12 Killed in Attack on NATO Supplier in Kabul
Logistics Center Bombed, Starting Major Battle
by Jason Ditz, July 02, 2013
The logistics center of a major NATO supplier in the Afghan capital city of Kabul was attacked today, when a suicide truck bomber breached the external gate and Taliban gunmen entered, sparking a major gunbattle.
At least 12 people were confirmed killed, including five attacks, five security guards and two truck drivers who were waiting to be let into the compound when the attack happened.
The attack is the latest major strike of the Taliban’s summer offensive, and part of what locals are calling “Taliban Tuesday,” as this is the fourth straight week of Tuesday attacks in the capital city.
The Taliban’s ability to launch regular, high-profile attacks against Kabul is seen by Afghan officials as an attempt to strengthen their position ahead of peace talks, and while they downplay the threat such attacks pose the fact that they can happen so often suggests that security in the capital will remain a concern in the long run.
New Round of Attacks Tears Through Iraq as Another Violent Month Begins
Slightly Down From May, June Toll Still Highest in Years
by Jason Ditz, July 02, 2013
Another bloody day of attacks was reported across Iraq, as scores were killed in bombings centered around Shi’ite areas of the country, and this summer’s sectarian bloodletting shows no signs of letting up.
The UN has released its estimate on deaths in Iraq for the month of June as 761, somewhat below the May toll of over 1,000, but still well above the toll of April, and the worst June since at least 2008.
The latest round of violence came after a late April military crackdown against Sunni protesters in Hawija. The unrest in many ways is overspill from the Syrian Civil War, with al-Qaeda in Iraq maintaining close ties with Syrian Islamist rebels.
The Iraqi government has been coping with growing opposition to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s centralization efforts. This has sparked major political disputes as well as refueling the insurgency that many Iraqis had hoped was a thing of the past.
Turkish Deputy PM: Foreigners, Jews Behind Protests
Issues Partial Retraction Saying He Didn't Mean to Offend
by Jason Ditz, July 02, 2013
Turkey’s major Cihan News Agency has quoted Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay as blaming “world powers and the Jewish Diaspora” for provoking massive anti-Erdogan protests in Turkey, going on to say that the international media is also involved in “the conspiracy.”
The statement apparently came at a Monday rally in Kinkkale Province, and was followed by a statement from a Turkish Jewish organization expressing concern that the comments could lead to reprisals against the nation’s Jewish minority.
Atalay’s office has since issued a statement on the matter, part retraction and part denial, saying that in the speech nothing he said was intended to “offend Jewish citizens of Turkey or Jewish communities around the world.”
The Erdogan government has repeatedly sought to shift the blame for anti-government protests around to different targets, though it has regularly claimed a grand conspiracy against the “way of Great Turkey” in speeches as orchestrating the whole matter.
US Riled as Iran Buys Bauxite Ore From Germany, France
Treasury Dept Announces 'Loophole' Closed
by Jason Ditz, July 02, 2013
The US Treasury Department has announced an array of new sanctions aimed at denying Iran even theoretical access to unrefined ore that could be used to produce aluminum, since conceivably aluminum could have “military uses.”
The sanctions “blacklist” the acquisition of raw bauxite ore by Iran, as well as myriad other raw materials that could be refined. The sanctions also ban Iran from acquiring coal, gold, silver and platinum.
Iran has reportedly been buying “relatively low amounts” of high purity ore, which for some reason is being dubbed “missile-grade” even though the designation appears to be entirely meaningless.
Experts say Iran is keen is develop alumina-based ceramics for a myriad of uses, and that conceivably they could be used for military purposes, though exactly how this development is even conceivably in violation of international law remains entirely unstated.
The United Nations and several human rights organizations have already identified the US as the world's number one user of "targeted killings" largely due to its drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan."
The US assassination drones on Wednesday fired four missiles at a house in Miran Shah, the main town in the country's troubled northwestern tribal region.
Meanwhile, Pakistani medics reported that the missiles have contaminated the environment with unknown chemicals.
They said the chemicals cause skin, eye and respiratory diseases.
This is the second drone strike on Pakistan after Nawaz Sharif was elected prime minister on June 5, 2013.
Premier Sharif recently blasted the US assassination drone strikes in his country, describing them as a violation of international law and the UN charter.
Islamabad has repeatedly condemned the attacks, saying they violate Pakistan's sovereignty.
Washington claims that the airstrikes target militants, but reports on the ground show that civilians have been the main victims of the attacks.
US President Barack Obama recently defended the use of the controversial drones as “self-defense.”
The aerial attacks, initiated by former US president George W. Bush, have been escalated under President Obama.
The United Nations and several human rights organizations have already identified the US as the world's number one user of "targeted killings" largely due to its drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Pakistan slams US drone strike in Miran Shah
A US Predator drone fires a Hellfire missile. (File photo)
Wed Jul 3, 2013 12:29PM GMT
0
LAST UPDATE
The Pakistani government has strongly condemned the latest US assassination drone strike in Miran Shah in North Waziristan, which killed 17 people and injured six others.
The US assassination drones on Wednesday fired four missiles at a house in Miran Shah, the main town in the country's troubled northwestern tribal region.
Meanwhile, Pakistani medics reported that the missiles have contaminated the environment with unknown chemicals.
They said the chemicals cause skin, eye and respiratory diseases.
This is the second drone strike on Pakistan after Nawaz Sharif was elected prime minister on June 5, 2013.
Premier Sharif recently blasted the US assassination drone strikes in his country, describing them as a violation of international law and the UN charter.
Islamabad has repeatedly condemned the attacks, saying they violate Pakistan's sovereignty.
Washington claims that the airstrikes target militants, but reports on the ground show that civilians have been the main victims of the attacks.
US President Barack Obama recently defended the use of the controversial drones as “self-defense.”
The aerial attacks, initiated by former US president George W. Bush, have been escalated under President Obama.
The United Nations and several human rights organizations have already identified the US as the world's number one user of "targeted killings" largely due to its drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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