President Obama’s man for peace in the Middle East throws in the towel, just in time for a massive May 15 march on Israeli borders by Egyptians, Jordanians and Lebanese.
There are yet to be any official statements about George Mitchell’s resignation. There is speculation that the unification of Palestinian political parties Hamas and Fatah (and other groups) is a factor.
The Israeli government recently said that with Fatah united with Hamas, there could be no more peace talks.
Yet another NATO supply convoy, headed for Afghanistan, has been blown up in Pakistan. This despite an increase in U.S. drone attacks.
Pakistani officials blame Pakistani Taliban for the attack, although they don’t know how the Taliban managed to blow up all the trucks (between 15 & 24).
An Idaho political commentator was interviewed by Iranian PressTV, which aired on May 13.
Controversial Mark Glenn, high school teacher turned political commentator, stated that United States foreign policy is controlled by corporate America, and Israel: “…with Tel Aviv as well we have to keep in mind that this is a two-headed beast, it’s not just the U.S. and her political/business interests.”
Glenn also said that corporate capitalism and true democracy are not compatible: “Where there is freedom as far as capitalism goes where there is true freedom to choose, capitalism cannot thrive. Capitalism as much as we are told it is a supporter of a free market and competition, in true essence it is not. We do not want the people to have the opportunity to choose for themselves to make choices in their own best interests and so America at the highest political level is not in the least bit interested to have any form of democracy- it is the iron fist in a velvet glove.”
Events in the Middle East and North Africa will only make the U.S. government more aggressive: “…if the U.S. and Israel manage to lose control of these governments in that part of the world they are going to up the ante as the saying goes and they are going to apply even more desperate measures to maintain the kind of control that they have enjoyed…”
Italian officials reporting that Libyan Catholic Bishop, Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, says Gaddafi has left Triopli, and is wounded.
For weeks the Italian media reported that Gaddafi was dead. Libyan government denies both claims.
Egyptian demonstrators have threatened the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, forcing Egyptian police to fire weapons over the heads of the crowds.
Egyptians in Alexandria have surrounded the Israeli consulate there.
Israeli officials are concerned about upcoming Nakba demonstrations by Palestinians, Egyptians, Jordanians and Lebanese. The demonstrations come one day after Israel celebrates its so called “Independence”.
Israelis are increasing military and police forces along their borders with Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. They have also banned access to Al-Aqsa Mosque (aka Temple Mount). Only men more than 45 years old, and having Israeli ID will be allowed in.
Israeli officials say intelligence has picked up a huge increase in internet and cell phone activity between Palestinians. In Gaza alone, officials expect at least a quarter million demonstrators on May 15.
Palestinian media reporting that the Queen of England has sent the President of Israel a message of support for Israel’s anniversary, and encouragement for the coming year.
No messages have been sent to Palestinian officials, regarding the upcoming Nakba anniversary, or the unification of Hamas and Fatah.
May 13, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians are demonstrating in Cairo and Alexandria. The demonstrators are calling for unity within Egypt, for former Mubarak officials to be brought to trial, and freedom for Palestinians.
In Jordan, hundreds of thousands of people are demonstrating, calling for the freedom of Palestinians. People of Jordan and Lebanon are also planning on marching on Israel’s borders on May 15.
May 13 is National Unity Day in Egypt. The Nakba, when Palestinians officially lost most of their land to Israel, is May 15. Egyptians are planning a million man march to the Israeli/Egyptian border at Gaza, on May 15.
Earlier in the week, Palestinians in Fatah controlled West Bank, and Hamas controlled Gaza, held huge “Unity” demonstrations.
General Kahlid Shamim Wynne, Pakistan’s Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, canceled his planned six day visit to the United States.
The General has not yet given a reason.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, said in an interview on May 12, that communication between the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, and Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence has broken down.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, and Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency officials, announced that a shield will be built to entomb Reactor 1, at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
It was discovered that Reactor 1 did indeed experience fuel rod melt down! To try and reduce the amount of radiation spewing from the reactor a shield will be built around it. Construction will start in June. TEPCo still has to deal with contaminated water pouring from the building.