Tag Archives: wall street

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Greece downgraded again, even with new bailout loan deals

Moody’s has joined Standard & Poor’s in downgrading Greece.

Last week S&P’s downgraded Greece to default status. Today Moody’s rated Greek bonds at C, saying risk of default is too high even with new bailout loans: “Moody’s believes that Greece will still face medium-term solvency challenges: its stock of debt will still be well in excess of 100 percent of gross domestic product for many years, the country is unlikely to be able to access the private market once the second assistance package runs out, and its planned fiscal and economic reforms will still face very significant implementation risks.”

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Russia joins West’s sanctions against Iran, freezes Iranian Embassy accounts!

The Russian bank, VTB 24, froze the accounts of Iranian embassy personnel in Russia.

“The bank said that this was an order from their top management, and they couldn’t do anything about it.”-Seyyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi, Iranian Ambassador to Russia

Officials with VTB 24, a division of Russian state owned VTB, tried to downplay any connection to the U.S./European sanctions against Iran, by saying the move was because of a lack of profits being made off the Iranian accounts.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Canada orders troops to stand down, despite increasing taxpayer spending on the Afghan war

“I think for many years we just took it for granted that we were a training base and we didn’t have to face the loss of people. Then on the Easter weekend we lost six and then two more.”-Fay Tidd, Mayor of Oromocto, New Brunswick, Canada

From now until the end of 2012, about 950 Canadian troops from New Brunswick will be deployed in Afghanistan.

“We keep reassuring everybody it’s a peacekeeping mission. I don’t know if we’re trying to convince ourselves or who?”-Ken Weir,  St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

Meanwhile, the Canadian Department of Defense has ordered 45 Canadian police officers and 70 diplomats working in Afghanistan, to stop what they are doing.  Canadian military trainers have also been ordered to stay away from Afghan government forces.  This is all because of the burning of dozens of Qur’ans by five U.S. troops!

The Canadian mission in Afghanistan is supposed to end in 2014,  yet it’s been revealed that the Canadian government is increasing spending for the military operation.  One report says spending will increase by at least another C $500 million.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: More anti-U.S. rallies shut down Saudi Arabian oil ports

March 3, 2012, Saudi Arabian time, fresh anti-Saudi and anti-U.S. demonstrations reported in several Saudi Arabian oil ports along the Persian Gulf.

The latest port cities involved are Qatif (Al-Qatif), Rabiyia (Al-Rabeeya) and Awamiyah (Al-Awamia).  I’ve posted before how the U.S. media has been totally ignoring what’s been going on in the Pro-U.S. Saudi Arabia for the past year!

As much as 2 million barrels of oil passes through Awamiyah everyday.

Qatif is an ancient city, dating back to 3,500 BC.  Most of the jobs in Qatif are related to the oil industry. It’s estimated that Qatif handles 800,000 barrels of oil everyday.

Rabiyia is a town located in the Qatif county/region.

Last year human rights groups claimed hundreds of people were tortured by Saudi police.  Many Shi’a Muslims in Saudi Arabia are protesting because the Salafi Muslim government (that’s right, they’re Salafi/Wahhab, not Sunni as claimed by the U.S. media) has arrested and detained many Shi’a without charge, some since 1996!

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: More suicide attacks on NATO, Afghan official assasinated, new Pakistan offensive

On March 2, 2012, in Dund district of southern Kandahar Province, a suicide car bomber attacked a NATO convoy.

At least four U.S./NATO/ISAF forces, one Afghan police officer, an Afghan civilian and and Afghan interpreter were wounded.  The “Taliban” immediately claimed responsibility (as I’ve said before, those attacks where no one claims responsibility are suspicious), and claimed that 15 U.S. led forces were killed.

In the city of Tarinkowt, in southern Uruzgan Province, unknown militants assassinated the local Afghan Intelligence official.  “Taliban” are not claiming this one.

In another incident, in which the “Taliban” are not commenting on, a man was arrested as he was heading to Kandahar.  He’s accused of supplying weapons for a planned attack against Afghan government forces.

And despite the ignorant U.S. media, which spreads the lies that Pakistan isn’t doing enough to help fight the War on Terror, Pakistan has launched a new offensive in the Kyber region.  Already there are 10 dead Pakistani forces,and 23 dead “Taliban” militants, after an early morning firefight on March 2, 2012!

International, U.S.

World War 3: Obama to send more U.S. forces to Afghanistan

March 2, 2012, a report says the Department of Defense (DoD) has decided on a new round of troop deployments to Afghanistan.

The DoD decision was actually announced on February 16!

The U.S. Army has selected four Brigade Combat Teams (BCT), one separate brigade and an Army command, to be deployed between April and August 2012.

It will involve approximately 1,460 active component officers and senior non-commissioned officers, along with approximately 300 DoD civilians. The official purpose is to train Afghan government forces.

The new deployment will be made up of personnel from: 2nd BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  2nd BCT, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia. 3rd BCT, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. 4th BCT, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. 162nd Infantry Brigade, Fort Polk, Louisiana.  And 1st Army, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois.

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. civilian doctors about to head to Afghanistan, to help Afghans devastated by 30+ years of U.S. inspired war!

“I expect to see very extensive injuries. I expect to see burn injuries, burn injuries that have gone on to heal inappropriately.”-Louis Riima, Nassau County Burn Unit

Doctors in New York are joining a mission to help Afghans who’ve been horribly wounded, no thanks to the 10 plus years of occupation by the United States (and more than 30 years of war instigated by the U.S.).

The mission is headed by a group called Mission: Restore.

“Afghanistan is a country of 29 million people with over 30 years of continuous war and devastation.  Of those 29 million, there are only 2 self-trained plastic surgeons who are practicing in the capital of Kabul.  Afghanistan ranks as the least developed country in the eastern hemisphere and in need of serious infrastructure and health service development.”-Mission: Restore

Keep in mind that the 30 plus years of “war and devastation” is the fault of the United States.  Former U.S. National Security Advisor, and Trilateral Commission co-founder, Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski, admitted that it was U.S. foreign policy that got the Soviet Union to invade in 1979!

International, U.S.

World War 3: National Guard troops hurt in explosion in Afghanistan

Five Michigan National Guard soldiers (one actually being from Arizona), were wounded after being hit with a bomb.

They are assigned to the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment.

Officials say the attack took place, in Kunduz Province, on February 26. Only now are they reporting it.

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: No trial for 5 U.S. soldiers who burned dozens of Qur’ans! Anti-U.S. riots spreading, U.S. & Italy transfers intellegence equipment to FOB Buji

Five U.S. soldiers, accused of burning dozens of Qur’ans in Afghanistan, will not go on trial.

“For the soldiers, it will be serious, they could lose rank. But you’re not going to see the kind of public trial that some here seem to want.”-unnamed U.S. military source

In Pakistan, hundreds are protesting the burning of the Qur’ans.  This while Pakistan’s government launches a new wave of attacks against Pakistani “Taliban”.

Also, a suicide bomber in Pakistan killed at least 23 people.  That attack was reportedly a result of infighting among the Pakistani “Taliban”.

In Yemen, protestors rallying against the burning of the Qur’ans in Afghanistan, were hit by a bomb.  The explosion occurred in Sa’ada Province, an anti-U.S. rebel stronghold.  22 people were wounded.

According to the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, the United States has been transferring intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems from Shindand Air Base to the small Forward Operating Base (FOB) of Buji.

The operation began back in February.  It involves the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, U.S. Army Task Forces Griffin, Center and Spearhead, and the Italian army.

Buji is a desolate location. High dry desert. It is northeast of Kandahar, about halfway between Herat and Kandahar on the A1 highway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

What Economic Recovery? Idaho will lose hoped for Nuclear Industry jobs, Areva loses $3.2 billion!

French nuclear industry giant, Areva, announced record losses on March 2, 2012.  They lost U.S.$3.2 billion!!!

The loss is directly tied to it’s incompetent African uranium mining operation (which looks like they bought a pig in a poke).  The French government is investigating, because Areva is actually a French government corporation, and they used taxpayer money to buy the pig in a poke mine!

Also, since the March 11, 2011, nuclear disaster in Japan, which has resulted in about 90% of their nuclear plants shut down, orders for fuel rods made by Areva have crashed!

Also, Germany’s decision to end the use of nuclear power plants will result in 1,500 Areva employees losing their jobs in that country.

On February 28, 2012, Areva announced it was “indefinitely” suspending its planned uranium enrichment project in Eastern Idaho.  Its called the Eagle Rock project.  Local contractors were notified in writing about the suspension.

Areva is trying to get money from the U.S. government. They were trying for at least $3 billion, but now, with such huge losses that won’t be enough!

Eastern Idaho is desperate for good paying jobs, and a lot of hopes were riding on the Eagle Rock project.