China on Thursday strongly denied reports that it would consider a pre-emptive nuclear strike if it had no other way to defend itself against a nuclear-armed state -- a move that would be a shift in policy.
"Since the very first day that China possessed nuclear weapons, the Chinese government made a solemn pledge to never be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time under any circumstances," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
La frontière Etats-Unis/Mexique
1. La frontière : une ligne de démarcation, la barda
La frontière américano-mexicaine n’est que la frontière politique née de la guerre entre deux États : le Mexique indépendant depuis 1821 et les Etats-Unis (EU), après leur guerre d’indépendance 1776-1783. Elle porte la marque des affrontements ultérieurs au terme desquels 1836-1853, les EU s’emparent de 2 millions de km2 au détriment du Mexique (Texas, Nouveau-Mexique, Californie et Arizona). La forte emprise des hispaniques sur ces territoires est donc un legs du passé autant que des migrations massives en cours (500 000 migrants originaires à plus de 75 % du Mexique, pour la plupart faiblement qualifiés, entreraient sur le marché du travail chaque année alors que, dans le même temps, seuls 5 000 visas sont accordés à cette catégorie de travailleurs).
Cable de Wikileaks y el preludio de la “Operación Jaque”: Al César lo que es del César
Un cable de Wikileaks tira por el suelo toda la pantomima de la ³Operación Jaque² y deja al descubierto uno más de los tantos embustes bajo el narcogobierno espurio de ³Varito² y su incondicional, hoy presidente de Locombia, Juan Manuel Santos.
Friday, January 7, 2011
BRIC Countries Invite South Africa to Join
Happy New Year! Something very, very important happened in the closing days of 2010, and very few people noticed. The “BRIC” club is expanding to include South Africa. Today I’ll discuss this development and tell you what it means to your investment portfolio.
U.S. Alleges Mexican Drug Cartel Rented Apartments in U.S. to Recruit Young Americans
An assistant U.S. attorney told CNSNews.com that a federal judge will hear a criminal case later this month involving an offshoot of the Tijuana cartel that is believed to be setting up operations in the United States to recruit young Americans for drug trafficking.
Weekly Standard, Rove Make the Case for Israel-al Qaeda Linkage
In their zeal to undermine or discredit Obama in any way they can, the neo-conservative Weekly Standard and former top Bush adviser Karl Rove have been indirectly making the case that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the single, most important recruitment tool of Al Qaeda and presumably other violent Islamist groups based in the borderlands of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
La prepotencia de la oligarquía militarista colombiana ante los llamados a conversar de la insurgencia
El Chuky y Positivo Santos reitera continuidad como Uribe III. La propuesta militarista, como salida al grave conflicto colombiano, persiste como única. La guerra medida por litros de sangre derramada es la tónica, tal como lo afirma el teniente coronel Víctor Ramírez C.dela brigada XII, Antioquia.
El teniente del ejército Edgar Iván Flórez Maestre, denuncia la práctica sistemática de muertos civiles, como falsos positivos. La Procuraduría, prevaricadora calla, convirtiéndose en bastión de impunidad, renunciando al poder disciplinario, en caso de militares incursos en violaciones a los Derechos Humanos; cesando las facultades de la unidad de investigaciones y desarchivo de documentos contra policías corruptos y asesinos.El presidente positivo, dejar pasar.
Islamization of Daghestan Would Be Taking Place Even If Wahhabis Didn’t Exist, Experts Say
Even if there were no Wahhabi militants, the most frequently used Russian designation for the radical and often violent Salafi trend in Islam, the Islamization of Daghestan would be taking place just as rapidly, according to a leading specialist on religion and nationality in Makhachkala.
Disintegration of USSR Still Not Over, Moscow Commentator Says
Most politicians, experts and ordinary people treat the disintegration of the USSR as a single event, but in fact, it is a lengthy process. And today, nearly 20 years after the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States sounded the “death sentence” of the Soviet Union, a Moscow writer says, “the disintegration of the USSR is still not over.”
Israel's spy request strains relations with US
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, risked further straining relations with the White House, already damaged by the impasse in peace talks, by writing an open letter this week to President Barack Obama urging the release of spy Jonathan Pollard.
Pakistan releases top al Qaeda-linked terrorist leader
A senior Pakistani terrorist linked to al Qaeda and the country's intelligence service has been released from "protective custody." Qari Saifullah Akhtar, the leader of the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI, or the Movement of Islamic Holy War), was released in early December after being taken into protective custody in August 2010. HUJI is closely linked to al Qaeda and the Taliban. Ilyas Kashmiri, the operational commander for HUJI, also serves as al Qaeda's military commander and is a senior leader on al Qaeda's external operations council. HUJI is also supported by Pakistan's military and the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate.
Calls For Sending Commandoes Ashore
Three years ago, when the UN re-authorized anti-piracy operations off Somalia, commando operations against land targets was also allowed. But no country wanted to try this, at least on a large scale and regular basis. That has changed, with several nations calling for a coordinated plan to hit key pirate land targets (pirate leaders and ports containing many mother ships or weapons.) So far it's all talk, but specific talk about going after the ability of the pirate gangs to function. The continued payment of large (average now about $5 million per ship) ransoms for insured ships, is attracting more warlords, who are forming more pirate gangs and sending more mother ships out than the anti-piracy patrol can handle. Thus the increased talk of commando raids.
The Flailed State
The Mexico-is-a-failed-state meme is cropping up again in the U.S. media. It does get attention, which is why the media types go with it. Mexico could be a failed state, but it is a long, long way from being in that condition. It is, however, a stressed state finally confronting many destructive long-term social and economic problems, and corrupt political arrangements. The attack on corruption began in 1997 when the PAN (National Action Party) and PRD Party of the Democratic Revolution) agreed to a tactical coalition, and defeated the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) in the Chamber of Deputies (lower house in national government). In 2000 the PAN candidate, Vicente Fox, became president. Power changed hands, from the PRI to the PAN. The election was free and fair. In 2006 the PAN candidate, Felipe Calderon, was elected president by a narrow margin over the highly controversial PRD candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Shabab, Aweys, AQ and Somalia
Al Shabab and Hizbul Islam officially united in December after Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys’s forces took a pounding from Shabab around Kismayo. Aweys loss of Kismayo brought Hizbul Islam under Shabab’s submission. This latest defeat follows the defection of the Ras Kambooni Brigade from Hizbul Islam to Shabab in February 2010. Shabab appears to have consolidated power over the southern and central insurgent groups calling for expanded AQ operations in East Africa.
Already, analysts predict doomsday scenarios in which AQ establishes a new safe haven for conducting attacks in HOA and globally. I’m skeptical this will occur for several reasons.
Already, analysts predict doomsday scenarios in which AQ establishes a new safe haven for conducting attacks in HOA and globally. I’m skeptical this will occur for several reasons.
AQMI aux portes du Sahara Occidental
Le démantèlement par les forces de sécurité marocaines d’une cellule présumée d’Al Quaïda au Maghreb Islamique (AQMI) à Amgala- à près de 200 kilomètres au sud d’El Ayoun, au Sahara Occidental - confirme les thèses avancées ces derniers mois par les experts en anti-terrorisme, à savoir qu’AQMI est en train de se reconfigurer, envisageant d’ouvrir de nouveaux fronts au nord-ouest. Il ya près de trois mois, les violents affrontements avec les forces de sécurité mauritaniennes ainsi qu’avec l’armée malienne préfigurait l’ouverture de ce nouvel axe à la lisière du Sahara Occidental.
Nigeria: Security Issues Loom Large in Presidential Race
North-South rivalry has figured prominently in Nigeria’s presidential race, but another issue has also come to prominence: security. Critics of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, including former Northern military rulers, charge that he has responded ineffectively to bombings and other security incidents. Following another bombing on New Year’s Eve in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, Jonathan has been working aggressively to enhance Nigeria’s security apparatuses and dispel concerns about his handling of security issues.
Mali: French Embassy Attack Undercuts Confidence on Security Progress
Yesterday, Mali made news twice for stories related to terrorism: first, for Malian Tourism Minister Ndiaye Bah’s statement that “security issues are contained in northern Mali”; and second, for a bomb attack on the French embassy in Bamako. The juxtaposition of the Malian government’s confidence with this incident suggests that it is too early to say whether Mali is making progress on security.
Bah’s remarks in context:
Bah’s remarks in context:
La France, as de l’espionnage industriel
La France, plus encore que la Chine et la Russie, est le pays le plus actif en matière d’espionnage industriel chez ses alliés européens, rapporte aujourd’hui le journal norvégien Aftenposten sur la foi de télégrammes diplomatiques obtenus par WikiLeaks.
Les sayanim : des « agents dormants » très actifs au service d’Israël
Les sayanim sont des juifs de la diaspora qui, par patriotisme, collaborent avec le Mossad dans le domaine de l'espionnage ou de la désinformation. Ils constituent également le thème principal du dernier roman de l'écrivain franco-marocain Jacob Cohen. Investig'Action a interviewé M. Cohen lors de son passage à Bruxelles sur cet obscur réseau d'influence ainsi que sur l'état actuel et l'évolution de la situation au Proche-Orient.
Attentat d’Alexandrie : la piste des coptes liés au Mossad scrutée
Certains médias Egyptiens ont soupçonné entre autre une organisation copte vivant à l’étranger et liée au Mossad d’être derrière l’attentat meurtrier contre l’église des saints à Alexandrie qui a coûté la vie à 21 fidèles coptes égyptiens.
Islamic group is CIA front, ex-Turkish intel chief says
A memoir by a top former Turkish intelligence official claims that a worldwide moderate Islamic movement based in Pennsylvania has been providing cover for the CIA since the mid-1990s. The memoir, roughly rendered in English as “Witness to Revolution and Near Anarchy,” by retired Turkish intelligence official Osman Nuri Gundes, says the religious-tolerance movement, led by an influential former Turkish imam by the name of Fethullah Gulen, has 600 schools and 4 million followers around the world. In the 1990s, Gundes alleges, the movement "sheltered 130 CIA agents" at its schools in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan alone, according to a report on his memoir Wednesday by the Paris-based Intelligence Online newsletter.
Referendum in Sudan: Prelude for a North-South Divorce?
The North and South in Sudan have a long history of division and conflict. As part of their “Southern Policy,” Sudan’s colonial masters, the British, opted to seal off the South from northern influence: leaving education to missionaries and depending on native administration for local governance. Meanwhile, the British ruled the country from Khartoum, relying on the help of northern Sudanese elites – the same elites to whom the British eventually surrendered power in 1956, making Sudan one of Africa’s first countries to achieve independence.
Al Qaeda Seeking Revenge against Morocco – Anti Terrorism Expert
Moroccan political analyst Dr. Mohamed Darif, who specializes in studying Islamist groups, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Moroccan authorities have dismantled dozens of terrorist cells since 2002 thanks to the pre-emptive security approach pursued by Morocco which had made it possible for the Moroccan authorities to foil a large number of these terrorist cells' plans.
Pakistan Reverses Course On Fuel-Price Increase
The Pakistani government said Thursday that it will reverse unpopular fuel price hikes that helped spark the breakup of the governing coalition, an apparent attempt to prevent the government from collapsing at a time of growing turmoil in the country.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
WikiLeaks' Most Terrifying Revelation: Just How Much Our Government Lies to Us
Do you believe that it is in Americans' interest to allow a small group of U.S. leaders to unilaterally murder, maim, imprison and/or torture anyone they choose anywhere in the world, without the knowledge let alone oversight of their citizens or the international community? And, despite their proven record of failure to protect America -- from Indochina to Iran to Iraq -- do you believe they should be permitted to clandestinely expand their war-making without informed public debate? If so, you are betraying the principles upon which America was founded, endangering your nation, and displaying a distinctly "unamerican" subservience to unaccountable authority. But if you oppose autocratic power, you are called to support Wikileaks and others trying to limit U.S. Executive Branch mass murder abroad and failure to protect Americans at home.
Deepwater Horizon oil spill: The real cause is peak oil
The devastating report from the presidential commission on the Deepwater disaster spells out the reasons for the gigantic oil spill and the deaths of 11 men but not the root cause: the looming threat of peak oil. The report, to be released in full on Tuesday, is utterly damning. The safety failures of BP and its contractors Haliburton and Transocean were “systemic”, due to a “failure of management” and, without reform, a repeat accident “may well occur”.
Sahara occidental : les dessous du démantèlement du réseau d’AQMI
Un vaste et spectaculaire coup de filet des services de sécurité marocains a permis de démanteler hier une cellule terroriste active à 20 kilomètres d’Amghala, une oasis du Sahara occidental. Si la prise effectuée par les Marocains n’étonne pas dans les circonstances actuelles, l’ampleur du réseau terroriste composé de 27 personnes ainsi que la quantité des armes découvertes dans trois caches témoignent des capacités renouvelées d’AQMI ainsi que de la volonté de la franchise locale d’Al Qaïda de déstabiliser la région. Pourtant, il y a quelques semaines, deux opérations menées par les armées maliennes et mauritaniennes avaient porté un coup sévère aux structures d’AQMI au Sahel. En effet, plusieurs combattants et trafiquants ont été tués ou appréhendés à la frontière entre le Mali et la Mauritanie.
Mexicans Arrest a Top Figure in Sinaloa Cartel
A local boss of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel was arrested in this Mexican border city, municipal police sources told Efe on Wednesday. Jesus Israel Cruz Lopez, alias “El Tomate,” is a former Tijuana cop linked to Teodoro “El Teo” Garcia Simental, a reputed Tijuana-based kingpin arrested a year ago, the sources said.
Bolivia Offers Incentives for Oil and Gas Exploration
President Evo Morales’ government has offered to reimburse 100 percent of the cost of successful exploratory drilling in Bolivia by private oil and natural gas companies, state-owned energy company YPFB said on Wednesday. The president of Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos, Carlos Villegas, said most of the companies that operate in Bolivia have accepted the proposal, which is especially aimed at incentivizing the search for liquid hydrocarbons.
Panama Authorities Seize 1 Ton of Cocaine
Panamanian authorities seized 1,025 kilos (2,257 pounds) of cocaine in the Caribbean province of Colon, 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of the capital, a senior prosecutor said Tuesday.
Diplomatic Stalemate: Chavez, Clinton Discussed Ambassador Flap
“Wise people correct their mistakes,” Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when the two chatted briefly last weekend in Brazil about Caracas’ rejection of Washington’s proposed ambassador to Venezuela, according to an unnamed Venezuelan official.
New statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: “2011 Will be the Year of Victory for the Afghan Mujāhid People”
Enemies of the Afghan Mujahid people and the occupiers of our hero-bearing land admit now that 2010 was a year of troubles, casualties and worries for them. The Arab News reports that Pentagon has conceded that in 2010, American casualties in Afghanistan in terms of fatality and injuries had gone up from hundreds into thousands. They say, Taliban’s strength and movability has increased.
Brasil vai pagar por cooperação com Bolívia e Paraguai
O governo brasileiro vai subsidiar a luta contra o narcotráfico e o crime organizado na Bolívia e Paraguai. Foi o que anunciou o ministro da Justiça, José Eduardo Cardozo nesta segunda-feira. Segundo ele, “temos que subsidiar iniciativas e realizar operações integradas. Alguns países fronteiriços não têm capacidade operacional e os recursos para vigiar as fronteiras”. Cardozo confirmou ainda que em 2011 o Brasil utilizará os Vants que são veículos aéreos não tripulados, de fabricação israelense, na proteção e vigilância das suas fronteiras.
Bolívia quer aumentar envio de gás para Brasil e Argentina
O presidente da estatal Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), Carlos Villegas, informou que uma parte da planta de processamento de gás natural no megacampo Sábalo, no sul do país, passará por um processo de modernização programada para que possa aumentar o volume de gás natural destinado à exportação para Brasil e Argentina. Villegas assegurou que o processo garantirá o incremento da produção no curto prazo. Segundo ele, tanto a Petrobras como a Enarsa foram informadas com antecedência.
La Russie s’associe à une entreprise française dans la bataille contre Microsoft
Le géant américain Microsoft, leader mondial de l’industrie de l’informatique, n’a pas anticipé le déploiement du système d’exploitation Linux dans les pays émergents. Un partenariat entre l’entreprise française Mandriva et l’Etat Russe va fragiliser le concepteur américain de systèmes d’exploitation et de logiciels. Un retournement de situation serait en train de se préparer pour Microsoft, alors victime d’une stratégie de « soft power ». Quelles en seront les conséquences? Sous fond de menace grandissante de cyberguerre, les Russes s’intéressent à Mandriva, la distribution linux française et ses garanties de sécurité plus élevées, pour développer leur système d’exploitation national. Ils souhaitent ainsi, de plus en plus, s’affranchir technologiquement des Etats-Unis. Cet événement révèle en outre la démarche originale d’une entreprise française, à travers une stratégie d’influence et une forte capacité d’innovation. Autour des intérêts économiques et géopolitiques en jeu dans cette bataille du « technopouvoir », se dessine alors une nouvelle zone, celle des « BRIC » (Brésil, Russie, Inde, Chine) et des pays émergents.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
US- NATO Missile Deployments directed against Russia: Putin Prepares For War
Vladimir Putin is the most popular leader in the world today. His personal approval ratings are in the stratosphere, usually well-above 80 percent. He is admired for his quiet, confident manner and for having restored Russia to its former greatness following the chaotic breakup of the Soviet Union. The Russian people love Putin. Parents name their children after him, vodka and caviar producers use his name to boost sales, and his face appears on the tee-shirts of students and young people. It's unthinkable that he would step down after his term as prime minister is over a year from today. The Russian people want him to stay on and run for a third term as president, and that's probably what he'll do.
Mounting prospect of military intervention in Ivory Coast
The United States and its allies have stepped up their threats of military intervention in the West African country of Ivory Coast in the wake of the disputed election. Both the incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo, and his challenger, Alassane Outtara, claim to have won the November, 2010 election. The US, the United Nations and the European Union have recognised Outtara’s claims and called on Gbagbo to quit. Neighbouring West African states organised in ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) have threatened military action if he refuses.
Morocco: AQIM cell dismantled in Western Sahara
In a statement issued on Tuesday night, the Moroccan Interior Ministry announced that a terrorist cell consisting of 27 members had been dismantled in Amghala, Western Sahara. One of the terrorists arrested is already known to be a member of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Reportedly, the cell was preparing suicide attacks against Moroccan security forces, had planned robberies to finance its activities and intended as well to recruit volunteers to undergo training in terrorist camps located in Mali and Algeria.
China, Spain Sign Trade Deals Worth 6.5 Billion Euros
A visiting Chinese delegation, headed by Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang, has signed 16 trade deals with the Spanish government worth 6.5 billion Euros (5.7 billion dollars) in the sectors of banking, energy, transport and communications. An official statement issued here today said that this came after the meeting held between Keqiang and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
Behind Political Uncertainty In Pakistan: Pashtuns, Petrol And Musharraf
Pashtuns, petrol and Gen. Pervez Musharraf are behind the decision of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headed by UK-based Altaf Hussain announced on January 2 to leave the federal coalition headed by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) at Islamabad, thereby reducing it to a minority in the Federal Parliament. Interestingly, the MQM has not yet left the provincial coalition in Sindh with the PPP. It apparently wants to continue to have a share of the power in Sindh, while renouncing power in the federal government as a populist measure to respond to the anger of the Mohajirs in Karachi over the failure of the Governments in Sindh as well as in Islamabad to protect them against attacks by the Deobandi extremist Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LEJ) and pro-Taliban Pashtuns.
Le Japon en 2010, l’année de tous les défis
LE 30 août 2009, la victoire écrasante du Parti démocrate japonais (PDJ, centre gauche) aux élections législatives a mis fin à cinquante-quatre années de règne des conservateurs du Parti libéral démocrate (PLD). Le PDJ contrôlait déjà le Sénat, dans le cadre d’une alliance conclue avec le petit Parti démocrate social (PDS) et le minuscule Parti du peuple (PP). Compte tenu de la complète désorganisation du PLD, qui a perdu 177 de ses 296 sièges, le PDJ a les mains libres pour mettre son programme en œuvre.
Chinese Missile Could Threaten U.S. Navy Ships
U.S. officials were surprised by China's rapid development of a ballistic missile thought capable of striking ships at sea, but the jury is still out as to whether Internet images of a purported Chinese stealth fighter are evidence of a similar breakthrough in the air, the U.S. Navy's intelligence director told reporters Jan. 5.
"Their anti-ship missile - we underestimated when they would be competent and capable in delivering a technological weapon of that type," said Vice Adm. Jack Dorsett, the deputy chief of naval operations for information dominance and the service's intelligence director.
"Their anti-ship missile - we underestimated when they would be competent and capable in delivering a technological weapon of that type," said Vice Adm. Jack Dorsett, the deputy chief of naval operations for information dominance and the service's intelligence director.
‘Wikileak-ization’ of Media Transforming Russian Politics, Analyst Says
The ‘Wikileak-ization’ of Russian media, one of three major trends in the increasingly important electronic media there over the last year, is transforming Russian society and Russian politics more rapidly and fundamentally than are the actions of any leader or bureaucracy, according to a Moscow analyst.
Proposal for Non-Ethnic Russian Nation a Symptom of Deeper National Problem, Moscow Analyst Argues
Dmitry Medvedev’s proposal for the creation of a non-ethnic Russian nation reflects a far deeper national problem: the inability of Russians to face up to their national history and thus their tendency to keep resuscitating ideas from the past under new names while ignoring the context in which they existed, a Moscow argues.
FSB Continues KGB Practice of Setting Patriots and Liberals against Each Other, Former MVD General Says
The Russian FSB is continuing the Soviet-era KGB practice associated with General Filip Bobkov of pushing liberals and patriots into fighting one another through the use of agents in both, according to a former MVD general who worked alongside the infamous Bobkov 25 years ago. In an interview with RFE/RL’s Russian Service, Vladimir Ovchinsky, an ex-MVD major general who later headed the Russian section of Interrpol, said that recent events strongly suggest that Russia has been marching “a closed circle for more than 20 years” as far the way in which security agencies deal with protests.
Tightening Security in the “Post-WikiLeaks” Era
The Obama Administration is moving to increase the security of classified information in response to the massive leaks of classified documents to Wikileaks in recent months. The White House Office of Management and Budget yesterday issued a detailed memorandum elaborating on the requirement to conduct an initial assessment of agency information policies and to initiate remedial steps to tighten security. Agency assessments are to be completed by January 28.
Renault execs in industrial espionage probe
French carmaker Renault suspended three executives for suspected industrial espionage after an investigation lasting several months, a source close to the company told Reuters on Wednesday.
A Renault spokesman confirmed it suspended three executives on Monday after an 'ethical alert' was transmitted to the group's compliance committee in August. But she declined to give further details about the suspensions.
A Renault spokesman confirmed it suspended three executives on Monday after an 'ethical alert' was transmitted to the group's compliance committee in August. But she declined to give further details about the suspensions.
Economic Consequences Of The “New World Order”
A common misconception among less aware segments of the American populace is that the phrase “New World Order” was concocted by attention seeking “conspiracy theorists” in dank basement apartments and sinister mountain shacks across the country. In reality, anti-globalists and Constitutionalists had nothing to do with the term’s creation (and most of us have decent digs, too). The truth is that mumblings of a “New World Order” have been floating around various elitist circles for decades, and every once in a while, those mumblings are publicized in the mainstream media. Globalists created the warped ideal; we just point out that it exists. Lately, we haven’t had to try very hard…
Oil Continues Steady Climb
On December 16, Lindsey Williams told Alex Jones the price of crude oil will soon hit $150-200 per barrel and this would translate into gas prices in the range of $4-5 per gallon. Williams, an ordained Baptist minister who went to Alaska in 1971 as a missionary, was told about the price increase by insiders in the oil industry he had befriended. Following Williams’ revelation, the price of oil moved up. Crude oil hit $95 a barrel on Monday for the first time in over two years. The most-accurate forecasters in the oil market a year ago are forecasting a second straight year of gains in 2011. Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. says crude will average $90 this year. Natixis Bleichroeder Inc., which tied with Bernstein, sees $100 a barrel, 26 percent higher than in 2010, according to Bloomberg.
Diputados Revolucionarios "triturarán con la voz de la verdad" a la derecha conspiradora
Los diputados y diputadas de la Revolución bolivariana que desde hoy integrarán la Asamblea Nacional (AN) para el período 2011-2016 “triturarán con la voz de la verdad” a los factores de la derecha que se encuentran en constante conspiración contra la voluntad popular de los venezolanos y contra los intereses de la nación. Así lo afirmó el presidente de la República, Hugo Chávez, ante una multitudinaria y colorida concentración efectuada en la Plaza O’Leary de Caracas, donde el pueblo venezolano, una vez más, manifestó su apoyo al proceso de cambios que vive el país y a los diputados y diputadas revolucionarios a la Asamblea Nacional.
China challenged over Sudan referendum
As South Sudan's referendum on independence on January 9 draws nearer, the international community is preparing for the possible division of Sudan into two independent states. With signs of growing tensions and several issues still to be resolved by negotiations - notably agreements on the demarcation of a north-south border and the distribution of oil revenue - there is a risk of a return to the decades-long civil war fought between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the southern-based Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) that was ended by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
Iran: Political shakeup reveals leadership rift
The abrupt firing of 14 advisers to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government on Sunday might indicate a growing rift between the president and Iran’s supreme ruler, Ayatollah Kamenei, analysts said.
The dismissals came less than a month after three other surprise firings. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Vice President for Youth Affairs Mehrdad Bazrpash and Deputy Culture Minister for Press Mohammad Ali Ramin were all sacked without notice in December. Ahmadinejad fired his foreign minister, in fact, while he was still out of the country.
The dismissals came less than a month after three other surprise firings. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Vice President for Youth Affairs Mehrdad Bazrpash and Deputy Culture Minister for Press Mohammad Ali Ramin were all sacked without notice in December. Ahmadinejad fired his foreign minister, in fact, while he was still out of the country.
China's military head games
China's recent military advances have launched a debate in security circles on whether the People's Liberation Army is more bark or bite. Much of the talk has focused on the implications of China's new anti-ship ballistic missile, which is now deployed, according to the top U.S. military commander in the Pacific.
But for one top Taiwanese security analyst, the new missile and China's other upgrades have already achieved their key objective: to mess with U.S. war planners' heads.
But for one top Taiwanese security analyst, the new missile and China's other upgrades have already achieved their key objective: to mess with U.S. war planners' heads.
The People even James Bond avoids
There are two foreign intelligence services in today’s Russia: SVR and GRU. The first one is the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. It is the former First Chief Directorate of the Soviet era KGB, which has managed intelligence for decades. Its activities are well known throughout the world. The second one is the GRU, Russian military intelligence. It is a part of the Defense Ministry. Its full name is much longer (The Chief Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Army). GRU has retained its Soviet era name, and just about everything else.
Chinese Stealth Fighter Sighted
In late December, photos of a new Chinese jet fighter, that looked a lot like the American F-35, began appearing on Chinese web sites. Most of these pictures appeared to be taken with cell phone cameras, from a distance. Chinese Internet censors quickly ordered the photos removed. But it was too late, the pix had gone viral and were all over the place. The long rumored Chinese "J-XX" (or J-20) stealth fighter program was now out in the open.
The North Korean Republican Guard
North Korea has expanded its special operations troops to 200,000 troops over the last five years, an increase of 67 percent. This is apparently an effort to maintain a reliable force of troops as the armed forces, as a whole, declines because of lack of maintenance, new equipment and anything resembling morale. These 200,000 troops have turned into a North Korean "Republican Guard," an army within the army that is more reliable and loyal that the rest of the armed forces.
Islam et Front National, l’impossible débat
Islamophobie – Je l’ai déjà écrit - et je l’écris encore une fois ici - je suis "islamophobe" parce que l’islam - politique et conquérant - est une idéologie rétrograde, sectaire, dangereuse et obscurantiste. Mais je ne suis pas raciste pour autant. Il ne s’agit pas ici d’une quelconque race. Il s’agit ici d’une religion et notamment de son expression politique et idéologique.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Taiwan will not deploy advanced rockets near China
Taiwan has decided not to deploy a new powerful rocket system on outlying islands near China, deeming it unnecessary in the context of fast warming ties with Beijing, local media reported Monday. Taiwan is scheduled to start mass-producing the multiple launch rockets this year after having spent more than a decade researching the system, called Ray Ting 2000 or "Thunder 2000", the Taipei-based China Times said.
WikiLeaks: Iran Can Attack Israel With Less Than 12 Minutes Warning
U.S. diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks reveal that Israel believes it would have 10-12 minutes' warning should Iran launch a rocket attack against the country. The Norwegian daily Aftenposten published a cable Monday from the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv that discusses a Nov 15, 2009 meeting between an American congressional delegation and Israel's military chief.
Is Saudi Arabia Opening Up?
On Jan. 1, 1996, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz became regent and effective ruler of Saudi Arabia. His 15th anniversary this week offers an opportunity to review the kingdom's changes under his leadership and whither it now heads. His is perhaps the most unusual and opaque country on the planet, a place without a public movie theater, where women may not drive, where men sell women's lingerie, where a single-button self-destruct system can perhaps destroy the oil infrastructure, and where rulers spurn even the patina of democracy. In its place, they have developed some highly original and successful mechanisms to keep power.
Chavez must fight guerrillas to avoid internal crisis
Colombian congressmen applaud Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for extraditing an ELN commander, but add he has no choice but to fight Colombian guerrillas in order to avoid an internal crisis.
According to Caracol Radio, several congressmen that make part of the Congress' international committee said Chavez "does well" to commit to improving security in the Colombo-Venezolan border region, but added that the Venezuelan government has little choice, because another collapse in trade between the two countries could cause a social crisis in Venezuela.
According to Caracol Radio, several congressmen that make part of the Congress' international committee said Chavez "does well" to commit to improving security in the Colombo-Venezolan border region, but added that the Venezuelan government has little choice, because another collapse in trade between the two countries could cause a social crisis in Venezuela.
Police Probe Finnish Tank Sales in Croatia
Finnish officials made the statement on Monday, after which the Croatian Ministry of the Interior confirmed that a criminal inquiry was under way. "The police are conducting a criminal inquiry in coordination with the USKOK (Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime) in connection with alleged irregularities in a purchase of armoured vehicles for the Ministry of Defence," the Ministry of the Interior said in a statement. It did not reveal any other details, citing the Criminal Procedure Act.
Monsanto and the Seeds of Evil
This time, Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, about the US State Department’s genetically modified retaliation against France, more missing billions in Afghanistan and shopping frenzies in Britain. In the second half of the show, Max talks to author and blogger, James Howard Kunstler, about shopping stampedes and revolutionary times.
European nations begin seizing private pensions
People’s retirement savings are a convenient source of revenue for governments that don’t want to reduce spending or make privatizations. As most pension schemes in Europe are organised by the state, European ministers of finance have a facilitated access to the savings accumulated there, and it is only logical that they try to get a hold of this money for their own ends. In recent weeks I have noted five such attempts: Three situations concern private personal savings; two others refer to national funds.
Experts Say New Ice Age Will Bring Food and Fuel Shortages
With an Ice Age comes abrupt change, and with change comes death—sometimes death on a massive scale.
More of the world's top scientists in the disciplines of geology, ecology, meteorology, astrophysics, and heliology [Down loadable list] are predicting that the two major cooling cycles are converging—the short term and long term Ice Ages—and Earth has just entered the beginnings of the dangerous cooling.
Both cooling periods are due and both seem to have started just as the sun's about to reach its solar maximum. When the sun goes quiet after 2012, it's expected to stay quiet for at least the next 30 to 50 years.
During that time, the sun will generate significantly less heat and the planets—including Earth—will cool rapidly.
Exploring the myths of Iran's nukes and the hidden realities of Israel's
Tel Aviv has a position of ambiguity when it comes to its nuclear program, although the UK and former Israeli technician Mordechai Vanunu have made it clear that Israel has a large nuclear arsenal. Many are familiar with the reports on Salem-News.com from Eileen Fleming who has traveled to the Mideast seven times, and is the only American who has repeatedly interviewed Vanunu in person. Press TV interviewed American Political Commentator, James Morris, Independent US Journalist Dahr Jamail and British Journalist Richard Millet regarding Israel's nuclear program and the potential dangers it could pose. The following is a rush transcript:
Is the arrest of Mussa Hamada and Basem Omri for allegedly collecting weapons and planning to attack a stadium more propaganda?
As US officials continue to arrest alleged terrorism suspects who never quite get past the 'inert bomb' stage and 'There was never any danger' point, more of this dubious police investigative work is taking place in Israel. Haaretz reports that Israel's Shin Bet security service has arrested two men suspected of plotting to fire rockets at a major sports stadium in the capital on behalf of Hamas. No, I didn't think you would find that surprising.
WikiLeaks: US targets EU over GM crops
The US embassy in Paris advised Washington to start a military-style trade war against any European Union country which opposed genetically modified (GM) crops, newly released WikiLeaks cables show.
In response to moves by France to ban a Monsanto GM corn variety in late 2007, the ambassador, Craig Stapleton, a friend and business partner of former US president George Bush, asked Washington to penalise the EU and particularly countries which did not support the use of GM crops.
In response to moves by France to ban a Monsanto GM corn variety in late 2007, the ambassador, Craig Stapleton, a friend and business partner of former US president George Bush, asked Washington to penalise the EU and particularly countries which did not support the use of GM crops.
China must Kill the Dollar
While the entire world looks on at the despair being seen in places such as Greece and Ireland, many are failing to see what is fast becoming the worst economy in the developed world, America. There is not a single developed nation that is as dependent on another country for survival than the relationship the U.S has with China. In the last year, the US has been calling China a ‘currency manipulator’ – and they are quite right in their estimation, however, were it not for China manipulating the Yuan, then the U.S Dollar would have failed a long time ago.
George Soros: The United States Must Stop Resisting The Orderly Decline Of The Dollar, The Coming Global Currency And The New World Order
In the video you are about to see, George Soros talks about “the creation of a New World Order”, he discusses the need for a “managed decline” of the U.S. dollar and he talks at length of the global need for a true world currency. So just who is George Soros? Well, he is a billionaire “philanthropist” who came to be known as “the Man Who Broke the Bank of England” when he raked in a staggering one billion dollars during the 1992 “Black Wednesday” currency crisis. These days Soros is most famous for being perhaps the most “politically active” (at least openly) billionaire in the world.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Belgique : La Défense réduit ses coûts de personnel pour se rééquiper
Le ministère de la Défense a entamé l’année 2011 avec plus de 36.200 personnes, mais avec l’objectif de la terminer avec 34.000 fonctions, conformément au "plan De Crem", qui vise à réduire les dépenses en personnel.
La VoIP dans le collimateur des autorités chinoises
Les services comme Skype sont désormais illégaux dans le pays. Officiellement, cette interdiction a pour objectif de préserver les intérêts économiques des opérateurs nationaux. Visiblement, la protection de la liberté de communiquer ne fait pas partie des bonnes résolutions des autorités chinoises pour 2011. Après avoir imposé une censure sur les résultats du moteur de recherche Google, fermé des milliers de sites jugés pornographiques, Pékin s’apprête aujourd’hui à bannir les services de VoIP non chinois.
Washington et Berlin développent des satellites espions, affirme WikiLeaks
Les Etats-Unis et l’Allemagne développent conjointement et secrètement, sous couvert d’activités commerciales, de nouveaux satellites espions malgré de vives oppositions françaises, selon des câbles diplomatiques obtenus par WikiLeaks et publiés lundi par le journal norvégien Aftenposten.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Cuchillo muerto: Dos mandados
Toda Colombia sabe que el reinsertado León Valencia reemplazó a Alfredo Rangel en sus análisis sobre conflicto armado colombiano, porque maquilla mejor que Rangel los datos que le suministra la Inteligencia Militar y a menor precio en dólares, los presenta como “neutrales”, objetivos y creíbles.
2011 será el año de la batalla y victoria popular
El Presidente de la República, Hugo Chávez destacó este domingo que el 2011, año Bicentenario, será el año de la batalla y la victoria popular. La aseveración es parte de la temática abordada por el Jefe de Estado en su columna domical Las Líneas de Chávez. “Son inicuas las pretensiones de las fuerzas contrarrevolucionarias: no van a impedir la marcha de nuestro pueblo hacia el socialismo. No les vamos a permitir que conviertan al país en un caos: pido a Dios que ningún compatriota se deje llevar por los tambores de la guerra de la extrema derecha”, escribió el Presidente Chávez.
The Collapsing Hegemony of the West
In its path towards becoming a regional and international superpower, Iran is achieving remarkable breakthroughs in science and technology which have started to flabbergast the rivals around the world, from the United States as a self-proclaimed absolute superpower in economy and science to the neighboring countries in the Persian Gulf region which are years from reaching self-sufficiency in meeting their domestic needs.
Many Arab officials have close CIA links: Assange
Top officials in several Arab countries have close links with the CIA, and many officials keep visiting US embassies in their respective countries voluntarily to establish links with this key US intelligence agency, says Julian Assange, founder of the whistle-blowing website, WikiLeaks. “These officials are spies for the US in their countries,” Assange told Al Jazeera Arabic channel in an interview yesterday.
Hungary to Regulate All Media
Hungary will begin regulating all media directed at or published in Hungary from Saturday, including Internet news portals and web-based publications, under a controversial media law published Friday.
The law will require the news media to provide a "balanced view" in its coverage and allow people to initiate a probe at the media authority into coverage if they regard it as unbalanced. The state may impose fines for "unbalanced" or "offensive" reporting, and shut down media organizations.
The law will require the news media to provide a "balanced view" in its coverage and allow people to initiate a probe at the media authority into coverage if they regard it as unbalanced. The state may impose fines for "unbalanced" or "offensive" reporting, and shut down media organizations.
Euro has 1-in-5 chance of lasting decade: UK think-tank
The Center for Economics and Business Research said Spain and Italy would have to refinance over 400 billion euros ($530 billion) of bonds in the spring, potentially sparking a fresh crisis within the 16-nation euro area.
Ejército Zapatista no conmemora alzamiento por estar en alerta contra el crimen organizado
El Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN) decidió por segundo año consecutivo no celebrar este 1 de enero en Chiapas (sureste de México) el aniversario de su levantamiento armado por declararse en alerta para evitar incursiones del crimen organizado, divulgó la AFP.
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