Category Archives: U.S.

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 13-14 May 2013. Massive education cuts in Michigan, entire school districts closed down!!! Massive health care cuts!

Despite all those print media companies blaming the internet for their demise, an internet news media source is now bankrupt.  New York based Main Street Connect, which operates “hyperlocal” news websites, blames it on debts that are double their assets, and two lawsuits by former employees claiming the company violated federal labor laws.  Back in March, Main Street Connect shut down all its Massachusetts websites and laid off 45 employees.  And a New York based internet wine seller laid off another 11 employees.  Lot18 now has 36 employees, last year they had 100.  It turns out that shipping wine from internet or mail order sales is actually expensive.

Publisher of print and digital learning services, Cengage Learning, warned of a coming bankruptcy after a 22% drop in revenues: “….There can be no assurance that any of our attempts to refinance our indebtedness will be successful…..any of the forgoing alternatives may individually, or in aggregate, have material adverse effects on our business and therefore raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern…”

The Northport-East Northport School District, in New York wants to layoff off 18 teachers.  It’s blamed on an expected loss of 189 students for the upcoming school year!

The school districts of Trumbull and Shelton, in Connecticut, canceled their contracted First Student bus service contracts.  170 bus drivers unemployed!

In New Jersey, Deptford Township Schools laid off 11 employees. It’s blamed on declining student enrollment.  In Bernardsville, BaseCamp Adventure Outfitters shut down.  The owners said they can not compete with internet stores.

In Michigan, the Howell Public Schools laid off 21 employees.  Pontiac School District officials warning of “massive” layoffs.  The Goodrich School District will layoff teachers, staff, outsource bus drivers, eliminate assistant principals, outsource athletic directors, eliminate bus stops and outsource secretaries.  The Flint School District laying off 138 teachers now, and 150 more over the next three years!  After laying off 127 employees last year, the Saginaw School District wants to layoff 150 more this year! Marshall High School shut down in Albion. Ypsilanti and Willow Run consolidating their school districts, rendering 200 employees jobless!  Wealthier Ann Arbor Public Schools laying off 70 employees.  Inkster Public Schools laid off all their teachers!!!  The entire Buena Vista School District ceased to exist!!!  The people of Michigan have pointed out that NAZIistic right to work you over state officials are refusing to use the hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in emergency school funds to stop the wholesale destruction of public schools, while unAmerican corporate America continue to get massive state tax breaks!  To make things worse, Hemlock Semiconductor laid off 50 employees at its Thomas Township factory.  It’s blamed on the solar power polysilicon industry crash caused by Obama.  And New York based Pall Corporation closing its Ann Arbor Pall Life Sciences operations.  71 employees affected.  It might have something to do with its new office in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  The city of Ann Arbor now suing Pall Corporation, saying the company contaminated the local water supply with dioxane (locally known as the Unit E Plume).

In Missouri, Chartwells Dining Services lost their contract with the Saint Louis Public Schools.  217 people out-o-work!  And Liberty Hospital laid off 129 employees!  Hospital officials say they are prepping for Obama’s Affordable Care Act that will reduce Medicare/Medicaid payments to hospitals when it takes effect in January 2014.

The merger of U.S. Analogic with Canadian Ultrasonix Medical will result in 140 people losing their jobs in Colorado and Vancouver!

In California, Dignity Health laying off 150 employees in Sacramento, and 300 in Stockton!  It’s due to the sale of their lab services to a New Jersey company.  And California based Agilient Technologies laying off 450 people!  The company makes medical testing equipment, and has been busy taking over European companies.  Video game maker, Gree, laid off 30 people in San Francisco.  Company officials say it’s part of their plans to move to the next gen of social media games.

The labs of Astellas’ OSI Pharmaceuticals subsidiary at the Broad Hollow Business Park in Farmingdale, New York, and of the Perseid Therapeutics subsidiary in Redwood City, California, will be closed.  At least 200 jobs lost to the company’s new Tsukuba Research Center in Japan!

Liberty Medical Supply, in Florida, laying off 211 employees!  Liberty Medical already laid off 260 employees in January, then went bankrupt in February!  Local employment services have been asked to help as more layoffs are planned.

The Pfizer operations in Bristol, Tennessee, laid off 25 employees. It’s blamed on the second recall of their drug Levoxy.

In Texas, Galt Medical shutting down their Garland factory over the next two years.  139 people unemployed!  Galt specializes in medical devices, which are going to be hit with a massive tax under the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act!  And electrical power company, AES NA Central, shut down its Woodlands office.  59 Texans laid off.

In Indiana, a new company that hoped to help people with disabilities, is already out-o-business.  Warner Transitional Services shut down and laid off 112 people!  Company officials said the state Family and Social Services Administration would not approve their operations.

In Pennsylvania, the Schuylkill County Housing Authority laid off six employees.  The Pottsville Housing Authority laid off one employee.  It’s blamed on reduced funding.   University City’s Tria Wine Room closed down.  The owner said business wasn’t good enough.

The Eddie Bauer store closed in the Bayshore Town Center, Wisconsin.  And Ruhama’s Yarn and Needlepoint shut down after 52 years of business.  The owner wanted to retire years ago, but was trying to sell the store.  She finally gave up.

In Arlington, Massachusetts, the Holovak & Coughlin Sporting Goods shut down after 49 years in business.  The family owners say the economy is too bad for retail sales, they will switch to other types of sales.

Schreiber Foods shutting down their Gainesville, Georgia, factory.  250 employees affected!  Company officials blame “competition”.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

International, U.S.

Norovirus / Tummy Bug update, 24 July 2013: Rabies misdiagnosed as tummy bug, kills several! Fear forces family to remove stomachs!!! More reasons to be a meat eater!

In Maryland U.S.A., it’s been revealed that people who got organ transplants are dying from rabies.  The latest victim died in February this year.  The North Carolina man who donated his organs had been diagnosed with a tummy bug called ciguatera, from eating contaminated fish.  Turns out he had rabies, which can have symptoms similar to tummy bug.  Three organ recipients have been successfully treated for rabies.  A report says this is not the first time this has happened in the U.S. (at least three other documented cases where several people died), and issued a warning: “This transmission event provides an opportunity for enhancing rabies awareness and recognition and highlights the need for a modified approach to organ donor screening and recipient monitoring for infectious encephalitis.”-report co-authored by U.S. CDC, published in Journal of the American Medical Association

The U.S. CDC has confirmed that this year’s norovirus outbreaks are dominated by the GII.4 Sydney strain (as I wrote months ago).

In eight U.S. states at least 275 people are sick from a protozoa called cyclospora.  10 people hospitalized.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is trying to find the source.

In Washington U.S.A., the Seattle Parks and Recreation closed the Lincoln Park wading pool after children got sick.  They suspect norovirus.  Public pools are chlorinated, but the normal chlorine levels are not high enough to kill the new strains of tummy bugs.

In Massachusetts U.S.A., a family has removed their stomachs.  They have a genetic mutation known as CDH1.  It causes diffuse gastric cancer, which normally shows up when it reaches stage 4, meaning too late for treatment.  They’ve had several relatives die from it.  Stomach cancer is the number two cause of cancer death around the World.

In the U.S., the National Pork Board is investing $800000 USD to fight a killer pig virus called porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED).  It’s fatal for suckling pigs, and 346 cases have been confirmed in 14 states.  It’s been determined that it’s being spread when transporting pigs to markets or slaughter houses.  Right now the pork industry is being told to handle all pigs as if they were bio-hazards.  Pig meat is safe to eat when cooked properly.

Wisconsin U.S.A., reporting an invasion of Lone Star ticks, which cause ehrlichiosis.  The disease has symptoms similar to influenza and tummy bugs.  Health officials suspect the new ticks are surviving through the warmer winters.

In Canada, health officials are warning you to protect from insect bites, some of which cause tummy bug like symptoms.  Blood sucking insects spread diseases from human to human.

In Taranaki, New Zealand, cases of cryptosporidiosis are skyrocketing.  Last year they had none, this year 24 cases so far.  It usually spreads when a sick person swims in a public pool.  Treatment is the same for norovirus, drink plenty of water.

Health officials in Taiwan reporting that norovirus outbreaks are getting larger every year.  They’ve identified GII.4-2006b and GII.4-New Orleans.

In United Kingdom, more reasons to stay out of hospital.  The Royal Blackburn Hospital is apparently intentionally killing patients through neglect and harassment.  A old woman was admitted with tummy bug, but then died.  Her family says the staff ignored her, intentionally moved her to new rooms in the middle of the night, and she even wound up with injuries that she didn’t have when she went in.  The woman called the Royal Hospital “hell on earth”.  A government investigation backs up the family’s claim, saying the Royal Hospital has the highest death rates in the U.K.

Wards in the Royal Bolton Hospital and the Coronary Care Unit in U.K. have been closed.  It’s blamed on tummy bug, but hospital staff are not sure how many people are sick.

Health alarms are ringing in the U.K., after reports that the upcoming winter will see more delays in getting help at the hospital. It’s blamed on huge reductions in staff at Accident & Emergency (A&E) units across the U.K. due to funding cuts.   Also, a disease that can have tummy bug like symptoms being warned about.  It’s the killer coughing bug, called pertussis or whooping cough.  This year’s cases are up ten times from 2008.

In Scotland U.K., officials with Health Protection Scotland reporting massive increase in two or more linked cases of illnesses.  Cases of people being sick with more than two diseases at the same time is up 40% from last year.  Norovirus is the most prevalent co-infector, salmonella the second most prevalent.  68% of cases took place in nursing homes and 28% in hospitals.

U.K. news media have been circulating a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study that says 50% of all tummy bugs are caused by raw fruit and veg!  It’s usually the fertilizers used on the plants, which can actually absorb the pathogens through their roots, meaning in some cases you can’t just wash it off ’cause it’s inside the plant.

In Russia, norovirus has been found in frozen raspberries from the Netherlands.  Russian officials are warning of norovirus infections of frozen berries from Austria, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.

Pakistan reporting a tummy bug outbreak in Panjpai.  At least 67 people sick.  Several people died. In Punjab, a child died from tummy bug.  Health officials say the disease is being spread by the water supply, at least 200 people sick.

In Madhya Pradesh, India, at least ten people sick from cholera.  Government officials say it’s taking place in “unauthorized” communities, whose water source is contaminated.  In Maharashtra, 31 more students have been admitted to hospital. This is the place where elementary and junior high students were poisoned by their school lunch.  22 children have died so far.  It’s blamed on a deadly pesticide (which is banned in the U.S.) that somehow got into their food.  The school principal has been arrested after an employee said she was forced by him to serve the food even after she discovered the contamination.  Also, in the same state of Maharashtra, health officials are reporting increased cases of cholera, specifically in the city of Mumbai.  Officials there are concerned because they had no cases last year. Also they report increased cases of typhoid and hepatitis.

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 11-12 May 2013. Thousands more layoffs! More education cuts! More Obama Care cuts!

In Washington, the Spokane Country Club now bankrupt after losing gender discrimination lawsuit.  And Boeing will layoff 1500 IT employees in Puget Sound!  Over the next three years IT operations will be moved to Missouri and South Carolina.  The Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital laid off 19 employees.  It’s blamed on declining customers, and that damned Affordable Health Care Act (Obama/Romney Care) for drastic cuts to Medicare and Medicaid funding. And Tacoma Public Schools wants to let go at least 10 career and tech teachers.  It’s blamed on reduced state funding and declining enrollment. (I’ve asked this before: Where are all the students going?)

In Indiana, orthopedic products maker Zimmer laid off at least 50 employees.  Company officials blame it on that damned Affordable Health Care Act (Obama/Romney Care), which created a new federal medical device tax.

In New York, the volunteer run children’s charity High Top Shop shut down.  The operators think they can raise more money by going back to their grass roots fundraising efforts.  The Ticonderoga School District says it needs to layoff about 12 employees and raise local taxes. They’re in debt, and funding is being reduced.

The Brandywine School District, in Delaware, laying off 19 employees.  Teachers blame the state government: “The state needs to recognize and fund technology support. The state has so many demands on the school districts to implement all this technology that they don’t want to pay for people to run it, and that’s where we’re stuck right now.”-Karen Kennedy, Federation Local 762

In Kentucky, Union College laid off 11 employees.  College officials said they must become more efficient, it was cut the jobs or raise tuition by 30%!

In oil rich North Dakota, the Energy and Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota laid off eight employees. It’s blamed on reduced federal funding, and reduced funding from energy companies.

South Carolina based Kemet laid off 202 employees globally.  More layoffs planned.  They blame it on crashing sales of their capacitors.  Beaufort County’s only camera and photo shop shut down.  The owners of Island Photo and Camera blamed the bad economy and internet competition.

In Florida, food service company FreshPoint North Florida let go at least 79 employees.  The company has been laying off employees and closing operations around the country since last year.  I haven’t found an article that explains why.  Also, U.S. Navy contractor East Coast Repair and Fabrication announced more layoffs.  At least ten people will loose their jobs in August.  In April 25 people lost their jobs.  It’s blamed on uncertainties about federal taxpayer funding.

More layoffs for Pratt & Whitney.  At least 3000 jobs to be cut by the end of the year!  The company is ending its military F100 and F117 jet engine programs.

In Texas, Texarkana’s Twice as Nice Fashions shut down after 41 years in business.

The August Wilson Center for African American Culture, in Pennsylvania, laid off about 10 employees (half its staff), and ended free admissions.  The Center has not been able to make payments on a $7 million USD loan!

In Ohio, J. Gumbo’s Cajun & Creole restaurant closed.  It actually closed at the end of April without notice.  The owners are not happy campers: “Wasn’t in the budget. Hence we’re closed!”

Loopy’s Dollar store closed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  The stores have been closing across South Dakota in the past two years.

In Michigan, Second Chance Clothing closed after 30 years of business.  The owners said the economy is so bad they can’t even break even.

Louisiana based IberiaBank closing nine branch offices by the end of this year.  It’s not the first time, and bank officials blame the bad economy: “We’ve taken small bites of this before, but again considering circumstances, a larger bite is necessary.”-Michael Brown, COO

In New Jersey, after 60 years of movies, the Allwood Cinema 6 in Clifton  closed.  The theater is another victim of the Romney style vulture capitalist Bow Tie Cinemas.

After 62 years of operations, The Floor Shop in Fredericksburg, Virginia, closed down.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 09-10 May 2013. Prison labor causes law abiding workers to loose their jobs?

Greeting card company, American Greetings, revealed in its annual report that it laid off 2100 people in the past 12 months!  The report subtly mentions “headcount reductions”.   The company also credited the layoffs for its $47 million USD 4th quarter profits.

What housing market recovery?  In Alabama, real estate company J&E Land now bankrupt.  One owner of the company said they’ve been destroyed by Romney style vulture capitalists.

In Washington DC, the little known National Aquarium will close down in September.   The privately owned aquarium is housed in the basement of the U.S. Commerce building, which will undergo renovations.

In Monticello, Indiana, the Woodlawn Elementary School was closed after 63 years of operations!  It’s blamed on declining student enrollment.

The Easton Area School Board, in Pennsylvania, said they need to layoff between 29 and 53 employees, and raise local taxes.  Employees were also laid off in 2010 and 2012.   Frontier Communications continues to layoff employees.  29 employees in Back Mountain out-o-work.  The company has been laying off employees since the beginning of 2012.  In Castle Shannon, the McGinnis Market shut down after 33 years in business.  The owner said the bad economy made him realize he should quit while ahead: “I have no debt, I own my farm, my equipment, my store. I started talking to myself, and said ‘why are you working?’ I made the decision then and there.”-John McGinnis

Digital media company, Say Media, laid off 40 employees, in order to be more profitable.

The New York Post wants employees to voluntarily quit.  The newspaper is offering buyouts to try and remove at least 10% of its employees, as part of its 2014 budget.

The Daily News laid off 15 reporters.  It’s being blamed on ‘restructuring’.

In Orlando, Florida, Comcast cable laying off 260 employees through summer!

In California, another solar power company going down.  SoloPower selling off equipment and letting go about 130 employees in San Jose, and North Portland, Oregon!

Denmark based Vestas Wind Systems continues to layoff employees in Colorado.  Globally the company has laid off 582 employees so far this year, and company officials say another 1196 will be let go by the end of the year!  Last year they laid of hundreds of employees.

Like your tomatoes? NatureSweet laid off 65 employees, mainly managers, at their Willcox, Arizona, tomato farms.  NatureSweet picked up about 400 prison workers when they took over operations from EuroFresh.  However, NatureSweet officials say they are planning on reducing prison labor as well.

State officials in Missouri warned of massive layoffs for the Motor Vehicle Division.  It depends on next year’s budget.

In Falls Church, Virginia, Anthony’s Restaurant closed after 40 years of operations.  It’s blamed on a property developer.  In West End Alexandria, two Giant grocery stores shut down.  Company officials said they were not happy with “…the operating performance of the stores.”

Marie’s Flower Shop closed in Brewer, Maine.  The owner blamed bad luck with locations: “I have had four different locations due to buildings being torn down and a fire at one point. It’s been a struggle….”-Marie Patterson

In New Hampshire, it was announced the Portsmouth Kmart would close in August.  At least 30 employees screwed.

Jewelry and gift shop, Firefly, closed in Boston, Massachusetts.  The owner blamed it on the property owner who jacked up the rent.

In Minnesota, 79 people losing their jobs with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings.  The company is reducing operations with its subsidiary ViroMed Laboratories, in Minnitonka.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

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

Corporate Martial Law: Hewlett Packard & NEC announce data spying & storage deal!

22 July 2013 (12:26 UTC-07 Tango)/14 Ramadan 1434/31 Tir 1391/15 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711

Japan’s computer giant, NEC, announced a data storage deal with Hewlett Packard (HP).  Initial reports say they will develop small servers that can analyze and store large amounts of data.

Officials with NEC admit they and HP are trying to jump on the government/corporate domestic spy, I mean data collection business, being referred to as the promising field of “big data analysis”.

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 08 May 2013. U.S. education going down the toilet! No more Applebees in Chicago!

In New York, CA Technologies laying off 1200 employees!  Company officials said the layoffs were needed “…to rebalance its resources to better align with its business priorities.”

Another company involved with domestic spying, VMware, laying off 800 employees!  The company is connected to EMC.

In Pennsylvania, Honeywell Processes Solutions shutting down its York factory.  160 people unemployed!  Company officials say it’s necessary to stay competitive.  Helping people lose weight not paying off for Skinny Nutritional.  They’re now bankrupt.  Company officials are blaming a Too Big to Jail financier for failing to come through on a major loan.

In New Jersey, more than 200 people out-o-work with the Camden City Public Schools!  They’ve also ended their lunch aide program.  Since March, the school system is under direct control of the state government.  School employees said the state gave no explanation for the layoffs.

In Louisiana, Delgato Community College laid off 115 employees and cut 15 programs!  The college laid off people back in February.  School officials said they were short $8 million USD, after state officials forced the college to pay $10 million into state retirement funds (similar to what the U.S. Congress has done with the Postal Service).

The Tucson Unified School District laying off 187 people in Arizona!  School officials say they’re short $17 million, caused by declining enrollment and reduced funding!

What automotive industry recovery? In Illinois, Bridgestone laid off 23 people at their Bloomington-Normal factory.  Officials with the tire maker blamed crashing sales of off road tires.  Also, Applebees said it is closing eight restaurants in Chicago!  The company is bankrupt!

The Centerville, Ohio, Talegators sports bar shut down.  It’s being replaced with a crappy McDonald’s ‘restaurant’.

In Wisconsin, after 80 years of business the River Bend Shoe Center closed.  The owners blamed internet competition.  And the Yonkers store in the Rapids Mall shut down.  45 people laid off.  Box maker RockTenn closed its Milwaukee factory.  69 people out-o-work.

Office Depot announced it would close down in South County, Missouri.

In North Dakota, local news media reminded everyone that the Jamestown Kmart will close, despite the oil boom.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Economic Recovery for Pocatello? Where’s everybody gone to?

22 July 2013 (23:07 UTC-07 Tango 21 July 2013)/14 Ramadan 1434/31 Tir 1391/15 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711

Click pics to make bigger

Back before gas prices went over three bucks per gallon, the main drag through Pocatello and Chubbuck, Idaho, Yellowstone Avenue (aka State Highway 91) was a busy place even on Sundays.  But in the past few years traffic has dramatically declined on both Saturday and Sunday.

The intersection of Yellowstone and Alameda, in Pocatello, is usually the busiest section during the week.  Last month one of my daughters (graduated Pocatello High School) paid a visit from Boise and was shocked at the reduction of even the work day traffic on Yellowstone.

This Sunday, 21 July 2013, was the most ghost townish I’d ever seen Pocatello and Chubbuck.

International, U.S.

World War 3, Africa Front: The U.S. Empire Beast gets bigger! How is the U.S. taxpayer funding this?

22 July 2013 (22:25 UTC-07 Tango 21 July 2013)/14 Ramadan 1434/31 Tir 1391/15 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) will begin war games with South Africa later this week.  At least 5000 personnel will be involved.

South African Navy (SAN) Captain, Jaco Theunissen, explained the purpose: “We are exercising to do a human support intervention….where you will fight against rebel groups.”

Captain Theunissen also stated that military medical units are training to provide healthcare on a large scale to civilian populations in war environments.  In other words, the United States and its empirical allies are definitely using the military as “international aid agencies”, as stated concerning the current massive war games with Australia.

Medical “human support intervention” is already underway in Liberia, called Operation Onward Liberty (OOL).  According to AFRICOM, OOL has been ongoing since 2010.  U.S. Air Force Major, Joshua Latham, revealed the goal is to take OOL outside of Liberia: “…then you can begin operations to serve other people, whether it be other nations or individuals….”

A former commander of AFRICOM supports the creation of the precedent setting UN combat brigade known as Intervention Brigade: “….the Intervention Brigade is, as I believe it is postured to be, is an element of MONUSCO, I think that’s the right structure….I do think that the force is necessary.”-General Carter Ham, U.S. Army

General Ham stated that it was the African Union that asked for the U.S. to get involved: “We were asked by Africans to support an African-led activity….”

Ham also said “….we don’t go anywhere or do anything which we have not been invited by the host-nation government.”  Yet, an African reporter with the Mail and Guardian countered by stating “…most other countries are hostile politically to AFRICOM…”

AFRICOM now has a special operations force called Commander’s In-Extremis Force.  It’s being used a a type of rapid reaction force.   Another African reporter questioned the possible redundancy of AFRICOM: “….doesn’t it seem that AFRICOM is duplicating everything, similar exercises of other [U.S.] agencies that are on the continent, because there are loads of these agencies.  So isn’t AFRICOM duplicating with planned session of exercises….?”

Ham responded by saying that budget constraints make it difficult to operate redundant missions.  This led to another reporter asking “….with all the budget cuts happening in the States, is AFRICOM likely to survive?”

Ham ensured them that AFRICOM was not going to killed by the bad economy in the States, but will make adjustments as necessary.  According to AFRICOM, U.S. taxpayers fund the operation to the tune of about $275 million USD per year (which is actually cheap compared to other U.S. military operations).  But how can the U.S. government fund any military operations when it’s bank is busted?  (Afghan opium anyone?)

The General admitted the U.S. is competing, maybe even cooperating with China for resources in Africa: “…we are competing for economic position.  I think we’re competing for influence…….we’ve kind of chosen different paths to achieve our goals.  But….I wouldn’t characterize it….as any type of adversarial relationship.”

The now retired General Ham said to keep your eyes on South Africa, Botswana, Angola and Zimbabwe.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Massive U.S.-Australian war games, aimed at China? Your tax dollars aimed at Australia, for the benefit of the Elites!

21 July 2013 (11:40 UTC-07 Tango)/13 Ramadan 1434/30 Tir 1391/14 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711

“War isn’t about making peace, war is terror.”-Robin Taubenfeld, protestor

The biannual Talisman Sabre war games are underway, and there’ve been problems.  Last week two bombed up USMC Harriers were unable to drop their load on the intended target, due to uncleared “hazards” on the ground, so they unloaded them on the Great Barrier Reef.  The planes were low on fuel, and their training bombs could have prevented a safe landing.

This year’s Talisman Sabre games are reported to be the biggest yet, with about 28000 U.S. and Australian personnel taking part (don’t waste your time trying to get an accurate headcount, I’ve seen several different Aussie and U.S. reports with numbers that differ by several thousand).  USN officials say they invited China to take part, but big whoop, they’ve always invited China to the party, at least since 2009!

At the end of last year some Australian news sources reported that the Talisman Sabre games are directed against China. But one USN official said the U.S. actually wants to make China a partner in dominating the region: “I think it would be misguided to say its focused on any one country, what it’s focused on is increasing the stability in the region and thereby increasing the prosperity. People are going to more willing to invest their money and commit to a region if they know stability is there.“-Vice Admiral Scott Swift, U.S. Navy

(so this is proof the U.S. military is the tool of the elites because, after all, who has the money to throw away on investing into an entire region of the World?)

Australia might be playing off the U.S. and China, it’s been revealed that Australian military leaders have been discussing the possibility of their own war games with China.  But the real reason the U.S., and the country formerly known as New Holland, want to play ‘army’ with China is simple: “We need to know the Chinese……”-General David Hurley, Australian Defence Force

One Aussie news source said “Brigadier Bob Brown says the exercise is also used to prepare…..international aid agencies for humanitarian crisis.”  Mmmm, what international aid agencies?   Are the western elites trying to portray their militaries as ‘aid agencies’?

For the people of Queensland the war games are being called a “rocket” booster for their ailing economy, at the expense of taxpayers: “Tens of millions of dollars is injected into the local economy via accommodation, via cafes, restaurants and food outlets, the retail sector as well as the supply chain.”-Mary Carroll, Capricorn Enterprise

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Economic recovery for Pocatello? Some things aren’t as they appear!

20 July 2013 (17:48 UTC-07 Tango)/12 Ramadan 1434/29 Tir 1391/13 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711
Click the pics to make bigger