[AnNahar] Peruvian police on Wednesday seized a record six tons of cocaine from a Mexican drugs cartel operating in the country, in what authorities hailed as a major blow to organized crime.
The stack of cocaine was found hidden in a shipment of coal in the Peruvian city of Trujillo and was to have been moved on to Spain and Belgium.
"We have counted up 85 percent of it and so far we have a bit more than six tons," said General Vicente Romero, who leads Peru's fight against illegal drugs.
Two Mexicans and seven Peruvians have been locked away Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un! so far in the six-week operation, the Interior Ministry said, adding the drugs belonged to a Mexican cartel, but did not say which one.
It was a record seizure of cocaine in Peru, officials said.
Mexican cartels also often move drugs to their home country and then on into the lucrative U.S. market.
Peru and Colombia are now the world's top cocaine producers, UN data show.
[Business Insider] Russian President Vladamir Putin referred to territories in east Ukraine as "Novorussia," or "New Russia," and asserted Russia's ties to the area in a televised question-and-answer session on Thursday. Should be little doubt regarding his intentions. Perhaps someday Obama will have a strategy for the Ukraine...
Pro Russian militia forces have claimed victory at Saur-Moguila, which is considered an important area due to its topography, according to the pro Russian militia news website Voice of Sevastopol.
Located close to the Lugansk-Donetsk border, the occupier of the region can observe troops movements for several kilometers. Until Thursday Ukrainian forces controlled the region, but the militias now claim to have taken the objective.
Saur-Moguila is but one of several locations in the area between Lugansk and Donetsk where fighting between Ukrainian troops and militias has been its most intense. Several areas have been the focal point including Ilovaisk, to the west and near Krasnii Luch. Both of those localities, according to pro Russian militias have already been counted as victories.
In and around Lugansk, pro Russian militia now admit that their control of the region is less than total.
A former prime minister of Donbass, Paul Gubarev said Thursday that the ranks of the pro Russian militia have grown by four fold, and that the average age of volunteers is dropping. Currently the average age is around 40.
The massive increase in the number of recruits explains in part an earlier announcement about how pro Russian militia would begin brigading their forces into large formations, complete with fire support means such as artillery.
Concerning the situation and the new militia front on the Sea of Avov near Novoazovsk, it seems clear now that Russian regular forces did stumble into Ukraine, were fired on, returned fire and were captured. The latest news from western media, and from the United State State department is that Russian self propelled artillery have been spotted by satellite deployed and presumably firing while on Ukrainian soil.
Commenters at Colonel Cassaad blog think the artillery is deployed with some of the vehicles on Ukrainian soil, some on Russian.
The Ukrainian ATO Press Center said that Russian troops have been caught deep inside of Ukraina, helping pro Russian militiamilitia. So far, however, only one soldier, a 19 year old, has been detained. The prisoner admitted being part of the Russian Army in the 9th brigade, which is probably an air assault unit.
The situation around Mariupol, which militia say will fall to them in weeks, is that Ukrainian forces have been deployed to the area, but those forces are considered to be in poor morale. If true, this probably means Mariupol was a hub for resting and refitting Ukrainian military burned out in the fighting in the east.
Colonel Cassad said Thursday that as many as 3,000 Ukrainian effectives are in and around Mariupol, which amounts to a reinforced brigade.
The ATO Press Center said a Ukrainian naval vessel shot down a Russian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) near Mariupol.
Chris Covert writes news for Rantburg.com
[USATODAY] The U.S. told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council Thursday that Russia has "outright lied" over its military activity inside Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting the Ukrainian armed forces.
"Russian soldiers, tanks and air defense have supported and fight alongside separatists as they open a new front in a crisis manufactured and fueled by Russia," Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. told the council.
She noted that it was not the first time that Russia has been called to account by the council for its activities inside Ukraine.
"At every step, Russia has become before this council to say everything but the truth," Power said. "It has manipulated, obfuscated and outright lied."
The Security Council convened the emergency meeting only hours after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko declared that "Russian forces have entered Ukraine" in support of separatist rebels.
The meeting, called by Lithuania, also followed charges Thursday by NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis.... officials of a significant increase of Russian military activity -- including evidence of combat soldiers -- in eastern Ukraine. Russia has strongly denied No, no! Certainly not! such allegations.
"Russia has to stop lying and has to stop fueling this conflict," the U.S. ambassador said. "The mask is coming off. In these recent acts, we see Russia's actions for what they are -- a deliberate effort to support and now fight alongside illegal separatists in another sovereign country."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/29/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
My problem with US protestations of direct Russian involvement is that Russia has yet to mobilize its military. We would have seen indications of full scale mobilization a month or two before any invasion.
I'm begging to understand why 60es radicals (whose ideas now rule) sincerely believed that their government lies and exaggerates threats to justify aggression---that's what they'd do in its place.
#6
The guard dogs bark at night, growl at people, and poop all over the place. So the youngin's ignore the warnings of their elders and lock the dogs up. Now that which the dogs kept at bay are starting to make their appearance. This is the real world, not the fantasy world of academia. The dogs weren't the problem in the world. They were just a messy consequence of dealing with the world and its real history.
#8
I'm begging to understand why 60es radicals (whose ideas now rule) sincerely believed that their government lies and exaggerates threats to justify aggression---that's what they'd do in its place.
You sound as though you believe that Lyndon Johnson was an honorable man. I disagree. He was cut from the same dishonest cloth as Baraq Hussein.
#10
You sound as though you believe that Lyndon Johnson was an honorable man. I disagree. He was cut from the same dishonest cloth as Baraq Hussein. Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305
The similarities are absolutely undeniable, even the reach-back to paternal alcoholism and family dysfunction.
#12
Is anyone suprised? The Russian-backed Milita's seemed to have been members of the Red Army on loan. Nobody did anything (nobody could) and now everyone is distracted. Putin figues why bother with the tailers when he can just send folks in directly.
#14
My problem with US protestations of direct Russian involvement is that Russia has yet to mobilize its military. We would have seen indications of full scale mobilization a month or two before any invasion.
The Russians are directly involved in a limited war effort, just as we are directly involved in Iraq via USAF and USN air attacks. It's just not total war and nowhere near the scale of the Afghan-Soviet War, mainly because the Ukrainians haven't really put up much of a fight.
A senior North Korean banking official who managed money for leader Kim Jong Un has defected in Russia and was seeking asylum in a third country, a South Korean newspaper reported on Friday, citing an unidentified source.
Yun Tae Hyong, a senior representative of North Korea's Korea Daesong Bank, disappeared last week in Nakhodka, in the Russian Far East, with $5 million, the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported.
The Daesong Bank is suspected by the U.S. government of being under the control of the North Korean government's Office 39, which is widely believed to finance illicit activities, including the procurement of luxury goods which are banned under U.N. sanctions.
The bank was blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2010.
The newspaper said North Korea had asked Russian authorities for cooperation in efforts to capture Yun.
It was not clear how Yun traveled to Russia or what he was doing before he defected. Russia and North Korea share a 17-km (10.5 miles) land border.
South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean relations, told Reuters it had no knowledge of the matter.
Kim Jong Un, in his early 30s, came to power in December 2011 when his father, Kim Jong Il, died of a heart attack, leaving him little time to consolidate his powerbase and prepare for succession.
Experts are divided as to whether Kim has managed to exert full control over a country in which he sits at the center of a leadership cult devoted to his father and grandfather.
Kim's uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was also involved in the operation of Office 39, was purged in December last year, along with an unknown number of officials connected to him and his business interests.
If Yun had indeed defected, he would not necessarily have extensive information on the regime given the compartmentalized way that North Korea functions, said Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea leadership expert at Dongguk University in Seoul.
"(Officials) are only able to know about their work and commitments. It is hard to know something big beyond that in North Korea," he said.
Korea Daesong Bank is focused on foreign exchange transactions and was set up in 1978 to handle payments by North Korean trading firms, according to the South Korean Unification Ministry's website.
In 2005, $25 million of North Korea's cash was frozen at Macau-based Banco Delta Asia, which the U.S. Treasury said North Korea used for illicit activities.
That case stands as practically the only public success in seizing funds from the isolated country.
#1
"If Yun had indeed defected, he would not necessarily have extensive information on the regime given the compartmentalized way that North Korea functions..."
With $5 Million, why would he care???? he can buy all the bark and grass for soup he wants.
Looks like Pudgy finally found something that hurts.
Korea said Friday it won't send cheerleaders to the upcoming Asian Games in rival South Korea, blaming what it called Seoul's hostility for reversing a decision to dispatch the women dubbed by South Korean media as a "squad of beauties."
Many South Koreans and red-blooded citizens of other countries were infatuated in past years with the cheer squads of mostly young North Korean women that came south, often lavishing more attention on them than on the North's athletes. Before her marriage, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's wife was on a 2005 squad. Analysts say the North's decision suggests that the country may not continue an earlier push to improve ties with South Korea.
The North had said it wanted to send both athletes and cheer squads as part of a broader set of proposals to help ease tension. But talks between the rivals last month on the North's participation broke down because of disputes over the size of the North's delegations, the cost of stay for the cheerleaders and the size of North Korea's flags.
South Korea has rebuffed the North's other proposals, which included stopping hostile rhetoric on both sides and Seoul scrapping military drills with Washington. Seoul says Pyongyang must first take steps toward nuclear disarmament.
Son Kwang Ho, vice chairman of the North's Olympic Committee, was quoted in state media saying that his country will send 150 players, coaches, referees and other people to take part in 14 events in the games set for Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 �-- but no cheerleaders. Screw it. Ban the Nork athletes and only allow the cheerleaders.
North Korean media dispatches criticized South Korean delegates during last month's talks, saying they opposed the use of North Korean national flags that are too big and raised the issue of how much South Korea should finance the stays of North Korean cheerleaders ?!?!.
Probably means paying for hotel, food, and incidentals as a lump sum, most of which then was pocketed by the regime rather than spent in the girls.
South Korean officials have said they tried only to find out details about the North Korean delegation and raised worries that big flags could cause safety issues for North Korean cheerleaders.
South Korea expressed regret over the North's announcement, saying it was Pyongyang that disrupted last month's talks by taking issue with Seoul's questions on details about the North's participation. South Korea said it still hopes that both North Korean athletes and cheerleaders will come.
North Korea boycotted the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Summer Olympics, both in Seoul, but attended the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, the 2003 University Games in Daegu and the 2005 Asian Athletics Championships in Incheon.
In all three events in 2002, 2003 and 2005, the North dispatched cheerleaders.
Among the 2005 squad was Ri Sol Ju, who is now Kim Jong Un's wife, according to South Korean officials.
The two Koreas are divided along the world's most heavily fortified border. The Korean Peninsula is still in a technical state of war because the Korean War ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.
#4
at only .223 or 5.56 Nato if you prefer, in situations where weight and mobility are not an issue, the .308 is my preferred caliber. I will yield that the smaller caliber is easier for the ladies.
"Reach out and touch someone"
"Nothin' says lovin' like something in the oven"
#6
I will yield that the smaller caliber is easier for the ladies.
I was given advice that if a household is to have a defense rifle, it should be a rifle the less physically able resident is able to use (accounting for children/elderly/handicapped/etc), with a quick adjustable stock so all frames can properly weild.
If a person believes that to be good advice, an AR15 - and practice - fits a lot of body frames.
I have an easier time picturing a 10 year as effective with an AR15 vs. a Biden Blaster.
And practice safe people. Showing off for the camera is an easy way to get people hurt or worse. Like a tablesaw, gun don't care if you had a good or bad day, love ice cream, stepped in dog doo, read a good book.
#7
Home defense that anyone can use? Shortest legal barrel with a fore grip and adjustable stock, in .410. Loaded #8, 00, Slug, 00, slug, 00, slug, slug. Pump. Point. Shoot. Repeat until it stops moving.
My personal pref is for my Glock 23c, has been by my bed for a couple decades, except when my arm was broken (had a 380 Auto then for the lower kick firing off handed).
Rifle is not for "home defense" except in a natural disaster or breakdown. Then its time to break out the AK47 (an old, well gunsmithed Mahdi from parts unknown), and my 7.62 (.308 Win) Model 70 hunting rifle.
Judge seems to be a popular pick as well, especially among those who work in the bush. Snakes mostly, but I hear surprising a bobcat, or badger, can ruin a day. Also, feral hogs seem to be expanding.
Should probably have included Advice Guy's perspective, rural dude, coyotes vs. farm animals type stuff.
Quick story, different dude. Rural house, gets a knock on the door late at night. Wife answers the door, guy's car is broken down. Closes door to make a phone call, looks down the hall and husband is in skivvys with rifle. I saw husband make a 50 yard rifle shot vs. coyote from moving vecicle at 7 oclock (12 being straight forward) moving opposite direction of vehicle at trot.
Head shot.
One of the most ridiculous things I have seen. One second we were BSn, he glanced out the window, and what seemed like 2 seconds later he had fired.
The Department of Justice sent out a memo to local schools in the U.S. a few weeks back. That memo ordered schools to take in illegal aliens without verifying anything about them -- not their legal status, not their residential addresses, anything.
Since when does the DoJ 'order' local school boards around? I don't recall that authority being granted to them...
U.S. citizens cannot get away with that. When citizens move into a new school district and enroll their kids at school, they usually have to provide some form of proof of address, to ensure that their children are in the right school in the correct district. Much school money depends on enrollment and attendance.
But with illegal aliens, it's a different story.
CNS reports that that different story is having a bizarre outcome.
The mayor of Lynn, Mass. says that some of the illegal aliens from Guatemala who are enrolled in her city's public schools are adults with graying hair and "more wrinkles than I have."
"They are not all children," Judith Flanagan Kennedy told reporters at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
"One of the things that we did notice when we were processing some of these students coming in was that they were adults," she said.
One of these "kids" turned out to be 35 years old.
Kennedy said that the majority of those from Guatemala who are enrolling in the Lynn Public Schools claim to be between 14 and 17 years of age.
"But there were people with graying temples, hair around the temples," said Kennedy, adding that although she did not see these individuals in person, she saw photographs of them in registration paperwork. "There were people with more wrinkles than I have around their eyes."
However, the school district was directed by the federal government not to verify the age of the foreign enrollees, Kennedy said.
Enrolling adults as "kids" in public schools full of actual kids. No, surely, nothing can go wrong from this.
#2
Most notably not required: IMMUNIZATION RECORDS. Even if Ebola isn't coming over the border (yet), multi-drug resistant tuberculosis certainly is. If this report is true, it will only bring needless tragedy, and a blizzard of lawsuits.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
A senior North Korean banking official who managed money for leader Kim Jong Un has defected in Russia and was seeking asylum in a third country, a South Korean newspaper reported on Friday, citing an unidentified source.
The Department of Justice sent out a memo to local schools in the U.S. a few weeks back. That memo ordered schools to take in illegal aliens without verifying anything about them -- not their legal status, not their residential addresses, anything.
