Middle East

UK to double number of drones in Afghanistan

"The UK is to double the number of armed RAF 'drones' flying combat and surveillance operations in Afghanistan and, for the first time, the aircraft will be controlled from terminals and screens in Britain. Pilots based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire will fly the recently bought American-made UAVs at a hi-tech hub built on the site in the past 18 months. The most recent figures from the Ministry of Defence show that, by the end of September, the UK’s five Reapers in Afghanistan had flown 39,628 hours and fired 334 laser-guided Hellfire missiles and bombs at suspected insurgents." Continue reading →

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Romney on drones: ‘Use any and all means necessary to take out’ enemies

"I believe we should use any and all means necessary to take out people who pose a threat to us and our friends around the world. And it’s widely reported that drones are being used in drone strikes, and I support that and entirely, and feel the president was right to up the usage of that technology, and believe that we should continue to use it, to continue to go after the people that represent a threat to this nation and to our friends.” Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRomney on drones: ‘Use any and all means necessary to take out’ enemies

Romney on drones: ‘Use any and all means necessary to take out’ enemies

"I believe we should use any and all means necessary to take out people who pose a threat to us and our friends around the world. And it’s widely reported that drones are being used in drone strikes, and I support that and entirely, and feel the president was right to up the usage of that technology, and believe that we should continue to use it, to continue to go after the people that represent a threat to this nation and to our friends.” Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRomney on drones: ‘Use any and all means necessary to take out’ enemies

Iraq issues arrest warrant for ex central bank chief, other officials

"Iraqi authorities issued arrest warrants for the former central bank chief and other bank officials after a probe into corruption, a spokesman for the high judicial council said on Friday. Iraq's cabinet on Tuesday ousted director Sinan al-Shibabi over a parliamentary charges bank officials were abusing dollar sales. His dismissal will do little to ease investor worries the government is undermining the bank's autonomy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIraq issues arrest warrant for ex central bank chief, other officials

The Sad History of U.S. Peace Negotiations

"Negotiating for peace to prevent war is not the forte of U.S. governments. The Iranian story is yet to be written, but the press is now reporting that the U.S. and Iran have agreed for the first time to one-on-one negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Republican Senator Lindsay Graham wants none of it, stating that 'The time for talking is over.' After all, just take a look at all the U.S. military bases surrounding Iran. Sadly, with the above graphic, combined with the U.S.'s history of not negotiating peace, it's not looking so good for those of us who don't want more foreign wars." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Sad History of U.S. Peace Negotiations

Middle East oil companies targeted in cyber war

"Middle Eastern oil and gas companies have been targeted in massive attacks on their computer networks in an increasingly open cyber war where a new virus was discovered just this past week. US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also referred publicly for the first time about the 'Shamoon' virus that hit Saudi Arabia’s state oil company Aramco in August, disabling more than 300,000 computers. The virus also hit Rasgas, a joint venture between US oil firm Exxon Mobil Corp and state-controlled Qatar Petroleum. Panetta warned of the possibility of a 'cyber-Pearl Harbor' to justify a policy of moving aggressively against threats." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMiddle East oil companies targeted in cyber war

Kuwaitis protest electoral law changes

"Police in Kuwait have used teargas, stun grenades and baton charges to disperse tens of thousands of demonstrators protesting against changes to the electoral law, which the opposition has called a 'constitutional coup' by the government. Protesters gathered in various parts of the capital, Kuwait City, to march towards the government's headquarters, but riot police swiftly surrounded some groups and used teargas and stun grenades to disperse them. The government - which is dominated by the ruling al-Sabah family - announced last week it was calling elections for December 1 and would change the electoral law." Continue reading →

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US Behind Turkish Downing of Syrian Passenger Plane

"According to unnamed US officials, it was American intelligence agencies that were behind Turkey’s decision to force down a Syrian passenger plane last week, to follow up on US suspicions that the plane had Russian military hardware aboard. Russian officials insist all that was on board were 'dual use' radar parts. Officials now concede that they have been talking with Turkey about the idea of attacking Syria to impose a 'no-fly zone.' No decision has been made, and such a move would be an act of war, one likely to spark a major reaction from Russia and China, two close allies of Syria." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS Behind Turkish Downing of Syrian Passenger Plane

CIA chiefs face arrest over horrific evidence of bloody ‘video-game’ sorties by drone pilots

"The Mail on Sunday today reveals shocking new evidence of the full horrific impact of US drone attacks in Pakistan. A damning dossier assembled from exhaustive research into the strikes’ targets sets out in heartbreaking detail the deaths of teachers, students and Pakistani policemen. It also describes how bereaved relatives are forced to gather their loved ones’ dismembered body parts in the aftermath of strikes. It is set to trigger a formal murder investigation by police into the roles of two US officials said to have ordered the strikes. They are Jonathan Banks, former head of the CIA’s Islamabad station, and John A. Rizzo, the CIA’s former chief lawyer." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCIA chiefs face arrest over horrific evidence of bloody ‘video-game’ sorties by drone pilots