0 Remote-controlled bomb hits police convoy in Peshawar, northwest Pakistan

Rescuers push a destroyed vehicle at the site of a blast in Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan, on May 12, 2012. At least two people including one policeman was killed and 16 others injured when a remote- controlled bomb hit a police convoy in Pakistan's northwest city of Peshawar on Saturday morning, said police and hospital sources. (Xinhua/Ahmad Sidique)

At least four people were killed and 12 others injured when a remote-controlled bomb hit a police vehicle in Pakistan's northwest city of Peshawar on Saturday morning, reported local Urdu TV channel Express.

According to local media reports, the blast took place at about 9:00 a.m. local time when a remote-controlled bomb hit a police vehicle passing by on the G.T. road in the Gulbahar area of Peshawar, the largest city in northwest Pakistan.

At least one policeman was killed and several women were injured in the blast, said local media, adding that the blast also destroyed five vehicles.

All the injured have been rushed to Lady Reading Hospital in the city, where at least four critically injured people died later.

Security forces have cordoned off the area following the blast and a search operation is underway.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Source:http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-05/12/c_131583672.htm

0 The Gulf is Not OK: What the Media Doesn't Want You to Know

More than two years after the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history, no one - absolutely NO ONE (in the mainstream media, that is) will report on the actual conditions in the areas where oil is still washing up. 

Reupload with updates -http://www.youtube.com/user/cv1122
 original video @
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGBXZyNBUyg

Photos courtesy of Renee Hulett

Videos by Denise Rednour:
April 19 2012 Heal the World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ViUAn3oK4


Sad Saturday Indeed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU11WmT4e9k

Related articles:
Oil from Deepwater Horizon spill still causing damage in gulf 2 years later, scientists find
http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/article1225134.ece

Mayor: Tarballs Still Hitting Ala., Cleanup Needed
http://www2.wkrg.com/special_section/2011/apr/13/mayor-tarballs-still-hitting...
A Year After Gulf Tragedy, Offshore Oil Companies Still Shielded by 
Liability Limits
http://www.propublica.org/blog/item/a-year-after-gulf-tragedy-offshore-oil-co...

BP oil spill fund administrator defends his work
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/19/nation/la-na-gulf-spill-claims-20110419

Federal practices hamper study of Gulf dolphin deaths
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/16/us-dolphin-strandings-idUSTRE73F2XW...

0 The US Is Now Worried That Israel Could Attack Iran At Any Moment

A surprise deal by Israel's house of representatives Monday night has apparently left the U.S. far more concerned about an attack on Iran, by the new government, than it has let on.

Ron Friedman at The Times Of Israel reports that a local TV news station led the story that Washington officials are holding "marathon talks" over concern that Israel will strike Iran before America's November elections.

From The Times:

Undisclosed Washington sources told Channel 10 that they worry Kadima was offered a place in the coalition to shore up support for a preemptive attack aimed at halting the Islamic Republic’s nuclear drive, and that Kadima chairman Shaul Mofaz would approve of such an attack.

The report added that the US officials believe early Israeli elections would have kept the F-15s at bay, but are now genuinely concerned that with political backing, there is little to stop Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from ordering the attack.

Basically the U.S. thought that with Israeli elections not happening until September they were safe, but now, all bets are off.

Elad Berari at Arutz Sheva also points out that Israeli's Defense Minister recently warned "that as long as Iran poses a threat to Israel with its nuclear program, all options are on the table."

“I believe it is well understood in Washington, D.C., as well as in Jerusalem that as long as there is an existential threat to our people, all options to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons should remain on the table,” Barak said.

“I have enough experience to know that a military option is not a simple one,” Barak added. “It would be complicated with certain associated risks. But a radical Islamic Republic of Iran with nuclear weapons would be far more dangerous both for the region and, indeed, the world.”

Berari concludes his report by reminding readers that President Obama is already softening his position on Iran's uranium enrichment.

The paper says Obama willingness to allow Iran uranium enrichment concentration of five percent, directly opposes Netanyahu's policy.

In April the Israeli leader told CNN in April "They have to stop all enrichment," even just three percent uranium.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-thinks-israel-could-attack-iran-at-any-moment-2012-5#ixzz1uZennjwC

0 Navy Moving Ahead With Effort to Put Lasers on Ships

After decades and decades of research and experimenting, the time has finally come to add deadly lasers to U.S. Navy ships’ arsenals, the sea service has decided.

That’s right, the Office of Naval Research is moving forward with a plan to arm ships with solid state lasers capable of taking out small enemy vessels that could be used in swarming attacks or suicide bombing mission against American warships.

“We believe it’s time to move forward with solid-state lasers and shift the focus from limited demonstrations to weapon prototype development and related technology advancement,” said Peter Morrison, program officer of the Solid-State Laser Technology Maturation program in a May 8 press release announcing the effort.

ONR wants to capitalize on the work it’s done with BAE Systems to marry lasers to the Mk 38 chain guns that are already used to defend ships. The latest versions of that weapon system can be remotely controlled and tied to a number of video and infrared sensors. As we’ve said before, combining all that with lasers will make the naval versions of the Mk 38 all the more deadly to anyone who gets the wrong idea while piloting a small boat near an American warship.

Want to sell your laser to the Navy? You’re in luck, ONR is hosting an industry day on May 16 “to provide the research and development community with information about the program,” reads the service’s announcement.  Potential laser-dealers can expect a request for proposals soon after that, according the announcement.

Click through the jump for video of one of ONR’s experimental lasers frying the engines of a small boat.

Source:

http://defensetech.org/2012/05/10/navy-moving-ahead-with-effort-to-put-lasers-on-ships/

0 Over 15 nations to join US-led military drill near Syria border

12000 soldiers from 17 countries carry out a US-led joint military exercise in Jordan amid the ongoing the crisis in Syria. ‘It has nothing to do with Syria. [The timing] is just a coincidence,’ a top US official says

Wounded Syrian soldiers are taken to hospital after a bomb attack which targets their convoy as they escort UN peace observers, including the Norwegian general. AP photo

The United States military said yesterday that 12,000 soldiers from 17 countries would be taking part in this month’s military exercises in Jordan, designed to enhance their ability to meet “security challenges.”

Special action troops, naval and air force units from countries including Turkey, France and Saudi Arabia will carry out the joint training operations, according to the Voice of Russia. “The tactical execution of the Eager Lion 2012 exercises will officially start on May 15,” Major Robert Bockholt, public affairs officer at Special Operations Command Central, told Agence France-Presse. 

“Eager Lion is an annual, multi-national exercise designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships through a joint, entire-government, multinational approach, integrating all instruments of national power to meet current and future complex national security challenges. … We acknowledge the right of each participating country to announce their participation in the exercise on their own terms,” Bockholt said. In April, the U.S. Department of Defense said the exercise would be held from May 7 to May 28. Bockholt said participants had been gathering in Jordan from May 7, to prepare for the land, sea and air exercises, which will be held in “various training locations.” “In all, there are more than 12,000 service members participating in the exercise,” he said.

Iran, Syria links denied

Some local media reports have speculated that the war games are linked to the unrest in neighboring Syria, saying the troops were seeking to secure Jordan’s border. “The execution of Eager Lion 2012 is not connected to any real-world event. It has nothing to do with Syria. It is just a coincidence,” 

Bockholt said. The Saudi Defense Ministry also insists that the joint large-scale military maneuvers of the U.S.-Arab allies are in no way linked to the situation in Syria or Iran.

The war games come as Jordan’s Special Operations Forces Exhibition is under way, displaying new technologies by defense manufacturers around the world. 

Jordan is a major beneficiary of U.S. military and economic aid, with Washington granting Amman $2.4 billion in the past five years, according to official figures.


Source:http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/over-15-nations-to-join-us