Iran: On Ground Updates - December 29, 2009

Iran: On Ground Updates
A government that can only stay in power by shooting its own people in the streets and blocking their communication with the outside world is in serious trouble...
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
. Iran Map by DoD-CENTCOM
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* The bloody events of recent days in Iran have demonstrated the repressive nature of the regime and the deep discontent surfacing in a country denied democratic freedoms. A government that can only stay in power by shooting its own people in the streets and blocking their communication with the outside world is in serious trouble...
Read William Hague’s full article at the Telegraph.co.uk website at link below...
There is still time to foil Iran's bomb plot
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* Our friends at the Debka.com website had the following good read posted up on their website on the 28th... Iranian sources reveal that Mir Hossein Mousavi's nephew, Ali Habib, was not shot dead during a Tehran demonstration Sunday, Dec. 27, as reported, but waylaid and gunned down as he left his home. Fresh riots followed the disappearance of the body from the hospital Monday. The episode became even more ominous when Iran's security services Chief Gen. Radan accused Mousavi of the murder to incite further violence. The opposition fears that the murder of Mousavi's nephew augurs physical liquidations of its leaders... The current upsurge of violence across Iran is the most dangerous yet because for the first time demonstrators are turning round to attack security forces, the Revolutionary Guardsmen and Basijj paramilitaries...
Read the full report at link below...
Iran reels toward popular counter-revolution
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Well... The above point a view by William Hague at the Telegraph.co.uk website pretty much sums the events up over the last so many days in Iran! Sadly... sanctions are a year or two too late and I believe only military action by Israel will bring this mess to a halt... and for at least 3 to 5 years.
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Only then will we AGAIN... have the breathing room to give the Iranian people a chance to make a Regime Change within their government... One that the west and the rest of the world can live with.
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Bottom line is there is a time when blood must be shed... Look at what is going on in the streets of Iran over the last so many days... The people of Iran have made their minds up and the time for CHANGE is NOW!
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Light ‘em up, Israel!!!
History’s calling...
AubreyJ.........

Iran: On Ground Updates - December 28, 2009

Iran: On Ground Updates
Just One Day After Deadly Anti-Government Protests, Iranian Security Forces Arrest Scores Of Opposition Figures
Monday, December 28, 2009.
* IslamOnline.net brings us the following report this early Monday afternoon and it starts off like this... A day after deadly anti-government protests, Iranian security forces arrested scores of opposition figures, Monday, December 28, sparking international outcry... “(Ebrahim Yazdi) was arrested at home and taken to an unknown place early Monday morning by security agents," opposition Rahesabz website said, referring to an opposition politician... Several aides to former president Mohamed Khatami and opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi were also reportedly arrested... "Mousavi advisors Alireza Beheshti, (Ghorban) Behzadian-Nejad and (Mohammad) Bagherian were also arrested in the morning," Parlemannews website said... Security agents also raided the office of a women's magazine, Irandokht, run by opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi's wife, and confiscated computers, according to Advarnews website... Award-winning rights campaigner and journalist Emadeddin Baghi was also arrested... "Security agents treated Baghi's family and daughters very offensively as they arrested him."... The crackdown came a day after deadly clashes between opposition supporters and security forces left eight people dead... More than 60 people had also been injured in Tehran...
Read the full report at link below...
Iran Cracks Down On Opposition, West Critical 
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Protesters killed in Iran clashes - 28 Dec 09
- This video removed by me in respect of Google Ad Policies…

About this news video: Iranian officials say five people have died in violence between opposition protesters and security forces in Tehran. The protests coincided with Ashoua, one of Shia Islam's most important holidays. Among the dead is the 35-year-old nephew of Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi... Al Jazeera's Rosiland Jordan reports.
This video posted on YouTube by AlJazeeraEnglish .

- These Videos and Photo links removed by me in respect of Google Ad Policies…

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AubreyJ.........

Pakistani Security Forces Storm Mosque Compound

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Pakistani Security Forces
Storm Mosque Compound

after Failed Talks
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
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Pakistani security forces have stormed a radical mosque compound in Islamabad, killing some 50 militants believed to be holed up inside with hostages... Gunfire and explosions erupted as security forces stormed the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque compound after talks broke down to end a weeklong standoff with the militants inside...
Read the rest of the story at Radio Free Afghanistan
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>>> PrinceGeorgeCitizen.com has this take that goes in part like this... Commandos stormed the mosque compound before dawn, and more than eight hours later were still trying to root out the well-armed defenders said to be holding about 150 hostages.
Read the rest at link below...
Troops storm Pakistan mosque compound after talks fail; nearly 60 killed
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More to come on this story as the events wind down...
AubreyJ.........
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* Forces Storm Pakistan Mosque *

Video posted on LiveLeak By: smeblee

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UPDATE: 11:30am CDT

Bloomberg.com is now reporting that the assault is almost over and the Cleric, Abdul Rashid Ghazi has been killed. Their report starts off like this... An operation by Pakistani troops to end a standoff with militants at Islamabad's Red Mosque was “almost over” late today after deputy chief cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi was killed in the crossfire, an army spokesman said... The assault was in the “final stages,” the spokesman, Major General Waheed Arshad, said in a phone interview from the capital. “We have control over 90 percent of the complex. Some militants are still resisting,” he said...
Read the rest HERE

UPDATE: 10:00pm CDT

The BBC News website has this update... Pakistan's army says an operation to flush out militants from a mosque in Islamabad is in its final stages - 24 hours after troops stormed the complex.
Red Mosque Operation 'nears end'

* UPDATE: Wednesday, 8:00am CDT *
WRAL.com has this update this morning that starts off like this... Pakistani commandos cleared the warren-like Red Mosque complex of all die-hard defenders Wednesday, ending a fierce eight-day siege and street battles which left more than 80 dead... "The first phase of the operation is over. There are no more militants left inside," Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Washeed Arshad said...
Read the rest of the story HERE

*POST END*
More to come in future post above this one...

Iraqis Show Confidence in Security Forces

The Iraqi people are starting to show more confidence in their security forces, and this is paying off with better security in Baghdad, coalition officials said today.

The largest indicator is that sectarian killings have dropped 27 percent in March from February, Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, coalition spokesman, said during a Baghdad news conference.

But although that and other indicators point in the same direction, Caldwell cautioned, security should not be measured in progress over days or weeks, but rather over months. With the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, in place, three of the five U.S. brigade combat teams slated for deployment as part of the surge are in place. Two more coalition brigades will move into Baghdad in the late May, early June time frame.

Iraqi security forces are holding up their end of the deal, Caldwell said. All nine Iraqi battalions that are part of the surge are in place and contributing to security in all neighborhoods of the capital.

"The progress of the Iraqi forces is good and will get better," said Iraqi government spokesman Dr. Ali Aldabbagh. "Despite all the challenges of the terrorist groups against the Iraqi people, and despite all the terrorist operations carried out in March ... the Iraqi people now have more trust in their Iraqi security forces. This will lead to more cooperation between the Iraqi people and the security forces."

Caldwell said security is the key to change in Baghdad.

"When the people feel more secure, everything else is possible," he said. "That's why we are working diligently with our Iraqi partners to secure progress and provide hope."

Iraqi and coalition efforts are centered in Operation Fahrd al-Qanoon, and Arabic phrase that means "enforcing the law."

"The effects of our commitment will be felt over many months," Caldwell said. "We know our increased presence among the people is having an effect."

The Iraqi people are seeing more Iraqi army and police personnel patrolling the streets and manning checkpoints in the neighborhoods. This higher level of contact is building increased confidence, which in turn is leading to greater cooperation, Aldabbagh said.

The cooperation between the Iraqi people and their security forces is at an all-time high, Caldwell said. While Iraqis can still use a national tip line to turn in terrorists, insurgents and criminals, more in the Baghdad area are taking advantage of the fact that security forces are in the neighborhoods.

"It is a true community police effort," he said. "Police and soldiers live among the people and share their knowledge and concerns. Now, the people can report criminal activity directly to the stations."

As Iraqi and coalition forces patrol and as the security situation improves, Baghdadis are engaging the forces more and providing them far more information than in the past, the general said.

"This cooperation is helping to bring down the levels of sectarian violence," he added. "Results produce more results. As the people feel more confidence in their protectors, they are less likely to take the law into their own hands. There are encouraging signs that more people are buying into restraint rather than retribution."

Al Qaeda in Iraq continues its high-profile car bomb attacks to massacre innocent civilians, Caldwell said. Even with Iraqi security forces foiling more attacks at checkpoints, "too many still occur," Caldwell said.

The general said al Qaeda in Iraq is trying to ignite a cycle of tit-for-tat violence, but the downward trend in sectarian attacks may mean the Iraqi people increasingly aren't letting themselves be drawn in by al Qaeda's tactics. "The decline in sectarian murders may be a sign that the people of Iraq are rejecting this cycle of violence," he said.
(Taken from DoD’s American Forces Press Service news article that was written by Jim Garamone)