11:45 pm MST
Did President Donald Trump Host the NRA on the Anniversary of the Sandy Hook Massacre?
Progressive blogs reported that the White House hosted the National Rifle Association on the anniversary of a mass shooting.
The Pentagon Has A Secret Program To Search For UFOs
Luis Elizondo, who led the Pentagon effort to investigate U.F.O.s until October. He resigned to protest what he characterized as excessive secrecy and internal opposition to the program. Credit Justin T. Gellerson for The New York Times *New York Times*: *Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program* WASHINGTON — In the $600 billion annual Defense Department budgets, the $22 million spent on the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program was almost impossible to find. Which was how the Pentagon wanted it. For years, the program investigated rep... more »
The GOP tax plan's "working-class roots!"
*SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2017Deference to propaganda at the Washington Post:* We've encountered some excellent work in the past twenty-four hours. On last night's Hardball, Joy Reid did an excellent job listing the particulars of Donald J. Trump's apparent authoritarianism. (For ourselves, we know of no reason to assume that Trump won't achieve a successful putsch, given the way the nation has been tribalized, in large part on our own liberal team's watch.) Reid didn't labor alone. In this morning's New York Times, Shanita Hubbard offers a superbly sane-and-balanced account of gro... more »
UnHerd Elsewhere: The wisdom of The Lord Bramall
The post UnHerd Elsewhere: The wisdom of The Lord Bramall appeared first on UnHerd.
Has The White House Been 'Very Hard On Russia'?
*Washington Examiner*: *White House: 'We've been very hard on Russia'* White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Tuesday that the Trump administration has been "very hard" on Russia. “Look, I think we’ve been very hard on Russia from the beginning,” Sanders said at the daily White House press briefing. “There have been sanctions, we’ve increased energy exportation from this country, and we’ve done things to put pressure on Russia, asking them to engage in a bigger and greater way on some of the common enemies we face,” she said. President Trump signed a Russia sanctions bill... more »
Rep. Adam Schiff expresses concern that the Republicans will soon shut down the House Intelligence investigation as a precursor to firing Robert Mueller.
I’m increasingly worried Republicans will shut down the House Intelligence Committee investigation at the end of the month. Here’s why: — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) December 15, 2017 Courtesy of Mother Jones: *Republicans on the House intelligence committee appear intent on shutting down the panel’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election as soon as next Friday, according to the committee’s top Democrat. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) warned in a series of tweets that the move could presage an all-out GOP attack on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigat... more »
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: When It Comes To Corruption And Austerity Do What I Say Not What I Do
The Chateau Louis XIV is set in a 57-acre landscaped park. The developer bulldozed a 19th-century castle in Louveciennes to make way for the new chateau in 2009. Credit Charles Platiau/Reuters *New York Times*:* World’s Most Expensive Home? Another Bauble for a Saudi Prince* A $300 million chateau is one of a string of extravagant purchases for a prince who is cracking down on ill-gotten wealth and preaching fiscal austerity. LOUVECIENNES, France — When the Chateau Louis XIV sold for over $300 million two years ago, Fortune magazine called it “the world’s most expensive home,” a... more »
'Newswatch' Interview with James Harding (Transcript)
For transcript lovers everywhere... *Samira Ahmed*: James Harding, thanks for coming on *Newswatch*. Let's start with Brexit. You were Director of News during the EU referendum - a very divisive time for the nation. Looking back now what do you say to the many viewers who thought the BBC was actually essentially acting as part of the Establishment and clearly favouring Remain? *James Harding*: I think that the referendum was, of course, an incredibly polarising time, as you say, Samira. But actually what's interesting is, of course, we've had complaints from both sides. And what... more »
Security In Iraq, Dec 8-14, 2017
Violence remained extremely low during the second week of December. There were just 56 incidents reported in the media. That was the 18thfull week with fewer than 100 incidents. That resulted in 135 deaths and 115 wounded. 50 of the dead however were from a mass grave in Ninewa. There were 2 casualties in Basra, 4 in Diyala, 5 in Kirkuk, 10 in Babil, 18 in Anbar, 29 in Kurdistan, 42 in Baghdad, 54 in Salahaddin and 86 in Ninewa. The fatalities consisted of 11 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), 18 Hashd al-Shaabi, 29 fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and... more »
This Day In Iraqi History – Dec 16
1922 UK Lord of the Admiralty told Iraq commission Iraq oil would be important in case of war in Far East 1925 League of Nations set Turkey-Iraq border with Mosul province going to Iraq 1995 King Hussein offered to sponsor talks amongst Iraqi opposition parties 1998 UN inspectors left Iraq over non-cooperation 1998 US and UK start Operation Desert Fox after Iraq broke off cooperation with UN weapons inspectors Ended Iraq’s plans to revive WMD programs 1998 Assessment by Intl Atomic Energy Agency Iraq had not produced a nuclear bomb before Gulf W... more »
Life in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria (Video)
*WNU Editor:* Puerto Rico's infrastructure was already in disrepair before Hurricane Maria .... after Hurricane Maria passed it was destroyed. Am I surprised that the infrastructure has not been replaced .... no. Two months ago I commented on my own personal story of trying to connect my chalet in Quebec (Canada) to the grid. It took months to accomplish this .... even though I paid for the transformer/polls/and wire, did the paperwork, and hired the crew to do this job. I am just a small no-body .... Puerto Rico is a bigger place. That is why my original prediction on how long it ... more »
Poland Just Articulated The Socio-Religious Ideology Of The “Three Seas Initiative”
With the right combination of soft and economic power, Poland can return to becoming one of Europe’s Great Powers. The post Poland Just Articulated The Socio-Religious Ideology Of The “Three Seas Initiative” appeared first on OrientalReview.org.
Argentina Has Fired The Head Of Its Navy One Month After The Disappearance Of The Submarine ARA San Juan
A bouquet of flowers and banners in support of the 44 crew members of the missing at sea ARA San Juan submarine are placed on a fence outside an Argentine naval base in Mar del Plata, Argentina November 25, 2017. The banner below reads "God, give strenght to the submariners". REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci *Reuters:* *Argentina fires head of navy over submarine tragedy* BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina fired the head of its navy a month after a submarine disappeared in the South Atlantic with 44 crew members onboard, a government spokesman said on Saturday. Letting go of Navy Admira... more »
Dementia with Lewy bodies: Unique genetic profile identified
Medical Xpress: Dementia with Lewy bodies: Unique genetic profile identified https://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2017-12-dementia-lewy-bodies-unique-genetic.html Advertisements
5 Ways to Reduce Dry Mouth.
5 Ways to Reduce Dry Mouth | Valley HomeCare Fresno CA https://valleyhca.com/5-ways-to-reduce-dry-mouth/
10 Lies You Were Taught In School.
10 Lies You Were Taught In School – Collective Evolution http://www.collective-evolution.com/2017/01/28/10-lies-you-were-taught-in-school/
Chile Goes To The Polls On Sunday To Elect A New President
Sebastián Piñera (L) and Alejandro Guillier are neck and neck in the opinion polls *VOA:* *With Two Unpopular Candidates, Chilean Election Up for Grabs* SANTIAGO, CHILE — Billionaire Sebastian Pinera once looked set to easily win Chile’s presidential runoff and swing the country back to the right. Now, the election’s outcome is so uncertain analysts say the nation could remain on its center-left path. Pinera, who previously governed Chile from 2010 to 2014, won the first round of voting in November with 36 percent support, below expectations from pollsters. His center-left chall... more »
In 2018 The US Gov’t Will Spend Nearly $2 Billion a Day — Solely on WAR
The price tag on the latest National Defense Authorization Act is $700 billion, which will cost American taxpayers nearly $2 billion every day in 2018.
WATCH: Pastor Owns Cops Who Try to Illegally Shut Down His Free Speech
An anti-abortion group protesting outside of an abortion clinic schooled local police on their rights, after they were harassed with the threat of arrest.
German left goes cuckoo with KoKo
In a normal coalition the parties first develop a joint platform, where everyone agrees to the position on all major issues. Under KoKo they merely agree to a few issues that mean a lot to the left.
Why Is Iran Not Afraid Of The Saudi Military?
Saudi special forces soldiers with G36C assault rifles. Saudi Press Agency *Ben Brimelow, Business Insider*: *Saudi Arabia has the best military equipment money can buy — but it's still not a threat to Iran* * Saudi Arabia has some of the greatest military equipment money can buy, but its military is still not seen as a threat to its longtime rival Iran. * Saudi Arabia's military has not proved capable of effectively fighting back Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. * Its arsenal is designed for a large conventional war — not proxy fighting. In the past few years, Saudi Arabia has l... more »
Black voters won Alabama for the Dems. Here's what they need in return
Sharon Austin, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of African American Studies, University of Florida at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 14 hours ago
Almost 100 percent of black Alabamians voted for Doug Jones. The Democratic senator-elect can thank this key base by addressing his home state's problems with rural poverty, education and health care.
Extinctions and shutting down the Gulf Stream
Originally posted on Watts Up With That?: By Andy May This is part four of our series on climate change costs and hazards. The first three parts were on humans and the environment, population and the food supply, and the cost of global warming. In this part we examine the assertion that man-made climate change,…
Untitled
From Jenna Orkin Dangers of WIPR - Richard Clarke Laser-driven system for creating fusion power now within reach Macron awards US scientists grants to move to France in defiance of Trump Court Filing Confirms Fusion GPS Hired DOJ Official's CIA Wife To Dig Up Dirt On Trump In A Stateless World, Can You Grow Veggies In Your Front Yard? Trial Of Shkreli Lawyer Interrupted By "Potentially Career-Ending" Allegations About Prosecutor Humans Fight Back: San Fran Security Robot Attacked, Knocked Over, Smeared With Feces Why Does The New $1 Billion US Embassy In London Need The Firs... more »
Are We Going To War Against Iran?
*Jonah Shepp, NYMag*: *Are We Going to War With Iran?* When U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Thursday presented what she claimed was irrefutable evidence that Iran had supplied a missile launched at the Saudi Arabian capital by Houthi rebels in Yemen last month, it was hard not to recall the last time an American diplomat stood before the U.N. with evidence that a rogue Middle Eastern state was engaged in proliferation of dangerous weapons. As it turned out, then-Secretary of State Colin Powell’s 2003 speech explaining the Bush administration’s rationale for go... more »
Putin Jokes About Military Spending
Watch #Putin crack a joke about military spending during his annual marathon Q&A session pic.twitter.com/XuqFrjH76W — RT (@RT_com) December 15, 2017 *WNU Editor: *He better not give up his day job. Correction .... I do want him to give up his day job. Find Vladimir on his class group photo: pic.twitter.com/9xr3ej4kK6 — English Russia (@EnglishRussia1) December 15, 2017 *Answer: *Third bottom from right.
Weekend reads: Weaponized plagiarism; bias against low-income country research; the uncited papers
The week at Retraction Watch featured commentary on yet another paper claiming a link between autism and vaccines, a welcome useful retraction notice, and a rewrite of a paper that influenced car seat guidelines. Here’s what was happening elsewhere: “Plagiarism has been weaponized by those who want to change the world to their whims.” (Jonathan Bailey, Plagiarism […] The post Weekend reads: Weaponized plagiarism; bias against low-income country research; the uncited papers appeared first on Retraction Watch.
More than 700 employees have left the EPA since Scott Pruitt took over.
Courtesy of Think Progress: *Since Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt took over the top job at the agency in March, more than 700 employees have either retired, taken voluntary buyouts, or quit, signaling the second-highest exodus of employees from the agency in nearly a decade. * *According to agency documents and federal employment statistics, 770 EPA employees departed the agency between April and December, leaving employment levels close to Reagan-era levels of staffing. According to the EPA’s contingency shutdown plan for December, the agency currently... more »
This Vaccine Speech Will Blow Your Mind..
(Note from Erin: Dr. Mercola and I were honored to speak again this year at The Truth About Cancer in Orlando, where Del spoke. He’s a passionate man who cares very much about this issue.) By Dr. Mercola The video below features a lecture by Del Bigtree, an Emmy award-winning producer of “The Doctors” talk show for six
Since Feeding the Homeless is Now Illegal, A Group Carried AR15s to Give Out Food—It Worked
[image: homeless]A large group of well-armed good samaritans took to the streets this week to openly break a bad law to help the homeless and those less fortunate.
Philip Brailsford: How the Police State Made a Mormon Missionary a Cold-Blooded Killer
[image: brailsford]Philip Brailsford went from spreading love in the Mormon church to gunning down an unarmed innocent father of two for no reason. What happened?
A Thought on the "One State Solution" to the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Since the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995 initiated what has become known as the "Oslo Process", the recognised vision of how to resolve the longstanding violent conflict between the state of Israel and Palestinian representatives, organisations and people have been the so-called Two State Solution, where the state of Israel is to mostly withdraw to its original 1947 borders, and a state of Palestine reign over the remaining territory of what used to be the British colonial "protectorate" of Palestine. This resulted in the creation of the Palestinian Authority reign over the Westba... more »
Saturday Morning Links
This and that for your weekend reading. - Larry Elliott suggests we shouldn't be duped into thinking that policy biased in favour of the corporate sector is a necessity rather than a choice. And John Falzon notes that inequality too is the product of political decisions rather than an inevitability, while Facundo Alvaredo, Lucas Chancel, Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman highlight how the U.S. is going out of its way to make matters worse. - Andrew Stevens discusses the fight for a fair minimum wage in Saskatchewan - and the fearmongering used to oppose one. And Kate... more »
An Extraordinary Chief Justice
Beverley McLachlin has left the bench. Adrienne Clarkson knows her well and puts her tenure as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in perspective: Rarely does public life bring you into intimate contact with people for whom you instantly feel great personal affinity. And in my case, a sharing of a generation's strivings in the second wave of feminism. It's not easy to be a woman in public life in Canada. Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and I, having been governor-general, have shared different kinds of travails, but we know what sharing means and we know what sisterhood means. Ye... more »
REPORT: Trump won’t list global warming as a national security threat
The Trump administration will reportedly remove manmade global warming from its list of national security threats, reversing an Obama-era policy putting the global climate at the center of foreign and national security policy.
From Russia with Bombs: How China's Big 'Guns' Could Wage War
*Charlie Gao* *Security, Asia* New mortars could mean trouble if Beijing and Washington ever clash. One of the hallmarks of Soviet (now Russian) artillery doctrine was a focus on rapid, devastating fire. The Soviets noticed that the effectiveness of a barrage quickly wore off after time as the targets took cover, so significant effort was spent maximizing the initial volume of fire. To facilitate this, the doctrine called for heavy use of rocket artillery such as the BM-21 Grad, which has an extremely rapid rate of fire by design. Additionally, self-propelled guns such as the 2S... more »
This World War II Victory in Europe Signaled the Death of Nazi Germany
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* Originally commissioned to take on Martinique, the men of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion were instead shipped to Europe and to the Battle of the Bulge. In November 1942, successful graduates of the Army’s jump school were screened by Major Joerg for suitability to join what would later become the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion (PIB). Late in December, some 450 selectees were shipped to Panama. There, 125 men of Company C, 501st PIB became the cadre for the 450 new men arriving from the States. The 551st was thus born with t... more »
Get Ready, North Korea: Japan Wants Missile Defense on Steroids
*Zachary Keck* *Security, Asia* Tokyo wants to spend billions to protect itself. With the North Korean nuclear threat rising, Japan is significantly boosting its missile-defense investment. This week, Japan’s Defense Ministry submitted its budget request for fiscal year 2018, which begins in April. The request asks for a defense budget of around $44 billion, about a 2.5 percent increase from 2017. As *Aviation Week,* a trade publication, noted, the largest spending category in the budget request is for missile defense. Specifically, Japan’s defense ministry is requesting about $... more »
Even the Deadliest Taliban 'Commandos' Are No Match for U.S.-Afghan Forces
*Task and Purpose, Jared Keller* *Security, Middle East* The death of the Taliban’s deadly "Red Unit" leader confirms as much. In mid-November, a group of elite Taliban commandos outfitted with U.S-made assault weapons and night-vision goggles wiped out dozens of Afghan security forces in a series of brazen raids across southern and western Afghanistan. The tactics and gear utilized by the so-called Red Unit sent a wave of anxiety through U.S. and Afghan defense officials already struggling to beat back the rising tide of a Taliban resurgence since the official end of NATO combat... more »
Germany Does Not Have One Working Submarine
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Europe* And that is a big problem. On October 15, the submarine *U-35* was performing a diving maneuver off the Norwegian coast when one of the four fins on its X-shaped rudder struck a rock. The damage was severe enough it needed to be escorted back to Kiel by the testing ship *Helmsand*. The fifty-six-meter-long submarine would have to miss an international exercise in the Skagerrak Strait, scheduled for December. Underwater collisions are a hazard of submarine operations. Both U.S. and Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines have run aground in rec... more »
Trump Deserves No Loyalty-- Quite The Opposite
Michael Gerson, Bush's chief speech-write and a self-described "pro-life conservative," got it right at the *Washington Post* yesterday, when he described his elation at the defeat of Roy Moore and the election of Doug Jones in Alabama. "Trump and his admirers," he wrote, "are not just putting forth an agenda; they are littering the civic arena with deception and cruelty. They are discrediting even the good causes they claim to care about. They are condemning the country to durable social division. In Trump’s GOP, loyalty requires corruption. So loyalty itself must be reconceived.... more »
Us Too
We knew it was coming and here it is. An open source spreadsheet designed by The Professor Is In blog’s Karen L. Kelsky for the purpose of collecting up stories of sexual harassment, abuse, and plain old taking advantage from within the academy in the wake of the #MeToo movement. “I am not surprised at the […]
Lessons learned from yesterday's excitement
Thanks to everyone who offered help after yesterday's alarums and excursions. I think we're on top of the situation for now. I've learned a few things, and re-learned others, so I thought I'd share them for the benefit of anyone who's interested. First, Miss D.'s and my emphasis on building up and keeping a cash reserve has paid off, yet again. We're facing bills of over $1,000 to buy and install a new water heater and associated bits and pieces, and also replace my cellphone (with ye olde basic economy model - I don't waste money on high-end phones with features I don't need). ... more »
Saudi forces nearly expel Houthis from southern Yemen province
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:55 P.M.) – The Saudi-led Hadi loyalists and their allies have nearly driven out the Houthis from another province in southern Yemen after fierce clashes. According to pro-Saudi media, their forces captured the Al-Naqoub area and Bayhan District after a three day long battle. In addition to the territorial advance, the Hadi loyalists […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Hezbollah gives full support to Palestinian groups fighting Israel: deputy
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:45 P.M.) – The Deputy Head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, Sheikh Nabil Qa’ouq, stated on Saturday that his organization will give full support to the Palestinian resistance fighters that are fighting US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. “Hezbollah does not give significance for the American or […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Houthis ambush UAE military in west Yemen – video
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:35 P.M.) – The Houthis carried out a successful ambush in western Yemen, Friday, after targeting an armored vehicle belonging to the United Arab Emirates’ army. According to the official media wing of the Houthis, their forces ambushed the Emirati military vehicle in the Al-Walaa area near the Mocha coast. As a result […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Lavrov discusses situation in Syria with French Foreign Minister
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the situation in Syria and the upcoming bilateral contacts during a telephone conversation with France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on its website on Saturday. “The ministers discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, a schedule of political contacts for the upcoming period,” the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Jihadists in desperation mode as Syrian Army troops capture more ground near Golan Heights
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:15 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham are in serious trouble inside the Beit Jinn pocket of the West Ghouta, as they find themselves on the verge of complete defeat at the hands of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). According to a military report, the Syrian Army captured the large […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army begins rolling back ISIS gains along western bank of Euphrates
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and their allies from Liwaa Al-Quds (Palestinian paramilitary), Liwaa Fatemiyoun, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have begun their counter-offensive against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) along the western bank of the Euphrates River. Backed by heavy artillery, the Syrian Army and their allies […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Egypt and Russia agree to resume flights – video
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:55 P.M.) – Russia’s Minister for Transport Maksim Sokolov and Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy signed an agreement in Moscow on Friday to resume regular flights between Moscow and Cairo. Sokolov said that “there are a number of documents to be signed, including amendments to the presidential decree of air service […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army retakes initiative against ISIS near Yarmouk Camp
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:40 P.M.) – The Islamic State (ISIS) launched a big assault inside the Tadamon and Yarmouk Camp districts this week, targeting the positions of both the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and rebel forces. ISIS managed to capture several areas inside Tadamon and Yarmouk Camp, prompting the Syrian Army to respond with a swift […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Rebel forces fire rocket into residential neighborhood in Aleppo
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:30 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels at the southwestern outskirts of Aleppo City fired a rocket into a residential neighborhood this afternoon, causing several injuries among the civilians. According to local reports, the jihadist rebels fired a rocket into the 1070 Project in Aleppo’s southwestern corridor, hitting a residential building that houses many […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Palestinian billionaire reportedly detained in Saudi Arabia after trip to Riyadh
According to media sources, Arab Bank’s head Sabih al Masri has been repeatedly warned against traveling to Saudi Arabia, however, the businessman answered he had nothing to fear in this country. Family members of Palestinian-Jordanian businessman and Arab Bank chairman Sabih al Masri confirmed previous reports that he was arrested during his business trip to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Syrian Army recaptures key town in southern Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:15 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has recaptured an important town in the southern countryside of the Idlib Governorate, today, following a fierce battle with the Al-Qaeda linked Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham terrorist group. Led by elements of the 4th Mechanized Division and Republican Guard, the Syrian Arab Army attacked the important […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Handicapped Palestinian shot dead worked hard to provide for family – video
Archival footage from 2015 shows a glimpse of Ibrahim Abu Thuraya’s life: a wheelchair-bound man with no legs, who once cleaned cars to support his family. On Friday, Ibrahim was shot dead by Israeli troops. He was killed during clashes in Gaza City, which killed two and injured over 100. The 29 year old was […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Chinese special forces not deploying to Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:40 P.M.) – Earlier this week, a report claiming that the Chinese special forces were deploying to Syria was released by several news agencies. The primary source for this alleged report was the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). However, SANA issued a statement this afternoon denying that their news agency was behind this […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
US-backed forces capture another oil field in Deir Ezzor
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:05 P.M.) – The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have captured another oil field inside the Deir Ezzor Governorate, today, after a short battle with the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). Led by their Deir Ezzor Military Council, the SDF began the day by capturing several sites along the eastern bank of the Euphrates […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Syrian Army expands control over new areas in southern Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:30 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed their offensive in the southern countryside of the Idlib Governorate, today, targeting the jihadist-held hilltops and farms near the key town of Abu Dali. Backed by heavy airstrikes from the Russian Aerospace Forces, the Syrian Army’s 4th Division and Republican Guard began the day […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Japan supports Iran nuclear deal, confirms no violations by Tehran
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said on Friday that Japan supports the Iran nuclear agreement and confirms no violations by Tehran. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said on Friday that Japan supports the Iran nuclear agreement, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and confirms Tehran has not violated the accord. “Japan […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Trump and the Russian Money Trail: Trump’s Ties to Oligarchs Go Back Decades
By DemocracyNow.org: “Trump and the Russian Money Trail”: Trump’s Ties to Oligarchs Go Back Decades STORY JULY 20, 2017 Link: … Continue reading →
Married to the Mob: Investigative Journalist Craig Unger on What Trump Owes the Russian Mafia
Originally posted on Mining Awareness + : By DemocracyNow.org: http://youtu.be/BkE3z8DYEhI Link – http://youtu.be/BkE3z8DYEhI “Married to the Mob: Investigative Journalist Craig Unger on What…
French Constitutional Court stands up for free speech in striking down “anti-terrorist” law
French judges have made it clear that watching disagreeable content does not constitute a conspiracy to commit a violent act. More The post French Constitutional Court stands up for free speech in striking down “anti-terrorist” law appeared first on The Duran.
Israeli forces murder legless Palestinian in wheelchair
Abu Thurayeh lost his legs in a 2008 Israeli attack. Yesterday, he lost his life. More The post Israeli forces murder legless Palestinian in wheelchair appeared first on The Duran.
CDC Chief and Financial Conflicts
The swamp sure is full still..... CDC Director can't work on matters regarding Opioids and Cancer - and is hobnobbing with Bill and Melinda Gates. Can we get her to recuse herself from all things autism? Wait, CDC has already...
For the First Time, A Native American Woman Scholar's Portrait Hangs At Oxford
"As a Native American student the opportunity to study at Oxford was one of the greatest blessings in my life" In 2016 the University of Oxford commissioned a portrait of Kelsey Leonard, the first Native American woman to earn a degree from the institution. The portrait was unveiled in the exhibition 'The full picture: Oxford in portraits', which runs through January 7, 2018. After the exhibition the portrait will be moved to a permanent location in the Exam Schools. This is the first portrait of its kind and the first portrait of a Native American alum by a Native American artist t... more »
Widow of Kentucky politician who committed suicide in response to allegations of sexual misconduct will run for his now vacated seat.
Courtesy of Fox News: *The wife of Kentucky State Rep. Dan Johnson, who killed himself on Wednesday amid a bombshell report's accusations of sexual assault, announced Thursday that she would pursue her husband’s seat, saying “his fight will go on.” * *Dan Johnson, a preacher and a Republican, committed suicide Wednesday on a bridge in Mt. Washington, according to Bullitt County Sheriff Donnie Tinnell. The coroner confirmed that Johnson died of a single gunshot wound to the head, and the weapon was found near the 57-year-old's body. * *The statement from Johnson’s widow, Rebecca, ... more »
Impact of water quality on corrosion of cast iron pipes
Hu J, Dong H, Xu Q, Ling W, Qu J, Qiang Z. Impacts of water quality on the corrosion of cast iron pipes for water distribution and proposed source water switch strategy. Water research. 2017 Oct 31;129:428-435. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.10.065. Switch of source water may induce “red water” episodes. This study investigated the impacts of water quality on … Continue reading →
Untitled
*Student Debt Is a Symptom of Our Broken Education System. This Bill Would Spark a Change* Rep. Ron DeSantis We are facing an education crisis in this country. While the value of continued education after high school is undeniable, our nation’s singular focus remains on the necessity of traditional four-year degrees, which come at a soaring cost to students and their families. For many students, a classic bachelor’s degree earned at a brick-and-ivy university is a worthwhile investment that provides the necessary knowledge to succeed in their given field post-graduation. B... more »
Untitled
*France’s Macron leads the climate charge, with the US absent* The United States may have withdrawn from the Paris climate change accord, but on Tuesday dozens of world leaders and philanthropists met to find solutions to the swiftly warming planet — and send a message of resolve to the White House. More symbolic than policy-driven, Tuesday’s summit comes two years after the landmark ‘‘COP21’’ conference in Paris, where 196 participating countries — including the United States — vowed to keep this century’s global temperature increase below 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. In one of the m... more »
Study prompts new ideas on cancers’ origins
Medical Xpress: Study prompts new ideas on cancers’ origins https://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2017-12-prompts-ideas-cancers.html Advertisements
Sex between snow monkeys and sika deer may be ‘new behavioural tradition’
Sex between snow monkeys and sika deer may be ‘new behavioural tradition’ | Science | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/dec/15/sex-between-snow-monkeys-and-sika-deer-may-be-new-behavioural-tradition?CMP=fb_gu
Real-time observation of collective quantum modes
Real-time observation of collective quantum modes https://m.phys.org/news/2017-12-real-time-quantum-modes.html
Scientists Discover A Group of Toxic Proteins Linked To Parkinson’s Disease
Scientists Discover A Group of Toxic Proteins Linked To Parkinson’s Disease https://dailyaccord.com/critical-toxic-species-behind-parkinsons-disease-is-glimpsed-at-work-for-the-first-time/
Nais Bolas
I took a mental health day today, rested, wrote, took a nap. I’ve worked every day since I got here, so I was ready for one. On my walk to town this morning, as I’ve done every day I waved and said “Mone” (morning) to the lady selling betel nuts near the ship. To my…
Muslims Sue Butlin's for Health and Safety Scarf Ban on Fairground Ride
'However, Mr. Nasser's lawyer, Attiq Malik, of Liberty Law, said health and safety concerns were not a satisfactory explanation and it was wrong to stop the Muslim girl going on the ride even if it was dangerous. He said: "It is of great concern that we may have a situation where whole families are having their holidays ruined and unable to participate in leisure activities because of their cultural or religious dress."Whether this is a deliberate act to discriminate against people, or an unfortunate consequence of health and safety policies, it is unsatisfactory and unacceptable.... more »
New assertive Czech PM fails to legalize anti-migration stance in EU so far
On Wednesday, Czech president Zeman appointed a new government constructed by Slovak-born billionaire Mr Andrej Babiš. I am still worried about the authoritarian, anti-democratic political attitudes he has defended in his campaign. I still think he should be arrested for some of his self-evident and obviously serious crimes. I still find it terrible that influential communist apparatchiks from the 1980s and former communist secret agents get this high in politics of a democratic country. Some of these negative sentiments of mine are very strong. *PM Babiš (L) and his predecessor S... more »
Islamic State Threatens Berlin, London, New York With 'Holiday' Attacks
'Islamic State terrorists have threatened a second Berlin Christmas attack, exactly one year after the first, as security service search for suspect connected to the terror group. The Islamic extremist group released online images and a propaganda video which also depicted London, New York, and Vienna, promising attacks "soon on your holidays… very soon," Kronen Zeitung reports. The image of Berlin shows an armed terrorist by the Brandenburg Gate with the words: "Berlin will burn."There were also images of a bloody knife and Westminster Cathedral in London – a city hit by multiple... more »
The Simpsons' take on the Trump/Mueller situation.
The Simpsons does Mueller vs. Trump. "Pardon me." "I said you—" "Oh, I'm not talking to you. I tried to pardon myself." (via FOX) pic.twitter.com/b3m4nbjxzJ — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 14, 2017 Sadly this is probably very close to what's really going on behind the scenes.
(Special Ops Rules Over All?) Bye Bye Reliable Internet & Monitor WSJ for Reporting by Comcast & Spectrum? (WAR! What/Who Is It Good For?) Analysis-Suppressing Mental Munchkin (Flim-Flammery of Tax Cuts) Leda & the Swan Redux? (How It All Happened) Dubya Is Still Either the Dummy or the Smarty (The Enemy of One's Enemy Is . . .?)
Donald Trump's First Year Sets Record for US Special OpsAmbassadors of the traditional kind? Who needs them? Diplomats? What a waste! The State Department? Why bother? Its budget is to be slashed and its senior officials are leaving in droves ever since Donald Trump entered the Oval Office. Under Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, hiring is frozen, which means those officials are
Chen Chu Still Rocks
This recent poll from a pro-DPP polling organization had Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan as the most popular mayor among the 6 municipality mayors, but Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu remains probably the most popular politician in Taiwan. I caught her today on this sign by the train station in Tanzi in Taichung city. _______________________ [Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!
"Your Radiation This Week, 12/16/2017: Fukushima Equals 15,867 Hiroshima Bombs Today, More Tomorrow"
*"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”* - Shiva *Updated December 16, 2017: Fukushima Equals 15,867 Hiroshima Bombs Today, More Tomorrow; There is No Place On Earth to Escape the Rad: *The 3 melted-through cores of the destroyed reactors, now melted together into a single "corium" totaling over *600 tons*, at Fukushima *daily* release the radioactive equivalent of 6.45 Hiroshima bombs directly into the atmosphere and the Pacific Ocean. As of December 16, 2017 - 2,460 days since the disaster began - this equals the detonation of 15,867 Hiroshima atomic bombs and it is st... more »
Syrian, Russian jets pound southeast Aleppo ahead of army’s Idlib offensive
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:00 A.M.) – Syrian and Russian fighter jets hammered the southeastern countryside of the Aleppo Governorate this morning, hitting several areas under the control of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham near the Khanasser Highway. According to a military report, the Syrian and Russian jets relentlessly pounded the towns of Rasm Al-Siyalah, Al-Hawiwi, and Al-Daman, paving […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army resumes attack in east Damascus after HTS refuses to leave
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:25 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed their assault in the eastern suburbs of Damascus, today, after the Al-Qaeda linked Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham terrorist group refused to leave the area. Units from the Syrian Army’s 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard began the day by firing several mortar shells and surface-to-surface […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Chechen leader says two kids rescued in Syria return to Russia
Two more children rescued in Syria have returned to Russia, head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov said. “Another operation to rescue Russian citizens from Syria and Iraq has turned out to be a success. An aircraft from Istanbul landed at Grozny Airport overnight to Saturday. Among the passengers were two Chechnya-born kids – ten-year-old Islam and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
US-backed forces capture new town in southeast Deir Ezzor
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:00 A.M.) – While Syrian Arab Army (SAA) works on the last Islamic State (ISIS) pocket west of the Euphrates River, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been advancing along the eastern bank of this waterway, capturing several towns that were under the control of the terrorist group. Led by their Deir […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army quietly advances in southwest Deir Ezzor, liberates 50km from ISIS
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:45 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has been quietly advancing in the southwestern countryside of the Deir Ezzor Governorate recently, liberating several areas that were occupied by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). Backed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah, the Syrian Arab Army’s 5th Legion has managed to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
US-led Coalition uses Al Hasakah camp in Syria to train militants – Russian Mod
The international US-led coalition against the Daesh terrorist group is further interacting with the remaining terrorists in Syria, according to the Russian Center for reconciliation of opposing sides in Syria. According to local residents, the US-led coalition has been using the Syrian Al Hasakah refugee camp as a base for training militants coming there from […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
"Butterflies..."
"I think humans might be like butterflies; people die every day without many other people knowing about them, seeing their colors, hearing their stories... and when humans are broken, they're like broken butterfly wings; suddenly there are so many beauties that are seen in different ways, so many thoughts and visions and possibilities that form, which couldn't form when the person wasn't broken! So it is not a very sad thing to be broken, after all! It's during the times of being broken, that you have all the opportunities to become things unforgettable! Just like the broken butter... more »
Paulo Coelho, "Emotional independence"
*"Emotional independence"* by Paulo Coelho "At the beginning of our life and again when we get old, we need the help and affection of others. Unfortunately, between these two periods of our life, when we are strong and able to look after ourselves, we don t appreciate the value of affection and compassion. As our own life begins and ends with the need for affection, wouldn't it be better if we gave compassion and love to others while we are strong and capable?" The above words were said by the present Dalai Lama. Really, it is very curious to see that we are proud of our emotional ... more »
"Crabs in a Bucket"
"*Crabs in a Bucket"* by Sarah Robinson "When I was a little girl, I lived very close (an hour and fifteen minutes) to the Florida panhandle beaches. Which meant we spent a TON of time there. Early evening was one of my favorite times to walk the beach with my mom and my older brothers. We were all clean and fed and slightly sun weary but still desperate to be outside. So, we would grab flashlights, dip nets and a bucket and search the ocean’s edge for crabs. We would catch a bucket full in an evening and drag them back home where my mom or my grandmother would cook them up into so... more »
Scientist Who ‘Discovered’ Gluten Sensitivity Now Claims it Never Existed
Great science. The real take home is that we must avoid exposure to Roundup in our bread at least. Organic is a good start but most of us will still use commercial breads in some form. worse the politicians are loath to force labeling. It is not difficult to test every batch of flour as i am sure the Chinese are now doing. I would become very rigorous regarding this chemical. Not least because Monsanto has blatantly lied about this for decades and i am sure they knew. Fortunately most of us seem to still tolerate some exposure. The same was true for smoking. It may simpl... more »
Rural Areas At Risk As Water Levels Drop In Massive Aquifer
The Ogallala aquifer is finaly hitting the wall or at least that wall can now be seen. It has taken a long time and i first understood its destiny fifty years ago. Yet i do not think the region is without hope. It is watered by rains but less than necessary to conduct farming. Thus it is a candidate for atmospheric water harvesting using passive Eden Machines consisting of a simple shallow circular basin perhaps three meters across with a conical net of monofiliment erected above it. This allows night time precipation to be collected into the basin. These basins could even ... more »
How much energy does bitcoin mining really use? It's complicated
This is more a measure of just how big this has all gotten and it is certainly not over. My own back of the envelope calculation tells be that the actual potential market size and we are certainly working at getting there is around a price point of $1,000,000 per coin. At that point it matches gold and to meet real human needs it will still go much higher than this.So this story is not over. Energy consumption can actually become a major force but rising efficiency will also counter that. Bitcoin is quite capable of simply replacing the US dollar as a global reserve currency....more »
Three to four cups of coffee a day linked to longer life
Basically this work supports the argument that coffee drinking is generally safe enough. My only issue here is that coffee is a carrier for sugar consumption and again commonsense is strongly supported. Three cups a day with modest sugar as in no more than a teaspoon is likely okay. What shut down my working day coffee habit of several cups was when i actually measured my intake of sugar and realized i was consuming half a cup of sugar. Not good and i quit coffee two decades ago. Coffee is not the problem but sugar happens to be a huge problem. Honey replacement is an excellent ... more »
Evidence lacking for low-exposure adverse effects of arsenic
Hong YS, Ye BJ, Kim YM, Kim BG, Kang GH, Kim JJ, Song KH, Kim YH, Seo JW. Investigation of Health Effects According to the Exposure of Low Concentration Arsenic Contaminated Ground Water. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2017 Nov 27;14(12). pii: E1461. doi: … Continue reading →
Midnight Meme Of The Day!
*-by Noah* When FDR's funeral train was making its way to his final resting place in Hyde Park, NY, a man who politicians like to refer to as an "ordinary American," famously said "I didn't know him, but FDR knew me." Judging the FDR quote in today's meme, FDR knew scum like Donald Trump and Paul Ryan, too, even though he never met them.
VIDEO: Israeli Forces Detain 2 Palestinian Teenage Girls at Gunpoint from Ambulance
VIDEO: Israeli Forces Detain 2 Palestinian Teenage Girls at Gunpoint from Ambulance by Ma’an, https://israelpalestinenews.org/ HEBRON: In a video that has gone viral on social media, Israeli forces on Wednesday violently detained two Palestinians — who locals reported were teenage girls — from inside a Palestinian ambulance in the Hebron district of the southern occupied West […]
The Debate – US Anti-Iran Allegation
PressTV News Videos Published on Dec 15, 2017 We waited for the smoking gun & what we seemed to have gotten was more of a Colin Powell repeat. The US ambassador to the UN’s presentation to apparently prove Iranian violations of int’l obligations has been ridiculed for its lack of substance. This may an attempted deflection […]
‘Bad Day for Our Enemies’: European Leaders Take ‘Historic’ Step Toward Joint EU Army
‘Bad Day for Our Enemies’: European Leaders Take ‘Historic’ Step Toward Joint EU Army by https://www.rt.com/ Leaders of 25 European Union states have signed the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) pact that will see them undertake more joint projects and increase their defense budgets with the idea to likely create a permanent EU army. – Arriving at […]
‘United States of Europe’ Would Become a ‘German Dictate’ – Czech Politician
‘United States of Europe’ Would Become a ‘German Dictate’ – Czech Politician by https://sputniknews.com/ German SPD party leader Martin Schulz’s talk of a European federalist constitutional treaty sparked an uproar of dissent and criticism within the European Union, especially from its Eastern European members. Speaking to Sputnik, Czech politician Premysl Votava outlined what he said was […]
Electric Universe?
I’m having second thoughts about the Electric Universe Model because of the fact that both electrons and protons of the solar wind are moving in the same direction in the solar E (electric) field. The two particles should be moving … Continue reading →
Stephen Cohen blasts mainstream media lies on Russia and Trump “collusion” (Video)
Mainstream media is criminalizing better relations with Russia. More The post Stephen Cohen blasts mainstream media lies on Russia and Trump “collusion” (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
BUSTED: Woman offered $750,000 by attorney Lisa Bloom to say Trump sexually assaulter her (Video)
Attorney Lisa Bloom sought cash for Trump accusers. More The post BUSTED: Woman offered $750,000 by attorney Lisa Bloom to say Trump sexually assaulter her (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
President Trump, You’re No George Carlin
The Trump Administration has decided it’s finally time for it to whip out its best George Carlin impression. It’s announced its own list of seven words you can never say—at least not if you are working for the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. In 1972, “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” was […]
Too many kids go to college
*...and funds for huge tuition just aren't a genuinely high prize...* I've exchanged some e-mails with the winner as well as someone whom I know and who works for the Breakthrough Junior Challenge. The "simple" amount that the winner is said to win is $250,000. But I should have studied the conditions more carefully. They reminded me of those and the winner actually gets $250,000 for tuition at a university of her choice, $100,000 for a lab at her high school, $50,000 goes to the teacher who inspired her. So if you look carefully, she doesn't actually get anything at all! More prec... more »
FBI Informant's Misconduct Continued after Red Fawn was Jailed
Paid FBI informant engaged in intimate relationship with Red Fawn and continued intelligence gathering after Red Fawn was jailed Heath Harmon By Brenda Norrell Censored News The misconduct of paid FBI informant Heath Harmon, 46, of Fort Berthold, North Dakota, has been exposed by The Intercept. Harmon was a paid FBI informant in Standing Rock water protector camps. It has just been
Did The U.S. Negotiate With The Islamic State To Leave Raqqa?
Reuters *Daniel R. DePetris, National Interest:* *Is America Negotiating with the Islamic State?* *For local forces on the frontline, negotiated population transfers are better than launching an assault against an enemy that is well dug-in and determined to die.* On January 28, 2017, months after then-candidate Donald Trump vowed to wipe the Islamic State off the face of the earth and bomb the group into smithereens, the businessman-turned-president issued a presidential memorandum ordering Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, in consultation with other national security cabinet memb... more »
A Guide to Why the Trump-Republican Tax Plan is a Disgrace (for When you Confront Your Republican Uncle Bob During the Holidays)
Here are the 3 main Republican arguments in favor of the Republican tax plan, followed by the... more »
Picture Of The Day
*Working Dog Training* Air Force Staff Sgt. Bryan Savella, left, and Senior Airman Jessica Reyes work on controlled aggression training with Aly, an 18th Security Forces Squadron military working dog at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 12, 2017. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Greg Erwin *WNU Editor:* The above picture is form this photo-gallery ....* Airmen Train Military Working Dogs* (US Department of Defense).
Musical Interlude: Dire Straits, “Private Investigations”
Dire Straits, “Private Investigations” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-HCrKa1gbw
"A Culture of Delusion"
*"A Culture of Delusion"* by Paul Craig Roberts "Americans live in a matrix of lies. They seldom encounter a truthful statement. There is no evidence that Americans can any longer tell the difference between the truth and a lie. Americans fell for all of these lies and more: Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction and al Qaeda connections. Saddam Hussein’s troops seized Kuwaiti babies from incubators and threw them on the floor. Gaddafi fed his troops viagra to help them rape Libyan women. Iran has a nuclear weapons program. Change – yes we can! The US is “the indispensable ... more »
US Defense Secretary Mattis: North Korea's ICBM Not Yet A Capable Threat To The US
*Reuters: **Mattis says North Korean ICBM not yet a 'capable threat' against U.S* WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday that analysis continued on North Korea’s most recent missile test, but he did not believe its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) posed an imminent threat to the United States. “It has not yet shown to be a capable threat against us right now ... we’re still doing the forensics analysis,” Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon. Last month, North Korea said it had successfully tested a new type of ICBM that could reach all... more »
"No Ways Tired in A Sea of Lies"
"No Ways Tired in A Sea of Lies" by Chris Floyd "I think we are living in a world of lies: lies that don't even know they are lies, because they are the children and grandchildren of lies. One of the hardest things to accept is that the reality of our world is buried under so many layers of official deception and well-cultivated public ignorance about our history and our political system. Even if you break through somehow, momentarily, and hold up a fragment of the truth, most people have no context for dealing with it. It's like a bolt from the blue, they can't process the inform... more »
How Did Arms Supplied By The U.S. And Saudi Arabia End Up With The Islamic State?
Image Credits: News of the Ummah. *Reuters:* *Arms supplied by U.S., Saudi ended up with Islamic State, researchers say* BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Arms provided by the United States and Saudi Arabia to Syrian opposition groups frequently ended up in the hands of Islamic State, an arms monitoring group that analyzed weapons found on the battlefield said on Thursday. Conflict Armament Research (CAR) said most Islamic State weapons were looted from the Iraqi and Syrian armies. But some were originally provided by other countries, mainly the United States and Saudi Arabia, to Syrian oppos... more »
Exactly two decades ago, The Postman tried to deliver
Exactly 20 years ago today, Kevin Costner released his film based on my novel *The Postman* into theaters. (*The Postman* is the only science fiction saga to come in second for three successive Hugo Awards; it's in 25 languages around the world.) I’ve written elsewhere my complex opinions about Costner’s flick… see my essay on the book vs. the movie, which emphasized the positive, in order to help give the maligned and under-appreciated film whatever small boost that I could… ...but let’s do a capsule summary of the pros and cons, a very personal view of minuses and plusses. *M... more »
Is It Really Any Wonder Why Aliens Don't Land Here?
Entire Family Turns Transgender An entire family – man, woman, son and daughter – in Arizona has become transgender. The father identifies as a woman. His fiancée, the mother-to-be, identifies as a man. The son considers himself a girl and, of course, the daughter thinks she’s actually a boy. An entire transgender family, all under one roof. Daniel Harrott was born a woman, while his fiancée, Shirley Austin was born a man. Both have previously been married. Eleven year-old Mason and 13 year-old Joshua have also switched sexes. “The whole family is in transition,” Austin said in ... more »
George Patton: The Final Days of One of America's Greatest Generals
*Warfare History Network* *History, * Following his campaign in Western Europe, George S. Patton had difficulty adjusting to peacetime and was fatally injured in an automobile accident. The commander of the U.S. Third Army, General George S. Patton, Jr., took no great pleasure in the end of the war in Europe; he already knew that despite his lobbying of many influential figures in Washington, D.C., he had no hope of being reassigned to the Pacific Theater to command combat troops there. As he put it to his III Corps commander, Maj. Gen. James Van Fleet, “There is already a star [... more »
Could North Korea 'Sink' America's New Zumwalt-Class Destroyers?
*Robert Farley* *Security, Asia* How would the Navy's newest weapon of war fare against Kim's military machine? The USS *Michael Monsoor*, second of the Zumwalt-class destroyers, recently embarked on trials and will be delivered to the U.S. Navy in the next year. While neither the *Monsoor* nor its older sister *Zumwalt* are likely to be ready to contribute to a war on the Korean Peninsula in the near future, the crisis show no signs of abating. As tensions between the United States and North Korea grow, it’s worth asking what role the largest, most lethal destroyers in the U.S... more »
5 Places World War III Could Start in 2018
*Robert Farley* *Security, * North Korea? Ukraine? The South China Sea? The world has managed to make it through most of 2017 without the return of cataclysmic, great power conflict. In some parts of the world (most notably Syria) tensions have declined significantly. In others, already difficult situations have grown even more tense. Here are five crises that could lead to great power conflict over the course of 2018. *North Korea* North Korea is undoubtedly the most serious foreign-policy crisis facing the world today. The DPRK’s success in developing ballistic missiles, com... more »
Heckler & Koch's VP9: The World's Best Handgun?
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Europe* Better than Glock or Smith and Wesson? One of the most interesting semi-automatic handguns on the American firearms market is made in Germany. Designed and is manufactured in Oberndorf, Germany, the Heckler & Koch VP9 pistol is touted as one of the most durable, reliable handguns in the world. Born in aftermath of World War II, gunmaker Heckler & Koch has risen to become a major force in the international arms market. The story of Heckler & Koch (HK) began in immediate the aftermath of World War II, when Oberndorf, Germany fell under the contro... more »
Are the U.S. Marines Dying?
*Michael Peck* *Security, * The Corps has one super special skill—and it’s fading. The U.S. Marine Corps is arguably the best amphibious-warfare force in the world. But a new Government Accountability Office report suggests that lack of training may be eroding the marines’ amphibious capabilities. The problem isn’t with the marine amphibious units deployed at sea, which would be at the forefront of the fighting should war erupt in Korea or the South China Sea. The issue is that relentless overseas commitments have strained marine resources so badly that it can’t conduct the othe... more »
Slipping from America: Why the U.S. Needs Middle East Ambassadors Now
*Matthew Reisener* *Security, Middle East* [image: Arab League foreign ministers hold an emergency meeting on Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Cairo, Egypt December 9, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany] The lack of ambassadors in the Middle East is even more striking when one considers the importance of the countries from which they are absent. The Trump administration’s decision to relocate the American embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem has increased the focus on America’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, particularly when it... more »
4 Things the World Learned from North Korea in 2017
*Robert E Kelly* *Security, Asia* [image: North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un inspects artillery launchers ahead of a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) on April 25, 2017. KCNA/File Photo] Trump has taught the world that the North Koreans will not be brow-beaten into giving up their nuclear-weapons program. This was an extraordinary year for North Korea. It finally achieved a regime dream going back decades: establishing direct nuclear deterrence with the United States. Despite months of tough rhetoric and war threats ... more »
How to Play Geopolitical Poker with Kim Jong-un
*Doug Bandow* *Security, Asia* The more administration officials say war is going to happen, the more urgent it is for the DPRK to perfect its missile and nuclear technology. One of the chief fears about North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons is the increased risk of a conflict no one wants. It might be started by accident, mistake, or misjudgment. By Kim Jong-un, assume most Americans. Yet the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is behaving like normal: bombastic and threatening in rhetoric, but cautious and restrained in behavior. The DPRK’s last direct military provocat... more »
“The U.S. Is Not A Democracy, It Never Was”
*“The U.S. Is Not A Democracy, It Never Was”* Authored by Gabriel Rockhill "One of the most steadfast beliefs regarding the United States is that it is a democracy. Whenever this conviction waivers slightly, it is almost always to point out detrimental exceptions to core American values or foundational principles. For instance, aspiring critics frequently bemoan a “loss of democracy” due to the election of clownish autocrats, draconian measures on the part of the state, the revelation of extraordinary malfeasance or corruption, deadly foreign interventions, or other such activiti... more »
Where The Temperature Rules The Sun
Originally posted on Watts Up With That?: I’ve held for a long time that there is a regulatory mechanism in the tropics that keeps the earth’s temperature within very narrow bounds on average (e.g. ± 0.3°C over the 20th Century). This mechanism is the timing and amount of the daily emergence of the cumulus cloud…
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment