It has been revealed that on the night of 14 August 2012, Ryan Crocker ran into a tractor trailer, then fled the scene. He was later arrested. His blood alcohol was twice the legal limit in the state of Washington. He pled ‘not guilty’ in court.
Crocker recently stepped down as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
“…we are not in the habit of repeating a warning and we warn only once.”-Major General Ataollah Salehi, Iranian Army, 03 January 2012 threat against USS Stennis
“We’re asking an awful lot of each of you. And frankly, you are the best I have, and when the world calls we have to respond.”-Leon Panetta, U.S. Secretary of Defense, 22 August 2012 statement regarding early deployment of USS Stennis
22 August, the aircraft carrier USS Stennis will set sail for the Persian Gulf. Back in July it was announced the USS Stennis would return to the Persian Gulf four months earlier than planned. The aircraft carrier will also stay in the region for eight months, four months longer than originally planned.
The Pentagon wants to keep at least two aircraft carrier groups on station in the Persian Gulf at all times. Panetta said it was to fight threats and “Obviously Iran is one of those threats that we have to, we have to be able to focus on……Secondly, it is the turmoil in Syria….”
Back in January 2012, Iranian officials singled out the USS Stennis, threatening military action against that specific aircraft carrier if it ever returned to the Persian Gulf. They claimed the aircraft carrier deliberately sailed through Iranian naval war games in December 2011. They also accuse the U.S. Navy of sailing ships dangerously close to Iranian oil platforms.
20 August 2012
USA (USA without periods means United States Army) General Martin Dempsey is in Afghanistan to find out why so many Afghan government forces are getting pissed off enough at U.S. forces that they open fire upon them. Dempsey is meeting with USMC General John Allen.
ISAF stated: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died when an individual wearing an Afghan Uniformed Police uniform turned his weapon against ISAF service members in southern Afghanistan today.”
In Paktiya Province, a convoy belonging to an advisor to President Hamid Karzai, ran over a mine: “Mriza Ali Zadran, brother of Amanullah Khan Zadran, his uncle and his nephew were killed following the blast.”-Rohullah Samoon, governor of Paktiya
19 August 2012
ISAF stated: “Three International Security Assistance Force service members died following an improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”
ISAF claims they killed a “leader” in Kunar Province, using a NATO airstrike.
In Bamiyan Province, at least four New Zealand Kiwi troops were killed, after crossing a road where Mujahideen planted a mine.
Afghan police officials in Kandahar Province claim a policeman shot and killed a U.S. led occupying soldier. They say the shooting took place inside a police station.
USMC General John Allen met with President Hamid Karzai, to discuss the increasing Green on Blue attacks. This after numb nuts U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta demanded Karzai do something about such attacks.
In Kunar Province, villagers caught a murderer. The man was convicted of killing another man from a rival family. But at the execution, where about 80 people had gathered, the United States launched a drone strike, killing about 60. ISAF said this about the drone strike: “…there are no civilian casualties…” ISAF swears all the people present were Mujahideen planning an attack.
18 August 2012
In Kunar Province, local government officials say the United States killed four civilians during an airstrike.
In Helmand Province, U.K. Ministry of Defence says one of their occupying Red Coat soldiers was killed.
17 August 2012
In Kandahar Province, two U.S. occupying personnel were wounded by an Afghan government soldier.
ISAF stated: “Two U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service members died this morning as a result of an insider threat attack in Farah province, Afghanistan today. A member of the Afghan Local Police turned his weapon against two USFOR-A service members. The attacker was shot and killed.”
In Faryab Province, an Afghan politician was assassinated. He was shot while walking out of a Mosque.
“…users of targeted killing technology should be required to subject themselves, in the case of each and every death, to impartial investigation. If they do not establish a mechanism to do so, it will be my recommendation that the UN should put the mechanisms in place through the Human Rights Council, the General Assembly and the Office of the High Commissioner.…..The Obama administration continues formally to adopt the position that it will neither confirm nor deny the existence of the drone program, whilst allowing senior officials to give public justifications of its supposed legality in personal lectures and interviews. In reality the administration is holding its finger in the dam of public accountability. There are now a large number of law suits, in different parts of the world, including in the U.K., Pakistan and in the U.S. itself, through which pressure for investigation and accountability is building.”-Ben Emmerson, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism
In the past week more than 27 people were killed by U.S. UAV strikes, in Pakistan. The victims included women and children.
Also in the past week, at least eight civilians were killed, and 30 wounded, by U.S. drone strikes in Somalia. At least three people were killed by U.S. drone strike in Yemen.
On 15 August 2012, Pakistan’s Senate Committee on Defence and Defence Production released their own study on just who the victims of drone strikes are. They concluded that increasingly the victims are not combatants!
17 August 2012, Ecuadorian presidential staff adviser, Alexis Mera, announced: “We are open to discuss with Britain the solution to this problem, and if there is no diplomatic solution, we may resort to the International Court of Justice.”
Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patino, also said that the Swedish sex crimes trial is just a ruse, that Assange would be handed over to the United States as soon as he arrived in Sweden. This qualifies Assange for protection under the “fair trial” clause of the internationally accepted (excepted for the United Kingdom) asylum rules.
“They have to comply with diplomatic and legal obligations under the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and respect the sovereignty of a country that has granted asylum.”-Baltasar Garzon, Assange legal team
16 August 2012, the United States Army says the suicide rate for active duty, reserve and National Guard troops has now surpassed the 2011 high. July 2012 suffered 38 suicides, double from the month of June 2012! That’s more than one soldier per day!!!
The monthly average is now at 29 suicides. 2011 ended with an average of 23 suicides per month.
The majority of suicides are those troops with combat experience. July was also a record high for active duty troop suicides.
In June dumb ass Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said: “That is an epidemic, something’s wrong.”
No shit Sherlock! It’s called unjustified War on Terror, police stateism, economy down the toilet!
Things are so bad that earlier in the year the Idaho National Guard demanded that the state re-open a closed suicide hot line (the patriotic Republican state leaders closed it down claiming a lack of funding)!
General Lloyd J. Austin III gave the same bull shit comment I’ve always heard about preventing suicide: “To combat it effectively will require sophisticated solutions aimed at helping individuals to build resiliency and strengthen their life coping skills.”
I’ve heard that rhetoric since the 1980s! What they really want are troops that are like the compliant monkeys of Japan: Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.
But the more our leaders (Republicans, Democrats, religious & unAmerican Corporate America) betray our Constitution, screw over the families of troops by destroying the economy, ship jobs overseas, use prison labor instead of law abiding workers, religious hypocrisy, etc, the more those who join the military to supposedly fight for the American Dream are going to become disillusioned and turn to suicide, or something else (remember Bronze Star awardee Timothy McVeigh?)!
16 August 2012
ISAF said: “An ISAF helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan today. The crash resulted in the deaths of four International Security Assistance Force service members, three United States Forces-Afghanistan service members, three members of the Afghan National Security Forces, and one Afghan civilian interpreter.”
Mujahideen stated: “Our Mujahideen shot down an ISAF helicopter in Chenarto area of Shah Wali Kot district in Kandahar province at around 11:00 am (0630 GMT).”
In Faryab Province, a firefight broke out between villagers and local police. Two of the villagers are accused of raping an eight year old girl. The police were trying to arrest them. The villagers are also begging the Mujahideen not to execute the two men accused of rape.
In Maidan Wardak Province, a senior security official was killed while trying to defuse a bomb.
In Baghlan Province, seven Afghan government soldiers were killed, two wounded, when they drove over a mine.
The Afghan parliament is now blaming Iran for coordinated suicide attacks in Nimroz Province.
15 August 2012
ISAF stated: “A U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service member died following an improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”
ISAF also stated: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan.“
In Herat Province, a bicycle bomb exploded, wounding at least 20 people.
A report by U.S. led NATO says most military contractors are corrupt. General Ricky Waddell revealed that dozens of contractors are under investigation, and some are already facing prosecution. The cases involve both Afghan contractors, and contractors from other countries.
The presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan stated they will work with each other to find out who is responsible for ongoing artillery attacks, being launched from Pakistan into Afghanistan.
In Kunduz Province, an alleged suicide bomber was killed by U.S. troops. Local government officials claim the suicide bomber was targeting a bus full of cops.
In Badakhshan Province, Mujahideen ambushed an Afghan government border patrol. Two top border patrol commanders were killed, along with two other border patrol troops. Three border patrol troops were wounded.
In Kabul Province, a fire destroyed a warehouse with $2 million USD worth of electrical equipment. Local government officials say the fire was caused by a wildfire.
In Khost Province, Mujahideen claim they attacked a U.S. base. ISAF has not confirmed.
15 August 2012, one day after holding what was officially called ‘war games’ near the border with Syria, Turkey is now deploying Atilgan self propelled anti-aircraft missile batteries to the border.
The Atilgan is a Turkish designed Pedestal Mounted Air Defence System (PMADS) firing U.S. designed Stinger missiles. The PMADS is mounted on a U.S. designed M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).
It’s interesting that even the Turkish media said yesterday’s war games were actually show of force preparations against Syria.
There are also reports that Turkey is expanding their air force operations at Sazgin Airport. The same airport was used for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Also, on 13 August the Turkish government held emergency meeting regarding Syria. The meeting included local government leaders from towns along the border with Syria.
11 August 2012
In Nimroz Province, an Afghan national cop killed 11 of his fellow policemen. The provincial governor says the killer cop was recognized as a member of the Mujahideen, and was killed.
In Balkh Province, the principal of a girls’ school was assassinated. She was shot in her house, her husband, and father in law, found her when they returned from the local Mosque. Balkh Province is considered one of the more stable Afghan provinces.
The Afghan Defense Ministry says five Afghan soldiers were killed, 16 wounded, in battles with Mujahideen in the provinces of Kunar, Paktiya, Logar, Maidan Wardak and Herat. Nine Mujahideen were captured.
In the United Kingdom, attorneys have petitioned the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) regarding information given to the United States. That info was used to put together the infamous “kill list”, aka Joint Integrated Prioritized Target List (JIPTL): “Our client’s case suggests that the establishment and maintenance of the ‘killing list’ is not in line with the U.K.’s duties under international humanitarian law.”-Rosa Curling, attorney
10 August 2012
In Helmand Province, three U.S. Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) personnel were shot and killed by an Afghan employee working on the base they were stationed at. Ignorant media referred to the Marines as Special Forces, which is normally the term used for U.S. Army Green Berets. The shooter has been arrested.
Also in Helmand, earlier on the same day a local police commander invited four (U.S./British media says it was three) MARSOC personnel to his house to discuss security issues. Instead it was an ambush and the Marines were killed. The police commander escaped.
Also in Helmand, British officials reported one of their occupying troops was shot and killed while on patrol.
Also in Helmand, six family members were killed, five wounded, after they drove over a mine.
Also in Helmand, ISAF claims to have captured a “leader”.
ISAF also reported: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan today.”
In Ghazni Province, two cops were killed, three wounded, after they drove over a mine.
09 August 2012
In Kunar Province, a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) officer was assassinated by suicide bombers. Three other officials, and a civilian were also killed. A U.S. State Department official was wounded.
In Laghman Province, an Afghan government soldier shot at occupying forces. He was killed when they returned fire.
In Uruzgan Province, an Australian Digger was wounded during a battle with Mujahideen: “The soldier received a gunshot wound to the lower left leg when the combined force element came under small-arms fire from insurgents.”– Australian defence statement
In Kunruz Province, local officials reported major battles between Afghan government forces and Mujahideen. They did not give exact numbers but reported many killed and wounded. The battles actually started the day before.
08 August 2012
In Farah Province, three civilians killed, three wounded, after the mini-bus they were in drove over a mine. Local officials say Mujahideen launched an attack right after the explosion, wounding a policeman. Police claim they killed three Mujahideen and wounded two others.
ISAF stated: “Three International Security Assistance Force service members died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”
ISAF also claims to have captured yet another “leader”, in Helmand Province.
In Maidan Wardak Province, local officials reported major battles. Mujahideen attacked a security check post on Kabul-Bamiyan highway, as well as a NATO supply convoy. No word on casualties.
In Kunar Province, suicide bombers attacked occupying NATO troops. A local hospital official said at least one person was killed, three wounded. Other reports say that at least three occupying personnel were killed.
A German newspaper, Express, reported that many weapons taken from Mujahideen are made in Germany. Another report explained that Germany has been sending the Afghan government weapons for their military and police, however, at least 4,500 of those guns have disappeared from Afghan government control. Not only that, but at least one third of the hundreds of thousands of U.S. weapons shipped to the Afghan government have disappeared!
While ISAF reported an 11% increase in Mujahideen attacks on occupying forces, the United Nations reports an overall 15% decrease in attacks upon civilians. However, the UN says that when looking at specifically attacks on civilians, that are blamed on Mujahideen, there is actually a 53% increase!
12 August 2012
Egyptian President, Mohammed Morsi, has “retired” the top two Egyptian military commanders; Chief of Staff Sami Enan and Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi, one week after the 05 August 2012 insurgent attack against Egypt and Israel.
In the latest battles taking place on the Egyptian/Israeli border, Egyptian security forces claim to have killed at least seven insurgents, and captured a cache of weapons including mines and anti-aircraft missiles.
However, one village leader says the claim of killed insurgents is doubtful: “There were no bodies found or transferred to local hospitals.”-Ahmed Sallam, resident of El Arish
The locals say the insurgents are not from the area, although Egyptian officials believe that some of the insurgents are Egyptians and Palestinians.
In another incident, three Egyptian cops were killed, four wounded, when their vehicle flipped over as they were chasing insurgents.
Some people think Bedouins (nomads) are behind the attacks against Egyptian forces. There have been cases of weapons being brought in from Libya, after the U.S./European led insurgency ended in that country, and ending up in the hands of nomads.
One villager who saw the 05 August 2012 insurgent attack said: “Whoever did this was very well trained.”-Abu Asma, witnessed insurgent attack on Egyptian border post
Egypt is now building up ground forces in the Sinai, specifically mechanized infantry operating YPR 765 armored personnel carriers (APC). The military action is being called Operation Eagle 2.
An Israeli media source said United Nations Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) troops were attacked, however, MFO officials say no such attack took place.
11 August 2012
Unconfirmed media reports said that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had crossed into Sinai by several hundred meters. This might be connected with the Amnesty International report the day before.
U.S. media reports said that the Obama administration has promised the new Egyptian government increased military assistance, as well as: “…police training, and electronic and aerial surveillance…” The New York Times
10 August 2012
Egyptian military leaders accused three members of Hamas (some reports say five) of training the insurgents who conducted the 05 August attack against Egypt and Israel.
There are reports that Egyptian troops are randomly arresting Bedouins and Palestinians in the Sinai. The police chief of the village El Arish found teenaged Palestinians in his jail. He told reporters he had no authority: “He belongs to the army now.”-Mohamed Suleiman
Other reports say men as old as 72 years have been arbitrarily arrested. Many of the older men arrested had been political prisoners under the U.S. supported Mubarak regime.
Egyptians in the Sinai say the Egyptian army seems to be putting on a show: “We thought they were chasing someone, but their arms [weapons] were directed up and we didn’t see who they were fighting with. We couldn’t find any bodies or signs of battle after they left.”-witness from al Toumah village
Also, Amnesty International released a report saying Israel was using the insurgent activities in the Sinai as an excuse to stop illegal immigration, by sending IDF troops into Egyptian territory to round up what the IDF claims to be “infiltrators”.
Amnesty International says such IDF tactics have been going on for months, and they have swore statements from IDF troops as proof: “…was taken to a briefing given by reservist soldiers who served at the border site before him, who told him of a new procedure to stop ‘infiltrators’ by stationing soldiers hundreds of meters inside Egypt in order to stop them before they arrive at the border.”
08 August 2012
“The problem is that at present neither Israel nor Egypt know enough about who the enemy is, where he is situated, who his handler is and who is paying him.”-Alex Fishman, Yediot Aharonot daily
Egyptian military claimed their helicopters killed 20 insurgents, however, local villagers said that any insurgents in the area had already left by the time the helicopters showed up.
Israel handed over the bodies of those insurgents involved in the 05 August attack. The identities of the attackers are not being made public.
“…Israel is taking advantage of such attacks, using them as justification to push measures that serve the state’s security vision for the border triangle……the perpetrators are serving Israeli interests by undermining Egyptian security and providing Israel with pretexts to justify the way it deals with Palestinians.”-Al-Monitor
06 August 2012
“The armed forces have been careful in the past months and during the events of the revolution not to shed Egyptian blood…but the group that staged yesterday’s attack is considered by the armed forces as enemies of the nation who must be dealt with by force.”-Egyptian military statement
“Israel and Egypt clearly have a shared interest in maintaining a quiet border. But when talking about the security of Israeli citizens, Israel must and will rely only on itself.”-Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
“We hope this will be a fitting wake up call for the Egyptians to take things in hand on their side more forcefully.”-Ehud Barak, Israeli Defense Minister
One Israeli media source said the “wake up call” for Egypt was known about by the Israeli government well in advance of the 05 August attack: “Israeli intelligence had information on the planned attack, which allowed the military to have helicopters in the area to strike the vehicle, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman said Monday……Israel had shared the intelligence with Egypt in advance of the attack…”-Jewish Telegraphic Agency
05 August 2012
Insurgents attacked an Egyptian border post, killing 16 Egyptian soldiers. The attack came while they were eating dinner. For some reason no guards were posted on that night. Even though local villagers ran to see what was going on, no military or police forces responded for at least an hour.
The insurgents stole an APC, drove one mile into Israel, where they were blown up by Israeli forces.
An Israeli official blamed the attack on Iran: “Iranian backed terrorists again [?] struck at our Southern border today killing 15 Egyptian guards and attempting to massacre Israeli civilians.”-Michael Oren, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S.
My thoughts are that this whole thing is a set up! The groups behind this (right wing religious nut jobs in the U.S., Israel and Egypt) are trying real hard to push Israel and Egypt into a full blown war.