Category Archives: International

International, Opinion

Europe calling refugees “migrants”, proof that war in Libya not about protecting people

According to international law a refugee is a person who’s been forced to leave their home, due to war or other violence in their home country.  They are supposed to be given certain protections under international law.

The Europeans, along with the United States, were so keen on escalating the violence in North Africa (Libya), yet they don’t want to deal with the flood of refugees that are a natural result of war!  Instead the Europeans are calling the people fleeing the war, “migrants”.  In this way the Europeans don’t have the same legal requirements as they would if they called them refugees.

In fact, the Europeans are scrambling to figure out how to get rid of these refugee/migrants. The Europeans are even going so far as to dismantle one of the corner stones of the European Union, free travel across borders.  The EU is now considering adopting a law that would allow them to close their borders.

How hypocritical is this?  The “Western world” launches a war against North African countries, in the name of supporting freedom and democracy, and then they refuse to help any of the people fleeing the violence!

For those people out their who think the military action of U.S. led NATO is still about “protecting civilians”, please explain why refugees, ooops, I mean migrants are being treated like sh*t by the Europeans.

International, Opinion, U.S.

Obama ready to change line up, the result will not change much

There are rumors that President Barack Obama is ready to change his military and national security staff.

Current Defense Secretary Robert Gates wants to leave.  He could be replaced by current CIA chief Leon Panetta.   The position of chief of the CIA could go to current Army General David Petraeus, who is about to finish his tour of duty in Afghanistan.  Petraeus’ old job, Commander of Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, could go to Marine Lieutenant General John R. Allen.

There seems to be a clear pattern of ladder climbing.  Obama is expected to name a new ambassador to Afghanistan, someone who is from the Bush Jr camp (as is Robert Gates); Ryan C. Crocker.

Crocker has lots of experience being an ambassador.  Obama even gave him the highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  Crocker is currently the dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service.  Guess who else was dean of that school?  Current Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

So even with all the staffing changes there might not be much change to U.S. foreign policy.

International, U.S.

Gates says still no plans regarding troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

At a press conference in United Kingdom, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates admitted there were no set plans for troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“I expect that (the recommendations) will be coming in the not-too-distant-future.”-Robert Gates

Gates said he was still waiting for recommendations from General David Petraeus.  President Obama had announced that troops would start coming home in July, 2011.  But in February, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made statements that the U.S. would be in Afghanistan “beyond 2014“.

International

Tensions heating up between Bahrain & Iran, proxy war between Iran & U.S.?

“Iran reserves the right to hit back.”-Ramin Mehmanparast, Iran’s Foreign Ministry

Bahrain has ordered the second secretary in the Iranian embassy, Hujatullah Rahmani, to leave within 72 hours.  They accuse him of being a spy for Kuwait.

Of course the accusation comes after Kuwait seemingly switched sides.  Originally Kuwait supported the Saudi Arabian led invasion of Bahrain, but has backed off, and even made statements, in conjunction with Iran, condemning Bahrain.

Ironically Kuwait has also made statements supporting the Bahraini government.  It seems Kuwait is trying to play on both sides of the fence.  Iran has expelled three Kuwaiti diplomats, and is threatening to expel Bahraini diplomats as well.

The United States accuses Iran of interfering with Syria, and Iran accuses the U.S. of interfering in Bahrain.

 

 

International

Quake activity jumped prior to March 11

The Japanese Coordinating Committee for Earthquake Prediction, said seismic activities started to increase off eastern prefectures, from Miyagi to Ibaraki, three years before the massive 9.0 quake.

Professor Koshun Yamaoka added that research shows that the focus of small quakes two days before March 11, moved closer to what became the epicenter of the massive earthquake.

Japan’s Geospatial Information Authority of Japan says not only did coastal areas of Miyagi and Chiba prefectures sink during the quake, but some rose five to eight centimeters after the quake. This is a sign the tectonic plates are still shifting.

Officials at the meeting stated that while “big” earthquakes are always predicted for Japan, no one expected a 9.0 quake.

 

 

Business/Economics, International

Bolivia about to pass historic law, multi-national corporations won’t like it

The Law of Mother Earth.  If it passes, it will be historic.  Bolivia’s legislature is debating the new bill, which many believe will be passed.

The proposed law states: “Mother Earth is a living dynamic system made up of the undivided community of all living beings, who are all interconnected, interdependent and complementary, sharing a common destiny.”
It is based on Sumaj Kawsay, a native phrase for living in harmony.
Basically the law requires a transition from non-renewable to renewable energy; to  assess the ecological impact of all economic activity; ecological audits of all private and state companies;  reduce greenhouse gas emissions;  policies of food and renewable energy sovereignty; require all companies and individuals to be accountable for environmental contamination.
Of course there is opposition to the proposed law, mainly from large corporate mining and farming operations.  Corporate soy farmers say the law “will make the productive sector inviable.”
Even government agencies say the law would not be enforceable because it would be a logistical nightmare.
Supporters say something has to be done about the exploitation by multi-national corporations: “We need to pull together peoples, researchers, and communities to develop real concrete alternatives so that the dominant systems of exploitation don’t just continue by default. This is not an easy task, but I believe with international solidarity, we can and must succeed.”-Raul Prada, adviser to Pacto de Unidad

International, Opinion

Iranian Vice President shows ignorance of History

First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi has shown his ignorance of world history, in statements made regarding Japan.

Rahimi said Japan should not bow to imperialist countries.  Hello, Japan is an imperialist country, they have an Emperor!

Rahimi also said Japan “…should not pursue the wrong policies of the bullying governments because the same powers hindered the progress of the Japanese nation by conducting atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” Hello, it’s called the Second World War! Japan bombed Pearl Harbor first. By the way what Japan was doing in World War 2 was attempting to expand its Empire (reference above).   


Business/Economics, International

Venezuela quits Andean Community, wants to join MERCOSUR

Venezuela has officially quite the economic union “Andean Community”.  It’s made up of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

Venezuela said it quite the trade group because of free-trade agreements signed with the United States and Andean pact members Peru and Colombia.

Venezuela now hopes to join MERCOSUR, a trade group made up of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.