Showing posts with label Syria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Syria. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Unconscionable Impunity Conveniently Forgotten Dons High-handed Disingenuousness

Long-term, Indelibly Dire Consequences of handing Global Leadership to Weakness  

The Manipulatable and corruptible, unprincipled, unlearned, inept unfit for purpose.


The Obama administration's reign of global terror exceeded past administrations.

Specifically, against Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, the rage of 44 set the pattern and permission for 45 and all succeeding United States Federal Washington administrations of mentally, morally and experientially weak men and women.

Barack Hussein Obama II is a Pacific Island-born son of East African (Somalia-bordering Kenya) and USA Midwestern (Kansas) parentage-turned Ivy Leaguer who never offered his service to the United States of America in volunteer or conscript civilian or military work. When seated as U.S. Head of State, he issued orders for the 

Devastating, Unprovoked Bombing of
Syrian Arabic Republic and 
Islamic countries: Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen.

Over the period of occupancy in the presidential palace in Washington, D.C., the Obama Group ordered the unleashing on the world of an estimated “26,171 bombs.”

At least since 2014 a United States-led active military operation in Western Asia reportedly has involved (without specifying regular or mercenary) militaries of three of five permanent UN Security Council Members (USA, UK and France) plus non-UNSC-5: Jordan, Turkey, Canada, and Australia.

Of “30,743 bombs” (2016 U.S. report) dropped by a U.S.-led “coalition”— 79 percent (or 24,287 bombs) were dispatched by USA agents or entities.

By the end of an eight-year tenure, this president’s “U.S. ‘special operators’ (aggressors) could be found in 
138 countries—70 percent of the world’s nations.”

Viewed in comparative terms with the 193 Member States composing the United Nations, the percentage reaches 72 percent of the world’s sovereign nations.

A partial list of U.S. Targeted countries (all in proximity to major waterways) include 
  • in East Africa Somalia (Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean); 
  • in West Asia Syria, Iraq, and Yemen (Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean); 
  • in South Asia Afghanistan and Pakistan (Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea).


High-handedness Meets Criminal Impunity

Why would anyone listen to those who order massacres of thousands of Muslims?

Former U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama II 
CNN interviewer Christiane Amanpour


Editorialized questions by AMANPOUR: “The prime minister of India, Modi, who is considered autocratic …, how should a (U.S.) president engage with those kinds of leaders…You want to name names?” [Emphasis added]

Disingenuous answers by OBAMA “… [I]f the President (of the United States) meets with Prime Minister Modi (of India) …, the protection of the Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India (would be) something worth mentioning…. 
“[I]f I had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, who I know well, part of my argument would be…: if you do not protect the rights of ethnic minorities in India, there’s a strong possibility that India, at some point, (would) start pulling apart.
“We’ve seen what happens when you start getting those kinds of large internal conflicts. [Says the creator of global and regional conflicts, chaos, slaughter from Ukraine to Yemen!]
“[T]hat would be contrary to the interests not just of Muslim India but also Hindu India.” Source CNN Rush Transcript of Video clip: Christiane Amanpour Interview with former U.S. President Barack Obama aired June 23, 2023 https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/ampr/date/2023-06-23/segment/01

The Honorable Nirmala Sitharaman of India

“He [former U.S. President Obama] was commenting on Indian Muslims … (when his administration) bombed Muslim-majority countries from Syria to Yemen …

“Why would anyone listen to any allegations from such people?”
Nirmala Sitharaman is an economist, cabinet official, and lawmaker; educated at Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College (BA) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (MA, MPhil) with post graduate studies in Economics focusing on Indo-Europe trade; recipient of Jawaharlal Nehru University’s “Distinguished Alumni Award,” and Forbes Magazine’s 34th ranking among “100 most powerful women in the world.”

Government Service of Nirmala Sitharaman
  • Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs May – November 2014
  • Member of Rajya Sabha (Council of States: India’s Upper House of Parliament) 2016 – (Incumbent)
  • Minister of State for Ministry of Commerce and Industry 2014 – 2017
  • Minister of Defense 2017 – 2019
  • Minister of Corporate Affairs 2019 – (Incumbent)
  • Minister of Finance 2019 – (Incumbent)

Further Noted in Beyond the Beltway Press

 

Around the world on June 28, Muslims celebrate Eid Ul Adha, a festival of sacrifice highlighting “Shared values of compassion, sacrifice, service to others”
“A light guiding toward unity, empathy and understanding”
A powerful expression uniting people “across religious, cultural and ideological differences”
“A reminder of the world’s “common humanity”




Sources
 
Logically: a group self-described as a group having been established in 2017 to work “with governments and organizations around the globe to proactively limit the harms associated with mis- and disinformation.” The website lists “Research Partners” as HT Delhi, The University of Sheffield, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, University of Waterloo, and Council for Strategic and Defense Research; and locations: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Republic of India, United States of America (Washington, DC Metro: Northern Virginia)
https://www.logically.ai/research-partnerships
https://www.logically.ai/contact-us
https://www.logically.ai/mission
https://www.logically.ai/factchecks/library/cf47c62f

Encyclopedic Sources

News peg

Al Jazeera News June 26, 2023, “‘Bombed Muslim nations’: BJP ministers to Obama over Modi remark Former US President Barack Obama last week said Indian PM Narendra Modi’s government should do more to protect Muslims.”
“Prominent ministers from India’s ruling party have derided comments by former US President Barack Obama that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government should protect the rights of minority Muslims, accusing him of being hypocritical.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/26/indian-minister-mocks-obama-comment-on-protecting-muslims
The Guardian (Reuters in Delhi), June 26, 2023 “Obama remarks on India’s treatment of Muslims ‘hypocritical’ – minister: Indian finance minister hits out after former US president said Modi government should protect rights of Muslims,” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/26/obama-remarks-on-indias-treatment-of-muslims-hypocritical-minister

RT News (excerpt from headlines) June 27, 2023, “India’s finance minister calls out Barack Obama over his criticism of minority issues in India, reminding the former US president of the trail of destruction that he left in the Middle East during his term in office” https://www.rt.com/shows/news/578731-rtnews-june-27-20msk/




Composition and Commentary excluding quoted material and individual images
Copyright © Carolyn LaDelle Bennett
Author’s links: www.BennettsAmericanEpitaph.com
https://www.facebook.com/carolynladelle.bennett
https://insightbeyondtodaysnews.blogspot.com/
https://www.xlibris.com/en/search?query=Carolyn+LaDelle+Bennett
https://www.xlibris.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/828689-epitaph

Friday, February 3, 2023

USA Drive toward Self Annihilation Reflected in Domestic, Foreign Matters

UPDATE 2023 late January through February 3

Domestic GV Death toll approaches 4,000, including:

  • More than 500 Dead and Wounded Children and Teens and
  • More than 50 mass shootings 
Figures rising daily.

    FIREARMS

    Febraury 2-3, 2023, Gun Deaths (latest update from GVA)

    Deaths all causes: 3,936 

    Homicide/Murder/Unintentional/DGU:  1,692

    Suicide: 2,244

    Injuries Total: 2,923

    Mass Shootings:  54 

    Mass Murders:  6

    Dead Children: 22

     

     

    Dead Teenagers: 138     

     

     

    Injured Children: 46

     

     

    Injured Teenagers: 323

     

     

     

     

    https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

    FIREARMS – Mass Shootings February 2023


    # KILLED - # INJURED February 1

    Texas City, TX      

    0 – 4

    Los Angeles,  CA

    0 -5

                                    https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting

    2019 Percentage of residents living in poverty
    Texas City, Texas: 19.1 percent
    Total Population: 51,898

    Los Angeles, California: 16.7 percent
    Total population 3,898,747

    Additional sources
    http://www.city-data.com/city/Los-Angeles-California.html
    http://www.city-data.com/city/Texas-City-Texas.html
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City,_Texas
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles


    A

     diabolical pattern is played out by Americans (those who inhabit the USA) and their partnering mercenaries at home and abroad: on USA streets and in neighborhoods; against nations and peoples of the world.

    Extremists wrap themselves in a religion of “Exceptionalism” and demand “their way,” “like us,” “do what we tell you to do,” “stay in line or else” suffer "our" instruments of aggression.

    These extremists fume, self-righteously, and harbor irrational resentments. They manufacture and spread untruths of some fancied or fanciful offense (in their minds, balloons become missiles).

    They demonize and cast blame.

    They carry out or cause to be carried out a final, fatal EXECUTION:

    Starve or maim the “other” (or others), poison with germs and chemicals, block access to essential trade, economic and financial sectors, and deny social, economic, human development and self-determination. Slaughter the “other” or “others” outright.


    US Bloodletting footprint across the world
    2023 ending January into February


    Beyond the Beltway Headlines 

    January 11-31

    YEMEN

    “‘Weapons supplied to Saudis by US, UK killed hundreds of Yemenis’: Report,” https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/01/11/696147/US-UK-Arms-Deals-Saudi-Arabia-Yemen

    “‘Washington chiefly responsible for humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen’: Information minister,” https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/01/31/697315/US-chiefly-responsible-humanitarian-catastrophe-Yemen

    RUSSIA
    UKRAINE (tool)

    “US, NATO on brink of direct war with Russia over Ukraine,” https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/01/25/696975/US,-NATO-on-brink-of-direct-war-with-Russia-over-Ukraine

    “US senators pressure (US President Joseph) Biden for more sanctions against Russia, allies over Ukraine war,” https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/01/26/697048/US-Foreign-Policy-Senators-Sanctions-


    February 1-3

    RUSSIA
    UKRAINE (tool)

    “US to arm Ukraine with ‘longer-range’ missiles – Reuters: “Washington is reportedly preparing a new $2 billion aid package, including munitions that can strike deep in Russian territory,” 
    https://www.rt.com/news/570784-us-glsdb-rockets-ukraine/

    “‘US knowingly ignored Russia’s red lines on NATO expansion’: Report,” https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/02/03/697523/Cables-show-US-knowingly-ignored-Russia-redlines-of-NATO-expansion

    SYRIA
    US Strangling Sanctions

    “The United States is actively working to discourage countries willing to normalize relations with Syria, according to a report. “‘US giving cold feet to countries willing to normalize with Syria’: Report,” https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/02/03/697522/Syria-US-normalization-report

    “‘US inflicted huge losses on Syrian economy through war, sanctions’: Syrian officials”
    “‘The United States’ illegal military presence in Syria, accompanied by systematic looting of the nation’s natural resources and economic sanctions, have inflicted huge losses on the Arab country,’ Syrian officials say,” https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/02/01/697370/US-inflicted-huge-losses-Syrian-economy-Syrian-officials

    SOUTH CHINA SEA
    (Western Pacific Ocean)
    Bordering
    Shores of South China
    Indochinese Peninsula
    Islands of Taiwan, and Philippines

    Philippine government “agrees to give US expanded access to military bases”: according to military experts, “Washington’s access to those bases could provide US forces a strategic position from which to mount operations in the event of a conflict over Chinese Taipei or in the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over virtually all of the South China Sea…. The waters are believed to sit atop vast reserves of oil and gas.” https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/02/02/697433/Philippines-agrees-to-give-US-expanded-access-to-military-bases

    REPUBLIC OF TÜRKIYE
    Military Aggression Alliance NATO
    Coercion

    “US senators say no F-16 upgrades for Turkey if it blocks NATO bid of Finland, Sweden”: “US Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, led 25 of their colleagues in a letter to the president, saying, ‘Congress cannot consider future support for Turkey, including the sale of F-16 fighter jets until Turkey completes ratification of the accession protocols.’
    “‘Failure to ratify the protocols or present a timeline for ratification threatens the Alliance’s unity at a key moment in history, as Russia continues its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.’” https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/02/02/697487/US-Turkey-Sweden-Finland-NATO-

    A Land of Extremism and its adherents
    to Exceptionalism and Emotionalism, Belligerence and Impunity 
    Marked by a Careless, Criminal Disregard for Life.




    Composition and Commentary excluding quoted material and individual images
    Copyright © Carolyn LaDelle Bennett
    Author’s links: www.BennettsAmericanEpitaph.com
    https://www.facebook.com/carolynladelle.bennett
    https://insightbeyondtodaysnews.blogspot.com/
    https://www.xlibris.com/en/search?query=Carolyn+LaDelle+Bennett
    https://www.xlibris.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/828689-epitaph


    Thursday, May 16, 2019

    Platitudes and tough talk slide easily off a slick tongue.

    Truth is tougher and harder to come by: Beware Belligerents Feigning Outrage at home while Killing native sons and daughters abroad
    U.S. President Donald Trump speaking at the “38th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service”

    California Police Officer Ronil Singh, the president said, “came to this country legally in 2003 with the dream of earning the badge of an American police officer. … And that’s exactly what Ronil did: He devoted his life to defending the laws of our country....”

    Two Immigrants: California police officer Ronil Singh was a native South Pacific islander, the Republic of Fiji.. His accused shooter was a native North American, Mexico. It takes only one “caught” instance of crime to make a man or woman a criminal under U.S. law. Many criminals are never caught. Many are never called “criminal.”
    The president declared that “Dangerous criminals must be punished to the fullest extent of the law. That’s the only language they understand.”
    The alleged shooter, the president said, “was a vicious killer, this man that crossed into our country from the border just a little while before. A vicious killer that could’ve been kept out with border security, with the wall (an opportunist never misses an opportunity to push his politics), with whatever the hell it takes …, could’ve been kept out.”

    Police officers like any other workers have a job to do and in dangerous work they accept the risks. A particular risk is the nature of the job of policing, which is not to excuse the threat or the slaying of anyone anywhere any time.   


    B

    ut let us take a look, compare the risk and slaughter of innocents who never had a chance to choose — never knew and never accepted even the possibility that the mere act of sitting in their homes, attending a wedding, or stepping from their doors for any reason on any morning or evening would spell death and destruction.

    United States Leadership’s Participation in 
    Death and Destruction on both sides of the Red Sea
    from the Gulf of Aden to the Mediterranean Sea
    Somalia (Horn of Africa) to Syria 
    1948 –present, and continuing

    Palestine (“Arab–Israeli conflict” “Arab League vs. Israel and USA” in Middle East 1948–present): deaths 116,074+

    Iran-Iraq War (amidst U.S.–Iran military tension, U.S. sided with Iraq, September 22, 1980-August 20, 1988) losses estimated: deaths 105,000–375,000 (other death estimates 250,000–500,000), wounded in action (WIA) 400,000, prisoners of war (POW) 70,000; Economic loss: $561 billion

    Global WARs targeting Middle East 2001
    War on Terror (aka Global War on Terrorism) 2001–present (worldwide): 272,000–1,260,000 
    Afghanistan
    War in Afghanistan (part of War on Terror, 2001–present): 47,246–61,603 
    U.S. War in Afghanistan: 2001-2019 and continuing: 
    • “31,000+ civilian deaths due to war-related violence”; “29,900” wounded civilians; “111,000+” Afghans killed in the conflict (incl civilians, soldiers and militants) 
    • The Cost of War project (Brown University) reporting: “Since the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001, “about 26,270 civilians killed by direct war-related violence,”  “more than 29,900 civilians have been injured”; 
    • Factoring in ratios of “indirect to direct deaths in contemporary conflicts,” the figure could reach as high as “360,000.”
    Pakistan
    War in North-West Pakistan (Pakistan/USA/UK vs. Terrorist groups aka “War in Waziristan” 2004–present, part of War on Terror and War in Afghanistan 2001–present): 45,852–78,946 

    Iraq
    Iraq Wars (aka Second Gulf War, part of “War on Terror”) 2003–2011: 176,913–1,120,000 
    Iraqi Civil War (also Iraq and allies vs. ISIL” 2014–2017 [continuing total casualties not yet tallied]): 75,000+
    U.S. War on Iraq and its People 2003 – 2019 and continuing; absolute count uncertain, numbers vary: ♦♦♦ March 2003-February 2019: 183,249 – 205,785 civilian deaths from violence (Iraq Body Count project) ♦♦♦ January 2004-December 2009: 109,032 deaths including 66,081 civilian deaths (Classified Iraq War Logs) ♦♦♦ March 2003-April 2009: 110,600 violent deaths (Associated Press)
    Yemen 
    Saudi-U.S. Blockade of Yemen ● Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen ● Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)


    Y

    emen Famine 2016 – present
    • Total deaths: More than 85,000 children (adults unknown)
    • Death rate: est. 130 children per day (December 2016–November 2017)
    • Death rate since November 2017 unknown but more cases of famine and severe malnourishment reported during 2018
    More than “17 million of Yemen’s population are at risk”
    More than “3.3 million children and pregnant or lactating women suffer from acute malnutrition”
    More than 100,000 of the affected children are in Al Hudaydah Governorate, with the city of Al Hudaydah worst affected area of the province
    Famine compounded by cholera outbreak: 5,000 new cases daily
    U.S.-allied Saudi-led coalition air strikes have devastated Yemen’s infrastructure including food infrastructure, health, water and sanitation systems and facilities thus leading to the spread of cholera.
    Other related and consequences: Cultivation and consumption of khat (as plant from coca leaves can cause drug abuse, psychological dependence; Food confiscation by Houthi rebels

    Related to Houthi insurgency (aka known “Sa’dah War” from 2004): casualties:  25,000+ 

    Somalia
    War and Conflict 2006: United States-backed Ethiopian military “intervention” 
    “Somali Civil War” 2009–present (Federal Government of Somalia forces backed by African Union peacekeepers against “various militant terrorist groups and factions”) 
    Estimated deaths by 2012: 8,016
    Variable Losses reported by October 2012: 756 killed, 367 wounded; 1,100–3,000+ killed, 3 killed, 3 wounded, 66+ killed, Puntland 17+ killed, 40 wounded; Ethiopia: 8 killed; United States: 2 killed, 3 wounded
    Libya 2011-2012 continuing
    U./S./NATO March 19, 2011 military intervention in (i.e., invasion of) Libya, “ostensibly to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973”

    2011-2012 Casualties/Deaths (Military Leader and President Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi is assassinated; after which carnage, conflict, displacement continues into 2019

    Libyan Casualty Estimates
    • May14: NATO air strike hits a large number of people gathered for Friday prayers in the eastern city of Brega leaving 11 religious leaders dead, 50 others wounded
    • May 24: NATO air strikes in Tripoli kill 19 civilians, wound 150 (Libyan state television report)
    • May 31: NATO strikes left up to 718 civilians dead (Libya reports)
    • June 19: NATO air strikes hit a residential house in Tripoli, killing seven civilians (Libyan state television)
    • June 20: NATO airstrike in Sorman, near Tripoli, kills fifteen civilians (Libyan government); Eight rockets apparently hit the compound of a senior government official, in an area where NATO confirmed operations had taken place.
    • June 25: NATO strikes on Brega hit a bakery and a restaurant, killing 15 civilians and wounding 20 more (Libyan state television); report further accused the coalition of ‘crimes against humanity.’ (NATO denies but offers no casualty reports)
    • June 28: NATO airstrike on the town of Tawergha, 300 km east of the Libyan capital, Tripoli kills eight civilians.
    • July 20: NATO attacks Libyan state TV, Al-Jamahiriya. Three journalists killed.
    • July25: NATO airstrike on a medical clinic in Zliten kills 11 civilians (NATO denies)
    • August 9: 85 civilians are killed in a NATO airstrike in Majer, a village near Zliten (Libyan government report)
    • September 15: Libyan President Gaddafi’s spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, declares NATO air strikes killed 354 civilians and wounded 700 others, while 89 other civilians were supposedly missing; and since September 1: 2,000+ civilians had been killed by NATO air strikes (NATO denies)

    T

    he government of Muammar al-Gaddafi, military officer and president of Libya, was overthrown and he was assassinated in Sirte, Libya, October 20, 2011, 
    An occasion U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton found hysterically funny.  
    • March 2, 2012: United Nations Human Rights Council releases report about the aftermath of the Libyan civil war, concluding that in total 60 civilians were killed, 55 wounded by the NATO air campaign.
    • May 2012 Human Rights Watch publishes report saying least 72 civilians were killed.

    Syria
    (Syrian Civil War aka Syrian Arab Republic vs. Republic of Syria vs. ISIL vs. Syrian Democratic Forces 2011–present):  560,000+ 



    U

    .S. President Donald Trump tells his captive audience
    “Every American child deserves to grow up in a community that’s secure and safe from violence, and free of fear.”


    T

    ranslation:
    The children of Gaza and Syria and Libya and Iraq and Iran and Somalia and Palestine and Yemen and Afghanistan and Pakistan do not “deserve to grow up” in  communities that are “secure and safe from violence and free of fear.”
    How Sad.



    Sources

    The White House
    “Remarks by President Trump at the 38th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service” U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.11:50 A.M. EDT Issued on: May 15, 2019 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-38th-annual-national-peace-officers-memorial-service/

    Wikipedia
    Casualties of Iraq War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Iraq_War
    Civilian Casualties in War in Afghanistan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_casualties_in_the_war_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)#Civilian_and_overall_casualties_(2013)
    List of Wars by Death Toll https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_by_death_toll
    Iran-Iraq War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_War
    Somali Civil War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Civil_War_(2009%E2%80%93present
    2011 Military Intervention in Libya https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_military_intervention_in_Libya
    Famine in Yemen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famine_in_Yemen_(2016%E2%80%93present)

    Insight Beyond Today’s News, CLB - © All Rights Reserved



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