Britannia Radio

Monday, April 13, 2009

 

Vowing Revenge, Pirates Target Americans

A Somali pirate chief has basically declared war on the United States, making clear his intention to capture and kill American citizens. 

AFP reports:

A Somali pirate chief on Monday threatened to target Americans in revenge for the rescue of a US captain in a dramatic operation that saw naval snipers kill his captors after a five-day standoff.

After the rescue late Sunday, the head of the pirate group that had held the American hostage aboard a lifeboat told AFP they had agreed to free him without ransom before the US Navy took action.

"The American liars have killed our friends after they agreed to free the hostage without ransom... this matter will lead to retaliation and we will hunt down particularly American citizens travelling our waters," Abdi Garad said by phone from the pirate lair of Eyl.

"We will intensify our attacks even reaching very far away from Somalia waters, and next time we get American citizens... they (should) expect no mercy from us."

Continue here.

The brazen declaration underscores the need for swift, decisive military action against the pirates, whose land bases are well known to Western intelligence services and wide open to attack. Also known and in need of obliteration: the Islamist terrorist training camps linked to the Muslim pirates.

# posted by Confidential Reporter @ 8:28 AM links to this post 

 

China Entering Tense Period of Increased Security

AFP reports:

The 20th anniversary this week of reformist leader Hu Yaobang's death will kick off an ultra-sensitive period for China's communist rulers as they are forced to revisit the deadly Tiananmen crackdown.

Wednesday will mark the beginning of a period of heightened tension and increased security in China that will last until June 4, the date in 1989 when soldiers were sent into Tiananmen Square to crush six weeks of unprecedented democracy protests.

Continue here.

# posted by Confidential Reporter @ 12:19 AM links to this post 

 

Worsening Economic Situation in Japan

Japan's economic situation is deteriorating. Reuters reports:

Wholesale prices are falling at their fastest rate since 2002, March figures showed on Monday, as weakening domestic demand on top of falling commodity prices drives Japan towards its second bout of deflation this decade. 

With interest rates already almost at zero, analysts say the Bank of Japan has limited weapons to fight deflation in the country's worst recession since World War Two.

"The BOJ has reached its limit in terms of conventional monetary policy moves," said Norihiro Fujito, general manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Securities.

"If prices continue to slide, the BOJ may need to expand its government bond buying, and move toward quantitative easing."

# posted by Confidential Reporter @ 12:06 AM links to this