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Muammar Gaddafi’s Family

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muammar gaddafi family tree

above:  Muammar Gaddafi’s lineage along with their current status.

Muammar Gaddafi has ten children all in all.  Eight of them are his biological off-springs and the other two are the adopted ones.  They had 8 sons and 2 daughters.

  • Muhammad Gaddafi: He is the eldest son of Gaddafi who then became the leader of the General Post, Telecom Company, and the Olympic Committee of the country of Libya.  He is also known for his ability to operated cellphones along with satellite communications from country to country.
  • Saïf al-Islam Gaddafi:  He is Gaddafi’s son next to Muhammad.  He finished a western education and earned his doctorate degree from the London School of Economics.
  • Ayesha Gaddafi: She is a daughter of Muammar and she’s already a trained lawyer.  Last 2004, Ayesha Gaddafi worked collaboratively with Saddam Hussein’s defense team.
  • Hannibal Gaddafi: He is a former worker in an oil industry which in a while, he had some legal issues.  During the year 2005, in Paris, he was blamed to do the act of beating up a pregnant girlfriend and in 3 years after that incident, in Geneva, he was taken into custody for committing an assault towards his 2 helpers.
  • Khamis Gaddafi: He became a Police officer and was believed to be in charge of the Benghazi’s strong repression on the latest objections.
  • Mutassim Gaddafi: Mutassim, Gadaffi’s fourth son, is now the National Security Advisor and also own Libyan Army unit commander.
  • Saïf al-Arab Gaddafi:  He has been a former student of Munich and had been issued in 2008 Telegraph articles for having been confiscated with his car by the German police due to very loud and noisy exhaust.
  • Milad Abuztaia Gaddafi: He is an adopted son and a nephew of Gaddafi.  He has been a hero of the life of Gaddafi during the US bombing in their compound.
  • Saadi Gaddafi: He is the leader of the Libyan Football Federation and is now a producer of the film industry.
  • Hannah Gaddafi:  Gaddafi’s adopted daughter.  She was 15 years old back in 1986 when she was killed during the US bombing of their compound.

Muammar Gaddafi killed

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muammar gaddafi dead body

above:  Gaddafi’s dead body was stored in a refrigerator at Misrata laid down in a cheap mattress

The longest-ruling Arab leader and the fourth longest-ruling non-royal leader since 1900, Muammar Gaddafi was killed last October 20, 2011 in his own hometown on the Mediterranean coast of Sirte, in the country of Libya after a 42 year long reign as an autocratic leader.   He has been an authoritarian ruler of his own country and he has been known for his brutality and madness even towards his people.

It was believed that what happened to him is due to a rebel cause.  Gaddafi has been shot on his head and the other shot to his chest and was killed out of rage because of his violence.  He has been captured by the angry and aggressive fighters who once have been called as rats by Muammar Gaddafi.

Going through the details of his death, he still suffered the madness of the people who were formerly part of his victims of his cruelty.  Upon struggling, with almost a half body full of blood and very much wounded, he was displayed through dragging him in a parade along the streets of Sirte.  His corpse was then placed in a walk-in refrigerator at a shopping mall in Misrata as a symbol of pride by showing to all that Muammar Gaddafi has already died.

Now, after Muammar Gaddafi has passed away, confusion reigns at Libya at present since his death is lack of clarity.  Also, his burial has been delayed by the Libya’s National Transitional Council to give enough time for the investigators to trace his death and to give ample time for the council to choose an appropriate secret site for his burial as well.  Nevertheless, a big blast announcement is to be made with regards to the liberation of the country tomorrow in Benghazi by Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the chairman of the Libya’s National Transitional Council.

 

WHO IS MUAMMAR GADDAFI?

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muammar gaddafi female body guard

above:  Muammar Gaddafi together with his all-virgins female body guards and Ukraine`s President Viktor Yushchenko during the welcome ceremony at Libya

Muammar Gaddafi was born in a tent in Sirte which was only an irrelevant village to a tribe of herders.  Later on with his life as he became the ruler of Libya, his own country, he then made Sirte, his birthplace, as the second most extensive and largest city in the country.  He grew up to be an authoritarian person.  One who possesses the ability to overpower others, brutality, an individual who is strict and demanding when it comes to obedience, and a person who acquires a tyrannical attitude.

Apart from all of his achievements of being a colonel leader in Libya, showing great authority upon his people, few are still laughing at him.  Laughing but not in a sense of overtly criticizing him but instead, some laughs at his weird and strange abilities and characteristics.  Some of these are:

  • It was when Muammar Gaddafi was captured by a man wearing a Yankees cap.  A revolutionary military man known to be so dignified plus knowing that he’s in chase of a wanted dictator, wore a clothing like frat guys do, would really get you to wonder and laugh.

  • Another weird moment on the life of Muammar Gaddafi was about his obsession towards Condoleezza Rice, ex-US Secretary of the United States of America.  News really got into them and published their story in details.  The weird thing started to happen when Gaddafi invited Condoleezza Rice, whom she called his “African Princess” to visit and have dinner at his place, a tent actually where he lived.  He even composed a song for her and saved pictures of his princess in a videotape.  That’s something to be shocked about when talking about his madness.
  • A violent and a skeptical man like Muammar Gaddafi surrounds himself with dozens of female bodyguards and team of nurses.  His female bodyguards were into camouflage fatigues, with red nail polish and using high-heeled sandals, while carrying with them their submachine guns and nurses were also in heavy make-up. Well, that’s something to ponder about.  According to him, he is just showing off his love for women and his belief in female emancipation.

 

 

 

Taliban Moves to Retake Former Stronghold

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Taliban Army

Above: Taliban in Kandahar

The Taliban is on the offensive once more. After a swift assault of the villages of Arghandab District, they have now setup bases in and around the area. They started by destroying bridges and restricting access of tanks and other army vehicles into the region. Then they planted mines to further prevent land assault. Arghandab is in the southern part of Afghanistan, found in the Kandahar Province. The Arghandab region is found just 10 miles to the northwest of Kandahar City – the second largest city in the whole country.

A provincial council member saw how it happened. He said the militants were destroying bridges and planting mines in hopes of protecting themselves against NATO force and Afghan Army attacks.

With the Taliban now controlling Arghandab, they could just as easily takeover Kandahar – their former stronghold.

True or False?

In Arghandab

Above: The coalition set up checkpoints around the district; here they check the vehicles of those fleeing Arghandab after the Taliban assault

These reports came from Afghanistan’s own Ministry of Defense. They said on Tuesday that the militants’ number were close to 400; including foreign terrorists. Just last week, the Taliban assaulted the Kandahar prison – freeing almost the same number of militants.

Ruins of Kandahar Prison

Above: This is what the Kandahar prison wall looked like after the Taliban attack

NATO disputed the supposed takeover – saying that their troops in the area saw no signs of any kind of Taliban attack. NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, led by United States troops, said they sent soldiers into the district and they did not meet any form of resistance.

“Recent reports of militant control in the area appear to be unfounded,” their issued statement said. Their spokesman, Captain Christopher Colster said that their soldiers patrolled for almost five hours on the west side of the Arghandab River – the exact location where the Afghan Ministry of Defense said the Taliban initially attacked. The soldiers didn’t make any contact with militants and said there were no signs of fleeing civilians either.

“In talking to our folks they do not have any imminent concern that Kandahar is about to fall to the Taliban,” said United States Department of Defense press secretary Geoff Morrell from Washington.

Nonetheless, hundreds of families, most of which are farmers, fled the district. At the same time the Afghan army soldiers rushed in. They were the ones who told the people to flee. They fear that a major battle will be coming soon. While a NATO aircraft dropped leaflets from above Arghandab, informing the residents to stay in their homes: “Keep your families safe. When there is fighting near your home, stay inside” the leaflet said.

Nobody wanted to take chances. More than 700 families of almost 4,000 people fled the district. An Afghan police officer reported that the families moved through the east side of the Arghandab River. While on the west side, the Taliban army was already in control of their villages.

“Last night the people were afraid, and families on tractors, trucks and taxis fled the area,” said the officer. “Small bridges inside the villages have been destroyed.”

“[Taliban] told us to leave the area within 24 hours because they want to fight foreign and Afghan troops,” said one farmer. “But within a week we should be harvesting, and we were expecting a good one. Now with this fighting we are deeply worried – the grapes are the only source of income we have.”

Ever since being driven out of their bases, the Taliban have been eyeing Arghandab – it will provide the perfect location to strike back; with good hiding positions and the proximity to the big city.

“From a strategic military point of view, Arghandab is a very good place for the Taliban,” said the council member. “Arghandab is close to Kandahar city, allowing the Taliban to launch ambushes and attacks more easily than any other place in the province. Secondly, it’s covered with trees and gardens – they can easily hide from air strikes.”

This was confirmed by a telephone conversation between the Taliban and the Associated Press:

“We want to fight until the death,” said Taliban commander Mullah Ahmedullah. “We’ve occupied most of the area and it’s a good place for fighting. Now we are waiting for the NATO and Afghan forces.”

This was the latest display of strength by the Taliban since their ousting in 2001… and despite a record number of United States and NATO troops in the country. After pleading for additional troops over the last year, the coalition now has 65,000 soldiers all over the country. Apparently, this is not enough.

The commander further confirmed the earlier reported number; 400 Taliban insurgents moved into the district and that most of them were from the earlier prison break. He also confirmed to the AP reporter that Kandahar is the main target; it is still regarded as their main stronghold.

They Can’t Handle the Truth

“We’re coming off of two difficult events in Kandahar province – the break-in to the prison and the Arghandab fighting,” said United States Ambassador to Kabul William Wood from Washington – confirming the reality of the Taliban attack.

But he is not convinced of a takeover: “I would like to point out that six months ago, there was also fighting in Arghandab and there was lots of headlines then that said Arghandab is about to fall and that wasn’t right then and it’s not going to be right now.”

He knows that the Taliban does not have the support of the people this time: “The Taliban can raise a lot of dust at any given moment and a given point. They can’t stay. They don’t have the loyalty of the people,” Wood told the press.

According to reports, the combined Afghan and NATO troops killed 35 Taliban rebels Wednesday in what was considered as a clean-up operation. According to the Afghan Ministry of Defense, two Taliban commanders were killed. They used chopper gunships to drive out the militants that were entrenched in the villages in Arghandab. In the ensuing gunfight two Afghan soldiers were also killed.

The choppers, flying high over the Arghandab River, fired rockets at Taliban posts at the west side of the river (confirming the earlier account of the Afghan police officer that NATO disregarded).

NATO armored vehicles moved throughout the district, as more helicopters flew in low up the valley, while others landed at the already heavily guarded district center of Arghandab. The shops in its bazaar are now closed and the streets are guarded by soldiers of the Afghan National Army. This is how the district looks like now; when only a few days ago, United States officials denied any Taliban presence.

But the coalition still expects little resistance. Lieutenant Colonel Dave Corbould of the Canadian battle group said that the Taliban “do not appear to have the foothold that they have apparently claimed.”

After their first gunfire exchange, the coalition said they expected the operation to take only a few days.

Kandahar Governor Asadullah Khaled agrees that his province, which used to be a Taliban stronghold, is now safe from possible takeover. He said that the Taliban are already on the defensive in Arghandab. Further movement to his capital is no longer possible. He said that the operation is taking more time than usual because they were taking utmost precaution not to hurt the innocent families in the region.

They have also confirmed the presence of foreign militants. After air strikes on the villages of Kohak and Nagan, bodies of 16 insurgents were recovered – including foreign Pakistani and Arab militants.

The Real Victims of War

One farmer said he had already evacuated his family to the city the previous day. But he was back at his village when the gun battle erupted. He had no choice but to return – his wheat was already ripe. “What can we do,” he said. “I am very worried about my wheat harvest; if fighting is prolonged we will lose the harvest.”

Another one said he left everything and fled as early as Tuesday with only his cattle. “They are so expensive and if I don’t bring them down they will die,” he said. “If they die it means my family will die because they are the only resource that my family relies on.”

During the initial assault by the Taliban, they urged these people to join them. The terrorist group used to have their support. This was a former stronghold. But not anymore. The people have realized that they are better off without them. And now that they have returned, the people want nothing to do with them.

Koran Used for Target Practice

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Ruins After Bombing

Above: Ruins after bombing
A United States soldier has been accused of using a Koran for target practice. This AP file photo shows a Koran shot through during an assault by United States forces.

United States President George W. Bush has already apologized by telephone call to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. He also promised prosecution of the said United States soldier. PM al-Maliki told the United States president about the incident, saying that is had humiliated and angered Iraq’s largely Muslim population.

You think? No one in their right mind would disrespect anybody else’s religion – and doing it in such a way is humanly unthinkable.

“The American president apologized on behalf of the United States … promising to present the soldier to the courts,” said a statement from the PM to the Iraqi cabinet.

According to United States embassy sources, the United States president was deeply sorrowed by the “completely unacceptable conduct of an American soldier.” A copy of the Koran was found at a shooting range at the Radhwaniya police station near Baghdad, Iraq. It was almost completely destroyed from bullet holes. The Iraqi policeman who recovered the book said a target was written in the middle of the Koran. Some tribal leaders who saw the book said that the United States soldier even wrote offensive remarks on the book. The leaders consider this a “criminal act.”

United States military commanders based in Iraq held a ceremony after they found out about the incident. As a sign of apology and dismay over the event, the United States leaders presented a new Koran to the tribal leaders in the area. The military has described the incident as “serious and deeply troubling.”

“I come before you here seeking your forgiveness,” Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond said during the ceremony. “In the most humble manner I look in your eyes today and I say please forgive me and my soldiers.”

The soldier issued a letter of apology stating: “I sincerely hope that my actions have not diminished the partnership that our two nations have developed together.” The soldier describes his own actions as “shortsighted, very reckless and irresponsible.”

The United States military officials also reiterated that United States soldiers respect Islam and the Koran.

Do they really? Is that tiny ceremony even enough? Is an apology even enough? We think this tiny incident, although isolated, reflects the sentiment of most United States soldiers in Iraq.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh believes so. “We need to try this soldier since he committed a grievous crime. This is what the Iraqi government wants. It is not satisfied with just an apology.”

Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi and his Iraqi Islamic Party called the incident a “blatant assault on the sanctities of Muslims all over the world.” The party wants the “severest of punishments” for the crime.

“What truly concerns us is the repetition of these crimes that have happened in the past when mosques were destroyed and pages of the holy Koran were torn and used for disgraceful acts by U.S. soldiers,” al-Hashimi said.

“I have asked that first this apology be officially documented; second a guarantee from the U.S. military to inflict the maximum possible punishment on this soldier so it would be a deterrent for the rest of the soldiers in the future.”

The soldier, a staff sergeant and sniper section leader, has already been removed from Iraq. He was relieved of his duty as section leader, was dismissed from his regiment and was redeployed back to the United States.

Is that it? I hope this is not the last we heard of his “punishment.”

Needless to say, this is an embarrassment to the United States and their supposedly “superb” military. Thankfully, there has been no violent (and I mean violent) reaction in Iraq, as there is no question as to how passionate the Islamic community is about their religion. There is no doubt that Muslims from all over the world are angered. Someone has to pay for this.

One of the main reasons why the United States military is still present in Iraq is to help the Iraqi people in their fight against the terrorist group al-Qaeda. But how can you say that you are there to help if in the outset you don’t even respect the people you are helping? Is that genuine help? Perhaps we must ask the question: are they really helping at all?

Osama bin Laden Says Israel Fuelled 9/11

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Osama bin Laden

Above: Most wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden

Osama bin Laden has just released a new message to the world. He vows that al-Qaeda will continue its war against Israel and its Western allies until it liberates Palestine. He also said the fight for Palestinian freedom was the most important driving force behind al-Qaeda’s war against the West; he said that it fuelled the September 11 attacks. The speech is entitled “The Reasons for the Struggle on the 60th Anniversary of the Creation of the Occupation State of Israel.”

“To Western nations … this speech is to understand the core reason of the war between our civilization and your civilizations. I mean the Palestinian cause,” said Osama bin Laden. “The Palestinian cause is the major issue for my (Islamic) nation. It was an important element in fuelling me from the beginning and the 19 others with a great motive to fight for those subjected to injustice and the oppressed,” he added.

“We shall continue the fight, Allah willing, against the Israelis and their allies, in order to pursue justice for the oppressed, and we shall not give up one inch of Palestine, as long as there is still a single true Muslim alive.”

The message was posted on a website forum commonly used by the terrorist group – El Ekhlas – you can search for the site and have it translated so you can view an intro that states: To the peoples of Western, now a new letter of Lion of Islam Sheikh / Abi Abdullah – Osama bin Laden – may God protect him. the picture above is actually a screen shot of the page where the message was posted.

The message lasted for 9 minutes and 40 seconds. The authenticity of the message is yet to be verified. United States monitoring group IntelCenter (a private contractor who has been monitoring al-Qaeda message traffic) said the audio message was posted together with a photo of Osama bin Laden wearing a white robe and turban. It cannot be determined when the photo was taken. IntelCenter said that the message was expected and its arrival was already announced by the al-Qaeda media arm as-Sahab.

He also added that international media has been used to create false stories about “the Jewish invaders, the occupiers of our land, as the victims while it portrayed us as the terrorists.”

“Sixty years ago, the Israeli state didn’t exist. Instead, it was established on the land of Palestine raped by force,” the terrorist leader said. “Israelis are occupying invaders whom we should fight.”

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel was not very happy with the new message saying: “We do not pay attention to the words of this terrorist lunatic. The time has come for him to be apprehended and pay for his crimes.”

It was a timely release. United States President George W. Bush just finished his Israel visit – to which many Palestinians were disappointed. Many of them felt that the Bush government biased towards Israel. The Palestinians marked this 60th anniversary of Israel’s creation with demonstrations and solemn ceremonies – very much in contrast to Israel’s joyous celebrations. Palestinians refer to it in Arabic as “nakba” or catastrophe.

The last message sent by Osama bin Laden was about two months ago, when he urged Muslims to support the recent Iraqi insurgency – saying that it was the best way to show support for Palestine and its people. He also condemned Arab leaders who were supporting Israel’s fight against Hamas and its attacks on Gaza.

Despite a worldwide massive manhunt and a $25 million bounty, Osama bin Laden remains free – free to command his al-Qaeda troops and free taunt his enemies through audio and video warnings issued via the internet.

“Therefore one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skillful. Seizing the enemy without fighting is the most skillful.” –The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Hezbollah Declares War

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Teenager Throwing Molotov

Above: Teenager in Lebanon, ready to throw molotov cocktail

Hezbollah has taken over western Beirut.

Hezbollah is a Shi’a Islamic political militia based in Lebanon. They first emerged in the early 1980s during the Lebanese Civil War. Before the faction was formed, they were initially from Musa Sadr’s Amal Movement. According to the group’s manifesto, Hezbollah has three main goals: the eradication of Western colonialism in Lebanon, bringing to justice those who committed atrocities during the war (their main opposition being the Lebanese Kataeb Party or the Phalangists), and lastly the establishment of an Islamic government in Lebanon. The last we have seen of the group at war was during the 2006 Lebanon War between them and the Israeli army.

The Western-backed republic of Lebanon has described this recent takeover as a “bloody coup.” The United States government has again made a statement renouncing the takeover and announced its support for Lebanon’s government, lead by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

“We will stand by the Lebanese government and peaceful citizens of Lebanon through this crisis and provide the support they need to weather this storm,” said United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a statement.

According to them Hezbollah is killing innocent civilians. At least 18 people have already died in the recent attacks and clashes between their supporters and the Lebanese government.

The Hezbollah maintains a landline network in Lebanon. It was crucial to Hezbollah during that war two years ago against Israel. The Israelis jammed the wireless networks during that war. They did so to prevent the Hezbollah commanders from communicating with their ground units – the landline network remained and was used by their commanders.

On Monday, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora’s government declared the network illegal.

In response, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said in a speech on Thursday that this was a “declaration of war.” He then threatened to “cut off the hand” of anyone who tried to meddle with the network.

Nasrallah maintained that the network was part of the group’s defense against possible attackers. The opposite side does not agree:

“Their goal is not security resistance. They want to connect between all the Iranian and Syrian militias and they want to eavesdrop on everyone,” said Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh.

We do believe the network is used for offense and not defense.

Now it has boiled over to an active resistance. The Lebanese government believes this takeover is aimed at restoring the influence of Syria and Iran.

“The armed and bloody coup which is being implemented aims to return Syria to Lebanon and extend Iran’s reach to the Mediterranean,” it said in a statement.

The United Nations Security Council has urged the rival parties to stop fighting amid fears of civil war breaking out.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that the political crisis there was an “internal matter” and that they do not plan on meddling with their affairs.

His government has been widely speculated as assassinating former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri – using a ton (literally) of TNT to kill the PM as he passed a hotel in Beirut during a motorcade in February of 2005.

Hezbollah has taken over TV stations and other media offices, and has installed checkpoints on critical points around the city.

The urban warfare has shut down Lebanon’s seaport and all but closed the international airport, with burning barricades on major roads in Beirut.

It all happened to fast. We believe that Hezbollah has only been waiting for its chance to attack. It was only a matter of time.

“Speed is the essence of war. Take advantage of the enemy’s unpreparedness.” – The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Iraqis Arrest a Man CLAIMING to be an al-Qaeda Leader

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Abu Hamza Al-Muhajir

Above: Abu Hamza al-Muhajir

An al-Qaeda member was arrested in northern Iraq – and the arrested man says he is the head of the organization for the entire country.

Major General Abdul Karim Khalaf told Iraqi television network al-Iraqiya that the detained man claimed that he was Abu Hamza al-Muhajir. His captors are still investigating on his true identity as these matters need factual proof. The picture above is a file photo of al-Muhajir.

Abu Hamza al-Muhajir is a Sunni militia leader. According to reports, on June 12, 2006, he was announced on an unnamed Islamist website as the new leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. This was made days after former leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed from a U.S. air strike only five days before.

The name Muhajir is believed to be a pseudonym. Experts from the FBI and the U.S. State Department does not support the claim that we has named as new al-Qaeda leader. According to their intelligence, the name Muhajir is the pseudonym of an Egyptian militia leader whose real name is Abu Ayyub al-Masri. Al-Masri trained in Afghanistan and was responsible for forming the al-Qaeda’s first cell in Baghdad. There is truth, however, that he was pursued as an aide to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. His identity was confirmed three days after the said announcement of change in Iraqi al-Qaeda leadership.

But a month later, on July 6, 2006, an Egyptian newspaper released a report that Egyptian lawyer Mamduh Ismail claims that Sharif Hazaa, also known in Egypt as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been locked up in a Cairo prison for the last seven years running. Other American and Jordanian officials, however, claims that Abu Ayyub al-Masri is not the same person as Sharif Hazaa, and that Sharif Hazaa is actually the pseudonym of a certain Yusuf al-Dardiri. While others claim that all these names are being used by one and the same person.

“He was arrested in Wad al-Hajar region of Nineveh during a raid (Wednesday),” Major General Khalaf said. “Now we are conducting more investigations to confirm whether he is Abu Hamza. The police raided the area and captured the man who said ‘I am Abu Hamza al-Muhajir.’”

The U.S. State Department had posted a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest. The man being pursued is a car bomb expert and is surely a member of al-Qaeda. The only problem is that the truth about his real identity has been debated among Iraqi and U.S. military officials. Abu Hamza al-Muhajir translated means the Father of Hamza (the eldest) the immigrant, while Abu Ayyub al-Masri translated means the Father of Ayyub (the eldest) the Egyptian.

Some experts believe that al-Masri carried out attacks in Egypt from the 80s to the 90s, and then later moved to Afghanistan to join al-Qaeda. As an explosives expert specializing in the construction of car bombs, he was a key addition to their movement. Experts believe that he made his way to Iraq from Afghanistan after the March 2003 invasion. While some believe he came earlier in 1999, and met Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the al-Faruq training camp in Afghanistan where he became an explosives expert.

Should we believe a man who upon his arrest came yelling that his name was that of an al-Qaeda leader? The answer is no. If we do believe that the man named al-Muhajir is the real al-Qaeda leader in Iraq, then this man they just arrested is not al-Muhajir; but then again al-Muhajir could just be a random name given to a non-existent figure that the terrorist group used as the face of the organization for the U.S. military.

“Thus one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act.” – The Art of War by Sun Tzu

11 Afghan Police Killed While Sleeping

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Afghan Police

Above: Afghan police, face serious danger

Taliban militants pulled off a sneak attack on Monday, killing 11 policemen sleeping on a mud floor in southern Afghanistan. They crept through groves of grape vines and pomegranate trees and struck at midnight. The small police outpost is found 15 miles north of Kandahar – a former Taliban stronghold.

The first casualty was an officer on the roof of the compound who was supposed to keep watch of the premises and the surrounding area. Afterwards, the Taliban easily gained access into the compound, walked straight inside, and peppered the officers sleeping on mattresses and blankets on the dirt floor.

There were a total of twelve officers in the outpost – only one survived with serious wounds.

Afghan border police commander Bismullah Khan said it appeared that the insurgents were disguised in police uniforms and there were indications that the attack on the walled compound was an inside job.

“Initial investigations indicate that one of the policemen had ties with the Taliban. The Taliban infiltrated the post and opened fire on the police – there was no exchange of fire.”

We think he’s just trying to powder up for the media. The Taliban could have easily butchered his forces, with or without disguise or inside help.

The Taliban also seized the police vehicles and weapons in the outpost.

The ambush leads to the most casualties in a string of recent attacks on Afghan police in the south. Eight policemen were killed Saturday: four were killed while on a mission destroying opium poppies in Kandahar and four more while manning a checkpoint in Helmand. Seven others were also killed from another anti-poppy mission last April 7, also in Kandahar.

Opium and all refined opiates such as morphine, thebaine, codeine, papaverine, and noscapine are extracted from these opium. The seeds are important food items, and contain healthy oils used in salads worldwide – but its main use in Kandahar is for drug production, which eventually funds Taliban militia.

The United States has already spent more than $4 billion to train and equip these Afghan police in the last three years – just last year, 76,000 Kalashnikov rifles, 56,000 pistols and 3,500 vehicles were provided for their perusal.

The U.S. military also began a low-level district training program this year – hoping to improve police capabilities in lower ranks. The United States and its allies are very much relying on improvements in the Afghan army and police; so they could all start withdrawing their international forces from the country.

That picture remains very obscure.

The Afghan police remain easy targets for the Taliban. Compared to the Afghan army or NATO soldiers, these officials have far less training and even less firepower against the Taliban.

Working in small teams also doesn’t help. Stationed in remote areas, they are easily overwhelmed by even the smallest of Taliban assault teams – although the assaulting party on this attack was said to be 50 by Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi.

Taliban militants often suffer devastating losses when they attack U.S. or NATO forces. According to reports, they have already given up on ambush attempts against the increasingly capable Afghan army.

“The Taliban are going to attack those who they deem most vulnerable,” said a U.S. official in charge of training. “They’re out there in the community, policing, protecting and serving, and unfortunately they are vulnerable.”

Another Shiite Cleric Assassinated

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Riyadh Al-Nouri Assasinated

Above: Riyadh al-Nouri assasinated

Riyadh al-Nouri, director of al-Sadr’s office in Najaf, was assassinated by yet an unknown number of gunmen near his home.

Muqtada al-Sadr blamed the Americans and the U.S.-backed Iraqi government for the killing.

In his statement Friday, al-Sadr blamed the killing on “the hands of the occupiers and their stooges reaching out traitorously and aggressively against our dear martyr.”

But ironically, the Shiite leader called for calm.

“I call upon Sadrist followers to be patient.”

Even though we all know that there will be retaliation, their numbers are simply limited and most of his Mahdi Army are already fighting U.S. and Iraqi troops in Baghdad and southern Iraq. Their leader has been under extreme pressure from all Iraqi political parties to disband their army.

“The occupiers will not rest in our land as long as I am alive,” said al-Sadr. “We demand the government open an investigation and punish the criminals. We call upon all political and religious groups to work toward ending the killing of clerics.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, also a Shiite and now a sworn enemy of al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army, condemned “this savage crime” and ordered an investigation “to pursue and arrest the killers.”

The same kind of support was not given the PM during al-Nouri’s funeral (pictured above: family members and supporters raise his coffin in their funeral march). Al-Sadr’s supporters in Najaf chanted “al-Maliki is the enemy of God,” together with other slogans against al-Sadr’s Shiite political rivals.

To say that this assassination will increase tension in the entire country is an understatement. Najaf is a theological place. Al-Nouri was killed just right after prayer service. He is an influential Sadrist figure. Several prominent Sadrists look up to al-Nouri as their voice of moderation within the movement. He is one of those who constantly argued against armed confrontation with the Americans, the Iraqi government, and al-Sadr’s other Shiite rivals. He opposed their group’s decision to withdraw from al-Maliki’s government.

All signs point to condemnation!

The 41 year old leader was one of al-Sadr’s closest aides – he is part of the family (his sister is married to one of al-Sadr’s brothers). As I said earlier, Najaf is a theological place and as director of the city’s office, al-Nouri was al-Sadr’s representative in the world’s most prestigious center of Shiite learning.

Tension between al-Sadr and other Shiite parties turned into violent gunfights last month when PM al-Maliki launched an armed offensive against Shiite militias and gangs in Basra City. In retaliation, al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army launched attacks throughout southern Iraq and Baghdad. His militia showered the U.S.-controlled Green Zone with rockets and mortars.

One of al-Sadr’s rivals for Shiite control is the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council. They control the security services in Najaf City and according to Sadrist officials, when al-Nouri was attacked it took the police longer than usual to respond to the gunfire – when they were just 300 yards away in a security checkpoint.