administration is grasping for ways to cut off what it says is one of the militant group's main supply lines: the tiny Red Sea state of Eritrea.

The enigmatic and authorization nation has emerged as a principle player in the conflict in lawless Somalia, where the enfeebled government is struggling for survival against the extremist al-Shabab faction.

U.S., U.N. and other investigators say the Eritrean government is funneling money, weapons and other supplies to al-Shabab, which Western intelligence agencies regard as a growing regional and international threat.

More fun facts about Eritrea...

The Lost Boys of Minnesota: FBI raids travel agency on trail of Somali Jihadis

From VOA: 

(And I'm betting there's more to this story than 2 young men who wanted to travel to Somalia.)

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation searched the office of a Minnesota travel agency this week for clues to the disappearance of 20 Somali-American men believed to be fighting in Somalia's civil war.

Omar Jamal, spokesman for the Somali Justice Advocacy Center, says the owner of Amana Travel was approached several months ago by two young men who wanted to travel to Somalia. Jamal says the owner, Ali Mohamud, refused to book the tickets when he learned the young men's parents were unaware of their plans.
...

Amana Travel owner Mohamud is facing separate charges of fraud and felony theft, for allegedly taking money for tickets he never bought and pocketing the refunds of tickets he canceled.

Bingo!  Looks like the trail is leading back to Abubakar As Siddique Mosque - doesn't it always?

He said the woman, who knew the young men from her work at Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center, advised him to return their passports to them. He said he did — and never dealt with them again.

The young men, Mustafa Ali Salat and Mohamed Hassan, found a way to go to Somalia anyway later in 2008, family and community members say.  "Somehow, eventually, they ended up leaving," said Omar Jamal, executive director of Somali Justice Advocacy Center. "We don't know how that happened."

More on the fraud charges faced by the travel agency's owner:

Information about the search warrant at the travel agency emerged after Mohamud was arrested by local police in a separate matter. Mohamud is charged with theft by swindle. Authorities say he took money from about a dozen clients and didn't issue valid travel tickets or refund payments. He made his first court appearance Friday in Hennepin County and was released with certain conditions, including the surrender of his passport. No plea was entered.

Mohamud, who spoke to the AP after his release from jail, said he is confused and worried by the swindling allegations, saying some of the alleged victims have already been issued tickets.

Not so fast there, bucko.

Some customers reported that they didn't realize Amana had canceled their trips, or that the tickets were bogus, until they arrived at the airport ready to board their flights.

KAALtv.com video on the arrest can be found here.  It looks like Amana's owner has trouble with his landlord too - he's being sued for the non-payment of $5000 in eviction charges.   What a fine, upstanding citizen.

And according to KSTPtv.com Minneapolis police believe he may be involved in additional crimes:

"We believe he may have been involved in additional crimes," Minneapolis Police Lt. Brad Sporny told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.

Authorities want any businesses that may also be victims of Mohamud to call the Minneapolis Police Department at (612) 673-2941.

And in case you missed it (like I did when I was MIA):  FBI searches Rochester homes in Somali probe