Tag Archives: europe

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 16 July – 22 July. Afghan cops launch vengence attack on U.S. led forces! World Bank gives Afghanistan $125 million! Mystery massive rocket attack on Afghanistan! NATO admits they can’t bribe the Mujahideen!

22 July 2012

Reports saying three U.S. led occupation forces killed by Afghan cops in Herat Province.  International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed at least three contractors (being called mercenaries by regional media sources) working on a military training base were killed.  The incident happened after U.S. led occupation forces arrested a local Shindand district police officer and two other people.  Local officials say the arrests were arbitrary.  Local officials claim the U.S. is still launching night raids, and arresting people leaving no information on what happens to the people after they’re arrested.   The people of Shindand district are planing a massive public protest!

ISAF also reporting more U.S. troop deaths in a separate incident: “Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following an improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”

The number of deaths of U.S. led occupation forces, since January 2012, is now at 251.

ISAF also reported an Afghan army helicopter crashed in Nuristan Province. One person injured.

In Maidan Wardak Province, Mujahideen killed five private security guards.

An interpreter for U.S. led NATO occupation forces has caused the deaths of two teenaged girls.  He convinced them to run away with him to Kandahar.  When they returned home their father killed them for dishonoring the family.  The father has been arrested, and an arrest warrant has been issued for the NATO interpreter.

The U.S. based World Bank’s (World Bank HQ is in Washington DC) International Development Association announced they are giving Afghanistan $125 million USD for road development projects (called Afghanistan Rural Access Project).  That’s right they’re giving the money away, it’s not a loan!

Another $207 million USD, for the Afghanistan Rural Access Project, is coming from the World Bank’s Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund!

21 July 2012

ISAF reporting that one U.S. led occupying troop was shot dead in eastern Afghanistan.

In Nimroz Province, firefights between Mujahideen and Afghan government troops left at least nine people dead.  Local officials say two cops were killed and one intelligence agent was killed. Two other cops were wounded. Six Mujahideen were killed and four wounded.

In Herat Province, Mujahideen attacked Afghan cops.  Three cops killed and two Mujahideen killed.

Also, in another part of Herat Province,  a rocket attack on a town left one child dead, and wounded at least six others.  The children were gathering metal for scrap when the attack took place.  No word on who launched the attack.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan claims Pakistan launched a massive rocket attack on Kunar Province.  Afghan officials claim hundreds of rockets were fired from Pakistan in the past few days.  At least four people were killed on Saturday, 21 July. German media reporting that 300 rockets were fired on two locations within Kunar on Saturday alone.  Pakistan swears they are not the ones firing the rockets.

ISAF claims to have arrested an explosives expert in Khost Province.

In Nangahar Province, four people killed, two wounded, after they drove over a mine.

20 July 2012

ISAF claims to have killed a “leader” in Khost Province, using a NATO airstrike.

In Uruzgan Province, five cops, including the local police chief, were killed when they drove over a mine.

Australia revealed that their Australia Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) is active in Afghanistan, and that it will operate alongside their military in any other future Aussie Digger deployments to other countries.

19 July 2012

In Herat Province, local government officials claim they captured six people planning to launch suicide bomber attacks.

ISAF reports two occupation troops killed, one in eastern Afghanistan, the other in southern Afghanistan.

In Kapisa Province, a U.S. led construction dam site was attacked by Mujahideen. Three people killed, two wounded.  Also, a NATO supply convoy was attacked.

In Faryab Province, as many as 15 civilians were killed after the bus they were in drove over a mine.

18 July 2012

“An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”-ISAF

“A second International Security Assistance Force service member died of wounds following an improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”-ISAF

In Samangan Province, local government officials report that 22 NATO supply trucks were destroyed by a Mujahideen attack. 18 of the 22 trucks were fuelers.  Two drivers wounded.

“Two International Security Assistance Force service members were injured following a helicopter crash in western Afghanistan today.”-ISAF

17 July 2012

“An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan today.”-ISAF

A British officer with NATO has admitted that efforts to bribe Mujahideen have failed: “Has it made a dent in terms of a nationwide perspective? Probably not. Is it having an effect across the whole of Afghanistan in what I would think of in military and strategic terms? No.”-Major General David Hook, Force Reintegration Cell (military term for the bribery operation)

The Force Reintegration Cell (started at the end of 2010) basically bribes Mujahideen to stop fighting.  They’re offered $360 USD every three months, which is a hella lot o’money in Afghanistan!  Apparently the Mujahideen have higher standards!

16 July 2012

“Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan today.”-ISAF

In Laghman Province, local government officials claim they’ve cleared two districts of Mujahideen.

In Kunduz Province, a bomb attack on a local police convoy killed one person and wounded eight.

In Nuristan Province, major battle between Mujahideen and Afghan government forces. One afghan cop was killed, two wounded. No word on Mujahideen casualties.  Witnesses say both sides of the battle were trying to ambush each other.

In Helmand Province, a motorcycle bomb went off, killing one Afghan cop, and wounding eight people including civilians.  The bomb went off after evening Muslim prayers.  Local officials believe the target were the police taking part in the prayers.

ISAF claims to have killed a “leader” in Maidan Wardak Province.

Evil British Empire has returned 600 archaeological items to the National Museum of Afghanistan.  What is interesting is that the items were stolen in the 1990s, and yet somehow ended up in the United Kingdom.  But this is not the first time the British returned stolen goods.  In 2009 as many as 2,000 historical items were returned to Afghanistan!

Also, since 2007  the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has helped to return 9,000 stolen Afghan artifacts!

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Breaking news, Hezbollah Secretary General says Iran & Lebanon ready for war with U.S.! Iran offers Lebanon’s National Army latest weapons! Orders religious tolerance in Lebanon!

“We are ready to sacrifice our lives for our country!”-Hasan Nasrallah

18 July 2012, Hasan Nasrallah says the United States and Europe have given up on using sanctions, and it is clear the U.S./Israeli supported civil war in Syria is failing, so total war by the West is inevitable.

Says Lebanon will not fall into another civil war instigated by the West, such as what happened in Libya, and what the West is trying to do in Syria.  Says Lebanon is united, Hezbollah has made alliances with other political groups within Lebanon.

Nasrallah calling on Palestinians, and other Arab peoples, to come together and prepare for final war.  Warning Arabs to not allow western supported regimes to regain power, if that happens the Palestinian people “…will be lost forever!”

He also announced that Iran is ready to offer lines of credit to the Lebanese Army.

Announced policy of religious tolerance in Lebanon.  Shi’a Muslims of Lebanon ordered to respect other religions!

Says Muslims have been divided for decades because of Western propaganda, calling for all Muslims, regardless of ethnicity, to unite.

Hezbollah accepts responsibility for all repercussions against Lebanon, for any actions blamed on Hezbollah, whether those accusations are real or made up by the United States or Israel!

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? IMF declares European economy in “Critical” condition, calls for Trilateral Commission style single banking system!

“Despite major policy actions, financial markets in parts of the region remain under acute stress, raising questions about the viability of the monetary union itself.”-IMF statement

18 July 2012, the International Monetary Fund has declared the European Union (EU) economy as “critical”.

The IMF is also pushing for the creation of a single banking union for the EU.  Germany is so far opposed to such an idea.

IMF officials say one of the reasons for the critical economic situation in the EU, is that people are pulling their money out of banks.  Example: Some wealthy Greeks pulled their money out of Greek banks and put it into banks of other European countries that were more financially sound.  By creating a single EU banking system it would prevent that.

Despite being “critical” the economy of the EU is still bigger than that of the United States, and directly affects U.S. business, which is why so many U.S. investors are glued to news from Europe.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Russia about to pay off debts to Iran, announces financing deal to help Iran avoid U.S. & EU sanctions!

“The problem of the Iranian LCs [Letters of Credit] created by the U.S. and western states’ sanctions against the banking system (of Iran) can be solved by using the banks operating in the Russian regions.”-Alexander Vitalivic, Russian Head of the Iran-Russia Regional Cooperation Workgroup

17 July 2012, Russian officials announced, at the Iran-Russia Regional Cooperation Workgroup meeting, that Russia is willing and able to help Iran avoid any bad economic effects from U.S. and European Union sanctions!

“The presence of small and medium size banks and financial institutions of the (Russian) regions (on the scene of transactions with Iran) will be useful for motivating an increase in exchanges and preventing decrease in exports.”-Alexander Vitalivic

Also, Russian Head of Iran-Russia Joint Trade Council, Yuri Papoyev, announced that Central Bank of Russia (CBR) is ready to make due payments to Iranian parties: “After meetings with the Russian Central Bank officials, they agreed to make due payments and open LCs [Letters of Credit] for Iran in the least time possible.”

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

LIBOR: Barclays says order to rig rates came from Bank of England. Governments calling the shots!

“…unprecedented degree of government intervention in the financial system…..not the first time LIBOR had come up….It didn’t seem an inappropriate action given that it was coming from the Bank of England.”-Jerry del Missier, statements made to U.K. Parliament

16 July 2012, former chief operating officer of Barclays, Jerry del Missier, told a parliamentary committee that the ‘order’ to manipulate interest and currency rates came directly from the Bank of England!

The Bank of England (BoE) is the central bank of the United Kingdom, similar to the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank.  Missier referred to the “lowballing” order from central banks as “…a time when governments were tangibly calling the shots“.

Missier, from Canada, quit his job at Barclays just hours after chief executive, Bob Diamond, resigned.

The LIBOR scandal now involves dozens of Too Big to Fail banks around the western world, and Japan’s TIBOR and European Union’s EURIBOR. The scandal involves banks in North America, Europe and Japan (the regional members of the Trilateral Commission).

And don’t blame Obama, this started under the Bush Jr administration!

Check my blog for other LIBOR reports.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: UAE completes massive pipeline around Strait of Hormuz

15 July 2012, the Arab Peninsula principalities, known as United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced the operation of a pipeline avoiding the Strait of Hormuz (which could be shut down).

The 400 kilometer (248.5 mile) long Abu Dhabi Crude Oil pipeline connects the Habshan oil fields on the Persian Gulf side of the Strait of Hormuz, with the port city of Fujairah, which is on the Indian Ocean side of the Strait.

The pipeline can flow up to 1.8 million barrels of oil daily, about 70% of UAE’s production.

Japanese officials are happy, because the UAE is Japan’s second biggest source of petroleum.  Saudi Arabia is number one, Iran number three.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

LIBOR: Geitner & Paulson knew of rate fixing! British banks confirm. More proof the Too Big to Fails destroyed the economy, and regulating officials went along with it!

“As much as $800 trillion in financial products are pegged to LIBOR, so any manipulation of this rate is of serious concern!”-U.S. Representative Randy Neugebauer, House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

14 July 2012, current United States Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Franz Geithner, knew of illegal interest and currency manipulation by LIBOR while he was chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (a privately run bank).

According to recent reports, in 2008 a Barclays employee told Geitner “…we know that we’re not posting um, an honest…” rate. The unnamed employee then went on to explain that Barclays just wanted to “…fit in with the rest of the crowd.”

An interesting statement since Barclays is actually an international banking leader!

“I wish I could say I’m shocked, because it is shocking. But regulators have not been particularly effective or aggressive in the past two decades of finance.”-Frank Partnoy, University of San Diego School of Law

The latest reports say officials with the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank knew of such rate fixing back in 2007: “In the context of our market monitoring following the onset of the financial crisis in late 2007, involving thousands of calls and e-mails with market participants over a period of many months, we received occasional anecdotal reports from Barclays of problems with LIBOR.”-New York Federal Reserve Bank statement

In April 2008, a Barclays employee told the New York Federal Reserve: “…where I would be able to borrow without question it would be higher than the rate that I’m actually putting in.”

Geitner notified government officials, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury (then run by Hank Merritt “Hank” Paulson Jr under President George Bush Jr). Seemingly no one was concerned, because nothing was done to stop it.

On 13 July 2012, the Bank of England (BoE) admitted to getting a letter from Geitner, back in June 2008. The letter kindly asks the British controlled LIBOR to “…eliminate incentive to misreport.”

BoE responded simply by saying Geitner’s request “seem sensible”.

Since last year, the number of Too Big to Fail banks being investigated has grown to several dozen! The scandal involves banks in North America, Europe and Japan (the regional members of the Trilateral Commission).

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

LIBOR: Too Big to Fail interest rate fixing investigation focusing on Japan’s TIBOR. EU officials been investigating quitely since last year! Bigger than first told, ever hear of EURIBOR? More proof the bad economy is the fault of the Too Big to Fails!

 “The story is quite shocking and brings us back to the banking industry’s most irresponsible behavior of the past!”– Joaquin Almunia, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Commissioner responsible for competition

14 July 2012, a top European Union official has admitted that the recent LIBOR scandal involving top British & U.S. banks, also involves top Japaneses and European banks, and government officials knew about it.

LIBOR, or London Interbank Offered Rate, is an interest rate charged to other banks, and is done on behalf of the British Bankers’ Association in London, England, U.K.

As of 2008 there were 60 international banks, including U.S. banks, beholden to the LIBOR.

Japan has their own version called TIBOR (Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate). The European Union has their version called EURIBOR (Euro Interbank Offered Rate).

EURIBOR is based in Belgium and involves at least 43 international banks.

EU Vice President, Joaquin Almunia, says his investigation into international interest rate fixing, as well as currency value fixing, began last year. It’s starting to look like the Too Big to Fails formed illegal cartels to favor a few and screw over the rest of us: “The alleged rate rigging is a major competition concern. This is why we started investigating a number of banks last year for their possible concerted manipulation of (interest rate) benchmarks such as LIBOR, EURIBOR and TIBOR, the Tokyo rate, for several currencies. The investigations have top priority because this sort of collusion can seriously harm competition worldwide and on our continent, in particular.”

In Japan the TIBOR scandal is making waves.  On 06 July 2012, it was revealed that in June the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) pulled out of TIBOR.  RBS is one of the banks under investigation.

UBS and Citigroup also withdrew from TIBOR earlier this year. They are also suspects.  As of 06 July there were three non-Japanese banks still involved with TIBOR; JP Morgan, BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank.

On 13 July, it was reported in the Japanese news media that the Japanese Bankers Association began investigating how interest rates and currency manipulations are arrived at by TIBOR.

It was also revealed that Japan’s Financial Services Agency fined Citigroup and UBS for such manipulations, last year!  Japanese officials are saying that there’s no proof (so far) that Japanese banks were directly involved in illegal activities.

However, a top Japanese bank has put their London, U.K., employees on notice.  Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ has essentially put its two currency traders in London under house arrest!  The reason is that they are suspected of involvement in the British based LIBOR scandal.

Since last year, the number of Too Big to Fail banks being investigated has grown to several dozen! The scandal involves banks in North America, Europe and Japan (the regional members of the Trilateral Commission).

Check my blog for other LIBOR reports.