All posts by Hutchins AAron

Born in Deutschland 1965, hometown was Bütthart, parents were not U.S. government employees. However, when father was tricked into joining the U.S. Air Force Civil Service, in 1969, with the promise that we could remain in Germany, we were promptly shipped off to Iran. Due to one of my Iranian educators being disappeared, along with her husband, by the U.S. ally Shah of Iran's Israeli & U.S. created Savak (for the then official terrorist act of promoting the idea that women can vote), and due to my U.S. citizen mother being placed on Savak's Terrorist Arrest List (for supporting the idea that women should vote, at that time the U.S. ally Shah of Iran did not allow women to vote, now they can) we left Iran for the United States in 1973, literally in the middle of the night. At the U.S. Embassy airbase the CIA operated Gooney Bird (C-47) was so packed with other U.S. citizens fleeing our ally Iran (because the Shah gave the OK to arrest any U.S. citizen for such terrorist acts as promoting the concept of voting) that we were turned away by the Loadmaster and had to take a chance on a civilian flight out of Tehran's airport. My father told me he and my mother had three culture shocks; first when they arrived in Germany as civilians, then after being shipped off to Iran as U.S. government employees, then again returning to the United States as unemployed civilians (because so much had changed in the U.S. while they were gone, their only news source was the U.S. Armed Forces Radio & Television Service which heavily censored information about the home front). Since I graduated high school in 1982 I've worked for U.S. government contractors and state & local government agencies (in California), convenience store manager in California, retail/property management in Georgia, California and Idaho. Spent the 1990s in the TV news business producing number one rated local news programs in California, Arizona and Idaho. 14+ years with California and Idaho Army National Guard and the U.S. Air Force. Obtained a BA degree in International Studies from Idaho State University at the age of 42. Unemployed since 2015, so don't tell me the economy has recovered.
International

H7N9 update: Japan says this H7N9 is not your typical Bird Flu, demands new vaccine be created fast! Wear a mask! Poultry culling won’t work!

04 April 2013 (12:43 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada l-Ula 1434/15 Farvardin 1391/24 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases has released a statement after their quick research on the new H7N9 virus.  It’s not your typical bird flu.

H7N9 infect cells inside your nose, throat and upper part of your respiratory tract. H7N9 can rapidly multiply in your nose.  Bird flus normally don’t infect/multiply until they hit your lungs.

The Japanese researchers say because of the gene sequence it means that this new ‘bird flu’ actually has a low probability of infecting birds (which implies that the poultry culling & poultry bans taking place now are useless).

They still don’t know how the new H7N9 causes deadly pneumonia.

Yesterday the UN World Health Organization said they were testing existing vaccines in hopes of finding one that would work.  The Japanese researchers say they are wasting time, because of the unique gene sequence, they insist efforts must be focuses on a new vaccine, as the U.S. CDC announced a couple of days ago.

 

Influenza

H7N9 update: China says it will spread! Now a Class 5 Disease, influenza Command Center established! Proof that it spreads human to human!

04 April 2013 (12:29 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada l-Ula 1434/15 Farvardin 1392/24 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Officials in China’s capital, Beijing, say the new H7N9 will spread, because China is an international crossroads for migratory birds.

The massive city of Shanghai has begun killing off poultry. This after pigeons tested positive for the new virus.

Also, Shanghai’s Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission reporting that one of the new human cases is a person who was in contact with another person who died from H7N9.  The new patient now quarantined.

Taiwan’s Department of Health has classified H7N9 as Category 5 Notifiable Infectious Disease.  Taiwan is the first country to do so.  This means if someone dies in Taiwan, of H7N9, they must be cremated, and this includes tourists from other countries.   The island nation is also the first country to establish a Central Epidemic Command Center for H7N9 influenza.

 

International

H7N9 update: More cases, more deaths! Attacking all age groups! Blame pigeons?

04 April 2013 (12:12 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada l-Ula 1434/15 Farvardin 1391/24 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

China reporting five new cases, two more people dead!  A total of 14 cases of a new deadly H7N9 since the end of March, five deaths.

The latest cases are in Zhejiang Province and Shanghai.  One man who died worked with poultry.  Four of the five deaths took place in Shanghai.

The new flu is not picky about your age.  Most sick people are in their 20s to 40s, but one man who died was in his 80s.  One of the new cases is a four years old girl.

China’s Ministry of Agriculture say they’ve found the new strain of H7N9 in pigeons in Songjiang District of Shanghai.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Japan to co-ordinate military attack with United States! North Korea evacuating all workers from KIR!

04 April 2013 (02:48 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada l-Ula 1434/15 Farvardin 1391/24 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“Our government does not believe we should be pushed around and swayed by every provocative statement out of North Korea. We are coordinating with the relevant nations to enact the various [UN] Security Council resolutions.”-Yoshihide Suga, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary

Japan’s Defense Minister, Itsunori Onodera, has ordered increased co-ordination with the U.S. military.  Japan will begin sharing intelligence on activities of DPRK with United States.

DPRK officials said they will pullout approximately 53000 North Korean workers from the Kaesŏng Industrial Region (KIR).  North Korea says the KIR is “on the verge of bankruptcy”.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea also ordered all Republic of Korea workers to leave, but reports say there are still 800 ROKies in KIR.  200 are scheduled to leave before the weekend.

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Re-start of North Korean nuclear complex began weeks ago!

04 April 2013 (00:13 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada l-Ula 1434/15 Farvardin 1391/24 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

According to the U.S.-Korea Institute of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, satellite pics show the re-start of Nyongbyon (Yongbyon) nuclear complex began weeks ago.

The re-start began sometime between February and the March.  A pic taken on 07 February shows no activity, then on the next pass, on 27 March, there is clear evidence of construction work.

The analysts think nuclear operations could be re-started in a few weeks.

International, U.S.

World War 3: China building up military on border with North Korea? China denies it, yet agreed to join the U.S. to fight North Korea?

04 April 2013 (00:13 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada l-Ula 1434/15 Farvardin 1391/24 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Several U.S. media outlets have been reporting that the People’s Liberation Army is building up forces on the border with North Korea.  In a news conference yesterday a Chinese official denied the reports.

The Washington Free Beacon has published pics of tank transporters supposedly taken by people near the area where the build up is taking place. It claims its official sources are unnamed U.S. government officials “…with access to intelligence reports, both intelligence and Internet reports from the region…”

The Washington Post also reported that the PLA is building up troops along the Korean border, citing unnamed U.S. government sources (as well as citing the Washington Free Beacon).  Not only did Chinese officials deny it, but the Obama administration downplayed it.

This comes after reports that China and the U.S. will work together against the DPRK.

According to China.org, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister, Chang Wanquan, and U.S. Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel, agreed to co-operate militarily: “…Hagel said that China and the United States have common interests and that the two sides should join hands to advance their inter-military ties that are facing new historic opportunities.”-China.org

International

World War 3: North Korean final orders statement!

04 April 2013 (23:36 UTC-07 Tango 03 April 2013)/23 Jumada l-Ula 1434/15 Farvardin 1391/24 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

 A tough-and-go situation is prevailing on the Korean Peninsula.
    U.S. formation of B-52s based on Guam flew into the sky above south Korea all of a sudden to stage a drill under the simulated conditions of a nuclear strike at the DPRK and formations of F-22s took off from Japan proper and Okinawa and were deployed in the Osan air force base in south Korea to watch for a chance to make a surprise strike.
    B-2s flew into the air over waters of the West Sea of Korea from the U.S. mainland and nuclear-powered guided missile submarines and guided missile destroyers of the U.S. Navy which had been operating in waters of the Western Pacific are busy sailing in the West and East Seas of Korea.
    It was reported that super-large nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its group will enter the waters off the Korean Peninsula soon after leaving waters of the Indian Ocean or the western coast of the U.S. mainland.
    South Korea and waters around it are turning into places for display of various types of nuclear strike means of the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces and a dangerous hotbed of a nuclear war in the true sense of the word.
    The U.S. high-handed hostile policy toward the DPRK aimed to encroach upon its sovereignty and the dignity of its supreme leadership and bring down its social system is being implemented through actual military actions without hesitation.
    Days and months have passed on this land amid the constant danger of war but never had the whole Korean Peninsula been exposed to such danger of a nuclear war as today.
    Under this situation the towering resentment of the DPRK’s army and people has reached an irrepressible phase as they are all out in the all-out action to defend the sovereignty and prevent a nuclear war of the U.S.
    In view of the prevailing situation the world people who love justice and value conscience are unanimously becoming critical of the U.S. and its followers for their disgraceful behavior of prodding the UN Security Council into adopting “resolutions on sanctions” against the DPRK and vocal expressing concern over the situation on the peninsula.
    The moment of explosion is approaching fast. No one can say a war will break out in Korea or not and whether it will break out today or tomorrow.
    The responsibility for this grave situation entirely rests with the U.S. Administration and military warmongers keen to encroach upon the DPRK’s sovereignty and bring down its dignified social system with brigandish logic.
    In view of this situation, the KPA General Staff in charge of all operations will take powerful practical military counteractions in succession as the KPA Supreme Command had already solemnly declared internally and externally.
    We have already sent a strong message to the present puppet authorities and military of south Korea following in the footsteps of traitor Lee Myung Bak so that they may understand our position.
    As a matter of fact, puppet military gangsters such as Kim Kwan Jin are human rejects not worth becoming targets of the DPRK’s revolutionary armed forces.
    We formally inform the White House and Pentagon that the ever-escalating U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK and its reckless nuclear threat will be smashed by the strong will of all the united service personnel and people and cutting-edge smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear strike means of the DPRK and that the merciless operation of its revolutionary armed forces in this regard has been finally examined and ratified.
    The U.S. had better ponder over the prevailing grave situation.

International

World War 3: U.S. deploys chemical battalion to South Korea! “Large scale full spectrum conflict” expected!

04 April 2013 (23:25 UTC-07 Tango 03 April 2013)/23 Jumada l-Ula 1434/15 Farvardin 1391/24 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The U.S. Army’s 23rd Chemical battalion has been re-deployed to South Korea.

The unit fought in World War 2 and the First Korean War.  They were based in Korea from 1988 until 2004.  They’ve been based in Washington since then.

In October 2012 it was announced that the NBC unit was re-deploying to South Korea. Even then U.S. officials were concerned about a Second Korean War: “In Korea, like no other place on the globe, the potential for large-scale, full-spectrum conflict against the U.S. and its allies exists on a daily basis.”-U.S. 2nd Infantry Division statement

The mission of the battalion is to counter Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) threats.

International, U.S.

World War 3: North Korea demands all South Koreans get out! South Korea says no such demand received! North Korean missile systems on the move! Yes, they have ICBMs that can hit the Pacific Coast of North America!

04 April 2013 (22:59 UTC-07 Tango 03 April 2013)/23 Jumada l-Ula 1434/15 Farvardin 1391/24 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The ROK Yonhap news agency reporting that the DPRK is demanding all South Koreans must leave Kaesŏng Industrial Region (KIR).  However, Republic of Korea government officials swear they’ve received no such demand from Democratic People’s Republic of Korea: “The North required some companies to submit their plan to leave Kaesong for Seoul by April 10. But, it was misinformed as if it was a demand for all pullout of workers from Kaesong.”-ROK Ministry of Unification statement

Yonhap news agency also reporting that DPRK medium range ballistic missiles are being moved to the east coast along the Sea of Japan (facing the Pacific).

The Yonhap article says the missile move was what prompted the U.S. to send THAAD system to Guam.  There is speculation the ballistic missile will be launched mid-April (possibly on 15 April, is there a connection to the 10 April date for South Koreans to get out of KIR?).  U.S. and ROK analysts think it is a new BM25 Musudan (aka Taepodong X, Nodong/Rodong-B and Mirim) missile.

North Korea has never test fired the missile, it was first revealed in October 2010.  It’s estimated to have a range of 4000 kilometers (2485 miles), which puts Guam within its reach.  North Korea has already declared the ‘launch area’ a no fly/no sail zone.

But wait, there’s more!  Japan’s Asahi Shimbun reporting that North Korea’s long range KN-08 ballistic missiles are also being moved to the east Sea of Japan coastline.  The missiles have a range of 10000 kilometers (6213.7 miles).  That puts the Pacific Coast of North America within their reach.

Asahi Shimbun says their source for the information comes from military officials in South Korea, Japan and United States.

Influenza

H7N9 update: WHO scrambling to find vaccine that works! New strain is combination of 3 old strains! Resistant to Tamiflu!

04 April 2013 (18:50 UTC-07 Tango 03 April 2013)/23 Jumada l-Ula 1434/15 Farvardin 1392/24 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“It is not yet known how these persons became infected. The possibility of animal-to-human transmission is being investigated, as is the possibility of person-to-person transmission.”-UN World Health Organization statement

“This thing doesn’t any longer look like a poultry virus. It really looks to me like it’s adapted in a mammalian host somewhere.”-Richard Webby, UN WHO center for influenza studies at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee U.S.A.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) says the genetic make up of the new H7N9 contains genes from several different bird flus.

Those other viruses include H9N2 which seems to be specific to China and South Korea.  Others are H7N7, which is highly infectious, and the H3N2 virus that is resistant to Tamiflu treatment.

The UN World health organization held a press conference in which they tried to calm things down by saying there is no pandemic, yet.  They then went on to say they were grabbing at straws, studying whether existing vaccines could work on the new virus.

A day ago the U.S. CDC said they were scrambling to create a vaccine.