News from the Long War, Thread 4

Various | 4/15/07 | Knitting a Conundrum and Others

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Thread 4



Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, our nation has fought a global war against violent extremists who use terrorism as their weapon of choice, and who seek to destroy our free way of life. Our enemies seek weapons of mass destruction and, if they are successful, will likely attempt to use them in their conflict with free people everywhere. Currently, the struggle is centered in Iraq and Afghanistan, but we will need to be prepared and arranged to successfully defend our nation and its interests around the globe for years to come. DOD

Our enemies include all the Muslims who dream of knocking Western Civilization off its perch atop humanity’s dung heap. Islam is fractured into any number of sects, tribes and ethnic groups, but the dream of destroying us cuts across all the fault lines. Islamic terrorists are merely the tip of a very large spear.

J. Peter Mulhern, the American Thinker, September 18

The determination behind that fight is real, the hatred is real, and the excuses for doing this are very real in the minds of those who have decided to walk that path. We can respond in two ways: Try to ignore or negotiate with people who do not want to negotiate in good faith, because what they want is our destruction, or to stand up against the darkness of those who see all of us, our way of life, our culture and our aspirations as something worth eliminating.

Either: "And God willing, with the force of God behind it, we shall soon experience a world without the United States and Zionism," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Or: "With vigilance, determination, courage, we will defeat the enemies of freedom, and we will leave behind a more peaceful world for our children and our grandchildren." GW Bush.

Here's where I will post news and info about the Long War. Let me know if you're interested.

Thread 1

Thread 2

Thread 3

[Bahbah]

Good morning, Uncle Ike and all. Here is some nice news.

Al Qaeda: Not Out, But Down

Strategy Page has some hopeful observations on the state of al Qaeda today:

Al Qaeda continues to take a beating, but you can ignite a media firestorm just saying that. ***
Al Qaeda operations continue to decline, as the number of al Qaeda members, and leaders killed or captured, goes up. *** American and Pakistani attacks (usually with missiles or smart bombs) along the Afghan border in the last two years have killed an increasing number of foreign fighters.

But that’s not what worries al Qaeda, it’s the increasing amount of accurate information the counter-terror forces are getting. No one is talking, but al Qaeda chatter claims that either the Americans have some wondrous new bit of technology, or Yankee money has corrupted more al Qaeda members to give up information. The Taliban is suffering the same kind of casualties, and coming up with the same paranoid theories. ***

Al Qaeda is eagerly recruiting other Islamic terrorist organizations, usually ones that have recently taken a big beating in their home country, to become part of al Qaeda. That’s about the only growth al Qaeda is experiencing. ***

Al Qaeda is having some success in the Western media, and among Moslems living in Europe. But those expatriate Moslems are handicapped by many of their brethren who are not enthusiastic about Islamic terrorism. The police get tips, make arrests, and al Qaeda losses a few more true believers. Al Qaeda is desperate for another highly visible attack in the West. Many such operations are apparently being planned, but by amateurs who can get no help from al Qaeda experts. Most of al Qaedas traveling experts are dead or in prison. Inspiring amateurs to attempt poorly planned attacks, like the recent ones in Britain, only discourage recruits. ***

That sounds right to me. The whole picture will likely change, however, if al Qaeda succeeds in driving the U.S. out of Iraq.

Link: http://powerlineblog.com/archives/018105.php

[Uncle Ike]

” Disclaimer: My comments should not be misconstrued “

The possibility of such a misconstruction never even entered my mind.... (or whatever passes for one, these days)

[Uncle Ike]

” Al Qaeda: Not Out, But Down “

More accurately, given the recent events in London and Glasgow, it would appear that AQ has indeed morphed from a central-command-and-control organization to a web-based enterpreneurial conglomerate.

I don’t find this comforting.....

Good morning, Bahbah......

[Bahbah]

I don’t find this comforting.....

With good reason.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

hmmmmm

Ahmanutjob has brought in Hezbola and Iran’s elite Quds? Just to kill 5 US soldiers?

Whats the problem, running low on local Iraqi skilled militants?

Could Harry Reid et al be wrong and we ARE winning?

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

"Al Qaeda is having some success in the Western media, and among Moslems living in Europe. But those expatriate Moslems are handicapped by many of their brethren who are not enthusiastic about Islamic terrorism."

Also hindering their efforts is the fact that Western Media is morphing to a web based vehicle for disseminating information and not relying on broadcast media.

That is also encouraging, and yeah, I know, its the masses they are after not the smart ones - yet.

[Bahbah]

I am listening to Gen. Petraeus talking to Bill Bennett. He is saying that they tangled with a fairly sizable al-Qaeda force in Anbar yesterday.

Has anyone seen anything about that?

[Uncle Ike]

” Has anyone seen anything about that? “

I’m watching/listening to Fluff&Folly, and watching the FR main board....

So, of course not......

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

Nope, not a thing.

[Uncle Ike]

Missing U.S. Diplomat Found Dead In Cyprus
allheadlinenews.com ^ | Monday, July 02, 2007 | Komfie Manalo

Posted on 07/02/2007 6:35:03 AM CDT by rawhide

Nicosia, Cyprus (AHN) - A senior U.S. envoy in Cyprus who had been missing since Thursday has been found dead in a remote part of the Mediterranean island.

Tom Mooney, a U.S. defense attaché and army attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus was reported missing on Thursday. A search on Mooney led authorities to a remote area in Cyprus where they found his lifeless body. He has the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

A local radio station said authorities found the U.S. diplomat near the capital Nicosia. Although police have yet to establish the cause of his death.

Cyprus is one of the safest countries in Europe with the lowest crime rates. Attacks on foreign diplomat are rare in the region.

The 45-year-old U.S. official was last seen leaving the U.S. embassy in his Chevrolet Saloon car Thursday.

On Sunday, the U.S. embassy sought the assistance of Cyprus authorities to locate Mooney. The embassy posted “important announcement” on its Web site, saying “one of our embassy employees, Thomas Mooney, has not been in touch with the embassy for more than 48 hours.”

The appeal adds, “anyone with information which might be helpful in locating him should contact the local police station.”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1859519/posts
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This might not be good.......

[Bahbah]

Well, I can’t find anything about the action in Anbar, but ran across this on my good (or at least not bad) news hunt.

IDF troops kill Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade commander in W. Bank

By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service

Israel Defense Forces troops killed an Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade commander in a pre-dawn gunbattle in the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin early Monday.

Also Monday, defense establishment sources announced that the Shin Bet security service had recently arrested 11 Hamas militants in East Jerusalem.

25-year-old Mohammed Abu al-Heija, a leader of the Fatah-affiliated Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades in the Jenin refugee camp was also the deputy of Zakariya Zubeidi, one of the top commanders of the Fatah-linked armed group.

The incident took place at about 2:00 A.M. in the camp, a longtime focus of Palestinian militancy.

The IDF said soldiers carrying out operations in the camp had come under small-arms fire, and that a bomb was thrown at them. “He had an M-16 (assault rifle) with a telescopic sight,” an IDF spokeswoman said of the dead man. “During the incident, an explosive charge was thrown and the Israeli force came under fire.”

Al-Heija was considered a close associate of Zubeidi, perhaps the most high-profile wanted Palestinian commander in the West Bank.

Across the West Bank Sunday night, a total of six wanted Palestinians were arrested, among them members of Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and Fatah.

Link: http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/877299.html

[Uncle Ike]

A little sketchy to tell whether or not it falls into your “good news” criteria — but, for what it’s worth....

Hamas makes arrest in reporter’s case
Associated Press ^ | 7/2/07 | Abraham Barzak

Posted on 07/02/2007 7:25:44 AM CDT by pubjohn47

Hamas has demanded that the Army of Islam, led by a violent Gaza clan, free Johnston, who was kidnapped on a Gaza City street on March 12

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1859536/posts

[Bahbah]

Hard to know which column that one should go in.

[Uncle Ike]

mail.......

[Bahbah]

brb

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

Present, but Work ‘n Lurk mode.

.....re action in Anbar: If the DBM says nothing, the troops kicked butt. If they start wailing about civilian casualties, the troops not only kicked butt, but bagged high level bad guys in the bargain.

Perfect freakin’ negative barometer sez I......

[Uncle Ike]

” Perfect freakin’ negative barometer sez I...... “

Pretty darn good read of the situation, sez I......

[Uncle Ike]

Here’s the awaited link b-twixt London and our theatre-of-interest...

Times of India: Jordanian doc involved in UK bombing plots
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Jordanian_doc_involved_in_UK_bombing_plots/articleshow/2167391.cm | 2 Jul, 2007 l 1756 hrs ISTlAFP | Times of India

Posted on 07/02/2007 8:08:53 AM CDT by Brian_Baldwin

Times of India: Jordanian doc involved in UK bombing plots

2 July 2007 AMMAN: One of the suspects arrested in Britain by police investigating three failed car bombings is a Jordanian surgeon called Mohammed Jamil Abdelkader Asha, officials in Jordan said on Monday.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said his wife had also been arrested.

Asha is of Palestinian origin and carries a Jordanian passport, they said. He obtained his medical degree in Jordan.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1859550/posts

[Bahbah]

If you are seeking medical assistance and your doctor’s first name is Mohammed, move on.

[Uncle Ike]

” If you are seeking medical assistance and your doctor’s first name is Mohammed, move on “

Haven’t been to a VA Medical facility lately, have you??

;~)