Iran In Latin America!

In this article, Obama has just signed a bill, passed by congress, to counter Iranian influence in Latin America. Although the official text of the bill is secret, one piece of this article sums up the validity and aim of this bill: "senior State Department and intelligence officials have indicated there is no apparent indication of illicit activities by Iran". That quote, along with the bills aim of bolstering security and surveillance at the Mexican and Canadian borders, and within Latin American countries, the text provides for a multi-agency action plan to provide security in those countries, along with a "counterterrorism and counter-radicalisation plan to isolate Iran and its allies", gives the impression that this bill is simply more veiled attempts at increasing domestic surveillance and spying in the American homeland, and increasing militarisation of Latin America under the auspices of global security. We should be reminded by the lessons of history that this is simply not the case, as the decades-long drug war and it's legacy of death, destruction, and rampant human rights violations has taught us.

Policy of a Sheep

Back in April, I had posted here about the Mujahideen-e-Khalq, or MEK, being trained on US soil for insurgency operations aimed at destabilizing Iran. Last week, Stephen Harper's Conservative government dropped the MEK from it's official list of terrorist groups. This is one more step the Harper administration has taken to align itself with a US and Israeli approach to foreign policy concerning the Middle East; a policy that is increasingly hostile to Iran, intent on blocking any Palestinian attempts at a Two-State Solution, and complicit in war crimes committed by Israel. Look at the facts:

-Canada recently severed diplomatic ties by closing it's embassy in Tehran, and expelling Iranian diplomatic staff from Ottawa.
-Canada supported Israeli military action against the Gaza strip during Operation Pillar of Defense (which could have been avoided altogether).
-Canada voted against a UN resolution to upgrade Palestine to non-member observer state status in the United Nations. Canada was joined in the dissenting votes by the United States, Israel, the Czech Republic, and the powerful nations of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Panama. One hundred and thirty-eight nations voted for the measure.

These policies have been a large divergence from the traditional peace-keeping, friendly role that Canada has played in world security, and instead now Harper has taken us on a path aligned with an aggressive, neo-liberal policy perpetrated by the United States. 

Iran Article

Here is an interesting post on the current Iran nuclear issue:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-09-28/guest-post-netanyahu%E2%80%99s-red-line

Save the Beef

With the new E-coli beef recall just initiated in Canada, does anyone ever consider why our beef gets infected with this bacteria as much as it does? I give you the answer:

Industrial farming! Where cows never tread or eat grass, instead they walk all day in their own shit and are fed corn and grain. What part of this picture looks even remotely healthy enough to consider adding to your diet?

One Hard Step Closer To Iran

Canada, or should I say the Conservatives, have suspended diplomatic relations with Iran and expelled all Iranian diplomatic personnel from Canada, as well as closing the Canadian embassy in Tehran. In the increasingly polarized world that is divided between East and West, I'm sad to see the Conservative government getting behind the American and Israeli led smear campaign inflicted on Iran. The fact that Baird even speaks of the Geneva convention, when our neighbour to the south, have constantly been breaking it with threats of military action against Iran. And I further disgusted that they receive praise from Netanyahu, who's government and military is constantly guilty of war crimes and defying declarations by the United Nations and the World Court.

Let me reiterate that there is no direct physical evidence that Iran is attempting to build a nuclear weapon, and that many intelligence agencies have stated they do not believe Iran is and will attempt to do so. I'm curious if there is an ulterior motive in the closing of the embassy in Tehran. Embassies are also used by intelligence agencies to gather intelligence of the government and military of the country they are stationed in. Could this possibly be a way to pull down the blinders a little more on this issue? Will the government, in the future, after Iran has been bombed and no nuclear weapons found, say "we weren't sure and deemed military action worth the risk of preventing a nuclear armed Iran"?

I do agree with Canada's stance on Iranian support for Assaad. I don't agree with it, nor do I agree for support for Hezbollah. I also do no agree with a Zionist-dominated Middle East, nor with a Middle East dominated by cruel regimes supported by US foreign policy. If we are to speak of Human Rights, it is our responsibility to also look at the ones around us who are constantly violating them.

Asian Strategic Posturing

Here's a perfect example of strategic posturing, which can be easily seen when you take two events and fit them together:

First, you have a news article about China and India, two of the world superpowers, agreeing to increase military and strategic cooperation with one another. This move solidifies the two countries' positions in the Asia-Pacific region, and is sure to draw attention from the United States.

Next, two hours later, another news article about US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling on ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) to present a united front to China on disputes over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

And what does this all mean? China and India are continually increasing their strategic and political position in Asia, and America position in the same area is becoming weaker. In terms of Western economic and strategic dominance of Asia, this cooperation is a nightmare scenario. Both nations have the economic influence to sway position in the Middle East. China and India have been continually dealing with Iran despite the trade sanctions imposed by the US and Europe, one example of how the two powers could present an obstacle to US foreign policy. And in all fairness, China and India have shown just that towards the Middle East, while the US continues to support dictatorships and drop bombs.

Another Straw On the Horse's Back

If the horrible austerity measures being piled on Greece by the European Central Bank, the European Comission, and the IMF weren't enough, now they want to impose a six day work week on the Greeks! Boosting unemployment is going to help them get out of debt?