Middle East

Yemeni Engineer Begs Obama to Stop Murdering His Family with Drones

"Last year, Salem Ahmed bin Ali Jaber, a respected Muslim cleric in Yemen, gave a speech denouncing al Qaeda. Representatives from Al Qaeda came to speak with Jaber and his cousin in a private meeting. During this meeting, they were all incinerated in a drone strike by the United States. Jaber’s brother-in-law, Faisal bin Ali Jaber, has written a letter, distributed by human rights group Reprieve, begging Obama and Hadi to stop killing innocents in these drone strikes and warning that they are making enemies of the very communities they claim to be trying to protect." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingYemeni Engineer Begs Obama to Stop Murdering His Family with Drones

U.S. officials say global terror threat is ‘very specific’

"U.S. officials are warning that a global terror threat from al Qaeda is ‘very specific’ and could last through August, as at least 22 embassies and consulates across the world prepared to shut down Sunday in fear of a possible attack. The U.S. issued a global travel alert for American travelers on Friday after intercepting electronic communication among top al Qaeda operatives in Yemen regarding an attack in its final planning stages. If traveling outside the U.S., King said: ‘I would let the American embassy know where you are. Basically check in and where you are and how long you plan to stay there and what your itinerary is.’" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. officials say global terror threat is ‘very specific’

Obama Meets Security Advisors Over “Most Specific, Credible Terrorist Threat In Years”; US Forces On Alert

"According to CBS, the 'terrorist threat prompting the U.S. government to close nearly two dozen embassies and consulates Sunday is the most specific, credible threat information in years' (even more credible than the Boston marathon bombers?) Specific but lacking the actual date, or timing, of an alleged 'terrorist attack.' Information which, however, can not be shared with the general public for obvious reasons - just trust the government and ignore that spy drone peeking into your window." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Meets Security Advisors Over “Most Specific, Credible Terrorist Threat In Years”; US Forces On Alert

Syria’s Assad bans all foreign currency in commercial transactions

"'It is prohibited to make payments, reimbursements, commercial transactions and any other commercial operation in foreign currency or in precious stones,' SANA quoted the decree as saying. 'The Syrian lira is the only currency' allowed in business and commerce, it added. Those breaking the law risk jail sentences from between six months to 10 years of hard labour, depending on the sum involved, and will be fined. The US dollar is the preferred foreign currency in Syria where the lira has lost three quarters of its value against the greenback since the outbreak of the anti-regime uprising more than two years ago." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSyria’s Assad bans all foreign currency in commercial transactions

More than 1,000 Iraqis killed in July, highest monthly toll since 2008

"More than 1,000 Iraqis were killed in sectarian violence in July, the highest monthly death toll since 2008, the United Nations said, as Sunni Islamist groups stepped up their insurgency against Iraq’s Shi’ite-led government. Most of the 1,057 victims were civilians, killed in a relentless campaign of bombings and shootings that some Iraqis fear could drag the country into another war. July’s toll brought the number of people killed in militant attacks since the start of the year to 4,137. Last week hundreds of convicts ran free after simultaneous attacks on two high-security prisons, raising questions about the ability of the security services to combat al Qaeda." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMore than 1,000 Iraqis killed in July, highest monthly toll since 2008

Ron Paul: Iraq Collapse Shows Bankruptcy of Interventionism

"Millions live in constant fear, refugees do not return home, and the economy is destroyed. The Christian community, some 1.2 million persons before 2003, has been nearly wiped off the Iraqi map. Other minorities have likewise disappeared. U.S. support for the Syrian rebels next door has drawn the Shi’ite-led Iraqi government into the spreading regional unrest. The invasion of Iraq opened the door to al-Qaeda in Iraq, which did not exist beforehand, while simultaneously strengthening the hand of Iran in the region. Were the 'experts' who planned for and advocated the U.S. attack really this incompetent?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul: Iraq Collapse Shows Bankruptcy of Interventionism

Iraq-Turkey oil export pipeline seen back in 72 hours after new attack

"A bomb placed under the Kirkuk-Ceyhan line in Iraq's Ninewa province exploded early Sunday halting flows, a senior Iraqi oil official told Platts. 'The exports were completely stopped from Kirkuk,' said the senior official with the state-run North Oil Company, who asked not be identified. The official said the explosion took place in Ain al-Jahsh, south of the city of Mosul, in the middle of an area increasingly rife with al-Qaeda and other militants. The pipeline had been operational for just two weeks since the last attack, on June 21, which kept the route offline until July 17." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIraq-Turkey oil export pipeline seen back in 72 hours after new attack

John Kerry hopes drone strikes end ‘soon,’ State Dept thinks otherwise

"After nearly two years of rocky relations, Secretary of State John Kerry went to Pakistan to begin to repair ties between the US and its ally. Pakistani officials were outraged over the impunity of US drone strikes in the Muslim nation and RT's Erin Ade has more Kerry's comments regarding the matter." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJohn Kerry hopes drone strikes end ‘soon,’ State Dept thinks otherwise

Interpol issues global security alert after prison breaks

"Interpol issued a global security alert on Saturday advising its members to increase their vigilance against attacks after a series of prison breaks in Iraq, Libya and Pakistan that the agency is investigating to determine if they were linked. The Lyon, France-based Interpol said given that al Qaeda was suspected to be involved in some of the incidents, it was asking its 190 member countries to watch out for information connected to the prison breaks, with an aim to determine whether they were coordinated and also locate the escaped prisoners." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInterpol issues global security alert after prison breaks

Interpol issues global security alert after prison breaks

"Interpol issued a global security alert on Saturday advising its members to increase their vigilance against attacks after a series of prison breaks in Iraq, Libya and Pakistan that the agency is investigating to determine if they were linked. The Lyon, France-based Interpol said given that al Qaeda was suspected to be involved in some of the incidents, it was asking its 190 member countries to watch out for information connected to the prison breaks, with an aim to determine whether they were coordinated and also locate the escaped prisoners." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInterpol issues global security alert after prison breaks