GSK fined after over vaccine trials; 14 babies reported dead
By Javier Cardenal Taján
BuenosAiresHerald.com staff
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/88922/gsk-lab-fined-over-vaccine-tests-that-killed-14--babies
GlaxoSmithKline Argentina Laboratories Company was fined 400,000 pesos by Judge Marcelo Aguinsky following a report issued by the National Administration of Medicine, Food and Technology (ANMAT in Spanish) for irregularities during lab vaccine trials conducted between 2007 and 2008 that allegedly killed 14 babies.
Likewise, two doctors -Héctor Abate, and Miguel Tregnaghi- were fined with 300,000 pesos each for irregularities during the studies.
The charges included experimenting with human beings as well falsifying parental authorizations so babies could participate in vaccine-trials conducted by the laboratory from 2007 to 2008.
Since 2007, 15,000 children under the age of one from Mendoza, San Juan and Santiago del Estero have been included in the research protocol, a statement of what the study is trying to achieve. Babies were recruited from poor families that attended to public hospitals.
A total of seven babies died in Santiago del Estero; five in Mendoza; and two in San Juan.
Pediatrician Ana Marchese, who reported the case through the Argentine Federation of Health Professionals (FESPROSA in Spanish), and was working at the Eva Perón children's public hospital in Santiago del Estero when the studies wee being conducted, said this morning in conversations with Continental AM radio that "GSK Argentina set an protocol at the hospital, and recruited several doctors working there.”
"These doctors took advantage of many illiterate parents whom take their children for treatment by pressuring and forcing them into signing these 28-page consent forms and getting them involved in the trials.”
"Laboratories can't experiment in Europe or the United States, so they come to do it in third-world countries."
Colombian and Panama were also chosen by GSK as staging grounds for trials of the vaccine against the pneumococcal bacteria.
Likewise, Marchese, explained the modus operandi: "Once a picked patient arrived, it would automatically disappear to be taken somewhere else in order to be treated by those doctors specially recruited by GSK. These kind of practices are not legal and occurred without any type of state control, plus they don't comply with minimum ethical requirements.”
Marchese also remembered that "laboratory trials on human beings are not legalized in Argentina.”
Furthermore, the pediatrician explained that "it is also known that in various particular cases, the doctors who had conducted the trials did not answer the calls made by the worried parents after witnessing their babies' reactions to the vaccines.”
According to Marchese, "there already exist very good vaccines for the same diseases, but we all know how laboratories work, they only care for their own business.”
To end, Doctor Marchese aimed to Santiago del Estero Governor, Gerardo Zamora, who "never ever came out to stage to comment on the case, and same happened with national deputies and senators that didn't even bother into discussing a hot topic that was echoed worldwide. I'm also ashamed of the scientific community that also kept its mouth shut.”
Julieta Ovejero, great aunt of one of the six babies who died in Santiago del Estero, said that "A lot of people wanted to leave the protocol but they weren't allowed; they forced them to continue under the threat that if they leave they won't receive any other vaccine.”
During 2008, the vaccine trial was still ongoing despite the reports issued by FESPROSA, and those in charge of the study told reporters that the procedures were being carried out in a lawful manner.
On the contrary, the ruling states that the laboratory as well the involved doctors broke all legal requirements for conducting clinical tests on babies.
Surprisingly, during same year pediatrician Enrique Smith, one of the lead investigators told reporters: "Only 12 have died throughout the country, which is a very low figure if we compare it with the deaths produced by respiratory illnesses caused by the pneumococcal bacteria.”
In Santiago del Estero, one of the country's poorest provinces, the trials were authorized when Enrique's brother, Juan Carlos Smith, was provincial health minister.
According to Fesprosa, "the laboratory paid $8,000 pesos for each child included in the study, but none (of that money) remained in the province that lends the public facilities and the health personnel for the private research.”
Meanwhile, a press communiqué was released by the ANMAT indicating that the irregularities detected during the COMPASS vaccine trial programme were related to "failures in the process of obtaining informed consent for participation, hence violating patients' rights, and the inclusion of patients that did not fully meet the required clinical conditions to be submitted to the programme.”
Furthermore, the release states that "We [ANMAT] expressly remark that none of the deaths mentioned in the news stories were related to the vaccines given as part of the COMPASS programme, since all the involved patients had received blind placebo, which is a simile of the vaccine but without any active substance. The vaccine is safe.”
GlaxoSmithKline is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's third-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues after Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer.
Ironically, if one visits GlaxoSmithKline Argentina web site it welcomes the reader with a company disclosure that says: "We have a challenging and inspiring mission to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer."
According to www.GSK.com site, Glaxo was originally a baby food manufacturer processing local milk into a baby food by the same name, and founded in Bunnythorpe, New Zealand in 1904. The product was sold in the 1930s under the slogan "Glaxo builds bonny babies".
GlaxoSmithKline Argentina's massive 28,333 square-metre manufacturing plant is located in Northern Greater Buenos Aires town of San Fernand.
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/88922/gsk-lab-fined-over-vaccine-tests-that-killed-14--babies
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Broken Tv's And Birthdays.
A big thank you to everyone for my birthday wishes.
It was one of the relaxing ones ever.
I baby sat for my 5 grandchildren and no-one got hurt - yahoo.
Although a tv did get broken - tut.
But, like the only two kids in the room said, "it wasnt me".
It was one of the relaxing ones ever.
I baby sat for my 5 grandchildren and no-one got hurt - yahoo.
Although a tv did get broken - tut.
But, like the only two kids in the room said, "it wasnt me".
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Get On Your Bike.
David Cameron says it's time for people to stop complaining about benefit cuts and 'go out and get work' instead.
Yesterday saw a major blow to the Government's plans for benefit reform. The House of Lords added an amendment to exclude child benefits from the benefits cap, in order to protect vulnerable children in larger families.
Controversy
However, the government isn't having a bar of it. They plan to push the reforms through, and during the debate David Cameron made his disdain for benefit scroungers perfectly obvious.
The controversial plan is to cap the maximum benefits that any household can receive at £26,000 - which is what the average family brings home between them. This would more than likely mean many more compromises for people on benefits. Many will have to leave expensive areas and move into cheaper properties. Many more will see their standard of living drop.
The House of Lords amendment was made out of concern for very large families. There are at least 190 families with 10 or more children who are dependent on benefits, who would clearly struggle with a cap.
However, the government is insistent that people should not be able to breed their way around the new rules, and that no-one should get more than the cap - so that working is always a better option. It plans to take the Bill back to the House of Commons, where it could overturn the amendment.
Cameron's colours
During the debate, Cameron's comments revealed just how passionately he believed a culture of benefit entitlement has to go. In what seems like a bit of a step away from his 'hug a hoodie' reputation, he insisted that if people couldn't live with the cap, then maybe they ought to get themselves a job instead.
He said: "In many cases the answer will be for someone in that family to go out and work, and that will be the right answer for that family.We have too many children growing up in our country in households where nobody works, where a life on welfare has become an acceptable alternative".
"The way children suffer today, there are far too many children in households where no one is working," he said. "And one of the reasons why in some households no one is working is because welfare has become so available."
http://money.aol.co.uk/2012/01/24/stop-whinging-and-get-a-job-cameron/?ncid=webmail4
Yesterday saw a major blow to the Government's plans for benefit reform. The House of Lords added an amendment to exclude child benefits from the benefits cap, in order to protect vulnerable children in larger families.
Controversy
However, the government isn't having a bar of it. They plan to push the reforms through, and during the debate David Cameron made his disdain for benefit scroungers perfectly obvious.
The controversial plan is to cap the maximum benefits that any household can receive at £26,000 - which is what the average family brings home between them. This would more than likely mean many more compromises for people on benefits. Many will have to leave expensive areas and move into cheaper properties. Many more will see their standard of living drop.
The House of Lords amendment was made out of concern for very large families. There are at least 190 families with 10 or more children who are dependent on benefits, who would clearly struggle with a cap.
However, the government is insistent that people should not be able to breed their way around the new rules, and that no-one should get more than the cap - so that working is always a better option. It plans to take the Bill back to the House of Commons, where it could overturn the amendment.
Cameron's colours
During the debate, Cameron's comments revealed just how passionately he believed a culture of benefit entitlement has to go. In what seems like a bit of a step away from his 'hug a hoodie' reputation, he insisted that if people couldn't live with the cap, then maybe they ought to get themselves a job instead.
He said: "In many cases the answer will be for someone in that family to go out and work, and that will be the right answer for that family.We have too many children growing up in our country in households where nobody works, where a life on welfare has become an acceptable alternative".
"The way children suffer today, there are far too many children in households where no one is working," he said. "And one of the reasons why in some households no one is working is because welfare has become so available."
http://money.aol.co.uk/2012/01/24/stop-whinging-and-get-a-job-cameron/?ncid=webmail4
Happy Birthday, Grace.
It is my youngest daughters birthday, today.
Happy Birthday, Grace.
May you always have what you need.
Love Light Hugs.
Happy Birthday, Grace.
May you always have what you need.
Love Light Hugs.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The MURDOCH Empire and its Nest of VIPERS: Andy Coulson Puts His Home Up For Sale
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Foreign Secretary MI6 Coutts Bank Fraud Bribery: Foreign Secretary - *MI6-SIS *Coutts Bank & Co. Fr...
Foreign Secretary MI6 Coutts Bank Fraud Bribery: Foreign Secretary - *MI6-SIS *Coutts Bank & Co. Fr...: In a sensational further twist in the Carroll Foundation Trust billion dollars offshore tax evasion fraud scandal which stretches the glob...
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Stars And Stripes (Of Pain)
We came, we saw, we destroyed, we forgot
The Anti-Empire Report
by William Blum
July 29, 2011
An updated summary of the charming record of US foreign policy. Since the end of the Second World War, the United States of America has …
Attempted to overthrow more than 50 governments, most of which were democratically-elected.[1]
Attempted to suppress a populist or nationalist movement in 20 countries.[2]
Grossly interfered in democratic elections in at least 30 countries.[3]
Dropped bombs on the people of more than 30 countries.[4]
Attempted to assassinate more than 50 foreign leaders.[5]
In total: Since 1945, the United States has carried out one or more of the above actions, on one or more occasions, in the following 69 countries (more than one-third of the countries of the world):
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Australia
Bolivia
Bosnia
Brazil
British Guiana (now Guyana)
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Congo (also as Zaire)
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Fiji
France
Germany (plus East Germany)
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kuwait
Laos
Lebanon
Libya
Mongolia
Morocco
Nepal
Nicaragua
North Korea
Pakistan
Palestine
Panama
Peru
Philippines
Portugal
Russia
Seychelles
Slovakia
Somalia
South Africa
Soviet Union
Sudan
Suriname
Syria
Thailand
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam (plus North Vietnam)
Yemen (plus South Yemen)
Yugoslavia
The Anti-Empire Report
by William Blum
July 29, 2011
An updated summary of the charming record of US foreign policy. Since the end of the Second World War, the United States of America has …
Attempted to overthrow more than 50 governments, most of which were democratically-elected.[1]
Attempted to suppress a populist or nationalist movement in 20 countries.[2]
Grossly interfered in democratic elections in at least 30 countries.[3]
Dropped bombs on the people of more than 30 countries.[4]
Attempted to assassinate more than 50 foreign leaders.[5]
In total: Since 1945, the United States has carried out one or more of the above actions, on one or more occasions, in the following 69 countries (more than one-third of the countries of the world):
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Australia
Bolivia
Bosnia
Brazil
British Guiana (now Guyana)
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Congo (also as Zaire)
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Fiji
France
Germany (plus East Germany)
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kuwait
Laos
Lebanon
Libya
Mongolia
Morocco
Nepal
Nicaragua
North Korea
Pakistan
Palestine
Panama
Peru
Philippines
Portugal
Russia
Seychelles
Slovakia
Somalia
South Africa
Soviet Union
Sudan
Suriname
Syria
Thailand
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam (plus North Vietnam)
Yemen (plus South Yemen)
Yugoslavia
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Free Bradley Manning.
The railroading of Bradley Manning is getting out of control.
Lt. Col. Paul Almanza, the investigating officer in Manning's Article 32 hearing has recommended that Manning face a court-martial for all 23 charges of which he is accused. 1
The charges Almanza has recommended are absurdly disproportionate to the acts Manning is accused of committing — the most egregious being "aiding the enemy," a charge that carries a possible penalty of life imprisonment. This charge rests on the government's dubious claim that Manning knowingly provided intelligence to terrorist groups like al-Qaeda, because he knew Wikileaks might publish the information on the internet.
Almanza's recommendation will now move up the chain of command, where Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington will ultimately decide if Manning should be court-martialed, and on what charges. Can you help us stop this snowballing, unfounded attempt to paint Manning as a traitor?
Call the Department of Defense right now, leave a message for Maj. Gen. Linnington asking him to drop the "aiding the enemy" charges against Bradley Manning.
Click here for a phone number and a sample script: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/manning-call
Manning's supporters see Lt. Col. Almanza's recommendation as just another step in what is becoming a sham trial. Almanza himself served as a prosecutor for the Justice Department, which is also investigating Manning, but refused to recuse himself as investigating officer. Manning's lawyer, David Coombs, claims the DOJ wants to flip Manning and have him testify against Julian Assange and WikiLeaks.2
Of the 48 witnesses requested by Manning, Almanza only allowed 12 to testify - 10 of which were also requested by the government. Coombs has requested oral depositions of the denied witnesses, who he says have the potential to show how baseless the "aiding the enemy" charge really is. The fact that they were denied testimony in the first place says a lot about the reasoning behind such a severe accusation.
This entire process has not only been insanely cruel, it is setting a dangerous precedent for how the government deals with whistleblowers. We must stand up to the overcharging of Bradley Manning. His life and the safety of all whistleblowers depend on it. Can you call the Department of Defense, and urge Maj. Gen. Linnington to use his power to stop the over-zealous prosecution of Bradley Manning?
Call the Department of Defense right now, leave a message for Maj. Gen. Linnington asking him to drop the "aiding the enemy" charges against Bradley Manning.
Click here for a phone number and a sample script: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/manning-call
No matter the Army's decision, Firedoglake will continue to report on this case and organize actions in pursuit of a fair trial and, ultimately, justice for Bradley Manning.
In solidarity,
Brian Sonenstein
Director of Online Activism,
Firedoglake.com
PS: If you can't call, consider chipping in $5 to support Firedoglake's continuous coverage of the Bradley Manning case: https://secure.firedoglake.com/page/contribute/manning-general
1. All Charges Against Bradley Manning Referred to Court Martial, Kevin Gosztola, The Dissenter, 1/12/2011.
2. Manning Defense Files Motion Requesting Article 32 Officer Recuse Himself, Kevin Gosztola, The Dissenter, 12/16/2011.
Lt. Col. Paul Almanza, the investigating officer in Manning's Article 32 hearing has recommended that Manning face a court-martial for all 23 charges of which he is accused. 1
The charges Almanza has recommended are absurdly disproportionate to the acts Manning is accused of committing — the most egregious being "aiding the enemy," a charge that carries a possible penalty of life imprisonment. This charge rests on the government's dubious claim that Manning knowingly provided intelligence to terrorist groups like al-Qaeda, because he knew Wikileaks might publish the information on the internet.
Almanza's recommendation will now move up the chain of command, where Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington will ultimately decide if Manning should be court-martialed, and on what charges. Can you help us stop this snowballing, unfounded attempt to paint Manning as a traitor?
Call the Department of Defense right now, leave a message for Maj. Gen. Linnington asking him to drop the "aiding the enemy" charges against Bradley Manning.
Click here for a phone number and a sample script: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/manning-call
Manning's supporters see Lt. Col. Almanza's recommendation as just another step in what is becoming a sham trial. Almanza himself served as a prosecutor for the Justice Department, which is also investigating Manning, but refused to recuse himself as investigating officer. Manning's lawyer, David Coombs, claims the DOJ wants to flip Manning and have him testify against Julian Assange and WikiLeaks.2
Of the 48 witnesses requested by Manning, Almanza only allowed 12 to testify - 10 of which were also requested by the government. Coombs has requested oral depositions of the denied witnesses, who he says have the potential to show how baseless the "aiding the enemy" charge really is. The fact that they were denied testimony in the first place says a lot about the reasoning behind such a severe accusation.
This entire process has not only been insanely cruel, it is setting a dangerous precedent for how the government deals with whistleblowers. We must stand up to the overcharging of Bradley Manning. His life and the safety of all whistleblowers depend on it. Can you call the Department of Defense, and urge Maj. Gen. Linnington to use his power to stop the over-zealous prosecution of Bradley Manning?
Call the Department of Defense right now, leave a message for Maj. Gen. Linnington asking him to drop the "aiding the enemy" charges against Bradley Manning.
Click here for a phone number and a sample script: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/manning-call
No matter the Army's decision, Firedoglake will continue to report on this case and organize actions in pursuit of a fair trial and, ultimately, justice for Bradley Manning.
In solidarity,
Brian Sonenstein
Director of Online Activism,
Firedoglake.com
PS: If you can't call, consider chipping in $5 to support Firedoglake's continuous coverage of the Bradley Manning case: https://secure.firedoglake.com/page/contribute/manning-general
1. All Charges Against Bradley Manning Referred to Court Martial, Kevin Gosztola, The Dissenter, 1/12/2011.
2. Manning Defense Files Motion Requesting Article 32 Officer Recuse Himself, Kevin Gosztola, The Dissenter, 12/16/2011.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Daniel Morgan Murder Cover-Up.: #Leveson Inquiry : Dave Cook Led a Met Investigati...
Daniel Morgan Murder Cover-Up.: #Leveson Inquiry : Dave Cook Led a Met Investigati...: News HEADLINES: Leaders unite on Scots referendum ..... Policeman finds parents murdered ..... Osborne tells banks to cut bonuses .....
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 08, 2012
US Troops Deployed In Israel.
ttp://www.whiteoutpress.com/articles/q12012/us-troops-going-to-israel483/
US Troops going to Israel
In one of the most blacked-out stories in America right now, the US military is preparing to send thousands of US troops, along with US Naval anti-missile ships and accompanying support personnel, to Israel. It took forever to find a second source for confirmation of this story and both relatively mainstream media outlets are in Israel. With one source saying the military deployment and corresponding exercises are to occur in January, the source providing most of the details suggests it will occur later this spring.
Calling it not just an “exercise”, but a “deployment”, the Jerusalem Post quotes US Lt.-Gen Frank Gorenc, Commander of the US Third Air Force based in Germany. The US Commander visited Israel two weeks ago to confirm details for “the deployment of several thousand American soldiers to Israel.” In an effort to respond to recent Iranian threats and counter-threats, Israel announced the largest ever missile defense exercise in its history. Now, it’s reported that the US military, including the US Navy, will be stationed throughout Israel, also taking part.
While American troops will be stationed in Israel for an unspecified amount of time, Israeli military personnel will be added to EUCOM in Germany. EUCOM stands for United States European Command.
In preparation for anticipated Iranian missile attacks upon Israel, the US is reportedly bringing its THAAD, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, and ship-based Aegis ballistic missile systems to Israel. The US forces will join Israeli missile defense systems like the Patriot and Arrow. The deployment comes with “the ultimate goal of establishing joint task forces in the event of a large-scale conflict in the Middle East”.
The Jerusalem Post reports that US Lt.-Gen Frank Gorenc was in Israel meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Brig.-Gen Doron Gavish, commander of the Air Defense Division. While there, the US General visited one of Israel’s three ‘Iron Dome’ anti-missile outposts. The Israeli Air Force has announced plans to deploy a fourth Iron Dome system in the coming months. Additional spending increases in the Jewish state will guarantee the manufacture and deployment of three more Iron Dome systems by the end of 2012. The Israelis are hoping to eventually have at least a dozen of the anti-missile systems deployed along its northern and southern borders.
In a show of escalated tensions in the region, Iran test fired two long range missiles today. One, called the Qadar, is a powerful sea-to-shore missile. The other was an advanced surface-to-surface missile called the Nour. According to Iranian state news, the Nour is an ‘advanced radar-evading, target-seeking, guided and controlled missile’. Additionally, the Iranian military reportedly test-fired numerous other short, medium and long-range missiles. Yesterday, Iranian authorities reported that they test-fired the medium-range, surface-to-air, radar-evading Mehrab missile. Today is supposed to be the final day of Iranian naval drills in the Straits of Hormuz.
Iran recently made global headlines when it threatened to blockade the Straits of Hormuz if Europe and the US went ahead with their boycott of Iranian oil and the country’s central bank. One-quarter of the world’s oil passes through that waterway every day. President Obama has announced that a closure of the Straits was unacceptable and vowed to take whatever measures are necessary to keep the vital shipping lane open.
In response to the Iranian missile tests this weekend, French authorities were the first to respond, calling it a, “very bad signal to the international community."We want to underline that the development by Iran of a missile program is a source of great concern to the international community,"the French Foreign Ministry said in a written statement. Israeli officials suggested the flamboyant Iranian military drills this weekend were a sign that international sanctions on the country were taking a heavy toll and that any additional boycotts, on its banks or oil industry, would be crippling.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the large missile tests showed, “the dire straits of Iran in light of the tightening sanctions around her, including the considerations in the last few days regarding the sanctions of exporting petroleum as well as the possibility of sanctions against the Iranian Central Bank." While the chances of Iran going through with its threat of closing the Straits of Hormuz are slim, the deployment of thousands of US troops and naval ships to Israel shows the US isn’t taking any chances.
US Troops going to Israel
In one of the most blacked-out stories in America right now, the US military is preparing to send thousands of US troops, along with US Naval anti-missile ships and accompanying support personnel, to Israel. It took forever to find a second source for confirmation of this story and both relatively mainstream media outlets are in Israel. With one source saying the military deployment and corresponding exercises are to occur in January, the source providing most of the details suggests it will occur later this spring.
Calling it not just an “exercise”, but a “deployment”, the Jerusalem Post quotes US Lt.-Gen Frank Gorenc, Commander of the US Third Air Force based in Germany. The US Commander visited Israel two weeks ago to confirm details for “the deployment of several thousand American soldiers to Israel.” In an effort to respond to recent Iranian threats and counter-threats, Israel announced the largest ever missile defense exercise in its history. Now, it’s reported that the US military, including the US Navy, will be stationed throughout Israel, also taking part.
While American troops will be stationed in Israel for an unspecified amount of time, Israeli military personnel will be added to EUCOM in Germany. EUCOM stands for United States European Command.
In preparation for anticipated Iranian missile attacks upon Israel, the US is reportedly bringing its THAAD, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, and ship-based Aegis ballistic missile systems to Israel. The US forces will join Israeli missile defense systems like the Patriot and Arrow. The deployment comes with “the ultimate goal of establishing joint task forces in the event of a large-scale conflict in the Middle East”.
The Jerusalem Post reports that US Lt.-Gen Frank Gorenc was in Israel meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Brig.-Gen Doron Gavish, commander of the Air Defense Division. While there, the US General visited one of Israel’s three ‘Iron Dome’ anti-missile outposts. The Israeli Air Force has announced plans to deploy a fourth Iron Dome system in the coming months. Additional spending increases in the Jewish state will guarantee the manufacture and deployment of three more Iron Dome systems by the end of 2012. The Israelis are hoping to eventually have at least a dozen of the anti-missile systems deployed along its northern and southern borders.
In a show of escalated tensions in the region, Iran test fired two long range missiles today. One, called the Qadar, is a powerful sea-to-shore missile. The other was an advanced surface-to-surface missile called the Nour. According to Iranian state news, the Nour is an ‘advanced radar-evading, target-seeking, guided and controlled missile’. Additionally, the Iranian military reportedly test-fired numerous other short, medium and long-range missiles. Yesterday, Iranian authorities reported that they test-fired the medium-range, surface-to-air, radar-evading Mehrab missile. Today is supposed to be the final day of Iranian naval drills in the Straits of Hormuz.
Iran recently made global headlines when it threatened to blockade the Straits of Hormuz if Europe and the US went ahead with their boycott of Iranian oil and the country’s central bank. One-quarter of the world’s oil passes through that waterway every day. President Obama has announced that a closure of the Straits was unacceptable and vowed to take whatever measures are necessary to keep the vital shipping lane open.
In response to the Iranian missile tests this weekend, French authorities were the first to respond, calling it a, “very bad signal to the international community."We want to underline that the development by Iran of a missile program is a source of great concern to the international community,"the French Foreign Ministry said in a written statement. Israeli officials suggested the flamboyant Iranian military drills this weekend were a sign that international sanctions on the country were taking a heavy toll and that any additional boycotts, on its banks or oil industry, would be crippling.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the large missile tests showed, “the dire straits of Iran in light of the tightening sanctions around her, including the considerations in the last few days regarding the sanctions of exporting petroleum as well as the possibility of sanctions against the Iranian Central Bank." While the chances of Iran going through with its threat of closing the Straits of Hormuz are slim, the deployment of thousands of US troops and naval ships to Israel shows the US isn’t taking any chances.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
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