Tag Archives: iran

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 14 – 17 March 2013. The U.S. just keeps breaking promises! More proof the U.S. is not leaving! Spain getting out!

17 March 2013/05 Jumada l-Ula 1434/27 Esfand 1391/06 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

In Badakhshan Province, a major battle between Mujahideen, Afghan National Army (ANA) and Police (ANP).  Mujahideen claim they killed 20 ANA and ANP personnel, and wounded at least 10.  The ANA and ANP launched an offensive in Wardaj district.  Mujahideen say the fighting lasted all day, but they were able to almost surround the U.S. backed government forces and forced them to retreat. Mujahideen also destroyed three armored vehicles and captured 30 weapons.  Only three Mujahideen were killed.

In Kandahar Province, a U.S./NATO led patrol entered Zangawat region’s Gerandi area, in Panjwaee district, in order to retrieve two bodies of personnel that had been killed earlier.  Mujahideen ambushed them and a 30 minute long firefight took place. The U.S./NATO led forces eventually left, and two Mujahideen were killed.

Reports that Afghan and U.S./NATO officials are working on a deal to withdraw U.S. SOF personnel out of Maidan Wardak Province.  It’s long past the deadline ordered by President Karzai for the SOF troops to get out. Civilians of the province say the U.S. troops are harassing, torturing and killing innocent people.

In Helmand Province, reports that an unarmed Mujahid attacked and then killed two Arbakis (contracted security/mercenaries).  He did so by using their own weapons on them.  He then took off with their weapons, ammo and a motorcycle.  Also, in Marjah district, in the Tarkha Nawar area, reports of sporadic ongoing battles ever since U.S./NATO led forces were brought in by helicopters the day before.

In another controversy involving the U.S., the Bagram Prison (aka Parwan Detention Facility) has yet to be turned over to Afghan officials as promised. The National Ulema Council said if the U.S. does not get out of the prison then all U.S. forces will be considered enemy occupiers by the Council and military action will be taken.  President Karzai says he’s agreed with U.S. officials to give yet another week to hand over the prison (boy, the U.S. must have committed a lot of crimes against humanity in there if it’s taking them this long to cover up their evil).

And President Karzai has told British media that the Obama administration has become desperate to work a new security deal.  Karzai says under the new deal the U.S. will not leave Afghanistan. For some reason Obama is pushing hard for it, but Karzai says time is on his side now: “The Americans are in a hurry to sign it in three months. We are not in a hurry. We are careful.”

16 March 2013/04 Jumada l-Ula 1434/26 Esfand 1391/05 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

In Kandahar Province, a U.S./NATO helicopter crashed.  One crewman was killed.  As usual ISAF says there was no enemy activity in the area and they’re investigating the cause.

In Paktika Province, villagers in Tarwa district say Afghan government forces raided their homes.  One villager was killed and two were kidnapped.

In Helmand Province, a U.S./NATO drone crashed in Marjah district. After that a U.S./NATO heliborne operation began, battles are reportedly still ongoing.

In Uruzgan Province, a local police commander joined the Mujahideen in Char Chino district.

In Herat Province, Spanish officials announced they are getting their troops out early.  Already they’ve closed two bases and are working on closing a third.  They hope to have all their troops out by 2014.

15 March 2013/03 Jumada l-Ula 1434/25 Esfand 1391/04 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

In Kunar Province, Mujahideen claim to have attacked a FOB (forward operating base) in Watapur district.  They say they killed one U.S. troop and wounded two ANA troops.

In Ghazni Province, Mujahideen report more battles with U.S. and ANA forces in Shulgar district.  They claim four U.S. personnel killed and four ANA personnel killed, dozens wounded.

In Logar Province, Mujahideen got four fuelers for the price of one. They say they remote detonated a bomb as one fuel tanker was passing, the resulting fire ball engulfed three other fuelers destroying them as well.

The World Bank announced yet more money for Afghanistan: “The World Bank Group is strongly committed to helping the Afghan people end poverty and build shared prosperity in the years ahead…..We will support programs in areas that the Afghan government has identified as crucial to meeting its development goals, including education, health, irrigation, energy, infrastructure and rural development. We are also focused on improving the government’s capacity to deliver services to its citizens, and on fostering a business climate that unleashes the job-creating potential of the private sector.”-Jim Yong Kim, President of World Bank

14 March 2013/02 Jumada l-Ula 1434/24 Esfand 1391/3 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

In Ghazni or Laghman Province, Mujahideen report they ambushed a U.S./ANA patrol. The report is confusing because it mentions two different provinces. Anyway, Mujahideen say the U.S. forces called in airstrikes afterwards.

In Nangarhar Province, three tribes joined the Mujahideen in Khogiyani district.  They promised 250 of their men to help fight the occupation.

And the official number of U.S. personnel expected to remain after the supposed 2014 pullout is slowly creeping up.  Now the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, James Cunningham, is asking to keep at least 13600 personnel incountry after 2014.  Other U.S. officials stressed that it was just a starting number: “You have to start at 13600. That is the least risk with least amount of people. That allows us to be in the four corners of Afghanistan and continuing to train the Afghan military.”-Duncan Hunter, U.S. Representative from California

International, U.S.

World War 3: UN Security Council approves continued U.S. led occupation of Afghanistan!

20 March 2013/08 Jumada l-Ula 1434/30 Esfand 1391/09 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The United Nations has unanimously approved the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for at least one more year.  That would mean the UNAMA mission would end in March 2014.

 

Influenza

Influenza update, 17 March 2013: Ellen Degeneres down! H1N1 spreading! More studies reveal vaccines do not work, and can paralyze you! 12000 dead pigs found in river! A study suggest that breathing spreads flu faster than sneezing!

Reports that Ellen Degeneres canceled a weeks worth of TV shows, and her trip to Australia, because she’s sick: “People of Australia! I’m down, but I’m not out. I’ll be in Sydney next weekend, and Melbourne after that. More details soon!”

Speaking of Australia, a new bird flu is popping up, as the flu season is starting early Down Under. Ducks and chickens in Western Australia were confirmed to have a H5 type flu.  At least 95 poultry were euthanized. Health officials say from January to February 2013, more than 700 human cases of flu were reported. That’s significantly higher than usual, and much earlier than usual.

Researchers from multiple U.S. schools of medicine and public health say simple breathing can spread flu faster than sneezing. They analyzed droplets from infected people’s relaxed breath and found that it contained far more amount of virus, than if they had sneezed!!!

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said flu activity in the States is still active, but decreasing in some areas.  So far 90 children have died.  The CDC tracks only child deaths caused by influenza, they do not keep tabs on adult flu related deaths.

In New York U.S.A., health officials are reporting a surprise resurgence in flu cases. Several counties are reporting more flu cases, along with norovirus, sinusitis and strep bacterial infections.

In California U.S.A., University of California Los Angeles researchers are preparing to track a possible pandemic: “Using surveillance of influenza cases in humans and birds, we’ve come up with a technique to predict sites where these viruses could mix and generate a future pandemic.”-Trevon Fuller, Predicting Hotspots for Influenza Virus Reassortment

Also in California, San Diego County has now seen 51 deaths.  There have been 5046 lab confirmed cases so far this season. San Diego saw a record setting 58 flu related deaths back in the 2009-10 H1N1 pandemic.

In Oklahoma U.S.A., 33 deaths including one last week. At least 1036 people have been hospitalized.

In Pennsylvania U.S.A., so far 174 people have died from flu complications.

In South Dakota U.S.A., a 35th person has died.

Health officials in Racine County, Wisconsin U.S.A., are calling it one of their worst seasons for flu cases: “We had two really mild seasons, and this last year was regular. We haven’t even had a second peak yet.”-Dottie-Kay Bowersox, City of Racine Health Department

In the Fertile Crescent country of Jordan, four people have died from H1N1 (a type of swine flu).

An experiment on vaccinated pigs, who were then infected with a version of H1N1 from Thailand, suggests that a vaccine for H1N1 does not work:  “The present study demonstrated that both the pH1N1 and rH1N1 influenza viruses, isolated from naturally infected pigs, induced acute respiratory disease in experimentally inoculated nursery pigs.”-Virology Journal 2013

More bad news for anyone who got a H1N1 shot.  It concerns vaccines given in 2009-10, in the United States.  A new U.S. Department of Health & Human Services study suggests that some people could be paralyzed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.  It’s already been shown that the vaccine used in the 1976 swine flu epidemic caused Guillain-Barré syndrome.  During the six weeks after the 2009 vaccine was first given, 54 cases of the paralyzing syndrome were reported.  Researchers still don’t know why the vaccine causes some people’s immune systems to attack their nervous systems.

Despite all the studies showing how ineffective flu vaccines really are, Iran has decided to start making their own. Iranian officials say their motivation is to save money, as the imported flu shots are very expensive for their government health system.

Another U.S. Department of Health & Human Services NIH study says weather has more effect on infections, and it has nothing to do with people staying indoors during cold/rainy weather: “One hypothesis that is often used to explain tropical influenza activity is that people congregate indoors more frequently during the rainy season, increasing contact rates and disease transmission. There is little data to confirm this…..The predictions of our climate-based models compared favorably to epidemiological information collected independently…”-Cecile Viboud, researcher

Another study says your body’s ability to repair and recover from a flu infection could determine your risk for future infections. The study looked at immune system cells called cytokine interleukin-22 (IL-22), used in the repair of lungs of children sick with flu: “With the increasing prevalence of more infective and/or virulent strains of influenza, understanding the impact of virus on the host epithelium and the processes involved in lung repair are of great importance. A key finding is that even after the resolution of infection, influenza results in lung parenchymal remodeling that may be critical to susceptibility to further injury.”-John F. Alcorn, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

In Vermont U.S.A., more cases of dogs getting sick with the relatively new canine flu (it mutated from horse flu).  Dogs are going down fast as this is a new disease for them.

In Florida U.S.A., several horses have been quarantined at the Horse Shows in the Sun facility in Ocala: “The biosecurity measures we’ve put in place for EHV-1 should assist with reduction of the transmission of the flu virus. We’re being as proactive as we can.”-Mark Fagan, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

New Jersey U.S.A., reporting a blood shortage and is importing 30% of their blood supply from other states.  This is because local blood donations are way down due to too many people being infected.

Health officials in Austria are reporting that case numbers are more than 10000 per week! They say H1N1 is the top flu, followed by H3N2 and a mild form of flu B.

In Hong Kong, health officials reporting an outbreak in the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.  The flu has been identified only as a type A flu.

India continues to see increased cases of swine flu. Health officials are blaming humidity and warmer temps. Flu cases, and deaths, are reported at state levels in India, and they are growing rapidly.

In Shanghai, China, people are concerned about the ongoing case of dead pigs in a local river.  The number of dead pigs found in the river has now hit 12000!  The pigs are coming from farming areas upstream.  Officials are looking at the possibility of a new more deadly swine flu.  The Huangpu river is the main source of drinking water for tens of millions of people.

International

World War 3: High level meetings between military leaders of Iran & Iraq!

On 12 March 2013/29 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/22 Esfand 1391/01 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711, Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy met with Iraq’s acting defense minister, chief of staff of the army and Navy commander during a four-day visit.

Fadavi also toured the Iraqi Navy’s operation center and Academy of Naval Sciences.  The main purpose of the visit was to discuss joint Persian Gulf defenses by Iran and Iraq.

Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, and Iraq’s Vice Admiral Ali Hussain Ali, signed an agreement to expand cooperation between Iraqi and Iranian naval forces.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Iran captures U.S. backed al-Qaeda militants!

Iran’s commander of the Kermanshah Cavalry Division, General Ali Hajilou, claims that in the past three months his forces have captured U.S. supported al-Qaeda militants trying to cross into Iran from Iraq.

He says his troops’ actions prove the borders of Iran are secure.

International

World War 3: Iranian Navy buzzed by Aussie ASW bird!

17 March 2013/05 Jumada l-Ula 1434/27 Esfand 1391/06 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Iranian Navy officials say an Australian ASW (anti-submarine/ship warfare) aircraft approached an Iranian helicopter carrier and a destroyer while they were off the coast of Sri Lanka.

“The Navy’s 24th fleet of warships, comprised of Khark chopper carrier and Sabalan destroyer, which was nearing Sri Lanka’s coasts after leaving Zhangjigang port of China and crossing the line of the Equator.…The reconnaissance plane changed its flight route immediately after receiving the warships’ warning but dropped some subsurface units detection devices…..all the dropped devices were hunted skillfully and by the timely action of the Iranian Navy forces.”-Admiral Siyavash Jarreh, Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN)

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

World War 3: Iran to stop exporting crude oil! More reasons for inflation!

“We plan to get to the point where we would not need to export crude oil anymore…..it would be of great benefit to our country.”-Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran

14 March 2013/02 Jumada l-Ula 1434/24 Esfand 1391/3 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Iranian leaders want to end their oil exports, as a way to guarantee self sufficiency, and counter economic sanctions by the West.

It’s estimated that if Iran builds more refineries to make fuel and petrochemicals for export, it can make three to four times more money than from exporting raw crude oil.  (this is exactly what the U.S. oil industry is doing, and the real reason why U.S. domestic fuel prices go up when U.S. oil prices have been relatively constant)

Domestically, it’s estimated that by producing more petrochemicals for Iranian industries as much as five times more money could be made: “The country’s oil industry has witnessed big developments, among them launching gasoline making unit of Abadan oil refinery. By launching the project the country no longer needs to import gasoline.”-Rostam Qassemi, Iranian Oil Minister

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 12 – 13 March 2013. Karzai says War on Terror is a lie! Russia captures 20 tons of drugs, proof the U.S. war on drugs is a big fail! U.S. official issues report to justify staying in Afghanistan! Rumors of major battle brewing! More rip offs for U.S. taxpayers!

13 March 2013/01 Jumada l-Ula 1434/23 Esfand 1391

In Badakhshan Province, reports of nearly 300 families fleeing their homes in Akshira village in Wardaj District.  Apparently Mujahideen are using the area to prepare for a major battle with U.S. led Afghan National Army (ANA).  Provincial government officials believe Mujahideen are about to launch an offensive to take control of at least four districts, including the province’s capital city.

In Kunduz Province, a suicide bomber killed as many as 20 people, and wounded 35, after he blew himself up at a sporting event.  Among those killed are the son and the father of the Afghan Speaker of the House.  Some reports suggest they were the target of the bomber.

In Baghlan Province, children were playing with what turned out to be unexploded ordinance (UXO).  The bomb went off killing six kids and wounding five. Local government officials say the bomb was left over from a recent battle.

In Helmand Province, unconfirmed reports that an explosion killed two U.S./U.K. led personnel. Also, President Hamid Karzai told University students and local elders that the U.S. led War on Terror is a lie, and that some Mujahideen are actually working for the United States!  He also stated that Afghanistan and Pakistan must unite in order to fight their own War on Terror.

In Nangarhar Province, 21000 kg (about 20 tons) of morphine and heroin was captured by Afghan and Russian forces.  It’s considered the biggest drug bust in years, and is proof that everything the U.S. has done to supposedly stop opium drug production has failed.

U.S. National Intelligence Director, James Clapper, told the U.S. Senate that Afghanistan was too unstable for U.S. forces to pullout: “the Taliban-led insurgency has diminished in some areas of Afghanistan but remains resilient and capable of challenging U.S. and international goals. The coalition drawdown will have an impact on Afghanistan’s economy, which is likely to decline after 2014.”

The German Development Bank just pledged $89 million USD for the construction of an electricity network in Balkh and Samang provinces, and the building of a dam in Baghlan Province.

12 March 2013/29 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/22 Esfand 1391

In Kandahar Province, a U.S. helicopter crashed, killing five U.S. personnel. Mujahideen claim they hit the ‘copter with a rocket, but ISAF said: “The cause of the crash is under investigation, however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident.”

In Parwan Province, reports that U.S. Bagram air base was hit by rocket attacks.

In Helmand Province, in Khashin district five people were killed after they drove over a landmine. In Musa Qaleh district, a woman and two girls were killed when a mortar round hit their house.

Textron Marine & Land Systems announced they are being paid $113.4 million USD by the U.S. government, to provide Afghanistan with armored vehicles. The deal is being handled by the U.S. Army Foreign Military Sales (FMS).  The company is currently working to fulfill a 2011 U.S. contract for the same armored vehicles.

 

International, Opinion, U.S.

World War 3: Chinese media blames the United States for North Korea’s nukes! MacArthur’s legacy of elitism lives on.

13 March 2013/01 Jumada l-Ula 1434/23 Esfand 1391/2 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Finian Cunningham, writing for the China’s The 4th Media, pointed out that the push by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to develop nuclear weapons is the fault of the United States.

The editors of The 4th Media backed up Cunningham’s statements by referring to a 2010 Associated Press article, which was written after secret U.S. documents were released on the 60th anniversary of what could now be the First Korean War:  “From the 1950s’ Pentagon to today’s Obama administration, the United States has repeatedly pondered, planned and threatened use of nuclear weapons against North Korea, according to declassified and other U.S. government documents released in this 60th-anniversary year of the Korean War.”-Associated Press

Anyone who knows the history of First Korean War should know that ‘heroic’ U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur was going to use nukes on the advancing Chinese, who were kicking ass all over the U.S. forces (the longest retreat in U.S. military history, caused because the arrogant MacArthur refusing to believe his own intelligence reports that said the Chinese were about to invade!). President Truman finally fired MacArthur, for continually disobeying the Commander in Chief’s orders.

By the way, America’s hero MacArthur (along with fellow American heroes, General George Patton and Major Dwight Eisenhower) once slaughtered  homeless/unemployed World War One veterans, and their wives and children,  in Washington DC. (officially; four dead, more than 1000 wounded)

Keep in mind the homeless/unemployed veterans were supported by retired USMC Major General Smedley Butler.

MacArthur, Patton and Eisenhower attacked unsuspecting veterans (who thought they were coming to support them), and their families, with bayonets and poison gas.  President Hoover ordered a halt to the attacks, but, in a portent of future behavior for MacArthur he ignored the President’s order.

After the fact MacArthur claims that he thought the homeless veterans were actually an invading communist army!  Later, as President, Eisenhower used the same commie threat excuse for ordering the overthrow of Iran’s first Democratically elected government in 1953!  Do the research, these guys are not heroes, they are arrogant elitists, and are part of the reasons countries like North Korea and Iran do what they do!

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 09 – 11 March 2013. U.S. troops fail to follow Karzai’s orders! Attacks against U.S. forces in Maidan-Wardak increase, U.S. forces respond by shooting women & children! U.S. to erase drone strike data! Netherlands leaving!

11 March 2013/28 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/21 Esfand 1391

In Maidan-Wardak Province, an Afghan National Security Forces (NSF) personnel shot and killed two U.S. SOF troops, and at least three fellow NSF members.  The shooter was also killed.  23 U.S. and Afghan personnel wounded. U.S. led forces then wounded two women and a child following the Green on Blue attack. U.S. forces also shot and killed two contracted vehicle maintenance employees as they were arriving for work. The Afghan Interior Ministry is protesting the killings. Some Afghans think it’s in retaliation for the Green on Blue attack.  Also, the deadline for U.S. SOF personnel to leave has expired and they have not left.  People in the province say they’re tired of constant home invasions, and random searches, shootings and kidnappings by the SOF troops. One man says one of his sons was kidnapped by SOF led troops three months ago, and he hasn’t been given any info about his whereabouts.  People are actually leaving the province because of the war crimes being committed by U.S. led forces.

In Farah Province, the provincial police chief said three people were killed by U.S. led drone (UAV) strike.  The target was a residence in Shivan area of Bala Buluk district.

USMC General, Joseph Dunford, responded to President Hamid Karzai’s claim that the U.S. was working with certain Mujahideen groups to keep Afghanistan destabilized, in order to justify keeping U.S. forces in country after the 2014 pullout:  “We have no reason to be supporting instability in Afghanistan.”

10 March 2013/27 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/20 Esfand 1391

In Nangarhar Province, a major battle between U.S. forces and Mujahideen in Shegal Bazaar at Ajin district.  It began at 09:00 hours when Mujahideen ambushed a NATO convoy.  At one point air strikes were called in. Afghan government officials say at least four Mujahideen were killed, 16 people wounded including three women and two kids.  The battle was over by 18:00 hours.  No info on U.S./NATO casualties.

The U.S. Central Command says it will erase all drone strike data from their monthly air power reports.  U.S. military officials admitted the reason why was because the increased use of drone strikes was attracting too much attention.

President Karzai accused the U.S. and Mujahideen of collusion. He pointed out that they’ve been holding meetings in Qatar for awhile now.  He believes the U.S. is supporting some militant groups in order to keep Afghanistan unstable, so U.S. officials can justify keeping troops in the country after the 2014 pullout.  Shortly after Karzai’s comments U.S. Secretary of State, Chuck Hagel, canceled his press conference with Karzai.

09 March 2013/26 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/19 Esfand 1391

In Khost Province, a suicide car bomber attacked a U.S./NATO/ANA convoy. Reports say nine people, including eight children, were killed.  Two kids wounded.

In Kabul City, a bomb went off killing 10 people and wounding several others: “We have got nine dead, all are civilians. Among the 10 wounded, two or three are personnel of the [Afghan] Ministry of Defense.”-Mohammad Daoud Amin, Kabul deputy police chief

U.S. forces have delayed the hand over of Bagram prison, again!  Now they say they will be able to handle the turnover later in March.  I guess they needed more time than they thought to cover up their crimes, after all, an unnamed U.S. official admitted they needed the delay to handle technical and legal issues.

Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, announced they will withdraw their police trainers earlier than planned.  He thinks the Afghan government is ready to handle things themselves: “We have decided to end the training mission on July 1.  The Afghans are ready sooner than planned to take responsibility for police training in Kunduz.”