Tag Archives: obama

World War 3: Japan cancels meetings with Russia, China, Korea over disputed islands. Seeks to increase military ties with United States!

08 November 2012, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda canceled his trip to Russia.  However, he claims it was due to scheduling problems on the Russian side.  Analysts suspect it’s actually over growing territorial disputes.

To add to that, Japan’s Foreign Minister, Koichiro Gemba, told reporters on 07 November, that the prime minister will avoid talking to Chinese and Korean officials at the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.  The reason was the growing disputes over islands, one of which Japan recently purchased from a independent owner, with plans for militarization of the island (such as early warning stations).

The island isn’t much to look at, it’s a rock sticking out of the ocean.

Gemba also said that now that Barack Obama has been re-elected, Japan will pressure the United States to increase military ties to help bolster Japan as it’s expected the territorial disputes will escalate.

Japan’s Ambassador to the U.S., Ichiro Fujisaki, said as much in a press conference in Washington DC, on 07 November.  He pointed out that the disputed Senkaku Islands are covered under the current U.S.-Japan security treaty.

What Economic Recovery? Updated list of more Kmart and Sears closings! Former Sears, now a Kmart, to close in Illinois!

08 November 2012, just hours after I posted and updated closing list, yet another Kmart was revealed to be closing!

It’s a Kmart in Homer Glen, Illinois.  The store originally was a Sears, but was remodeled and turned into a Kmart just last year!

The 82 employees were told on 07 November that they were losing their jobs in late January 2013.

Here’s the updated list, with the Illinois addition.  Also, a Sears scheduled to close in Kentucky is now under independent ownership and is having a grand re-opening this month!

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost).

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost).

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway to be closed by 03 February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Illinois:  Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), and the newly revealed Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost).

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost).

Michigan: Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart.

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials.

North Carolina: High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center) .

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears.

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (approximately 50 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost).

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall, and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

 

Economic Recovery or Civil War? Gun sales in the U.S. expected to skyrocket

07 November 2012, the day after the main stream U.S. media prematurely declared Barack Obama the new President (the Shadow Voters, aka Electoral College, vote to elect the President on 17 December 2012), investors are driving up stock prices for gun makers and those chain stores that sell guns.

Investment analysts say it because investors expect a run on guns, because many supporters of the Second Amendment think a re-elected Obama will result in more gun control laws.

That might be, but there could be another reason: Civil War.

Back in August a Texas judge warned that if Obama was re-elected there would be civil war:   “…he’s going to try to give the sovereignty of the United States away to the United Nations. What do you think the public is going to do when that happens? We are talking civil unrest, civil disobedience, possibly, possibly civil war, OK? Now what happens? What happens? Now I’m not talking just talking riots here and there. I’m talking Lexington, Concord, take up arms, get rid of the dictator. OK, what do you think he is going to do when that happens? He is going to call in the UN troops, personnel carriers, tanks and weapons.”-Tom Head, Lubbock County judge and Emergency Management Coordinator

Seemingly in response, on 06 November several so called Liberals stated on Twitter things like “Vote for Mitt Romney… It’ll better our chances to start a civil war”, “If Romney win second civil war”, “Lady in the polling line say if romney win its gone b a civil war”, “Goin buy a gun tommorow Cus if Romney win I ain’t goin out without a fight”, “If Mitt Romney win get ya gun game up” etc.

Note the pro-gun statements by so called liberals.  Here in Idaho, Democrats are just as supportive of the Second Amendment as their Republican neighbors, and the same can be said of most Idahoans who don’t claim a political party preference.   Maybe that’s why the main stream anti-gun rights north-eastern based & focused U.S. media assume all Idahoans are Republicans?

 

 

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?

What Democracy? The late great George Carlin was right! If you vote it’s your fault!!!

“I have solved this political dilemma in a very direct way: I don’t vote. On Election Day, I stay home. I firmly believe that if you vote, you have no right to complain. Now, some people like to twist that around. They say, ‘If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain,’ but where’s the logic in that? If you vote, and you elect dishonest, incompetent politicians, and they get into office and screw everything up, you are responsible for what they have done. You voted them in. You caused the problem. You have no right to complain. I, on the other hand, who did not vote, who did not even leave the house on Election Day, am in no way responsible for what these politicians have done and have every right to complain about the mess that YOU created.-George Carlin

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 30 October – 01 November 2012. Cops attack each other, over a woman! Mujahideen allowed to run for President! UAE sues Afghanistan! Mujahideen rescue kidnapping victims! Cops kill Red Coats! Australia to increase troops after saying they were leaving! King Copper in Afghanistan!

01 November 2012

ISAF said: “A U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service member died following an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan today.”

More than 100 women applied to be the first females to attend the British style Afghan National Army Officer Academy (ANAOA).  Only 30 will be picked.

In Ghazni Province, two headless bodies were found.  Police say they have no clues as to who did it.

31 October 2012

In Uruzgan Province, cops (? not sure, source info not clear about this) manning two check points went to war with each other over a woman! Local officials report one group of cops at one check point became concerned when a woman was held up at another check point. A gun fight erupted, with one group running into the mountains.  “Foreign” troops were called in and they detained that group.

The Afghan presidential elections will be held 05 April 2014, the same year the U.S./NATO is supposed to withdraw.  It was also announced that former Taliban government/Mujahideen will be allowed to run for president: “We are even prepared to pave the ground for the armed opposition, be it the Taliban or Hezb-i-Islami, to participate in the election, either as voters or candidates. There will be no discrimination.”-Fazil Ahmad Manawi, Afghan Independent Election Commission

In Kandahar Province, six people, including children, were killed after the vehicle they were in ran over a landmine.

In Helmand Province, seven women and one man were killed by an explosion. Local police believe the bomb was meant for a U.S./NATO convoy that was using the same route.

United Arab Emirates sued Ariana Airlines of Afghanistan for $10 million USD.  UAE courts ruled on the lawsuit a month ago, only now are Afghan airlines officials hearing about it. The case involves the leasing of aircraft, which the UAE airlines says were never returned to them after the lease expired.  The Afghan airlines says the aircraft actually came from a airlines called Pamir Airways, and that the aircraft were returned to Pamir Airways.

In Ghor Province, Mujahideen rescued three kidnapping victims, through negotiation.  The deal involves the settling of a murder case where three students were killed.  However, there are still ten men being held.  The mass kidnapping took place after 13 men were sent to remove the bodies of victims of a massive suicide bombing.

Australia’s Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced that more Diggers were needed in Afghanistan. Her explanation is that in order to withdraw Diggers from Afghanistan they first needed to increase their numbers: “As we begin detailed planning for its final phases, which of course remain some time off, it is likely that we will identify the need for some additional personnel and resources to complete those final phases of practical extraction and repatriation.”

30 October 2012

Afghan officials are accusing the Red Coat British military of covering up the murder of Afghan civilians by Red Coat personnel.  This comes as five Royal Marines are on trial for just such a case.

In Helmand Province, and Afghan cop got revenge for such Red Coat shenanigans by shooting and killing two British personnel.

In Kunar Province, local government officials are again claiming that Pakistan has launched more than 100 artillery rounds into their province. Amazingly no one was hurt.

In Sar-e-Pul Province, it was announced that large scale mining operations for copper are about to get underway. The Balkhab copper mine is one of the largest copper reserves in the world.  Bids from international mining companies are being reviewed: “The bidding process for Balkhab copper reserve is finalized and the international proposals are being assessed by Afghan mines ministry. Afghan government will announce its decision regarding the winner in the near future.”-Wahidullah Shahrani, Ministry of Mines

The winning bidder will begin mine operations in 2013.  Besides oil, minerals/metals like copper are a driving force behind western foreign policies.

 

U.K. High Court considers U.S. rendition and detaining of “enemy combatants” a War Crime!

“The, presumably forcible, transfer of Mr Rahmatullah from Iraq to Afghanistan is, at least prima facie, a breach of article 49. On that account alone, his continued detention post-transfer is unlawful…….Instead he has been imprisoned by the U.S.A., which takes a different view of the requirements of international law, and accepts no limitations on its right to detain in these circumstances….”-written statement from Supreme Court judges, Lord Carnwath and Lady Hale.

“The U.K. government has nowhere left to turn. The highest court in the country has expressed serious concerns that grave war crimes may have been committed as a result of which a police investigation must be initiated without delay.”-Kat Craig, a legal director of activist organization Reprieve

“The government’s attempts to row back on centuries of constitutional development and restrict the reach of habeas corpus has been rejected by the highest court in the land!”-Jamie Beagent, attorney representing a man who was renditioned out of Iraq in 2004, and is still under U.S. control at Bagram Prison, Afghanistan

On 31 October 2012, the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court ruled that the ongoing rendition of so called enemy combatants by the United States, is a war crime!

The court opinion came after a group trying to get a man freed from eight years of secret imprisonment failed.  The group called Reprieve, petitioned the British high court to force the United States to make the man available so they can challenge the legality of his imprisonment in court.

The man, from Pakistan, was detained by British troops in Iraq in 2004.  The Red Coats handed him over to U.S. forces, who then secretly sent him to Bagram Prison in Afghanistan.

Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states that no enemy combatant can be taken to another country while detained.  The group Reprieve wants the U.S. to explain why they violated the Geneva Convention, if the man was considered an enemy combatant.

If the man was not considered an enemy then they want to know on what grounds the U.S. continues to detain him (if he’s even still alive).

The U.K. court refused Reprieve’s request to force the British government to demand the United States explain itself, but did agree that the policy of rendition, carried out under a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and U.K., is illegal under international law: “This powerful [U.K.] Supreme Court decision has huge ramifications. Clearly there will now have to be a full criminal investigation. But if the U.S. has ‘dishonored’ its commitment to the U.K. in this case for the first time in 150 years, and continues to violate law as basic as the Geneva Conventions, this also throws other extradition agreements with the U.K. into doubt.”-Clive Stafford Smith, director & founder of Reprieve

What Democracy? Presidential candidate arrested!

Yes Virginia, there are other candidates, besides Obama and Romney, running for U.S. President, but they’re being arrested!

Jill Stein, candidate for the Green Party, was arrested in he merry old red neck states of Texas, again.

She was arrested for trespassing after she brought food to protestors, who are demonstrating against the construction of a Canadian oil pipeline.

Prior to that, she, and her vice presidential running mate, Cheri honkala, were arrested after they demanded to be part of the second ‘presidential’ debate between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama.

Third party candidates held their own debate on 22 October 2012.  Of course the main stream U.S. media didn’t cover it.

 

What Democracy? United States banning international election observers!

“The threat of criminal sanctions against observers is unacceptable. The United States, like all countries in the OSCE, has an obligation to invite ODIHR observers to observe its elections.”Janez Lenarcic,  Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Officials and organizations in the U.S. have always pushed for international election observers (which include election observers such as former President Jimmy Carter, and First Lady Rosalynn Carter) in countries they deem as undemocratic.  Now, several U.S. states are banning observers from witnessing their election process!

The United States is a member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). As such, each member must allow international observers to witness each national election.  In fact, the U.S. has allowed such observations since 2002 (beginning under the Bush Jr administration).  OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) officials say this is the first time they have encountered opposition from state level officials!

On 31 October 2012, the state of Iowa announced they will arrest any OSCE ODIHR observer found in polling places. Iowa Secretary of State, Matt Schultz, a Republican, claims Iowa law prevents observation of the election process from closer than 300 feet of the polling place (how convenient, it makes election monitoring ineffective).

Recently Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, a Republican, made the same threat of arrest against observers.

This comes after Officials with the OSCE received letters from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the NAACP and the ACLU, claiming they had evidence of massive election fraud.

As an example: Some reports say an estimated 700,000 U.S. voters will not be allowed to vote because of new voter identification laws.

In the past, U.S. officials have always claimed that any country that has a problem with their elections being monitored must be undemocratic.  Well, now the shoe is on the other foot and it’s U.S. officials that are fighting the monitoring of U.S. elections. So what does that tell you?

What Economic Recovery? 3M says sales in the U.S. will continue to fall for years to come! Blames crashing solar power demand in U.S.!

“We will continue our Hefei project, which includes 12 big buildings. I believe, as a clean and stable energy, solar must be promising in the future. I don’t think the behavior of the EU and the U.S. is proper.”-Kenneth Yu, 3M China operations

31 October 2012, U.S. based 3M expects its U.S. sales to fall for the next five to ten years, and they expect China to become their number one market.

In their latest quarterly report, 3M showed a big jump in revenues from Canada and Latin America, up 10.5%.  The United States had increased sales of 2.3%. Sales in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia were flat.  However, 3M officials think that over the next decade their sales will boom in China.

They say they will streamline their operations, with their consumer and office supplies division looking like it will be drastically cut due to flat profits.  3M will continue investing in future markets.

3M has already invested $1.2 billion USD in China since 1984.  For the next five years the corporation, formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is investing $120 million in the solar power industry in China.

3M officials say global demand for solar power products are booming, and China is likely to become the center of the global solar power industry.

As an example of government incompetence, President Barack Obama, with support from the Republican controlled Congress, enacted outrageous tariffs on solar products from China.  It was the death blow to struggling Hoku Materials in Pocatello, Idaho.

The newly built polysilicon factory, in southeast Idaho, had locals hopeful that hundreds of desperately needed good paying jobs would be available.  Hoku’s contracts were with Chinese solar product companies that were directly affected by the tariffs.

Now it looks like U.S. based 3M is jumping ship for better shores in China.