Tuesday, December 31, 2019

31 December - Blogs I'm Following - 3 of 5

10 pm MST

Making some people nervous — Pompeo’s first trip of 2020 is Ukraine

Uriel at 'Nox & Friends - 11 hours ago
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will travel to Kyiv, Ukraine; Minsk, Belarus; Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; and Nicosia, Cyprus from January 3-7. Most of those stops are to continue relations. work on trade, and reaffirm commitments in the areas. There are, however, going to be some very nervous Nellies here in the US during his trip especially after some of the more eye-opening statements and information Giuliani released to reporters since his own return in early December from Ukraine — as there should be. Pompeo will be meeting there with President Zelenskyy, ... more »

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Warns Iran Nuclear Deal In Danger Of ‘Falling Apart’

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
*RFE: **Russia's Foreign Minister Says Either Abide By Iran Nuclear Deal Or Kill It * Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that the United States and the European Union should either comply with the terms of the 2015 nuclear agreement with Tehran, or recognize it as nonexistent. Lavrov made the comments on December 30 after meeting in Moscow with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who said that the European signatories to the deal were "not taking any practical steps" to support it. The deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), offered ... more »

Does Mark Carney Understand How Financial Markets Work?

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 11 hours ago
By Paul Homewood Yesterday I mentioned Mark Carney’s latest call for the financial sector to divest from fossil fuels: Mark Carney has claimed the pension fund investments held by millions of people could become “worthless” unless the financial sector reacts quicker to the climate change crisis. Financial firms are starting to curb […]

2019: the year of peak green bullsh*t

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 11 hours ago
By Paul Homewood Ben Pile does not hold back!! 2019 was the most extraordinary year of green bullshit yet. Despite the planet being a wealthier, healthier and safer place than it was when fears of global warming first appeared on the political agenda in the 1980s – and despite the failure of […]

The Dissenter’s Top Films Of 2019

Kevin Gosztola at Shadowproof - 11 hours ago
Kevin Gosztola highlights several top films from 2019, including Dark Waters, Hail Satan?, The Nightingale, and The Report. The post The Dissenter’s Top Films Of 2019 appeared first on Shadowproof.

"That's The Way Life Goes..."

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago
"Bad things will happen and good things too. Your life will be full of surprises. Miracles happen only where there has been suffering. So taste your grief to the fullest. Don't try and press it down. Don't hide from it. Don't escape. It is life too. It is truth. But it will pass and time will put a strange honey in the bitterness. That's the way life goes." - Ben Okri

Consumer victory: Trump pulls plug on plans to kill the Lightbulb

Bonner Cohen, Ph. D. at CFACT - 11 hours ago
Passing electricity through a filament in a vacuum should not be a crime. The post Consumer victory: Trump pulls plug on plans to kill the Lightbulb appeared first on CFACT.

How has climate change changed your lives in 2019? Like snake oil

James Taylor at CFACT - 11 hours ago
Far from providing scientific evidence of harmful global warming, Grist's article instead illustrated how alarmists have discarded the scientific method and credited the subjective assessments of lay persons for sound science. The post How has climate change changed your lives in 2019? Like snake oil appeared first on CFACT.

China Steps Up Its Warship Building Program

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
China launches its sixth Type 055 destroyer as its overseas ambitions increase. Photo: Handout *SCMP: **China steps up warship building programme as navy looks to extend its global reach* * Latest launches bring total number of PLA Navy ships built this year to 24 * Analysts say new ships have improved quality and capability but country is lagging behind in developing sailors’ technical skills China is speeding up its warship building programme as its navy extends its reach to cover Beijing’s increasingly far-flung interests. The latest warships, launched last week, were a Type 055... more »

Trump Sets Date For Phase One of China Trade Deal

Chris White at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Chris White* *Politics, Americas* [image: U.S. President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony in Beijing, China, November 9, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas Peter] It's coming in 2020... President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he’ll sign the first phase of a long-awaited trade deal with China in January at the White House. “I will be signing our very large and comprehensive Phase One Trade Deal with China on January 15,” Trump told his Twitter followers. Phase one of the deal will put a temporary end to a yearlong standoff between Washington, D.C... more »

Attack! The Marines Can't Get Enough Of The LAV-25 Armored "Destroyer"

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Technology, Americas* A useful vehicle for America's amphibious force. *Key point:* The LAV series of vehicles will probably continue in service for the foreseeable future. The LAV-25, the U.S. Marine Corps’ main armored reconnaissance vehicle, has its origins in an effort to develop a new, highly mobile strike force for the Middle East. Fast, lightly armored and armed with a Bushmaster chain gun, the LAV acts as the marines’ cavalry, scouting ahead of other friendly forces and seeking out the enemy. Over the past thirty-five years the nearly 1,000 LAVs have ser... more »

To Successfully Denuclearize North Korea, Washington Should Make it Think Like South Africa

Andrea Stricker at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Andrea Stricker* *Security, * If Mr. Trump opts to augment the pressure on North Korea, he will need to patiently wait out attempts by Kim to scare the international community into concessions. He shouldn’t be shaken. The United States should instead keep tightening the rope that led South Africa to abandon nuclear weapons. After Kim Jung Un declined to deliver on his promised “Christmas gift,” North Korea watchers are turning their attention to the New Year and the possibility of more than the usual fireworks display over Northeast Asia. In October, Pyongyang gave Washington a ... more »

Cops Nab NYC Education Official For Alleged Computer Sex Crimes Against Child

Mary Margaret Olohan at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Mary Margaret Olohan* *Politics, Americas* [image: A hooded man holds a laptop computer as blue screen with an exclamation mark is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017.] He won't be dealing with children for awhile... Police arrested a top New York City education official Sunday for allegedly trying to facilitate a sex crime with an underage boy. Authorities took 39-year-old David A. Hay, who is the deputy chief of staff to New York City schools chancellor Richard A. Carranza, into custody Sunday in Wisconsin as he was at General Mitchell Internati... more »

America's Ohio-Class Submarines Could Bring The End Of The World

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Technology, Asia* Nuclear-armed and lurking beneath the sea. *Key point:* These submarines are known as "boomers" for a good reason. Nine years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Ishirō Honda’s *Godzilla *depicted a monster awakened from the depths of the ocean to wreak havoc on Japanese cities. A giant fire-breathing reptile, however, was *less* horrifying than what was to come. In less than a decade’s time, there would be dozens of *real *undersea beasts capable of destroying *multiple* cities at a time. I’m referring, of course, to ballis... more »

Fight the U.S. Navy? History Says, Bad Idea. Here's Why.

Thomas Callender at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Thomas Callender* *History, Americas* Rule the waves. *Key Point:* America's strength has always been her navy. Oct. 13 marked the 243rd birthday of the United States Navy. The Navy has grown and evolved dramatically from that first “swift sailing vessel” of the Constitutional Navy. Today, the Navy’s fleet of 286 ships and submarines is the most capable and powerful naval force in the world. The identity and traditions of the Navy were forged in numerous battles and military campaigns over the past two centuries. From its modest beginnings with a handful of ships tasked with pr... more »

This Russian Weapon Might Be the Most Powerful on Earth (That Isn't a Nuke)

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/RUSSIA--GM1E99P1NNO01.html] Meet Russia's TOS-1 MLRS 'Buratino.' *Key point:* This is one powerful rocket launcher. The TOS-1 *Buratino *is a unique Russian self-propelled multiple rocket launcher system (MRLS) that has seen action in global hotspots like Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iraq and Syria. Like the enormous 240-millimeter 2S4 self-propelled mortar, the TOS-1’s specialty is obliterating heavily fortified positions. Although some of these may be found in rural rebel strongholds and fortified caves, th... more »

A Plan for World War III: How the Warsaw Pact Planned to Defeat NATO

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Europe* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/WW2-ANNIVERSARY-RUSSIA-PARADE-UP1EF590XAX9O.html] History had other ideas. *Key Point:* The Warsaw Pact planned a decapitating nuclear strike across central Europe. Last month in the* National Interest* we discussed NATO’s plan for World War III in Europe. The scenario, set in the late 1980s, assumed that the forces of the Soviet Union and the rest of the Warsaw Pact—namely East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary—steamrollered West Germany to defeat NATO. The plan assumed the western allian... more »

Democrat Al Green says that impeachment began when Trump was running for office

trinko at Conversations about the obvious - 11 hours ago
On TV Green said: "Well, the genesis of impeachment, to be very candid with you, was when the president was running for office and he had members of his own party to talk about his unfitness to hold office," What's interesting is that not only is Green admitting that impeachment has nothing to do with Ukraine but that he's saying that things said about Trump by his political opponents should be treated as facts. Like the entire impeachment process Green is saying that there doesn't need to be any evidence of anything all we need is people who hate Trump saying that he's a bad guy ... more »

Nancy Pelosi's quid pro quo on impeachment

trinko at Conversations about the obvious - 11 hours ago
It turns out that Nancy Pelosi used a quid pro quo, or bribe, to get Democrats who realized that the impeachment process was joke to vote for it. She simply told those Democrats that if they didn't vote for impeachment they wouldn't get financial support from the Democrat party come reelection time. That the vast majority of sane Democrats sold out their country for more money to help them get elected tells us that even the "conservatives" in the Democrat party have one and only one objective; getting more power. They cared more for getting money than they did for doing the right th... more »

What Democrats want you to pay to buy votes for them

trinko at Conversations about the obvious - 12 hours ago
The core technique that Democrats use to get elected is to tax hard working Americans and then use that money to provide free stuff to people who will vote for them. This election cycle the Democrats are in an all out bidding war against each other which means that they're going to make you pay a huge amount so that they can bribe their way into the White House. When Hillary ran in 2016 her plan cost only $1.45 trillion over 10 years. Given that the total federal budget is around $4.5 trillion that meant that she wanted to increase spending by about 3%. That's a lot to spend just ... more »

Are These The 3 Worst Foreign Policy Disasters Of The 2010s?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 12 hours ago
*Daniel R. DePetris, Foreign Policy:* *The 3 Worst Foreign Policy Disasters of the 2010s* Will Washington be able to dodge similar mistakes in the 2020’s? This is certainly the hope. But if U.S. officials are too afraid to come to terms with their own-goals over the last decade, they are flirting dangerously with failure. With the year 2019 coming to a close, the world is poised to enter a brand new decade of promise, opportunity, and unpredictability. None of us have a crystal ball; we can only hope that the next stretch of time is peaceful and prosperous, devoid of the kind of ... more »

Wouldn't It Be Hilarious If The Senate Actually Found Him Guilty After All?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 12 hours ago
*You can't 'unknow' something like this, right?* Monday, on Maine public Radio’s *Morning Edition*, Susan Collins used her experience from the Clinton impeachment trial to urge Moscow Mitch and Little Chucky Schmucky to play nice. “I think that the model and the precedent established by the trial for President Clinton is one that our leaders should take a hard look at. What happened back then is Senator Trent Lott on the Republican side, Senator Tom Daschle on the Democratic side, negotiated the terms to begin the trial. And those terms were adopted unanimously by the Senate, 100 to... more »

THE LETTERS: Fabulous Finland must be praised!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 12 hours ago
*TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019An embarrassment of letters:* In December 2019, the New York Times attempted two substantial presentations about the current state of American public schools. Bad news! On December 3, the Times presented a front-page report about the 2019 Pisa scores. In print editions, the gloomy report appeared beneath this headline: *School Reforms Fail to Lift U.S. On Global Test* Oof! The Times' front page report painted a gloomy picture about the state of American schools. On the other hand, good news! On December 6, the Times published this upbeat opinion colum... more »

Nissan ex-head Carlos Ghosn flees to Lebanon, says he won't be 'held hostage' by Japan

Just In - 12 hours ago
Ousted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn is in his childhood home of Lebanon after fleeing what he said was a "rigged" justice system in Japan, raising questions about how he got away while on bail.

Does Joe Biden want his son, Hunter, in prison?

trinko at Conversations about the obvious - 12 hours ago
In a rant about how not living in dark caves will result in the destruction of the world Joe Biden said: “We have to set sort of guide rails down now, so between the years 2021 and 2030, it’s irreversible – the path we set ourselves on. And one of which is doing away with any substance for fossil fuels – number one,” Biden said. “Number two, holding them liable for what they have done,” he said of fossil fuel executives, “particularly in those cases where your underserved neighborhoods and – you know the deal, okay. And by the way, when they don’t want to deliver, put them in jail. ... more »

WOULD BIDEN RUN WITH A REPUBLICAN IF HE COULD TURN BACK TIME?

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 12 hours ago
I wish I shared Ezra Klein's confidence about the possibility that Joe Biden might pick a Republican running mate: The degree to which this web site takes everything Biden says literally, as opposed to politically, is odd. He's not going to choose a Republican VP. He thinks it's good politics to signal that he'll work with Republicans if they'll meet him halfway. He's probably right. — Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) December 30, 2019 When Biden says stuff like this, it's a low-cost way of trying to appeal to 1) the small group of GOP-leaning voters who are persuadable and 2) the much la... more »

Kiss the Mean Teens Goodbye

Karen Garcia at Sardonicky - 12 hours ago
And say hello to another Roaring Twenties for the plutocrats - in tandem with the Soaring (as in record heat) Twenties for everybody. Those hoping for a Boring, Snoring Twenties in the wake of Trumpism and a return to the status quo ante that produced Trump are probably out of luck - unless, of course, they are among the millions of people who will die prematurely because of the vicious, neoliberal capitalism that has all but subsumed representative democracy throughout the world. Then again, the Twenties could also finally bring millions more people into the streets, capitalism co... more »

Before Jay Inslee

tonyheller at Real Climate Science - 12 hours ago
Forty years ago, Washington State had an actual scientist for governor. She recognized that both global warming and the ozone hole were scams. 05 Jun 1992, Page 4 – The Gettysburg Times at Newspapers.com

Is The U.S. And Russia Entering A New Nuclear Arms Race?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 12 hours ago
An Avangard missile test launch in 2018. Source: TASS *Henry Meyer and Jake Rudnitsky, Bloomberg*: *Putin’s Hypersonic Nuclear Missile Stirs Fears of Arms Race* * Russia is beating U.S. on defense-evading weapons, Putin said * Last U.S.-Russia strategic arms-control pact expires in 2021 A new hypersonic nuclear missile that Russia says it has deployed is fueling concerns of a new arms race with the U.S. as the clock ticks down on the expiry of the last treaty limiting the strategic arsenals of the two former Cold War foes. Russia’s first regiment of Avangard missiles was commi... more »

No s***, Sherlock! - California edition

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 12 hours ago
To nobody's surprise, another moonbat California initiative is bearing poisoned fruit. A few years ago, California passed one in a series of bills aimed at emptying the jails and prisons. Proposition 47 carried the disingenuous name of "the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act" and its stated purpose was to keep non-violent offenders out of jail. To achieve this goal, the state decriminalized a number of lesser offenses, including retail theft. The law raised the value of the amount of merchandise someone could steal while still only being charged with a misdemeanor to nearly one tho... more »

Cops Proudly Brag About Terrorizing the Poor During Christmas with ‘Homeless Quilt’

Jack Burns at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: homeless]Mobile Police Chief Lawrence Battiste apologizes for the insensitivity his officers demonstrated in fashioning a “quilt” out of the signs of poor people.

‘You Touch Kids on Video!’: Biden Gym Rally Melts Down as ‘Creepy Joe’ Called Out

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: biden]Two protesters interrupted a Joe Biden Rally at a middle school to call him out for "touching kids" and told him "don't touch kids, you pervert!"

Bot or Not? Mystery Over Anonymous User Retweeted by Trump

AP News at Snopes.com - 12 hours ago
The internet has given everyday Americans — and those posing as them — a direct line of communication to the president, even if people don’t always know who they are.

Should Old Acquaintance be Forgot?

LL at Virtual Mirage - 12 hours ago
There isn't much left of 2019, and before we ring in the new year, it's time to break out the good Martinelli's sparkling cider in paper cups (no plastic straws) for my blogging friends. Feel free to help yourself to the microwaved Costco mini-corn dogs that Fredd's Aunt Sally nuked (partially - you can chip a tooth on the semi-frozen corndog minis). Only the best for all of you. Don't worry, you won't be invited to the wine cave since that's now politically incorrect. It's not that I wouldn't want you guys turning $900 bottles of Bordeaux into wine coolers by adding 7 Up and shaved ... more »

WOMXN: The Latest LGBTQ Newspeak Aimed at Destroying Womanhood

Luis Miguel at rss - 12 hours ago
[image: womxn-the-latest-lgbtq-newspeak-aimed-at-destroying-womanhood] Trans activists are pushing the term "womxn" as a way of making the female sex more inclusive to "trans" and "non-binary" women. In other words, to men.

Going Backwards in the “Race for 5G”

tWheeler at Lawfare - 12 hours ago
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai (Source: Flickr/Gage Skidmore) The collision of corporate opportunism and Republican anti-government orthodoxy has pushed the United States backwards on the allocation of important spectrum for fifth-generation wireless networks (5G). Positioning the U.S. as engaged in no-holds-barred competition with China, President Trump declared in April, “The race to 5G is on and we must win.” With typical bravura, he then promised, “my administration is freeing up as much wireless spectrum as is needed.” Unfortunately, such is not the case when it comes to the most desi... more »

Three years on a rusty ship

Philip Moscovitch at Halifax Examiner - 12 hours ago
Happy New Year’s Eve! We were going to have a quiet get-together with friends, but because the roads sound like they will be terrible, we’re staying home instead and I’m cooking dinner out of the great new Korean cookbook I got for Christmas. I hadn’t even twigged that it’s the end of the decade until […]

2020 Is the Decade of Action & It Has to Be a Sprint

NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 31 (IPS) - Happy New Year, Kenya. 2020 marks a decade of action towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Peace and development are inextricably linked, with each making the achievement of the other far more likely. This puts the conflict-prevention and development work of the UN at the heart of the agenda in East Africa, but in a multi-agency and programme environment, making meaningful progress is challenging. Read the full story, “2020 Is the Decade of Action & It Has to Be a Sprint”, on globalissues.org →

For The European Union, The Time Has Come To Use Force

Thierry MEYSSAN at OrientalReview.org - 12 hours ago
The new European Commission has clearly stated its project in the era of US withdrawal: to restore Western Europe’s dominance over the rest of the world from the 16th to the 19th century. To achieve this, it is adopting a trumped-up ideology that uses the vocabulary of its philosophers in the wrong way.

McLaren Speedtail Versus A F-35 Fighter

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 12 hours ago
*Driving:* *New 'Top Gear' trailer features McLaren Speedtail racing F-35 fighter* The hosts are also taking heat for the way they treated some classic French cars in Nepal during the Christmas special While the old Top Gear hosts are piloting boats up the Mekong River over on Amazon Prime’s The Grand Tour, the new Top Gear hosts are pitting fighter jets against McLarens, bungee-jumping in British cabriolets and ragging on classic French cars in Nepal. Yup, there should be plenty of motoring shenanigans to watch this year. In a trailer for the 28th season of Top Gear, hosts Chri... more »

2020 Is the Window of Opportunity for LaRouche’s Policies

adam at LaRouchePAC Feed - 12 hours ago
[image: Helga Zepp-LaRouche and Lyndon LaRouche at his birthday party, September 12, 2005. (EIRNS/Stuart Lewis)] The British are hell-bent on converting 2020 into the year of chaos, wars, coups and cultural hell. Ours is the opportunity to seize, Helga Zepp-LaRouche told associates yesterday, of making 2020 the year of Lyndon LaRouche’s policies for a world in breakdown crisis. Russian President Vladimir Putin has thrown a well-conceived monkey-wrench into the whole British geopolitical game plan, Zepp-LaRouche stated, by developing and now deploying the hypersonic Avangard missile ... more »

Was Iran Involved In Today's Attack On The U.S. Embassy In Baghdad?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 12 hours ago
*WNU Editor:* Here is the evidence that Iran was behind today's storming of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, and on how these protesters got into the Green Zone. A zone that is suppose to be heavily protected. This gentleman, leading the protests, is Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, founder and leader of Kata’ib Hizballah. pic.twitter.com/kGnpmrDtPB — Mike (@Doranimated) December 31, 2019 *Update:* More evidence that Iran is involved. All of Qassem Soleimani's best friends joined the party at the US embassy in Baghdad. The handsome turbaned gentleman is, I believe, Qais al-Khazali, the leader of... more »

Chinese air defense system spotted inside Syria: report

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:45 P.M.) – A Russian news channel published a video this week that showed the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) forces near Russian and Chinese air defense systems. According to the Russian aviation publication, Avia.Pro, the Chinese JYL-1 radar system was spotted with the Syrian Arab Army in a video that was released by […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Russia slams US attack against Kata’eb Hezbollah in Iraq and Syria

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
Moscow views US air strikes against Hezbollah facilities in western Iraq and eastern Syria as unacceptable and counter-productive, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday. An Iraqi base near Kirkuk that is used by the US military came under rocket attack on December 27. One US civilian specialist was killed, several soldiers were […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

US is ready to strike Iranian-backed forces again: Pompeo

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:10 P.M.) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reportedly held a series of phone calls with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), Israel, and Saudi Arabia, the State Department said in a memo. According to the State Department, Pompeo explained the recent attacks again Iraq’s Hashd Al-Sha’abi (Popular Mobilization Units) […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Russian military to receive first advanced S-350 missile system next month

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
Russia’s first advanced S-350 ‘Vityaz’ surface-to-air missile system will arrive at its deployment site in January next year, the Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday. ‘In 2019, the Aerospace Force received its first batch of the latest S-350 ‘Vityaz’ anti-aircraft missile system, which will arrive at its permanent station in January 2020,” the press office said […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Next Syrian Army offensive will target southern Aleppo: source

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:20 P.M.) – With the Idlib offensive being put on hold today, the Syrian Arab Army’s High Command is shifting their attention to another front in northwestern Syria. According to a military source in Damascus, the Syrian Arab Army sent reinforcements to Aleppo this week to participate in a large-scale offensive at the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Erdogan officially signs memorandum to send Turkish troops to Libya

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:10 P.M.) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed on Monday, a memorandum to send the Turkish Armed Forces to Libya. As a result of this move, the Turkish Parliament will have to convene to discuss whether or not to send the troops to the North African nation. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syrian Army pauses Idlib offensive as poor weather conditions ground air force

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:45 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has once again paused their Idlib offensive after poor weather conditions grounded their air force. According to a military source in the Hama Governorate, the Syrian Army put a halt to their offensive operations in southeastern Idlib, despite restarting their ground assault on Monday morning. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Hundreds of Iraqis gather outside of US Embassy to protest recent attack

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
Numerous Iraqi citizens have gathered outside the US Embassy in Baghdad’s Green Zone, protesting against the latest airstrikes by the American military in the country. Preparing the tents for the sit-in outside the #US Embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone. #Iraq pic.twitter.com/rrl8yZlM9g — Sinan Salaheddin Mahmoud (@sinansm) December 31, 2019 According to reports, Iraqis, who earlier […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Militiamen Breach US Embassy in Baghdad; Trump Blames Iran

AP News at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
There were no reports of casualties, but the unprecedented breach was one of the worst attacks on the embassy in recent memory.

"50 Numbers From 2019 That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 13 hours ago
*"50 Numbers From 2019 That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe"* by Michael Snyder "One of the best ways to determine where things are heading is to look back at how much has changed over the past 12 months. 2019 has been one of the most memorable years in our history, and it has certainly set the stage for the critical events of the decade to come. However, not everyone views this moment in our history the same way. For example, one “expert” that is being heavily quoted by the mainstream media is claiming that 2019 was the culmination of “the best decade in human history”. His main a... more »

Iraqi Protesters Storm U.S. Embassy In Baghdad

Uriel at 'Nox & Friends - 13 hours ago
Iraqi Protesters Storm U.S. Embassy In Baghdad Over Air Strikes December 31, 2019 This is not new. The U.S. embassy in Baghdad cost over $1 billion by the time it was inaugurated in 2009. Inside its 104 acres of heavily fortified complex are its own water wells, electricity plant, wastewater-treatment facility, and other buildings to allow 100 percent independence from city utilities. In 2014 the embassy had a population of around 5,000 people but since then the number has been reduced. There were attacks in late 2013 and 2016 as well. Thousands of protesters surrounded the U.S. Emb... more »

When Police Are Only Minutes Away….

Terry at 'Nox & Friends - 13 hours ago
In a stunning real-life example of why it is important that Americans retain their Second Amendment right to bear arms, a shooter at the West Freeway Church Of Christ in White Settlement, Texas, was fatally shot within seconds after he pulled a gun and shot two congregants during a service on Sunday. Fortunately, the gunman — identified Monday as 43-year-old Keith Thomas Kinnunen, was quickly stopped by armed security, preventing any further deaths or injuries. No less than 7 other churchgoers also drew their weapons — a fact that is amplified in this slow-motion video ( the number ... more »

The U.S. Navy's Biggest Weakness

David Axe at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, Americas* A new report sheds light on a serious problem. *Key point:* Owing to a dearth of shipyards, the Navy might not be able to repair the damage in time to make a difference in the conflict. The U.S. naval industrial base is in bad shape. There are too few shipyards and they work too slowly to quickly expand the fleet. In wartime, they would struggle to repair battle-damaged ships. That’s the dire conclusion that William Hawkins, a former Congressional researcher, reached when he studied government shipbuilding reports. Hawkins explained his alarm in ... more »

History Lesson: Why China Wants to Become a Military Superpower

Harry J. Kazianis at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Harry J. Kazianis* *Security, Asia* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/BRICS-SUMMIT-LEADERS-RC22BD95XS08.html] Understanding the Chinese mindset means understanding their history. *Key Point:* China plans on never being humiliated ever again. Over several years in this publication, I have been exploring the dynamics of the budding U.S.-China security dilemma—a high-tech drama pitting anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) against what we used to refer to as Air-Sea Battle (ASB)—and have offered several different ways to lessen the possibility of such a dynamic from becoming ... more »

"How It Really Is"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
Good luck!

Vladimir Putin Annual Press Conference 2019 Edition

A Political Junkie at Viable Opposition - 14 hours ago
Just before Christmas, Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual news conference which was broadcast on several Russian television and radio stations. In this press conference, Russia's president outlines what the government of Russia has achieved and what they have not achieved over the past year and why. In this posting, I want to concentrate on Putin's comments about the United States, in particular, the impeachment proceedings and the growing sanctions burden being placed on Russia by Washington. Here is the announcement of the news conference from the Kremlin's website... more »

"How To Cure A Hangover, Or Not"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
*"How To Cure A Hangover, Or Not"* By Colleen Graham "Now you've done it and it's official, you have a hangover. Now what? No matter what you do sleep and water or juice should be included. There are many folk cures that are supposed to help cure a hangover. Many of them will help you cope by replenishing the vitamins and liquid you lost over night, while some like avoiding caffeine are very important to a quicker recovery. There is no one size fits all cure, find what works for you but the list below is a good place to start. There are also a few suggestions from readers who found ... more »

Cop Fired for Faking Viral Story of McDonald’s Worker Writing ‘Pig’ on His Coffee

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 14 hours ago
[image: pig]After a department went viral claiming a McDonald's worker wrote "f**king pig" on a cop's coffee, surveillance footage apparently proves it was a lie.

Cannabis packaging

John Rebchook at Marijuana Business Daily - 14 hours ago
The Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board approved new regulations on packaging and labeling marijuana products that go into effect on Jan. 1 and are intended to keep them from children Cannabis packaging is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

The 2020 Imperative – Cease Being Mesmerized by Demons 

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 14 hours ago
*Julian Rose* - Never has making truly discerning life affirmative choices been more important.

Illinois Prepares To Sell Recreational Marijuana Next Month

WTStaff at Waking Times - 14 hours ago
*Mandy Froelich* - Believe it or not, Illinois is where you’ll want to be this New Year’s Eve. Once the ball drops, dispensaries in the state will open their doors and begin legally selling recreational marijuana.

U.S. Embassy Under Attack By Pro-Iranian Militia Members In Baghdad

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
*Daily Mail*: *Donald Trump vows to hold Iran 'fully responsible' for attack on US embassy in Baghdad: Under-siege American soldiers fire at pro-Tehran Hezbollah mob and wound 20 as Iraqis storm complex and set it on fire in retaliation for airstrikes* * American soldiers inside the embassy have fired tear gas, stun grenades and warning shots at hundreds of fighters who broke down the compound gate and set fires within the complex on Tuesady * The ambassador was on leave at the time of the attack and embassy staff had already been evacuated before the US marine guard became besie... more »

Untitled

Jenna Orkin at From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog - 14 hours ago
From Jenna Orkin Chinese scientist who edited genes of twin babies is jailed for 3 yearsGoing Green Will Pay For Itself in Seven Years, Study Finds (Bloomberg!)Baltimore breaks city record for killings per capita in 2019 Elizabeth Warren's Plans *Am linking to this article solely for the list which is useful, (and which originated in the Wall Street Journal.)* US saw highest number of mass killings on record in 2019, database reveals "If He'd Take It, Yes" - Biden Considers Obama For Supreme Court Nomination Warren Buffett is spending billions to make Iowa 'the wind capital of the wor... more »

Happy New Year

Jane Burgermeister at BIRDFLU666 WORDPRESS BLOG CONTINUES HERE - 14 hours ago
*Rarely have I felt so positive about the future as on the eve of 2020, dear readers.* *May God help us all to turn the page on what has been a very dark chapter of history under the NWO, and start a new golden age of peace, prosperity and creativity. It's possible as people friendly, sound money friendlyChina becomes the world's new superpower.*

The Year To Come

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 14 hours ago
"Now is the winter of our discontent." The line which Shakespeare gave to Richard III seemed to be on everyone's lips last year. Everywhere people were in the streets. But it was also the year when climate change seemed to arrive at some kind of critical mass. Whether it will be enough to mitigate the consequences of global warming -- or whether it will be too little too late -- remains to be seen. It looks like 2020 will be another year that will roil the planet. Let's hope that, as Tennyson's Ulysses opined, it's "not too late to seek a newer world." Happy New Year. Image: You... more »

The Naval Strike Missile Is Giving The Navy's Littoral Combat Ship A Second Chance At Life

David Axe at The National Interest - 14 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * The Navy has spent $30 billion over a period of around two decades in order to acquire just 35 LCSs. Sixteen were in service as of late 2018. Of those 16, four are test ships. Six are training ships. In 2019 just six LCSs, in theory, are deployable. *Key point:* In contrast to the LCS in its original guise, the new frigate will be a conventional vessel with a large crew and hard-wired systems. And it will pack powerful anti-ship missiles from the very start. The U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship USS *Gabrielle Giffords *fired an anti-ship missile at a targe... more »

merry fucking holidays for dedicated Fascists

Brother Jonah at Not My Tribe - 15 hours ago
have you spotted the Fascist symbol yet? it’s the first on… the Roman Fascists displayed it along with a graven image of the emperor as they marched Jesus and two others to be crucified. which makes the timing of the “Justice” who released the three criminal from a murder charge which non-cop murderers would be... more »

CHINA AND USA AND NWO END YEAR IN SPECTACULAR COLLISION, NEW PARADIGM COULD EMERGE IN 2020, NEW GOLDEN AGE

Jane Burgermeister at BIRDFLU666 WORDPRESS BLOG CONTINUES HERE - 15 hours ago
*We are witnessing a head on collision between the world's new super power China and the USA, controlled by the dying NWO, as we approach 2020.* *A gigantic paradigm shift is in the process of happening. The effects will be felt on all our lives.* *The difference between these two countries is huge in as far as China is seeking to make its people prosperous while the NWO project involves making everyone penniless.* *That, specifically through the private central banks, double entry book keeping and the fractional reserve banking system creating money as debt with interest.* *As a... more »

Pt. 2: Meddling Outsiders and Antagonistic/Conflicting Neighbours Around the Mediterranean Sea

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 15 hours ago
* Before continuing on, if you haven't read* - The Mediterranean: "The Sea in the Middle of the Earth" Still Geostrategically Vital - Pt. 1: Meddling Outsiders and Antagonistic/Conflicting Neighbours Around the Mediterranean Sea *You probably should* One more factor in all this was *Assad's "Four Seas" Strategy.*. this too was a plan that would have set Syria up as an energy hub integrated with Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan. This plan could not be allowed to come to fruition by the anglo zionist overlords, because, it would have resulted in a reduced Israeli role/ reduc... more »

"The Lumpy Circle Of Life"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago
"For thirty years now, in times of stress and strain, when something has me backed against the wall and I'm ready to do something really stupid with my anger, a sorrowful face appears in my mind and asks... "Problem or inconvenience?" I think of this as the Wollman Test of Reality. Life is lumpy. And a lump in the oatmeal, a lump in the throat, and a lump in the breast are not the same lump. One should learn the difference." ~ Robert Fulghum, "Uh-Oh" *"Sigmund Wollman's Reality Test"* by Robert Fulghum "In the summer of 1959, at the Feather River Inn near the town of Blairsden i... more »

"Maddest Of All..."

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago
"When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams - this may be madness. To seek treasure where there is only trash. Too much sanity may be madness - and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!" - Miguel de Cervantes in "Man of La Mancha" ○ “A man who is "of sound mind" is one who keeps the inner madman under lock and key.” - Paul Valéry, “Mauvaises Pensées et Autres”, 1942

The Army Now Has Enough Upgraded Abrams Tanks To Equip An Entire Brigade

David Axe at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * The Army in late 2017 accepted the very first M-1A2C Abrams tanks. *Key point: *Anticipating the day when Russia resumes modernizing its tank corps and China figures out how to use its own new fighting vehicles, the U.S. Army already is planning a new M-1 variant to follow the M-1A2C. The U.S. Army’s newest tank in the summer of 2019 should enter service with the first large unit to use the type. The Army in late 2017 accepted the very first M-1A2C Abrams tanks. Nearly two years later the service has enough of the new vehicles to equip an entire brigade.... more »

We Asked an Expert To Simulate a U.S.-China War in the South China Sea

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Asia* And America lost. *Key Point:* War games give us a possible glimpse into future battle plays. The year is 2016, and two of the U.S. Navy’s latest ships are backing a key ally in the tinderbox of the South China Sea. They’re facing down the Chinese navy halfway across the world with the latest weapons and systems the United States can get its hands on. But is it enough? For more than a hundred years, the U.S. Navy has been using naval wargames to test ships, tactics and strategy. Today, thanks to the ability of computers to process massive amount... more »

China’s Giant New Warship Packs Killer Long-Range Missiles

David Axe at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * The Chinese navy’s new guided-missile cruisers can launch land-attack cruise missiles, the Chinese navy confirmed. That capability places the Type 055 cruisers in the same class as the U.S. Navy’s own large surface combatants. The Chinese navy’s new guided-missile cruisers can launch land-attack cruise missiles, the Chinese navy confirmed. That capability places the Type 055 cruisers in the same class as the U.S. Navy’s own large surface combatants. While experts long have suspected that the Type 055s would carry land-attack missiles, the weapons-fit re... more »

The Legend of the Stealh Submarine USS Jimmy Carter

Joseph Trevithick at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Joseph Trevithick* *Security, Americas* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/LIFE-CARTER-RP5DRIIIAKAA.html] It's a submarine that holds many secrets *Key point:* Many operations the submarine participated in are unknown. On Jan. 20, 2013, the Seawolf-class attack submarine USS Jimmy Carter left her home port in Bangor, Washington. Less than two months later, the submarine appeared at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii for repairs. It was all quite mysterious. During her time at sea, we don’t know where Jimmy Carter was or what her crew of nearly 150 were precisely doing. The Seawol... more »

The German Air Force Could Soon Get Lots of Eurofighter Typhoon Fighters

David Axe at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * The German air force just received the last Eurofighter Typhoon fighter from its initial order for 143 of the planes. But many more new Typhoons could be in the air arm’s future as it eyes replacements for older planes. The German air force just received the last Eurofighter Typhoon fighter from its initial order for 143 of the planes. But many more new Typhoons could be in the air arm’s future as it eyes replacements for older planes. The German air force in late 2019 operates 141 surviving Typhoons plus 74 Tornado fighter-bombers and 30 Tornado ECRs, t... more »

A look back at Retraction Watch in 2019 — and forward to our 10th anniversary

Adam Marcus at Retraction Watch - 15 hours ago
In August 2020, Retraction Watch will turn 10 — a milestone we still can’t quite wrap our minds around. When we started the blog in 2010, we thought we might have enough material for a post or two a month. Little did we know that our little side gig would eventually lead to the world’s … Continue reading A look back at Retraction Watch in 2019 — and forward to our 10th anniversary

As Americans Distracted by Impeachment, Congress Silently Killed Cannabis Reform—Despite Support

WTStaff at Waking Times - 15 hours ago
*Matt Agorist* - On Christmas Eve, Congress shut down cannabis reform despite mounting public support.

Students in Seattle Told to Get Vaccinated or Don’t Come Back After Winter Break

WTStaff at Waking Times - 15 hours ago
*Emma Fiala* - 2,274 students "cannot attend school" until they prove they are fully vaccinated.

Nearly Half a Billion Animals Feared Dead From Australia’s Fires, Including 8,000 Koalas

WTStaff at Waking Times - 15 hours ago
*Elias Marat* - Ecologists from the University of Sydney estimate that 480 million mammals, birds, and reptiles have been killed.

Italy’s Top Court Legalizes Home-Grown Cannabis for Personal Use

WTStaff at Waking Times - 15 hours ago
*Elias Marat* - Italy’s Supreme Court has decriminalized growing small batches of cannabis at home for private use.

Space Force: A spiritual crisis in America

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 15 hours ago
Please help us reach more of the public with our deep concerns about Space Force - the plan to move the arms race into the heavens. In this video I urge people to watch the award winning documentary called Pax Americana and the Weaponization of Space. It is about the best resource yet on this important issue. You can watch it from* here*. I first learned about plans to move the arms race into space in 1982. In the video I tell the story about that time. The following year I went to work for the Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice where I organized opposition across that stat... more »

The pros and cons of the National Voter Registration Act, 1993

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 15 hours ago
What happened to the Democrat party that used to believe in fair elections with only eligible voters? In 1993, with a Democratic Congress and President (Clinton) the National Voter Registration Act was passed. It requires "a reasonable effort to remove the names of ineligible voters" from voter rolls. In less than 20 years they've thrown that out the window and if local or state authorities attempt to clean up they are accused of racism or some other -ism. What Democrats do love about the NVRA is it allows registering when getting a driver's license or registering to vote automat... more »

Book Review: David Kirby, When They Come for You, St. Martin’s Press

Age of Autism at AGE OF AUTISM - 15 hours ago
Note: On this, the final day of the month, year and decade, we are happy to share this review of David Kirby's latest book, When They Come For You. David's book Evidence of Harm and his work on Huffington Post... more »

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