Category Archives: International

International, U.S.

Iraq and Afghan war vets suffer from lung problems, military doctors back it up

A New York Times report says as many as 80,000 U.S. war vets suffer from lung problems like asthma and bronchitis.

The report says the problems began while ‘in theater’ (while deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan), but have continued since returning home.

Causes could be anything from dust storms to toxic chemicals being used on U.S. military bases.  U.S. military medical personnel are calling for an investigation: “I’m concerned that this exposure is not getting the serious review it needs.”-Captain Mark Lyles, Center for Naval Warfare Studies in Newport, Rhode Island.

International, U.S.

The U.S. created four million Iraqi orphans & one million widows, so far

According to the Iraqi Ministry of Women’s Affairs, by 2008 there were one million Iraqi widows, no thanks to the United States.

Their report also blames the more than two million Iraqi deaths on the United States.  On top of that, as of 2008 there were four million children orphaned by the U.S. occupation.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry released a report that says as of 2008, more than 800,000 Iraqis had been disappeared.

There is still more than 50,000 U.S. military personnel in Iraq.  They were supposed to leave at the end of 2011, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been working hard to convince the Iraqi government to allow the U.S. forces to stay.

 

 

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Greece threatens default if they don’t get second bailout, EU Finance Ministers say domino effect if Greece defaults

“If Greece was to be the first country to default, eyes would turn to other countries such as Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Italy, maybe Belgium but also France, given its deficit and debt levels. We don’t know where the contagion would stop.”-Didier Reynders, Belgian Finance Minister

After the European Union announced they would hold back the second bailout loan for Greece, because they want Greece to make more spending cuts, Greece said pay up or we will default on the first loan.

Greece is supposed to make their first payment, on the first bailout, in July.  Greek officials say they need the second bailout before then, or they won’t be able to make the first payment.  Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, also warned of a “violent bankruptcy”.

The Belgian Finance Minister, Didier Reynders says there is evidence that the Greeks presented false economic statements prior to getting the first bailout loan.  This is one of many reasons the EU is now holding back on the second loan.

 

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? EU holds back on second Greek bailout, possible “catastrophic default”, wants Greece to make even more cuts

European Union finance ministers are holding back on another bailout loan for Greece.  They’ve decided that Greece to needs to make even more cuts to social services, and other government spending (which is called “austerity”, something that’s going on in the U.S., but U.S. officials and media have avoided using that term).

The EU decision came even after Greece announce it would sell off government properties, like airports.  In July, Greece is supposed to make a payment on the bailout loan they got last year.

EU finance ministers are worried that Greece will experience a “catastrophic default” if it does not make even harsher cuts in spending, and so are holding back on the second bailout loan.

Last week the International Monetary Fund warned that the global economic crisis had entered the “political phase”, meaning that only governments could save us now.  Not good when you see what’s happening in Europe.

 

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Japan posts 2nd worst trade deficit since 2009

For the second month in a row Japan has posted a huge trade deficit.  Not only that, it’s the second highest deficit since January 2009.  Preliminary reports say Japan’s May trade deficit hit $10 billion.

The March 11 natural and nuclear disasters are to blame.  Japanese economist are blaming increasing imports of oil and gas for power generation, since many of Japan’s nuclear plants went off line.  Also, the loss of electricity to run factories, and damage to other factories, resulted in huge reduction of exports.

Japan’s almost total reliance on nuclear power, and the ongoing efforts to deal with a nuclear disaster, coupled with the fatally flawed practice of “just in time” supply system for factories, means this economic situation could continue into next year.

 

International, U.S.

Pentagon commits biggest theft in history, Iraq says the U.S. stole $17 billion, U.S. investigators back up Iraq

“All indications are that the institutions of the United States of America committed financial corruption by stealing the money of the Iraqi people, which was allocated to develop Iraq, (and) that it was about $17 billion.”-Iraq letter to United Nations

Remember when the Bush Jr administration said they were taking Iraqi oil funds so they could be used to rebuild Iraq?  Never happened, now Iraq wants their money.

Even U.S. investigators say the Iraqis are owed billions. Special Inspector General for Iraqi Reconstruction, Stuart Bowen, says the Pentagon is to blame, and calls it “…the largest theft of funds in national history.”

This comes after Kalifornia’s (sic) idiot Congressman Dana Rohrabacher demanded that Iraq pay for being invaded and occupied by the United States.   The Kalifornian described the U.S. invasion of Iraq as a sign that we care about Iraqis: “We were hoping that there would be a consideration of a payback because the United States right now is in close to a very serious economic crisis and we could certainly use some people to care about our situation as we have cared about theirs.”-Dana Rohrabacher

Unfortunately for the Iraqis, the clever Bush Jr administration got the UN Security Council to make it almost impossible for Iraq to sue the U.S.  The money went to the Coalition Provisional Authority to fund reconstruction and pay Iraqi government employees. The CPA was headed by Paul Bremer.  So far no one has been able to show what really happened to the Iraqi oil money.

International, U.S.

NATO preps to attack Syria, Germany & Spain increasing NATO troops in Turkey

A Turkish news source says the Turkish government has agreed to allow NATO to increase troop strength in Turkey.  Turkey is a member of NATO.

Currently there are about 400 NATO personnel at the Turkish Izmir Air Station, but that could increase to the thousands as NATO personnel from Germany and Spain are moved in.

Western media is showing Turkey as helping Syrian refugees, and seemingly taking a neutral stand on events in Syria.  Reports in Middle Eastern news sources say otherwise.  There is growing evidence that the weapons being used by Syrian “protestors” are coming from Turkey.  Several times Turkish warplanes have crossed into Syrian airspace.

NATO is reporting the build up of personnel in Turkey as part of plans to “…make NATO leaner, more flexible, and better able to deal with future challenges.”-Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General

 

Business/Economics, International

Deadly E Coli engineed in Lab, Russians asked to help

“If you look at it genetically…you have to come to the conclusion that this strain was exposed to eight different classes of antibiotics in its creation. This does not happen in the wild where you have a strain that is resistant. This looks like, genetically, that it had to be engineered.”-Mike Adams, NaturalNews.com

European Union scientists have sent the deadly e.coli samples to Russian labs.  At the same time the EU is complaining about Russia’s ban on EU vegetables.  Russia says it’ll lift the ban as soon as the EU can prove their  produce is safe.

 

 

International

My hypothesis about E Coli Typhoid Mary possibly confirmed, the deadly E Coli spreads to France

“Now we have the proof that in this case a human passed on the germ to the vegetables and then it was passed to other humans.”-Daniel Bahr, Germany’s health minister

German health officials are saying they have proof a kitchen worker passed on the deadly strain of e.coli.  Officials say at least 20 of the e.coli cases can be traced to an infected woman who works for a catering company.  The woman claims to have eaten sprouts, which might be one of the sources for the bacteria.  Check my June 9 posting.

Local officials are now investigating a sewage treatment plant near Frankfurt.  They say a stream running nearby has a high level of e.coli.  Local residents have long complained of intestinal problems, and routinely seek medical treatment.

In France, officials are now worried because several cases have shown up there.  One boy became infected after eating a partially cooked hamburger, made with frozen beef.  In Europe, it’s actually normal to eat ground beef raw.  The frozen beef comes from France, but is sold by a grocery chain store owned by a German company.   The beef sold at the Lidl supermarkets is being recalled.

So far 40 people have died, and thousands are in hospitals.