Tuesday, December 18, 2018

18 December - Blogs I'm Following - 2 of 3

10:00 pm MST

Playing The Blame Game: The Political Farce Of The Government Shutdown

Daniel McAdams at 9 hours ago
Washington is playing the "shutdown" game again. When it comes to big issues - like the US war in Yemen - the politicos and mainstream media couldn't care less. But when it comes to political theater like a "government shutdown," the headlines are big and bold and the scare tactics begin. What will happen this year, as President Trump threatens a shutdown over funding of his wall? There will be a reprieve, as usual. Shutdown farce in today's Liberty Report:

US Leaders Allowing Ukraine to Pull Them into Global War

Martin Sieff at 9 hours ago
[image: undefined] George Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel was right – Again: The only thing the human race learns from history is that it learns nothing from history. In 1914,the British Empire, largest in human history and one of the longest-lasting, charged into World War I to defend “gallant little Belgium” whose King Leopold over the previous 30 years had carried out one of the longest, largest genocides of all time, killing 10 million people in the Congo. Germany, wealthiest, most prosperous nation in Europe, blundered into the same needless war when feckless Kaiser Wilhelm II causall... more »

3 Ways to Change Yemen

Caroline Caywood at Test Feed Using Fields - 9 hours ago
*Caroline Caywood* *Security, Middle East* [image: Reuters] The violence in Yemen will continue to wreck the lives of the country's impoverished citizens until a stable government steps in and takes control of the situation. The U.S. Senate voted on December 13 to move forward with a measure to cut military aid supporting Saudi Arabia in its ongoing involvement in the conflict in Yemen. This is the latest development in a continuing discussion on the bleak situation in the region’s most impoverished nation and what the American role must be in alleviating human suffering. How sh... more »

Reading Fiction Leads to Good Strategic Thinking

James Holmes at Test Feed Using Fields - 9 hours ago
*James Holmes* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] Could-be history is a mode of inquiry that compels you to think. Sometimes academics say the darndest things. To wit: I recently got in an exchange with a colleague about the upsides and downsides of applying fiction as a catalyst for strategic thought. My interlocutor dismissed the idea out of hand, insisting this represents an unserious endeavor for any serious scholar or think tank analyst. I say you take your insight where you find it. You may find it in a tome about history, political science or economics. Oftentimes you ... more »

What Is Going on in Malaysia—and Why Does It Matter to the United States?

Marvin C. Ott at Test Feed Using Fields - 9 hours ago
*Marvin C. Ott* *Security, Asia* [image: Reuters] Malaysia’s political transition has coincided with a rapidly changing and challenging regional security environment. IN THE 1960s, Southeast Asia was the very epicenter of a U.S. security strategy that culminated in the Indochina wars. Over the subsequent decades, the region became an economic success story while it virtually disappeared from the security map. America had other, seemingly more pressing, concerns in Europe as the Cold War waxed and waned and in the Middle East with its endemic instability and the rise of a global j... more »

THE HULK HOSPITALIZED AFTER THE PNEUMONIA SHOT

LearnTheRisk at Learn The Risk - 9 hours ago
Even the Hulk is susceptible to dangerous side effects of vaccines. Lou Ferrigno, the LA actor that played the Hulk on the popular TV show The Incredible Hulk, ends up in the hospital from side effects of a pneumonia shot. The post THE HULK HOSPITALIZED AFTER THE PNEUMONIA SHOT appeared first on Learn The Risk.

Is Huntington Bank Poking Fun at Tech in Their New Commercials?

Activist Post at Activist Post - 9 hours ago
By B.N. Frank When used safely and in moderation, technology can and does make our lives better. This is why I can’t help chuckling when... more »

TRUMP CAN SURVIVE MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS MORE EASILY THAN HE CAN SURVIVE NO WALL

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 9 hours ago
This was the headline at Breitbart an hour ago: I can't imagine worse optics for a president whose support derives overwhelmingly from white nationalism and xenophobia, although it seems as if he has no choice: President Trump on Tuesday retreated from his demand for $5 billion to build a border wall, as congressional Republicans maneuvered to avoid a partial government shutdown before funding expires at the end of Friday.... White House press secretary Sarah Sanders on Tuesday said Trump did not want a government shutdown and that the administration had identified “other ways” t... more »

Judge Sullivan Raised Serious Question About If General Flynn Could Be Charged With Treason; Mueller Team Failed To Respond; Why Did Judge Sullivan Back Down After The Break? Flynn Lawyers Ask To Postpone Sentencing

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 9 hours ago
Judge Sullivan raised a serious, legitimate, question about if General Flynn could be charged with treason. The Mueller team member … Continue reading →

Texas v. U.S.: Congress's Inherent Power to Require No One to Do Anything

Neil Siegel at Balkinization - 9 hours ago
While the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act's minimum coverage provision (the "individual mandate") and shared responsibility payment were pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, Robert Cooter of UC Berkeley Law School and I developed a theory of Congress's taxing power that anticipated, and may have influenced, the Court's taxing power analysis in *NFIB v. Sebelius*. (Several commentators, including Neal Katyal, Randy Barnett, and Jeffrey Rosen, noticed close similarities in the analysis, citations, and rhetoric between our article and the majority opinion of Chief Justic... more »

Judge Tells Flynn He Can’t Hide ‘Disgust’ at His Crime

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 9 hours ago
Flynn, who served as national security adviser for only a few weeks, is to be the first White House official sentenced in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.

Did President Trump Ban ‘Feliz Navidad’ from the White House?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 9 hours ago
The "War on Christmas" continues to be waged in fevered imaginations.

U.K. Government Plans To Deploy 3,500 British Soldiers In The Event Of A No Deal Brexit Departure

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
*Daily Mail*: *Britain told to prepare for no deal DOOMSDAY: Thousands of troops on standby, ferries to ship in emergency supplies and millions of families told 'get ready' as ministers activate ALL Brexit backup plans with 101 days to go* * Theresa May gathered Cabinet to discuss ramping up plans for no-deal Brexit * Another £2billion has been allocated to contingency planning as risks increase * Fears raised that large-scale plans are being allocated too late to soften the blow * Concerns that ferries can no longer be hired to transport emergency supplies * Deep divisions in ... more »

How The American Oligarchy Gets Society To Consent to Endless War

Rainer Shea at The Ghion Journal - 9 hours ago
After World War II, the Nazi Hermann Goering said the following. “Naturally the people don’t want war. But after all, it’s the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it’s always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it’s a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All… The post How The American Oligarchy Gets Society To Consent to Endless War appeared first on The Ghion Journal.

NPR: ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside,’ seen as sexist, frozen out by radio stations

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 9 hours ago
By now, you have heard about the controversy surrounding the song, “Baby, it’s cold outside” or you live under a rock. Written by Frank Loesser in 1944, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” was featured in the 1949 film Neptune’s Daughter, and even won the Oscar for best original song.1 Check it out below: While some radio stations […] The post NPR: ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside,’ seen as sexist, frozen out by radio stations appeared first on Health Nut News.

Atlantic Council: NATO Must Prepare To Counter A Rapid Russia Invasion In Eastern Europe

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Chez Carter, assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division ground guides a M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle during a Table XII Live Fire Exercise, Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, August 23, 2018. This exercise is in support of Atlantic Resolve, an enduring training exercise between NATO and U.S. Forces. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jamar Marcel Pugh, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment/ 1st ABCT, 1st CD/Released) *Military Times*: *Think tank: NATO must prepare to counter a rapid... more »

Sissified?

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 9 hours ago
Stephan Pastis takes on the National Football League. Click the image to be taken to a full-size version at the comic's Web page. I think he has a point. When I arrived in this country, more than two decades ago, I can still remember getting the distinct impression that American football was a license to fold, spindle and mutilate everyone except the man with the ball! No longer . . . Peter

China Will Respond To Japan's New Defense Buildup

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
Japan is planning to upgrade its Izumo-class destroyers into fully operational aircraft carriers capable of launching fighter jets. Photo: Handout *SCMP*: *China may use Japan’s aircraft carrier plan to push through more military spending, observers say* * Tokyo says it wants to upgrade its Izumo-class destroyers so they can carry and launch fighter jets * Move would be a first since nation adopted its pacifist constitution and could make regional neighbours anxious, experts say Tokyo’s plan to develop an aircraft carrier capable of launching fighter jets is driven by Beijing’s mi... more »

Incoherent Thoughts from the Yankee Capital

Fred Reed at 10 hours ago
The de-Christianization of the country, or at least this part of it, is almost complete. I can think of hearing the word “Christmas” only twice in two weeks of trough-inciting retail advertising. Culture shock: We stayed with friends who for … Continue reading →

Japan's New Defense Plan Means Aircraft Carriers For Its Navy

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
A Japanese helicopter carrier, Kaga, trails behind Japanese destroyer Inazuma led by the British frigate HMS Argyll in the Indian Ocean; Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes to upgrade the helicopter carriers so they can launch fighter jets *ABC News Online:* *Japan to launch first aircraft carriers since WWII as Government notes 'national rivalries are surfacing'* Tokyo will launch its first aircraft carriers since the end of World War II to accommodate a growing number of stealth fighters, long-range missiles and other equipment adding to the Japan Self-Defence Forces (JSDF).... more »

Rise Of The Police State

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 10 hours ago
General Flynn is the quintessential example of why the innocent plead guilty. General Flynn knew the FBI had a complete recording of the conversation about which they came to question him. Comey deliberately and oh-so-cleverly dispatched the agents in an ambush … Continue reading →

Mid-Day Snapshot

POLITICS IN BRIEF The ‘Likely False’ Dossier and Other Collusion Fairytales A vote of no confidence in the dossier and a report about Russian social-media manipulation. Nate Jackson JUDICIARY IN BRIEF Federal Judicial Vacancies Getting Worse Jeff Flake’s lasting legacy is now one of leftist pandering and anti-Trump obstruction. Thomas Gallatin IMMIGRATION IN BRIEF Number […]

EFTA-Indonesia FTA (Dec 2018)

bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
18-Dec-2018 As released by the EFTA secretariat

Trade agreements and the land: Investment agreements and their potential impacts on land governance

bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
18-Dec-2018 While promising economic growth, large-scale land investment deals have caused increased inequality, widespread displacement of people, and destruction of natural resources.

La aprobación del tratado comercial entre la Unión Europea y Japón debilita la democracia

bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
18-Dec-2018 A pesar del rechazo por parte de sindicatos, organizaciones sociales y ecologistas el tratado comercial fue aprobado en el Parlamento Europeo y entrará en vigor en febrero sin pasar por la ratificación de los parlamentos nacionales.

When All Else Fails for Christmas

Bryan Caplan at Econlib - 10 hours ago
Don’t know what to give the nerd in your life for Christmas? Then I highly recommend Jason Brennan’s brand-new When All Else Fails: The Ethics of Resistance to State Injustice. The book is fun, timely, and timeless. A few highlights: Or suppose Bane has captured Gotham City. Now suppose Batman has a plan for defeating Bane – one […] The post When All Else Fails for Christmas appeared first on Econlib.

Did Katowice Actually Achieve Anything?

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 10 hours ago
By Paul Homewood Matt McGrath waxes lyrical about the “success” of COP24, but what difference will it actually make? Negotiators in Poland have finally secured agreement on a range of measures that will make the Paris climate pact operational in 2020. Last-minute rows over carbon markets threatened to derail the two-week summit […]

World News Briefs -- December 18, 2018

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
Hodeidah has been held by Houthi rebels since 2014 [File: Abduljabbar Zeyad/Reuters] *Al Jazeera:* *Tense calm prevails in Yemen's Hodeidah as ceasefire holds* *Clashes appear to have subsided after UN-brokered truce took effect in port city, a lifeline for millions of Yemenis.* A fragile calm has taken hold in Yemen's western city of Hodeidah, just hours after a UN-brokered ceasefire deal between Houthi fighters and forces loyal to the government came into effect. Residents in the city told Al Jazeera that fighting had subsided by 12:00 GMT on Tuesday, despite the sound of sporad... more »

8 simple steps to handling negative emotions

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 10 hours ago
Emotions can be the best things in the world, especially when you are feeling love, happiness, and ecstasy. But they can also be your living nightmares when you experience the worst of the worst: anxiety, depression, anger, absolute loneliness. When … Continue reading →

The Three Stages of Life

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 10 hours ago
There is one life. However, there are many philosophies and spiritual studies that divide life into many stages. Obviously, we can divide life based on physical stages like a new-born, adolescent, adult and so on. But here I am trying … Continue reading →

10 things highly authentic people never, ever do

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 10 hours ago
Whether you are authentic or not depends on a set of actions and behaviors that you do (or don’t do), and how strictly you abide by these rules. If you are trying to become a more authentic person, it’s all … Continue reading →

Holidays Hike Heart Attack Risk

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 10 hours ago
Whether it’s the stress of choosing the right gift, drinking and eating too much, or fighting with relatives about politics, the holidays can be hard on your heart. In fact, new research from Sweden found the odds of a heart … Continue reading →

Hospital Discharge Around Holidays Can Be Riskier

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 10 hours ago
No one wants to spend the holidays in a hospital bed, but heading home might not be a good idea, new research suggests. The risk of hospital readmission or death was higher among patients who were discharged over the two-week … Continue reading →

When Chronic Pain Takes Away Your Life

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 10 hours ago
Pain changes us. The minute we start to hurt, we make adaptions to how we move, what we do, and where we go. When we keep re-organizing our lives around our pain, we can become separated from our typical daily … Continue reading →

How to Get to the Root of Your Arguments

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 10 hours ago
Every couple has disagreements – from squabbles about leaving dirty socks on the floor to battles over spending too much money. Frequently, each person pommels their partner with “the facts” and finds it maddening when their partner does not agree … Continue reading →

A Missed Opportunity

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 10 hours ago
Telemedicine use for treating substance use disorder remains low, despite unmet need Despite the enormous unmet need for treatment of substance use disorders and the promise technology holds for filling some of the gaps in care, telemedicine remains woefully underused, … Continue reading →

The ‘Graying’ of T Cells

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 10 hours ago
Scientists pinpoint metabolic pathway behind age-related immunity loss Researchers have identified a defective metabolic pathway in aging immune cells. The elderly suffer more serious complications from infections and benefit less from vaccination than the general population. Scientists have long known that a … Continue reading →

Smoking Linked to Higher Levels of Psychosis Symptoms

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 10 hours ago
Smoking does not relieve symptoms of psychosis; on the contrary, it may actually worsen positive and depressive symptoms, new research shows. These findings, investigators say, disprove the hypothesis that the high prevalence of smoking in this patient population is due … Continue reading →

"A smile starts on the lips, A grin spreads to the eyes, A chuckle comes from the belly; But a good laugh bursts forth from the soul, Overflows, and bubbles all around." #QotD

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 10 hours ago
*"A smile starts on the lips. A grin spreads to the eyes. A chuckle comes from the belly. But a good laugh bursts forth from the soul, overflows, and bubbles all around."* ~ attrib. Carolyn Birmingham . Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Permission to republish is granted, with link and attribution.

BREAKING: Michael Cohen's perhaps non-existent Prague spring!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 10 hours ago
*TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2018Which was said to have happened that summer:* Did Michael Cohen ever go to Prague, the way the Steele dossier said? We've been wondering about that lately. Cohen had been moving through the sentencing phase of his interactions with Robert Mueller, and nothing had surfaced about that alleged, once-ballyhooed, nefarious journey to Prague. In this new post, Kevin Drum puts a fairly cheerful face on the accuracy of the Steele dossier, to the extent that its accuracy can be assessed at this point. We'll only say this: If you watch MSNBC, you've been endlessly... more »

Stock Market Hangs on Edge of Very Big Cliff

Activist Post at Activist Post - 10 hours ago
By David Haggith It’s downright wintry on Wall Street right now. Firmly establishing the worst start of a December for the US stock market in... more »

IER Welcomes Five Energy Experts to Join Newly Created Advisory Council

Erin Amsberry at IER - 10 hours ago
WASHINGTON — Today, the Institute for Energy Research (IER) launches an Advisory Council and welcomes five inaugural members to its… The post IER Welcomes Five Energy Experts to Join Newly Created Advisory Council appeared first on IER.

Say No to Government Grinches and Corporate Scrooges

Activist Post at Activist Post - 10 hours ago
By John W. Whitehead “Once upon a midnight clear, there was a child’s cry, a blazing star hung over a stable, and wise men came... more »

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 18, 2018

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
*The Hill: **Trump directs creation of Space Command as 11th combatant command* President Trump on Tuesday directed the Pentagon to create Space Command, a unified combatant command meant to lay the groundwork for his proposal to create Space Force. “Pursuant to my authority as the Commander in Chief and under section 161 of title 10, United States Code, and in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I direct the establishment, consistent with United States law, of United States Space Command as a functional Unified Combatant Comm... more »

Harvard Researchers Begin Work on Bill Gates-Funded Project to Block Out the Sun with Geoengineering

Nick Meyer at AltHealthWorks.com - 11 hours ago
As the world continues to grapple with the consequences of an ever-changing planet, scientists have continued to work on projects aimed at manipulating and shaping the world in unexpected ways. The most controversial and hotly debated of all these topics (aside from climate change itself) has been that of geoengineering, a topic many news sites dare not breach for fear of being labeled as conspiracy theorists. But now, the cat is officially out of the bag, as even Forbes just dropped a bombshell on its website: a new plan from Harvard scientists to “tackle climate change through... more »

8 Foods You Never Knew Could Contribute Directly to the Formation of Cancer

Nick Meyer at AltHealthWorks.com - 11 hours ago
You might not be thinking about it when you go to have a snack, but some surprising foods have been linked to cancer, and it’s often not necessarily because of the food itself but because of how it’s been processed and what chemicals have been used. We all have our favorite processed foods, but it’s best to go with whole, unprocessed, organic foods whenever possible. And sometimes, even unprocessed foods (like salmon as you’ll see later) can cause serious problems and contribute to a cancer-friendly environment in your body. Avoid these 8 foods to help lower your risk of cancer and... more »

Hundreds of Police Departments Have Secretly Created Public Safety Watchlists

Activist Post at Activist Post - 11 hours ago
By MassPrivateI To everyone who thinks secret watchlists are nothing more than a conspiracy theory, I give you law enforcement’s secret public safety watchlists. The... more »

City of Cambridge Passes Ordinance Taking on Surveillance State

Activist Post at Activist Post - 11 hours ago
By Michael Maharrey CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Dec. 17, 2018) – The City of Cambridge, Mass., has passed an ordinance that sets the stage to limit the acquisition... more »

"How It Really Is"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago

Partial Ceasefire Begins in Yemen, Turkey Makes New Push for Gulen Extradition, U.S. Concerned about Potential Offensive in Eastern Syria

dstuster at Lawfare - 11 hours ago
*Ceasefire Enters Force in Hodeidah after Productive Peace Talks* A week of peace talks between the warring factions in Yemen concluded last Thursday with the *announcement* of agreements to de-escalate fighting in the partially besieged city of Taiz and establish a ceasefire throughout the province of Hodeidah, where Saudi and Emirati-backed pro-government forces have been advancing on a strategic Houthi-held port. Going into the talks, diplomats had described establishing a ceasefire in Hodeidah that would allow humanitarian aid to transit the port as an important goal but one t... more »

CBS Saves $120M: Moonves Gets No Severance

R. Cort Kirkwood at rss - 11 hours ago
[image: cbs-saves-120m-moonves-gets-no-severance] Les Moonves, the disgraced chieftain of CBS, won’t collect a penny of the $120 million severance he was due.

Murder Plot: Three Illegals, Authorities Allege, Shot Employment Scam Whistleblower

R. Cort Kirkwood at rss - 11 hours ago
[image: three-illegals-indicted-in-murder-of-employment-scam-whistleblower] The one thing you don’t want to do if you’re a legal immigrant and naturalized citizen is act like a real American around illegal aliens trying to commit employment fraud. Proving loyalty to your new home will get you murdered.

Texas Bullion Depository Begins Construction

Activist Post at Activist Post - 11 hours ago
By Michael Maharrey LEANDER, Texas (Dec. 17, 2018) – Last week, officials broke ground for construction of the Texas Bullion Depository building. The creation of the... more »

China & Russia Working Together On Ionospheric Weather Manipulations

Activist Post at Activist Post - 11 hours ago
By Catherine J. Frompovich The South China Morning Post of December 17, 2018 [1] not only “let the cat out of the bag,” but “opened... more »

Celebrating Christmas in Rio’s Imperial City of Petrópolis

Jack Arnhold at The Rio Times - 11 hours ago
By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The city of Petrópolis is currently in the middle of its annual ‘Natal Imperial’ (Imperial Christmas) celebrations. At under two hours’ drive from Rio de Janeiro, and nestled in the cooler mountainous region, the ‘Cidade Imperial’ (Imperial City) makes for a perfect short break from […] The post Celebrating Christmas in Rio’s Imperial City of Petrópolis appeared first on The Rio Times.

Portion Distortion

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 11 hours ago
[image: image] https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/eat-right/distortion.htm Smaller plates at home. Doggie bag at restaurant, and put half in it before you start to eat. Don’t buy supersize or value packs of anything. You’ll just eat more.

Which glass is yours?

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 11 hours ago
[image: No automatic alt text available.]

Ohio regulators to receive $2.1 million to cover medical cannabis legal fees

Bart Schaneman at Marijuana Business Daily - 11 hours ago
Ohio’s medical marijuana regulatory agencies have been approved for a $2.1 million loan to help cover legal fees. The $2.1 million, approved by the state’s Controlling Board, is needed to cover legal costs from lawsuits brought by companies denied medical marijuana cultivators’ licenses. More details on the loan and the lawsuits can be found here. Ohio regulators to receive $2.1 million to cover medical cannabis legal fees is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Russian Deployment To Venezuela Served The Purpose

M. K. BHADRAKUMAR at OrientalReview.org - 11 hours ago
These are extraordinary times in Russian-American relations. Moscow is grappling with the famous Kissinger question – “Who do I call if I want to speak to Europe?” The point is, there are multiple power centres in the Washington Beltway. The post Russian Deployment To Venezuela Served The Purpose appeared first on OrientalReview.org.

Break Free from the Corporate Prison

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 11 hours ago
*Waking Times* - It's time to leave the cage they've built for you. A short video by Caitlin Johnstone and Sustainable Human.

ASEAN Must Choose: America or China?

John Lee at Test Feed Using Fields - 11 hours ago
*John Lee* *ASEAN, Asia-Pacific* It is time for Southeast Asian states and ASEAN to think, act and speak consistently and clearly for its own interests—or else court irrelevance and ruin of its own strategic objectives. THE 2017 National Security Strategy (NSS) describes China as a revisionist power seeking to displace the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. It is an accurate characterization which was resisted by previous American administrations despite there being little evidence that China is content to be a “responsible stakeholder” under a U.S.-led order. The Chinese... more »

It's Time to End U.S. Support for the Saudi War on Yemen

Doug Bandow at Test Feed Using Fields - 11 hours ago
*Doug Bandow* *Yemen, Middle East* America should seek a regional balance, not Saudi hegemony. Congress is seeking to trim presidential war powers in Yemen. Unfortunately, the Republican Party leadership continues to defend unrestrained executive authority. Outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan used procedural legerdemain to block a vote on Washington’s support for Saudi Arabia’s murderous assault on Yemen. Contrary to Trump administration claims, memorialized in an atrocious op-ed under Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s name, not everything in the world is about Iran. The conflict in... more »

Iraq's Intra-Shia Struggle Over Iranian Influence

Geneive Abdo at Test Feed Using Fields - 11 hours ago
*Geneive Abdo* *Security, Middle East* What is interesting, as well as tragic, about this particular Iraqi conflict is that it reflects a deepening Shia versus Shia rivalry. Iranian-backed Shia militias inside Iraq, once viewed by many Iraqis as saviors who helped the country defeat the Islamic State, are destabilizing Iraq’s infant and fragile government and creating additional tension between Baghdad and Washington. There was a brief sigh of relief when an Iraqi government was finally formed in September. It took five months of wrangling after a national election in May. But t... more »

America’s Technology and Sanctions War Will End, by Bifurcating the Global Economy

Strategic Culture Foundation at The Duran - 11 hours ago
The post America’s Technology and Sanctions War Will End, by Bifurcating the Global Economy appeared first on The Duran.

Putin: Russia’s advanced weapons will make those accustomed to militarist rhetoric think

TASS at The Duran - 11 hours ago
The post Putin: Russia’s advanced weapons will make those accustomed to militarist rhetoric think appeared first on The Duran.

Can America Fight Two Cold Wars at Once?

Patrick J. Buchanan at The Duran - 11 hours ago
The post Can America Fight Two Cold Wars at Once? appeared first on The Duran.

Do not buy chicken with this brand on the label

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 11 hours ago
There’s overwhelming evidence showing that antibiotic use in livestock is driving the rise in antibiotic resistance, and many poultry producers — including Tyson Foods, Perdue and Pilgrim’s Pride — have taken steps to curb antibiotic use in their live poultry production. In recent years, a number of grocery and restaurant chains have also vowed to […] The post Do not buy chicken with this brand on the label appeared first on Health Nut News.

Business Insider: Erin Brockovich is warning about an emerging drinking-water crisis in the US. Here’s how she recommends you protect yourself.

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 11 hours ago
(Note from Erin: We are proud to be endorsing the same water system as Erin, the Aquatru.com/HNN. Click on the link for more info and a great deal on the price.) Erin Brockovich, who some of you know as the woman who fought against California’s Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) in 1996 and later had a movie […] The post Business Insider: Erin Brockovich is warning about an emerging drinking-water crisis in the US. Here’s how she recommends you protect yourself. appeared first on Health Nut News.

Brazilian spiritual healer ‘John of God’, accused of sexually assaulting 450 women, proclaims innocence to tearful devotees

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 11 hours ago
In case you wondered whether or not the “famous” Brazilian spiritual healer “Joao de Deus” or “John of God” (he shot to fame in 2010 when Oprah Winfrey ran a show on him after having visited him the previous year) was actually a bonafide healer from God, it seems, no: police are currently investigating complaints […] The post Brazilian spiritual healer ‘John of God’, accused of sexually assaulting 450 women, proclaims innocence to tearful devotees appeared first on Health Nut News.

Timely Repost: “The Dangers of Buying on Margin”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago
*“The Dangers of Buying on Margin”* By Joshua Kennon “Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.” - Douglas Adams "So when this thing really goes down there is going to be a veritable tsunami of margin calls going out - this by itself signals that a brutal crash is not far over the horizon." *- *Clive Maund "Like the flashing lights and sounds of clinking coins at a casino, buying stocks on margin is one of those things that might appear on the surface to be a g... more »

Congress Should Not Be Self-Regulatory-- Especially Not When It Comes To Determining What Is And What Is Not A Bribe

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 12 hours ago
*The Subcommittee on Health-- the members* This morning I was on David Feldman's radio show and people were happy I had shown the connection between committee chairman and immense bribery flows from special interests the day before. OK, let me follow up on that a bit then. Let me go back to the crucially important House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired, starting in a couple of weeks, by corrupt New Jersey machine hack Frank Pallone. Energy and Commerce has its fingers in a lot of pies-- as does the incoming chairman, Frank Pallone. This cycle his 5 biggest contributing sectors... more »

Japan will get its first aircraft carriers since WWII

wmw_admin at The Truthseeker - 12 hours ago
Japan in trillion dollar military spending spree. Turning two helicopters carriers into aircraft carriers and aquiring more than 140 F-35s to counter Chinese military expansion

After Ghaddafi Murder, Weapons Shipped To Syria Via al-Qaeda, Qatar, US

Brandon Turbeville at Activist Post - 12 hours ago
By Brandon Turbeville While the United States continues to deny providing support to terrorists in Syria in terms of money, training, or weapons without the... more »

Assessment Of The Status Of The Islamic State

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 12 hours ago
(Iraqi News) Michael Knights from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy wrote another excellent assessment of the state of the Islamic State’s insurgency in Iraq in the recent issue of the CTC Sentinel published by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. In the summer of 2016 the Islamic State was talking about saving its manpower and shifting towards an insurgency in the face of Iraqi offensives and U.S. Coalition air strikes. That became reality in late 2017 as the group didn’t put up a fight against the last Iraqi offensives to free the final bits of territory held ... more »

New York AG Underwood Announces Stipulation Dissolving Trump Foundation Under Judicial Supervision With AG Review Of Recipient Charities

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 12 hours ago
“Our petition detailed a shocking pattern of illegality involving the Trump Foundation – including unlawful coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated … Continue reading →

Trump Administration Moves to Ban Bump Stocks

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 12 hours ago
The devices will be banned under a federal law that prohibits machine guns, according to a senior Justice Department official.

Maine Shuts Down Pot Facebook Page After Critics Poke Fun

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 12 hours ago
The state of Maine has shut down a Facebook page detailing the potential dangers of marijuana use in response to a satirical page launched by pro-pot critics.

Florida Man Tried to Pay for McDonald’s with Bag of Weed

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 12 hours ago
Police in Florida say a 23-year-old man went through a McDonald's drive-thru and tried to pay for his order with a bag of marijuana.

Outrage Sparked as School Kids Now Taught that ‘Boys Can Have Periods Too’—to Be Inclusive

The Free Thought Project at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: boys] Children as young as 8 are now being taught that “trans boys and men and non-binary people may have periods” as part of a new guidance on menstruation and sex education. The post Outrage Sparked as School Kids Now Taught that ‘Boys Can Have Periods Too’—to Be Inclusive appeared first on The Free Thought Project.

WATCH: Cop in Police Cruiser Runs Over 50yo Woman Carrying Groceries, Then Drives Off

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: woman] A school cop was caught on video plowing over and innocent woman and then driving away, leaving her lying on the ground. The post WATCH: Cop in Police Cruiser Runs Over 50yo Woman Carrying Groceries, Then Drives Off appeared first on The Free Thought Project.

PA: The Importance of District Wealth In One Chart

Peter Greene at CURMUDGUCATION - 12 hours ago
Pennsylvania is close to the bottom of the nation in state financial support for public education. For years, we've hovered around 35% of school funding coming from the state. That means that the effects of local wealth are heightened in the state. Rich districts can afford to pony up tax dollars to make up the difference, and poor districts struggle. In other states, state dollars might obscure the real differences in wealth between rich and poor districts, but in PA, the differences are still right there. Which is why this chart packs a punch. For those of you looking for one more... more »

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 18

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 12 hours ago
1959 Gen Qasim called Ahwaz and Mohammareh in Iran Arab Started supporting Arabs in Khuzistan province 2002 Pres Bush said war was inevitable with Iraq at NSC meeting 2002 Bush met with Spanish Pres Anzar Said Iraq’s weapons declaration was a joke and US would eventually have to remove Saddam 2002 Sec Def Rumsfeld ordered start of civil administration to run postwar Iraq 3 months before invasion 2002 Saddam scrapped all of Iraq’s defense plans for US invasion and replaced them with one he made himself War plans consisted of concentric circles around Baghdad and defending... more »

"The Next Financial Crisis is Here, China Edition"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 12 hours ago
*"The Next Financial Crisis is Here, China Edition"* by Phoenix Capital "This might be the single most important series of articles I’ve written all year. If you have family or friends who are concerned about the markets, forward them these emails. The global economy is now facing the Perfect Storm. Many are confused by this because neither the economic data nor the media are presenting a picture that is anywhere near as negative as reality. The reasons for this are that economic data is BACKWARD looking, not predictive… and the media has a vested interest in promoting a rosy pictu... more »

The Only President To Be At War His Entire Presidency

Diogenes Sarcastica™ at Diogenes' Middle Finger - 12 hours ago
The man's eight years of failed foreign policy created more death, chaos and suffering than any time since World War II is named the RFK Human Rights Organization 'Ripple of Hope' Laureate. - MORE (H/T IOTWReport)

Would you support a Green New Deal?

The Tylt at Louisiana Environment and Flood Control - 12 hours ago
Proponents of the Green New Deal say that in order to save the planet, we need to drastically reframe our economy. Opponents worry about the cost on jobs.

So much for the "peace dividend"

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 12 hours ago
Under the successive US administrations since Reagan, there was a concerted effort to reap a "peace dividend" by cutting military expenditure. One can't blame either Democrat or Republican administrations exclusively - both were guilty of such behavior. The inevitable result was that, as defense funds grew harder and harder to get, they were spent on the visibly "sexy" things like new ships and aircraft and vehicles. The hidden logistics and support requirements to keep all those new toys functional were often underfunded, sometimes to a criminal extent. We've all read horror s... more »

Samir Geagea outraged over Sudanese President’s visit to Syria

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:45 A.M.) – The leader of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, blasted Sudanese President, Omar Al-Bashir, for visiting Syria on Sunday. Geagea said in a statement on Monday that Al-Bashir’s surprise visit to Syria had “ignored the suffering of 10 million Syrians” at the hands of the Syrian government and their allies. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Serbia’s Vucic and Kosovo’s Thaci clash over Kosovo army formation (video)

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci clashed over the Kosovo’s decision to transform the nation’s security force into a regular army at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York City on Monday. Vucic claimed that such a decision has no legal grounds, adding that the procedure […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

US no longer seeking regime change in Syria: envoy

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:10 A.M.) – The United States is no longer seeking to topple Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his government, Washington’s envoy to Syria, James Jeffrey, said on Monday. “We want to see a regime that is fundamentally different. It’s not regime change — we’re not trying to get rid of Assad,” Jeffrey said […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Turkish Foreign Minister mentions first arrests of Gulen members in US

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
The US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) started to make arrests of the members of the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO), an Islamic social movement prohibited in Turkey, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated on Monday. The current Turkish government accuses FETO of an attempted coup in July 2016. “The FBI are carrying out [investigative] activities […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Saudi Coalition scores big advance along Yemen-Saudi Highway

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:30 A.M.) – The Saudi Coalition troops scored a big advance in northern Yemen on Monday after launching a big assault inside the Al-Jawf Governorate. According to pro-government media, the Saudi Coalition, alongside the Hadi loyalists, captured large parts of the Yemen-Saudi Arabia Highway after a fierce battle with the Houthi forces in […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Lebanon regularly registers violations of domestic airspace by Israel – envoy

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Lebanon registers breaches of its airspace by Israel almost on an everyday basis, Lebanese Ambassador to Moscow Chawki Bou Nassar told Sputnik Monday, calling on the global community to put an end to aggression against Beirut. “Israel almost daily invades Lebanese airspace and territorial waters and sometimes violates the border of Lebanon. Almost every day they […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

US does not rule out increasing military presence in Black Sea

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
The US may consider the possibility of increasing its military presence in the Black Sea, US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker said on Monday during a press briefing. “As far as the Black Sea goes, Turkey plays a critically important role,” Volker stated. “We also want to work with Turkey on security in the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

S-300 missile system deterred US Coalition jets in northeast Syria – Russian official

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:40 P.M.) – The Russian-made S-300 missile defense system has deterred U.S. Coalition warplanes in northeastern Syria, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov told reporters on Monday. “After only one battalion of the S-300V4 air-defense system entered combat duty, the intensity of the flights made by the coalition’s air forces in northeastern […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Israel developing weapons ‘no other country has’ – Netanyahu (video)

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is developing weapons “with special capabilities that no other country has.” He made the remarks after he toured a facility of the state-owned defence contractor Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in Lod on Monday. Netanyahu also said that Israel is developing “offensive missiles here that can reach anywhere […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

SDF troops attempt push into another Daesh stronghold near Iraqi border

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:15 P.M.) – The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a big assault in the southeastern countryside of the Deir Ezzor province, today, targeting the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) stronghold of Al-Sousah near the Iraqi border. Backed by heavy artillery from their U.S. Coalition partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces began their assault on Monday […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Netanyahu says Israeli missiles can hit any place in Middle East

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Speaking at the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries near Tel Aviv and standing in front of a display of weapons that he had just toured, Netanyahu explained, “This is an offensive force that belongs to the State of Israel and is relevant for all of our different fronts,” according to a report by Jerusalem Post. The prime minister, who is also Israel’s defense minister following the November 14 […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Houthi forces ambush Saudi-backed troops in northern Yemen (video)

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:40 P.M.) – The Houthi forces recently carried out two ambushes against the Saudi-backed troops in Yemen’s Al-Jawf Governorate. Based on the footage released by the Houthi forces, their fighters detonated roadside bombs inside the Al-Sha’af District of Al-Jawf. The Houthi roadside bombing attack resulted in the destruction of two vehicles belonging to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Retaking Idlib is top priority for Syrian government – report

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:00 P.M.) – Retaking the Idlib province is a top priority for the Syrian government, Foreign Minister Walid Al-Mu’allem said on Monday. Speaking at the Damascus University auditorium, Al-Mu’allem told the crowd that “our priority is liberating Idlib from terrorism.” Al-Mu’allem said that if Damascus can get rid of the terrorists in Idlib […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Turkish military concludes preparations for Euphrates offensive: Erdogan

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
The Turkish Armed Forces have concluded the preparations for a possible military operation in Syria, which may begin at any time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Monday during a speech in Konya, transmitted by the NTV channel. “We can begin [the operation] in Syria at any moment. Our glorious army has concluded the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Turkish FM denies reports that Ankara will work with Assad

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has refuted reports claiming that Ankara is ready to cooperate with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “I did not say anything of this kind, anything that would mean that we will work with al-Assad or that we recognize him,” the Anadolu Agency cited the Turkish diplomat on Monday. On December 6, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Russian MoD reveals how Iskander missile system proved effectiveness in Syria

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Russia’s Iskander-M mobile short-range ballistic missile system as well as the Tornado-G and Smerch multiple launch rocket systems have confirmed their effectiveness during fighting in Syria, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov. He said that “in general, the Russian weapons proved to be effective in the course of the Syrian campaign, confirming its advanced characteristics and traditional advantages, such as ease of use […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Lebanese and Israeli troops come face-to-face in heated exchange along border (video)

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:30 P.M.) – The Lebanese military has been placed on high alert this evening after Israeli troops were seen crossing the demarcation line along their border. According to a military communique, Lebanese Army reinforcements were sent to southern Lebanon after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) crossed the U.N.’s “blue line” and began rolling […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

‘We will continue to bury them’ – Erdogan on Kurdish forces (video)

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke out against Kurdish fighters while speaking in Konya on Monday, saying “we are burying the terrorists in the well they dug themselves, and we will continue to bury them.” “We spoke to Mr. Trump; those terrorists should go east of the Euphrates. If they won’t go, then we will […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

New satellite images show convoy of trucks transporting Syrian oil to Iraq and Turkey

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:00 P.M.) – The Russian Ministry of Defense published two images on Monday that showed Syrian oil being transported to the neighboring countries of Iraq and Turkey. As shown in the images below, the trucks were moving a large quantity of oil to these neighboring countries: Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Lavrov hopes military cooperation with Israel in Syria continues (video)

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia expects cooperation with Israel on Syria to continue, speaking in a meeting with Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel Isaac Herzog in Moscow on Monday. “[We hope that] This cooperation would continue in the way which doesn’t endanger the lives of the Russian soldiers, doesn’t create […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Russian reportedly soldier killed by Turkish-backed rebels in Latakia

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:00 P.M.) – A Russian soldier was reportedly killed in the Latakia province on Monday when a group of Turkish-backed rebels attacked the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) positions in the Kurdish Mountains. According to a military report from the Latakia province, the Russian soldier was killed on Monday morning when the Turkish-backed National […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Breaking: Syrian Army captures entire group of Turkish-backed rebels in northwest Hama

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) captured an entire group of Turkish-baked rebel fighters in the northwestern countryside of the Hama province this afternoon. According to a military source close to the scene, the Syrian Arab Army captured an entire group of Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters that were trying […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Daesh takes advantage of bad weather to advance in southeast Deir Ezzor

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:30 P.M.) – The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) terror group took advantage of the rough weather in southeast Deir Ezzor on Monday to reenter their former stronghold, Hajin, that is located east of the Euphrates River. According to local reports, the Islamic State managed to reenter the eastern districts of Hajin on Monday after […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Russia carries out nearly 100 sorties per day in Syria

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said Monday that Russian military aircraft and helicopters managed to carry out up to 100 sorties per day from the Hmeymim air base in Syria due to efficient functioning of the engineering services. “Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Russian Helicopters, Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV) and other organizations of the military […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Large Turkish military convoy enters northwestern Syria

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:20 P.M.) – A large Turkish military convoy reportedly entered northwestern Syria on Sunday to reinforce their positions in the Hama province. According to opposition media activists, the Turkish military convoy entered northwestern Syria early on Sunday before making their way to their observations posts in the northern countryside of the Hama Governorate. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Israeli forces claim 4th Hezbollah tunnel unearthed along Lebanese border (video)

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
A fourth tunnel allegedly built by Hezbollah to infiltrate Israel was uncovered along the Lebanese border, the Israeli Defence Force announced on Sunday. It is the fourth such tunnel found this month as part of the army’s ‘Operation Northern Shield.’ Works to render the tunnel obsolete are already underway, as seen in footage filmed on […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Iraqi Air Force wipes out entire Daesh command meeting in Syria

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
The Iraqi air force on 11 December destroyed two buildings in the city of Hajin in Syria where heads of the Daesh* terror group have held regular meetings, the Defence Ministry of Iraq reported. “The airstrike completely destroyed two buildings. They were used by top Daesh leadership to conduct regular meetings”, the ministry said in a statement. The […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Several Syrian Army soldiers killed in big attack by Turkish-backed rebels in Latakia

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:45 P.M.) – Several Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldiers were killed on Monday morning when the Turkish-backed rebels carried out a big assault on their positions in the Latakia province, a source told Al-Masdar News this afternoon. According to a military source in the Latakia province, a group of Turkish-backed rebels from the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Jihadists preparing large-scale offensives in Hama, Latakia: Idlib governor

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:25 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels in the Hama and Latakia provinces are preparing to launch large-scale offensives against the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and their allies, the Idlib governor Mohammad Fadi Sadun told Sputnik News on Monday. “There is a threat of armed groups organizing large-scale attacks in northern Latakia and northern […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Turkey will not let US prevent Ankara’s op east of Euphrates in Syria – minister

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Turkey will not let the United States prevent its military operation in the Syrian territories, east of the Euphrates River, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Monday. “[The United States] has tried to hamper us in northern Iraq, it tried to hamper us in Afrin, [Syria]. And now, it will try to hamper us east […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Saudi Arabia slams US Senate bill accusing MBS of ‘complicity’ in Khashoggi’s death

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Saudi Arabia has slammed the US Senate for passing a resolution that accused its Crown Prince of ‘complicity’ in the Jamal Khashoggi murder, seeking to reinforce that the incident in no way reflects a statewide policy. “Saudi Arabia deplores the recent position of the United States Senate, which was based on allegations and accusations that […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

At least 17 civilians killed in US Coalition attack – SANA

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
At least 17 civilians were killed in an airstrike delivered by the US-led coalition in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor governorate, SANA news agency reported on Sunday. According to SANA, the strike was delivered at a village southeast of the settlement of Hajin. Two more civilians were wounded. More: http://tass.com/world/1036311 Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Saudi soldiers run away from battle and leave behind wounded comrades (video)

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:30 P.M.) – A new video that was released by the Houthi-aligned Al-Masirah TV channel on Saturday showed several Saudi soldiers abandoning their lines near the Yemeni border after facing a heavy enemy assault. According to Al-Masirah, the Saudi Army came under attack by the Houthi forces in the Al-Dood Mountains region of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Sudanese President arrives in Syria to meet Assad

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:20 P.M.) – Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad received his Sudanese counterpart Omar Al-Bashir at Damascus International Airport on Sunday. Following the arrival of Al-Bashir, the two presidents headed to the People’s Palace, where they held a session talks on bilateral relations and developments in Syria and the region. During the talks, President Al-Assad […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Turkey plans to buy 120 F-35 fighter jets from US: Erdogan

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that Ankara intended to buy 120 US-made F-35 fighter jets amid speculations that the transfer might be halted. “We will buy 120 F-35 aircraft produced by the United States. Some of the components for the aircraft are produced in Turkey,” Erdogan said, speaking at a rally in Istanbul, which was aired by the NTV broadcaster. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Important intelligence sharing meeting held between Iraq, Syria, Russia, Iran in Baghdad

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:30 P.M.) – A large intelligence sharing meeting was held in Baghdad between the defense officials from Iraq, Russia, Syria, and Iran on Sunday, Al-Ekhbariya reported. The meeting was reportedly chaired by Major General Saad Mozher Al-Allaq of the Iraqi Military Intelligence Directorate; it was attended by high ranking officials from all the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Four dead and 20 injured after massive explosion rocks Afrin market (video

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
At least four people were killed and 20 injured after a car bomb went off in Afrin’s al-Hal market on Sunday, according to reports. Local media said that an explosives-laden vehicle was detonated in the busy vegetable market. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Afrin is controlled by Turkish-backed militants that seized […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Iraqi forces nab 2 Daesh fighters in Mosul after infiltration from Syria

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:15 P.M.) – Two Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists were captured by the Iraqi Armed Forces in the historical city of Mosul after they had infiltrated from neighboring Syria recently. “The forces of the Military Intelligence Directorate arrested two terrorists during a security operation in the city of Badush, west of Mosul,” Al-Ma’aloumah News […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

US Coalition accuses Daesh of using protected structures against their forces in Syria

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:10 P.M.) – The official website of the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve accused the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) on Sunday of using protected structures to attack their forces inside Syria. “On Dec. 15, a Coalition precision strike destroyed an ISIS command and control facility in a mosque in southern Hajin, Syria,” the statement began. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Battle for northern Yemen heats up as Sanaa tribes declare general mobilization for war

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:00 P.M.) – Just a week after the U.N.-sponsored Yemeni peace talks in Sweden, the warring parties in the northern part of the country have intensified their hostilities against one another. According to Yemen’s Saba News Agency, the residents and sheikhs of the Sanaa Governorate have declared a general mobilization for war against […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Russia pushing Turkey to attack Syrian Kurds: SDF commander

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:45 P.M.) – Russia is one of the main instigators of the turmoil in northern Syria, as they are pushing Turkey to launch an attack east of the Euphrates, a commander from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) tweeted on Sunday, as reported by Kurdistan 24. “Russia has frozen the campaign on Idlib because […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Russian Tu-160 heavy bombers return from Venezuela (video)

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Two Russian Tu-160 heavy strategic bombers, an An-124 airlift jet aircraft and an Il-62 airliner returned from Caracas in Venezuela to Engels Air Force Base in Russia, as shown in footage released on Saturday. “I would like to thank you again for such warm hospitality. As I said in my speech earlier, your warm climate […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Iraqi Air Force kills several Daesh commanders in new attack on southeast Syria

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:35 P.M.) – The Iraqi Air Force killed several commanders from the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) in a new attack on southeastern Syria, a new report said on Sunday. Citing the Director General of Iraq’s Interior Ministry, Abu ‘Ali Al-Basri, Al-Ma’aloumeh News said on Sunday at least sixteen Islamic State commanders were killed by […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Lebanese FM fires back at Israel: ‘Lebanon protected by its army and resistance’

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:30 P.M.) – Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil tweeted a response to Israel’s ongoing operation along the border on Sunday, saying that his nation is protected by its army and resistance forces. “Lebanon is protected by its army and resistance, and most importantly it is protected by its diversity and pluralism, which opposes […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Turkish Army blows up YPG post in new missile strike (video)

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:00 P.M.) – The Turkish Army carried out a new missile strike against the Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG) in the northeastern countryside of the Aleppo province this past week. According to pro-Free Syrian Army (FSA) media, the Turkish Army fired an anti-tank guided missile at a YPG tent in the front-lines in […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

US warns Syrian opposition against participating in Turkey’s planned offensive: Anadolu

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
US intelligence and diplomatic officials have urged the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SMDK) not to support the planned Turkish military operation against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) east of the Euphrates River. Turkey’s Anadolu news agency cited a number US officials as saying in a message that any participation by SMDK or FSA in the operation is […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Russian spy plane goes down over northwestern Syria

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:30 P.M.) – A Russian spy plane crashed during a reconnaissance flight in northwestern Syria, today, a Syrian military communique said. According to the communique, the Russian-made Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone went down over the northern countryside of the Hama Governorate, today, after the aircraft experienced technical problems. The spy plane reportedly crashed inside […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Trump considers pulling US troops from Syria: Turkish FM

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday commented on the Khashoggi case, the US’ military presence in Syria, and a possible extradition of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen. According to the Turkish Foreign Minister, Washington is considering pulling troops out of Syria. The US is yet to comment on the statement. “President [Donald] Trump, I think, is now considering leaving […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Daesh not giving up in Deir Ezzor as they fight back to Hajin (video)

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:10 P.M.) – The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) terror organization has managed to fight their way back to the strategic town of Hajin after being expelled this past week. The terror group was able to fight their way back to Hajin after a series of losses at the hands of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Turkey to consider working with Assad if he wins democratic election in Syria – FM

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:40 P.M.) – If Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad wins a democratic election in Syria, Turkey will consider working with him, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Sunday. “If it is democratic election, and if it is a credible one then everybody should consider (working with him),” Cavusoglu said during a press conference […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Hansen Running Out Of Time

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 12 hours ago
The world’s leading climate expert has only two weeks left to melt the Arctic, and the ice is rapidly expanding and thickening. December 1 December 17 The Argus-Press – Google News Archive Search Meanwhile, … Continue reading →

Untitled

Jenna Orkin at From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog - 12 hours ago
From Jenna Orkin Inside the Mysterious Intelligence Firm Now in Mueller’s SightsIllinois is officially a ‘sanctuary state’ for immigrants Home-Schooling Parent In Worcester Was Arrested In Her Home. Now She's SuingMalaysia files criminal charges against Goldman Sachs and two ex-bankers seeking 'well in excess' of $2.7 billion China Press Warns To "Prepare For Escalation Of Conflict With Canada"76-Year-Old Joe Biden Is Officially The Frontrunner For 2020 Democratic NominationTrump's own lawyer Giuliani suggests he hasn't been truthful in felony campaign finance probe Signs Of Coming ... more »

How Can Selling Nuclear Energy to the Saudis be a Good Idea?

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 12 hours ago
Nuclear proliferation is a direct effect of the nature and operations of the nuclear complex. In the US, both Democrats and Republicans have promoted nuclear technology abroad to enrich US and allies' nuclear industries and to entice countries into the US nuclear fold, whose limits on recycling and enrichment are clearly ignored by some nations. Today the Saudis are eager for developing their "civilian" nuclear arsenal. They will probably buy from China, Russia, Japan or South Korea if the US doesn't sell but still, how can policy makers not see the obvious hazards of a nuclear-arm... more »

REPORT: Syrian Army’s ‘an Airport for an Airport’ Policy to Counteract Israeli Aggression

21wire at 21st Century Wire - 12 hours ago
*21WIRE + SouthFront* | Syrian Armed Forces have adopted a new policy of response to further acts of aggression by Israel.

Cancelling Arms Deal With Saudi Arabia Will Cost Canada Billions In Penalties

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
© Photo : Wikipedia/NZDF *Toronto Star:* *General Dynamics says cancelling Saudi Arabian contract would cost billions* OTTAWA—The Ontario-based company that is selling $15-billion worth of armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia is warning the Liberal government that cancelling the deal will it cost billions of dollars in penalties. General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada said in a statement Monday that cancelling the contract would also hurt its workforce. The statement comes as the federal government is reviewing the controversial contract. Canada is reviewing all arms sales to Saudi Ar... more »

Are The Yellow Vest Protests About To Spread To Canada?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
Hundreds of protestors gather in #Calgary and #Edmonton to protest Federal and Provincial governments. Many wearing Yellow vests and chanting against the carbon tax, UN, and illegal immigration. pic.twitter.com/xi8r0cRGYu — Brad MacLeod (@CTVBradMacLeod) December 15, 2018 *CTV News: **Yellow vest protests spread to Canada, criticizing illegal immigration, taxes* Originally starting in France, yellow vest protests have moved to Canada. Many were held Saturday across the country criticizing the tax and immigration policies of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government. The pr... more »

London and Wall Street Can't Survive to 2020; So Attack a Chinese Leadership Thinking Decades Ahead

adam at LaRouchePAC Feed - 13 hours ago
[image: President Donald J. Trump waves as he and Mrs. Trump walk down the Grand Staircase to greet guests at the Congressional Ball Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in the Grand Foyer of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)] PDF: [image: PDF icon] 20181218-london-wallst-cant-survive.pdf If we are to succeed in redirecting President Donald Trump from his current obliviousness to the financial crash coming at the United States, the outrageous attacks on China, in particular, by neo-con members of his administration and clueless European "leaders" must be shut up. Wh... more »

Most Federal Spending Occurs Without Congressional Approval: GAO

Michael Tennant at rss - 13 hours ago
[image: most-federal-spending-occurs-without-congressional-approval-gao] Only 14 percent of federal spending is explicitly approved by Congress, while the rest happens automatically, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.

Socially Responsible Financial Innovation Necessary for Sustainable Economies

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 13 hours ago
One of the most hopeful dimensions of solar energy production concerns ownership. The means for extracting and distributing solar energy are conducive to local ownership. The big utilities – whether government or privately owned – are often not conducive to sustainable energy transformations because they seek to maintain their existing infrastructures. We’ve seen the alarming consequences of this dependence on risky twentieth century infrastructures in the nuclear energy sector. But solar can be owned and operated by discrete individuals and small communities. Community owners... more »

Closing the Global Cyber Enforcement Gap

apeters at Lawfare - 13 hours ago
Norse Global Cyber Attacks Map (Source: Flickr/Christiaan Colen) Last month, more than 50 countries and over 200 major corporations and organizations came together to agree that the international nature of cyber threats needs a cooperative global response and a common set of principles as a basis for security. This conclusion seems obvious—millions of people have been affected by malicious activity perpetrated through the internet—and yet consensus has proved difficult to obtain until now. This declaration, known as the “Paris Call For Trust and Stability in Cyberspace,” is an imp... more »

Brazilian Spiritual Healer João de Deus Requests House Arrest

Lise Alves at The Rio Times - 13 hours ago
By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The defense team for Brazilian spiritual healer, João de Deus, is seeking that the famous medium be transferred to house arrest, due to his age (76) and state of health. The healer is accused of sexual abuse of at least five hundred women and […] The post Brazilian Spiritual Healer João de Deus Requests House Arrest appeared first on The Rio Times.

Team Brazil Sends Legends to Next Month’s Race of Champions

Contributing Reporter at The Rio Times - 13 hours ago
By Scarlet Bringuenti Bennett, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Former Formula E champion Lucas Di Grassi and Indy Car legend, Hélio Castroneves are joining forces to form the Brazilian dream team for the next Race of Champions (ROC), which is set to be held in Mexico next month on January 19th. The Race […] The post Team Brazil Sends Legends to Next Month’s Race of Champions appeared first on The Rio Times.

Rio Nightlife Guide for Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Jack Arnhold at The Rio Times - 13 hours ago
We have the top three picks for this Tuesday, and below there is a list of bars and lounges that are always a good option. PARTY: Amigos da Onça @ Hub RJ (Santo Cristo) – The Carnival bloco of ‘Bloco Amigos da Onça’ is gathering for a full rehearsal of their legendary party. This will […] The post Rio Nightlife Guide for Tuesday, December 18, 2018 appeared first on The Rio Times.

Tuesday Morning Links

Greg Fingas at Accidental Deliberations - 13 hours ago
This and that for your Tuesday reading. - Luke Savage highlights the distinction between photo-op liberalism and any genuine commitment to social progress: This may be the reason liberal thought endlessly obsesses over the language used in political debate and often seems to place a higher value on its tone and quality than on its content or outcome. It’s also why, I suspect, today’s grinning Trudeaus and Obamas seem so much more preoccupied with how things are perceived to be going than with how they actually are, and value the sanctity of procedures over the implications they may ... more »

Facebook - It Can't Know Enough About Us

A Political Junkie at Viable Opposition - 13 hours ago
Not surprisingly, a recent development in "Facebook's World" received very little traction in the mainstream media which spends its energies worrying about Facebook's share price and its impact on the 2016 American election. On June 14, 2018, Patent Number US20180167677 otherwise known as "Broadcast content view analysis based on ambient audio recording" was published as shown here: Here is a rather technical summary of the technology involved as quoted from the patent application: "*Described methods, systems and computer program readable storage medium storing executable compute... more »

As A Last Resort France Is Preparing The Use Of A Chemical Weapon Against Rioting 'Yellow Vests'

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
*Daily Mail: **France prepares 'last resort' chemical weapon that can be smothered around Paris to keep Yellow Vest rioters away from key buildings as anti-Macron protests continue* * French security forces could smother centre of Paris with debilitating powder * Chemical can be spread across area of size of six football pitches in ten seconds * Police desperate after five weekends of 'Yellow Vest' rioting around France * Paris alone saw 168 arrests with police using water cannon, batons and tear gas French security forces are ready to smother the centre of Paris with a ‘last ... more »

New Jersey increases number of medical marijuana dispensaries to a dozen

Bart Schaneman at Marijuana Business Daily - 14 hours ago
New Jersey regulators doubled the number of medical marijuana dispensaries that can operate in the state, adding six more for a total of 12. The move could help alleviate a product shortage that arose from a growing patient pool amid limited business licenses. According to NJ.com, the state’s health department revealed it will allow the […] New Jersey increases number of medical marijuana dispensaries to a dozen is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

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