Tag Archives: u.k.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 08 Sep – 11 Sep. Lacking money, the UN shuts offices in Afghanistan! Haqqani Network denies they have Idaho POW! U.S. base at Bagram attacked, again! Attacks increase! More cops join Mujahideen! Chinese evacuate!

11 September 2012

UN Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Jan Kubiš, announced that United Nations’ offices in Kunar Province will be closed.  This is part of the closing of at least nine UN offices throughout Afghanistan.  The official reason is lack of money!

In Parwan Province, Bagram airfield was hit by several rockets. One Chinook helicopter was destroyed and several other helicopters damaged. Three Afghan government intelligence agents were killed. Many personnel were wounded. Mujahideen immediately claimed they launched the attack.

In Farah Province, two Afghan cops were killed in firefights with Mujahideen, three other cops were executed after being captured.

In Herat Province, five Afghan cops, including the police chief, were killed by explosion.  The explosion went off near a meeting of village elders.

In Helmand Province: “We will do our best to kill Prince Harry and Britain’s other troops based in Helmand. It is not important for us to kidnap him. We will target him and we will kill him.”-Mujahideen statement

Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry says: “During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan army and intelligence agency and the NATO-led coalition carried out five joint clearance operations in Laghman, Ghazni, Herat and Helmand provinces, killing 16 armed Taliban insurgents and detaining 16 others.”

In Nangarhar Province, overnight U.S. forces carried out another illegal night raid. Local government officials say one person was killed, a child wounded.  At least three people were kidnapped by U.S. led forces.

10 September 2012

In Kunduz Province, a suicide bomber blew up his car, killing 15 people including seven cops, wounding 25 others.  Police forces were the target.

In Laghman Province, ISAF said four U.S. led occupation tankers (AFV crewman) were wounded when a bomb exploded under the bridge they were crossing.

In Badghis Province, there are reports that as many as 36 cops have joined the Mujahideen.

The United States officially handed over control of Bagram Prison to Afghan officials. Analysts and human rights groups say the move is ceremonial and that the U.S. still maintains control over the use of the prison: “Major questions also hang over the extent of Afghan control, as well as the immediate and long-term fate of the more than 3,000 inmates, said to include around 50 foreigners not covered by the agreement.”-Agence Frances-Presse

09 September 2012

In Farah Province, four explosions killed one child, and wounded nine civilians and six cops. The target was local political leaders.

In Maidan Wardak Province, six people were killed.  Local government officials say they don’t know why, but they’re blaming Mujahideen.

In Herat Province, Afghan army officials say they killed nine Mujahideen.

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

In Helmand Province, five government personnel were killed, two wounded when they drove over a mine.  Afghan cops also claim they killed three Mujahideen in gunbattles.

In Kandahar Province, U.S. led occupation forces launched airstrikes, killing at least seven people.

U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl of Hailey, Idaho, has the distinction of being the only prisoner of war.  For some reason the Pakistani group known as Haqqani Network believe they are being held responsible for his imprisonment.  They say they are not the ones holding Bergdahl captive, and accusations by U.S. leaders are more lies: “The American soldier is with the ‘Emirate Center’ [a Mujahideen group based in Afghanistan]……The Americans also know it.”

08 September 2012

In Kabul Province, six people (mostly children) killed, four wounded, after explosions near the U.S. and Italian embassies.  Local government officials say a suicide bomber blew himself up in a market. Then a rocket landed in the same area and exploded.

Also in Kabul, two rival clans got into a firefight during a funeral. Several people wounded.

Afghanistan’s Aynak copper mine is one of the largest copper mines in the world. A Chinese company won a contract to operate the mine, however, the war in Afghanistan has gotten out of hand: “…..Chinese workers have left the Aynak copper mine due to security issues but not all of them. The workers will return back to Afghanistan as soon as the security improves.”-Afghan government statement

In Uruzgan Province: “A bomb placed at the entrance of Malik Abdul Majid’s house killed him and another elder and wounded two of Majid’s sons.”-Abdullah Hemat, provincial government spokesman

 

 

 

 

 

 

Idaho, Technology

Idaho Wildfire Update, 11 September 2012: More Canadian aircraft arrive at Pocatello; BAe 146. U.S. capitalist aviation companies can’t handle the competition?

Image

11 September 2012, a large and new firefighting aircraft has been seen flying in and out of Pocatello airport (Pocatello Tanker Base) the past few days.  It’s a British Aerospace (BAe) 146 flown by Neptune Aviation of Montana (leased from Tronos in Canada).

Click pics (by AAron B. Hutchins) to make bigger:

The use of the BAe 146 has been delayed in the United States, due to complaints filed by U.S. aviation companies that do not want the competition from the 146.  The disputes are being reviewed by the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO).

The latest update is that Neptune Aviation’s tanker 41 has been given a contract to help fight the fires, from 01 September to 09 November 2012.

IDAHO WILDFIRE UPDATE, 10 SEPTEMBER 2012:

….and tanker 40. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins.

CANADA JOINS THE FIGHT AT POCATELLO TANKER BASE!

International, Opinion, U.S.

9/11 Remembered? Who will remember the thousands of U.S. troops killed in Iraq? Who will remember the more than 1 million Iraqis killed in a U.S. war started by lies?

11 September 2012

“The immorality of the United States and Great Britain’s decision to invade Iraq in 2003, premised on the lie that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, has destabilised and polarised the world to a greater extent than any other conflict in history…….They have driven us to the edge of a precipice where we now stand – with the spectre of Syria and Iran before us…….The cost of the decision to rid Iraq of its by-all-accounts despotic and murderous leader has been staggering…”-Desmond Mpilo Tutu, South African activist and retired Anglican bishop, 01 September 2012

Approximately 3,000 people were killed on 11 September 2001 attacks on World Trade Center, in New York.

“I think that things have gotten so bad inside Iraq, my belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.”-Dick Cheney, Vice President of the United States, April 2003 Meet the Press interview

4,488 U.S. troops killed, and 100,000 U.S. troops wounded during invasion and occupation of Iraq.

More than 1.5 million Iraqis have been killed since the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Iraq had no connection to 9/11 attacks, Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, the Iraqi government (under Saddam Hussein & the current government) has always been opposed to al Qaeda, no Iraqi has ever been involved with terrorist attacks against the United States (apart from actions during the U.S. led 1991 war against Iraq, and the alleged assassination attempt against George Bush senior in 1993)!

Thousands of U.S. military personnel killed or wounded because of a lie!  Millions of Iraqis killed and wounded because of a lie! Was 9/11 a lie as well?

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 03 Sep – 07 Sep. U.S. still imprisoning Afghans by the hundreds! Peace talks underway! Mo’ money for Afghanistan from the World Bank!

07 September 2012

British Red Coat, Henry of Wales (aka Prince Harry), returned to Afghanistan as a Apache gunship co-pilot/gunner.  He is part of the current rotation of British troops in Afghanistan, and should be in country four months.

The Pakistan based Haqqani Network was officially declared a terrorist organization by the Obama administration.  U.S. officials named the supposed group after Sirajuddin Haqqani, whom they accuse the Pakistani ISI of providing safe haven for.

06 September 2012

The group Open Society Foundations investigated Bagram prison and found that even though the United States officially turned it over to Afghan officials, it is actually still under direct control of  U.S. forces.  This violates the latest agreements signed between the Afghan government and the U.S.

Open Society Foundations reports that they discovered that at least 600 Afghans have been detained by U.S. forces since the agreement was signed in March 2012!   The group says this is proof the U.S. will stay in Afghanistan for a long time because it “….appears to want continued detention powers in Afghanistan beyond September 2012.”

In Baghlan Province, U.S./ISAF/NATO occupation forces handed military control of five districts to the Afghan National Army.

In Nuristan Province: “Deputy Taliban financial chief Mullah Mohammad was also arrested along with Mawlawi Gul Mohammad and a number of the other Taliban militants including three Pakistani nationals.”-Mohammad Zareen, provincial government spokesman

05 September 2012

Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States revealed they are now planning for official peace talks with Mujahideen (aka Taliban).  They were working on a plan to provide safe passage for Mujahideen leaders to attend peace talks.  Pakistani media reported it was called the The Safe Passage Working Group’s meeting.

The World Bank announced it is giving even more money to Afghanistan.  This time $125 million USD for the Ministry of Education.

ISAF said: “Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following a helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan today.”  Mujahideen claim they shot down the ‘copter in Logar Province. Provincial government officials say a heavy firefight broke out after the ‘copter crashed.  Logar is patrolled mainly by U.S. forces.

In Maidan Wardak Province, six fuelers destined for U.S./NATO forces were set on fire. Mujahideen claim it was 17 fuelers burned, along with 20 drivers and security guards killed.

The Afghan Defense Ministry announced that, after an investigation, they have fired hundreds of Afghan National Army (ANA) troops because of connections to Mujahideen.  The Afghan government is trying to stop the increase of insider Green on Blue attacks.

The Afghan Defense Ministry also announced that at least 24 ANA troops were killed, 19 wounded, in battles in the provinces of Maidan Wardak, Farah, Badghis, Nangarhar, Ghazni, Helmand and Uruzgan.  They say only four Mujahideen were killed, six wounded.

04 September 2012

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) claim they killed a Mujahideen leader, and two other Mujahideen, in Logar Province.  They believe the Mujahideen were part of the so called Haqqani Network based in Pakistan.

In Kunar Province, local government officials claim Pakistan launched another round of rockets into the province. They say at least three civilians were wounded after a barrage of 80 rockets were launched over a two day period.

Also in Kunar, a man was sentenced to death for beheading a 17 years old girl because she did not want to marry him.  Two other men were sentenced to 17 years in prison for helping him.  The girl’s father testified that the man threatened to kill him as well.

In Nuristan Province, local government officials say there is an increase in the number of Pakistani ISI agents in their area.  An Afghan security official said about 50 ISI agents were seen, with weapons, meeting with Mujahideen.

In Nangarhar Province, at least 25 people were killed and more than 50 wounded after a explosion at a funeral. Officials say a suicide bomber was targeting a number of government officials attending the funeral.

In Farah Province, yet another fuel convoy headed for troops of the U.S. led occupation was ambushed.  Mujahideen claim to have destroyed 13 fuelers and killed ten drivers and security guards.

Responding to pressure from the United States, Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) refused to halt any trade deals with Iran: “…if an official request comes from the U.S. government, I am sure the Afghan government will be clear in its quick reaction against it…If the U.S. makes us stop business with Iran, we will face an economic crisis!”-Khan Jan Alokozai, ACCI

Iran buys at least $1.3 billion USD worth of products from Afghanistan.  What has the United States done for Afghanistan’s economy?

In Helmand Province, seven people were wounded: “Two explosive laden tricycles went off in a quick succession near a car market in Lashkar Gah Tuesday morning, leaving the casualties.”-Farid Ahmad Farhang, provincial police spokesman

03 September 2012

ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan, September 3.”

In Laghman Province, a ANA soldier shot and killed two occupying U.S./NATO personnel.

In Balkh Province, and bicycle bomb exploded, wounding several people including the suicide bomber using the bicycle.

The Afghan parliament has accused the Defense Minister, and the chief of the Afghan High Office of Oversight and Anti-corruption, of rigging contracts worth $30 million USD.

New Zealand has formally announced it will withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by the end of April, 2013.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 30 Aug – 02 Sep. U.S. ends training of Afghan troops! U.S. bullying Afghanistan to end trade deals with Iran. Cops kill civilians! Australia will now stay in Afghanistan! Jihad called against Pakistan! Children beheaded!

02 September 2012

“The training of the ALP [Afghan Local Police] recruits has been paused while we go through this re-vetting process, to take a look at this process to see if there’s anything that we can improve. It may take a month, it may take two months, we don’t know.”-Lieutenant Colonel John Harrell

Reports that the United States has halted training of new Afghan soldiers, until every one can be investigated for ties to Mujahideen.  Of course this means that the United States can not meet its troop pullout goal, because that is based on Afghan government troops taking over most of the work, and if they are not going to be trained anymore, well then so much for the 2014 U.S. withdrawal date.

The Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry revealed that the United States has been bullying them to end all trade deals with Iran.  Iran is now the biggest supplier of fuel to Afghanistan, and Iran is now buying $1.3 billion USD worth of products from Afghanistan.  What has the United States done for Afghanistan’s economy?

ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died as a result of a non-battle related injury in eastern Afghanistan today.”

Just four days after firing his intelligence chief, President Hamid Karzai now says the guy can stay until the end of his term in office.  Apparently it’s because the man intended to replace the current intelligence boss is being accused of running private prisons for torture!

In Kunduz Province, deputy provincial governor, Hamidullah Danishi, confirmed a report which said police massacred a village, killing at least 15 people. Some cops said they did it in retaliation for a policeman being killed by one of the villagers!  The result is an ongoing war between villagers and police, so far 10 cops have been killed in explosions and gun battles since the 15 civilians had been killed.

Australian Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, says Australia will not withdraw their Diggers early as planned.  A few months ago they said they would leave by early 2013, now they will stay until the end of 2014.

In Herat Province, a spokesman for the governor said a battle between local forces and Mujahideen left three Mujahideen dead.

01 September 2012

ISAF said: “Two U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service members died following an insurgent attack in Ghazni province, Afghanistan today.”

In Maidan Wardak Province, suicide bombers killed as many as 12 people. Local government officials say two cops and ten civilians were killed, but the Mujahideen say the ten were all U.S. led occupying forces.  “There were two heavy blasts which damaged some parts of the district chief’s office and the police headquarters, and ISAF forces are also there.”-Shahidullah Shahid, provincial government spokesman

The Hezbe-e-Wafaq Millie (National Unity Party) of Afghanistan has made the first national call to launch Jihad against Pakistan. The holy war was declared in Kabul.   The political party claims they have more than 1,000 signatures from Afghans wanting war with Pakistan: “Crossborder shelling from Pakistan is a clear invasion into Afghanistan and this cannot be ignored. We will go to eastern Kunar province with our volunteer brothers and will defend Afghanistan.”-Bismillah Sher, National Unity Party

President Hamid Karzai has condemned yet another night raid by U.S. troops. Government officials from Uruzgan Province said not only were people killed, but U.S. led forces kidnapped nine people!

31 August 2012

In Uruzgan Province, U.S. led occupying forces conducted an illegal night raid, which killed a 70 year old man and his son.

In Ghazni Province, local government officials claim Mujahideen assassinated five people for being anti-Mujahideen. The problem is that the so called ‘Mujahideen’ also burned Qurans, it sounds more like a U.S. led occupying force tactic.

Boys and girls are being found beheaded. In Kandahar Province, two boys, one 12 years old, and one 14 years old, were found beheaded in separate cases.   In Kapisa Province, a seven years old girl was found beheaded and her legs cut off.  Strangely no one has claimed they are missing a daughter!  Local government officials are blaming it on Mujahideen, of course.

30 August 2012

In Farah Province a fuel convoy headed for U.S. occupying NATO troops was ambushed. Four security guards were killed, two people wounded, two fuelers burned.

In Logar Province, five people were killed, 10 wounded, after a rocket hit the bus stop they were waiting at.  Local government officials speculate that Mujahideen were targeting a military base, and the rocket missed the intended target.

ISAF said: “Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan today.”

In Herat Province, Mujahideen attacked a security checkpoint, killing three Afghan government troops.

In Ghor Province, locals say a U.S. airstrike killed 12 civilians. U.S./ISAF/NATO claim the targets were Mujahideen.

In Helmand Province, Australian officials revealed that five of their Diggers were killed.  Three were killed by an Afghan government soldier, and two were killed when their helicopter went down.  “This is a very big toll… This is our single worst day in Afghanistan. Indeed this is the most lost in combat [for Australia] since the days of the Vietnam War.”-Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 25 Aug – 29 Aug. Green on Blue attacks continue. Hundreds more Afghan soldiers die fighting for the U.S. than U.S. soldiers! Mujahideen execute one of their own! Afghan soldiers attack each other! Afghan soldiers assassinate Musilm boss!

29 August 2012

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

In Kunar Province at least five Afghan government soldiers were killed when a bomb exploded.

In Ghazni Province, the provincial council chief was assassinated.  He was gunned down.  He had survived several prior attempts to end his life.

Also in Ghazni, four people were killed, one wounded, when they drove over a mine.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has fired his intelligence chief.   In response to criticisms, Karzai claims the guy was at the end of his two year contract anyway.

It was also revealed that two former officials, forced to quit over border disputes with Pakistan, will be nominated for the positions of interior and defense ministers (the very jobs they were forced to quit!).

28 August 2012

In Kandahar Province, four people were killed, 20 wounded including a police chief, when a bomb attached to a fueler exploded.

In Ghazni Province, a suicide bomber attacked a funeral. However, local government officials say only the bomber was killed, and no one was hurt.  They also say a gun battle took place following the blast, but the gunmen ran away.

ISAF says: “An International Security Assistance Force helicopter made a forced landing in eastern Afghanistan today. There were no reported fatalities and the site of the incident is secure. Initial reporting indicates that there was no enemy activity in the area at the time.”

A total of nine U.S. Marines and U.S. Army soldiers got slaps on the wrists, “non-judicial punishment”, for directly violating the U.S. Uniform Code of Military Justice regarding desecration of bodies and religious books!

ISAF claims they captured a bomb expert in Paktiya Province.

27 August 2012

In Laghman Province, two U.S. led occupying troops were killed by an Afghan government soldier: “Two International Security Assistance Force service members died when a member of the Afghan National Army turned his weapon against ISAF service members in eastern Afghanistan today. ISAF troops returned fire, killing the ANA soldier who committed the attack.”

USMC (United States Marine Corps) General John Allen is contradicting Pentagon estimates of Green (Afghan government forces) on Blue (United States/ISAF/NATO coalition) attacks.  The Pentagon claims only 10% of insider attacks are by Mujahideen who infiltrate Afghan government forces.  General Allen saying the Mujahideen are involved in at least 25% of Green on Blue attacks. To make things more confusing, recently the Afghan government claimed the Green on Blue attackers were spies for Pakistan and Iran!

The Afghan Defense Ministry says more than 600 Afghan soldiers died in the past two months, helping the United States led occupation forces! Afghan officials say it’s a big jump in deaths, fighting for the U.S. empire, from the same time last year!

Despite all the anti-Pakistan rhetoric in the U.S. media, the U.S. Army (USA) has been working with Pakistan’s Inter Service Intelligence (ISI). An unnamed Afghan government official revealed that the USA and ISI recently worked together to assassinate a “leader” in Pakistan.  The leader was killed by U.S. drone strike a week prior.

In Ghor Province, Mujahideen publicly executed, by hanging, one of their own.  They say the man had committed murder during an argument with other Mujahideen.

In Helmand Province, Afghan government forces attacked each other. At least ten were killed, four wounded.  A local government official says the battle was the result of Mujahideen who had infiltrated the Afghan Army!

In Uruzgan Province, a suicide bomber exploded too soon. Local government officials claim the bomber was just being handed a suicide bomb vest when it went off.  They believe he was to target local police.  Several people were wounded and, of course, the bomber was killed.

26 August 2012

In Helmand Province, local government officials say Mujahideen beheaded 15 men and three women. The reason is not known.  Mujahideen groups have not commented on the local government’s claim.

In Ghor Province, local government leaders claim that Mujahideen have switched sides and are now helping villagers fight the Mujahideen.

In Baghlan Province, a convoy of fuelers for U.S./ISAF/NATO occupying forces was attacked.  Local government officials say one tanker was destroyed, but an opposition political party (who claim they launched the attack) says six fuelers were destroyed.

The Afghan Defense Ministry says they’ve killed 33 Mujahideen in battles in Kunar, Ghazni, Logar, Helamnd, Kunar and Farah provinces.  The defense ministry claims only three Afghan National Army troops were killed, three wounded.

In Logar Province, the Hajj and Islamic Affairs chief was assassinated by Afghan National Army troops! Local officials suspect it was a family feud, as the Islamic Affairs boss was known to have problems with his cousins.

25 August 2012

U.S. led ISAF/NATO claims two airstrikes killed 12 militants from Pakistan in Kunar Province.  However provincial official, Aslam Gul Mujahid, said at least 20 people were killed, including Afghan civilians.

In Uruzgan Province, four occupying Australian Diggers were wounded after a bomb exploded.

Afghan Interior Ministry claims 17 Mujahideen killed, two wounded and 30 captured in battles in the following provinces: Kabul, Logar, Ghazni and Paktika.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai, and a delegation of 70 Afghan officials, left to attend the anti-U.S. Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Iran.

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 21 Aug – 24 Aug. Karzai blames Green on Blue attacks on Iran & Pakistan!

24 August 2012

In Farah Province, a U.S./NATO supply convoy was ambushed. At least three security guards were killed, one wounded, and 12 fuelers burned.

In Kandahar Province, six people were killed after a vehicle ran over a mine. The occupants were killed, as well as people riding a motorcycle.

Also in Kandahar, villagers are claiming they were forced to destroy recently built roads.  Panjwai district officials say people from at least three villages tore up about 15 meters of newly laid roads.

In Ghazni Province, a former provincial governor was attacked by suicide bomber. He was wounded.

23 August 2012

Local government officials in Kunar Province say at least 30 more rockets have been launched against them from Pakistan.  No person was hurt, but farm fields were destroyed.

In Parwan Province, a U.S./NATO vehicle patrol was hit by an explosion. It took place near Bagram. No further details from U.S. led sources, but Mujahideen claim they killed six U.S. personnel.

In Ghazni Province, local government officials claim there were several battles with Mujahideen. Interestingly, the Afghan government forces say they left the bodies of Mujahideen, including those still alive but seriously wounded, on the battlefield.

In Nangarhar Province, local government officials say the U.S. conducted yet another illegal night raid. This time a chicken farmer was killed and at least four people arrested.  Mujahideen claim the people killed/arrested are not militants.

Spokespeople for President Hamid Karzai try to blame Iran and Pakistan on increasing Green on Blue attacks. They claim most of the attackers are really spies that have infiltrated Afghan military and police units.  This conflicts with ISAF/NATO’s own investigation, which says most Green on Blue attacks are caused by U.S. led troops acting the ass hole towards Afghan government forces.

22 August 2012

The New York Times reports that U.S. deaths in Afghanistan have reached 2,000 since the U.S. invasion in 2001.  At least half those deaths happened in the past 27 months.

In Nangarhar Province, Mujahideen claim they shot down a U.S. drone, near Jalalabad airport.

In Kabul Province, senior Mujahideen leaders escaped from the Pul-e-Charkhi prison. Mujahideen claim 15 of their top guys escaped the prison after breaking down the doors.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) claim they captured a Mujahideen leader in Kandahar Province.

21 August 2012

Mujahideen attacked the C-17 transport used by USA (United States Army) General Martin Dempsey.  The attack missed the plane, slightly damaging a door: “International Security Assistance Force can confirm that shrapnel from an indirect fire round at Bagram Air Field damaged the military aircraft that brought Gen. Martin E. Dempsey to Afghanistan.”  Dempsey was not on the plane at the time.

ISAF claims they killed a leader with connections to al Qaeda, in Kunar Province.

A video has been released showing a U.S. led occupying soldier hitting an Afghan government soldier.  Going by the uniform the occupying troop is not U.S., but that doesn’t matter to the Afghan’s ’cause the U.S. led occupiers all look the same.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. allies attend Iran led NAM. Condemn the United States, condemn the United Nations! Demand U.S. assassination drone strikes stop!

“One of the topics that’s being raised amongst NAM member states is the changes that are necessary in the UN, Security Council and also other UN affiliated bodies.”-Ramin Mehmanparast, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman

29 August 2012, the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has been underway for three days in Iran, and some very important officials have shown up, including allies (as well as enemies) of the United States.

“The summit is being held in Tehran at a time when Western countries are facing major financial and social crises. This indicates that the source of global management is suffering from weaknesses and deficiencies. There’s a need for new innovations and initiatives in order to improve the situation in the international domain.”-Ramin Mehmanparast, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman

Attendees include:  United Nations Secretary, Ban Ki-moon.  Prime Minister of Iraq,  Nouri al-Maliki. President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa.  Ruler of United Arab Emirates’ Umm Al Quwain state, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid al-Mu’alla.  President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir.  Chairman of the State Council of Oman, Yahya bin Mahfoudh al Mantheri.  Palestinian Authority Chief, Mahmoud Abbas.  Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar. Indonesian Foreign Minister, Marty Natalegawa.  Head of Arab Relations of Lebanon‘s Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Ezzedin.  President of Mongolia, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.  President of Egypt, Mohamed Morsi.   Senegal’s Foreign Minister, Alioune Badara Cissé.  Envoy from Russia, Konstantin Shuvalov.  Korea (north) Foriegn Minister, Pak Ui-chun.   India Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.  And many more heads of state.

“…the wave of Islamic Awakenings sweeping the Middle East and North Africa has led to major developments. Countries where people have a greater role for determining their destiny, they are in fact seeking to cut their dependence on the major powers.”-Ramin Mehmanparast, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman

Egypt will turn over the presidency of NAM to Iran.  Iran will now head NAM for the next three years.

“…the existing crises indicate that these few, specific countries [United States, United Kingdom, etc] are not able to run the affairs of the world, and also they are not able to run the international organizations.”-Ramin Mehmanparast, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman

Iranian Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, announced that a workgroup for Palestine will be formed at the United Nations in New York, U.S.A.: “Heavy pressures should be put on the Zionist regime….and practical suggestions should be offered.”

“The Zionist regime is the source of all regional and international threats.
In line with the issue of the Islamic Awakening, these pro-Zionist Americans did not manage to block this wave of Islamic Awakening and it feels that it has been harmed by the independence seeking waves of this region and also it’s going to lose the supporters of the Zionist regime.”-Ramin Mehmanparast, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman

Another issue is the use of assassination drones by the United States: “…Pakistan’s position is clear today and has been clear in the past. Our position is that this is something which is counter-productive. It is unlawful. It is illegal, and therefore they must cease.”-Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister

NAM is an international organization with 120 member countries.  The movement stands for “national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries” in their “struggle against imperialism and all forms of foreign aggression”-Fidel Castro, Havana Declaration, 1979 NAM summit

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: USS Stennis sets sail for Persian Gulf, 4 months early. U.S. says “world calls” for war with Syria & Iran

“…we are not in the habit of repeating a warning and we warn only once.”-Major General Ataollah Salehi, Iranian Army, 03 January 2012 threat against USS Stennis

“We’re asking an awful lot of each of you.  And frankly, you are the best I have, and when the world calls we have to respond.”-Leon Panetta, U.S. Secretary of Defense, 22 August 2012 statement regarding early deployment of USS Stennis

22 August, the aircraft carrier USS Stennis will set sail for the Persian Gulf.  Back in July it was announced the USS Stennis would return to the Persian Gulf four months earlier than planned.  The aircraft carrier will also stay in the region for eight months, four months longer than originally planned.

The Pentagon wants to keep at least two aircraft carrier groups on station in the Persian Gulf at all times. Panetta said it was to fight threats and “Obviously Iran is one of those threats that we have to, we have to be able to focus on……Secondly, it is the turmoil in Syria….”

Back in January 2012, Iranian officials singled out the USS Stennis, threatening military action against that specific aircraft carrier if it ever returned to the Persian Gulf.  They claimed the aircraft carrier deliberately sailed through Iranian naval war games in December 2011.  They also accuse the U.S. Navy of sailing ships dangerously close to Iranian oil platforms.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Class Warfare: Quantitative Easing benefits top 5% of the rich, neutral or negative effect for everyone else! More proof it’s the fault of the Too Big to Fails!

23 August 2012, the Bank of England tried to make it look as though flooding the markets with cash is benefiting everyone. But their own words revealed the truth: “…asset purchases have boosted the value of households’ financial wealth held outside pension funds, although holdings are heavily skewed, with the top 5% of households holding 40% of these assets.”

Quantitative easing is a monetary policy that tries to stimulate the economy by buying up privately held financial assets.  But as the Bank of England (BoE) pointed out, 40% of those assets are owned by only 5% of the people in the United Kingdom!  You can be sure it’s a similar situation in the United States.

The BoE also admitted that traditional ‘savers’ are the ones who’re losing, as interest rates on traditional savings accounts are at record lows.  So much for trying to get people to put money away for a rainy day.

One British company, that offers financial services for people over 50 years of age, pointed out that retirees are the big losers in all this quantitative easing (QE): “…the 21 million over 50s…have been negatively impacted……It is asserted, but not proven, that pension savers are no worse off due to QE gilt buying [gilt is a British term for government bonds], because the value of their pension savings has gone up to offset the fall in the annuity income they will receive when converting their pension fund into a pension income. This assertion is simply not correct and the reality is very different for those recently or soon to be retired.”-Ros Altmann, Saga

The BoE tried to smooth things over by saying the worst that could happen to retirement funds is nothing: “….QE is estimated to have had a broadly neutral impact on the value of the annuity income that can be purchased from a typical personal pension pot invested in a mixture of bonds and equities.”

The British National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) responded by pointing out that if pension funds were already in trouble before the QE started in 2009, and the QE has a neutral impact, then nothing has been improved (except for the rich).  The NAPF states that what has actually happened is that retirement funds are worse off as a result of QE: “…schemes that were already in substantial deficit before the financial crisis are likely to have seen those deficits increased.”

Essentially; quantitative easing only helps the 5% of the people (elites) holding financial assets (such as bonds), it is doing nothing, or actually making things worse, for 95% of the people!!!