Tag Archives: taxes

Business/Economics, Opinion, U.S.

Dumb ‘mericans & Incompetent Media! Fiscal Cliff done deal! Almost the exact same politicians trying to ‘stop’ fiscal cliff are the ones who created it!

21 December 2012, I wonder how many Dumb ‘mericans out there think the “fiscal cliff” is some kind-o-god sent law, like the ten commandments.  Well, it’s a done deal but not because of any divine power, it was created by almost the very same ‘elected’ republicans and democrats who now act like they’re trying to stop it.

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Boehner, cancelled 21 December’s vote on a proposal designed to draw concessions from President Barack Obama.  But don’t blame Obama, that starts with President George W. Bush, and it was Congress who wrote the law!

The tax increases and government spending cuts can be traced back to the Bush tax cuts, aka Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001.  But it’s not that simple, as it involves successive Acts passed under the Bush and Obama administrations (Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, Tax Relief American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 [aka Stimulus] Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 and finally Budget Control Act of 2011).

All those ‘Acts’ were intended to save the economy through tax reductions and government spending increases.  However, most of the tax reductions helped only the ultra-rich and the Too Big to Fails (it’s now clear they did not spend it on creating the millions of new jobs economists said were needed), and most spending increases (like the military) came with spending cuts elsewhere (like social programs).

So almost every elected official in the U.S. Congress, now, are the same people that created those Acts, and if not the same person it’s the very same political parties controlling the House and Senate, remember the recent ‘elections’?

In their wisdom they threw in massive ‘automatic’ austerity cuts if their previous efforts to save the U.S. economy failed.  They claim they’re ‘automatic’ because they can through up their hands and say “Oh, we can’t do anything about it, it’s the law!”  Yeah, the very law they created!

And then there’s the incompetent media, who’s giving us daily reports on the ‘progress’ being made to stop the fiscal cliff.  Idiots!  It’s a done deal!  Think about it, what is(are) the plan(s) our elected officials are coming up with?  Tax increases and spending cuts!  In other words what we’re facing is either massive austerity measures or tax increases and government spending cuts.  Austerity is austerity, but if you’ve been paying attention to what’s happening in many European countries then you should know this isn’t over.  Most Euro countries (especially Greece) have been passing austerity measures, only to have to turn around and pass more tax increases and government spending cuts just a few months later.

No matter how you look at it, the Fiscal Cliff is a done deal!

 

Influenza

U.S. Influenza, 19 December 2012: New vaccine, just when more studies say vaccines do not work! Media spreads ignorance! Some school officials ignorant! More evidence of new bird flu! KFC involved?

“The nation is experiencing an early flu season with high levels of activity concentrated in the south central and southeastern regions at this time.”-U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

New York continues to be a hot spot for influenza.  Onondaga County reports 506 new cases last week, that’s 141 more than the week prior!  Total cases so far for the county is 1,277!

In Main, a six years old girl died from the flu, the first flu death in Main since 2010: “It is very rare for a child that’s healthy to die from the flu, but this is a reminder.”-Sheila Pinette, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) reporting at least 63 confirmed cases of flu.  Michigan usually doesn’t see that many cases until January or February: “It is a concern to see this many cases this early in the season.”-Angela Minicuci, MDCH

Whats happening in the Great Lakes states is being mirrored across the water in Canada: “Usually we see more cases during January and February, but now we’re seeing it in November and December.”-Hamidah Meghani, Hamilton, Ontario, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Illinois reporting flu season actually started before Thanksgiving: “Loyola documented several cases of the flu before Thanksgiving. It is early to start and also a high number.”-Jorge Parada, Loyola University Health System.

Also, a local Illinois TV news program, along with doctors, are spreading ignorance;  recently a report said doctors at hospitals are taking flu precautions by using anti-bacterial soap. The problem?  Influenza is a virus, not a bacteria, so anti-bacterial soap won’t help prevent flu.  Another issue is that the reports stressed obsessive washing of the hands after touching things like door knobs to prevent flu, here’s the problem with that: “Influenza is a very contagious respiratory disease.”-Tim Uyeki, CDC

In the case of influenza, specifically, it is an airborne pathogen, not a door knob pathogen. To top that, the medical experts are not even sure how people actually catch the flu!  Some studies show that 30% of airborne pathogen infections take place in the building where you work (schools were not looked at, I assume they consider schools the same as “office environment”).  The main cause is possibly dirty filters in the air conditioning system.  However, the majority of infections (flus and colds) are considered “unknown” in origin, by 51%!  So much for all that healthy advise from your officials and the media!

In Missouri, one school district (in Marshfield) is reporting that school attendance has dropped to 85% because of the flu.  School officials did not cancel school because they think kids are safer in school: “We decided if we dismiss school, there’s more likelihood that they would be exposed to the flu away from school than in school. So we decided to stay in school for the last few days of the week before Christmas break.”-Mark Mayo, Superintendent (guess he didn’t do his homework regarding the infection studies, see above)

Montana reporting early flu cases. 31 cases with five hospitalizations so far, and parents say that school is not the safest place to be: “Elementary school is probably a petri dish for all the diseases that kids have….”-Justin Winward, parent

In Georgia, the Coweta County Board of Education sent out letters warning of a “flu like illness” after some schools reported attendance below 90%: “We have no way of knowing whether it’s illness-related or otherwise given the season of the year. But we do know we have had a lot of staff and students out. There are a lot of illnesses out there right now, and we’ve sent home some with flu-like symptoms.”-Sally Millians, school system’s head nurse

In Colorado, on 11 December a woman died from the flu. Hospitalizations have also gone up, including children.  There are more than 100 cases: “It started early this year. Often we’re seeing more flu in January and February. We actually have been seeing some since October.”-Christine Darr, Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children

In Ohio,  the flu status has been upgraded (downgraded?) to “widespread”.  State and local health officials are reporting a sudden increase in flu related hospitalizations, in just the past several days.

In Texas, children’s health officials are reporting increased cases of flu B: “Flu peaks around mid-February, and if you look at the country as a whole, we’re already seeing 25% of the kids with a febrile illness testing positive for flu.”-Pat Crocker, Dell Children’s Medical Center

In Kansas, in Sedgwick County, a stomach ‘flu’ is being reported.  Health officials don’t really know why the sudden increase in stomach flu cases, but they blame the holidays: “People are socializing a lot during the holidays, so there’s a lot of hand-shaking and sharing food. There are just a lot of friends and family gathering together.”-Claudia Blackburn, Sedgwick County Health Department.

The National Institutes of Health has put on hold their attempts to modify a deadly form of bird flu (H5N1).   This was to create new guidelines for such experiments.

But, no need for the experiments, Mother Nature taking care of that. Indonesia has seen its 160th death this season, when a four years old boy died.  He showed symptoms of H5N1 on 30 November and died on 06 December.  Health officials are blaming the birds around his family’s house, yet no one else in the family is sick.

Indonesia is dealing with what their health officials suspect is a new form of H5N1.  Last week, on the main island of Java, hundreds of thousands of ducks died from the new H5N1.  They think the virus came from imported ducks from other parts of Asia.

But wait, there’s more!  In the regency of Bantul, province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, over the past two months thousands of chickens died, really fast like without showing any symptoms: “They still looked healthy in the evening. Then the next morning, they would suddenly die with their heads turning red.”-Sumarwanto, resident

In the landlocked nation of Nepal, people destroyed shipments of chicken from India. The chicken was for KFC restaurants in Nepal.  The people were afraid the chicken was infected with H5N1.  The Nepalese government banned chicken from India because of bird flu.  KFC swears the chicken comes from Brazil, but police say the truck manifest indicated the chicken was coming from India.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration just approved a new flu vaccine. It’s a new “four strain” vaccine as opposed to the older three strain shots.   This comes at a time when there are more studies that show vaccines do not work!

Check this report for more details about how vaccines do not work, and how some countries are accusing the whole vaccine industry of being in it just for the money.

There are reports of Tamiflu shortages in some parts of the United States, but so what, it’s possible it doesn’t work anyway, and scientists have known since 2009: “….some researchers claim there is little evidence it works and have lobbied since 2009 for Roche to hand over all its data from clinical trials.”–Reuters

How about some history to show that all the efforts of modern medicine have been for naught?  Since the 1918 flu pandemic there has been massive efforts by governments to prevent the spread of flu, that’s 94 years of vaccines and washing your hands!  Yet, according to the American Lung Association: “Each year in the U.S., influenza and its related complications result in an estimated 226,000 hospitalizations and anywhere from around 3,000 to 49,000 deaths.”

Obviously it hasn’t worked! We’ve just been lucky enough not to get hit with something like the 1918 flu pandemic!

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 13 – 16 December 2012. Norwegians join Mujahideen! Karzai admits healthcare is a big business scam! UN counters claims by USMC General Allen! First taxpayer cash being stolen from Afghan banks, now gold! Poland agrees to give Afghanistan more taxpayer money! No More Frenchies?

16 December 2012

In Kabul Province, city of Kabul, the Ariana Hotel near the Kota-e-Sangi caught fire.  The hotel is also home to many financial businesses.  Fire officials say it looks like the fire started in a coffee shop during a wedding celebration.

In Kandahar Province, Khakrez and Shahwalikot district in Geri area, reports say a U.S. led heliborne operation resulted in five Mujahideen killed and nine civilians killed.  Locals say the nine civilians that were killled were pulled out of their farm fields and houses by the U.S. led troops, and then executed!

Iran is demanding the government of Afghanistan must pay for damages to the Iranian consulate in Herat Province.   Hundreds of Afghans attacked the consulate over the Iranian execution of Afghans. Iranian officials say the Afghans were caught smuggling drugs into Iran.

President Hamid Karzai has stated that there is no “proper” healthcare system in his country.  Afghanistan’s medical providers are increasingly concerned only with money.  Karzai made the statements at a medical ethics conference.  Afghan lawmaker, Naqibullah Fayeq, said doctors who’re supposed to be providing services in government run hospitals are going AWOL, in search of patients who’ll pay them more money: “….they have forgotten about their formal duties in government hospitals. They are coming to hospital at 10:30 am and leaves the hospital 11:00 am!”

For awhile now there have been growing admissions that foreign taxpayers’ aid money is being withdraw from Afghan banks in scandalous amounts, and taken out of the country.  Now, the New York Times reports that gold is being stolen as well!  According to Afghan airport officials one gold haul was worth $1.5 million USD, and most of it is going to U.S. allies such as Dubai and United Arab Emirates.

15 December 2012

In Herat province, in Gazra district’s Malan area, Mujahideen claim to have assassinated the local government head of 4th District Logistics.

Poland has signed a deal that will give Afghanistan more taxpayer money from Europe: “The signing of this agreement will further enhance and strengthen the relations and the wide range of cooperation between the two countries. Over the past ten years Poland has had a significant contribution to the reconstruction of and securing peace in Afghanistan. The signing of this agreement today will provide investment opportunities by the Polish side in Afghanistan.”-Zalmai Rassoul, Foreign Minister of Afghanistan

Reports say the last of France’s combat troops have left Afghanistan, two years early.   U.S./NATO “pullout” isn’t until 2014, but 200 soldiers of the 25th Belfort Infantry Regiment left on Saturday.  Look out Syria! Look out Mali!   France still has about 1,500 logistics/admin/training troops in Afghanistan.

Despite the fact that President Karzai is negotiating with the U.S. about keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan, he publicly stated that he wants all foreign troops out by 2014: “From our vision, the fight against terrorism is not in Afghanistan…That is why we do not want military operations in our villages, in our houses….”

14 December 2012

International Security Assistance Force said: “A U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service member died as a result of a non-battle related injury December 14, in southern Afghanistan.”

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has released a report that contradicts claims made by USMC General John Allen, that violence in Afghanistan is down.  The UN reports said violence against civilians is up 28% from last year!

The USMC is going to make a single NCO the scapegoat for the 2011 body urination desecration scandal: “Staff Sgt Joseph W Chamblin would be tried by special court-martial at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina on December 19.”

General Knud Bartels, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, said the U.S. led occupation of Afghanistan will not end up like it did for the Soviet Union, precisely because Russia is now a NATO ally, and is working to help NATO in Afghanistan:  “If I can walk away from my visit having achieved a personal, open and transparent relationship with the Russian Military leadership, then the visit has been a success. We are here today to confirm our strong cooperation and partnership. Confirm our NATO-Russia Council cooperation menu and push our relations to a new stage.”

More warmongering against Pakistan.  U.S. Army Lieutenant General, Michael Barbero, testified to the U.S. Congress that more than 1,900 U.S. personnel have been wounded or killed by homemade bombs (IEDs), just this year.  He blamed Pakistan, and told congressmen to expect even more casualties if no action was taken against Pakistan.  He claimed that 70% of the components for the homemade bombs come from Pakistan.

In United Kingdom, the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy announced that two of its top three military students are from Afghanistan.

13 December 2102

In Kandahar Province, outside Kandahar airbase, Mujahideen claim to have attacked the U.S./NATO base and killed eight occupiers.  Other reports say a U.S. led ISAF convoy was hit by a car bomb.  Four U.S. personnel were killed, along with one Afghan National Army troop, and at least 16 civilians were wounded: “I can confirm that insurgents detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in the vicinity of Kandahar airfield. Currently ISAF officials are on the scene collecting facts and assessing the situation and as information becomes available we will release it as appropriate.”-unnamed U.S. spokesperson

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Nicholas J. Reid died in a hospital in Germany. He was gravely wounded by an explosion in Afghanistan, on 09 December.

In Herat Province, Mujahideen tried to assassinate a senior government security official.  A firefight broke out and one body guard was killed.

In Ghazni Province, local government officials say the Mujahideen are winning over locals by focusing on solving ethnic/tribal issues.  This is more proof that ‘government’ does not really care about the needs of the people.

Norwegian intelligence officials (Etterretningstjenesten, aka E-tjenesten) have confirmed that Norwegian citizens have joined Afghan Mujahideen, and even attacked Norwegian troops (yes, I’m surprised at how many people think Norway is a neutral country).  Lieutenant General, Kjell Grandhagen, said this has been going on for several years: “Norwegians were directly tied to carrying out or attempting armed attacks against Afghan authorities and/or the ISAF, where Norwegian soldiers are also involved.”

Pakistan said there are still 2.6 million Afghan refugees in their country.  Despite threats from the Pakistani government, and incentives (money) from the United Nations, most of the refugees refuse to go back to U.S. occupied Afghanistan.

Outgoing U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman, said the new security pact will ensure that the U.S. will not leave Afghanistan: “I think there will be an agreement in this regard since the security agreement will be in the national interest of Afghanistan and United States. The strategic pact between Kabul and Washington has paved the way for security pact between the two nations. We know that the security pact will be as an agreement for the presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.”

U.S.

U.S. Civil War(?) & Government Evil: U.S. House member uses fallacious Apple to Oranges anti-gun argument, uses false numbers!

“In the United States, we had 9,000 people killed with guns last year, in similar countries like Germany 170 killed with guns, in Canada 150….”-Jerrold Nadler, Representative from New York

Germany has a population of 81,799,000, in a geographical area of 357,021 square km (137,847 square miles).

Canada has a population of 33,476,688 in an even larger area of 9,984,670 square km (3,854,085 square miles).

United States has a population of 311,591,917, in a geographical area slightly smaller than Canada!  The U.S. population is 9 times bigger than Canada, and 3.8 times bigger than Germany.

Now realize that Canada and Germany have much stricter gun control laws, and yet they suffer hundreds of gun related deaths every year.  This seems like proof that gun control doesn’t work.

Also, the numbers for Canada and Germany, used by Representative Nadler, are false!  According to the UN World Health Organization, in 2010 there were 1.1 gun related homicides, per 100,000 people in Germany.  That’s more than the 150 Representative Nadler claimed!

For some reason, official death by gun rates in Canada are hard to find, but one study said that in 2003 homicide by gun was about 0.5 per 100,000 people.   That’s still more than what Representative Nadler claims.

But if we’re going to compare country to country, let’s do!

Representative Nadler also avoided comparing the U.S. to South Africa, El Salvador and Thailand.  They actually have a far higher death by shooting rate than the U.S., and they have tougher gun control laws.

One Thai commentator hypocritically said the U.S. culture is to blame for gun crimes.   A 2002 study said Thailand had 20,032 homicides by gun in the year 2000!  In 2008 the homicide by gun rate was 5.9 victims for every 100,000 people.  It’s estimated that there are 10,000,000 guns in Thailand (a country smaller than California), but only 3,870,000 are legally registered.  So much for gun control!

The UN Office of Drugs and Crime reported 9.41 gun related deaths, per 100,000 people in South Africa, so far this year! Do the math, that’s more than the United States.  South Africa has stricter gun laws than the United States, those laws include registering your gun with the government.

El Salvador is the world leader in gun related deaths.  According to the Organization of American States, in 2011 there were 50.36 gun related deaths per 100,000 people in the tiny Central American country!  Do the math, that blows away anything in the United States.  “El Salvador has strict laws requiring a locally obtained license to possess or carry a firearm in the country.”-U.S. Department of State

According to the Organization of American States, in 2010 the United States had a total of 9 gun related deaths for every 100,000 people.  Of that 2.98 were homicides, 5.75 suicides and 0.27 accidental.  More gun control might mean less suicides!

Note: I don’t think these death by gun rates include people killed by police.

U.S.

U.S. West Nile virus update, 15 December 2012: CDC ends reports, Oklahoma declares it’s over, yet new cases (and deaths) still popping up! Woman glad she has West Nile, blame incompetent doctors! No more bees?

“This will be the last update for 2012 until final data are available in the spring of 2013.    As of December 11, 2012, 48 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 5,387 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 243 deaths…..”-U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

14 December,  California Department of Public health reporting eight new human cases in the past week, for a total of 453.  Two new sentinel chicken cases, for a total of 540.  One new positive mosquito sample, for a total of 2,489.

In Texas, a 12 years old boy has been in a coma since 13 November. His family was recently told he could be paralyzed, caused by swelling on his spine.  The Department of State Health Services reports 1,807 human case, up 44 from the end of November.  Dallas area beekeepers are complaining that the anti-mosquito spraying is killing off what little is left of their honey bees.  A Doctor in pest control explained that the spraying took place at the wrong time in the mosquitoes’ life cycle, and had little effect, but did much damage to honey bees.  He says local government officials were tricked by the pesticide industry: “They got sold a bunch of snake oil.”-Gene Helmick-Richardson

As of 11 December, Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 164 non-fatal human cases, and 13 deaths.  It’s a record number of West Nile virus cases for the Panhandle State. Interestingly, state officials declared the West Nile epidemic over on 30 November.

Well it’s not over for Louisiana! On 30 November, 11 new human cases, with one death, were reported.  So far this year the Pelican state has 382 cases, with 17 deaths.

In Florida, the number of human cases continues to increase. Between 27 November and 03 December, local media reported at least two new cases in the Sunshine state.

In South Dakota, a woman recently expressed happiness that she has West Nile, because months ago incompetent doctors had misdiagnosed her symptoms as leukemia:  “What first ran through my mind was: ‘Are you kidding me? I come in here with a sore back and swollen glands and now you’re telling me I got leukemia?’ “-Toni Reber

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Food Crisis: Hundreds of squid, and thousands of herring commit mass suicide!

“I’ve never seen anything like it!”-Hlynur Pétursson, Marine Research Institute of Iceland

15 December 2012, officials in Iceland reporting that tons of valuable herring committed mass suicide.

An estimated hundreds of tons of herring beached themselves over a one square kilometer area (0.62 square miles).  Preliminary investigation found no signs of disease.  A smaller mass suicide of herring, in Iceland, took place last December.

In Santa Cruz County, California, on 11 December 2012, hundreds of squid committed mass suicide.  Even attempts to put them back in the ocean failed, they just beached themselves again. The dead squid were spread out over 19 kilometers (12 miles) of beach, from Aptos to Watsonville.

Scientists said the squid were not full grown, and had just finished feeding (they had full stomachs).  Speculation is that anything from climate change to the accidental eating of poisonous algae is the cause.  Perhaps it was some kind of early warning of the 6.4 and 6.1 magnitude offshore earthquakes that occurred just a few days later?

For many people around the world, squid and herring are important food sources.

International, U.S.

2012: Return of mysterious dead birds. Oil company admits fault! New Bird Flu?

15 December 2012, an oil company operating in Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska has admitted fault in the death of hundreds of migratory birds.

The Colorado based company, SM Energy, pled guilty to charges from the U.S. Attorney General: “These charges arose after a multi-year pattern of bird deaths at company sites, notification by the Fish and Wildlife Service, and failure of the defendant company’s subsidiary to take reasonable measures to make the hazardous sites bird-safe.”-Michael Cotter, U.S. attorney for Montana

The investigation revealed that birds were being killed by the oil company’s fluid pits, as far back as 2005.  SM Energy is to pay a paltry $22,500 fine.  Some of its subsidiaries have paid smaller fines. The money will go to the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund.

This perhaps explains years of mysterious bird deaths across the United States.  The birds come into contact with deadly oil production wastes in the fluid pits, then fly off to die.

However, cases of new bird deaths are popping up, around the world.

02 December, local Texas media reporting dozens of dead birds in McKinney. They reported that the birds were bleeding from their mouths: “By our count there are close to 50 dead birds, mostly Grackles, Starlings and Pigeons.”-NBC 5

02 December, India media reporting the “sudden death” of 38 cranes from a possible new strain of avian flu. It happened in salt pans close to Victor village in Rajula range of Amreli district.

At the end of November, officials in Missouri are baffled by the death of 100 birds in a road of a Springfield neighborhood.  Residents say some of the birds were still standing, yet none of the birds were found on grass or sidewalks.  They noted they seemed to be avoiding the powerlines.  One man claims he witnessed the deaths.  He says for some reason the entire flock of birds flew in front of a red pick up truck.  The pick up, and the vehicle behind, hit at least half the flock.

In October, 20 dead starlings were found outside a Saint Lawrence County, New York, home.  Officials determined they were poisoned, but have yet to identify the poison.

 

International

World War 3: Hungarian lawmaker arrested for burning Israeli flag! Proof Israeli NAZI cops target their own people! Palestinians continue to be killed!

14 December 2012, Balazs Lenhardt, a Hungarian Member of Parliament, was briefly detained after he burned an Israeli flag.

There is a growing number of Hungarian politicians who’re are coming out condemning their country’s secret agreements with Israel.

Israel continues to attack Palestinians. The most recent was a man who was shot as he walked along a Gaza border fence.  Also on Friday,  Israeli NAZI forces assaulted two Reuters photogs in West Bank.  The photogs were in a vehicle marked “TV”, the Israeli NAZI forces drug the men from the press car and hit them with their assault rifles. The Israeli NAZI forces said they thought the photogs were actually working for an Israeli human rights group known as B’Tselem.  This means the Israeli NAZI forces thought they were targeting fellow Israelis!

On 13 December, Israeli NAZI forces shot and killed a 17 years old Palestinian, in the West Bank.  They claim he threatened them with a toy gun.  His parents say they were waiting for him to come home from school, because it was his birthday.

On 12 December, Israeli NAZI forces killed a Palestinian in the West Bank.  Witnesses say the 16 years old boy was shot at least six times.  Israeli NAZI cops say he threatened them with a toy gun.

On 11 December, Israeli NAZI forces raided several NGO human rights offices in West Bank.  They took computers and video cameras.

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Former Soviet leader says United States about to collapse

On 13 December 2012, the first and last president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, warned that the United States is about to follow the same path as the Soviet union; total collapse!

He made the statements at a conference in Turkey.  The conference is about the future of the Middle East and Black Sea areas.

Gorbachev said if the U.S. does not stop hegemonic policies it will collapse.  On 26 December 1991 the Union of soviet Socialists Republic collapsed into 15 independent republics.  Gorbachev said the collapse of the Soviet Union was mainly due to the costs of fighting wars, especially the Soviet occupation of  Afghanistan.

Note: The office of President of the U.S.S.R. (CCCP) was not created until March 1990, as part of their feeble attempt to reform their system, which is how Gorbachev became the “first and last” President of the USSR.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 09 – 12 December 2012. Where’s all the taxpayer money supposedly given to help Afghanistan? More evidence the U.S. & U.K. are the biggest drug dealers in the world! More evidence your governments are involved with international tax money laundering! Afghans say they will support U.S. invasion of Iran! India to take over Afghanistan? Karzai is two faced!

12 December 2012

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), at least 2 million Afghans are threatened by cold, disease and malnutrition this winter.  The reason?  The UNOCHA says out of the $448 million USD in aid money requested, only 48% has actually been paid out by UN members.  It seems the leaders of the occupying countries are big on promising large amounts of their taxpayers’ money, but can’t deliver.

In Ghazni province, local government officials say Mujahideen are in control of 70% of the provincial schools.  Taliban means student in English. I wonder how many true students were detained by U.S. led forces because they innocently stated they were a Taliban (student).  There are an estimated 635 educational institutions in Ghazni Province.

U.S. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, arrived in Afghanistan to discuss how many U.S. troops will stay in the Central Asian country, after the 2014 pullout (contradictory isn’t it?). Despite earlier reports that as many as 9,000 U.S. troops would be left in Afghanistan, Panetta said President Obama is still trying to figure out how many to leave behind: “The size of that enduring presence is something that the president is going to be considering over these next few weeks.”

Trivia question: How many Red Coat Brits made it out of Afghanistan alive?  Answer: One! It happened during the First Anglo–Afghan War from 1838-42.  It’s considered the first modern European led war to control Afghanistan, as part of the ongoing Great Game.  How many were killed in the First Anglo–Afghan War? 4,500 Red Coats and 12,000 of their camp followers!  The sole survivor of the Red Coat retreat from Kabul was William Brydon.  You might call the current U.S./U.K. occupation of Afghanistan the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has data that proves the increased drug trade in Afghanistan correlates with the U.S. occupation.  The UNODC also says 95% of opium production is being carried out in areas controlled by the United States and the United Kingdom.  Also, Iranian anti-drug police are pointing out that the increased annual production of Afghan heroin requires 13,000 metric tons of material and equipment that is not available in Afghanistan.  Iran says their anti-drug operations are revealing that production material is coming from the occupying countries, such as the United States.

The Afghan parliament is accusing 11 officials of not spending government funds on building infrastructure.  At least 50% of government funds meant for building up Afghanistan has not been spent, and elected officials want to know where it went.

11 December 2012

In Kapisa Province, in the town of Tagab, Mujahideen killed four Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers.

In Nuristan Province, Barmatal district, Mujahideen report they’ve overrun a second defensive FOB (forward operating base) in that district.  They killed four ANA troops, and wounded five others.

In Ghazni Province, Shilgar district, seven ANA troops joined the Mujahideen.

An unnamed U.S. official said India could take over military affairs in Afghanistan: “We have had discussions with the Indians about this issue and about the Afghans, and I don’t see any particular problems with the overall approach here at all.”

Reports said a U.S./NATO drone crashed in Helmand province, Nava district.   ISAF has not commented.

In Paktia Province, government officials claim they captured several suicide bombers, calling them Mujahideen.  However, Mujahideen groups have come forth and stated the men arrested are not known to them as fellow Mujahideen.  Are government officials labeling common thieves as Mujahideen in order to impose stricter penalties, such as President Karzai’s order to execute Mujahideen?

Despite rampant corruption (Afghanistan being considered the third worst in the world) an Afghan bank just won Best Bank-o-the Year!  Afghanistan International Bank (AIB) was given the award by another majorly corrupt country, the United Kingdom.  The London based organization, which gave out the award, is known simply as The Banker.  If you’ve been paying attention to the massive bank fraud cases, you should know most of them are led by British banks, which include the bank used by the British royal family.

Ironically, U.S. officials admitted that massive amounts of cash are being taking (stolen/laundered?) from Afghan banks, and out of Afghanistan.  According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service, $4.5 billion USD was taken out of Afghanistan in 2011.  According to the U.S. Treasury about $1.3 billion in outbound cash was declared to Afghan Customs Department personnel at Kabul airport in 2010.  Most of the money going into Afghan banks are coming from the taxpayers from occupying countries.  And this is just the non-military aid being paid to Afghanistan.  In March 2012, Afghanistan’s deputy central bank governor estimated that at least $8 billion total is being taken out of Afghanistan every year!  This partly explains why many organizations in Afghanistan say they are not seeing any of the promised aid money.

One afghan commentator said there is not going to be peace in his country, because too many forces are making big profits off taxpayers and drug addicts. From the United States to European and Asian countries to various Mujahideen groups, all are profiting from illegal drug trades and tax money laundering.  It’s only the civilians who are paying the price.

Syed Ali Wasif, of the Society for International Reforms and Research, said the Third Anglo-Afghan War is all about corporate control of natural resources, and corporations don’t care who they make deals with: “The American corporate sector would be involved there in the future together with the Taliban. It’s going to be a Taliban and American corporate nexus.”

Wasif also said corporations are taking advantage of incompetent U.S. political and military leaders: “This is a war between the corporate people and the military or between the state department and the DoD and the corporate people. This is the main issue, you should understand that. Not the issue of Afghanistan or corruption.”

In Herat Province, Iran has closed its consulate. Iranian media say hundreds of Afghans attacked the consulate.  Local Afghan officials say the people were protesting the Iranian execution of Afghans.  Iran says they captured Afghans smuggling drugs into Iran,  which is a death penalty offense in that country.  Some of the protestors said they will support any U.S. invasion of Iran.

10 December 2012

ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan.”

In Laghman Province, the boss of the provincial women affairs department for eastern Laghman province was assassinated by unknown gunmen.

In Nimroz Province, a police chief was killed after he drove over a landmine.

USAF (United States Air Force) data shows Afghanistan is the main target of drone attacks. At least 447 drone strikes so far for 2012.  And USMC (United States Marine Corps) General John Allen recently said violence was down?

President Barack Obama praised a Special Operations Forces (not to be confused with U.S. Army Special Forces, but SOF can include Army “Green Berets”) operation that rescued a captured U.S. citizen, who is supposedly representing a U.S. aid organization.  The operation took place the day before.  One SOF personnel was killed, who just happened to be one of the SEALS (SEa Air Land teamS) who took part in the questionable Osama bin Laden assassination.

09 December 2012

ISAF said: “A U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service member died in eastern Afghanistan today.”

In Helmand Province, local police officials say an overnight U.S. airstrike hit the Godar area of Nahr-e Seraj district.  Six people were killed.

In Ghazni Province, Ghazni city, Mujahideen say they killed three U.S./NATO troops.

In Kandahar Province, two people killed, two wounded after they drove over a landmine. Also, Mujahideen say they repelled a U.S. led heliborne operation in Kala Shamir region’s Shilghami Manda area, Maiwand district.  The U.S. led operation began the night before.

The Afghan Ministry of Public Health said 24,000 Afghans were burned by faulty imported gas cylinders, in 2011. 234 people died. Many Afghans can not afford to buy quality gas cylinders so they buy poor quality imported cylinders, which have been exploding or catching fire.   Most Afghans do not have electricity so they rely on gas for everything from cooking to lighting.

The European Union (EU) announced it will give Afghanistan another $1.9 billion USD by 2017. This as the EU struggles with a collapsing economy.  Afghan officials say the EU is one of the biggest taxpayer donors to Afghanistan: “European Union is one the biggest donors of Afghanistan. EU had considerable commitments towards the Afghan government in Tokyo conference. Majority of the aid by European Union was spent through the Afghan government.”-Hazrat Omer Zakhilwal, Afghan finance minister

More evidence leaders don’t want peace; Pakistan government officials are detaining Mujahideen who want peace!   That claim is being made by Afghan officials: “Taliban leaders detained in Pakistan have been arrested since they are interested and prepared to join peace process. This is the main reason that the Afghan government is repeatedly urging Pakistan to free Taliban group members.”-Janan Mosazai, Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman

After continually condemning U.S. policies, President Hamid Karzai now says he will consider granting U.S. military personnel legal immunity. It’s part of the ongoing discussions concerning the new post-2014 pullout military pact, to be signed by 2013.  This is also proof the U.S. is not really pulling out.