1st Iraqi Province's Security Transferred to Iraqi Security Forces

CENTCOM reports:


Transfer of Security Responsibility in Muthanna Province

A Joint Statement by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Gen. George Casey

Embassy of United States of America Press Release


July 13, 2006

BAGHDAD – Iraq witnessed a historic event today with the transfer of security responsibility in Muthanna Province from the Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I) to the Provincial Governor and civilian-controlled Iraqi Security Forces. The handover represents a milestone in the successful development of Iraq’s capability to govern and protect itself as a sovereign and democratic nation. Muthanna is the first of Iraq’s 18 provinces to be designated for such a transition.

As Prime Minister Maliki announced on June 19, 2006, the joint decision between the Iraqi government and MNF-I to hand over security responsibility is the result of Muthanna’s demonstrated abilities to take the lead in managing its own security and governance duties at the provincial level. The transition decision also reflects a joint assessment of the overall threat situation in Muthanna, the capabilities of the ISF there and the provincial leadership’s ability to coordinate security. Transition teams are in place to smooth the transfer process and multi-national forces will stand ready to provide assistance if needed.

With this first transition of security responsibility, Muthanna demonstrates the progress Iraq is making toward self-governance. Several other provinces are close to meeting the criteria necessary to assume security independence. The Iraqi government and the Multi-National Force will continue to transfer security responsibilities in other provinces in Iraq as conditions are achieved.

Australian, Japanese, and the United Kingdom forces have assisted Muthanna authorities as models of international cooperation, providing economic and humanitarian assistance as well as security and stability. As Iraq develops and its needs continue to evolve, so too will the nature of international assistance to Iraq in Muthanna and elsewhere.

The United States will provide $10 million in order to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Muthanna as they take a bold and courageous step forward in the country’s movement toward an independent and secure nation. This event represents significant progress by the Government of Iraq to achieve a constitutional, democratic, and pluralistic Iraq which guarantees the rights of all citizens.


They advised me of this via email. Although I've been busy at work all week, I don't recall seeing the MSM making much out of this very, very significant development.

This is significant in that Iraqi security is now beginning to be transferred back to Iraqis. No longer is Iraq going to have to worry about the tyranny of Saddam Hussein.

Anyone already know of this development? The first I heard was from CENTCOM themselves.

Does the MSM care enough to make a big deal? Or would they rather yell day after day about bad news or what they think is bad news?

The Top Ten Stupid Leftist Ideals

Doug Hagin, via New Media Journal (a great site, Sentinel-recommended!):

...The top ten list of stupid, inane, asinine, and, loony leftist ideals. Now in making such a list, in attempting to whittle down to just ten, the most foolish of leftist ideals, I have worked tirelessly and diligently to include only those leftist ideals that not only reach the bottom of the pit of inanity, but those that required extra digging as well.

By the way, as a side note, if any Leftists find themselves offended, put out, aggrieved, or suffering from a bruising of their ever-fragile self-esteem after reading this column, let me say good! The Left is always seeking something to be hurt or upset over anyway, so I consider it a very special honor to help them out in their never-ending pursuit of a pity party!

Now, on with the official Doug Hagin Top Ten List of Stupid, Inane, Asinine, and Loony Leftist Ideals.

Anything to add/change? There's plenty of crazy left-wing ideals worth mentioning. Got any? I'd love to know!

Report: Syria Shooting at Israel

Story here. Emphasis mine.

Israeli Defense Forces are attempting to determine the exact source of the gunfire. If the source cannot be determined, sources say, Israel may choose to ignore or officially deny it occurred in an effort to avoid widening what is rapidly becoming a regional conflict.

Meanwhile, Lebanese sources predict a small, limited provocation against Israel – perhaps a small skirmish or the use of Palestinian groups on the Syrian side of the border firing mortars under the direction of the Syrian army. It would not be a major attack, the sources say, just a minor provocation in conjunction with Iran to show Syria is in solidarity with Hezbollah and the Palestinians, who launched the original attacks against Israel on two fronts – Gaza and southern Lebanon.

Yesterday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said an Israeli strike on Syria would be considered an attack on the whole Islamic world that would bring a "fierce response."

Hmm... could Syria be trying to provoke Israel? Right on the heels of Ahmadinejad's statement?

Hezbollah "Pearl Harbors" Israel With UAV

Stories here & here & everywhere.

Like I said in the post immediately below, the Islamists want war, for it is the will of "Allah", as cited by the Koran. Muslims are required to wage jihad against those who aren't Muslims... just because they aren't Muslims, period.

That's why they've been bombing Israel for a long time now. That's why they won't release the IDF soldiers. That's why they Pearl Harbored the Israeli navy.

Just listen to them gleefully declare "all out war"... they're bloodthirsty to the max. They're emulating their Prophet.

Just watch them... they don't want to end the war... they want it to get worse and expand... all over the world. For them, the more jihad, the better.

This time I think the "hostilities" won't curtail due to a phony "ceasefire". I think it's actually "go time". Other nations will somehow be drawn into the conflict.

Perhaps we should prepare for what could very well be early going in WWIII... can we rule out the possibility?

At the same time I'd remind all that war is, after all, "hell", and we should brace ourselves accordingly. The unknown is indeed ominous.

I hope I'm wrong. I hope it'll end quickly.


"Of course, you realize this means war" -Bugs Bunny

Hezbollah to Move IDF Soldiers to Iran?

From National Terror Alert Response Center:

Israel has information that Hizbullah is planning to transfer two abducted Israeli soldiers to Iran, a senior foreign ministry official said Thursday. “We… have specific information that Hizbullah is planning to transfer the kidnapped soldiers to Iran,” foreign ministry deputy director general for public affairs ambassador Gideon Meir told a news conference.

Also: Iran warns Israel of 'fierce response' :

"If the Zionist regime commits another stupid move and attacks Syria, this will be considered like attacking the whole Islamic world and this regime will receive a very fierce response," Ahmadinejad was quoted by Iranian state television as saying in a telephone conversation with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Now...

You know, Hezbollah is funded and supported by Iran/Ahmadinejad. Hezbollah has been attacking Israel for a long time now. Hamas/Hezbollah or whatever Islamic jihad group it was is responsible for kidnapping the Israelis, which sparked Israel's retaliation as their demands that they be released unharmed weren't met.

Of course Syria is involved. It's a vast, Islamic jihad conspiracy, literally. They're in it together, as they've always been.

Should the IDF soldiers be moved to Iran... then Iran is a legitimate target. Ahmadinejad wants Israel and/or the Free World to attack any Islamic theocracy, thus giving him an immediate excuse to fulfill the dogmas of his Hojattieh sect of Islam of starting jihad/oppression/tyranny in order to hasten the coming of their so-called "Messiah".

One way or another Ahmadinejad will start a jihad. He's already promised to do it... unconditionally, as a matter of fact.

Always remember, Israel is defending itself against hostile forces who hate the country just because it's not "Islamic". Whatever happens, Israel is in the right. The Islamists who attack Israel are the instigators. It's like 1967 all over again. And if Iran et al also attack the rest of the Free World, then they're as responsible for what gets done to their nations as were Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in WWII.

Of course, the Islamists can prevent war... by returning the IDF soldiers unharmed. But they won't. Why? Because they want war. The Koran requires it, after all. Just because. And the leaders of the Islamic nations in question take the Koran literally.

Just watch them...

Montreal:The Jihadist Hub City

Story here.

By Judi McLeod & Beryl Wajsman
Canada Free Press

Assem Hammoud, ringleader of the alleged terrorist plot to bomb tunnels in New York, may have done the free world an unintended favour. Hammoud, albeit unwittingly drew cleansing sunlight on a rarely reported fact of life: Montreal, Quebec, Canada is a hub of activity for al Qaida and other Islamist groups--and has been so since the early 1990s.

(...)

"Montreal is the leading centre for Islamist and Jihadists groups in North America, many inspired by or with ties to al Qaida," says Beryl Wajsman. "In total, with dozens of cells, Montreal has the largest number of such groups in any city in North America, not on a per capita basis but in gross numbers."

(...)

"Islamists, al Qaida sympathizers, and terrorist fellow travelers view Montreal as being both intellectually and culturally open, accessible and exploitable," says Wajsman, "Montreal has a large diverse Arab Muslim community whose members hail from many countries, speaking many languages and dialects, making their milieus natural hiding places."

"Canada’s immigration controls are lax. Canada is a country that stopped funding port police. Only one in every 100 cargo shipments is ever inspected and Montreal is still the second largest inland port in North America,"

Read on... there's more... a good read!

Understand.

The enemy walks freely among us.

In Canada.

Understand.

But... leftists will react thusly:

BBC Bans the Word "Dhimmi"

... isn't that a Dhimmi act in and of itself?

h/t: Dhimmi Watch:

with thanks to LGF, which comments:

In the discussion areas of the BBC web site, you can call George Bush a chimp, America an uncultured land of Bible-thumping rednecks, and the war on terror a crime against Muslims.

But don’t try to use the word "dhimmi."

Recommended Reading: Leftists & Nazis

Here's a very thought-provoking piece I recommend everyone read, whether normal folk or leftist.

It makes the case that it is the left that is racist. Oh, yes. And some of what is in that article isn't news to me. For example, the left, like Hitler's Nazis, has always been eugeneticist. It was, in fact, recently discovered that the late Tommy Douglas, the revered Canadian leftist, was in fact a eugeneticist. Haven't you heard? If not, then here you go.

I think leftists like to accuse non-leftists of racism to try to detract from their own racial prejudices and dogmas. We've seen it a million billion trillion times: leftists accusing those with a different point of view of being "racist", in order to stifle dissent and forestall legitimate debate of leftist political policies. Well, I contend that the left is in no position to call anyone racist, except their own people.

Hopefully, many folks who are currently trapped within the terrible ideology of leftism will come to see the dark, sinister, frightening reality underlying leftism and continuing to this day.

Here's some excerpts the left doesn't want us to see:

During the 1924 Democrat Convention, the Ku Klux Klan was very much a part of the equation. The Klan was entangled with the “progressive” movement and the 1924 convention was often referred to as the “Klanbake Convention.” I might add that at no time, did the Republican Party ever endorse the KKK. Not so with the Democrats however. Only the Democrats can claim a former KKK Kleagle, that being Robert “Sheets” Byrd of West Virginia, still in the Senate today. The guy that liberals will tell you is the “conscience” of the Senate. Isn’t it interesting, that a Senator can be racist, bigoted or a philanderer and an abuser of women, maybe even a rapist, yet get a “pass” as long as he’s a “liberal” democrat?

Abortion has long been a staple of American liberalism and the “progressive” movement. Feminism, the cornerstone of the abortion debate became active in the first half of the 20th Century. Eugenics was also a part of the Feminists movement, and Margaret Sanger, an early day “feminist progressive” and mentor of the vaunted Betty Friedan, a founder of NOW, praised Hitler and his movement for his many progressive” platforms expressed in the National Socialist Movement.

(...)

At the same time, FDR was not one to disappoint racists in his day. General George S. Patton, often vilified by the left, was the first to recognize how ridiculous segregation of the armed forces was. In 1944, while driving by a replacement depot in France, Patton noticed a large number of black soldiers sitting around doing nothing. He inquired as to why. The replacement depot commander told him that although the men were trained artillery, armor and infantry soldiers, there were no black units that needed replacements at that time. Patton exploded and ordered the officer to send the men forward to replace depleted ranks in his 3rd Army divisions.

As it was unheard of to send black soldiers to a white unit, the news of Patton’s orders didn’t take long to reach Washington. President Roosevelt personally belayed the order, and no further posting of black replacements to white units occurred during World War II.

Read the whole thing, of course.

The left has a monopoly on tolerance and equality? Oh, suuuuure! Let 'em claim it all they want! But the truth will continue to come out!

Liberalism/leftism is coming under closer and closer scrutiny all the time!

Those who fell victim to the seduction of the manipulative, coercive, intimidating, evil left should now begin to demand that the ideology prove that which it claims.

If the left fails to prove that it's honest, realistic, honorable and tolerant of differences, then all good people must leave the left. For the sake of humanity.

Would-Be Jihadist Allowed on Plane in US

TSA, FBI, Houston Police & Airport Security allow a Middle Eastern male to board a Delta commercial passenger aircraft, despite possessing potential bomb components, wearing shoes intentionally hollowed-out, and lying to federal screeners.

Story here.

What the feck?

I think some people have gone insane, or perhaps intelligence isn't a requirement for being hired into airport security.

Whatever the case, just think: if this sets a precedent, then no way can air travel be considered safe from terrorism anymore!

Quote of the Day

I'd like to bring y'all the following quote from "A Friend from Korea":

The madmen are not the ones that continually cross an imaginary line in the sand…the madmen are the politicians that continually capitulate to the aggression of their enemies.

The post from which the quote comes is here. The whole comment is here.

I believe this to be an instant classic and absolutely apt.