Afganistan .. all according the plan ..

Ireland & The Bailout and Prospects for Recovery.

Ireland & The Bailout and Prospects for Recovery.

Bond markets have already factored in an Irish default.

Can efficiency improvements fill the gap?

Given it is just days away from the election and a new government, most likely to be led by Fine Gael, many are probably wondering what exactly is the current state of Ireland and what are the prospects for recovery. In short, things are bad and a recovery is very unlikely. There are also wider and bigger global issues and we are unprepared and should be doing something about it now.

The only hope is that we have is that there is a public awakening to try and understand what has happened, where we are and the future we are hurtling towards. Only then, is there any possibility of some kind of social revolution to enable us to have any chance of coping with the challenges and by our actions, hopefully we may even trigger an European wide social transformation. But frankly the prospects of this positive development happening are zilch.

Τhis is what IMF was saying a day before the Libyan revolt !!

Nα τι έλεγε το ΔΝΤ μία μέρα πριν ξεσπάσει η εξέγερση στην Λιβύη

Τhis is what IMF was saying a day before the Libyan revolt !!

Libya - a war about oil & fresh water

Suddenly America loves democracy in the Middle East – unless it’s Palestinian democracy

Suddenly America loves democracy in the Middle East – unless it’s Palestinian democracy America, which supported tyrannies in the Middle East for decades, has overnight switched to endorsing the uprisings across the region demanding democracy to replace former US clients like Mubarak. But some Middle East democracies find more favour than others, as Palestinians found out six years ago.

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Saudi protests highlight US hypocrisy  >>> more

Libyan Military Forces Route Western-backed Rebels From Several Towns and Ports

Libyan Military Forces Route Western-backed Rebels From Several Towns and Ports

France recognizes opposition while imperialists plot intervention, regime-change

By Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

While the military forces of the Libyan government drive rebel groups out of several towns and the oil producing port at Ras Lanuf, the western-backed counter-revolutionaries are repeating calls for greater intervention on the part of the imperialist states. Although the United States, Britain, France, the European Union and NATO are clearly supporting and coordinating the actions of the groups battling to topple the Libyan government, the failure of the monarchists, defectors and CIA-trained units to damage the fighting capacity of the patriots prompted NATO to hold a meeting to assess their strategy on March 10.

Libyan forces have reportedly moved out hundreds of rebels from both Ras Lanuf and Zawiya causing them to drive their vehicles further east where the unrest was started some three weeks ago. Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, has maintained that the rebels are backed by the western imperialist countries and that they are attempting to divide the country along regional and tribal lines. Gaddafi has made several appearances on Libyan and international television where he has reiterated that his government will not relinquish any territory or political authority to the rebels and their supporters. Since the beginning of the unrest, the corporate media outlets in the U.S. and around the world have given unconditional support to the western-backed rebel groups.

Nato 'kills cousin of Afghan President Hamid Karzai

A relative of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been mistakenly killed by Nato troops in southern Afghanistan, officials say.

Yar Muhammad Khan was at his home in Dand district near Kandahar city when he was shot dead in an overnight raid.      

Nato says it is investigating the incident.Hundreds of Afghans took to the streets of the capital, Kabul, last week to protest about civilian deaths at the hands of foreign forces.''There were operations taking place near his house. He was killed by mistake. He was not a target," Ahmad Wali Karzai, the brother of President Karzai and head of Kandahar's provincial council, told the BBC.It comes just days after President Karzai lashed out at US-led forces over the recent accidental killing of nine boys in eastern Kunar province.US President Barack Obama, Gen Petraeus, the commander of international troops in Afghanistan, and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates have all apologised for the incident.

Gbagbo rejects fresh calls to quit

Gbagbo rejects fresh calls to quit

Violence flared again recently leading to fears that unfinished business from disputed polls could lead to civil war [AFP] Laurent Gbagbo, Cote d'Ivoire's incumbent leader, has rejected an African Union proposal to step down in favour of presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara, Gbagbo's foreign minister has said. "We will never accept if the proposal is for President Gbagbo to step down because he is the elected leader of Cote d'Ivoire," Alcide Djedje said on Thursday. "We just want President Gbagbo to be president because he has been elected according to the laws in the country. This is our stance." Later, Pascal Affi N'Guessan, leader of Gbagbo's Ivorian Popular Front, confirmed that the AU proposal to end the deadlock after a disputed November election was based on an endorsement of Ouattara. "We have invited the panel to reconsider its position," he told reporters at AU talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Civil war threat "If this initiative doesn't come out with irrefutable and pertinent propositions, we fear that the AU, somehow, will contribute to what the rebels started in 2002," he warned, referring to a 2002-2003 civil war that split the country in two. N'Guessan did not give further details of the AU proposal, due to be announced at the end of the meeting. Meanwhile, Gbagbo has banned UN and French peacekeeping aircraft from flying over, or landing in the country. It was announced shortly after Ouattara flew to Ethiopia to attend the AU crisis talks meeting. Mohammed Adow, Al Jazeera's correspondent in the Ivorian city of Abidjan, said Gbagbo wants to lock Ouattara out of the Ivory Coast when he tries to return tomorrow.

Yemen government forces have used nerve gas

Yemen government forces have used nerve gas against anti-government protesters as President Ali Abdullah Saleh come under mounting pressure to step down, reports say.

Witnesses present at the scene of Tuesday's anti-government protests in the capital Sana'a said that what was originally thought to be tear gas may have been some form of nerve gas, reports said on Wednesday. Military personnel used live bullets and some form of gas on Tuesday night to disperse a group of demonstrators who were trying to bring more tents into the protest area outside Sana'a University. One protester was killed and around 100 others were injured in the attack. The victims of the violence complained of symptoms similar to those caused by nerve gas, including temporary paralysis. "We are seeing symptoms in the patient's nerves, not in their respiratory systems. I'm 90 percent sure its nerve gas and not tear gas that was used," confirmed Dr. Sami Zaid at the Science and Technology Hospital in Sana'a. The use of nerve gas is forbidden under international law. Meanwhile, protesters thronged the streets of the Yemeni capital on Wednesday, calling on President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign. 

Libya is not Egypt and all rebellions are not Revolutions!

Libya is not Egypt and all rebellions are not Revolutions!

Statement from the All-African People's Revolutionary Party (A-APRP)

Revolutionaries must be vigilant observers and mindful of the components of revolution versus reform or simple rebellion. We must also never be quick to take sides or forget our history and the role and objectives of Imperialism over the interest of the Masses of the People. What we have seen in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya today is a reflection of the continued development of the class struggle in Africa.

That is exactly the intent of the imperialist powers in supporting these rebellions amongst the growing educated and working class population in Africa and the Middle East. The global imperialist economies rely on the material and human resources and potential capacity of Africa, the Middle East and the Americas and therefore the potential of the working class movements becoming socialist especially within Africa would topple the financial markets of america and europe and end the welfare that provides security and sustenance to israel!

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

the historical context of the developing 2011 Egyptian Bourgeois Democratic Revolution

Imperialism and the historical context of the developing 2011 Egyptian Bourgeois Democratic Revolution 

(copied from http://sonsofmalcolm.blogspot.com/2011/03/learning-from-nassers-egyptian-anti.html )

Egyptians do not have to look elsewhere for guidance in this regard. They can find it readily in the program that was designed and implemented after the 1952 Revolution, under Nasser. Some of the most important components of that program were:

1. Freedom from imperialist and Zionist domination.

2. Moves towards development of an independent foreign policy.

3. Moves towards economic and political independence.

4. Moves towards the development of Arab unity.

5. Development and nationalization of major industries and services.

6. Redistribution of wealth, income, and property with the goal of satisfying the basic needs of people.

7. Agrarian reforms for redistribution of land for the landless and other peasants.

8. Moves towards the non-capitalist and socialist roads of development. As Islam is a powerful force in the lives of most Egyptians, the non-capitalist and socialist reorganization of society and its resources must be coordinated with the Islamic teachings of justice and equality."

Fazal Rahman, Ph.D.

Summary

The 1952 Bourgeois Democratic Revolution was launched by the Free Officers Movement of the armed forces against the corrupt and repressive monarchy of King Farouk, under whom Egypt had become the most important lever of control and domination of the Middle East by Western imperialism in general and US imperialism in particular.

Egypt humanitarian delegation enters Gaza

Their aim is to enter the beseiged Palestinian terrirtory with as many Egyptian volunteers as possible. This in order to highlight that Egypt's economic blockade of Gaza continues and must end following the fall of the Mubarak regime.

The activists make it to the town of Al Arish, 50 km from the Gaza border, where they're greeted by local leaders who promise they'll supply hundreds of volunteers to show solidarity with the suffering of Gazans. The leaders call for Egypt to revoke its peace treaty with Israel and for former President Husni Mubarak to be prosecuted.

We've arrived in Al Arish to a good welcome. But we did have to pass through about 12 checkpoints and the army tried to persuade us not to come. But now the people here are promising to accompany the convoy to Gaza.  The morning of the planned march to the Gaza border starts with much optimism. But things soon turn nasty. A small group of suspected pro-Mubarak agitators accuse the activists of being spies and even Israelis. They say Egyptians should sort their own problems out before they worry about anybody else. Our crew is forced to stop filming, but soon afterwards we are attacked with shovels and forced to beat a hasty retreat.

Eventually the activists make it to the Gaza border but with severely depleted numbers. Most of the Egyptians have been scared off from joining their protest march to the Rafah border crossing. After 5 hours they are allowed through with one bag of cement. They are the first peace delegation to enter Gaza since the Egyptian revolution.

Liberated Libya Rejects US Intervention

Παρά την φαινομενική αγανάκτηση της, η Δύση αφήνει τον Καντάφι να κάνει τη "βρώμικη δουλειά" της καταστολής της εξέγερσης. Μετά, αφού θα έχει περιορίσει ή καταστείλει την εξέγερση, οι Δυτικοί θα μπορέσουν να τον παραμερίσουν σαν εγκληματία πολέμου. Οι αμερικανοευρωπαϊκές κυβερνήσεις, καθότι δημοκρατικές, δεν μπορούν πια να υποστηρίζουν ένα καθεστώς ολοφάνερα αιμοσταγές και λαομίσητο, αλλά απο την άλλη,οι λέξεις "πολιτοφυλακές" και "εξέγερση" τους προκαλούν πανικό. 

Alexandria , Egypt - The night the capital of Hell fell down !!

The night the capital of Hell fell down !!

Underground cells by Yasser Seif

During the Mubarak era the state security HQ in Nasr city had this infamous reputation not only inside the country but also outside it. Its international infamousness was recognized when it turned out that the Bush administration used its secret cells and also the expertise of its infamous officers to interrogate its illegal detainees during its unholy war on terrorism.

The Egyptians called that big building in Nasr city district “The capital of hell” and you can imagine why Egyptians called it like that. A scary building any taxi driver will tell you horror stories about it and about the secret underground prison cells and torture rooms.

Egyptian army in talks with ElBaradei, Moussa
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
CAIRO - Agence France-Presse

Egypt's military leaders met with a group of Egyptian politicians, businessmen and politicians, including opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei and Arab League chief Amr Moussa, on Tuesday to discuss upcoming reforms, state media reported. The goal was to listen to their views on the current political, economic and social system following the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak on Feb. 11 after weeks of protests, the state news agency MENA said.

Oh now Mr Wallace....

Wallace: You go to Nigeria, which is, if not the most corrupt nation in Africa, and it is, it could be the most corrupt nation in the world Minister Farrakhan.

Farrakhan: Oh now Mr Wallace.

Wallace: It is the most corrupt nation that I have ever covered. I’ve been there 25 years ago and I’ve been there as recently as last year.

Farrakhan: Fine. So what? 35 years old, that’s what that nation is, now here’s America 226 years old! You love democracy? But there in Africa, you’re trying to force these people into a system of government, when you just have accepted 30 years ago that black folk got the right to vote. You’re not in any moral position to tell anyone how corrupt they are! You should be quiet and let those of us who know our people go there and help them get out of that condition. But America should keep her mouth shut wherever there is a corrupt

China "Attacks The Dollar"

China "Attacks The Dollar"

In a surprising turn of events, today's biggest piece of news received a mere two paragraph blurb on Reuters, and was thoroughly ignored by the broader media. An announcement appeared shortly after midnight on the website of the People's Bank of China. The statement, google translated as "Pragmatic and pioneering spirit to promote cross-border renminbi business cum on monitoring and analysis to a new level" is presented below:

Reuters provides a simple translation and summary of the announcement: "China hopes to allow all exporters and importers to settle their cross-border trades in the yuan by this year, the central bank said on Wednesday, as part of plans to grow the currency's international role. In a statement on its website www.pbc.gov.cn, the central bank said it would respond to overseas demand for the yuan to be used as a reserve currency. It added it would also allow the yuan to flow back into China more easily." To all those who claim that China is perfectly happy with the status quo, in which it is willing to peg the Renmibni to the Dollar in perpetuity, this may come as a rather unpleasant surprise, as it indicates that suddenly China is far more vocal about its intention to convert its currency to reserve status, and in the process make the dollar even more insignificant.

1 Μαρτίου 1981- Πριν 30 χρόνια ο Bobby Sands ξεκινάει την απεργία πείνας

1 Μαρτίου 1981.  Πριν 30 χρόνια ο Bobby Sands ξεκινάει την απεργία πείνας που τελικά τον οδήγησε στον Θάνατο. >> FOTO from  Ireland 

Sands died in the prison hospital after 66 days of hunger-striking, aged 27
In response to a question in the House of Commons on 5 May 1981, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said, "Mr. Sands was a convicted criminal. He chose to take his own life

The 1981 Irish hunger strike started with Sands refusing food on 1 March 1981. Sands decided that other prisoners should join the strike at staggered intervals in order to maximise publicity with prisoners steadily deteriorating successively over several months.

The hunger strike centred around five demands:

1. the right not to wear a prison uniform;
2. the right not to do prison work;
3. the right of free association with other prisoners, and to organise educational and recreational pursuits;
4. the right to one visit, one letter and one parcel per week;
5. full restoration of remission lost through the protest.

The significance of the hunger strike was the prisoners' aim of being declared as political prisoners (or prisoners of war) and not to be classed as criminals. The Washington Post however, reported that the primary aim of the hunger strike was to generate international publicity.

After a highly polarised campaign, Sands narrowly won the seat on 9 April 1981, with 30,493 votes to 29,046 for the Ulster Unionist Partycandidate Harry West—and also becoming the youngest MP at the time.  Following Sands' success, the British Government introduced the Representation of the People Act 1981 which prevents prisoners serving jail terms of more than one year in either the UK or the Republic of Ireland from being nominated as candidates in UK elections

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Yemen and the Arab Awakening

Yemen and the Arab Awakening

Another US-supported tyrant is about to fall

by Justin Raimondo, February 28, 2011

Tens of thousands gather in the streets of Sa’na, demanding the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh—it’s the Yemeni edition of the Great Arab Awakening sweeping the Middle East and toppling governments previously counted as US allies. Aside from framing events within this rather broad narrative, however, what is really going on inside Yemen—and why is it important to the rest of the world? What can we, as outsiders, really say about events there that has any reality apart from the ideological narratives we invent for our own purposes?