Tag Archives: u.s.

World War 3: More Afghan police killed, Afghan government raid results in civilians being killed

April 6, 2012, in Kandahar Province four Afghan cops were killed in separate incidents.

One was shot, another was killed trying to defuse a bomb, and two others were killed when their vehicle hit a mine.

In Kapisa Province, Afghan government forces attacked a Mujahideen position.  According to Abdul Hakim Akhundzadeh, governor of Tagab district, a rocket then hit an area where government forces were conducting seek and destroy operations, in the Matkhel area of the province.

The resulting explosion killed two civilians and wounded four others.

World War 3: NATO copter shot down, U.S. drone crashes, U.S. led troops killed, more assassinations, Australian General backs up U.S. General’s claim that this is a “critical year”

An ISAF report says: “An International Security Assistance Force rotary wing [helicopter] unmanned aerial vehicle crashed in northern Afghanistan today.”  ISAF does not believe it was shot down.  No further details.

Some speculate that since the drone was a helicopter that it might be what witnesses are calling a NATO helicopter crash, in Baghlan Province.  The province is under the control of Hungarian NATO forces.  No further details.

Also, ISAF confirms reports that U.S. led troops have been attacked and killed. As is SOP with ISAF they will not give out details, other than the attack took place in eastern Afghanistan on April 6.

ISAF says the current death toll for U.S./NATO/ISAF troops is at 104 since the beginning of this year.

On the morning of April 6, 2012, a peace negotiator and one of his sons were assassinated when a bomb exploded. A third person was also killed.  The explosion happened after Islamic Friday Prayers.  It happened in Kunar Province.

Major-General Stuart Smith, Commander of Australian Operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan, re-stated what USMC General John R. Allen said recently: ”This is a critical year.”

Australian forces are beginning to hand over control of AOs (Areas of Operation) to Afghan government forces. Currently Australian forces operate in Oruzgan Province (aka Urōzgān, Uruzgan or Rōzgān): ”This is a year that, if the Afghan government asks us to, we will start the transition of handing over security responsibilities in Oruzgan to the Afghan Security Forces.”

However, General Smith made it clear that such hand over to Afghan government forces did not mean Western forces were leaving: “….that challenge will go on for a little while yet, beyond 2014.”

 

 

 

One Year Later: Fukushima school enrollment down 70%!

Enrollment at grade schools in Fukushima Prefecture are down 70%.

Before the March 2011 nuclear disaster began at Fukushima Daiichi, there were 54 elementary and junior high schools in the Prefecture.  Now only 42 schools are open, and they are operating in rented areas away from their original locations.

School officials say many families have moved away permanently.

One Year Later: Japanese city offers radiation check up for your house, limited time offer!

A city 140 km (87 miles) from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster is offering radiation checkups for residents.

Utsunomiya City, north of Tokyo, started the service because of demands from taxpayers.

The city says they can check up to five houses per day, inspecting up to three specific areas requested by the inhabitants, such as the entry way or bedroom, etc.

Inspections done so far show radiation levels below the official safe limits.  This is a limited time offer ending in September.

World War 3: More NATO fuel tankers blown up, people burned to death, Ohio National Guardsmen killed

April 6, 2012, seven people were burned to death when Mujahideen ambushed a U.S./NATO/ISAF fuel supply tanker in Khandahar.

Witnesses say Mujahideen used old Soviet Cold War era RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades) to attack the convoy.

The attack took place near the same area as last months killing of Afghan civilians by the U.S. Army.  This is at least the third attack on a fueler since April 1.

Also today, the U.S. Department of Defense stated that three soldiers killed during the April 4 attack in Faryab Province, were members of the Ohio National Guard (the National Guard is a state militia).

 

Government/Corporate Evil & Class Warfare: 12 Myths of Western Capitalist “Democracy”, if you’re a commoner your chances of success are as good as playing the lottery!

The following quotes were published on 7 January 2012, by Portuguese economist Guilherme Alves Coelho.

Myth 1: Under capitalism, anyone who works hard can become rich.

“In fact, the probability of success in the capitalist system for the average citizen is the same as you winning the lottery.”

Myth 2: Capitalism creates wealth and prosperity for all.

“The objective is to enable the employer to accumulate indefinite wealth without being asked how they did it. At the same time the hope is maintained that sooner or later workers will be rewarded for their work and dedication.” 

Myth 3: We are all in the same boat.

“The goal is to create a guilt complex for workers, allowing capitalists to increase revenues and pass their expenses onto the people.”

This is similar to Mitt Romney style vulture capitalism, in which “investors” like Romney used other people’s money to make profits.

Myth 4: Capitalism means freedom.

“The goal is to create something similar to a religion of capitalism, where everything is taken as blind faith, and deny people the right to participate in making macroeconomic decisions. The myth of the freedom to “negotiate” for your job being considered the ultimate freedom.”

Myth 5: Capitalism means democracy.

“This myth, which smoothly follows from the previous one, was created in order to prevent the discussion of other models of societies.”

Myth 6: Elections equal democracy.

“It’s actually the capitalist system, that manipulates and corrupts everything, that the vote is conditioned and elections are merely formal acts.  The simple fact of the bourgeois class minority always winning elections demonstrates it’s non-representative.”

Don’t forget, one of the main reason for the 1776 Revolution that created the United States was no representation in the British government!

Myth 7: Alternating parties in office is the same as having an alternative.

“It is intended to make people believe that the political parties that alternate periodically in power have alternative policies.  In fact this apparent multi-system or bi-partisan is a one-party system. Two or more factions of the same political organization, sharing the same capitalist policies alternate in power, simulating independent parties with alternative policies.”

Another way to say this is the Democrats and Republicans are two sides of the same coin.

Myth 8: The elected politician represents the people and can therefore decide for them.

“…once in power, the elected…Does not fulfill what he promised and what is even worse, put in place measures that were not talked about publicly before, often opposite what was promised and even unconstitutional.” 

“…being a major cause of the growing number of people who do not vote.”

Myth 9: There is no alternative to Capitalism.

“It is intended to make people believe that capitalism, though not perfect, is the only political/economic regime possible…The aim is to eliminate competition from other systems…using all means, including force…”

This is ironic considering the masses are always told that capitalism is about competition, or that competition is good.

Myth 10: Austerity cuts (severe and enforced economic deprivations) will save the economy and your job.

“It is intended to make people believe that the blame for the economic crisis is caused by the excess of benefits for workers….The aim is basically to transfer to the public, people in general and for workers specifically, the responsibility of paying the debts of the capitalists. Make people accept the plundering of their property in the belief that better days will come later. It is also intended to facilitate the privatization of public/government services….without mentioning that these were the most profitable sectors of the state, whose future earnings are lost as a result.”

Myth 11: Less government equals better government.

“It is intended to make people believe that the private sector manages the state better than the public sector.  The actual goal of capitalists is…to facilitate the takeover of functions and assets of profitable government operations.”

This is exactly what is going on with the U.S. Postal Service.  The USPS is not in trouble because they’re not making money, they’re in trouble because the U.S. Congress refuses to hand over the money the USPS has made from selling postal services (the money earned is actually controlled by Congress).  Remember the U.S. Congress is controlled by Corporate America.

Myth 12: The current crisis of Capitalism is short-term and will be resolved for the benefit of the people.

“It is intended to make people believe that the current economic and financial crisis is a normal cyclical crisis of capitalism, and not a systemic/intentional crisis.  The aim of the capitalists…is continuing to plunder and exploit the people while they can. It has also served for some politicians to remain in power, fueling hope among people that better days will come if they continue to vote for them…..what we see is the continuous deterioration of living standards of people without any hope of improvement.”

Guilherme Alves Coelho also warned that as Western style “democratic” capitalism continues to fail, the capitalist elites will force the working class to make more and more sacrifices.  Proof of this are the continuing and increasing austerity measures implemented by Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and United Kingdom, to name a few.  The austerity cuts have been taking place in the various states of the United States since 1999/2000, but they’re not called austerity, they’re called “reforms”, “improvements” and “cutting costs” supposedly to save taxpayer dollars (have they really saved taxpayers any money?).

This is clearly class warfare already being waged by the elites against the rest of us.  Coelho says we the People need to prepare for the final battle: “Today, more than ever, you need to create barriers to the final round of capitalist barbarism, reverse the situation, by presenting other political solutions, refusing the obscure statements of the elites by demanding clarification, and mobilizing and organizing the people.”

 

World War 3: UANI goes after Korean car maker, UANI formed in 2008 specifically to go after companies doing business with Iran

“UANI’s unprecedented success in pressuring multinational corporations to cease business in Iran has alerted the business community of the serious financial and reputational risks of doing business with the Iranian regime.”-UANI statement

April 5, 2012, South Korean car maker, Hyundai, succumbed to the attacks from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI).

Hyundai will stop exporting cars to Iran, however such a move will only hurt Hyundai, by reducing overall sales.  Iran has several car makers who will benefit by lack of foreign competition.

Hyundai is refusing to comment on the situation.

This is not about current U.S. sanctions against Iran.  I’ve already written how U.S. Congress, and George Bush Jr created a law in 2000 that exempted U.S. corporations from existing, and future sanctions against Iran, and North Korea.

UANI was created in 2008, for the express purpose of going after corporations that do business with Iran.

UANI also proudly admits they are the ones behind much of the anti-Iran legislation coming out of Washington DC.

UANI is also the main “official” source of anti-Iran info being used by the U.S. media.

UANI also proudly admits they are the ones behind the nuclear weapons scare mongering rhetoric concerning Iran.

Want proof, just go to their website.  You can find it yourself.

Want’s interesting is that UANI is claiming to be doing these things in the name of preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons, yet they are actually shutting down Western (European, Asian) competitors to U.S. corporations.  How does that prevent another country from getting nuclear weapons?

 

World War 3: UANI goes after yet another French car maker, as well as a Japanese car maker

After shutting down a Peugeot Citroën factory, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is now going after Renault and Nissan.

On April 6, 2012, UANI sent a letter to Renault’s president.  As in its threatening letter to General Motors it is full of unsubstantiated claims against Iran: “Renault’s business dealings in Iran directly support the Iranian regime’s ability to develop its illegal nuclear weapons program, support its terrorist proxies and pursue a brutal campaign of repression against the Iranian people.”-UANI statement

Show me the proof you UANI ass hole liars!

This comes after UANI successfully threatened General Motors into pressuring their French business partner Peugeot Citroën.

Renault has actually seen business go up in Iran, producing 93,578 vehicles in Iran in 2011.

UANI is also attacking Nissan, after the Japanese car maker got a $1 billion USD deal to make taxis for New York City: “New York taxpayer dollars should not benefit a corporation, like Nissan, that partners with a regime that is the world’s number one state sponsor of terror and has formed an alliance with al Qaeda.”-UANI statement

The biggest lie about that statement is the fact that Iran is not associated with al Qaeda!!!  The U.S. created al Qaeda is actually at war with Iran!!! Al Qaeda leaders have issued fatwas calling for the killing of Shi’a Muslims, who just happen to make up the majority of people living in Iran, why the hell would Iran support such an organization?!?

Oh, and I thought al Qaeda was the number one terrorist organization?

It really looks like the U.S. sanctions against Iran are actually meant to hurt Western (European/Japanese) competitors to U.S. corporations.

 

World War 3: U.S. sanctions against Iran shut down Peugeot. Pressure from General Motors. Who are the sanctions really meant to target?

French based car maker Peugeot Citroën, has shut down a factory after parts shipped from Iran were stopped.

Peugeot Citroën has manufacturing deals with Iran Khodro, a major car maker in Iran.

220 people were laid off at the Vesoul factory in northeastern France.  This comes after a U.S. lobbyist group called United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), asked U.S. Congress to put pressure on the French car maker.

UANI also put pressure, should we say threatened, General Motors because GM holds 7% of Peugeot Citroën.  Officials from the French car maker said it was GM that pressured them to stop selling knock down kits to Iran.  A knock down kit is basically a unassembled car.

UANI has made completely unsubstantiated claims against Iran: “….it is unacceptable for GM to enter into a partnership with a company that so openly deals with a regime that is responsible for the deaths of U.S. and NATO servicemen and threatens U.S. and global security.”-Mark Wallace, UANI

How can Mark Wallace make such a claim?  Iran has never been connected to any terrorist actions against the United States. Where’s the undeniable proof?  What Mike Wallace is saying is the same old unproven ultra right wing neo conservative bull shit!

By the way, stopping Peugeot Citroën business with Iran will not hurt Iran’s economy.  Iran Khodro is doing extremely well with its own car designs, especially in the Central Asian market. So the real question is; who is really being targeted by the U.S. sanctions?

 

Sign of the Times: Vietnam now owns part of Wyoming

The town with the smallest official population in the United States just got owned by Vietnam.

Buford, Wyoming, was sold at auction for $900,000 USD, to two mystery businessmen from Vietnam.

The town is so small that there is only one resident left.  He’s been living in Buford since 1980, and bought the town in 1990: “I don’t know when it will hit me. I’ve lived here half my life. I’m an emotional person, and I hope I handle it in an adult manner.”-Don Sammons, sold his town to retire and move closer to his son

One irony is that Sammons served in the U.S. Army during the time of the Vietnam War.