Tag Archives: war

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: French Ambassador sneaks out of Syria, Syrian Ambassador tells U.K. bye bye, Canada closes Embassy

Lebanese media reporting that the French Ambassador to Syria has quietly driven into Lebanon. The ambassador and his diplomatic staff are in a convoy heading back to Pairs.

In the United Kingdom, the Syrian Ambassador made it clear to the British government that he will be leaving, after being called back by the Syrian government.

Canada has closed down their embassy in Syria: “All of our Canadian diplomats have left Damascus. The safety and security of Canadian personnel is our top priority and that is not a decision we took lightly.”-John Baird, Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada

After a meeting with officials from the United Arab Emirates, Canadian officials also imposed new sanctions. The new sanctions include a complete ban on financial services, as well as sanctions on the Syrian central bank.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Who’s the official “Best Friend of the American Worker”? China. Mitt Romney has short memory, makes hypocrite of himself.

Former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, has blasted China’s trade policies with the U.S., but China has just won a Massachusetts award for being the Best Friend of the American Worker!

On March 2, 2012, Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, was given the award in Boston by the International Longshoreman’s Association.  For what? For appreciation of China’s strong support of job growth for U.S. workers!

Here’s the thing, while Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts he actually wooed the Chinese to invest in that state.  In fact, at the end of 2003 Romney gave Wen a tour of Boston!

Another thing. Romney has also made a fool of himself.  He has repeatedly stated that China is costing the U.S. millions of jobs every year.  But here’s a sobering fact: U.S. exports to China increase year after year.  That means more jobs created in the U.S. to meet those export demands from China.

How much have exports to China grown?  According to the U.S.-China Business Council, U.S. exports to China skyrocketed 468% between 2000 and 2010!!!   Now you know why China is officially “Best Friend of the American Worker”.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Oil & Gas Prices to go up: Oil pipeline blown up in Syria, gas pipeline blown up in Egypt, oil pipeline explodes in Illinois, pipeline fire in Alaska, pipeline fire in Texas

March 5, 2012, pro-U.S. rebels blew up a major oil pipeline in Syria.  It happened in Deir al-Zor.

Deir al-Zor is an oil producing province bordering Iraq.  It has been under attack by rebels who are part of the loosely organized U.S./Israeli supported Free Syrian Army.

Also, a gas pipeline from Egypt to Jordan and Israel was blown up, for the 13th time since the January 2011 Egyptian Revolution.

Over the weekend, an oil pipeline was shut down after two cars crashed into the pipeline, causing an explosion.  The pipeline runs from Canada to Illinois. Two people were killed, three injured. Local Illinois police say it was a terrible car accident.

On March 1, British Petroleum (BP) reported a fire at one of its Alaskan operations. They said employees noticed a flame, then a loud bang at the Prudhoe Bay Gathering Center 2.   They don’t know what caused it.

In Texas, on March 2, three workers were injured by a fire on a Texas pipeline.  It’s being called a flash fire, caused when the workers were trying to repair an out of use pipeline.

On February 24, 2012, a Louisiana gas plant was closed indefinitely.  One employee was injured during a fire at the Basile plant.  The plant will re-open after an investigation.

Now realize that these kinds of things happen on a weekly bases, all around the World.  This proves the petroleum industry is not environmentally safe, is run by incompetents, is a main target of war, and it is the real reason oil and natural gas prices stay high.

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Sears Kmart Store Closings update; Illinois hit hardest

On February 23, 2012, Sears Holdings released the latest list of Sears and Kmart store closings.

15 stores have been added to the 79 previously announced. The latest announcement has one Kmart closing in Maryland, one closing in New Jersey and one in South Carolina.

Also, a combination of Sears/Kmarts will be closed in the following states: Two in Ohio, two in Minnesota, three in Florida and five in Illinois.

Sears Holdings lost $3.1 billion in 2011.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Sears to sell off stores to GGP. GGP owns most of the malls in Idaho. Sears loses $3 billion in 2011

On February 23, 2012, Sears Holdings announced that they will sell off eleven stores to major mall owner General Growth Properties (GGP).

sears chubbuck

Sears at the struggling Pine Ridge Mall in Chubbuck, Idaho

GGP owns most of the malls in Idaho (Idaho Falls, Boise, Chubbuck and Coeur D’Alene), and they have Sears stores, but, none of the eleven to be sold off are in Idaho.  This means that it’s possible they might make the next round of closings.

The eleven stores to be sold to GGP (for a total of $270 million, to be finalized in April 2012) include one in Hawaii, two in Utah, two in Iowa, one in Washington, one in Texas, one in Illinois, one in Oklahoma, one in Florida and one in Michigan.

Also on February 23, Sears Holdings reported a net loss of $3.1 billion for the year 2011!

International, U.S.

World War 3: Japan reveals plans to airlift their citizens out of Iran!

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have just revealed plans to evacuate Japanese citizens living in Iran!

On March 5, 2012, Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka made the statement in a Diet (parliament) session.

He said they are prepared to use C-130 transports, along with aerial refueling tankers, to “rescue” Japanese stuck in Iran, in case of “emergency”!

According to official Japanese numbers, there are about 700 Japanese citizens living in Iran, many are married to Iranians.

Fukushima

Japan Modern Day Atlantis round 8: New study says future Tsunamis a bigger threat than first thought

Officials with Japan’s Land Ministry have issued new warnings about the dangers of tsunamis.  They revised their estimations of tsunami damage, based on what happened on March 11, 2011.

They concluded that earthquakes of magnitude 8.4 or greater, just off Japan’s Pacific coastline, could generate huge tsunamis.

On the Pacific side of Japan, tsunamis could reach 12 meters (39 feet) high, and destroy eight of Japan’s 19 Pacific ports. Officials say the existing tsunami walls are not sufficient to protect the ports.

JAPAN MODERN DAY ATLANTIS ROUND 7 & WHAT ECONOMIC RECOVERY? PEOPLE FLEEING NUCLEAR DISASTER IN JAPAN DESTROYING THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Fukushima

Government Incompetence: 5 People starved to death at Fukushima!

Local officials have revealed that not everyone was evacuated out of the 20km (12.4 miles) “No-Go” zone around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Officials have revealed that at least five bodies were found that showed signs of starvation.  Most of them were old people.  One man was trapped on the second floor of his home after the tsunami destroyed the first floor. He was found only two weeks after the March 11, 2011, disasters.   A woman was trapped because she could not walk, she was found in April 2011.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: More suicide bombing in Afghanistan. More attacks against NATO. Iran trying to assasinate Afghan leaders? U.S. cancels security meeting.

According to separate reports there were two suicide bombings, March 5, 2012.

One took place in eastern Nangarhar Province, in Jalalabad city.  Local officials say as many as 13 people were killed, including civilians and police.  No group has claimed responsibility.

Then in Parwan Province, a suicide bomber tried to attack the U.S./NATO/ISAF airbase at Bagram.  The bomber targeted a NATO vehicle.  Two civilians were killed. The reports claim the “Taliban” took responsibility, and said it was vengeance for the U.S. burnings of Qur’ans.

It’s been revealed, that last week several Afghans were arrested trying to assassinate several Afghan politicians.  Officials with the National Directorate for Security of Afghanistan, say those arrested are claiming they were hired by the Iranian Republican Guards Corps.

Some Iranian officials point out that the Afghan politicians making the claim are pro-U.S. and are trying to create justifications to keep U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

March 5, Afghan officials say the United States has canceled upcoming security talks. The cancellation comes after Afghan President Hamid Karzai demanded the United States/NATO/ISAF stop night time home invasions, and turn over all U.S. controlled prisons to Afghanistan!

Some reports say U.S. officials told Karzai that it was “technically unfeasible” to meet his demands!  (just another way to say ‘beatings will continue until moral improves’)

Over the weekend:  The governor of Kunar Province was attacked. His motorcade was shot at, but no one was hurt. No group is claiming responsibility.

About 30 tons of opium and alcohol were burned by the Afghan Interior Ministry officials in southern Kandahar Province.  200 people were arrested!  Despite claims pushed by U.S. officials (that opium is used to pay for militant operations) tribal elders say poverty is the main motive behind the opium cultivation.

Also, Afghan government forces launched a major military operation that spanned several provenances.  The operations were conducted at Nangarhar, Kandahar, Baghlan and Helmand provinces.  They say dozens of militants were killed, wounded and/or arrested.  At lest five Afghan soldiers were killed.

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Congo explosion takes out Chinese workers, Catholic Cathedral

The Chinese government reports that 140 Chinese construction workers were hit by the large explosions in the south western African country of Congo-Brazzaville.  Six have died, one is missing.

Officials in Congo-Brazzaville expect to death toll to climb higher than 206.

The Catholic Cathedral called Saint Louis was flattened: “Many of the faithful are trapped in the debris of the church. Several of the dead have been taken out and I confirm there are more deaths inside.”-Didier Boutsindi, presidential spokesman

St Louis is the Diocese of the area, and it is not located in Brazzaville, where the explosions took place.  It is located in Nkayi, just west of Brazzaville.  If the report is true it gives you an idea how powerful the explosions were.

Congo-Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) has been racked by civil war for decades. In 2003 former French oil company executives testified in court that the oil industry is behind causing civil wars, because they can get access to the oil more cheaply.