Target Centermass

Category: Europe

  • Today’s Dump o’ Links

    All courtesy of the fine sites on my blogroll.

    Fox Journalists Still Missing: Malkin Calls for a Blogburst

    Sowell: Point of No Return? (Hat tip for this must-read to Rightwingsparkle)

    Hezbollah sinks Australian warship (Hat tip to Argghhh!!!)

    The Many Faces of Belgian Fascism (Hat tip to CDR Salamander, who adds other related links and some thoughts of his own)

    Steyn: World is Watching as Iraq War Tests U.S. Mettle (Hat tip to Alan at Petrified Truth, who also has an interesting look at geysers on Mars)

    Three Iranian factories ‘mass-produce bombs to kill British in Iraq’ (Hat tip to Richard at Hyscience who closes with the key question in just about any story these days involving Iran)

    And on a lighter note … Bill Watterson’s Rarest (Hat tip to JohnL at TexasBestGrok, who adds a few thoughts and other links on the greatness that will always be Calvin and Hobbes

  • Israel-Hezbollah-Syria Link Dump

    To quote Tanner Boyle: Crud!

    Nothing really tonight from me. Oh, there was going to be something about the cease-fire in southern Lebanon that I was working on while bouncing back and forth between this and my real job, and I was well on may way to stringing together several different items when my Firefox browser bit the dust. Now I’m just going to see if I can gather up all or some of the pieces I was trying to intricately weave together into a coherent read and, instead, salvage a bit of a link dump.

    Krauthammer: A Moment to Be Seized in Lebanon

    The charm of any U.N. Security Council resolution lies in the preamble, which invariably begins by “recalling” all previous resolutions on the same subject that have been entirely ignored, therefore necessitating the current resolution. Hence newly minted Resolution 1701: Before mandating the return of south Lebanon to Lebanese government control, it lists the seven Security Council resolutions going back 28 years that have demanded the same thing.

    We are to believe, however, that this time the United Nations means it. Yet, the fact that responsibility for implementation is given to Kofi Annan’s office — not known for integrity, competence or neutrality — betrays a certain unseriousness about the enterprise from the very beginning.

    Now, it is true that had Israel succeeded militarily in its strategic objectives, there would have been no need for any resolution. Israel would have unilaterally cleaned out south Lebanon and would be dictating terms.

    But that did not happen. The first Israel-Hezbollah war ended in a tie, and in this kind of warfare, tie goes to the terrorist.

    Read it all.

    Under-equipped, under pressure: the Lebanese Army rolls in after an absence of four decades

    Nawal hurled a fistful of grains into the air showering a Lebanese Army Jeep with rice, startling the young officer trying to navigate his armoured column through the narrow streets of this southern town.

    “We have waited a long, long time for this,” said Nawal, who lined up on her balcony with three generations of her family to wave at the young soldiers below. “Finally we feel we are part of Lebanon once again.”

    The scene was repeated in towns and villages across the south of the country yesterday, when some 2,500 Lebanese soldiers returned to a region from which the Army has been virtually absent for nearly 40 years. In the 1970s the area was largely under the control of Palestinian guerrillas, in the 1980s Israel occupied much of the region and in the 1990s and until yesterday it was governed by Hezbollah, the militant Shia Muslim militia.

    Under orders to secure the Lebanese-Israeli border and disarm anyone with an unauthorised weapon, Brigadier General Charles Sheikhani said that his troops were up to the job. The initial force will be strengthened over the coming weeks until 15,000 soldiers are deployed alongside UN peacekeepers.

    I’m currently doubtful about this story for three reasons: I don’t think the Lebanese will go to any great length to disarm Hezbollah, I will possibly believe that the Lebanese army and the U.N. peacekeepers have the slightest chance of being even somewhat effective only when I see the actual boots on the ground in the numbers called for, and I’m still bitter that this is the story that killed my browser and my earlier work.

    So, the region stands now at a cease-fire and yet another worthless U.N. resolution. Who won? I doubt anybody did … yet. Israel could have, but played their cards too tightly for fear of excessive collateral damage in light of a world that has been historically way too eager to condemn its efforts. Did Hezbollah and its accompanying parental units of Syria and Iran win just by avoiding obliteration? Possibly but, as I said, the big “yet” looms near. Still, that doesn’t mean that Syria will not hesitate to take the wrong lessons from the fight.

    Syria warns Israel over Golan

    Syria has warned Israel that the occupation of the Golan Heights “cannot last forever” and said Syrians will emulate Hizbollah to recover their land.

    “We say to the forces occupying our land that our people warn you that they will not allow our land to be occupied forever,” the government’s daily Ath-Thawra said.

    “You must understand that our people will fight the way the Lebanese resistance (Hizbollah) fought you,” it added.

    “Our people will fight you … on every inch of the Golan,” it said.

    However, the newspaper urged decision-makers in Israel “to open up to new perspectives”, noting that some in the Jewish state were in favour of making peace with Syria.

    “The leaders of this expansionist entity have a choice: either they heed the voice of reason that prohibits them from violating other people’s rights or they will face action similar to that carried out by the Lebanese resistance.”

    Syria has repeatedly demanded the return of the Golan Heights which Israel conquered in the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war and annexed in 1981.

    Why stop at just the Golan?

    Assad: Future generations will find a way to defeat IDF

    Syrian President Bashar Assad congratulated Hezbollah yesterday for what he described as their success in “defeating Israel.” Assad said that the members of the resistance used their “will, determination and faith” to counter Israeli arms, enabling them to defeat Israel.

    “The resistance is necessary as much as it is natural and legitimate,” he said. Assad said this war revealed the limitations of Israel’s military power.

    […]

    Assad said that the United States’ plan for a “new Middle East” has collapsed after what he described as Hezbollah’s success in fighting against Israel, and warned Israel to seek peace or risk defeat in the future.

    “They should know that they are before a historic crossroads. Either they move toward peace and the return of [Arab] rights, or they move in the direction of continued instability until one generation decides the matter,” he said.

    Ah, there we have it, threats on the Golan aren’t enough. Now we already have essentially the old threat of Israel’s destruction, of pushing the Jews into the sea. Surely Syria must recognize the difference between engaging a hesitant IDF, assaulting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon but playing on the stage of global public relations, and an IDF that would face Syria on the Golan Heights and certainly on any incursion into Israel.

    Yes, this is mere bluster on the part of the Syrians. Still, it is bluster that has shown they have no interest in a lasting peace that includes Israel, and it is bluster that has triggered a somewhat surprising diplomatic rebuke.

    Opinion: A Time to Say “No”

    Because of the Syrian president’s belligerent rhetoric, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had no choice but to cancel his visit to Syria, says DW’s Peter Philipp.

    At some point, one should be able to say “no.” This happens all too rarely in international diplomacy, because it is simply characteristic of diplomats to stay non-committal even when they disagree and continue as if nothing had happened. That’s a false understanding of international communication, because diplomacy increasingly appears as a business without backbone or conscience.

    Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s decision to cancel his visit to the Syrian capital Damascus on short notice is a positive deviation from the above scenario. In his speech before Steinmeier’s arrival, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made it clear that there was no longer a reason for this visit.

    Not because he described Israel as the “enemy.” Israel is that, as long as the two states are officially at war with each other. But Assad went further than that: He rejected the peace efforts in the Middle East. Although the Syrian president spoke about his country’s readiness for peace, he added that this would not apply to Israel. Who does Assad want to make peace with, if not with the enemy of today? One could almost conclude that he doesn’t want peace at all. And that that is why he is disqualifying himself as a constructive partner in the permanent Middle East settlement.

    Not that any of those supposed revelations haven’t been obvious for more than half a century, mind you, but at least Germany showed a moment of enlightenment.

  • Pardons in Sight for WWI Soldiers Shot at Dawn

    For some U.K. families, haunted for decade upon decade, a justice of sort may be pending.

    Dozens of Scottish soldiers who were shot for cowardice or desertion during the First World War are finally set to win pardons, it emerged last night. Defence Secretary Des Browne announced that the government is to seek parliamentary approval to pardon more than 300 British soldiers who were executed during the First World War for alleged “military offences”.

    The announcement came hours after the family of Private Harry Farr, who was shot for cowardice during the conflict aged just 25, revealed they had been told he was to be pardoned.

    Mr Browne said: “Although this is a historical matter, I am conscious of how the families of these men feel today. They have had to endure a stigma for decades.

    “That makes this a moral issue too, and having reviewed it, I believe it is appropriate to seek a statutory pardon. I hope we can take the earliest opportunity to achieve this by introducing a suitable amendment to the current Armed Forces Bill.”

    More than 300 Commonwealth troops – including 39 Scots – were shot by their fellow soldiers during the Great War. Their alleged crimes included desertion, cowardice, and sleeping at their posts.

    But campaigners who have fought for years to have the men’s names cleared believe the majority were young and suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome after months in the trenches and enduring endless artillery bombardment.

    Many of them, including some as young as 17, were sentenced to execution after courts martial lasting less than 30 minutes.

    Pte Farr’s granddaughter, Janet Booth, said the family’s solicitor had been informed last night that their wish had been granted. “We are over the moon,” she added.

    The move will require an amendment to the Armed Forces Bill currently going through Parliament.

    John Dickinson, of Irwin Mitchell, said: “This is complete common sense and rightly acknowledges that Pte Farr was not a coward, but an extremely brave man.

    “Having fought for two years practically without respite in the trenches, he was very obviously suffering from a condition we now would have no problem in diagnosing as post-traumatic stress disorder or shellshock as it was known in 1916.”

    Pte Farr’s daughter Gertrude Harris, 93, added: “I am so relieved that this ordeal is now over. I have always argued that my father’s refusal to rejoin the front line, described in the court martial as resulting from cowardice, was in fact the result of shellshock, and I believe that many other soldiers suffered from this, not just my father. I hope that others who had brave relatives who were shot by their own side will now get the pardons they equally deserve.”

    Some of these men may well have been deserters and cowards. That said, I truly believe this would not be the case for a great many who were courageous but worn individuals, burdened by a long, grinding war that gnawed at the soul while many cases of inept leadership cost needless gallon upon gallon of precious blood. For a good look at the years of poor Allied command decisions that almost certainly contributed to many of the involved cases, I again recommend John Mosier’s The Myth of the Great War.

    Here’s wishing the pardons come that are deserved, as soldiers today would be granted greater understanding after years in the meatgrinder — if any ever again faced such enduring exposure. Here’s also wishing peace for their families.

  • Police: Plot to Blow up Aircraft Foiled

    Well, the big story today obviously the uncovering of a plan to bring terror once again to the friendly skies.

    British police say they have arrested 21 people in connection with a terrorist plot to blow up aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States.

    The plot was “intended to be mass murder on an unimaginable scale,” Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson said. The UK’s threat warning level has been raised to “critical” — meaning “an attack is expected imminently.”

    […]

    The plot involved hiding liquid explosives in carry-on luggage, and six to 10 flights would have been targeted, U.S. officials said.

    A senior U.S. congressional source said it is believed the plotters were to carry a “British version of Gatorade” onto the planes and then mix it with a gel-like substance. The explosives were to be triggered by an iPod or a cell phone, the source said.

    Some flights would have been heading from the UK to New York, Washington D.C. and California, the officials said.

    The plot involved Continental, United, and American Airlines, according to an administration official who noted that the list was not exclusive.

    The intelligence that uncovered the plot “makes very strong links to al Qaeda,” a senior U.S. administration official told CNN. The official said it is believed the plot was close to being operational.

    Later, CNN updated the number arrested to 24 and credits the information that led to the raids to infiltration by an undercover agent.

    British and Pakistani authorities teamed up to thwart the attacks, and 24 men were arrested in overnight raids in Britain, authorities said.

    An undercover British agent infiltrated the group, giving the authorities intelligence on the alleged plan, several U.S. government officials said.

    The men had not bought plane tickets, the officials said, but they were in the process of perusing the Internet to find flights to various cities that had similar departure times.

    If you’re playing catch up this story, I’d recommend starting at Outside the Beltway, where James Joyner has put together a wealth of reports, links, videos and updates.

    After that, I’d suggest Texas Rainmaker, where Jason has done some interesting pondering in a one-man attempt to connect some possibly-related dots.

  • Brit Takes Control of Nato Troops against Taliban

    Our NATO allies have stepped up to the plate, unsurprisingly led by one of our staunchest allies, the British.

    A British general took command of an expanded Nato force in Afghanistan today, vowing to “strike ruthlessly” against the Taliban as the west’s military alliance prepared to conduct land combat operations for the first time in its 57-year history.

    Lieutenant General David Richards, commander of Nato’s international security assistance force, Isaf, based in Kabul, took over a multinational force in southern Afghanistan where British, US, Canadian, Dutch, and other troops face a dangerous mix of Taliban fighters, corrupt officials, opium farmers and drug dealers.

    Of course, NATO has had a presence in Afghanistan for some time; the significance of this development, the approval of which I discussed last December, is huge — our allies in the Cold War-era alliance are finally expanding from the relatively safe peacekeeping role into some of the more dangerous Afghan regions.

    The importance of this endeavor, both historically and as a test of NATO, should not be understated.

    Gen Richards, a veteran of successful peacemaking missions in Sierra Leone and East Timor, is the first British officer to command American troops in ground operations since the second world war. Nato officials have described his task as a vital test, to demonstrate the continuing relevance of an organisation set up in 1949 to fight the cold war.

    “We will retain the capability and will to strike ruthlessly at the enemies of Afghanistan when required,” the British general said.

    Nato forces are now deployed in northern, western, and southern Afghanistan. By the end of the year, the US wants Nato troops to take over from American ground forces now deployed in the east of the country. That would leave the US in command of its continuing Operation Enduring Freedom, with its special forces and aircraft trying to track down al-Qaida remnants in the mountains bordering Pakistan.

    Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the Nato secretary general, said yesterday: “This is one of the most challenging tasks Nato has ever taken on, but it is a critical contribution to international security, and a demonstration of our commitment to the people of Afghanistan.”

    On this blog, I have also repeatedly question the relevance of NATO in post-Cold War times. Believe me, I would be quite happy were my concerns to be laid to rest.

    Gen Richards said his new command was “in one sense historic”. He added: “Also it is important for the world that Afghanistan is not allowed to be tipped back to its pre-9/11 state and allow a Taliban lookalike government with its sympathies to come back into power.”

    The general continued: “Nato is here for the long term, for as long as the government and people of Afghanistan require our assistance. We are committed to Afghanistan and its future.” He referred to malign forces “perpetuating a cycle of oppression, murder and poverty”.

    Gen Richards has not been afraid to speak his mind in the past, notably over arguments between competing foreign agencies in Afghanistan and the role of private security companies. He has also made it clear that Nato forces are short of equipment, including helicopters and medical support.

    He will command some 18,000 Nato troops in Afghanistan, including 4,500 British soldiers based in Helmand province, a centre of opium poppy cultivation where the writ of President Hamid Karzai’s central government scarcely runs.

    The general’s priority will be to set up “secure zones” in southern Afghanistan and build up the local infrastructure – measures designed to show the local population that Nato troops are improving their life in practical ways, for example through building roads and irrigation schemes.

    Luckily, it seems like Gen. Richards is the sort that just may lead NATO to answer at least some of my concerns.

    It should be noted that the British, fighting along side the Americans, already seeming to perform well against the Taliban enemy.

    Over recent weeks US and British troops, mainly from Third Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, have confronted Taliban fighters and their supporters in a surge of violence that has killed an estimated 700 militants and 19 western troops, including six British soldiers. British commanders have been surprised by what they refer to as the “virulence” of Taliban fighters. They have also expressed concern about their soldiers being overextended in forward bases.

    The troops may or may not be overextended. The Taliban may or may not be virulent. One thing is certain: 700-19 is one heck of dominant scoreboard tally.

    UPDATE: In the comments, Damian Brooks of Babbling Brooks seemed to believe that I felt that the NATO allies had, to date, not been contributing. That was not at all the impression I meant to convey. I know that NATO has played a large role in the security of the Kandahar area and the training of the forces for the new Afghan government.

    No, my post was not meant to ignore previous efforts by our allies; instead, I wanted to point out the historical significance of a Brit being the first to command American forces since WWII and give a blog-pat on the back to NATO for stepping into the fight as an organization. In no way did I mean to short-shrift our allies that were already contributing with precious blood and sweat. Indeed, when the U.S. first proposed an expansion of NATO’s role in Afghanistan to the more dangerous southern regions, I would like to point out to Damian that I blogged that it was several European members that balked at the idea, and I later blogged that it was Britain, Australia and other nations of the Commonwealth, including and Canada, that shortly afterwards proudly stepped forth in NATO’s period of hesitation.

    I am glad that NATO has decided to carry a greater burden, but that in no way means I devalue the sacrifices of our friends who don’t need a NATO banner above them to prove their worth.

  • Tonight’s Good Read

    Gates of Vienna brings us “The Fall of France and the Multicultural World War,” a lengthy look at the prospects of Europe in the face of expansionist Islam. There’s a lot of food for thought here, but understandably not a lot of cheer.

    Hat tip to CDR Salamander, who ties it to another similar piece before posting his two cents worth.

  • 2nd Lt Harry Wales, for Gran and Country

    From royalty to officer, Britain’s Prince Harry has now stepped forth as, in the slang of the U.S. Army, a brand-spanking-new butterbar.

    A smile was exchanged between the Queen and her grandson yesterday, as Prince Harry paraded in front of the monarch at his passing-out ceremony at Sandhurst. He joined 218 other officer cadets at the military college’s historic Sovereign’s Parade, and emerged a 2nd lieutenant destined to join the Household Cavalry.

    Dressed in a navy blue uniform, white gloves and cap, the third in line to the throne stood with raised sword as the Queen inspected each line of the British Army’s new officers. Like his comrades in arms, a senior military source said yesterday, it was “eminently possible” that Prince Harry, 21, could see military action in Afghanistan or Iraq within 12 months.

    As a cornet – as 2nd lieutenants are referred to in the Household Cavalry’s Blues and Royals – Prince Harry will serve in an armoured reconnaissance unit and train to become a troop commander, in charge of 11 men and four light tanks.

    Yesterday his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, father, the Prince of Wales, stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall and brother, Prince William, who is also training at Sandhurst, watched as Prince Harry followed in the footsteps of the wartime prime minister Winston Churchill and Bond creator Ian Fleming by taking part in Sandhurst’s passing-out parade.

    […]

    The monarch inspected the officers as the National Anthem played. She passed through the lines chatting and gave a beaming smile when she reached Prince Harry. In return, he gave a big grin and his cheeks flushed.

    The Queen then addressed the newly commissioned officers on the importance of leadership. She told them in her speech: “If you look at the careers of successful officers, you will find that, no matter how clever they have been, what really matters is how they related to people under their command. It is an art, not a science, and it needs constant attention and refinement to achieve the highest standards. It was not by chance that the motto chosen for the Royal Military Academy is ‘serve to lead’.”

    She then said: “This is just the end of the beginning and many of you will deploy on operations within months or even weeks.”

    What next for the young prince? Possibly an assignment in-theater, a far cry from his recent days enjoying a different kind of theater.

  • Prince Harry in Spotlight over Lap-dance

    Here’s a complete non-story that is raising a bit of a fuss across the pond.

    Prince Harry, who has gained a reputation as a royal “wild child”, hit the headlines again on Saturday with reports he visited a lap-dancing club.

    Harry visited the Spearmint Rhino club at Colnbrook, west of London, with friends early on Friday to celebrate the end of his army officer training at the elite Sandhurst military academy, several newspapers reported.

    The Sun newspaper — in a front-page story headlined “Dirty Harry” — said the prince, 21, and his friends swigged lager and ogled topless girls.

    The Daily Mirror said Harry “sat with a stripper on his lap” after arriving at the club at 3 a.m.

    The office of Prince Charles declined comment.

    […]

    While the story caused a stir in the media, some royal pundits rallied to Harry’s defence.

    “It’s a pretty tough course (at Sandhurst) and they were celebrating, just having a nice time,” novelist Jilly Cooper, a friend of Charles and Camilla, told BBC News 24 television. “There’s nothing wrong with going to a strip club, it’s just a laugh, I think.”

    I really don’t see any big deal here. Military officer candidates, upon completion of training, going out for a night of frothy drinks and bouncing eye candy? Surely that’s not unprecedented. Heck, even former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the dear ol’ Iron Lady herself, visited a stripper club almost a year ago almost to the day.

  • Tartan Day ’06 Tartan Dump

    I’m just wrapping up Tartan Day ’06 with some actual tartans. I’ll throw the images below the fold.
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  • Tartan Day ’06 Link Dump

    Scots Wha Hae
    (c) FreeFoto.com

    It’s Tartan Day. You want links? I got ’em.

    Well, let’s start with the obvious — the Scottish Tartans Society, the “principal authority in the world on tartans and Highland dress.”

    On the internet, I recommend ElectricScotland.com as a starting point for all things Scottish, be it history, geneology, clans or travel.

    Ith at Absinthe & Cookies shows all of the blogs marking Tartan Day by participating in the Gathering of the Blogs, 2006 edition.

    Want to weave your own tartan? Try the tartan weaver, where you can design your own and even purchase products made with your design.

    This chronology may or may not help you brush up on your Scottish history, but it just might bring a chuckle (hat tip to Blackfive).

    Alexis Malcolm Kilts has kilts moderately priced, with a wide selection that includes the tartans of all the branches of the U.S. military.

    Here in the DFW area, the fine folks at Scotland Forever have been helpful with my wedding planning.

    For a kilt on a budget, there’s Sport Kilt, even if you’re looking for digital camo or a Hawaiian print.

    I’ve already blogged about the tragic passing of the famed Scottish regiments, as units centuries old are being amalgamated into one regiment. Here’s the site of the Black Watch, one of the legendary regiments now only a battalion

    The American sport of lacrosse has begun taking root in Scotland. The Scottish national lacrosse team is currently preparing for this July’s 2006 World Championship in London, Ontario. The Scots went 4-3 and finished seventh in the 2002 championships in Perth, Australia. Check out their history page — the Scottish national team can essentially trace it’s roots to the aftermath of the Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

    The 2006 Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games is approaching, with a full slate of activities and entertainment scheduled for June 2-4 in Arlington. I went to last year’s festival and had a grand time. Hey, nowhere else but Texas would someone opt for this outfit — kilt, hose and flashes, sgian dubh, cowboy boots and hat (click for larger). Oh yeah, that ain’t me in the picture.

    Texas Scottish Cowboy