The Freedom Watch

Bolton Opposed To Both Syria Resolution And Obama Seeking Congress Approval

"John Bolton, the neoconservative who served as ambassador to the United Nations under former President George W. Bush, said Tuesday that he'd vote against the resolution to authorize the use of force in Syria if he were a member of Congress. But Bolton said he's opposed to President Barack Obama's decision to seek congressional approval, too. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said Monday that U.S. credibility would be 'shredded' if Congress does not approve the Syria resolution, but Bolton rejected that argument." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBolton Opposed To Both Syria Resolution And Obama Seeking Congress Approval

Bill Bonner: Is it time to choose sides in Egypt?

"Is there a bigger jackass than John Bolton? He makes no mention of his own role in causing the regional chaos in the Middle East. He was a major war monger, arguing for the invasion of Iraq is now on track to cost the US more than $5 trillion... And who gained? Only Islamic terrorists...and the defense industry. Now he says we should go into Egypt on the side of the military. Why? He doesn't like the Muslim Brotherhood. How many brothers has he met? We don't know, but he gives the impression that he thinks they are bad people. Facing off against him in the WSJ is Elliot Abrams. We couldn't make much sense of Mr. Abrams' argument other than that he thinks the military rulers are bad people." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBill Bonner: Is it time to choose sides in Egypt?

Signs of a Shift Among Egyptian Protesters to Antigovernment, From Pro-Morsi

"As tens of thousands gathered in the streets of Cairo for the ninth Friday of protests against the takeover, few carried the posters of Mr. Morsi’s face that were once the banner of the Brotherhood’s 'anti-coup' coalition. Instead, almost everyone held a sign with a logo memorializing the mass killing by security forces of hundreds of Morsi supporters on Aug. 14. In at least one march by thousands of demonstrators in the neighborhood of Mohandiseen, many carried signs opposing both the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement behind Mr. Morsi, and the new government installed by General Sisi." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSigns of a Shift Among Egyptian Protesters to Antigovernment, From Pro-Morsi

As Egyptians Ignore Curfew, Talk of a U.S.-Brotherhood Conspiracy

"When the conversation turns to politics, the predominant topic is a surprise to American ears: the conspiracy between the United States and the Muslim Brotherhood to destroy Egypt. The 'people’s committees,' which sprung up in Egyptian neighborhoods as a counterweight to the Muslim Brotherhood, in theory were disbanded last week. But that did not stop self-appointed guardians in the Zaki Street market of the Maadi neighborhood from repeatedly demanding identity documents, letters of permission and, especially, proof of not being affiliated with Al Jazeera, the pan-Arab news network, which is reviled because it is owned by Qatar, a strong supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAs Egyptians Ignore Curfew, Talk of a U.S.-Brotherhood Conspiracy

Soviet soldier who disappeared 30 years ago in Afghanistan located

"A Soviet soldier who disappeared more than 30 years ago on the battlefield in Afghanistan has been found alive and well and living under the name of Sheikh Abdullah in the western Afghan city of Herat. According to officials, local residents rescued Khakimov from the battlefield and treated his wounds with herbs. The Soviet soldier remained with the man who helped him, and acquired medical skills. Khakimov – an ethnic Uzbek, originally from Samarkand – married a local Afghan woman and settled in the Shindand district. His wife later died. The couple had no children. Some 264 Soviet soldiers who fought in the 1979-1989 war in Afghanistan are still missing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSoviet soldier who disappeared 30 years ago in Afghanistan located

Egypt invites Russia to mine uranium, build nuclear power plants

[April 2013] "Russia’s and Egypt’s presidents compared notes on economic and international cooperation on Friday. Mohamed Morsi is on an official visit to Moscow as Egyptian society seethes, with almost 50 people injured in the latest violent clashes. 'Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak announced that Egypt proposed sending a delegation to Cairo 'to resume cooperation in peaceful nuclear projects' to jointly construct new nuclear power plants. Cairo plans to build 4 GWt of nuclear power facilities by 2025, Novak said. Cairo has also invited Moscow to step in joint developing of uranium mines in Egypt, he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt invites Russia to mine uranium, build nuclear power plants

Egypt Crumbling: “The Most Important Event so Far of the 21st Century”

"The Saudi-Russia-China alliance is designed to break the Egypt-U.S. relationship. The new alliance reflects how U.S. influence is waning in the Middle East. After many decades of driving events in the Middle East — and spending incalculable national treasure — the U.S. is about to lose big. New alliances in Egypt reflect Saudi-Russian-Chinese efforts to help keep hard-line Islam under control. The Saudis fear Brotherhood-style religious fervor. Russia wants to control the spread of hard-line Islam in its southern regions — Chechnya comes to mind — while China has issues with hard-line Islam in its western regions. And the U.S.? There’s no sense of consistency coming from Washington." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt Crumbling: “The Most Important Event so Far of the 21st Century”

Looters ransack Baghdad museum [2003]

"Unesco has urged the US and Britain to deploy troops at Iraq's key archaeological sites and museums to stop widespread looting and destruction. Armed men have been roaming the streets of Baghdad since the city was taken by US troops on Wednesday. A museum guard said that since Thursday, hundreds of looters had carried away artefacts on carts and wheelbarrows. The museum's deputy director said looters had taken or destroyed 170,000 items of antiquity dating back thousands of years. 'They were worth billions of dollars,' she said. 'The Americans were supposed to protect the museum. If they had just one tank and two soldiers nothing like this would have happened.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLooters ransack Baghdad museum [2003]

Egypt’s political chaos decimates historical treasures

"Magdy Tahami looks in disbelief at what remains of Egypt’s tiny Mallawi museum. The ground is littered with glass from the display cabinets, which once housed its precious collection, after a mob attacked and looted the building, during a nationwide crackdown on Islamist protesters. Before, hundreds of antiquities, statuettes, gold and jewels told the history of Egypt, from pharaonic times to the Muslim caliphs, from the Omayyad dynasty in the 7th century to the Fatimids in the 12th, and touching on Greek and Roman antiquities. For 20 years, these historic treasures were assistant-director Tahami’s whole life." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt’s political chaos decimates historical treasures