Tag Archives: un

International, U.S.

World War 3: Herat airport attacked, NATO helicopter down, Australia makes vague Defense pact with Afghanistan, U.S. will keep special ops in Afghanistan

Overnight five rockets hit the Herat airport in western Afghanistan, according to local police. No further info.

A local official in Khost Province says a U.S./NATO/ISAF helicopter went down.  ISAF confirms, but as is SOP for ISAF they refuse to give any details.

“The Australian Defense Minister said Australia is interested in forging a strategic partnership with Afghanistan.”-statement from Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai

The above statement has Australians wondering what’s going on?  In five weeks the Australian government is going to sign some kind of deal with Afghanistan, that could cost Australian taxpayers hundreds of millions of Australian dollars.

The Afghan Embassy in Australia also said the deal would involve ”security, development, trade and investment, cultural and people-to-people links and migration and humanitarian affairs”.  According to Australian media, Australian officials haven’t mentioned a thing about any such “deal”.

What the Australian government has said, in response to questions, is that such a deal was mentioned in a speech by the Prime Minister back on November 21, 2011!

However, that “mention” was vague: “This kind of co-operative country to country approach is an important framework for our long term plans. We seek an enduring relationship with Afghanistan beyond 2014 as Afghanistan takes on responsibility for its own security and governance.’‘-Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia

U.S. Admiral Bill McRaven, the head of U.S. special operations, has revealed that the so called U.S. troop withdrawal in 2014 is actually a troop replacement.

He said regular troops will be replaced with special operations teams that will shepard the Afghan government forces.

However, according to the Associated Press, this plan hasn’t even been presented to Defense Secretary Panetta, or President Obama.  The plan was put together in February by several high ranking military officials, including Central Command’s General James Mattis and overall Afghanistan war commander General John R. Allen.

Pentagon officials say this is one of many plans that are meant to keep a U.S. combat troop presence in Afghanistan, while at the same time drawing down the majority of troops.

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Russia to station naval fleet off Syria…Permanently

“A decision has been made to deploy Russian warships near the Syrian shores on a permanent basis.”-unnamed Russian Defense Ministry official

April 13, 2012, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that a Russian naval fleet will continuously patrol the Mediterranean Sea, near the Syrian coastline.

The Black Sea Fleet will deploy to Syria around May.   Currently the Russian Kashin class guided missile destroyer Smetlivy is patrolling near Syria.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. led forces kill Afghan teacher. Locals taking the law into their own hands; ears being cut off. Australian C-130 attacked

April 12, 2012, Afghans in Faryab Province are protesting the killing of a teacher the night before, by U.S. led forces.

Protestors clashed with local police, at least two protestors are dead, 20 wounded.

International Security Assistance Force admit that U.S. led forces killed two civilians on April 11.  One in Faryab Province, the other in Kandahar Province.

ISAF claims the men were connected to anti-government Mujahideen, but the protestors in Faryab Province say the teacher had no connections to any militant group.

In Kandahar witnesses, and the provincial police chief, say U.S. troops shot and kill a man who was walking with his daughter.  The U.S. troops gave no explanation for the killing.

ISAF also stated that another U.S. led troop was killed on April 12.  As is their SOP they did not give details.  At least 109 occupation troops have been killed so far this year.

In Kundunz Province a suicide bomber killed three civilians and two police officers, wounding another five civilians.

In Kapisa Province Afghan government officials escaped with their lives after their vehicle ran over a mine.  The mine exploded, only one official was wounded, they were riding in a protected police vehicle.

In Helmand Province a civilian vehicle ran over a mine, which killed two children and wounded six other people.  As a result locals turned on the man who planted the mine, and cut off his ears, before police arrived.

However, the locals prevented the police from arresting him, and said they will prosecute and punish the man themselves.

Recently Afghan villagers stoned to death two men who had killed a old man they claimed was spying for the United States.

The Australian Minister of Defense, Stephen Smith, was riding in a C-130 when it came under attack while taking off from Kandahar airbase.

“The Hercules was immediately placed in full lockdown with all occupants ordered to don helmets and assume crouching positions on the floor of the plane.”-News Limited

The C-130 was not the target of the rocket attack. Kandahar airbase is constantly attacked and even the Australian Defense Minister said it was “not uncommon or unusual at Kandahar”.

 

 

 

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

Oil & Gas Prices: Iran can stop all oil sales for three years, without harm to its economy

“Some people think that they can trouble Iran through oil sanctions but I should say that we have so much reserves that even if we don’t sell oil for two to three years, the country will be administered easily.”-Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran, April 10, 2012

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

World War 3: Iran stops oil shipments to Germany, Iran imposes sanctions on 100 European companies

April 11, 2012, Iran follows through on threat to cut off oil to Germany, now Italy is next.

Iran also announced sanctions against 100 European Union companies.  Sasan Khodaei, Deputy President of Iran Trade Promotion Organization, said the companies will no longer be able to sell products to Iran.

One reason for the sanctions is that Iran is now able to make the products for themselves.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: China demands “responsible protection” for Syria

“Recently, China and Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution draft on Syria. Some people accuse China and Russia of not being ‘cooperative’ or ‘responsible’. In my view, our decision was the responsible one. We should not forget the lesson in Libya.”-Le Yucheng, Assistant Foreign Minister of China

Chinese officials believe a U.S. led war on Syria would have the same results as in Libya.  They compered the U.S. led war on Libya to “surgery that kills the patient”.   Libya is now in a full on civil war.

China’s Assistant Foreign Minister blasted the United States: “China does not do things just to please certain countries. China never takes its cue from others or pays the bill without asking the price. Being responsible means saying ‘no’ to such ‘protection’. What we need is not just ‘the responsibility to protect’ but also ‘responsible protection’.”

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Oil & Gas Prices: Iran officially stops oil shipments to Spain & Greece. Germany and Italy next.

April 10, 2012, Iran has officially halted oil exports to Spain and Greece.

The official government announcement comes after Iran canceled oil shipments to two Greek companies on April 5.

Back on March 16 Iran had named the next countries on its oil export ban list.  Those countries are Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.  This is in retaliation for the up coming European Union oil sanctions that go into effect on July 1.

Iran had already halted oil shipments to France and United Kingdom back in February.

According to an April 10 Reuters report, Iran is now considering halting oil exports to Germany as well.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Oil & Gas Prices: Saudi oil pipeline blown up in Yemen, again. Yemen in full blown Civil War

“…an armed group fired more than three rocket propelled grenades on the pipeline, setting it on fire for the second time in less than two weeks.”-unnamed witness

For the second time this month, an oil pipeline, belonging to Saudi Nimir Petroleum Company, was blown up in Yemen.  April 11, 2012, a pipeline carrying crude oil from Shabwa to the Bir Ali terminal on the Gulf of Aden was blown up.  It was last attacked on April 2.

This latest attack on the pipeline came one day after anti-government Mujahideen launched a full blown attack against a U.S. supported Yemen army base.  Officials, and local elders, say 60 soldiers were killed,  and 54 Mujahideen were killed.

The Yemen Mujahideen also blew up a natural gas pipeline on March 30.

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International

Class Warfare & Privatization: Greek police now operate on rental bases

“…with the decision of Ministers of Protection and Finance, the Greek police is available for hire by private clientele. However, this means if the Greek police is hired by those who can afford it, there are no available forces for those who cannot.”-Proto Thema, Greek news media outlet

The Greek news media outlet Proto Thema reporting that Greek cops will now be rented out.

Greek officials claim this is the only way they can continue to fund law enforcement.

The cost: About $39 USD per hour for one cop, additional $13 if you need a cop car.

Police patrol boat $261 per hour.

Police helicopter $1,960 per hour.

As you can see, only the elites can afford police protection now, and the “people” are still being forced to pay taxes for such “police protection” that they now won’t get!

Greek officials say they have to go with the rent-a-cop plan because crime has skyrocketed, no shit Sherlock, youth unemployment in Greece is at 50%!

International, U.S.

World War 3: Syria begins troop withdrawls, Russia reprimands the United States

“We have already withdrawn some military forces from several Syrian provinces.”-Walid al-Moualem, Foreign Minister of Syria

The Foreign Minister of Syria made the announcement at the same time U.S. and European media were creating rumors to the contrary.

“The U.S. and other countries which have influence over the Syrian opposition had better stop pointing the finger at China and Russia all the time, but rather use their leverage to convince everyone to stop shooting.”-Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia

Russia says the Syrian government is justified in asking for written guarantees of ceasefire from the U.S./Israeli supported rebels.

The Syrian government has until midnight, April 10/11, to get troops out of cities under the United Nations ceasefire deal.  The UN ceasefire plan actually is scheduled to begin on April 12.