Tag Archives: oil

International, U.S.

World War 3: Signs Japan is preparing to join the U.S. in war with China! Military leaders say current Global situation similar to just prior to World War 2!

“In the latest sign of Japan’s military breaking out of its long-time self-imposed shell, about 20 uniformed, rifle-carrying soldiers, faces smeared with camouflage paint, marched through Tokyo’s western neighborhoods of Nerima and Itabashi Tuesday morning as part of a training mission….It was the first time in 42 years that Japanese troops openly marched through the capital…”-Wall Street Journal Japan, 12 June 2012

“Japan slipped to 5th position in the 2012 GPI [Global Peace Index], as a result of an increase in the number of heavy weapons and a slight rise in military spending as a proportion of GDP. There was also a rise in the Political Terror
Scale for the first time since 2004 from a very low level—the result of concerns raised in Amnesty International’s 2010 annual report. Despite the ban on maintaining war potential that was enshrined in Japan’s 1946 constitution, the country’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are sophisticated and capable and in
late 2010 the government unveiled plans to boost its southern forces over the next decade to counter China’s military rise.”-Global Peace Index 2012

“Satoshi Morimoto, a prominent national security analyst and government adviser who served in both the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Foreign Ministry, was named to the defense post on Monday. He becomes Japan’s third defense minister since September; his predecessors, career politicians, were fired for incompetence.”-Time.com

“Japan is swinging its ground forces south to face China, and debating fundamental changes in the roles, missions and operations of its self-defense forces.“-Time.com

“Morimoto….is the first defense minister since the Second World War who is not a member of the Diet. That’s a big deal in a country that still nurses a deep distrust of the military and where renunciation of war is written – right there in black and white — into Japan’s constitution.”-Time.com

“He [Morimoto] is also a strong supporter of the U.S.-Japan alliance and of keeping Marines on Okinawa, despite the noise, crime and danger that have sparked decades of protest.”-Time.com

“A recent image posted on the top page of the official website for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) High Technical School conspicuously features the Zaku mobile suit from the Gundam [Anime/cartoon] series, with two students looking at a toy of the suit while imagining themselves as one…..The JGSDF High Technical School is a three-year high school that offers specialized technical training as well as officer training to its students……”-Animenewsnetwork.com

“The two big challenges Japan faces today are social security and national security. The latter is related to the SDF [Self Defense Forces] and the Defense Academy….The role to be played by the SDF will grow greater in the future.”-Ryosei Kokubun, current president of the National Defense Academy of Japan, interview with The Daily Yomiuri

“The situation in Japan today is similar to that of Britain and France after World War I. As the cruel war killed so many young people, the public’s prevailing opinion during the postwar period was that they should never go to war again.  As a result, Britain and France tended toward appeasement against the rise of Germany, only to allow another cruel war to break out.   Similarly, after the end of World War II, Japan came to believe it should be committed to pacifism.  It has managed to maintain its security by taking full advantage of the Japan-U.S. alliance in combination with its own limited arms.  Today, however, the surrounding region has become one of the most dangerous in the world. Since the 1991 Gulf War, China has realized the necessity of modernizing its forces, and as a result it continues to build up its military…”-Makoto Iokibe, former president of the National Defense Academy of Japan, interview with The Daily Yomiuri

Idaho, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 10 June – 14 June. U.S./NATO deaths pass 2000 since the U.S. led occupation began. Doctor behind school girl poisonings! More proof it’s about the oil! More proof the drug war is a failure! Accused war criminal considered for Attorney General!

14 June 2012

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said one U.S. led occupation personnel was killed by Mujahideen on 13 June, in southern Afghanistan.

The U.S. Pentagon confirmed that it was a U.S. Marine, from Minnesota, that was killed on 13 June.

The British Ministry of Defence also confirms one of their soldiers was killed by a grenade, also on 13 June.

This brings the 2012 death toll of U.S. led occupying forces to more than 200. Since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan at least 2,000 U.S. forces have been killed.  418 British soldiers have been killed.

In Kunar Province, a suicide bomber attacked a U.S. occupation air base.  At least five people were killed.

In Jowzjan Province, an explosion wounded at least 11 people. It happened near the home of a local electoral boss.

The Ministry of Defense for Afghanistan reports that 11 of their troops were wounded in attacks by Mujahideen. The attacks took place in Kunar, Ghazni and Kandahar provinces.

ISAF claims they killed a “leader”, and a Mujahideen in Kandahar Province.  Another “leader” was captured in Helmand Province.

13 June 2012

In Baghlan Province, at least two people were killed, five wounded, in tribal disputes.

In Paktiya Province, a huge explosion left one person killed, at least 20 people wounded. It happened near the Kabul Bank.

12 June 2012

U.S. Marine General John Allen order an end to air strikes on houses!  This comes after wide spread protests over the continued killing of civilians by U.S. troops.

Iran announced the capture of 137 kilograms (302 pounds) of drugs in the past 80 days, a 176% increase in illegal drugs coming from Afghanistan, compared with the same time last year!   Many of the drug traffickers arrested are citizens of Azerbaijan Republic.

In Wardak Province, five civilians were killed when they drove over a mine.

ISAF announced that three U.S. led occupation personnel were killed by an explosion in southern Afghanistan.

Controversial Afghan General, Abdul Rashid Dostum (who receives support from the U.S.), is being investigated for interfering in the development of the oil fields in northern Afghanistan.  The main oil fields of Afghanistan are located in Faryab and Sar-e-Pul provinces. Preliminary reports estimate the area has almost 87 million barrels of petroleum.

Dostum is also being considered for Attorney General of Afghanistan, despite being involved with the murder of hundreds of “Taliban” prisoners in 2001 (known as the Dasht-i-Leili massacre).

In Kunar Province, two tribal elders were assassinated. Mujahideen say the elders were spying for the Afghan police.

The Interior Ministry of Afghanistan claims 30 Mujahideen were killed in battles in Baghlan, Kandahar, Zabul, Logar and Ghazni provinces.

In Balkh Province, two people were killed, and five wounded, by a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle.

U.S. Army Lieutenant General James L. Terry, assumed command of ISAF.

11 June 2012

In Logar Province, the residents closed down all schools in protest of the continued killings of civilians by U.S. troops.  The latest incident involved a U.S. air strike on a house that was full of wedding guests, 18 were killed.

In Baghlan Province, 3500 hectares (8,648.6 acres) of opium fields were destroyed.  It took ten days.

The Ministry of Defense for Afghanistan reports that three of their troops were killed, 12 wounded, in battles with Mujahideen.  The attacks took place in Helmand, Kunar and Maidan Wardak provinces.

In Kunar Province, the local government intelligence boss was assassinated. They don’t know who did it.

In Sar-e-Pul Province, at least four people were killed when they drove over a mine.

In Kunduz Province, three people were killed after a house blew up.

10 June 2012

A Pakistani female doctor was arrested in connection with the recent poisonings at girls’ schools.  11 other suspects have been arrested as well.

In Kandahar Province, an Idaho National Guardsman was severely wounded when he stepped on a mine. He’s expected to be sent to Germany for treatment.  According to relatives living in Pocatello, Idaho, he lost his legs, suffered a fractured pelvis, a broken arm, internal injuries and lost a couple of fingers.  His brother recently returned from occupation duty in Iraq and Kuwait.

The Interior Ministry of Afghanistan claims 33 Mujahideen were killed by Afghan police, in battles Kabul, Laghman, Parwan, Helmand, Uruzgan and Farah provinces.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Government Hypocrisy: United States exempts 7 more countries from Iran sanctions list. What about up-coming EU sanctions? UN says Iran has no Nukes!

“….we did not say Iran had nuclear weapons. We never said such. We also did not say that Iran made a decision to obtain nuclear weapons. That we also did not say.”-Yukiya Amano, International Atomic Energy Agency

12 June 2012, apparently all the excitement over Iran’s nuclear program was hyperbole.  The Obama administration just exempted seven more countries from the oil sanctions.

In March 2012 France, Germany and Japan were exempted. Now India, South Korea, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Africa.  Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said it was because those countries have dramatically reduced their purchase of Iranian oil.

I’ve been following this and I can say that several of those countries have not reduced their purchases of Iran oil, even increasing their future orders!

U.S. officials (both in the Obama administration and in Congress) have been bold face lying to the U.S. news media, claiming that the sanctions have hurt the Iranian economy.  If that’s so then why is Iran swimming in more money than ever before?

Today it was revealed that Iran’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has doubled in the past fives years, despite decades of old sanctions, and despite the new sanctions: “Due to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s economic capacities we have been able to move through the sanctions and will do the same in future as well.”-Seyed Shamseddin Hosseini, Iranian Ministry of Economic Affairs & Finance

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Iran now has the 17th strongest economy in the World, thanks to their GDP rising to $482 billion USD last year.  The IMF expects Iran’s GDP, for 2012, to be more than 3%, and remember, that’s under sanctions!

Iran’s own stock exchange (Tehran Stock Exchange or TSE) has seen a 280% growth rate in the past five years!  The TSE is doing almost too well, so much so that Iranian officials issued a statement to try and calm investors: “Concerns about bubble growth are unfounded. The reason for the rise in the index is the flow of cash into the stock market.”-Ali Sahraie, TSE operations manager

Stock market analysts believe Iran’s TSE has a lot more room for growth: “Even though (the market) is rallying I still think of it as under performing.”-Ahmad Alanani, works for London based Exotix

The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) boss just came out (in an interview with the Wall Street Journal) and said Iran has no nukes, and that the IAEA could find no evidence suggesting that Iran is trying to build nukes.

However, the IAEA did allude to possible nuke weapons programs that were active prior to 2003: “We don’t have the impression that they are re-concentrating their activities. Before 2003 the work was quite systematic. And after that it is more dispersed. And this situation continues.”-Yukiya Amano

Sanctions against Iran, by the European Union, are set to go into effect on 1 July.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 08 June – 09 June. French troops killed, France to begin pullout. U.S. apologizes, again. 11 U.S./NATO troops killed in one day!

9 June 2012

In Kapisa Province, at least six French troops were killed, four wounded, when the NATO convoy was attacked by a suicide bomber.  This as French President, Francois Hollande, announced that French forces will begin leaving Afghanistan in July.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says at least five U.S. led occupation personnel were killed in eastern Afghanistan. Four were killed in an attack by Mujahideen.  One was killed by an explosion.

At least 188 U.S. led occupation personnel have been killed since the beginning of 2012.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of the Interior fired a provincial security boss, and a provincial prison boss.  The two men were in charge of operations in Sar-e-Pul Province.  This is because of a prison break that happened on the night of 7 June.

Another provincial security boss, in Tagab district, was fired for being AWOL.

Afghan officials also claim they killed 11 Mujahideen, capturing two, in battles in the provinces of Helmand, Zabul, Ghazni, Paktika, Herat and Farah.

8 June 2012

Yet again, USMC General John Allen apologized for U.S. forces killing innocent people.  The killings took place on 6 June, in Logar Province.  U.S. occupying forces called in a “precision strike” on a house, which they claim was a Mujahideen hideout.  Turns out the house was full of relatives who just celebrated a wedding that day.  At least 18 people were killed, including nine children.

Mujahideen claim responsibility for a prison break in Sar-e-Pul Province.  It happened on the night of 7 June, and the Mujahideen used explosives to get the prisoners out.  More than 30 people escaped, but Afghan officials claim they captured half of them.  At least 34 people were wounded in the prison break operation.

ISAF reports two U.S. occupation personnel killed by explosion in southern Afghanistan. They said it happened on 7 June.   ISAF also said “An International Security Assistance Force service member died as a result of a non-battle related injury in southern Afghanistan today.”

 

Idaho, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 04 June – 07 June. U.S. kills dozens of civilians, again! U.S. finally admits Mujahideen are more agressive this year! Idaho Guardsman shot. NATO signs exit deal.

7 June 2012

“There’s been an increase in the attacks.”-Leon Panetta, U.S. Secretary of Defense

After threatening Pakistan, U.S. Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, arrived in Kabul to discuss the increased violence in Afghanistan (proving that recent reports that violence was down are wrong).  If you’ve been following my posts, it’s obvious the violence has increased.

Panetta admitted, in a round-a-bout way, that the U.S. is clueless in Afghanistan, by saying his impromptu visit to Afghanistan was “…to get a sense of just exactly what are the Taliban doing.”

In classic U.S. trickery, Panetta said that while attacks were up, they were still down, compared to other years of occupation!  Some regional news sources point out that the U.S. is also behind the increase in violence as more civilians have been killed by occupying forces.

Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, is condemning yet another U.S. led occupying force attack, that left at least 18 civilians dead.  Karzai was on a trip to China, but cut the trip short to return to Afghanistan.

The airstrike, possibly by UAV, took place in Logar Province on the morning of 6 June 2012.

In Maidan Wardak Province, a member of the Afghan Parliament was attacked.  Local reports say his convoy was ambushed as he headed to Kabul.  At least four of his body guards were wounded.

6 June 2012

Idaho National Guard reporting that one of their citizen soldiers was wounded while riding in a Black Hawk helicopter.  He was shot (on 3 June) by Mujahideen on the ground.  Sergeant Albert Vieth was flown to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State for further treatment.

Idaho Army National Guard’s 1-168 General Support Aviation Battalion was sent to Afghanistan on 19 May.

Another U.S. led occupying forces helicopter has gone down.  International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed: “Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following a helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan today.”

In Logar Province, a U.S. occupying forces airstrike killed at least 18 civilians.  Afghan government officials, and occupying forces claim 25 Mujahideen killed, however, local security officials claim most of those killed were civilians.  A house belonging to a tribal elder was blown up by the airstrike.

It  was possibly a drone strike, as ISAF refers to it as a “precision airstrike”.

In Kandahar Province, a massive suicide bombing left as many as 23 people killed, and 50 wounded. The target of the bomber was the U.S. controlled Kandahar air port.  Some regional reports say occupying troops make up some of the dead.

In Faryab Province, another suicide bombing left as many as eight people dead.  It was reported by the Afghan government’s 303 Pamir Security Command.

In Kapisa Province, at least six cops were killed, and two wounded after Mujahideen attacked a checkpoint.

ISAF reports yet another “facilitator” captured, in Takhar Province.  Another “leader” captured in Kandahar Province.

5 June 2012

In Ghazni Province, two civilians were wounded, one killed after they drove over a mine.

In Nuristan Province, Afghan border police claim to have killed 12 Mujahideen in an ambush.

ISAF claims two “leaders” killed by a “precision airstrike” (drone strike?), in Ghazni Province.

NATO signs exit deal with Central Asian countries.  Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have agreed to allow NATO forces to get the hell out of Afghanistan through their territory: “These agreements will give us a range of new options and the robust and flexible transport network we need.”

4 June 2012

In Ghor Province, the local development council chief was assassinated. No one knows who did it.

In Parwan Province, a U.S./NATO occupying fuel convoy was ambushed and burned.

British Ministry of Defence says one of their soldiers was shot and killed in Helmand Province.  They say he was shot on 3 June, while on patrol.  MoD also confirmed that another Red Coat was killed in the same area on 1 June.

Afghan Interior Ministry claims 20 Mujahideen killed, six wounded and 13 captured, in battles in Nangarhar, Helmand and Maidan Wardak provinces.

In Paktiya Province, ISAF claims three Mujahideen killed by airstrike. Also, two students were killed by a mine (roadside bomb).

Afghan Defense Ministry says one of their soldiers was killed and 14 wounded in battles in Maidan Wardak, Logar, Paktia and Zabul provinces.

Afghan National Directorate for Security claim they killed a prominent Mujahideen “leader”, along with 25 Mujahideen, in Helmand Province.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Terror Drone update. Former CIA official says blowback coming for U.S., because drones kill mainly civilians!

“We have gone a long way down the road of creating a situation where we are creating more enemies than we are removing from the battlefield. We are already there with regards to Pakistan and Afghanistan.”-Robert Grenier, former CIA official

5 June 2012, Robert Grenier, head of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) counter terrorism center from 2004 to 2006, and was a CIA station chief in Pakistan, is warning of blowback from the use of assassination drones (unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs).

This is because drone strikes kill more bystanders than actual terrorist targets!

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimates as many as 830 civilians have been killed in Pakistan. 138 civilians in Yemen and 57 in Somalia. The problem, Grenier says, is that Obama’s drone policy is too vague; anyone, especially males, seen in an area suspected of having terrorists is considered a target: “It needs to be targeted much more finely. We have been seduced by them and the unintended consequences of our actions are going to outweigh the intended consequences.”

He says recent drone killings in Yemen will actually make that country the new safe haven for terrorists: “If you strike them indiscriminately you are running the risk of creating a terrific amount of popular anger. They have tribes and clans and large families. Now all of a sudden you have a big problem … I am very concerned about the creation of a larger terrorist safe haven in Yemen.”

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

World War 3: Terror Drone update, Canada. They like to crash UAVs. Arctic new battlefield for Canadian drones. Canadian military to help Canadian cops kill you from above. Teenagers being trained to operate drones!

Canadian news media reporting that there have been at least 42 drone crashes since 2000, and that they’ve been increasing every year.

It was also revealed that Canada will buy U.S. Air Force (USAF) unarmed Global Hawks for use over the Arctic.  A report said the USAF needed to sell them due to budget cuts.

“You must remember that, in Canada, within the domestic construct, I do not have the right to be able to apply lethal force in Canada. That is the responsibility of the police. The question would be perhaps in the future whether we could work with the police forces to assist them by providing UAVs.”– Lieutenant General Walter Semianiw,  Canadian domestic command, testimony to Canadian Senate committee

The Alberta Aviation Museum is hoping to send a team of 16-18 year old Air Cadets to United Kingdom, to attend a contest for UAV operators.  The contest, called Schools Aerospace Challenge, is based on Royal Air Force standards for drone operators.

Museum officials say they would like to create a similar contest in Canada: “Imagine being 16 years old and getting an opportunity like this. It’s a great way to get kids excited and give them an education unlike they’ll ever get anywhere else.”-Thomas Hinderks, Alberta Aviation Museum Association

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Terror Drone update, 23 May – 03 June. Mass Murder in Yemen on Obama’s orders! Drone strikes best recruiting tool for al-Qaeda ever!

“If you go to the village of Al-Majalah in Yemen, where I was, and you see the unexploded cluster bombs and you have the list and photographic evidence, as I do, of the women and children that represented the vast majority of the deaths in this first strike that Obama authorized on Yemen, those people were murdered by President Obama, on his orders, because there was believed to be someone from Al Qaeda in that area. There’s only one person that’s been identified that had any connection to al Qaeda there, and 21 women and 14 children were killed in that strike and the U.S. tried to cover it up, and say it was a Yemeni strike, and we know from the Wikileaks cables that David Petraeus conspired with the president of Yemen to lie to the world about who did that bombing!  It’s murder, it’s mass murder, when you say, ‘We are going to bomb this area’ because we believe a terrorist is there, and you know that women and children are in the area!!! The United States has an obligation to not bomb that area if they believe that women and children are there. I’m sorry, that’s murder!”-Jeremy Scahill, The Nation.com, interview with MSNBC

“Mistakes made by the U.S. killing innocent women and children has led to a significant recruiting boom, AQAP [al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula] use the pictures of shattered women and kids to stir up anger.”-Gregory Johnsen, Princeton University

“Every time the American attacks increase, they increase the rage of the Yemeni people, especially in al-Qaeda controlled areas. The drones are killing al-Qaeda leaders, but they are also turning them into heroes.”-Mohammed al-Ahmadi, Karama human rights group

“These attacks are making people say, ‘We believe now that al-Qaeda is on the right side’. ”-Salim al-Barakani, his two brothers killed in a U.S. strike in March

“…America can’t seem to hit the people you claim to be fighting.  So if you’re gonna bomb us…because there’re some al-Qaeda people in our area, well we’re gonna join up with those fighting against you. The most dangerous thing, I think, the U.S. is doing, beside murdering innocent people in many cases, is giving people in Yemen or Somalia or Pakistan a non-ideological reason to hate the United States.”-Jeremy Scahill, The Nation.com, interview with MSNBC

“In 2009, when President Obama was first known to have authorized a missile strike on Yemen, U.S. officials said there were no more than 300 core AQAP members. That number has grown in recent years to 700 or more, Yemeni officials and tribal leaders say. In addition, hundreds of tribesmen have joined AQAP in the fight against the U.S. backed Yemeni government.”-Sudarsan Raghavan, The Washington Post

28 May 2012

Five people killed by U.S. drone (UAV) strike in Yemen.  The strike targeted three cars driving on a highway.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Terror Drone update, 23 May – 03 June. U.S. launches all out drone offensive in Pakistan! If you are a man you will be killed! Rescuers are now considered militants!

3 June 2012

U.S. drone (aka UAV) attack in Pakistan kills at least 10 people.  Of course the U.S. claims that they were all militants, but that’s only because official U.S. policy dictates that any male killed in the area of a drone strike (or any military attack) is assumed to be an “enemy”: “It in effect counts all military-age males in a strike zone as combatants, according to several administration officials, unless there is explicit intelligence posthumously proving them innocent.”-New York Times  (“posthumously” means after they kill you, you know, the old “shoot first ask questions later” policy)

The New York Times article went on to explain the extremely simple mindedness of the reasoning: “…people in an area of known terrorist activity, or found with a top Qaeda operative, are probably up to no good.”

I thought the simpleton George W. Bush wasn’t in charge anymore?

Reports of the drone strike vary; some reports say it was a “military compound”, while others say it was two houses.  Local officials say the drone fired four missiles at a village, where people had gathered to offer condolences for a person killed just the day before, by a U.S. drone strike!

At least two of the people killed were not Pakistanis.

2 June 2012

A U.S. drone strike kills two people in Pakistan.

28 May 2012

Pakistani TV news, Dunya News, reported a massive drone attack. A total of eight missiles were fired into a town, during two waves of drone attacks.  Residents fled in fear because at least five drones were spotted circling the town after the strike.

The town is called Hassokhel, and was targeted by drones on 24 May as well.  U.S. officials have been reporting that the drone strikes as targeting the town of Miranshah, however, Pakistani media says the attacks actually took place against the town of Hassokhel.  The two towns are separated by 25 kilometers (16 miles).  Are these attacks a case of CIA incompetence?

26 May 2012

BBC reports four people in Pakistan killed by U.S. drone strike. The missile hit a house. The U.S. NavyTimes claims the target was a bakery!

24 May 2012

U.S. drone strike hits a Mosque in Pakistan, killing ten people. Locals say the drone fired two missiles into the Mosque. Of course the U.S. government says the Mosque was really a “military compound”.  The Mosque was located in the town of Hassokhel.

Local officials said rescue efforts were delayed as five U.S. drones continued to circle the area afterwards!  Here’s how an evil unnamed U.S. official describes a rescue effort: “The house caught fire after missiles hit it and militants immediately cordoned off the area and were searching in the rubble.”

23 May 2012

A U.S. drone strike kills five people in Pakistan.  According to Fox News, the U.S. increase in drone strikes could be in retaliation for the Pakistani government not allowing U.S./NATO supply convoys through to Afghanistan.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 31 May – 03 June. More girls poisoned. U.S. puppet government admits 70% of drugs sent into Iran! Farmers not profiting from Opium! Canada giving its taxpayers’ money to Afghanistan! India says “please don’t go!”

3 June 2012

Another Afghan school has been hit by poisoning, at least 65 girls hospitalized. It’s the 6th school poisoning this year.  This time suspects have been arrested.

In past poisonings “Taliban” reps denied any involvement, and accused the U.S. puppet government of the poisoning.  The four suspects arrested today include a  woman from Pakistan.  So far no indication that they are connected to any Afghan Mujahideen.

In Baghlan Province, the provincial education chief survived an attack, supposedly by Mujahideen. The education chief said he does not know who shot at his house.  Local police are investigating. The attack took place at 03:30 hours.

The Defense Ministry of Afghanistan claim their forces killed, or wounded, at least 20 Mujahideen in the past 24 hours.  They also report that four of their own troops were killed, and 16 wounded.  The battles took place in the provinces of Badakhshan, Maidan Wardak, Kandahar, Farah and Ghazni.

In Nangarhar Province a local police boss was assassinated by “unknown gunmen”, while he was on his way to work.

2 June 2012

Iran has hanged three drug smugglers from Afghanistan.  Iran has been claiming that illegal drugs from Afghanistan have increased since the U.S. invasion more than ten years ago.  Iran claims hundreds of their border police have been killed fighting what they believe is U.S. backed drug smuggling.

There are hundreds of Afghans in Iranian prisons, convicted of drug smuggling.  Afghans cry foul, but just the other day (2 June 2012) the U.S. puppet Afghan Counter-Narcotics Minister, Zerar Ahmad Muqbil, admitted that 70% of the illegal Afghan opium is being deliberately smuggled into Iran: “1/3 of the heroin produced in Afghanistan is smuggled to other countries through northern regions while 2/3 of the heroin produced is smuggled through Iran to other parts of the world.”

Muqbil also stated that more than 90% of the money made from illegal opium is going to the dealers, the farmers are only getting a pittance. This challenges the claim by international observers that farmers are doing it for the money!

A couple of years ago Iranian police captured several Afghan drug smugglers, who were using credit cards which the Iranian police traced back to the United States!

Also, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) reports another drug bust.  Approximately 1,364 kilograms (3,000 pounds) of hashish was captured in Kandahar Province.

The Defense Ministry of Afghanistan reports that five of their own troops were killed, and 4 wounded, after Mujahideen launched attacks in the provinces of Ghazni, Patkia, Kandahar and Badghis.

The Interior Ministry of Afghanistan claims that 30 Mujahideen were killed, 14 wounded and six captured in battles in the provinces of Helmand, Uruzgan, Logar and Ghazni.

In Farah Province, local officials claim to have killed a potential suicide bomber.

Canada has sent a new ambassador to Afghanistan. He stressed that Canada was there for the long run. On 21 May 2012, Canada announced it will give Afghanistan $110 million per year, over the next three years.

ISAF claims another “leader” was captured in Khost Province.  A “facilitator” was captured in Helmand Province.  ISAF also claims to have killed 22 Mujahideen in battles in Kunar and Khost (aka Khowst) provinces. No word on occupying troop casualties.

In Nangarhar Province, a U.S./NATO supply convoy was attacked by a suicide bomber.  Local officials say they don’t know how many people were killed or wounded.

In Parwan Province, an Afghan army General was assassinated, along with his wife, daughter and nephew.  Local officials say they don’t know who did it.   The General and his family were on their way to Kabul when they were killed.

1 June 2012

A U.S./NATO soldier was killed during a Mujahideen attack in southern Afghanistan. As is ISAF SOP no details were given.

At least 182 occupying personnel have been killed since the beginning of 2012.

A suicide bomber attacked U.S. FOB Salerno at Sara Bagh in Khost Province. Some reports say as many as 17 people were killed.  Other reports said several Mujahideen attacked the forward operating base, after the explosion, but were killed or driven off.  ISAF claimed 14 Mujahideen were killed, but local officials say only three Mujahideen were killed.  Many of those killed by U.S. forces were actually civilian bystanders!

In Kapisa Province, three Afghan soldiers were wounded by a roadside bomb (mine).

In Kandahar Province, local police claim they killed eight Mujahideen, and wounded four others.

ISAF claims to have captured a “leader” in Paktika province.

31 May 2012

In Helmand Province, local officials said a suicide bomber, wearing a police uniform, was shot and killed before he could blow himself up.

The Ministry of Labor reports that more than six million Afghan children are living in “critical conditions”, including being slave laborers, and sexually exploited.  The United Nations backs that up.  So what happened to all the taxpayer money coming from the occupying countries?

The United Nations has donated more vehicles to the U.S. puppet government of Afghanistan.  This time at least 50 cars and vans, making for a total of 59 vehicles given to the puppet government in the month of May.

ISAF reports that an U.S./NATO occupying troop was killed by an explosion in southern Afghanistan.

In Nangarhar Province a suicide bomber killed two cops.  The attack took place near an army commander’s office.

In Kandahar Province a suicide bomber killed five cops. The bomber targeted a police station.

In Kunduz Province a anti-terrorism boss, and three others were killed when they drove over a mine.

ISAF claims the capture of a “leader” in Khost Province.

India is begging the United States to keep major military forces in Afghanistan, past the 2014 pullout date.  It’s all about money: “India has invested significant resources for Afghanistan’s development in areas identified by Afghanistan and our Strategic Partnership Agreement with Afghanistan is a reflection of this commitment.”-Nirupama Rao, Indian Ambassador to the United States