Tag Archives: wall street

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S./NATO troops kill 4 children. No surprise; illegal drug trade sets new records under U.S. occupation, money not going to local drug dealers! 24 hour reports roll on.

May 1, 2012, three children killed, and three wounded, in Zabul Province, Afghanistan.

Deputy provincial governor, Mohammad Jan Rasolyar, said U.S./NATO troops were attacked by Mujahideen, and a firefight broke out.  Witnesses were outraged, claiming the children were targeted by the U.S./NATO troops.

Protests erupted, resulting in the closing of the highway between Kandahar and Kabul provinces.

Witnesses also say two U.S/NATO troops were killed, and one Mujahideen was killed.

Afghanistan’s Deputy Counter Narcotics Minister, Ibrahim Azhar, announced that the illegal drug trade in Afghanistan is now at $70 billion USD since 2011.

Opium production is up by 61% since the United States occupied!  But here’s some interesting news from the Afghan government; the opium farmers, and even local drug dealers, account for only 5% of the income made off the illegal drugs!  The majority goes to “international” organizations (another way to say U.S. affiliated organizations).

Deputy Counter Narcotics Minister Azhar also claimed that the majority of the drugs are being flown out of Afghanistan via airports, and airbases run by the United States!

And now for the 24 hour seek, destroy or capture report given by Afghan and ISAF officials, for May 1, 2012:   Three Afghan troops wounded in Ghazni Province.  One Afghan troop wounded in Nimroz Province. Weapons and ammo captured in Kandahar Province. Two “leaders” captured in Helmand Province.  Five Mujahideen killed by possible U.S. drone strike in Lagman Province.  One Mujahideen killed by air/drone(?) strike in Wardak Province, also one Mujahideen killed in firefight with occupying forces.  Afghan Interior Ministry claims a total of 19 Mujahideen were killed, three wounded and five captured.

Combat operations were conducted Kabul, Baghlan, Faryab, Kandahar, Helmand, Maidan Wardak, Logar, Khost and Farah provinces.

And now for the 24 hour report for April 30, 2012: 40 year old woman killed with shotgun in Baghlan Province. Police Chief for Paktia Province assassinated by Mujahideen, two cops and one body guard wounded.  U.S./NATO troop killed in battle in southern Afghanistan. Afghan Interior Ministry claims 14 Mujahideen killed, two wounded and 16 captured, along with weapons and ammo.

Combat operations were conducted at Kabul, Nangarhar, Zabul, Logar and Ghazni provinces.

International, Technology, U.S.

Terror Drones: April 23-29. Pakistan hit. Taliban claim capture of drone. U.S. cops chomping at the bit for their new drones. U.S. politicians taking food from hungry children to build more drones! CIA protected by law.

“The American planes hovering in the skies for quite some time fired at least three missiles at a house in Zafar town in Miran Shah bazaar that damaged the compound completely….They did not appear to be the local militants.”-unnamed local official

April 29, 2012, a U.S. assassination drone killed at least three people in Pakistan.

The attack took place in North Waziristan (within the Waziristan region), dozens of people were wounded.

Also on April 29, a U.S. drone crashed in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.  Mujahideen claim they shot it down and have recovered the wreckage.

“We want (police) to be able to use the aircraft sooner because there is a public interest.”-Ben Gielow, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International

According to a Boston Herald report, U.S. police are chomping at the bit for their FAA issued drone licenses.

“Rushing to push through applications to fly drones doesn’t seem like a good idea.”-Jennifer Lynch, Electronic Frontier Foundation

Many police departments say they have already bought small drones, claiming they are to be used to find missing people.  Until now rules did not allow them to legally use them.  Federal Aviation Administration will have new rules in place by May 14, allowing your local police to legally spy on you with drones.

What’s interesting is that some “law” enforcement agencies have already been caught operating drones.

“….instead of having a caucus to feed preschool children, they decided it was more important to have a Drone Caucus and that’s because all the manufacturers in their districts are funding them.” also “Eisenhower was so right, and he was so right when he said it steals money, it robs us of food for our children, of healthcare for our parents, he was so right. And it’s just worse and worse.”-Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, revealed that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection are operating Predator-B drones, from North Dakota and now into Washington state.  They claim to be watching the Canadian border for criminal activity.

Down Mexico way, some people are questioning the effectiveness of Predator drones used on that border.

According to stltoday.com: “…Homeland Security officials who have spent six years and more than $250 million building the nation’s largest fleet of domestic surveillance drones. The nine Predators that help police America’s borders have yet to be very useful in stopping contraband or illegal immigrants.”

Washington Post reported on April 25 that President Barack Obama has authorized the CIA to use drones to kill people, even if they can’t tell who it is they’re killing.  The new drone policy is called “signature” strikes.

On April 10, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s Stephen W. Preston, gave a speech which explained why the Obama administration is so gung ho on allowing the CIA, and not the military, to operate the assassination drones. Supposedly traditional “laws of war” do not apply to intelligence agencies.

According to Preston, the CIA answers only to U.S. laws, and those laws favor the CIA: “The courts have long recognized the state secrets privilege and have consistently upheld its proper invocation to protect intelligence sources and methods from disclosure. Moreover, federal judges have dismissed cases on justiciability or political question grounds, acknowledging that the courts are, at times, institutionally ill-equipped and constitutionally incapable of reviewing national security decisions committed to the President and the political branches.”

Speaking of Yemen, the Associated Press revealed that a Yemen Mujahideen claimed to have killed by CIA drone strike last year, is actually alive and well.

April 24, a top FBI official was in Yemen, just two days after a CIA drone strike killed what Yemen officials claim was a top militant “leader”.

Mohammed Al-Basha, Yemen’s embassy spokesman in Washington DC, revealed that the FBI is also involved with drone strikes in Yemen: “Mueller visits Yemen on an annual basis so this is not a special or secret occasion. President Hadi emphasised that he is strongly committed to combatting extremism and working with the U.S. to counter the mutual threat of terrorism.”

FBI director Robert Mueller vowed to crush the Yemen Mujahideen.

April 27, at least 22 people were killed by U.S. drone strikes in Somalia.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: ‘Mericans burn Qur’an, again! Who said the War on Terror wasn’t about religion?

April 29, 2012, according to the Gainsville Sun, Islamophobic pastor Terry Jones has led another Qur’an burning ceremony in Florida.

He, and his crazy christian followers, ignored Pentagon warnings and burned Qur’ans and a painting of Prophet Muhammad.  Remember, Terry Jones once promised he would “not ever” burn a Qur’an.

Jones has been fined $300 USD by the Gainsville fire department.

February 20, 2012, U.S. troops burned copies of the Qur’an and other Islamic texts in Afghanistan.

March 20, 2011, ‘merican evangelical Wayne Sapp (Jones’ assistant) burned a Qur’an live via the Internet.

International

Corporate Evil: Recent reports revealing how bad Roundup really is. More evidence that Kanup 480 SL responsible for mutant wild dogs in Vietnam!

“100,000s of Indian farmers commit suicide by drinking Monsanto’s RoundUp herbicide…”–Best Meal.info

“Glyphosate containing products are acutely toxic to animals, including humans. Symptoms include eye and skin irritation, cardiac depression, gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, and accumulation of excess fluid in the lungs. The surfactant used [polyethoxylated tallow amine] in a common glyphosate product (Roundup) is more acutely toxic than glyphosate itself; the combination of the two is yet more toxic.”-Caroline Cox, Journal of Pesticide Reform

“New research has recently been released showing that glyphosate, the main active ingredient found in Monsanto’s Roundup Ultra Max, is causing both DNA and cellular damage to cells found in the mouth and throat.”–Nation of Change

“Glyphosate, the ingredient in question, has been shown by a third-party study to cause birth defects in the embryos of lab animals.”-Fresh Fuzz, myessentia.com

“The world’s most popular weed killer, Roundup, can cause amphibians to change shape, according to research published today in Ecological Applications.”–Phys.org

“A team of senior plant and animal scientists have recently brought to my attention the discovery of an electron microscopic pathogen that appears to significantly impact the health of plants, animals and probably human beings. Based on a review of the data, it is widespread, very serious, and is in much higher concentrations in Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans and corn — suggesting a link with the RR gene, or more likely the presence of Roundup. This organism appears NEW to science!”-Colonel (Ret) Don Huber, Emeritus Professor, Purdue University APS Coordinator, USDA National Plant Disease Recovery System (NPDRS)

“Records of pesticide poisoning compiled over the last five years by California’s Department of Agriculture show that among some 200 pesticides widely used in the state, Roundup has been linked to the greatest numbers of eye, skin, and internal injuries. The EPA’s own Pesticide Incident Monitoring System (which was dissolved by the Reagan administration) recorded more than 100 cases of Roundup poisoning in 1980. Despite its own findings, the EPA concluded the weed killer is ‘not a primary skin irritant, and is only minimally irritating to the eye.’ That judgement was based solely on data provided by Monsanto.”–Skeptic Tank Files

“A recent study conducted by a German university found very high concentrations of Glyphosate, a carcinogenic chemical found in herbicides like Monsanto’s Roundup, in all urine samples tested. The amount of glyphosate found in the urine was staggering, with each sample containing concentrations at 5 to 20-fold the limit established for drinking water.”–NaturalSociety

“Some of the fungi promoted by glyphosate produce dangerous toxins that can end up in food and feed. Sudden Death Syndrome, for example, is caused by the Fusarium fungus. USDA scientist Robert Kremer found a 500% increase in Fusarium root infection of Roundup Ready soybeans when glyphosate is applied (see photos and chart). Corn, wheat, and many other plants can also suffer from serious Fusarium-based diseases.    But Fusarium’s wrath is not limited to plants. According to a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, toxins from Fusarium on various types of food crops have been associated with disease outbreaks throughout history. They’ve ‘been linked to the plague epidemics’ of medieval Europe, ‘large-scale human toxicosis in Eastern Europe,’ oesophageal cancer in southern Africa and parts of China, joint diseases in Asia and southern Africa, and a blood disorder in Russia. Fusarium toxins have also been shown to cause animal diseases and induce infertility.”-Dr. Fox, twobitdog.com

The reports go on and on and on, but here’s what Monsanto has to say about it: “Monsanto is not aware of any reliable studies that demonstrate Roundup Ready crops are more susceptible to certain diseases or that the application of glyphosate to Roundup Ready crops increases a plant’s susceptibility to diseases.”

CORPORATE EVIL: DID MONSANTO CREATE MUTANT WILD DOGS IN VIETNAM? VIETNAM’S KANUP 480 SL IS CALLED “ROUNDUP” IN THE UNITED STATES.

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

Oil & Gas Prices: Iran 100% increase in shipments! Nigeria oil & gas boom. North Dakota oil jobs draining Idaho & Washington. Ohio’s oil industry refuses to hire locals? Chevron big profits. Texas is proof that Obama is an oil man.

Despite U.S. oil sanctions against Iran, Iran experienced a 100% increase in refined petrol (gasoline) exports in 2011!

Iranian officials say their gasoline sales in 2011 hit a record $134 million USD!  Some of the countries buying Iranian petrol are Armenia, Afghanistan, the UAE, Iraq and Oman (some are U.S. puppet states).

By the end of 2010 Iran became self supporting in petrol production, ending years of dependance on foreign suppliers of refined gasoline.  Iran is now a major exporter of refined fuels.

Officials in Nigeria announced plans to increase oil production to 4 million bpd by the year 2020.  They are also close to increasing liquefied natural gas production by an additional 20 million metric tons a year, from the current level of 26 million tons.  Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa.

Texas oil and gas surplus equipment supplier, Jhump & Associates, is reporting a 117% increase in sales in 2011!  But that’s nothing compared to the 300% increase they had in 2010!!!

The Texas based company started in human resource solutions, but has seen a huge boost after they moved into surplus oil equipment sales.  They now plan to move into off shore drilling technology. They say their increased sales is due to a huge increase in oil and gas exploration and drilling in the United States.  What was that about Obama not doing enough to increase oil production?

In the panhandle of Idaho, and eastern Washington, people are leaving for oil jobs in North Dakota: “I’ve had guys come running through the door, saying, ‘I need my CDL [commercial drivers license] now! I’ve got a job lined up in North Dakota!’ .”-Tina Sykes, Sage Truck Driving Schools

Sage Truck Driving Schools now offers a shortened course for those Idahoans and Washingtonians heading for North Dakota.

North Idaho College is experiencing a jump in enrollment for electrical and plumbing programs that end with apprenticeships in North Dakota.

While educators are warning job seekers to do their homework before heading for North Dakota, there seems to be more than enough jobs available: “We’ve had both types of people, those who jumped in the car and left, and others who did prior research on companies. We’ve never had anyone who didn’t get employment.”-Tina Sykes, Sage Truck Driving Schools

In contrast, Ohio is seeing a seeming rejection of local people for consideration of employment in the oil and gas industry there.

One union member claimed that not a single contractor in Coshocton County, Ohio, has been hired by the shale oil and gas industry: “…I have been a local construction laborer for more than 30 years. I have talked with other construction laborers living in the Carroll, Harrison and Jefferson county areas. They are totally discouraged on the lack of, or in other words zero percent, work they are getting from this construction based shale gas industry.”-Timothy Mulford, Business Manager Laborers Local 134

Chevron reported a $6.5 billion USD profit for the first quarter of 2012.  High oil prices driven by speculators was one of many reasons for the huge profits.

According to Visiongain, all oil refineries around the world are now worth a combined total of $46.64 billion USD.  Visiongain expects huge investments and developments will be made in refineries until 2022.

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: More U.S./NATO deaths, more leaders captured, more battles, more money to be spent.

April 29, 2012, International Security Assistance Force announced that two U.S./NATO personnel were killed in separate explosions.

One soldier was killed in southern Afghanistan, the other in eastern Afghanistan.

At least 135 NATO service members have died since the beginning of 2012.

Yet another 24 hour seek and destroy/capture mission report from the Afghan officials. This time they claim they killed five Mujahideen and captured 21.

They also claim the usual capture of “leaders”, weapons and drugs.  The battles took place in Nangarhar, Kunar, Kapisa, Kandahar, Helmand, Khost, Ghazni, Logar, Zabul and Farah provinces.   The report was backed up by ISAF officials.

Chairman of U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator John Kerry, met with President Hamid Karzai. They came up with preliminary agreements on U.S. troop draw down in 2014.

They agreed the main focus should be spending more money to build up Afghanistan’s civil service.  They also agreed not to reduce spending on the Afghan military until it was clear the “security situation” improves, after 2015.

Business/Economics, International

Global Economic War: Grocery store chain refuses to buy Israeli products

“Following an audit of the Group’s supply chain, it will no longer do business with four companies, accounting for £350,000 [$569,380 USD] worth of sales, as there is evidence that they source from the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian occupied territories. The Group will also continue to actively work to increase trade links with Palestinian businesses in the occupied territories.”-Co-operative Group statement

A U.K. based food retailer, Co-operative Group, is continuing a ban on Israeli food products coming from illegally occupied West Bank.

Co-operative Group stopped buying products from Israeli West Bank settlements in 2009.  Four Israeli companies are affected: Agrexco, Arava Export Growers, Adafresh, and Mehadrin which is Israel’s largest agricultural export company.

“We strongly urge other retailers to take similar action.”-Hilary Smith, Boycott Israel Network

International, Technology, U.S.

World War 3: Iran begins mass production of modified F-5, new radar, new missile. Iranian navy threatens to send ships to New York.

April 29, 2012, after years of development Iranian officials announced they are mass producing their Saeqeh fighter jet.  It is not only proof of reverse engineering, but of indigenous designs.

The Saeqeh (lightning/thunderbolt) is a reverse engineered U.S. F-5, with modifications, most notably a twin tail instead of the original single tail.

Prototypes of the Saeqeh has been seen with a single 20 mm gun, as well as two 20 mm guns.  Iranian officials say the production aircraft has advanced avionics, radar and carries Iranian developed smart bombs and air to air missiles.

Iran also operates reverse engineered U.S. F-4 and F-14 jets, as well as Huey, Cobra and Chinook helicopters.

On April 27, 2012, the Aerospace Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRCG), Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, announced the mass production of a radar with a 1,100 km (683 miles) range.  It’s called Ghadir.

The Ghadir radar system was first tested last year, and was used to monitor low altitude satellites.

Brigadier General Hajizadeh also says they have been mass producing an anti-ship missile called the Khalij-e Fars (Persian Gulf).

The missile was developed in 2008, and revealed publicly in 2011.  It has a range of 200 km (124 miles) and can be mounted on small fast attack boats.

Iranian media mistakenly reported that Iran had radars with 1,800 miles range, but after further reading of the articles it became clear they were talking about ballistic missiles.  Brigadier General Hajizadeh stated they will be used to target U.S. forces: “Today, one of our short range missiles can function as an intercontinental missile because they [U.S. military] have been based near us.”

Last year Hajizadeh said their short range ballistic missiles “…will target NATO’s missile shield in Turkey and will then attack other targets.”

On April 24, 2012, IRGC Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, announced: “Our naval forces are so powerful that we have a presence in all the waters of the world and, if needed, we can move to within three miles of New York!”

Last year another Iranian military official gave this warning: “The Navy has a strong presence in the Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman, Indian Ocean and international waters and soon it will be present in the Atlantic Ocean.”-Ahmad Vahidi, Defense Minister of Iran

 

International

World War 3: Japan scrambles record number of interceptors in 2011

Japan’s Air Self Defense Force announced that Fiscal Year 2011 was a record setting year for intercepts of foreign military aircraft entering Japan’s air space.

425 Japanese fighters were scrambled (usually F-15 Eagles), which is 39 more than 2010.

247 intercept missions were against Russian aircraft.  156 missions against Chinese aircraft.

The JASDF says Russia and China have greatly increased their military reconnaissance flights around Japan.  JASDF also pointed out that such intercept missions dropped sharply when the Cold War ended (officially in 1991), but have seen an even sharper increase since 2005.

Japan’s fiscal year ends in March.

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Spain hits record unemployment, highest in Europe!

April 27, 2012, Spain’s National Statistics Institute announced that Spain’s unemployment rate is officially at 24.4%, the highest ever for Spain, and currently the highest in Europe!

That’s 5.6 million people out of work in a country with a population of 46 million people!

The 24.4% rate is for the first quarter of 2012.  It’s a 370,000 increase from the last quarter of 2011!

Now realize that Spain is considered the fourth largest economy in Europe!

The government of Spain plans on enacting even more spending cuts, and increases in taxes.  Mmmm, I think that’s whats actually making things worse?