Tag Archives: oil

International, U.S.

World War 3: Article 5; an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all! Open War with Syria and U.S. led NATO! Syria shoots down Turkish F-4, Turkey admits it was in Syrian airspace!

“The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all, and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self defense recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually, and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.  Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the [United Nations] Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.”-Article 5, North Atlantic Treaty creating NATO,  4 April 1949

On 22 June 2012, Syrian government officials announced they had shot down a Turkish F-4 Phantom 2, because it had violated their airspace.

On 23 June 2012, Turkish President, Abdullah Gul, admitted the F-4 had violated Syrian airspace: “It is routine for jet fighters to sometimes fly in and out over borders…when you consider their speed over the sea.”

Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, admitted the same thing, but added that it was not for very long, and had no hostile intentions: “The plane did not show any sign of hostility toward Syria and was shot down about 15 minutes after having momentarily violated Syrian airspace.”

24 June 2012, NATO officials announced they will meet on 26 June to discuss the issue, because Turkey has invoked Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty.  Turkey is a member of NATO.

The last time Article 4 was invoked was in 2003, by Turkey as well.  Guess what happened after that? The U.S. led invasion of Iraq.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: China & Mitsubishi increase oil orders from Iran!

22 June 2012, Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation has just renewed its yearly orders of Iranian oil.  The decision comes after the United States exempted Japan from the oil sanctions, and the Japanese government agreed to provide shipping insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil.

It was also revealed that while Japan’s Showa Shell Sekiyu, and JX Nippon Oil & Energy, had officially cut back on oil purchases in past months, Mitsubishi was actually picking up those companies’ barrels of oil under the Mitsubishi banner.  So a slight of hand on the part of the Japanese before they got the exemption!

On 21 June 2012, it was revealed by Customs data that China has actually increased the amount of oil it gets from Iran.

China added 133,902 barrels per day to its crude shipments from Iran in May, a 34.5% increase.  A Reuters report said China was trying to offset the cuts they made earlier in the year.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 19 June – 22 June. Dozens killed in hotel attack! Increased attacks on women & children! Increased attacks on Afghan forces! U.S. troops killed! So much for the U.S. occupation stabilizing Afghanistan!

22 June 2012

Afghan Mujahideen attack the Spozhmai Hotel in Kabul city, at least 12 people killed (six cops and six civilians).

Kabul police say the attack began late night, 21 June 2012.  They claim they rescued 20 hostages, but there are dozens more inside: “It would be very easy for police to kill them, but we are afraid because there are civilians, including women and children, trapped inside. We are waiting for daylight.”-General Mohammad Zahir, Kabul police

Mujahideen claim they attacked two hotels, killing at least 25 people including 14 “high profile” elitist Afghans.

21 June 2012

ISAF admits a U.S./NATO helicopter went down in eastern Afghanistan, calling it an emergency landing.  However, reports out of Khost Province say a U.S. helicopter crashed and burst into flames.

Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, says Mujahideen attacks on Afghan troops have increased: “Every day we have at least 20 to 25 casualties, every day at least 20 to 25 of our youths are making the sacrifice for this country and are being killed!”

A United Nations article says that official documentation of women and children, who suffer from violence, show an increase in violence.  However, there is no baseline because official documentation of such violence was started only a few years ago.

The UN article does say that the ongoing war (should read U.S. occupation) is actually making things worse for women and children.

The UN article was published last week.  Today, 21 June 2012, the Afghan government reports several violent domestic crimes in the past few days.  They include the violent rape of an 8 year old, the rape of a 7 year old, and the torturing of a 6 month old and the mother, apparently all in the same province.

20 June 2012 

A suicide bomber kills at least 21 people. Major Martyn Crighton, of NATO, said the attack was against a U.S./NATO checkpoint in the city of Khost.  The U.S. embassy confirmed that three of those killed were U.S. personnel.

It was the third day in a row that U.S. forces were targeted.  According to iCasualties.org, 208 U.S. led occupation personnel have been killed so far this year, 152 being U.S. personnel.

While the city of Khost was attacked, another explosion hit eastern Khost Province. A suicide bomber attacked a U.S./NATO convoy.  Local hospital officials say at least 18 people were killed and 36 wounded.

At least eight people were killed, four wounded, in Logar Province, after a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew up. Local officials believe the bomber was attempting to join the attack on the U.S./NATO convoy in Khost Province.

In Kunar Province, local officials claim a U.S./NATO airstrike killed at least 21 people.

In Faryab Province, local officials say they stopped four suicide bombers from carrying out their attacks.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) claim they captured yet another “leader”, this time in Paktiya Province.  ISAF also claims to have captured a “leader” from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, in Badakhshan Province.  A “facilitator” was arrested in Kandahar Province.

19 June 2012

ISAF reports a U.S. led occupation troop was killed in southern Afghanistan: “Initial reports indicate that seven insurgents launched an attack on a NATO installation and initially were successful in breaching the outer security perimeter.”

Provincal officials from Kandahar say Mujahideen attacked a U.S. base in Kandahar, wounding at least 10 U.S. personnel.  Mujahideen claim they killed or wounded 40 U.S. personnel, and that 17 Mujahideen were wounded in the attack.

Also in Kandahar Province, a Afghan military checkpoint was attacked by men wearing Afghan police uniforms.  At least seven people were killed.

In Kunar Province, a U.S. assassination drone crashed while providing air support to Afghan and U.S. forces on the ground.

In Helmand Province at least 8 people were killed, five wounded, when they drove over a mine.

In Bamiyan Province, 46 school girls were poisoned.

ISAF says more “leaders” captured in Helmand and Paktia provinces.

President Karzai fires the boss of the Academy of Science, and the boss of Social Affairs and Human Science Department, after they tried to publish a book that was racially slanted against non-Pashtuns.  One ethnic group was actually labeled as being thieves and liars, and a threat to Islam.  Pashtuns are the dominant ethnic group of Afghanistan.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Government Idiots: Japan oil industry says U.S. & EU oil sanctions against Iran will not affect global oil supply!

“For the time being we will be able to continue smoothly transporting Iranian oil to Japan. I would like to thank the government and all parties concerned for their efforts.”-Yasushi Kimura, Petroleum Association of Japan

21 June 2012, Yasushi Kimura, president of the Petroleum Association of Japan, basically said the U.S. and European oil sanctions against Iran are impotent!

Kimura based his conclusion on the fact that there is plenty of oil supply, and that because of the continued downward spiral of the international economy global demand for oil will drop.

The fact that the United States exempted several countries from their oil sanctions, including Japan, also proves that the U.S. sanctions against Iran are nothing but hot air!

So what were U.S. & European leaders trying to accomplish with their impotent oil sanctions against Iran?

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Japan government to insure ships carrying Iraninan oil!

On 1 July 2012, the European Union’s sanctions against Iran kick in.  This includes European shipping insurers (who dominate the market) ending insurance on ships carrying Iranian oil.

20 June 2012, the Japanese Diet has passed a law that allows the government to cover Japanese tanker ships transporting oil from Iran.

The law was unanimously passed by the Upper house, and will provide up to $7.6 billion USD in coverage.  Many Japanese insurance companies expressed concern for providing enough insurance due to the warmongering by the U.S. and EU against Iran.

The government insurance policy goes into effect several days before the EU sanctions on 1 July.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Egyptian military officially takes over, basically declares Martial Law.

18 June 2012, the U.S. supported Egyptian junta has officially taken on the role of government.  The Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) have given themselves new constitutional authority, giving them all the powers of an elected government!

On 14 June 2012, the U.S. supported junta dissolved the Egyptian parliament, and basically declared the recent elections invalid!

Some regional news report that the junta’s coup was backed by the United States.  The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood was winning elections and the U.S. did not want them to run the Egyptian government.

“Figures reported by local media, including state television, also put Mursi ahead of Shafiq, and the Brotherhood candidate’s supporters have already hailed him as the country’s first democratically elected president.”-Agence France Presse (AFP)

Mursi is the Muslim Brotherhood candidate.  Shafiq is a former Mubarak regime official, and regional reports say the junta made plans, backed by the Obama administration, to make sure Shafiq becomes Egypt’s president.  So much for western style democracy (and par for the course in U.S. foreign policy, just ask Iran)!

Since the 2011 Revolution began, a new constitution needs to be written, however, the SCAF now says it can veto any new constitution.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Signs Japan is preparing to join the U.S. in war with China! Military leaders say current Global situation similar to just prior to World War 2!

“In the latest sign of Japan’s military breaking out of its long-time self-imposed shell, about 20 uniformed, rifle-carrying soldiers, faces smeared with camouflage paint, marched through Tokyo’s western neighborhoods of Nerima and Itabashi Tuesday morning as part of a training mission….It was the first time in 42 years that Japanese troops openly marched through the capital…”-Wall Street Journal Japan, 12 June 2012

“Japan slipped to 5th position in the 2012 GPI [Global Peace Index], as a result of an increase in the number of heavy weapons and a slight rise in military spending as a proportion of GDP. There was also a rise in the Political Terror
Scale for the first time since 2004 from a very low level—the result of concerns raised in Amnesty International’s 2010 annual report. Despite the ban on maintaining war potential that was enshrined in Japan’s 1946 constitution, the country’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are sophisticated and capable and in
late 2010 the government unveiled plans to boost its southern forces over the next decade to counter China’s military rise.”-Global Peace Index 2012

“Satoshi Morimoto, a prominent national security analyst and government adviser who served in both the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Foreign Ministry, was named to the defense post on Monday. He becomes Japan’s third defense minister since September; his predecessors, career politicians, were fired for incompetence.”-Time.com

“Japan is swinging its ground forces south to face China, and debating fundamental changes in the roles, missions and operations of its self-defense forces.“-Time.com

“Morimoto….is the first defense minister since the Second World War who is not a member of the Diet. That’s a big deal in a country that still nurses a deep distrust of the military and where renunciation of war is written – right there in black and white — into Japan’s constitution.”-Time.com

“He [Morimoto] is also a strong supporter of the U.S.-Japan alliance and of keeping Marines on Okinawa, despite the noise, crime and danger that have sparked decades of protest.”-Time.com

“A recent image posted on the top page of the official website for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) High Technical School conspicuously features the Zaku mobile suit from the Gundam [Anime/cartoon] series, with two students looking at a toy of the suit while imagining themselves as one…..The JGSDF High Technical School is a three-year high school that offers specialized technical training as well as officer training to its students……”-Animenewsnetwork.com

“The two big challenges Japan faces today are social security and national security. The latter is related to the SDF [Self Defense Forces] and the Defense Academy….The role to be played by the SDF will grow greater in the future.”-Ryosei Kokubun, current president of the National Defense Academy of Japan, interview with The Daily Yomiuri

“The situation in Japan today is similar to that of Britain and France after World War I. As the cruel war killed so many young people, the public’s prevailing opinion during the postwar period was that they should never go to war again.  As a result, Britain and France tended toward appeasement against the rise of Germany, only to allow another cruel war to break out.   Similarly, after the end of World War II, Japan came to believe it should be committed to pacifism.  It has managed to maintain its security by taking full advantage of the Japan-U.S. alliance in combination with its own limited arms.  Today, however, the surrounding region has become one of the most dangerous in the world. Since the 1991 Gulf War, China has realized the necessity of modernizing its forces, and as a result it continues to build up its military…”-Makoto Iokibe, former president of the National Defense Academy of Japan, interview with The Daily Yomiuri

Idaho, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 10 June – 14 June. U.S./NATO deaths pass 2000 since the U.S. led occupation began. Doctor behind school girl poisonings! More proof it’s about the oil! More proof the drug war is a failure! Accused war criminal considered for Attorney General!

14 June 2012

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said one U.S. led occupation personnel was killed by Mujahideen on 13 June, in southern Afghanistan.

The U.S. Pentagon confirmed that it was a U.S. Marine, from Minnesota, that was killed on 13 June.

The British Ministry of Defence also confirms one of their soldiers was killed by a grenade, also on 13 June.

This brings the 2012 death toll of U.S. led occupying forces to more than 200. Since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan at least 2,000 U.S. forces have been killed.  418 British soldiers have been killed.

In Kunar Province, a suicide bomber attacked a U.S. occupation air base.  At least five people were killed.

In Jowzjan Province, an explosion wounded at least 11 people. It happened near the home of a local electoral boss.

The Ministry of Defense for Afghanistan reports that 11 of their troops were wounded in attacks by Mujahideen. The attacks took place in Kunar, Ghazni and Kandahar provinces.

ISAF claims they killed a “leader”, and a Mujahideen in Kandahar Province.  Another “leader” was captured in Helmand Province.

13 June 2012

In Baghlan Province, at least two people were killed, five wounded, in tribal disputes.

In Paktiya Province, a huge explosion left one person killed, at least 20 people wounded. It happened near the Kabul Bank.

12 June 2012

U.S. Marine General John Allen order an end to air strikes on houses!  This comes after wide spread protests over the continued killing of civilians by U.S. troops.

Iran announced the capture of 137 kilograms (302 pounds) of drugs in the past 80 days, a 176% increase in illegal drugs coming from Afghanistan, compared with the same time last year!   Many of the drug traffickers arrested are citizens of Azerbaijan Republic.

In Wardak Province, five civilians were killed when they drove over a mine.

ISAF announced that three U.S. led occupation personnel were killed by an explosion in southern Afghanistan.

Controversial Afghan General, Abdul Rashid Dostum (who receives support from the U.S.), is being investigated for interfering in the development of the oil fields in northern Afghanistan.  The main oil fields of Afghanistan are located in Faryab and Sar-e-Pul provinces. Preliminary reports estimate the area has almost 87 million barrels of petroleum.

Dostum is also being considered for Attorney General of Afghanistan, despite being involved with the murder of hundreds of “Taliban” prisoners in 2001 (known as the Dasht-i-Leili massacre).

In Kunar Province, two tribal elders were assassinated. Mujahideen say the elders were spying for the Afghan police.

The Interior Ministry of Afghanistan claims 30 Mujahideen were killed in battles in Baghlan, Kandahar, Zabul, Logar and Ghazni provinces.

In Balkh Province, two people were killed, and five wounded, by a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle.

U.S. Army Lieutenant General James L. Terry, assumed command of ISAF.

11 June 2012

In Logar Province, the residents closed down all schools in protest of the continued killings of civilians by U.S. troops.  The latest incident involved a U.S. air strike on a house that was full of wedding guests, 18 were killed.

In Baghlan Province, 3500 hectares (8,648.6 acres) of opium fields were destroyed.  It took ten days.

The Ministry of Defense for Afghanistan reports that three of their troops were killed, 12 wounded, in battles with Mujahideen.  The attacks took place in Helmand, Kunar and Maidan Wardak provinces.

In Kunar Province, the local government intelligence boss was assassinated. They don’t know who did it.

In Sar-e-Pul Province, at least four people were killed when they drove over a mine.

In Kunduz Province, three people were killed after a house blew up.

10 June 2012

A Pakistani female doctor was arrested in connection with the recent poisonings at girls’ schools.  11 other suspects have been arrested as well.

In Kandahar Province, an Idaho National Guardsman was severely wounded when he stepped on a mine. He’s expected to be sent to Germany for treatment.  According to relatives living in Pocatello, Idaho, he lost his legs, suffered a fractured pelvis, a broken arm, internal injuries and lost a couple of fingers.  His brother recently returned from occupation duty in Iraq and Kuwait.

The Interior Ministry of Afghanistan claims 33 Mujahideen were killed by Afghan police, in battles Kabul, Laghman, Parwan, Helmand, Uruzgan and Farah provinces.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Government Hypocrisy: United States exempts 7 more countries from Iran sanctions list. What about up-coming EU sanctions? UN says Iran has no Nukes!

“….we did not say Iran had nuclear weapons. We never said such. We also did not say that Iran made a decision to obtain nuclear weapons. That we also did not say.”-Yukiya Amano, International Atomic Energy Agency

12 June 2012, apparently all the excitement over Iran’s nuclear program was hyperbole.  The Obama administration just exempted seven more countries from the oil sanctions.

In March 2012 France, Germany and Japan were exempted. Now India, South Korea, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Africa.  Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said it was because those countries have dramatically reduced their purchase of Iranian oil.

I’ve been following this and I can say that several of those countries have not reduced their purchases of Iran oil, even increasing their future orders!

U.S. officials (both in the Obama administration and in Congress) have been bold face lying to the U.S. news media, claiming that the sanctions have hurt the Iranian economy.  If that’s so then why is Iran swimming in more money than ever before?

Today it was revealed that Iran’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has doubled in the past fives years, despite decades of old sanctions, and despite the new sanctions: “Due to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s economic capacities we have been able to move through the sanctions and will do the same in future as well.”-Seyed Shamseddin Hosseini, Iranian Ministry of Economic Affairs & Finance

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Iran now has the 17th strongest economy in the World, thanks to their GDP rising to $482 billion USD last year.  The IMF expects Iran’s GDP, for 2012, to be more than 3%, and remember, that’s under sanctions!

Iran’s own stock exchange (Tehran Stock Exchange or TSE) has seen a 280% growth rate in the past five years!  The TSE is doing almost too well, so much so that Iranian officials issued a statement to try and calm investors: “Concerns about bubble growth are unfounded. The reason for the rise in the index is the flow of cash into the stock market.”-Ali Sahraie, TSE operations manager

Stock market analysts believe Iran’s TSE has a lot more room for growth: “Even though (the market) is rallying I still think of it as under performing.”-Ahmad Alanani, works for London based Exotix

The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) boss just came out (in an interview with the Wall Street Journal) and said Iran has no nukes, and that the IAEA could find no evidence suggesting that Iran is trying to build nukes.

However, the IAEA did allude to possible nuke weapons programs that were active prior to 2003: “We don’t have the impression that they are re-concentrating their activities. Before 2003 the work was quite systematic. And after that it is more dispersed. And this situation continues.”-Yukiya Amano

Sanctions against Iran, by the European Union, are set to go into effect on 1 July.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 08 June – 09 June. French troops killed, France to begin pullout. U.S. apologizes, again. 11 U.S./NATO troops killed in one day!

9 June 2012

In Kapisa Province, at least six French troops were killed, four wounded, when the NATO convoy was attacked by a suicide bomber.  This as French President, Francois Hollande, announced that French forces will begin leaving Afghanistan in July.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says at least five U.S. led occupation personnel were killed in eastern Afghanistan. Four were killed in an attack by Mujahideen.  One was killed by an explosion.

At least 188 U.S. led occupation personnel have been killed since the beginning of 2012.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of the Interior fired a provincial security boss, and a provincial prison boss.  The two men were in charge of operations in Sar-e-Pul Province.  This is because of a prison break that happened on the night of 7 June.

Another provincial security boss, in Tagab district, was fired for being AWOL.

Afghan officials also claim they killed 11 Mujahideen, capturing two, in battles in the provinces of Helmand, Zabul, Ghazni, Paktika, Herat and Farah.

8 June 2012

Yet again, USMC General John Allen apologized for U.S. forces killing innocent people.  The killings took place on 6 June, in Logar Province.  U.S. occupying forces called in a “precision strike” on a house, which they claim was a Mujahideen hideout.  Turns out the house was full of relatives who just celebrated a wedding that day.  At least 18 people were killed, including nine children.

Mujahideen claim responsibility for a prison break in Sar-e-Pul Province.  It happened on the night of 7 June, and the Mujahideen used explosives to get the prisoners out.  More than 30 people escaped, but Afghan officials claim they captured half of them.  At least 34 people were wounded in the prison break operation.

ISAF reports two U.S. occupation personnel killed by explosion in southern Afghanistan. They said it happened on 7 June.   ISAF also said “An International Security Assistance Force service member died as a result of a non-battle related injury in southern Afghanistan today.”