Tag Archives: u.s.

Fukushima

Japanese ordered to evacuate, but government won’t help, even moving companies refuse to help!

“We were told to evacuate, but we can’t. Are the moving companies just going to abandon us without offering help?”-Evacuee

People living in mandatory evac zones, in Fukushima Prefecture, have until the end of May to get out.  But they are on their own when it comes to actually moving.  Even moving companies are refusing their business.

Moving companies claim safety for their employees:  “We don’t let our workers go in the zone where evacuations are planned, or anywhere within 30 kilometers of the plant, because of safety considerations. However, if the prefecture and local authorities combine to make a request, we’ll look at what can be done.”-Nippon Express Company

So far 6,000 people have asked for the services of moving companies.  This is another example of how unprepared Japan is.  How can you order a mandatory evacuation, without providing any way for the people to move?  Typical of governments worldwide!

Fukushima

Local governments say radiation contamination increasing outside evac zones, contradicts claims by national government!

The situation around the Fukushima Daiichi nuke plant is not getting better.  Radiation contamination is spreading, and increasing.

Officials say the radiation levels at the damaged nuclear plant continue to increase, making it more difficult for workers struggling to get the facility under control.  Tokyo Electric Power Company says radiation levels at the nuclear reactor buildings are still to high for humans to approach.

Radiation levels are increasing outside the now mandatory evacuation zones.  The Fukushima state government has issued a warning to people outside the evacuation zones, saying they should limit their time outdoors.  School playgrounds and public parks are being monitored for contamination.  Already five public parks, outside the evac zones, are showing contamination at, or above, the safe limits set by the prefectural government.  Officials are telling residents, and visitors, to limit their time at those parks to no more than one hour per day.

The increasing radiation levels being reported by local governments contradicts the Japanese Prime Minister’s office, which said the risk of radiation leaks is receding.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Chinese bankers say dump U.S. dollar, buy other currencies

Several banking officials in China, have stated that they Chinese government needs to “reduce” and “diversify” their foreign currency holdings.

Tang Shuangning, chairman of China Everbright Group said China must reduce its excessive foreign exchange reserves and further diversify its holdings.

Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of China’s central bank, said that China’s foreign exchange reserves “exceed our reasonable requirement”.

Xia Bin, a member of the monetary policy committee of the central bank, said China should further diversify its foreign exchange holdings.

According to western media reports, most of China’s foreign currency holdings are in U.S. dollars.  This is part of why the value of the U.S. dollar hasn’t dropped as far as it should have.  But if the Chinese government listens to its bankers, then the dollar could crash.

When the Chinese bankers say China must reduce its current foreign currency holdings they’re talking about U.S. dollars.  They’re saying the Chinese government has too many, based on how bad the U.S. economy is.

When the Chinese bankers say they want the Chinese government to diversify foreign currency holdings, they mean they want to get rid of U.S. dollars and buy money from countries that have good economies, like Russia, India, South Africa and several South American countries.

 

International, Opinion, U.S.

After dissing African Union, over Libya, Obama now asking for their help

The United States, the Europeans, even the United Nations, ignored the African Union when they expressed concerns about military action being taken against one of their own; Libya.  Now, the U.S. wants the AU’s help.

“In addition, we seek the African Union’s assistance in arriving at a political solution in Libya.”-Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State

So now the Obama administration wants a political solution to Libya?  Why didn’t they do that to begin with!  Is this just part of the U.S. plan to move on to attacking Syria?

International, U.S.

Obama condemns Syria, using words similar to what he used before bombing Libya, get ready

“This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now.”-President Barack Obama, referring to Syria, April 22, 2011

Compare that to what Obama said to Libya before attacking them.

“The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous and it is unacceptable. So are threats and orders to shoot peaceful protesters and further punish the people of Libya. These actions violate international norms and every standard of common decency. This violence must stop.”-President Barack Obama, referring to Libya, February 23, 2011

Basically Obama’s statement to Syria is just a condensed version of what he said to Libya.

The United Nations is already calling for investigations of protesters being killed in Syria.  France is expressing concern, and remember, they were the ones that did all the dirty work to get the United Nations to approve war with Libya.  President Obama is also accusing Iran of taking part in the violence in Syria.

International, U.S.

Obama opposes Palestinians

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Obama administration is against efforts by the Palestinians to bring the issue of statehood to the United Nations for a vote.

Clinton demanded they return to negotiations with Israelis. But former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger said it’s unlikely negotiations will work: “At the present moment it is very difficult for most of the Arab states to give reliable guarantees because they are in great turmoil themselves.”



International, U.S.

U.S. ally Turkey to open Taliban Embassy, Obama approves

On April 14, 2011, Turkey, a member of U.S. led NATO, confirmed they will allow an embassy for Afghan Taliban, with the approval of the government of Afghanistan.  Afghan President Hamid Karzai gave approval last December: “If Turkey can be kind to provide for such a venue, we the government of Afghanistan will  be pleased and happy to see that facilitation take place by Turkey.”

On April 15, 2011, Pakistan announced they support Turkey’s recognition of the Taliban.  Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari  declined to comment, but one of his spokesman said: “We are not against it. As long as there’s ownership from the Afghan people and the Afghan government we will not oppose it.”

In February, 2011, President Obama told Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly: “…the Taliban will not be retaking Afghanistan.” But, Obama said in December 2010: “…our civilian and military efforts must support a durable and favorable political resolution of the conflict. In 2011, we will intensify our regional diplomacy to enable a political process to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, also in February 2011: “…we are launching a diplomatic surge to move this conflict toward a political outcome that shatters the alliance between the Taliban and al-Qaida.” In other words they are trying to bring the Taliban over to the U.S. side of the Force.  This includes political participation in Afghanistan’s government, and most Afghans can identify with the Taliban, so how can they not take over, at least politically, as Obama stated to O’Reilly.

And for those who think officially recognizing the Taliban will get the U.S. out of Afghanistan any faster, think again: “For reconciliation to take hold – for it to be irreversible – Afghanistan’s government will need to provide security to all its people. So the United States and our allies will continue training, advising, and assisting Afghan forces.”-also-“We have been clear that this transition does not mark the end of our commitment to the people of the region. NATO has pledged an enduring military and financial commitment to Afghanistan that will extend beyond the completion of transition in 2014.”-Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State

Let me remind people that Obama promised to get U.S. troops out starting in July 2011, yet Hillary Clinton stated, back in February, 2011, that U.S. forces will be staying “beyond” 2014.

Many analysts, in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan, think the Obama Administration’s policy of trying to reintegrate the Taliban into Afghan politics, is a way of stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan so that the U.S. can focus on invading Syria, then Iran.  


International, Opinion, U.S.

U.S. contractor Blackwater back on the hook

More than a year ago a lower court dismissed manslaughter charges against the guards of Blackwater Worldwide, now known as Xe Services.  Iraqis claimed Blackwater employees randomly shot Iraqi civilians.  The U.S. Army called it a “criminal event”.

Now an appeals court judge says the lower court judge was F*ed up, when he dismissed the charges.  Judge Ricardo Urbina “…made a number of systemic errors based on an erroneous legal analysis.”-Appellate judges Douglas Ginsburg, Merrick Garland and Stephen Williams

Urbina dismissed the charges on the grounds the U.S. Justice Department mishandled the evidence, and, ironically, he felt the accused had their consitutional rights violated.  I say ironically, because no “enemy combatant” is afforded any constitutional rights under this bogus War on Terror!

The appeals court also ordered Urbina to disclose if any evidence was tampered with.

The Blackwater (Xe Services) guards were originally charged with 17 counts of manslaughter, 20 counts of attempted manslaughter and one count of violating U.S. arms export regulations.  NY Times video

 

International, U.S.

U.S. contractor L-3 Communications sexually abusing Iraqi women

Several Iraqi women say Christopher J. Kirchmeier, an official with L-3 Communications, seized their security badges and sabotaged their U.S. visa applications, because they refused to have sex with him.

The women also say Kirchmeier’s bosses, and U.S. State Department officials, know about it, because they filed complaints.  But nothing has been done about it.  A U.S. Army officer has backed up their claims.

 

 

International, Opinion, U.S.

United States ignores Iraqi officials, Obama pushing to have U.S. troops stay in Iraq

Time and time again, Iraqi officials have told the leadership of the United States to get its troops out of Iraq, yet, U.S. leadership acts as if the Iraqis want the U.S. to stay.

“If Iraq wants to keep some American troops in the country to offset its military vulnerabilities, I’m sure the U.S. government would welcome the discussions, but it needs to start very soon.”-U.S. Admiral Michael Mullen

About a week before Admiral Mullen made that statement, Defense Secretary Gates said the same thing.

“If folks here (Iraqis) are going to want us to have a presence, we’re going to need to get on with it pretty quickly in terms of our planning.”-Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense

Gates made that public statement after Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki told him no: “The Iraqi government is against of any presence of U.S. troops or other foreign troops on the Iraqi territory since they cause internal problems and problems in the region for Iraq.”-Nuri al-Maliki, Iraqi Prime Minister

Obviously the leadership of the United States doesn’t understand what ‘NO’ means. That wasn’t the only time (so far since January 2011) the United States was told by Iraqi leaders to get out.

“All Iraqi officials want a U.S. pullout from their country, and based on the Baghdad Security Pact signed by the two sides, all U.S. forces should withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011.”-Bahr al-Uloum, former Iraqi Oil Minister

“Mr. Maliki rejected Gates’ demand, saying that Iraq will deal with the issue based on the security pact (signed between Washington and Baghdad).”-Ali al-Dabbaq, Iraqi Government Spokesman

“I don’t believe there is any need for them to stay after 2011. Because we are ready right now, we are fully qualified, competent. And we don’t have any will or wish for them to stay here, and there won’t be any American forces after 2011.”-Mohammad al-Askari, Iraqi Ministry of Defense spokesman

“They are not going to leave Iraq, and if they don’t leave Iraq by the end of 2011, then there will be no peaceful demonstrations, there will be something else.”-Iraqi protester

“We want them to get out of the country. It’s the last year for them.”-Sheik Ahmed al-Hasnawi

Get the point?  Then what’s the motivation behind Robert Gates and Michael Mullen acting like the Iraqis are asking the U.S. to stay?  So far, the only political group asking the U.S. to stay is the semi-autonomous Kudrish parliament. But their region, the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, is not covered under the current agreement for U.S. troop withdrawal.  And Kurdish officials point out they have no say in it: “It is not related to Iraq’s Kurdish officials and they have no role in the U.S. forces’ stay or exit. It is up to the central government to decide on the issue.”-Sabah Barzandi, member of the parliament of Iraq’s Kurdistan region

For some reason the United States leadership is trying to use the Kurdish card as the reason for NOT leaving Iraq.  Is it because of the strong ties, that Kurds have, to Iran?  Is it because the U.S. is very close to invading Syria (just to the west of Iraqi Kurdistan), and then invading Iran (just to the east of Iraq)?