Category Archives: U.S.

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.

 

International, U.S.

Pakistani General cancels trip to Washington DC, relations between CIA and ISI broken

General Kahlid Shamim Wynne, Pakistan’s Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, canceled his planned six day visit to the United States.

The General has not yet given a reason.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, said in an interview on May 12, that communication between the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, and Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence has broken down.

 

International, U.S.

U.S. increases drone attacks in Pakistan, says War on Terror will not be scaled back

Since the supposed assassination of Osama bin Laden, the United States has actually increased the number of drone attacks in Pakistan.

Since May 2 there have been four attacks.

An unnamed official says the assassination of bin Laden will not affect U.S. policy in Pakistan: “There are absolutely no plans at present to cease or scale back U.S. counter terrorism operations in Pakistan.”

International, Opinion, U.S.

Libyan rebel representatives at the White House asking for money

As if the United States and Europe aren’t doing enough for the Libyan Civil War.  Today, May 13, Libyan rebel reps are meeting with President Obama, to ask for more money.

Mahmoud Jebril, with the rebel’s National Transitional Council, is asking that Obama turn over the frozen assets of Gaddafi.  Jebril is a U.S. educated technocrat, who is helping to lead the rebel campaign against the Libyan government.

Jebril says that if the rebel Council doesn’t get more money soon, they will not be able to pay their mercenaries, I mean rebel troops.  The implication is that the so called rebel freedom fighters would walk away.

 

U.S.

South Carolina Prison Christian Crusaders ban all books but Bible

In an obvious act of religious discrimination, a South Carolina prison has banned all books, except the Bible, from being read by prisoners.  The ban went into effect in 2008.  The Bible is the only religious book allowed.

The book ban is taking place at the Berkeley County prison.  The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit.

Prison officials claim that only books and magazines with staples in them are banned.  But several book publishers, and individuals, say all books (except the Bible) sent to prisoners are being returned by the prison officials.  Also, in an email response, a prison staff member admitted that only Bibles are allowed: “…our inmates are only allowed soft black Bibles in the mail directly from the publisher.”

The ACLU also discovered that legal pads of paper, with staples in them, are being sold to prisoners.  The ACLU says the Berkeley County prison has obviously implemented a Bible only policy, despite officials trying to dodge the claims of the lawsuit.

 

International, Opinion, U.S.

NATO says it will occupy Libya

“In a post-Gaddafi era, I think we will still have a role to play in assisting a new Libyan government in a transition to a sustainable democracy.”-Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General

Rasmussen explained that NATO will focus on rebuilding Libya’s security and military units.

Basically what Rasmussen is saying is that U.S. led NATO plans on setting up shop in Libya, after they kill off Gaddafi.  What was that Obama said about this not being a long term adventure?

 

International, Opinion, U.S.

Another U.S. soldier killed by Afghan Cop

Another case of Afghan government forces shooting U.S. forces.  This time a National Police officer shot four U.S. soldier, killing one of them.  Very little details are available. The shooting happened in Lashkar Gah.  Witnesses say it was an all out scuffle.

This is not the first time Afghan government employees turned their guns on U.S. forces.  Last month a career military pilot killed several U.S. personnel, before being killed himself.

As for police forces, this is one of several incidents involving police officers; In April 2011, a total of 11 U.S. personnel were killed by Afghan police. In January 2011, a U.S. Marine killed a police officer. In November 2010, an Afghan border police officer killed six U.S./NATO troops.

Not only do U.S. forces have to deal with the Taliban’s spring offensive, but they have to watch their back for fear of Afghan government police attacking them.