News Stories

[maplehurry]

Originally Posted by Mr Hat and Clogs

That Taliban assault on the school is disgusting, how can they possibly live with themselves for killing children? Or does it make them feel like big manly men?

The Taliban claim that they lost their family members to the the pakistani army, therefore "this is revenge".

This could be the motive for some of the actual Taliban fighers (who obviously don't have much restraint/rationality or they wouldn't join to be terrorists in the 1st place).

Given how provocative this "retaliatory" attack is... the higher-ups of Taliban seem to have something else in mind.

Probably something like "come attack and kill us more so that our fanatic sheep have something to do and hopefully we can get more recruits later on...."

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by Der Langrisser

U.S., Cuba plan restored relations after 50 years of hostility

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JV1H520141217

I never thought this day would arrive.

Still, the embargo can only be lifted by Congress, which the next one will never do. At least, having some more normalised relations will not hurt.

[supermegasonic]

Originally Posted by Mr Hat and Clogs

That Taliban assault on the school is disgusting, how can they possibly live with themselves for killing children? Or does it make them feel like big manly men?

This is taken from reddit, explains the situation a bit more. kinda long but worth the read

Spoiler for explanation:

The larger context right now is being ignored. Since June the Pakistani military has been conducting a military offensive in the (former) Northwest Frontier Provinces (Now KPP). This area which now has an area called the FATA district is home to various Pakistani Taliban groups and tribal groups ( like the Mehsuds and Wazirs) with shifting allegiances. The Pakistani Taliban is influenced by A) Deobandi Islamism which is a South Asian variation of Islam that has been radicalized by Saudi money and interpretation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deobandi B) and its dominant influence is the Pashtun tribal ethos of Pashtunwali: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashtunwali

These two influences have shaped Taliban religious and political ideology. Now, 80 % of the Taliban are Pashtuns, while Pakistan is divided into various ethnic and regional groups ( like Sindhs, Punjabis)..The Pashtuns are also in Afghanistan as the Durrand Line ( the border between Pakistan/Afghanistan) cuts between their ethnic " homeland". They don't identify with the state of Pakistan. Now, since the operation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Zarb-e-Azb was launche, ( the breakdown of the ceasefire with the Taliban with PM Nawaz Sharif's gov't, and the Jinnah int'l airport attack in June), The Taliban consider the use of attacks on children and schools as a means of exacting revenge which is a major important thing in Pashtun culture. They see the deaths of their tribesmen as something that justifies these barbaric attacks. They have been scattered now into various cities in Pakistan as well, which makes it more dangerous. The Pakistani Taliban are at war with the government in Islamabad. I would also like to add that the Taliban attacked an ARMY school, which means these kids were children of soldiers who were fighting in the NWFP or/and the school represented the Army. The tribes the Taliban protect there lost many children to the Pakistani military. This is cold blooded revenge for the Taliban at the same time sending a message to the Pakistani military to stay out of " their" territory.

Edit: I am also going to add a Wiki link to the areas where the Pashtun people predominate. If you notice its in the area of the border region: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashtun...cation_Map.svg

Edit 2: Wow.Thanks for the gold! I am only doing my duty as someone with a History degree. If you want some good sources I suggest two readings:

http://yalepress.yale.edu/book.asp?isbn=9780300178845

http://www.theguardian.com/books/201...-lieven-review

Edit 3: I wanted to clarify that my statements are not demeaning to Pashtun culture or to Pashtun people. I hope you don't take offense. Most Pashtun are not Taliban. My point being was that most Taliban are Pashtun. I want to explain the socioeconomic and historical circumstances of a great people within the context of why the Taliban continue to exert influence.

Edit 4: wow this really blew up. I edited some things I said were wrong, so thanks for the input from fellow Redditors (SP?) I never expected so much gold for an explanation. Please no more! Instead, go support an independent bookstore and buy yourself a good non-fiction book. I implore you!

[aohige]

I'm all for preserving ethnic cultures, but if the said culture justifies and encourages taking revenge on innocent children, it has no place in the 21st century.
There is absolutely zero need to respect it.

[ganbaru]

For North Korea's cyber army, long-term target may be telecoms, utility grids
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JX0JW20141219

Eight children killed in Australia in reported mass stabbing
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JX09620141219

Putin says Russia economy will be cured, offers no remedy
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JV2R120141218

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by aohige

I'm all for preserving ethnic cultures, but if the said culture justifies and encourages taking revenge on innocent children, it has no place in the 21st century.
There is absolutely zero need to respect it.

There's zero need to respect killing of children...by any side...even the "good" side. Period.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Cosmic Eagle

There's zero need to respect killing of children...by any side...even the "good" side. Period.

They don't care whether you respect them or not because their objective is to instill fear.

Send them a 2000lbs.

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

They don't care whether you respect them or not because their objective is to instill fear.

Send them a 2000lbs.

That kind of answer only work in short term if it even work at all.
Killing terrorists ( and the ''collateral damage'' than is bound to occur) is only useful to create others terrorists, and making reason to buy now munitions. To reduce to none their flow of new recruits and cut their logistic ( money, munition and others) would be less satisfactory but much more useful.

[Dextro]

The only true response to terrorism is fighting the ignorance and misery that spawns it. Trade relations and education efforts are the best tactics available to stop the spread of the cancer that is terrorism.

Of course it helps when you don't buy oil from people who use that money to fund further terrorist elements *cough*saudi*cough*

[Ithekro]

You would think a culture like that would have been absorbed or eradicated by now.

[KiraYamatoFan]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

For North Korea's cyber army, long-term target may be telecoms, utility grids
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JX0JW20141219

Reading this sends bad chills down my spine. If I was the leader of the US Cyber Command in Fort Meade, I would immediately order my men to get one click away from hacking North Korea's own utility grids, transportation control (street lights) and especially their few nuclear plants around Pyongyang. If anything, I'm surprised South Korea never tried anything retaliatory with their own cyber-warfare division against North Korea after 2013, even if it means provoking something that stalls or damages North Korea's nuclear program like it did for Iran.

And BTW, Sony reacted like cowards by pulling out their movie.

edit: why didn't I think of this? Hacking into Un's offshore bank accounts and hiding the money (or even burning it as a whole after pulling it all out) would be a good start to hurt fatty's big ego.

[AnimeFan188]

Victim: I Watched British MPs Rape and Murder Young Boys:

"Scotland Yard detectives believe that an organized pedophile ring at the heart of
the British establishment was responsible for the murder of three young boys and
the violent sexual abuse of dozens more."

See:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...oung-boys.html

[AnimeFan188]

Originally Posted by KiraYamatoFan

Reading this sends bad chills down my spine. If I was the leader of the US Cyber Command in Fort Meade, I would immediately order my men to get one click away from hacking North Korea's own utility grids, transportation control (street lights) and especially their few nuclear plants around Pyongyang. If anything, I'm surprised South Korea never tried anything retaliatory with their own cyber-warfare division against North Korea after 2013, even if it means provoking something that stalls or damages North Korea's nuclear program like it did for Iran.

And BTW, Sony reacted like cowards by pulling out their movie.

edit: why didn't I think of this? Hacking into Un's offshore bank accounts and hiding the money (or even burning it as a whole after pulling it all out) would be a good start to hurt fatty's big ego.

The North Koreans were prepared to do more than just hack:


DIA: North Korea Planned Attacks on US Nuclear Plants:

"North Korea dispatched covert commando teams to the United States in the
1990s to attack nuclear power plants and major cities in a conflict, according to a
declassified Defense Intelligence Agency report.

The DIA report, dated Sept. 13, 2004, reveals that five units of covert commandos
were trained for the attacks inside the country.

According to the report, the “Reconnaissance Bureau, North Korea, had agents in
place to attack American nuclear power plants.”"

See:

http://freebeacon.com/national-secur...uclear-plants/

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

The North Koreans were prepared to do more than just hack:


DIA: North Korea Planned Attacks on US Nuclear Plants:

"North Korea dispatched covert commando teams to the United States in the
1990s to attack nuclear power plants and major cities in a conflict, according to a
declassified Defense Intelligence Agency report.

The DIA report, dated Sept. 13, 2004, reveals that five units of covert commandos
were trained for the attacks inside the country.

According to the report, the “Reconnaissance Bureau, North Korea, had agents in
place to attack American nuclear power plants.”"

See:

http://freebeacon.com/national-secur...uclear-plants/

The dyslexic in me read the URL as "freebacon.com".

Still, the report has credibility issues. Insertion onto US soil may be a problem.

[ganbaru]

North Korea says did not hack Sony, wants joint probe with U.S.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JX1MH20141220

Russia calls new sanctions on Crimea 'collective punishment'
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JY0AK20141220

The reason oil could drop as low as $20 per barrel
http://blogs.reuters.com/anatole-kal...20-per-barrel/

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

North Korea says did not hack Sony, wants joint probe with U.S.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JX1MH20141220

The last time a country denied US allegations with a snubbing, it has a few tons of explosives dropped on them from the sky.

NK probably knows that it will not receive Chinese aid this time, so they are avoiding that MMM ball from across the South.

[DevilHighDxD]

2 NYPD cops were killed in revenge for Micheal Brown and Eric Garner
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local...286463091.html

One of the cops also happened to be the uncle of one of my fellow student at my college...

[SaintessHeart]

Your Friendly North Korean Network Observer

Here is an interesting view of the NK internet. Linux and VMWare lol.

[ganbaru]

South Korea prosecutors investigate data leak at nuclear power plants
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JZ05120141221

Sony hack reveals Hollywood’s bitter civil war
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debat...ter-civil-war/

China tightens grip on Macau as dissent rises in gambling hub
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JX01F20141219

[GDB]

Originally Posted by DevilHighDxD

2 NYPD cops were killed in revenge for Micheal Brown and Eric Garner
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local...286463091.html

One of the cops also happened to be the uncle of one of my fellow student at my college...

Because nothing says "Don't kill innocents" like killing innocents.