[AmuTV] The Taliban ...the Pashtun equivalent of men... have deployed additional security personnel and increased checkpoints in Kabul, Balkh, Herat ...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns... , and Baghlan provinces, amid protests following their decision to suspend university education for Afghan women.
A number of Kabul residents told Amu TV that the presence of Taliban forces on Kabul streets across the capital has transformed the city into a "combat mood" for two days.
Berdiya, a Kabul resident, said: "Today the city was militarized. There were checkpoints everywhere to check people. I was carrying a camera to take some pictures of parts of Kabul city as it was Friday (holiday), but they (the Taliban) seized my camera at one of their checkpoints. I explained to them why I had a camera with me. They threatened me and told me that I was not allowed to take pictures today and to return home as soon as possible."
Tamana, another resident of Kabul, said that the Taliban forces were checking everyone across the city.
"For two days, the situation has been completely militarized, and for a few moments, I thought that the Taliban were ready for war. Military belts have been installed at all crossroads and Taliban men are deployed in the area. They were checking and asking everyone why they had left home and where they were going," she said.
A number of social media users also posted a video recording that shows several drones patrolling over Kabul city on Friday.
Meanwhile, ...back at the wine tasting, Vince was about to start on his third quart... a number of residents of Balkh, Herat, and Baghlan provinces told Amu TV that they witnessed the heavy presence of Taliban armed forces on Thursday through Friday.
A resident of Balkh’s capital Mazar-e-Sharif city, who wished to remain anonymous, told Amu TV that the Taliban have sent warnings to mosques ordering people not to participate in demonstrations against the Taliban’s decision.
"The Taliban were questioning passengers, why were they going to the market? Were they going for a demonstration? Balkh has been militarized following the closure of universities.
The girls who went to markets for shopping were stopped and questioned if they were outside the home to participate in the protests," he said.
Baghlan’s capital Pul-e-Khumri city also witnessed the presence of a large number of armed Taliban on Thursday and Friday, as experienced in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif cities.
Basil Ahmadi, a resident of Pul-e-Khumri, said:"I am currently in the city, the situation is not normal. Women’s movements have been restricted. The Sir Chowk area has completely been militarized, they (Taliban) even deployed tanks and armored vehicles, The Taliban forces can be seen everywhere, girls move around with fear and they are not allowed to enter the center of the city from all sides."
A resident of Herat also wrote in a message to Amu TV, that the Taliban have deployed armored vehicles including Humvees across Herat city, following the Taliban announcement to ban women from universities.
The Taliban-run ministry of higher education on Tuesday sent a letter to public and private universities ordering them to "immediately" suspend classes for Afghan women until further notice.
A number of Afghan women marched on the Kabul streets on Thursday morning to protest the Taliban’s decision on depriving them of their right to education. The Taliban, however, suppressed the demonstration, beat some of the protesters, and detained five women involved in the demonstration. The Taliban released two women including civil activist muppets
Zahra Mandgar and Angiza Goonish from custody hours after their detention. So far, there is no information about the whereabouts of the three remaining protesters including Ruqia Saee, Hadia Bahar, and Karishma Ali.
WOMEN’S PROTEST IN HERAT DISPERSED VIOLENTLY – Women who had assembled to protest the Taliban decision on women’s educational paths were set upon by Taliban thugs and many were beaten with whips and rifles. Water cannons were also brought to bear on the crowd. The protest had just gotten underway in Herat when security goons descended on the crowd and broke the gathering up. There were rumors of arrests being made but no confirmation has yet been provided.
THE MINISTRY OF THE ECONOMY BANS FEMALE NGO STAFF – Sources state the order to ban women employees came from Kandahar directly and Kabul was intentionally left out of the decision. The new decree has already drawn considerable criticism from the international community.
EDUCATION OFFICIAL AND BROTHER GUNNED DOWN IN BADGHIS – Police had confirmed that a senior Provincial education official and his brother had been killed by unidentified gunmen in the Qadis District on Saturday. No group has yet claimed responsibility and there are conflicting reports concerning whether the official supported the Taliban’s decision to bar women from Universities or if he opposed it.
AL QAEDA RELEASES A VIDEO PURPORTEDLY NARRATED BY THEIR SLAIN LEADER, AL-ZAWAHIRI – The thirty-five-minute video contained no information about when it had been recorded. Some conspiracy theories continue to state that al-Zawahiri was not harmed in the drone strike on his residence and continues to lead the terrorist organization from an undisclosed location. Most analysts and observers believe he was killed in the strike.
MALE STUDENTS OPTED NOT TO TAKE UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMS IN KANDAHAR, FIRED UPON AND BEATEN – Students walked out of the testing center at Mirwais Nika University in Kandahar and were fired at as they exited the building at approximately 1700hrs local on Saturday. Taliban goons then moved in and beat several of the male students. The students say they were not protesting the Taliban’s decision to ban women on campuses but simply wanted to go home.
MINISTERS OF DEFENSE AND INTERIOR CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THE SUPREME LEADER AND HIS LAPDOGS – Sources familiar with the situation say the two Ministers have formed a pact to try and get the old guard in Kandahar to reverse the education bans. They have either traveled to Kandahar in a bid to meet with him or, they have sent emissaries to plead their case. Sources in Kandahar say the Supreme Leader, fearing a coup, has refused to see them or their agents.
IN A BIZARRE MOVE, IRAN INVITES AFGHAN FEMALE STUDENTS TO STUDY – Two sources in Iran say the invitation issued by the Foreign Ministry in a tweet on Saturday was simply a ploy to take the focus off of its own internal issues. Both sources made the point of asking where would these students go to school as most campuses in Iran have been closed due to nationwide protests. The government’s suggestion of allowing them to study online was met with laughter by the sources and they related that it is a standing joke in Iran to see how long a website can stay active on the internet before it is attacked by hackers. Neither believed the offer was serious.
CONFLICT TRACKER Panjshir: An NRF commander (Haseeb or Zal) posted video and photos of an unidentified Taliban base said to have been captured on Saturday in an undisclosed location of the province. Additional photos were posted on social media through other accounts showing Taliban equipment, vehicles, weapons, and uniforms the Resistance members say they captured.
NEXT 24 HOURS
STANDOFF BETWEEN TALIBAN OLD GUARD AND ‘MODERATES’ CONTINUES – The latest ban on women working with NGOs to distribute humanitarian aid has likely ratcheted up existing tensions between Hibatullah and his two most powerful Ministers (Yaqoub and Haqqani). While the information about the Supreme Leader refusing to meet with his two ministers could easily be a rumor, there is clearly a disagreement between Kabul and Kandahar and rumors can carry as much weight as truth in such situations. Even if a solution to the impasse is found, it may only be temporary. Localized violence is still possible in Kandahar and may even spread to select areas of Kabul if either of the two factions decides to make a move.
[ShabelleMedia] At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a self-defense strike, on Dec. 23, in support of Somali National Army engagements against al-Shabaab ...... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord... 248 km northeast of Mogadishu near Cadale, Somalia.
The command’s initial assessment is the strike killed six al-Shabaab Death Eaters and that no civilians were maimed or killed.
This is the third such strike in 10 days, and it occurred in the same area of Somalia near the city of Cadale, about 150 miles northeast of the capital of Mogadishu.
The first was on December 14, and AFRICOM said seven al-Shabaab ...... Somalia's version of the Taliban ...the Pashtun equivalent of men... , functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda... holy warriors were killed. The second strike came three days later and killed eight Al-Shabaab militants.
Posted by: Ho Chi Gurly-Brown5202 ||
12/25/2022 12:14 Comments ||
Top||
#5
What in God's Name are we doing in Somalia? Killing people at the request of the local fake government, essentially a mercenary act for a foreign power. Somehow the defending the United States military use of force fig leaf is getting really, really thin.
#6
Having experienced a painful extraction from 20+ years of military involvement in Afghanistan, and before that Iraq, minor involvement in Somalia appears harmless. Forgetting of course, that most foreign misadventures begin as 'minor involvements.'
I believe the field of psychophysics labels the term perceptional contrasts.
Capt. Ibrahim Traore deposed the last guy who overthrew the government — Lt. Col. Sandaogo Damiba — who did extensive training with the Americans.
n Burkina Faso late last month, Capt. Ibrahim Traore overthrew Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, a fellow military officer who had seized power in a January coup. Last week, Traore was declared “Head of State, Supreme Head of the Armed Forces,” according to an official statement.
Prior to his putsch, Damiba took part in at least a half-dozen U.S. training events, according to U.S. Africa Command, or AFRICOM. In fact, since 2008, U.S.-trained officers have attempted at least nine coups (and succeeded in at least eight) across five West African countries, including Burkina Faso (three times), Guinea, Mali (three times), Mauritania, and the Gambia.
Is Traore the tenth West African officer to add to the growing tally? The Pentagon has no idea.
Since late September, Responsible Statecraft has sought answers from AFRICOM and the Office of the Secretary of Defense without success. “We do not have information for you on Capt. Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso,” a Pentagon spokesperson, who refused to provide their name, responded via email after nearly a week of repeated queries. AFRICOM is also in the dark.
“This is something we will have to research and get back to you,” said AFRICOM spokesperson Kelly Cahalan, noting that there did “not appear to be any linkages” between Traore and U.S. training exercises, while leaving open the possibility that he could have been connected to “other engagements” with the United States.
Damiba, who fled to neighboring Togo after being deposed, had taken part in many U.S. “engagements.” In 2010 and 2020, for example, he participated in Flintlock, an annual Special Operations Command Africa exercise focused on enhancing the counterterrorism capabilities of West African nations, including Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Niger. In 2013, Damiba was took part in an Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance course. In 2013 and 2014, he attended a U.S.-sponsored Military Intelligence Basic Officer Course. And in 2018 and 2019, Damiba participated in engagements with a U.S. Civil Military Support Element in Burkina Faso. And he was hardly an outlier.
In 2020, Col. Assimi Goïta, who attended U.S. training exercises and a Joint Special Operations University seminar at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, headed the junta that overthrew Mali’s government. Goïta stepped down to take the job of vice president in a transitional government tasked with returning Mali to civilian rule, only to seize power again in his second coup in nine months.
Last year, a Guinean special forces unit led by Col. Mamady Doumbouya took time out from training with U.S. Green Berets to storm the presidential palace and depose the country’s 83-year-old president, Alpha Condé. Doumbouya soon declared himself Guinea’s new leader.
A key reason that the U.S. military is unsure of whether it has mentored Traore is a lack of record-keeping. AFRICOM does not keep tabs on what becomes of the officers it trains, nor does it know which have conducted coups. “AFRICOM does not actively track individuals who’ve received U.S. training after the training has been completed,” Cahalan told Responsible Statecraft, noting that the command does not maintain a list of African officers who have overthrown their governments or even keep a count of how many times its occurred. “AFRICOM does not maintain a database with this information.”
The Office of the Secretary of Defense was hopeful that the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, a Pentagon research institution, or the State Department might have information about Traore. The State Department refused to comment on the record. The Africa Center did not respond to multiple inquiries by Responsible Statecraft.
Clashes between Arab and non-Arab groups in #Sudan’s restive #Darfur region have killed at least seven people, state media report.https://t.co/Rps1Yiv0wU
[HODHODYEMENNEWS.NET] The Saudi-led coalition on Saturday ended al-Anad base crisis, which is the most important strategic base, but handing it over to foreign forces.
Media outlets reported, quoting informed sources in restive Lahj ... a Yemeni governate located in the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. It is the stomping grounds on the southern secessionist al-Harak movement , that the commander of the fourth military region, Fadhl Hassan, under the directives of the coalition, supervised the handover of the base to the Sudanese forces.
The al-Anad base had witnessed tension between factions loyal to Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... and others loyal to the UAE, following directives to replace the Shield of homeland forces, "Dera al-Watan" as an alternative to the "First Support Brigade"
The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC)’s militia refused to leave the base and mobilized its fighters, taking a combat position in a clear rebellion against the orders of Saudi forces, the sources said, justifying its refusal by not having alternative headquarters.
Sources affirmed that the so-called "Shield of homeland forces" were deployed on the outskirts of al-Anad base while waiting for Saudi forces to pressure the STC to evacuate the base.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/25/2022 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
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Riot police used teargas to disperse protestors who lit fires and overturned cars
Earlier today thousands peacefully demonstrated in Place de la République
Gunman fired 'blindly' at cultural centre on Friday killing three and injuring many That would be the Ahmet-Kaya Kurdish cultural center in the city’s 10th arrondissement. The gunman reportedly belongs to a sports shooting club and was banned from carrying weapons for five years.
His prosecutor said his custody has been lifted and he is in a psychiatric unit
Also tonight people attended a vigil in memory of those who died in the shooting
Community is said to be 'shocked' and police have held meetings with leaders
The authorities said the gunman had recently been freed from detention while awaiting trial for a sabre attack on a migrant camp in Paris a year ago
The gunman was found with a case loaded with a box of at least 25 cartridges and "two or three loaded magazines", the source added.
The weapon was a "much-used" US Army Colt 1911 pistol.
The shooter was named as William M. in the French media.
The retired train driver was convicted for armed violence in 2016 by a court in the multicultural Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Gay Paree, but appealed.
A year later he was convicted for illegally possessing a firearm.
Last year, he was charged with racist violence after allegedly stabbing migrants colonists and slashing their tents with a sword in a park in eastern Gay Paree.
"He is crazy, he's an idiot," his father was quoted as saying by the M6 television channel.
[The Nation (Pak)] Unidentified button menrubbed out a Levies man here on Saturday and sped the scene.
According to details, the incident took place in Mukhlis Colony of Chaman where unidentified gunnies riding cycle of violence targeted the Levies men killing him on the spot.
The attackers sped the scene and the body was shifted to hospital for postmortem.
The police after registering a case into the incident started an investigation.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/25/2022 00:00 ||
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[8 views]
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Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Army seized a large cache of rifles and ammunition in Uri’s Hathlanga Sector in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.https://t.co/7lhOCCwLeA
Khalistan Liberation Force ...Khalistan is the idea of an independent Sikh homeland in the Indian (and Pak, but they don't dwell on that) Punjab. The local troublemakers are financed by the Sikh diaspora, who love the idea of the folks they left behind murdering their neighbours before dying romantically for a hopeless idea, with training and additional funding from Pakistain’s ISI as yet another arrow in their quiver aimed at the Indian throat. The Khalistan Liberation Force, like Antifa, is the umbrella for a bunch of Sikh groups that have engaged in armed struggle® against India since the 1980s...
According to various unofficial reports in the last hour, protesters set the Iranian consulate in Najaf on fire, on the hundredth day of the #IranProtests2022. pic.twitter.com/DLscxwWB09
Russian Reconciliation Center reveals three soldiers of government forces were killed and four others were wounded in shelling by #HTS militants in northwest #Syria. #Russiahttps://t.co/gN2movOj17
Turkish drone strikes a farm in the eastern countryside of #Qamishli city, northeast #Syria, causing material damage and death of sheep as a result.https://t.co/fXUxO5xX4g
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
...... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...
Oh WAIT ! 
...Khalistan is the idea of an independent Sikh homeland in the Indian (and Pak, but they don't dwell on that) Punjab. The local troublemakers are financed by the Sikh diaspora, who love the idea of the folks they left behind murdering their neighbours before dying romantically for a hopeless idea, with training and additional funding from Pakistain’s ISI as yet another arrow in their quiver aimed at the Indian throat. The Khalistan Liberation Force, like Antifa, is the umbrella for a bunch of Sikh groups that have engaged in 
