Europe

Another ‘War is Peace’ Award (This Time Hollande Wins!)

"In this case it may be more appropriate than one might first imagine. The prize, awarded by UNESCO, is known as the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize in honor of the authoritarian president of of the Ivory Coast from 1960-1993. Could it be, as suggested in this very provocative article in the journal of the Strategic Culture Foundation, that France was over-eager to show its new Rafale fighter jets in action in hopes of scoring the "deal of the century" -- a $12 billion sale of these thus far tepidly received fighters to India?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAnother ‘War is Peace’ Award (This Time Hollande Wins!)

France’s Hollande Invades Mali, Wins UNESCO Peace Prize

"This is France's second war in Africa in several years. The first we have written about at length – the destabilization of the Ivory Coast on behalf, partially, of France's cocoa interests and the empowerment of Alassane Ouattara. His opponent, Laurent Gbagbo is on trial now in front of the International Criminal Court for the crime of trying to insist on his lawful election. Hollande, who now lords over an increasingly aggressive and unjust France that has started two wars in about as many years, has just received a peace prize. Conclusion: Oh, the irony." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance’s Hollande Invades Mali, Wins UNESCO Peace Prize

France freezes spending to hit EU targets as slump deepens

"France is to freeze spending on defence, higher education and research in a frantic bid to meet European Union deficit targets this year, tightening fiscal policy yet further as the country slides into deep slump. The severity of the downturn has caught officials by surprise. Markit’s survey data for French manufacturing and services fell to 42.3 in February, plunging at the fastest rate since the financial crisis in early 2009. Anything less than 50 signals contraction. Markit warned that the country may be tipping into a 'downward spiral' as sliding confidence causes businesses to delay spending." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance freezes spending to hit EU targets as slump deepens

Tens of Thousands Protest in Spain (as Santa Claus dies)

"On Saturday, tens of thousands marched in cities throughout Spain to protest deep bankster driven 'austerity' measures taken by the government. The people are clearly fed up. The sad part of this is that most have no clue as to what are the proper measures that should be taken to reverse the deteriorating economic situation. The only way Spain gets out of its deteriorating situation is by cutting the red tape that makes it difficult for businesses to operate, and to also cut taxes and government spending, so that the country moves away from its current bureaucratic mess and closer to a free market that can spur energy and creativity." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTens of Thousands Protest in Spain (as Santa Claus dies)

Top Spanish official in graft scandal

"A former treasurer of Spain’s ruling People’s Party (PP) hid away his wealth in a Swiss bank account. Court documents from an on-going judicial investigation into former PP treasurer Luis Barcenas revealed the account held up to €22 million, reports Reuters. The party, along with the opposition socialists, has helped govern the nation for the past three decades. In 2011, the conservatives won the general elections and unseated the socialists. Barcenas was the People's Party financial chief for 28 years until 2009 when he became the focal point of an investigation for allegedly accepting bribes from businesses vying for lucrative government contracts." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTop Spanish official in graft scandal

Investigation ordered after Spanish politicians got ‘salaries’ from private companies

"Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy ordered Monday an internal investigation into the finances of his centre-right Popular Party which was shaken by allegations of under-the-table payments to party officials. The centre-right newspaper El Mundo reported Friday that senior members of the party, which Rajoy has led since 2004, had received undeclared salaries, mainly from private companies, over a 20-year period. Citing unnamed former members of the Popular Party leadership, the newspaper said the party’s former treasurer Luis Barcenas distributed envelopes containing thousands of euros to party officials on top of their official salaries." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInvestigation ordered after Spanish politicians got ‘salaries’ from private companies

U.S. deploys Predator drones, 100 Air Force personnel to Niger

"The United States has deployed several Predator drones to Niger to fly surveillance missions in support of French forces in Mali, a US defense official said Friday. The unarmed robotic aircraft are flying out of Niamey at a base with a 100-strong contingent of Air Force personnel, the defense official told AFP on condition of anonymity. President Barack Obama announced earlier on Friday that the US troops were sent to the West African country to provide 'support for intelligence collection and will also facilitate intelligence sharing with French forces conducting operations in Mali, and with other partners in the region.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. deploys Predator drones, 100 Air Force personnel to Niger

U.S. tire magnate blasts France’s ‘so-called workers’

"An incredulous -- and insulting -- letter from an American capitalist to a Socialist government minister in France has revealed a monumental clash of cultures. Tire magnate Maurice 'Morry' Taylor Jr., head of Titan International, did not hold back when he decided to tell Arnaud Montebourg, France's minister for industrial renewal, where he could stick his suggestion that the U.S. businessman take over an ailing French factory." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. tire magnate blasts France’s ‘so-called workers’

A City of Fear: A Visit to Timbuktu after Its Liberation By French Troops

"Colonel Gèze set up his headquarters in a camouflage tent across from the runway. Following the airstrikes by the French Air Force, his men entered Timbuktu without meeting any resistance. The colonel still feels a little uneasy about their speedy victory. Gèze can't say how many people were killed in the air strikes. His soldiers didn't take any prisoners, either. Still, even though the jihadists have left Timbuktu, Gèze hasn't defeated them. Perhaps they have gone to Mauritania or Algeria. The officer shrugs his shoulders. 'We're keeping our eyes and ears peeled and are questioning our informants,' he says. 'The Islamists have to be hiding out somewhere.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA City of Fear: A Visit to Timbuktu after Its Liberation By French Troops