Tag Archives: oil

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 11-14 January 2013. What global warming? People trapped by heavy snowfall! Billions more U.S. tax dollars promised to Afghanistan! U.S. led airstrikes against schools!

14 January 2013

Afghan National Army (ANA) conducted military operations in Helmand, Baghlan, Nangarhar and Maidan Wardak provinces. The ANA says four Mujahideen were killed, and eight wounded. Three ANA troops were killed, two wounded.

President Hamid Karzai stated that Afghanistan will be “…more secure and a better place…” without U.S. led occupying troops. Karzai also said that the issue of legal immunity for U.S. troops will be decided, and probably ended, by the end of 2013.  This comes a couple of days after U.S. officials said they want legal immunity for U.S. personnel to continue.

Afghan Finance Minister, Hazrat Omer Zakhilwal, said the United States has promised between $800,000 and $1 million USD in taxpayer money, to the Afghan government for every year after the 2014 pullout.  The United States government has already given the government of Afghanistan $22.34 billion in U.S. taxes ever since the Bush Jr ordered invasion in 2001!

13 January 2013

In Maidan Wardak Province, local government officials say a U.S. led NATO airstrike hit a Mosque/school.  Witnesses say the airstrikes continued for several hours.  As many as 15 people were killed: “All those people killed here were school students, teachers and also university students. They were all civilians. There were no armed men here!”-witness

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan stated they will stop their attacks on Pakistani targets and focus only on U.S. led NATO targets in Afghanistan.

12 January 2013

In Badghis Province, local government officials report that Mujahideen launched a major attack, killing four cops and wounding two.  The battle lasted two hours, one Mujahideen was killed and one cop is missing. In a separate incident, another Mujahideen attack left three cops wounded.

In Baghlan Province, heavy snow has closed highways and left hundreds of people (including 80 children) trapped.

In Bamiyan Province, heavy snow caused an avalanche that buried a car with four people inside.   They were rescued, but one person is in critical condition.

11 January 2013

In Badghis Province, and explosion killed a Spanish NATO soldier. The Spanish Sergent was trying to diffuse a bomb when it, or possibly another bomb, went off.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 07-10 January 2013. Hundreds of cops poisoned! First Green on Blue attack of the year!

10 January 2013

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

Independent truck drivers went on strike, protesting a new Pakistan law requiring them to give up their independence and become part of authorized companies contracted to deliver supplies to U.S./NATO/ISAF forces in Afghanistan.

09 January 2013

Four Polish NATO troops are on re-trial for the deaths of eight civilians, including women and children.  Five years ago a Polish NATO patrol open fired on a wedding party.  Seven Polish troops were originally let go for lack of evidence, but prosecutors are now re-trying four of them based on new evidence.

08 January 2013

In Balkh Province, at least 250 policemen were poisoned. The incident happened in a military compound, the cops became sick after eating their breakfast.  The cause of the poisoning is under investigation.

Reports saying Kandahar airbase came under rocket attack.  One report says ten rockets were launched, another report says two rockets were launched.  Apparently a Pakistan International Airlines aircraft was nearly hit while on the runway.

07 January 2013

ISAF said: “An individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform turned his weapon against International Security Assistance Force service members in southern Afghanistan.”

Other reports say it was an Afghan National Armyman who fired on Red Coat troops from United Kingdom.  One was killed, three wounded.  It happened in Helmand Province.

In Farah Province, six cops disappeared from their check post in Pusht-e-Rud district. Mujahideen say the six cops have joined them.  Also, another cop was killed in an ambush.

Afghan government officials have asked the United States to turn over all spy balloon operations to them, after the U.S. pullout in 2014.  Afghan military officials say the big advantage of the spy balloons is the night vision equipment.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 03-06 January 2013. More bad behaviour by U.S. led forces documented! 133 children sacrificed everyday for the United States! Soldiers killing themselves while on leave!

06 January 2013

A new Afghan Defense Ministry report backs up claims that U.S. forces are instigating Green on Blue attacks by mistreating their Afghan counterparts.  The latest report says U.S. personnel, with the help of some of their Afghan interpreters, are harassing and humiliating villagers in Maidan Wardak Province.  Also, the report says U.S. forces are not coordinating military operations with Afghan National Army (ANA) troops, as promised in recent agreements.   Afghan defense officials tried to detain the interpreters but: “When we asked NATO forces to hand over the interpreters, they told us that they are not here and have fled the area.”

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) commented on claims that U.S. led troops are abusing detainees, saying any abuse was at the hands of the Afghan interpreters and U.S. led troops were not involved or aware of the incidents.

According to data from the World Bank, and the United Nations,  at least 133 Afghan children die everyday (43,545 per year).  The main cause is dirty water.  This should be a concern for U.S. and European taxpayers, as millions of USD has been spent on water projects most of which never happened.  Recent investigations by U.S. government agencies revealed that many of the contractors who got the tax money to improve the water systems never showed up.  Is this intentional?  So much for U.S. claims to stabilize and improve life for Afghanistan.

In Kandahar Province, a suicide bomber blew himself up near a government compound.  Then Mujahideen infantry attacked the compound.  Local police say 10 people were killed, 15 people were wounded.

The Afghan government has freed hundreds of prisoners who were being held by U.S. forces at Bagram Prison, and at other prisons. General Mohammad Yar Barakzai said that despite “…no evidence to prove their involvement in the insurgency.”, U.S. forces held them in prison for at least a couple of years, Israeli style.

05 January 2013

Mujahideen warned of increased attacks if the U.S. does not withdraw all personnel at the end of 2014: “If America wants to leave a small or large number of its troops for whatever length of time then it means war and destruction will continue in the region for that same length.”

U.S. media reports have revealed that as many as 20,000 U.S. personnel could remain after 2014.

An official from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Saeed Jalili, arrived in capital Kabul.  He said he was there on official invitation from President Hamid Karzai.  Iran is funding dozens of reconstruction projects in Afghanistan.

04 January 2013

Pakistan claims 25 mortar rounds were fired into their country from Afghanistan. They say it was Afghan government border forces that fired the short range artillery rounds.

Afghan public health ministry officials say at least one woman dies giving birth every two hours in Afghanistan.  However, they say this is an improvement.  They claim that 11 years ago it was one woman dying during childbirth ever 24 minutes!

A British Red Coat, who survived an explosion in Afghanistan, killed himself while on Christmas leave back home in the United Kingdom.  Officials said only that “Police are investigating the death of a soldier who was serving with 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards.”

03 January 2013

In Helmand Province, a religious cleric was assassinated while leading prayer in a Mosque.  Reports say he was targeted because he supported the government.  Also, an ISAF soldier from Denmark was killed by an explosion while on patrol: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an improvised explosive device attack…”

In Ghazni Province, reports of a girl being gang raped and the local government trying to cover it up.  The girl is in critical condition and was sent to Kabul for treatment. A vigilante group claims to have detained one of the four men accused of the rape.  Local police say they did not cover up the rape, that simply it was never officially reported to them by the family.

In Kunar Province, Mujahideen report attacking several checkpoints, killing and wounding a handful of ANA troops.  Mujahideen also report destroying a Counter Terrorism Pursuit Team (CTPT) in Narang district, after a four hour battle.

In Laghman Province, Mujahideen report day long ambushes on Afghan government convoys. They claim they killed at least 17 Afghan government personnel, and wounded 13.  Three Mujahideen were killed, as well as one civilian.

International, U.S.

World War 3: UN demands war in Mali! France goes on warpath! Rebels promise long war against western invaders! Obama promises are proof of christian war against Islam, in the name of oil!

“France has opened the gates of hell for all the French. She has fallen into a trap which is much more dangerous than Iraq, Afghanistan or Somalia!”-Oumar Ould Hamaha, Mali rebel

14 January 2013, a little earlier than first thought, but it looks like the United Nations has given the go ahead for western invasion of Mali, and France is launching airstrikes.

Mali is a former colony of France, and recently several British empire oil companies have been exploring for black gold in the west African country.  The United States has recently increased troop strength there.

France began airstrikes on 11 January 2013, after the christian dominated UN Security Council issued a statement saying they were afraid the Islamic rebels were winning their revolution.  Today, 14 January 2013, French reports say that despite their weekend long airstrikes the rebels are winning.  Rebels quickly reconstituted after the airstrikes and actually captured another town.  French military leaders are basically calling for a ground invasion by U.S. led NATO.

There are already 2,500 French troops, and 3,300 West African troops (at the behest of the UN), in country trying to save the pro-western Mali government.   Canada has already sent military transport aircraft to help the French.

U.S. President Barack Obama has promised France all the help it needs: “What we have promised them is that we would work with them, to cooperate with them, to provide whatever assistance we can to try to help them in that effort.”-Leon Panetta, U.S. Secretary of Defense

The European Union (EU), and the United Nations (UN) are holding emergency meetings.

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 29 December 2012 – 02 January 2013. Increased drone strikes proof the U.S. is losing the war? ANA attack Spanish troops! Cops kill wives! Pakistan attacks, again! Thousands of Afghan government troops used as human sacrifices for the United States! More proof it’s about the oil! More U.S. taxes wasted!

02 January 2013

A report says U.S. President Barack Obama authorized 450 drone (UAV) strikes in Afghanistan in 2012, double from the year before.  Afghans take it as proof the United States is losing the war: “Unfortunately, they think they can win this war by killing civilians. Actually, these attacks are revenges from the loss that the U.S. government has faced in Afghanistan.”-Mohammad Daoud Abedi, Afghan Nation Peace Council

In Herat Province, an Iranian man was found dead. Local police have given no details, other than he was a truck driver.  There has been an increase in the number of people being kidnapped in the province.

01 January 2013

In Herat Province, Karkh district, two Afghan National Army (ANA) officers attacked a Spanish/NATO military convoy. No one was hurt, and the ANA officers are missing.

In Kunduz Province, reports that two people were killed by U.S. led drone strike.

In Uruzgan Province, a local cop shot and killed his wife and teenaged son.  He is on the loose.  Local police officials say it was all over some kind of family argument.

Government officials in Sarkano district, Kunar Province, claim Pakistan fired 12 artillery rockets into their territory. One woman was killed, three children wounded.

According to icasualties.org, 309 U.S. personnel, 44 U.K. forces and 45 soldiers from other NATO/ISAF member countries were killed in 2012.  This is piddly when compared to how many puppet Afghan National Army troops died fighting for the United States: “We lost around one thousand and fifty of our hero soldiers in 2012….”-Zahir Azimi, Afghanistan Ministry of Defense

According to reports, more and more Afghan government officials are seeking asylum in the United States and United Kingdom/British Empire.  This year hundreds of Afghan  presidential palace employees, diplomats, reporters and journalists, athletes and students who’ve left Afghanistan have never returned.  Australia has been dealing with boat loads of refugees from Afghanistan.  The UN High Commission for Refugees said, this year, that Afghans make up the most people seeking asylum.  So much for the United States stabilizing Afghanistan in their War on Terror.

31 December 2012

2012 was a record year for Green on Blue attacks (Afghan government personnel attacking U.S. led NATO/ISAF personnel or contractors).  At least 46 U.S. led occupiers were killed in such attacks.  That’s 11 more than 2011.

In Samangan Province, a man serving time for killing three of his inlaws, killed his wife while she was visiting him in prison.  Prison officials believe the man was being motivated to commit the murders by his own mother. His mother had been telling him that his wife was having an affair.

In Daikundi Province, local government officials reporting a 50% increase in suicides among women.  The main reason is domestic violence.

Pakistan has released four more top Mujahideen leaders from prison. This comes at the request of the Afghan government. It’s part of demands by Mujahideen in order to continue with peace talks.

U.S. corporation, FMC Technologies, was just awarded the contract to build a oil/fuel refinery in the Amu Darya River basin, in the province of Jowzjan.  It is one of six oil fields in Afghanistan, discovered in 1930 by Swedish explorers.  The refinery is expected to put out 60,000 barrels of fuel everyday starting in Gregorian year 2015.  China is already a major player in Afghanistan’s budding oil industry.

30 December 2012

Near the Jalalabad airbase, in Nangarhar Province, a hidden bomb exploded.  The bomb was inside a fueler truck, in a convoy heading to the airbase. At least nine feulers were destroyed as they sat parked.  Jalalabad airbase is the second largest U.S. airbase in Afghanistan.

29 December 2012

ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan.”

A Georgian/ISAF soldier who disappeared last week, was found dead.  No further info was issued.

The U.S. government has canceled the planed purchase of Italian made C-27 Spartan transport planes, for the Afghan air force.  Afghan government officials are happy: “Today we are very happy to hear the cancellation of the aircrafts purchase through the Italian corporation. The aircrafts are not usable by the Afghan Air Force anymore and we thank those who have taken this decision.”-Zahir Azimi, Afghanistan Ministry of Defense

U.S. taxpayers take note: Your government had already spent $600 million USD of your taxes on the C-27 for Afghanistan program!  Apparently the Afghan air force wants to continue to rely on their reliable Russian rotary wings and U.S. Cessna fixed wings.

Eight people, including four children, died due to being stuck in cold weather, after Pakistan closed the Torkham border gate.  Border police say thousands of people are stuck. Pakistan recently closed the border crossing in retaliation for Afghan border police harassing Pakistani citizens.

Iranian and Afghan education officials announced they will build a jointly run science/technology university in the near future.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 25 – 28 December 2012. Attacks increasing! U.S. bombs Afghan government militias! Tit for tat increases with Pakistan. Cops keep attacking fellow cops! More waste of U.S. taxpayer money!

28 December 2012

Mujahideen claim wave of attacks in Kandahar Province.  In Shahwalikot district, battles raged since the day before. Mujahideen are not sure of how much damage they inflicted on enemy troops, but they think they blew up a U.S./NATO armored vehicle.  Also, in the same district a local cop joined the Mujahideen.  In Panjwaee district, a cop was sniped.  In Kandahar city, a police vehicle was blown up with a bicycle bomb, killing four and wounding one.  In Ghorak district, a police vehicle was blown up with a landmine.  In Hisark district, 15 U.S./NATO personnel were killed in a firefight.

Pakistan closed the Torkham gate on the border with Afghanistan, claiming two Pakistani truck drivers had been tortured by Afghan border police.  This was apparently in retaliation for Pakistani police harassing 29 Afghan truck drivers.  And that was in retaliation for Afghan harassment of Pakistani workers the week prior!

In another example of wasted U.S. taxpayer money; two Afghan women returned from the United States after receiving helicopter pilot training.  The problem is that the Afghan air force refuses to let the women do their jobs as pilots.  The two 2nd Lieutenants are the first female pilots for Afghanistan since the Soviet occupation in the 1980s.

Afghans are suing Germany over an airstrike that killed almost one hundred civilians, and wounded at least 142.  It happened in 2009, when German ground troops called in an airstrike on two fuelers that had been captured by Mujahideen.  USAF F-15 Eagles blew up the fuel trucks in a crowded part of Kunduz city.

Australia began officially withdrawing from Afghanistan.  They claim they will be out by the end of 2013.

27 December 2012

In Logar Province, Mujahideen claim heavy fighting.  Two U.S. led troops on foot patrol killed, and two wounded, using a remote detonated bomb.  They also claim to have killed two Afghan government troops when they blew up their vehicle.  A policeman was sniped by Mujahideen as well.

In Uruzgan Province, Mujahideen attacked a police checkpoint. Government reports say four cops killed, four wounded. Mujahideen claim six cops killed.  Reports say the attack was led by a local cop.

In Kunar Province,  Mujahideen are calling it the Battle of Kunar.  In Chapa Darah district, they claim to have killed seven enemy troops and blew up three vehicles.  In Manugi district, they claim to have killed three enemy troops, wounded dozens, and destroyed three vehicles.

26 December 2012

In Nangarhar Province, in Khogiyani district, U.S./NATO forces used helicopters to bomb Afghan government militia troops and local police, killing 15.  It happened during an intense battle with Mujahideen.  Apparently the U.S. led forces mistook the local government militia/cops as Mujahideen.  No comment from ISAF, so far.  Mujahideen say, “na, na, you missed me, you didn’t even touch me!”

In Faryab Province, in Dawlatabad district, Mujahideen attacked a police checkpoint chasing off the cops and taking two motorcycles and a supply truck.  In Chilgazi district, Mujahideen killed 10 Afghan National Army (ANA) troops, and captured one.

In Khost Province, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Chapman was hit by a car bomb: “Three Afghan nationals are killed and seven Afghan nationals are wounded. We have no report of coalition casualties right now.”-International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)

Afghan media reports say President Hamid Karzai has met with Mujahideen leaders.  He promised them he would take their complaints directly to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Afghan investigators say the police woman who killed a U.S. police contractor, is from Iran.  They say she came to Afghanistan ten years ago with her husband.  Although investigators are trying to blame the shooting on the fact that she’s originally from Iran, they have not found any links to Mujahideen.  The female cop said she did it to get vengeance for being sexually harassed.

France will offer asylum to Afghans that have worked for the French military.  French officials admit those Afghans who worked for the French military will not be safe once French troops leave Afghanistan.

Today was the 33rd anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.  The Soviets had advanced weapons, highly trained troops, much more firepower including air power, yet still lost.  They occupied Afghanistan (on their own, not with allies like the United states) for ten years.

25 December 2012 

In Kandahar Province, Panjwaee district, Mujahideen say they attacked a enemy foot patrol by ambush and landmines.  Two killed, one wounded. In Karez bazaar of Kandahar city, Mujahideen attacked a police check point with grenades. As government reinforcements arrived, Mujahideen attacked them with bombs. Six killed.  In Boldak district, three border police were killed, one wounded, when they drove over a landmine.

In Farah Province, three people were killed when they drove over a landmine.

In Helmand Province, in Bari Gul bazaar area of Nad Ali district, U.S./NATO forces raided a village. Three people were beat up then kidnapped.

In Paktika Province, an ANA soldier joined the Mujahideen.

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

What Economic Recovery? Hewlett Packard on the ropes, and going down! Blames War on Terror!

“Terrorist acts, conflicts of wars (wherever located throughout the world) may cause damage or disruption to HP, our employees, facilities, partners, suppliers, distributors, resellers or customers or adversely affect our ability to manage logistics……..The potential for future attacks, the national and international responses……or wars, including ongoing military operations in Afghanistan, have created many economic and political uncertainties……actions against or by the United States may impact our business and employees.”-HP Form 10-K, Security & Exchange Commission report, 27 December 2012

Hewlett Packard filed a 10-K report with the U.S. SEC, and it’s full of what if scenarios, mostly bad scenarios.  Obviously the executives of HP are not positive about 2013.  Employees will continue to be shed: “The restructuring plan includes both voluntary early retirement programs and non-voluntary workforce reductions and is expected to result in 29,000 employees exiting the company by the end of the period [by the end of 2014].”   

HP is also dealing with trouble from competitors, dealers and divisions.

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating HP’s claims that the executives of the British company Autonomy, lied about its financial situation. HP shelled out $11 billion USD for Autonomy in 2011!

After a challenge by IBM (International Business Machines) the U.S. Federal government will continue with a $543 million five year Department of Veterans Affairs contract with HP.

Despite Idaho voters rejecting a laptop for students proposition, HP was awarded a $180 million contract to provide the laptops, at least one week before the voting took place!!!

Skycom Tech, a business partner of Chinese company Huawei, tried to sell $1.72 million worth of HP communication equipment to an Iranian company, some say in violation of U.S./European sanctions.  The deal didn’t go through, but Huawei said: “Huawei’s business in Iran is in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations including those of the UN, U.S. and EU….”

HP officials said: “HP’s distribution contract terms prohibit the sale of HP products into Iran…”

There are reports that HP is no longer directly selling printers on Amazon. Some analysts think it’s actually retaliation by Amazon, because HP’s new Cloud computing system is in direct competition with Amazon’s own computing system.

A report out of India says a state government is investigating HP’s claims of being able to supply 1,500,000 school laptops by a certain date.  If government officials don’t think HP can make the deadline they will split up the contract to other competitors:  “If HP is found to have insufficient capacity, then it could, accordingly, get a contract to supply a reduced quantity of laptops and the remaining quantity will be divided among the bidders ready to offer the quantity at the rate quoted by HP.”-Uttar Pradesh government statement

HP and General Motors (GM) are going after each other in court.  It involves GM’s recent decision to hire away from HP 3,000 employees, to start its own inhouse tech service. HP claims it’s more than coincidence that GM’s plans to dump HP (and IBM) as tech service providers come after GM hired several HP executives to run GM’s technology operations. HP said the initial 18 HP employees hired by GM resigned “en masse and without notice.”


International, U.S.

World War 3: China, France and United States evacuating CAR. France and U.S. increase troop presence. IMF says it’s all about the oil, baby!

31 December 2012, Central African Republic (CAR) government forces are abandoning their capitol city, as rebel forces move in.  The most recent reports say the coalition of three rebel groups (known as Seleka) are one town away from victory.

U.S. President Barack Obama has informed Congress that he is sending 50 additional troops to help evacuate U.S. citizens.

China has evacuated about 300 citizens from CAR.  More are expected to leave in the next few days.

France has increased its troop presence to 400.  Officials say it’s only to help evacuate French citizens.

Reports say that the government of CAR has repeatedly asked France and the U.S. for help fighting the rebels, but got no response.

CAR has significant resources, like oil.  As recently as October 2012, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that there is so much oil in central Africa that the expected revenues have the “….Power to Transform Countries of Central Africa”.

The IMF even published a policy book on it, called Oil Wealth in Central Africa: Policies for Inclusive Growth.  Six countries are talked about: Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo.

One IMF economist said that most of the governments are reluctant to adopt IMF policies regarding economic progress, and implies that those countries need some prodding: “…of all the countries that are in this region, none of them are fully compliant with EITI, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative….” , “To some extent, there is a reluctance to move, because at the end of the day these are political choices…….We think that with greater awareness, and also particularly of the cost of what is not being achieved, these circumstances will change.”-Sharmini Coorey, IMF Institute for Capacity Development

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Barack Obama deploying U.S. forces throughout Africa! Use of Domino theory is more evidence of U.S. invasion of Mali! UN OKs Mali war!

On 24 December 2012, the Associated Press revealed that the United States is deploying thousands of troops to 35 African countries.

Approximately 4,000 personnel from the U.S. Army’s 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (Dagger Brigade, based at Fort Riley, Kansas), will deploy in March 2013.  This report follows earlier reports that plans were being made to invade Mali.

On 23 December, the Associated Press published an article which revealed that the United Nations Security Council approved the request of the African Union (AU) for military action in Mali.  It just so happens that the AU invasion plan calls for at least 3,300 troops.

It’s also coincidentally convenient that some of the U.S. Army’s Dagger Brigade soldiers are from Africa: “We do have some soldiers who either came over from Africa and went to school here and then joined the military or came over with their families.”-Colonel Jeff Broadwater

Officially the deployment is for training purposes.

Regarding Mali, a 25 December 2012 National Public Radio (NPR) report gave strong proof that the U.S. is about to ramp up activity in the western African country; one U.S. General is using the old Domino theory to justify war:  “What I worry about more than anything is a growing linkage which I think poses the greatest threat to regional stability across Africa, certainly into Europe and to the United States as well.”-General Carter Ham, U.S. Africa Command

NPR also interviewed an analyst who says ‘terrorism’ in Africa is more about poverty and predatory governments (like the U.S. government?): “Terrorism is really a symptom of a lot of other problems that really the military is not the best organization to solve.”-Richard Downie

You’d think after 11 years of failed War on Terrorism our exalted leaders would understand that.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 17 – 24 December 2012. Lil’ol Afghan Woman kills big tough U.S. cop! Police commander kills own cops? Spain says they will stay after the 2014 pullout! More proof taxpayers are fools! Soviet landmines still at work!

24 December 2012

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

In Badghis Province, local government officials reporting that at least ten local cops joined the Mujahideen.  This is the largest group defection in the province, so far.  People of the Chehl-Gazi area, in Abkamari district, say the cops had been making plans to become Mujahideen for some time.

In Kabul city, a local policewoman shot and killed a U.S. police adviser.  Reports say it happened in a police station. The policewoman has been arrested.  Some reports say the policewoman was seeking vengeance against her male supervisors, however she could not find them in the police station, and her only target of opportunity was the U.S. adviser.

23 December 2012

In Jowzjan Province, five local cops were assassinated, by their own commander! Some reports say the commander joined the Mujahideen and started his rebellion by attacking a police check point, killing his former underlings. However, other reports say the commander was kidnapped when Mujahideen attacked the police check point.  The commander was responsible for recently freeing two Turkish citizens that had been kidnapped.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said: “During an operation in Sherzad district, Nangarhar Province, Sunday, an Afghan and coalition security force killed Obaidullah, one of the top Taliban leaders in the district.”

Possibly in response, Mujahideen attacked a U.S. led military convoy in Nangarhar Province. Reports say as many as ten U.S. personnel were killed, along with three civilians. No comment from ISAF.

In Kabul city, 600 shops burned up after a fire started in a busy market. Some reports say people were hurt, and that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.  However, the city police chief says they are looking for a private security guard, working at the market, who went missing right before the fire stated.

22 December 2012

In Ghanzi Province, Ghazni city, an explosion wounded three people.  It was caused by a bicycle bomb, local police say the target was an intelligence officer.

Pakistan is accusing Afghanistan of torture, and has closed its borders: “The Government of Pakistan takes serious note of the incident involving 29 Pakistanis who were returning from Afghanistan and were badly beaten en-route reportedly by Afghan forces despite having valid travel documents/passports.”-Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement

After several investigations revealed that most of the corruption in Afghanistan involves taxpayer money laundering by foreigners (like the U.S.), President Hamid Karzai blasted them: “Corruption in Afghanistan is a reality, a bitter reality. The part of this corruption that is in our offices is a small part: that is bribes. The other part of corruption, the large part, is hundreds of millions dollars that are not ours. We shouldn’t blame ourselves for that. That part is from others and imposed on us.”

The Spanish Prime Minister, and the Defense Minister, paid a visit to a Spanish NATO logistics base in Herat Province.  It was the first time the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, was in Afghanistan.  He said some Spanish NATO troops will stay in Afghanistan past the official 2014 U.S./NATO pullout.

Afghanistan uses the Solar Hijri calendar system, and their lawmakers have just rejected the budget for the upcoming year of 1392.  The main reasons is that the proposed budget is not balanced and there is hardly any funding for infrastructure.  Most of the funding was slated for police and military.

21 December 2012

Apparently there was a media blackout on this day.

20 December 2012

In Nimroz Province, two Afghan security personnel and five civilians were killed, and one cop wounded, after a large roadside bomb exploded.  Government officials say they’re investigating to find out what happened.

The Georgian Ministry of Defense revealed that one of their soldiers has been missing since 19 December. Georgia has troops based in Helmand Province.

A report says that female cops in Afghanistan are enduring sexual harassment, even rape, at the hands of male cops. One female cop said most of the men wish the Taliban were in charge again: “They want it to be like the time of the Taliban. They tell us every day we are bad women and should not be allowed to work here.”

The United States Army wants to execute Sergeant Robert Bales, accused of mass murder of two Afghan families.  There are those who think the U.S. is making a scapegoat out of Bales because many witnesses said there were at least 20 U.S. soldiers involved.  Afghan police investigation also concluded the killings involved more than one shooter.

19 December 2012

Yet another report says Green on Blue attacks are caused by U.S./NATO personnel treating their Afghan counterparts like crap.  The latest report actually involves U.S. military investigation, which said the majority of Green on Blue attacks were due to “personal issues”, not Mujahideen infiltrating Afghan government forces; 38% were likely to have been triggered by personal motives, 14% were attributed to co-option (insurgents persuaded a member of the security forces to help carry out an attack), only 6% were suspected cases of enemy infiltration.

Yet another report says U.S. taxpayer money being thrown away in Afghanistan.  The U.S. State Department’s Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) found that millions of U.S. dollars have been given to contractors who did no work. One example is $5.76 million given to a contractor to do electrical utility work, which was never completed.  The scams involve the military as well: “Almost $12.8 million in equipment purchased to meet urgent needs in support of the counterinsurgency strategy is sitting unused in storage… without a clear plan for installation.”-John Sopko, SIGAR

18 December 2012

In Nangarhar Province, unknown gunmen assassinated a movie actor.  There is no explanation other than the actor might have been a social activist.

In Kandahar Province, four border cops were killed, and three wounded, by a fellow border cop.  Investigators say the victims were first poisoned before being shot.

In Nuristan Province, reports of heavy fighting between Afghan government forces and Mujahideen.  Government officials claim they’ve killed three Mujahideen, the Mujahideen claim they’ve killed or wounded several government personnel.

17 December 2012

In Kabul city, the office of a U.S. military contractor, Contrack International, was hit with a car bomb: “A small truck packed with explosives detonated between Contrack and Najeeb Zarab factories, one person is dead and 15 others are wounded.”-Mohammad Ayoub Salangi, Kabul police chief

In Nangarhar Province, ten girls were killed when they set off a landmine while collecting firewood.  Local government officials said the landmine apparently had been there since the Soviet occupation in the 1980s.