Category Archives: U.S.

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

World War 3: U.S. sanctions against Iran shut down Peugeot. Pressure from General Motors. Who are the sanctions really meant to target?

French based car maker Peugeot Citroën, has shut down a factory after parts shipped from Iran were stopped.

Peugeot Citroën has manufacturing deals with Iran Khodro, a major car maker in Iran.

220 people were laid off at the Vesoul factory in northeastern France.  This comes after a U.S. lobbyist group called United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), asked U.S. Congress to put pressure on the French car maker.

UANI also put pressure, should we say threatened, General Motors because GM holds 7% of Peugeot Citroën.  Officials from the French car maker said it was GM that pressured them to stop selling knock down kits to Iran.  A knock down kit is basically a unassembled car.

UANI has made completely unsubstantiated claims against Iran: “….it is unacceptable for GM to enter into a partnership with a company that so openly deals with a regime that is responsible for the deaths of U.S. and NATO servicemen and threatens U.S. and global security.”-Mark Wallace, UANI

How can Mark Wallace make such a claim?  Iran has never been connected to any terrorist actions against the United States. Where’s the undeniable proof?  What Mike Wallace is saying is the same old unproven ultra right wing neo conservative bull shit!

By the way, stopping Peugeot Citroën business with Iran will not hurt Iran’s economy.  Iran Khodro is doing extremely well with its own car designs, especially in the Central Asian market. So the real question is; who is really being targeted by the U.S. sanctions?

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Sign of the Times: Vietnam now owns part of Wyoming

The town with the smallest official population in the United States just got owned by Vietnam.

Buford, Wyoming, was sold at auction for $900,000 USD, to two mystery businessmen from Vietnam.

The town is so small that there is only one resident left.  He’s been living in Buford since 1980, and bought the town in 1990: “I don’t know when it will hit me. I’ve lived here half my life. I’m an emotional person, and I hope I handle it in an adult manner.”-Don Sammons, sold his town to retire and move closer to his son

One irony is that Sammons served in the U.S. Army during the time of the Vietnam War.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: USMC General whines about Mujahideen Spring Offensive, dozens more killed, more NATO convoys blown up, Mujahideen free police they captured

“Despicable, is the only word to describe the cold, heartless way in which the enemies of peace carried out this attack, detonating an IED in the middle of a large crowd of civilians.”-General John R. Allen, USMC

On April 5, 2012, U.S. Marine Corps General Allen whined about the April 4th attack on U.S. led forces in Faryab Province.  Hello, it’s called war!  You are the invader!  You are the enemy of Peace!  The Afghans had nothing to do with any terrorist attacks on the United States!

General Allen has also predicted an increase in fighting in eastern Afghanistan, and that this year could be the most vital regarding the West’s efforts in the so called War on Terror.

In Kandahar Province, yet another U.S./NATO/ISAF fuel convoy was attacked and burned to the ground.  The fuelers were parked at the Kandahar International airport (which is supposed to be under U.S. control).

Three drivers were wounded.

In Badakhshan Province, two explosions, one caused by a suicide bomber, and another afterwards.  Local police say two people were killed, at least 16 wounded.

A local market was the target, no claims of responsibility.  The explosions took place soon after the Mujahideen released 11 Afghan border police, that they had capture just days earlier.  The prisoner release was arraigned by local elders.

Afghan Defense Ministry says in the past 24 hours at least three government troops were killed, as well as five Mujahideen, in various battles.

Only one province was mentioned, Ghazni, bu it sounded like battles took place in several provinces.

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

What Economic Recovery? Yahoo confirms, will lay off thousands of employees

“The changes we’re announcing today will put our customers first, allow us to move fast, and to get stuff done…smaller, nimbler, more profitable…We are intensifying our efforts on our core businesses and redeploying resources to our most urgent priorities.”-Yahoo memo to employees

On March 31, 2012, rumors hit the internet that Yahoo was in trouble and would fire thousands of employees.

April 4, 2012, Chief Executive Scott Thompson revealed they will indeed lay off 2,000 employees.

Thompson said he would reveal more details on April 17.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Australia to allow United States to greatly increase military operations Down Under

Australian military officials gave a clue just how much the U.S. military will increase its presence in the region.

Not only will at least 2,500 U.S. forces be based in Darwin, Australia, but the U.S. Navy will be allowed to use their naval port at Perth.

Asian media pointing out that all the locations the U.S. will be allowed to operate from in Australia, face China, India and Southeast Asia.

Michael Wesley, at the Lowy Institute for International Policy, says Darwin is just outside the reach of Chinese ICBMs.

The Australian government has also revealed that the U.S. could be allowed to operate terror drones from the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean.

International, U.S.

World War 3: More huge drug busts, dozens more deaths, Mujahideen Spring Offensive rolls on

April 4, 2012, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) officials claim 227 kilograms (500 pounds) of marijuana was found in Kandahar Province, during a routine patrol.

The day before, in Nimroz Province, aircraft spotted two suspicious vehicles.  A search turned up more than 3,150 pounds (1,430 kilograms) of drugs.  ISAF claims they destroyed the drugs.

ISAF is also reporting four more U.S. led NATO soldiers were killed on April 4.   One was killed in an ambush by Mujahideen in eastern Afghanistan, the other three were killed when their vehicle hit a mine in northern Afghanistan.

As usual ISAF refuses to give even a location where the incident took place: “It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.”-ISAF statement

ISAF is also claiming that U.S. led forces, including Afghan government forces, have killed or captured 14 Mujahideen in the past 24 hours.

Also, on the morning of April 4, in Faryab Province an explosion killed at least five civilians and six U.S. led troops, and wounded about 26 others.

According to local security boss, Abdul Khaliq Aqsai, it was a suicide bomber who attacked a ISAF/NATO convoy, which just happened to be near the provincial governor’s office.  ISAF has not commented.

In Kandahar Province, a local police chief was assassinated, about noon time April 4.  The provincial governor’s office said they do not know who did it.

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: First unit of U.S. Marines arrives in Australia

Back in November, Peaceprize winner Barack Obama, announced he was sending 2,500 U.S. Marines to Australia.

April 4, 2012, the first 200 U.S. Marines arrived in Darwin, Australia.

Over the next five to six years the United States will send a total of 2,500 military personnel, including artillery and armored units.

This is part of a new U.S. defense strategy, announced earlier in the year, which also plans to make greater use of Australian naval and air force bases.

International, U.S.

World War 3: NATO supply convoy blown up, U.S. led soldiers killed, Afghan police killed

On the night of April 2, 2012, a NATO fuel supply convoy was ambushed and destroyed in Farah Province, Afghanistan.

Six fuel tankers and two escort vehicles were burned to the ground.  No info concerning casualties.

Another evening attack left at least four Afghan police and two civilians dead.

The attack took place in Helmand Province. Officials say Mujahideen launched an attack on a police checkpoint.

During the morning of April 3, in the province of Nangarhar, an explosion wounded at least three people.

Local officials say a vehicle with bodyguards riding in it hit a mine (roadside bomb).

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) officials say at least two U.S./NATO soldiers were killed on April 3.  One from an explosion, the other from non-combat injuries.

As is SOP (standard operating procedure) for ISAF, they refuse to give any further details.  ISAF officials defer troop details to the “…relevant national authorities.”

For the week of March 25-31, ISAF reported approximately seven instances of U.S./NATO troop deaths.

 

 

 

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

Oil & Gas Prices: China outproducing Exxon Mobil, North Sea major gas leak, Sudan bombs oil rich South Sudan, Iraqi Kurds stop oil shipments, Canada will stop selling cheap oil to the U.S.!

French oil company Total, could lose $2.5 million USD per day due to its North Sea oil rig leak.

The Elgin ocean rig, near Scotland, began leaking natural gas eight days ago.  It’s coming from a well that workers were trying to cap.  The situation in the North Sea now, is similar to the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico blow out.

Workers were evacuated for fear of a huge explosion. There are now reports of “oily sheen” on the ocean’s surface.

According to the North African country of South Sudan, their neighbor Sudan is bombing their oil rich areas, in order to drive off investors from the United States.

Officials from Sudan deny that they are specifically targeting oil wells, but U.S. President Barack Obama asked both sides to avoid targeting oil resources.  The U.S. supported the creation of the new country of South Sudan.

The Kurdish autonomous government in northern Iraq, have stopped oil shipments.  Kurdish officials say the Iraqi government has not made any of the payments promised for past oil shipments.

Iraqi officials responded by stating that the Kurds have not sent all the oil that was promised. However, a payment of $560 million USD is being reviewed.

Iraqi officials also say they have reason to believe the Kurds are illegally selling oil to neighboring Middle Eastern countries.  However, despite such claims of loss from Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraqi oil exports hit 2.13 million barrels per day in March.

The world’s biggest oil producer is no longer Exxon Mobil.  PetroChina is now the number one producer of petroleum oil.

According to Bloomberg, PetroChina is now producing a little more than 2.4 million barrels per day of oil.  Chinese officials say the petroleum company will actually increase its take over of other oil companies around the world, because China’s industries need the oil.

“Look, the very fact that a ‘no’ [a no on Keystone] could even be said underscores to our country that we must diversify our energy export markets. We cannot be, as a country, in a situation where our one and, in many cases, only energy partner could say no to our energy products. We just cannot be in that position.”-Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada

Canada has been selling its oil to the United States by at least half the going rate, but Canadian officials say that can’t continue, even if U.S. officials approve the Keystone XL pipeline. Canada will eventually jack up the price for U.S. customers.

“We have taken a significant price hit by virtue of the fact that we are a captive supplier and that just does not make sense in terms of the broader interests of the Canadian economy…”-Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada

 

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Syrian Army rescues hostages held by U.S. supported Rebels, Rebels surrender to Syrian government, Russia sends navy destroyer, Lebanon catches arms smugglers

Russia has sent a destroyer to Syria.  The ship left its Black Sea home of Sevastopol and is expected to be at the Syrian port of Tartus in a few days.

Russian officials say it is a routine visit.

April 2, 2012, in the city of Homs, the Syrian army claims to have rescued 66 hostages held by U.S./Israeli backed rebels.

In the city of Idlib at least eight rebels were killed.

Also on April 2, more than 100 rebels surrendered to Syrian government officials.

In Lebanon, nine men were indicted of trying to smuggle Western supplied weapons and ammo into Syria.  Three of the men are still on the loose, the other six are in Lebanese jail.