Sunday, February 28, 2010
EU tobacco subsidies
An article from November 2008 states that the EU gives about $416 million in subsidies to EU tobacco growers.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Israel's goods produced in the OPT not Israeli
The EU's highest court ruled that goods produced by Israel in the OPT are not Israeli, and as such EU countries may levy import duties on those goods (for goods coming from Israel proper, the goods benefit from a duty free access thanks to an EU-Israel trade treaty).
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Saudia Arabia pressures Pakistan to collaborate with US
Good article saying that Saudi Arabia played an important role in convincing Pakistan's ISI to collaborate more with the US to capture the recent string of Taliban leaders. But nevertheless some ISI elements still want to preserve a more friendly relationship with the Taliban.
Indefinite detention at Gitmo
A federal judge Wednesday ruled that the Pentagon can continue to hold indefinitely at Guantanamo two Yemeni captives whom the Bush administration cleared for release two years ago.
The decisions bring to 11 the number of such cases that the government has won. In 32 other cases, judges have ruled that the Pentagon did not have sufficient evidence to hold the prisoners and have ordered that the detainees be released. Four of those are still at Guantanamo.
CIA raids inside Pakistan
NYT article describing the ISI-CIA relationship. The two have conducted many joint raids in cities in Pakistan lately, in addition to the drone strikes and operations in the tribal areas.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Jundallah
Article on the formation of Jundallah, saying that up to 9-11 it was supported by Pakistan's ISI, and then when 9-11 happened, due to US pressure on ISI to reduce support for the Taliban and other groups, Jundallah then saw its ISI support dry up and then it established new links with Al Qaeda and anti-Shiite groups in Pakistan.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Yoo and Bybee
Article about the impunity given to John Yoo and Jay Bybee. The Justice Department refused to revoke their license.
And here a good summary piece.
And here a good summary piece.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
CIA drugs Peru
In 2001 a plane carrying Americans in Peru was shot down and the CIA was involved, but still has not been held accountable.
Iraq unions
Article about Iraqi labor unions, which have regained strength since the Saddam regime has gone in 2003.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Juan Cole on neo cons and Israel and Middle East
An earlier article of Juan Cole on the Neo-cons' strategy in the Middle East.
Militarization of aid in Afghanistan
The UN and humanitarian agencies criticized NATO's strategy of bringing aid and reconstruction to Afghanistan. They said that when the military gets involved in aid it is innefficient and counterproductive and puts the lives of civilians at risk.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
World Arms trade
Frida Berrigan has a good article on the global arms trade, which is now dominated at 70% by the US, a drastic change from Cold War days when the USSR, China, France and the UK also were important players in % terms.
In particular:
the Obama administration’s new 2010/2011 budget allocates $6 billion in weaponry for Afghan Security Forces. The Afghans will actually get those weapons for free, but U.S. weapons makers will make real money delivering them at taxpayers’ expense.
A more detailed report is available here.
In particular:
the Obama administration’s new 2010/2011 budget allocates $6 billion in weaponry for Afghan Security Forces. The Afghans will actually get those weapons for free, but U.S. weapons makers will make real money delivering them at taxpayers’ expense.
A more detailed report is available here.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
British intelligence complicit in torture
Moazzem Begg, who hwas also a detainee, says that British agents were there at all stages of his detention:
I remember very well when I was held – not just in Guantánamo, but also in Bagram and Kandahar – that British intelligence services were present at every leg of that journey. I knew one of them from the UK because he'd visited my house in Birmingham, so we already knew each other when I saw him again at Kandahar and Bagram. It's well-known, especially to all the Guantánamo prisoners, that the British intelligence services were present. The evidence is well-corroborated.
I remember very well when I was held – not just in Guantánamo, but also in Bagram and Kandahar – that British intelligence services were present at every leg of that journey. I knew one of them from the UK because he'd visited my house in Birmingham, so we already knew each other when I saw him again at Kandahar and Bagram. It's well-known, especially to all the Guantánamo prisoners, that the British intelligence services were present. The evidence is well-corroborated.
Binyam Mohamed
Good article on Binyam Mohamed. In addition to suing the British, he is part of a lawsuit in the US against Jeppesen DataPlan, a Boeing subsidiary that the suers say helped the CIA in their rendition flights. But Obama has sought to dismiss that lawsuit, claiming the "state secrets privilege".
Also, Obama is continuing to fight lawsuits questionoing wiretapping.
Also, Obama is continuing to fight lawsuits questionoing wiretapping.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Taliban opposed bin Laden pre 9-11
The Taliban was reluctant to help bin Laden in his terrorism activities against the US, in fact they tried to kick him out of Afghanistan.
Obama to increase funding for nuclear weapons
Very good article saying that although Obama gave vague speeches about nuclear disarmament, in fact he's increasing funding for nuclear weapons.
Compared with the forces deployed as of 2009, the effect of the START follow-on appears to be a reduction of Russian deployed strategic warheads by approximately 40 percent, and a U.S. reduction of roughly 24 percent. The estimated effect on the total stockpile of either country is more modest: 14 percent fewer warheads for Russia and 10 percent for the United States. But that assumes the warheads cut by the START follow-on treaty would be retired rather than placed in the reserve, something the agreement does not require. The treaty itself requires no change in the size of the total stockpiles.
The reduction to 500-1,100 strategic delivery vehicles represents a significant reduction from the START ceiling of 1,600, at least on paper. In reality, however, the upper limit exceeds what either country currently deploys, and the lower level exceeds what Russia is expected to deploy by 2017 anyway. Therefore, a 500-1,100 limit doesn’t force either country to make changes to its nuclear structure but essentially follows current deployment plans.
The United States currently deploys approximately 798 strategic delivery vehicles; Russia approximately 620. But many of the Russian systems are being retired and not being replaced on a one-for-one basis so the entire force could shrink to less than 400 strategic delivery vehicles by 2016. To put in perspective; that would be less than the United States deploys in its ICBM force alone.
Bottom line:
Even when the new treaty has been implemented in seven years, the two countries will still possess more than 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons, each with over 20 times more weapons than the next-largest nuclear power: China.
Indeed on February 1, the Obama administration delivered a budget request calling for a full 10% increase in nuclear weapons spending next year, to be followed by further increases in subsequent years. These increases, if enacted, would bring the recent six-year period of flat and declining nuclear weapons budgets to an abrupt end. Not since 2005 has Congress approved such a large nuclear weapons budget.
The request proposes major upgrades to certain bombs as well as the design, and ultimately production, of a new ballistic missile warhead. Warhead programs are increased almost across the board, with the notable exception of dismantlement, which is set to decline dramatically. A continued scientific push to develop simulations and experiments to partially replace nuclear testing is evident.
All these initiatives and others are embedded in an overall military budget bigger than any since the 1940s that includes renewed funding for the development of advanced delivery vehicles, cruise missiles, and plenty of money for nuclear deployments.
Compared with the forces deployed as of 2009, the effect of the START follow-on appears to be a reduction of Russian deployed strategic warheads by approximately 40 percent, and a U.S. reduction of roughly 24 percent. The estimated effect on the total stockpile of either country is more modest: 14 percent fewer warheads for Russia and 10 percent for the United States. But that assumes the warheads cut by the START follow-on treaty would be retired rather than placed in the reserve, something the agreement does not require. The treaty itself requires no change in the size of the total stockpiles.
The reduction to 500-1,100 strategic delivery vehicles represents a significant reduction from the START ceiling of 1,600, at least on paper. In reality, however, the upper limit exceeds what either country currently deploys, and the lower level exceeds what Russia is expected to deploy by 2017 anyway. Therefore, a 500-1,100 limit doesn’t force either country to make changes to its nuclear structure but essentially follows current deployment plans.
The United States currently deploys approximately 798 strategic delivery vehicles; Russia approximately 620. But many of the Russian systems are being retired and not being replaced on a one-for-one basis so the entire force could shrink to less than 400 strategic delivery vehicles by 2016. To put in perspective; that would be less than the United States deploys in its ICBM force alone.
Bottom line:
Even when the new treaty has been implemented in seven years, the two countries will still possess more than 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons, each with over 20 times more weapons than the next-largest nuclear power: China.
Afghan impunity law
The Afghan government has implemented an impunity law that it had passed in 2007 and which had been in limbo since then. The law is bad as it gives impunity to all warlords and human rights abusers, including the Taliban. Analysts say that they've implemented it now to encourage Taliban to join the reconciliation process, promising them impunity if they lay down arms.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Binyam Mohamed
Binyam Mohamed was tortured by the US and MI5, the British intelligence service, was complicit in it, a fact that Miliband had tried hard to conceal.
There has been previous discoveries of British intelligence involvement in torture/rendition.
An interesting article giving historical legal context is here.
And one from Counterpunch.
There has been previous discoveries of British intelligence involvement in torture/rendition.
An interesting article giving historical legal context is here.
And one from Counterpunch.
Iran nuclear and Israel trade
Sahimi questions whether Iran can indeed produce the 20% uranium bars for its medical isotopes.
This article also says similar things.
And Israel buys some pistachios from Iran through Turkey.
The Obama administration (Treasury Dept) has also enacted additional sanctions on Iran.
And a piece about Iran and the SCO saying that Russia would like to see Iran join the SCO but China is reluctant because it doesn't want to antagonize the West.
This article also says similar things.
And Israel buys some pistachios from Iran through Turkey.
The Obama administration (Treasury Dept) has also enacted additional sanctions on Iran.
And a piece about Iran and the SCO saying that Russia would like to see Iran join the SCO but China is reluctant because it doesn't want to antagonize the West.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
400 foreign bases in Afghanistan, 700 in total
A spokesman for the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) tells TomDispatch that there are, at present, nearly 400 U.S. and coalition bases in Afghanistan, including camps, forward operating bases, and combat outposts. In addition, there are at least 300 Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP) bases, most of them built, maintained, or supported by the U.S. A small number of the coalition sites are mega-bases like Kandahar Airfield, which boasts one of the busiest runways in the world, and Bagram Air Base, a former Soviet facility that received a makeover, complete with Burger King and Popeyes outlets, and now serves more than 20,000 U.S. troops, in addition to thousands of coalition forces and civilian contractors.
"Currently we have over $3 billion worth of work going on in Afghanistan," says Col. Wilson, "and probably by the summer, when the dust settles from all the uplift, we’ll have about $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion worth of that [in the South]." By comparison, between 2002 and 2008, the Army Corps of Engineers spent more than $4.5 billion on construction projects, most of it base-building, in Afghanistan.
As of August 2009 there were about 300 US bases in Iraq.
Counting the remaining bases in Iraq – as many as 50 are slated to be operating after President Barack Obama’s Aug. 31, 2010, deadline to remove all U.S. "combat troops" from the country – and those in Afghanistan, as well as black sites like al-Udeid, the total number of U.S. bases overseas now must significantly exceed 1,000. Just exactly how many U.S. military bases (and allied facilities used by U.S. forces) are scattered across the globe may never be publicly known. What we do know – from the experience of bases in Germany, Italy, Japan, and South Korea – is that, once built, they have a tendency toward permanency that a cessation of hostilities, or even outright peace, has a way of not altering.
"Currently we have over $3 billion worth of work going on in Afghanistan," says Col. Wilson, "and probably by the summer, when the dust settles from all the uplift, we’ll have about $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion worth of that [in the South]." By comparison, between 2002 and 2008, the Army Corps of Engineers spent more than $4.5 billion on construction projects, most of it base-building, in Afghanistan.
As of August 2009 there were about 300 US bases in Iraq.
Counting the remaining bases in Iraq – as many as 50 are slated to be operating after President Barack Obama’s Aug. 31, 2010, deadline to remove all U.S. "combat troops" from the country – and those in Afghanistan, as well as black sites like al-Udeid, the total number of U.S. bases overseas now must significantly exceed 1,000. Just exactly how many U.S. military bases (and allied facilities used by U.S. forces) are scattered across the globe may never be publicly known. What we do know – from the experience of bases in Germany, Italy, Japan, and South Korea – is that, once built, they have a tendency toward permanency that a cessation of hostilities, or even outright peace, has a way of not altering.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Guantanamo recidivism
The US government has made a number of statements that many of those released from Gitmo are recidivists who return to the fight against the US. Maybe for a few of them that's true, but the statements are propaganda as they have no basis in fact.
Fro example, Feinstein said that 28 released Yemenis returned to the fight in Yemen--but in fact only 16 Yemeni prisoners were released from Guantánamo between 2004 and November 2009, and only one of these men allegedly became involved in terrorism.
Seton Hall has conducted analyses debunking those claims.
Fro example, Feinstein said that 28 released Yemenis returned to the fight in Yemen--but in fact only 16 Yemeni prisoners were released from Guantánamo between 2004 and November 2009, and only one of these men allegedly became involved in terrorism.
Seton Hall has conducted analyses debunking those claims.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Iran nuclear
Afrasiabi on Iran's successive announcement that it could accept the nuclear swap deal, but then just after this announcing that it would go ahead with enriching its uranium to 20% for medical use.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Afghanistan drugs
As the price of the opium crop has fallen, local businessmen in Helmand are now increasing their production of heroin.
An important precursor, acetic anhydride, is brought in from Iran and Pakistan, a US ally.
An important precursor, acetic anhydride, is brought in from Iran and Pakistan, a US ally.
Iran elections poll
A very interesting study of public opinion in Iran is here.
PIPA says that their survey of polls of Iranian opinion does not indicate that Iranians see Ahmadinejad as illegitimate, and that Iranians are not significantly feeling ready for revolution, among other things.
The full report is here.
See also more details (datasets) here.
PIPA says that their survey of polls of Iranian opinion does not indicate that Iranians see Ahmadinejad as illegitimate, and that Iranians are not significantly feeling ready for revolution, among other things.
The full report is here.
See also more details (datasets) here.
Japan stops assistance to Afghan mission
Japan has stopped refueling services to troops going to Afghanistan.
Women Afghanistan
Sahar Saba says that when a few Taliban will probably join the Karzai government, wooed by the US, the price will be to further Islamize the government.
Also:
When two brave women activists, risking their lives, filmed Zarmina’s execution at Kabul’s stadium, no US channel was ready to show this footage. The footage showing a burqa-clad Zarmina, squatting in the middle of the stadium, while being fired at point-blank by a Talib, was considered too shocking to be aired to the US public. However, it was only after September 11 that the Revolutionary Afghan Women Association (RAWA) — whose members had filmed this horrible incident to alarm the world regarding Afghan women’s plight — started getting telephone calls from US channels. Every channel now wanted to show Zarmina’s execution. Ahead of the US invasion, it was no longer too ugly to air for a sensitive US audience.
Also:
When two brave women activists, risking their lives, filmed Zarmina’s execution at Kabul’s stadium, no US channel was ready to show this footage. The footage showing a burqa-clad Zarmina, squatting in the middle of the stadium, while being fired at point-blank by a Talib, was considered too shocking to be aired to the US public. However, it was only after September 11 that the Revolutionary Afghan Women Association (RAWA) — whose members had filmed this horrible incident to alarm the world regarding Afghan women’s plight — started getting telephone calls from US channels. Every channel now wanted to show Zarmina’s execution. Ahead of the US invasion, it was no longer too ugly to air for a sensitive US audience.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Honduras and Haiti
Weisbrot on Honduras and Haiti.
He talks about their importance to US foreign policy and the demonstration effect:
In October of 1970, President Richard Nixon was cursing in the Oval Office about the Social Democratic President of Chile, Salvador Allende. "That son of a bitch!" said Richard Nixon on October 15, 1970. "That son of a bitch Allende – we're going to smash him." A few weeks later he explained why:
“The main concern in Chile is that [Allende] can consolidate himself, and the picture projected to the world will be his success .... If we let the potential leaders in South America think they can move like Chile and have it both ways, we will be in trouble ...”
He talks about their importance to US foreign policy and the demonstration effect:
In October of 1970, President Richard Nixon was cursing in the Oval Office about the Social Democratic President of Chile, Salvador Allende. "That son of a bitch!" said Richard Nixon on October 15, 1970. "That son of a bitch Allende – we're going to smash him." A few weeks later he explained why:
“The main concern in Chile is that [Allende] can consolidate himself, and the picture projected to the world will be his success .... If we let the potential leaders in South America think they can move like Chile and have it both ways, we will be in trouble ...”
Friday, February 5, 2010
Obama reserves rights to assassinate Americans
Glenn Greenwald has a post on the Obama administration's declared policy that they have a right to assassinate American citizens.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Shlaim on Gaza and Blair
Avi Shlaim says Tony Blair hasn't done anything to help Gazans one year after the attack.
Iraq oil and US
Article at TomDispatch on the US policy on oil in Iraq since the invasion, and the local resistance to such plans.
Monday, February 1, 2010
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