New Bahrain trade federation splits union movement
Bill Law – BBC News – 17 Novemebr, 2012

As unrest continues in Bahrain, the Gulf kingdom’s trade union movement appears to be splitting in two.

A breakaway federation says it has attracted thousands of members since launching in July. The organisation – which uses the curious acronym, BLUFF – says its rival is “too political and no longer focuses on labour issues”.

BLUFF stands for the Bahrain Labour Union Free Federation. Its vice-president, Basim Kuwaitan, told the BBC that unions from 12 companies had joined his organisation and estimated the number of members as “between 13,000 and 15,000”.

Mr Kuwaitan says the reason for the creation of a new federation was simple. The existing General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU), he claims, was “not labour related anymore”.
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“The GFBTU called a strike in March last year that was related to political issues. It was against the law. Labour unions should steer clear of politics,” he adds.

But critics like Cathy Feingold have described BLUFF as an “absolutely blatant attempt to split the union movement”. Ms Feingold is the director of the international department for the AFL-CIO, the powerful American trade union federation.

Unions representing workers at many major corporations in Bahrain, several of them with ties to the ruling family, the Al Khalifa, have gone over to BLUFF.

And there are allegations that in at least one case it happened without a formal vote. A member of one union told the BBC: “There was no vote, the executive just announced that we were part of BLUFF.”

Mr Kuwaitan denies that charge. “We followed the proper procedures as laid down by the labour code,” he says.

Karim Radhi of the rival GFBTU says his organisation represents 80 unions and 25,000 members. He questions the independence of BLUFF.

“We should investigate just how free and independent the new federation is,” he says.

Thousands sacked

Bahrain has been wracked by more than 18 months of civil strife. At least 60 people, including several police officers, have been killed. The opposition puts the death toll at 80, a figure the authorities dispute.
Bahraini workers demanding reinstatement in February 2012 More than 4,000 people were dismissed from their jobs during last year’s unrest

Last year, more than 4,000 people were dismissed from their jobs. Almost all were Shia Muslims, who form the majority in a country ruled by a Sunni royal family.

In the wake of widespread international condemnation of how the government handled the protests, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa appointed an independent tribunal, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), to investigate abuses.
…more

The History of Israeli Spying: The Mother of all Scandals

What Really Happened
18 November, 2012 – sott.net

Once again, Israel has been caught with spies at the highest levels of the US Government.

At the heart of the investigation are two people who work at The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful pro-Israel lobby in Washington. The FBI investigation, headed up by Dave Szady, has involved wiretaps, undercover surveillance and photography that CBS News was told document the passing of classified information from the mole, to the men at AIPAC, and on to the Israelis.

CBS sources say that last year the suspected spy, described as a trusted analyst at the Pentagon, turned over a presidential directive on U.S. policy toward Iran while it was, “in the draft phase when U.S. policy-makers were still debating the policy.” This put the Israelis, according to one source, “inside the decision-making loop” so they could “try to influence the outcome.” [CBS News]

Once again Israel denies wrongdoing, or faced with incontrovertible evidence (in this case one of the spies has reportedly cooperated with the FBI) dismisses the spying with the claim that such spying is harmless, because Israel and the United States are such good friends.

Well, let us take a closer look at that idea of “harmless espionage” by recalling Israel’s most famous failed spy, Jonathan Pollard.

Jonathan Pollard is an American of Jewish descent, born in Galveston Texas, who established a career as an intelligence analyst for the US Navy. There have been many theories offered as to why Pollard decided to betray his country of birth to the Jewish state, but that Pollard did betray his country of birth to Israel is beyond all doubt. Pollard’s defense was that he did not spy so much against the United States, only that he spied for Israel, sending them documents that in his opinion the US should have shared with Israel anyway.

That it was never Pollards job to decide what documents Israel should have was apparently irrelevant. Pollard arrogated that authority to himself. From his position of trust within the US Navy, Pollard delivered over 1000 classified documents to Israel for which he was well paid. Included in those documents were the names of over 150 US agents in the Mideast, who were eventually “turned” into agents for Israel.

But by far the most egregious damage done by Pollard was to steal classified documents relating to the US Nuclear Deterrent relative to the USSR and send them to Israel. According to sources in the US State Department, Israel then turned around and traded those stolen nuclear secrets to the USSR in exchange for increased emigration quotas from the USSR to Israel. Other information that found its way from the US to Israel to the USSR resulted in the loss of American agents operating inside the USSR. Casper Weinberger, in his affidavit opposing a reduced sentence for Pollard, described the damage done to the United States thus, “[It is] difficult to conceive of a greater harm to national security than that caused by… Pollard’s treasonous behavior.”

This should end the suggestion that Israel’s spies are harmless. They are not. The United States’ nuclear deterrent cost an estimated five trillion taxpayer dollars during the 50s and 60s to build and maintain, and less than $100,000 for Pollard to undermine. Israel waited 13 years to admit Pollard had been spying for them, and now lobbies for his release, having granted him Israeli citizenship.

Pollard is hardly the only Israeli spy operating in the United States. He just had the misfortune to get caught. Here are just a few examples of the Israeli spy operations that have been detected.

1947. Information collected by the ADL in its spy operations on US citizens is used by the House Select Committee on Unamerican Activities. Subcommittee Chair Clare Hoffman dismisses the ADL’s reports on suspected communists as “hearsay.”

1950 John Davitt, former chief of the Justice Department’s internal security section notes that the Israeli intelligence service is the second most active in the United States after the Soviets. …more

Leveraging Operation Pillar of Defense Into an Attack on Iran
By Russ Wellen – 19 November, 2012 – FPIF

The Netanyahu administration stands poised to use Iran’s real or imagined influence over Hamas, as well as Iron Dome’s effectiveness, as justification for attacking Iran.

“At first glance,” writes Haaretz columnist Amir Oren, “Operation Pillar of Defense seems to be aimed at the Palestinian arena, but in reality it is geared toward Iranian hostility against Israel.” In fact

… the dark cloud in the Gaza skies might serve as an alternative, or preface to, an Iran operation. … Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have not given up the dream of carrying out a major operation in Iran. …

Hamas often uses Iranian missiles, but, writes Oren

So as not to leave a shred of doubt, [an] IDF Spokesman emphasized that “the Gaza Strip has become Iran’s frontline base.”

In fact, Hamas is considered closer these days to Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar than Iran. Regardless

… the intelligence assessment of casualties likely to be sustained on the home front during an operation in Iran, based on the assumption that the Arrow antimissile system is used (although it has yet to demonstrate actual interception capabilities ) [and will] duplicate the performance of the Iron Dome system. … constitute calculations in favor of an Iranian operation. … Should Operation Pillar of Defense [succeed,] the political leadership, buoyed by strong performances from the intelligence and other branches, [may] try to extrapolate from this operation and transpose it to other places.

In other words, if the Netanyahu administration succeeds in sending the message that Hamas’s will is Iran’s command, and that Israel’s missile defense will afford it protection from Iran’s retaliation, it may feel it then has license to attack Iran. …source

Why a new war on Gaza?
by Thierry Meyssan – Voltaire Network – Damascus (Syria) – 19 November, 2012

On the 14th November 2012, Israeli armed forces launched the operation “Pillar of Defense” against the administrative and military installations of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. On the first day of the attack, they assassinated Ahmed Jaabari, the number 2 of the armed branch of the Palestinian organisation. They also destroyed the underground launch-pads of their surface-to-surface Fajr 5 missiles.

“Pillar of Defense” quickly expanded, as Israeli aviation multiplied its bombing raids. The Israeli military command proceeded with the call-up of 30,000 reserve troops, and rapidly increased that number to 75,000 men, at the risk of destabilizing the economy. In this way, Israel has given itself the capacity to invade the Gaza Strip with ground troops.

This situation calls for several explanations.

Why now?

Tel-Aviv is taking the initiative in the midst of the partial power vacuum reigning in Washington. We are awaiting the nomination of new Secretaries for State and Defense. The new nominations may be ambassador Susan Rice and Senator John Kerry. However, a bitter struggle is currently being played out in the Press in an attempt to disqualify Ms. Rice. In any event, the position of the exiting Secretaries of State and Defense are weakened, and their successors have not yet been named.

In identical fashion, Tel Aviv had taken a similar initiative with the operation “Cast Lead” during the period of transition between Presidents Bush Jr.and Obama. Certain commentators are also evoking the proximity of the Israeli legislative elections, and suggest that Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman are attempting to polish their image as hard-line hawks.

This is improbable, since in fact, they are launching this attack without being sure of the result in advance. In 2008-2009, the failure of “Cast Lead” was fatal for Ehud Olmert’s government.
What’s the aim?

Traditionally, Israeli armed forces adapt their war objectives to the occasions as they arise.

At the least, the aim is to weaken the Palestinian Resistance by destroying infrastructures and administrations in the Gaza Strip, just as they do at more or less regular intervals. However, the weakening of Hamas will automatically profit Fatah in the West Bank – and Fatah will not miss the opportunity to push a little harder in its demand for the recognition of a Palestinian state by the United Nations.

At most, “Pillar of Cloud” might open the way for an old Zionist plan – the proclamation of Jordan as a Palestinian state, the transfer of the population of Gaza (perhaps also that of the West Bank) into Jordan, and the annexion of the territories thus evacuated. In this case, the military operation must not target all Hamas leaders indiscriminately, but only those who oppose the former poitical head of the organisation, Khaled Mechaal, since he is slated to become the first President of a Palestinian State in Jordan. …more

Too Many Irons in the Fire for Obama
Souraya Helou – 17 November, 2012 – moqawama.org

The entire world sighed in relief after the re-election of Barack Obama as the President of the United States of America. Nonetheless, there is almost nothing to be as rapturous about. The re-elected President has shown indeed, during his first mandate, that he opted for negotiations and refused the war; however, this did not prevent him from the excessive use of drones, these unmanned air vehicles remote-controlled by a military base in the US, to fire missiles on Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other places in the world where the US believes having enemies. If for the Americans, dispatching these drones is not considered a war since there are no American soldiers on a foreign territory, for the beleaguered countries this is nevertheless all-out violence. Moreover, Obama actually withdrew his soldiers from Iraq, but even he took the initiative to retreat from Afghanistan, he is not necessarily ready for making peace in the region.

In fact, a small sentence in his victory speech passed almost unnoticed, albeit having a salient significance. Obama promised the Americans to endeavor to thaw the US dependence pertaining to traditional energy. This clearly means that he shall burn both ends of the candle to get to extract shale gas, which shall supposedly fill the US energy needs ten years from now.

This shall augur ill days for the emirates of the Gulf and the Wahhabi Kingdom, which built their influence and fortune on fuel purchases by the world’s powers. By seeking to grant the US a self-sufficiency of energy, Obama also seeks to grant his country more freedom on the political level, in administrating the affairs of the world. This ambitious project is not to be accomplished any time soon, but if Obama keeps his promise, he has then launched a process that shall change the attitude and the role of the US in the world.

Furthermore, if it is clear that the US President has been somewhat standoffish regarding the Syrian dossier, he might be as well wary of the spiraling danger of emergent hardliners, within the scope of Al-Qaeda, on the Americans. But this doesn’t mean that he would be more conciliating with the axis of the resistance, which is still a privileged target for the US and the West overall.

In fact, the wave of satisfaction following Barack Obama’s re-election is rather sparked by the fear of having in power a new war fancier president like George W. Bush than by the keenness on having Obama again at the White House. Obama has indeed too many irons in the fire, on top of which the economic crisis, the lasting Republicans’ stronghold at the Congress, and the attitude of “Israel” unswervingly seeking to launch an attack on Iran. This shows to those who still have illusions, that the Palestinian Cause remains the very last concern for the West, and, unfortunately, is no more the priority of the Arabs. …source

Bahrain: Summoning of Al-Marzouq is an emptying of the political conduct
18 Novemebr, 2012 – ABNA.co

The regime in Bahrain continues to suppress the opposition leaders and its masses through various methods, including summons and arbitrary extrajudicial arrests undertaken by the regime’s security services.

Bahrain: Summoning of Al-Marzouq is an emptying of the political conduct(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – The regime in Bahrain continues to suppress the opposition leaders and its masses through various methods, including summons and arbitrary extrajudicial arrests undertaken by the regime’s security services. As the criminal investigation directorate has summoned Mr.Khallil al-Marzouq, political assistant of al-Wefaq SG, Thursday 15th for reasons relating to freedom of opinion and expression, questioning him on his interactions with the media to explain the opposition’s stance towards the events in Bahrain.

The opposition forces condemn such measure and stress that this suppressive behavior of the regime aims to silence the opposition and tighten the media noose. This contradicts with the pledges made by the Bahraini regime before the BICI and the UN’s Human Rights Council to implement recommendations of the UPR to unconditionally respect freedoms of opinion and expression, the opposition said.

The state media controls all audio, visual and print media and does not grant the opposition access to media that is funded by public money. The opposition is even banned from issuing press journals.

The state media also disdains dissidents and incites hatred between communities of the Bahraini society. The state media is the one who spreads false news and relates it to international parties, and this entails transparent interrogation and apparent measures to stop the corruption of the official media. However, the opposition forces stated that opposition leaders, who have proved to the world their objectivity and sagacity, should not be persecuted.

The opposition forces warn the regime of consequences of its silencing policy and consider it an onslaught on the very tight remaining margin of freedom of opinion and expression, in order to prevent the opposition from practicing its right to clarify its stances. This contradicts with the regime’s claims of democracy in Bahrain. Such measures increase the possibility of a wider political conflict that could bring about unpredictable consequences.

The opposition forces bring forward the summoning of al-Marzouq to the international human rights organizations as an outrageous violation of human rights that must be condemned and put an end to. …more

Bahrain Cracks Down on Freedom
by Stephen Lendman – Steve Lendman blog – 17 November, 2012

The ruling Al Khalifa monarchy is one of the world’s most brutal dictatorships. It’s also a valued US ally. Bahrain is home to America’s Fifth Fleet.

Imperial priorities matter most. Washington backs Bahraini harshness. State terror is policy. Murder, torture, lawless imprisonments, and daily atrocities get tacit support.

Bahrain ruthlessly wages war on freedom. Fundamental human and civil rights are spurned. Activists, protesters, medical professionals treating them when injured, independent journalists, and others supporting right over might are brutalized and imprisoned.

Nabeel Rajab is one of Bahrain’s best. He’s a prominent human rights leader. Activism got him targeted. His resume includes many impressive credentials. In 1999, he and others co-founded the Bahrain Human Rights Society.

In 2002, he, Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, and others co-founded the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR). Authorities terrorized its members for years. Nonetheless, it remains viable.

It promotes civil, political, and economic freedom, ending racial discrimination, and universal human and civil rights. Bahraini despots equate these principles with terrorism.

Last August, Bahrain’s Lower Criminal Court sentenced Nabeel to three years in prison. Supporting right over wrong in the emirate is dangerous. Expressing democratic views is criminalized. So is championing social justice publicly.

King Hamad calls peaceful protests “foreign plots.” Nabeel and others like him put their lives on the line for years. Bahraini activists face arrests, harsh interrogations, torture, and imprisonment. Media scoundrels largely ignore it.

Nabeel’s been in prison since July. He’s charged under Article 178 of Bahrain’s penal code. It prohibits unauthorized gatherings of five or more people for the “purpose of committing crimes (or) undermining public security, even if intended to achieve a legitimate purpose.”

His lawyers appealed. A Bahraini court delayed proceedings. Its ruling won’t be known until around mid-December. Peaceful protests are criminalized. State courts tolerate no challengers. They give kangaroos a bad name.

Bahrain banned protests earlier. On July 20, 2006, King Hamad ratified Code 32 on “Public Gatherings, Processions and Assembly.” Doing so amended the 1973 Decree No. 18. Human rights groups condemned the action. It lawlessly targeted free expression and peaceful gatherings. …source

Bahrain: Release and dismissal of charges against Mr. Sayed Yousif AlMuhafdhah
16 November, 2012 – fidh

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.

New information:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the release and the dismissal of charges against Mr. Sayed Yousif AlMuhafdhah, Acting Vice President and Head of Documentation Unit of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR).

According to the information received, on November 14, 2012, the Public Prosecution decided to release Mr. Sayed Yousif AlMuhafdhah and drop the charges of “participation in illegal protests” that had been pending against him since November 2, 2012. Mr. AlMuhafdhah had been detained arbitrarily since that day (see background information).

The Observatory welcomes these new developments and thanks all the persons, institutions and organisations who intervened in Mr. Sayed Yousif AlMuhafdhah’s favour. However, the Observatory recalls that two other BCHR members remain in detention, Messrs. Nabeel Rajab, BCHR President, Director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) and FIDH Deputy Secretary General, and Mr. Abdulhadi Al Khawaja, former BCHR President and former MENA Director at Front Line, and urges the Bahraini authorities to release them immediately and unconditionally, as their detention seems to merely aim at sanctioning and hindering their human rights activities. …more

BAHRAIN: The verdict on Nabeel Rajab’s appeal expected on December 11
8 November, 2012 – Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Paris-Geneva, November 8, 2012. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), deplores the Bahrain Appeals Court’s refusal to refer a petition for preliminary ruling on the legality of the law prohibiting demonstrations in Bahrain and to release Nabeel Rajab, who has been arbitrarily detained since July 9, 2012.

On November 8, 2012, the Bahrain Appeals Court resumed the hearing on the appeal against the three years’ imprisonment sentence pronounced against Mr. Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), Director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) and FIDH Deputy Secretary General [1], on August 16, 2012 by the Lower Criminal Court for three cases related to his participation in peaceful gatherings in favour of fundamental freedoms and democracy. The hearing was attended by Mr. Antoine Aussedat, French lawyer, who was mandated by the Observatory to conduct an international trial observation mission. He was the only observer mandated by an international NGO. Several diplomats representing France and the USA also attended the hearing.

During the hearing, a new request for Nabeel Rajab’s provisional release was rejected by the Court. Then eight videos were shown: five videos filed by the Prosecutor displaying images shot by the police on the demonstration in relation to which Nabeel Rajab had been arrested and three videos filed by the defence lawyers containing speeches or interviews attesting that Nabeel Rajab advocated for non violence, a video of a demonstration during which Nabeel Rajab was charged and hurt by the police and extracts from a pro-government TV broadcast in which Nabeel Rajad was depicted as a dangerous agitator and manipulator. The content of the videos was discussed by the court and the defence lawyers.

Finally the court denied a petition filed by his lawyers to refer to the Supreme Court a question for a preliminary ruling on the constitutionality and legality of the law banning demonstrations in Bahrain, with regard to international conventions and announced that the verdict would be made public on December 11, 2012.

“The issue of the legality of the law on gatherings is key. I deeply regret that the court refused to refer this fundamental question to the Supreme Court. It sends an alarming signal as to what could be the final outcome of this judicial process”, said FIDH President Souhayr Belhassen.

“We reiterate our concern about the continuing judicial harassment faced by Nabeel Rajab and his prolonged arbitrary detention, which seem to merely aim at sanctioning his legitimate human rights activities. Accordingly, the authorities must drop all charges held against him and immediately and unconditionally release him, in compliance with the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments ratified by Bahrain”, concluded OMCT Secretary General Gerald Staberock. …source

Sayyed Nasrallah: Obama Can Stop “Israeli” Assault with One Phone Call
by Nour Rida – 18 November, 2012 – moqawama.org

Hizbullah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stressed Saturday the “Resistance has presented a great image of its steadfastness, wisdom, courage, and ability to confront the “Israeli” enemy.” He assured that “the major elements of the ‘Palestinian Resistance’ power include the action of resistance, the people of resistance and the support this people, which have surprised “Israel”.

He highlighted that the enemy’s declaration of soon launching ground Ops in Gaza is more likely hype rather than reality.
Addressing the hundreds of thousands at the Sayyed al-Shuhada complex on the 3rd night of Ashura, Sayyed Nasrallah pointed out “The people of Gaza possessing those elements will impose the situation on their foe, on their friends…”

He went on to say “Gaza has resisted and survived, and still is, whereas the Zionist entity which appeared invading on the political, security and military echelons was stunned.”

The “Israelis” have mistaken when they supposed they were able to destroy the missile capacity of the Resistance, especially since the first strikes. So far, the Resistance has the ability to bomb Tel Aviv, al-Quds (Jerusalem), and other places,” he said.

According to the Hizbullah Secretary General, “The Resistance is not in a situation to ask for a cease-fire, because this is not in its favor. Rather, the Palestinian Resistance has conditions among which is ending the siege on the Gaza Strip, it is talking about international commitments.”

Sayyed Nasrallah, pointing out the surprise of the “Israeli” enemy said “Just like during the July war, the “Israeli” authorities called on settlers to resort to shelters 40 km range from Gaza after the first day. The “Israeli” enemy presumed that after the two- or three-day bombing, the Resistance would supposedly cry and demand cease-fire at any price.”

To the “Israelis'” surprise, they had to resort to shelters 70 km range from the Gaza Strip soon, as the Palestinian Resistance launched its new long-range missiles, the Resistance leader iterated.

As for the Arab official reaction, Sayyed Nasrallah stated “We haven’t heard any threat to cut off relations or annul and suspend agreements, or to use oil as a weapon or raise its prices or reduce its production to put pressure on the US.”
He further added “We are still below the minimum expected from Arabs, who are required to pressure “Israel” to stop its aggression and respond to the legitimate conditions of Palestinian Resistance.”

His Eminence hoped that the Arab states take appropriate position, expressing fears that some Arab states might exert pressure on the resistance to abandon these legitimate conditions.”

Sayyed Nasrallah underscored that “(US President Barack) Obama can put an end for the war by a single phone call; yet he is still supporting “Israeli” action, which means he hasn’t heard any word from Arabs up till now.”

“Required is a real support to Gaza which is able to achieve decisive victory,” Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah concluded. …source

Bahrain regime forces target religious rituals, vandalize Ashura displays
17 November, 2012 – Shia Post

Al-Wefaq’s media center said that the regime is tightening against citizens’ religious freedoms and practice of religious rituals, as it has conducted a series of attacks on displays of Ashura in some areas around the country.

It further clarified that the forces’ attacks on religious freedoms comes amongst ongoing attacks against citizens revealing the mentality of the forces, and that such acts can only be perpetrated under high-ranked orders.

The media center pointed out that the Ashura event has been yearly held in Bahrain for as far as hundreds of years, and this reveals the deviant mentality of the regime forces against citizens. As the forces attack and provoke citizens rather than protect them.

Regarding threats by officials against religious freedoms, the median center stated that suppression of religious freedoms and freedom to practice religious rituals is a dangerous that the regime solely bears responsibility of.

Ashura is held in most countries around the world, even non-Islamic countries. The event yearly takes place in Europe, America, Africa, Australia and the Asian countries, yet, has not been attacked anywhere around the globe except Bahrain, where the regime disrespects and targets religious freedoms, it said.

Al-Wefaq called on citizens to document each and every violation and the regime forces’ harassments and intimidating behavior towards religious freedoms.

Al-Wefaq’s media center affirmed that religious freedoms in Bahrain are not subject to political use or bargaining, as the different sects of the Bahraini people have long respected these rituals and lived in harmony. The only one who appears not able to live with this is the regime that continuously attacks these rituals.

It further said that Ashura has been the front image of national unity, as both Sunni and Shia citizens have participated in this ritual, and the regime attempts to bring discord and build conflict in order to achieve its. …source

US Drones Target Killing claims 5390 Inconent Unarmed Citizens lives ,Just to target 110 Wanted By US – Congressman Dennis Kucinich
17 November, 2012 – Jafria News

JNN 17 Nov 2012 Washington D.C : On November 15, 2012 Congressman Dennis Kucinich was granted permission to address the U.S. House of Representatives for one minute. And in Just this short time the figures revealed by him , regarding the Drone attacks were Drastic .

“American drones in Pakistan have killed as many as 3,378 people. Drones in Yemen have killed as many as 1,952 people. Drones inSomalia have killed as many as 170 people. We’ve not declared war on any of these nations, but our weapons have killed innocent civilians in all of them. Highly reputable research shows that the number of high-level targets killed as a percentage of total casualties is estimated at about 2 percent.”

“According to The Washington Post, the Obama administration is working on efforts to institutionalize the practice of targeted killings by unmanned drones abroad. The volume of these killings challenges the morality and the legality of the attacks. We are creating a precedent for other nations that are developing the same technology. China has just unveiled a new drone”, he said.

“The drone program has thus far been conducted with no oversight from Congress or any judicial body. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to ensure that programs that are being conducted in the name of our Nation are legal, transparent, and accountable. We are holding a briefing tomorrow about this exact matter”, said Congressman Dennis Kucinich

The US Drone and their War against Terrorism have created a Hatred for US , among common Persons of these countries specially which are being Hit by drones attacks ,which is even in violation of the International Borders and sovereignity of any Independent country , and in General the Common Public of these countries are the worst enemies of Nations lIke Germany, Japan , Russia, China , Pakistan , Iran, Cuba , Venezula , and a lot of other countries.

The time has come that the US think tanks should start thinking , to do some thing good and Positive for the common Interest of these and other Nations , that before they are the Most Hated Nation of the World , and they are Isolated . As the US is also starting to lose the Power and Might it once had , and now with the weaken Economy and Recessions , they should do some Positive steps , that they can survive , in the changing world .

As if they become Isolated and Every countries , starts closing its doors for them , then it will be a disaster for whole of the US Nation , and they will be confined to Just North America , and even will not be possible for them to open routes to South America .

As it is also very heart Breaking that even with all these details publicized , the Human Rights Organisation , who say they fight for Global Human Rights , have kept a Mum over these Basic Human Right Violations by US , and Now People have also been of the view that these NGO , who are working in the Name of Human Rights and Protecting Nature and other causes are just Under cover , working for the US and CIA Interests and their aim is not providing relief to the common public , but to gather Information and Data for them. …source

Bahrain: Serious concerns over the Deterioration of Physical and Mental health of a Prisoner of Conscience
17 November, 2012 -Bahrian Center for Human Rights

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses grave concern over the physical and mental well-being of the prisoner of conscience, Ayman Abdulshaheed. AbdulShaheed suffers from Hemophilia, a rare bleeding disorder that is life threatening if subjected to physical harm or injuries. Despite his illness, he was allegedly beaten violently during his arrest and interrogation. His mental health deteriorated rapidly while he was in custody and he has been in the psychiatric hospital for more than two months now. With no regard to his health and the evidence of his innocence presented by his lawyer to the authorities, Ayman is still kept in detention at the psychiatric ward.

Ayman Abdulshaheed, a father of a two-year old girl, was arrested on 11 June 2012. He told the BCHR that masked men broke in his apartment at 3 am and beat him violently in front of his wife and daughter. His lawyer, Hussain Aqeel, said that Ayman is accused of “illegal gathering, rioting, arson and attempted murder” [1] although there is no evidence convicting him. In contrary, there are photos, videos and witnesses proving that Ayman was not at or near the crime scene at the time of the incident; however, they were ignored by the public prosecution, according to Hussain Aqeel. He was ordered to 60 days in detention which was extended more than once. …more

Gaza my love
by Her Eyes Only – 16 November, 2012

Gaza- I wish I was a human shield

I wish I had wings of a dove to cross

the skies that are made of fire & carry you away

from war. They shot a missile in the air,

where it falls , they do not care.

I wish I was at the heart of Gaza Habibty

to hug my brothers, my other brothers.

to be martyred by my crazy love.

Instead, I am lighting memories in the wind,

writing names of dead children on pieces of paper,

all my love turn to ash.

Photos by Guy B
…source

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu marshals troops toward Gaza, Barack Obama is making a grievous error by being seen as walking in step. Post-election optimism over direct talks with Iran will be shattered should Israel invade, and the Arab world will view the US president as full of empty promises. In one swipe, Netanyahu has made Gaza the litmus test of Obama’s statesmanship.

Netanyahu calls Obama’s bluff
by Melkulangara K. Bhadrakumar – Voltaire Network – 16 November, 2012

As tensions mount in the coming hours and days with the Israeli troops and tanks advancing toward Gaza menacingly, United States President Barack Obama begins to realize that he has a forked tongue.

Gaza becomes the litmus test of what he can claim to be as a statesman and what he cannot be in political reality.

For Obama, there is no running away from the reality that he has been hiding his head ostrich-like from the day he left Cairo in 2009 after making a magnificent speech there on the Palestinian problem.

The events of the past week in Gaza underscore that unless he musters the political courage – and integrity as a statesman – to address the Palestinian problem, all his talk of a transformative agenda for the Middle East remains sheer baloney.

Furthermore, his lop-sided priorities in the Middle East are getting exposure. In essence, he ends up being seen as cooking up tales about Syria and Iran and shying away from the one issue that can make all the difference for America’s discourse with the Muslim world.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has exposed Obama and is forcing a reset of their mutual equations even before the US president gets started on his second term in the White House.

Obama can always take shelter behind mellifluous rhetoric and has no adverse domestic public opinion to grapple with. Nor is he being called upon by his European allies to be accountable.
The spanner in the wheel

The paradox is that the crisis in Gaza had to erupt just when things were looking up for a possible US-Egyptian reset, including a joint enterprise by the two countries to give a decisive push for “regime change” in Syria.

A technical team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been in Cairo for the past fortnight to negotiate a US$4.8 billion loan that Egypt has sought to shore up finances. Even as the Israeli jets kept pounding Gaza relentlessly and Hamas beseeched Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi for help, the IMF announced on Wednesday, “The mission will remain in Cairo for a few more days to continue work and build on the good progress already made.”

The IMF usually expects that governments take actual measures as per an agreed economic reform plan before signing off on loans, but Morsi knows exceptions can always be made, and it is Washington who decides. …more

Obama Poised to Dine with Architects of Burma’s Ethnic Cleansing
By Tom Andrews, 16 November, 2012 – Foreign Policy in Focus

Why is President Obama about to meet with leaders in Burma who are systematically fomenting hatred and violence that has already claimed innocent lives, destroyed entire villages and displaced tens of thousands?

In just a few days, President Obama will travel to Burma to recognize progress that one of the most brutal regimes on the planet has made toward democracy. Now that modest improvements have been made or pledged by the regime, and Aung San Suu Kyi is free, the U.S. government has decided to lift the economic and diplomatic pressure that made reform in Burma possible.

That is bad news if you are part of an ethnic minority in Burma. And it is life threatening if you are a member of the Rohingya Muslim minority.

Systematic hate speech and entreaties for the local population to isolate and attack the Rohingya Muslim minority are pervasive in western Burma. The Burmese military stand aside or actively participate in attacks against innocent men, women and children. More than one hundred people have already lost their lives, tens of thousands have lost their homes, and over one hundred thousand have been displaced.

What is the U.S. government doing about it? On Sunday, President Obama will become the first President to visit Burma. He is there to recognize and congratulate the military-dominated government for making modest reforms toward democracy. As hundreds of thousands of Rohingya continue to live in fear, President Obama will be congratulating a government that wants to ethnically cleanse every one of them from Burma.

Burma’s President Thein Sein–who Obama will be sitting down to dine with–has been actively fomenting hatred against the Rohingya community. He has gone so far to ask the United Nations to help him ethnically cleanse Burma by forcing 800,000 Rohingya people out of their home villages and into refugee camps or out of the country altogether!

I saw what violence and persecution looks like first-hand in Burma when I snuck into Kachin State last May. I saw entire villages abandoned, its population driven into makeshift camps filled with desperate people without adequate food, shelter of medical care. I spoke with families whose loved ones had been tortured, raped, incarcerated or killed by Burmese troops. Without international pressure on the regime, I know what the Rohingya are experiencing will only continue to get worse. …more

Bahrain: Implementing a State of Emergency (National Safety) without an Official Declaration
16 November, 2012 – Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rghts

Background:

In March 2011 after hundreds of thousands protested in the Lulu (Pearl) Roundabout (Manama), the King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa issued a “Royal Decree No. 18 of 2011″, and this Decree was a declaration of a State of National Safety, a “state of emergency in the country”, and this continued for three months where the Bahraini Authorities practiced dreadful violations of human rights (refer to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry – BICI – report which was established by the King to investigate the violations : http://www.bici.org.bh/BICIreportEN.pdf)

Photo: Pearl roundabout after entering the army and the suppression of demonstrators

Photo: King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa

Articles of declaring the State of National Safety “emergency state”:

The declaration of the State of National Safety which was issued by an order from the King consists of 15 articles in which the responsibility of the police, army, and National Guard was specified in Article “5″, where they were given the following measures:

1. Evacuate or isolate certain areas to maintain security and public order.
2. Regulate and ban public gatherings if they are deemed to be a threat to public order or national safety.
3. Regulate traffic and movement; impose curfews and places limits on travel outside the Kingdom whenever this is for the benefit of the citizens.
4. Temporarily regulate access to certain areas whenever it is in the public interest.
5. Organize opening and closing times for shops and public places whenever required by the public interest.
6. Search persons and places when suspicions exist of a violation of the provisions of this Decree or the decision or orders issued by the authority responsible for its implementation.
7. If a foreigner is deemed a threat to public security and safety or citizen, they may be deported or prohibited from entering the Kingdom.
8. If evidence arises that an association, club, union or other legal person is undertaking activity that disturbs public order, or working in the interest of a foreign State, or spreading a spirit of disunity among the citizens to cause disorder or disobedience in the Kingdom, its activity may be suspended.
9. If it appears that some of the printed, audio or visual media or informational networks would prejudice national security or undermine the Constitution, social or economic order of the Kingdom, it may be seized and denied publication or broadcast.
10. Regulate means of transport by land, sea and air and use them temporarily, provided that the owners and users of these means of transport are fairly compensated.
11. Arrest and detain suspects and persons deemed threatening to the security of citizens.
12. Withdraw Bahraini citizenship from all those whose presence is deemed to be a risk to public order and security and expel them from the country or detain them at secure locations. …more

Israel okays reserve call-up of up to 75,000
16 November, 2012 – Lebanon News

The Israeli cabinet on Friday night gave its green light for the recruitment of up to 75,000 reservists, Channel 2 television said, amid signs that Israel was gearing up for a ground offensive in Gaza.

The decision was taken in a phone vote which was carried out as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks at the defense ministry in Tel Aviv with his inner circle, the Forum of Nine, the channel reported.

In practice, it means that up to 75,000 reserve soldiers can be drafted into action by the military at any point, as Israel appeared set to expand its relentless air campaign against Gaza militants.

As darkness fell, the Hamas-run enclave hunkered down for a third night of Israeli bombardment which began on Wednesday with an air strike which killed a top Hamas commander, unleashing a new and deadly round of bloody mayhem.

And the Israeli army moved to seal off roads around Gaza as AFP correspondents reported a growing build-up of military hardware and reserve forces along the Gaza border.

“Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser has started to conduct a phone vote among government ministers for approval to recruit 75,000 reserve soldiers,” the cabinet secretary wrote on his official Facebook page as Netanyahu began three hours of talks with his inner circle.

As the violence spiralled on Friday with a rocket hitting the sea off Tel Aviv and another landing in the West Bank near Jerusalem, Israel geared up for an expansion of its campaign, sending call-up papers to 16,000 reservists.

A day earlier, Defense Minister Ehud Barak had approved the call-up of 30,000 reserve soldiers, but on Friday, the defense ministry said he had decided to further expand the quota.

“Today, Defense Minister Ehud Barak authorised the IDF to expand its quota of reservists beyond the originally allocated amount,” the ministry said, and a spokesperson confirmed he was looking to increase the number beyond 30,000.

…more

Two Israeli prisoners of war captured
Al Akhbar – 16 November, 2012

BREAKING: Hamas has captured two Israeli prisoners of war, Sky News Arabic reports. The prisoners were operating the fighter jet Hamas has reportedly downed. …source