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

Israel bombs Gaza, close to Egyptian border

August 24, a vehicle in the town of Rafah, near the Egyptian border was hit by an Israeli missile.  One man killed, one injured.

This comes after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, said: “This is a delicate situation and there is a real risk of endangering the (1979 Egyptian-Israeli) peace treaty, which is a precious strategic asset for Israel.”

A ceasefire was agreed to, but only between Hamas and Israel.  Hamas does not control all of Gaza.  Rocket attacks against Israel, since the cease fire, were done by rivals to Hamas.  The man killed by Israel today, is said to be a member of Islamic Jihad, not Hamas.

It is now known that the August 18 attacks on Israeli tour buses were not done by Hamas, but by a group known as Popular Resistance Committees.  Earlier Israel, and most of the western media, blamed Hamas for the tour bus attacks. 

International

Tripoli water supply poisoned, Gaddafi says war is still on, Rebel positions near Tunis under attack

Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi says government forces leaving Tripoli is a tactical move, the war is not over.  He also says NATO sent no fewer than 64 air strikes against the Bab al Aziziya military compound, in the recent fighting.

Reports coming from Tunis.  Tunisia has closed its border crossings, because rebel forces, near the border, are under heavy attack by Libyan government forces, including artillery attack.

Some BBC reporters are saying the water supply for Tripoli is contaminated, possibly poisoned.  Two people were taken to hospital after drinking tap water.  Some rebel checkpoints are warning people not to drink the water.

International

Libyan forces leave Gaddafi’s hometown, to fight Rebels in Tripoli, Rebels will now focus on attacking Sirte

There are reports that Libyan government forces, and pro-Gaddafi tribes, are leaving Gaddifi’s hometown of Sirte, to attack rebels in Tripoli.

At the same time, other reports say rebels are trying to stop government forces coming from Sirte.  NATO bombed Sirte “heavily”.  Rebel officials say they need another 72 hours to fully “liberate” Libya.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said Gaddafi’s forces remain dangerous.

Business/Economics, International

BBC serves employees food covered in mouse crap

130 employees, at the British Broadcasting Corporation’s West London office, complained that the food they got in the company cafeteria, was covered with mouse droppings!

This is not the first time the BBC has been criticized for the food it serves its employees.  The famous comedian Peter Sellers (the original Pink Panther movies, Dr Strangelove) once said: “Lunch is now being served in the BBC canteen. Doctors are standing by.”

International, U.S.

NATO warns of Chemical Weapons use in Libya, open Desert not conducive to chemical warfare

U.S. and European military “experts” are trying to create fears of chemical weapons being used by a desperate Gaddafi.

In the live rebel press conference the rebel official responded that “Everything is possible” regarding fears that Gaddafi would use chemical weapons.

The open Libyan desert is not conducive to chemical warfare.  See my earlier posting: Chemical Weapons Primer.

International

Once again, Libyan rebels say they arrested Gaddafi’s son, Libyan government fell apart

Live press conference from rebels say Seif al Islam Gaddafi has been arrested, but they can’t confirm. This is not the first time they’ve made such a claim.

Rebel official says efforts will be made to allow Seif al Islam to make a statement by phone.  Rebels say dozens of Libyan government officials have surrendered.  Again, they can’t confirm it.  They add that once Seif al Islam was arrested the Libyan government fell apart.