read this, skip nothing

Who exactly ordered those destroyers against Korea? (Foreign Policy)

attemptsatwisdom — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:28:10 -0400

Who exactly ordered those destroyers against Korea? (Foreign Policy)

Forget the B-2s over Seoul, worry more that the Pentagon sent THAADs to Guam (Foreign Policy)

attemptsatwisdom — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:58:52 -0400

Forget the B-2s over Seoul, worry more that the Pentagon sent THAADs to Guam (Foreign Policy):

“The Pentagon announced on Wednesday it was sending the mobile, land-based missile defense system THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) to Guam. It’s the latest sign the U.S. believes North Korea may indeed launch a missile — perhaps even a nuclear-tipped missile — across the Western Pacific at a U.S. military target.

The truck-mounted missile system is designed to shoot down short- and medium-range ballistic missiles within 250 kilometers, serving as an umbrella system for large theaters of operation. It is also able to target missiles outside the atmosphere, giving it a higher range than the Patriot system.”

Nobody Home at the State Department (Foreign Policy)

attemptsatwisdom — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:23:12 -0400

Nobody Home at the State Department (Foreign Policy):

“Two months into Secretary of State John Kerry’s tenure, a large number of senior State Department positions remain vacant, and the process to fill them seems indefinitely stalled, officials inside the department tellThe Cable.

When Kerry’s predecessor, Hillary Clinton, came into office, she negotiated for herself 100 percent control over State Department appointments and largely kept Obama campaign officials at arms’ length. Kerry has no such deal with the White House, and his office is only one voice in a White House-managed appointment process that is moving as slowly as molasses, several State Department officials and insiders say.”

Video: Swedish plane bombs Belarus with teddy bears (NATO Source)

attemptsatwisdom — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:06:52 -0400

Video: Swedish plane bombs Belarus with teddy bears (NATO Source):

“On 4 July, Swedish amateur pilots penetrated Belarus’ airspace according to an email received by Belarus Digest. Their small aircraft crossed the Lithuanian-Belarusian border and parachuted hundreds of teddy-bears with notes of support for the freedom of speech. Covered by some Belarusian and Swedish media, but denied by the Belarusian authorities, the flight has generated more publicity than some of the pro-democracy initiatives by civil society groups and the EU in Belarus.”

NATO nixes Syria action plan (Hürriyet)

attemptsatwisdom — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 05:40:15 -0400

NATO nixes Syria action plan (Hürriyet):

“NATO rejected Turkey’s request for the adoption of a contingency plan to include the establishment a no-fly zone over Syrian airspace, which was made during a meeting last week in Brussels after Turkey invoked Article Four of the NATO Treaty in response to Syria’s downing of a Turkish jet in international airspace. “

Foreigners not eligible for exotic dance job (Hürriyet)

attemptsatwisdom — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 05:38:21 -0400

Foreigners not eligible for exotic dance job (Hürriyet):

“’If there’s a risk of exploitation, a risk of human trafficking for that individual, then we’re going to protect that individual and say no,’[Canadian Human Resources Minister, Diane Finley] said.”

Syrian military says it downed Turkish fighter jet (BBC)

attemptsatwisdom — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 04:08:02 -0400

Syrian military says it downed Turkish fighter jet (BBC):

“A spokesman said the plane, an F-4 Phantom, was dealt with ‘according to the laws that govern such situations’, the state news agency Sana said.

The Turkish prime minister said his country would ‘take the necessary steps’ once all the facts were known.

The Turkish and Syrian navies are meanwhile engaged in a joint search for the two missing crew members.”

Britain stops Russian ship carrying attack helicopters for Syria (Telegraph)

scdub — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 07:17:13 -0400

Britain stops Russian ship carrying attack helicopters for Syria (Telegraph):

“A Russian ship believed to be carrying helicopters and missiles for Syria has been effectively stopped in its tracks off the coast of Scotland after its insurance was cancelled at the behest of the British government.

British security officials confirmed they had told Standard Club that providing insurance to the shipment was likely to be a breach of European Union sanctions against the Syrian regime.”

Pakistan Supreme Court bans PM Gilani from office (BBC)

scdub — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 07:11:43 -0400

Pakistan Supreme Court bans PM Gilani from office (BBC):

“Pakistan’s top court has disqualified Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from holding office, two months after convicting him of contempt of court.

In April, the Supreme Court convicted Mr Gilani of failing to pursue corruption charges against President Asif Ali Zardari.

… the governing Pakistan People’s Party is in emergency session to decide its next move.

It has the necessary majority in parliament to elect a successor to Mr Gilani.”

Iran and Saudi Arabia tensions threaten to erupt (Independent)

scdub — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:31:00 -0400

Iran and Saudi Arabia tensions threaten to erupt (Independent):

“Simmering tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia are threatening to erupt into a full-blown diplomatic showdown after Saudi authorities executed at least four Iranians for drug trafficking.

In the latest in a series of spats between the two Persian Gulf neighbours, at loggerheads over Iran’s suspect nuclear programme, Tehran publicly accused Riyadh of ‘inhumane actions’ in carrying out the executions and warned of ‘repercussions’. “

US threatens sanctions on Somalis who block peace plan (BBC)

scdub — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 07:35:11 -0400

US threatens sanctions on Somalis who block peace plan (BBC):

“Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson was speaking after making the first visit by a top US official in two decades.

He said his trip to Mogadishu was to acknowledge “significant progress” made against al-Shabab militants.

…the US envoy was in and out of the Somali capital in a matter of hours on Sunday, but during his key visit met the Somali president, prime minister and other members of the Transitional Federal Government.

Mr Carson said the US would impose sanctions on anyone standing in the way of the political process now under way.”

Putin, Ahmadinejad to meet in Beijing (Iran Focus)

scdub — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 21:18:36 -0400

Putin, Ahmadinejad to meet in Beijing (Iran Focus):

“Russian President Vladimir Putin says he’ll talk with Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Beijing.

The Putin-Ahmadinejad talks in Beijing come as the Russian president prepares to host the so-called “P5+1” group — the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany — this month in a round of negotiations on aimed at halting Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons program.

The Kremlin made the announcement Sunday through Yuri Ushakov, a former ambassador to the United States who advises the Russian leader on foreign policy, RIA Novosti reported.”

Students sentenced to eight years for banner in Turkey (Hurriyet)

scdub — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 21:17:21 -0400

Students sentenced to eight years for banner in Turkey (Hurriyet) :

“Two students who staged a protest in 2010 to demand free education were sentenced to eight years and five months in prison yesterday by a Turkish court.

The students, Berna Yılmaz and Ferhat Tüzer, unfurled a banner reading: “We want free education, we will get it,” during a meeting between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Roma citizens on March 14, 2010.

Berna Yılmaz and Ferhat Tüzer have already spent one and a half year in jail under arrest. They were released in October 2011, after the previous prosecutor of the case, Kasım İlimoğlu, requested the students’ acquittal, arguing their act was constitutional and fell within the limits of the freedom of expression.

However, Prosecutor Adem Özcan, who replaced İlimoğlu following his appointment to the case, demanded on March 9 that the students, Ferhat Tüzer, Berna Yılmaz and another suspect Utku Aykar, be sentenced on charges of membership of a terrorist organization. Ferhat Tüzer, a mechanical engineering student at Trakya University, Berna Yılmaz, an anthropology student at Ankara University and the other suspect Utku Aykar opened a banner demanding free education during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s meeting with the Roma community in March 2010.

Tüzer and Yılmaz were subsequently arrested but later released after remaining behind bars for 18 months, while Aykar was tried without arrest.”

Russian parliament backs huge protest fines (BBC)

attemptsatwisdom — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 07:16:17 -0400

Russian parliament backs huge protest fines (BBC):

“Under the legislation, people could be fined for taking part in unsanctioned protests, or for violations during sanctioned ones.

Human rights activists have said that the bill violates Russia’s constitution on the right to free assembly.”

Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of killing five soldiers (BBC)

attemptsatwisdom — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:09:51 -0400

Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of killing five soldiers (BBC):

“Speaking in Armenia on Monday, [US Secretary of State] Clinton said: ‘I am very concerned by these incidents and have called on all parties, all actors, to refrain from the use or threat of force.

‘There is a danger that it could escalate into a much broader conflict that would be very tragic for everyone concerned’”

Putin arrives for key China visit (BBC)

scdub — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 06:22:21 -0400

Putin arrives for key China visit (BBC):

“Russian President Vladimir Putin is beginning a three-day visit to China, with energy and foreign policy expected to dominate the agenda.

Mr Putin said ahead of the trip that he wanted to further boost booming bilateral trade, which reached $84bn (£55bn) last year.

The Syrian crisis is also expected to be discussed during the talks.

Some 17 major business and trade deals between Russia and China are expected to be signed in Beijing, Mr Putin’s aides say.

But it remains unclear whether this will include a long-awaited gas agreement that would allow Moscow to supply some 70bn cubic metres of gas to its neighbour.”

Japan Ramping Up Plutonium Production Despite Reactor Shutdowns (Global Security Newswire)

scdub — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 06:54:02 -0400

Japan Ramping Up Plutonium Production Despite Reactor Shutdowns (Global Security Newswire):

“Japan’s atomic industry over the next year plans to produce half a ton of plutonium, even though all of the nuclear power plants that could utilize the fuel source are disabled or inactive, the Associated Press reported on Friday.

The country’s considerable plutonium reserve, which is enough to build roughly 5,000 rudimentary nuclear bombs, has raised security concerns from among nonproliferation specialists.

The industry justifies its plutonium production plans by arguing the surplus stocks will eventually be needed when a number of planned reactors are finally built and activated. The future reactors will run on mixed-oxide fuel, which is a blend of uranium and plutonium, Federation of Electric Power Companies spokesman Kimitake Yoshida said.”

Israel, US 'discuss new Iran sanctions' (France24)

scdub — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 06:48:52 -0400

Israel, US 'discuss new Iran sanctions' (France24):

“Israel and the United States are discussing a new raft of sanctions that could be imposed on Iran if the next round of talks between world powers and Tehran fail, Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Monday.

US Treasury Undersecretary David Cohen said in an interview with the newspaper the sanctions would be imposed if talks in Russia slated for mid-June failed to halt Iran’s nuclear programme.

Iran and the so-called P5+1 powers, comprising the United States, Russia, France, Britain, China and Germany, have held two rounds of talks already, and are scheduled for third meeting in Moscow on June 18-19 as a July 1 deadline looms for the enforcement of an EU embargo on Iranian oil.”

Why are the French getting an 'MP for London'? (BBC)

attemptsatwisdom — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 03:32:42 -0400

Why are the French getting an 'MP for London'? (BBC):

“[French ex-pats] will soon be represented by a new French MP for the recently established Northern Europe constituency comprising the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and the Baltic states…The decision to create new constituencies for the French abroad was taken by former president Nicolas Sarkozy, whose government passed legislation in 2008 to give them the right to elect their own MPs.”

Mexican youth protest in streets against corporate media and PRI candidate (WashPo)

scdub — Thu, 31 May 2012 07:34:35 -0400

Mexican youth protest in streets against corporate media and PRI candidate (WashPo):

“Members of the under-25 demographic are calling out the country’s duopolistic media companies and politically cozy broadcasters as propaganda masters and kingmakers — while warning that the front-running candidate, the telegenic Cheshire Cat named Enrique Peña Nieto, is an empty suit.

The only problem with this narrative is that more young people support Peña Nieto than his challengers, according to the polls, which may make the protests here, led by urban university students, a well-meaning but ultimately meaningless blip.

Yet the stakes, for Mexico, and the United States, are high: a possible comeback by Peña Nieto’s Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which ran Mexico with an autocratic combination of corruption and coercion for 71 years until it was tossed out in 2000. A month before the vote, Peña Nieto is up in the polls by double digits.”