Tag Archives: u.k.

International, U.S.

Breaking news: U.S. backed Syrian rebels capture United Nations convoy in Golan Heights!

06 March 2013/23 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/16 Esfand 1391

Israeli media reporting that Syrian rebels have captured a UN peacekeeper convoy in the Golan Heights.  The rebels consider the UN forces enemies, even though the UN is actually supporting the overthrow of the President of Syria.

“The command of the Martyrs of Yarmouk announced that it is holding forces of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force until the withdrawal of forces of the regime of (President) Bashar Assad from the outskirts of the village of Jamla. If no withdrawal is made within 24 hours we will treat them as prisoners.”-video posted on internet

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 25 – 28 February 2013. U.S. continues to attack hospitals! U.S. admits Mujahideen attacks are up, not down! Karzai bans Afghans from helping U.S. troops! United Nations behind corruption? More shenanigans with your tax money!

28 February 2013/17 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/10 Esfand 1391

In Kunar Province, two explosion rocked Damkan district.  The first targeted government border police, killing seven.  The second explosion targeted the people who came to help the victims of the first explosion, at least three civilians killed.   Since U.S. led drone strike follow this MO, the United States is suspected.

In Helmand Province, the Red Coat controlled Camp Bastion was attacked again. The Brits claim no one was hurt in the rocket attack.

President Hamid Karzai banned any Afghan based private security companies from working for U.S./NATO occupying forces. Afghan government sources say the order is the result of investigations that show Afghans hired by U.S./NATO forces are being forced to torture their fellow Afghans.

According to the Wall Street Journal, its reporters have seen a UN report which blames the UN for corruption in Afghanistan. The Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA) is being accused of colluding with suppliers and overcharging in contracts involving the Afghan National Police (ANP).

The on again off again contract for U.S. supplied (and paid for) COIN aircraft for Afghanistan is back on.  Afghanistan will get 20 A-29 Super Tucanos.  They will cost U.S. taxpayers as much as $950 million USD.

27 February 2013/16 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/09 Esfand 1391

In Kabul City, a suicide bomber attacked a bus load of Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel. Reports vary from saying seven people wounded to 17 people killed.

Responding to inquiries from the Associated Press, U.S./NATO/ISAF officials admitted their earlier claim that Mujahideen attacks were down by 7%, is wrong!

26 February 2013/15 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/08 Esfand 1391

In Ghazni Province, 16 or 17 ANP personnel were killed.  Reports are confusing, one said Mujahideen attacked the police station, another said the cops were poisoned.

In Herat Province, ANA claims they killed 28 Mujahideen, wounded 20 and captured six others.  They say three Arabs were among those killed.  Two ANA troops killed, two wounded.

According to Alliance of Health Organizations (AHO), and the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA), the United States has been attacking hospitals, and continues to do so: “Most NGOs who deliver healthcare in this country experience this almost on a monthly basis…”-Andreas Stefansson, SCA

The United States is a co-creator and signatory of the Geneva Conventions which bans attacks on medical personnel.

U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, said claims that U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) were torturing and killing innocent people in Maidan-Wardak province will be investigated. This comes after President Karzai ordered all U.S. forces out of the province.

25 February 2013/14 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/07 Esfand 1391

In Logar Province, a suicide bomber attacked an ANA base, in Baraki Barak district, killing or wounding dozens of Afghan troops.

In Helmand Province, four people were killed and six wounded after the van they were in drove over a landmine.

In Farah Province, reports that U.S./NATO/ISAF personnel abandoned a base in the Khak-e-Safid district.

The soon to be imposed electronic ID cards for all Afghans has proven to be racists.  The issue revolves around the use of languages and ethnicity in determining who is “Afghan”.  Officials were hoping to force 100% of “Afghans” to get the ID card before upcoming elections, but now think only 50% of “Afghans” will have the monitoring system by then.  The official reason for the mandatory electronic IDs is to prevent fraud.  Some critics think the cards will not be issued to any Afghan who does not recognize the government, and therefore will be classified as illegal residents.

A record 42 Green on Blue attacks hit U.S./NATO/ISAF forces in 2012.  62 occupiers were killed.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Obama demands Israel to get out of West Bank!

04 March 2013/21 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/14 Esfand 1391

According to Israeli media sources, U.S. President Barack Obama will demand that Israel pull out of West Bank.

However things get confusing as some Israeli sources cite the Washington DC based World Tribune, which in turn cites unnamed Israeli sources!

Reports say Obama will make the demand during his 20 March 2013 visit to Israel. It is part of plans to create a Palestinian state by 2014.

The World Tribune did cite the Israeli source, Makor Rishon, as saying the current Netanyahu government will remove Israeli settlers from West Bank.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Norovirus update: 04 March 2013: God save the Queen? More cases where food poisoning is NOT the cause! People are sick for longer than usual! More reasons not to use those reusable grocery shopping bags!

04 March 2013/21 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/14 Esfand 1391

The British Empire‘s Queen Elizabeth the 2nd hospitalized with what could be norovirus.  And yet another U.K. hospital goes down; Cheltenham General Hospital is banning all visitors because of an outbreak. Hospital officials say it’s just “precautionary”.  Also, the Worcestershire Royal, Redditch Alexandra and Kidderminster hospitals continue to restrict visitations.  Health officials are reporting 30% more cases of norovirus in Worchestershire than in the rest of the West Midlands. In East Sussex the Eastbourne District General Hospital says two of its wards are on visitor restrictions after recent outbreaks.

Iowa U.S.A. reporting two outbreaks. Residents and staff of a nursing home and students in a school are the latest victims:  “This is happening all over the state; no place is spared.”-Patricia Quinlisk, Department of Public Health

A Canadian travel writer, writing for The Province, praised a Holland America cruise ship captain: “Kudos to Captain Rowden and the crew of the Ryndam whose heroic efforts stopped the spread of the nasty Norwalk virus that had sneaked aboard the ship.”-Joseph Kula

A Canadian family wasn’t so lucky on their vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The family had read warnings from other people who stayed at their hotel; that there was a possible stomach bug outbreak. The Saskatoon family tried to switch hotels but ended up staying in the infected one.  They got sick and were sick for long after they got home: “I’ve missed out on a lot of classes and I’m really behind. I’ve been so sick and I’ve lost so much weight and I’m so weak.”-Rebecca Hennes

In the Waterloo Region of Ontario, Canada, the Grand River Hospital declared its vomiting bug outbreak over. At least three patients and eight employees were sick. One patient is still sick.

In the vacation hot spot of Bermuda, the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s Gordon Ward experienced an outbreak.  16 patients and 17 employees were sick. The latest reports say six of them are still showing symptoms: “One new patient case of gastroenteritis in Gordon Ward has occurred in the last 24 hours. Gordon Ward continues under current strict precautions, including enhanced cleaning practices, visitor restrictions, and restrictions of new admissions and transfers. All patients who are unwell are in isolation rooms and visitors and staff must put on disposable protective wear before entering, and dispose of it on leaving the room. It is recommended that current restrictions/interventions continue at least through Friday.”-Bermuda Hospital Board

The norovirus is spreading in Bermuda. On 01 March 2013 the Building Blocks Academy preschool shut down because teachers were sick.

In Kanawha County, in West Virginia U.S.A., the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department is investigating numerous cases of student absences at county schools. They are trying to establish how many students are sick with norovirus.

In Arizona U.S.A., Sunrise Park Resort officials are cooperating with federal, state, local and tribal health authorities after an outbreak hit the ski resort last week.  Inspectors have ruled out food as the source, meaning it was spread human to human.

More reports blaming stomach infections on reusable grocery bags.  Oregon U.S.A. health officials already linked a 2009 outbreak to reusable grocery bags, now the results of a new study out of environmental nutville California U.S.A. says reusable bags are behind a 46% increase in illness! The study looked at San Francisco, which banned recyclable plastic bags in 2007. The study looked at emergency room cases involving E.Coli (a bacteria, not a virus like Norwalk/norovirus), and found such cases jumped in San Francisco and not in the surrounding counties who had no such bag ban.  For those who insist on using the reusable bags they must be cleaned regularly.

In Maryland U.S.A., McDaniel College saw more than two dozen students out sick with norovirus.  This is yet another case where health officials say food was not involved in spreading the virus.

Health Protection Scotland reporting that 2012 saw 2900 lab confirmed cases of norovirus, a 75% increase from 2011! It’s still less than the record of 3109 cases in 2010.  Scottish health officials estimate that for every one case reported there are 290 cases that go unreported.

Did you know the first norovirus case occurred in 1968 in Norwalk, Ohio U.S.A. This is why it is sometimes called the Norwalk virus. However, the 1968 outbreak was not confirmed until 1972, when researchers were finally able to identify the cause. Ever since then, year after year, there are more and more cases, and stronger and stronger versions of the virus.

Influenza

Influenza update, 02 March 2013: More reasons to avoid the vaccine! Swine flu coming back! New bird flu killing people fast!

02 March 2013/19 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/12 Esfand 1391

While the main streamers have been reporting a decline in flu cases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said cases of flu B are increasing.

A nursing student became the fifth person to die from flu in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania U.S.A.

Iowa U.S.A. records its first infant death due to the flu.

Indiana U.S.A. reporting 61 deaths.

In Ohio U.S.A., ProMedica lifted visitor restrictions at its hospitals.

Oklahoma U.S.A. reporting 30 deaths.

In Minnesota U.S.A., 17 more people died in past two weeks.  Health officials say five times as many have died, so far, as did in the 2011-12 season.

In Montana U.S.A., visitor restrictions have been lifted at Billings hospitals, except for neo-natal intensive care units.

San Diego County, in California U.S.A., reporting near record deaths, now at 43.

In Nova Scotia, Canada, the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgwater is considering restricting visitation to its forth floor.  This is because of an apparent flu outbreak.

A new study says that getting vaccinated two years in a row actually makes it easier for you to get sick! Researchers looked at case histories of the 2010-11 flu season in Michigan U.S.A., and found that vaccines did nothing to prevent people from getting sick, unless it was the first time they got vaccinated.  Basically the data suggests that people who get vaccinated year after year are wasting their time, and it has health researchers puzzled because it blows away the official mantra that you should get flu shots every year!

In the United Kingdom, a study shows that there is a link between swine flu vaccines and narcolepsy in children: “The increased risk of narcolepsy after vaccination with ASO3 adjuvanted pandemic A/H1N1 2009 vaccine indicates a causal association, consistent with findings from Finland.”-Elizabeth Miller, Health Protection Agency

This comes as India reports thousands of new swine flu cases. The territory of Delhi is dealing with more than one thousand cases in the past two months, 11 people have died. India’s Health Ministry says 275 people have died since 01 January 2013.  The state of Rajasthan has the most deaths, at 112 so far.

Also in India, the Animal Diseases Research Institute has been testing birds for the new version of H5N1. So far many healthy birds with no symptoms are testing positive:  “Some of the wild ducks are carriers of the virus which may have led to the positive flu report by Bhopal-based High Security Animal Diseases Laboratory. Even the Northern Pintail, which tested positive, was healthy.”-unnamed Animal Diseases Research Institute source

In Cambodia, the newest H5N1 bird flu has become so rampant that the government is ordering health officials, and even police, to stop it.  At least eight people, mainly children, have died in the past six weeks!  To put that in perspective, in the previous ten years only 19 Cambodians have died from H5N1. The most recent victim was a 35 years old man who ate an infected duck.  Health officials say this year’s bird flu is jumping to humans more easily: “We conducted investigations and found that all the cases were transmission from the poultry. There is no evidence of transmission from human to human at this stage.”-Ly Sovann, Ministry of Health’s deputy director for communicable diseases control

Hong Kong reports two people dead from H5N1 in the past two weeks.

Note that India, Cambodia and Hong Kong are places that are considered humid (like most of South Asia and South East Asia), and they have relatively higher influenza cases.  Now the CDC issued a report saying flu viruses become weaker in humid conditions. One CDC official said “The virus just falls apart” at higher humidity levels. Yeah right, try telling that to the people living in humid South East Asia!

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 20 – 24 February 2013. Karzai orders murderous U.S. troops out of Afghan province! Up to 12000 U.S. troops to remain in Afghanistan! Red Coats bribe clerics with Viagra!

24 February 2013/13 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/06 Esfand 1391

In Logar Province, a car bomb exploded near a police dormitory, killing one cop and wounding two.

In Nangarhar Province, Mujahideen targeted the National Directorate of Security (NDS) office in Jalalabad.  Reports vary, saying between two and 14 NDS agents were killed, and dozens wounded.

President Hamid Karzai has ordered all U.S. personnel out of Maiden-Wardak Province. They were given two weeks to leave.  Karzai says investigations show U.S. Special Operations forces are murdering innocent people: “….it became clear that armed individuals named as U.S. special force stationed in Wardak province engage in harassing, annoying, torturing and even murdering innocent people. A recent example in the province is an incident in which nine people were disappeared in an operation by this suspicious force and in a separate incident a student was taken away at night from his home, whose tortured body with throat cut was found two days later under a bridge.”

23 February 2013/12 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/05 Esfand 1391

A BBC report says in the past six months Iran has executed 80 Afghans after they were convicted of drug crimes.  Iranian border police say they have evidence that the United States is behind the opium being smuggled into Iran from Afghanistan.

22 February 2013/11 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/04 Esfand 1391

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

German Defense Minister, Thomas de Maiziere, said U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told NATO officials that the United States will leave between 8000 and 12000 personnel in Afghanistan after 2014.

21 February 2013/10 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/03 Esfand 1391

In Kunduz Province, four people were killed by U.S. led NATO forces.  ISAF says they were Mujahideen, but local villagers say the victims were never involved with violence.

A Newsweek report revealed that United Kingdom Red Coats began bribing religious leaders in Helmand Province, about three years ago.  They used food and clothing, but Viagra turned out to be a hot commodity!  Some of the Red Coats objected to giving them the sex drug because it would result in “…producing more Taliban, meaning more kids who would grow up to be Taliban.”

Now realize that British taxpayers are paying for supplying religious leaders with Viagra!

20 February 2013/09 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/02 Esfand 1391

A United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan report says U.S. led drone (UAV) strikes in Afghanistan increased 72% in 2012!

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 17 – 19 February 2013. Mujahideen getting better at hitting government forces! Even more tax money pledged to Afghanistan! New Zealand gets out in 2013! Tough anti-gun laws in Canada fail to stop Afghan from being assassinated!

19 February 2013/08 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/01 Esfand 1391

A United Nations report suggests the Mujahideen are getting more accurate in their attacks.  The Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict report shows a decrease in civilian casualties, by 12% from 2011 to 2012.  The UN blames most of the civilian deaths on Mujahideen, but while civilian deaths are declining, attacks against Afghan government personnel are skyrocketing.  The UN says for last year Mujahideen attacks against government employees ramped up by 700%!!!

USMC General John Allen will retire and refuses NATO command job in Europe.  Rumors say his decision is the result of investigations into his associations with women other than his wife.  He says it’s because of family health issues.

The Australian Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, pledged $100 million AUD (Aussie Dollar) more in grants to Afghanistan!  This is on top of a previous pledge of $300 million!

18 February 2013/07 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/30 Bahman 1391

In Daikundi Province, local government officials say there was heavy fighting between Afghan government forces and Mujahideen, in the Kajran district.  The fighting was spill over from neighboring Helmand Province, where Mujahideen attacked several check points.  There are reports of deaths and woundings on both sides.

New Zealand officials announced that most Kiwis will be pulled out of Afghanistan by April 2013.  About 23 Kiwis will stay behind for “peacekeeping” duties.

Norway announced it will give more of its taxpayers’ money to Afghanistan.  The Norwegian government is going to give the Central Asian country another $131 million USD, on top of previous pledges!

17 February 2013/06 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/29 Bahman 1391

In Kandahar Province, Mujahideen ambushed government de-mining operations.  One vehicle was set on fire, while another was captured.  The vehicles are designed to remove landmines, but could also be use to plant them.  Also, Mujahideen claim they planted landmines in expectation of a U.S. led NATO convoy in the Kala Shamir region. They say at least three armored vehicles hit the landmines and two or three medivac copters were called in.

In Helmand Province, Mujahideen say they repelled another NATO/ISAF/ANA heliborne operation in Kajaki district’s Mazar Karez area. They say the battle lasted three to four hours. Also, in the Nari Manda area of Nad Ali district, three ANA troops were killed, two wounded, when their dismount patrol crossed over a landmine.

In Herat Province, reports of fighting between Mujahideen and fighters near the border with Turkmenistan. At least three people killed.

The new U.S. governor of Afghanistan, USMC General Joseph Dunford, said he has ordered NATO to obey President Hamid Karzai’s orders, that is no U.S./NATO airstrikes shall be called in by Afghan government personnel.

After damning reports by the United Nations, and then confirmation by an Afghan government investigation, President Karzai has ordered that all prisoner interrogations be recorded.  Investigations revealed at least 14 types of torture being used in prisons and jails.

Despite Canada’s tough gun laws (tougher than the United States) a 19 years old Afghan-Canadian boxer was shot dead at a Toronto nightclub.  He was the second shooting victim in Toronto that week.  Suspects have been arrested, and they are both of East Asian descent.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 14 – 16 February 2013. U.S. taxes paying to end opium production! 2014 pull out does not mean your tax money will stop flooding into Afghanistan!

16 February 2013/05 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/28 Bahman 1391

In Helmand Province, Mujahideen report several offensives. In Gerishk district, Shoraki region, Mujahideen have been harassing U.S./NATO efforts to withdrawal from an outpost.  Several U.S./NATO airstrikes have been called in.  Locals say civilians have been hit.  In Sangin district’s Majeed Chawk area, a U.S. led NATO patrol hit a landmine, destroying one armored vehicle. Mujahideen say they then engaged the patrol with heavy and light machine gun fire. At last report a witness said the patrol was still pined down.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has banned Afghan government forces from calling in U.S./NATO air strikes.  Apparently this is because some of the civilian deaths by U.S./NATO airstrikes were the result of Afghan forces requesting the airstrikes.

The order came after an Afghan investigation backs up claims that the United States recently killed 10 civilians in an airstrike in Kunar Province.  Five of those killed were children.

In Badghis Province, there are reports that Pakistanis are training Afghan Mujahideen.

U.S. Army General Raymond Odierno said that it is possible that the planned 2014 withdrawal will be stretched out, in order to keep costs to U.S. taxpayers down.

15 February 2013/04 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/27 Bahman 1391

In Saripul Province, Mujahideen say they repelled an offensive launched by 200 Arbaki (contracted cops/mercenaries) in the Sheram area.  Mujahideen said they caused heavy casualties for the Arbaki, and one Mujahid was killed.  Also, in Shekar area of Gosphandi district a U.S./NATO spy was assassinated.

In Kandahar Province, Panjawai district, a U.S. led NATO dismounted patrol was ambushed.  No word on casualties. In Spanzo area of Zangawat region, an Arbaki patrol hit a landmine, also no word on casualties. Also, reports saying U.S. led NATO forces abandoned their base in Khakrez district, Baghki area.

In Kunar Province, a former spy boss and another man was killed, one local cop wounded, in what looks like an assassination. A remote controlled bomb exploded as they went to Mosque.

According to Transparency International, United Kingdom branch, the Afghan National Army and National Police are too corrupt to take over when NATO supposedly pulls out at the end of 2014.

14 February 2013/03 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/26 Bahman 1391

In Helmand Province, Mujahideen say British Red Coats abandoned an outpost in Babaji district.

In Kandahar Province, Khakrez district, two people joined the Mujahideen (one was a former Arbaki).

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said billions of U.S. tax dollars will continue to flood into Afghanistan after the 2014 pull out: “The impending end of the combat mission in Afghanistan has led some to erroneously believe that the Afghan reconstruction effort is waning…..The Afghan government does not appear to have the capacity to manage the amount of funding envisioned……protect the American taxpayer.”-John Sopko

Speaking of tax money down the drain; the U.S. Embassy’s Coordinating Director for Rule of Law and Law Enforcement Ambassador, Stephen G. McFarland, announced $18.2 million will be “awarded” to Afghan farmers who do not grow opium poppies.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: United States on the decline, Iran rejects direct talks, again! Increases nuclear activity! Reveals submarine launched drones, demonstrates Kamakazi drones!

“The Americans are growing passive in the world and it can be said that the U.S. offer of talks with Iran is aimed at saving its face as a power in the world….”-statement from Iranian member of parliament Shahin-Shahr

“Obama’s proposal to hold talks with Iran is inconsistent with the facts, and the hostile actions of the Obama administration have also exceeded those of the Bush administration.”-Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini, Iranian Ambassador to Italy

23 February 2013/12 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/05 Esfand 1391

Once again, Iranian officials are rejecting the Obama administration’s offer of direct talks.

Deputy Chairman of Iranian Armed Forces’ Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri, said Iran will not back down, because the United States has basically painted itself into a corner: “The [U.S.] doctrine of using pressure to change the behavior of independent countries and political entities has expired, while the doctrine of threat against threat has created new capacities and has changed a lot of political, security, economic and military equations.”

Several weeks ago the Iranian Supreme Leader (aka Ayatollah), Seyed Ali Khamenei, said this about another offer of direct talks: “Negotiation is meant to prove the goodwill. But you [United States] make tens of [hostile] actions with ill intention and then speak of negotiations in words. Can the Iranian nation believe that you are driven by goodwill?”

Iranian Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, says they’ve been launching UAVs from submarines.  The drones conduct recon missions and are capable of attack missions.  In September 2012, Iran revealed a new drone with a 24 hours flight duration.

Also, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has used Kamakazi drones in the opening stage of wargames that are going on right now.   The wargames are called Payambar-e Azam 8 (The Great Prophet 8).

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has revealed that several new uranium mines have been established, and they have designated 16 new nuclear sites: “Following months of efforts, 16 new sites for nuclear power plants have been designated in coastal areas of the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, Khuzestan and northwestern part of the country.”

The AEOI also announced that more than 180 centrifuges have been installed at the Natanz nuclear facility.  Fereydoun Abbasi, the boss of the AEOI, says the exact number will be revealed once it’s confirmed they work: “The final count of these centrifuges will soon be given to the media, though before we give their number to the media, the Agency’s inspectors will certainly see them….”

And despite all the U.S. and European sanctions, the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) announced that Iran’s non-oil trade has hit $85.9 billion USD last year: “Iran exported over $37 billion worth of non-oil goods and imported $48.3 billion worth of non-oil products…”-Abbas Me’marnejad, IRICA

To top that, the World Steel Association says that Iranian steel production exceeded one million tons in January 2013.  That put Iran in 17th place for steel output: “Despite the intensified sanctions during the last two years, the capacity of Iran’s steel production has increased 5 million tons and we will be completely self-sufficient in the steel industry in the next three years.”-Hamidreza Taherizadeh, Iran Steel Producers Association, statement made in July 2012

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 11 – 13 February 2013. U.S. backed assassination attempt on Iranians in Afghanistan? Afghans invade Iran? More proof that attacks are up! More women & children killed by U.S. led home invasions!

13 February 2013/02 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/25 Bahman 1391

In Kunar Province, provincial government officials say a U.S. led NATO home invasion operation resulted in four men killed (dubbed “militants” by U.S. led forces),  four women killed and five children killed. It happened in Chopan village.  U.S. led NATO and Afghan National Army (ANA) forces said the house was a Mujahideen refuge.  Mujahideen sources say only women and children were killed in home invasion, and that they attacked the U.S. led forces after the home invasion, killing five ANA troops and wounding three.   Also, to add to the confusion, villagers say NATO/ANA forces kidnapped six people.  For even more confusion, other reports say the attack in Chopan village was actually an air strike!  Oh, the fog of war!  The only thing everyone is agreeing to is that four women and five children were killed!

In Balkh Province, a staff member of the Iranian Consulate was shot while he was on his way to university classes.  He was wounded with four bullets in his chest and stomach.  Police say the assassination attempt was done by men on motorcycles.  Israeli and U.S. forces have used similar tactics to assassinate Iranian nuclear engineers inside Iran.

Then along the Iran-Afghan border,  Iranian border police say they engaged a group of armed drug smugglers coming from Afghanistan. Seven were killed, they had 400 kilos (881 pounds) of opium.  Provincial officials in Farah Province used a most common excuse, that the Afghans were sneaking into Iran to find work.  Iran has a no tolerance anti-narcotics policy, drug smugglers are punished with death!  A few years ago Iranian border police say they found U.S. documents on Afghan drug smugglers, such as U.S. issued credit cards!

An independent report out of Kabul shows that violence against Afghans, especially kidnapping, continues to increase. This is not the first time such a report has been made, and it comes as U.S. led forces continue to claim a reduction in violence against their own personnel.  The latest Afghan study explains that the latest increase in violence against Afghans is at the hands of U.S. supported private security contractors (mercenaries/Arbaki).  Recently police in Kabul stopped an attempted kidnapping and it turned out that the kidnappers were working for a U.S. backed security company.   The police said they were forced to let the kidnappers go after being pressured by government officials.

12 February 2013/01 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/24 Bahman 1391

In Ghazni Province, U.S. led forces conducted a home invasion which resulted in two people killed, two kidnapped.

In Khost Province, a U.S. led home invasion killed a medical student.

In Kapisa Province, U.S. led home invasions resulted in 12 people killed.

The Afghan government admits that Mujahideen are still in control of legal proceedings in at least 65 districts around the country.  This is because the government does not have the legal infrastructure to impose government law throughout the country.

11 February 2013/30 Raby` al-Awwal 1434/23 Bahman 1391

In Nangarhar Province, one ANA troop was killed another wounded after they drove over a landmine.

In Kapisa Province, local government officials say a U.S. led ANA operation killed eight Mujahideen.

An Afghan investigation into claims from the United Nations, that torture is on the increase in Afghan controlled prisons, backs up the UN claim.  Afghan investigators found that the use of torture by cops and guards was on the increase, and that secret prisons have been created.

A UN report says bribery is big business in Afghanistan.  A survey showed that almost half of all Afghans were forced, or felt they had to pay a bribe, to the tune of $4 billion in 2012!  That’s double Afghanistan’s official domestic revenue.

In Kandahar Province, local government officials are pushing Afghan investors to bring 80 factories from Pakistan into Afghanistan!  The officials claim the move would create 3000 jobs for the province.

Economically strapped Japan has just promised to give Afghanistan an additional $13 million USD in taxes collected from struggling citizens of Japan.