Tag Archives: germany

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 30 January – 01 February 2013. Big Asian bank gives Afghanistan more money! More U.S. led home invasions! Women kidnapping & killing children!

01 February 2013

The German government has announced that they will keep German/NATO  troops in Afghanistan for at least 13 more months.

In Takhar Province, a man entered the university and started shooting. He killed two cops before being wounded. At this point it seems the man was upset about not being let onto the university compound.

In Faryab Province, two members of a government funded paramilitary group joined the Mujahideen.

In Uruzgan Province, seven Afghan government security personnel joined the Mujahideen.

In Helmand Province, Mujahideen report that a Georgian/ISAF dismounted patrol stepped on a landmine, killing one and wounding two.

31 January 2013

In Nuristan Province, a school was set on fire.  Mujahideen say it was done by government forces and then blamed on Mujahideen.  In the past Mujahideen have always denied being involved with attacks on schools.  They pointed out that the latest school burning involved burning Qurans, which they would not do.

In Kunar Province, reports saying U.S./NATO troops shot and wounded three farmers as they were working in their fields.  Supposedly the U.S. led troops apologized.

In Kandahar Province, Mujahideen say they repelled a U.S./NATO heliborne operation.  They then witnessed two medivacs called in to take out the casualties in Spirwan area of Panjwaee district.

In Herat Province, an 11 years old child was kidnapped, and then killed.  The child belonged to a wealthy family in the area.  Two women have been arrested in connection to the crime.

In Nangarhar Province, a civil servant was assassinated by gunshot.

In Helmand Province, a NATO convoy was ambushed in Anzar Shali Karez area of Nawzad district.  A two hour firefight then ensued, casualties unknown.

The Asian Development Bank is granting the Afghan government $300 million USD, supposedly for use in building the country’s infrastructure.

30 January 2013

In Kandahar Province, Mujahideen said a U.S. led heliborne operation landed in a booby trap. It happened in Band Taimoor region of Maiwand district. Mujahideen say they detonated remote controlled bombs as the helicopters came in.  It took three more helicopters to medivac out the casualties.

In Kunduz Province, a U.S. led home invasion resulted in five people kidnapped.

In Ghazni Province, U.S. led home invasion forces kidnapped a local Imam.

In Nangarhar Province, reports of yet another U.S. led nighttime home invasion. Two people were killed and nine kidnapped.

In Faryab Province, one woman killed, 15 people wounded, after a motorcycle bomb went off in a market place.

In Khost Province, two children were killed when a bomb exploded near a shopping bazaar.  The bomb went off just as a police patrol went by.

A U.S. Army solider is being accused of being an unwitting propagandist for the Mujahideen. Last year he was trying to upload his helmet cam video to a private internet account, but it ended up on YouTube.  The two minute long video shows an U.S. soldier, seemingly separated from his unit, coming under fire, and calling for help after being shot.

In Paktika Province, an Afghan National Army commander, and two soldiers, joined the Mujahideen.  Also, reports that a U.S./NATO armored vehicle ran over a landmine, killing two and wounding three crewmen.

In Uruzgan Province, two Afghan government personnel joined the Mujahideen.  They then ambushed a patrol of Afghan government forces. Three killed, two wounded and one captured. One Mujahid killed.

The government of Denmark announced they will pull out their troops by the end of 2014.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Iran says it will continue supporting Syria, says Israel has made itself a target! Main U.S./Israeli supported rebel group going over to Russia & Iran?

On 02 February 2013, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, arrived in Damascus, Syria.  There he told the public that Iran will continue supporting Syria against whoever is behind the attempted destruction of al-Sham.

Also, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, said the recent Israeli air raids almost certainly guarantees action against the Zionist state: “Any violation of a country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity committed by the Zionist regime must be dealt with.”

Israeli media reporting that computers are being hacked into.  A group calling itself  the Syrian Electronic Army, claimed: “We have hacked into 50 central Israeli websites.”

A Syrian ambassador stated there could be a surprise retaliatory attack: “The Israelis, and the United States behind them, along with their Arab and regional accomplices, realize that Syria, which defends its sovereignty and territory, may decide to respond by surprise to this aggression.”-Ali Abdel Karim Ali, Syrian ambassador to Lebanon

And out of Germany comes a Rueters report, saying the main U.S./Israeli rebel group Syrian National Coalition (SNC) are in discussion in Munich, Germany, with Iranian officials: “The talks about Syria are intensifying and the Iranians have been drawn in. Let’s see how it all ends.”-unnamed German source

The Reuters report also said the SNC had already met with Russian officials, and they reported discussions that could lead to the end of the western backed insurgency.

According to an Israeli media source, the United States was also behind the recent air strikes on Syria. On 22 January President Obama was briefed of the attack by an Israeli AMAN commander.  Obama approved.  As well, the Russian’s were told by the Israeli ambassador in Moscow.  The Russians were opposed.

Also on 02 February 2013, U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden, told the media in Munich, Germany, that the official stance of the U.S. government towards Iran, is that Iran is not serious and the U.S. will not open diplomatic channels until they believe Iranian leaders are acting seriously.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Italian Supreme Court finds 26 evil ‘Mericans guilty of War Crimes!!!

On 01 February 2013, the Italian appeals Court ruled that three CIA employees are guilty of war crimes!  That brings the total to 26 U.S. citizens found guilty in Italian courts since 2009!

Italian prosecutors said all but one works for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.  They were tried in absentia, and found guilty of kidnapping an Egyptian in 2003 on the orders of U.S. President George W. Bush “Jr”.

U.S. officials claimed he was a terrorists, but after several years of being transferred to different prisons in Germany, Italy, then Egypt, and being tortured, he was let go in 2007.  An Egyptian court ruled there wasn’t any evidence to prove he was a terrorist.

The Italian court ruling means that if any of the U.S. citizens found guilty set foot in Europe they can be imprisoned.  Italian prosecutors say they will also consider extradition orders against the United States!

According to some reports, the Obama Administration refused to provide legal help for the CIA agents.

July 2012: BUSH, CHENEY, RUMSFELD, U.S. GENERALS, AND EVEN OBAMA FACING INVESTIGATION AND WAR CRIMES TRIALS BY INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURTS

International, U.S.

World War 3: Iran issues warning against Israel, Syria summons UN commander, Israel & United States massing troops along border with Syria!

“Parties that have always taken tough stances on Syria should now take serious measures and decisive positions on this invasion by Tel Aviv and place regional security high on their list of priorities.”-Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs

31 January 2013, a day after reports said Israel launched two air sorties against Syria, Iranian officials are warning that Israel will launch more attacks and other countries in the region should prepare to strike back.

Russia is also sounding a warning: “If this information is confirmed, then we are dealing with unprovoked strikes against targets located on the territory of a sovereign state, which brazenly infringes on the UN Charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motive used for its justification.”-Russian Foreign Ministry statement

In Lebanon a former city councilman is now charged with acting as a spy for Israel. He is accused of accepting at least $600,000 USD from Mossad, and is considered the highest paid spy to be captured.  Regarding Syria, Lebanese officials are condemning the Israeli attack against a Syrian weapons testing center, saying it’s part of a larger conspiracy: “….openly reveals ….the criminal thinking aimed at destroying Syria and …..pave the way for unfolding the chapters of a major conspiracy against …..our Arab and Muslim peoples.”

Syria has summoned the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) commander to Damascus. There Syrian officials delivered an official protest over the Israel air strike, saying it’s a violation of a 1974 disengagement accord between Israel and Syria.

U.S. media reports say Israel was targeting anti-aircraft missiles that the Zionists thought were being shipped to Lebanon.  U.S. government officials and analysts talk as if the Zionist regime is justified in launching attacks against other countries, simply because they are afraid of other countries being able to defend themselves.

Syrian officials still say there was no Israeli attack against any of their military convoys (that report came from U.S./Israeli backed insurgents), but they insist Israel bombed a weapons testing center.  So far Israel will only admit to launching “two air sorties”, but will give no further info.

Syrian TV media is showing what looks like Israeli troops massing on the border.  Also, Israeli media reported several days ago that U.S. and Jordanian troops were massing on the Syrian border.

According to IsraelNationalNews, the Hashimite ruled (British empire installed) Jordan is building up troops, along with British and U.S. forces, and is doing so in co-ordination with Israel!  IsraelNationalNews claims one of their sources as a “senior Jordanian security” official.

Iraqi reports stated that U.S. personnel leaving Iraq supposedly to return the U.S. actually went to Jordan: “Some of the U.S. forces that left Ain al-Assad airbase…did not go back to the U.S.A. or its base in Germany, but were transferred to Jordan…”-unnamed source

“At least one U.S. aircraft carrying military personnel landed at Prince Hassan airbase [in Jordan]….”-unnamed employee with Royal Jordanian Airlines

Since October 2012, there have been reports, mainly British, saying that the U.S. had already positioned at least 400 personnel along the Jordainan/Syrian border.  The official U.S. response was that it was for humanitarian reasons.

Also, U.S. made anti-aircraft Patriot missile batteries have finally been stationed along the Turkish/Syrian border.  At least two sets of Patriot missile batteries have been installed, and are now being manned by personnel from the Netherlands and Germany.

Just today, Stars and Stripes, reported at least 100 U.S. military vehicles heading to the Turkish/Syrian border.  They are rushing to set up more Patriot missile batteries.  The missile batteries are being operated by the U.S., German and Dutch militaries (NATO members, as is Turkey).  Their central control facility is located in Ramstein, Germany.  And get this, reports say two missile batteries require 400 personnel to operate, isn’t that how many U.S. troops were deployed to the Jordanian/Syrian border back in October (see above)?  Humanitarian reasons, yeah right!

 

U.S.

U.S. Civil War(?) & Government Evil: U.S. House member uses fallacious Apple to Oranges anti-gun argument, uses false numbers!

“In the United States, we had 9,000 people killed with guns last year, in similar countries like Germany 170 killed with guns, in Canada 150….”-Jerrold Nadler, Representative from New York

Germany has a population of 81,799,000, in a geographical area of 357,021 square km (137,847 square miles).

Canada has a population of 33,476,688 in an even larger area of 9,984,670 square km (3,854,085 square miles).

United States has a population of 311,591,917, in a geographical area slightly smaller than Canada!  The U.S. population is 9 times bigger than Canada, and 3.8 times bigger than Germany.

Now realize that Canada and Germany have much stricter gun control laws, and yet they suffer hundreds of gun related deaths every year.  This seems like proof that gun control doesn’t work.

Also, the numbers for Canada and Germany, used by Representative Nadler, are false!  According to the UN World Health Organization, in 2010 there were 1.1 gun related homicides, per 100,000 people in Germany.  That’s more than the 150 Representative Nadler claimed!

For some reason, official death by gun rates in Canada are hard to find, but one study said that in 2003 homicide by gun was about 0.5 per 100,000 people.   That’s still more than what Representative Nadler claims.

But if we’re going to compare country to country, let’s do!

Representative Nadler also avoided comparing the U.S. to South Africa, El Salvador and Thailand.  They actually have a far higher death by shooting rate than the U.S., and they have tougher gun control laws.

One Thai commentator hypocritically said the U.S. culture is to blame for gun crimes.   A 2002 study said Thailand had 20,032 homicides by gun in the year 2000!  In 2008 the homicide by gun rate was 5.9 victims for every 100,000 people.  It’s estimated that there are 10,000,000 guns in Thailand (a country smaller than California), but only 3,870,000 are legally registered.  So much for gun control!

The UN Office of Drugs and Crime reported 9.41 gun related deaths, per 100,000 people in South Africa, so far this year! Do the math, that’s more than the United States.  South Africa has stricter gun laws than the United States, those laws include registering your gun with the government.

El Salvador is the world leader in gun related deaths.  According to the Organization of American States, in 2011 there were 50.36 gun related deaths per 100,000 people in the tiny Central American country!  Do the math, that blows away anything in the United States.  “El Salvador has strict laws requiring a locally obtained license to possess or carry a firearm in the country.”-U.S. Department of State

According to the Organization of American States, in 2010 the United States had a total of 9 gun related deaths for every 100,000 people.  Of that 2.98 were homicides, 5.75 suicides and 0.27 accidental.  More gun control might mean less suicides!

Note: I don’t think these death by gun rates include people killed by police.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? More proof the Too Big to Fails are to blame; drug money, violating sanctions, tax evasion

13 December 2012, German officials announced they are investigating employees and executives of Deutsche Bank, for tax evasion and money laundering.   500 investigators descended upon the bank’s Frankfurt headquarters.  At least 25 employees are under investigation and five have already been arrested.  Some of the tax evasion claims involve the bogus carbon tax.

12 December 2012, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that the Japanese bank, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, will pay a fine of $8.6 million USD for violating U.S. sanctions against Myanmar, Sudan and Iran.

11 December 2012, HSBC was fined a record $1.9 billion for money laundering, sanctions violations and several people were arrested for the ongoing LIBOR scandal.   U.S. Department of Justice said the British bank laundered money for drug dealers and violated sanctions against Burma, Cuba and Libya.

It’s reported that other banks involved in the LIBOR scandal, such as The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Swiss bank UBS, are about to make a settlement.

The failed British bank, Northern Rock, cost taxpayers dearly: “This is £270m straight out of the taxpayers’ pocket. I’ve been repeatedly assured in parliament that there was no black hole in Northern Rock. U.K. Financial Investments and the Treasury didn’t know what they were talking about.”-Lord Oakeshott, Liberal Democrat

And let’s not forget the Queen of England’s own bank, Coutts (a division of RBS), which is also involved in money laundering for drug dealers.  Just think, the medical care being provided for Kate Middleton and her unborn baby is possibly being paid for with drug money (as well as taxpayer money) for all we know.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 02 – 05 November 2012. Mujahideen to officially take over after U.S./NATO leaves! Afghanistan takes over nighttime home invasions! Military pact with Germany approved. More U.S. airstrikes against civilians! Afghan officials disappear in the United States! Pakistan & India pleads with the U.S. to stay in Afghanistan!

05 November 2012

ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died as a result of a non-battle related injury in southern Afghanistan today.”

In Kabul Province, the body guards of a government official got into a firefight with Afghan National Police.  There is no official explanation, however a local police official says there might have been confusion as police were also battling bank robbers at the same time.

The Afghan Special Forces have officially taken over the dubious job of night time raids, from the U.S.: “We are conducting night time operations in a way where Afghan special forces are knocking the doors where suspected insurgents are hiding and call on the house residents to come out of the house and female Afghan special are taking in part in operations where required to inspect the women. The operations have become totally under the control of the Afghan  forces and there has been no civilians casualties so far.”-General Syed Abdul Karim, Afghan Special Forces

In Farah Province, Afghan Special Forces claim to have killed seven Mujahideen, and captured 30.  Mujahideen claim two local police/militia members joined the Mujahideen.

In Helmand Province, a local policeman joined the Mujahideen.

President Hamid Karzai is meeting with his Indian counterpart, on the prowl for more money for Afghan military and mining industries.  India is already one of the biggest international donors to Afghanistan, having already donated $2.3 billion USD.  China has already stated that they will help fund and train the Afghan military after the U.S./NATO leaves in 2014.

In Ghazni Province, local officials say local Mujahideen fought Pakistani Mujahideen. Four people were killed.  Local government officials say the fight was the result of arguments.

In Parwan Province, a fueler on its way to Bagram airbase blew up.  No indication that it was the result of an attack.

In Wardak Province, local government officials claim that another U.S. airstrike has killed five civilians.

In Kandahar Province, Afghan intelligence (National Directorate of Security) arrested the boss of a local religious reform council. They claim he was about to join the Mujahideen.  However, a local provincial official said the whole thing was a misunderstanding and they are working to get the religious leader released.

04 November 2012

The Afghan Senate approved a long term strategic pact with Germany.  Germany will give Afghanistan $193 million, every year, to support police and military forces after U.S./NATO leaves in 2014.

In Daykundi Province, two local cops surrendered to Mujahideen.  (Mujahideen have also been making the names of those who surrender, or join them, public)

In Badghis Province, two cops joined the Mujahideen.

In Helmand Province, Mujahideen say U.S./NATO personnel abandoned their outpost near Haji Abdul Ali Aka village.  Mujahideen also claim they attacked an ISAF contingent from the country of Georgia. They claim to have destroyed four armored vehicles, killed eight Georgians and wounded four others.

In Herat Province, Mujahideen claim an Italian/NATO tank ran over a land mine, wounded all four crewman.

Italian Prime Minister, Mario Monti, made a surprise visit to Afghanistan. He assured Afghan leaders that Italy will continue to support them even after the 2014 U.S./NATO pullout date.

Afghan intelligence (National Directorate of Security) officials say they are launching an investigation as to what happened to two Afghan NDS agents who disappeared while in the United States: “Based on the report two senior Afghan intelligence officials have disappeared in U.S. They are junior officials and are not among the decision makers.”-Shahfiqullah Tahiri, NDS

According to U.S. media, the two Afghan agents were supposed to meet up with U.S. official in Washington DC, but never showed up.  They were supposedly going to take part in an elite executive training program called the George C. Marshall Center Advanced Security Studies program.

03 November 2012

On the Baghlan-Kunduz highway, a convoy of U.S./NATO armored vehicles struck a car, injuring at least four people (one reported in critical condition).

In Laghman Province, a Muslim cleric was assassinated when he was hit with machine gun fire.  Recently, President Karzai said such attacks are not being carried out by Muslims.

In Ghor Province, local government officials confirmed that two policemen left their posts and joined the Mujahideen.

In Farah Province, a U.S./NATO/Afghan National Army convoy was ambushed.  Mujahideen claim they captured two cars and a Toyota truck.

In Kandahar Province, a local security boss was assassinated by explosion, and several cops were wounded.  They were conducting security checkpoint inspections.

In Zabul Province, a local cop joined the Mujahideen.

United Kingdom’s Foreign Minister, William Hague, claims proper steps have been taken to reduce Green on Blue attacks.  They include cultural awareness education for Red Coat British forces, and increased surveillance of Afghan government forces.

Pakistan’s former ambassador to United States, Hussain Haqqani, said: “Instead of signalling eagerness to exit Afghanistan, Washington should be demonstrating that the United States is willing to stay for as long as necessary.”

Haqqani says if the U.S./NATO leaves then surely there will be another 9/11 attack.

02 November 2012

In Helmand Province, at least four Afghan National Police cops were killed by fellow cops. Mujahideen claim five cops were killed, and they were killed by six cops who then joined the Mujahideen.

In Saripul Province, four local cops join the Mujahideen.

In Balkh Province, reports say four Norwegian/NATO troops were wounded after they drove over a landmine.

Former Indian Foreign Secretary, Krishnan Srinivasan, begged the U.S. to stay in Afghanistan because “The Taliban are likely to return to power fairly quickly and easily.”

Isn’t amazing how many countries are afraid of a group that was once considered backward and weak?

According to the Afghan Water and Energy Ministry, an official Mujahideen group is being formed to take over military operations in Herat Province.  It will consist of “thousands” of local Mujahideen, and replace U.S./NATO personnel when they leave (the very same Mujahideen that the U.S./NATO forces are fighting!): “We will support our National Police and National Army service members and the Mujahideen fighters will be ready to assist the Afghan security forces if any security issue threatens Afghanistan.”-Mohammad Ismail Khan, Chief of the Mujahideen Council, and Afghan Water and Energy Minister

The Asian Development Bank says Afghanistan’s explosive economic growth will slow down, to only 6.5% in 2013!  Remember when the U.S. used to have that kind of economic growth?

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Economic powerhouse Germany sees surprise drop in factory orders, recession certain!

“…a catastrophe and very bad news….We have a huge problem in the rest of the euro area that now seems to be reaching Germany and its labor market. For the coming quarters, the economic outlook is quite gloomy.”-Thomas Harjes, economist at Barclays

On 06 November 2012, Deutsche Bundesbank revealed that there is no let up in the dropping factory orders for German companies.  September had a 4.7% drop, October saw a 4.6% drop, from the year before.

From October to September (month to month) there was a 3.3% drop, which was much more than analysts had expected.

Factory orders from European Union (EU) customers (Euro-area orders) make up the biggest part of the drop, followed by orders outside the EU (export orders): “The weak economic environment in the euro area and in the broader global economy is having a bigger impact on demand for German industrial goods. Therefore industrial production may weaken further in the months to come.”-Statement from Germany’s Economy Ministry

Germany is considered the economic powerhouse of the European Union.  Almost a month ago the President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, Jens Weidmann, said: “The German economy continues to be in robust shape….”

Now one analyst says Germany “…is unlikely to be spared from a technical recession.”-Annalisa Piazza, New Edge

Christian Ott, an investment bank economist said: “…the [German] resilience has come to an end…”

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 26 – 29 October 2012. Mujahideen continue steady attacks across the country! ISAF says they will not protect Afghan borders! Bin Laden & Taliban supporters to mediate peace talks! U.S. agents detain Pakistani official in Canada!

29 October 2012

In Wardak Province, Mujahideen ambushed U.S. and Afghan National Army troops.  The U.S. and ANA personnel were conducting assessments of local police checkpoints.  They were attacked with assault rifles and RPGs.  U.S. officials claim they killed three Mujahideen.

In Helmand Province, at least two ANA soldiers were killed (some reports say four) when the vehicle they were in ran over a landmine.

Despite the fact that U.S. officials continue to claim we are there to provide security to Afghanistan, ISAF officials said they are not there to protect Afghanistan’s borders: “In the first Bonn conference in December 2001 there was a proposal of the Afghan delegation to include the protection of the border of Afghanistan in one of the annexes. Actually this annex was part of the Bonn proposal however, this annex never made it into our mandate that we received from the United Nations.”-Brigadier General Günter Katz, International Security Assistance Force

The Afghan High Peace Council revealed that Saudi Arabia will mediate peace talks between Mujahideen and the Afghan government.  It must be remembered that it was Saudi Arabia that supported Osama bin Laden and, along with Pakistan, eventually supported the creation of the Taliban (“Students”) political party.  Saudi Arabia also officially recognized the Taliban government.  Analysts say this time the Saudi’s are concerned about blowback: “Saudi Arabia is in a situation to support the Afghan peace talks not only because of the moral stance of Saudi in this regard but also they should consider the post 2014 situation in Afghanistan which will threaten the national security of Saudi Arabia if necessary steps have not been taken to eliminate insurgency in South Asia.”-Nasrullah Stanekzai

Saudi Arabia is also spending $100 million USD to build a huge Mosque/madrasa in Afghanistan.  They claim it will house 5,000 university aged students.

In Ghazni Province, five people were killed and four detained by U.S./ANA forces.  Officials claim they were all Mujahideen, but locals say at least one civilian man and one civilian woman were killed.  Officials say the U.S./ANA operation started Sunday night and continued until Monday morning.

Afghan elected official, Ramazan Bashar Doost, said that while the U.S. is offering a $25 million reward for the arrest of Mullah Omar, the U.S. has been in contact with Mulla Omar the whole time!   Doost also says the U.S. is actually funding not only Pakistan’s ISI, but Afghan Mujahideen groups as well.

28 October 2012

In Canada, Pakistani elected official, Imran Khan, was detained by U.S. agents: “I was taken off from plane and interrogated by U.S. Immigration in Canada on my views on drones. My stance is known. Drone attacks must stop!”-Imran Khan

Imran Khan is also the Pakistani official who said war in Afghanistan was justified Jihad.  Khan was on his way to New York anyway, so why couldn’t the U.S. wait until he arrived there?

Afghan intelligence, aka National Directorate of Security (NDS), told Pakistani officials that the man they claim is behind the shooting of a teenaged Pakistani girl is not in Afghanistan.

27 October 2012

In Ghor Province, local government officials say 13 people were kidnapped.  However, police say they do not know who did the kidnapping, and they don’t know the identities of those kidnapped!

The British Red Coat Ministry of Defence said the deaths of one Royal Marine and one Royal Army medic was not the result of fratricide (Blue on Blue).  However, the two Red Coats died (as well as a Afghan National Policeman performing Muslim prayers) after two British patrols fired on each other.  The MoD stated: “…the deaths of Corporal O’Connor and Corporal Day were caused by a third party or parties whose identities have yet to be established but who are not U.K. personnel.”

An investigative reporter says Green on Blue attacks are not caused by insurgents, but by the way U.S./NATO personnel treat Afghans: “These attacks are motivated by grudges, by people who are unhappy with the people they are coming in contact with in the U.S. and NATO military forces, but also by the broader context of what they hear and see these forces are doing in Afghanistan specifically for example breaking into people’s homes and taking away the males in these homes and detaining them.”-Gareth Porter

26 October 2012

In Ghazni Province, the bodies of six people were found on the Kabul-Kandahar highway. They had been shot. Police believe the victims were traveling to see relatives for the Eid holiday.

The Wall Street Journal said Afghan sources claim Iran has infiltrated Afghanistan through charity organizations.  Sources claim Iran can now muster up to 20,000 Afghans at one time for militant activities, making Iran a greater threat than Pakistan.

In Farah Province, an NDS agent was attacked by Mujahideen. Several people were wounded and the a gunman was arrested. No info on what happened to the  NDS agent.

ISAF said:  “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in western Afghanistan today.”

In Faryab Province, a suicide bombing killed at least 40 people, and wounded 50.  It appears the Provincial governor and local police chief were the targets. It happened at a Mosque.  President Hamid Karzai said the attacks made against Muslims while they are praying in Mosques are not being made by Muslims, suggesting the attacks are really being instigated by non-Muslims (like non-Muslims from the United States or Europe).

Recently the grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia declared that suicide attacks by Muslims against Muslims was unforgivable.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Germany says economy worse than they thought! Greece tells IMF they can not make anymore compromises! IMF pushes for U.S. consolidation, code for even more drastic deleveraging! Oil prices to crash!

“We are talking about the things that still need to be solved and here it became clear that the global economy’s risks are very evident, as is clearly stated in the communiqué. The economic growth outlooks are not as good as we would hope.”-Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany

The German leader made the statement on 30 October 2012, after reading a report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Trade Organization, International Labour Organization, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The IMF boss, Christine Lagarde, admitted that economic growth will be pathetic: “I would characterize the situation as that of a laborious recovery out of the financial crisis through some degree of stabilization by way of tepid growth.” 

The IMF also pushed developed economies to further consolidate their fiscal policies. This is another way of saying government deleveraging (typically in the form of austerity) should be increased.

(deleveraging began for individuals and small businesses with the 2008 Credit Crisis/Crunch. It’s one of the causes behind all the Sears & Kmart store closings in the U.S.)

The IMF is specifically targeting the United States, saying the U.S. needs a credible fiscal consolidation plan, implemented “at an appropriate pace” in order to stabilize a “fragile” world economy.

Just two days ago, the IMF, along with European lenders, told Greece that they could not provide anymore financing unless more drastic changes were made, such as drastic changes in Greece’s labor/wage laws.  The Greek coalition government is showing signs that it would rather default than make anymore compromises.

The paradox is that while world economic organizations want increased deleveraging of individuals, small businesses and governments, they also want employment to somehow increase and people to somehow spend more money buying stuff they don’t need (domestic consumption)!

And it’s not just developed countries being told to axe their government spending, even oil rich Arab countries are being told to do the same: “A rapid deterioration in the global economy could bring about developments similar to what the region experienced in 2009, including a sharp fall in oil prices and disruptions to capital flows.”-IMF

The IMF explained that as the world economy worsens, demand for oil is going to drop to such lows that the the six Gulf Cooperation Council economies of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain could experience an economic crash.

The IMF projects that the price of oil could drop by $30 USD per barrel in 2013, and continue dropping!  This might sound like good news, but it’s because people won’t have the money to buy it at any price!