 |
Syria today
AFP photo at Al Jazeera |
“This isn’t about sides, this is
about confusion. This is about creating enemies where there aren’t any. …
Compiled and edited
By Carolyn Bennett
“… How are we going to keep the
military industrial complex chugging forward without clear-cut … pit-faced
scum-sucking evil breathing down out neck — threatening our very shores?
“My job is to make sure the other
side keeps on fighting, whatever side … whatever side we’re officially not on
this year.” [film White Sands"]
SELLING WEAPONS
 |
| U.S. in Asia |
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute early
this year reported, “The volume of worldwide arms transfers in 2007–2011 was 24
percent higher than in 2002–2006 and the five largest arms importers in
2007–2011 were all Asian states.”
Reported on February 27, 2012, “Sales of arms and military
services by the largest arms-producing companies continued to increase in 2010
to reach $411.1 billion. The global arms industry continues to be highly
concentrated, with the top 10 arms-producing companies accounting for 56
percent ($230 billion) of total Top 100 arms sales.
“Arms-producing and
military services companies from North America and Western Europe once again
dominated the list (data excludes China-based companies).
Sales by the 44 U.S.-based companies
accounted for over 60 per cent of all arms sales by the Top 100 arms-producing
companies in 2010. The 30 companies
based in Western Europe accounted for a further 29 per cent.
SIPRI's Top 10 [excerpted from SIPRI’s top 100] arms-producing and
military services companies, 2010
Company names and structures are listed as they were on December
31, 2010. For subsidiaries and operational companies owned by a holding or
investment company, the name of the parent company is given in parentheses
along with its country, where it differs. Figures for arms sales, total sales and total profit are in
millions of U.S. dollars.
Rank
|
Company
|
Country
|
Sectors
|
Arms sales
(US$ m.)
|
Total sales,
2010
(US$ m.)
|
Arms sales
as share of
total sales,
2010 (%)
|
Total
profit,
2010
(US$ m.)
|
Total
employ-
ment, 2010
|
2010
|
2009
|
2010
|
2009
|
1
|
1
|
Lockheed Martin
|
 U.S.
|
Aircraft, Electronics, Missiles, Space
|
35 730
|
33 430
|
45 803
|
78
|
2 926
|
132 000
|
2
|
2
|
BAE Systems
|
 UK
|
Aircraft, Artillery, Electronics, Missiles, Military
vehicles, Small arms/ammunition, Ships
|
32 880
|
32 540
|
34 609
|
95
|
1 671
|
98 200
|
3
|
3
|
Boeing
|
U.S.
|
Aircraft, Electronics, Missiles, Space
|
31 360
|
32 300
|
64 306
|
49
|
3 307
|
160 500
|
4
|
4
|
Northrop Grumman
|
U.S.
|
Aircraft, Electronics, Missiles, Ships, Space
|
28 150
|
27 000
|
34 757
|
81
|
2 053
|
117 100
|
5
|
5
|
General Dynamics
|
U.S.
|
Artillery, Electronics, Military vehicles, Small
arms/ammunition, Ships
|
23 940
|
23 380
|
32 466
|
74
|
2 624
|
90 000
|
6
|
6
|
Raytheon
|
U.S.
|
Electronics, Missiles
|
22 980
|
23 080
|
25 183
|
91
|
1 879
|
72 400
|
S
|
S
|
BAE Systems Inc. (BAE Systems, UK)
|
U.S.
|
Artillery, Electronics, Military vehicles, Small
arms/ammunition
|
17 900
|
19 280
|
17 903
|
100
|
1 966
|
46 900
|
7
|
7
|
EADS
|
 Netherlands
|
Aircraft, Electronics, Missiles, Space
|
16 360
|
15 930
|
60 599
|
27
|
732
|
121 690
|
8
|
8
|
Finmeccanica
|
 Italy
|
Aircraft, Artillery, Electronics, Missiles, Military vehicles,
Small arms/ammunition
|
14 410
|
13 280
|
24 762
|
58
|
738
|
75 200
|
9
|
9
|
L-3 Communications
|
U.S.
|
Electronics, Services
|
13 070
|
13 010
|
15 680
|
83
|
955
|
63 000
|
10
|
10
|
United Technologies
|
U.S.
|
Aircraft, Electronics, Engines
|
11 410
|
11 110
|
54 326
|
21
|
4 711
|
208 220
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
http://www.sipri.org/research/armaments/production/Top100
 |
| Flag of Iran |
Apropos April 28’s insight news entry (an update)
 |
Iran, Arabia, Persian Gulf
Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan
Critical waterways north/south
Gateways
North to Russia
Northeast to China |
Tehran— April 29, 2012 (Press TV report) — Senior Iranian military commander, Deputy
Head of the Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff Brigadier General Masoud
Jazayeri, says the United States and its allies’ “causing a broad array of
conspiracies … seek to promote division
and discord between Iran and its neighboring states.” The Iranian commander suggested
that —
… Arab rulers who make baseless claims
about the ownership of the three Iranian islands are playing into the hands of
the U.S. and other hegemonic powers. Experience has shown [he said] that such scenarios
written by arrogant powers, have failed to accomplish their objectives [“U.S. interests lie in creating tension in
Persian Gulf region: Cmdr,” Sunday April 29, 2012, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/238747.html]
KILLLING, CREATING CHAOS, CONFLICT (now under foreign invasion:
Syria)
 |
| Flag of Syria |
U.S.-allied Turkey
April 28, 2012
Syrian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jihad Makdisi says —
‘It is disturbing that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to bring in NATO to protect its borders with Syria.
‘This
demonstrates a lack of a genuine commitment to the terms of the (Kofi) Annan
plan and policies of good neighborliness.…’
 |
U.S. in Middle East, Asia, Africa
Turkey sits in Europe and Asia |
“On April 12, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said Turkey has ‘several options’ in response to possible spillover effects of
the conflict in Syria over the Syrian-Turkish border.
‘First of all, there is an option of
invoking Article 5 of the NATO treaty,’ Erdogan said, referring to a NATO
clause which stipulates that an attack against a NATO member state is
considered an attack against all members.
On April 26, the Turkish foreign minister also said that
Ankara is considering ‘all possibilities in order to protect national security’
regarding the situation in Syria.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry representative continued the
reaction saying “Turkey seeks to aggravate the situation in Syria and damage
bilateral ties between Damascus and Ankara by making ‘provocative statements’
[and supporting] armed groups that ‘do not believe in [Syria’s] political
process….’”
The UN Security Council in mid April approved Resolution
2042 sending 300 UN observers to Syria. These observers have arrived in
Damascus.
U.S. anti-Syrian government
April 25, 2012
 |
| U.S. assassination drone |
An American analyst says the United States has brought death
squads into Syria to work as armed gangs and target population groups before
Washington attacks the country, Press TV reports.
The U.S. author and historian Webster Griffin Tarpley told
Press TV that the “‘main force of what’s causing the trouble in Syria is these
death squads’ — recruited from many
parts of the world.” It is a pattern, Tarpley explained, that was used in
Iraq: “Washington sent death squads to
Iraq in 2006 and 2007 and caused a civil war in order to maintain its presence
in the country.
‘Syria was regarded as a unit with
Iraq; they were setting the basis at that time [and] merely needed to develop
it further.’ … The current situation in Syria shows that NATO powers are
seeking an ‘armed intervention’ in the country, attempting ‘to create a civil
war from the outside.’”
Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011 and
many people, including members of the security forces, have been killed in the
turmoil. The West and the Syrian opposition accuse the government of killing
protesters. Damascus, blames ‘outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups’
for the unrest, asserting that it is being orchestrated from abroad.
U.S.-allied Qatar
April 24, 2012,
“Qatar-backed armed gangs have resorted to increased
violence in Syria despite the peace agreement,” Syrian Ambassador to Tehran
Hamed Hassan told Press TV.
The ambassador said in Tuesday’s press conference,
When the United Nations adopted this
new peace deal brought about by Syrian Envoy Kofi Annan, the Qatari sheikh was
against this strategy of ending violence and stopping the foreign-backed armed
gangs and terrorists in our country.
Despite the UN-backed truce, part of a six-point peace plan
proposed in March by Kofi Annan, armed groups have been carrying out attacks.
Ambassador Hassan said “we’re looking forward to this new peace deal to
bring calm and an end to the violence in the country” and added that “strong
unity between Iran and Syria will have a positive influence on regional
countries.”
US.-allied Saudi
Arabia and Qatar
April 28
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud reportedly has
discussed with Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani “support for
armed terrorist gangs operating in Syria.”
The Saudi Kingdom “has launched a worldwide campaign against
the government of President Bashar al-Assad, especially by exercising pressure
on Damascus through the Arab League. Qatar has called for supplying anti-Assad
groups with arms and financial support. Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad
bin Jassim Al Thani in late February called for the creation of an Arab force
to ‘open humanitarian corridors to provide security to the Syrian people.’
“Armed groups in Syria, which are supported by Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, Turkey and some Western countries,” reportedly disagree with the peace
plan proposed by Envoy Kofi Annan and “continue violence against Syrian
security forces and civilians.”
U.S.-allied Israel
Occupying, threatening Lebanon
April 28, 2012
On a daily basis, “Israel violates Lebanon’s airspace.”
In violation of a UN Security Council resolution, “Israeli
unmanned aerial vehicles crossed into Lebanon’s airspace over the southern
border village of Rmeish and carried out surveillance flights over several
areas in southern Lebanon including the Bekaa valley on Thursday evening. Earlier that day, an Israeli drone violated
the Lebanese airspace over Alma al-Shaab town and conducted several sorties
over various sectors of Lebanon. The Lebanese military reported to the press
on Friday.
Lebanon’s government, the Hezbollah resistance movement and
the UN Interim Force in Lebanon known as UNIFIL have repeatedly condemned these
violations, which are in breach of UN Resolution 1701 and Lebanon’s
sovereignty. In 2009, Lebanon filed a complaint with the United Nations
presenting over 7,000 documents pertaining to Israeli violation of the Lebanese
territory. UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in
the war Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect
Beirut’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
 |
| Flag of Lebanon |
Syria-allied Lebanon
April 28, 2012
“Lebanon stops ship with Syria-bound weapons”
Al Jazeera reports today that the Lebanese navy reportedly
“intercepted a ship loaded with three containers of weapons destined for Syrian
opposition forces.
The cargo vessel had originated in Libya and contained
heavy machine guns, artillery shells, rockets, rocket launchers and other
explosives. Eleven crew members were being questioned by Lebanese military
police. Military prosecutor Saqr Saqr said an investigation was under way.
Another security official said Sierra Leone-flagged
Lutfallah II “was bound for members of the Free Syrian Army, an umbrella group
of fighters trying to overthrow the government of Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad. Also on Saturday, Syrian state media reported gunmen in inflatable
boats attacked a military unit on Syria’s Mediterranean coast.
Russia allied against
U.S.-allied forces in Syria
April 28, 2012
“‘All domestic and outside players need to prevent any
support’ from reaching the armed gangs, the Russian Federation Foreign Ministry
said in a statement on Saturday.
Russia’s statement followed yesterday’s bomb explosion near
a mosque and school in the central Damascus neighborhood of al-Midan that left
11 people dead and dozens injured.
“‘We are convinced,” the Russian representative is reported
saying, “‘that the terrorists operating in Syria need a decisive rebuff.’”
“Officially I don’t exist, I can’t.
My profit’s my reward— for selfless service to god and country.”
Sources and notes
Transcription from ending scenes of “White Sands” film, a
speech by Gorman Lennox (Mickey Rourke)
“White Sands” [not
what it seems] is a 1992 Roger Donaldson-directed film starring Willem Dafoe as
New Mexico Deputy Sheriff Ray Dolezal; Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as
well-heeled finder of money for any “causes” for her kickback on front or back
end, whichever is more profitable; and Mickey Rourke as “I’m C [BLINKING] I A…”
arms trafficker mayhem-maker, murdered for profit
White Sands at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105813/; and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Sands_(film)
“Turkey aggravating situation: Syria Foreign Ministry,”
April 28, 2012, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/238564.html
“‘U.S. sent death squads into Syria,’” April 25, 2012,
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/238083.html
“‘Armed gangs increase attacks in Syria,’” April 24, 2012, http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/237928.html
“‘U.S. sent death squads into Syria,’” April 25, 2012,
http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/2
Also: “Bomb goes off near Iran office in Syria,” April 24,
2012, http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/237826.html
“KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia], Qatar supporting terrorism
in Syria,” April 28, 2012, http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/238530.html
“Israeli drones violate Lebanese airspace,” April 28, 2012, http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/238457.html
“Lebanon stops ship with Syria-bound weapons — Vessel
originally from Libya, loaded with arms reportedly destined for Syrian
opposition, is stopped by Lebanese navy,” April 28, 2012,
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/04/201242813737244536.html
“Russia backs rebuff to terrorists in Syria,” April 28,
2012,
http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/238540.html
Also
“Romanian govt. falls over EU debt crisis — The 78-day-old
Romanian government has collapsed after it lost a no-confidence vote over its
adoption of stinging austerity measures” April 28, 2012,
“Romania ‘to host U.S. missile shield’ — Bucharest defense
body approves plan to deploy interceptor missiles on its territory… The U.S.
military facilities, which would become operational by 2015, still require
parliamentary approval before they can go ahead,” February 5, 2012, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2010/02/201024173236190795.html
2009
“Putin warns U.S. over missile defense — Russian PM says
Moscow must develop new offensive weapons to counter U.S. plans … The
U.S. dropped plans for missile defense bases in the Czech Republic and Poland
earlier this year but said it would develop other defensive systems, December
30, 2009, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2009/12/20091229134142350297.html
INTERNATIONAL ARMS TRANSFERS Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute reports
Asia and Oceania accounted for 44 per
cent of global arms imports, followed by Europe (19 percent), the Middle East
(17 percent), the Americas (11 percent) and Africa (9 percent).
India was the world’s largest recipient
of arms (10 percent of global arms imports). The four next largest recipients
of arms in 2007–2011 were South Korea (6 percent of arms transfers), Pakistan
(5 percent), China (5 percent) and Singapore (4 percent).
Established in 1966, the Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI) is an independent international institute dedicated
to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. SIPRI
provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to
policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public. SIPRI is based in
Stockholm and has offices in Beijing and Washington, D.C.
WEAPONS SALES
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute early
this year reported, “The volume of worldwide arms transfers in 2007–2011 was 24
percent higher than in 2002–2006 and the five largest arms importers in
2007–2011 were all Asian states.”
Reported on February 27, 2012, “Sales of arms and military
services by the largest arms-producing companies continued to increase in 2010
to reach $411.1 billion. The global arms industry continues to be highly
concentrated, with the top 10 arms-producing companies accounting for 56
percent ($230 billion) of total Top 100 arms sales.
“Arms-producing and
military services companies from North America and Western Europe once again
dominated the list (data excludes China-based companies).
Sales by the 44 U.S.-based companies
accounted for over 60 per cent of all arms sales by the Top 100 arms-producing
companies in 2010. The 30 companies
based in Western Europe accounted for a further 29 per cent.
http://www.sipri.org/media/pressreleases/rise-in-international-arms-transfers-is-driven-by-asian-demand-says-sipri
SIPRI
Top 10 [excerpted from SIPRI’s top 100] arms-producing and
military services companies, 2010
Company names and structures are listed as they were on December
31, 2010. For subsidiaries and operational companies owned by a holding or
investment company, the name of the parent company is given in parentheses
along with its country, where it differs.
Figures for arms sales, total sales and total profit are in
millions of U.S. dollars.
Rank
|
Company
|
Country
|
Sectors
|
Arms sales
(US$ m.)
|
Total sales,
2010
(US$ m.)
|
Arms sales
as share of
total sales,
2010 (%)
|
Total
profit,
2010
(US$ m.)
|
Total
employ-
ment, 2010
|
2010
|
2009
|
2010
|
2009
|
1
|
1
|
Lockheed Martin
|
|
Aircraft, Electronics, Missiles, Space
|
35 730
|
33 430
|
45 803
|
78
|
2 926
|
132 000
|
2
|
2
|
BAE Systems
|
|
Aircraft, Artillery, Electronics, Missiles, Military
vehicles, Small arms/ammunition, Ships
|
32 880
|
32 540
|
34 609
|
95
|
1 671
|
98 200
|
3
|
3
|
Boeing
|
|
Aircraft, Electronics, Missiles, Space
|
31 360
|
32 300
|
64 306
|
49
|
3 307
|
160 500
|
4
|
4
|
Northrop Grumman
|
|
Aircraft, Electronics, Missiles, Ships, Space
|
28 150
|
27 000
|
34 757
|
81
|
2 053
|
117 100
|
5
|
5
|
General Dynamics
|
|
Artillery, Electronics, Military vehicles, Small
arms/ammunition, Ships
|
23 940
|
23 380
|
32 466
|
74
|
2 624
|
90 000
|
6
|
6
|
Raytheon
|
|
Electronics, Missiles
|
22 980
|
23 080
|
25 183
|
91
|
1 879
|
72 400
|
S
|
S
|
BAE Systems Inc. (BAE Systems, UK)
|
|
Artillery, Electronics, Military vehicles, Small
arms/ammunition
|
17 900
|
19 280
|
17 903
|
100
|
1 966
|
46 900
|
7
|
7
|
EADS
|
|
Aircraft, Electronics, Missiles, Space
|
16 360
|
15 930
|
60 599
|
27
|
732
|
121 690
|
8
|
8
|
Finmeccanica
|
|
Aircraft, Artillery, Electronics, Missiles, Military vehicles,
Small arms/ammunition
|
14 410
|
13 280
|
24 762
|
58
|
738
|
75 200
|
9
|
9
|
L-3 Communications
|
|
Electronics, Services
|
13 070
|
13 010
|
15 680
|
83
|
955
|
63 000
|
10
|
10
|
United Technologies
|
|
Aircraft, Electronics, Engines
|
11 410
|
11 110
|
54 326
|
21
|
4 711
|
208 220
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
http://www.sipri.org/research/armaments/production/Top100
http://www.sipri.org/media/pressreleases/rise-in-international-arms-transfers-is-driven-by-asian-demand-says-sipri
Images
Syria, AFP image: Syrian state media said 16 people died in
the blast in a house used as a bomb factory by "armed terrorist
groups" [AFP], http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/04/20124275240299142.html
White Sands moviesoftheday.com
5158588-word-cloud-concept-illustration-of-cia-central-intelligence-agency
__________________________________
Bennett's books are available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY] • See also: World Pulse: Global Issues through the eyes of Women: http://www.worldpulse.com/ http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire
http://www.facebook.com/#!/bennetts2ndstudy
Dr. Alireza Marandi is an Iranian physician and Professor of
Pediatrics and Neonatology at Shahid Beheshti University. During the
premiership of Mir Hossein Mousavi and during the second-term presidency of Akbar
Hashemi Rafsanjani, Professor Marandi was a two-term Minister of Health
(and Medical Education). During his nine years in office, medical education was
integrated with health care delivery. 
“The sanctions are also making [food and medicine] essential
items increasingly more expensive and as a result these indispensable supplies
have become inaccessible to the most vulnerable of society including children,
mothers and the elderly as well as disease-specific and cancer patients. Many
patients have been forced to stop preparing and collecting essential medications
required for their treatment.
We are … witnessing more and more
cases of the gradual malnutrition and death of children and of patients with
specific diseases.
