KHOST, Afghanistan - The Taliban claimed responsibility Wednesday for a suicide bombing inside a U.S.-Afghan base in eastern Afghanistan that killed two NATO service members.

A Taliban operative wearing an Afghan police uniform infiltrated the base Tuesday night and detonated his explosive vest next to a group of soldiers who were warming their hands beside a fire, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press by phone.

U.S. troops command most of the eastern area bordering Pakistan, and local officials said they only knew of U.S. soldiers and Afghan border police on Chergotah base. A NATO statement on the attack confirmed that two of its service members died but did not give their nationalities. A number of others were wounded in the attack, the military alliance said.

The attack was a reminder of the increasing sophistication and reach of insurgents - who have expanded attacks against targets like the capital and heavily guarded military outposts even as NATO forces have started to take back some of their strongholds in the south.

In December, a suicide bomber infiltrated a CIA base in Khost city, killing seven CIA employees and a Jordanian intelligence officer. The bomber was able to enter the base because the CIA was cultivating him as a potential source of information about Al Qaeda leaders.

Tuesday's suicide attack was along the porous Pakistan border, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Khost city, the provincial capital. Khost's rugged mountains are dominated by the Haqqani network, an Al Qaeda-linked Afghan Taliban faction blamed for the CIA attack.

A resident who lives near Chergotah base, Sayed Gul, told The Associated Press he heard a large explosion just after sunset and saw two helicopters land in the area of the base and then fly back toward Khost city.

NATO said an investigation into the attack was under way, but did not give further details. Provincial police chief Yaqoub Khan said he could not give details on the base that was attacked, but said all the NATO bases in the area are run by Americans.

On Monday, international and Afghan forces in Khost city repelled an insurgent attack on the provincial government headquarters, NATO said.

WASHINGTON – Greece is a financial basket case, begging for international help. Is America heading down that same road?

Many of the same risky financial practices that now imperil the Greeks were at the center of the all-too-recent U.S. meltdown.

As with Greece, America's national debt has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past decade, to the point where it threatens to swamp overall economic output. And in the U.S., as in Greece, a large portion of that debt is owed to foreign investors.

Not good, if these debt holders begin to wonder if they'll be paid back. A foreign flight from U.S. Treasury securities could sow financial chaos in the United States, as happened when many investors lost faith in Greek bonds.

It's something that could affect all Americans. The U.S. has never defaulted on a debt, and even the hint of such a possibility could send interest rates soaring and choke off a fragile recovery.

How long can the United States remain the world's largest economy as well as the world's largest debtor?

"Not indefinitely," suggests former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan. "History tells us that great powers when they've gotten into very significant fiscal problems have ceased to be great powers."

After all, Spain dominated the 16th century world, France the 17th century and Great Britain much of the 18th and 19th before the United States rose to supremacy in the 20th century.

"Unless we do things dramatically different, including strengthening our investments in research and education, the 21st century will belong to China and India," suggests Norman Augustine, the former CEO ofLockheed Martin who chaired a 2009 bipartisan commission studying the nation's top challenges.

The Greek government has taken stiff austerity steps in an effort to get a lifeline from the European Union, sparking strikes and violent demonstrations. Greek unions say a second nationwide strike in a week — planned for Thursday — will shut down government services, close schools and halt public transport and ground flights for 24 hours.

Some of the same risky strategies used by U.S. hedge funds and other professional investors in a failed effort to profit from subprime mortgages in this country — and which led to the 2008 financial near-collapse — are now being employed by those betting that Greece will default on its debt.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, who met with President Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday, is calling for "decisive and collective action" here and in Europe to crack down on such rampant speculation and unregulated bets. He is also seeking more favorable European interest rates for loans.

Speaking at the White House, Papandreou welcomed support from Obama and some European leaders for such efforts and for the austerity measures taken by his own government. He said it shows the "labor and sacrifices are not wasted. Of course, our struggle is not ended, it continues."

Many economists say it's a stretch to compare the U.S. economy, by far the world's largest, to Greece and other distressed small economies of southern Europe. They say many of Greece's problems are unique to that nation and aggravated by a monetary system that rigidly binds 16 nations to the same currency, the euro.

But others argue it may only be a matter of time before the U.S. faces a similar, and potentially graver, crisis.

"Someday it will happen if we don't get our act together on spending, our debt under control and our economy to grow faster," said Allen Sinai, chief global economist for New York-based Decision Economics Inc., which provides financial advice to corporations and governments.

With signs pointing to a weaker recovery than after other post-World War II recessions, U.S. consumer spending is likely to remain unimpressive and the jobless rate high for some time. Sinai said that suggests there won't be enough growth to push down federal deficits by much. "It's a political keg of dynamite," he said.

Greece's national debt now equals more than 100 percent of its gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic activity. U.S. debt — now $12.5 trillion — is fast closing in on the same dubious milestone.

Nearly all of Greek's debt is held by foreign governments and investors. In the United States, roughly half is owned by global investors, with China holding the largest stake.

By contrast, Japan's debt is proportionately even bigger — about twice its GDP — but the impact is cushioned by the fact that most is held by Japanese households.

"The more open you are to the rest of the world, the more likely you're going to have a problem if you start running large deficits and large debt loads," said Mark Zandi, founder of Moody's Economy.com, and a frequent adviser to lawmakers of both parties.

Zandi does not see any major fallout from the Greek fiscal crisis in the United States for now, other than a possible temporary hit on potential European export markets.

However, he said, "global investors at some point are going to start demanding a higher interest rate. And that's our moment of truth. If we don't address it by cutting spending and raising taxes, some combination of the two, then we're going to have a problem."

Polls show growing public anger over deficits and government spending. The issue is a potent one for the upcoming midterm elections, and a particular liability for majority-party Democrats.

Calls have sounded from both sides of the political aisle for deficit reduction. And Obama last month set up a bipartisan deficit commission to find ways to get the country's budget deficit, now adding more than $1 trillion a year to the national debt, under control.

But the panel is a weak substitute for what Obama really wanted — a commission created by Congress that could force lawmakers to vote on remedies to reduce the debt.

___

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows that 22% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-three percent (43%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -21. That matches the lowest Approval Index rating yet recorded for this President (see trends).

Forty-two percent (42%) of Democrats Strongly Approve while 72% of Republicans Strongly Disapprove. Among those not affiliated with either major political party, 17% Strongly Approve and 45% Strongly Disapprove.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) believe that passage of the proposed health care legislation will hurt the economy. Just 25% believe it will help.

Sixty percent (60%) of parents believe that textbooks used by their students are more concerned about political correctness than accuracy.

Republicans hold a seven-point lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot.

(Video from 2004)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

"Permission to fight (against disbelievers) is given to those (believers) who are fought against, because they have been wronged and surely, Allah is Able to give them (believers) victory" [Quran 22:39]

"Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taghut (anything worshipped other than Allah e.g. Satan). So fight you against the friends of Satan; ever feeble is indeed the plot of Satan."[Quran 4:76]

Some American writers have published articles under the title 'On what basis are we fighting?' These articles have generated a number of responses, some of which adhered to the truth and were based on Islamic Law, and others which have not. Here we wanted to outline the truth - as an explanation and warning - hoping for Allah's reward, seeking success and support from Him.

While seeking Allah's help, we form our reply based on two questions directed at the Americans:

(Q1) Why are we fighting and opposing you? 
Q2)What are we calling you to, and what do we want from you?

As for the first question: Why are we fighting and opposing you? The answer is very simple:

(1) Because you attacked us and continue to attack us.

a) You attacked us in Palestine:

(i) Palestine, which has sunk under military occupation for more than 80 years. The British handed over Palestine, with your help and your support, to the Jews, who have occupied it for more than 50 years; years overflowing with oppression, tyranny, crimes, killing, expulsion, destruction and devastation. The creation and continuation of Israel is one of the greatest crimes, and you are the leaders of its criminals. And of course there is no need to explain and prove the degree of American support for Israel. The creation of Israel is a crime which must be erased. Each and every person whose hands have become polluted in the contribution towards this crime must pay its*price, and pay for it heavily.

(ii) It brings us both laughter and tears to see that you have not yet tired of repeating your fabricated lies that the Jews have a historical right to Palestine, as it was promised to them in the Torah. Anyone who disputes with them on this alleged fact is accused of anti-semitism. This is one of the most fallacious, widely-circulated fabrications in history. The people of Palestine are pure Arabs and original Semites. It is the Muslims who are the inheritors of Moses (peace be upon him) and the inheritors of the real Torah that has not been changed. Muslims believe in all of the Prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon them all. If the followers of Moses have been promised a right to Palestine in the Torah, then the Muslims are the most worthy nation of this.

When the Muslims conquered Palestine and drove out the Romans, Palestine and Jerusalem returned to Islaam, the religion of all the Prophets peace be upon them. Therefore, the call to a historical right to Palestine cannot be raised against the Islamic Ummah that believes in all the Prophets of Allah (peace and blessings be upon them) - and we make no distinction between them.

(iii) The blood pouring out of Palestine must be equally revenged. You must know that the Palestinians do not cry alone; their women are not widowed alone; their sons are not orphaned alone.

A 15-year-old French schoolboy sprayed a teacher with tear gas after she described Al-Qaeda as a "terrorist group", she told AFP on Tuesday as prosecutors began an investigation.

"I had just explained that the attacks on September 11, 2001 were carried out by the terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda, as is written in the text book," said the history teacher, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"He stood up and declared that Al-Qaeda is not terrorist and that neither is the Taliban," she said, adding that the boy had then pulled out a spray can and doused her and a teaching assistant with tear gas.

Neither victim was seriously hurt.

Al-Qaeda, a loose global organisation of violent Islamist extremists under the nominal leadership of Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, boasted of carrying out the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

The attacks -- in which hijacked airliners were crashed into the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania -- killed just under 3,000 people, the vast majority of them American civilians.

Both staff members, who work in the small school in the central French village of Largentiere, made a criminal complaint against the boy, state prosecutors confirmed.

A youth court will be convened in the nearby town of Privas on March 16 to hear the case.

It is not clear if he is Muslim, and this is not something you should go around doing. I am not just saying that to cover my tail, but you really should not spray people with teargas over something like that.

P.S. Hi CNN, do you like the new site design?
Also, to the Muslims, it seems to really bother the kuffar if you subscribe to us on youtube, so go ahead and click the link at the top of the page and do that. CNN just announced that it bothers them, so help them out a little in sha'a Allah.

Ali Mahmoud Rajhi, a spokesman for Somalia's al-Shabab group, has told Al Jazeera that the group is not afraid of United States involvement in the battle against them.

He said that the proposed US collusion with Somali government forces makes al-Shabab even more certain they are on the "right" path.

"This decision will not affect al-Shabab movement. Actually, it makes us more certain that we are on the right path; the path that was chosen for us by Allah.

"We also become more certain that we have to keep going despite the animosity of the disbelieving nations. The Americans want to scare us. But, we are not afraid," Rajhi said.

"If they come to Somalia, they need to know that those who fought them in 1993 and dragged their bodies in the streets of Mogadishu are still present and ready to drag their dead bodies again," Rajhi said.

Mogadishu battle

Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, Sunni Islam's most senior religious figure, has died during a visit to Saudi Arabia.

The 82-year-old Egyptian, who had previously undergone heart surgery, suffered a heart attack as he boarded a flight early Wednesday morning, Egyptian television said.

Asalaamu Alaikum, JazakAllahuKhair sister Linda G. Richard for bringing this to our attention. Sister Linda has written a short article providing information regarding the arrest of sister Colleen LaRose and the ways the women of our Ummah can assist and write sister Colleen insha'Allah ta'alaa.

ANOTHER SISTER TARGETED

Today the DoJ announced the unsealing of an indictment against Colleen (Fatima) LaRose.  In the press release the officials are praising their "partners in law enforcement and the intelligence community" for their cooperation.  The evidence they are using against this sister was all obtained from the Internet - specifically a Youtube account as well as email messages.  The federal officials are alleging that she used to Internet to "form a conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism," the end result of which would be to "kill" Lars Vilks - the cartoonist I'm sure many of you are familiar with.

The only thing that is clear is that Sister Fatima went to marry a brother in the EU.  The press will no doubt blow this completely out of proportion, but as we know - this is their modus operandi when it comes to Muslim prisoners.  It seems that a lot of reverts have been targeted, especially lately.  They don't stop at brothers though - they will go after sisters as well.  It seems that any sister thinking of making hijrah and getting married may be subject to suspicion.

The charges against Sister Fatima are: conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country,  making a false statement to a government official, and attempted identity theft.  The indictment can be found here.  The press release is here, so that no one need to visit the DoJ's site.

Again, the press is already sensationalizing this, so lets try and counter it.  Sisters - please consider sending her a message of support and hope and lets remind her she isn't alone.  It's likely she's the only Muslimah there.  As always, use discretion when writing, don't ask pointed questions, and of course don't say anything that could create problems for her or yourselves. 

If anyone is unable to send mail from their own addresses - I have a PO box set up for that purpose.  I do not read your mail, I simply print it out and send it.  If there are replies, I scan them into my computer and attach them to an email back to you.  Feel free to email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jazak'Allah Khair
Your Sister

Linda G. Richard

Please write to her at:

COLLEEN R LAROSE 61657-066
FDC PHILADELPHIA
FEDERAL DETENTION CENTER
P.O. BOX 562
PHILADELPHIA, PA  19105

It seems America just cannot gets its story straight....

Taken from Al-Jazeera:

Pakistani security officials are saying that news of the arrest of an al-Qaeda spokesman wanted in the United States for treason may not be true.

Officials on Monday said there had been confusion over the identity of a detained suspect, initially believed to be Adam Gadahn, a senior al-Qaeda member.