The rapid-fire invasion of Iraq and then Kurdistan by ISIS, as the Islamic State was calling itself at the time, stunned the world. For several hours, it even presented an existential crisis for Kurdistan itself as the momentum of the invasion by ISIS brought them to within mere kilometers of Erbil – with little standing …
Even in a country with a wealth of beautiful landscapes, the Valle de Cocora still stands out. The broad, emerald green valley stretches east of the village of Salento into the lower reaches of Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados where it is framed by sharp peaks. Everywhere you’ll see wax palm, the largest palm in …
The following is straight from the notebook I had with me at the time and, I believe, helps give a feel for what it is like walking around Herat: …Wandering around Herat shafts of sunlight penetrate serpentine alleys lined by canvas-covered wooden stalls; the harsh light illuminates the faces of the merchants and their bountiful …
Perhaps not surprisingly to those that know me, I found the military dimension to Arunachal Pradesh interesting. Tensions between India and China run high in this area… Currently, India administers all of Arunachal Pradesh. However, the Chinese lay claim to the majority of Arunachal Pradesh as they believe it to be an extension of the …
An evening exploration of the streets of Damascus… “…no recorded event has occurred in the world but Damascus was in existence to receive news of it. Go back as far as you will into the vague past, there was always a Damascus… She has looked upon the dry bones of a thousand empires and will …
If you ever make it to Omdurman, Sudan (across the river from Khartoum) be sure to check out the Omdurman camel market. Or, you can just read this site… Most of the animals are brought in (on foot – like the old days of the American cowboy) from Darfur and South Sudan since these areas …
Baalbek has long enjoyed a reputation as home to some of the finest Roman ruins anywhere in the world. However, even without the Roman ruins, it would still be an interesting town… To reach Baalbek, one passes through the hot, dry Bekaa, not so much a valley as a high-altitude plain, with its Hezbollah flags …
Viewed from a distance, Port-au-Prince seems a pleasant and mellow Caribbean port city: Once one is out on the streets though, the fact that all is not well in Port-au-Prince soon becomes apparent. And the January 12, 2010 earthquake only served to push Haiti closer to the top of the Failed States Index… Destruction, dysfunction …
Zululand is an interesting place with quite a history…
Chernobyl Reactor # 4 shortly after the meltdown: Part 1: Chernobyl and Reactor # 4 Until the late 1990s it would have been impossible for me to come here. The whole area was sealed off. Now though, the United Nations is encouraging “ecotourism” to the former Chernobyl disaster zone in order to help the area …
There aren’t a lot of roads in Somalia. Those that do exist mostly pass through rough countryside, interspersed with the occasional village and frequent checkpoint. Upon arriving at a checkpoint, if you don’t have an armed guard with you, a bribe will be required and all of your passport details will be carefully taken down …
Interesting piece from Forbes Magazine… Tough Rules You can thank the USA Patriot Act (passed after the 2001 terrorist attacks) for this rapid global change. The Patriot Act required financial institutions to set up rigorous anti-money-laundering programs, ostensibly to thwart terrorist financing. However, with a powerful new tool on their hands, various law enforcement agencies did not … Continue reading
According to a very reliable source (my cousin Molly), the highest percentage of sex slave victims (per capita) originate in the following countries: Belarus Moldova Russia Ukraine Albania Bulgaria Lithuania Romania China Thailand Nigeria Continue reading
In spite of decades of knowledge that science has brought forth about basic cause and effect of our actions, we are still seeing more rather than less specimens like this. POSTSCRIPT: Not that it’s relevant, but here is a description of the American consumer pictured that was included with the email from my American source… … Continue reading
Iraqi planes found in Serbia, but in pieces By DUSAN STOJANOVIC for The Velvet Rocket BELGRADE, Serbia — Iraqi officials, trying to trace what Saddam Hussein did with the country’s military assets, say they have discovered that 19 of the country’s Soviet-built warplanes were sent to the former Yugoslavia in the 1980s for servicing. But … Continue reading
Although we do not normally stoop to celebrity gossip here at The Velvet Rocket (particularly of the sort that would leave us discussing Prince William’s hairline), a recent encounter left it impossible for us not to have our attention dramatically drawn to Prince William’s rapidly diminishing amount of hair. Yes, girls, Prince Willy is going … Continue reading
In Nuclear Net’s Undoing, a Web of Shadowy Deals By WILLIAM J. BROAD and DAVID E. SANGER for The Velvet Rocket The president of Switzerland stepped to a podium in Bern last May and read a statement confirming rumors that had swirled through the capital for months. The government, he acknowledged, had indeed destroyed a … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 