World: Reflections on The Fog of (Cyber)War
From: Yona Maro
This paper aims at assessing some widespread assertions related to the highly controversial issue of cyberwar. It does so by using the following approach: First, it reviews the original concept of cyberwar according to its original employ. Second, it presents three general controversial assertions synthesized from the qualitative content analysis of selected academic publications, landmark documents, and news accounts.
Link:
http://www.umass.edu/digitalcenter/research/working_papers/13_001_Canabarro-Borne_FogofCyberWar.pdf
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Congo rebel leader to meet presidents in Uganda
From: Judy Miriga
Folks,
Congo should not fall in the hands of Museveni. Kagame was serving Museveni's interest. Congo should go back to the hands of Congolese people. Kabila stole elections and he has been working with Kagame and Museveni. Museveni and Kagame have Special Interest in Congo and this must not be allowed.
Mr. Ntaganda Bosco "Exterminator" Deputized Kagame to invade Rwanda aided by Museveni. Bosco "Exterminator" a Rwandese overthrew Gen Nkunda and take over the leadership of the CNDP militia.
Kabila failed to allow for fair elections, but Congo must not go to the hands of the Rwandese and Ugandan authorities. It must go back to the Congolese people themselves. Occupation must be discouraged.
Kabila, Kagame and Museveni must be charged for all these violation, crime and abuse of Human Rights at the ICC Hague.
Why should the Extaminator Bosco a Rwandese be aided by Kagame and Museveni to overtake Congo; and why did Kabila steal the election? Two wrongs do not make a right at the end of the day, Kabila against Kagame and Museveni fail to agree on their Special Interest deals, things fall apart and Kagame with Museveni use Exterminator Bosco to invade Congo, killing people, children, women and consequently driving the community away from their homes.....
Is this fair.....Handing Congo to Museveni..? Kabila, Museveni and Kagama must all go to ICC Hague.......and Museveni must stop being a bully in the Region.............
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
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Congo rebel leader to meet presidents in Uganda
By EDMUND KAGIRE and MELANIE GOUBY | Associated Press –
GOMA, Congo (AP) — The leader of a rebel group seeking to overthrow the Congolese government headed to neighboring Uganda on Thursday following a meeting between the Rwandan and Congolese presidents.
However, rebel spokesman Lt. Col. Vianney Kazarama vowed that the fighters would press forward toward seizing the strategic eastern town of Bukavu, which would mark the biggest gain in rebel territory in nearly a decade if it were to fall.
The presidents from Congo, Rwanda and Uganda who met in the Ugandan capital of Kampala already have called on the fighters to give up the territory they now control. Congolese President Joseph Kabila later said he was willing to talk with rebel representatives.
"We are not stopping at all; the determination is the same. Whatever happens in Kampala does not affect us," Kazarama told The Associated Press, confirming that rebel leader Col. Sultani Makenga was traveling to Uganda.
The fighters from the group known as M23 are believed to be backed by neighboring Rwanda already have seized the provincial capital of Goma this week and later took the nearby town of Sake on Wednesday.
The violence has forced more than 100,000 people to flee, more than half of whom are children, according to the U.N. children's agency.
While the rebels have vowed to overthrow President Joseph Kabila's government, they remain some 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) from the capital of Kinshasa in a country of dense jungle with few paved roads.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Congolese soldiers who had retreated from Goma days earlier were holed up in Minova, a lakeside city on the road to Bukavu.
"We are waiting for orders, but they haven't come yet. We're hungry and have spent five days sleeping in the bush under the rain," said a Congolese army major who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The rebels are believed to be backed by Rwanda, and to a smaller extent by Uganda, which are accused of equipping them with sophisticated arms, including night vision goggles and 120 mm mortars.
A report released Wednesday by the U.N. Group of Experts said both Rwanda and Uganda have "cooperated to support the creation and expansion of the political branch of M23 and have consistently advocated on behalf of the rebels."
The report's release, just one day after the violent takeover of Goma, is sure to increase pressure on the international community to confront the two eastern African countries over their role in neighboring Congo's conflict.
Both Rwanda and Uganda have repeatedly denied supporting the M23 movement and have faced little international criticism over the allegations.
The presidents of Rwanda and Uganda recently met with their Congolese counterpart in the Ugandan capital, where they jointly resolved to put pressure on the M23 rebels to give up territory they have captured, according to a statement released at the end of the emergency talks.
The three presidents said in a joint statement released at the end of their talks in Kampala that they resolved to force M23 rebels to give up Goma and make a retreat.
"Even if there are legitimate grievances by the mutineering group known as M23, (the presidents) cannot accept the expansion of this war or entertain the idea of overthrowing the legitimate government of (Congo) or undermining its authority," the presidents' statement said.
Goma was last threatened by rebels in 2008 when fighters from the now-defunct National Congress for the Defense of the People, or CNDP, stopped just short of the city.
Their backs to the wall, the Congolese government agreed to enter into talks with the CNDP and a year later, on March 23, 2009, a peace deal was negotiated calling for the CNDP to put down their arms in return for being integrated into the national army.
The peace deal fell apart this April, when up to 700 soldiers, most of them ex-CNDP members, defected from the army, claiming that the Congolese government had failed to uphold their end of the deal. Like in 2008, they again advanced toward Goma. This time, the city fell and the disastrous consequences for the population were already on display.
21 November 2012 Last updated at 00:32 ET
DR Congo Seeks Democracy
The UN's failure to confront insurgents who seized a strategic city in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday has raised questions about its largest and costliest peacekeeping mission.
The blue helmets gave up the battle for Goma in the eastern part of the country without firing a shot, standing aside as M23 rebels - widely believed to be backed by Rwanda - overran the frontier city of up to one million people.
For the French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, it was "absurd" that the UN troops had allowed the rebels to parade past them. He urged that the mandate of the more than 17,000-strong force be reviewed.
The DR Congo peacekeepers - known by their acronym Monusco - are authorised to use force to protect civilians and support Congolese army operations against rebel groups and militias competing for control of mineral wealth in the lawless east of the country.
They have been criticised before for failing to respond adequately to atrocities against civilians committed by the rebels, notably a mass rape near one of their bases in 2010.
In their defence the UN emphasises that despite the relatively large size of the mission, troops are spread thinly over a vast and difficult terrain - 6,700 are deployed in North Kivu province where Goma is located, 1,500 in the city itself.
Continue reading the main story
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17994753#story_continues_3
USA: Weekly Column: Honoring Ohio’s Veterans
From: Senator Sherrod Brown
On Veterans Day, and every day, we must remember to express our gratitude to the men and women that have served our country in uniform. In a ceremony on Veterans Day, more than 67 years after his service in World War II, North Olmsted resident U.S. Army Corporal (Ret.) Dewey Limpert received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star along with several other overdue medals. After being contacted by Mr. Limpert’s daughter, my office worked with the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and the U.S. Army to track down the long overdue medals he deserved. Ohio’s veterans—like Mr. Limpert—have made invaluable contributions protecting our freedom.
Tracking down overdue medals is just one of many ways our office can help veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned. As your Senator, one of my most important jobs is helping veterans cut through red tape when dealing with the federal government. Whether it’s health services, assistance with obtaining disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation, or employment support, too many veterans encounter excessive delays in getting a response from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA). That’s why my offices located in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Lorain are open every business day to serve you. With field offices in every region of the state – including rural areas in Southeast and Northwest Ohio – my top priority is constituent services. Veterans in need of assistance can visit http://brown.senate.gov/ohio/constituent_services/ or call my office toll-free at 1-888-896-OHIO (6446).
And while my office is always available to help constituents cut through red tape, we need to ensure that veterans have access to a system that works with, not against them. Right now, the VA faces a staggering backlog of nearly 900,000 disability claims – including more than 25,000 backlogged claims from Ohio.
Far too many veterans return home to their communities and can’t access the benefits they’ve earned in a timely fashion. In fact, more veterans than ever are contacting the VA to secure their benefits—since 2008, the department has seen a 48 percent increase in claims. Last year, the VA processed 1 million claims from our nation’s veterans, but 1.3 million new claims were submitted to VA. But too many of these claims, especially those from Ohio veterans, are backlogged.
This means that veterans—many of whom are seeking assistance to deal with service-connected injuries—are left waiting. These delays are compounded by that the fact that too often veterans must wade through the VA application on their own. Yet, help is often available – from other veterans – in the communities where veterans live.
That’s why I introduced the Veterans Services Outreach Act, which would require the VA to notify veterans filing for claims electronically that there are advocates standing by who are ready to help. Specifically, the bill would require the VA to provide information about important, time-saving assistance available from VA-approved organizations including Ohio’s county-based veterans’ service commissions and veterans’ service organizations (VSOs).
I’ve heard from many of these organizations – groups that have supported America’s veterans for decades – that the new electronic filing system does not inform applicants about their services, preventing veterans from getting all available help. To eliminate some common problems that create the backlog, like erroneously completed forms or incomplete documentation, veterans and VSOs can work together to correct common mistakes.
But we must do more than help veterans access VA services. Just as we invest in our servicemembers while they’re on the battlefield, we should do the same when they return home. But despite their service to our nation, an unacceptably high number of veterans struggle to find work. That’s why it’s imperative that we do a better job of connecting veterans with the support resources they deserve.
Among them is the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), a joint Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor training initiative that is a component of the recently passed VOW to Hire Heroes Act. VRAP provides unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 the opportunity to pursue training for new careers in high demand occupations. From welders, to paralegals, to teacher’s aides, VRAP offers wide ranging opportunities for veterans seeking work. However, as the program is limited to 99,000 participants through March 31, 2014—and more than 62,000 applications have already been approved nationwide—it’s crucial that Ohio’s veterans apply quickly for these vital benefits. It’s our duty to Ohio’s heroes that we spread the word to all eligible participants.
Eligible veterans must be at least 35 but no more than 60 years of age; unemployed; received an other than dishonorable discharge; not eligible for any other VA education benefit program; not receiving VA compensation due to being unemployed; and not enrolled in a federal or state job training program.
As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I support providing our nation’s veterans with the resources and services they need. In addition to supporting enhanced education and job training benefits, I will continue to fight for assured funding for all VA services and benefits. Funding for our veterans should always be a top federal priority.
Each November 11, we celebrate the story and history of our nation’s veterans. On Veterans Day, we reach out to grandparents, parents, neighbors, and friends who have served and ask them about their service. From deployments to welcome home ceremonies, to medal presentations and parades, we learn about the courage, honor, and sacrifice exemplified by our servicemembers and veterans. From the newly-sworn in soldier and the children of military parents, to our veterans young and old, we learn about the greatness – and history – of our country. As the holidays approach, our thoughts and prayers are with those returning home as well as those still serving overseas. On behalf of a grateful state, I thank all Ohio veterans and their families. It’s an honor serving those who serve us.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator
Washington, D.C.
713 Hart Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
p (202) 224-2315
f (202) 228-6321
Columbus
200 N High St.
Room 614
Columbus, OH 43215
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Toll Free
1-888-896-OHIO (6446)
DRC: Kagame Victim of Own Success
From: Yona Msuya
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By Andrew M. Mwenda
The world tends to hold him to very high, sometimes unrealistic standards
Over the last one month, a rebellion has been ragging in eastern DRC against the government of President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa. As I write this article, over 40 armed groups, some of them former members of the Congolese army, have taken up arms against his government. However, international diplomatic activity, media coverage and human rights campaigns have been focused on one rebel group, M23 and one country, Rwanda and its president, Paul Kagame, for allegedly sponsoring the rebellion. Even an interested observer may easily think the rebellion is taking place in Rwanda, not DRC. Why is Kabila against whom mutineers and rebels are battling for control of the DRC missing in the news?
Even if we accept, just for argument's sake, that Rwanda/Kagame are the real force behind - not just M23 - but all the 40 rebellious groups in DRC, would that take focus from Kabila and his government? Last year, there was rebellion in Libya openly supported by NATO whose planes bombed that country every day. However, the focus of the news and diplomacy did not move away from Libya's ruler Muammar Gadaffi. Equally today, there is a civil war in Syria with the rebels enjoying the active support of the USA, Saudi Arabia and Qatar - with money, arms and propaganda. However, the news coverage is not about those sponsoring the civil war but about the subject of that civil war, President Bashar Asaad.
One could say that perhaps Rwanda/Kagame is the centre of diplomatic activity and news coverage because of their interest in Congolese minerals. But again, when the US went into Iraq, there were widespread accusation of her interest in its oil as the driving motive of the invasion. Last year, there was a lot of news and analysis that NATO's invasion of Libya was driven by its oil. However, in both cases Saddam Hussein and Gadaffi remained central figures in the story. Hence, the Congo rebellion may be the first in human history where the person at the centre of the news is not the concerned president but the one alleged to be sponsoring the rebels.
The accusations against Rwanda at the Security Council were not presented by Kinshasa but by a UN "panel of experts." Consequently, even Kinshasa today seems to think the rebellion is not an internal problem but a Rwandan problem. May be this is the reason Kabila proposed at the Kampala summit a "neutral force" to enter his country and fight the rebels and mutineers for him. In many ways therefore, the international community and the news media are helping Kabila avoid responsibility for the problems inside his country. By blaming Rwanda, the media and the international community are actually helping Kabila disregard genuine domestic grievances and thereby undermining his incentives to seek internal political accommodation.
Of course the leaders of DRC are not stupid. They may suspect or even believe that Rwanda is behind the rebellion by M23 and perhaps other groups as well. But they know that many other groups rebelling against Kinshasa have no links to Rwanda whatsoever. In any case, Kinshasa is aware that the mutineers and other rebels have grievances as well. It is of course difficult for Kinshasa to admit its role in sparking these rebellions. However, hiding behind Rwanda may obscure its responsibility in the short term but does not solve its problem in the medium to long term.
So what are the problems with governance in Congo that simulate and stimulate rebellion? Is Rwanda the creator of these problems or an opportunist taking advantage of them? Does Kabila preside over a democracy akin to that of Norway or Sweden that creates rebellion-proof politics? Even Norway last year had its own massacre from a fanatical right wing man - meaning no country is immune to insurrection. If we admit that DRC has serious internal governance problems, can these simulate rebellion? How does a blanket condemnation of Kigali help us craft a solution?
I think Kagame is a major source of trouble for DRC; albeit by default. Under his presidency, Rwanda has made a dramatic turnaround in a very short time. This has inspired many in high and low places; in politics, academia, religion and the media. Kagame/ Rwanda have thus become global super stars. But it has also mobilised many in envy and jealous. Who is Kagame/Rwanda to be so globally feted? The more Rwanda/Kagame get praise, the more others stalk them for any slip. Its success means Rwanda often gets held to very high and sometimes unrealistic standards. And like all strong brands, the success of Kagame has attracted many opportunistic groups and interests that seek to promote their own brand by attacking Rwanda at every opportunity.
This also means that Rwanda's success becomes a problem for Congo. First, everyone knows that Rwanda has strong and legitimate interests in the Congo given the institutional dysfunctions in that country. They know that Congo poses - not just a tactical or even strategic threat to Rwanda - but rather an existential threat. In geo politics, there is the concept of the "margin of error" which refers to the ratio of a mistake and the consequences of it. When a small mistake can have catastrophic consequences then you have to be hypersensitive. I suspect those who accuse Rwanda of involvement in DRC do not need much evidence. They just extrapolate from the threat it faces to conclude - not that it is involved - but rather that "it has to be involved."
But this also means that those blaming Rwanda/Kagame are actually hurting Congo. They are undermining the process of internal evaluation that Congo needs to craft a solution for itself. They are helping Kabila avoid responsibility to his people and country. They are encouraging him burry his head in the sand and imagine that his people are happy with him and it is Kagame either directly invading his country or indirectly sponsoring rebellion against him. And the worst mistake for Congo is to ignore the internal sources of discontent, pretend they do not exist and shift blame to external factors. This is the mistake of the international community.
World: Bush, Blair should face trial at the Hague – Tutu -
From: Judy Miriga
Forwaded for discussion and have your say people about the invasion on Iraq........Should the Iraqis be compensated for wrongful invasion......Maybe this is why this case is coming up from Bishop Tutu....???
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
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Tutu: Bush, Blair should face trial at the Hague
By DAVID STRINGER | Associated Press – 36 mins ago
LONDON (AP) — Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu called Sunday for Tony Blair and George Bush to face prosecution at the International Criminal Court for their role in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq
Tutu, the retired Anglican Church's archbishop of South Africa, wrote in an op-ed piece for The Observer newspaper that the ex-leaders of Britain and the United States should be made to "answer for their actions."
The Iraq war "has destabilized and polarized the world to a greater extent than any other conflict in history," wrote Tutu, who was awarded the Nobel prize in 1984.
"Those responsible for this suffering and loss of life should be treading the same path as some of their African and Asian peers who have been made to answer for their actions in the Hague," he added.
The Hague, Netherlands, based court is the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal and has been in operation for 10 years. So far it has launched prosecutions only in Africa, including in Sudan, Congo, Libya and Ivory Coast.
Tutu has long been a staunch critic of the Iraq war, while others opposed to the conflict — including playwright Harold Pinter — have previously called for Bush and Blair to face prosecution at the Hague.
"The then-leaders of the U.S. and U.K. fabricated the grounds to behave like playground bullies and drive us further apart. They have driven us to the edge of a precipice where we now stand — with the specter of Syria and Iran before us," said Tutu, who last week withdrew from a conference in South Africa due to Blair's presence at the event.
While the International Criminal Court can handle cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, it does not currently have the jurisdiction to prosecute crimes of aggression. Any potential prosecution over the Iraq war would likely come under the aggression category.
The U.S. is among nations which do not recognize the International Criminal Court.
In response to Tutu, Blair said he had great respect for the archbishop's work to tackle apartheid in South Africa, but accused him of repeating inaccurate criticisms of the Iraq war.
"To repeat the old canard that we lied about the intelligence is completely wrong as every single independent analysis of the evidence has shown," Blair said. "And to say that the fact that Saddam (deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein) massacred hundreds of thousands of his citizens is irrelevant to the morality of removing him is bizarre."
However, Blair said that "in a healthy democracy people can agree to disagree."
In Britain, a two-year long inquiry examining the buildup to the Iraq war and its conduct is yet to publish its final report. The panel took evidence from political leaders including Blair, military chiefs and intelligence officers. Two previous British studies into aspects of the war cleared Blair's government of wrongdoing.
The Iraq war was bitterly divisive in the U.K. and saw large public demonstrations. However, Blair subsequently won a 2005 national election, though with a reduced majority.
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KENYA WILL BE BOMBED AS LONG AS IT’S MILITARY STILL FIGHTING AL SHABAAB
From: People For Peace
Voices of Justice for Peace
Regional News
BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012
Al Shabaab attack in Kenya will not end as long as Kenyan military are still fighting them in Somalia. This is because when Kenyan military forces stormed into Somalia eight months ago, the Al-Shabab vowed to get revenge by killing Kenyan civilians.
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It explains why in every attack even though the Kenyan Government says it will make sure that other attacks will not happen the attacks continue.
The summery of the attacks: On Sunday July 1, 2012 at about 10:30am four gunmen attacked the African Inland Church in Northern Kenya, Garissa town. It then followed the Catholic Church, 3 kms from the AIC church. 17 people have been confirmed dead and 50 more injured some very seriously.
On 29 June 2012 a number of humanitarian relief workers were kidnapped from Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya. There was also a reported bomb blast on 24 June 2012 in Mishomoroni, 10 km from Mombasa where a number of people were reported to have been injured.
There was again a reported grenade attack on a club in Mombasa on the evening of 15 May, where a number of people were injured. Again there was a reported grenade attack on a church near Nairobi city centre on 29 April, with one reported death and a number of injuries.
There were also a series of explosive devices detonated in the evening of 31 March: one in Mtwapa, a town 15km north of Mombasa, and others in a bar near Mombasa stadium. A number of people have been injured.
On 12 January 2012, terrorists attacked a police camp near Wajir using explosives and gunfire. At least five people were killed. On 31 December 2011, a hand grenade attack on a club in Garissa town killed five people.
On December 20, 2010 three people were killed and 39 injured by a bomb explosion at a bus station in Nairobi. The blast happened as passengers passed through a security checkpoint before boarding a Kampala coach, which was bound for Kampala in neighbouring Uganda.
Earlier, Uganda's police chief had warned of attacks by Somali militants. The Islamist group al-Shabab in July said it had carried out twin bomb blasts in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, in retaliation for Uganda's support for Somalia's government.
Most of the wounded were Ugandans travelling home for Christmas. The blast smashed the windows of the Kampala Coach Vehicle, and left blood stains and scattered bags on the ground nearby.
Officials in Uganda say the country is vulnerable to further attacks from al Shabaab who have vowed to keep striking until a Ugandan army contingent, leading an African Union-mandated force protecting Somalia’s government, withdraws. Al Shabaab is closely linked to al Qaeda.
On the weekend of 5-6 November 2011, there was a grenade attack on a church in Garissa Town that killed 2 people. On 28 October 2011, a police vehicle was hit in Garissa Town.
On 27 October 2011 there was an attack on a vehicle in Mandera. Several people were killed. On 24 October 2011, there was a grenade attack at a bar near the business district in Nairobi. Several people were injured. An explosive device was also thrown at a bus stop in central Nairobi. One person was killed and several injured.
On 13 October 2011, two aid workers were kidnapped from Dadaab refugee camp. On 1 October 2011, A French national was kidnapped at a beach resort close to Lamu, 150km from the Kenya-Somalia border. On 11 September 2011, Two British nationals were attacked at a beach resort north of Lamu, near the Kenya-Somalia border. One was killed and the other kidnapped.
Cases of kidnapping have increased since mid-2009 in Nairobi and some other major towns. Some have been opportunist crimes linked to car-jackings, while others appear to have been more organised.
That year in October a resident British national was kidnapped and two other incidents towards the end of 2009 involving resident European nationals. On 13 June 2010 six people were killed and over 100 injured following explosions at a rally in Uhuru Park in central Nairobi.
Although not limited, other areas that are at risk include Kibera, Mathare, Huruma, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Mukuru Kwa Reuben, Korogocho, Kariobangi, Kangemi, Mwiki and Kawangware.
Apart from revenge other terrorist attacks in Kenya are widely believed to be the revenge, especially the 1998 United States embassy bombings for American involvement in the extradition, and alleged torture, of four members of Egyptian Islamic Jihad who had been arrested in Albania in the two months prior to the explosions. At least 200 people have been killed and more than 1,000 injured in Kenya and Tanzania.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
People for Peace in Africa
Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Peaceful world is the greatest heritage
That this generation can give to the generations
To come- All of us have a role.
USA: Drones May be Targeting YOU
from: Octimotor
The item below is troublesome. Within recent year or two, statutes were passed to claim it may be ok. But it is COUNTER to the tradition of Law and Rights in USA for the past several centuries!
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http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/drones-may-be-targeting-you
Drones May be Targeting YOU
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
It is the intention of the United States government to destroy privacy in America, and a big part of this evil is the planned deployment of 30,000 drones that will be able to monitor in detail the movement and activities of every citizen of this country. The path to the surveillance state has been paved by the Supreme Court, which has ruled that citizens have essentially no right of privacy from being observed from overhead.
The President has been granted the right to kill American citizens without a trial, and deadly Predator and Reaper drones will be deployed over American soil from Creech Air Force Base (AFB) in Nevada, Holloman AFB and Cannon AFB in New Mexico, Fort Drum in New York, Grand Forks in North Dakota, Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota, Whiteman AFB in Missouri, and the Southern California Logistics Airport, among others.
Read the original source: http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/drones-may-be-targeting-you#ixzz1yN2bn5Zb
KENYA: THE WEEK THAT SAW CHOPPER CRASH
From: Ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News
BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2012
It is exactly one week today since the helicopter that killed Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti and his assistant Orwa Ojode, two body guards and two pilots crashed. Many speculations leading to the crash have been said since then.
On Tuesday, June 12, 2012, Uganda newspaper, Daily Monitor in its headline reported that Al Shabaab warns of more Kenyan deaths. Uganda’s State Minister for internal affairs, Mr James Baba, described al-Shabaab’s threats and the terror group’s reported jubilation at the fatal crash as “sad and evil”.
Although the al-Qaeda-associated group did not claim direct responsibility for killing the Kenyan ministers, they threatened to “eliminate” all Kenyan leaders. “Kenyan leaders will perish through the actions of our courageous militants,” the group said in a statement released to the public.
Through a message circulated via social medium, Twitter, al-Shabaab, the radical Islamist group fervently opposed to that country’s fragile Transitional Federal Government, announced its intentions following the death of the Kenyan officials on Sunday. “Their deeds affected Muslim people in this country,” the Twitter piece stated in respect to the ministers.
On Monday June 11, 2012, The Kenyan DAILY POST reports that Saitoti spoke passionately of peace in the country and war against Al Shabaab. The terror group who have the twitter handle @hsmpress have since spoken out on this issue.
The paper connected all the tweets they wrote. Here is their celebratory message. “Kenyans should know that neither would their country ever prosper nor their security improve under the heels of such men. Better off dead! The remaining invaders should be expectant that Allah will inflict His punishment by Himself upon the Kuffar or by the hands of Mujahideen He has been aggressive in his war against Islam but died the wretched death of a Kafir and now lies rotting in his coffin on his way to hell.
For the hundreds of Muslims killed & displaced by Kenya’s brutal invasion, Saitoti’s death is but a droplet of justice in a sea of oppression Saitoti played a prominent role in overseeing the abduction, torture & imprisonment of hundreds of innocent Muslims in his war against Islam.
From strafing of refugee camps in Somalia to the abdominal treatment of Muslims in Kenya, Saitoti and his likes perpetrated heinous crimes HSM welcomes the death of the evil minister upon whose authorization thousands of Muslims suffered both in Somalia and Kenya”.
Mr Saitoti the Daily Monitor rep[orts, has been among the foremost voices against terror attacks which have rocked Nairobi, and an apologetic supporter of his country’s deployment of troops to help rid southern Somalia of al-Shabaab elements. Uganda which also had deployed peacekeepers in Somalia under Amisom suffered twin terror attacks that killed at least 80 people in Kampala in July 2010.
Kenya deployed thousands of troops into Somalia in October last year, in hot pursuit of al-Shabaab militants it accused of undermining the security and economy of Kenya.
On Tuesday June 12, 2012, The DAILY POST reports that Kasipul Kabondo MP Oyugi Magwanga dismissed claims that the helicopter crash that killed Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti and his assistant Orwa Ojode, two body guards and two pilots was an accident.
Magwanga who is Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislator said the deaths of Saitoti and Ojode is all about succession politics and was planned and executed by some people he declined to name.
Magwanga further questioned the circumstances that led to the accident, saying the helicopter was ranked among the best in the police service.
“If you look at the circumstances surrounding their death, it all points to foul play by certain individuals keen on 2012 succession politics and those who are supporting Mombasa Republic Council and those opposing the outlawed group ideologies,” Magwanga said, saying Prof Saitoti and Ojode were against the secessionist demands of MRC.
While Juja MP William Kabogo, Naivasha MP John Mututho, Kirinyaga Central MP Joseph Gitari and Peter Mwathi of Limuru warned the government against giving contradicting theories on the death of Saitoti, Ojode and four others, DN2, Friday, June 15, 2012 quotes Kabogo as saying’ “Kabogo who is said to own a helicopter, told parliament that as a qualified pilot, he couldn’t see how Ngong crahs could have resulted from pilot disorientation”.
Saitoti, 67 was a presidential hopeful in the forth coming general election and was president Kibaki’s confidante and a dedicated member of Party of National Unity (PNU) while Ojode was ODM MP for Ndhiwa constituency in Luo Nyanza Region.
According to Amos Kimunya, the plane was brand new, bought in 2011-the two pilots were very experienced, human error unlikely. There were no visibility problems on that day. It is unknown what happened between 8.38am and 8.42am, all communication with pilot cut off.
Kimunya made this observation on Monday, June 11, 2012 at a special cabinet meeting at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) where he dismissed the first four causes of any plane crash (incompetency and inexperience of the pilots, human error, bad weather and the state of the air craft.)
Reports according to the government say that the weather was clear and visibility was good (actually over 8 kms), they also say that the Euro copter aircraft number 5YCDT A5350 which had only 100 hours flying time since its registration in January was in good working condition.
On the question of experience of the two pilots, Kimunya said that Nancy Gituanja had over 1166 hours and 29 minutes of flying time which according to pilots is good.
Nancy Gituanja is said to have experience with the Euro craft as she is the one who checked the chopper after it was serviced on Friday. Reports say that she flew the chopper to Voi on a test drive and confirmed it was ok.
She later parked it at the Wilson Airport Kenya Police Air wing hanger. It is said that she later went to Dumbsters restaurant with Oyugi when one of the engineers came to the restaurant and informed her that the chopper was having a problem with the lighting though it was just a minor problem.
Reports say that Gituanja was not designated to fly the chopper on Sunday as she was to attend a family gathering at Kandara. The chopper was to be flown by Capt. Kuto and Oyugi.
The chopper left Wilson Airport at exactly 8. 32 a.m. and at 8.37 the pilot communicated to control with a request to take a new frequency 118.5. Immediately a critical tracking device stopped working due to internet failure. It is also said that the pilot did not report any distress call evidence enough that there was communication breakdown.
Apart from Saitoti being the Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on ICC, there have been political assassinations before. What leaves a lot to be desired is that it took some presidential candidates’ time to send condolences and when they did it looked like crocodile tears.
One wonders also why Gituanja was forced to travel even when she was not designated to fly the chopper on Sunday as she was to attend a family gathering at Kandara. The chopper was to be flown by Capt. Kuto and Oyugi. Also why a bodyguard was replaced last minute.
It is also to be recalled that George Saitoti had warned politicians against dragging President Kibaki’s name in the ongoing International Criminal Court (ICC) debate.
In a statement, Saitoti also warned civil society and the media against making speculative comments linking the President to ICC trials.
"Such comments are unwarranted, alarming and unfounded. Kenyans should ignore them," Saitoti was quoted to have said. Sources said Saitoti met Kibaki at Harambee House before he issued the statement at his office.
President Kibaki offered himself as a character witness in one of the cases. "President Kibaki’s name must not be misused or manipulated to make speculative inferences that there is a scheme to drag him into the ICC cases," said Saitoti.
Saitoti seemed to have been hitting out at a section of G7 Alliance politicians who have been going around the country claiming the cases at The Hague are aimed at the President.
Saitoti’s statement on Kibaki’s alleged involvement in the violence was the second one to come from top Government officials since the international court confirmed four of the six Kenyans’ cases.
People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
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Militarization of Poverty in Africa
From: Yona Maro
African nations stretching from Guinea-Bissau to Somalia are subject to war, coups, and large-scale demonstrations. These nations face similar economic situations, with failing agricultural markets and booming mining industries. In the 1990s, the IMF and the WTO imposed liberal reforms that battered Africa’s agricultural sector. Meanwhile, after the markets were opened, global elites invested their surplus wealth into African mining commodities, which displaced populations, damaged the environment, and funded militant groups. In response to rising violence in Africa, the US invested more in AFRICOM and justified militarization of the continent at home by invoking outrageous fears of fundamental Islam.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/153-expansion-a-intervention/51672-the-militarization-of-poverty-in-africa.html
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DRC: WHY THE CAPTURE OF LRA ARMY COMMANDER ISN’T MAJOR VICTORY
From: People For Peace
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News
BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012
What may appear to be a major victory as UPDF arrest Lord’s Resistance Army field commander, Caesar Acellam Saturday in the Central African Republic after he had crossed from the Democratic Republic of Congo may not be so.
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One of the reasons it may not be easy as such is that the Lord’s Resistance Army is fighting in the name of God. They believe God is the one helping them in the bush. It is against the background that the name Lord’s Resistance Army was created.
Acellam was arrested on the banks of River Mbou in Central African Republic as he crossed with his family from the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Col. Abdu Rugumayo, the UPDF Intelligence Officer in charge of the counter-LRA operation.
Even though Acellam may be free and a happy man, but the presence of other top rebel commanders that have either been killed by, or surrendered, to the UPDF, ‘Brig.’ Sam Kolo; a former LRA spokesman, ‘Brig.’ Kenneth Banya, ‘Col.’ Alfred Onen Kamdulu and LRA fourth-in-command Thomas Kwoyelo captured in 2009 is still a threat.
At the time of his reported capture on Saturday, Acellam was the field commander for LRA, placing him at the apex of executing the rebel group’s operations. He previously served as LRA’s Military Intelligence chief, but Kony stripped him of the responsibility after UPDF soldiers in 2002 injured him in the right leg inside South Sudan during Operation Iron Fist.
President Barack Obama last October authorised deployment of about 100 US Special Forces to collate intelligence using high-tech gadgets, and act as field military advisers to the regional armies, to effect the elimination of the LRA.
Yet still, even though his capture would be a heart-break to Kony since he is likely to spill details of the insurgent group’s formation, recruitment and operation plan as well as whereabouts of its senior commanders that UPDF troops are hunting down in the DRC and CAR jungles, this may not be easier as such because they can change the military tactics and location.
Charities working in the central African regions violated by the Lords Resistance Army have also warned that renewed military action to capture its leader, Joseph Kony, risks triggering retaliations, threatening more deaths and displacement. There are also concerns for the abducted children who have been forced to join Kony's rebel army and will be on the frontline of any fighting.
A bishop in Sudan believes it is only through dialogue that can end LRA war. He has backed a call by a Ugandan archbishop who is also in the same opinion. Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio says military action over several years had failed to stop killing sprees and abductions of children because LRA is a movement that is not easy to end with war.
Kony stands accused of overseeing the systematic kidnapping of countless African children, brainwashing the boys into fighting for him, turning the girls into sex slaves and killing those who don't comply.
His forces are believed to have slaughtered tens of thousands of people and are known for hacking the lips off their victims. Kony has been wanted by the international criminal court since 2005 on charges that include crimes against humanity. He has been living in the bush outside Uganda since that time. The charges include murder, enslavement, rape, pillaging.
The insurgency of the LRA against the government of Uganda began in 1987 in the aftermath of the failed Holy Spirit Movement Rebellion of Alice Auma (also known as Alice Lakwena). The movement has been known to the world to be one of the most brutal, famous for massacres on civilians, kidnaps, rapes and the use of child soldiers and sex slaves.
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Kenyan mercenaries in Iraq decry insecurity
Folks,
Who is behind all these happenings of transporting and migrating, and is it legal and constitutional???
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
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Kenyan mercenaries in Iraq decry insecurity
By John Oywa
They were secretly recruited and flown out of the country in an operation akin to the Second World War, when thousands of young Africans were enlisted to fight well-established armies in the West.
With promises of hefty salaries and good life, the 250 Kenyans – all former military and police officers – bid farewell to their families as they embarked on a journey that would take them across the Middle East and finally to war-torn Iraq and Afghanistan.
These Kenyans, The Standard On Saturday has learnt, are part of a massive civilian army being assembled by private international security firms to guard US installations and embassies in Iraq and Afghanistan after President Barack Obama ordered the withdrawal of his troops from the two countries.
But what promised to be an avenue to quick riches is quickly turning into a nightmare for the Kenyans after they discovered that the jobs have more thorns than roses.
Only weeks after undergoing rigorous commando training at one of the world’s top military colleges – the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre in Amman, Jordan, many of the Kenyans are back in the country and are considering terminating contracts with their employers allegedly due to risks involved in working in Iraq and Afghanistan.
After training in Israel and Jordan, the Kenyans alongside others from other African countries were flown to Iraq and Afghanistan to start sentry duties.
They were however early this year given 40 days leave to see their families after they complained of the insecurity in the two countries.
Reluctant to return
Now, they are back home and many are reluctant to return to the Middle East and are instead looking for jobs in the country.
They are expected to return by March 20.
Sources confirmed that out of the 250 recruits, 70 were sent back home late last year after failing the energy-sapping trainings.
One of the recruits who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from his employer said they are shocked because they were made to believe they would be employed to work at US embassies in their home countries.
"We knew we were to be posted back in Kenya after training but we were shocked when upon graduation, were flown to guard the US embassy in Iraq," said the recruit.
He added: "I was very scared because a few days after I reported on duty, a suicide bomber killed 13 people just near my work place. There is just too much insecurity here."
Although no Kenyan was hurt, three other guards died in the bombing. Investigations by The Standard On Saturday showed that about five of the Kenyan recruits have landed jobs as security managers at two leading parastatals and guards to senior politicians.
Loss of millions
"My wife and children do not want me to return to Iraq but I am weighing my options because I desperately need a job.
Nowhere is safe. One can even be killed here in Kenya," said a former police officer.
If the African recruits fail to return to their work stations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the recruiting agents stand to lose millions of shillings already spent in training in Israel and Jordan and in airfare.
Documents show that the training that included drill in the use of some of the deadliest firearms in the world was organised by the Training and Services division of the O’Gara Group – one of the largest security –training firms in the United States.
Qualification course
The certificate of completion to the recruits is dated January 27, 2012 and is signed by the group’s director of Training Vincent T. May and the Vice President of Training and Operations, Bob Merkle.
The certificate shows the recruits had undergone an 80-hour approved Guard Force Basic Course and a 40-hour firearms qualification course that involved the handling of over 13 different types of guns that included the menacing M4 carbine and the AK-47.
After the training, the recruits were also given a document titled: Bureau of Diplomatic Security Goals for the Worldwide Protective Services by the US embassy in Baghdad.
Officials of the Ministries of Labour and Foreign affairs said this was not the first time private security agents were recruiting Kenyans to work in Iraq and Afghanistan as guards.
The head of public communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Beatrice Kung’u said the ministry was aware of Kenyans working in foreign countries but said Ministry of Labour could provide figures.
"We only come to know about them once they register with our embassies in that country," said Ms Kungu.
A senior official at the Labour Ministry who asked not to be named said they had no figures of the number of Kenyans recruited to work in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"What we have is the register of employment agencies that recruit the Kenyans.
But we don’t know how many they have taken to the two countries," said the official.
He added: "We have accredited 130 recruiting agencies but there are so many others who are not registered."
Most of the agents advertise the vacancies on-line and insist on former police officers with a clean discharge record.
"The recruits undergo thorough vetting and screening. One has to have no criminal record, a certificate of discharge from the forces and a certificate of good conduct.
Those successful are treated very well with salaries of up to more than Sh100,000," said a recruit.
Awarding tenders
The US State Department has been awarding tenders worth millions of dollars to private security firms to build a private army in Iraq to protect its diplomats and key installations.
In September 2007, Blackwater guards working for the US State Department killed 17 Iraqis during an attack at Baghdad’s Nisour Square.
But the question now, is whether the highly trained Kenyans will return to Iraq and Afghanistan to take over the jobs.
Hundreds of Ugandans, South Sudanese and Tanzanians are already working in the two countries as private guards.
China and Conflict-Affected States: Between Principle and Pragmatism
From: Yona Maro
This report is one of the main outputs of a 12-month research project that examined the implications for peace and stability of China’s increasing engagement in conflict-affected states. The report is based on research in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sudan and South Sudan, and contributes to the evidence base about how China’s rise will affect conflict-affected states. It is meant not only to raise awareness, but also to encourage policy makers to engage with the new realities, including how they can respond to the changing context for international efforts to promote peace and stability.
http://www.saferworld.org.uk/downloads/pubdocs/China%20and%20conflict-affected%20states.pdf
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Saudi Arabia in the New Middle East
from Yona Maro
The United States' relationship with Saudi Arabia has been one of the cornerstones of U.S. policy in the Middle East for decades. Despite their substantial differences in history, culture, and governance, the two countries have generally agreed on important political and economic issues and have often relied on each other to secure mutual aims. The 1990-91 Gulf War is perhaps the most obvious example, but their ongoing cooperation on maintaining regional stability, moderating the global oil market, and pursuing terrorists should not be downplayed.
http://i.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/Saudi_Arabia_CSR63.pdf
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USA: Servicemen; Payroll Protection; Congressman Turner;
from Chuck Watts; via empathysurplus dot com
TO: Congressman Turner & my email list of about 150 in your district
I got your email about remembering our service members.
It came at the same time as the news that you had withdrawn your compassion for their families and voted to end the Payroll Protection Subsidy to 99% of all Americans. It reported that you are keeping the subsidies to the 1% intact.
These are the family members of our service men and women. Where's your compassion for them?
It's immoral to ask our service men and women to protect all Americans when YOU are not willing to protect them during times like these. Caring citizens and their representatives are supposed to protect and empower each other.
Where's your heart? It doesn't seem to be for the 99%.
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On Tue, Dec 20, 2011 at 5:32 PM, Congressman Michael Turner wrote:
News Brief
Remember our Servicemembers during this Holiday Season
By Congressman Michael Turner
The Christmas season offers many opportunities to take part in holiday traditions which carry a great deal of meaning for many Americans. Each year, Americans from around the country gather in our Nation’s Capital to celebrate the season at two prominent holiday events at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. The lighting of the United States Capitol Christmas tree is an annual custom that symbolizes the national importance of the Christmas season. This popular holiday tradition originated on Christmas Eve 1913, when a 40-foot Christmas tree was placed on the East Front of the Capitol. It included the words: “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men.”
The importance of Christmas in our history has been apparent since the early days of the American Revolution. On the night of December 25, 1776, General George Washington and his army crossed the icy Delaware River into New Jersey, in a prelude to a surprise attack against troops allied with the British at the battle of Trenton. The subsequent American victory was a huge morale boost for the Continental Army and the American public, and a pivotal turning point in the war for Independence. One year later, after a string of defeats by the British, Washington and his army retreated into their winter quarters at Valley Forge, a week before Christmas.
Later, in an effort to reunite a nation still healing from the wounds of the Civil War, President Andrew Johnson unconditionally pardoned “every person who directly or indirectly” fought for the Confederacy on Christmas Day 1868. Through the years, American families have traditionally observed Christmas in their homes and places of worship. In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant officially declared December 25th a national holiday.
We are fortunate to live in a country where our freedoms and rights are firmly established and protected. The responsibility of protecting these rights and for keeping our Nation strong falls upon the men and women who serve in our armed forces. Many service members spend holidays away from friends and loved ones.
There are a number of organizations that provide citizens with an outlet to express their appreciation and support to those who bravely defend the United States overseas. One of these organizations, Operation Show Our Love, was founded by Chris and Cindy St. John of Brookville, Ohio. Operation Show Our Love brings a touch of home to the men and women of our military by collecting items such as DVDs, magazines, snacks, chewing gum, toothpaste, and other everyday necessities, and ships them to troops around the world. The organization has shipped 4,001 care packages and over 111,506 pounds of goods to servicemembers in 28 countries and at sea. To learn more about Operation Show Our Love, please visit their website at :www.operationshowourlove.org or contact Cindy Millikin St. John at CindyMillikin@gmail.com.
As you gather with family and friends this holiday season, please take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas aside from the crowded shopping malls and exchanging of gifts. Remember in your prayers this holiday season our brave troops who are deployed around the world and unable to spend this holiday with their families, as well as those who are less fortunate here at home. On behalf of my wife and our two daughters, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season.