FEMINISM/POLITICS - Many female veterans who fought overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq are now homeless and unable to find work. How did this happen?
When returning from Afghanistan and Iraq many female veterans have physical and psychological issues that make it difficult for them to live in civilian society. They're shell shocked from the constant terror they endured overseas. The physical and psychological torment (and a shortage of government support for veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) often leads to homelessness.
The United States General Accounting Office released a report on January 23rd that shows that the number of homeless female veterans “more than doubled” from 2006 to 2010. These numbers do not include veterans living in homeless shelters so the change could be even worse than we know.
These female veterans who served overseas are clearly not being helped when they return from combat. Many female veterans are not aware of the services available to them, including homeless shelters. For veterans who are also single mothers many shelters do not accept children.
So is this what modern America has come to? A country where veterans live on the streets, homeless, jobless and with children?
Life on the streets is a vicious cycle of psychological and physical abuse, worsening the victim’s psychological state and resulting in a high suicide rate and drug addiction.
This is not an acceptable situation for America’s female veterans.
Female veterans are twice as likely as civilian women to be unemployed, and almost three times as likely to commit suicide. 1 in 5 have suffered sexual assault.
Two government agencies, the Veteran’s Administration and Housing and Urban Development, which are supposed to coordinate housing and services for veterans, need to step up their game and support female veterans.
Shame on America!
Showing posts with label Middle East News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Middle East News. Show all posts
January 28, 2012
January 12, 2012
Iranian nuclear scientist assassinated, CIA likely culprit
POLITICS - An Iranian university professor working at Iran's largest nuclear facility was killed by a car bomb in Tehran yesterday (Wednesday January 11th). He is the third Iranian scientist assassinated in a string of deaths designed to undermine Iran’s nuclear program. CIA operatives are the most likely culprits.
The operatives were two men on a motorcycle who attached a magnetic bomb to Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan’s car outside the campus of Allameh Tabatabai University. The bomb later killed him and his driver. A passerby was also wounded and remains in hospital.
Roshan, 32, a chemistry expert and the director of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in the Isfahan province worked for Iran’s nuclear agency. Since January 2010 there has been a handful of attacks against Iran's scientific community, suggesting a CIA or possibly NATO operation to halt Iran’s atomic program.
The United States, Britain and Israel are pressuring Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and have been sending increasing number of operatives to Iran to undermine its government and Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Low levels of uranium enrichment can be used as nuclear fuel, at higher levels it can be used as material for a nuclear warhead. All it takes then is an accurate missile and a "critical mass" of fissionable material.
All the pressure and assassinations has forced Iran to move its operations underground. Iranian officials said earlier this week that they are expanding some operations to an underground site south of Tehran where they are enriching high grade uranium usable for weapons.
Iran claims its program is intended for energy and medical research, specifically the production of medical radioisotopes to treat cancer patients. But this would not explain their need for enriching high grade fissionable material.
After yesterday's attack Iran’s parliament shouted “Death to Israel” and “Death to America”.
“Iran’s enemies should know they cannot prevent Iran’s progress by carrying out such terrorist acts,” said First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi. He and other Iranian politicians are accusing the USA of operating a terrorist organization inside Iran.
The CIA, MI6 and Mossad (Israel Intelligence Agency) have denied (or declined to comment on) the accusations of assassinations and terrorism.
On Tuesday Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz hinted that this year would be a “critical year” for Iran, saying “things which take place in an unnatural manner.”
“Many bad things have been happening to Iran in the recent period,” said Mickey Segal, the former director of Mossad’s Iranian intelligence department. “Iran is in a situation where pressure on it is mounting, and the latest assassination joins the pressure that the Iranian regime is facing.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the CIA “had absolutely nothing to do” with Roshan’s death and denied any American involvement in the killing.
A similar bomb to Wednesday’s exploded on January 12th, 2010 killing Tehran University physics professor Masoud Ali Mohammadi. He was killed just as he was about to leave for work.
In November 2010, twin bomb attacks in different parts of Tehran killed nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari and wounded scientist Fereidoun Abbasi.
In July 2011, motorcycle-riding gunmen killed university student Darioush Rezaeinejad, who is alleged to have been working in a team to make nuclear weapons.
In November 2011, 17 people, including Major General Hasan Moghaddam, a very prominent figure in Iran’s nuclear program, died in an explosion at an ammunition dump near Tehran.
Roshan, 32, a chemistry expert and the director of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in the Isfahan province worked for Iran’s nuclear agency. Since January 2010 there has been a handful of attacks against Iran's scientific community, suggesting a CIA or possibly NATO operation to halt Iran’s atomic program.
The United States, Britain and Israel are pressuring Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and have been sending increasing number of operatives to Iran to undermine its government and Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Low levels of uranium enrichment can be used as nuclear fuel, at higher levels it can be used as material for a nuclear warhead. All it takes then is an accurate missile and a "critical mass" of fissionable material.
All the pressure and assassinations has forced Iran to move its operations underground. Iranian officials said earlier this week that they are expanding some operations to an underground site south of Tehran where they are enriching high grade uranium usable for weapons.
Iran claims its program is intended for energy and medical research, specifically the production of medical radioisotopes to treat cancer patients. But this would not explain their need for enriching high grade fissionable material.
After yesterday's attack Iran’s parliament shouted “Death to Israel” and “Death to America”.
“Iran’s enemies should know they cannot prevent Iran’s progress by carrying out such terrorist acts,” said First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi. He and other Iranian politicians are accusing the USA of operating a terrorist organization inside Iran.
The CIA, MI6 and Mossad (Israel Intelligence Agency) have denied (or declined to comment on) the accusations of assassinations and terrorism.
On Tuesday Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz hinted that this year would be a “critical year” for Iran, saying “things which take place in an unnatural manner.”
“Many bad things have been happening to Iran in the recent period,” said Mickey Segal, the former director of Mossad’s Iranian intelligence department. “Iran is in a situation where pressure on it is mounting, and the latest assassination joins the pressure that the Iranian regime is facing.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the CIA “had absolutely nothing to do” with Roshan’s death and denied any American involvement in the killing.
A similar bomb to Wednesday’s exploded on January 12th, 2010 killing Tehran University physics professor Masoud Ali Mohammadi. He was killed just as he was about to leave for work.
In November 2010, twin bomb attacks in different parts of Tehran killed nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari and wounded scientist Fereidoun Abbasi.
In July 2011, motorcycle-riding gunmen killed university student Darioush Rezaeinejad, who is alleged to have been working in a team to make nuclear weapons.
In November 2011, 17 people, including Major General Hasan Moghaddam, a very prominent figure in Iran’s nuclear program, died in an explosion at an ammunition dump near Tehran.
December 28, 2011
America pulls out of Iraq in the middle of the night
POLITICS - The last 500 American soldiers rolled out of Iraq across the border into neighbouring Kuwait under the cover of darkness on Sunday December 18th. The convoy was done in secret during the night for fear of attacks from the rival factions of Sunni and Shiite Iraqis who have been caught in a civil war since the fall of Saddam Hussein 9 years ago.
The five-hour drive by the American convoy marked the end of a bitterly divisive war that left Iraq shattered and struggling to recover.
It was a stark contrast to the high-octane start of the war, which began before dawn March 20th 2003 with an airstrike in southern Baghdad, the opening shot in the infamous “shock and awe” bombardment meant to terrorize the Iraqis into submission.
Saddam and his regime fell within weeks, and Saddam Hussein was later captured by the Americans and executed by his Shiite enemies in 2006. But Saddam’s death only fueled the rivalry between Shiite and Sunni factions.
The Iraqi civil war devastated the country, and its legacy includes tens of thousands of widows and orphans, a people deeply divided between loyalty to church and state and an infrastructure that remains largely in ruins.
Since Barack Obama got into power violence has dropped suddenly and Iraqi security forces have improved dramatically. The sectarian violence remains and likely will never disappear as long as religious radicals continue killing each other.
The same day, even as American troops were leaving, the Sunni political bloc said it was suspending its participation in parliament to protest the monopoly on government posts by Shiite allies of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Iraqis celebrated the exit of what they call their American occupiers. Some said that were grateful for the USA ousting Saddam, but complain that the war went on too long. A majority of Americans would agree, according to opinion polls.
Iraq’s military chief of staff, Lt.-Gen. Babaker Zebari (a Shiite) said Sunday that his troops were up to the task of uprooting Sunni militant groups. Sunni militants continue to carry out bombing and shooting against police, soldiers and civilians, and Shiite militias have been founded for the express purpose of exterminating Sunni militants.
Note: Sunni Muslims are the moderate ones, typically wearing mustaches instead of beards, and allowing women to drive, become doctors, etc. Saddam Hussein however went too far in his brutal repression of the Kurds and Shiites.
Captain Mark Askew was among the last soldiers to leave Iraq, said the future of Iraq is unknown. “It depends on what Iraq does after we leave,” he said. “I don’t expect them to turn into South Korea or Japan overnight.”
The five-hour drive by the American convoy marked the end of a bitterly divisive war that left Iraq shattered and struggling to recover.
“My heart goes out to the Iraqis,” says Warrant Officer John Jewell. “The innocent always pay the bill.”
It was a stark contrast to the high-octane start of the war, which began before dawn March 20th 2003 with an airstrike in southern Baghdad, the opening shot in the infamous “shock and awe” bombardment meant to terrorize the Iraqis into submission.
Saddam and his regime fell within weeks, and Saddam Hussein was later captured by the Americans and executed by his Shiite enemies in 2006. But Saddam’s death only fueled the rivalry between Shiite and Sunni factions.
The Iraqi civil war devastated the country, and its legacy includes tens of thousands of widows and orphans, a people deeply divided between loyalty to church and state and an infrastructure that remains largely in ruins.
Since Barack Obama got into power violence has dropped suddenly and Iraqi security forces have improved dramatically. The sectarian violence remains and likely will never disappear as long as religious radicals continue killing each other.
The same day, even as American troops were leaving, the Sunni political bloc said it was suspending its participation in parliament to protest the monopoly on government posts by Shiite allies of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Iraqis celebrated the exit of what they call their American occupiers. Some said that were grateful for the USA ousting Saddam, but complain that the war went on too long. A majority of Americans would agree, according to opinion polls.
Iraq’s military chief of staff, Lt.-Gen. Babaker Zebari (a Shiite) said Sunday that his troops were up to the task of uprooting Sunni militant groups. Sunni militants continue to carry out bombing and shooting against police, soldiers and civilians, and Shiite militias have been founded for the express purpose of exterminating Sunni militants.
Note: Sunni Muslims are the moderate ones, typically wearing mustaches instead of beards, and allowing women to drive, become doctors, etc. Saddam Hussein however went too far in his brutal repression of the Kurds and Shiites.
Captain Mark Askew was among the last soldiers to leave Iraq, said the future of Iraq is unknown. “It depends on what Iraq does after we leave,” he said. “I don’t expect them to turn into South Korea or Japan overnight.”
August 8, 2011
31 American Special Forces killed when helicopter shot down
POLITICS - On Saturday Afghan warlords shot down a US military helicopter during fighting in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 Americans, most of them belonging to the same elite Navy SEALs unit that killed Osama bin Laden, as well as seven Afghan commandos. It was the deadliest single day loss for American forces in the decade-old war.
The much lauded, tight-knit SEAL Team 6 took the hit hard. It was also a heavy setback for the U.S.-led coalition as it begins to withdraw thousands of combat troops fighting what has become an increasingly costly and unpopular war.
None of the 22 SEAL personnel killed in the crash were part of the team that killed Osama bin Laden in a May raid in Pakistan, but they belonged to the same SEAL unit.
Special operations forces, including the SEALs and others, have been at the forefront in the recent strategy of killing key insurgent leaders in targeted raids. The operation has been jokingly called "Hydra" because every time one leader's head is chopped off, another grows back. (In Greek myth the 5-headed Hydra would regrow its heads when they were chopped off.)
[Hydra is also a fictional terrorist organization in the comicbook Marvel Universe.]
The much lauded, tight-knit SEAL Team 6 took the hit hard. It was also a heavy setback for the U.S.-led coalition as it begins to withdraw thousands of combat troops fighting what has become an increasingly costly and unpopular war.
None of the 22 SEAL personnel killed in the crash were part of the team that killed Osama bin Laden in a May raid in Pakistan, but they belonged to the same SEAL unit.
Special operations forces, including the SEALs and others, have been at the forefront in the recent strategy of killing key insurgent leaders in targeted raids. The operation has been jokingly called "Hydra" because every time one leader's head is chopped off, another grows back. (In Greek myth the 5-headed Hydra would regrow its heads when they were chopped off.)
[Hydra is also a fictional terrorist organization in the comicbook Marvel Universe.]
July 8, 2011
Will there ever be an Arab Union?
POLITICS - The concept of an Arab Union stretching somewhere between Morocco and Pakistan has been around for years, but it has yet to be largely because many of the countries in the region have cultural and religious disagreements that have nothing to do with politics or economics.
The European Union for example is a largely economic alliance, under one currency (the Euro), which gives them a strong advantage over other markets with weaker / less stable currencies. Creating an Arab Union using a common currency (ie. the Dinar) sounds like a smart idea, but it becomes a monumental task of trying to get these countries to agree on anything long enough to make such an economic alliance.
There are several large problems...
#1. Dictatorships... far too many Arab countries, ie. Iran is still under a dictatorial government. In 2010 and 2011 there have been a number of uprisings in Egypt and Libya, but there is still so many countries in the Middle East which lack a secular democratic government.
#2. Religion... different interpretations of Islam and the differences between liberal, moderate and extreme Islam. Some of these countries believe strongly in having a Muslim state government and adopting Sharia laws (ancient Arab laws that endorse things like chopping off the hands of thieves, stoning women to death, etc).
#3. Possible War. ie. Israel Vs. Iran. Some countries have peace treaties with Israel, but others have open animosity.
#4. War zones. ie. Iraq, Turkey, Libya, etc.
#5. Palestine. The country is more like a prison surrounded by Israeli troops. Any prospect of an Arab Union will probably want to include Palestine.
But also a number of bonus factors which may make it easier...
#1. OPEC. This is already an economic alliance between many of the oil producing Arab countries and thus serves as a platform on which an Arab Union could be formed. Indeed it might be touted as OPEC II or the OPEC Union. See the History of Oil Prices.
#2. Languages. While most Arab countries do have their own languages and dialects, this was nothing in terms of preventing Britain, Greece and Finland from joining the European Union. If anything there should be enough similarities between the North African and Middle Eastern languages to help further the idea of such an union.
#3. A Common Thirst for Prosperity. Who doesn't want peace and economic growth?
Conclusions: We need peace in the Middle East before people can attempt an Arab Union or anything similar to that.
But if 2 or 3 countries kick started the union it would create an economic avalanche that spreads from one country to the next as each sees the economic benefits.
The European Union for example is a largely economic alliance, under one currency (the Euro), which gives them a strong advantage over other markets with weaker / less stable currencies. Creating an Arab Union using a common currency (ie. the Dinar) sounds like a smart idea, but it becomes a monumental task of trying to get these countries to agree on anything long enough to make such an economic alliance.
There are several large problems...
#1. Dictatorships... far too many Arab countries, ie. Iran is still under a dictatorial government. In 2010 and 2011 there have been a number of uprisings in Egypt and Libya, but there is still so many countries in the Middle East which lack a secular democratic government.
#2. Religion... different interpretations of Islam and the differences between liberal, moderate and extreme Islam. Some of these countries believe strongly in having a Muslim state government and adopting Sharia laws (ancient Arab laws that endorse things like chopping off the hands of thieves, stoning women to death, etc).
#3. Possible War. ie. Israel Vs. Iran. Some countries have peace treaties with Israel, but others have open animosity.
#4. War zones. ie. Iraq, Turkey, Libya, etc.
#5. Palestine. The country is more like a prison surrounded by Israeli troops. Any prospect of an Arab Union will probably want to include Palestine.
But also a number of bonus factors which may make it easier...
#1. OPEC. This is already an economic alliance between many of the oil producing Arab countries and thus serves as a platform on which an Arab Union could be formed. Indeed it might be touted as OPEC II or the OPEC Union. See the History of Oil Prices.
#2. Languages. While most Arab countries do have their own languages and dialects, this was nothing in terms of preventing Britain, Greece and Finland from joining the European Union. If anything there should be enough similarities between the North African and Middle Eastern languages to help further the idea of such an union.
#3. A Common Thirst for Prosperity. Who doesn't want peace and economic growth?
Conclusions: We need peace in the Middle East before people can attempt an Arab Union or anything similar to that.
But if 2 or 3 countries kick started the union it would create an economic avalanche that spreads from one country to the next as each sees the economic benefits.
May 20, 2011
US Investigators find Osama bin Laden's porn stash
POLITICS/SEX - US investigators going through Osama bin Laden's computer and other materials from his secretive compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, have found Osama bin Laden's secret stash of pornography.
Investigators won't say what the stash of naughty photos and videos contains, but prying eyes want to know.
And the rumours are circulating wildly. Everything from the silly to the outrageous. Suffice to say such material will never see the light of day, and the rumour mill will be turning non stop now.
Its bad enough the White House is refusing to release photos of a dead Osama bin Laden to confirm to the world that he really is dead.
There is even just a possibility this is all just a rumour started by Homeland Security in an effort to demoralize Osama bin Laden's ragtag band of followers by besmirching his name.
If so, expect more news in the future that Osama bin Laden really wasn't a Muslim and that he had secret Satanic writings, that he privately committed all sorts of sins, that he didn't pray towards Mecca, etc.
As long as they don't find any of Osama bin Laden's personal notes admitting that he didn't plan the September 11th attacks and pointing out that he never took credit for it.
Investigators won't say what the stash of naughty photos and videos contains, but prying eyes want to know.And the rumours are circulating wildly. Everything from the silly to the outrageous. Suffice to say such material will never see the light of day, and the rumour mill will be turning non stop now.
Its bad enough the White House is refusing to release photos of a dead Osama bin Laden to confirm to the world that he really is dead.
There is even just a possibility this is all just a rumour started by Homeland Security in an effort to demoralize Osama bin Laden's ragtag band of followers by besmirching his name.
If so, expect more news in the future that Osama bin Laden really wasn't a Muslim and that he had secret Satanic writings, that he privately committed all sorts of sins, that he didn't pray towards Mecca, etc.
As long as they don't find any of Osama bin Laden's personal notes admitting that he didn't plan the September 11th attacks and pointing out that he never took credit for it.
May 3, 2011
Who will replace Osama Bin Laden?
POLITICS - For decades during the Cold War the Soviet Union was the devil incarnate. Inflated the threat to unbelievable levels and it was only after the fact we learned most of it was just mythology and paranoia.
During the early 1990s Iraq and Saddam Hussein became the new focus.
Following September 11th terrorism and Osama Bin Laden...
But now that both Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden are dead, who will we make the new devil? Who is the new enemy that needs to be vanquished?
Possible Baddies include:
Muammar Gaddafi / Libya
Kim Jong Il / North Korea
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad / Iran
Of course there is also the conspiracy theorists who believe Osama Bin Laden isn't really dead. There was no photos or video of Osama Bin Laden's dead body, he was buried at sea, and no proof he actually died. There were fake photos made by members of the media, but that hardly counts. People aren't going to believe it until they actually see photos and/or video of Osama Bin Laden dead.
The same thing happened with JFK and Che Guevara. Photos of their dead bodies had to be released before people could really believe it was true.
And back to the devil idea... Does the United States really need to find a villain overseas? Certainly they could villainify someone in their own backyard and improve their own country for once instead of stirring up trouble overseas.
During the early 1990s Iraq and Saddam Hussein became the new focus.Following September 11th terrorism and Osama Bin Laden...
But now that both Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden are dead, who will we make the new devil? Who is the new enemy that needs to be vanquished?
Possible Baddies include:
Muammar Gaddafi / Libya
Kim Jong Il / North Korea
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad / Iran
Of course there is also the conspiracy theorists who believe Osama Bin Laden isn't really dead. There was no photos or video of Osama Bin Laden's dead body, he was buried at sea, and no proof he actually died. There were fake photos made by members of the media, but that hardly counts. People aren't going to believe it until they actually see photos and/or video of Osama Bin Laden dead.
The same thing happened with JFK and Che Guevara. Photos of their dead bodies had to be released before people could really believe it was true.
And back to the devil idea... Does the United States really need to find a villain overseas? Certainly they could villainify someone in their own backyard and improve their own country for once instead of stirring up trouble overseas.
May 2, 2011
OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD
POLITICS - Osama Bin Laden was killed last night by a helicopter raid in the town of Abbottabad, Pakistan. The raid on Osama Bin Laden's fortress in western Pakistan was a daring attack vs a small army of bodyguards. President Barack Obama made the announcement last night.
Note: The lead up to and the final assault is sure to become a feature film.
Osama Bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda, was shot in the head while fighting back against the helicopter assault force. One of Osama Bin Laden's sons died with him.
Osama Bin Laden was living in a house in the town of Abbottabad that was “custom built to hide someone of significance” according to US intelligence officials.
Abbottabad is approx. 100 kilometres from the Pakistani capital Islamabad, far from the remote mountain caves along the Pakistan-Afghanistan tribal border where it was believed he was hiding.
Instead Osama Bin Laden was living in a million dollar mansion just a stone's throw from the Kakul Military Academy, an army run institution where top military officers train.
Osama Bin Laden has been in hiding ever since September 11th 2001, accused of plotting the terrorism attacks of that terrible day.
The 5-year-old compound Osama Bin Laden was hiding in was guarded by 12 to 18 feet high walls, barbed wire, burned its own trash so people wouldn't snoop through garbage, had no phone or internet connections to the outside, internal walls and two separate security gates. It was practically a prison already.
The building was 8 times larger than other homes in the area and stuck out like a sore thumb. Its amazing people didn't question who actually lived there, and with the military academy so close it seems odd. It was really a matter of time before someone in US intelligence noticed the strange building during visits to the nearby academy.
As it turns out it was a Pakistani informant who told the USA where to find Osama Bin Laden. The informant told the CIA about a courier who worked for both Khaled Sheikh Mohammed and Abu Faraj al-Libi, both high ranking Al Qaeda members. The CIA then tracked the courier to the compound, which kick started an investigation into who might be living there.
The helicopter raid started being planned weeks ago...
On March 14th President Obama held the first of a series of 5 high security meetings to plan the operation. The last meeting was Friday at 8:20 a.m.
Following the meeting Obama traveled to Alabama to witness the damage from the recent tornadoes.
Many critics and conspiracy theorists have long believed that Pakistan might be hiding Osama Bin Laden within their border. The proximity to their highest ranking military academy suggests possible collusion with the Pakistani military.
The team of helicopter pilots and the assault crew are already being hailed as heroes. No Americans died during the assault.
Osama Bin Laden's body was recovered during the assault and American forces are now debating what to do with it. Like JFK and Che Guevara it will likely have to be shown publicly before people will believe he is dead.
Note: The lead up to and the final assault is sure to become a feature film.
Osama Bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda, was shot in the head while fighting back against the helicopter assault force. One of Osama Bin Laden's sons died with him.
Osama Bin Laden was living in a house in the town of Abbottabad that was “custom built to hide someone of significance” according to US intelligence officials.
Abbottabad is approx. 100 kilometres from the Pakistani capital Islamabad, far from the remote mountain caves along the Pakistan-Afghanistan tribal border where it was believed he was hiding.
Instead Osama Bin Laden was living in a million dollar mansion just a stone's throw from the Kakul Military Academy, an army run institution where top military officers train.
Osama Bin Laden has been in hiding ever since September 11th 2001, accused of plotting the terrorism attacks of that terrible day.
The 5-year-old compound Osama Bin Laden was hiding in was guarded by 12 to 18 feet high walls, barbed wire, burned its own trash so people wouldn't snoop through garbage, had no phone or internet connections to the outside, internal walls and two separate security gates. It was practically a prison already.
The building was 8 times larger than other homes in the area and stuck out like a sore thumb. Its amazing people didn't question who actually lived there, and with the military academy so close it seems odd. It was really a matter of time before someone in US intelligence noticed the strange building during visits to the nearby academy.
As it turns out it was a Pakistani informant who told the USA where to find Osama Bin Laden. The informant told the CIA about a courier who worked for both Khaled Sheikh Mohammed and Abu Faraj al-Libi, both high ranking Al Qaeda members. The CIA then tracked the courier to the compound, which kick started an investigation into who might be living there.
The helicopter raid started being planned weeks ago...
On March 14th President Obama held the first of a series of 5 high security meetings to plan the operation. The last meeting was Friday at 8:20 a.m.
Following the meeting Obama traveled to Alabama to witness the damage from the recent tornadoes.
Many critics and conspiracy theorists have long believed that Pakistan might be hiding Osama Bin Laden within their border. The proximity to their highest ranking military academy suggests possible collusion with the Pakistani military.
The team of helicopter pilots and the assault crew are already being hailed as heroes. No Americans died during the assault.
Osama Bin Laden's body was recovered during the assault and American forces are now debating what to do with it. Like JFK and Che Guevara it will likely have to be shown publicly before people will believe he is dead.
February 14, 2011
Egypt keeps on protesting
POLITICS - Egyptian President Mubarak finally stepped down three days ago, but the protests in Cairo and other Egyptian cities remain as many of his cronies stay in power and control the assets of the nation.
Egyptians are now demanding that the European Union freeze all assets belonging to members of Mubarak's regime until such time that it can be determined that they've haven't been swindling the Egyptian people.
Britain's foreign secretary and various EU finance ministers however are insisting that they won't take action to freeze accounts unless there is evidence of “illegality or misuse of state assets.”
However how would they prove illegal misuse of funds unless they first freeze the assets and mount an investigation? The cronies they are speaking of are still in power and still in control of Egypt's money.
(Seriously, sometimes you have to wonder if politicians are just plain stupid, or if they are just protecting the 'stolen' assets of their friends in Egypt because they are worried it might happen to them too.)
As the protests continue Egyptian soldiers are now clearing out the remaining demonstrators from Cairo’s Tahrir Square, which was the protest camp's headquarters for the 18-day revolt. The protesters had tents, medical clinics and giant banners demanding the removal of Mubarak's regime.
At the height of the protests over half a million people had clogged the downtown streets.
The remaining protesters are now demanding the release of their friends who have been unlawfully confined during the protests and not allowed bail or trial.
Egypt is still counting the death toll from clashes between police and protesters.
Egyptians are now demanding that the European Union freeze all assets belonging to members of Mubarak's regime until such time that it can be determined that they've haven't been swindling the Egyptian people.
Britain's foreign secretary and various EU finance ministers however are insisting that they won't take action to freeze accounts unless there is evidence of “illegality or misuse of state assets.”
However how would they prove illegal misuse of funds unless they first freeze the assets and mount an investigation? The cronies they are speaking of are still in power and still in control of Egypt's money.
(Seriously, sometimes you have to wonder if politicians are just plain stupid, or if they are just protecting the 'stolen' assets of their friends in Egypt because they are worried it might happen to them too.)
As the protests continue Egyptian soldiers are now clearing out the remaining demonstrators from Cairo’s Tahrir Square, which was the protest camp's headquarters for the 18-day revolt. The protesters had tents, medical clinics and giant banners demanding the removal of Mubarak's regime.
At the height of the protests over half a million people had clogged the downtown streets.
The remaining protesters are now demanding the release of their friends who have been unlawfully confined during the protests and not allowed bail or trial.
Egypt is still counting the death toll from clashes between police and protesters.
January 29, 2011
Political and Economic Chaos in Egypt
POLITICS - Below is a time line of the events leading up to Egypt's current state of anarchy.
January 17th
A 50-year-old man sets himself on fire outside parliament. In December a similar protester in Tunisia did the same thing and it unleashed an uprising that overthrew Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
January 18th
A 25-year-old unemployed man sets himself ablaze in the city of Alexandria. A lawyer in his 40s also sets himself on fire outside government buildings in Cairo.
January 20th
Two Egyptians injured after setting fire to themselves.
January 24th
Nobel laureate and opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei says Egyptian should follow the lead set by Tunisia and overthrow the dictatorship currently running the country.
January 25th
Anti-government demonstrations bring several thousand people on to the streets across Egypt. Two demonstrators killed in Suez after clashes with police.
During the night police fire tear gas thousands of protesters in central Cairo.
January 26th
Thousands of people demonstrate in Egyptian towns, ignoring a strict ban on protests. Egyptian police continually fire tear gas at protesters.
In Cairo a protester is killed in clashes with police.
In Suez, 55 demonstrators and 15 police officers injured in clashes.
January 27th
Security forces swarm central Cairo. Hundreds of protesters clash with police in Suez and Ismailiya.
Police shoot dead a young man in the Sinai town of Sheikh Zuwayed.
The White House says the Cairo government and protesters they have an "obligation" to avoid violence. The European Union asks Egypt to respect the right to protest.
Opposition leader ElBaradei says he is ready to "lead the transition."
January 28th
In Cairo riot police use tear gas and rubber bullets on tens of thousands of protesters.
In Suez a protester is killed and in Alexandria a government building is burnt.
Thousands of arrests across Egypt as government seeks to stay in power.
Internet services go down.
Opposition leader ElBaradei joins over 2,000 people in Friday prayers in Cairo.
President Mubarak imposes a dusk-to-dawn curfew, calls on the army and declares martial law.
Britain and Germany express concern about the violence, with Britain saying the protesters had "legitimate grievances."
Protesters set fire to the headquarters of the ruling National Democratic Party in Cairo.
January 29th (today)
Death toll rises to at least 64 people.
Curfew increased to 4 PM.
Military dispatched to quell protests in the suburbs of Cairo.
Protests outside Egyptian Embassy in Washington D.C.
Mubarak refuses calls for early elections.
Gunfire at Mubarak's presidential residence reported. More reports of "nonstop" gunfire coming from his residence.
Various Egyptian politicians resigned or removed from their positions.
Ahmed Shafiq has been named Egypt's new prime minister. Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman appointed as vice president. Both men are former members of Egypt's military.
THE EGYPTIAN MIRAGE
Egypt was hailed as a success story by international financial institutions. Egypt's economy was flourishing, with annual GDP growth of 5% to 7% thanks to it being a stable haven compared to the rest of the Middle East. The Egyptian regime promised stability and stamped out opposition.
That success story however is turning into a mirage however. According to Forbes magazine Egypt's "economic situation will deteriorate further."
On Thursday, the Egyptian stock market dropped 10.5%.
If a new government came into power however it could easily rebound.
Meanwhile tourists are fleeing Egypt as quickly as they can as the violence escalates.
Its all part of a regional trend effecting Jordan, Yemen, Tunisia and other countries. Protests are springing up against authoritarian dictatorships and their local economies are part of the reason.
These protests are a tricky matter for the United States, which actively promotes democracy, but has allied itself with many of the dictatorships in the region. Jordan for example is an important American ally and the second-largest per-capita recipient of American assistance (Israel is the first).
This region wide backlash against dictatorships could end up being bad for American interests in the region, as democracies are more difficult to control/bribe compared to dictatorships.
There are fears that these protests could spread to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other economic centres of the Middle East where many poor people have seen the rise in economic power of their overlords, but have been denied the right to vote.
Democracy, complete with the accountability, popular legitimacy and peaceful resolution of conflict is the path to long-term stability in the Middle East, but such things will only happen if people first throw out the old regimes and start anew.
January 17th
A 50-year-old man sets himself on fire outside parliament. In December a similar protester in Tunisia did the same thing and it unleashed an uprising that overthrew Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
January 18th
A 25-year-old unemployed man sets himself ablaze in the city of Alexandria. A lawyer in his 40s also sets himself on fire outside government buildings in Cairo.
January 20th
Two Egyptians injured after setting fire to themselves.
January 24th
Nobel laureate and opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei says Egyptian should follow the lead set by Tunisia and overthrow the dictatorship currently running the country.
January 25th
Anti-government demonstrations bring several thousand people on to the streets across Egypt. Two demonstrators killed in Suez after clashes with police.
During the night police fire tear gas thousands of protesters in central Cairo.
January 26th
Thousands of people demonstrate in Egyptian towns, ignoring a strict ban on protests. Egyptian police continually fire tear gas at protesters.
In Cairo a protester is killed in clashes with police.
In Suez, 55 demonstrators and 15 police officers injured in clashes.
January 27th
Security forces swarm central Cairo. Hundreds of protesters clash with police in Suez and Ismailiya.
Police shoot dead a young man in the Sinai town of Sheikh Zuwayed.
The White House says the Cairo government and protesters they have an "obligation" to avoid violence. The European Union asks Egypt to respect the right to protest.
Opposition leader ElBaradei says he is ready to "lead the transition."
January 28th
In Cairo riot police use tear gas and rubber bullets on tens of thousands of protesters.
In Suez a protester is killed and in Alexandria a government building is burnt.
Thousands of arrests across Egypt as government seeks to stay in power.
Internet services go down.
Opposition leader ElBaradei joins over 2,000 people in Friday prayers in Cairo.
President Mubarak imposes a dusk-to-dawn curfew, calls on the army and declares martial law.
Britain and Germany express concern about the violence, with Britain saying the protesters had "legitimate grievances."
Protesters set fire to the headquarters of the ruling National Democratic Party in Cairo.
January 29th (today)
Death toll rises to at least 64 people.
Curfew increased to 4 PM.
Military dispatched to quell protests in the suburbs of Cairo.
Protests outside Egyptian Embassy in Washington D.C.
Mubarak refuses calls for early elections.
Gunfire at Mubarak's presidential residence reported. More reports of "nonstop" gunfire coming from his residence.
Various Egyptian politicians resigned or removed from their positions.
Ahmed Shafiq has been named Egypt's new prime minister. Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman appointed as vice president. Both men are former members of Egypt's military.
THE EGYPTIAN MIRAGE
Egypt was hailed as a success story by international financial institutions. Egypt's economy was flourishing, with annual GDP growth of 5% to 7% thanks to it being a stable haven compared to the rest of the Middle East. The Egyptian regime promised stability and stamped out opposition.
That success story however is turning into a mirage however. According to Forbes magazine Egypt's "economic situation will deteriorate further."
On Thursday, the Egyptian stock market dropped 10.5%.
If a new government came into power however it could easily rebound.
Meanwhile tourists are fleeing Egypt as quickly as they can as the violence escalates.
Its all part of a regional trend effecting Jordan, Yemen, Tunisia and other countries. Protests are springing up against authoritarian dictatorships and their local economies are part of the reason.
These protests are a tricky matter for the United States, which actively promotes democracy, but has allied itself with many of the dictatorships in the region. Jordan for example is an important American ally and the second-largest per-capita recipient of American assistance (Israel is the first).
This region wide backlash against dictatorships could end up being bad for American interests in the region, as democracies are more difficult to control/bribe compared to dictatorships.
There are fears that these protests could spread to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other economic centres of the Middle East where many poor people have seen the rise in economic power of their overlords, but have been denied the right to vote.
Democracy, complete with the accountability, popular legitimacy and peaceful resolution of conflict is the path to long-term stability in the Middle East, but such things will only happen if people first throw out the old regimes and start anew.
November 23, 2010
Afghan girls disguised to attend school
POLITICS - Zahira Sarwar is an Afghan-Canadian working at GTZ in Afghanistan. While there she recently conducted an interview with a girl who disguised herself as a boy and went to school in a village where the Taliban was in control. The video below has English subtitles.
Zahira Sarwar says "there is a common misconception that with the arrival of Foreign troops in Afghanistan and the introduction of democracy women's rights have improved. But as you will see in this video the Afghan government and foreign troops are only focussing on certain provinces and cities thereby leaving other regions of the country still in the hands of the Taliban. Consequently, women and young girls' lives are still affected by this."
The areas the military are interested in are the Al-Qaeda strongholds along the border of Pakistan and protecting the Trans-Arabia Oil Pipeline which goes through the Wakhjir Pass and the part of Afghanistan known as Wakhan Corridor which goes to the Chinese border. The oil pipeline to China is an important part of the USA's economic strategy for the region.
Zahira Sarwar says "there is a common misconception that with the arrival of Foreign troops in Afghanistan and the introduction of democracy women's rights have improved. But as you will see in this video the Afghan government and foreign troops are only focussing on certain provinces and cities thereby leaving other regions of the country still in the hands of the Taliban. Consequently, women and young girls' lives are still affected by this."
The areas the military are interested in are the Al-Qaeda strongholds along the border of Pakistan and protecting the Trans-Arabia Oil Pipeline which goes through the Wakhjir Pass and the part of Afghanistan known as Wakhan Corridor which goes to the Chinese border. The oil pipeline to China is an important part of the USA's economic strategy for the region.
September 28, 2010
Hoder sentenced to 19.5 years
POLITICS - 35-year-old Iranian-Canadian Hossein Derakhshan, the founder of one of the first Farsi-language blogs and credited with the boom in Iranian bloggers, has been sentenced to 19 years in an Iranian prison for being critical of Iran's Ayatollah... and also for trying to promote peace between Iran and Israel.
Hossein Derakhshan, aka Hoder, wrote his blog from Canada but was arrested during a visit to Iran in 2008. In a controversial move Derakhshan also was a supporter of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, praising Iran's nuclear weapons program as a deterrent against war.
The Iranian prosecutors asked to give Derakhshan the death penalty. See Toronto Blogger facing Death Penalty.
But that plea was apparently ignored and Derakhshan has instead been given the sentence of 19.5 years for writing propaganda against the state of Iran, for "cooperating with Israel" and insulting Islamic religious figures.
Derakhshan ignited blogging in Iran by posting simple instructions online on how to create sites in Farsi in 2001. Since then Farsi has overtaken the blogosphere to become the 2nd most used language behind English.
Its widely speculated in political circles that Israel and Iran will go to war sometime in the next 10 years.
Hossein Derakhshan, aka Hoder, wrote his blog from Canada but was arrested during a visit to Iran in 2008. In a controversial move Derakhshan also was a supporter of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, praising Iran's nuclear weapons program as a deterrent against war.
The Iranian prosecutors asked to give Derakhshan the death penalty. See Toronto Blogger facing Death Penalty.
But that plea was apparently ignored and Derakhshan has instead been given the sentence of 19.5 years for writing propaganda against the state of Iran, for "cooperating with Israel" and insulting Islamic religious figures.
Derakhshan ignited blogging in Iran by posting simple instructions online on how to create sites in Farsi in 2001. Since then Farsi has overtaken the blogosphere to become the 2nd most used language behind English.
Its widely speculated in political circles that Israel and Iran will go to war sometime in the next 10 years.
September 22, 2010
Toronto blogger facing Death Penalty
CANADA/POLITICS - Hossein Derakhshan, aka "Hoder the Blogfather", became a Canadian citizen during the early 2000s and lived in Toronto for a period of 8 years before visiting Israel and then Iran in 2008.
He'd been operating his blog out of Toronto for many years, showing his fellow Persians online how to create Persian-based websites and blogs. But during his 2008 trip to Iran he was nabbed by Iranian authorities and has been held for the last 2 years under propaganda charges.
Yesterday prosecutors for Derakhshan's case requested the death penalty.
A spokesperson from the Free Hoder campaign called the news “horrific.”
Derakhshan’s cyber crusader story isn't completely clear cut. When radical hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad got into power in 2006 Derakhshan started off as being very critical of Ahmadinejad's regime, but then later did an U-turn and began defending the regime. The controversial move annoyed a lot of his dedicated blog readers.
Before he came to Canada Derakhshan was a newspaper reporter in Tehran before marrying and moving to Canada in 2000. He later got divorced, started his website hoder.com (which is no longer available), and learned how to modify blog software to use the Persian alphabet.
He single handedly started an avalanch of Persian bloggers, which in turn has sparked a revolution of free speech in Iran because now its really easy for Iranians to start their own blog or website and speak out against the atrocities and corruption going on in the country.
FACT: Persian is now the 2nd most used language in the blogosphere. It is the busiest and noisiest in the world.
According to former readers Derakhshan not only pioneered the Persian blogging community, he was instrumental about starting a debate about the rights of bloggers and the threats they face. Derakhshan loves courting controversy too. His trip to Israel and his shifting allegiances in 2006 when he started defending Iran's pursuit of nuclear arms brought in 10,000 visitors per day.
Ironically he even questioned whether jailed citizen-journalist dissidents were really innocent, according to former readers.
While his motivations for his shifting allegiances remain a mystery, when he was jailed in November 2008 after arriving in Tehran for a visit, public outcry at the time was muted. But now that he may be executed for exercising his freedom of speech bloggers around the world have picked up the call for action.
Check out the Free Hussein Derakhshan facebook page.
The video below was made in 2006, prior to Derakhshan's capture in Iran.
Derakhshan is not the only person who has faced or is currently facing execution in Iran:
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani - 43-year-old mother sentenced to death by stoning for adultery in 2006. Iran’s judiciary says it has suspended the stoning sentence but claims that she is also guilty of participating in the murder of her husband. A final decision is still pending.
Hamid Ghassemi-Shall - Iranian-born Canadian has been in detention since a family visit to Iran two years ago. His wife, Antonella Mega, says his appeals have run out and he faces a death sentence. It is unknown what charges he faces.
Helmut Hoffer - German businessman accused of having an illicit sexual relationship with an Iranian woman and sentenced to death in 1998. The sentence was quashed and Hoffer later released in 2000.
Jalil Mahdi Salih Nu’aymi - Swedish citizen executed in 1990 for co-operation with a foreign intelligence service.
Helmut Szimkus - German sentenced to death in 1992 for espionage, later pardoned after intense German lobbying.
Roger Cooper - Businessman and former journalist is sentenced to death for espionage activities in 1985. He eventually served five years and four months in prison.
He'd been operating his blog out of Toronto for many years, showing his fellow Persians online how to create Persian-based websites and blogs. But during his 2008 trip to Iran he was nabbed by Iranian authorities and has been held for the last 2 years under propaganda charges.Yesterday prosecutors for Derakhshan's case requested the death penalty.
A spokesperson from the Free Hoder campaign called the news “horrific.”
Derakhshan’s cyber crusader story isn't completely clear cut. When radical hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad got into power in 2006 Derakhshan started off as being very critical of Ahmadinejad's regime, but then later did an U-turn and began defending the regime. The controversial move annoyed a lot of his dedicated blog readers.
Before he came to Canada Derakhshan was a newspaper reporter in Tehran before marrying and moving to Canada in 2000. He later got divorced, started his website hoder.com (which is no longer available), and learned how to modify blog software to use the Persian alphabet.
He single handedly started an avalanch of Persian bloggers, which in turn has sparked a revolution of free speech in Iran because now its really easy for Iranians to start their own blog or website and speak out against the atrocities and corruption going on in the country.
FACT: Persian is now the 2nd most used language in the blogosphere. It is the busiest and noisiest in the world.
According to former readers Derakhshan not only pioneered the Persian blogging community, he was instrumental about starting a debate about the rights of bloggers and the threats they face. Derakhshan loves courting controversy too. His trip to Israel and his shifting allegiances in 2006 when he started defending Iran's pursuit of nuclear arms brought in 10,000 visitors per day.Ironically he even questioned whether jailed citizen-journalist dissidents were really innocent, according to former readers.
While his motivations for his shifting allegiances remain a mystery, when he was jailed in November 2008 after arriving in Tehran for a visit, public outcry at the time was muted. But now that he may be executed for exercising his freedom of speech bloggers around the world have picked up the call for action.
Check out the Free Hussein Derakhshan facebook page.
The video below was made in 2006, prior to Derakhshan's capture in Iran.
Derakhshan is not the only person who has faced or is currently facing execution in Iran:
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani - 43-year-old mother sentenced to death by stoning for adultery in 2006. Iran’s judiciary says it has suspended the stoning sentence but claims that she is also guilty of participating in the murder of her husband. A final decision is still pending.
Hamid Ghassemi-Shall - Iranian-born Canadian has been in detention since a family visit to Iran two years ago. His wife, Antonella Mega, says his appeals have run out and he faces a death sentence. It is unknown what charges he faces.
Helmut Hoffer - German businessman accused of having an illicit sexual relationship with an Iranian woman and sentenced to death in 1998. The sentence was quashed and Hoffer later released in 2000.
Jalil Mahdi Salih Nu’aymi - Swedish citizen executed in 1990 for co-operation with a foreign intelligence service.
Helmut Szimkus - German sentenced to death in 1992 for espionage, later pardoned after intense German lobbying.
Roger Cooper - Businessman and former journalist is sentenced to death for espionage activities in 1985. He eventually served five years and four months in prison.
September 13, 2010
Baby born on plane dumped in trash
HEALTH - Earlier today a security officer on Manila's airport tarmac in the Philippines noticed something moving in a bag of trash when it was unloaded from a plane and when he unwrapped it found a baby boy wrapped in tissue paper and covered in blood. A young woman had apparently given birth to the child in the plane's washroom and dumped it in the garbage.
The baby was turning blue already and would have died soon had the security officer not noticed the garbage bag moving. The garbage was from a commercial Gulf Air plane from Bahrain which had arrived Sunday night.
The 3 kg (6.6 lb) baby boy was taken to the airport clinic where doctors and nurses washed him, gave him a checkup and warmed him under a lightbulb. Staff donated money to buy him clothing and mittens to keep him warm and milk. His vitals are okay and staff have named him George Francis (due to Gulf Air's code name GF).
The baby has been turned over to social welfare and authorities are now tracking down the mother. Blood stains on a seat near the washroom were found and they are checking the airplanes manifest to determine who had been sitting there.
The mystery baby is believe to belong to a Filipino migrant female worker who had been working in the Middle East as a maid. In Dubai, Gulf Air has launched an internal investigation into the incident.
Doctors who tended the baby said he looked Filipino / Arabic. Approx. 1 in 10 Filipinos works abroad, usually as maids and labourers in the Middle East in an effort to escape crushing poverty and unemployment in the Philippines.
“If she’s a migrant worker, this speaks of the ordeal our overseas workers go through,” says Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman. If the family can't be found the child will be put up for adoption and the government is committed to having the baby boy receive “the very best care” she says.
Even trash can babies need love.
The baby was turning blue already and would have died soon had the security officer not noticed the garbage bag moving. The garbage was from a commercial Gulf Air plane from Bahrain which had arrived Sunday night.The 3 kg (6.6 lb) baby boy was taken to the airport clinic where doctors and nurses washed him, gave him a checkup and warmed him under a lightbulb. Staff donated money to buy him clothing and mittens to keep him warm and milk. His vitals are okay and staff have named him George Francis (due to Gulf Air's code name GF).
The baby has been turned over to social welfare and authorities are now tracking down the mother. Blood stains on a seat near the washroom were found and they are checking the airplanes manifest to determine who had been sitting there.
The mystery baby is believe to belong to a Filipino migrant female worker who had been working in the Middle East as a maid. In Dubai, Gulf Air has launched an internal investigation into the incident.Doctors who tended the baby said he looked Filipino / Arabic. Approx. 1 in 10 Filipinos works abroad, usually as maids and labourers in the Middle East in an effort to escape crushing poverty and unemployment in the Philippines.
“If she’s a migrant worker, this speaks of the ordeal our overseas workers go through,” says Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman. If the family can't be found the child will be put up for adoption and the government is committed to having the baby boy receive “the very best care” she says.
Even trash can babies need love.
September 10, 2010
American soldiers murdered civilians, collected body parts
POLITICS - Preliminary hearings in a gruesome case are expected to begin this Autumn.
The case centers around American soldiers who murdered Afghanistan civilians and then collected their body parts and other momentos as spoils of war. The United States military is taking the crimes very seriously.
Multiple troops in an unit were murdering Afghan civilians and planning more killings. Not everyone in the unit was happy about the murders but they were threatened to keep quiet.
One of the soldiers told his father about the murders and he in turn told the U.S. Army. By the time officials arrested 5 suspects in the unit 2 more Afghan civilians had been killed.
And the soldier, Adam Winfield, who had warned his father was likewise charged in the murders. He is one of 5 soldiers from Fort Lewis charged with conspiracy and premeditated murder, despite being the one who secretly tipped off the military police.
The elder Winfield says his son did not kill anyone and would never have been in the situation if the Army had investigated the warnings sooner. The Pentagon is denying they received any tips about the murders going on.
The U.S. Army's handling of the case is questionable. First they ignored the pleas to stop the murders, then they deny ever being tipped off in the first place. The system makes it very difficult for soldiers to make complaints and report misconduct by their colleagues.
The accused ringleaders include (in order of rank):
Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs
Cpl. Jeremy Morlock
They are accused of collecting fingers and other body parts from Afghan corpses as souvenirs, hoarding illicitly gained weapons as momentos and other spoils of war. They're also accused of dropping weapons beside corpses of unarmed civilians to make them appear to have been combatants, according to the charges filed by Army prosecutors and statements soldiers in the platoon made to investigators.
Pfc. Andrew Holmes and Spc. Michael Wagnon are also charged with murder.
Meanwhile Winfield claims he deliberately shot high and missed in the one murder he was involved with.
All 5 soldiers were in the 5th Stryker Brigade, deployed in July 2009 in Kandahar Province.
The ringleader Gibbs, 25, of Billings, Montana started the conspiracy when he joined the unit and soon began discussing how easy it would be to murder civilians, according to other members of the platoon. Gibbs and Morlock, 22, then planned “scenarios” in which they would murder Afghan civilians, says platoon members.
Gibbs denies plotting the murders at all, but his co-conspirator Morlock, of Wasilla, Alaska, gave investigators extensive statements describing their murder plots. Morlock’s lawyer however wants those statements suppressed because Morlock made the statements while using prescription pain medication used to treat brain injuries.
According to Morlock, he and Gibbs planned and initiated each murder and always enlisted one other soldier to participate.
Christopher Winfield's messages to his wife Emma and his parents over Facebook document what happened after the first killing on January 15th 2010. The Facebook messages will be valuable evidence in proving the guilt of the other soldiers. Winfield however could still be dishonourably discharged for being present at one of the murders and not trying to stop it.
“I’m not sure what to do about something that happened out here but I need to be secretive about this,” he wrote in one Facebook message.
In another message he wrote: “If you talk to anyone on my behalf, I have proof that they are planning another one in the form of an AK-47 they want to drop on a guy.”
Winfield says he didn’t know whom to trust and feared for his safety if his comrades learned he was talking to authorities.
“Should I do the right thing and put myself in danger for it. Or just shut up and deal with it,” he wrote to his parents. “There are no more good men left here. It eats away at my conscience everyday.”
He asked his parents to report the murder via the internet and call an army hotline for him because he couldn't risk other platoon members overhearing him on the phone. Phone records show his father called military officials 5 times that same day.
In one call, an official told the father that if his son wasn’t willing to come forward while deployed, there was nothing the base could do.
Three platoon members say Gibbs threatened Winfield multiple times to stay quiet. Morlock says that Gibbs even planned scenarios for killing Winfield, such as a weightlifting accident or accidental misfiring of a rifle.
One time Gibbs accosted Winfield on his way to speak with a chaplain and warned him to keep quiet, according to investigators. Soldiers are supposed to report misconduct to the army chaplain or military investigators, as per the chain of command.
Other soldiers in the platoon claim there was also drug use going on in the unit, especially hashish smoking. When Pfc. Justin A. Stoner reported the hashish smoking he was beaten by several platoon members. Gibbs and Morlock then paid him a visit, with Gibbs playing with a set of severed fingers, he says.
According to the soldier, Morlock told him “if I don’t want to end up like that guy ... shut the hell up.”
Military police say it was Pfc. Justin A. Stoner who actually tipped them off to the murders going on when he told investigators that Morlock “had three prior kills that none of which I believe were actually justified.”
Food for Thought: There are villains in this world and you have to stand up to them.
The case centers around American soldiers who murdered Afghanistan civilians and then collected their body parts and other momentos as spoils of war. The United States military is taking the crimes very seriously.
Multiple troops in an unit were murdering Afghan civilians and planning more killings. Not everyone in the unit was happy about the murders but they were threatened to keep quiet.
One of the soldiers told his father about the murders and he in turn told the U.S. Army. By the time officials arrested 5 suspects in the unit 2 more Afghan civilians had been killed.
And the soldier, Adam Winfield, who had warned his father was likewise charged in the murders. He is one of 5 soldiers from Fort Lewis charged with conspiracy and premeditated murder, despite being the one who secretly tipped off the military police.
The elder Winfield says his son did not kill anyone and would never have been in the situation if the Army had investigated the warnings sooner. The Pentagon is denying they received any tips about the murders going on.
The U.S. Army's handling of the case is questionable. First they ignored the pleas to stop the murders, then they deny ever being tipped off in the first place. The system makes it very difficult for soldiers to make complaints and report misconduct by their colleagues.
The accused ringleaders include (in order of rank):
Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs
Cpl. Jeremy Morlock
They are accused of collecting fingers and other body parts from Afghan corpses as souvenirs, hoarding illicitly gained weapons as momentos and other spoils of war. They're also accused of dropping weapons beside corpses of unarmed civilians to make them appear to have been combatants, according to the charges filed by Army prosecutors and statements soldiers in the platoon made to investigators.
Pfc. Andrew Holmes and Spc. Michael Wagnon are also charged with murder.
Meanwhile Winfield claims he deliberately shot high and missed in the one murder he was involved with.
All 5 soldiers were in the 5th Stryker Brigade, deployed in July 2009 in Kandahar Province.
The ringleader Gibbs, 25, of Billings, Montana started the conspiracy when he joined the unit and soon began discussing how easy it would be to murder civilians, according to other members of the platoon. Gibbs and Morlock, 22, then planned “scenarios” in which they would murder Afghan civilians, says platoon members.
Gibbs denies plotting the murders at all, but his co-conspirator Morlock, of Wasilla, Alaska, gave investigators extensive statements describing their murder plots. Morlock’s lawyer however wants those statements suppressed because Morlock made the statements while using prescription pain medication used to treat brain injuries.
According to Morlock, he and Gibbs planned and initiated each murder and always enlisted one other soldier to participate.
Christopher Winfield's messages to his wife Emma and his parents over Facebook document what happened after the first killing on January 15th 2010. The Facebook messages will be valuable evidence in proving the guilt of the other soldiers. Winfield however could still be dishonourably discharged for being present at one of the murders and not trying to stop it.
“I’m not sure what to do about something that happened out here but I need to be secretive about this,” he wrote in one Facebook message.
In another message he wrote: “If you talk to anyone on my behalf, I have proof that they are planning another one in the form of an AK-47 they want to drop on a guy.”
Winfield says he didn’t know whom to trust and feared for his safety if his comrades learned he was talking to authorities.
“Should I do the right thing and put myself in danger for it. Or just shut up and deal with it,” he wrote to his parents. “There are no more good men left here. It eats away at my conscience everyday.”
He asked his parents to report the murder via the internet and call an army hotline for him because he couldn't risk other platoon members overhearing him on the phone. Phone records show his father called military officials 5 times that same day.
In one call, an official told the father that if his son wasn’t willing to come forward while deployed, there was nothing the base could do.
Three platoon members say Gibbs threatened Winfield multiple times to stay quiet. Morlock says that Gibbs even planned scenarios for killing Winfield, such as a weightlifting accident or accidental misfiring of a rifle.
One time Gibbs accosted Winfield on his way to speak with a chaplain and warned him to keep quiet, according to investigators. Soldiers are supposed to report misconduct to the army chaplain or military investigators, as per the chain of command.
Other soldiers in the platoon claim there was also drug use going on in the unit, especially hashish smoking. When Pfc. Justin A. Stoner reported the hashish smoking he was beaten by several platoon members. Gibbs and Morlock then paid him a visit, with Gibbs playing with a set of severed fingers, he says.
According to the soldier, Morlock told him “if I don’t want to end up like that guy ... shut the hell up.”
Military police say it was Pfc. Justin A. Stoner who actually tipped them off to the murders going on when he told investigators that Morlock “had three prior kills that none of which I believe were actually justified.”
Food for Thought: There are villains in this world and you have to stand up to them.
September 1, 2010
Iraq War officially over, says Obama
POLITICS - “Operation Iraqi Freedom is over," says United States President Barack Obama.
The declaration was spoken in a live address from the White House's Oval Office, marking the end of American combat operations in Iraq after 7 years of inability to find Weapons of Mass Destruction and the USA presiding over a civil war being Sunnis and Shiites.
Obama praised American soldiers, but admitted they still have work to do in Afghanistan where he now plans to take troops on the offensive. The 50,000 troops currently in Iraq are scheduled to leave by the end of 2011. Some may leave sooner to be restationed in Afghanistan where they are needed for a growing offensive against Taliban strongholds.
The fate of Iraq's feuding Sunni and Shiite factions, to say nothing of the Kurds in the north will have to be dealt with through diplomacy. The toll of the Iraq War includes 4,400 American soldiers killed, almost 32,000 wounded and over 106,000 Iraqi deaths (Stats from Iraqbodycount.com).
Obama didn't assign blame for the Iraq War and its failings. “It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one could doubt President Bush’s support for the troops or his love of country or his commitment to our security,” said Obama.
On the topic of Afghanistan the President renewed his promise to drawback troops there in August 2011, which implies that if the USA still has works to do there it needs to be done more quickly and efficiently. "As was the case in Iraq, we cannot do for Afghans what they must ultimately do for themselves," says Barack Obama.
“The pace of our troop reductions will be determined by conditions on the ground and our support for Afghanistan will endure. But make no mistake – this transition will begin – because open-ended war serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people’s."
America's slow withdrawal of troops from Iraq also means that if war breaks out with Iran or North Korea that the USA will have more experienced troops they are able to draw upon in the event of such a conflict.
The declaration was spoken in a live address from the White House's Oval Office, marking the end of American combat operations in Iraq after 7 years of inability to find Weapons of Mass Destruction and the USA presiding over a civil war being Sunnis and Shiites.Obama praised American soldiers, but admitted they still have work to do in Afghanistan where he now plans to take troops on the offensive. The 50,000 troops currently in Iraq are scheduled to leave by the end of 2011. Some may leave sooner to be restationed in Afghanistan where they are needed for a growing offensive against Taliban strongholds.
The fate of Iraq's feuding Sunni and Shiite factions, to say nothing of the Kurds in the north will have to be dealt with through diplomacy. The toll of the Iraq War includes 4,400 American soldiers killed, almost 32,000 wounded and over 106,000 Iraqi deaths (Stats from Iraqbodycount.com).
Obama didn't assign blame for the Iraq War and its failings. “It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one could doubt President Bush’s support for the troops or his love of country or his commitment to our security,” said Obama.
On the topic of Afghanistan the President renewed his promise to drawback troops there in August 2011, which implies that if the USA still has works to do there it needs to be done more quickly and efficiently. "As was the case in Iraq, we cannot do for Afghans what they must ultimately do for themselves," says Barack Obama.
“The pace of our troop reductions will be determined by conditions on the ground and our support for Afghanistan will endure. But make no mistake – this transition will begin – because open-ended war serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people’s."
America's slow withdrawal of troops from Iraq also means that if war breaks out with Iran or North Korea that the USA will have more experienced troops they are able to draw upon in the event of such a conflict.
August 12, 2010
Hey, Ayatollah, leave those kids alone
ENTERTAINMENT/RELIGION - A Toronto-based band named "Blurred Vision" has the blessing of Pink Floyd to do a cover song and music video of Pink Floyd's "The Wall"... with a slight lyric change: "Hey, Ayatollah, leave those kids alone!", a reference to Iran's tyrranical religious theocracy.
Co-founders and brothers Sohl on bass guitar and Sepp on guitar/singer are garnering attention across the world with their new variation on the old Pink Floyd favourite. Normally Pink Floyd has been against people using their song because they wanted it to be for the right reasons and not for a band just hoping to make a profit. The new protest song isn't about making money and is focused on rebelling against Iran's older generation, and the video utilizes footage from student protests against Iran's fraudulent election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (who according to exit polls should have lost by a long shot). The band also donates much of their profits to human rights organizations operating in Iran.
"Blurred Vision" was formed in 2007 by brothers Sepp and Sohl who fled Iran in 1986 with their family in 1986. Their last name has been kept private for fear of retribution against their family members still living in Iran.
"We did a show in Toronto in September and while we were performing we decided let's play 'Another Brick in the Wall' just for the hell of it and as the chorus line came up I just decided to sing 'hey Ayatollah' instead of 'hey teacher' and when I sang that line the crowd went insane," says Sepp. They later released the music video in February.
The fact Pink Floyd has now endorsed the song has boosted international attention for the song, but its the attention in Iran that they're most interested in.
"We get a lot of e-mails, especially from the younger guys, and I remember we were in London for a film festival where we were there to receive an award for best video and Sohl was translating an e-mail into English. And as he was translating he started crying. The e-mail said, 'It is you guys out there that can keep this going for us, that can keep our voice alive. We're here sort of isolated from the rest of the world, we've been shut down and shut off from the rest of the world and all we can say is just keep our voice alive, keep going to allow us to reach this point of freedom,'" says Sepp.
The members of "Blurred Vision" hope their videos and music will circumvent internet censorship in Iran so that many Iranians can see their message of hope and freedom.
Meanwhile in Iran supporters of the Ayatollah and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are not happy about the music at all and instead are accusing the band of promoting anti-Iranian propaganda and working for the U.S. government. The Ayatollah recently made threats to crackdown on music in Iran's youth culture and banning all music in an attempt to ban subversive lyrics.
The band was also worried about Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters and his approval.
"We were nervous because we're thinking we're coming out with our first release as a Pink Floyd cover and along the lines of musicians and music fans the Floyd can't be touched," says Sepp. "… so we laid the track down and right away we knew that we had to get it over to Roger because he was such a hero to us."
Weeks later Waters gave the band the "green light."
"We got the e-mail back from the Roger Waters camp and it said you have Roger Water's blessing and not only that but this track is now in your hands it's now yours as its title "Hey Ayatollah, leave those kids alone," says Sepp. "For me and Sohl it was one of the most unbelievable moments in our musical lives."
"I think it's great that these guys are using the song to protest against the repressive and brutal regime in Iran," says Waters. "I am proud to be a small part of this resistance." "I think The Blurred Vision video is very accomplished and makes its point powerfully," he adds.
Their next song due to be released is titled "Democracy".
"Subversive lyrics are more deeply felt by people who have had their freedoms restricted and taken away."
Co-founders and brothers Sohl on bass guitar and Sepp on guitar/singer are garnering attention across the world with their new variation on the old Pink Floyd favourite. Normally Pink Floyd has been against people using their song because they wanted it to be for the right reasons and not for a band just hoping to make a profit. The new protest song isn't about making money and is focused on rebelling against Iran's older generation, and the video utilizes footage from student protests against Iran's fraudulent election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (who according to exit polls should have lost by a long shot). The band also donates much of their profits to human rights organizations operating in Iran."Blurred Vision" was formed in 2007 by brothers Sepp and Sohl who fled Iran in 1986 with their family in 1986. Their last name has been kept private for fear of retribution against their family members still living in Iran.
"We did a show in Toronto in September and while we were performing we decided let's play 'Another Brick in the Wall' just for the hell of it and as the chorus line came up I just decided to sing 'hey Ayatollah' instead of 'hey teacher' and when I sang that line the crowd went insane," says Sepp. They later released the music video in February.
The fact Pink Floyd has now endorsed the song has boosted international attention for the song, but its the attention in Iran that they're most interested in.
"We get a lot of e-mails, especially from the younger guys, and I remember we were in London for a film festival where we were there to receive an award for best video and Sohl was translating an e-mail into English. And as he was translating he started crying. The e-mail said, 'It is you guys out there that can keep this going for us, that can keep our voice alive. We're here sort of isolated from the rest of the world, we've been shut down and shut off from the rest of the world and all we can say is just keep our voice alive, keep going to allow us to reach this point of freedom,'" says Sepp.
The members of "Blurred Vision" hope their videos and music will circumvent internet censorship in Iran so that many Iranians can see their message of hope and freedom.
Meanwhile in Iran supporters of the Ayatollah and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are not happy about the music at all and instead are accusing the band of promoting anti-Iranian propaganda and working for the U.S. government. The Ayatollah recently made threats to crackdown on music in Iran's youth culture and banning all music in an attempt to ban subversive lyrics.
The band was also worried about Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters and his approval.
"We were nervous because we're thinking we're coming out with our first release as a Pink Floyd cover and along the lines of musicians and music fans the Floyd can't be touched," says Sepp. "… so we laid the track down and right away we knew that we had to get it over to Roger because he was such a hero to us."
Weeks later Waters gave the band the "green light."
"We got the e-mail back from the Roger Waters camp and it said you have Roger Water's blessing and not only that but this track is now in your hands it's now yours as its title "Hey Ayatollah, leave those kids alone," says Sepp. "For me and Sohl it was one of the most unbelievable moments in our musical lives."
"I think it's great that these guys are using the song to protest against the repressive and brutal regime in Iran," says Waters. "I am proud to be a small part of this resistance." "I think The Blurred Vision video is very accomplished and makes its point powerfully," he adds.
Their next song due to be released is titled "Democracy".
"Subversive lyrics are more deeply felt by people who have had their freedoms restricted and taken away."
August 10, 2010
Castro accuses USA of seeking nuclear war
POLITICS - Fidel Castro turns 84 next week but he is as feisty as ever. In a speech before the Cuban parliament Saturday, his first official visit in 4 years, Fidel Castro accused the United States of seeking nuclear war with North Korea and Israel of seeking nuclear war with Iran.
Surprisingly healthy-looking despite his recent health problems Fidel Castro appealed to President Barack Obama and other wealthy nations in his 11-minute speech to prevent a global nuclear war. It was a short speech compared to his normal hour long speeches he has given in decades past.
Castro has been writing and talking about the topic of nuclear war in recent months, believes that the United States and Israel will attack Iran and North Korea and suggests such a war will have dire consequences.
After the speech the floor was opened up to questions. One parliamentarian asked if Obama would be capable of starting a nuclear war and Castro replied, “No, not if we persuade him not to.”
“Fidel, Fidel, Fidel! Long live Fidel!” participants later chanted. Fidel Castro has been absent from politics since his emergency intestinal surgery in 2006 and his younger brother Raul has been leading the Cuban government in his absence. After the speech Fidel didn't sit in his normal chair, which had been reserved for him while he was gone, but instead sat beside a minister.
Fidel Castro has been the leader of Cuba for 50 years, ever since his band of revolutionaries toppled Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista on New Year’s Day 1959.
Surprisingly healthy-looking despite his recent health problems Fidel Castro appealed to President Barack Obama and other wealthy nations in his 11-minute speech to prevent a global nuclear war. It was a short speech compared to his normal hour long speeches he has given in decades past.Castro has been writing and talking about the topic of nuclear war in recent months, believes that the United States and Israel will attack Iran and North Korea and suggests such a war will have dire consequences.
After the speech the floor was opened up to questions. One parliamentarian asked if Obama would be capable of starting a nuclear war and Castro replied, “No, not if we persuade him not to.”
“Fidel, Fidel, Fidel! Long live Fidel!” participants later chanted. Fidel Castro has been absent from politics since his emergency intestinal surgery in 2006 and his younger brother Raul has been leading the Cuban government in his absence. After the speech Fidel didn't sit in his normal chair, which had been reserved for him while he was gone, but instead sat beside a minister.
Fidel Castro has been the leader of Cuba for 50 years, ever since his band of revolutionaries toppled Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista on New Year’s Day 1959.
August 4, 2010
Assassination attempt on Iranian President
POLITICS - An explosion near Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's convoy was an assassination attempt, but Iran's government is now claiming it was just fireworks set by a fan of the president.
According to other reports however it was a handmade grenade that was thrown at Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's convoy while en route to the airport. The explosion was delayed and caused a lot of smoke and the convoy was tens of meters away before it exploded. The Iranian president was unharmed by the explosion and he made his speech at the airport at the scheduled time, making no comment about the explosion and instead defending Iran's nuclear weapons program.
The United States, Israel and allies wants Iran to stop trying to develop atomic weapons. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insists their atomic research is only for peaceful energy purposes. Iran has been enriching uranium for the purposes of making plutonium, which is only used in nuclear weapons and isn't used in nuclear energy because its too unstable.
Ahmadinejad accused the USA of "resorting to lies" and bullying Iran with threats of war.
Iranian police arrested one man in connection with the homemade grenade attack, but insist the explosion wasn't near Ahmadinejad's car.
Ahmadinejad's popularity is waning in Iran because the economy is sluggish and faltering due to economic sanctions. He is touring the country giving speeches to boost his support. Having an assassination attempt will only put media pressure on the fact his support is weakening.
On Monday Ahmadinejad said during a speech that Israel had sent agents in an attempt to assassinate him, but refused to give details. A Kurdish group was caught a daily earlier in Tehran which was apparently planning an assassination attempt.
According to other reports however it was a handmade grenade that was thrown at Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's convoy while en route to the airport. The explosion was delayed and caused a lot of smoke and the convoy was tens of meters away before it exploded. The Iranian president was unharmed by the explosion and he made his speech at the airport at the scheduled time, making no comment about the explosion and instead defending Iran's nuclear weapons program.The United States, Israel and allies wants Iran to stop trying to develop atomic weapons. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insists their atomic research is only for peaceful energy purposes. Iran has been enriching uranium for the purposes of making plutonium, which is only used in nuclear weapons and isn't used in nuclear energy because its too unstable.
Ahmadinejad accused the USA of "resorting to lies" and bullying Iran with threats of war.
Iranian police arrested one man in connection with the homemade grenade attack, but insist the explosion wasn't near Ahmadinejad's car.
Ahmadinejad's popularity is waning in Iran because the economy is sluggish and faltering due to economic sanctions. He is touring the country giving speeches to boost his support. Having an assassination attempt will only put media pressure on the fact his support is weakening.
On Monday Ahmadinejad said during a speech that Israel had sent agents in an attempt to assassinate him, but refused to give details. A Kurdish group was caught a daily earlier in Tehran which was apparently planning an assassination attempt.
July 19, 2010
Pink Panthers strike again
ENTERTAINMENT - Okay technically the Pink Panther was the name of the diamond stolen by The Phantom several times within the film series, but British newspapers have dubbed a team of jewel thieves from Montenegro which have struck in London, Paris, Tokyo, Dubai and have thus far stolen over $250 million USD worth of jewelry.
One of the members, Milan Jovetic, was caught 7 years ago with a diamond worth $1 million USD hidden in his girlfriend's jar of face cream, like Lady Claudine hid the diamond in the film "The Return of the Pink Panther". The British press had fun with that and the name Pink Panthers has stuck ever since.
Milan Jovetic helped rob London's Graff store on New Bond Street of $30 million worth of diamonds.
Since then a pattern of high profile jewelry heists have caused Interpol to set up “Project Pink Panthers” in an effort to catch the jewel thieves. They are investigating 190 incidents in 27 countries across 4 continents.
Jovetic was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison of which he served four. He is now back in Montenegro and something of a celebrity. He won't even talk to reporters unless they're paying him.
Supporters of the Pink Panthers compare them to Robin Hood and note that while they do sometimes carry guns, they have never killed or even shot at anyone. They've been on the run since the late 1990s and most of them have managed to avoid getting caught.
Interpol believes there is about 40 members of the Pink Panthers, but only 25 arrests have ever been made in recent years. There's also been about 400 people investigated as being accomplices or lackeys. Most of the members come from Montenegro or Serbia and are affiliated with Balkan crime syndicates.
Their robbery tactics are much simpler than the cat-burglar tactics used by The Phantom in The Return of the Pink Panther".
Typically a well-dressed man distracts the clerk (often by pointing a gun at them) while a team smashes jewelry casings and loots the place before they flee in stolen cars.
In Tokyo in 2004 they wore wigs, pepper-sprayed the clerk and stole a $27 million diamond necklace.
Last December three members, two men and a woman, were convicted for stealing $31.5 million worth of jewels, including an 125-carat necklace. The jewelry however was never found.
Its believed the group is contracted by someone within a large diamond corporation which is able to fence the jewelry without raising suspicion. The diamonds can be recut and reshaped making them easier to sell.
During a 2007 heist in Dubai two cars drove into a lobby of the Wafi shopping mall and backed into a jewelry store window, grabbing approx. $3.5 million worth of jewels. The incident was caught on a cellphone camera.
Dubai police later arrested 8 suspects, but the Pink Panthers continues to operate under a code of silence making it difficult to get convictions.
One of the members, Milan Jovetic, was caught 7 years ago with a diamond worth $1 million USD hidden in his girlfriend's jar of face cream, like Lady Claudine hid the diamond in the film "The Return of the Pink Panther". The British press had fun with that and the name Pink Panthers has stuck ever since.Milan Jovetic helped rob London's Graff store on New Bond Street of $30 million worth of diamonds.
Since then a pattern of high profile jewelry heists have caused Interpol to set up “Project Pink Panthers” in an effort to catch the jewel thieves. They are investigating 190 incidents in 27 countries across 4 continents.
Jovetic was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison of which he served four. He is now back in Montenegro and something of a celebrity. He won't even talk to reporters unless they're paying him.
Supporters of the Pink Panthers compare them to Robin Hood and note that while they do sometimes carry guns, they have never killed or even shot at anyone. They've been on the run since the late 1990s and most of them have managed to avoid getting caught.Interpol believes there is about 40 members of the Pink Panthers, but only 25 arrests have ever been made in recent years. There's also been about 400 people investigated as being accomplices or lackeys. Most of the members come from Montenegro or Serbia and are affiliated with Balkan crime syndicates.
Their robbery tactics are much simpler than the cat-burglar tactics used by The Phantom in The Return of the Pink Panther".
Typically a well-dressed man distracts the clerk (often by pointing a gun at them) while a team smashes jewelry casings and loots the place before they flee in stolen cars.
In Tokyo in 2004 they wore wigs, pepper-sprayed the clerk and stole a $27 million diamond necklace.
Last December three members, two men and a woman, were convicted for stealing $31.5 million worth of jewels, including an 125-carat necklace. The jewelry however was never found.
Its believed the group is contracted by someone within a large diamond corporation which is able to fence the jewelry without raising suspicion. The diamonds can be recut and reshaped making them easier to sell.
During a 2007 heist in Dubai two cars drove into a lobby of the Wafi shopping mall and backed into a jewelry store window, grabbing approx. $3.5 million worth of jewels. The incident was caught on a cellphone camera.
Dubai police later arrested 8 suspects, but the Pink Panthers continues to operate under a code of silence making it difficult to get convictions.
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