Sadr's Nadir

With Sadr's nadir, the line that there is a popular front against a Coalition occupation is wearing thin. If there really were a popular Shi'ite movement, Sadr would be it. He, nor no one else, is. The Western media bias against U.S. efforts is unmistakable. They do no like to report the good news that the U.S. military is clearing Iraq of its derelict elements.

Note on Dean Hamer, The God Gene

In Dean Hamer's The God Gene he defines the God gene. He states in an interview:

"The God gene refers to the idea that human spirituality has an innate genetic component to it. It doesn’t mean that there’s one gene that makes people believe in God, but it refers to the fact that humans inherit a predisposition to be spiritual--to reach out and look for a higher being."

The book is an easy and quick read. It is mostly summary of recent scientific work. He takes issue with Daniel Dennett but a more substantial examination would be necessary to really glean anything of value from the disagreement.

Sadr's Rogues eliminated.

As rogue elements are eliminated, and Iraqi forces are growing stronger, the war appears to be what Petraeus describes, with substantial progress but coupled with a possibility of sliding backwards at any time. The Coalition is eliminating far more than they are losing.

13 قتلت رجل مسلّح كان في بغداد في يوم السّبت.

المتأخّر كان يتنازع في بغداد شرقيّ [سدر] مدينة ضاحية, قلعة المؤيّد [موقتدا] [سدر].

في يوم الجمعة, [ريد] قتلت [أل-نوري], قريبة ومفتاح مساعد من الرجل دين, كان برجل مسلّح في المدينة [نجف].

Iraqi Army Test

The latest round of fighting involving the Iraqi Army is a test of their strength and endurance. The test will be if they hold. No one is seriously questioning whether the Coalition can do the job, regardless of the sniping and Western press bias against American efforts.

For example, from the B-Roll of Coalition forces at the Multi-National Division comes news from a Baghdad operation in which an unmanned aerial vehicle observed a large group of criminals with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and a mortar tube in northeast Baghdad at approximately 9:30 p.m. April 10. The UAV fired a Hellfire missile, killing six heavily armed criminals.

Another Islamic Bomb Plot Thwarted by China Olympians

As finally we see that it is not only the U.S. that has major issues with Islamic terrorism, China says that thirty five were arrested in an Olympics bomb plot. The plan was to attack Beijing, Shanghai, and other Olympic locations with poisonous gas and explosives. Authorities arrested the suspects during a 10-day series of raids. The raids were in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. The Xinjiang autonomous region in northwestern China is home to about 19 million people, most of them Muslims. The terrorists planned to target hotels in Beijing and Shanghai that were frequented by foreigners, government buildings, and military bases. In a previous January raid, ten people were arrested in connection with another plot targeting the Games. China stated that both plots are linked to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement Organization, a terrorist group based outside China which sent its leader Aji Mai Mai Ti to China late last year "to accelerate the preparation on terrorism activities" targeting the Beijing Games.

Another Bad Day for Insurgents, Sadr Calls Off March

The clashes have continued against the Mahdi Army

which I think is a good thing because it keeps the pressure on Sadr. The pressure may be having an effect since Sadr called off the massive demonstration that he had proposed.

"I Shoulda' Been a Contendah"

Graphic source: HP

I'd have to get my hands on one to really thrash it around but a contender for the education market in a mini-PC would have to be the latest offering from HP. The Mini-Note will have to compete with the Eee PC which is the current niche leader. The Mini-Note is heavier than the Eee PC, and it has less battery life, and is marginally more expensive, but it does offer a much wider range of options and a large, well-appointed screen.

Just So You Know

Earlier in the year--15 January 2008--Abdul Hameed Bakier outlined (Volume 5, Issue 2) for the Jamestown Foundation how a solitary terrorist could be activated in the U.S. In an article entitled: "The `Lone Wolf' and al-Qaeda Sleeper Cells in the United States," he was quite clear. An individual with the pseudonym "Al-Muhajr" suggests the following procedure to guide a sleeper on the necessary skills to be successful.

• The sleeper should have excellent command of the local language, accent and slang.
• The sleeper’s appearance must not reveal their Arab or Islamic origins. To pretend to be of Hispanic extraction is preferable; therefore sleepers should learn Spanish and use Hispanic aliases.
• The sleeper must carry false identity documents, which are easily obtained in the United States. False identities must be used when buying munitions, shotguns or night vision equipment, etc. from licensed Wal-Mart stores or other shopping centers.
• Sleepers must choose their place of residence very carefully. The preferred choice of residence is in multicultural neighborhoods while eschewing areas frequented by drug dealers to avoid scrutiny from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
• The sleeper should learn martial arts and keep fit for personal protection.
• The sleeper must become highly literate in computers and the internet.
• The sleeper should become an expert in surveillance, counter-surveillance and observation.
• The sleeper should train with sniper rifles, especially U.S.-made weapons that are easily obtainable within the country. Al-Muhajr recommends five different types of U.S.-made rifles.
• The sleeper should train with assault pistols with silencers, the weapon of choice for assassinations.
• The sleeper should learn to prepare explosive belts and explosive charges big enough to booby-trap a small car.

I think the summary is important to summarize here and to expand the awareness for the general public.

Latest Order of Battle: Iraq

The latest Iraqi Order of Battle has been released. In the MoD (Ministry of Defense) the Iraqi Army is putting 118,000 Personnel a year through basic training (18,830 per eight-week cycle), and is expanding the training to 130,000 men a year. The MoI (Ministry of the Interior) is growing in numbers and professionalism. The forces could approach a strength of 500,000, requiring a robust logistical and infrastructure building program to support this growth. MoI training is planned to grow to 117,000 per year by mid-2009. It is at 73,000 as of February. The Facilities Protection Service (FPS) graduated its first class of 103 students at Baghdad Police College under a new program to provide professional development training for all FPS guards in Iraq. The FPS is a professional guard force with approximately 107,787 guards that protect the Iraqi government's critical facilities and its infrastructure. Approximately 89,000 guards will eventually become part of the Ministry of Interior and undergo this same training. Focus on expansion of the Iraqi National Police (INP) continues to have priority in MoI. The INP is authorized at 2,500 personnel, with 721 currently assigned. Training of the Department of Border Enforcement (DBE) continues to be deferred while their training facilities are used for INP. Current force remains at adding forts to a planned total of 712.

Slow Progress Intelligence Estimates

A new National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq cites significant security improvements and progress toward healing sectarian political strife. The classified document provides a more upbeat analysis of conditions in Iraq than the last major assessment by United States spy agencies. The N.I.E. update confirmed that the surge strategy the president announced in January of last year is working. No one will be foolish enough to say the work is done, but progress has obviously been made. The document was described by American officials on both sides of the Iraq debate, including officials who favor rapid withdrawals of American troops. National Intelligence Estimates represent a consensus of America’s 16 intelligence agencies. Numerous leading Democrats are, surprisingly, asking for the report to be declassified in order for Americans to be aware and clear as the Presidential elections are looming.

Patrolling Sadr City

In the initial conflict, an inexperienced Iraqi Army unit, ordered in by an overeager Maliki, clashed with experienced Mahdi Army troops in Sadr City but the Iraqis held their own. Today, fighting between the Coalition and Mahdi Army fighters broke out. A U.S. Army helicopter fired a Hellfire missile which killed nine "criminals" in Sadr City. Troops moved in with Bradleys, Abrams Tanks, as well as Strykers." An air weapons team [AWT] fired a Hellfire missile and killed three criminals after they were observed firing rocket-propelled grenades at the Iraqi Army soldiers; thereafter, the team identified four more criminals fleeing the scene and attempting to hide weapons in a vehicle. The AWT fired a missile and destroyed the vehicle and killed the six criminals. No US or Iraqi Army casualties were reported.

China's No Blood for Oil

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil confirms that the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) will develop the Ahdab oil field. It did not take the world's fastest growing economy to move into Iraq for the oil. I wonder if China will become a terrorist target. In fact until now, the deal could not be implemented due to U.N. trade sanctions which have been lifted in the aftermath of the 2003 U.S. liberation. In the deal, China would recoup its $1.2 billion investment through a production sharing agreement. The Chinese estimate that the field could produce an average of 115,000 barrels a day over more than 20 years. Its proven reserves are estimated at 1.4 billion barrels.

Foxy Camels

Graphic source: BBC.

Camel, camel, who is the foxiest camel in the land? The BBC reported that the UAE is staging its sixth camel beauty contest. No, I am not making this story up. In a tape released by the BBC the camels were judged somehow, I saw no women in public on the tape. The story related that ten thousand camels fluttered their long eyelashes. The contest was held in Abu Dhabi and is one of the richest and biggest events of its kind, with more than $9m (£4.5m; 5.8m euros) and 100 cars in prizes up for grabs. The organisers are said to hope that the contest will remind Emiratis of traditional desert values. Hmmm, what values would that be exactly?

The ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, has sponsored the event because he wants Emiratis to help preserve their national identity through the respect of an animal central to Arab culture. Well, ok then.

Traditionally, the camels were the main measurement of wealth in the region, along with horses and falcons. Enjoy.

Beatles Update

The tracks blogged about before are also supposed to include Maurice Williams' "Do You Believe," though Billboard was unable to verify their existence, "Twist and Shout," "I Saw Her Standing There," "Hippy Hippy Shake," "A Taste of Honey," "Money," and "Ask Me Why," which can be heard in other recorded Beatles performances at the Star Club. Steve Marinucci, who runs Abbeyrd's Beatles Page, only "A Taste of Honey" is unheard, and the "Lovesick Blues" cover isn't even by the Beatles at all. As for the sound quality, Marinucci says they are no better than earlier "Star Club" releases, which are decidedly lo-fi. The saga continues.

Profiling Killers

Graphic source: AP Photo

In this undated combination handout photo issued, Thursday, April 3, 2008 by the Metropolitan Police, the eight men on trial accused of planning to bomb airliners bound for the United States and Canada are seen, from the left, top row, Tanvir Hussain, Assad Sarwar, Umar Islam, aka Brian Young, Waheed Zaman and from the left, bottom row, Mohammed Gulzar, Arafat Waheed Khan, Ibrahim Savant and Abdul Ali, aka Ahmed Ali Khan. Eight men are accused of conspiracy to murder and a charge of planning to smuggle components for improvised explosive devices on board airplanes. Both charges carry maximum sentences of life imprisonment. The trial was due to begin on Thursday, with prosecutors outlining their case, a judge said. (AP Photo/Metropolitan Police, HO)

Profiling to recognize those who planned to harm others is not a bad idea; here are the miscreants who planned to blow up planes to kill an estimated 1,5000 people.

A Starr Is Born: Beatles Release Held Up

Graphic source: Live At The Star Club, back cover, Lingasong, Catalogue No. LNL 1, Release date 2nd May 1977.

Bootleg recordings, supposedly the first time Ringo Starr performed with the Beatles at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, will not be released until the case of ownership is resolved. A federal judge approved the agreement between Apple Corps Ltd., the London-based group formed by the Beatles, and Miami Lakes-based Fuego Entertainment, Inc. Allegedly, these are recordings the band made in 1962. Eight unreleased tracks are said to be among the recordings, including Paul McCartney singing Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues" and McCartney and John Lennon singing "Ask Me Why."

I'm not sure where "Lovesick Blues" is from as it is not listed as a track on any live performance at the Star Club, c. 21-31 December 1962 in Richie Unterberger's The Unreleased Beatles Music and Film. However, "Ask Me Why" is included at that time although the tune is available on the German and the U.S. 1977 LP versions of The Beatles Live! At the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, 1962 recording. "Ask" is included which became only their second B-side original and released in 1963.

World Bank States Obvious

World Bank president Robert Zoellick noted that the rising economies of China and India, along with other nations will act as alternative growth poles for the global economy. Well, duh. Zoellick’s comments coincide as U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben S Bernanke acknowledged for the first time that the US economy may be in a recession. The timing couldn't be worse. Where the fortunes of nations decline significantly are when developing nations are on the rise. Its therefore not so much that the U.S. economy has slowed, it has, but the slowdown coincides with dramatic emerging markets. Globalisation characterizes the economy of China, India, and Brazil in particular. In 1993, there were skepticism in regards to both China’s and India’s prospects however by 1998, the world looked to China to maintain currency stability amidst the turmoil of East Asia. Zoellick stated that 33 countries face potential social unrest because of the steep hike in food and energy prices.

Tactical Victory for Iraqi Security

I believe its a mistake to `tag and release' which is happening to some Mahdi fighters; however, three days after Muqtada al Sadr ordered the Mahdi Army to withdraw from the fighting in Baghdad and the Shia South, the Maliki government continued the fight. The "criminal elements" are being targeted just as the U.S. military has done. Simultaneously, the Iraqi security forces are continuing operations in Basrah. At least some military analysts are saying the Iraqis were defeated by the Sadr thugs but the good news is that they were able to logistically carry out the most sophisticated military offensive since the Saddam era, and hold their own against combat troops for the first time.

Qatar Christian?

In a non-nondescript building in Doha, Qatar's first church Our Lady of the Rosary, just opened only two weeks ago which is the first physical appearance of Christianity in that Middle Eastern country. So as not to offend Muslim sensibilities, no cross or visible sign exists to earmark the building as a Catholic church. The church does feature a metal detector though and police maintain a presence in the building.

The Catholic Church is now in negotiations to open a church in Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world where churches are not allowed.

An estimated 150,000 Christians live amongst the Muslim population of 750,000 in Qatar. The Christians are almost all foreigners from around 70 countries but the majority are from the Philippines, India, and Nigeria.

In addition to the Vatican, there was pressure from Washington to convince the Qatar emir that opening a church would promote the international image of the country.

Iraq Begins to Stand on its Own Two Feet

A summary of the past week in Iraq implies that the Iraqi government, and the performance of Iraqi security forces is improved. Notably, Salah Hassan, a senior member in Ansar al-Sunna, Iraq's Islamic state, surrendered in Kirkuk. Importantly, Coalition forces, mostly Iraqi, cleared previously held Mahdi areas--Al-Najibiyah, Al-Makkal, Al-Ashhar, Al-Zubair and Qarmat Ali. In sum, 571 Mahdis were killed, 881 were wounded, 490 were captured, and 30 surrendered in 7 days. To reach this point, representatives from Maliki's Dawa party and the Badr Organization traveled to Qom, Iran to lobby the Qods Force to get Sadr to cease fighting. In Iran, the representatives met Brigadier General Qassem Suleimani, commander of Qods, and the foreign special operations branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps.

I could still see the situation quickly turn into a Lebanon type of situation but for the first time Iraqi security forces really stood toe-to-toe with Mahdi and held their own.