NATO helicopters kill 30 militants in Pakistan

KABUL: Two NATO helicopters killed 30 insurgents on Pakistani soil after a rare manned pursuit across the border from Afghanistan, NATO forces said Sunday.

The two Apache attack helicopters from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) crossed the border from eastern Afghanistan Friday after the insurgents attacked a remote Afghan security outpost in Khost province.

ISAF spokesman Sergeant Matt Summers confirmed that the helicopters had attacked after crossing into Pakistan. He did not comment on which countries’ forces were involved, but the United States is the only coalition member that uses Apaches.

The United States regularly uses pilotless drone aircraft for missile strikes in Pakistan’s borderlands, known to be a haven for militant groups including the Afghan Taliban who launch cross-border attacks from Pakistan’s

Tiger Woods fined over accident

Tiger Woods will be cited for careless driving in a car crash outside his Orlando-area mansion, but will not face criminal charges, the Florida Highway Patrol said on Tuesday.

Woods faces a 164 US dollars fine and four points against his driver’s license, not close to enough to have it suspended.

The citation closes the investigation of last week’s crash.

According to an accident report, Woods crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree at 2:25 a.m. Friday.

The airbags did not deploy and Woods’ wife told Windermere police she used a golf club to smash the back windows to help him out.

Woods withdrew Monday from his own golf tournament, citing injuries from the crash.

Woods’ presence is larger than ever, even though he chose to not to attend the tournament, sponsored by his own Tiger Woods Foundation.

Most players at the Chevron World Challenge, even those who are close to Woods, have not heard from him and don’t know what to think.

Since the accident, tabloids and gossip Web sites have fuelled speculation about the events leading up to it, including that there may have been a domestic dispute between Woods and his wife.

The crash came two days after The National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods had been seeing a New York nightclub hostess, and that they recently were together in Melbourne, where Woods competed in the Australian Masters.

The woman, Rachel Uchitel, denies the affair.

An attorney for the neighbours who dialled 911 after the crash said Woods did not appear to be driving under the influence and showed no signs of having been in a fight.

Florida Highway Patrol Sergeant Kim Montes said there were no claims of domestic violence and insufficient evidence to issue a subpoena for additional medical information that may exist in this case.

Bill Sharpe, an attorney for the neighbours, said Woods’ injuries were consistent with a car wreck and inconsistent with him being beat up.

Sharpe said neighbour Linda Adams and her two adult sons went outside their home in the exclusive gated community of Isleworth after hearing the crash and Woods’ wife, Elin Nordegren, asked them to call the 911 emergency number.

He said the neighbours found Nordegren kneeling beside her husband, upset about his injuries.

Sharpe said Woods appeared woozy and had scratches on his face and that his wife was trying to console him.

The Adamses wrapped Woods in a blanket and made sure he didn’t move.

Tabloid speculation has focused on whether Woods and his wife were fighting before the accident.

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Tiger Woods fined over accident was first posted on December 2, 2009 at 1:34 pm.

Are Banks Open On Veterans Day..Is Veterans Day A Bank Holiday

Are Banks Open On Veterans Day..Is Veterans Day A Bank Holiday: Belleville will hold its 11th annual Veterans Day Celebration at 11 a.m.

Are Banks Open On Veterans Day..Is Veterans Day A Bank Holiday:Belleville will hold its 11th annual Veterans Day Celebration at 11 a.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Monument on the Public Square.
Col. Gary P. Goldstone, commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing at Scott Air Force Base, will be the featured speaker.

A World War II Navy Scout Bomber will fly over at 11:11 a.m., signifying the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, which marked the end of World War I in 1918. There will be a 21-gun salute and are church bells will ring. Other highlights are patriotic music, bagpipes and a color guard.

• Belleville — At 6 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 3 from St. Mary Parish in Belleville will hold a flag retirement and veteran recognition ceremony at St. Mary Parish at the corner of 18th and West Main streets in Belleville. The Polish American Veterans will hold a 21-gun salute and a bugler will play taps during the ceremony. The final flag to be retired will be St. Mary’s and upon completion of the ceremony a new flag will be flown. The event is open to the public.

• Belleville — Belleville West High School is inviting veterans and the public to participate in its fourth annual Veterans Day Assembly at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the gymnasium.

Veterans are asked to arrive between 2:30 and 2:45.

Retired Air Force Col. Michael H. Wieland will be the speaker. Wieland flew missions in Vietnam and is a former military airlift command liaison officer for the United Nations and a former commander of the 60th Air Base Group at Travis AFB, Calif. He has flown congressmen, secretaries of State and Defense and vice presidents around the world.

• Fairview Heights — A Veterans Day celebration will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at VFW Hall Post 8677, 5325 N. Illinois St. in Fairview Heights.

An honors ceremony is scheduled for 8 to 9 a.m. A health fair with screenings will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free breakfast and lunch will be served.

The event is sponsored by Hospice of Southern Illinois. For information, contact Lisa Phillipson at 222-5905 or lphillipson@hospice.org.

• O’Fallon — Texas Roadhouse restaurant in O’Fallon will dedicate its new Corral of Courage at 11 a.m.

In observance of Veteran’s Day and to honor local military men and women, Texas Roadhouse invites the public to bring in photos, patches and other military memorabilia for inclusion in the display.

Chief Master Sgt. Ken McQuiston with the U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, will officiate the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Corral of Courage. With 28 years of military service, this dedication will be the last dressed ceremony of McQuiston’s military career.

The Corral of Courage will complement the restaurant’s murals that portray community themes.

• O’Fallon — Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., will speak at 3 p.m. at the Sergeant Charles A. Fricke VFW Post 805 and Auxiliary Veterans Day ceremony at 221 W First St. The ceremony follows the post’s Veterans Day parade and will include a rifle salute to America’s fallen veterans. ***

Here is what’s open and closed for the Veterans Day holiday:

• Most government offices, public schools and banks will be closed.

• No mail will be delivered.

• Most food and department stores will be open.

• Belleville trash pickup will not be conducted on the holiday. Pickup will be one-day late for the remainder of the week.

NRO buried for good: Gilani

PATTOKI: The prime minister said on Saturday that the National Reconciliation Ordinance was a relic of the past and stood buried forever. He also brushed aside as irrelevant Article 58(2)b of the Constitution, which empowers the president to dissolve the National Assembly, because the country had a strong judiciary today. Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani told reporters after inaugurating a power plant at Jhambar Kalan, near Pattoki, that the ruling coalition had fended off all threats to its survival.

PATTOKI: The prime minister said on Saturday that the National Reconciliation Ordinance was a relic of the past and stood buried forever.

He also brushed aside as irrelevant Article 58(2)b of the Constitution, which empowers the president to dissolve the National Assembly, because the country had a strong judiciary today.

Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani told reporters after inaugurating a power plant at Jhambar Kalan, near Pattoki, that the ruling coalition had fended off all threats to its survival.

‘There is no love-hate relation with any party in the ruling alliance. We have love-love relations with the PML-N and misunderstandings with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement have been resolved.

‘Rest assured the alliance is intact,’ said a smiling Gilani, gesturing towards Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

‘Our political system is stable. Democracy has again ushered in, but it requires time to gain roots. We are focussing on making institutions strong, but it again requires time,’ Mr Gilani said when asked if the political system was facing any threat.

About the South Waziristan operation, he expressed the hope that it would be completed before schedule. ‘It is a very effective operation and I salute the soldiers for sacrificing their lives for the country.’

The prime minister said Pakistan wanted peaceful relations with all neighbouring countries, especially India, on the basis of equality.

‘We want to resolve all core issues with India through dialogue. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also expressed the same sentiments.

‘The process of composite dialogue should continue,’ he said.

In reply to a question about Aitzaz Ahsan, Mr Gilani said a senior and sincere PPP worker like him would not quit the party under any circumstances.

In a speech at the inauguration ceremony of the 200MW power plant, the prime minister said it would not only boost electricity output, but would also be a catalyst for economic progress in Kasur district.

Mr Gilani said many more power plants were needed as the electricity crisis had frustrated the nation, hobbled industry and retarded economic growth.

Nato Air Strike Kills Seven Afghan Security Personnel

KABUL: Seven members of the Afghan security forces were killed in a Nato air strike in remote western Afghanistan, the defence ministry said on Saturday. ‘Due to a Nato forces air strike on November 6 in Badghis province seven Afghan security personnel (both Afghan army and national police) were martyred and also some were wounded,’ the ministry said in a statement. ‘The commando brigade informs us that foreign forces also sustained some casualties,’ it said, adding ‘The issue is under investigation by Afghan and Nato forces and the results will be announced soon.’ The statement comes as Nato’s International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said it was investigating a Friday incident in Badghis in which more than 25 members of international and Afghan forces were wounded.

KABUL: Seven members of the Afghan security forces were killed in a Nato air strike in remote western Afghanistan, the defence ministry said on Saturday.

‘Due to a Nato forces air strike on November 6 in Badghis province seven Afghan security personnel (both Afghan army and national police) were martyred and also some were wounded,’ the ministry said in a statement.

‘The commando brigade informs us that foreign forces also sustained some casualties,’ it said, adding ‘The issue is under investigation by Afghan and Nato forces and the results will be announced soon.’

The statement comes as Nato’s International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said it was investigating a Friday incident in Badghis in which more than 25 members of international and Afghan forces were wounded.

Earlier, an Isaf spokesman said that five US soldiers were wounded during a search operation for two American troops who went missing in western Afghanistan this week.

The five are believed to have been among more than 25 Isaf and Afghan troops injured by what a military official said anonymously was friendly fire.

However, Isaf spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Todd Vician, of the US Air Force, told AFP: ‘We have nothing to confirm friendly fire.’

‘No Isaf members were killed,’ he said, when confirming that the five injured Isaf soldiers were Americans.

Investigations into Friday’s incident, believed to have happened in Badghis province, were ongoing and no further details were available, he said.

US shooting suspect off ventilator

US shooting suspect off ventilator: US Army officials say the man who killed 13 people during a shooting spree at Fort Hood has been taken off a ventilator but still remains in intensive care. Hasan was shot during an exchange of gunfire during Thursday’s attack On Friday he was moved to Brooke Medical Centre in San Antonio, about 150 miles south-west of Fort Hood, Texas. Colonel John Rossi said he was not sure if Major Nidal Malik Hasan is able to communicate

US shooting suspect off ventilator:US Army officials say the man who killed 13 people during a shooting spree at Fort Hood has been taken off a ventilator but still remains in intensive care.

Hasan was shot during an exchange of gunfire during Thursday’s attack On Friday he was moved to Brooke Medical Centre in San Antonio, about 150 miles south-west of Fort Hood, Texas.

Colonel John Rossi said he was not sure if Major Nidal Malik Hasan is able to communicate.

One of two police officers who confronted Hasan has been speaking about the incident which he says lasted less than a minute. Sergeant Mark Todd joined Sergeant Kimberly Munley in the firefight. Sgt Todd was not wounded, but the exchange left his colleague injured.

Sgt Todd said that seconds after arriving at the scene, he saw a calm-looking Hasan, his gun drawn and his fingers pointing at people outside the Soldier Readiness Processing Centre. He then saw Hasan shooting at soldiers as they attempted to flee.

“He was firing at people as they were trying to run and hide,” said the retired soldier who now works as a civilian police officer at the military base.

“I told him stop and drop your weapons, I identified myself as police and he turned and fired a couple of rounds at me. I didn’t hear him say a word… he just turned and fired.”

Sgt Munley has also won wide praise after the incident, and it’s been revealed she “lost a lot of blood” from a gunshot wound to her left leg that had hit an artery.

Military authorities are continuing to refer to Hasan as a suspect in the shootings, and have not yet said if they plan to charge him in a military or civilian court.

His family has described a man incapable of the attack, calling him a devoted doctor and devout Muslim who showed no signs that he might lash out with violence. His brother, Eyad Hasan, said: “I’ve known my brother Nidal to be a peaceful, loving and compassionate person who has shown great interest in the medical field and in helping others.

Obama honors fallen Americans at Dover

US President Barack Obama saw first hand the human cost of the Afghanistan war on Thursday as he saluted the flag-draped caskets of 18 soldiers and Drug Enforcement Administration agents killed in Afghanistan this week.

After a midnight flight in his Marine One presidential helicopter, Obama landed in Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, home of the largest US military mortuary and main point of entry for service members killed abroad. Minutes before Obama’s arrival, an Air Force C-17 transport aircraft landed in the base, carrying the bodies of eight Army soldiers killed by a roadside bomb and seven soldiers and three DEA agents killed in a helicopter crash.

Obama stood at attention and saluted as six soldiers carried the casket, bearing the body of Sergeant Dale Griffin of Indiana, off the plane and loaded it onto a waiting van. Earlier, Obama met with families of the killed soldiers and agents in a chapel on the base, the officials said. It was Obama’s first visit to the base as president and he was due to fly back to Washington before dawn.

With at least 53 killed, October has been the deadliest month for US forces in the unpopular eight-year war Obama inherited from his predecessor, George W. Bush. Polls show Americans increasingly weary of the war, which analysts say will likely help define Obama’s presidency. There is scepticism, including among his fellow Democrats who control the U.S. Congress, over sending more troops. Obama has held a series of meetings with his war cabinet to review the new Afghan strategy he put in place in March and to consider a request by his top military commander in the field, General Stanley McChrystal, for 40,000 more troops to combat a resurgent Taliban.

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Obama honors fallen Americans at Dover was first posted on October 29, 2009 at 9:33 pm.