Category Archives: International

International, U.S.

Norovirus Strikes Back: Cruise ships hit hard, Montana & Colorado & North Dakota & Minnesota put on alert! Deaths in Japan! New study proves dish washing advise to be nothing but old wives tale when it comes to killing viruses! So much for washing your hands!

“I thought I was gonna die.”-63 year old Texan

23 December 2012, the norovirus is making a comeback; cruise ship passengers getting sick in Texas, firefighting crews getting sick in Montana, warnings for Coloradans, local media from Minnesota and North Dakota reporting increased cases of infection, a report showing that standard kitchen disinfecting will not kill the virus, and a new mutation killing people in Japan.

The two latest incidents involve six more deaths in Japan, and a cruise ship off the coast of Texas full of sick passengers.

96 passengers on a Crown Princess cruise got sick with the most common cause of stomach ‘flu’ (aka food poisoning); the single stranded RNA norovirus.  Reports say one passenger had to be lifeflighted to a hospital.  The cruise line provided onboard medical care, but the sick passengers were made even sicker when the cruise line charged them extra for the medical care!

In Japan, the norovirus has taken a turn for the worse.  Japanese health officials now think that the virus has mutated into a more deadly form.

On 23 December, a hospital in Miyazaki Prefecture reported that six patients have died, another 27 patients and 14 hospital staff are sick.  On 05 December, a hospital in Osaka Prefecture reported two people died and 48 patients and hospital staff are sick.  There are reports that five other people throughout Japan have died.

The Japanese National Institute of Infectious Diseases is warning of a norovirus epidemic, saying they are seeing one of the highest infection rates on record.   As of the second week of November, an average of 11 cases per hospital were being reported.

At the end of 2011, Japanese health officials detected an increase in norovirus cases, and that this new version seems to be more easily spread between humans.

Back in the United States, a new Lessons Learned report on firefighting efforts in Montana revealed that several of the firefighting staff were sick with norovirus G1. It involved the crews fighting the Elbow Pass fire in 2011.  At least seven people came down with it, but after closing down the food service line and cleaning everything, health inspectors realized that it was not coming from contaminated food, it was going directly from person to person.

The fire crew supervisors took quick action and avoided what could have been a catastrophe:   “It’s not unusual in fire camps that things get passed around, but this was particularly nasty. There was all kinds of potential there to spread through the whole camp.”-Bob Harrington, Montana State Forester

In Minnesota, health officials are investigating a possible outbreak after a recent wedding party in the city of LeRoy.  They’re also blaming a food service worker, infected with norovirus, for an outbreak that hit the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, back in November.

North Dakota media reporting people being hospitalized with norovirus, and health officials point out that there is no vaccine to prevent it, and no medication for it once you catch it.

In Colorado, cases of norovirus are spreading like wildfire.  Since 01 December 2012 there have been six confirmed outbreaks, just in El Paso County.  Outbreaks do not equate to individual persons, this is six groups of people.  The first five outbreaks resulted in 300 Coloradans getting sick.  Health officials are refusing to reveal where exactly the outbreaks are taking place, but did concede that it involved people living/working along side other people: “…the places where it’s occurred have been long term care facilities, schools, places where there have been large numbers of people. Because it is so highly contagious, it does allow it to spread.”-Danielle Oller, El Paso County Public Health

Winter time (in the Northern Hemisphere) is considered the usual time of year for norovirus outbreaks.  And the standard schtick for defending from the virus is to keep your kitchen clean, but there’s growing evidence that doesn’t work.

According to a report published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE,  researchers wanted to see if standard restaurant dish washing practices really killed the germs that can make you sick, and they found out that it doesn’t (back in my younger days I worked in a restaurant that used an industrial strength dish washing machine that used boiling hot water, and now this study says that ain’t good enough?).  What they discovered is that while bacteria like E.Coli are killed, viruses like norovirus are not!   The norovirus was still present after the dish washing experiment.

But get this, the reason the scientists did the study was that no one has ever proven that dish washing actually killed viruses: “… little information regarding the efficacy of traditional sanitizers for the reduction of foodborne viruses from food contact surfaces is available in the literature. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the sanitization efficacy of quaternary ammonium and sodium hypochlorite for the reduction of murine norovirus…”-Introduction from Efficacies of Sodium Hypochlorite and Quaternary Ammonium Sanitizers for Reduction of Norovirus and Selected Bacteria during Ware-Washing Operations

The study showed that dish washing machines did not reduce viruses: “…the survivability of MNV-1 [norovirus] on the contaminated surfaces before and after mechanical washing……were not statistically different (p>0.0001).”

Oh, but don’t throw your away your time saving machines just yet, hand washing didn’t work either: “The effect of the manual ware-washing and sanitizing solutions…..were not significantly different (p>0.0001) than the reductions achieved by the control.”

The researchers also pointed out signs that indicate that norovirus does not originate with fecal (crap) contamination.

One: Norovirus actually lives longer on clean surfaces than on dirty surfaces: “This result is consistent with those of other researchers who showed that norovirus can survive for up to 30 days on stainless steel…….and [only] 7 days on fecal contaminated surfaces….”

Two:  Most cases of contamination originate with a person who is already contaminated, who then spreads it to other people: “Most documented foodborne viral outbreaks can be traced to food that has been manually handled by an infected food handler. Hence, the hygiene of the personnel who handle food in foodservice establishments is an important preventive measure in minimizing cross-contamination of food contact surfaces and the food itself with norovirus.”

If you think about it, this study would indicate that washing your hands won’t kill the virus either, so much for all that advise coming from your local health officials and incompetent media!

International, U.S.

World War 3: Japan withdraws from Golan Heights, Israel conducting wargames for new kind of enemy, blaming Syrian ‘civil’ war

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.

Business/Economics, International

Corporate Evil: Mitsubishi ripped off its biggest customer; taxpayers! More proof that Western Capitalist Corporations are welfare scammers!

21 December 2012, the government of Japan is hitting Mitsubishi Electric with hundreds of millions of dollars in fines, after an investigation revealed that the manufacturing giant ripped off taxpayers for at least ten years.

Japan’s Defense Ministry says Mitsubishi Electric overcharged taxpayers on military contracts, to the tune of $295 million USD.

Japan’s JAXA space agency announced that Mitsubishi Electric overcharged the taxpayers by around $74 million.

Mitsubishi must now pay back the overcharges, plus fines, but doesn’t have the money.  But at least the executives of the Japanese company are more responsible than their U.S. unAmerican Corporate America counterparts; Mitsubishi execs will cut their pay in half for at least six months to try and help the company pay the piper (so they say).

Mitsubishi is already in trouble as their sales in China are crashing, and they expect only half of the profits they were forecasting at the beginning of the year.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 13 – 16 December 2012. Norwegians join Mujahideen! Karzai admits healthcare is a big business scam! UN counters claims by USMC General Allen! First taxpayer cash being stolen from Afghan banks, now gold! Poland agrees to give Afghanistan more taxpayer money! No More Frenchies?

16 December 2012

In Kabul Province, city of Kabul, the Ariana Hotel near the Kota-e-Sangi caught fire.  The hotel is also home to many financial businesses.  Fire officials say it looks like the fire started in a coffee shop during a wedding celebration.

In Kandahar Province, Khakrez and Shahwalikot district in Geri area, reports say a U.S. led heliborne operation resulted in five Mujahideen killed and nine civilians killed.  Locals say the nine civilians that were killled were pulled out of their farm fields and houses by the U.S. led troops, and then executed!

Iran is demanding the government of Afghanistan must pay for damages to the Iranian consulate in Herat Province.   Hundreds of Afghans attacked the consulate over the Iranian execution of Afghans. Iranian officials say the Afghans were caught smuggling drugs into Iran.

President Hamid Karzai has stated that there is no “proper” healthcare system in his country.  Afghanistan’s medical providers are increasingly concerned only with money.  Karzai made the statements at a medical ethics conference.  Afghan lawmaker, Naqibullah Fayeq, said doctors who’re supposed to be providing services in government run hospitals are going AWOL, in search of patients who’ll pay them more money: “….they have forgotten about their formal duties in government hospitals. They are coming to hospital at 10:30 am and leaves the hospital 11:00 am!”

For awhile now there have been growing admissions that foreign taxpayers’ aid money is being withdraw from Afghan banks in scandalous amounts, and taken out of the country.  Now, the New York Times reports that gold is being stolen as well!  According to Afghan airport officials one gold haul was worth $1.5 million USD, and most of it is going to U.S. allies such as Dubai and United Arab Emirates.

15 December 2012

In Herat province, in Gazra district’s Malan area, Mujahideen claim to have assassinated the local government head of 4th District Logistics.

Poland has signed a deal that will give Afghanistan more taxpayer money from Europe: “The signing of this agreement will further enhance and strengthen the relations and the wide range of cooperation between the two countries. Over the past ten years Poland has had a significant contribution to the reconstruction of and securing peace in Afghanistan. The signing of this agreement today will provide investment opportunities by the Polish side in Afghanistan.”-Zalmai Rassoul, Foreign Minister of Afghanistan

Reports say the last of France’s combat troops have left Afghanistan, two years early.   U.S./NATO “pullout” isn’t until 2014, but 200 soldiers of the 25th Belfort Infantry Regiment left on Saturday.  Look out Syria! Look out Mali!   France still has about 1,500 logistics/admin/training troops in Afghanistan.

Despite the fact that President Karzai is negotiating with the U.S. about keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan, he publicly stated that he wants all foreign troops out by 2014: “From our vision, the fight against terrorism is not in Afghanistan…That is why we do not want military operations in our villages, in our houses….”

14 December 2012

International Security Assistance Force said: “A U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service member died as a result of a non-battle related injury December 14, in southern Afghanistan.”

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has released a report that contradicts claims made by USMC General John Allen, that violence in Afghanistan is down.  The UN reports said violence against civilians is up 28% from last year!

The USMC is going to make a single NCO the scapegoat for the 2011 body urination desecration scandal: “Staff Sgt Joseph W Chamblin would be tried by special court-martial at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina on December 19.”

General Knud Bartels, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, said the U.S. led occupation of Afghanistan will not end up like it did for the Soviet Union, precisely because Russia is now a NATO ally, and is working to help NATO in Afghanistan:  “If I can walk away from my visit having achieved a personal, open and transparent relationship with the Russian Military leadership, then the visit has been a success. We are here today to confirm our strong cooperation and partnership. Confirm our NATO-Russia Council cooperation menu and push our relations to a new stage.”

More warmongering against Pakistan.  U.S. Army Lieutenant General, Michael Barbero, testified to the U.S. Congress that more than 1,900 U.S. personnel have been wounded or killed by homemade bombs (IEDs), just this year.  He blamed Pakistan, and told congressmen to expect even more casualties if no action was taken against Pakistan.  He claimed that 70% of the components for the homemade bombs come from Pakistan.

In United Kingdom, the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy announced that two of its top three military students are from Afghanistan.

13 December 2102

In Kandahar Province, outside Kandahar airbase, Mujahideen claim to have attacked the U.S./NATO base and killed eight occupiers.  Other reports say a U.S. led ISAF convoy was hit by a car bomb.  Four U.S. personnel were killed, along with one Afghan National Army troop, and at least 16 civilians were wounded: “I can confirm that insurgents detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in the vicinity of Kandahar airfield. Currently ISAF officials are on the scene collecting facts and assessing the situation and as information becomes available we will release it as appropriate.”-unnamed U.S. spokesperson

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Nicholas J. Reid died in a hospital in Germany. He was gravely wounded by an explosion in Afghanistan, on 09 December.

In Herat Province, Mujahideen tried to assassinate a senior government security official.  A firefight broke out and one body guard was killed.

In Ghazni Province, local government officials say the Mujahideen are winning over locals by focusing on solving ethnic/tribal issues.  This is more proof that ‘government’ does not really care about the needs of the people.

Norwegian intelligence officials (Etterretningstjenesten, aka E-tjenesten) have confirmed that Norwegian citizens have joined Afghan Mujahideen, and even attacked Norwegian troops (yes, I’m surprised at how many people think Norway is a neutral country).  Lieutenant General, Kjell Grandhagen, said this has been going on for several years: “Norwegians were directly tied to carrying out or attempting armed attacks against Afghan authorities and/or the ISAF, where Norwegian soldiers are also involved.”

Pakistan said there are still 2.6 million Afghan refugees in their country.  Despite threats from the Pakistani government, and incentives (money) from the United Nations, most of the refugees refuse to go back to U.S. occupied Afghanistan.

Outgoing U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman, said the new security pact will ensure that the U.S. will not leave Afghanistan: “I think there will be an agreement in this regard since the security agreement will be in the national interest of Afghanistan and United States. The strategic pact between Kabul and Washington has paved the way for security pact between the two nations. We know that the security pact will be as an agreement for the presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.”

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Food Crisis: Hundreds of squid, and thousands of herring commit mass suicide!

“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.

International, U.S.

2012: Return of mysterious dead birds. Oil company admits fault! New Bird Flu?

15 December 2012, an oil company operating in Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska has admitted fault in the death of hundreds of migratory birds.

The Colorado based company, SM Energy, pled guilty to charges from the U.S. Attorney General: “These charges arose after a multi-year pattern of bird deaths at company sites, notification by the Fish and Wildlife Service, and failure of the defendant company’s subsidiary to take reasonable measures to make the hazardous sites bird-safe.”-Michael Cotter, U.S. attorney for Montana

The investigation revealed that birds were being killed by the oil company’s fluid pits, as far back as 2005.  SM Energy is to pay a paltry $22,500 fine.  Some of its subsidiaries have paid smaller fines. The money will go to the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund.

This perhaps explains years of mysterious bird deaths across the United States.  The birds come into contact with deadly oil production wastes in the fluid pits, then fly off to die.

However, cases of new bird deaths are popping up, around the world.

02 December, local Texas media reporting dozens of dead birds in McKinney. They reported that the birds were bleeding from their mouths: “By our count there are close to 50 dead birds, mostly Grackles, Starlings and Pigeons.”-NBC 5

02 December, India media reporting the “sudden death” of 38 cranes from a possible new strain of avian flu. It happened in salt pans close to Victor village in Rajula range of Amreli district.

At the end of November, officials in Missouri are baffled by the death of 100 birds in a road of a Springfield neighborhood.  Residents say some of the birds were still standing, yet none of the birds were found on grass or sidewalks.  They noted they seemed to be avoiding the powerlines.  One man claims he witnessed the deaths.  He says for some reason the entire flock of birds flew in front of a red pick up truck.  The pick up, and the vehicle behind, hit at least half the flock.

In October, 20 dead starlings were found outside a Saint Lawrence County, New York, home.  Officials determined they were poisoned, but have yet to identify the poison.

 

International

World War 3: Hungarian lawmaker arrested for burning Israeli flag! Proof Israeli NAZI cops target their own people! Palestinians continue to be killed!

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.

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Former Soviet leader says United States about to collapse

On 13 December 2012, the first and last president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, warned that the United States is about to follow the same path as the Soviet union; total collapse!

He made the statements at a conference in Turkey.  The conference is about the future of the Middle East and Black Sea areas.

Gorbachev said if the U.S. does not stop hegemonic policies it will collapse.  On 26 December 1991 the Union of soviet Socialists Republic collapsed into 15 independent republics.  Gorbachev said the collapse of the Soviet Union was mainly due to the costs of fighting wars, especially the Soviet occupation of  Afghanistan.

Note: The office of President of the U.S.S.R. (CCCP) was not created until March 1990, as part of their feeble attempt to reform their system, which is how Gorbachev became the “first and last” President of the USSR.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 09 – 12 December 2012. Where’s all the taxpayer money supposedly given to help Afghanistan? More evidence the U.S. & U.K. are the biggest drug dealers in the world! More evidence your governments are involved with international tax money laundering! Afghans say they will support U.S. invasion of Iran! India to take over Afghanistan? Karzai is two faced!

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.

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Yet another U.S. company (based in Utah) spends big billions, but not in the U.S., in Japan

14 December 2012, Japan’s struggling Mitsubishi Aircraft just announced it has received its largest order ever, from a U.S. company.

Utah based Skywest is buying 100 Mitsubishi Regional Jets (MRJs), with an option to buy another 100 later.

The 100 MRJs will cost Skywest $4.2 billion USD.  The planes will be delivered at least one year late, as Mitsubishi says they’re having manufacturing problems.