Middle East - Brief Overview | Obama 7 Years, 7 Countries Bombed

Barack Obama: The Nobel Peace Prize Winner Who Bombed Seven Countries U.S. jets are bombing Syria again this month, part of an overall pattern of military expansion during the Obama administration that’s seen military involvement in dozens of conflicts. As the United States renews a bombing campaign against ISIS forces in Syria, it seems like America’s penchant for waging war knows no bounds. During the first seven years of Barack Obama’s presidency, the U.S. bombed seven countries while supporting other destabilizing military actions throughout the Middle East. Here’s a look at these seven countries and the effects of bombing: Afghanistan — Despite the announced “end” of the Afghanistan War, significant U.S. military presence in Afghanistan remains. Drones are a frequent presence in Afghan skies. One strike earlier this month killed 12 people, according to Iran’s PressTV. Iraq — The Obama administration has conducted over 5,000 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in just the past year, David Lerman reported for Bloomberg Business. Despite ongoing U.S. military involvement ,terrorism continues to be a deadly presence in Iraq’s cities. Libya — While the European Union and its allies carried out many of the airstrikes during Libya’s civil war, the U.S. was instrumental in destabilizing that country through both military aid and direct support, especially during the lead up to Gen. Moammar Gadhafi’s overthrow in 2011. Now ISIS is also gaining a stronghold here and the country has been described as a failed state. Pakistan — Drone strikes are also frequent in Pakistan, where the Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimated that only 4 percent of the victims could be identified as al-Qaida members. Although drone strikes on Pakistan began under George W. Bush, their frequency has dramatically increased under Obama, RT reported last year.  Somalia — Over 100 U.S. troops have been stationed in Somalia since 2007, Reuters reported last year. In September, the U.S. again carried out airstrikes there, apparently killing Ahmed Abdi Godane, leader of the extremist group Al-Shabaab, which the U.S. claimed was allying with al-Qaida.  Syria — The U.S. renewed its bombing campaign against ISIS in Syria earlier this month, with U.S. war planes taking off from bases in Turkey. Airstrikes were also used in a failed attempt to defend “Division 30,” the failed American attempt to train so-called “moderate” Syrian rebels.  Yemen — U.S. cables revealed by WikiLeaks show that Yemeni officials have allowed airstrikes, which began under George W. Bush, to continue under the Obama administration. RT reported last year: “US bombing raids in Yemen are almost solely carried out by drones and they have been increasing in intensity in recent years. … A report by Human Rights Watch in 2013 analyzed six airstrikes in Yemen carried out since 2009. The organization found that out of the 82 people who died in the airstrikes, 57 were civilians. In all, the U.S. has bombed 14 predominantly Muslim countries since 1980. The death toll from all modern wars in the Middle East may be as high as 4 million dead Muslims and Arabs. Repeated military campaigns have destabilized the Middle East, giving rise to terror groups like ISIS, allowing for sectarianism to blossom, and necessitating further bombing, in what Ron Fullwood, writing for MyMPN, called a “perpetual protection racket.” 2015-08-19 Source http://www.mintpressnews.com/barack-obama-the-nobel-peace-prize-winner-whos-bombed-7-countries/208748/ VIA http://www.global-politics.eu/democraticus/2015/08/25/barack-obama-the-nobel-peace-prize-winner-who-bombed-seven-countries/ ---------------------- ꕤ  ---------------------- COMMENT Thought this was a good quickie overview of military action in the Middle East. I've not read the linked articles.  Might have to skim some of the articles, as I'm not at all familiar with what's going on. Sounds like drone strikes kill more civilians than they do terrorist targets. A hundred troops in Somalia doesn't seem like much. Syria's down for a regime change.  The West, Israel, and the US don't like Assad for some reason.  He's probably Iran and Russia friendly. The US and the West have already demolished Libya (in much the same way they're probably planning to demolish Syria), and the result is more extremists - which is supposed to help destabilise and weaken Syria, I think. Pakistan is 'terrorist central' (well, that's my impression).  Pakistan receives an ENORMOUS amount of military and other aid from the US, and the aid must come with US strings attacked - drones is probably part of the package.  There's a massive amount of resistance in Afghanistan - something's getting blown up all the time.  Five thousand airstrikes in Iraq, in a year, is huge.

Foreign Service Updates

Bahrain UK Ambassador to Bahrain Ian Lindsay - end tenure Bahrain's HR achievements highlighted Gulf market important to UK http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/678428 World Report 2015: Bahrain https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/bahrain UK ambassador needs to maybe take a look at this report. Ukraine / Canada Father Raymond J. de Souza Roman Catholic priest of Archdiocese of Kingston, Ont. #Canada writes pro US puppet Ukraine propaganda #Ukraine - Goebbels would be proud: "...national journey is from lies to truth" Cookie Nuland's boy PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Quebec last week free trade agreement with Canada / push toward privatization and deregulation http://www.thewhig.com/2015/07/22/ukraine-also-at-war-with-corruption-from-within Canada embassy in Ukraine (amb. Roman Waschuk) was 'safe house' for #Ukraine coup protesters 2014 Bob Fowler Canada diplo under 3 govts says Canada playing w. fire / disruptive influence *Harper govt:  all mouth and no brain Ukraine:  appearance that Canada was an active participant in 2014 regime change.   http://ipolitics.ca/2015/07/13/former-diplomat-says-canada-should-scale-back-anti-russian-rhetoric/ Somalia Somalia & AU forces capture key militant stronghold / al Shabab lost all key towns, but control rural http://horseedmedia.net/2015/07/22/somalia-and-au-forces-capture-key-militant-stronghold/ Bolivia / Germany #Bolivia #LatAm #Merkel German embassy - explosion during protests /  miners protesting their working conditions http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/german-embassy-in-bolivia-grazed-by-explosion-during-protests_403976.html

SWEDEN - Nordic Battle Group 15 - Carl Bildt Blog

CARL BILDT BLOG [GOOGLE TRANSLATION - Original Swedish] What happens to NBG15? Is our preparedness enough? [Referring to Nordic Battle Group 15] ROM: Since the beginning again stand a Nordic Battlegroup under Swedish leadership ready for the efforts that the EU could decide as part of its common foreign and security policy. [Take this says:  a Nordic Battle Group is on standby, under Swedish leadership or command, waiting for the EU say-so, to take part in 'foreign & security policy.'] It was in 1999, after the Kosovo war experiences, as the EU summit in Helsinki decided to extend its also military facilities, and in June 2004 there were more officially precisely these battle groups of battalion size that should be in constant readiness.  [By 2004, battalion sized battle groups were on constant readiness, I gather.] As the EU had already in June 2003 in the so-called Operation Artemis conducted a successful military operation in the Congo to assist the UN in conjunction with the world organization with its little slower way of working would strengthen its peace efforts in the country. And Operation Artemis was also something of a baptism of fire for the Swedish Special Forces who participated in it, and whose efforts came to be valued significantly high. The idea has since been to the ever shall be two battle groups ready for action at short notice. And we had a Nordic battle deployable later than 2011. However, it is so stridssgrupperna as such never been deployed, and therefore has doubts about the concept has gradually increased. Not inconsiderable resources are used to equip, train and keep them in readiness in the various countries. Opportunities to use them has not been lacking. In the last year, suddenly became current with an EU military operation in the Central African Republic to prevent what very well could have led to an outright genocide, I belonged to those who argued that the EU's battle group would be deployed. That did not work. The reasons were a bit mixed. The main responsibility for the battle which then stood in readiness low of Greece, and Athens was the interest to say the least weak. But equally important was that the man in Paris clearly preferred to put together something that was indeed the EU, but that clearly was under French command.  [  (1) Greece not on-board; (2) general lack of enthusiasm (3) Frenchies wanted to be commanders of forces.] And the reason for that was that the course was about to reinforce and complement the French national strength which of course made the first rapid intervention in the country. [Maybe this says, French wanted to take the lead b/c the French  previously led a rapid response intervention in the African country in question.] For me - then foreign minister, and fairly active in the discussion on the issue of ministerial circuit - this was unfortunately a sign that the battle groups of days maybe numbered.  [No idea.  Rotation based leadership of these groups was discussed?] The situation in the Central African Republic was so close to the situations battle groups had been set up for that one could imagine:-threatening genocide, appeal from the UN, the need for rapid and limited effort. But that did not happen. After considerable difficulties did you design the much more limited strength EUFOR RCA which now has a mandate that extends until March of this year.  [EUFOR RCA -- ie European Union Force Republic of Central Africa -- the weaker force was deployed.  Fully operational @ 700 troops in mid 2014.  Bet CB was spewing it wasn't something more grand, with him at the helm?] Now, as our well trained and well equipped Nordic Battle Group in readiness for the next six months - 2,400 people from seven different countries.  [Now they've got the NBG @ 2,400 on standby & CB is just hanging for them to be deployed somewhere.] If it will be deployed, I think the concept of EU battlegroups survive. If it does not, I think it will fade away.  [Ooh, if there isn't a deployment, EU battle groups are kaput.] The speculation in the Irish press - Ireland is also part of the workforce - is spoken about possible interventions in Southern Sudan and Mali. I have not always easy to see, although nothing can be ruled out. The situation in Southern Sudan is catastrophic, and the characters right now tends to indicate that it will be worse, but a large UN force is already in place. [Must have resources.] And if the UN force in Mali suffer from challenges it fails, I think rather in other efforts to deal with the situation. Personally, I would probably rather see an option for operation in Libya. The situation there deteriorates continuously, and although the United Nations through its special envoy Bernardino Leon makes meritorious efforts to reach a political solution success has so far been limited.  Would begin to achieve success, it is well not entirely inconceivable that there could be a need for a force that can quickly secure some key installations or functions. Such a task would battle to have the potential to solve. Obviously there are also other situations that could arise - including a new collapse in the Central African Republic. To secure parts of the "line of contact" between the separatist Russian groups in eastern Ukraine and the rest of the Ukraine would be such, but the likelihood that the EU could collect himself to such a decision, I believe can best be described as non-existent.  [If sh*t hits the fan in Ukraine, CB doesn't think the EU will have its sh*t together so as to reach an immediate/quick enough decision to deploy the rapid response play-group.  Or so it would appear.  But it could be a trick.  Maybe they're ready to pounce.  ] In an effort is necessary decision by EU foreign ministers, and it requires no object. Thereafter, rapid decisions of the respective countries, and in Sweden, it is then that the government proposes the parliament a decision by a rapid procedure which it developed a model. How the Swedish government would react in a situation where the EU wanted a stake of battle, no one knows today, but first, we know that the Greens are almost always been opposed to thoughts like these, and secondly, we know that the money that was previously reserved for a possible effort is disappearing in other directions. In some places there are those who say that the investment in battle taking resources and energy from the work of national defense, and that it is now high time to saddle up on. I do not agree with. Let us not forget that the defense resolutions 2000 and 2004 were written off almost entirely on national defense task. The work of the battle groups was then an important way to ensure quality development in the Defence Forces in association with international collaboration. Without this work, we had been in a significantly worse position today. [Purpose of battle groups ('quality developement' & 'collaboration' ... sold as a domestic defence force investment (how clever); how financial sleight of hand, of sorts, does the trick -- ie a question of allocation, I guess.] And although the national defense tasks now - and rightly so! - Come into sharper focus, Sweden should not abdicate when it comes to international peace and stabilitertsinsatser.  [Hahaha ... it's not about peace & stability; it's about neo-con agenda on a global scale.] We are left with a small part in NATO's training mission in Afghanistan, are included in the EU's training efforts in Somalia and Mali, is now entering the demanding UN mission in Mali and will now once again be featured in the EU naval mission in the Indian Ocean. And the world around Europe's borders have hardly been peaceful and stable in recent years. That the EU would dispose of the instrument battle groups IS would hardly responsibly. But the coming months may become decisive. Source:  https://carlbildt.wordpress.com/2015/01/04/vad-hander-med-nbg15-ar-var-beredskap-nog/ -------------------------------------------------- COMMENT Pressed for time.  No sleep.  Massive on-line binge. Might come back to this.  Been good reading and seeing CB's views, although a pain having to make out the wonky Google translation. Some good information there about Swedish domestic scenario and the EU nations relations, I guess. Will come back to this.  Excuse any typos.  Rushed.

UNITED KINDOM - DAVID CAMERON - UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

UNITED KINGDOM DAVID CAMERON - 'WAR ON TERROR' #UK >>> David Cameron's 'war on terror' a cynical right-wing nationalist agenda for election purposes? / stop/war/org/uk >> Bombing raids increase hatred of West >> all x3 #UK interventions ended in a disaster >>> http://stopwar.org.uk/images/documents/why%20we%20shouldnt%20bomb%20A4%20StW.pdf … DAVID CAMERON - UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY  VIDEO  Source http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=IuwOfQI8YA8  David Cameron UN Speech United Nations David Cameron drags communism into the mix & claims communism wasn't 'defeated'   [by force, but]  by showing ALTERNATIVES .. sings praises free market >CAMERON: showing .. economic freedom, democracy, the rule of law; these things could build a better society & a BETTER WORLD >>> Oh, really, Dave? Dave's gonna show the jihadists a 'better world' -- like he showed communists -- & all will be well? Needs to see a DIFFERENT, BETTER, more OPEN, DEMOCRATIC path ... Dave says while undermining FREEDOM & DEMOCRACY "20thC. taught us the vital role of representative & accountable governments," says #Cameron, who holds #Assange POL. PRISONER / NO CHARGE! >Trouble is, #Assange shone light on that 'accountable' govt. David Cameron & #USA aren't into transparency or accountability >> Hypocrites! "Not every country can move at the same speed .." To what? Defy international law w/in plain sight? #Assange #UK >>> Cameron's bit about 'autocratic & unrepresentative government' sounds rather familiar ...  #UK "Governments that govern for only some of their people cause deep resentment" [Dave Cameron] -- Sounds a lot like the West, then. "Our enemy's enemy is not our friend; it is another enemy" - Cameron >> So how is #Syria the 'enemy', minding it's own business in M-East? He decrees a 'transition' for #Syria -- like Lord Almighty has spoken .. & a Balkan love-in new govt solution for Iraq. >> The West was bent on destroying Yugoslavia, but now is creating 'Yugoslavia' in #Iraq -- how's that gonna work, then? >> Now it's #Assad's bias & brutality that's the extremist catalyst ... And not what the West did in Iraq? Oh, sure, Dave. >> Pompous git Cameron declares: "#Syria needs what #Iraq needs ... " -- hey, he needs 2 find DOSSIER & release #Assange LOL #Syria - Cameron using UN platform to declare that he is willing to make an alliance to overthrow #Assad (2 take fight to ISIL excuse) – LOL >> Cameron's making a perverse declaration of WAR on #Syria, as I see it .. in the #UN .. & nobody pulls him up? The German delegation began shifting uncomfortably, so maybe they don't agree with Cameron's New World Order manifesto LOL #Iran -- Now Cameron's using the UN platform to tell IRAN it: NEEDS TO CHANGE! Somebody needs to laugh in his face. Preposterous. >> The Iran guy just took notes. I'd have heckled Dave. #UK - here we go .. Dave Cameron introducing NEW POWERS ... "stronger locational constraints on those in UK who pose a risk" >> Dave Cameron selling MILITARY .. as HUMANITARIAN efforts .. Middle-East & Africa. But says 'no boots'. Make up your mind! Bull. As if you can 'build capabilities', dispense aid or etc w/out forces on ground. Boots on ground INEVITABLE. >> Can someone tell me which war was EVER won without combat troops on the ground? Name a single one. #UK >> expect engagement of troops in some capacity in: NIGERIA, SOMALIA, LIBYA & YEMEN + IRAQ + SYRIA, no doubt. #UK - Cameron selling WAR with 'comprehensive' coalition / incl. Arab 'strategy': Political, Diplomatic, Humanitarian + MILITARY components >>> Gee, it almost sounds like a corporate take-over .. bit of white collar business in a free market ... except the MILITARY The West sets up a govt in #Iraq ... then Dave Cameron says @ UN .. we have request from Iraqi govt to support military action against ISIL [I'm mixing up Iraq with Afghanistan here -- it's Afghanistan that the govt has been messed around with more recently.  Previously in Iraq it was set up (by CIA, I think) and eventually deposed (if I have that straight)] >> Hello .... Dave then tells us they've got a clear basis in INTERNATIONAL LAW for 'action' (ie WAR) .. Coast is clear!!! >> Dave Cameron's shown us they're really not that fussed about international law: POLITICAL PRISONER #ASSANGE an example #UK "We have a need to act in our own national interest to protect our people & our society" [David Cameron] - What, in #Iraq -- in #Syria ? >> 'protect our people & our society' my ass: it's to protect hidden corporate interests, I'm guessing. COMMENT The above is just my take on the video as I saw it at the time. Tend to take a cynical view of political speeches. Who would have thought listening to David Cameron could provide so much entertainment? Not sure what to think about any of this.  One minute I'm inclined to blow away the hysteria about the Middle East and the next, I'll come across some gruesome photo in social media of someone holding up a severed head ... which kind of kills the whole chilled out about the Middle East thing.

TURKEY & OTHERS GAOL JOURNALISTS

Turkey   By AFP 6:04PM BST 08 Aug 2014 Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister, faced a new outcry on Friday over his attitude to the media and women after he branded a prominent female journalist a "shameless woman" and told her "to know your place". Just ahead of Sunday's presidential election which he is clear favourite to win, Erdogan attacked Amberin Zaman, who writes for the Economist and the Turkish daily Taraf, over comments she made in a television debate. She had asked the main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the debate whether any Muslim society was capable of challenging its authorities. Mr Erdogan lashed out at Ms Zaman, without mentioning her directly by name, at an election rally in the eastern city of Malatya on Thursday, calling her a "shameless woman".  "A militant in the guise of a journalist, a shameless woman... Know your place!" he declared. "They gave you a pen and you are writing a column in a newspaper... and you insult a society that is 99 percent Muslim," he said, drawing loud boos from the crowd. This is not the first time Mr Erdogan has lashed out at journalists, who have come under increasing pressure in Turkey, which has more reporters behind bars than any other country in the world. [...] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/11022632/Turkish-PM-tells-female-reporter-to-know-your-place.html

Never mind the 'shameless woman' bit.  They gaol journalists!  I had no idea.  And it's not just one or two bad boys; it's 40 journalists in the one year.

Check out this article for places not to work if you're a journalist:

• Turkey, Iran, and China accounted for more than half of all journalists imprisoned around the world in 2013

• Eritrea remained Africa’s worst jailer of journalists, with 22 behind bars compared with 28 in 2012. Eritrea is the world’s worst abuser of due process; no Eritrean detainee has ever been publicly charged with a crime or brought before a court for trial.  

• Vietnam was holding 18 journalists, up from 14 a year earlier, as authorities intensified a crackdown on bloggers, who represent the country’s only independent press.

• The number of prisoners rose in Ethiopia, Bahrain, and Somalia, in addition to Vietnam.

[used mostly anti-state charges to silence a combined 107 critical reporters, bloggers, and editors]

 http://cpj.org/reports/2013/12/second-worst-year-on-record-for-jailed-journalists.php

That journalist that was expelled from Turkey the other day was LUCKY!