Moody’s downgraded Japan, from double A2, to double A3. Moody’s cited continuing government budget problems, huge government debt, and government incompetence.
One of the signs of government incompetence is what has become a revolving door of government agencies and leaders. The latest change is that Prime Minister Naoto Kan has resigned, effective by the beginning of September.
Japan is the second largest foreign holder of U.S. government debt.
China’s Foreign Minister says the United Nations, not U.S. led NATO, should lead post-war efforts in Libya. He added that China will help rebuild the country, but only if the UN is in charge.
Rumors of poisoned water in Tripoli, has rebels confused. A BBC reporter said he overheard rebels arguing about whether the water was safe or not. So far, no one has confirmed the story of two people going to hospital after drinking poisoned water.
“Given the volatile security situation, the Canadian Embassy in Tripoli has suspended operations until further notice.”-Canadian government statement
A man from Ottawa, Canada, says Libyan rebels are threatening to kill him. Mahdi Nazemroaya, an independent journalist working for Russian and Arab media, is holded up in the Rixos Hotel.
His mother has been begging Canadian officials to do something to get her son out of Libya, they have refused.
Even Nazemoroaya’s alma mater, University of Ottawa, tried to get the Canadian government to help: “To call the government when a friend is in trouble, and hear ‘too bad so sad’, that is disappointing.”- Mireille Gervais, student appeal center
Reporters still holed up in the Rixos Hotel, in Tripoli, say the hotel is still under attack by Rebels. That’s because the area is still under the control of the Libyan government. It seems the rebels have not taken Tripoli after all.
CNN’s Matthew Chance said this about the situation: “Just had confirmation that a Maltese boat docked in a Libyan port. Would love to get on board and out of here.”
Another report says that SCUD missiles, supposedly being launched from Sirte, are being intercepted by the U.S. Navy. The SCUDs are targeting Misrata.
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.
Libyan government forces launched ‘Grad’ type missiles at Tripoli.
Government spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, said they have enough weapons to fight rebels for “years”, and that rebels will not “enjoy peace”.
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.
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.
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.”
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.