Posts by Jaime Ortega-Simo:
Al-Shabab terrorist group kidnaps and kills 59 civilians
September 22nd, 2013By Jaime Ortega.
The Kenyan government estimates that between 10 and 15 radical Somalis from the Islamic group Al Shabab, continue this Sunday entrenched in the Westgate shopping center in Nairobi. An unknown number of hostages remain inside the building after an attack that has left at least 59 dead and between 150 and 300 wounded , according to official sources .
A number ” of unknown hostages” remains since yesterday inside the building, reported the Emergency Operations Center of Kenya ( NDOCK ) through his Twitter account, while some witnesses have also reported the same account that there had been at the mall shootings .
“The number of hostages remains unknown, ( … ) and they’re in different areas ,” he assured to the Operations Center, and added that ” We have contained the gunmen in one place, but there are hostages in other nearby areas that not accessible to the exit.”
The source explained that ” at 06.00 local time, that the Army and Special Forces control the first and second floors of Westgate. people located on the ground floor and basement are still not safe.”
However, he warned that it would stop publishing information , as it may provide clues to the terrorists on the progress of the military .
Wounded two soldiers
Outside, the building is still surrounded by the Kenyan Army , with half a dozen combat vehicles near the Mwanzi street, plus ambulances, and the press has been far from the epicenter of the terror.
Asked about the reason for the broadening of the scope of the operation which has increased since the late hours of yesterday, a soldier has responded to reporters : “That what we do, you do not see.”
Two Kenyan soldiers were evacuated this morning after being injured and were put bands over the wounds, before being transferred to a hospital in the Kenyan capital .
Kenyan television also showed pictures of a woman who has made it out safe, having been there since the beginning of the retained assault .
Speaking to the local press has reported that the survivor hid under a shopping cart of a supermarket luxurious mall.
citizen mobilization
The Kenya Red Cross Society ( KRCS ) has requested this Sunday massive blood donations under the slogan ‘ It’s about life. It’s about Westgate ‘ , in the center of Nairobi to collect “as many liters of blood as possible ” .
“There is a specific amount we target, but there is never enough blood. Expect to get as much as possible and the Government will be responsible for distribution to hospitals where they are supplied to the victims,” he told to the KRCS Secretary General , Abbas Gullet, in a telephone conversation.
The attack began around 13:00 local time on Saturday, when a dozen members of Al Shabab broke into the mall, where they threw a grenade inside and began firing at the numerous buyers who were in the building.
Since October 2011, when the Army of Kenya entered Somalia in response to a wave of kidnappings supposedly by the work of Al Shabab in neighboring Kenyan territory, the Islamic radicals threatened Kenya with reprisals by the initiative.
Since then , there have been dozens of attacks in areas bordering Somalia in the port city of Mombasa and Nairobi itself, which caused more than a hundred victims so far.
United Nations forces Kerry to start reacting in Syria
September 20th, 2013
By Jaime Ortega.
The Secretary of State of the United States, John Kerry, called Thursday for the international community to react as soon as possible to the latest United Nations report that confirmed the use of chemical weapons in Syria this August, inside the UN General Assembly which will take place next week.
“There is little time . No we debate about something we already know ,” Kerry said in an appearance before the media at the State Department, and stressed that all data on UN report confirms the use of sarin gas attack on the August 21 on the outskirts of Damascus.
” We really have no time to pretend that anyone can have their own version of the facts on the issue of chemical weapons in Syria ,” he said .
“This struggle over Syria chemical weapons is not a game . Its real. Its important. and more important for people living in Syria , it is important for the region, and is important for the world to apply the agreement obtained in Geneva , “he said.
Kerry reached to the public last week after three days of talks in the Swiss capital to an agreement with his Russian counterpart ,Sergei Lavrov , to help force Syria to deliver the chemical weapons it possesses, “with immediate actions and complete” destruction.
“The regime of Bashar Assad is guilty of the chemical attack ,” continued the secretary of state, who stressed that the Syrian government’s efforts to eliminate evidence of their use were in vain.
” So there you have it . Sarin was used. Now the world can decide whether it was used by the regime, which has used chemical weapons before, a regime that had missiles and weapons, or if the opposition went , without anyone noticing , in a territory that does not control, to fire rockets have-nots, with sarin to kill his own people, ” said Kerry.
Assad said on Wednesday , in a television interview that it “will take a year,” to destroy chemical weapons in their possession, a much longer period than provided in the Geneva agreement, which states that Syria shall have delivered all that arsenal before the end of the first half of 2014.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin , said he can not guarantee one hundred percent that Syria meets the disposal plan of its chemical weapons , but expressed the hope that this will be possible.
Fukushima Reactor Re-Opens
September 15th, 2013
By Jaime Ortega.
For the second time since the Fukushima crisi, Japan will go tonight into a new nuclear blackout period when they start to turn the only reactor that is operating in the country.
The reactor number 4 of the Oi plant in Fukui Prefecture , west of the country , had started working at 23.00 MH. They will turn another one soon.
It is only two reactors of the 50 with which the country, which have continued inactive after the Fukushima crisis of 2011, and the overall review of the plants safety could take two to three months.
This new nuclear blackout comes at a time when the government raises followed in approval last July of a new safety regulation, reviving some of the reactors out of the current operation.
In all, a dozen of them , including two of the Oi plant’s , expected to receive authorization under the new rules of the Japanese authorities. In addition, the transient break coincides with the controversy around the situation of the rugged terrain central Fukushima , which was severely damaged by a tsunami in March 2011 and still has managed problems to control leakage of radioactive water .
Forgoing nuclear energy
After the Fukushima crisis became a concern around the safety of nuclear power plants, Japan decided in May last year to stop the supply of this type of energy and limited it to zero for the first time in 42 years. However, two months later, on July 1 , the Government authorized the Oi plant to resume operations and prevent serious blackouts in the Kansai region, the second most populous country.
No other reactor has been launched since then, although the current Conservative government , which came to power last December, defends new returns and investments to bet on japanese nuclear energy.
This step divides many Japanese that were first traumatized by the terrible consequences of the Fukushima accident and others were concerned about rising energy costs in the country.
Before the crisis triggered by the Fukushima accident the worst since Chernobyl in 1986 , the country’s 50 commercial reactors generated 30% of Japan’s total energy .
Inadequate supply
In order to ensure the energy demand needed in large cities such as Tokyo, whose metropolitan area has more than 30 million inhabitants, the utilities have boosted the use of thermal plants, which has increased spending on oil as gas imports have tripled.
The prime minister, Shinzo Abe , has made it clear that the commitment to nuclear energy should continue as part of its efforts to revive the dormant Japanese economy , also heavily damaged after the 2011 crisis.
However, polls show opposition that this type of nuclear energy has beens criticized against the government for evasiveness and unclear alternatives in explaining that the few reactors longer function and what role in the decision nearby communities plants to be reactivated.
On Saturday, about 8,000 people rallied in Tokyo against nuclear power and reactivation of plants, a protest that was led by Nobel laureate Kenzaburo Oe.
The Japanese novelist said that “we need to keep talking about what happens in Fukushima even though everyone speaks of Tokyo 2020 ” and defended with a commitment “ an environment in which our children can live without fear,” reports Kyodo .
The complicated cleaning of Fukushima, which is expected to last for decades, remains a major challenge for the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power ( TEPCO ), which acknowledged this summer that is pouring hundreds of tons of radioactive water into the sea from the basement of the plant.
This is the natural aquifer water flowing through the basements of reactor buildings that are mixed with contaminated water that cools the reactor .
China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues
September 15th, 2013By Shirley A. Khan. and FAS.
Summary.
Congress has long been concerned about whether U.S. policy advances the national interest in reducing the role of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missiles that could deliver them. Recipients of China’s technology reportedly include Pakistan and countries said by the State Department to have supported terrorism, such as Iran. This CRS Report, updated as warranted, discusses the security problem of China’s role in weapons proliferation and issues related to the U.S. policy response since the mid-1990s.
China has taken some steps to mollify U.S. and other foreign concerns about its role in weapons proliferation. Nonetheless, supplies from China have aggravated trends that result in ambiguous technical aid, more indigenous capabilities, longer-range missiles, and secondary (retransferred) proliferation. According to unclassified intelligence reports submitted as required to Congress, China has been a “key supplier” of technology, particularly PRC entities providing nuclear and missile-related technology to Pakistan and missile-related technology to Iran.
Policy approaches in seeking PRC cooperation have concerned summits, sanctions, and satellite exports. On November 21, 2000, the Clinton Administration agreed to waive missile proliferation sanctions, resume processing licenses to export satellites to China, and discuss an extension of the bilateral space launch agreement, in return for another PRC promise on missile nonproliferation.
However, PRC proliferation activities have continued to raise questions about China’s commitment to nonproliferation and the need for U.S. sanctions. The United States has imposed sanctions on various PRC “entities” (including state-owned entities) for troublesome transfers related to missiles and chemical weapons to Pakistan, Iran, or perhaps another country, including repeated sanctions on some “serial proliferators.”
Among those sanctions, in September 2001, the Administration imposed missile proliferation sanctions that effectively denied satellite exports, after a PRC company transferred technology to Pakistan, despite the promise of 2000. Since 2009, the Obama Administration has imposed sanctions on 15 occasions on multiple entities in the PRC (some sanctioned repeatedly) for weapon proliferation-related activities.
Skeptics question whether China’s cooperation in weapons nonproliferation warrants the U.S. pursuit of closer ties, even as sanctions were required against PRC technology transfers. Some criticize the imposition of U.S. sanctions targeting PRC “entities” but not the government. Others doubt the effectiveness of any stress on sanctions over diplomacy or a comprehensive strategy.
Concerns grew that China expanded nuclear cooperation with Pakistan, supported the DPRK, and could undermine sanctions against Iran (including in the oil/gas energy sector). In 2002-2008, the U.S. approach relied on China’s influence on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons. Beijing hosted the “Six-Party Talks” (last held in December 2008) with limited results. Since
2006, China’s balanced approach has evolved to vote for some U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against missile or nuclear proliferation in North Korea and Iran.
Some called for engaging more with Beijing to use its leverage against Pyongyang and Tehran. However, North Korea’s nuclear tests in 2006, 2009, and 2013 have prompted greater debate about how to change China’s calculus and the value of its role. After negotiations, the PRC voted in June 2009 for UNSC Resolution 1874 to expand sanctions imposed under Resolution 1718 in 2006 against North Korea. The PRC voted in June 2010 for UNSC Resolution 1929 for the fourth set of sanctions against Iran. In 2013, the PRC voted for UNSC Resolutions 2087 and 2094 on North Korea for missile and nuclear tests. Still, China agreed to sanctions in a balanced, incremental way, and questions remain about its implementation of agreed sanctions.
China’s approach has not shown fundamental changes toward Iran and North Korea. Legislation includes H.Res. 65 (Royce), H.R. 673 (Ros-Lehtinen), and S. 298 (Menendez).
Purpose and Scope
Congress has long been concerned about whether U.S. policy advances U.S. security interests in reducing the role of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missiles as well as obtaining China’s cooperation in weapons nonproliferation. This problem refers to the threat of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and missiles that could deliver them. Some have argued that certain PRC transfers violated international treaties or guidelines, and/or have contravened various U.S. laws requiring sanctions to shore up those international standards.
Even if no laws or treaties are violated, many view China’s transfers as threatening U.S. security interests. Using unclassified consultations and citations, this CRS Report discusses the national security problem of the PRC’s role in weapons proliferation and issues related to the U.S. policy response, including legislation. Table 1, at the end of this report, summarizes the U.S. sanctions imposed or waived on PRC entities or the PRC government for weapons proliferation. For a discussion of the policy problem in the 1980s to 1996, see CRS Report 96-767, Chinese Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction: Background and Analysis, and CRS Report 98-485, China: Possible Missile Technology Transfers Under U.S. Satellite Export Policy—Actions and Chronology, by Shirley A. Kan.
PRC Proliferation Challenges
Partial Nonproliferation Commitments
Since 1991, Beijing has taken steps to address U.S. and other countries’ concerns by increasing its partial participation in international nonproliferation regimes and issuing export control regulations. However, questions have remained. China first promised tentatively to abide by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in November 1991 and February 1992 and later reaffirmed that commitment in an October 4, 1994, joint statement with the United States. The MTCR, set up in 1987, is not an international agreement and has no legal authority, leaving issues about U.S. sanctions to shore up the standards unresolved. It is a set of voluntary guidelines that seeks to control the transfer of ballistic and cruise missiles that are inherently capable of
delivering at least a 500 kg (1,100 lb) payload to at least 300 km (186 mi), called “Category I” or “MTCR-class” missiles.
It was unclear whether China adhered to the revised MTCR guidelines of 1993 calling for the presumption to deny transfers of any missiles capable of delivering any WMD (not just nuclear weapons). A 1996 State Department fact sheet said that China unilaterally committed to controlling exports “consistent with the MTCR Guidelines and Annex,” with the MTCR consisting of a common export control policy (Guidelines) applied to a common list of controlled items (Annex).
However, a Senate Foreign Relations Committee report of September 11, 2000, said the State Department had argued to Congress that China agreed to the MTCR Guidelines, but not the Annex. On November 21, 2000, Beijing said that it has no intention of assisting any other country in developing ballistic missiles that can be used to deliver nuclear weapons (missiles with payloads
of at least 500 kg and ranges of at least 300 km) and promised to issue missile-related export controls “as soon as possible.”
After a contentious period that saw new U.S. sanctions, the PRC finally published those regulations and the control list (modeled on the MTCR) on August 25, 2002, as Washington and Beijing prepared for a Bush-Jiang summit on October 25, 2002. In 2004, China applied to join the MTCR but has not been accepted as a member.
China acceded to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) on March 9, 1992. The NPT does not ban peaceful nuclear projects. On May 11, 1996, the PRC issued a statement promising to make only safeguarded nuclear transfers. China, on July 30, 1996, began a moratorium on nuclear testing and signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in September 1996 but (like the United States) has not ratified it. Premier Li Peng issued nuclear export control regulations on September 10, 1997. On October 16, 1997, China joined the Zangger Committee (on nuclear trade).
Also in October 1997, China promised not to start new nuclear cooperation with Iran. On June 6, 1998, the U.N. Security Council (including China) adopted Resolution 1172, asking states to prevent exports to India or Pakistan’s nuclear weapon or missile programs. The PRC issued regulations on dual-use nuclear exports on June 17, 1998. In May 2004, China applied to join the
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which accepted China as a member after the Bush Administration decided to support China, despite congressional concerns.
In 1995, China issued its first public defense white paper, which focused on arms control and disarmament. Also, China signed the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in January 1993. On April 25, 1997, China deposited its instrument of ratification of the CWC, before it entered into force on April 29, 1997. From 1993 to 1998, the PRC issued export control regulations on chemicals.
On October 14, 2002, on the eve of a Bush-Jiang summit, the PRC issued regulations for export controls over dual-use biological agents and related technology. On December 3, 2003, China issued a white paper on nonproliferation, which stated that its control lists are almost the same as those of the Zangger Committee, NSG, CWC, Australia Group, and MTCR.
Continuing Concerns and Intelligence Report
Nevertheless, China is not a member of the MTCR or the Australia Group (AG) (on chemical and biological weapons). (In June 2004, China expressed willingness to join the MTCR.) China didnot join the 93 countries in signing the International Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation in The Hague on November 25, 2002. China has not joined the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) announced by President Bush on May 31, 2003.
PRC weapons proliferation has persisted, aggravating trends that result in more ambiguous technical assistance (vs. transfers of hardware), longer range missiles, more indigenous capabilities, and secondary (i.e., retransferred) proliferation. The Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) noted that, for July-December 1996, “China was the most significant supplier of WMD-related goods and technology to foreign countries.”
As required by Section 721 of the FY1997 Intelligence Authorization Act, P.L. 104-293, the intelligence community’s report to Congress, “Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions,” has named “entities” in China (plus North Korea and Russia) as “key suppliers” of dangerous technology that could contribute to WMD and missile programs. China’s “entities,” including state-owned defense industrial corporations, have been “associated” with Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programs and Iran’s missile programs. Subsequent discussions of this required report refer to this “Section 721 Report.”
Original legislation required a semi-annual report. The FY2004 Intelligence Authorization Act (P.L. 108-177) changed the requirement to an annual report. The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) submitted to Congress the latest unclassified “Section 721 Report” to cover the year of 2011.
Nuclear Technology Sales to Pakistan
Overview
In 1996, U.S. policymakers faced the issue of whether to impose sanctions on the PRC for technology transfers to Pakistan’s nuclear program, and Beijing issued another nuclear nonproliferation pledge. Since then, the United States has maintained concerns—but at a lower level—about continued PRC nuclear cooperation with Pakistan, particularly involving the construction of nuclear power plants at Chashma. The PRC government is believed to know about the nuclear cooperation with Pakistan.
Nonetheless, in 2004, the Bush Administration supported China’s application to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), despite congressional concerns about China’s failure to apply the NSG’s “full-scope safeguards” to its nuclear projects in Pakistan. (Full-scope safeguards apply IAEA inspections to all other declared nuclear facilities in addition to the facility importing supplies in order to prevent diversions to weapon programs.)
Nuclear Cooperation
Concerns have persisted about PRC assistance to Pakistan’s nuclear facilities. As reported by Pakistani and PRC news sources in 1992, China began to build a nuclear power plant at Chashma and was suspected in 1994 of helping Pakistan to build an unsafeguarded, plutonium-producing reactor at Khushab, according to Nucleonics Week (June 19, 1997, and February 26, 1998).
Operational since 2001, the Chashma reactor has IAEA safeguards but not full scope safeguards (Nucleonics Week, April 26, 2001; and IAEA, Annual Report 2001). Referring specifically to Pakistan’s efforts to acquire equipment, materials, and technology for its nuclear weapons program, the DCI’s June 1997 “Section 721 report” for the last half of 1996 (after China’s May 1996 pledge) stated that China was the “principal supplier.”
Then, on May 11 and 13, 1998, India conducted nuclear tests, citing China’s nuclear ties to Pakistan, and Pakistan followed with nuclear tests on May 28 and 30, 1998. China, as Pakistan’s principal military and nuclear supplier, failed to avert the tests and did not cut off nuclear aid, but condemned the tests at the U.N. The Arms Control and Disarmament Agency’s annual report on arms control for 1998 stated that “there continued to be some contacts between Chinese entities and Pakistan’s unsafeguarded and nuclear weapons program.”
In 2000, news reports said that some former U.S. nonproliferation and intelligence officials suspected that China provided equipment for Pakistan’s secret heavy water production plant at Khushab, where an unsafeguarded reactor reportedly started up in April 1998 and generated weapons-grade plutonium. Clinton Administration officials at the White House and State Department reportedly denied China’s involvement but said that they did not know the origins of the plant.
The DCI reported in November 2003 that, in the first half of 2003, continued contacts between PRC entities and “entities associated with Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program” cannot be ruled out, despite the PRC’s 1996 promise not to assist unsafeguarded nuclear facilities. The Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Vice Admiral Lowell Jacoby, testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee on February 24, 2004, that PRC entities “remain involved with nuclear and missile programs in Pakistan and Iran,” while “in some cases,” the entities were…….
To keep reading this report please go to: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/RL31555.pdf
Framework for elimination of Syrian chemical weapons
September 15th, 2013
Taking into account the decision of the Syrian Arab Republic to accede to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the commitment of the Syrian authorities to provisionally apply the Convention prior to its entry into force, the United States and the Russian Federation express their joint determination to ensure the destruction of the Syrian chemical weapons program (CW) in the soonest and safest manner.
For this purpose, the United States and the Russian Federation have committed to prepare and submit in the next few days to the Executive Council of the OPCW a draft decision setting down special procedures for expeditious destruction of the Syrian chemical weapons program and stringent verification thereof. The principles on which this decision should be based, in the view of both sides, are set forth in Annex A.
The United States and the Russian Federation believe that these extraordinary procedures are necessitated by the prior use of these weapons in Syria and the volatility of the Syrian civil war. The United States and the Russian Federation commit to work together towards prompt adoption of a UN Security Council resolution that reinforces the decision of the OPCW Executive Council.
This resolution will also contain steps to ensure its verification and effective implementation and will request that the Secretary-General, in consultation with the OPCW, submit recommendations to the UN Security Council on an expedited basis regarding the UN’s role in eliminating the Syrian chemical weapons program.
The United States and the Russian Federation concur that this UN Security Council resolution should provide for review on a regular basis the implementation in Syria of the decision of the Executive Council of the OPCW, and in the event of non compliance, including unauthorized transfer, or any use of chemical weapons by anyone in Syria, the UN Security Council should impose measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
The proposed joint US-Russian OPCW draft decision supports the application of Article VIII of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which provides for the referral of any cases of noncompliance to the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council.
In furtherance of the objective to eliminate the Syrian chemical weapons program, the United States and the Russian Federation have reached a shared assessment of the amount and type of chemical weapons involved, and are committed to the immediate international control over chemical weapons and their components in Syria.
The United States and the Russian Federation expect Syria to submit, within a week, a comprehensive listing, including names, types, and quantities of its chemical weapons agents, types of munitions, and location and form of storage, production, and research and development facilities.
We further determined that the most effective control of these weapons may be achieved by removal of the largest amounts of weapons feasible, under OPCW supervision, and their destruction outside of Syria, if possible. We set ambitious goals for the removal and destruction of all categories of CW related materials and equipment with the objective of completing such removal and destruction in the first half of 2014. In addition to chemical weapons, stocks of chemical weapons agents, their precursors, specialized CW equipment, and CW munitions themselves, the elimination process must include the facilities for the development and production of these weapons.
The views of both sides in this regard are set forth in Annex B.The United States and the Russian Federation have further decided that to achieve accountability for their chemical weapons, the Syrians must provide the OPCW, the UN, and other supporting personnel with the immediate and unfettered right to inspect any and all sites in Syria. The extraordinary procedures to be proposed by the United States and the Russian Federation for adoption by the OPCW Executive Council and reinforced by a UN Security Council resolution, as described above, should include a mechanism to ensure this right.
Under this framework, personnel under both the OPCW and UN mandate should be dispatched as rapidly as possible to support control, removal, and destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons capabilities. The United States and the Russian Federation believe that the work of the OPCW and the UN will benefit from participation of the experts of the P5 countries.
The United States and the Russian Federation strongly reiterate their position on Syria as reflected in the Final Communique of the G-8 Summit in Northern Ireland in June 2013, especially as regards chemical weapons.The two sides intend to work closely together, and with the OPCW, the UN, all Syrian parties, and with other interested member states with relevant capabilities to arrange for the security of the monitoring and destruction mission, recognizing the primary responsibility of the Syrian Government in this regard.
The United States and the Russian Federation note that there are details in furtherance of the execution of this framework that need to be addressed on an expedited basis in the coming days and commit to complete these details, as soon as practicable, understanding that time is of the essence given the crisis in Syria.
Annex A
Principles for Decision Document by OPCW Executive Council
1. The decision should be based on para 8. Art. IV and para. 10 of Art V of the CWC.
2. The decision should address the extraordinary character of the situation with the Syrian
chemical weapons.
3. The decision should take into account the deposit by Syria of the instrument of accession to
the CWC.
4. The decision should provide for the easy accessibility for States Parties of the information
submitted by Syria.
5. The decision should specify which initial information Syria shall submit to the OPCW
Technical Secretariat in accordance with a tightly fixed schedule and also specifies an early date
for submission of the formal CWC declaration.
6. The decision should oblige Syria to cooperate fully on all aspects of its implementation.
7. The decision should address a schedule for the rapid destruction of Syrian chemical weapons
capabilities. This schedule should take into account the following target dates:
A. Completion of initial OPCW on-site inspections of declared sites by November.
B. Destruction of production and mixing/filling equipment by November.
C. Complete elimination of all chemical weapons material and equipment in the first half of 2014.The shortest possible final deadline, as well as intermediate deadlines, for the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons capabilities should be included into the schedule.
8. The decision should provide stringent special verification measures, beginning within a few
days, including a mechanism to ensure the immediate and unfettered right to inspect any and all
sites.
9. The decision should address the issue of duties of the OPCW Technical Secretariat in this
situation and its need for supplementary resources to implement the decision, particularly
technical and personnel resources, and call upon states with relevant capacities to contribute to
this end.
10. The decision should refer to the provisions of the CWC obliging the Executive Council, in
cases of non-compliance with the Convention, to bring the issues directly to the attention of the
UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council.
Annex B
Joint Framework on Destruction of Syrian CW
The Russian Federation and the United States of America agree on the need to achieve rapid elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons, thus reducing the threat posed to the people of Syria. They are each prepared to devote high-level attention and resources to support the monitoring and destruction mission of the OPCW, both directly and in cooperation with the United Nations and
other States concerned. They agree to set an ambitious goal of eliminating the threat in a rapid and effective manner.
Both parties agree that a clear picture of the state of Syrian chemical weapons could help advance a cooperative development of destruction options, including possible removal of chemical weapons outside of the Syrian territory. We agree on the importance of rapid destruction of the following categories:
1. Production equipment
2. Mixing and filling equipment
3. Filled and unfilled weapons and delivery systems
4. Chemical agents (unweaponized) and precursor chemicals. For these materials, they will
pursue a hybrid approach, i.e., a combination of removal from Syria and destruction
within Syria, depending upon site-specific conditions. They will also consider the
possibility of consolidation and destruction in the coastal area of Syria.
5. Material and equipment related to the research and development of chemical weapons
The two parties agree to utilize the “universal matrix”, developed in the course of
consultations by our two National Security Councils, as the basis for an actionable plan.
They agree that the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria should be considered an
urgent matter to be implemented within the shortest possible time period.
The parties agree to set the following target dates:
A. Completion of initial OPCW on-site inspections by November.
B. Destruction of production and mixing/filling equipment by November.
C. Complete elimination of all chemical weapons material and equipment in the first half of 2014. The Russian Federation and the United States will work together closely, including with the OPCW, the UN and Syrian parties to arrange for the security of the monitoring and destruction mission, noting the primary responsibility of the Syrian government in this regard.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 show biased analysis
September 13th, 2013
By Jaime Ortega.
The Daily Journalist is not liberal or conservative. We sponsor journalism, something forgotten inside the mainstream media sphere, for the past few decades.
If you were looking forward to watch a horrible analysis from an important news agency supposed to sponsor real journalism, you should have seen the biased intake broadcasted on television yesterday in CNN.
The Anderson Cooper 360 show, aired a debate called “Putin’s message to America.”
It was clear right from the start of the show, that no matter what, Al-Assad was and had to be responsible for the chemical attack in Ghouta, that nearly killed 1,300 innocent civilians.
Andrew Sullivan, Christiane Amanpour guest on Coopers show, were absolutely horrible in their analysis about the Syrian war, and Putin’s role as a tyrant. They showed no evidence that the SAA had used the chemical weapons, but criticized Putin for backing Assad instead.
They completely mixed two different topics, as the goal was to make Putin look arrogant and blame it on Assad’s regime for using WMD’s, (A = A, B = B, A = B … Failure!) You get the point.
This irrelevant mixture is a psychological technique commonly used in mainstream media to create a magical sphere to oppose a cause. If you blame the milk man, for coming late, you could also blame him for the milk not tasting like coca cola.
Putin might be a tyrant, and he is no doubt far from being an angel, but you cannot mix up his valid argument with his tyrannical status without giving the benefit of the doubt or at the very least, a fair chance to test his claims.
His point about the U.S. Intelligence lack of evidence about Syria’s use of weapons of mass destruction is indeed a valid point, a point that should be investigated more extensively by these so ‘called analyst’ that are supposed to analyze with facts the credibility of their own remarks.
Where is Obama’s proof the chemical attack was done by Al-Assad? Show us? Because without evidence it’s hard to propose convincing facts!
Cooper forgot to comment that arming the rebels was actually synonymous of helping Al-Qaeda, who is backed by the own rebels.
But perhaps CNN, was keen to state that Obama supports Al-Qaeda, and instead choose words like “Obama supports the rebels”, because many U.S. veterans would understandably feel betrayed after fighting global terrorism, after supporting the Army they love and served all their lives.
Never in the analysis was it said “that Al-Qaeda disposes of chemical weapons, nor was it given as an option once that Al-Qaeda could have likewise been responsible for the chemical attack as shown by The Daily Journalist, on previous reports and background intelligence.
This shows not only that CNN is not a reliable news agency, but also that these analysts are either getting paid to support Obama’s terror crusade or they’re simply not bright enough to seriously take a look at the other side of the horizon without scratching their heads.
The CNN show should definitely not be called AC360, instead it should be changed to AC180, because of its bias. Disgusting in my opinion.
The Syrian rebels protest U.S. treaty with Assad
September 13th, 2013
By Jaime Ortega.
Even though the evidence points to Al-Qaeda as responsible for the chemical attack, the FSA and activist supporting the group demanded the international community to prosecute Bachad Assad.
The opponents of the Syrian regime are vehemently opposed to the commitment that Russia wants to achieve in the field of chemical weapons. “If the international community does not punish the regime for the use of poison gas, this will only encourage countries like Iran and North Korea,” notes the opposition.
It also could be interpreted as a “green light” for the manufacture and proliferation of their own weapons of mass destruction, said the Syrian National Coalition, based in Istanbul.
The only consequence of the crime should not be that Syrian President Bashar Assad, leaves under international control the use of chemical weapons, “more is needed.” That, according to the opposition in exile, such intolerable move would be a great loss of credibility.
The Arab League welcomed the proposal to destroy chemical weapons. But in turn warned that all this will not contribute to a ceasefire and much less so to stop a brutal civil war. “This proposal should by no means be submitted so that the criminals go unpunished using their chemical weapons (on August 21, 2013) in Al Ghuta to Sharkiya” said the organization’s secretary general, Nabil al-Arabi, during a special meeting in Cairo.
Al Arabi would not comment on the content of the conversation with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. But later occurred that the Russian minister was asked by United Nations to be responsible for controlling chemical weapons.
The chief of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Salim Idriss, demanded that the International Criminal Court should prosecute those responsible for the poison gas attack.
In today’s session, the opponents of the regime suffered from airstrikes and reported casualties in ten provinces. Until noon had counted 44 dead in the country, including only 18 in the province of Daraa.
U.S. and Russia negotiate the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons
September 10th, 2013
By Jaime Ortega.
The U.S. secretary of state , John Kerry , said the plan to destroy the Syrian chemical arsenal should be ” binding” and involve “consequences” for if Syria does not comply.
Tuesday, the Secretary of State said in a public video conference over the Internet with his Russian counterpart , Sergei Lavrov , who will be on Thursday in Geneva to discuss the details of a proposal to finally end all chemical weapons of Bashar Assad ‘s regime.
Kerry stressed that the beginning of a process has to be “verifiable , transparent and full consequences.”
He said it is preferable to a military intervention although he expressed that the military option is still on the table if Syria doesn’t met the disarmament commitments as its a problem that affects the national security of the United States.
At the same time he added that the Security Council resolution arises from negotiations between Washington and Moscow, which also involves the United Kingdom and France that will bind with the U.S. “if someone undermines the rules of the game ” ,I believe they have ” the confidence that they will deliver.”
Eight countries support the attack
The process to finalize the plan of disarmament is carried out in a ” fast mode.” and, ” We need to have unlimited access to all facilities ( … ) and it should be transparent , implementable and verifiable,” Kerry demanded.
The chief U.S. diplomat also reacted to the statement by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem , that Damascus will reveal the location of chemical weapons facility and sign the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of, 1993.
“I hope he and Bashar Asad seize the opportunity presented to them for peace and fulfill their promises regarding the Chemical Weapons Convention ,” said Kerry.
Furthermore, he added that “they have to go further ( … ) , to work with Russia to present the formula by which these weapons may be transferred to international control and finally destroyed.”
Similarly, he asked that the Damascus regime commits to revitalize the Geneva negotiations process “that the Syrians can choose a future of peace that protects the rights of all in Syria.”
On the other hand , the White House has confirmed that eight other countries , including Kuwait , have signed a joint statement condemning Syria in calling for a strong international response. In total there are now 33 countries that have signed the document.
“We welcome new countries that expressed their support to this declaration and our ongoing efforts to lead the Assad regime responsibility to enforce the international norm against the use of chemical weapons, “he made public the White House through a statement.
Al-Assad says “there is no evidence of chemical attack”
September 8th, 2013By Jaime Ortega.
Syria and its allies enter a crucial week in Capitol hill, on whether to support Barack Obama attack against the regime of Bashar al-Assad via diplomacy, to avoid consequences in the international scene.
The Iranian Foreign Minister , Mohammad Javad Zarif , said Sunday during a visit to Baghdad that ” those myopic tolling the war drums will start a fire in the region that will burn them all.” Assad himself in an interview, threatened with reprisals if their government it eventually he is attacked by the U.S..
The U.S. military operation has aggravated the crisis between the two branches of Islam prevalent in the area. A majority of Sunni countries , led by Saudi Arabia , supports some form of armed intervention against Damascus.
In an appearance on Capitol Hill last week, Secretary of State John Kerry , revealed that several Arab countries have offered to pay the cost of the attack. The Shiite axis Assad supporter , the including Iran have warned of the serious consequences of an armed operation .
During his visit to Iraq, a Shiite majority in the country has tried to stay out of the internal Syrian conflict, as Iranian Minister Zarif said he was concerned by the ” warmongering in the region ,” according to Reuters .
The supreme leader of the Iranian revolution , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , has repeatedly warned against an attack. He said last week that the U.S. will suffer ” large losses ” if it takes action , and crossed the alleged chemical attack of August 14 , which has led to Obama ‘s choice for intervening in Syria , a mere “pretext” .
The same arguments brandished Assad in his last interview with the international press. Recently, the imminence of an attack, the president has embarked on a campaign of public advocacy of its position in the conflict. “There is no evidence that I used chemical weapons against my people in this conflict,” he told Charlie Rose , on PBS American television . After noting that his allies contemplate “reprisals ” , asked Americans in Congress and its leaders in Washington ” not to authorize an attack ” .
Lebanese and Israeli media have reported in recent days of the preparation of contingency plans by Damascus, Tehran and the Shiite militia Hezbollah , which controls Lebanon ‘s government for a coordinated response to a potential U.S. attack on Assad.
The Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar reported mobilizing Hezbollah operatives in the imminence of the attack. According to these reports, U.S. interests would be logical targets as diplomatic missions, or Washington ‘s staunchest allies in the area.
In Israel , the government of Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday decided to deploy a battery first missile shield in Jerusalem. However, Israeli Defense Forces are convinced that apart from previous logic rhetoric to attack, the chances of attack Assad Israel are very few , given the response that is guaranteed.
Syrian conflict moving forward
September 7th, 2013
By Jaime Ortega.
A 20 minute private meeting not enough to put Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama on the same track over Syria.
Obama and Putin agreed to disagree but both said the meeting had been constructive.
Putin is adamant Russia will not be sucked into a war over Syria. And in a warning that could give some US congressmen cold feet, ahead of next week’s vote, Putin said Moscow would continue to support Damascus if an attack is launched.
Barack Obama acknowledged there are deep divisions both at home and abroad over his call for military action.
He refused to say if he would still act, even if Congress doesn’t back him.
But he continued to express confidence that the American public and lawmakers would listen to his argument.
The UK, Canada, France and Turkey all support Obama’s call for military action. However, France is so far the only country in the G20 to commit to joining an attack.
Washington is gearing up for a final vote in Congress, likely to be next week. But the US has so far been unable to win U.N. Security Council approval for military action. The results of a UN chemical analyses could be key, in either softening up Russia’s veto of any strikes or creating even more difficulties for Obama, in casting more doubt over US assertions that the Syrian government carried out the chemical attack in Damascus.
Russia has sent three more naval vessels to the Mediterranean, bringing the total number of Russian Naval ships there to eight.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that one of the key tasks of the naval force in the area was “comprehensive monitoring over the air, underwater and surface situation in the zone of its deployment.” It added that the rotation of Russian warships in the Mediterranean Sea would continue till mid-September.
Earlier the chief of the Russian presidential administration, Sergei Ivanov, said that the ships would also prepare for the possible evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria.
As US President Barack Obama presses the case for military strikes against Syria, violence is continuing on the ground.
Syrian activists have posted amateur video of what they say was a devastating bombardment of the northern town of Binnish. The footage, filmed on Thursday, shows strikes on the town in Idlib province, some 40 kilometers from the Turkish border.
Meanwhile, Syrian state media says government troops regained the strategic town of Ariha in Idlib province on Friday, following intense battles. On the same day, Syrian tanks bombarded rebel positions in the town of Maloula, southwest of Damascus, one of the country’s key air bases. An army official says the government is trying to seize control of the area before a probable US-led attack.
Syria, a complicated problem for a logical solution
September 7th, 2013By Jaime Ortega.
President Barack Obama put his foot in his mouth, by initially evoking a strike on Syria and is now excusing himself saying “the International Security Council is to blame for the political actions that might take effect,” excluding himself from his own remarks.
Obama and Foreign Diplomat John Kerri have alerted about the possibility of Syria using weapons of mass destruction and have raised enough confidence inside congress to lift down a few skeptic eyebrows from Democrat and Republican senators in order to support a military strike against Assad’s forces.
Arizona’s republican senator, John McCain has been one of the key figures to support the strike, with additional support from Secretary Hillary Clinton who also promotes an attack on Syria.
But is there solid evidence to conclude that the chemical attack on innocent civilians was launched by the SAA? is it a good idea in the long run to invade a country where division has caused 100,000 deaths and over 6 million refugees? And moreover, is invading Syria a good premise to support a “one time strike’ that supposedly just targets stockpiles of chemical weapons scattered all over Syria?
The ‘shadowed’ side of the Coin
We all know by looking at the news, the mainstream one-sided flip of the coin toss blames Assad for using chemical weapons. The Media backs up the idea that chemical weapons were probably used in several battles to attack innocent civilians, and it ‘could’ be accurate, but they’re not going out of their way to conduct a serious investigation.
But a topic not stressed enough in congress, is the fact that at least 30% of FSA casualties and losses are not caused by SAA forces, as one might expect! Actually, it turns out that FSA guerrillas are mostly composed by civilians who have no previous military experience. Lacking how to use sophisticated weapons, which results into a high volume of accidents caused by their own commandos that leads to many deaths and serious injuries.
Also SAA loyalist who defected Assad’s forces to join the FSA, might have provided the Rebels access to “classified information” about hidden factories full of chemical weapons, as the Rebels now control a wider range of territory that was once part of Assad’s military.
It could end up, that the chemical weapons used against innocent civilians might have been caused by an “unprecedented accident” from rebels that had access to hidden stockpiles. Thanks to the individual collaboration of Syrian army defectors that know the logistics in the area, where these secret facilities store many of Assad’s ballistic missiles.
If this possible explanation ends up to be a valid argument, It would be hard for Russia and China to not intervene in the war, and help Assad supply more sophisticated weaponry to counter the FSA, possibly now backed-up by the U.S..
Remember that the U.S. is not an ally of Syria, but Russia and China are indeed, so its really ‘their war’ to counter radical Islam and its their personal interest on stake. The U.S. would only interfere to show off its power, rather than to really support Al-Qaeda? Doesn’t make sense.
Putin has a valid point
Vladimir Putin is right, in that the U.S. evidence for the chemical attacks launched supposedly by Assad’s forces ‘lacks clarity’ and has not been overcomed by credible facts that would prove otherwise certain, instead it looks like the evidence comes first without the real facts.
It would be absurd to suggest that just because Obama affirms chemical weapons were used by Assad, his venerable words should be taken as undeniable proof, without any reasonable evidence to support it. And Putin holds the rights to be an skeptic.
The Iraq war to remove Saddam Hussein’s, Weapons of Mass Destruction reflects to some instance the forgotten ghost that lead to an undeniable lie promoted by Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell and king George W. Bush.
The CIA, and the DIA also had evidence in 2002, where the “WMD’s” were kept stored, but it ended up a fantasy, a fantasy not forgotten by Russia and China.
So Putin and the U.N. hold the rights to question Obama’s administration and his so call ‘proof’, which by the way, comes from Israeli intelligence and individual activist groups outside the Syrian border.
Should the U.S. go for it?
The short answer is ‘absolutely’ not. Not only is Syria the biggest chemical weapon’s producer in the world, but also one of the countries with the wildest religious, cultural and uncontrolled political instability in the Middle East.
It is reported that Al-Nusra, the Al-Qaeda front led by Mohammed Al-Golani is presently supporting the FSA rebels. Al-Nura is providing Kalashnikov rifles, Aka-47’s, hand grenades to the rebels and also IED technology currently used in Afghanistan to blow up tanks, and armored trucks.
The FSA have also attacked and killed many Coptic Christians and targeted Alawite villages, a Shia sect that has been traditionally supported by Bashar Assad, as he himself is an Alawite.
As seen in Iraq, Hezbollah militants have been supported by Iran and Lebanon factions, and have started a campaign against Al-Qaeda to drive them out of Syria.
But what most news won’t promote in their coverage (don’t wonder why!) is that Al-Qaeda is now secretly supported by the Arab-League comprised by a majority of Sunni Muslims that don’t want Iran to take over Syria, as currently observed in Iraq. As Muslim Sunni countries don’t want Hezbollah to lead Syria, to avoid Shia control over the region, to therefore not allow Shiism to widen and affect other Sunni countries in the Arab-League.
It wouldn’t be the first time Al-Qaeda gets secret support from countries like Egypt, Pakistan or Saudi Arabia to help fight Iran’s religious militant groups. Partly afraid of Iranian political influence on the region.
Why would you help the enemies of your enemies?
The United States should not conduct special operations on Syrian territory, because its simply a war without any allies, with no potential friendship. Even by the end of the supposed U.S. military “lighting campaign” Obama presented for Syria, If they won, it would end up leading to the same difficulties experienced in Iraq.
It wouldn’t just be a one time strike and ” lets leave”, no, the Syrians will retaliate and the short mission would escalate into a larger conflict, possibly involving Israel.
And that is exactly what the future holds for Syria, another Iraq. Only this time, Al-Qaeda would hold control of the region, now fully armed thanks to all the scattered facilities stocked with weapons deserted by the SAA regime. And also having wider access to chemical weapons, Scuds and a small supply of air and land military hardware, which would propose a serious problem for the U.S. Military.
Another obvious problem, is that It would be completely illogical and stupid to join forces with Al-Qaeda and supply them with weapons, considering they’re responsible for killing U.S. soldiers and helping the Taliban which have caused thus far over 50.000 U.S. casualties in Afghanistan. And many U.S. veterans are calling this “treason”, and they’re not wrong to feel that way.
Obama does not seem to show the ‘radiant brilliance’ expected from a Commander-In-Chief, at least in his ability to logically understand the problem he faces with a possible strike. Would you really help rebels who scream, “Death to America,” and who behead people and eat enemies hearts as a form of victory? (No comment…)
Are taxpayers willing to pay for another unconvincing war?
Our government has built up too much debt. …At $16 trillion and rising, our national debt is draining free enterprise and weakening the ship of state.
The U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will cost taxpayers $4 trillion to $6 trillion, taking into account the medical care of wounded veterans and expensive repairs to a force depleted by more than a decade of fighting, according to a new study by a Harvard researcher.
China Amount of U.S. Debt Owned (January 2013): $1.26 trillion, and that itself does not include Japan, Russia, Belgium, Switzerland, Taiwan, Hong Kong. …And the list goes on.
For the U.S. to step inside Syria, it is estimated it would take 75.000 foot soldiers, which sum up to at least to $2 trillion for the next 3 years. Can the U.S. really afford a war, destined to help their own enemies?
As soon as soldiers step in Syria, so will DynCorp, AEGIS, KBR, Halliburton, BlackWaters, AECOM… And other transnational companies ready to supply the U.S. Military. These companies will suck the ‘living cash’ out U.S. Taxpayers. You willing to pay for it?
What is the best solution for Syria?
Its simple. Historically, the Middle East has proven too convulsive and problematic to control. The only successful empires to ever fully grasp and control the rebellious nature of the area, were the Roman Empire and the Mongols. One could possibly argue England, but rebellions sparked under their authority as well.
It takes a very rigid, cruel and powerful hand to dominate the M.E.. And the U.S. does not posses the vicious nature any of those two empires named above possesed.
The best way to deal with Syria is to let it “filter itself out” without interfering in the process. That’s what the U.S. needs to learn, because they’re not and will not have the dominant presence required to deal with that part of the world. Its out of reach and too complicated.
Chemical weapons are destined to kill, but the U.S. knew for decades that Assad’s family produced it. Why didn’t they act before, if they’re so concern about an attack now? No one builds chemical weapons to celebrate a happy birthday.
But foremost, never help those who will later call you an “infidel,” those who scream for help now, but will rebel later. Not a good idea, even though the Muslim activist whom are against Assad’s regime for dictatorial reasons, want the U.S. to intervene? Too hypocritically funny. Let Syria filter itself out, because it won’t filter the U.S..
Putin, “We will support Syria”
September 5th, 2013
By Jaime Ortega.
Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke of Syria, in his residence. Hours before the start of the G20 summit , Vladimir Putin warned the West to refrain from any military intervention against the regime of Bashar al Assad. Although , for the first time , and if it is proved that he used chemical weapons against civilians , as Washington says , “he would not rule out ” in favor of supporting a United Nations resolution to attack Damascus militarily .
“If there is objective evidence of who committed the crime (the use of chemical weapons), would be serious and decisive ,” he said .
Putin gave an interview to Russia’s state Channel 1 owned by the news agency The Associated Press. In it , he acknowledged that his government also presented some components of the missile defense system S -300 to Syria , but has frozen new shipments. But immediately explained that Russia might sell missile systems to other countries if the ” western nations ” – in reference to U.S. and France attack Syria without the backing of the Security Council of United Nations.
“We have our own ideas of what we do and how we do it in case the situation develops towards the use of force. We have our plans ,” he said in reference to a possible U.S. attack without UN support. Hours later , after the interview Putin stressed that” the U.S. Congress was not entitled to ” legitimize aggression ” .
The Russian President arrived in St. Petersburg , the city where he was born , to chair the two-day meeting that will bring together the Heads of State and Government of industrialized and emerging countries among which is Argentina – that also spoke of the tension with the U.S. .
The former agent of the KGB regretted that Obama canceled the bilateral meeting they should have had before the official summit in Moscow started.
Although the official meeting will focus on economic issues , from the U.S. government and from the Russian goverment he explained that the Syrian issue will be played in informal meetings .
In the same topic, and during the interview, Putin was confident that there will be a serious discussion on Syria and other issues in St. Petersburg .
Regarding the strained relationship between the two nations, Putin even compared it with the period of the Cold War , Putin was clear: “President Obama was not elected by the American people to please Russia. And me, your humble servant has been elected by the people of Russia to please anyone either but our nation,” he said .
” We worked and discussed some issues .’ Sometimes one of us gets angry. But I would like to reiterate that mutual global interests form a good basis to find a joint solution to our problems,” said Putin.
Russian President meets his third term as president after an interregnum in which he led the country with his ” dolphin ” Medvedev – which described as ” ridiculous ” that the government of President Bashar al- Assad ally Russia – would use chemical weapons to gain ground against the rebels. The country has been in a civil war for two years and a half, and already its left 110,000 dead and two million refugees.
“From our point of view, it seems completely absurd that regular armed forces , who are on the offensive today, and in some areas have surrounded the so-called rebels to kill them, and under these circumstances magically began to use chemical weapons knowing well that could serve as a pretext to apply sanctions against it , including the use of force,” he said.
The Obama administration does not think so . According to Washington , and the Syrian opposition , 1,429 people died in an August 21 attack against a Damascus suburb. The casualty figures given by other groups are considerably smaller , and Assad ‘s government blames the incident to the rebels trying to overthrow and who qualifies as “terrorists” .
Coincidentally, a team of United Nations inspection was in Syria , and away from the site kilométros attacked. Now awaiting the results of laboratory tests these international envoys gathered. During his visit, tissue samples of soil have been analyzed and are now being discussed in Geneva.
“If there is evidence that chemical weapons were used , and were used specifically by the regular army , that evidence should be sent to the Security Council of the UN,” said Putin. And, once said to be ” convincing. Should be based not on hearsay and information obtained by special services through some kind of wiretap, or in some conversations and weird things like that .”
As Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday he had seen some of the evidence showed by his American colleague, John Kerry , and said It was not “convincing ” .
Putin returned to this idea today in the interview when he said that even in the U.S. ” There are experts who believe that the evidence presented by the government is not convincing , and do not rule out the possibility that the opposition conduct a deliberate act of provocation to try to give their helpers a pretext for military intervention.”
In the lengthy interview , the Russian president also spoke about allegations that his government persecutes homosexuals but denied the existence of such policies , despite allegations of repression in the gay pride march and the resignation of athletes to participate in the Winter Olympics on February.
The Russian president also tried to ease tension between the two countries began tensing relations when, before the Syrian case , as Edward Snowden case , the young man announced that the U.S. spied on citizens around the world and even heads of state, and sought asylum in Russia after being pursued by the U.S. Justice .
At least 36 killed in deadly blast in Iraq
September 4th, 2013
By Jaime Ortega.
At least 36 people were killed and 110 injured in a series of car bomb attacks in Baghdad , aiming mostly against popular markets, according to police sources .
According to sources, a dozen vehicles exploded inside the capital, where on Wednesday another string of attacks claimed by Al Qaeda killed more than sixty people with 200 injured.
The deadliest attack had targeted a popular market in the area of Al Talbiya , east of Baghdad , where eight people were killed and 25 were injured.
In the same area, erupted shortly after another car bomb, which caused three dead and ten wounded of varying severity.
Another of the bloodiest attacks aimed a popular market located in Al Huseiniya , northeast of Baghdad.
In this market, two cars exploded in succession , which killed eight people and wounded 28.
Five people died and 16 were injured in another market in the neighborhood of New Baghdad , southeast of the capital.
Four people were killed and eight wounded by the explosion of a vehicle also in a market area close to Rabea Al Shurtah .
The explosion of a car bomb in the Al Alam , southwest of Baghdad , caused two dead and seven injured , while two civilians were killed and six wounded in the Zafraniya , southeast of Baghdad.
Four other attacks perpetrated in the central business district of Al Karrada and southern suburbs of Baghdad, which left at least four dead and twenty wounded.
These attacks are in addition to other attacks of a wide journey across the country that killed at least nine people , including five members of one family .
And around Baghdad since last Wednesday were the scene of a bloody string of car bombings , mostly against Shia-dominated areas. The terrorist organization Al Qaeda reported that these attacks were carried out “in response to the execution of Sunni prisoners by the Iraqi government.”
Iraq is currently experiencing a surge in violence. A total of 804 Iraqis were killed last August, while from early 2013 some 5,000 civilians have been killed , according to UN figures .
The UN Scientist study the chemicals found in Syria
September 2nd, 2013By Jaime Ortega.
Here’s Bikash C Paul, Deputy Editor in News X, a 24-hour English News Channel. Am heading the channel’s news gathering operation and broadly responsible for content generation.
The UN said Sunday it will begin to analyze the evidence collected in Syria by their experts on an alleged chemical weapons attack against the civilian population.
“Tomorrow ( for Monday ) we started to take the tests to laboratories ,” a spokesman said on Sunday in the United Nations in New York. Two Syrian officials will be present during the analysis.
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki -moon called the head of the delegation of experts , Åke Sellström , who returned on Sunday to The Hague with his team after 12 days in Syria.
Ban called on the Swedish expert to “accelerate the analysis” of the samples and the information obtained , although ” without compromising good work” to obtain accurate scientific results.
In addition, the Secretary General asked for transmitting the results ” as soon as possible ” , and argued with Sellström possible ways to “accelerate the process,” said Nesirky .
The analysis could take “up to three weeks,” according to the OPCW in a statement on its website on Saturday, but Nesirky said the UN is not going to set any timetable .
Ban also spoke by phone Sunday with the French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, whose country is so far the only one willing to join the United States in a retaliatory strike against the regime in Damascus , but the spokesman did not give details of this conversation.
International Consensus
The UN secretary general , who met last Friday with the five permanent members (with veto power ) of the Security Council, will do the same with the ten non-permanent members , possibly on Tuesday before traveling to St. Petersburg (Russia ) for the G20 summit.
Nesirky said that Syria is an important issue for the G20 meetings, and, asked about whether Ban will have bilateral talks with presidents of the United States or Russia ( Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin respectively) , who lead divergent positions on the Syrian conflic.
Ban “took note” of the decision Obama announced Saturday asking the U.S. Congress authorized an attack on Syria , and regards it as an aspect of the effort to achieve a ” broad international consensus ” on measures against the possible use of weapons chemical.
“The use of chemical weapons should not be accepted under any circumstances, there should be no impunity and no perpetrator of a crime against humanity as horrible must answer for it ,” said the spokesman.
The Secretary-General believes that the Security Council ” should stand firm and united in agreeing measures” against the use of chemical weapons, he said.
Nesirky noted that the group of experts in the use of chemical weapons to Syrian territory will investigate other allegations of alleged use of these weapons by the Damascus regime and the rebels.
Assad’s troops initiate self-defense strategy
August 31st, 2013
By Jaime Ortega.
In high alert status of the imminence of a possible U.S. attack on its military , the Syrian regime has shifted in the last hours a lot of troops and weapons to strategic locations.
Syria is also evicting several central commands in Damascus , the capital, and elsewhere in the country. Knowing that a possible Pentagon intervention would directly aim at their chemical weapons and by the risk of its spread, Bashar al-Assad has focused on disseminating and hide their military resources , and above all , rearrange the network tracing its anti-aircraft missiles .
Opponents , meanwhile, speak of a situation of great tension within the Syrian army , with numerous defections in recent days .
In the early hours of Friday , the regime moved several Scud ballistic missile batteries from which to date have been based on top of Mount Calamún, north of Damascus.
Israeli military intelligence perceived this movement , as various opponents and activists who reported the regimes displacement to the United States. From that hill they’ve been released in numerous times Scuds , with a range of 300 kilometers , to attack rebel positions . Clashes between Syrian troops and rebels around Damascus has hampered , the movement of those missiles and prevented the regimes secretly move .
The Syrian regime today described as ” false ” the evidence presented by the United States on the use of chemical weapons in Syria and said that’s based only on data from activists and the liying opposition.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that the prosecution discharged by the Secretary of State , John Kerry , is “null and void ” and challenged Washington to provide ” a real test.”
For the Syrian government , these claims are used by ” those who pave the way for an assault against the Syrian people that would cause the deaths of hundreds of civilian casualties.”
According to Israeli intelligence , ground missiles of the Syrian regime are on alert and ready for use . With the intention of creating confusion in the hours or days before the attack , Assad has moved much of its surface to air missiles . The latter, as Russian-made models SA -22 and SA -26 systems are one of the most sophisticated air defense, robust and effective within Arab countries in the area.
Only one battalion launchers with radars and missiles SA -17 , which also features Assad , can attack air targets simultaneously up to four different parameters.
Most military installations have been evacuated in Damascus , many soldiers and government officials sheltered in schools and hospitals. Free Syrian Army sources confirmed Friday to vacate the Central Command headquarters Joint Force and nearby area in Umayyad Square in the capital. This Friday , the Local Coordination Committees , a network opposition , reported the evacuation of inside the military airport of Palmyra. “More than 40 vehicles loaded with rockets have been seen leaving the airfield ,” said a spokesman.
The Syrian National Coalition , the main opposition group , said Friday that in the past few days there have been numerous defections within Syrian armed forces . His spokesman , Khaled Saleh , said many of these defectors ” have left the country in civilian clothes ” , mainly across Lebanon and Jordan . Since its inception in March 2011, the conflict has forced 1.9 million to flee to refugee and has claimed the lives of at least 100,000 people , according to the latest estimate from the United Nations .
The Syrian regime has indications of what may be the targets of the U.S. attacks . The president of the Syrian National Coalition, Ahmad Jarba , handed in Turkey August 27 to group of representatives called the Friends of Syria , a list of 10 potential military targets.
Among them, subsequently revealed to the media, includes the Mezze military airport , Cutaifa missile base and the headquarters of the Fourth Mechanized Division an elite unit led by Maher Al-Assad, the president’s brother .
The truth is that Assad already has an action plan drawn up by the Pentagon. In a unclassified letter sent in July, to the Senate , the head of U.S. Joint Chiefs , Gen. Martin Dempsey , contemplated several options for military intervention in Syria.
One was the attack against ” high value targets for the regime against air defense forces , air, land , and naval missile , in addition to military installations and commands support.” The goal is the “significant degradation of the system and its capabilities and increased attrition.”
Media bias: The case of Trayvon Martin and Chris Lane
August 30th, 2013By Jaime Ortega.
It was not long ago when Trayvon Martin a 17-year-old black teen, was racially profiled by George Zimmerman, a patrolling block watch neighbor who decided for unknown reasons to chase Trayvon because of fear of another local burglary.
Zimmerman was acquitted for Trayvon’s death, and prosecuted on trial for first degree murder. Zimmerman claimed he killed Martin out of self-defense after his racist remarks.
But It was not long, until the media took strategical advantage of the story and doing what they do best, ‘make money.’They turned the whole case into a racially biased solo prosecution to promote his guilt and sponsor an anti-Zimmerman campaign that would last for over a year.
The Media went against the factual evidence and ignored the FBI’s, and High School criminal record that gave another outlook on Trayvon Martin’s lifestyle.
The Media presented an emotional perspective in the case, showing on live television young African American men and women, angered and hurt over Martin’s death as it connected with personal experiences. Obviously, and logically so, the Media catapulted the case of murder, into a case of national controversy which enraged the population.
The Media promoted a ‘campaign of racial unity’ and selected their new sacrificial lamb to carry on with their propaganda to earn more publicity. But the Media vaguely investigated or questioned the real possibility that Zimmerman could have actually being innocent on the disputed murder charges, despite the racial aspect of the case, as it was all diverted with pretension into believing the contrary.
Zimmerman had to be Guilty! And the propaganda model designed by the media flooded all minor networks and activist organizations, that benefited from the cases with more financial support. Good reason to be excited!
During the long process of the trial, black and white activist went ballistic, fired up and fueled by the Media’s propaganda about Trayvon’s case, and protested against racial stereotypes to show discomfort, distrust and fury against Zimmerman and those who defended his racist view.
Social media blew up and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram became online propaganda networks that allowed opinion instead of hard evidence to infect youngsters all around the web. Social Media helped turn everyone into a victim, everyone became Trayvon (even the caucasians), and many took the Media for granted without examining critical data that the media resolved to not air, so it wouldn’t conflict with their already full-geared agenda.
But after all the conflicting views between the right and the left media, the State of Florida, due to the lack of evidence absolved Zimmerman, declared him innocent and set him free. Huge backlash was felt all over the nation after the venedict.
The resentment between the Afro-American community became clear, figures like Rev. Jesse Jackson, Jay-Z and even President Barack Obama, resembled the frustration of their community, as the jury’s conviction had not fitted with their own personal interpretation of the story.
All the white and black activist, packed up their belongings and the Afro-American community’s pain became visible all over the country. Many gave up.
Not long after Zimmerman’s trial, another sinister murder took place in Oklahoma. Where three teens two of them black , Chancy Luna, Michael Jones and James Edward shot and killed a young Australian by the name of Chris Lane of age 22 while he was jogging in a park.
In the aftermath, James Edwards tweeted the following:
The Media became obsolete on their reporting and quiet about the whole issue, it didn’t spark any racial controversy alike Trayvon’s case, and the racial tweets had no impact in either the black community or the activist that once rallied and campaigned against Zimmerman.
President Obama forgot to issue a live apology to Lane’s family, after the controversial press conference when he spoke about Trayvon’s case been unjust and racially oriented. Maybe because he is not aware of the same racial concerns surrounding black gang racism towards white caucasian men.
It is fair to say, that justice was served for the three teens who killed Lane as they will spend their lives without parole in state prison. The evidence presented against Zimmerman in Trayvon’s death might or might not be presented as justice. But that is a decision the criminal division made, not the Media.
But one thing is clear, the media played a biased role with Zimmerman’s ‘racial case’ (not the crime) and united all races to fight against racism. But when it came to protest with the same eloquent energy, the same type of racism shown by James Edwards (not the crime) to Lane, the Media, the activist and the Afro American community ‘whistled’ as nothing happened without any demonstrations in the street. Showing the hypocrisy they themselves rallied against.
United States is a racist country. Because true racism has no colours, so the chants of any racist activity should resolve into unification, not just into protesting against the problems of one singular race. That’s why the U.S. needs to show unity in every racial case, not just one. Be fair, be fair for all, or you’re indeed also racist. And whatever you decide, don’t trust the Media because the Weapons of Mass Destruction never existed, and everyone believed it!
Syria warns the U.S. of “entering their own graveyard”
August 29th, 2013
By Jaime Ortega.
The Syrian Prime Minister , Wael Al Halqi warned the West that their country will become ” the graveyard of invaders ” in the event that there is any military intervention .
“Syria ( … ) will surprise the aggressors as it did during the [ Arab-Israeli ] war on October [ 1973 ] and will be the graveyard of invaders. We’re not going to allow colonialists frighten us by threats , and no force in the world can overcome it,“ assured the prime minister, according to state television.
Faced with mounting international pressure pointing to an imminent attack , the Prime Minister has said that Syria ” will emerge from the crisis stronger .”
Al Halqi stressed that his country will face ” the lies of the false accusations of the West with the Syrian people’s resistance , cohesion and support of the Army ” , according to statements released by the official news agency Sana.
In his speech, he blamed the U.S. , Israel and Western countries for “creating lies and false arguments as the use of chemical weapons” to launch an attack . In his view, the possible intervention is due to ” the resistance of the Syrians and the brave Army continuous victories against the terrorists.”
Al Halqi noted that “countries that hit the drums of war against Syria are the same who committed the massacres in Iraq , Lebanon and other nations.”
The prime minister has accused these countries of ” Arab blood absorbed by stealing their wealth ” and blamed the United States and Israel of implementing ” terrorism and Al Qaeda in the world.”
In this regard , he added that extremist groups like Al Nusra Front , fighting the Syrian regime , are ” the arm of Washington and Israel in the region.” In his opinion, the aim of all this offensive is ” to distract the Arab peoples with internal conflicts and diverting Syria’s absurd line of resistance (against Israel) .”
The regime of Bashar Assad has also taken advantage of the Security Council meeting on Wednesday to present ” evidence ” allegedly linked to the opposition to chemical attack . ”
We have delivered to the United Nations all the evidence and documents that show that was the opposition , not the state, which used chemical weapons ” , told reporters Syrian Deputy Foreign Affairs , Faisal Miqdad , following discussions with officials UN .
Miqdad has lambasted the West , in particular the United States , France and United Kingdom, ruling that these three countries helped “terrorists” to use chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict .
Bo Xilai becomes China’s most controversial trial
August 27th, 2013By Jaime Ortega.
It was announced as an unusual step but has been thus far unsatisfactory. The Internet retransmission through the trial of former Chinese leader Bo Xilai, ended on Monday after five days, has been partial and there are many details of the process that either have not been confirmed or have been omitted, as portray different voices in China.
Even before the trial began on Thursday against the protagonist of China’s biggest political scandal in decades, there were many unknowns about what his diffusion, after the communist authorities ensured that it would be “public”.
Although the rumor to retransmit the trial on live television for journalists near the People’s Court was quickly discarded, the announcement that the court “would update” the details of it in his Weibo account -the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, was a nothing but a novelty.
And is that none of the views against the other two major players of the melodrama, Bo’s wife, Gu Kailai, and his former right hand, Wang Lijun, held a year ago, followed the ‘modus operandi’.
Although the official press boasted the “transparency” of the system – “the public believes the transcripts of the trial in real time were a sample of the Communist Party’s efforts to fight corruption,” said the official Xinhua News Agency; several evidence suggests that the method was but a crude theater.
First, it is almost impossible to compare what was issued by the court itself, as only 19 official Chinese media journalists were able to enter the room, while the 200 journalists accredited to cover resigned from outside the court with their smartphones.
For example, there has been no official confirmation on whether, as published by the Hong Kong newspaper ‘South China Morning Post (SCMP), Wang Lijun went to testify in a wheelchair after suffering a stroke a couple of months ago.
In addition, the high rates of the trial decreased over the days, and presumably some-themed ‘delicately’-and were even removed minutes after being posted on Chinese social networks.
Another feature that raises the suspicion is that while the bill is a Trending Topic court since the trial started and has over 500,000 followers, there are only about 70 comments, mostly negative toward Bo.
It would be, moreover, rare that a network censored by the Chinese ‘Great Firewall’, as it is known to censor apparatus the Asian country has not “leaked” the publication of a tricky topic for the Chinese government.
In this line, the SCMP published today, citing three sources of court transcripts that left out positive comments made by Bo Gu about, who in jail for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood, and those who left the regime in a “bad place”.
My life has been a tragedy
“My life has been a tragedy … Kailai Also,” Bo said according to the Attorney SCMP, who fell from grace when Wang Lijun, then his chief of police, tried to take refuge in a U.S. consulate in February 2012, which betrayed the former leader crimes in Chongqing (center) and Gu indicted in death of Heywood.
“I hope you can stop this research and leave the last living piece left alive in my family,” implored Bo who look more “human” than the man who supposedly called his wife a”crazy lunatic”
Also the omitted paper said, the five letters the former Party leader wrote to ask him to forgive his wife for the murder of Heywood according to their descriptions of the “heavy-handed” tactics of persuasion given by the Party anti-corruption body, in explaining how to survive a defendant who confessed while denying other crimes could be executed.
However, Bo has not accepted the charges of corruption and abuse of power by which he is charged, which could be used by the prosecution, which has already required to be “severely punished” – against him.
In anticipation of the judgment, the date is still unknown, and there are few spontaneous details in court with a melodramatic “plot for the worst soap opera can have” in alleged words of Bo during his closing argument.
Even the policemen who escorted Bo in the room was genuine. Apparently at least one of the officers who is especially of high status by Chinese standards, was actually a former basketball player brought to “overshadow” the imposing figure the “prince” ousted.
Damascus warns the U.S. about the consequences of an attack
August 25th, 2013By Jaime Ortega.
A few hours after U.S. President Barack Obama met with his security team to discuss the “military options” to the Syrian crisis, the Syrian government on Saturday warned the U.S. that attack his country will have “very dangerous consequences .”
“It will not be a picnic for anyone under any circumstances, because an attack would have serious repercussions and would be a ball of fire that will burn not only Syria but would burn the entire Middle East,” said the Syrian information minister, Omran to Zubi.
The debate about a possible Western military intervention in Syria has worsened after the rebels have accused the regime of a chemical weapons attack east of Damascus (supposedly perpetrated on Wednesday). A year ago, the U.S. president had assured that the use of chemical weapons was a “red line” for Washington.
In excerpts from an interview broadcast on Syrian state television, Omran to Zubi, found that U.S. pressure is a “waste of time”, and that the Syrian government “will continue its fight against terrorism [as the Assad government Syrian rebels regards] to the end.”
Chemical weapons
The alleged chemical weapons attack on Wednesday, was again denied by the Syrian regime this time more forcefully. Responding they have “Never” used “chemical weapons”, said the Minister of Bashar Assad.
“We have never used chemical weapons in Syria, in any form, liquid or gas,” said Syrian Information Minister, Omran to Zohbi, during the interview with the television channel Al Mayadeen, whose extracts have been broadcast on Syrian television.
“The Syrian army has no need to use chemical weapons because it has a high morale and making progress against terrorism,” he continued.
This Saturday, Doctors Without Borders confirmed, based on the medical information provided in three hospitals in Damascus that NGO-assisted the symptoms of those who have reported to match a “massive exposure to a nerve agent.”
This is the first independent confirmation of the attack, but doctors were unable NGO to note it on the ground and not venture solely on the responsibility for the attack.
UN Inspection
Precisely, this Saturday has come to Damascus a UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane, with the aim of investigating the alleged chemical weapons attack that occurred on Wednesday around Damascus.
The rebels denounced on Wednesday the death of more than a thousand people in the alleged attack, occurred just as she reached the UN mission to study Syria on the use of these weapons.
Then, the Syrian regime issued a statement denying the use of chemical weapons and assured that the information is false and that the rebels only seek to divert the attention of the team of experts from the UN to visit the country.
Thus, Tehran has said on Saturday that the Syrian government “will cooperate with the UN mission and allow you to visit the areas where terrorist groups and takfiris [Sunni extremists] have carried out an attack with chemical weapons.” Damascus has accused the rebels of using chemical weapons against its troops, which the rebels have denied.
The UN will study the chemical attack on civilians
August 23rd, 2013By Jaime Ortega.
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon called on Thursday to investigate “promptly” the complaint of a new chemical attack in Syria, and he instructed his High Representative for Disarmament Affairs to travel to Damascus.
“The secretary-general remains deeply concerned about the incident and believes that the incident must be investigated without delay,” he told reporters Thursday before the UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey, to specify that it was submitted a “formal request” to the Syrian government.
The spokesman detailed that Ban has been in contact since Wednesday with international leaders to address the situation in Syria, and said that has ordered the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane, traveling to Damascus to work with the investigation.
The secretary general, who has called a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, asked the expert mission that is already in Damascus that they may access the scene and investigate the problem in greater detail.
“I was sent a formal request to the Syrian Government and hope to receive a positive response immediately,” added the spokesman, and said that UN officials are in contact with the authorities without specifying who these are.
Ban noted the meeting held on Wednesday, the Security Council and the “conclusions” of his presidency, and supported its intention to carry out an investigation “thorough, impartial and without delay,” the source said.
In Syria the UN launched an expert mission to investigate the three alleged cases of chemical attacks followed by the agreement reached between the international organization and the authorities in Damascus.
The Syrian National Coalition (CNFROS) reported Wednesday that at least 1,300 people were killed in an attack by chemical weapons around the capital, The Army immediately rejected accusations by the regime in Damascus.
The government of Bashar al-Assad and insurgents accuse the opposition for months to have used such weapons during the conflict in Syria, one of the seven countries that has not signed the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1997.
Since the civil war began in Syria in March 2011, they have been killed more than 100,000 people and nearly seven million need emergency care humanitarian aid, according to the latest UN figures.