Waxing and Waning

Escalation and peace talks, or things in between are the theme of military news today, with local grassroots activism thrown in for flavor. Roughly organized from worst news to best news, here is a brief of places where people are killing each other or moving away from it.

In what would be a dangerous escalation of the Bush administration's Global War on Terror, the CIA is reportedly considering expanding its area of operations into the tribal regions of Pakistan. Pakistan's government, of course, has announced that they would not allow any such operations within their country. Meanwhile, Pakistan's government has reassigned Generals ahead of a massive military effort in the aforementioned tribal region that is the North West Frontier Province. Should the CIA get approval to implement such a horribly misguided policy, the situation will become much worse, with global public opinion shifting further away from the idea of the United States as anything other than a lonely bully.

On the front of one of the longest-smoldering flashpoints in the world, Ehud Olmert has ordered security forces "to escalate Israel's actions" in Gaza after their homemade rockets went a little further than normal. According to the article, 4 people were killed and 34 wounded. This comes ahead of Bush's visit to the Middle East, which has been roundly denounced by al Qaeda's American spokesman. On the question of what becomes of those held by Israeli security forces during their raids into the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights organization, has published a damning report of the Israeli Defense Force's military court system.

From another of the world's longest-smoldering flashpoints, comes news that the Tamil Tiger's military intelligence chief has been killed amid renewed fighting in northern Sri Lanka. The Nordic monitors are leaving, and the army is expected to begin its new escalation on January 16th.

In other news, the deal worked out with North Korea to dismantle its nuclear program isn't being implemented as smoothly as envisioned.

Myanmar is celebrating its Independence Day! Iraq is celebrating its Army Day!

The Armed Forces of the Phillipines announced they are on schedule to crush the Islamist uprising in the southern regions of the country.

The guns will fall mostly silent in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the government has suspended operations against rebel factions ahead of a planned peace summit.

Local citizens in Cyprus attempted to stand up for their sovereign rights in the face of British imperialism, with 120 demonstratings throwing rocks and fireworks at RAF Akrontiri.

Wow...

Wow...

So, by my reckoning the main questions are, who sold these nuclear secrets? And which nuclear secrets were they? Does Israel have the information to make the bunker buster nuke?

The more valid question, though, is how fast can this be ignored by the mainstream media?

On a lighter note, here is a list of close calls involving nuclear weapons during the cold war. #4 is my favorite.

World Orgasam Day

http://www.globalorgasm.org/

On the solstace this friday we are all encouraged to have an orgasam in order to help alter the energy of the Earth. The effort is to change the warmongering hostile psychic energies of the Earth to those of peace. Sexy, panting, too-tired-to-fight-and-all-I-want-is-a-sandwich, peace.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orgasm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Orgasm

http://blogs.smh.com.au/lifestyle/asksam/archives/2007/12/world_orgasm_day.html

Evidence is itself, circumstantial

As if anyone was actually thought that Iran was building the bomb, in rides the American Intelligence community to put all such mistaken notions to bed. However, just like five years ago, the evidence doesn't matter and won't effect policy in any significant fashion. David Kay and the UN inspectors were systematically combing Iraq, looking for any hint that Saddam was reconstituting his chemical and biological weapons programs. So, after we invade Iraq, surprise, surprise, America wakes up to find that it was lied to and flattered into doing something repugnant. However, the guilt that we should all feel can't be washed away with a tear-filled shower. So, now five years later, and we still collectively resemble a drunk sorority girl who has self-esteem issues.

"Yes, honey, I'm doing this to protect you, because you're so important to me. Why don't you just drink a little bit more and shut the fuck up so we can move on to the main event? Oh, can you get the cab fare back to your house? I have some wicked credit card bills. And I won't pull out or wear a condom because I'm a misogynist Christian."

There is still a chance that we won't invade or otherwise attack Iran. Please call your elected representative and flex your democratic power. We need to stop this blood for oil cycle and the imperial presidency made possible by the Bush Doctrine.

Iran abandoned its nuke program 3 years ago

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSWBT00801220071204

Here we are again with a warmongering administration raising the specter of a threat from the middle east and it seems like noone can stop the inevitable war. A war for no reason, with no goals, and no prospect for any kind of success.

Oh but here is an article that contradicts the Bush administration's exaggerations. Lets hope the old media isnt as spineless this time around and actually sticks with this set of facts rather then the jingoism and fear we are so familar with.

Get to know Iran

Take a look at thees beautiful pictures of the country of Iran before our warmongering government decides to destroy that beauty and its people.

http://picasaweb.google.com/aatrvash/Iran02?authkey=WHfBV-cDZ2E

shorten your briefs

Myanmar: a new internet blackout, coupled with the expulsion of the UN Special Envoy, forbodes trouble. The opposition claims that it's strength is waxing, but the military has only begun to respond. Meanwhile, a look at the govt's recruiting efforts, the life of one of the youngest members of the country's elite and his life in singapore, and why his life is about to become much more complicated.

Ivory Coast: What some see as a tenuous peace process moves at a careful pace, while questions are raised about fattening war chests.

Zimbabwe: Under the strangely opaque lighting of continuing negotiations between the government ZANU-PF and the opposition MDC, the two parties have agreed to postpone elections to March of '08. Will these negotiations lead to resolution of the crisis facing Zimbabwe? I bet on no. Phillip Pasirayi also bets on no, though for slightly different reasons.

The Bomb: A resolution will be coming soon to a UN General Assembly near you, with the usual suspects already voting in their respective ways. The world powers dispatch their representatives to London to talk about Iran's bomb. The Bush administration is trying to bully the other permanent members of the UN Security Council for license to attack Iraq, er, Iran. Sorry, I had a moment of deja vu there. North Korea, meanwhile, might soon be rid of their bomb. Germany wants a piece of the potential pie that is the Indian Nuclear Deal, which PM Singh says is only delayed. And check out Hindustan Times' "Nuclear Deal Imbroglio" page.

War and Peace Thursday: He's Just a Big Bear

For those of you who may be worried about the state of research into military hardware in the world can rest easy. Even though the world's largest and most expensive military is essentially sleeping at the wheel, one man has seen the future and wishes to bring the fifth generation of warfighting technology to humanity. No one but Vladimir Putin would have the foresight to build a "grandiose" nuclear defense complex and new Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. Not to mention, bringing other countries, such as India, on board to help development of combat fighters that are even better than the Sukhoi SU-34. Glory to the Motherland.

Bonus Material