A recent economic report from the UN says western economies (Europe, North America, Japan) will not see any recovery of the tens of millions of job losses since 2008, for at least five more years.
UN economists point to low projected GDP numbers as proof: “This pace of growth will be far from sufficient to overcome the continued jobs crisis that many countries are still facing.”-World Economic Situation and Prospects 2013
21 December 2012, the United Nations renewed its peacekeeper observation mission in the Golan Heights, but Japan says no more and is pulling out.
On 19 December, the UN Security Council extended the Golan Heights mission to 30 June 2013. On 21 December, Japanese media reporting that Japan’s Defense Minister, Satoshi Morimoto, ordered the Japanese Self Defense Forces (SDF) peacekeeper contingent out of the Golan. Interestingly, the Israeli media reported on the Japanese pullout back on 11 December!
Japanese officials blame the Syrian ‘civil’ war.
It’s that same reasoning that the Israeli government is using for increased military activity in the Golan. For the first time ever, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) combat exercises, in the Golan Heights, were held during the Hanukkah holiday. The Netzach Yehuda battalion, from the Kfir Brigade, now holds that distinction.
Battalion leaders revealed the combat training is for an enemy Israel is not used to fighting: “The fact that the exercise is aimed at fighting against a different enemy, which behaves differently from what we are used to, is a new and special thing for the fighters, and therefore this is a great professional improvement.”-Lieutenant Colonel Telem Chazan
The Japanese SDF had been observing the ‘peace’ in the Golan since 1996, and this is the first time the Japanese government has ended a peacekeeping mission for security reasons.
Israel took the Golan from Syria during the 1967 war, and again during the 1973 war. Then in 1981 Israelis passed the Golan Heights Law, a way of unofficially annexing the territory. But as far back as 1967 the United Nations passed UNSCR 242, which has as demand number one: “Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied….”
There is also the UN General Assembly resolution 3414 (XXX) of 05 December 1975: “…immediate, unconditional and total withdrawal of Israel from the Arab territories occupied since 1967.”
UN Security Council resolution 497 of 17 December 1981: “…the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect…”
But ironically it’s the U.S./European/Israeli backed Syrian ‘civil’ war that has the UNSC extending the peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights: “Recent incidents across the cease-fire line have shown the potential for escalation of tensions between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic, and jeopardize the cease-fire between the two countries.”
Sounds like a set up, to me.
“I’ve never seen anything like it!”-Hlynur Pétursson, Marine Research Institute of Iceland
15 December 2012, officials in Iceland reporting that tons of valuable herring committed mass suicide.
An estimated hundreds of tons of herring beached themselves over a one square kilometer area (0.62 square miles). Preliminary investigation found no signs of disease. A smaller mass suicide of herring, in Iceland, took place last December.
In Santa Cruz County, California, on 11 December 2012, hundreds of squid committed mass suicide. Even attempts to put them back in the ocean failed, they just beached themselves again. The dead squid were spread out over 19 kilometers (12 miles) of beach, from Aptos to Watsonville.
Scientists said the squid were not full grown, and had just finished feeding (they had full stomachs). Speculation is that anything from climate change to the accidental eating of poisonous algae is the cause. Perhaps it was some kind of early warning of the 6.4 and 6.1 magnitude offshore earthquakes that occurred just a few days later?
For many people around the world, squid and herring are important food sources.
14 December 2012, Balazs Lenhardt, a Hungarian Member of Parliament, was briefly detained after he burned an Israeli flag.
There is a growing number of Hungarian politicians who’re are coming out condemning their country’s secret agreements with Israel.
Israel continues to attack Palestinians. The most recent was a man who was shot as he walked along a Gaza border fence. Also on Friday, Israeli NAZI forces assaulted two Reuters photogs in West Bank. The photogs were in a vehicle marked “TV”, the Israeli NAZI forces drug the men from the press car and hit them with their assault rifles. The Israeli NAZI forces said they thought the photogs were actually working for an Israeli human rights group known as B’Tselem. This means the Israeli NAZI forces thought they were targeting fellow Israelis!
On 13 December, Israeli NAZI forces shot and killed a 17 years old Palestinian, in the West Bank. They claim he threatened them with a toy gun. His parents say they were waiting for him to come home from school, because it was his birthday.
On 12 December, Israeli NAZI forces killed a Palestinian in the West Bank. Witnesses say the 16 years old boy was shot at least six times. Israeli NAZI cops say he threatened them with a toy gun.
On 11 December, Israeli NAZI forces raided several NGO human rights offices in West Bank. They took computers and video cameras.
12 December 2012
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), at least 2 million Afghans are threatened by cold, disease and malnutrition this winter. The reason? The UNOCHA says out of the $448 million USD in aid money requested, only 48% has actually been paid out by UN members. It seems the leaders of the occupying countries are big on promising large amounts of their taxpayers’ money, but can’t deliver.
In Ghazni province, local government officials say Mujahideen are in control of 70% of the provincial schools. Taliban means student in English. I wonder how many true students were detained by U.S. led forces because they innocently stated they were a Taliban (student). There are an estimated 635 educational institutions in Ghazni Province.
U.S. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, arrived in Afghanistan to discuss how many U.S. troops will stay in the Central Asian country, after the 2014 pullout (contradictory isn’t it?). Despite earlier reports that as many as 9,000 U.S. troops would be left in Afghanistan, Panetta said President Obama is still trying to figure out how many to leave behind: “The size of that enduring presence is something that the president is going to be considering over these next few weeks.”
Trivia question: How many Red Coat Brits made it out of Afghanistan alive? Answer: One! It happened during the First Anglo–Afghan War from 1838-42. It’s considered the first modern European led war to control Afghanistan, as part of the ongoing Great Game. How many were killed in the First Anglo–Afghan War? 4,500 Red Coats and 12,000 of their camp followers! The sole survivor of the Red Coat retreat from Kabul was William Brydon. You might call the current U.S./U.K. occupation of Afghanistan the Third Anglo-Afghan War.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has data that proves the increased drug trade in Afghanistan correlates with the U.S. occupation. The UNODC also says 95% of opium production is being carried out in areas controlled by the United States and the United Kingdom. Also, Iranian anti-drug police are pointing out that the increased annual production of Afghan heroin requires 13,000 metric tons of material and equipment that is not available in Afghanistan. Iran says their anti-drug operations are revealing that production material is coming from the occupying countries, such as the United States.
The Afghan parliament is accusing 11 officials of not spending government funds on building infrastructure. At least 50% of government funds meant for building up Afghanistan has not been spent, and elected officials want to know where it went.
11 December 2012
In Kapisa Province, in the town of Tagab, Mujahideen killed four Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers.
In Nuristan Province, Barmatal district, Mujahideen report they’ve overrun a second defensive FOB (forward operating base) in that district. They killed four ANA troops, and wounded five others.
In Ghazni Province, Shilgar district, seven ANA troops joined the Mujahideen.
An unnamed U.S. official said India could take over military affairs in Afghanistan: “We have had discussions with the Indians about this issue and about the Afghans, and I don’t see any particular problems with the overall approach here at all.”
Reports said a U.S./NATO drone crashed in Helmand province, Nava district. ISAF has not commented.
In Paktia Province, government officials claim they captured several suicide bombers, calling them Mujahideen. However, Mujahideen groups have come forth and stated the men arrested are not known to them as fellow Mujahideen. Are government officials labeling common thieves as Mujahideen in order to impose stricter penalties, such as President Karzai’s order to execute Mujahideen?
Despite rampant corruption (Afghanistan being considered the third worst in the world) an Afghan bank just won Best Bank-o-the Year! Afghanistan International Bank (AIB) was given the award by another majorly corrupt country, the United Kingdom. The London based organization, which gave out the award, is known simply as The Banker. If you’ve been paying attention to the massive bank fraud cases, you should know most of them are led by British banks, which include the bank used by the British royal family.
Ironically, U.S. officials admitted that massive amounts of cash are being taking (stolen/laundered?) from Afghan banks, and out of Afghanistan. According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service, $4.5 billion USD was taken out of Afghanistan in 2011. According to the U.S. Treasury about $1.3 billion in outbound cash was declared to Afghan Customs Department personnel at Kabul airport in 2010. Most of the money going into Afghan banks are coming from the taxpayers from occupying countries. And this is just the non-military aid being paid to Afghanistan. In March 2012, Afghanistan’s deputy central bank governor estimated that at least $8 billion total is being taken out of Afghanistan every year! This partly explains why many organizations in Afghanistan say they are not seeing any of the promised aid money.
One afghan commentator said there is not going to be peace in his country, because too many forces are making big profits off taxpayers and drug addicts. From the United States to European and Asian countries to various Mujahideen groups, all are profiting from illegal drug trades and tax money laundering. It’s only the civilians who are paying the price.
Syed Ali Wasif, of the Society for International Reforms and Research, said the Third Anglo-Afghan War is all about corporate control of natural resources, and corporations don’t care who they make deals with: “The American corporate sector would be involved there in the future together with the Taliban. It’s going to be a Taliban and American corporate nexus.”
Wasif also said corporations are taking advantage of incompetent U.S. political and military leaders: “This is a war between the corporate people and the military or between the state department and the DoD and the corporate people. This is the main issue, you should understand that. Not the issue of Afghanistan or corruption.”
In Herat Province, Iran has closed its consulate. Iranian media say hundreds of Afghans attacked the consulate. Local Afghan officials say the people were protesting the Iranian execution of Afghans. Iran says they captured Afghans smuggling drugs into Iran, which is a death penalty offense in that country. Some of the protestors said they will support any U.S. invasion of Iran.
10 December 2012
ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan.”
In Laghman Province, the boss of the provincial women affairs department for eastern Laghman province was assassinated by unknown gunmen.
In Nimroz Province, a police chief was killed after he drove over a landmine.
USAF (United States Air Force) data shows Afghanistan is the main target of drone attacks. At least 447 drone strikes so far for 2012. And USMC (United States Marine Corps) General John Allen recently said violence was down?
President Barack Obama praised a Special Operations Forces (not to be confused with U.S. Army Special Forces, but SOF can include Army “Green Berets”) operation that rescued a captured U.S. citizen, who is supposedly representing a U.S. aid organization. The operation took place the day before. One SOF personnel was killed, who just happened to be one of the SEALS (SEa Air Land teamS) who took part in the questionable Osama bin Laden assassination.
09 December 2012
ISAF said: “A U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service member died in eastern Afghanistan today.”
In Helmand Province, local police officials say an overnight U.S. airstrike hit the Godar area of Nahr-e Seraj district. Six people were killed.
In Ghazni Province, Ghazni city, Mujahideen say they killed three U.S./NATO troops.
In Kandahar Province, two people killed, two wounded after they drove over a landmine. Also, Mujahideen say they repelled a U.S. led heliborne operation in Kala Shamir region’s Shilghami Manda area, Maiwand district. The U.S. led operation began the night before.
The Afghan Ministry of Public Health said 24,000 Afghans were burned by faulty imported gas cylinders, in 2011. 234 people died. Many Afghans can not afford to buy quality gas cylinders so they buy poor quality imported cylinders, which have been exploding or catching fire. Most Afghans do not have electricity so they rely on gas for everything from cooking to lighting.
The European Union (EU) announced it will give Afghanistan another $1.9 billion USD by 2017. This as the EU struggles with a collapsing economy. Afghan officials say the EU is one of the biggest taxpayer donors to Afghanistan: “European Union is one the biggest donors of Afghanistan. EU had considerable commitments towards the Afghan government in Tokyo conference. Majority of the aid by European Union was spent through the Afghan government.”-Hazrat Omer Zakhilwal, Afghan finance minister
More evidence leaders don’t want peace; Pakistan government officials are detaining Mujahideen who want peace! That claim is being made by Afghan officials: “Taliban leaders detained in Pakistan have been arrested since they are interested and prepared to join peace process. This is the main reason that the Afghan government is repeatedly urging Pakistan to free Taliban group members.”-Janan Mosazai, Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman
After continually condemning U.S. policies, President Hamid Karzai now says he will consider granting U.S. military personnel legal immunity. It’s part of the ongoing discussions concerning the new post-2014 pullout military pact, to be signed by 2013. This is also proof the U.S. is not really pulling out.
13 December 2012, German officials announced they are investigating employees and executives of Deutsche Bank, for tax evasion and money laundering. 500 investigators descended upon the bank’s Frankfurt headquarters. At least 25 employees are under investigation and five have already been arrested. Some of the tax evasion claims involve the bogus carbon tax.
12 December 2012, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that the Japanese bank, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, will pay a fine of $8.6 million USD for violating U.S. sanctions against Myanmar, Sudan and Iran.
11 December 2012, HSBC was fined a record $1.9 billion for money laundering, sanctions violations and several people were arrested for the ongoing LIBOR scandal. U.S. Department of Justice said the British bank laundered money for drug dealers and violated sanctions against Burma, Cuba and Libya.
It’s reported that other banks involved in the LIBOR scandal, such as The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Swiss bank UBS, are about to make a settlement.
The failed British bank, Northern Rock, cost taxpayers dearly: “This is £270m straight out of the taxpayers’ pocket. I’ve been repeatedly assured in parliament that there was no black hole in Northern Rock. U.K. Financial Investments and the Treasury didn’t know what they were talking about.”-Lord Oakeshott, Liberal Democrat
And let’s not forget the Queen of England’s own bank, Coutts (a division of RBS), which is also involved in money laundering for drug dealers. Just think, the medical care being provided for Kate Middleton and her unborn baby is possibly being paid for with drug money (as well as taxpayer money) for all we know.
13 December 2012, after months of trying to create a true central bank of Europe, European Union (EU) members agreed to give the job to the already existent European Central Bank (ECB).
The move is meant to standardize banking policies for EU members. The ECB will be considered the “supervisor” of EU banks. It also allows the ECB to have full access to information from all EU member banks.
Even the United Kingdom, who is usually opposed to approving anything that would make the European Union stronger, agreed to the deal: “It shows that when you go in with a clear and principled argument and you make your case, then you can succeed and that’s what Britain has done tonight.”-George Osborne, U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer
On 07 December 2012, the Washington Post reported that President Barack Obama is planning to invade northern Mali, on the pretext that the northern half of Mali is being ruled by Islamists friendly to al Qaeda.
The invasion will be joined by France, but officially it will be an African led invasion. The Washington Post even quoted a U.S. official: “…the military concept proposes an Africa led effort, but several key questions must be answered to ensure that this effort is also well planned and well resourced.”-Johnnie Carson, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
The West African country of Mali (which by the way borders Algeria which borders Libya, hmmmm) is considered by some sources to have “…no known commercially exploitable oil or gas resources.”
However, for the past few years Canadian and European oil companies have been actively involved in oil exploration, in the northern areas of Mali.
Canadian oil giant, Heritage Oil Corporation, is specifically involved with block 7 and block 11 seismic and exploration fields in the northern part of Mali. This information comes from Africa Oil Corporation (also a Canadian company, despite the name), which says they are 25% involved with the Heritage Mali operations.
Heritage, on their own web site, admitted they were concerned about the security of their area of operations: “Following the coup in March 2012, Heritage is monitoring the security situation and considering all options.”
Other oil companies involved include: Eni, an Italian company. Selier energy, another Canadian outfit. Sonatrach, an Algerian (formerly French?) company. And Centric Energy, based in United Kingdom, they also have a 25% stake in Heritage’s block 7 and block 11 operations in Mali.
With the majority of oil companies involved in Mali coming from Canada and United Kingdom, is this another case of the evil British empire getting the United States to do its dirty work?
05 December 2012, European Union finance ministers shelved any plans to create a single centralized bank for the EU.
Last month things looked good for a central bank of Europe when 6,000 banks were put under EU “supervision”. It was hoped an official EU central bank would be in place for 2013.
Some of the reasons for the collapse of such plans was that most EU member countries could not agree on the limits of power for a EU central bank. Also, France wanted immediate implementation while Germany wanted a gradual phase in.
EU finance ministers will resume central bank creation discussions next week.
30 November 2012
In Ghazni Province, at least four people killed, one wounded, after they drove over a landmine.
United Kingdom is refusing to hand over prisoners to Afghan control. British say it’s because they suspect the Afghan security officials will torture the prisoners (kettle calling the pot black). This comes after President Hamid Karzai ordered the execution of dozens of suspected Mujahideen held in Afghan controlled prisons.
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee is backing the appointment of USMC General Joseph Dunford Junior, to take over command of ISAF in Afghanistan.
U.S. Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, confirmed that U.S. personnel will stay in Afghanistan past the official 2014 pull out, but refused to say how many: “The fundamental mission in Afghanistan is to establish an Afghanistan that can secure and govern itself and ensure that al Qaeda never again finds a safe haven within Afghanistan from which to conduct attacks on the United States or any other country.”
In Faryab Province, fighting going on in Almar district. At least two Mujahideen killed by airstrikes, and one U.S./NATO armored vehicle destroyed by landmine.
29 November 2012
In Baghlan Province, two people have died and at least five people are sick with an unknown disease in Uruzngan village in Deh-Salah district. Locals say those who died did so within ten minutes of showing symptoms: “One of my relative died after receiving a short shiver and another neighbor died within 10 minutes from the same disease.” (nerve agent?)
In Uruzgan Province, ten people killed and eight wounded after a bus ran over a landmine.
In Helmand Province, U.S./NATO launched heliborne operations in Kajaki district’s Loe Manda area. The battles lasted from the morning until midnight. U.S./NATO forces retreated. Mujahideen at first said one of their own was killed, but later said they suffered no casualties. Also, in Nawzad district Mujahideen claim they destroyed a Georgian tank with multiple rocket propelled grenades (RPG).
28 November 2012
More scandal for the Kabul Bank. After it was revealed that international customers have withdrawn billions in cash from the Afghan bank, a new report shows that bank employees helped 19 individuals and companies take as much as $861 million USD in fraudulent loans (92% of all loans issued), in what the International Monetary Fund called a Ponzi scheme.
In Kandahar Province, at least seven people wounded after a suicide bomber exploded his motorcycle. The bomber was killed.
In Helmand Province, four people killed after they drove over a landmine.
In Badghis Province, three Afghan National Army personnel killed, four wounded, after they drove over a landmine.
U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman, has resigned. The reason given was that he wanted to “…return to private life”.
The country of Georgia revealed they have increased the number of troops in Afghanistan. They currently have 1,570 personnel in country, which is about double what they originally offered to send. According to Georgian Minister of Defense, Irakli Alasania, they are willing to send more if the U.S. requires, and they will remain past the official 2014 pull out.
27 November 2012
In Herat Province, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) reports one of their drones crashed while on recon mission in Mujahideen territory. Mujahideen say they did not shoot it down, that it crashed because of technical problems.
ISAF reports that 250 U.S./NATO bases have been turned over to Afghan government forces.
In Baghlan Province, local elections resulted in cop on cop firefights. Police loyal to outgoing district security chief attacked police loyal to the newly elected district police boss. Local officials say at least two people killed, several wounded.
In Uruzgan Province, officials from Char Chino district report that U.S./NATO forces raided local homes in the Kakarki, Gohergeen and Nojoi areas. One man was killed, another wounded.
The government of Germany says Afghanistan is not ready for U.S./NATO pull out in 2014. In the Afghanistan Report, Germany says too many Mujahideen remain operational, and there has been no efforts at reconciliation (blame the U.S. and even U.S. based NGOs for that). Germany is planning on giving the Afghan government the equivalent of $558 million taxpayer dollars every year until the year 2016 (not counting the taxpayer funds going directly to Afghan security forces).