Month: August 2005

Russian sub crew rescued

Via Reuters[*1] .

“The operation is finished. At 7:17 a.m., the submarine broke the surface. The crew opened the hatch on their own,” Rear Admiral Vladimir Pepelyaev said on state television.

He said the seamen were put on a rescue ship to be taken to hospital in the far eastern Pacific port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for further observation.

The Abu Zayd Letter

Intercepted enemy communications. From Blackanthem[*1] .

In the letter to al-Zarqawi the author, Abu Zayd, a terrorist operating out of Mosul, complained of the poor leadership in Mosul and mistreatment of foreign fighters.

Abu Zayd informs in his letter to the “Sheikh” that, “This is a clarification of what has become of the situation in Mosul, and it is no secret to you the noticeable decrease in the attacks carried out by the Mujahidin, from not long ago when Mosul was in the hands of the Mujahidin…” Abu Zayd continues by listing the multiple reasons why the “Mujahidin” have been less effective recently.

Abu Zayd claims that the Mosul Emirs are incompetent; attacks lack diversity; suicide bombings are focused more on quantity and not quality; those who are in the network are disobedient; a legitimate organization in Mosul does not exist; collaboration between the Emirs is lacking; “Muslim money” is squandered on petty expenses; numerous security violations occur; “inaccurate and blurred” updates to the Sheikh are reported; and foreign fighters endure “deplorable” conditions to include lack of pay, housing problems and marginalization.

Similar complaints to the “Sheikh” regarding lack of leadership were found in a letter written by a known terrorist cell leader who fought in Fallujah. Multi-National forces found this letter, authored by Abu Asim al-Qusaymi al-Yemeni and dated Apr. 27, during a raid in Baghdad in May.

Abu Zayd proposed a few solutions to the many problems he outlined to include a warning that if focus and pursuit of development is not provided to Mosul, “…the fall of Mosul in the hands of the Mujahidin is possible, and because it relieves the pressure off the other cities such as Al-Qa’im, Tal’afar.”

Remember this the next time you see another “we’re losing in Iraq” news article. Via Chrenkoff[*2] .

A “disturbing new law”

The New York Times is disturbed[*1] with Georgia’s voting law:

Georgia has passed a disturbing new law that bars people from voting without government-issued photo identification.

My God, what next? Speed limits? Requiring drivers to have insurance? Outlawing lying to courts? Where is this country headed? Something Must Be Done! Via Fark[*2] .

Iraq’s Compact with America

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad writes in the WSJ’s OpinionJournal[*1] of seven points that the US and Iraq have agreed to:

1. Iraq needs a “national compact” enshrined in its constitution.

2. The Iraqi government and the coalition will work together to isolate and defeat the terrorists and Baathists who want the restoration of the old regime.

3. The U.S. and the Iraqi government are seeking to encourage the region’s leaders to address problems in a new cooperative spirit and to pressure those who continue to foment instability.

4. The U.S. will work with the Iraqi government to improve the capacity of Iraqi ministries.

5. We will seek to increase economic opportunity. Not enough emphasis has been placed on developing the private sector.

6. The U.S. will work with the Iraqi government to set the conditions for a successful election–with full participation of all communities.

7. I will be engaging across the board to assist the Iraqi government to achieve our common objectives and mobilize more support by other countries.

Go read the full op-ed, which lays out The Plan (and, incidentally, the “exit strategy”) for Iraq.

OPEC increases oil production

News item via Yahoo News[*1] .

Sheik Ahmed Fahd Al Ahmed Al Sabah, president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, said in remarks carried by the Kuwait News Agency on Friday that the market had begun returning to normal and “prices (have) started to fall, especially after the smooth transition of power,” in Saudi Arabia.

Athletics 16, Royals 1

“Losing is never easy,” Royals catcher John Buck said. “It ruins your day.”

The Royals (38-72) own the worst record in the majors and made eight roster moves before the game, but played one of their worst games of the season.

“In the nine games, we’re doing everything wrong that we were doing right when we were winning,” Royals manager Buddy Bell said.

Royals need to go 43-9 to finish .500, 25-27 to avoid 100 losses, 1-51 to avoid losing all of their remaining games.