1.: NATO Proxies Retreat From Sirte

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:56 pm (PDT)

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/10/13/58673435.html

Itar-Tass
October 13, 2011

NTC forces retreat from Sirte

Forces loyal to Libya's rebel National Transitional Council have retreated from Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte on Thursday, Arab media outlets said on Thursday, citing a flurry of attacks by Gaddafi loyalists earlier in the day.

Last week, an NTC spokesman claimed that 80 percent of Sirte was being controlled by the rebels and that they will soon launch what will be their "final assault" on the city.

...
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2.: NATO's Use Of Kosovo War Model Disastrous For Syria, Middle East

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:56 pm (PDT)

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90780/7616492.html

People's Daily
October 13, 2011

Military force, sanctions cannot solve Syrian crisis
By Huang Peizhao
Edited and Translated by Han Shasha

-It is worrying that Syria has become a "new target" when the war in Libya is coming to an end. According to the reports by media agencies in West Asia, Western countries will possibly bypass the U.N. Security Council to adopt the "pattern of Kosovo" to handle the crisis in Syria.

The European Union Conference of Foreign Ministers was held in Luxemburg on Oct. 10. The conference made a statement harshly condemning the Syrian government for bloodily suppressing civilians and requiring Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down to complete the political transition in Syria.

In fact, Western countries are strengthening their sanctions against Syria and will use military force if necessary in order to force Syria to do things according to democracy, freedom and human rights standards set by the west. The Resolution on the Syrian Issue drafted recently by France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Portugal was proof. Because of the vetoes from China and Russia, the United Nations Security Council did not approve the resolution.

Arab media said that the resolution on the Syrian issue drafted by Western countries covers content that flagrantly interferes in the internal affairs of a sovereign country and tries to put the national situation in Syria on the same road of development as Libya. China and Russia's decision to exercise their veto power is to safeguard the tenet of the Charter of the United Nations and the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs and maintenance of the peace and stability in Syria and the entire West Asia region.

It reflects that China is a country with principles, responsibilities and a sense of justice. Media of West Asia [Middle East] believe that if the resolution had been approved, it meant that the door had been opened for possible military interference from Western countries. The flames of war will appear in West Asia once again, and West Asia will fall into a more uncertain situation. Therefore, it could be said that the vetoes from China and Russia have stopped Syria from walking on the old road of Libya.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recently stressed that Russia will not allow Western countries to turn the United Nations into a tool for toppling political regimes of other countries and the United Nations was not founded for this purpose. Furthermore, Russia is opposed to the proposal to file an ultimatum to Syria. This has also echoed the desires of China and countries including India, South Africa, Brazil and Lebanon, which were absent from the vote, to preserve the foundation and tenet of the Charter of the United Nations. According to latest news, the Russian foreign minister has disclosed that Russia is working with China to formulate a new resolution on Syria that is "more fair and balanced."

It is worrying that Syria has become a "new target" when the war in Libya is coming to an end. According to the reports by media agencies in West Asia, Western countries will possibly bypass the U.N. Security Council to adopt the "pattern of Kosovo" to handle the crisis in Syria. Some Arab scholars said that Syria is considered a major player in West Asia and is of significance to almost every country in the region. Any change in Syria will affect the overall situation in the region, showing its geopolitical importance and sensitiveness to the region. It is estimated that any military attack against Syria will pose a broad and deep impact on the region and even lead to disastrous consequences.

It has been proven again and again that violence is no solution, and only makes things worse. In order to fix the deteriorating situation in Syria, all parties involved should try prudent self-restraint, immediately stop all acts of violence, push the Syrian government to honor its reform promises and promote the formation of a Syria-led inclusive political process. At the same time, effective measures should be taken to protect the rights of the Syrian people so as to complexly resolve the crisis.

When trying to help resolve the Syria crisis, the international community should adhere to the aims and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, especially the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. Major powers should make constructive efforts to ease the explosive situation in Syria, to promote the use of political dialogue in settling differences and disputes and to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, instead of adding fuel to the fire by threatening to use force.
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3.: U.S., NATO Could Continue To Use Kyrgyz Air Base After 2014

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:57 pm (PDT)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-13/kyrgyzstan-open-to-u-s-access-to-manas-air-base-after-2014.html

Bloomberg News
October 13, 2011

Kyrgyzstan Open to U.S. Access to Manas Air Base After 2014
By Bill Varner and Flavia Krause-Jackson

-In May 2010, 55,000 troops passed through Manas...

Kyrgyzstan is open to extending U.S. military access to the Manas Transit Center, used to supply U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Afghanistan, following the planned 2014 departure of the troops.

"If the American government officially requests prolongation of our bilateral agreement, we will certainly consider it in due course," Talaibek Kydyrov, Kyrgyzstan's ambassador to the United Nations, said in a written answer to questions. "Transit facilities and infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan could play an even more effective role after 2014..."

Kyrgyzstan previously suggested the U.S. would have to leave the Manas base after 2014. The base will become a civilian hub, the Russian news service Interfax said on Aug. 30, citing Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev.
The U.S. is paying $77.1 million a year for use of Manas, according to the Congressional Research Service. In May 2010, 55,000 troops passed through Manas, served by 850 soldiers and 750 contractors, according to CRS. The leasehold was renegotiated in 2009, when the yearly rent was raised to $60 million a year from $17.4 million. That excludes jet fuel payments and money paid for upgrades to the air base's infrastructure.

...
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4.: NATO In Air Corridors Deal With Libya, Egypt, Tunisia And Malta

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:57 pm (PDT)

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111013/local/libya-nato-agree-on-air-corridors-for-civilian-aircraft-during-malta-meeting.389036

Times of Malta
October 13, 2011

Libya, Nato sign air corridors agreement in Malta

Libyan and Nato officials meeting in Malta have signed an agreement on the establishment of air corridors to be used by civil aviation.

The air corridors will cover flights which will link Benghazi to the rest of the world and Benghazi to Tripoli and Misurata...

The agreement applies with immediate effect, despite the United Nations no-fly zone over Libya.

The signing took place at the Hilton Hotel during a conference which grouped air traffic controllers from Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Nato and Malta.

Libyan Provisional Government Transport Minister Anwar El Feitori signed for Libya and Lt General Ralph J. Jodice for Nato.

Officials explained that over the past few months, the limited air traffic over Libya has been coordinated from Malta and other neighbouring countries. The lifting of the UN-imposed No Fly Zone will take place gradually.

...
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5.: General: NATO Missile Shield In Turkey Endangers Iranian Interests

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:57 pm (PDT)

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9007160746

Fars News Agency
October 13, 2011

General Sees NATO Missile Shield in Turkey Endangering Iran's Interests

TEHRAN: An Iranian General warned Ankara to rethink its decision on hosting a NATO missile shield as the move is a direct threat to Iran's interests.

"The installation of a NATO anti-ballistic missile systems in Turkey threatens Iran's national interests," Iranian military expert General Hossein Alayi said in an interview with "irdiplomacy.ir".

"NATO has declared that Turkey will host the NATO ABM to be protected from Iranian or Russian missile attacks, while Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says they are not against Iran," said the expert.

The Iranian expert stated that those are diplomatic statements which are not warranted.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Defense Minister General Ahmad Vahidi and many more have expressed deep concerns over Turkey's decision to host a NATO missile battery.
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6.: U.S. Senators Recommend Stationing Troops In Georgia

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:57 pm (PDT)

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/64314

EurasiaNet
October 13, 2011

U.S. Senators Recommend Stationing Troops In Georgia
Joshua Kucera

A Washington task force headed by two U.S. senators has released a report on Georgia and its relations with the U.S. and Europe, "Georgia in the West: A Policy Road Map to Georgia's Euro-Atlantic Future." It makes a variety of recommendations for U.S., European and Georgian policymakers, including some provocative ones in the security realm:

- Propose an international security presence in the occupied territories: As part of an effort to go on the offense diplomatically, the United States should work with its allies to lay out a clear vision of what security arrangements should be in the context of a fully implemented cease-fire agreement: in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in which additional Russian forces and border guards have withdrawn and security is provided by a neutral international security presence working closely with local authorities...

- Advance Georgia's NATO aspirations. US officials should use the NATO summit in Chicago to advance NATO's commitment to Georgia's membership aspirations in practical ways, including by adopting a package of intensified cooperation, reiterating that Georgia will become an ally, and making clear that the NATO-Georgia Commission and Georgia's Annual National Programme are mechanisms through which Georgia can eventually achieve membership...

- Bolster the US footprint in Georgia. Georgia's security strategy is premised on deterrence. Any US presence in Georgia helps to augment that deterrence, and just as importantly, reinforces a psychological sense of security among the population. In the absence of formal security guarantees, the United States should augment a small military footprint associated with its: 1) program to train Georgian forces for coalition operations; 2) support to NATO's Partnership for Peace Training Center; and 3) facilities and logistics to handle transit of forces and equipment from Afghanistan now and, in smaller numbers, in the future, and to serve as a logistics hub for access to Central Asia.

- Normalize military-to-military relations. US officials should normalize military-to-military relations with Georgia, including restarting defensive arms sales and Special Forces training. Any procurement agreements should help Georgia to better defend itself, participate in coalitions operations, and meet NATO Partnership Goals. These efforts should proceed in a manner that makes clear that the US decision is linked to the Georgian government's continuing commitment to its nonuseof-force pledge; is in coordination with NATO allies to avoid surprises among potentially skeptical allies, and to ensure similar moves by allies who have had traditional defense relationships with Georgia; and ensures transparency in all US defense cooperation with Georgia.

- Join the EU Monitoring Mission. The EUMM has won the respect of all actors, including Russia, and is in a position to expand its role to ensure greater transparency along the occupation lines. Working off the precedent of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), the United States should consider participating in the EUMM, along with other third parties.

Particularly striking is the proposal to station U.S. troops in Georgia as a method of deterrence. On the surface, it seems like an aggressive move, and a reckless one: does the U.S. really want to be the tripwire in Georgia in case Russia does something? And what if Georgia starts something with Russia, and then U.S. troops are in the middle of a war: what do they do?...

[T]he list could be titled "Ways For The U.S. To Antagonize Russia." When I was in Moscow, I met with Yevgeny Buzhinsky, until last year the Russian MoD's top international cooperation official, and asked him what would happen if the U.S. started selling weapons to Georgia:

"Of course, it would spoil our relations. Georgia is a very special case, and if I were an American decisionmaker, I would give a very low profile to Georgia for the time being...if you want to antagonize Russia, you can forget about transit [i.e. Russia's cooperation on shipping military cargo to Afghanistan]. It will again be a 'Cold Peace.'"

...
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7.: Four NATO Oil Tankers Set Ablaze In Pakistan

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:57 pm (PDT)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hRVtwqWoAFmCzWJfpiBksLeoUF1g?docId=CNG.b3174af5b2dab53399ff7c43047374eb.431

Agence France-Presse
October 13, 2011

Four NATO oil tankers torched in Pakistan

KARACHI: Gunmen on Thursday torched four oil tankers in southern Pakistan carrying fuel for NATO troops in Afghanistan, police said.

Gunmen attacked the vehicles, parked at a roadside restaurant near the agricultural town of Shikarpur, 400 kilometres (250 miles) north of Karachi, police official Ashraf Chandio told AFP by telephone.

The assailants fired several rounds of bullets on the vehicles with automatic weapons and after setting them on fire fled on motorbikes, Chandio said, adding that there were no casualties.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred in Sindh province. It was the first such attack in the province in nearly two and half months.

...

Pakistan is the largest single route into Afghanistan for supplies and equipment required by foreign forces, although the United States has increasingly tried to find alternative routes through Central Asia.
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8.: Kurils: Russia Increases Military Build-Up As U.S. Backs Japan

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:57 pm (PDT)

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/10/13/58676130.html

Voice of Russia
October 13, 2011

Russia to focus on Kurils
Igor Siletsky

-[T]he U.S., which has been losing its influence on the Asia-Pacific region, decided to make its "contribution" to the bilateral dispute. Last summer, after American-Japanese security consultations, the two sides made the following statement: Washington and Tokyo will press for the normalization of Russian-Japanese relation by solving the "territorial issue".

Russia has deployed "Buk-M1" anti-aircraft missile systems and a battalion of T-80 tanks on the Kurils. The Defence Ministry is strengthening the military contingent on the islands which are claimed by Japan. It says that this is only the first part of the plan aimed at equipping the troops on the island with advanced military hardware and weapons.

Russian experts welcome the plan, though admit that what has been done is yet insufficient. The Pacific Fleet has to be modernized and the ships should be equipped with smart anti-ship weapons and even air force units should be deployed on the islands, says a defence analyst at the Moscow-based daily "Komsomoltskaya Gazeta", Victor Baranets:

"Special weapons are needed to guarantee the security to the Kurils. I believe that the Russian Air Force will return there. There is an excellent airport, which has been abandoned although it is strategically important. I believe that the Defence Ministry will have no problems to deploy a squadron of fighter jets to start with," Victor Baranets said.

In fact, the Defence Ministry plans to deploy special weapon systems as the expert said. The mobile "Pantsir–S1" surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery systems and Buk-2 surface-to-air missile systems will be deployed on the Kurils in the near future. At the same time, the construction of contemporary military settlements with the necessary infrastructure will be built on Kunashir and Iturup.

The Russian government has been prompted to put special emphasis on the islands in the Okhotsk Sea because Japan has claimed for Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and several other small isles of the Kurils Archipelago. Tokyo refers to the 1855 Russian-Japanese Treaty on trade and borders. Moscow says that the Southern Kurils were included in the Soviet Union as an outcome of the Second World War and Russia enjoys sovereignty over the islands as the successor of the USSR. The situation is complicated by the fact that the two countries have not yet signed a peace treaty after the Second World War and are de jura still at war. Both Moscow and Tokyo have a desire to sign a peace treaty and end the conflict. But Japan has set the resolution of the territorial dispute as the main condition for signing the treaty.

The long-time dispute has grown deeper since November 2010 when Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Kunashir. At the time, the Japanese government threatened "negative consequences". But Moscow said that the Russian President was free to visit any part in his country. Meanwhile, the U.S., which has been losing its influence on the Asia-Pacific region, decided to make its "contribution" to the bilateral dispute. Last summer, after American-Japanese security consultations, the two sides made the following statement: Washington and Tokyo will press for the normalization of Russian-Japanese relation by solving the "territorial issue". It's unclear how the allies will solve the issue. In any case, Russia has decided to strengthen its border territories in the Far East.
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9.: Video: 10th Anniversary Afghanistan War Rally, March: Chicago 10/8/2

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:58 pm (PDT)

http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/video-10th-anniversary-afghanistan-war-rally-and-march-chicago-october-8-2011/
Video: 10th Anniversary Afghanistan War Rally and March – Chicago, October 8, 2011October 14, 2011richardrozoffEditLeave a comment10th Anniversary Afghanistan War Rally and March – Chicago, October 8, 2011Chicago Independent Televisionchicagoindymedia.org====================================================================
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10.: Afghan, Japanese, South Korean, Pakistani MPs At NATO Headquarters

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:58 pm (PDT)

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_79346.htm

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
October 13, 2011

NATO welcomes parliamentarians and senators from Afghanistan, Japan, Pakistan and the Republic of Korea at NATO Headquarters

As part of the Alliance's ongoing initiative to engage with its partners on global security issues, a group of 12 parliamentarians and senators from Afghanistan, Japan, Pakistan and the Republic of Korea came to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

During the one-day information programme held on 11 October, the visitors had the opportunity to have an open discussion with NATO's Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero. Ambassador Bisogniero spoke of the preparations for the next NATO Summit planned for May 2012 in Chicago, outlining key themes such as the Organization's enduring commitment to the transatlantic relationship, the need to generate key capabilities and the Allies' intent to enhance NATO's connectivity to a global world. The discussion also touched upon the NATO mission in Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, cyber defence, maritime security and missile defence.

Dr Stefanie Babst, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for NATO's Public Diplomacy Division briefed the visitors on NATO's public diplomacy efforts. "For us, public diplomacy is very much an instrument of soft power...We are fully aware of some of the stereotypes about NATO that still drive public perceptions in some countries..."

The visit was part of the Alliance's public diplomacy initiative for global partners aimed at developing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Before coming to NATO, the parliamentarians and senators took part in the General Assembly meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Bucharest, Romania.
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11.: NATO Continues Training Iraqi Proxy Army

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:58 pm (PDT)

http://www.aco.nato.int/fifth-joint-committee-discusses-iraqi-training-perspectives-.aspx

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations
October 13, 2011

Fifth Joint Committee Discusses Iraqi Training Perspectives

Baghdad, Iraq: The NATO Training Mission–Iraq (NTM-I) leadership and senior training authorities from Iraqi Defence and Interior Ministries, as well as representatives from Iraq's other security agencies, conducted the 5th Joint Committee for Future Training (JCFT) on 11 October 2011, in the military base home to the NTM-I Headquarters.

NTM-I Deputy Commander, Italian Maj. Gen. Giovanni Armentani, opened the session by introducing to the attendees: the NTM-I Commander, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr., and his co-chairmen, Iraqi Staff Maj. Gen. Abbas Mohamed Fizzaa, representing the Deputy Chief of Staff for Training of the Ministry of Defence and Iraqi Staff Maj. Gen. Ezzat Noel Aziz, Chief Training & Qualification Institute of the Ministry of Interior. He also welcomed Mr. Hamza Shareef Hasan, Director General National Security Advisory and Ambassador Alaa Abdul al-Hashemi, Head of Europe Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as distinguished guests.

...

The Committee discussed Out-of-Iraq (OOI) activities including courses and visits to NATO Countries' Military Institutions, Schools and Centres of Excellence, confirming the priorities and requirements for future activities. The Committee unanimously agreed on the importance of establishing, at the earliest opportunity, the Joint Training Coordination Cell (JTCC), which had been approved by the Iraqi Prime Minister in August. The JTCC will coordinate pan-ministerial training requirements and will manage all aspects of course attendance administration.

..."I guarantee that NTM-I will remain steadfast in this effort. For the next two years, NTM-I will have advisors and mentors at the Prime Minister's Office and Ministries of Defence and Interior therefore enabling us to better support the development of the Iraqi Security Forces," the General added.

Lt. Gen. Caslen also praised the initiative of establishing the JTCC, which will work directly with NATO for the provision of Out-of-Iraq activities and will build a permanent forum to set the conditions for a durable partnership between NATO and Iraq.

The JCFT will meet again in January 2012.

BACKGROUND:

The Joint Committee for Future Training was established in October 2009. The requirements for the Joint Committee for Future Training was agreed to by the Government of Iraq Minister of Defence and Ambassador Howard, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations, during his visit to Iraq in 2009 and subsequently the Committee was established and began work.

Previously, NTM-I had held meetings to discuss the training support to the Iraqi Security Forces through two separate Joint Committees for Future Training. One meeting occurred between NATO and Iraqi MoD and another between NATO and the Iraqi MoI with appropriate representatives from the PMO. Towards the end of 2010 the respective chairmen of the two separate Committees agreed on the need to have a single Committee.

The NATO Training Mission in Iraq (NTM-I) was established in 2004...The aim of NTM-I is to assist in the development of Iraqi security forces training structures and institutions...

NTM-I is not a combat mission but is a distinct training mission, under the political control of NATO's North Atlantic Council. Its operational emphasis is on training and mentoring. The activities of the mission are coordinated with Iraqi authorities and the US-led Deputy Commanding General Advising and Training (DCG (A&T)) who is also dual-hatted as the Commander of NTM-I. NATO has an enduring commitment to Iraq.

NTM-I advises and supports the Defence University for Military Studies, National Defence College, War College, and the Defence Language Institute with the other institutions in Baghdad.

Other cooperation projects for NATO in Iraq are out-of-country training courses for Iraqi nationals at NATO schools as well as the Iraqi Police (Iraqi Federal Police and Oil Police) training led by Italian Carabinieri.

Currently, NTM-I is a small tactical force of NATO/PfP personnel, representing 14 member nations (as at August 2011): Albania, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine (Partner for Peace), UK, USA.
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12.: Afghanistan, "Operation Enduring Slaughter": Ten Bloody Years

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Oct 14, 2011 5:46 am (PDT)

http://www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?articleId=27064

Global Research
October 14, 2011

Afghanistan, "Operation Enduring Slaughter": Ten Bloody Years
By Felicity Arbuthnot

As the clever hopes expire
Of a low dishonest decade:
Waves of anger and fear
Circulate over the bright And darkened lands of the earth,
Out of the mirror they stare,
Imperialism's face And the international wrong.
(W.H. Auden, 1907-1973.)

What a murderous, infanticidel, appalling, shameful, ignorant – and arguable, decade-long war crime.

"Operation Enduring Freedom", turned "Operation Enduring Slaughter."

Announcing the assault on Afghanistan on 7th October 2001, George W. Bush said, citing "Enduring Freedom", that it defended: "… the freedom of people everywhere to live and raise their children free from fear."

Further, that: "If any government sponsors the outlaws and killers of innocents, they have become outlaws and murderers themselves, (a) lonely path …"

Moreover: "the oppressed people of Afghanistan will know the generosity of America and our allies. As we strike military targets, we'll also drop food, medicine and supplies, to the starving and suffering men, women and children of Afghanistan."

"We're a peaceful nation", the President assured the world.

In London, "ally", the then Prime Minister Blair was reading from the same script: "We are peaceful people. But we know that sometimes to safeguard peace, we have to fight … We only do it if the cause is just. This cause is just."

In persuit of justness, between 7th October and 10th December 2001, 12,000 bombs were dropped in 4,710 sorties, on a population of just 28 million people (Globe and Mail, 19th January 2002) with 42% of the population aged 0-14; children being thus raised in unimaginable terror, rather then "free from fear."

With the bombs, aid parcels were indeed dropped. They were the identical colouring to the accompanying cluster bombs.Resultantly, those who rushed to collect brightly coloured yellow packages, in anticipation - so often children - had limbs blown off at best, or life blown away. Exited anticipation turned terminal. The US belatedly issued warnings.(i)

Between October 2001 and early 2002, United States aircraft dropped 1,228 cluster bombs containing 248,056 bomblets, in 232 strikes on locations throughout the country., according to Cluster Munitions Monitor.(ii)

It is unclear whether they have been further used. Though Coalition forces have confirmed deploying cluster munitions for possible use.(iii)

Lest the indiscriminate carnage of the early days be obscured by that of the subsequent years mass graves and ongoing, frenetic destruction by :"The United States of America, a friend to the Afghan people, and of almost a billion worldwide who practice the Islamic faith", as also declared by Bush in his 7th October address.

On 11th October, Khorum a village of mud huts, 29 kilometres west of Jalalabad, was "systematically bombed" by US warplanes. As many as 200 people were killed, with whole families wiped out. (iv)

"Survivors accounts were consistent. Just after early morning prayers, two US warplanes circled, then attacked the village."

On the first run, only a few were injured, but as people came out, they returned twice, killing men, women and children, including refugees from Jalalabad, who had fled to the isolated dwellings feeling they would be safer there. There was no military, or Taliban presence nearby., wrote Norman Dixon, in his carefully researched piece at the time.

Donald Rumsfeld's denials, first as "ridiculous", then lies, then declaring "certain knowledge" of a nearby military installation (statements now so familiar in mass murders across Afghanistan, Iraq and since March, Libya) were soon found to be baseless.

A reporter in the village showed Nightline "extensive footage" of the destruction, confirming: "that the village had been 'completely obliterated' estimating at least 100 people had been killed. Giant craters were where houses once stood. Dead animal carcasses littered the area. Survivors angrily denied that there were military installations or al Qaeda 'training camps' anywhere near Khorum."

Further: "Having run out of targets within days of the start of the bombing campaign, Washington has authorised pilots to seek 'emerging targets', meaning that they can blast just about anything they like.

"Four workers employed by a United Nations mine-clearing operation died while they slept, when a US cruise missile demolished their Kabul building in early hours of October 9th.

On October 12th, a 900-kilogram satellite-guided US 'smart' bomb, hit houses almost two kilometres from Kabul airport, destroying four house, killing at least four people.

"On October 13th, a bomb landed in a busy market in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, killing five people.

"A refugee (stated) that 160 people were taken to hospital when US bombs hit Khushkam Bhat, near Jalalabad airport, on October 13th. An unknown number may have died. More than 100 houses were'damaged or flattened'.

"On October 16th, at least two US bombs hit Red Cross warehouses near Kabul, wounding an employee, and setting them on fire. Wheat, medicines and supplies were destroyed. The roofs of the buildings were emblazoned with vast Red Cross insignia.

"The Pentagon confirmed the strike.

"The previous day as US missile exploded just 150 metres from a World Food Programme warehouse in Kabul as trucks were loading, injuring a worker.

"Later on the same day that US warplanes had bombed the Red Cross warehouses, President Bush was visiting the headquarters of the American Red Cross in Washington to promote his appeal for US kids to give a dollar each for the children of Afghanistan.

"'Winter arrives early in Afghanistan. It's cold, really cold. "The children need warm clothing, they need food, they need medicines. And thanks to the American children, fewer children in Afghanistan will suffer this winter', Bush told an assembled group of children.

He didn't mention the bombs." (v)

Lying and destroying food stocks, medicines and essential services are tried and tested (illegal) tactics. In Iraq the UK and US repeatedly did the same in 1991, and then between 1993 and the 2003 invasion – even dropping lighted flares on harvested wheat and crops (a crime still, allegedly, ongoing.)

In Libya, the same is happening – the vocabulary has changed, they call it bombing: "command and control posts."

If the above carnage is a tiny snap shot, of several very small areas, and that wrought in little over three months, what is the true cost of Afghanistan, in human terms, little over 3,650 days later?

In June 2004, with "President" Hamid Karzai, in the White House, Bush declared Afghanistan a success, indeed, a model for Iraq. Womens' rights and education had "risen from the ashes", Iraq would follow in the same mould. (China Daily, 16th June 2004.) Iraq is now estimated to have an upper estimate of approaching two million excess, invasion-related deaths, since 2003.

Just before last year's marking of the ninth anniversary of the onslaught on Afghanistan, of which George W. Bush had predicted in his invasion speech: ".we will win this conflict by the patient accumulation of successes ..", Professor Marc Herold wrote an encyclopaedic, searing summary of these "successes."(vi)

Included was: "In Afghanistan, according to the United Nations' Childrens Fund, about 600 under-five children perish every day from preventable diseases, such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, parasitic worms and pneumonia."

Dr Gideon Polya, author of "Body Count – Global Avoidable Mortality Deaths since 1950", cites the death rate for under 5 Afghan infants, as higher in percentage than their Polish counterparts in Nazi occupied Poland, or French-Jewish children in Nazi occupied France.

Afghanistan's child mortality is the second highest on earth. (vii) Life expectancy for men and women is just 44 years old. Further, according to the Afghan Human Rights Monitor, in 2010, an average of 7 civilians were killed by occupying forces, every day. Given the remoteness of so much of the country, an underestimate almost certainly.

In Blair's near carbon copy of Bush's onslaught-day speech, he said: "It is now nearly a month since the atrocity occurred (9/11.)

It is more than two weeks since an ultimatum was delivered to the Taliban to yield up the terrorists or face the consequences… They were given the chance of siding with justice (or) terror. They chose terror."

Well, no, as Iraq's non existent "WMD's" were a fabrication for war, so was this. On the same day, CNN reported:

"The White House on Sunday rejected an offer from Afghanistan's ruling Taliban to try suspected terrorist leader Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan under Islamic law.

The offer came as the United States massed forces in southwest Asia for a possible strike against Afghanistan if the Taliban refuse to surrender bin Laden. A Bush administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, rejected the Taliban offer and repeated U.S. demands that bin Laden be turned over unconditionally.

The Taliban's ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef, made the offer at a news conference in Islamabad. Zaeef said the Taliban would detain bin Laden and try him under Islamic law if the United States makes a formal request and presents them with evidence." Emphasis mine, CNN 7th October 2001. (viii)

On 7th October this year, General Stanley McCrystal, who commanded coalition forces in Afghanistan 2009-2010, told the US Foreign Relations Committee that the US had gone in to Afghanistan with a "frighteningly simplistic view." After ten years they still lack knowledge, were little better than 50% towards reaching their war goals. (That gas pipeline through the country still not built, then?)

"We didn't know enough and we still don't know enough," he said. "Most of us, me included, had a very superficial understanding of the situation and history, and we had a frighteningly simplistic view of recent history, the last 50 years." Can they not read? Did they truly know nothing of this "graveyard of Empires"?

In 330 BC., even Alexander the Great met his match, nearly being killed by an arrow to his leg and with one of his soldiers writing:

"Here the foe does not meet us in pitched battle, as other armies we have dueled in the past. . . . Even when we defeat him, he will not accept our dominion. He comes back again and again. He hates us with a passion whose depth is exceeded only by his patience and his capacity for suffering."(ix)

Little has changed. Seemingly, US Generals and military planners ignore the lessons of history.

They did not make enough effort, said the General, to understand the culture; forces made little effort to learn thelanguages.There forty nine listed languages in Afghanistan, General. And here is just one of many history reading lists, with, at a quick count, about three hundred titles.(x)

Going in to Iraq under two years later, whined the General, didn't make things any easier. It didn't make them any easier for the Iraqis in their mass graves since, either. The culture and language was also not understood there. Remember the countless shootings at road blocks, where culturally ignorant troops stood with arm up, palm out? Uncounted car loads of families, individuals, ended blown to pieces as they resultantly drove through. It means "Welcome."

"The headlines of the past decade in Afghanistan have been written in blood", wrote Declan Welsh this week, in the Guardian, adding: "the greatest failures have been political."

Indeed, and towering arrogance and pig ignorance of not even the desire to learn and understand the ways of ancient lands, McDonald-free civilizations. Simply to kill, smash, grab – and then blame the invaded.

To return to George W. Bush's words, Britain and America, have seemingly become: "government sponsors, the outlaws and killers of innocents, they have become outlaws and murderers themselves, (a) lonely path …"

Felicity Arbuthnot is Global Research's Huamn Rights Correspondent based in London, UK.

Notes

i. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/monitoring/media_reports/1624787.stm

ii. http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/news/?id=3394

iii. ibid

iv .http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/24053

v. ibid.

vi. http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=21174

vii. http://pulitzercenter.org/articles/afghanistan-poverty-child-mortality

viii. http://articles.cnn.com/2001-10-07/us/ret.us.taliban_1_abdul-salam-zaeef-surrender-bin-taliban-offer?_s=PM:US

ix. http://www.stevenpressfield.com/the-afghan-campaign/

x. http://www.afghanweb.com/books/books.html
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13.: Libyan War: 25,726 NATO Air Missions, 9,526 Strike Sorties

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Oct 14, 2011 5:58 am (PDT)

http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_10/20111014_111014-oup-update.pdf

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
October 14, 2011

NATO and Libya
Allied Joint Force Command NAPLES, SHAPE, NATO HQ

...

Over the past 24 hours, NATO has conducted the following activities associated with Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR:

Air Operations

...

Since the beginning of the NATO operation (31 March 2011, 06.00GMT) a total of 25,726 sorties, including 9,526 strike sorties, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 13 OCTOBER: 88

Strike sorties conducted 13 OCTOBER: 22

...
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14.: U.S. Atlantic Council Invites Azerbaijan To Black Sea Energy Forum

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:05 am (PDT)

http://en.trend.az/capital/energy/1944551.html

Trend News Agency
October 14, 2011

Azerbaijan invited to Black Sea Forum
E. Ismayilov

Baku: The Atlantic Council invited Azerbaijan to take part in the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum held in Istanbul on Nov.16-18. US Atlantic CounciL CEO Frederick Kempe voiced the invitation at a meeting with the Industry and Energy Minister Natig Aliyev in Baku.

Kempe asked the Industry and Energy Ministry to participate in this forum. Aliyev informed the guest about energy projects in Azerbaijan and their achieved successes. Noting Azerbaijan's growing influence in the region and the world, Kempe provided detailed information about the activities of the Atlantic Council.

The Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum in Istanbul is one of the most successful initiatives of the Atlantic Council. The Forum annually brings together business leaders and prominent political leaders to discuss economic and energy issues in Eurasia.

The Atlantic Council intends to hold the next Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum in Baku in 2012.

Established in 1961 the Atlantic Council is an influential structure that promotes transatlantic cooperation and international security.
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15.: Europe Interested In Turkmenistan Energy To "Diversify" Supplies

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:05 am (PDT)

http://en.trend.az/regions/casia/turkmenistan/1944915.html

Trend News Agency
October 14, 2011

Austrian President: Europe interested in Turkmen gas
H. Hasanov

Ashgabat: European countries express great interest in natural gas supplies from Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan is one of the largest gas suppliers to world markets, Austrian President Heinz Fischer said. His statement was published in the local press after his visit to Ashgabat on Oct. 12-13.

Turkmen Dovlet Habarlary state news service said that the Austrian President spoke about the possibilities of cooperation to implement the Nabucco pipeline project. The Austrian side is very interested in this project.

...

According to the "Neutral Turkmenistan" newspaper, President Fischer expressed his support for the policy implemented by Turkmenistan in the field and aimed at ***diversifying energy export routes***, including in the European direction.

Turkmenistan is one of the most important partners in the field of energy security for Austria and the EU. In particular, the Nabucco project will deliver gas from the Caspian region and Middle East to the EU countries. This will diversify the sources of supplying raw materials.

Turkmenistan could join this project thanks to the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline to be constructed in the future. The Austrian delegation includes representatives of the OMV company, which is one of equal partners in the Nabucco Gas Pipeline International - Nabucco project company.

President Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan considers Austria as an important potential partner in the development of the national fuel and energy complex. It is ready to create all necessary conditions for Austrian companies.

Turkmenistan exports natural gas in three directions - to the Russian Federation, People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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16.: U.S. Strikes Energy Cooperation Deal With Kazakhstan

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:05 am (PDT)

http://en.trend.az/capital/energy/1944903.html

Trend News Agency
October 14, 2011

Kazakhstan, US adopt energy cooperation plan

Baku: Kazakh and U.S. energy officials have today adopted a joint plan on energy cooperation, Kazinform reported referring to the Oil and Gas Ministry.

The joint plan was undersigned by Kazakh Oil and Gas Minister Sauat Mynbayev and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman, who co-chaired the 8th meeting of the joint Kazakh-American energy cooperation commission in Astana.

The governments agreed to boost cooperation in strengthening nuclear security, accumulation of new knowledge and practice in atomic energy, renewable energy sources and energy-efficiency, as well as contribute to regional energy cooperation, reduction of methane emissions and ***diversification of export oil and gas routes***.

The next meeting of joint Kazakh-American energy cooperation commission is expected to take place in Washington in 2012.

Edited by E. Ostapenko
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17.: Russian President: Pipeline Requires Approval Of All Caspian States

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:14 am (PDT)

http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=157323

Azeri Press Agency
October 14, 2011

Russian President: "Construction of the Trans Caspian pipeline requires approval of all the Caspian littoral countries"
Victoria Dementyeva

-Along the route Tengiz (Kazakhstan) - Tukrmenbashi (Turkmenistan) - Baku (Azerbaijan) - Tbilisi (Georgia) - Erzurum (Turkey) 20-30 billion cubic meters of gas be will annually transported.

Baku: Construction of the Trans-Caspian pipeline requires the approval of all the Caspian littoral countries, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting with permanent members of the Security Council, APA reports quoting Russian media.

"The Trans-Caspian pipeline issue is complex and, of course, is directly dependent on the status of the Caspian Sea as an inland sea, requiring the coordination of positions of all member states of the Caspian summit," said Medvedev.

The European Commission was given a mandate to negotiate with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on the legal aspects of the implementation of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline. It is expected that negotiations will begin in the near future. The project considers transportation of Azeri and Turkmen gas to European countries. Along the route Tengiz (Kazakhstan) - Tukrmenbashi (Turkmenistan) - Baku (Azerbaijan) - Tbilisi (Georgia) - Erzurum (Turkey) 20-30 billion cubic meters of gas be will annually transported.
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18.: U.S. Senate: "Policy Road Map To Georgia's Euro-Atlantic Future"

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:30 am (PDT)

http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.php?id_news=43449&pg=1&im=main&ct=0&wth=

Rustavi 2
October 14, 2011

Senators present a road map to Euro-Atlantic structures for Georgia

A Washington task force headed by two U.S. senators has released a report on Georgia and its relations with the U.S. and Europe, "Georgia in the West: A Policy Road Map to Georgia`s Euro-Atlantic Future."

The group of senators worked on the document for over a year. It includes recommendations towards the US administration, European Union and the government of Georgia, the implementation of which should facilitate Georgia`s integration into NATO and the EU. The document also presents the attitude of American lawmakers to the Russian aggression.

Senators Lindsey Graham and Jeanne Shaheen, who are the authors of the report, condemned Russian aggression once again.

The document has been sent to the US administration for consideration and the authorities will prepare for introducing it to European leaders.
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19.: U.S. Ambassador-Designate Backs Georgia Against Russia

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:31 am (PDT)

http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=24032

Civil Georgia
October 13, 2011

U.S. Ambassador-Designate to Russia Speaks of Georgia

No way for Russia 'to go around Georgia' over WTO;
Supporting Georgia's security is 'top priority';
U.S. supports Georgia 'in a multifaceted way';
Russia, Georgia 'tensions remain too high'
Liberal democracy 'important part of making Georgia more secure'

-[McFaul] made the remarks while responding a question from Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who presided over the hearing and who co-chairs Georgia Task Force at the U.S. think-tank Atlantic Council - a bipartisan group aimed at promoting policy debate on Georgia. The group has just released a report laying out policy recommendations on Georgia to the U.S. and EU.
-"In last three years there have not been gas wars, cyber wars or military wars in Europe. And yet Russian soldiers still occupy Georgian territories; tensions between Russia and Georgia remain too high and that's why we continue to give this issue our highest priority."

Georgia's territorial integrity and strengthening Georgia's security "remains a top priority for Obama administration," said Michael McFaul, a top White House adviser on Russian policy, who has been nominated as U.S. ambassador to Moscow.

During his nomination hearing at the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on October 12, Mcfaul said that the U.S. considered Russia's occupation of Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia "to be a very serious issue."

He said, that the U.S. support to Georgia's security was done "in a multifaceted way".

One of the directions, he said, was on the diplomatic front, involving discouraging other countries from recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia. McFaul said that was the issue on which the U.S. and Russia "radically disagree".

Being "very persistent" in reaffirming Georgia's territorial integrity at various multilateral forums was also part of the diplomatic efforts, McFaul said.

"Third - we support Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Fourth - we continue to press Russia to adhere...to the 2008 ceasefire agreement, which we believe they are not respecting. Fifth - we continue to push for international monitors and greater humanitarian access to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. And sixth - we work directly with Moscow to try to reduce pressure and sometimes coercive pressure that they put on Georgia," McFaul said.

"Part of our argument and part of what we try to do is to develop substantive relationship with Russia so that the cost of coercive behavior in that part of the world are higher to Russia than they may have been three years ago. President Obama has personally engaged President Medvedev on this set of issues and we'll continue to do so," he said.

In parallel, he said, the U.S. was providing assistance to Georgia to help with its internal reforms and economic development.

Making Georgia Secure through Democracy

He made the remarks while responding a question from Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who presided over the hearing and who co-chairs Georgia Task Force at the U.S. think-tank Atlantic Council - a bipartisan group aimed at promoting policy debate on Georgia. The group has just released a report laying out policy recommendations on Georgia to the U.S. and EU.

McFaul said that he agreed with the conclusion of the report, that "supporting Georgia's consolidation of liberal democracy is very important part of making Georgia more secure."

"Supporting economic growth in Georgia we think is also important component of making Georgia more secure," McFaul said.

He said that the U.S. needed Georgia to succeed as a democracy, especially against the background of "troubling things" happening in the region - he particularly pointed at sentencing of former Ukrainian PM Yulia Tymoshenko. He said that success of democracy in Georgia - in this post Soviet state - would send a powerful signal throughout the region.

Military Assistance

In terms of military, he said, there were broad cooperation in two fronts with Georgia.

"First - on comprehensive reforms that Georgia is undertaking to modernize its Ministry of Defense. Second - training and equipping Georgian soldiers that are serving with us in Afghanistan," McFaul said, adding that Georgia's contribution to ISAF was very important for the United States.

WTO

During the hearings, McFaul reiterated the Obama administration's position that it was "vigorously supporting Russia's accession to WTO, because we believe that's a good deal for the United States."

He said that one of the stumbling block on Russia's WTO entry remained a dispute between Georgia and Russia - the issue, which "has not been resolved."

"WTO works by consensus and without Georgian agreement to Russia's WTO membership it won't move forward," McFaul said, adding that the U.S. was supporting "a very active mediation" process between Moscow and Tbilisi led by Switzerland.

"We think that the Swiss have come up with very creative ideas and we are urging the both sides to take these negotiations very seriously," he said.

Asked what the role the U.S. should be playing in this process, McFaul responded that although from time to time various Russian officials were suggesting that it was Washington's job to convince Georgia to remove its objections, or suggesting that joining WTO was possible with voting, by-passing consensus mechanism, the U.S. made "it very clear" to Moscow that it "is firmly not our view."

In his written testimony submitted to the committee before the hearing, McFaul says on this issue: "We have made it clear to Russia that there is no way to go around Georgia: the two countries must resolve their differences through the mediation process. We believe the Swiss have formulated a fair, creative, and balanced proposal that can work, but the parties themselves must find that it is in their interest to come to agreement."

Russia, Georgia 'Tensions Remain Too High'

In his opening remarks at the hearing, McFaul said that with the Obama administration's reset policy with Russia made progress, including over security issues in Europe. He, however, also said that problems remained.

"In last three years there have not been gas wars, cyber wars or military wars in Europe. And yet Russian soldiers still occupy Georgian territories; tensions between Russia and Georgia remain too high and that's why we continue to give this issue our highest priority."

In his written testimony submitted to the Foreign Relations Committee, McFaul says: "While the probability of conflict between Russia and Georgia has decreased, the potential still remains. There are clearly issues on which the United States and Russia are not going to agree – and Georgia is one of them."
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