July 2010

Here’s an interesting follow-up on the recent raid on the Iraqi central bank, from Joel Wing. You may recall that the attack, a classic NOIA multi-layered assault using suicide bombers, snipers, and infantry, successfully took over the building and held off the Iraqi army for some time before disengaging, and that although a large quantity…

Read More probably a robbery

Here’s something interesting. I’m getting people googling for details of resettlement for Iraqis who were employed by the British during the occupation, again. This is the first such incident since February. The request came in from a netblock registered to an Iraqi ISP and VSAT provider based in Baghdad. I will not provide any more…

Read More remember this?

Ordinary Pakistanis appear to have a very clear idea of their country’s problems. Angry protesters at the site of the bombing raised slogans against Israel, the US, the Taliban and the ultra-orthodox strain of Wahhabi Islam. I don’t know about the first one of those, but you can’t have a demo without someone getting het…

Read More clarity found

Well, this is pretty repellent. As Jamie Kenny says, how do you define “Taliban”, and who is it whose “unconditional surrender” you want to secure? Further, how are you going to get that battleship to Quetta? He’s also here, again attacking anyone who doesn’t actually want continuous war, and suggesting a major land reform. No…

Read More seeking clarity

There are a few details of the latest of Germany’s synthetic-aperture radar imaging satellites at the German version of ScienceBlogs, on the occasion of the latest one being launched on a Russian Dnepr rocket. Tories should be delighted, it’s a PFI. Specifically, the German government contributes the bulk of the cost through its space agency,…

Read More at last, a PFI I actually support