Saturday, December 29, 2012
NATO Piracy Update
NATO reports that all 22 hostages from the MV Iceberg 1 have now been released from pirate captivity. They had been held since the Iceberg 1 was pirated on 29 March 2010, a period of two years and nine months. The former hostages are now recovering from their ordeal and are receiving food and medical care.
On 21 Dec 2012 at 0845Z, a vessel transiting in the Gulf of Oman (2322N; 05926E) was approached and chased by two skiffs for approximately 1.5 hours. Vessel was subsequently confirmed as safe. On 20 Dec 2012 at 1015Z, a vessel transiting in the Gulf of Oman was approached by a skiff reported in position 2449N; 05750E, with possibly armed personnel onboard. The skiff fell back and the vessel was reported safe.
New Area of Concern
The vessel reported hijacked from Bossaso anchorage on 18 Dec 2012 has returned to its previous position. This incident is no longer assessed as being piracy related.
In addition to the incidents above, the NATO Shipping Centre has identified a new area of concern on the Pirate Attack Group (PAG) map located within the Gulf of Oman.
Merchant vessels are advised to remain vigilant throughout the High Risk Area and ensure that Self Protection Measures are in place as PAGs are likely to be operating in the area.
Clerical Fascist Egypt Engaging Hitlerian Hezbollah
Sunni Islamist Regime Reaches Out to Shiite Terrorist Group
The news is bad for Israel, naturally. But an Egypt-Hezbollah tie-up is also bad news for Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states that are threatened by Iranian meddling and intrigue.
Russia, UAE Announce Nuclear Energy Accord
Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week announced the signing of a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement to share technology, equipment and nuclear material in order to help the Gulf nation meets its goal of acquiring 25 percent of its energy needs from nuclear power. Read more.
Dark Times for European Trade Unions
But EU Organized Labor Still Powerful Force
A pro-labor expert on European trade unions argues that they have more power than they themselves seem to think they have, even as governments embrace wage reduction over currency devaluation as a way out of the financial crisis.Read more.
UN 'Fails Miserably' in Syria
Diplomacy in Ruins; New Cold War Looms
An utter failure--UN attempts to end the Syrian Civil War. Russia backs Assad; America backs the rebels. Read more.
UPDATE: Russia Says No Chance Assad Will Quit
UPDATE: Russia Says No Chance Assad Will Quit
More than two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union and world Communism … and a decade after the secret U.S. intervention in Afghanistan blew back in the form of a mega-attack on the United States by Islamist terrorists … relations between the U.S. and Russia are alarmingly awful. Syria is the flashpoint.
But why? There is no good reason for a proxy war in Syria, no reason Syria has to follow the disastrous Libya script, no logic to Western support for Al Qaeda-linked rebels. The policy of backing rightwing political Islam, after all that has happened, is perfidious … and downright suicidal.
Syria could--and should--have been turned into a neutral, federated nation of autonomous, unarmed provinces. As part of a deal, Moscow's naval installation at Tartus--no threat to Washington--could have been preserved, along with compensation for the loss of Russian arms sales to Syria. The Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union is over; why, then, is a new cold war with post-Soviet Russia apparently being promoted? Who benefits from the worsening relationship?
But why? There is no good reason for a proxy war in Syria, no reason Syria has to follow the disastrous Libya script, no logic to Western support for Al Qaeda-linked rebels. The policy of backing rightwing political Islam, after all that has happened, is perfidious … and downright suicidal.
Syria could--and should--have been turned into a neutral, federated nation of autonomous, unarmed provinces. As part of a deal, Moscow's naval installation at Tartus--no threat to Washington--could have been preserved, along with compensation for the loss of Russian arms sales to Syria. The Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union is over; why, then, is a new cold war with post-Soviet Russia apparently being promoted? Who benefits from the worsening relationship?
Mysterious N. Korean Caste System Starting to Fray
Pursuit of Wealth Creates Songbun-Free Space
The founder of the criminal, Kimist-Stalinist state created a caste system based on ideological purity. But the system, called songbun--which officially does not exist--is ever so quietly beginning to unravel. Read more.
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