Saudis Indict 991 al Qaeda Islamofascists

Saudi Arabia indicted 991 suspected al Qaeda militants for carrying out 30 attacks since 2003 according to a statement from Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz. The indictments aim to put an end to a chapter of violent opposition to the government run by the Al Saud ruling family in alliance with clerics: accused clerics include Nasser al-Fahd, Ali al-Khodeir, and Faris al-Shuweil. The Saudi policy has generally to re-educate the malcontents and release them.

Pair of Islamofascists Convicted in Denmark

Hammad Khuershid, a Danish citizen of Pakistani origin, and Abdoulghani Tokhi, an Afghan, were secretly filmed mixing the type of explosive used in the 2005 London bombings that killed 52 British commuters, and today, they have been convicted of preparing a terrorist attack. Danish agents filmed them conducting a small test blast with triacetone triperoxide, which was used by the suicide bombers in London. They pair were said to have had links to an al-Qaeda operative. Investigators found handwritten bomb-making manuals in the men's homes that prosecutors said Khuershid had copied at the pro-Taliban Red Mosque in Islamabad. They said he also had spent time in the Pakistani region of Waziristan, a militant stronghold near the Afghan border.

Two Countries: Two Policies on the Uighurs

China released a list of eight who threatened to disrupt the Beijing Olympics and are dedicated to achieving independence for its Western, Uighur region of Xinjiang. The eight, all members of China's mainly Muslim minority Uighurs, belonged to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which the United Nations listed in 2002 as a terrorist organisation with links to Al Qaeda.

On the other hand, the U.S. wants to make sure that the Islamofascists are assured of legal representation, in addition, they want to release them into the American homeland.

If the U.S. was thinking of the best case security scenario, they would send them back to China to foster terrorism covertly in China which is a win-win-win situation. The U.S. is happy, the Uighurs are happy, and China has more issues in the global economy to deal with. Wait, that's a win-win situation for the U.S. But that is exactly what the U.S. should be doing, creating and implementing intelligent security solutions that advance the interests and concerns of Americans.

Race a Bit Tighter

Obama holds a five-point advantage in a new CNN poll, down from eight points. The economy remains the top priority and Americans appear to favor Obama here.

American Held for Another Two Weeks in Pakistan

A Pakistani judge has extended the detention of a young American man of Pakistani descent for an additional two weeks. The man, identified by police as Judi Kenan, was arrested on October. Judi Kenan seems to be one of similar names, was arrested when he was travelling in a restricted zone and police found a knive on him once he was detained.

At least two young British men of Pakistani descent traveled to Pakistan before carrying out suicide bomb attacks on London's transport system in 2005.

Italy Says No More Troops

Tornado Graphic source: Wikipedia Commons

Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, stated that his country will not send any extra troops. Italy has recently sent four Tornado aircraft to reinforce defence and Italy currently has the fourth largest, 2,350 troops, contingent in Afghanistan. Frattini rejected the idea of dialogue with the Taliban.

Italy will not be joining the recent increased efforts from other multi-national forces, Britain and Germany.

There are almost 53,000 troops in Afghanistan from around 40 countries that make up NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Note of Publication: Swiderski, Mercury

Richard M. Swiderski, Quicksilver: A History of the Use, Lore, and Effects of Mercury has been published by McFarland & Company.

American Charged with Illegalities in Pakistan

Authorities in Pakistan have charged Juddi Kenan Muhammad, a US citizen, with illegal entry and illegal possession of a weapon.

Afghan Anti-War Element: Not a Contradiction in Terms

A series of peace jirgas, or assemblies, that are taking place in Afghanistan are advocating the end of the war between the Taliban and Afghan government. Bakhtar Aminzai of the National Peace Jirga of Afghanistan, an association of students, professors, lawyers, clerics, and others are pressuring the Afghan government to find a peaceful solution. Another group, a loya jirga, or grand assembly of Afghans, agrees according to Fatana Gilani, head of the Afghanistan Women's Council (AWC), a leading nongovernmental organization (NGO). A third group asks for an end of Afghanicide-–the killing of Afghanisti-–states Israir Ahmed Karimizai, a leader of Awakened Youth of Afghanistan, a prominent antiwar group. International NGOs receive a great deal of attention, but Afghan NGOs actually make up the bulk of the NGO presence in the country, says M. Hashim Mayar, deputy director of the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR), an umbrella organization of NGOs active in the country. ACBAR estimates that of the roughly 1,400 registered NGOs, nearly 1,100 are purely Afghan operations. Sheila Samimi, manager of the Afghan Women's Network (AWN), another prominent NGO that focuses on women's rights. AWN is composed of 63 small women-oriented NGOs that work around the country. In some instances, these groups will even critizise the Taliban.

Despite their organization, Afghan peace groups are also beset by weaknesses, states Habibullah Rafeh, a political analyst with the Afghanistan Academy of the Sciences. Their limitation is organizing along ethnic or tribal lines. The Awakened Youth and the National Peace Jirga, for instance, consist mostly of Pashtuns, the largest ethnic group, a rogue ethnic element.

Kagan on American Strategy After the Bush Doctrine

Robert Kagan, Senior Associate of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, is more helpful than Stephen Van Evera. Kagan challenges the common misconception that Bush represents a radical change from past American foreign policy. Truman, Kennedy, and Clinton, Democrats all, along with Bush, have maintained a consistent American policy since the end of World War II: a "preponderance of power," rather than a balance of power (Cf. Leffler, Melvyn P., National Security, The Truman Administration, and the Cold War, Stanford Universtiy Press, 1992).

For example, "regime change" characterized all presidential administrations of the past half-century, Kennedy in Cuba, and Clinton in Bosnia and Haiti. The Clinton administration bombed Iraq over the objection of UN Security Council permanent members, and went to war in Kosovo without UN authorization.

What has changed is the world. The world is a less secure place with the ongoing crisis that transnational rogue elements will deploy WMD; in addition, the fragility of the world's financial situation should be clear in the light of Wall Street's meltdown in the Fall of 20008. Previously, the world acquiesced with an American predominance as a security measure. That world is gone. The American Left will revel in an American fall from grace, and the unrealistic solution is only to offer a multi-polar Concert of the World (p. 49). The world no longer shares what the Concert of Europe could assume, a "common morality and shared principles of government" (p. 49). Kagan suggests a League of Democracies (p.50), to advance American interests in concert with similar nations, since deep-seated divisions already exist between intermational multi-polar powers. This League could exert and extend our influence to advance our security. A similar proposal was made during the McCain 2008 presidential campaign.

Powell Endorsement on Meet the Press

Colin Powell has caused a buzz as a guest on "Meet the Press." It seems like a johnny-come-lately announcement though if all he plans to do is to support Obama. If it was a dramatic announcement with genuine impact it would have to be a clear negative. At this point it is just piling on since Obama has already convinced anyone who interested enough to support him. Since he does not have the requisite preparation as president Powell's endorsement is much less interesting as a result.

Ron Paul on the State of the Union

U.S. Representative Ron Paul, who has been one of the few voices of sanity opposing the Democratic, Republican, and government's bailout plan, was interviewed on CNN's "American Morning."

Paul advocates the position that says the bailout's infusion of government money will lead to inflation, that our current monetary system is coming to end, and the market, not politicians, can best solve the economic crisis.

Paul objected to the government intervention in that the complex plan expanded to an inflationary inducing, 450 page, $850 billion, $5 trillion debt levied on the American taxpayer, and, he stated: "I don't think it's going to do any good whatsoever."

Paul believes the bailout is an "attack on the dollar system. . . . the end of a monetary system that we've had since 1971."

Paul stated: "It's an immoral system. You're asking the poor people to bail out the rich. You're asking the innocent people to bail out the guilty. You're asking people to just totally defy the Constitution because there's no place in the Constitution that says that we can do these things."

Paul makes an analogy to a drug addict receiving a fix, the junkie feels tood for a day or two but it is an addiction that does not work.

Neither presidential candidate is offering a solution. There are some good parts to both candidates financial programs, but ultimately, but voted with the Bush bailout. Paul said: "how can we trust anybody?" For the record, Paul voted against the bailout.

Paul was asked about the likely scenario in the election, Democrat control of Congress, both houses, and the White House. What are its implications?

Paul responded: "it's a disaster for the country and everybody because, even with all the shortcomings of John McCain, his strongest argument to be president is keep the Congress and the presidency in separate hands."

The only thing that Paul has going for his position is that the government should get out of the way, quit spending money, balance the budget, bring our troops home, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, while letting the American people keep the money they earn. This may not be enough.

Supremes Say Democrats Should Take Ohio

The Supreme Court backed Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner in an ongoing dispute over allegations of voter registration fraud. The justices in an unsigned opinion blocked a lower court order directing Brunner, a Democrat, to update the state's voter registration database after information provided by some newly registered voters did not match up with Social Security and driver registration numbers. The appeal follows a Tuesday ruling from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati that sided with the state GOP.

Brits Add to German Support in Afghanistan

General Sir David Richards, who will today be named as the British Army's new head, appeals for a dramatic, 30,000 troop increase in Afghanistan. Richards, advocates sending up to 5,000 more British troops to Afghanistan in addition to the 8,000 already there. The other 25,000 troops would be made up of U.S. reinforcements and newly trained Afghan soldiers. The British support for a surge follows the German pledge to send additional troops and the successful strategy in Iraq.

Germay to Increase Mission in Afghanistan

Germany's lower house of parliament approved an additional 1,000 soldiers and extended the mission's mandate by fourteen months. The extra troops raises the total number of German soldiers in Afghanistan to 4,500.

A majority of 442 lawmakers voted to support Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition to extend Berlin's participation in the NATO effort, which currently includes just over 50,000 soldiers. Ninety six delegates voted against the proposal and thirty two abstained.

During the last year, the security situation has deteriorated not only in the north where the German troops are, but all across Afghanistan. NATO and its allies would need to send further assistance if the situation is to improve. This move does seem to indicate though that the German government is supportive of the Coalition's efforts in Afghanistan. The international community has made it clear that securing the election will be one of the most important tasks in 2009.

Nonetheless, the morale of the troops is low because they feel that there is little support on the home front. The soldiers feel that the German population does not appreciate their work, which only makes headline news when attacks occur. "More appreciation of the efforts here would be welcome, after all soldiers here can die for Germany," an army spokesperson stated.

Grumpy Old Man Apologizes for Racist Comment

A grumpy old man apologized for his racist comment.

No, it was not that grumpy old man but Pennsylvania Representative John Murtha, an Obama supporter, who apologized for calling western Pennsylvania "a racist area." Now, it is not just one politician who makes condescending comments about Pennsylvania, yes, "that one," but this old codger. Obama insulted rural Pennsylvanians with his infamous "bitter" comments--about residents of Pennsylvania small towns, clinging to their guns and religion--which became a rallying cry for primary rival Hillary Clinton.

Murtha looks down on his constituents from his perch while "representin'" Pennsylvania's 12th District in the southwest corner of the state.

India: Regional Power, Anti-Islamofascist

Indian Ambassador to the UN, Nirupam Sen, told the Security Council that India has strongly advocated implementing robust measures within Afghanistan to fight the "barbarity" of resurgent Al-Qaeda and Taliban elements while expanding "coordinated politico-military efforts" beyond the country. This type of statement is too hot for an American politician to state but it may have been motivated by the Islamabad and India bombings. Sen added: "We need to go much further in realising the well established objective of degrading the ability of the Taliban to fight while simultaneously denying safe-havens, finances and armament." As most of the West misses the target on the actual situation, Sen made it clearer: "The escalating civilian death toll is truly distressing, but the ultimate responsibility for such casualties must be laid at the door of the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and those who support and empower them."

It is on the basis of sentiments such as this, from a nation as alarmed by the rising risk of Islamofascism as the U.S., that Americans can coordinate their efforts. India has moved closer to the U.S. in the last eight years.

Air Force Crashes on Cyberspace Issue

The Air Force announced that it has backed off even further from its plan to establish a cyberspace command as the military entity primarily responsible for securing and conducting offensive operations in cyberspace. Meanwhile, at least two dozen countries have active cyberspace units. Maybe we need to take this whole Internet thing a bit more seriously.

Obama Would Cut and Run Before Iraqi Wishes

Obama wants to withdraw combat troops by mid-2010, while the Iraqis themselves have agreed to a withdrawal by 2011. In an Obama administration, the early, publically stated withdrawal date will surely embolden more hostile acts against the U.S. We would just have to return if Obama has his way.

U.S. and Iraq Agree to 2011 Withdraw Date

Washington and Baghdad have reached an agreement that would require U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraq by 2011. The bilateral pact replaces a U.N. Security Council resolution enacted after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 and will give Iraq's elected government authority over the U.S. troop presence for the first time. Iraq will have the right to prosecute U.S. soldiers for serious crimes under certain circumstances. The final draft of the agreement had been agreed by both sides and would require U.S. troops to leave by the end of 2011, unless Iraq asks them to stay longer. For troops to stay longer, a new pact would need to be agreed. Obama wants to withdraw combat troops by mid-2010, while Republican John McCain opposes deadlines. The pact will not require approval by the U.S. Congress.