12.28.08
Posted in News of the World, What I'm Reading, Covert Action, Politics, Pakistan, India at 2:40 pm by Spencer
In a frightening move that is raising already precarious tensions, Pakistan has begun transferring troops and artillery away from the Afghanistan / northwestern Pakistan front to key points on its border with India, near Kashmir. According to at least some unnamed sources in Pakistan’s military and intelligence services, the move comes in response to new intelligence that India is preparing to launch a raid or attack as soon as early next week.
At this writing, the scale of Pakistan’s troop movements remains unclear, but the emerging news suggests it is significant. Reports from late Friday said “there was little to indicate that the troop movements constituted a major redeployment,” and in its Saturday edition the NY Times reported that “Several senior American officials said they had not seen evidence of major troop movements.” Yet.
However, the Associated Press on Sunday quoted two anonymous Pakistani intelligence sources as saying “a total of 20,000 soldiers — about one-fifth of the deployment in the tribal areas” were to be redeployed from Waziristan. While the sources gave no timeframe for how fast or slow the redeployment would be, the AP report said residents in that area are seeing massive and immediate movement. Mushtaq Bokhari, a resident near the Punjabi border with the North West Frontier Province, reported a “a big, big convoy. It took about three hours to pass through our city.”
Pakistani and international news reports indicate troops are being redeployed to Kasur and Sialkot (strategic points near hyper-sensitive Kashmir), and Lahore, the second-largest city in Pakistan, just 20 miles from the Indian border. This area of the country is the stronghold of Lashkar-e-Taiba and related groups which were responsible for the deadly Mumbai raid in which 163 were killed. It is also perilously close to the national capital of Islamabad.
The Kashmir-Lahore corridor is also the very same area where two weeks ago Indian warplanes crossed into Pakistani airspace, in two separate incidents occurring almost simultaneously. At the time, both governments made a public show of saying it was understood the incursions were “accidental,” but everyone understood the true message. At the very same time, there were eyewitness reports that “Long convoys of military trucks” comprised of “hundreds of medium and heavy artillery vehicles” were on the move in the area. The Times of India summarized Pakistani news reports that quoted travelers, motorists, and residents who had seen the large-scale artillery movements.
Regarding the current troop redeployment, in an article by Richard A. Oppel Jr. and Salman Masood, “Pakistan Moves Troops Amid Tension With India” (New York Times, Dec. 26, 2008), only a few Pakistani officials would speak and all insisted on anonymity. Somewhat conflicting versions emerged from those who did talk.
One senior Pakistani military official said the decision to move forces and restrict furloughs was made “in view of the prevailing environment,” namely deteriorating relations with India since the terrorist attacks. He added that the air force was “vigilant” and “alert” for the same reason.
…[But] Some of the Pakistani officials who spoke of the redeployment said it was partly a response to new intelligence that suggested India could launch an attack inside Pakistan by early next week. All of them spoke on the condition of anonymity.
One senior Pakistani military official who said troops were being redeployed from the areas where government forces were engaging the Taliban, added that the soldiers who were leaving were “being pulled out of areas where no operations are being conducted,” or where winter weather had limited their ability to maneuver. He called the number of soldiers being moved “limited.”
He and another senior Pakistani military official interviewed Friday about the troop movements chose their words very carefully and offered few details. They said nothing harsh about India, even though they were speaking anonymously.
But two Pakistani intelligence officials — one from military intelligence and one from the country’s premier agency, Inter-Services Intelligence — described the situation in graver terms, and said troops along the border with India were on the highest state of alert.
Another Pakistani official said the air force had been in a “point defense” posture for one week, prepared to defend specific key defense installations and cities — including Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore — as well as the Kahuta nuclear weapons laboratory. Pilots are sleeping in uniform with their boots on, the official said.
Meanwhile, at least some Pakistani officials are trying to keep a poker face. In the AP’s Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008 article, “a senior Pakistani security official denied that the troops were being deployed to the Indian border.”
“He said a ‘limited number’ of soldiers were being shifted from areas ‘where they were not engaged in any operations on the western border or from areas which were snowbound.’
“He declined further comment and asked that his name not be used, also citing the sensitivity of the situation.”
For it’s part, India — for the moment at least — is projecting a calm front even as there are reports that it too is moving troops to the border. On Saturday (Dec. 27), a spokesperson for India’s ministry of defense dismissed the reports as “baseless and speculative,” yet acknowledged there were maneuvers underway. According to a news item on the Indian Sify.com web portal:
“The Army headquarters has termed all such reports as baseless and speculative in nature,” Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said.
He said the movements that had been reported were “normal” and “routine.” The Army units were currently training at a winter exercise in Rajasthan and Punjab, which they carry out every year, he added.Some other units were moving to Jammu and Kashmir as part of the regular turn over of troops in the state, he said.”Taking into consideration the climatic conditions of Rajasthan throughout the year, winter months are the best months for troops to practice manoeuvres and hence these annual training exercises,” Kar said.
Yyyeah, if you say so.
More here in this AP video news piece via YouTube — including press announcement footage of India External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee addressing Pakistan’s redeployment.
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12.23.08
Posted in News of the World, Spooks, Politics at 11:46 pm by Spencer
This week’s issue of Newsweek has a couple interesting pieces in it. Most obvious is the long cover story about the Bush Admin’s level 4 shitstorm raining down on the whistleblower who revealed the warrantless wiretap program (the patently illegal one). But there is also this brief report on the difficulty Obama and his transition team have been having finding people to helm the intelligence agencies. There doesn’t seem to have been much progress since I mentioned the problem three weeks ago, except perhaps that John Brennan is now handling the intelligence dossier for the Obama transition, after pulling himself from consideration for head of CIA the day before Thanksgiving.
Barriers To Intelligence
By Mark Hosenball
Newsweek, 12/22/2008 (12/13/2008 online)
The Bush Administration’s rough treatment of captured terror suspects has bedeviled President-elect Barack Obama’s efforts to fill key posts on his intelligence team, as nearly every qualified candidate is linked, however remotely, to the practices. But according to multiple sources close to his transition team, Obama is circling nearer on some picks.
The head of Obama’s intel transition team, John Brennan, was the leading candidate for CIA chief until he was slammed by liberal bloggers for not doing enough while serving as a top CIA and anti-terror official to oppose Bush. Current CIA chief Michael Hayden is keen to stay on for a while in an Obama administration, and intel officials say that would be good for agency morale. But Obama voted against Hayden’s confirmation in 2006 — and other Democrats believe he defended Bush policies too zealously. Several people close to the Obama transition, who asked for anonymity when discussing sensitive deliberations, say the leading candidate to replace Hayden is his deputy, Stephen Kappes, who was No. 2 in the CIA’s covert-ops division from 2002 to 2004, which means he was almost surely involved in interrogation policy. But Kappes’s backers say he was working on counterintel issues — uncovering moles — when the CIA set up its “secret prison” network. If Kappes’s star falls, other CIA candidates are said to include another former senior spy, Mary Margaret Graham, and former congressman Tim Roemer, an intel-reform advocate.
The sources say the top candidate for National Intelligence director — a post established by Congress after 9/11, but whose powers are still being debated — is retired Admiral Dennis Blair. A former chief of U.S. Pacific forces, Blair has broad military command experience — a plus for Obama—and he also has no obvious connection to controversial Bush policies. Obama could please his base with another possible pick: Maureen Baginski, an Obama intel-team member who spent years at NSA and joined the FBI after 9/11, is being mentioned as a candidate to become the first civilian and first female director of NSA. A spokeswoman for Obama declined to comment on personnel deliberations.
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12.22.08
Posted in Music, MP3s at 10:46 pm by Spencer
Available here for a limited time only — a present from your friendly staff at the Mugo Brainpan Meatspace Archives:
Lump of Coal
(Sheckytone, xmess 2004)
70 min. - 79mb
an un-Christmas compilation - 27 tracks, 27 artists
Rarities, surprises and a few favorites arranged in a pleasing order.
Includes a free tender ending.
Contains adult language.
Web-only bonus tracks (links repaired):
- “I’m Walking Backwards for Christmas”
The Goons (1956) - 3:22 - 6.4mb
Pure genius.
- “Even Squeaky Fromme Loves Christmas”
The Reverend Glen Armstrong (1994) - 3:15 - 6.1mb
“Although there’s not much left of her mind, her memories are festive.”
(Courtesy of the 365 Days Project.)
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12.19.08
Posted in Cinema, Events at 1:23 am by Spencer
New 35mm prints of the beautifully restored Coppola films The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974) start a one two week run at the SIFF Cinema this Friday, Dec. 19, closing on New Years Day.
Full schedule and advance ticket sales for all shows can be found at the SIFF web site. There are some marathon days, but most are one film a night.
The restorations, recently released to home video, were supervised by Coppola with the close involvement of the original cinematographer, Gordon Willis. The result is spectacular, bringing new richness to the film, including the justly famous low-light sequences.
Needless to say, attendance is mandatory.
Here’s a recent article about the restoration:
“Post Focus: Paramount Restores The Godfather” by Stephanie Argy
American Cinematographer, May 2008
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Posted in Whatever, Funny Shit, Online Video at 12:39 am by Spencer
Hampster on a Piano
The soundtrack song is pure evil, so mute this before playing. But do play it.
Damn you, Lora. I’ll get you for this.
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12.18.08
Posted in Whatever, Space is the Place, Spooks, Weird Science, Reality is Weird at 10:14 pm by Spencer
Another report from the ever-lovin’ Congressional Research Service, this one formerly classified and only recently prised from the grip of the Bush Administration:
“High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and High Power Microwave (HPM) Devices: Threat Assessments” (PDF)
Congressional Research Service, as updated March 26, 2008
“Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) is an instantaneous, intense energy field that can overload or disrupt at a distance numerous electrical systems and high technology microcircuits, which are especially sensitive to power surges. A large scale EMP effect can be produced by a single nuclear explosion detonated high in the atmosphere. This method is referred to as High-Altitude EMP (HEMP). A similar, smaller-scale EMP effect can be created using non-nuclear devices with powerful batteries or reactive chemicals. This method is called High Power Microwave (HPM). Several nations, including reported sponsors of terrorism, may currently have a capability to use EMP as a weapon for cyber warfare or cyber terrorism to disrupt communications and other parts of the U.S. critical infrastructure. Also, some equipment and weapons used by the U.S. military may be vulnerable to the effects of EMP.
“…In the past, the threat of mutually assured destruction provided a lasting deterrent against the exchange of multiple high-yield nuclear warheads. However, now even a single, specially designed low-yield nuclear explosion high above the United States, or over a battlefield, can produce a large-scale EMP effect that could result in a widespread loss of electronics, but no direct fatalities, and may not necessarily evoke a large nuclear retaliatory strike by the U.S. military. This, coupled with the possible vulnerability of U.S. commercial electronics and U.S. military battlefield equipment to the effects of EMP, may create a new incentive for other countries to develop or acquire a nuclear capability.”
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12.17.08
Posted in News of the World, Politics, Intelligence Ops and History, Iraq at 10:58 pm by Spencer
The New York Times reported this today, but so far no real traction on the story…which is interesting:
“35 Iraq Officials Held in Raids on Key Ministry”
by Campbell Robertson & Tarig Maher
Dec. 17, 2008, NY Times
Up to 35 officials in the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior ranking as high as general have been arrested over the past three days with some of them accused of quietly working to reconstitute Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party, according to senior security officials in Baghdad.
The arrests, confirmed by officials from the Ministries of the Interior and National Security as well as the prime minister’s office, included four generals, one of whom, Gen. Ahmed Abu Raqeef, is the ministry’s director of internal affairs. The officials also said that the arrests had come at the hand of an elite counterterrorism force that reports directly to the office of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.
The involvement of the counterterrorism unit speaks to the seriousness of the accusations, and several officials from the Ministries of the Interior and National Security said that some of those arrested were in the early stages of planning a coup.
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12.16.08
Posted in What I'm Reading, Covert Action, Politics, Iran, Nukes at 12:08 am by Spencer
Recently released by the Congressional Research Service (CRS):
“Iran’s Nuclear Program: Status” (PDF) — Nov. 20, 2008
And since you mention it…
“Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security Issues” (PDF), as updated on June 20, 2008.
“Pakistan-U.S. Relations” (PDF), updated August 25, 2008
“India-U.S. Relations” (PDF), updated August 12, 2008
Also (but not from the CRS):
“Indian nuclear forces, 2008″ (PDF)
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Vol. 64, No. 5, pp. 38-40
By Robert S. Norris & Hans M. Kristensen
Related blog post by co-author Kristensen
(Sources: Secrecy Blog, and FAS Strategic Security Blog. Thanks.)
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12.15.08
Posted in Cinema, DVDs, Cinema History, Early Sound Cinema at 10:09 pm by Spencer
Holy crap.
Normally those really spendy, over-extravagant DVD box sets just kinda piss me off. But Fox Studio Classics has just released one that I might just feel compelled to actually splurge on. (It’s also kind of a toing, because just two nights ago I spontaneously decided to watch Sunrise on DVD and meandered through the extras.)
As you can see above, Murnau, Borzage and Fox is a ginormous, 12-DVD dee-luxe $et ($240 SRP, $180 on Amazon — ouch) with not one but two hefty books of essays and photos, and a new 2 hour documentary about the directors. Mmokay. But the real grabber is the list of films — 2 by Murnau and 10 by Borzage, spanning 1925-1932, the late silent through the early sound/talkie era. A couple are acknowledged masterpieces, several are highly respected, and most-all of them have long been unavailable on any kind of decent home video. Martin Scorsese, in his BFI documentary for British television, A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995), singled out Borzage as one of the best Hollywood directors of the early sound period, not only making intelligent films but occasionally pushing the severely limited technical capabilities of the time, especially with camera work. I’ve been intending to delve into his stuff for a while now.
The two Murnau gems are noteworthy. The Sunrise disc includes two versions of the film: the Movietone version, as well as the European silent version. This is important, because the silent version was not only a somewhat different cut, it used negative from a different camera (and thus slightly different angles), and sometimes different takes. Also, the infant sound-on-film format used a fairly wide area of the available film for the actual sound, slightly reducing the horizontal space available for the image. The silent film negatives had a different aspect ratio. The DVD released a couple-few years ago (as part of a different box set) included only the Movietone version. If the official PR is to be believed, the Movietone version on this new disc has a 1:30 aspect ratio, and the Euro silent one is in 1:20.
I’m also happy to see City Girl (1930, with a 1:19 aspect ratio, thanks for asking) is included. Originally titled Our Daily Bread, Fox took control of it away from Murnau and re-edited it somewhat. He left the studio very soon after. Murnau’s original cut is, of course, lost so I’ve wanted to see the surviving version.
Dave Kehr recently gave this set a learned and positively elegiac review in the New York Times in “When Titans Roamed the Backlot at Fox” (Dec. 8, 2008): “Altogether, Murnau, Borzage and Fox represents the best that home video has to offer in quality, scholarship and enduring aesthetic interest; this is not a set that anyone will exhaust soon.”
Anyway, here’s the list, not including the scads of extras, commentaries, outtakes, mini-docs, and all that…
Murnau silents:
Sunrise (1927) (Movietone score version and European silent version)
The City Girl (1930)
Borzage silents:
Lazybones (1925)
Seventh Heaven (1928)
Street Angel (1928)
Lucky Star (1929)
Borzage talkies:
They Had to See Paris (1929)
Liliom (1930)
Song O’ My Heart (1930) (full sound version and music/effects version)
Bad Girl (1931)
After Tomorrow (1932)
Young America (1932)
(Thanks to the Bioscope blog’s post for the tip-off.)
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12.14.08
Posted in Cinema, Music, Online Video at 11:40 pm by Spencer
A dance sequence with some absolutely astonishing Lindy Hopping, from Hellzapoppin’ (Universal, 1941). Things really get rolling at about 2:40 min. into the clip.
No seriously, this totally kicks ass. Ya gotta see it.
If the Intermets aren’t failing me, the dance troupe are the Harlem Congaroo Dancers (aka Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers). Featured in the routine, in order, are:
- William Downes (overalls) and Frances “Mickey” Jones (maid)
- Norma Miller and Billy Ricker (chef’s hat)
- Al Minns (white coat, black pants) and Willa Mae Ricker
- Ann Johnson (maid) and Frankie Manning (overalls)
Read some more about Hellzapoppin’s “plot,” and check out some vintage poster art and blog-grabs.
I watched Hellzapoppin’ on DVD a couple years ago, stumbling across it one night at Scarecrow. (Forrest J Ackerman always used to refer to it in Famous Monsters of Filmland.) It’s like Airplane! meets low-budget 1930s movie musical. There’s some really pretty out-there stuff in it. If you Google it, you’ll find some grey-market DVD-Rs floating around.
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