US Resolution Allegations against Sri Lanka are those America blatantly violates
Posted on February 11th, 2014
Shenali D Waduge
“Counting other people’s sins does not make you a Saint”.
“Others will be more likely to take your advice if you practice what you preach”
Generally, anyone pointing fingers need to have a clean chit – in other words no one is entitled to accuse if their crimes deny them the right to do so. Sadly, America is oblivious about its own crimes or simply thinks America is immune from facing justice.
America accuses Sri Lanka of Extrajudicial Killings (unlawful killings) / Enforced Disappearance/ Torture and abuse of detainees by police and security forces
But in America …..the most senior members of the Bush administration, up to and including the President, broke international and domestic laws banning torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. Worse, they had subordinates in the military and in civilian intelligence services break these laws for them. . . .
- Obama’s administration has legally justified extrajudicial killing – the administration claims it “is a lawful act of national defense” to kill Americans who pose “an imminent threat of a violent attack against the United States http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/020413_DOJ_White_Paper.pdf
- America may also remember the ‘Bush Torture Memo’s” titled “Humane Treatment of Taliban and al Qaeda Detainees.” – that memo quoted “… none of the provisions of Geneva apply to our conflict with al Qaeda in Afghanistan or elsewhere through the world because, among other reasons, al Qaeda is not a High Contracting Party to Geneva.”…. … common Article 3 of Geneva does not apply to either al Qaeda or Taliban detainees because, among other reasons, the relevant conflicts are international in scope and common Article 3 applies only to ‘armed conflict not of an international character.”…. .. I determine that the Taliban detainees are unlawful combatants and, therefore, do not qualify as prisoners of war under Article 4 of Geneva. I note that, because Geneva does not apply to our conflict with al Qaeda, al Qaeda detainees also do not qualify as prisoners of war.
- Four memos from the Bush administration set out in chilling detail the kind of techniques used by the CIA against suspected al-Qaida operatives and others held after the 9/11 attacks. America killed 3 of its own citizens (all Muslims) abroad including a 16year old and the American Civil Liberties Union is taking the FBI, Department of Justice and CIA to court
- Memos from the US Justice Department in 2002/2005 to the CIA lists techniques that are permissible – from the most severe – waterboarding – to the almost laughable – though not for the detainee – the use of insects in a confined space. Lawyers insisted the techniques were not torture. Thus the techniques included waterboarding “A cloth is placed over his face on which cold water is then poured for periods of at most 40 seconds. This creates a barrier through which it is either difficult or impossible to breathe. The technique thereby induces a sensation of drowning.” A doctor was to be on hand in case the detainee got into trouble, in which case the doctor would perform tracheotomy. Walling – detainee is slammed into a wall. Sleep deprivation – CIA could deny detainees sleep for up to 180 hours! Detainees are shackled in a standing position with hands in front of his body preventing him from falling asleep”, Nudity – used to induce psychological discomfort. It also allowed interrogators to reward detainees instantly with clothing for cooperation… air temperature was 68F – posing threat to detainee health. Insect – the 2002 memo by the US Justice Department gave authority to CIA to play on the fears of Abu Zubaydah – an alleged Al Qaeda member, to be put into a cramped confinement box with an insect. Slaps including Abdominal slaps – facial slap or insult slaps used by interrogators. Water dousing – to weaken resistance by making detainee cold but stopping short of inducing hypothermia. Potable cold water is poured on the detainee from a hose without a nozzle – temperature is kept above 64F. Food deprivation – substituting a bland, commercial liquid meal for detainee’s normal diet. Cramped confinement – detainees put into uncomfortable small containers, technique abandoned as officials found detainees enjoyed a temporary safe haven!
- Operation Ghetto Storm: 2012 Annual Report on the Extrajudicial Killings of 313 Black People by Police, Security Guards, and Vigilantes, reveals how Every 28 hours in 2012 someone employed or protected by the US government killed a Black man, woman, or child!http://mxgm.org/operation-ghetto-storm-2012-annual-report-on-the-extrajudicial-killing-of-313-black-people/ Arlene Eisen, member of the Malcolm X Solidarity Committee concluded, “police departments and government agencies throughout the United States go to great lengths to hide the data on extrajudicial killings, particularly the race of the murder victims. I am quite sure that there were more than 313 Black people killed by the police in 2012. Social movements in the United States must demand this information and must demand an end to these killings.”
- 65,000 prisoners were taken during the initial Iraq/Afghan ‘wars’ – 108 people have died in American custody in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2005
- There are also charges of US military doctors torturing prisoners – http://rt.com/usa/us-military-doctors-torture-detainees-191/
- The Torture Report – http://www.thetorturereport.org/
- Children in US Military Custody – http://www.childreninmilitarycustody.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Children_in_Military_Custody_Full_Report.pdf
America accuses Sri Lanka of intentional targeting of civilians and non-combatants
But in America …..where do we start America’s history of civilian killings is the biggest question. Every war memorial in the US must be accompanied with the guilt of how many civilians American troops would have been ordered to be killed. The American public mourns the deaths of American troops but little do they know or even seem to care about how many civilians the US Government put to death simply to secure ‘US interests” – these victim countries were all mercilessly attacked and the targets were always civilians. Deaths are said to be at least 6MILLION. When the Associated Press conducted a survey asking Americans how many Iraqi’s died in Iraq war the average answer was 9890 an example of how ignorant American public are!
Japan in 1945, Korea, Indo-China, Iraq/Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Libya, nations of Africa, Haiti
The Korean war deaths are said to be 3.5 million and about half of them civilians.
- Vietnam civilian and military deaths are said to be between 1.5million to 3.8million
- Cambodian civilian deaths number 600,000 to 800,000 while
- Laotian civilian deaths said to have reached 1million.
- Deaths is Afghanistan is said to be around 100,000
- We recall the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam were troops killed 400 civilians in 1968 when orders were to ‘shoot anything that moved’
- We recall the Haditha murders in Iraq
- There is no support to help rebuild either Iraq or Afghanistan
- There are no campaigns by charities who ideally should be concerned about the plight of these real civilians.
- Iraqi Body Count sets the killings of civilians from 2003 to 2011 to 118,745
- Yet the use of the atomic bomb not once but twice and using the 2nd even after knowing the impact of the first goes to show how immoral the US Government and decision makers are. The first bombing was on 6th August 1945 dropping a 8,900-pound atomic weapon. The 2nd bomb was dropped 3 days later on 9th August 1945. 12,500 tons of TNT dropped on Hiroshima killed 140,000 people in a single instance. Nagasaki deaths amounted to 80,000
- In Pakistan too US drones killed 67 civilians since 2008. Drones operate in Yemen too where so far over 40 deaths have occurred. Despite a UN report that US unmanned drones are violating international law – nothing is being done to stop the US from using it. http://antiwar.com/blog/2013/10/21/new-un-report-highlights-how-us-drone-policy-violates-international-law/
- Former American soldiers admit killing civilians – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10464861/BBC-Panorama-Former-soldiers-admit-killing-unarmed-civilians.html
- US soldiers admit killing civilians for sport – http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/23/us-soldier-admits-killing-afghans
- US troops urinate on dead Afghans – http://www.armytimes.com/article/20120111/NEWS/201110314/Marines-allegedly-urinate-dead-Taliban-video
Most of these crimes are as a result of orders – US troops commit inhuman acts ‘because they are ordered to’
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2012/05/06/fea01.asp
More US troops are committing suicide than they are dying in the war theatre. 22 US soldiers are said to kill themselves every day. In one very tragic incident William Busbee was found repeatedly washing his hands. When his mother inquired she was told “Mom, the blood, it won’t come off” – this 23 year old killed himself because he could not live the horrific crimes that took place in Iraq- crimes we know were all lies.
America demands Sri Lanka demilitarize the North
But in America …..
- There are said to over 1000 US military personnel stationed in overseas bases in 130 nations.
- One of the first things that the US did in Iraq was to disband the entire Iraqi military with the intent of turning them into ‘insurgents’ given that they had no means of livelihood but to take up arms! 350,000 to 400,000 soldiers out of work, as well as an estimated 2,000 Information Ministry employees. Is this what US is indirectly implying Sri Lanka does?
- The largest amount of active duty personnel stationed overseas was during the Vietnam War in 1968 when over 1,082,777 troops were deployed on foreign soil.
- The lowest amount of active duty personnel deployed occurred in 1999 when 206,003 troops were stationed on foreign soil.
- US has bases in 23 sovereign countries – Bulgaria, Germany, Greenland, Guam, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Iraq, Kuwait, Kosovo, Israel, Afghanistan, Cuba, Djibouti, British Indian Ocean Territory, Bahrain and Greece.
- US has been occupying Japan’s Okinawa using the Status of Forces Agreement with 26000 troop presence and despite the people of Okinawa demanding the US troops to leave – the US refuses to do so. Accusations against UK troops include drunk and unruly US soldiers, gang rape of Japanese women. When the US occupied Okinawa from 1945 to 1972 the people of Okinawa had to seek special permission from US military to leave the area. The US has 73 bases in Japan. The Japanese government was paying the U.S. $4 billion a year for the services it takes to keep the bases going.
- Camp Bondsteel was constructed to house American peacekeeping forces soon after Kosovo achieved independence from Serbia in 1999. It can hold up to 7000 soldiers, which makes it the largest US base in the Balkans. The base was constructed without consulting with the government of Serbia. The site is referred to as “little Guantanamo”.
America accuses Sri Lanka of denying freedom of expression, more access to media and journalists
But in America …..
- During the 2002 World Bank meetings hundreds were arrested, including journalists like Debra Kahn.
- Pulitzer Prize winning correspondent James Risen was subpoenaed by the justice department over confidential sources.
- Journalists say they are censured by the police because the press captures their treatment of demonstrators.
- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was labeled a ”high tech terrorist” by vice president Joe Biden for publishing leaked U.S. Government documents and a video showing US helicopter pilots shooting unarmed reporters in Iraq could be charged with espionage.
- US is also introducing Media Shield Laws – intended to put parameters on media, journalism, journalists, etc.
- The country that is telling Sri Lanka to give freedom for the press is itself ranked 47th
- · Obama said whistleblowing reflects “acts of courage and patriotism.” – but America is after Edward Snowden.
- Veteran ABC White House correspondent Ann Compton said: “There is no access to the daily business in the Oval Office, who the president meets with, who he gets advice from.”
- http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/media-protests-white-house-press-access-limits-article-1.1526012
America accuses Sri Lanka of slow progress in Resettlement/Rehabilitation/ Infrastructure development – anyone traveling to the North in 2010 and again in 2014 would realize the scale of development these areas are enjoying within just 4 years despite the LTTE controlling a major portion of these areas for 30 years with USD300million annually and scores of international agencies accepting donations from kind hearts, forcing us to ask what were both LTTE and these INGOS doing with the money!
But America …..
- Has failed 4.5MILLION Iraqis who remain without homes decades after US occupation. Where is the accountability?
- We are well aware of how US/NATO specifically targeted civilian infrastructure and brought to ruins facilities used by civilians – how many of these specific targets has the US/NATO actually rebuilt?
- Most of the civilians killed have always put down to ‘collateral damage’ or excused as an ‘accident’.
- Yet, Sri Lanka has resettled virtually all of the 300,000 Tamils the Sri Lankan military saved and most of these homes have been built by the armed personnel themselves. Massive development programs are taking place.
America accuses Sri Lanka of lack of rule of law / discrimination on religions
But in America …..
- Even a minor offence warrants a person to be body/cavity searched
- Some bizarre US laws are given – http://informationcentral0.tripod.com/id7.html
- 17 ridiculous laws in the US – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/02/17-ridiculous-laws-still_n_481379.html
- Americans are being watched and under severe surveillance as part of a program fooling Americans that the Government is ‘protecting them”.
- The American Civil Liberties Union has compiled a list of religious discriminations which are noteworthy – https://www.aclu.org/using-religion-discriminate
- Muslims report rising discrimination at work – http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/business/24muslim.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
- https://www.aclu.org/maps/map-nationwide-anti-mosque-activity
- In Sri Lanka all of the newest religious buildings are those of either mosques or churches and they have been strategically put next to or close to either temples or kovils in a subtle attempt to provoke. The incidents that US is using have been concerning Evangelical and other religious entities that are using unethical means to convert non-Christians. Nothing gets said about the illegal religious structures and illegal manner in which by throwing money and bribing officials these building suddenly obtain approval. Often it is a result of the authorities being bribed that these religious entities end up operating illegal and carrying out unethical practices and often sponsored to create tension by provoking the majority population.
- Let it also be known that throughout the past 4 years the GOSL has renovated and established 11 kovils, 3 churches, 4 mosques and only 2 Buddhist temples in the North since 2009.
In the light of the above America has no moral right to even consider drafting Resolutions. It is just another country attempting to take over lands and plunder the world using the bogey of human rights. We recall our Hillary Clinton when cornered on Benghazi replied ‘what difference does it make” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC0AKNQBV80, while John Kerry says “I do not want to spend the next year coming up here talking about Benghazi,” but US finds it quite alright to spend 3 years talking about the last 4 months of Sri Lanka’s conflict. What US cannot escape from is that a US ambassador died in the line of duty because they chose not to beef up security the US instead lied that the killing was attributed to Muslims reacting against a youtube video.
A country that does not know the meaning of accountability or even accepts accountability does not deserve to question the accountability of nations that have a far superior track record than theirs.
February 11th, 2014 at 12:31 pm
Though LTTE used Tamil speaking Sri Lankans as human shields, killed them, denied them food and medicines, it was the Sri Lankan Army that braved LTTE attacks and mines to save 294,000 Tamil speaking Sri Lankans while US was busy using drones to kill innocent women and children in Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan etc.
Even after so many years, Katrina storm affected Americans are still languishing in Trailer parks in Louisiana and New Orleans. But within 11 months 240,000 Tamil speaking Sri Lankans from their refugee camps were able to settle in their land mines infested original homes which were ravaged from a 27 year war. Wow!!
USA has lots of things to learn from Sri Lanka !!!!!!
February 11th, 2014 at 12:41 pm
We know all these things. But what are we going to DO about this?
BIGGEST enemy of SL is NOT USA, it is TNA voting Tamils. We have to FRUSTRATE their aspirations, DASH hopes and SMASH everything near and dear to them (Tamil Elam related EVERYTHING).
They want to live in GHETTOES in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Vanni and Colombo. We have to BUST these GHETTOES with FORCED ethnic integration and disruption.
Tamil “modarates” are the WORST enemies of SL because they play a DOUBLE GAME. If LTTE is revived under the control of the govt. and send all Tamil “modarates” packing it will be easier to resolve this problem.
We need Tamil PATRIOTS not moderates.
February 11th, 2014 at 1:19 pm
No doubt, we can write volumes and volumes of real facts and unshakable truths of the various crimes and atrocities committed by this “Super Power” – USA. – all in the name of democracy. Yet, the fact remains to date no nation or country has taken upon the initiative and the responsibility to confront USA or the Allies in any of the International Institutions set up to look into such claims. A case in point is Iraq. When the war was over, even the then Secretary of Defense stated publicly that he was “misled” to believe by the “Security Agencies” that Weapons of Mass Destruction were available and ready to be used by Iraq. Remember how he showed some video footage of such equipment being transported away to unknown locations. when he addressed the UNO. All those turned out to be “concocted” computer “gill marts” to justify the “war” put on the drawing boards and approved to be executed. When the truth emerged, even the man who addressed the UNO and justified the “war” to waged, again in the name of “democracy” was not available to be questioned. Properly speaking he along with the USA authorities should have been taken to task at Hague and made them answerable for “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity”. Still there is no end to the carnage they created.
But the question is: WHO IS OR ARE THERE TO BELL THE CAT?
In that context all these “Nations” and “Countries” assembled in various “prestigious” organizations are a set of “COWARDS” who have succumbed to the evil force of “HOODLUMS”. So do we find any remedy for this? NO, not even in the distant future.
So we “poor” (in economic sense) nations keep barking and the caravan will keep moving trampling us to dust.
However, we too are to be blamed; because our dismal failure to manage the affairs at home has given them the upper hand in directing the accusing finger while they comfortably get covered behind high sounding principles of Democracy, Rule of Law, Transparency, Fair Play, Justice etc, etc….. So the caravan will move and we will be baking all along.
February 11th, 2014 at 1:32 pm
even thought rivers of ink has been used to describe and analyze what the US military to her own history has done in the blatant human rights to even animal rights (the deliberate extinction of the Bison for no other reason than to rid the land of them) has been well documented. It should be repeated till the issue is finally addressed.
The sum total of human rights violations to crimes against humanity surpass the acts of Nazi Germany in magnitude and the short pace it took place. From the deliberate extinction of the Native American race (genocide) to the slavery of blacks (enslavement) to the segregation of blacks (apartheid) to US imperial policy where the US military is allowed to violate every law of the Geneva conference while holding other militaries on far lesser charges on human rights violation. The US is morally defunct to pass judgement on other nations. Until the US military and her culture is charged with crimes against humanity and receives the due penalty including compensating her victims in the same manner the US compensated the Japanese who were incarcerated in Concentration camps in the US even though they were American citizens, the same holds for other victims of US imperialism.
This also holds true for Sri Lanka to demand compensation from all those who funded the LITE during the war.
February 11th, 2014 at 1:42 pm
As a continuing note to my earlier comment, I would like to invite the readers to read the article by Daya Gamage, captioned ” Did the entire Tamil Population rebelled to bifurcate Sri Lanka” published in Asian Tribune of Wed. 12,2014.
This is an eye opener and give an insight to the way we handle our “External Affairs”.
February 11th, 2014 at 2:27 pm
“BIGGEST enemy of SL is NOT USA, it is TNA voting Tamils. We have to FRUSTRATE their aspirations, DASH hopes and SMASH everything near and dear to them (Tamil Elam related EVERYTHING).”
BIIGEST enemy is none but our Governement. Why are they sleeping for so long ?
“We need Tamil PATRIOTS not moderates.: – where are they? All moderates want “devolution”=”tamil thug rule”=”LTTE Dhrama”
February 11th, 2014 at 2:28 pm
Send Shenali to Geneva to head the team.
February 11th, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Nanda,
Yes. The so called “moderates” DEMAND devolution (= Tamil Elam).
There are 3 Tamil groups.
1. Patriots (VERY rare. Only good group)
2. Moderates (bloody cunning Tamil Elamists who take the safe route to Elam. Bad.)
3. Terrorists
Some fools try to ADD 1 and 2 together!! Wrong. White, black AND grey.
February 11th, 2014 at 3:51 pm
“Send Shenali to Geneva to head the team.”
DITTO.
Good idea. DJ is out. Rajiva out. Mahinda S out. Tamara out. Sajin out. GLP is in but not effective. A nice little cat fight between SW and Pee-illey.
She is more educated than MOST jokers we have in Geneva. She is obviously more patriotic than them too.
February 12th, 2014 at 3:34 am
However, we too are to be blamed; because our dismal failure to manage the affairs at home ! Fully agreed .
1 ) We have MR elected president with 2/3 majority (exclude TNA) .
2) RW best opposition leader can & will 100% support to solve any home affairs (eg: sign CFA with VP bring war into negotiation table)
3) Mr Sampanthan Head of TNA & MP from EP (His dream of bring our ethnic problem before he die, He is 82 years now )
4) Mr Vigneswaran Former SL supreme court judge, Colombo man with both his daughter in law are from Sinhala community ,who gave higher punishment for suspected VP & co prisoners than his Sinhala counter part judges.
Can these 4 people can solve our ethnic problem for ever !!!! Yes
Do we need India, China, UK, USA, UN to solve our ethnic problem? NO
February 12th, 2014 at 6:43 am
Tamil groups 1. Patriots (VERY rare. Only good group)- agreed Only I know three peoples in my life
Kathirkamar, Fenodo Pilli ( both have no mustache typical Sinhala appearance – no offence please ) & Lorenzo – Are these peoples Tamils ??? Answers NO !!!
So end of the day NO Tamil group are for Unitary Mother Lanka !!!! even VP’s is no one enemy DD .
Live & let live !!!
United Provincial Council of Mother Lanka. no short cut !!!!
Implement 6A & 13A & settle 100,000 Shinhala Bhuddist Family in NEP – No more ethnic problem & no need to worry about Indian invaders for ever !!!
February 12th, 2014 at 2:09 pm
Douglas,
Many thanks for referring the DG article in AT.
If i may add (not sure if this is true as it’s second hand information) TAG was appointed via a Sri Lankan employee of TAG known to the “Monitor” of External Affairs.
Nevertheless, I’m appalled by the lateness and the lackadaisical approach by the External Affairs and GOSL to counter the purported resolution coming up in March 2014. In that respect i should hope by now that LW and GLP would have seen “traveling” drafts of the said Resolution to counter/bargain on the verocity and language.
We knew about it 9 months ago. What on earth were they doing. CHOGM was a disaster. In fact it highlighted the “issues” even further.
Blaming the West and India is an easy cope out to MR GOSL to harness the local vote bank via the PC.
Judging by the comments i read at Lankaweb, I find it equally amusing that most commenter at Lankaweb live in the West and equally of the 225 Parliamentarians most if not all siblings/children are at some educational/training establishment in the West. Who are we trying to kid?
GOSL are simply not getting their act together. If President Rajapakse was a CEO/President of a Corporate he would have been “frog marched ” long time ago for sheer incompetence/duplicity, lack of vision and foresight.
If i may digress slightly but relevant.
As a avid cricket fan SLC Board totally shot itself in the foot. (I would welcome comment/analysis from Top Spin/Sunil from the recent ICC Resolution).
The new ICC resolution was bull dozed by the 3 bully boys (Eng, Aus & India). I personally totally disagree with whats been proposed and past but i have to take a pragmatic approach to limit the damage and get whats best out of it.
Three big guns totally bullied us and the other cricketing nations and it’s simply not cricket!
For some obscure reason SLC sought fit to fire out letters to the ICC stating it was against the Constitution and illegal. (They may be right). Short shrift answer from the ICC legal advisor- It’s legal, if you don’t like it, oppose it!
Needless to say, there were 3 countries (SA, PAK & SL) who had reservations. SA quickly did a deal with Eng & Aus on Future Tour Programs (FTP) and they fell out of the picture. That left PAK and SL to abstain (even though SL made a hue and cry about objecting) to the resolutions.
Last minute representations by SL Cricket Board to the Indian counterpart fell on deaf years, reminding SLC that India has bank rolled the SLC out of bankruptcy.
Now comes the Future Tour Programs. Up untill 2015 the Tours have been agreed in principle. PCB & SLC now effectively stand alone(being abstainers) to gather up the crumbs from the 3 bully boys in terms of revenue generation from future tours.
We all know PAK can fill stadiums in Aus, Eng, Emirates (neutral) or in any country and hence the big 3 will accommodate tours from a cricketing and revenue perceptive.
Which then leaves Sri Lanka to repeatedly play the likes of Zimb, BD, NZ, WI and Pak(fortunately PAK have a good team and can generate revenue) and the odd to tours to Ind, Eng, Aus & SA and their beck and call.
Incidentally, the SL crowd pullers like Mahela & Sanga would be considering retirement after the WC 2015 and thus from a marketing perspective, SL would not be that attractive.
I give above another example of lack of foresight in our administrative/negotiating skills in dealing with matters when our backs are against the wall.
February 13th, 2014 at 5:45 am
China gets their FIRST EVER land mobile ICBM. Only Russia and China have land mobile ICBMs. We congratulate China on this milestone! Best defence is OFFENCE. Jeyawewa!
“The photograph of the missile reportedly leaving a manufacturing plant in China was posted online Jan. 31 in what a military enthusiast website stated was the transfer of the missile from a factory to a military unit.
The photograph shows the mobile missile covered in blue tarp and escorted by security police from the factory.
The Chinese military frequently discloses such images online as part of efforts to highlight its nuclear forces, among the most secret elements of Beijing’s military forces.
According to the online posting by a user identified only as “witten,” the missile was described as the Second Artillery Corps’ Dong Feng-41 (DF-41) ICBM.
The bulletin board stated that the missile is considered China’s SS-27 ICBM, a reference to Russia’s road-mobile Topol-M missile.
The user stated that the 16-wheeled transporter erector launcher and missile was concealed by the tarp in order to conceal its “infrared defense capabilities.”
The online report also said the DF-41 is “lower to the ground and shorter” than the SS-27 and was adapted to transit on Chinese “mountain terrain, rail and road tunnels.”
According to the post, the lower ground profile allows the missile to “to move from tunnel to tunnel during the gap when satellites are out of range”—a reference to China’s 3,000 miles of underground nuclear tunnels and production facilities for nuclear forces.
The underground nuclear network was disclosed two years ago as part of a Georgetown University arms control project that labeled the system “the Great Underground Wall” of China’s nuclear facilities.
Disclosure of the missile photo came two weeks after the Washington Free Beacon was the first to report on Dec. 17 that China had conducted a second flight of the DF-41.
The new missile is considered a major step forward in China’s strategic nuclear arsenal. The missile is difficult to track because of its mobility. It also is assessed by U.S. intelligence agencies to be outfitted with up to 10 multiple, independently targetable reentry vehicles capable of reaching the United States.
The flight test was monitored by U.S. intelligence agencies from a launch at the Wuzhai missile launch center in Shanxi province, according to U.S. officials.
An earlier flight test took place July 24, 2012.
The new mobile missile is estimated to have a range of between 6,835 and 7,456 miles.
The Pentagon has yet to list the DF-41 as part of the Chinese strategic arsenal, currently made up of a number of older silo-based missiles and newer DF-31 and DF-31A mobile missiles.
The Air Force National Air and Space Intelligence Center in a report made public in May did not name the DF-41 but referred to the development of a new long-range ICBM with multiple warheads.
“China may also be developing a new road-mobile ICBM capable of carrying a MIRV payload, and the number of warheads on Chinese ICBMs capable of threatening the United States is expected to grow to well over 100 in the next 15 years,” the report stated.
Officials said the reference to the new ICBM was meant for the DF-41, whose existence remains secret within the U.S. government.
A Chinese language banner on the road where the photo is taken has been censored, suggesting the banner may be related to the missile factory or the military unit receiving the missile.
The censorship also indicates that the photo is likely an official leak.
China analysts say the People’s Liberation Army frequently discloses new or developmental weapons systems, including stealth jets and unmanned aerial vehicles, as part of preparation for a later formal unveiling of the weapons systems.
Former military intelligence official Larry Wortzel told a congressional hearing recently that the DF-41 is an element of China’s strategic nuclear buildup.
“China is enhancing its nuclear deterrent capability by modernizing its nuclear force,” Wortzel said Nov. 20. “It is taking measures such as developing a new road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile, the DF-41. This missile could be equipped with a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV), allowing it to carry as many as 10 nuclear warheads.”
Wortzel also said it likely China could outfit the DF-41 with penetration aids—decoys and other simulated warheads designed to fool U.S. missile defense sensors.”
February 13th, 2014 at 7:22 am
Kumar/Andy,
You say : “Can these 4 people can solve our ethnic problem for ever !!!”
Can you state what the “Ethnic Problem” is ?
February 13th, 2014 at 8:00 am
Can you state what the “Ethnic Problem” is ? Why We need a special project to recruit professionals into the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Reserve (SLAVR) to prevent Eelam war V !!! Be Honest to Agree with me .
To avoid this future war end in another Mullivakkal “Can these 4 people can solve our ethnic problem for ever !!!”
Solution
Implement 6A & 13A & settle 100,000 Shinhala Bhuddist ( Army family as SF suggested ) Family in NEP – Please honestly tell me , are you not happy with this solution .
February 13th, 2014 at 10:27 am
“Ethnic Problem” We Tamil can settle any part of SL including Hampanthoddai can you settle in NEP ? No, why that is our ethnic problem !!!
February 14th, 2014 at 11:30 am
WOW! Read this … It is Truly Frightening how DESTRUCTIVE a Force the USA is becoming, and why the left-wing Obama Adminstration is as bad as the right-wing Bush Administration it replaced!
………………………………………….
Caught Red Handed
Secret Tape Reveals US-backed Plot to Topple Ukraine’s Democratically-Elected President
By Mike Whitney
“Information Clearing House – “Counterpunch”
InformationClearingHouse.info
February 12, 2014
“In the latest debacle for the US State Department and the Obama Administration, US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland was caught on tape micro-managing Ukraine opposition party strategies with US Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt. That the Ukraine regime-change operation is to some degree being directed from Washington can no longer be denied….The taped conversation demonstrates in clear detail that while Secretary of State John Kerry decries any foreign meddling in Ukraine’s internal affairs, his State Department is virtually managing the entire process.”
– Daniel McAdams, “‘F**k the EU’: Tape Reveals US Runs Ukraine Opposition“, Ron Paul Institute
Washington is at it again, up to its old tricks.
You’d think that after the Afghanistan and Iraq fiascos someone on the policymaking team would tell the fantasists to dial-it-down a bit. But, no. The Obama claque is just as eager to try their hand at regime change as their predecessors, the Bushies. This time the bullseye is on Ukraine, the home of the failed Orange Revolution, where US NGOs fomented a populist coup that brought down the government and paved the way for years of social instability, economic hardship and, eventually, a stronger alliance with Moscow.
That sure worked out well, didn’t it? One can only wonder what Obama has in mind for an encore.
Let’s cut to the chase: The US still clings to the idea that it can dominate the world with its ham-fisted military (that hasn’t won a war in 60 years) its scandalized Intel agencies, its comical Rambo-style “Special Ops” teams, and its oh-so-brilliant global strategists who think the days of the nation-state will soon be over hastening the onset of the glorious New World Order. Right. Ukraine is a critical part of that pipe dream, er, strategy which is why the US media puts demonstrations in Kiev in the headlines while similar protests in the US are consigned to the back pages just below the dog food ads. In any event, the crisis is likely to intensify in the months ahead as Washington engages in a no-holds-barred tug-o-war with Moscow over the future of civilization.
For bigwig strategists, like Zbigniew Brzezinski, Ukraine is a war that Washington must win to maintain its position as the world’s only superpower. As he sees it, the US must establish outposts throughout Eurasia to diminish Russia’s influence, control China, and capitalize off the new century’s fastest growing region. Here’s how Brzezinski sums it up in Foreign Affairs in an article titled “A Geostrategy for Eurasia”:
“America’s emergence as the sole global superpower now makes an integrated and comprehensive strategy for Eurasia imperative…Eurasia is home to most of the world’s politically assertive and dynamic states. All the historical pretenders to global power originated in Eurasia. The world’s most populous aspirants to regional hegemony, China and India, are in Eurasia, as are all the potential political or economic challengers to American primacy…
Eurasia is the world’s axial supercontinent. A power that dominated Eurasia would exercise decisive influence over two of the world’s three most economically productive regions, Western Europe and East Asia. A glance at the map also suggests that a country dominant in Eurasia would almost automatically control the Middle East and Africa…
What happens with the distribution of power on the Eurasian landmass will be of decisive importance to America’s global primacy and historical legacy.” ( “A Geostrategy for Eurasia”, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Foreign Affairs, 1997)
Okay, so the not-so-subtle Brzezinski is telling US policymakers that if they want to rule the world, they’ve got to take over Eurasia. That’s pretty clear. It’s the Great Game all over again and Ukraine is one of the biggest trophies, which is why the US has allied itself to all kinds crackpot, rightwing groups that are stirring up trouble in Kiev. It’s because Washington will stop at nothing to achieve its objectives. Of course, there’s nothing new about any of this. The US frequently supports violent, far-right organizations if their interests coincide. Here’s a little background on the topic from Eric Draitser in an article in CounterPunch titled “Ukraine and the Rebirth of Fascism”:
“In an attempt to pry Ukraine out of the Russian sphere of influence, the US-EU-NATO alliance has, not for the first time, allied itself with fascists. Of course, for decades, millions in Latin America were disappeared or murdered by fascist paramilitary forces armed and supported by the United States. The mujahideen of Afghanistan, which later transmogrified into Al Qaeda, also extreme ideological reactionaries, were created and financed by the United States for the purposes of destabilizing Russia. And of course, there is the painful reality of Libya and, most recently Syria, where the United States and its allies finance and support extremist jihadis against a government that has refused to align with the US and Israel. There is a disturbing pattern here that has never been lost on keen political observers: the United States always makes common cause with right wing extremists and fascists for geopolitical gain.” (Ukraine and the rebirth of Fascism“, Eric Draitser, CounterPunch)
Death squads here, jihadis there; what difference does it make to the big shots in Washington?
Not much, apparently.
But, wait, what’s all this talk about the US being on the side of anti-Semites and fascists in Ukraine? Is that true?
It sure looks that way. In fact, there was a funny story in the World Socialist Web Site about Assistant Secretary of State Victoria “Fuck the EU” Nuland which shows how far these people will go to achieve their objectives. In this case, Nuland, who — according to the WSWS — is “the grand-daughter of Jewish immigrants who fled to America to escape pogroms in Tsarist Russia”…was seen “handing out cookies in Maidan square to Svoboda thugs who venerate the mass murderers of Hitler’s SS.” (“Leaked phone call on Ukraine lays bare Washington’s gangsterism“, Bill Van Auken, World Socialist Web Site)
Nice, eh? So Vickie was having a little snacktime with guys who’d probably shove a knife in her back if they were given half a chance. That’s what you call dedication. By the way, Nuland’s “husband is Robert Kagan, the right-wing foreign policy pundit who served as the founding chairman of the Project for a New American Century, the neo-conservative Washington think tank that played a key role in the political and ideological preparation for the wars against Iraq and Afghanistan.”
The fact that Obama and Co. are directly involved in this latest would-be coup, doesn’t surprise anyone. According to a recent poll conducted by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center, “almost a half (45%) of Russian citizens think that protests in Ukraine have been provoked by Western special services.” By “special services” we presume the survey’s authors mean US Intel agencies and US-funded NGOs which have a long history of poking their noses in other country’s affairs. Here’s a statement by Rep Ron Paul in 2004 to the US House International Relations Committee which helps to throw a little light on the issue:
“It is clear that a significant amount of US taxpayer dollars went to support one candidate in Ukraine. …. What we do not know, however, is just how much US government money was spent to influence the outcome of the Ukrainian election.
Dozens of organizations are granted funds under the PAUCI program alone, (Poland-America-Ukraine Cooperation Initiative, which is administered by the US-based Freedom House.) and this is only one of many programs that funneled dollars into Ukraine. We do not know how many millions of US taxpayer dollars the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) sent to Ukraine through NED’s National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute. Nor do we know how many other efforts, overt or covert, have been made to support one candidate over the other in Ukraine.
That is what I find so disturbing: there are so many cut-out organizations and sub-grantees that we have no idea how much US government money was really spent on Ukraine, and most importantly how it was spent.” (“What has the NED done in Ukraine?“, Ron Paul, Lew Rockwell)
The fact is, the USG gives away tons of money to all types of shady groups who carry out their agenda. As far as Ukraine is concerned, we actually have a better idea of the money that’s been spent than Paul thinks. Check out this video of Nuland addressing various industry groups and admitting that, “Since the declaration of Ukrainian independence in 1991, the United States supported the Ukrainians in the development of democratic institutions and skills in promoting civil society and a good form of government…We have invested more than 5 billion dollars to help Ukraine to achieve these and other goals.” (“Washington’s cloned female warmongers“, Finian Cunningham, Information Clearinghouse)
5 billion smackers to topple a democratically-elected government in Ukraine while 8 million Americans still can’t find a damn job in the US. That tells you a lot about Obama’s priorities, doesn’t it?
Last week’s fiasco surrounding Nuland’s leaked phone conversation has clarified what’s really going on behind the scenes. While the media has focused on Nuland’s obscenity, (“Fuck the EU”) it’s the other parts of the conversation that grabbed our attention. Here’s a brief summary by the WSWS’s Bill Van Auken:
“The call (exposes) the criminal and imperialist character of US policy in Ukraine …What the tape makes clear, is that Washington is employing methods of international gangsterism, including violence, to effect a political coup aimed at installing a regime that is fully subordinate to US geo-strategic interests…
The precise goal of US efforts is to shift political power into the hands of a collection of Western-aligned Ukrainian oligarchs who enriched themselves off of the private appropriation—theft—of state property carried out as part of the Stalinist bureaucracy’s dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. In doing so, it aims to turn Ukraine into a US imperialist beachhead on the very border of Russia, whose territory it also wants to divide and subjugate to neocolonial status as part of its drive to assert American hegemony throughout the strategic landmass of Eurasia…
Nuland makes clear that behind the scenes, Washington is dictating which leaders of the opposition…should enter the government to swing it behind Washington and what role the others will play…”(“Leaked phone call on Ukraine lays bare Washington’s gangsterism“, Bill Van Auken, World socialist Web Site)
Same old, same old. Like we said earlier, there’s nothing new here, nothing at all. All the blabber about “democracy” is just public relations crappola. It means nothing. US elites want to trim Moscow’s wings, set up shop in Eurasia, control China’s growth, be a bigger player in the continent’s oil and natural gas markets, export its financial services model, and make as much money as possible in the 21st century’s hottest market, Asia. It’s all about profits. Profits and power.
But then, you probably knew that already.
Mike Whitney lives in Washington state. He is a contributor to Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion (AK Press). Hopeless is also available in a Kindle edition. He can be reached at fergiewhitney@msn.com.
February 14th, 2014 at 12:09 pm
The “Caught Red Handed” article highlights why foreign NGOs of any ilk … humanitarian, democracy building, religious ….. ad infinitum, ad nauseam … funded and controlled directly or indirectly by foreign powers, should be prevented from interfering in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.
Funding for promoting “good government and democracy” from the US should be REFUSED by the GOSL, and all foreign funds given to civil society organizations and political parties should be channeled through the GOSL after review for compliance with Sri Lanka’s laws and National Security imperatives.
No doors should be left open for the Western NeoColonialists to undermine and destabilize the country in their own interest under various self-serving pretexts.
Sri Lanka’s National Interest in ensuring the welfare of its own people, should be the PARAMOUNT, and indeed, the ONLY consideration.