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Politics : The Truth About Islam -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: FJB who wrote (8129)	6/6/2007 7:46:26 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 20106

Lucy Pin-Ups Banned by RAF (Offensive to Muslims and Feminists) ThisIsHampshire.net ^ \| Tuesday 5th June 2007 \| Jon Reeve thisishampshire.net Lucy pin-ups banned by RAF ROYAL Air Force chiefs have risked a bust-up with their pilots by forcing them to black out pictures of pin-ups painted on their planes - including Hampshire glamour girl Lucy Pinder. In the 1940s it was common to see the likes of Rita Hayworth and Jane Russell adorning the fronts of Lancaster bombers and flying fortresses setting off en route to their German targets. Countless more pictures of anonymous girls were splashed across aircraft, in poses almost as risque as their crews' missions were risky. Sixty years on, when British airmen fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan decided to bring the practice into the 21st century, one of their first choices was Lucy, from Winchester. But their plans were shot down before even getting off the ground - by politically correct bosses worried about offending female crew members and Muslim locals. Senior commanders got hot under the collar when they heard about the paintings, and immediately ordered that any drawings on Harrier jets be blacked-out to silhouettes only. RAF Strike Command feared that having too much flesh on display ran the risk of putting off female recruits, who could view the images as sexist. And in a country where many women wear full burkhas, there was also the worry that pictures offending local culture could spark a diplomatic incident. Concerned that even the outlines were too provocative, they have now ordered the images be removed completely. Saints fan Lucy is disappointed the troops weren't allowed to have their fun. Last November she visited Afghanistan with pal Michelle Marsh as part of a morale-boosting tour, and even signed one of the planes carrying her picture. She was shocked to hear of the enforced cover-up, saying she thought the pictures were "harmless fun". "It's very flattering, and it's nice that they get to do something that takes their minds off things for a while," the 23-year-old told the Daily Echo. "It's a shame they've got to change them to silhouettes. Rules are rules, but I don't think it's offensive. "It's just the way it goes these days. They're doing a very hard job out there and we should all appreciate it. "It's a very serious situation out there and it's a bit of frivolity, but it's just the lads having a bit of fun and light relief. "Anything that can cheer them up for a bit must be nice." Last night RAF bosses defended the ban as entirely appropriate, saying in a statement: "The Royal Air Force values and recognises the contribution of service personnel regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or social background. "To this end, the RAF promotes working in an environment that is free from harassment and where personnel are respected both for the contribution they can bring to the team and the value and potential they offer as individuals." 9:00am Tuesday 5th June 2007 By Jon Reeve

To: FJB who wrote (8129)	6/6/2007 8:15:50 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 20106

Document: Iran Caught Red-Handed Shipping Arms to Taliban The Blotter ^ \| 6-6-07 \| Brian Ross and Christopher Isham blogs.abcnews.com NATO officials say they have caught Iran red-handed, shipping heavy arms, C4 explosives and advanced roadside bombs to the Taliban for use against NATO forces, in what the officials say is a dramatic escalation of Iran's proxy war against the United States and Great Britain. "It is inconceivable that it is anyone other than the Iranian government that's doing it," said former White House counterterrorism official Richard Clarke, an ABC News consultant. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stopped short earlier this week of blaming Iran, saying the U.S. did not have evidence "of the involvement of the Iranian government in support of the Taliban." But an analysis by a senior coalition official, obtained by the Blotter on ABCNews.com, concludes there is clear evidence of Iran's involvement. "This is part of a considered policy," says the analysis, "rather than the result of low-level corruption and weapons smuggling." Iran and the Taliban had been fierce enemies when the Taliban was in power in Afghanistan, and their apparent collaboration came as a surprise to some in the intelligence community. "I think their goal is to make it very clear that Iran has the capability to make life worse for the United States on a variety of fronts," said Seth Jones of the Rand Institute, "even if they have to do some business with a group that has historically been their enemy." The coalition analysis says munitions recovered in two Iranian convoys, on April 11 and May 3, had "clear indications that they originated in Iran. Some were identical to Iranian supplied goods previously discovered in Iraq." The April convoy was tracked from Iran into Helmand province and led a fierce firefight that destroyed one vehicle, according to the official analysis. A second vehicle was reportedly found to contain small arms ammunition, mortar rounds and more than 650 pounds of C4 demolition charges. A second convoy of two vehicles was spotted on May 3 and led to the capture of five occupants and the seizure of RPG-7mm rockets and more than 1,000 pounds of C4, the analysis says. Also among the munitions are components for the lethal EFPs, or explosive formed projectiles, the roadside bombs that U.S. officials say Iran has provided to Iraqi insurgents with deadly results. "These clearly have the hallmarks of the Iranian Revolution Guards' Quds force," said Jones. The coalition diplomatic message says the demolition charges "contained the same fake U.S. markings found on explosives recovered from insurgents operating in the Baghdad area." "We believe these intercepted munitions are part of a much bigger flow of support from Iran to the Taliban," the message says. The Taliban receives larger supplies of weapons through profits from opium dealing, officials say, but the Iranian presence could be significant. "It means the insurgency in Afghanistan is likely to be prolonged," said Jones. "It would be a much more potent force."