Tag Archives: crime

International, U.S.

World War 3: Soldiers killed. U.S./NATO kills civilians. Governor attacked. More drug busts. British planting IEDs?

May 17, 2012, the governor’s office in Afghanistan’s Farah Province has been attacked by suicide bombers.  As many as 11 people killed.

Reports say that after the explosions there was a two hour firefight between Mujahideen and Afghan forces.  At least nine people were wounded.  The dead include Mujahideen, police and civilians. The governor somehow survived the attack.

An Afghan national army soldier was killed when Mujahideen attacked in Badakhshan Province.

Two Afghan national army soldiers were wounded in Kunar Province.  Another soldier wounded in Helmand Province.

A Scottish soldier, on trial in the United Kingdom for killing a fellow soldier in 2009, stated that he had never been trained for night fighting.  But get this, he swears that the people he was shooting at were digging by a road, as if they were planting mines in the middle of the night. In fact his fellow soldiers thought they were the enemy as well: “We were all in agreement that there were insurgents laying or arming an IED in the road.”-Lance Corporal Michael Pritchard

Turned out those suspected Mujahideen were really British troops!  What are British troops doing digging by the road at night?

U.S./NATO forces have killed civilians yet again.  Reports out of Afghanistan are confusing, but sometime in the past week an airstrike killed five civilians and wounded two others.  It included women and children.  The attack took place in Kunar Province, and ISAF originally reported four Mujahideen killed.

But from the beginning locals said most of those killed were women and children. The U.S./NATO attack took place just days after NATO apologized for killing civilians the week before.

According to the United Nations, the number of civilians killed in Afghanistan hit a record high of 3,021 in 2011.  So much for the U.S. occupation making Afghanistan more secure!

24 hour, ISAF Joint Command Morning operational update for May 17, 2012: More seek & capture missions for “leaders” and “facilitators”, in the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Kunduz, Kandahar and Helmand.  They claim “several” Mujahideen captured.

In Paktia Province, Afghan and occupying forces came under heavy attack and called in airstrikes. International Security Assistance Force claims “multiple” Mujahideen killed/captured.

In Helmand Province ISAF reports yet more drugs busted; 1,130 kilograms (2,480 pounds) of opium.  Unlike previous drug busts where everything is supposedly destroyed, U.S./NATO troops decided that “A portion of the cache was confiscated for analysis…”

To show that ISAF’s 24 hour report is not up to date, they reported the end of a 10 day search & capture offensive in Farah Province.  The operation ended on May 13, and resulted in Mujahideen captured, along with weapons and drugs. (this is the same province that just had the governor’s compound attacked)

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Japan sues U.S. over Iran sanctions! U.S./U.K. media lie about Japanese bank freezing Iranian accounts!

May 17,2012, according to Japan’s NHK the Japanese bank, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, is suing the United States over a court order to freeze Iranian accounts.

Western media has been reporting that the Japanese bank has frozen the accounts, but that’s not what Japanese media says.  Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ filled the suit on May 16, but refuses to make any public comments.

The U.S. court order is not about current sanctions against Iran, but is an old civil suit claiming that Iran was responsible for the 1983 bombing of the USMC barracks in Beirut, after the U.S. invaded Lebanon.

The families of the killed Marines have been led to believe Iran should pay, yet there is no concrete evidence that Iran was behind it.  Lebanese who claim to be connected to the bombing say they were simply defending their country against the U.S. invaders.

Yasuhiro Sato, chairman of the Japanese Bankers Association, says any sanctions imposed on Japanese banks doing business with Iran, will cripple Japan’s struggling economy. So who are the sanctions really against?

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Australia to give Afghanistan $100 million per year! U.S. to pay Pakistan $365 million per year! Germany to pay $190 million per year! Tribal leaders assassinated. U.S./NATO/Afghan forces on offensive. More big drug busts.

May 16, 2012, in Afghanistan’s Herat Province three village elders were assassinated.  They were shot while attending morning prayers in a Mosque.  A fourth elder was wounded.

In Uruzgan Province a tribal elder, and his son, were assassinated by gunman on a motorcycle.

To show you how important the U.S./NATO supply route through Pakistan is, Pakistani officials revealed that the United States has agreed to give Pakistan an additional $365 million USD per year to re-open supply routes!  Those supply routes have been shut down for the past six months.

It works out to about $1,500 USD per supply truck, per day.  In return, not only will Pakistan re-open the supply routes, but their military will provide the convoys with security (which they have not done before).

According to Pentagon sources, as much as 30% of U.S./NATO supplies for Afghanistan operations pass through Pakistan.

Australia’s Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced that beginning in 2015 Australia will give Afghanistan $100 million (Aussie and British media reports did not specify if it was in AUD or USD) per year, for three years: “To consolidate and build on the security gains of the transition strategy, the Afghan National Security Forces will need ongoing funding and training and mentoring support…” 

On top of that she also said that the Australian government will consider keeping special operations forces in Afghanistan, after most of their Diggers leave at the end of 2014.

Germany has also announced they will be bribing, I mean paying, the Afghan government $190 million USD per year, after German troops leave in 2014.  The deal was just signed by Hamid Karzai and Angela Merkel.  The German Chancellor said the West is planning on staying a long time: “This shows we are committed to Afghanistan in the long term.”

These pledges of hundreds of millions of USDs is on top of what our Western governments are already giving the U.S. puppet governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan!

With the economies of the Western countries collapsing, it makes you wonder where they’re gonna get all this money they’re pledging for Afghanistan?

Afghan government officials claiming major offensive against Mujahideen.  In Helmand Province on May 15, they captured nine tons of explosives.  Officials claim three people were spotted laying mines, and a U.S./NATO airstrike was called in, killing them.

On May 16, in Paktika Province, a U.S./NATO airstrike was called in when Afghan and NATO forces came under heavy fire.  Afghan officials revealed that a major offensive was launched on May 14, and will continue until all Mujahideen are cleared from the province.  They say at least nine Mujahideen were killed by the airstrike.

Afghan Interior Ministry officials also claim that in the past 24 hours of their offensive in Paktika, as well as Badakhshan Province, they’ve killed at least 14 Mujahideen.

In Kandahar Province, Afghan army claims they killed a potential suicide bomber before he could carry out his mission.

24 hour, ISAF Joint Command Morning operational update for May 16, 2012: ISAF reports more attempts/successes to capture “leaders” in Helmand and Kunduz provinces.

ISAF also reports that occupation troops came under attack when they launched a drug bust operation in Helmand Province.  Mujahideen were killed.

The drug bust yielded more than 5,000 kilograms (11,000 pounds) of morphine waste, 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of ammonium chloride, 400 kilograms of morphine base and 4,000 liters (1,057 gallons) of liquid morphine.

ISAF claims that all items captured in drug busts are destroyed.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Oil in Afghanistan! U.S. will stay until 2024. More school kids poisoned. New military pact with Germany. General Allen leaving.

“Pakistan and other regional countries should carefully study the strategic pact and make sure that United States will have a long term commitment to Afghanistan, and Washington will continue its cooperation with the Afghan government until 2024.”

May 15, 2012, U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, made that statement in Nangarhar Province.  It subtly threatens Pakistan, and shows that the U.S. is planning on being in Afghanistan for a long time.

Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai is in Germany, to sign a new military pact with the European country.  The signing is expected to take place on May 16, then Karzai will fly to the U.S. to take part in the NATO summit there.

In Khost Province, dozens of students have been poisoned at Warzai high school.  At least 52 students are in local hospital in serious condition.

U.S. Marine Corps General John Allen, the top commander in Afghanistan, will leave to take command of U.S. forces in Europe, next year.  Unnamed Obama administration sources said they wanted to transfer Allen by this coming winter, but advizors considered it premature.

No replacement, for General Allen’s position in Afghanistan, has been picked.

24 hour, ISAF Joint Command Morning operational update for May 15, 2012: More search and capture missions for “leaders” and “facilitators”.

ISAF reports several “suspects” were captured.

Afghan officials report three Afghan troops were killed when they ran over a mine.  Another soldier was wounded in a separate incident.

Operations were conducted in Paktika, Herat, Logar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Nangarhar and Khost provinces.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines announced they will begin pumping oil from the northern Amu River, within five months.  The expect to pump 5,000 barrels per day (bpd) at first, and then max it out at 45,000 bpd!

“Four rivers gush forth from Paradise: the Euphrates, the Nile, the Sayhan, and the Jayhan [aka Vaksu, Gozan, Oxus, Amu Darya, Amu River].”
(Musnad, II, 260-261)

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

Oil & Gas Prices: U.S. media flat lies about Iran’s oil sales!

The Washington Post reporting that Iran can not find buyers for its oil, and is storing oil on tanker ships as a result.

This is a blatant lie because Iran’s oil sales have only increased since the U.S. led sanctions were imposed!

The latest example is of Zimbabwe, which has asked for an increase in Iranian oil and refined diesel fuel.

Also, three ship bookers, including Galbraith’s Ltd in London, confirmed that India is buying more Iranian oil. A Liberian (former U.S. African colony) tanker has been chartered to ship 130,000 metric tons of Iranian crude (per shipment?) to India!

If Iran is storing oil on tankers, why did India have to charter a tanker?

In fact, on May 11, 2012, one Indian official told the U.S. to ‘F’ themselves over the Iran oil sanctions:  “Government of India is perfectly free to take a decision (on this issue). We do not take note of sanctions by other countries….So far as our sovereignty is concerned, we can assure that we will never allow any pressure…There will be less oil or more oil imported from Iran depending on demand. The oil [Indian] companies will decide that.”-Jaipal S. Reddy, India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Japanese media has just reported that Japanese oil companies are increasing the number of oil tanker ships.  JX Nippon Oil & Energy has just bought three 5,000 ton class tankers, and is planning on buying a fourth.  Cosmo Oil is buying an additional tanker.

Japan won an exemption from the U.S. oil sanctions against Iran, so guess where those new tankers are probably going to go for their crude cargo?

Another claim in the Washington Post article is that ships carrying Iranian oil can’t get insurance, because most maritime insurance companies are based in Europe.  However, China and Japan are in the process of buying insurance from Iranian companies!  The Iranian government is conducting a review to allow Iranian insurance companies to cover foreign ships.

Pakistan and Iran are in the process of creating a banking system that will allow Pakistan to buy Iranian oil and gas without going through the usual U.S./U.K. dominated international banking system.

The Iranian government is on the verge of privatizing 15 government controlled petroleum businesses. As part of the privatization process, the Iranian government has already sold 555 million shares of stocks in the companies, and more stocks will be issued!

On May 12, 2012, the Iranian Oil Ministry revealed they had “ratified” 16 new oil projects last year.  That was out of 28 projects submitted.

If Iranian oil is just sitting at the docks, why is the Iranian government approving so many new petroleum projects?

International, U.S.

Terror Drones: May 7-13. Obama kills thousands more people than Bush Jr! German officials say some of those killed were German citizens! USAF spying on you right now!

May 12, 2012, Yemen media reporting that two U.S. drone strikes killed 16 people in Yemen.

The drone strikes are part of a Yemen military blitz underway now: “A force of about 20,000 men is taking part in this offensive, ordered by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to free the cities of Zinjibar and Jaar.”-unnamed Yemen military officer

Thousands of civilians are fleeing the government’s efforts to “free the cities”.

May 10, 2012, CNN reported that U.S. drone strikes killed eight people in Yemen.  An analyst said the U.S. has launched at least 15 drone strikes in Yemen this year, so far.

May 11, 2012, Mujahideen in Somalia say a U.S. drone strike left 38 people dead.

May 12, 2012, in Seattle, Washington, a group of university students from Pakistan won the Best Audience Award at the National Film Festival For Talented Youth (NFFTY).  Their 20 minute documentary (The Other Side) is about the ongoing U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan.  The student filmmakers were not able to attend the ceremony.

So far this year there have been at least 10 drone strikes, with at least 83 Pakistanis reported killed.

According to a May 11, 2012, report by Germany’s Deutsche Welle, peace prize winner U.S. President Barack Obama has killed more Pakistanis with drones in his first three and a half years in office, than former President George W. Bush did in all his last five years as president!

So far Obama has authorized the killing of 2,355 people in Pakistan, compared to Bush Jr’s measly 426!!!

According to Peter Rudolf, of the German Institute for International and Security Policy, German citizens have also been killed by U.S. drones.  He says German officials are looking the other way because of Germany’s support for the United States: “Certain information that would lead to the killing of a German citizen is not permitted to be shared [with public/news media] as part of the cooperation between intelligence agencies.” 

An unnamed German Interior Ministry official confirmed, in a round-a-bout way, that the U.S. was conducting extra-judicial murder and Germany had no problem with it: “Our constitutional order prohibits providing information regarding extra-judicial killing.”

May 8, 2012, the Federation of American Scientists posted on their website USAF documents that prove the U.S. Air force is spying on people who live within the United States.

As long as the imagery data they collect is considered “incidental” then they are violating no privacy laws, or civil liberties of U.S. citizens.  The data can be kept for 90 days, and shared with other agencies of the Department of Defense.

Also, USAF documents show that drones used for combat must not be operated by civil service workers, or contractors.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Even more U.S./NATO deaths. Yesterday’s drug bust report has been revised upward! Afghan army officers increasingly refusing to co-operate with Occupying forces illegal night raids!

May 12, 2012, ISAF revised the previous days report concerning a huge drug bust.

ISAF revealed that it was a series of drug busts taking place between May 8 and 10. The upwardly revised numbers are; “…6,600 pounds (3,000 kilograms) of hashish, 407 pounds (185 kilograms) of opium, 1,320 pounds (600 kilograms) of poppy seeds and 330 pounds (150 kilograms) of morphine.”

As I’ve said before: “Ending opium production was one of the excuses for the continued U.S. occupation of Afghanistan, but the opposite has happened (as it always does where ever the U.S. takes over).”

In Helmand Province, an Afghan army soldier was killed by an explosion.

In Badghis Province four Afghan cops were killed when their vehicle ran over a mine.

According to the Washington Post, Afghan army officers are refusing to conduct illegal night raids, despite demands by the United States!

“In the last two months, 14 to 16 (night) operations have been rejected by the Afghans. The U.S. has said, ‘This operation better be conducted. It’s a high-value target.’ Then, my people said, ‘It’s a high-value target. I agree with you. But there are so many civilian children and women (in the area).’ “-General Sher Mohammed Karimi, Afghan army

The Afghan army officers’ concerns over civilian casualties are proving to be justified.  The United Nations announced that the number of civilians killed or wounded has dropped 20% this year!  Gee, maybe the U.S. was intentionally targeting Afghan civilians?

ISAF reports that a U.S./NATO troop was killed in a non-combat incident in  southern Afghanistan.  However, ISAF also reported that three U.S./NATO personnel were also killed in southern Afghanistan; two when they were attacked by Mujahideen (Afghan police say a group of men wearing police uniforms attacked and killed the two U.S./NATO troops), and the third was killed by an explosion.

Here’s tid bits from ISAF’s 24 hour Joint Command morning operational update, for May 12, 2012:  In Kandahar Province, Afghan and occupying troops attempted to capture a “leader”.  They were attacked by Mujahideen.  ISAF claims two Mujahideen killed.

In Logar Province, Afghan and occupying troops attempted to capture a “commander”. They were attacked by Mujahideen.  ISAF claims three Mujahideen killed.

In Paktika Province, Afghan and occupying troops assassinated a “commander”, and one other person. They called in an airstrike on the “commander’s” house.

In Ghazni Province, Afghan and occupying troops attempted to capture a “leader”.  They report capturing one person and explosives.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S./NATO troops killed. Explosions. Even more drugs found!

May 11, 2012, explosion reported near the airport in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province.

A fueler exploded before entering the airport compound.  Local police say the truck was rigged with explosives, and meant to be detonated once it got onto the airport grounds.

Jalalabad Airport is currently being used for occupying forces’ military purposes only.  The driver of the fuel tanker actually escaped!

In Helmand Province, eight people were killed in two explosions.  One explosion took place after a civilian vehicle ran over a mine, killing a family of seven, the other explosion took place after police arrived on the scene, killing one cop.

Two U.S./NATO troops were killed, one by an Afghan army soldier, the other by a Mujahideen ambush.  ISAF did not give any more details, however an unnamed Afghan official said the “friendly fire” incident took place in Kunar Province.

NATO and U.S. allied occupying countries have lost about 150 personnel since the beginning of 2012.

24 hour, Joint Command Morning operational update for May 11, 2012: Attempt to capture “facilitators” in Helmand and Zabul provinces.  Several Mujahideen captured.

In Helmand Province, an Afghan/U.S./NATO seek and destroy anti-drugs mission was ambushed by Mujahideen. ISAF claims several Mujahideen killed.  ISAF claims they found “…a drug cache containing 330 pounds of morphine base, more than 400 pounds of opium, 880 pounds of poppy seeds, and more than 2,000 pounds of drug-processing materials.”

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Attacks not being reported by ISAF. Drug war designed to raise the price of Opium.

“The price hike will definitely pressure us a lot. The tendency towards cultivation will grow, it will create resistance, law and order issues, and it will raise the casualty rate.”-Zarar Ahmad Muqbel Osmani, Counter Narcotics Minister of Afghanistan

Anti-opium officials in Afghanistan report that a double whammy of poppy field burning by police, and a fungus that is destroying the plant’s ability to produce opium, is resulting in skyrocketing prices for the drug.

The fungus is attacking crops in Helmand, Kandahar and Farah provinces.  Ending opium production was one of the excuses for the continued U.S. occupation of Afghanistan, but the opposite has happened (as it always does where ever the U.S. takes over).

2011 saw a 61% increase in opium production under U.S. occupation.

May 8, 2012, Ghulam Gawas Malayar, the deputy provincial police chief of Farah Province, reports five of his police officers killed after they drove over a mine.

In Paktika Province four Education Ministry workers, and their bodyguard, were killed when their vehicle hit a mine, and then they were ambushed by Mujahideen.  The local education director was wounded.

In Logar Province two police officers were killed in a Mujahideen ambush.

None of these incidents were reported in Tuesday’s 24 hour report given by Afghan government and ISAF officials.  The incidents are being reported by local officials.

May 9, 2012, representatives from the 203 Thunder Brigade, Afghan army, say two of their troops were wounded by an explosion in Paktika Province.

And now for the ISAF 24 hour report (Joint Command Morning operational update) for May 9, 2012.: Once again more missions to capture “leaders”, this time in Kandahar, Helmand, Ghazni and Wardak provinces.

The statement said they captured several Mujahideen, but there was no indication that they actually captured the “leaders” they were going after  (Afghan government sources claim they captured the “leaders”).

In Helmand two big drug busts.  One weighing 470 kilograms (1,030 pounds), the other coming in at 900 kilograms (1,980 pounds).  You gotta wonder; ten years of supposedly fighting the drug trade in Afghanistan, and the result is an increase in drug trafficking!

 

 

 

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

Terror Drones: April 30 – May 6. Canada to use drones on its own people, new arms race. Drones on trial in U.S.

May 5, 2012, U.S. drone strike kills at least eight people in Pakistan.

May 2, 2012, U.S. drone strikes kill at least 15 people in Yemen.

From April 30 to May 6, the U.S./NATO increased airstrikes in Afghanistan.  They include the use of drones.  The result is an increasing number of civilians deaths.

May 3, 2012: U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, numb nuts Ryan Crocker, stated that the new military pact between Afghanistan and the United States could allow drone strikes to continue past 2014.

May 5, 2012: U.S. Mormon news source, Deseret News, supports the FAA issuing civilian licenses for drone operation.  Their article points out that many businesses would benefit, like photography, sports, real estate, etc.  Despite the fact that the Federal Aviation Administration has yet to issue civilian licenses, Utah State University has already been using a drone, taking pictures.

May 5, 2012: According to The Canadian Press, the Royal Canadian Air Force will expand the testing of drones to include operations by police: “We know we need to use them, and the Canadian Forces from a capability point of view are moving ahead to ensure there is domestic capability as part of its UAV program in the future.”-Lieutenant General Walter Semianiw

General Semianiw admitted the use of drones by Canadian police is to commit acts of violence: “You must remember that, in Canada, within the domestic construct, I do not have the right to be able to apply lethal force in Canada. That is the responsibility of the police.”

Canadian officials also implied that there is a drone arms race going on between the United States and Canada, by pointing out that the U.S. has military drones patrolling along the U.S.-Canadian border.

Canada has used Israeli made drones in Afghanistan.

May 4, 2012: The Seattle Times opinion piece says that since so many people use the cameras in their cell phones to take pictures of just about anything, then police using drones to take pictures of you in your back yard does not constitute invasion of privacy.

May 3, 2012: It’s the opening stage of the first trial for a U.S. citizen arrested with the use of a drone.  The man arrested was tasered several times, but local police in North Dakota called in a Predator drone because they were concerned for their safety!

What happens at this trial could affect how drones are used by police against the citizens of the U.S.: “There is, furthermore, no existing case law that bars their use in investigating crimes.”-Douglas Manbeck, ND state prosecutor