Wednesday 31 October 2012
Tuesday 30 October 2012
Preliminary Robert Bales Trial To Consider Whether He Acted Alone
Preliminary Trial for Robert Bales Will Consider Whether He Acted Alone -- News from Antiwar.com:
American soldiers who have committed heinous crimes against civilians in war zones have a history of getting off easy. And in an ironic way, the suggestion that Bales did not act alone “could, in fact, help Browne compel a settlement for his client, who faces the death penalty if convicted—and ensure that the public never learns what really happened that night,” according to the Daily Beast.(Beast is the word).
Monday 29 October 2012
US ambassador 'grateful' for Italian Sacrifice
Bloody Weekend in Afghanistan - Audio Clip
MATTHIEU AIKINS: International spending in Afghanistan is the largest component of Afghan GDP, it's almost equal to the entire country's production. And that's set to decline dramatically over the next two years, just as the international community's level of troop deployment and programming is also set to decline. So that's obviously going to have serious effects for Afghanistan's economy. AUDIO LINK
Sunday 28 October 2012
Saturday 27 October 2012
British Psy Ops in Afghanistan
In fact, the last time 15 (UK) Psy Ops hit the headlines was when one of their unit was killed in 2008, who was most notable in the media for being the first British female solider to die in Afghanistan.
Except for that, one of the last mentions was in 2003. And now they’re press-releasing an award given to them by their own organisation and talking to reporters."
Shooting of British soldiers in Afghanistan 'was not friendly fire'
Shooting of British soldiers in Afghanistan 'was not friendly fire' - Asia - World - The Independent: ""The circumstances are not entirely clear, there is an investigation ongoing. We know there were three people dead, one of them wearing civilian clothes."It is not absolutely clear as yet exactly what did happen and that investigation will continue until we find out exactly what happened.""
Friday 26 October 2012
Dust Off That Old 'Womens' Rights' Spin
As the chaos in Afghanistan descends to Nato/Isaf/MOD spinning on whether ISAF fatalities are green on blue or blue on green or green on green on blue, it's back to womens' rights as the pretext for the mission.British Ministers: Women's Rights Key to Stable Afghanistan: ""Whilst a lot has been achieved and it would be wrong to underestimate that, building a viable state has not happened and is not really going to happen any time soon and yet that is supposedly the British government mission," said Bruce. "So I think our view was rather than focus exclusively on that you really should concentrate on the things that you can achieve recognizing you may have to be fleet of foot and very flexible as the situation changes on the ground.""
Thursday 25 October 2012
British troops killed in Blue On Green On Blue Incident
He said, “British troops were then attacked by a group of other British soldiers who were also patrolling in the area, killing two service members.”
The incident took place on Wednesday evening around 5 pm local time at Malgir area in Greshk district."
Wednesday 24 October 2012
Build Your Own Special Forces Sniper
If this wasn't so ridiculous it would almost fall into the realms of War Porn.
Institutionalizing America’s Targeted Killing Program
Politics, Power, and Preventive Action » Institutionalizing America’s Targeted Killing Program: "Recently, I spoke to a military official with extensive and wide-ranging experience in the special operations world, and who has had direct exposure to the targeted killing program. To emphasize how easy targeted killings by special operations forces or drones has become, this official flicked his hand back over and over, stating: “It really is like swatting flies. We can do it forever easily and you feel nothing. But how often do you really think about killing a fly?”"
Afghanistan - Drugs War Lost Too
Afghanistan produced more opium with NATO & US present than during the Taliban regime:
'Investigation' After Latest Botched Nato Raid
9 killed, 25 injured in Afghan night raid operation - Trend.Az: "Nine people were killed and 25 wounded in an overnight operation launched by Afghan and the NATO-led coalition troops in the western province of Ghor, a provincial official said Wednesday, adding that local residents said most victims were civilians, Xinhua reported."According to initial reports by our security forces, nine people were killed and 25 others injured during a night raid operation against militants conducted by Afghan Special Forces supporting by the coalition troops in Sharhrak district," a spokesman for provincial government, Abdul Hai Khatibi, told Xinhua.
After local residents claimed that several women and children were among the casualties, the local government has launched an investigation into the incident to determined whether the killed were militants or civilians, he said."
Tuesday 23 October 2012
MoD To Control Afghan Drones From UK
"A batch of five new MQ-9 Reaper drones, which are used to gather surveillance and monitor enemy movements, will be operated from RAF Waddington.
The unmanned aircraft will be based in Afghanistan and will not be flown from the Lincolnshire base.
A spokesman for the MoD said: "The RAF announced in May 2011 that RAF Waddington is to host a new Reaper squadron, known as 13 Squadron."
NATO Doing Fine According To NATO
Nato’s plan is working in Afghanistan - Telegraph: "with President Karzai and his ministers, parliamentarians, provincial governors, army and police commanders, I got a clear sense of their determination to make transition a success."
Britain doubles armed drones in Afghanistan
Britain doubles armed drones in Afghanistan - World news, News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk:
"On the rare occasions that weapons are used, the same strict rules are followed that govern the use of weapons on manned aircraft." The 'strict rules' didn't stop these three girls (pictured) (and many, many others over the years) being killed by a 'precision' drone attack last week.
"On the rare occasions that weapons are used, the same strict rules are followed that govern the use of weapons on manned aircraft." The 'strict rules' didn't stop these three girls (pictured) (and many, many others over the years) being killed by a 'precision' drone attack last week.
Monday 22 October 2012
Sunday 21 October 2012
Translators - Another Group The US Has Forgotten
Saturday 20 October 2012
Friday 19 October 2012
The American 'heroes' who killed three children in Afghanistan
The American 'heroes' who killed three children in Afghanistan: "The attack, described by the military as a “precision strike,” was reportedly aimed at several Taliban fighters who were allegedly planting an IED in the road, but the strike also killed three children, Borjan, 12; Sardar Wali, 10; and Khan Bibi, 8, all from one family, who were right nearby collecting dung for fuel.Initially, as is its standard MO, the US denied that any children had been killed and insisted that the aircraft had targeted three “Taliban” fighters, and had successfully killed them. Only later, as evidence grew indesputable that the three children had also been killed, the US switched to its standard fallback position for atrocities in the Afghanistan War and its other wars: it announced that it was “investigating” the incident and said that it “regretted” any civilian deaths."
Thursday 18 October 2012
Where Are Their Names, Western Media?
Family members say the children were sent out to gather dung, which is dried and used as fuel during the harsh winters in mountainous Afghanistan. Local tribal leaders confirmed bags of the dung were found at the attack site.
What wasn’t found at the site were the two “Taliban” supposedly killed in the attack, and while provincial officials echoed NATO’s claim that two Taliban in the area were killed, locals insist they never saw any bodies except for the three children.
NATO says Afghanistan drawdown plans unchanged
“Our goal is that Afghanistan will be able to stand on its own feet, but Afghanistan will not stand alone,” Fogh Rasmussen said.
NATO's governing body, the North Atlantic Council, was visiting Kabul for meetings with President Hamid Karzai, coalition military commander Gen. John Allen and commanders of the Afghan government's forces."
Wednesday 17 October 2012
Mass Killings After Gaddafi's Death
Evidence of mass murder after Gaddafi's death - Africa - Al Jazeera English: "The 50-page report, "Death of a Dictator: Bloody Vengeance in Sirte," also details the final hours of Gaddafi's life and the circumstances under which he was killed on the basis of witness testimony and mobile phone footage.
HRW said its evidence suggested that Misrata-based militias captured and disarmed members of Gaddafi's convoy and, after bringing them under control, subjected them to brutal beatings.
"They then executed at least 66 captured members of the convoy at the nearby Mahari Hotel," said the report, adding that some still had their hands bound behind their backs."
HRW said its evidence suggested that Misrata-based militias captured and disarmed members of Gaddafi's convoy and, after bringing them under control, subjected them to brutal beatings.
Tuesday 16 October 2012
More Civilian Deaths - More Nato 'Regrets'
BBC News - Nato in Afghanistan expresses regret over civilian deaths: "The statement by Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) did not explain how the civilian deaths occurred, but it did make clear that they were not killed by an airstrike."
Monday 15 October 2012
Iran - Back to Basics
Back to Basics « LobeLog.com: "Iran’s official security doctrines imply a defensive, not an offensive orientation. Contacts with Iranian officials suggest that Iran’s leaders find political advantage in demonizing certain Western countries but are not bent on attacking them. If Western intelligence agencies are aware of Iranian plans to start a war against the US, Europe or Israel, it is surprising that this intelligence has not been leaked."
Sunday 14 October 2012
Saturday 13 October 2012
Money Talks - Early Withdrawal From Afghanistan For UK?
Defence chiefs draw up plans for faster withdrawal from Afghanistan - Telegraph: "Mr Osborne is understood to have responded to the military presentation by calling into question the proposed plan for withdrawal, asking why British forces should not come home now."
Friday 12 October 2012
British Soldiers' Arrest - Development
Imran Khan’s March Brings Global Attention to CIA Drone Strikes
Beating the Retreat
Beating the retreat in Afghanistan: "The grand project of the Bush administration to create a modern democratic state comes down to much less ambitious scenarios. One is that the Afghan army, its annual cost of nearly $US12 billion mostly funded by the US and more than twice the Afghan government budget, in effect becomes the Afghan state - an irony given that Americans lament the dominance of the army in Pakistan and have been encouraging civilians to assert themselves over the military in places such as South Korea, Indonesia and Egypt. Another is that with the 2014 elections becoming farcical, the government is formed through powerbroking arrangements between ethnic and tribal warlords. In neither case is a walkover for the Taliban likely. With enough foreign support, the regime could hang on indefinitely, fighting a stalemated civil war outside the capital."Royal Marines Charged With Murder in Afghanistan
The comment by Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Zaher Azimi comes after Britain's Ministry of Defense announced that seven Royal Marines had been arrested on October 11 on suspicion of murder in relation to an incident in Afghanistan last year. MORE
Thursday 11 October 2012
Wednesday 10 October 2012
Arms sales: who are the world's 100 top arms producers?
Arms sales: who are the world's 100 top arms producers? | News | guardian.co.uk: "Despite the economic downturn it has been business as usual for the world's biggest arms companies who have seen sales of weapons and military services rise during 2010 and exceed $400bn (£250bn)."
Twitter and the War in Afghanistan
Twitter and the Kabul suicide bombing controversy...: "Journalists are increasingly embracing Twitter as a means of getting information, following stories, and finding sources. There is the dual benefit of also promoting their own work and developing a direct feedback loop with their audiences. Twitter is now, undoubtedly, the most powerful weapon in the arsenal of a journalist.However, Twitter can also expose journalists, and sometimes through them their sources, to spying and even persecution from authorities. Just like other platforms, it is possible to hack Twitter. But more than that, much of what happens on Twitter is public, so hacking may not even be necessary."
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