Posts Tagged ‘battle’
Christianity in action — Priests brawl over turf in Bethlehem
Scuffles have broken out between rival groups of Greek Orthodox and Armenian clerics over a turf war in Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity.
Bemused tourists looked on as about 100 priests fought with brooms while cleaning the church in preparation for Orthodox Christmas, on 7 January.
Palestinian police armed with batons and shields broke up the clashes.
Groups of priests have clashed before in the church, built on the spot where Christians believe Jesus was born.
“It was a trivial problem that… occurs every year,” Bethlehem police Lt-Col Khaled al-Tamimi told Reuters. “No one was arrested because all those involved were men of God,” he said…
The 1,700-year-old church, one of the holiest sites in Christianity, is in a bad state of repair, largely because the priests cannot agree on who should pay for its upkeep.
Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the site where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, has also seen similar incidents.
Anyone surprised that money is the root of battles between these churches. Another primo reason for skirmishes like this is who gets the juiciest spots to sell souvenirs to tourists.
No one is ever startled by an atheist like me posting about an event like this, I guess. But, please, remember as I do – there are individuals stuck into religion who still try to live up to the best standards of humanity. I always recall Rev. McLean who left our family’s church to work for the UN in the 3rd World – or the cynical and humorous priest I shared a cell with one Chicago night after battling coppers over our right to protest on behalf of civil rights.
After a great discussion of the origins of Christianity – he explained why he wore a fedora hat. Though already out of fashion in the 1960′s, he figured it made him look more like Bing Crosby and therefore less likely to be beaten by the defenders of law and order. 
Germans question whether the Afghan war is their war
Daylife/Getty Images used by permission
For many Germans, deployment in Afghanistan meant delivering aid and reconstruction to the country’s relatively peaceful north. But now the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous. And Germany seems to have found itself unwillingly dragged into a war.
Berlin has just changed the rules of military engagement for troops abroad, giving soldiers more leeway to use lethal force. This is seen as important in northern Afghanistan, where attacks by Taliban insurgents are becoming more frequent…
In a joint action with Afghan forces, 300 German soldiers used heavy firepower for the first time in a bid to flush out Taliban insurgents who are moving into the region.
Back home, meanwhile, Chancellor Angela Merkel last month awarded four soldiers the Bundeswehr’s new cross of honour.
It was the first time since the end of World War II that Germany had awarded medals for bravery – a remarkable change in attitude considering post-war Germany’s traditional wariness of military symbols.
But although the German government looks set to get tough on the battlefield, popular opinion is heading in the opposite direction…
From the Front Lines in the Swat Valley…
‘They used to attack early in the morning or after dark. They would always go for an ambush,’ said Lieutenant Zaigham, wounded in battle with the Taliban and lying in a hospital.
Zaigham – who did not give his full name – sustained shrapnel wounds from fierce street fighting in the Swat valley and is a patient at the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi, away from the combat in the northwest.
Lying in bed with bandaged wounds, he and fellow soldiers spoke of intense battles against heavily-armed insurgents, who put up stiff resistance and are often able to outflank Pakistan’s well-equipped and motivated soldiers…
From May 4 to May 17, when Zaigham was wounded, his unit advanced slowly from Khwazakhela in northern Swat to the nearby town of Matta, which has long been under Taliban control.
‘There were strong resistance during the entire journey but we managed to clear the area. They buried mines and planted IEDs (improvised explosive devices) every 50 metres,’ he said…
‘They positioned snipers in holes made out of the walls of houses. They used civilians as human shields. They used to attack from houses and roofs.’
‘They are well equipped, they have mortars. They have rockets, sniper rifles and every type of sophisticated weapons,’ said Zaigham.
‘I am certain that foreign elements are behind these militants. Can I ask something very simple – who are their sponsors? What their sources of funding? Who runs their logistics?’ he said.
Only a few of the questions raised by this report from the front lines.
A useful and informative report. Classic journalism helping the people of a nation and citizens of the whole world to understand the course of Pakistan’s battle against insurgent Islamist brutality.
Soldier takes on Afghan insurgents – in pink boxer shorts
Daylife/AP Photo by David Guttenfelder used by permission
The world’s best-equipped army has revealed one of the more closely guarded and, one must hope, private items in its armoury – pink underpants.
Scrambling to raise himself from sleep during a Taliban attack high in the Afghan hills, Zachary Boyd, a soldier with the First Brigade, grabbed his automatic gun, helmet and bulletproof jacket.
But in his haste he left behind his combat trousers – showing to the world that below the belt he was fighting in nothing more protective than “I love NY” boxer shorts…
An embedded war photographer, David Guttenfelder, took the image in the hills above the Korengal Valley, Kunar, four days ago. Thanks to the power of the internet and front-page exposure in the New York Times, it is fast threatening to become an icon of conflict photography.
Har!
Cupcake makers go to war over trademark
Sprinkles Cupcakes, a California purveyor of mini-cakes beloved by Hollywood stars, has accused rival Famous Cupcakes of stealing its trademarked “Modern Dot” cupcake design to lure away clientele.
Sprinkles high-end pastries have made the rounds of U.S. media, from “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to “Nightline”, drawing locals and out-of-towners who regularly wait in long lines outside the company’s Beverly Hills store.
The company, which also runs stores in Texas and Arizona, accused Famous Cupcakes in a federal lawsuit filed on Thursday in Los Angeles of incorporating the “nested circle design” featured on Sprinkles cupcakes on Famous Cupcakes packaging, store decor, and “each and every page” of its website.
The owner of Famous Cupcakes, who said on its website she began selling cupcakes door-to-door at age 7 and believes “one cupcake is never enough”, could not be reached for comment.
I haven’t eaten a cupcake since I discovered muffins as a kid – and savory muffins at that. But, I can appreciate the battle over trademarks.
Bush sending Rice to Georgia in show of support
President Bush said Wednesday he was sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to express “America’s unwavering support” for the Georgia government.
French President Sarkozy, acting as the president of the European Union, had negotiated the cease-fire agreement, which called for U.S. ally Georgia and Russia to each return to the position it held on August 6.
The government of Georgia sent troops into South Ossetia on August 7, to re-establish control. The next day, Russia sent troops in as well. Separatists in South Ossetia want independence — or unification with North Ossetia, which is in Russia.
I’d skip this PR fluff from the White House altogether if it wasn’t an opportunity for some of our brighter readers to contemplate the fear and tremors among the Russian forces at the prospect of being chastised by Condi Rice…
