08 November 2012, Iraq has expelled the Turkish oil company, TPAO (aka Turkish Petroleum Corporation).
Iraqi government officials refuse to explain why at the moment, but could it have something to do with continued Turkish bombing of Iraq?
On 06 November, Turkish F-16 Vipers bombed northern Iraq, killing two people and wounding three. Back on 02 October Iraq demanded U.S.-led NATO member Turkey stop its attacks.
Turkey claims it is targeting Kurdish insurgents.
On 07 November 2012, Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, revealed that U.S. led NATO is deploying Patriot missiles in Turkey, for use against Syria.
Last month Turkey, a member of NATO, began artillery shelling of Syria, and increased ground and air forces near the border with Syria.
The Patriot missiles will be used to enforce an unannounced “no fly zone” over northern Syria, in order to support insurgents inside Syria!
Also, recently it was revealed that insurgents are using Turkish ambulances as military transports (a violation of international law), to get U.S./Israeli/Saudi backed troops in and out of Syria!
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?
“We’ve learned a lot about Democracy in Latin America, and they have made a lot of progress….The elections in Venezuela, although some people have criticized the result….there’s no doubt in our mind….that he [Hugo Chavez] won fairly and squarely…As a matter a fact, of the 92 elections we’ve monitored, I would say the election process in Venezuela is the best in the world!…..Mexico had their first honest election and the Carter Center was the only monitor invited in….all the other countries in Latin America, except for one [Venezuela]….and another one in North America [United States]….has public financing of all the election process. If you qualify to run for public office you get public financing, and outside money does not affect the outcome of the election……The United States election process is shot through now with, I’d say, financial corruption. We have one of the worst election processes in the world.“-Former U.S. President, true Christian and international election observer Jimmy Carter, 11 September 2012 annual Carter Center “Conversation”, in response to question about election monitoring in Latin America
The former president was talking about the more than 90 countries that his organization, The Carter Center, has worked to observe elections, to make sure they are fair.
The month after Carter made his statements about U.S. democracy, the U.S. states of Texas and Iowa announced they would arrest international election observers that entered polling places.
Carter says the main problem is private financing of campaigns for public office. He explained there was a time when candidates used only public financing to run for office: “You know how much [privately sourced] money I raised when I ran against Gerald Ford [1976 U.S. Presidential elections]? Zero!…. You know how much [privately sourced] money I raised to run against Ronald Reagan [1980 U.S. Presidential elections]? Zero! We got public financing for the elections. You know how much [privately sourced] money’s gonna be raised this year in the United States for the President, and the Senate and House elections? Six billion dollars!…..And that money comes from people who, now under the Supreme Court ruling, don’t have to be identified….and a lot of it can come from corporations partially owned by foreigners.”
Carter said the only way the election process can begin to be fixed is if the U.S. Supreme Court reverses its “stupid decision”, and there is a return to public financing of national campaigns.
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.
“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
29 October 2012
In Wardak Province, Mujahideen ambushed U.S. and Afghan National Army troops. The U.S. and ANA personnel were conducting assessments of local police checkpoints. They were attacked with assault rifles and RPGs. U.S. officials claim they killed three Mujahideen.
In Helmand Province, at least two ANA soldiers were killed (some reports say four) when the vehicle they were in ran over a landmine.
Despite the fact that U.S. officials continue to claim we are there to provide security to Afghanistan, ISAF officials said they are not there to protect Afghanistan’s borders: “In the first Bonn conference in December 2001 there was a proposal of the Afghan delegation to include the protection of the border of Afghanistan in one of the annexes. Actually this annex was part of the Bonn proposal however, this annex never made it into our mandate that we received from the United Nations.”-Brigadier General Günter Katz, International Security Assistance Force
The Afghan High Peace Council revealed that Saudi Arabia will mediate peace talks between Mujahideen and the Afghan government. It must be remembered that it was Saudi Arabia that supported Osama bin Laden and, along with Pakistan, eventually supported the creation of the Taliban (“Students”) political party. Saudi Arabia also officially recognized the Taliban government. Analysts say this time the Saudi’s are concerned about blowback: “Saudi Arabia is in a situation to support the Afghan peace talks not only because of the moral stance of Saudi in this regard but also they should consider the post 2014 situation in Afghanistan which will threaten the national security of Saudi Arabia if necessary steps have not been taken to eliminate insurgency in South Asia.”-Nasrullah Stanekzai
Saudi Arabia is also spending $100 million USD to build a huge Mosque/madrasa in Afghanistan. They claim it will house 5,000 university aged students.
In Ghazni Province, five people were killed and four detained by U.S./ANA forces. Officials claim they were all Mujahideen, but locals say at least one civilian man and one civilian woman were killed. Officials say the U.S./ANA operation started Sunday night and continued until Monday morning.
Afghan elected official, Ramazan Bashar Doost, said that while the U.S. is offering a $25 million reward for the arrest of Mullah Omar, the U.S. has been in contact with Mulla Omar the whole time! Doost also says the U.S. is actually funding not only Pakistan’s ISI, but Afghan Mujahideen groups as well.
28 October 2012
In Canada, Pakistani elected official, Imran Khan, was detained by U.S. agents: “I was taken off from plane and interrogated by U.S. Immigration in Canada on my views on drones. My stance is known. Drone attacks must stop!”-Imran Khan
Imran Khan is also the Pakistani official who said war in Afghanistan was justified Jihad. Khan was on his way to New York anyway, so why couldn’t the U.S. wait until he arrived there?
Afghan intelligence, aka National Directorate of Security (NDS), told Pakistani officials that the man they claim is behind the shooting of a teenaged Pakistani girl is not in Afghanistan.
27 October 2012
In Ghor Province, local government officials say 13 people were kidnapped. However, police say they do not know who did the kidnapping, and they don’t know the identities of those kidnapped!
The British Red Coat Ministry of Defence said the deaths of one Royal Marine and one Royal Army medic was not the result of fratricide (Blue on Blue). However, the two Red Coats died (as well as a Afghan National Policeman performing Muslim prayers) after two British patrols fired on each other. The MoD stated: “…the deaths of Corporal O’Connor and Corporal Day were caused by a third party or parties whose identities have yet to be established but who are not U.K. personnel.”
An investigative reporter says Green on Blue attacks are not caused by insurgents, but by the way U.S./NATO personnel treat Afghans: “These attacks are motivated by grudges, by people who are unhappy with the people they are coming in contact with in the U.S. and NATO military forces, but also by the broader context of what they hear and see these forces are doing in Afghanistan specifically for example breaking into people’s homes and taking away the males in these homes and detaining them.”-Gareth Porter
26 October 2012
In Ghazni Province, the bodies of six people were found on the Kabul-Kandahar highway. They had been shot. Police believe the victims were traveling to see relatives for the Eid holiday.
The Wall Street Journal said Afghan sources claim Iran has infiltrated Afghanistan through charity organizations. Sources claim Iran can now muster up to 20,000 Afghans at one time for militant activities, making Iran a greater threat than Pakistan.
In Farah Province, an NDS agent was attacked by Mujahideen. Several people were wounded and the a gunman was arrested. No info on what happened to the NDS agent.
ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in western Afghanistan today.”
In Faryab Province, a suicide bombing killed at least 40 people, and wounded 50. It appears the Provincial governor and local police chief were the targets. It happened at a Mosque. President Hamid Karzai said the attacks made against Muslims while they are praying in Mosques are not being made by Muslims, suggesting the attacks are really being instigated by non-Muslims (like non-Muslims from the United States or Europe).
Recently the grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia declared that suicide attacks by Muslims against Muslims was unforgivable.
“There could be at least three explanations. One is the public discourse about a possible Israeli or American operation deterred them from trying to come closer. It could probably be a diplomatic gambit that they have launched in order to avoid this issue culminating before the American election, just to gain some time. It could be a way of telling the IAEA ‘oh we comply with our commitments’.”-Ehud Barak, Defense Minister of Israel
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, a top Israeli official said they believe Iran has at least delayed any attempts to build a nuclear weapon.
Israeli officials still say Iran will eventually build a nuclear weapon, so maybe this is actually a delaying tactic on the part of Israel, until after the U.S. Presidential elections (if they happen at all)?
“We are talking about the things that still need to be solved and here it became clear that the global economy’s risks are very evident, as is clearly stated in the communiqué. The economic growth outlooks are not as good as we would hope.”-Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany
The German leader made the statement on 30 October 2012, after reading a report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Trade Organization, International Labour Organization, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The IMF boss, Christine Lagarde, admitted that economic growth will be pathetic: “I would characterize the situation as that of a laborious recovery out of the financial crisis through some degree of stabilization by way of tepid growth.”
The IMF also pushed developed economies to further consolidate their fiscal policies. This is another way of saying government deleveraging (typically in the form of austerity) should be increased.
(deleveraging began for individuals and small businesses with the 2008 Credit Crisis/Crunch. It’s one of the causes behind all the Sears & Kmart store closings in the U.S.)
The IMF is specifically targeting the United States, saying the U.S. needs a credible fiscal consolidation plan, implemented “at an appropriate pace” in order to stabilize a “fragile” world economy.
Just two days ago, the IMF, along with European lenders, told Greece that they could not provide anymore financing unless more drastic changes were made, such as drastic changes in Greece’s labor/wage laws. The Greek coalition government is showing signs that it would rather default than make anymore compromises.
The paradox is that while world economic organizations want increased deleveraging of individuals, small businesses and governments, they also want employment to somehow increase and people to somehow spend more money buying stuff they don’t need (domestic consumption)!
And it’s not just developed countries being told to axe their government spending, even oil rich Arab countries are being told to do the same: “A rapid deterioration in the global economy could bring about developments similar to what the region experienced in 2009, including a sharp fall in oil prices and disruptions to capital flows.”-IMF
The IMF explained that as the world economy worsens, demand for oil is going to drop to such lows that the the six Gulf Cooperation Council economies of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain could experience an economic crash.
The IMF projects that the price of oil could drop by $30 USD per barrel in 2013, and continue dropping! This might sound like good news, but it’s because people won’t have the money to buy it at any price!
“The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps [IRGC] Navy is fully monitoring the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf and has a close watch on all movements.”-Brigadier General Reza Torabi, Commander of the IRGC’s First Naval Zone
27 October 2012, U.S. Navy (USN) Rear Admiral Charles “Chuck” M. Gaouette has been replaced. He was the commander of the USS Stennis Carrier Strike Group, which reportedly entered the Persian Gulf.
The Stennis CSG entered the 5th Fleet’s area of responsibility (AoR) on 17 October. The AoR includes the Persian Gulf: “We’re looking forward to working with our partner nations and ensuring the vital sea lanes of this region remain free for all maritime traffic…”-Rear Admiral Gaouette
Gaouette is being investigated for “inappropriate leadership judgment” according to the USN. He is being replaced by Rear Admiral Troy Shoemaker.
Reports say the investigation is not related to personal conduct, but perhaps is related to the way he commanded the USS Stennis the last time it was in the Persian Gulf.
Back in January the Iranian military said it would take action against the USS Stennis if it returns to the Persian Gulf. They claim it deliberately sailed through Iranian naval war games, and sailed danger close to Iranian oil platforms.
There are reports that the USS Stennis CSG entered the Persian Gulf on 21 October. Iranian military officials made it clear they were keeping an eye on the USS Stennis: “Great developments in different fields have taken place in the [Iranian] Navy and many successes have been achieved…..[including] monitoring of the U.S. aircraft carriers at any moment.”-Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Iranian Navy
No info on when Rear Admiral Charles “Chuck” M. Gaouette was removed from command of the Stennis CSG, the USN only announced the command change on 27 October. The San Fransisco Chronicle pointed out that it is unusual for a CSG commander to be replaced in the middle of deployment.