Category Archives: International

International

Saudi Arabian tanks roll on Bahrain city

May 14, Saudi forces continued their take over of Bahrain by sending tanks to take the island city of Sitra.

For the past couple of weeks, Bahraini forces, backed up by Saudi troops have been flattening Shia Mosques.  The majority of the people of Bahrain are Shia Muslim.  The royal family is not.

Since February the people have been truly peacefully protesting their government.  Saudi forces invaded Bahrain in March, to help the non-Shia royal family put down the peaceful protesters.

Protesters say that since it is obvious the West isn’t going to help them, they are forced to start taking military action against the Saudis and the royal family.

 

International

Egyptian military preventing Egyptians from marching on Israeli border

In a live report on Iranian TV, a reporter said that Egyptians who where planning on demonstrating on the Israeli border are being prevented by the Egyptian Army.

Egyptians say they chartered dozens of buses to take them to the border along Gaza. However, those bus companies say they have been ordered by the Egyptian Army not to do so.

In the past week many Egyptians made statements about protesting Israel on May 15.  They even asked for the Egyptian Army to support them in their demonstrations.  Reports that the new Egyptian government is trying to block such anti-Israel demonstrations shows that new government is not in line with the Egyptian people.  Egyptians say they will find other ways to get to the Israeli border.

 

International, U.S.

Afghanistan corruption linked directly to U.S. military

“[They] discussed the history of America and how it was built on the back of others, ultimately concluding that ‘fleecing the government’ was the American way.”-statement by prosecutors concerning corruption charges against U.S. military officers in Afghanistan

Recently an Afghan contractor plead guilty in U.S. court, to bribing U.S. military officers.  Those officers did not come forward with the crime, instead they committed the crime.

The prosecution is recommending one year for the Afghan contractor, because they say his bribery was typical, and he actually did a good job as a contractor.  But the case against the Afghan contractor is actually part of an investigation into corruption inside the United States military.

In most cases, U.S. military officers in Afghanistan decide what contractor will get the job.  Many Afghans have responded to complaints of corruption by saying they have to bribe the U.S. in order to get the job.

Currently two Illinois National Guard officers, and one USAF Sergeant, are facing corruption charges.  They were taking bribes from potential contractors in Afghanistan.  One of the National Guardsmen admitted to the crime.  Both Guardsmen were mailing the cash back home.  One of the packages was intercepted by Customs in the United Kingdom, upon inspection $10,000 was found inside.

Afghan contractors say one of the National Guard officers told them they were in Afghanistan to become rich.

 

International, U.S.

Obama to announce new Middle East Policy

Israeli media reporting that U.S. President Barack Obama will announce a new U.S. Middle East policy, before his visit with the Israeli Prime Minister next week.

Reports say Obama’s new policy is in response to the drastic changes taking place in the Middle East, and North Africa.

When Obama became President he made promises about peace between Israel and Palestine, but some Israeli analysts say he failed to keep that promise. Any new policy he comes up with, they think will fall short:  “…will lay out some very well known parameters and call in the parties to negotiate, but it won’t be a full blown plan.”-Dr. Jonathan Rynhold, Bar-Ilan University

 

International

Canadian Mounties lie about tasing a man to death

Four Royal Canadian Mounties are being charged with perjury, about the circumstances surrounding the death of a distraught Polish immigrant.

Reports say the Polish immigrant was tased five times by Canadian police, at the Vancouver International Airport in 2007.  The cops lied about the circumstances, and they would have gotten away with it, if it wasn’t for a witness who took video of the incident, and posted it on YouTube.

The man was obviously distraught, but cops simply rushed him without trying to reason with him.  In the video it’s clear the cops know he does not speak English, they think he is speaking Russian.  They’re several taser sounds, then at the end of the video someone calls “code red”.

According to some reports the immigrant was held for 10 hours at the airport customs office, before becoming distraught.  No clear explanation why he was held.

The man who took the video gave it to police, after they promised to give it back within 48 hours.  They lied.  He had to hire a lawyer to get the video back.

Some lies the cops told include that there were only three police involved, and that the immigrant was in an area crowded with people.  Watch the video, it’s obviously not what they say.

The British Columbia attorney general says the four Mounties will not be charged with the immigrant’s death, or with obstructing justice, because there is a low probability that they will be convicted.

The Polish government is not happy to say the least: “…does not diminish the fact that we find it disappointing that there are no recommendations for criminal charges in the incident.”

This is not the only case of Canadian cops being charged with perjury.  There are several cases going on this year, all across Canada.

International

Scotland the Brave: New Scottish government demands independance from British Empire

The Scottish National Party now controls the Edinburgh Parliament.  They dominated in the recent elections. Now Scotland’s Prime Minister, Alex Salmond, has presented Westminster with a bill for Scotland’s independence.

Salmond ran on a campaign promise to push for Scottish independence, however, the bad economy might be more important to the Scottish people: “They want job security. They want Scotland to be able to be more accountable for its finances that is raises.”-Humza Yousaf, Member of the Scottish Parliament

Yousaf says there are several issues the Scottish want to deal with, but first they need to gain some “economic teeth”.

The Scottish demand for independence challenges U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron’s campaign promise to keep the Kingdom united.

 

International

Gaddafi Alive

An audio recording of Gaddafi was played on Libyan TV May 13.  He state that he was alive and called the West “cowards”.  For weeks Italian media speculated that he was wounded or dead.

“I thank all the presidents, ministers, ambassadors and all the people of the world who have expressed their deep concerns on my life after the attack.”-Muammar Gaddafi

 

International, Technology, U.S.

Pakistan to give China downed U.S. stealth Blackhawk, U.S. Congress threatens end to financial aid for Pakistan

One of the helicopters used in the May 2 assassination of Osama bin Laden could be a modified Blackhawk.

According to an Air Force Times article, the helicopters are modified MH-60 Blackhawks, similar to the Direct Action Penetrator.  However, analysts with Janes Defense point out that the tail section of the copter that crashed does not match that of the Blackhawk.  Officials will not tell what kind of helicopter it was.

Pentagon officials are demanding that Pakistan give the copter back, but Pakistan has another plan.  They may use the high tech helicopter in a deal with China.  Some reports say all that’s left of the helicopter is the tail section.

U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, from California, has introduced a bill that would end financial aid to Pakistan if they don’t return the damaged helicopter remains.  U.S. Senator John Kerry, from Massachusetts, is set to visit Pakistan to discuss issues surrounding the May 2 operation.

International, U.S.

Obama’s peace envoy to the Middle East resigns, right before the anniversary of the Nakba

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.