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Area: WoT Background    Non-WoT    Opinion    Local News    Politix   
Biden to Netanyahu: 'If no change in Israeli policy there will be a change in ours'
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
22 23:42 Omusosing Gleatch5709 [364] 
2 20:54 Skidmark [157] 
2 10:00 Jefe101 [182] 
9 19:43 Whiskey Mike [243] 
1 13:18 MikeKozlowski [138] 
6 13:49 NoMoreBS [218] 
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1 01:28 Skidmark [506] 
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3 08:55 ed in texas [159] 
Page 2: WoT Background
18 18:49 Ululating+Platypus [660]
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6 16:13 DooDahMan [137]
4 10:13 Huputle+Cherelet4131 [203]
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1 00:36 Grom the Reflective [100]
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Page 3: Non-WoT
1 14:09 NoMoreBS [113]
5 11:52 Super Hose [165]
2 06:34 Mullah Richard OTR [118]
5 19:39 M. Murcek [193]
4 19:08 magpie [143]
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4 18:45 trailing wife [140]
3 14:14 NoMoreBS [132]
3 07:51 Skidmark [137]
9 12:20 Dale [215]
Page 4: Opinion
13 23:03 trailing wife [341]
8 11:49 Super Hose [181]
1 09:47 Skidmark [143]
4 13:32 swksvolFF [114]
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Page 5: Russia-Former Soviet Union
10 19:46 Procopius2k [191]
7 14:21 Grom the Reflective [188]
4 18:12 SteveS [130]
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1 10:07 Skidmark [77]
10 16:31 Grom the Reflective [190]
2 09:32 AlanC [108]
9 13:58 Abu Uluque [176]
1 00:49 Grom the Reflective [90]
10 17:47 swksvolFF [173]
Page 6: Politix
8 23:36 Skidmark [198]
Good Morning


US Navy ship programs face years-long
delays amid labor, supply woes
04/05/2024

Lillian Russell x0fGo1_1280.
Fifth Column
With the aid of far-left groups, illegal foreign national migrants have been occupying a park in central Seattle
Israel-Palestine-Jordan
33,037 Palestinians killed during
Israel's offensive in Gaza: health ministry
Iraq
Iraqi Resistance Forces launch attacks on Israeli airbase
Caribbean-Latin America
Haiti's National Library destroyed by armed gangs
Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
A court in Dagestan arrests
three more detainees for terrorism
India-Pakistan
'Anthrax-laced letters': CCTV cameras
around post boxes found malfunctioning

Posted by: Fred || 04/05/2024 || Comments || Link || [157 views] Top|| File under:

#1  FJB
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 04/05/2024 11:54 Comments || Top||

#2  Big hat on a well-fleshed woman.
Posted by: Skidmark || 04/05/2024 20:54 Comments || Top||


-Land of the Free
Texas National Guardsman 'is caught smuggling a migrant across southern border in his work SUV' after fleeing checkpoint, sparking 100mph chase ended by cops using a spike strip
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news]
  • Savion Amari Donovan Johnson, 26, arrested in Brackettville, Texas, on Sunday

  • Turned around at border checkpoint sparking chase, migrant jumped out of car

  • Police hauled him out of the SUV, discovered he was with Texas National Guard
Posted by: Skidmark || 04/05/2024 00:00 || Comments || Link || [159 views] Top|| File under: Migrants/Illegal Immigrants

#1  ...That's gonna go over well.

Mike
Posted by: MikeKozlowski || 04/05/2024 7:44 Comments || Top||

#2  "Savion Amari Donovan Johnson, 26, (pictured in white)"

Appreciate the assist from the Daily Mail.
Posted by: DooDahMan || 04/05/2024 7:59 Comments || Top||

#3  Somebody decided to supplement his income. And you don't make much in the NG.
BTW, that part of the state is lousy with checkpoints. They put wide spots in the road to set them up, and move them around.
Posted by: ed in texas || 04/05/2024 8:55 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
Haiti's National Library destroyed by armed gangs
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Members of armed gangs destroyed and looted the National Library of Haiti in the capital, Port-au-Prince. This was reported by AFP on April 3 with reference to the administration of the institution.

It is noted that as a result, historical documents up to 200 years old could have been lost.

Bandits also looted at least two universities and three health facilities in Port-au-Prince this week.

As Regnum reported, on March 21, the US State Department began evacuating American citizens from Haiti on charter helicopters amid growing violence in this republic. It was noted that US citizens were being taken from Port-au-Prince to the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo.

German Ambassador to Haiti Peter Sauer left the country on March 10 due to security concerns. It was noted that he moved to the neighboring Dominican Republic.

The security and humanitarian situation has deteriorated sharply in Haiti following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and a subsequent earthquake. A struggle has begun in the country for the redistribution of spheres of influence between criminal groups, which is accompanied by murders and kidnappings of citizens.

Posted by: badanov || 04/05/2024 00:00 || Comments || Link || [218 views] Top|| File under: Mob Rule

#1  Barbarians are really good at torching famed libraries: E.g., The Al Sa'eh of Tripoli for one.
And In 2011, the great library of Cairo, Egypt, the Institut d'Egypte, a research center founded by Napoleon in 1789 was torched. The building sheltered 192,000 rare books, manuscripts... America is next.
Posted by: Huputle+Cherelet4131 || 04/05/2024 9:52 Comments || Top||

#2  Fortunately, we've scanning & electronic storage.
Posted by: Grom the Reflective || 04/05/2024 9:58 Comments || Top||

#3  What happens when they take all computers away from private citizens? Which will come first? Arms or computers?
Posted by: Huputle+Cherelet4131 || 04/05/2024 10:28 Comments || Top||

#4  ...don't forget the up coming rolling blackouts in California. I'm sure the digital currency and id will be unaffected./sarc
Posted by: Procopius2k || 04/05/2024 11:51 Comments || Top||

#5  They got both books?!

Snark O'The Day

Posted by: ed in texas || 04/05/2024 12:07 Comments || Top||

#6  ^
SNOD candidate, with bonus points for accuracy?
Posted by: NoMoreBS || 04/05/2024 13:49 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
A court in Dagestan arrests three more detainees for terrorism
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] In Dagestan, the court decided to take into custody three more people detained for terrorism. One of them is Russian, the other two are citizens of Tajikistan, the head of the press service of the Supreme Court of the republic, Zarema Mamaeva, said on April 4.

She said that the Russian citizen is also a native of Tajikistan. In Russia, all three joined the group - a structural unit of an international terrorist organization, the court representative noted.

“Having considered the materials, the court, by decisions of April 4, 2024, chose a preventive measure for the suspect in the form of detention for a period of 1 month 26 days, until June 1, 2024 inclusive,” the RIA Novosti agency quoted Mamaev as saying.

As Regnum reported, on April 3, Mamaeva informed about the arrest of two citizens of Tajikistan, detained on March 31 during the counter-terrorism operation. They were remanded in custody for two months by the Sovetsky District Court of Makhachkala - until June 1, 2024. As the investigation found out, upon arriving in Russia, they joined a group that is part of an international terrorist organization. In the city of Kaspiysk, men stored illegally acquired weapons and ammunition.

On March 31, security forces detained three criminals in Kaspiysk and Makhachkala who were planning new terrorist attacks in Russia. Weapons, ammunition and a ready-to-use improvised explosive device were confiscated from them. One of the detainees admitted during interrogation that he took weapons to the terrorists who staged a terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow on March 22.
The Crocus City lot were Caucasus Emirate, ie. ISIS, as I recall.
According to the FSB, those detained in Dagestan were involved in financing the terrorist attack at Crocus: they transferred money to the perpetrators of the terrorist attack. They themselves planned to carry out an explosion in Kaspiysk.
Posted by: badanov || 04/05/2024 00:00 || Comments || Link || [136 views] Top|| File under: Devout Moslems


Fifth Column
With the aid of far-left groups, illegal foreign national migrants have been occupying a park in central Seattle
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]

Posted by: Fred || 04/05/2024 00:00 || Comments || Link || [182 views] Top|| File under: Antifa/BLM

#1  It won't be solved by ballots.
Posted by: Grom the Reflective || 04/05/2024 0:41 Comments || Top||

#2  “With the aid” seems to be the mantra. Who are these groups? Who is funding them? Who works for them?
Lot of parks to pick between Kent and Seattle. Why that one?
Posted by: Jefe101 || 04/05/2024 10:00 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
'Anthrax-laced letters': CCTV cameras around post boxes found malfunctioning
Law enforcement agents investigating the suspected anthrax-laced letters sent to the judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Supreme Court
...the political football known as The Highest Court in the Land, home of penumbrae and emanations...
revealed that most of the CCTV cameras around the post boxes were out of order when the envelopes were inserted into them, it emerged on Thursday.

On March 3, just a day after the Supreme Court of Pakistain took suo motu
...a legal term, from the Latin. Roughly translated it means I saw what you did, you bastard...
notice over the allegations of six IHC judges against intelligence agencies, the IHC chief justice among eight judges received suspected letters.

The CTD team is racing against time to collect facts and ascertain the chemical nature of the powdery substance after the eight IHC judges received "letters containing suspected anthrax powder along with a threatening message".

According to sources, the case of suspicious letters is being investigated by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Islamabad police and a report on the progress made so far has been communicated to the Registrars of the Supreme Court and the IHC.

Sources indicate that an examination of post boxes located within Satellite Town, Rawalpindi, is ongoing, with many CCTV cameras surrounding the post boxes found to be inoperative.

Islamabad police have expanded the scope of the investigation using alternative means, including questioning individuals working in shops and offices in the area of post boxes. Furthermore, all staff at the Satellite Town, Rawalpindi post office have been included in the inspection.

According to sources, the letters were sent by a woman named Resham without mentioning her address. They added that a staffer of a judge accidentally dropped the envelope containing the suspicious powdery substance and later felt extreme irritation in their eyes and burns on the skin around his lips.

Following the incident, Islamabad Inspector General (IG) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) police were summoned to the IHC. All the suspicious letters were handed over to the police for further investigation.

It is noteworthy that initially, eight judges of the Islamabad High Court received suspicious letter, later judges of the Lahore High Court and even judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistain also got similar mail.

Posted by: Fred || 04/05/2024 00:00 || Comments || Link || [506 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  most of the CCTV cameras around the post boxes were out of order

But wasn't the video was backed up to the Google Amazon Microsoft cloud?
Posted by: Skidmark || 04/05/2024 1:28 Comments || Top||


The rise of Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman within JI ranks
[GEO.TV] Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
(JI), the oldest religio-political party in Pakistain, is set to elect its new emir (leader) in early April for the next five years. Among the three names suggested by the party’s shura (decision-making executive council), Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, the current emir of the JI Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
chapter, holds prominence for a couple of reasons — he has rejuvenated the party in the country’s commercial hub and provided it with a "liberal, progressive and secular Islamic" outlook.

Unlike most Pak political parties, in which the top slots are reserved for the party founder or their family members and relatives, JI has a worker to leadership ladder in place. Hafiz is a beneficiary of the same system and is among the few top politicians who come from a middle-class background.

Big Picture explores his journey from being a student activist muppet to his current position of power, analysing the impact he has had on the party.

ROAD TO PARTY LEADERSHIP
Hafiz's political career began at 16 when he joined the Islami Jamaat-e-Talaba
...The Islamic Students' Organization: the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, where young Moslems are trained into the arts of street fighting...
(IJT), the student wing of JI, in 1988. Already drawn to the religious political ideology espoused by JI founder Syed Abul Ala Maududi, he quickly rose through the ranks. This was the time when ethnic violence and fascism
...a political system developed in Italy, symbolized by the Roman fasces -- thin reeds, each flimsy in itself but unbreakable when bound into a bundle. Its distinguishing philosophical feature is the Corporate State, which is the alliance of big business and labor with the government in service to the all-powerful State. The word is nowadays thrown around by all sorts of oddballs who have no idea what they're talking about...
were escalating in the port city and other urban centres of Sindh.

By the age of 20, he had been beaten up, arrested, and booked in numerous cases. His leadership qualities, honed through festivities with rival student groups, propelled him to become the "nazim
...small time big shot, the chief elected official of a local government in Pakistan, such as a district, tehsil, union council, or village council...
" (president) of his college and later, the head of IJT Karachi and Sindh. By 1998, he had reached the national level, becoming the Nazim-e-Ala of IJT Pakistain.

Hafiz's rise as IJT chief coincided with a crucial period for JI. The Afghan jihad against the Soviets — initially supported by Pakistain and the US — was winding down, and the "mujahideen" were being reframed as "terrorists." Yet, his speech at the organization’s 1998 annual convention in Islamabad continued to glorify the Afghan jihad and endorse the controversial al-Badr militia in Bangladesh, among other crucial matters.

From his perspective, the following two major things occurred in Pakistain when he was the IJT nazim-e-ala: Pakistain became a nuclear power, and General Pervez Perv Musharraf
...former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date. They'll hang him if they can catch him...
toppled Nawaz Sharif
...served two three non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf, then by the courts...
’s government. According to him the IJT had initiated an 11-point education campaign for a unanimous curriculum, language of instruction, and against fee hikes among other issues, inviting other student groups to join forces with them, but Musharraf’s emergency destroyed the momentum.

After completing his tenure as IJT chief in 2000, Hafiz meticulously climbed the JI hierarchy, starting from the grassroots level again. His dedication earned him the position of JI Karachi's deputy general secretary in 2005. He contested his first election in 2001 and won the seat of "naib nazim" in a Nazimabad union council. In the 2002 general election, he lost a provincial assembly seat to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead...
(MQM) — a dominant party in Karachi at that time.

ALTAF'S FALL, HAFIZ'S RISE
Hafiz's leadership since 2013 as JI Karachi's emir has been marked by a distinct strategy. Although he had been vocal on the issues of the city since assuming the charge, he arguably gained the pace later after the fall of MQM supremo the increasingly Sydney Greenstreet-ish Altaf Hussain

... The head of MQM in Pakistain, who has lived in safety and comfort in London and hasn't laid eyes on his purported homeland since about the time Caesar made corporal. Judging from the size of him, he may be a Hutt...
He struck when MQM's grip on the city's politics was loosening due to the disintegration of the party into many factions and seized the opportunity smartly.

Devoid of any central figure and direction following Altaf’s explosive August 2016 speech, Muttahida failed to keep its supporters and workers within its ranks, allowing rivals to fill the political vacuum.

Tapping the potential, JI started forcefully highlighting the issues faced by Karahciites on a day-to-day basis and raised its voice for their redressal, which helped it create space for itself in the port city.

In 2020, the city chapter of the party launched a robust campaign, the "Huqooq-e-Karachi Tehrik" (Rights of Karachi Movement), highlighting the metropolis’ grievances — water shortages, power outages, and economic disparity. Hafiz, with his carefully crafted persona and social media savvy team, emerged as the face of this campaign.

According to Hafiz, Karachi is in a mess. "Decades of neglect by the Pakistain Peoples Party (PPP) and MQM have left the city in ruins. We, at JI, saw this vacuum and spoke out. We raised our voices on issues like K-Electric, Nadra, indigenous land encroachment by a powerful real estate tycoon, and corruption, unlike the silent others — exposing their incompetence," he told Geo.tv.

"They've been playing politics as usual, while JI filled the gap. We focused on public concerns, especially youth and women, and strengthened communication with our audiences. This strategy paid off. Our vote bank has steadily grown.

According to political analyst and academic Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan, Hafiz brought changes to the JI’s old doctrine.

"He, along with other JI leaders, initiated a campaign for national identity cards for citizens irrespective of their religion, sect, or ethnicity. He raised his voice over the power tariff hike, and campaigned over water theft and dilapidated road infrastructure in the city," Dr Khan mentioned.

"He gave a secular perspective to JI by going to churches and mandirs during the Covid-19 pandemic to supervise disinfectant spraying campaigns. Hafiz petitioned in the courts against the delay in local bodies election and sought amendments in the local government governance system."

Dr Khan added that for the first time in the history of JI, women with uncovered faces also campaigned for the party, and not just them but also actresses, and the party used music significantly.

CASHING IN ON SOCIAL MEDIA
JI Karachi — unlike other chapters of the party — has been very innovative in its use of media as compared to others and is considered by many as effective as that of PTI.

In the previous local bodies polls, they coined creative election slogans such as the famous ’Hal Sirf Jamaat-e-Islami’, developed reels from Bollywood songs, and appeared on popular YouTube channels to connect with younger voters.

Journalist and researcher Zia ur Rehman has credited the party’s media strategy for Hafiz’s rise.

"He has gotten significant media coverage, even more than JI emir Siraj ul Haq, because Karachi is the media hub in the country. Hafiz’s politics has revolved around local issues which affect every individual. This is how his personality evolved," Rehman mentioned.

Not only this, taking a leaf out of PTI’s playbook, they have several unofficial social media pages — like Karachi Stories — which are actively engaged in promoting Hafiz.

In an interview during a morning show, Hafiz said, "Our strength lies in in-house expertise. We conduct public opinion polls (both general and qualitative) to guide our strategies. Social media campaigns are crafted entirely by our team. We have a dedicated team of volunteers, some paid, but most driven by ideology. This translates to increased productivity."

An analysis of the party's social media handles shows that its Karachi chapter has established its supremacy having 77,000 followers on X account — the highest number of followers compared to other regions. Not only this, other divisions of the party, like JI Punjab, where the party is headquartered, have only 32,300 followers. Similarly, JI KP has 13,100 followers while JI Women has 44,600 followers.

However,
ars longa, vita brevis...
the party's main X handle (@JIPOfficial) has 280,600 followers.

Moreover, Hafiz's personal X account (@NaeemRehmanEngr) is among the top five most followed leaders of JI with 201,900 followers.

JI chief Sirajul Haq
...current head of the Pak Jamaat-e-Islami. Siraj was born in 1962 and entered politics shortly after that...
is on top with 1.3 million followers while Mushtaq Ahmed Khan has 207,500 followers, Liaqat Baloch 156,200, Dr Samia Raheel Qazi 115,500, Shamsuddin Amjad 75,100, Inayatullah Khan 62,400, Dr Meraj Siddiqui 43,200, Qaisar Sharif 37,300, Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha 25,200 and Mrs Aliya Mansoor 21,200 followers.

CONTRADICTIONS AND PRAGMATISM
However,
ars longa, vita brevis...
Hafiz's pronouncements on certain issues raise eyebrows. While vehemently criticising MQM for playing the "Muhajir card," a form of ethnic politics, he — during the Grand Democratic Alliance's protest sit-in against the February 8 election rigging at Jamoshoro interchange — praised Ayaz Latif Palijo, leader of the Sindhi nationalist party, Qaumi Awami Tehrik (QAT), as the "Baghawat ka Shair (lion of the rebellion)".

This inconsistency exposes a pragmatic side to Hafiz's politics — perhaps cooperation trumps ideology when faced with a common political opponent. However,
ars longa, vita brevis...
Hafiz reacted to this by saying that he could have said it "in Josh-e-Khitabat" (in the heat of rhetoric), but referred to the same speech in which he said that Sindhis and Muhajirs would no longer be pitted against each other.

Sharing a similar incident from the past, Dr Khan mentioned that in the 70s when PPP and the National Awami Party (NAP) started taking industries into government hold, the JI opposed the move terming it un-Islamic.

He added, however, when in the 90s the same industries were being privatised courtesy of the free-market capitalism and neoliberalism policies, the JI opposed it, causing a shift in their strategy.

He noted that Hafiz had campaigned vehemently to shape public opinion against K-Electric for failing to provide adequate power supply to Karachi residents.

He said there was another change in the strategy as well. The party would celebrate Youm-e-Hijab each year on Women’s Day, but this time they celebrated Women’s Day instead.

Similarly, Hafiz's stance on the establishment role is intriguing. He advocates for a delicate balance between the public and the military, urging the military to stay within its constitutional boundaries. Yet, his criticism is far less pronounced compared to his fiery
...a single two-syllable word carrying connotations of both incoherence and viciousness. A fiery delivery implies an audience of rubes and yokels, preferably forming up into a mob...
attacks on other political parties.

This cautious approach suggests an awareness of the power dynamics in Pakistain's political landscape.

INTERNAL PARTY DYNAMICS
Hafiz's leadership style has impacted JI Karachi's internal structure. He has built a strong team around him, comprising researchers, social media specialists, lawyers, and volunteers, in contrast to the more hierarchical structure often associated with Islamist parties.

His emphasis on data-driven decision-making, further sets him apart from some traditional politicians.

According to him, "We conducted an extensive exercise analysing public demographics and socio-economic classes, revealing that despite our efforts, we struggle to effectively communicate our work. This perception persists from several years ago. Our movement is grounded in scientific principles, drawing insights from both quantitative and qualitative research."

However,
ars longa, vita brevis...
questions remain about the extent of ideological consensus within JI Karachi. Hafiz's focus on local issues and social welfare programmes may appeal to a broader segment of the population, but it could also alienate more hardline elements within the party. The long-term impact of Hafiz's leadership on JI's national ideology remains to be seen.

ASTUTE POLITICIAN?
When Hafiz relinquished his Sindh Assembly seat that he won in the 2024 election, some people called him an astute politician as with two seats, the party could not make a big difference in the provincial legislature and wanted to remain focused on the city council, where they enjoy a considerable mandate.

To this Hafiz said, "This isn't about where the Karachi case could be taken. It's a matter of principle and conscience. If I had won the seat, there might be a case to be made that I relinquished it to keep the local body seat. However,
ars longa, vita brevis...
the reality is that I lost by a few thousand votes. Their goal was to silence us on the seats we actually won. It was a political bribe, a lollipop offered by those who wanted to weaken JI's influence or hold it hostage."

Hafiz was not only widely covered by international media when he gave up the seat last month, he was also praised by political analysts for the move.

According to Dr Khan, this was a "positive" and "democratic" act.

Journalist Rehman notes that Hafiz announced the move after a thorough probe into the matter.

THE NATIONAL STAGE AND THE FUTURE OF JI
Hafiz's success in Karachi has inevitably fuelled speculation about his potential for the national leadership of JI. His charisma, communication skills, and ability to connect with younger demographics make him a potentially attractive candidate.

Rehman said Hafiz has the ability to engage with the audience as he is eloquent and assertive. He added that Naeem had contested the recent local bodies and the general election on his picture. Naeem’s campaign posters can be seen behind rickshaws, on street polls, and in other locations, which appear strategic from the marketing point of view to attract significant eyeballs.

"The Pak nation is religious, however, they don’t vote for religious political parties in the election because they prefer someone who speaks about solving their everyday problems. And understanding this issue Hafiz put his focus on local issues, while putting the religious issues behind."

POTENTIAL LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES
According to Rehman, although Hafiz would be a popular figure within and outside the party, he would face significant challenges in his ascent to the position of power. Not only would he need to improvise the JI national-level political strategy, which would get him some opposition within the party, but he would also need to come up with issues that resonate with the general public and not just Karachi.

He said JI may need an aggressive person like Hafiz to raise the issues assertively.

"There is an anomaly to this thesis that the public doesn’t vote on the basis of religious issues and that is Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistain (TLP), which capitalised on the blasphemy
...the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to a deity, or sacred objects, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable. Some religions consider it to be a crime. In Pakistain you can commit blasphemy by looking cross-eyed at a Koran...
issues and garnered votes more than what the JI and Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...a Pak religious party. It is usually part of the govt, never part of the solution...
(Fazl) obtained from all over the country," Rehman said.

"PTI has dented the JI vote bank by getting the anti-MQM votes from Karachi and in comparison to PTI, JI has not resonated with the young voters much. This could be the personality issue. Most people, especially the youngsters, like Imran Khan
...aka The Great Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight...
because of his personality. On the other hand, JI discourages personality politics, yet, it is needed in the country’s political landscape."

Dr Khan is also of the same opinion, and he referred to his article ’Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Ka New Edition’ published in the Express News on 18 January 2023, as saying, "Although Naeem has provided traction to JI in Karachi, it is yet to be seen whether the party adopts a similar strategy on the national level".

JI Karachi has provided a liberal, progressive, and secular outlook to the Islamic party, which is different from the past, according to Dr Khan.

In conclusion, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman is a complex and intriguing figure. He has revitalised JI Karachi and presented a more nuanced image of the party. His focus on local issues, innovative communication strategies, and emphasis on social welfare programmes have resonated with Karachi's electorate.

However,
ars longa, vita brevis...
questions about the depth of his ideological shift and his ability to translate his success to the national stage remain.

Overall, Hafiz's leadership represents a potential turning point for JI. Whether he can navigate the treacherous waters of Pak politics and steer JI towards a more moderate and inclusive future remains to be seen. His success, or failure, will be a significant indicator of the evolving political landscape in Pakistain.
Posted by: Fred || 04/05/2024 00:00 || Comments || Link || [112 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Islami


Iraq
Iraqi Resistance Forces launch attacks on Israeli airbase
Iraqi resistance forces have launched attacks on a key "Israeli" airbase as well as the "Ashdod" in the central part of the occupied territories in support of Paleostinians in the Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamaswith about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
Strip, who are enduring a genocidal "Israeli" war.

The first strike used drones to hit the "Ramat David" Airbase — the "Israeli" entity’s northernmost outpost that houses warplanes and gunships.

The resistance noted that the attack was launched "in support of our people in Gaza, and in response to the massacres committed by the usurping entity against Paleostinian civilians including children, women, and the elderly."

The Iraqi forces hit a "vital target" in "Ashdod" during the second attack, which was similarly conducted using unmanned aerial vehicles.

Earlier on Wednesday, it struck the Haifa Airport in the northwestern part of the territories, asserting that it would continue to "destroy the enemy’s strongholds.

Posted by: Fred || 04/05/2024 00:00 || Comments || Link || [138 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies

#1  ...Did the Israelis notice?

Mike
Posted by: MikeKozlowski || 04/05/2024 13:18 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
‘Very best of humanity': the seven aid workers killed in Israeli airstrike
[Guardian] The World Central Kitchen has described the seven aid workers who were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza as the "very best of humanity". Three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen and a Palestinian were killed when their convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse on Monday.

Here is what is known about the victims:
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/05/2024 06:58 || Comments || Link || [364 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Appears WCK had a Solace Global contract. You decide.

X - Truth Signal.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/05/2024 7:09 Comments || Top||

#2  Better than George Floyd?
Posted by: Grom the Reflective || 04/05/2024 7:09 Comments || Top||

#3  ^ Ow!
Posted by: M. Murcek || 04/05/2024 7:30 Comments || Top||

#4  You know, no Israeli actually seen the bodies
Posted by: Grom the Reflective || 04/05/2024 7:52 Comments || Top||

#5  You go into a war zone, expect war zone stuff to happen. Diplomat, doctors, journalists, and cooks. No exceptions.
That's why it's prefered to not be there.
Posted by: ed in texas || 04/05/2024 8:50 Comments || Top||

#6  Perhaps they missed the class on the hazards of keying a SATCOM phone in a combat zone.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/05/2024 9:01 Comments || Top||

#7  'Now my grandson will grow up without having his father:' Heartbroken parents of aid worker Jacob Flickinger say their son was reluctant to go to Gaza but felt a need to help

"their son, who started working with food relief organization World Central Kitchen in Mexico last year"
Posted by: Skidmark || 04/05/2024 9:05 Comments || Top||

#8  Big Bezos funded operation.
Posted by: Huputle+Cherelet4131 || 04/05/2024 9:42 Comments || Top||

#9  Serious holes in this narrative.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 04/05/2024 9:46 Comments || Top||

#10  In all honesty how many of these aid orgs are used as spook hidey holes and for flipping countries like the United States now tell the TRUTH and be HONEST! do not hurt yourselves laughing ! I am pretty sure psychopaths and sociopaths lie a lot or all the time!
Posted by: Jack+Creanter7508 || 04/05/2024 9:51 Comments || Top||

#11  IDF explains mistaken deaths of WCK aid workers, consequences in place

To me it smells like Hell - but I am prejudiced.
Posted by: Grom the Reflective || 04/05/2024 9:54 Comments || Top||

#12 
Posted by: DarthVader || 04/05/2024 9:56 Comments || Top||

#13  Well to start with, at their age, a week ago the security detail would have been painted as Afghan baby killers who pissed on crayons.

And the Flickinger dude, I've heard that name somewhere before.

I mean, what is it they needed a face-to-face with 'someone' and didn't want to use telecommunications? Can't fault them for armored landcruisers, hell I wouldn't go to Lakeshore Drive without one, but what is this courier mission? Which went off of the approved routes.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 04/05/2024 10:13 Comments || Top||

#14  And the 'triple tap' hyperbole. No, three targets each hit once, not one target three times. Its stinks bad.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 04/05/2024 10:18 Comments || Top||

#15  Brazil’s Lula: 12.3 million children died in Gaza during war
Posted by: Grom the Reflective || 04/05/2024 10:47 Comments || Top||

#16  The Open Source is spotty.

But it was reiterated to me that IDF knows everything that happens in Gaza. And I was reading WCK entered a closed military zone where hamas was holed up and WCK had a meeting that was off-limits and not-sanctioned.
Posted by: mossomo || 04/05/2024 12:59 Comments || Top||

#17  ^ Yes, could have been an 'unsanctioned' hostage negotiation event. Could have been a third country (bilateral) ceasefire initiative.

Doubt if it much to do with food, but that's just my suspecious nature at work.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/05/2024 13:45 Comments || Top||

#18  Let the ICC make an issue of it.

Then we can have "discovery."
Posted by: M. Murcek || 04/05/2024 13:47 Comments || Top||

#19 
It's an active WAR ZONE.
Playing good samaritain for a youtube tac/tok video can often get you killed.
Posted by: NN2N1 || 04/05/2024 17:05 Comments || Top||

#20  Feeding barbarians who in their own words call for the extermination of the Jews is not 'humanitarian'.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 04/05/2024 19:45 Comments || Top||

#21  Interesting details at the link in #11.

The drone unit said it saw a Hamas terrorist climb onto one of the trucks and fire in the air at what it called action point two.

Based on historical precedent, I would have bet on Hamas involvement as a matter of course.

As the events developed, the IDF tried to call the aid workers involved in the field and was unable to reach them.
Next, the IDF called the WCK headquarters. The WCK headquarters tried to call its own aid workers in the field, but they did not answer.


Makes me wonder if they had their phones off to avoid being tracked. But it could just be bad cell reception.

In the book Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad, the author describes an incident where troops have rolled into the city and are coming under accurate artillery fire. Somebody sees a guy standing on a balcony of the Palestine Hotel looking into a boxy device mounted on a tripod. Innocent newsie videoing the action, or a hostile spotting for the artillery? US forces go to great lengths to identify the guy, calling the hotel and various local news agencies, even calling back to the States to try to get a handle on the situation.

Unable to get confirmed ID, they eventually smoke the guy with a tank round. Turns out he was a reporter for one of the news agencies. Oopsie! Media shitstorm ensues. (note that working for Rooters or whoever does not mean he was an innocent bystander)

tl;dr: It's war, Jake. Shit happens despite our best plans and procedures.



Posted by: SteveS || 04/05/2024 20:06 Comments || Top||

#22  Tragic Cui Bono Ball squeaks, "Probably a collaboration."
Posted by: Omusosing Gleatch5709 || 04/05/2024 23:42 Comments || Top||


33,037 Palestinians killed during Israel's offensive in Gaza: health ministry
[GEO.TV] More than 33,037 Palestinians have been killed and 75,668 have been injured in Israeli military offensive on Gaza since October 7, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

Some 62 Palestinians were killed and 91 injured in the past 24 hours, the ministry added.
Posted by: Fred || 04/05/2024 00:00 || Comments || Link || [243 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  How many born duting the same period?
Posted by: Grom the Reflective || 04/05/2024 0:26 Comments || Top||

#2  ^during
Posted by: Grom the Reflective || 04/05/2024 0:26 Comments || Top||

#3 
Posted by: Jairong+Scourge+of+the+Gepids2435 || 04/05/2024 1:07 Comments || Top||

#4  'Gaza Health Ministry' - There's a paradox for you.

And a wholly believable entity, I'm sure.
Posted by: Mullah Richard OTR || 04/05/2024 7:27 Comments || Top||

#5  off to a good start.
Posted by: irish+rage+boy || 04/05/2024 10:06 Comments || Top||

#6  OK, 33K Paleos. How many were a) active Hamasniks, b) Hamas-friendly, c) pure as the driven snow?
Posted by: SteveS || 04/05/2024 18:06 Comments || Top||

#7  But how many had COVID?
Posted by: M. Murcek || 04/05/2024 18:10 Comments || Top||

#8  "They was all turnin' their lives around, aspiring Arabic Rappers!"
Posted by: Frank G || 04/05/2024 19:22 Comments || Top||

#9  Baghdad Bob's new gig
Posted by: Whiskey Mike || 04/05/2024 19:43 Comments || Top||



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