Tag Archives: europe

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 11-12 March 2013. It just wont stop!

In Michigan, coupon book publisher, Entertainment Promotions now bankrupt.  267 people laid off!  And what recovery in housing construction? Williams Lumber closed down after 130 years of operations! The owner blamed the bad economy for a fourfold drop in sales: “We have to sell everything including the real estate, the building…”-Bruce Williams

The Tobyhanna Army Depot laying off 418 people in Pennsylvania!   Also, at least 5000 employees are being forced to take unpaid days off between April and September!  It’s being blamed on government funding cuts.  The Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs laid off about 20 people in management.  Casino officials said management needed to be more efficient.

In Texas, Handy Hardware bankrupt.  The company owes the state of Mississippi $3.5 million USD.  The Mississippi Development Authority says the money came from a federal government development grant, that was supposed to be used to create 175 jobs, but never happened.  Handy Hardware already defaulted on $26 million in debt owed to Capital One.

Another Texas company went bankrupt.  Geokinetics provides seismic data to the oil and gas industry.  Company officials, and stockholders, say the bankruptcy is needed to restructure the company.  Also, Crossroads Systems laying off 30 research and development employees.

In Missouri, the owner of apartments in Saint Louis, Locust Street Lofts, now bankrupt.

In Illinois, the Ball-Chatham School Board eliminated 14 teaching positions.  Other positions will have their hours reduced.   School officials blame budget problems.

The private preschool Goddard School, on Back Creek Road in Charlotte, North Carolina, closed down.  Reports say the school owed $60000 in unpaid rent.  Also, the Fayetteville Regional Chamber laid off two people, in order to save money.

In California, the Modesto City Schools announced they need to reduce staffing.  Possibly 36 people to lose their jobs.  Schools officials also said that not only must senior teaching staff be credentialed, they must prove “competence”.  They need to save about $7 million in the 2013-14 school year.  In San Francisco, Haig’s Delicacies closed down after 57 years of business.  The family owners will continue their wholesale operation.  In King City, Bertelli’s Health Mart Pharmacy out-o-business. The owner/operators blamed it on their long (and expensive) commutes to work.

In Puerto Rico, 400 people lost their jobs with Baxter!  The pharmaceutical company has been investing tens of millions into making their Puerto Rico operation more efficient (meaning getting the same amount of production with less employees).

In Maryland, Obama/Romney Care being blamed for layoffs at Frederick Memorial Hospital.  40 people being let go: “What hospitals are doing nationwide, and in Maryland in particular, are to find ways to adjust the provision care models to adjust to the decreasing amount of Medicare reimbursements.”-Harry Grandinett, Frederick Memorial Hospital

The Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center, in New Jersey, announced the ending of 15 positions and reduction in services, due to an expected $1 million loss in County funding.

In Georgia, the Arthritis Foundation laid off 26 employees.  Officials with the crony charity blame declining donations, yet 2011 tax filings show the CEO got a salary/benefits package of $508000, plus $70000 in bonuses!

Spain based Acciona lays off 40 employees at their wind power operation in Iowa.  Company officials blame it on declining interest in clean energy.

In Vermont, Green Mountain Power laid off 15 meter readers.  The company switched to smart meters which do not require people to physically read the meter.

China based Suntech lays off 43 people and shuts down their Goodyear solar power panel factory in Arizona.  Company officials blame it on the high tariffs imposed by the Obama administration.

In Massachusetts, Adventure Outfitters in Hadley closed down.  Company officials blame the bad economy and climate change: “…a result of the tough economy and two warm winters in a row.”-John Cronin, Tiger Group

Brazil based video game maker, Vostu, to layoff more employees.  Reports say the company had 580 employees at one time, but is now down to about 70.  The company has offices in São Paulo, Buenos Aries and New York.

In New York, the owners of newspaper Pennysavers ended publication and laid off 60 people.  In West Village, Italian sandwich shop Jason Denton’s ‘Ino, closed down.  And the Bath & Body Works closed down in the Fingerlakes Mall.

In West Virginia, two Kelly Motors car dealerships closed for good. The owners refused to talk to the local media.

AT&T closes four franchise stores in South Dakota.  Something happened between AT&T and Express Wireless, which ended AT&T service.  AT&T officials said they were legally restricted from explaining what happened.  The State Public Utilities Commissioner said AT&T had invested millions of dollars into South Dakota.

Influenza

H7N9 update: Health officials reluctantly admitting it’s human to human!

19 May 2013 (09:06 UTC-07 Tango)/09 Rajab 1434/29 Ordibehest 1392/10 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

A new joint statement by China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission, and the UN World Health Organization, admits H7N9 has a higher chance for human to human infection than any other known ‘bird’ flu.

Also, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control revealed that the only human case in their country never showed the officially recognized symptoms of H7N9.   The case was discovered simply because the man’s doctor was suspicious because the man just returned from infected areas of China.  Health officials noted that throat swabs were conducted daily, with negative results on day four and nine, yet a positive result on day eight.

The case caused Taiwan’s health officials to change their guidelines for diagnosing H7N9.   Since then they’ve tested at least 399 people, all tested negative for H7N9.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is preparing for H7N9 in Europe.  Health officials say the virus could be brought in via illegally imported poultry, or migrating birds, or even by infected humans: “Highly significant events include: transmission in countries distant from China, isolation of viruses from domestic birds in Europe, locally acquired infections in Europe and sustained human-to-human transmission. Epidemic intelligence is crucial for detecting trigger events.”

International

World War 3, Leviathan Front: Russian Navy sets up permanent presence in Med!

16 May 2013 (17:46 UTC-07 Tango)/06 Rajab 1434/26 Ordibehest 1391/07 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

“…already from this year, we plan to have 5-6 warships and support vessels, which will be replaced on a rotating basis from each of the fleets, the Black Sea, Baltic, Northern and, in some cases, even the Pacific Fleet….the number of warships in the task force may be increased.”-Admiral Viktor Chirkov, Military-Maritime Fleet of the Russian Federation

The Russian navy now has a permanent presence in the huge eastern Mediterranean petroleum field, which includes Israeli controlled Leviathan Block (as well as others).

The Russian ships will make a port call in Cyprus.

Cyprus is bordered by several blocks of the massive Levant Basin Province petroleum fields, and directly controls Block 12/Aphrodite.  I’ve postulated that the whole Cyprus bailout debacle was a False Flag to cut Russia out of pending deals involving Block 12/Aphrodite.

Russia sending warships to “defend their interests”!

International

Coronavirus MERS update: More cases in France & Saudi Arabia! Proof of airborne transmission!

12 May 2013 (22:03 UTC-07 Tango 11 May 2013)/02 Rajab 1434/22 Ordibehest 1391/03 Ding-Si (4th month) 4711

On 11 May 2013, France reported that three people tested for the new MERS were negative. What many reports didn’t tell you is that there are at least two more possible cases.

Beside the man who came back from United Arab Emirates (UAE) sick, two people connected to him are also sick.  Testing has confirmed one to be positive for MERS, medical personnel are waiting for the test results on the other person.

The second French man who is infected with MERS, got infected while in the same hospital room as the first MERS infected man.  Benoit Guery, the head of the Lille hospital’s infectious diseases service, says it proves “The airborne transmission of the virus was possible.”

Health officials in Thailand have issued a warning.  Anyone returning from trips to West Asia (Middle East) should report to a doctor for examination, especially if they have symptoms of the flu or colds.

The UN World Health Organization issued a warning, they want all health officials to be on the lookout for people with SARS like symptoms as well as pneumonia.  The UNWHO is also sending a two man team to Saudi Arabia, where at least two more cases have been confirmed.  The new two man team is independent of the UNWHO team that was invited by the government of Saudi Arabia.

The latest cases in Saudi Arabia are people who got sick last month, but no doctor recognized their infections as MERS until now. There are now 33 confirmed cases, and 18 deaths.

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

Capitalist Commodity Markets to blame for Pocatello’s Hoku Polysilicon near abandonment!

08 May 2013 (09:49 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Jumada t-Tania 1434/18 Ordibehest 1391/29 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The massive, and expensive (to local tax payers), Hoku Materials polysilicon factory sits idle and unfinished in Pocatello, Idaho.

Red Neck right wingers like to point the finger at President Obama, saying ‘I told you so’ concerning ‘clean energy’ projects, but the reason for the demise of many solar power companies is actually the capitalist commodity market system and government interference.

Polysilicon prices have crashed and burned since construction started on the 50 American football fields long factory.  It just isn’t worth it to produce the stuff used in solar power panels.  In 2008 polysilicon was worth $400 per kilogram, it’s now crashed to a paltry $20.50!

Hoku Materials ghost town factory, Pocatello, Idaho. 50 football fields long at a cost of at least $400 million.

Hoku Materials ghost town factory, Pocatello, Idaho. 50 football fields long at a cost of at least $400 million.

The ‘experts’ got everything wrong.  They thought the high petroleum prices would drive societies into the arms of clean energy companies, but the problem is that so many clean energy companies started production that soon there was a glut of polysilicon on the market, even before the construction of Pocatello Hoku plant was close to being finished.

Then add to that the trade wars between China, the U.S. and European Union.  Eventually, the Obama administration jacked up tariffs so high on Chinese polysilicon companies that it wasn’t worth it to do business in the U.S.  By then Hoku Corporation (the parent of Hoku Materials) had become Chinese owned, due to financial problems (including Hoku Materials not being able to pay its construction contractor, JH Kelly, or pay its Idaho utility bills, so many times that both threatened to seize the property).

By the middle of 2012 the unfinished $400 million USD Pocatello polysilicon factory was moth balled, staffing reduced to just 30 people, with rumors of liquidation in bankruptcy court.  By the end of 2012, the Chinese company that bought into Hoku (Tianwei) was getting blasted in the Chinese media for buying a pig in a poke.  According to former Hoku Corporation CEO, Scott Paul, Tianwei invested “….more than $129 million of its own capital in Hoku, and they have provided for another $244 million in debt financing from banks in China.”

Now back to the ‘experts’.  In February 2013, ‘experts’ predicted that polysilicon prices had bottomed out.  They were wrong!  Prices had hit $21 per kilogram, and polysilicon producers said there was no reason to produce anymore until the price went up over $25.

In March 2013, British media reported that prices had crashed 50% compared to the same time last year.

In April 2013, another report said that polysilicon prices could continue to crash because of the anti-free market tariffs imposed by the major players; China, South Korea, European Union and United States.  And, the ‘experts’ again said prices had bottomed out.  The average price at the end of April 2013 was $20.50.

So where does that leave Hoku Corporation’s Hoku Materials factory in Pocatello?  Optimistic officials with the Bannock Development Corporation (a County level organization that worked hard to bring Hoku to Pocatello, including huge local tax breaks) think that anytime now Hoku will start production: “It’s a wait and see thing, depending on the market……Basically, [Hoku Corp.] needs to fire up the plant when it’s ready to go.”-John Regetz, Bannock Development

Sounds like the local development folks aren’t communicating with Hoku.  The latest statement from the company indicates that bankruptcy and liquidation is the only option being considered: “….exploration of potential restructuring at Hoku Materials and Hoku Corporation is ongoing, with no formal update at this time.”-Hoku Corporation statement

“Restructuring” is code for bankruptcy/liquidation.  So no Mister Regetz, it sounds like Hoku is not planning to “fire up the plant”.

Green/clean energy just doesn’t make big enough profits for the crony capitalist system.  Another case in point is the recent announcement by BP (British Petroleum) that it will abandon it’s wind power operations near Idaho Falls, Idaho, as well as its wind and solar projects across the United States.

Also, don’t forget the artificial reduction in demand created by all those government tariffs.

The answer is that clean energy projects need to be run like a non-profit co-op, but the problem is that crony capitalists don’t like that and will do everything they can to prevent that from happening (’cause contrary to their propaganda, they do not like competition, especially if it’s from a non-profit).

More on the demise of Hoku Materials:

Hoku deregisters with SEC

Hoku downward spiral

Hoku restructuring

Hoku to be finished off

U.S. tariffs nail in the coffin for Hoku

Good & bad news for Hoku

Hoku better get its rear in gear

Hoku beggars China

Hoku going under

Hoku begs

More trouble for Hoku

Hoku starts operations(?)

Hoku ended before it starts

Investigation puts the brakes on Hoku

Hoku ongoing delays

Hoku turning to China

International

World War 3, African Front: Japan increasing troops in Sudan, U.K. increasing troops in Mali!

03 May 2013 (09:47 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Jumada t-Tania 1434/13 Ordibehest 1391/24 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

Japan currently has 350 troops in Sudan, working under the United Nations.  The UN has just asked Japan to send more Ground Self-Defense Force personnel.  Japan’s Senior Vice Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Yasutoshi Nishimura, has just started a weekend visit to Sudan, and will discuss the issue with UN and Sudanese officials.

In Libya, a police station in Benghazi was destroyed.  The same police station was attacked last week.  Also, militia groups have surrounded pro-U.S./European government buildings.  They will not lift their blockade until their demands are met.  They want all former officials connected to Muammar Gaddafi to be banned from holding government jobs.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, the March 23 (M23) organization has ended talks with UN officials because they’ve detected that they are about to be attacked by the newly created, and precedent setting, UN Intervention Brigade.  M23 spokesman, Stanislas Baleke, said they “…are waiting for the brigade. We are ready. Our men are on maximum alert.”

In Horn of Africa, Somalia, the government is about to forcefully relocate 80000 people.  A UN spokesman said even though the pro-U.S./European government is instigating the move, the UN will help.  The government claims the refugees will be moved to a larger concentration camp, I mean refugee camp.

In Nigeria, battles have been raging in the north eastern part of the country.  In the past week at least 200 people have been killed.

The United Kingdom announces it will send more Red Coats to Mali. They claim it’s part of the European Union Training Mission to train up pro-U.S./European forces in Mali, for a major offensive: “What we are here to do is form a battalion into a cohesive unit so that it’s ready to go on operations at the end of the 10 week package.”-Major Simon Holden, 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment

 

International

World War 3, Asian Front: Afghanistan continues to kill U.S. personnel! Mother nature on the side of Mujahideen! What 2014 pullout?

27 April 2013/16 Jumada t-Tania 1434/07 Ordibehest 1391/18 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

The U.S. Department of Defense admits yet another contractor ripped off U.S. taxpayers!  This time the taxpayers were overcharged $757 million USD!  The contractor to blame is Swiss based Supreme Foodservice.  The capitalist company is also accused of ripping off British taxpayers. For some reason, the U.S. agency in charge of contracts, Defense Logistics Agency, failed to do their job:  “This has to be one of the prime poster childs for a government contract spun out of control!”– John Mica, U.S. Representative from Florida

In Zabul Province, Shah Joy District, a U.S. aircraft went down.  At least four personnel killed.  U.S. officials deny it was shot down.  The majority of occupation personnel in Zabul Province are U.S.

While the Red Coat United Kingdom is pulling out troops from Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence revealed that they are now conducting drone (UAV) attacks on Afghanistan.

Mujahideen groups have announced the start of a new offensive, called operation Khalid bin Walid (a reference to the Mujahideen defeat of the Soviet Union puppet government in 1992/Mujahideen Victory Day).  Diplomatic institutions and airbases will be the main targets, and suicide bombers will be used.

In Faryab Province, provincial government sources say Mujahideen killed at least five local cops, and captured 15.   The provincial governor said there was an estimated 300 Mujahideen involved in the attack.

26 April 2013/15 Jumada t-Tania 1434/06 Ordibehest 1391/17 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

Logar Province: The U.S. Army revealed that a Blackhawk helicopter pilot and a co-pilot were killed on 23 April, in Pul-I-Alam District.  This happened to take place on the same day that Mujahideen claimed they shot down a U.S./NATO ‘copter, killing U.S. personnel and capturing most of the Turkish, Uzbek and Afghan passengers.  The claim that it was a U.S. ‘copter has been denied by U.S. media. The U.S. Army refuses to confirm Mujahideen claims, saying only that the two personnel died from “wounds sustained from enemy indirect fire”.

The Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 149th General Support Aviation Battalion held deployment ceremonies. They’re going to Afghanistan.

Kandahar Province: It was revealed that back on 23 April at least 50 U.S./NATO aircraft (mainly helicopters) were “severely damaged” by a massive hailstorm at Kandahar airbase.

In Takhar Province, six local cops were shot by one of their own.  This is becoming a standard MO, as the cops were poisoned before they were shot.

25 April 2013/14 Jumada t-Tania 1434/05 Ordibehest 1391/16 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

In Logar Province, Mujahideen are asking for fellow Mujahideen being held captive by Afghan/U.S. forces to be freed, in exchange for the freedom of the Turkish-NATO/Afghan personnel captured on 22 April, when their helicopter went down.

In Kandahar Province, local government officials say they’ve captured eight militants from Pakistan. Also, in Panjwai District, locals attacked Afghan government forces as they tried to burn an opium poppy field.  One Afghan cop wounded.

A former contractor for a U.S. AID project has been sentenced to two and a half years in an Afghan prison, and a $9500 fine.  He was convicted in Afghan court of embezzlement and forgery.  The investigation into the case involved investigators from U.S. AID.

24 April 2013/13 Jumada t-Tania 1434/04 Ordibehest 1391/15 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

ISAF said: “Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan.”

In Kandahar Province, four kids were killed, one wounded, after a roadside bomb exploded.  In Maiwand District, nine government de-miners (removers of landmines) were captured by Mujahideen.

The United Nations says civilians casualties have increased 30% compared to the same time last year.

After first reporting they were on their way out of Afghanistan, Sweden has changed its mind. Swedish officials say they will now keep at least 200 troops in Afghanistan after the 2014 NATO/ISAF pullout date.

Also, U.S. NATO ally Turkey says they will keep all their troops currently in Afghanistan, after the U.S./NATO/ISAF 2014 pullout.

The United States announced it will increase drone (UAV) strikes after the 2014 pullout date.

International, U.S.

World War 3, West Asian Front: U.S., NATO and Israel escalate war on Syria & Iran!

22 April 2013 (15:08 UTC-07 Tango)/11 Jumada t-Tania 1434/02 Ordibehest 1391/13 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

Chronology of recent events:

14 April 2013; Syrian government troops begin pushing back U.S./NATO/Israeli backed insurgents (thousands of which are Chechens recruited by U.S. CIA and trained in Turkey and Greece), capturing many bases and most roads around Aleppo and Idlib.

15 April 2013; two U.S. citizens who are ethnic Chechens, and who were most likely recruited and trained by CIA to fight Jihad in Syria (revealed by U.S. ally Saudi Arabia last year), turn their U.S. training against the U.S. in classic blowback, allegedly setting off two bombs at the Boston Marathon.

In Aleppo Province, Syria, U.S. trained insurgents blow up a car, killing two and wounding 18.  U.S./Israeli trained insurgents also attacked the Palestinian Handarat refugee camp and killed seven people.

In Jaramana City, Syria, U.S. trained insurgents fire mortar rounds which land on a bus at a bus stop. At least four people killed, 12 wounded.

Russia’s Imperial Orthodox [Christian] Palestine Society sends 30 tons of aid to the Syrian government. The week prior Russia’s Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Relief sent 26.7 tons of aid to Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Syrian government forces launch offensives in the provinces of Homs, Idlib, Daraa, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Aleppo, and Damascus.

16 April 2013; “Britain and France were complacent about supporting al Qaeda directly or indirectly…….The same forces that are killing innocent people in Syria are in Jordan too……We have stupid Arabs who are facilitating what the others are planning for the region. But the conspiracy begins in the west!”-Faisal al-Miqdad, Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad grants mercy on thousands of insurgents now in Syrian prisons.  Most will have their sentences cut in half, while those who were to be executed will serve life in prison. However, Decree Number 23 applies only to insurgents captured before 16 April.

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee adopted Senate Resolution 65, which says the taxpayers of the United States will provide Israeli with all diplomatic, economic and military assistance if Israel decides to unilaterally launch a first strike against Iran: “We have our plans and forecasts….If the time comes, we’ll decide.”-Lieutenant General Benny Gantz, Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff

17 April 2013; “Our Syrian people will not allow France to return to their country through supporting the armed terrorist groups and their conspiracy to further shed the blood of the Syrians!”-Syrian Foreign Ministry statement

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warns that the U.S. training of insurgents will result in blowback: “The West has paid heavily for funding al Qaeda in its early stages. Today it is doing the same in Syria, Libya and other places, and will pay a heavy price in the heart of Europe and the United States.”

18 April 2013;  “We are working very, very closely with the Syrian opposition.”-John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State

U.S. historian/economist, Webster Griffin Tarpley, says the U.S. is training insurgents for use in Syria “…as a kind of irregular or auxiliary force, a kind of irregular infantry…using al Qaeda as an irregular opposition force.” Tarpley also stated that it looks like the U.S. is now getting ready to use regular military forces to invade Syria.

Syrian government forces capture the strategic village of Abel, in Homs Province.  The village is at the cross roads of Homs, Damascus and Aleppo provinces.

19 April 2013; “Israel partnership with terrorist groups, allowing those armed groups to cross the separation line in the occupied Syrian Golan, treating their wounded in Israeli hospitals and returning them to the Syrian territory through the separation line…”-Bashar Ja’afari, Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations

UN officials blamed the U.S. supported/trained FSA is conducting murderous rapes: “The International Federation of Human Rights interviewed a Syrian man who witnessed the kidnapping of a young girl by elements of the Free Syrian Army. The girl was raped, and then killed. Her body was thrown in front of her house!”-Zainab Hawa Bangura, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict

The United States announces that it is sending an additional 200 military personnel to Jordan.  Last year Iraqis and Jordanians revealed that U.S. troops who were supposed to be heading back to the States from Iraq were diverted to Jordan.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Alexander Lukashevich, warned that the U.S. is intentionally escalating the war: “These actions exacerbate the Syria crisis, which is now gaining the dimensions of a regional crisis.”

Syrian government forces shoot down a U.S. recon balloon over the province of Idlib.

U.S. trained insurgents tried to capture the Syrian city of Talkalakh, near Lebanon.  They were repelled and retreated back into Lebanon.

20 April 2013;  The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) director, U.S. Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, admitted Syria is winning: “…maintains the military advantage, particularly in firepower and air superiority….”

A massive battle in the Syrian province of Latakia, resulted in 200 U.S. insurgents killed by government forces.

Tunisia’s Mufti, Othman Battikh, said the U.S./NATO/Israeli backed insurgency in Syria is not true Jihad.  Those recruited to go fight against the Syrian government (like the alleged Boston Bombers) were “…fooled and have been brainwashed.”

The Obama administration announced that it will force happy U.S. taxpayers to fork over more money to the insurgents.  $130 million USD more!

U.S. trained insurgents assassinate 10 Syrian Finance Ministry civil servants in Damascus.

Syrian government forces capture several towns and cities along the border with Lebanon. (Qadesh, Mansouriyah, As’adiyah, and Radwaniyah in Homs Province)

Reports that Jordanian officials stole the IDs of 5000 Syrian refugees in the Zaatari refugee camp. Syrians who fled the camp say that Jordanian police are forcing Syrians to pay $200 to get their IDs back, and to be allowed to return to Syria.  Reports also say Syrians trying to flee the camp without paying the money were met with tear gas.

21 April 2013; The Syrian government says the overwhelming majority of Syrians are working to fight the U.S. trained insurgents.  Syrian government forces have captured military equipment made in the NATO member country of Turkey.

Israeli and British media reveals that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are attempting to convince Turkey to allow them to use a Turkish airbase, so that IDF aircraft can bomb Iran: “Until the recent crisis, Turkey was our biggest aircraft carrier. Using the Turkish airbases could make the difference between success and failure once a showdown with Iran gets underway.”-unnamed IDF source

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said the U.S. has no problem with Israel acting unilaterally against Iran:  “Israel will make the decisions that Israel must make…..”

John Kerry wrapped up his third trip to Turkey since becoming U.S. Secretary of State in February 2013 (I believe this is his second trip in April, one in March).  That’s a lot of trips to Turkey within three months. The main focus of every trip was trying to get Turkey to kiss and make up with Israel, for the purpose of building a more unified military front against Syria and Iran.

The Voice of America reported that the 11 country Friends of Syria axis will now direct all future aid to a General Salim Idris of the Free Syrian Army.  Yes that’s the same U.S. trained FSA the UN accuses of rape and murder.  John Kerry was ecstatic about the Friends of Syria decision:  “I think that maybe one of the most important single things that was agreed on last night that can make a difference to the situation of the ground.”

22 April 2013;  Turkish government officials denied reports from the British and Israeli media that Israel was planning on using a Turkish airbase to launch airstrikes against Iran.

The U.S. and Israel agreed on a $10 billion weapons deal.  When you realize that most of the money Israel gets comes from U.S. taxpayers, essentially Israel is getting the advanced weapon systems for almost free: “……the United States will make available to Israel a set of advanced new military capabilities….including anti-radiation missiles and advanced radars for fighter jets, KC135 refueling aircraft, and most significantly the V-22 Osprey…”-Chuck Hagel, U.S. Secretary of Defense

Syrian government forces launch offensive to retake the strategic town of al-Qusayr near the border with Lebanon.

In the province of Idlib, Syrian government forces destroyed a military supply convoy coming from Turkey.

U.S. trained insurgents bombed a military checkpoint in the town of al-Mleiha.  And in Damascus City, they fired mortar rounds which killed two girls, and wounded 13 other people, mostly children.

The European Union (EU) announced they will amend their oil and weapons ban against Syria, so that they can overtly provide weapons to U.S. trained insurgents, and they can buy petroleum from insurgents who control key pipelines.

Russian officials condemned the EU.

U.S. trained insurgents kidnapped two Orthodox Christian archbishops.

French media reporting that the Jordanian government will allow Israel to fly drone (UAV) airstrikes against Syria, through Jordanian airspace.

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Boston Bombings blowback for U.S. war in Syria! Explains unprecedented manhunt! Assad warned of ‘rebels turning on the West’!

20 April 2013 (12:14 UTC-07 Tango)/09 Jumada t-Tania 1434/31 Farvardin 1391/11 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

“The West has paid heavily for funding al Qaeda in its early stages. Today it is doing the same in Syria, Libya and other places, and will pay a heavy price in the heart of Europe and the United States.”-Bashar Hafez al-Assad, President of Syria

“Any attempt to make a link between Chechnya and the Tsarnaevs, if they are guilty, is pointless. They grew up in the U.S., their views and beliefs were formed there. The roots of evil must be searched for in America.”-Ramzan Kadyrov, President of Chechnya

The U.S. main streamer media might like to tout the Russia/Chechnya connection concerning the two suspects killed and wounded on Friday, but, what they don’t tell you is that the U.S. has been actively recruiting Chechens to go and fight in Syria!

At the beginning of 2012 it was revealed by Saudi Arabia that the U.S./European/Israeli/Saudi led insurgency in Syria included large numbers of Chechens from Russia: “Up to 6 thousand foreign volunteers are fighting on the side of the Syrian opposition, and among them are Chechens according to Saudi intelligence…….According to an AFP source in Riyadh, in these brigades, under the flag of Al-Qaeda, are citizens of Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and also Chechyna.”-Gazeta 

The U.S. backed insurgent group Jaish al-Muhajireen wa Ansar (aka Muhajireen Brigade), fighting in Syria, was formed by a Chechen known as Abu Omar al Chechen.

Also, the al Qaeda linked and U.S. backed Jabhat an-Nuṣrah li-Ahl ash-Shām (aka Al Nusrah Front) is made up of Chechens.  According to the Pakistan Christian Post, most of the dirty work in the major operations conducted by insurgents are being done by Chechens.  The article accuses Turkey, Georgia and the U.S. CIA of being behind the recruitment, training and deployment of Chechens in Syria!

Russian officials say they’ve known for awhile now that the U.S. is actively recruiting Chechens to fight an illegal war in Syria.

The mother of the two suspects (by the way they are U.S. citizens, born in Kyrgyzstan) says that ever since they moved to the United States, in 2002, the FBI had been hounding them: “They [FBI] used to come, they used to talk to me…they were controlling him, they were controlling his every step…and now they say that this is a terrorist act! Never ever is this true, my sons are innocent!”-Zubeidat Tsarnaeva

Of note, the father and mother of the two suspects ended up moving back to Russia, because of repeated harassment and even arrests on charges of damage to property.

This is starting to look like a classic case of federal officials trying to recruit American ‘Muslims’ to go fight a U.S. backed Jihad against the legitimate government of Syria, only instead of going to Syria these guys decided to turn their U.S. combat training against the United States.  Classic blowback!

This could explain the unprecedented manhunt, because the federales knew who they were dealing with because the evil federales are the ones who trained them!

Here’s a probable reason why this U.S. operation failed.  The family might be originally from Chechnya, but they claim they are not devout Muslims. It was only recently, after being approached by federales, that one of the  suspects suddenly became serious about it: “He was not devout. But just recently, maybe two years ago, he started praying about five times a day….”-Maret Tsarnaeva, suspects’ aunt

Their uncle, Ruslan Tsarni, told U.S. media that he stopped talking to them in 2009, because of their sudden infatuation with Islam.  Tsarni said that he was told they were being influenced by a ‘convert’ to Islam.  Classic FBI/CIA recruitment Modus Operandi!

A former Russian special forces veteran thinks the whole thing (Boston Bombings) was intentional, to distract from, and even justify crimes committed by the U.S. federales in other countries: “Putting a young Chechen in those shoes was top notch professionalism in distracting everyone from the true identity and motives of the planner. The executors were chosen to confuse the American public and simultaneously untie the White House’s hands in a way that would justify a departure from the rhetoric of non-involvement in military action on foreign territories.”-Aleksey Filatov, Russian ‘Alpha’ Special Forces team-veteran

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3, Economic Front: Credit Card companies shutting down mom & pops with outrageous fees!

17 April 2013 (10:20 UTC-07 Tango)/06 Jumada t-Tania 1434/28 Farvardin 1391/08 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

Recently I was told by a Spanish small business owner I know, that he had to stop taking credit card payments because of a huge increases in fees being charged to small businesses.

He said the outrageous fee hikes involve VISA, MasterCard and American Express.  Turns out that MasterCard is actually being investigated for violating the European Union’s anti-trust laws.

According to EU investigators, MasterCard has jacked up fees on purchases involving cardholders living outside the EU.  Here in the U.S. credit card companies already charge cardholders extra fees for making purchases outside the United States, so it seems they’re now charging business owners in Europe extra fees for international sales as well.

MasterCard officials blamed banks for issuing cards with higher fee rates, but then said “….MasterCard always aims to balance the interests of both consumers and retailers to ensure that each party pays its fair share of the costs…”

You mean those outrageous interest rates aren’t enough to cover your costs, MasterCard?   “Fair share” my ass!

MasterCard also said the higher fees were the only way the company could remain “viable”.

VISA is also being investigated.  VISA is the biggest credit card scammer, I mean credit card service provider in the EU.  It too has created outrageous ‘cross-border’ purchaser/seller fees.

What those dumb ass highly educated credit card corporate officials don’t realize is the net effect of continuing to create new fees, and jack up existing fees and interest rates, is that it will greatly reduce credit card use, which could render them inviable.