10 pm MST
Slate scribe promotes use of a four-letter word!
*TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020Dan Kois get it right:* How good a film is Joker? We certainly have our suspicions. Objectively, though, we have no idea. We say that because we haven't seen Joker. At Slate, Dan Kois apparently has. At present Kois may or may not be Slate's Books Editor—reports seem to differ—but he sometimes sees films. Yesterday, he performed an important service when he reviewed Joker under this pair of headlines: *Joker’s Oscar Nominations Are a Joke* Stop the madness. This movie is dumb as hell. Kois used the word "dumb" again and again as he described the Oscar-no... more »
Worrying about being drafted doesn't mean you're disloyal – it's an old American tradition
Amy Rutenberg, Assistant Professor of History, Iowa State University at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 11 hours ago
An Iranian general's killing sparked fears of war and a draft in the US. Those are old fears, says a scholar who contends it's a myth that during the two world wars, men signed up in droves to fight.
Can the Constitution stop the government from lying to the public?
Helen Norton, Rothgerber Chair in Constitutional Law, University of Colorado Boulder at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 11 hours ago
When a person or agency backed by the power and resources of the government tells a lie, it sometimes causes harm that only the government can inflict.
Still protesting on Jeju Island
*The daily protest outside the U.S. forced Navy base in Gangjeong village on Jeju Island, South Korea continues. It has now been over 12 and one-half years of unrelenting struggle. Currently the activists there are additionally opposing the construction of a second airport and Air Force base near the naval base.* *The Catholic mass continues each day just across from the navy base.* *Sacred Mount Halla in the distance viewed from Gangjeong village* *After the Catholic mass participants march to the front gate of the Navy base to hold signs/banners, sing and dance. Some days just a ... more »
Vodafone and Nokia to deploy 5G network
A new partnership between Vodafone and Nokia will fast track Vodafone’s rollout of 5G throughout Australia over the next 12 months. The two groups join national plans to deploy functional 5G technologies across the country in 2020 by the government and telecommunications companies.
More Premo and Fresh Grab sandwiches added to recall out of Listeria fears
Lipari Foods has added to the recall of previously announced Premo and Fresh Grab sandwiches because of potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. A supplier notified the company of the potential contamination. There is concern that consumers may have the recalled sandwiches because of their long shelf life. The products were distributed exclusively by Lipari Foods... Continue Reading
The Missing FBI Agent
who interviewed and lied about General Flynn and is now MIA thanks to the Deep Swampers in the DOJ. This one slid past us when the coup attempt was in its infancy of being revealed. (Note: Links for add’l reading at the bottom of the page.) EXCERPT: “The DOJ has released the FBI agent report (FD-302) written after their interview of Michael Flynn on Jan 24th, 2017. From prior testimony we know that FBI Agent Peter Strzok did the questioning and FBI Agent Joe Pientka took notes. However, for some reason, within the DOJ release of the report they are continuing to … Continue reading →
"2020: Year Of Living Dangerously"
*Click image for larger size.* *"2020: Year Of Living Dangerously"* by Jim Quinn “A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.” - Tacitus, Publius Cornelius "The shocking crime being committed during this century under the unscrupulous initiative of a few evil men is ongoing and no longer hidden from those willing to open their eyes and see the truth. As conspiracy theorists have proven to be right through the sacrifice of Snowden, Assange, and other patriots for truth, the Dee... more »
"The Federal Government’s 'Quick-Fix' Money Policies Hurt the Market"
*"The Federal Government’s * *'Quick-Fix' Money Policies Hurt the Market"* By Bill Bonner "Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I’ve kinda lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky? Well, do you, punk?'” – Clint Eastwood as "Dirty Harry" BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – "Friday’s big news almost went unnoticed. In all this excitement surrounding the assassination in Iraq… and the impeachment in Washington… and Harry and Meghan’s split... more »
Convicting The Bastard-- The Witnesses
*Will John Bolton Testify? by Nancy Ohanian* Nancy Ohanian sent me the drawing above unbidden. She sensed something important was happening. A few weeks ago, The Mooch predicated that if the Senate started calling witnesses who were close to Trump and could speak, under oath, to how he operates and what his motivations are, we would be forced to resign. The Mooch gets a little hyperbolic and resigning isn't exactly what I expect from Trump, but I suspect that there are at least 5-10% of his supporters who are getting wobbly on a second term and could be persuaded-- even if just to s... more »
Citizens for Regional Transit to discuss year in review at Thursday meeting
The Transit Year in Review and Looking Ahead to Transportation in Buffalo Niagara for 2020 and Beyond: CRT Addresses Recent and Future Trends for Transit and Other Transportation Modes CRT Quarterly Public Meeting—Thursday, January 16, 2020 When: Doors open
Brabenec secures $340,000 for Town of Ramapo for security following Monsey attacks
Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C,I-Deerpark) announced today that up to $340,000 will be distributed to the Town of Ramapo to install license plate readers in and around the Hamlet of Monsey in Rockland County. The increased security is in an effort
Stavisky calls for a slew of new election law reforms that would make it easier for Democrats to vote early
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, together with the Senate Majority Conference, passed major legislation that will build on the historic voting reforms passed under the Senate Democratic Majority during the 2020 Legislative Session. The bills passed today will expand voting rights in
New York Times says that Trump was right on Iran
While they don't pitch it that way a recent NYT article shows that Trump's approach to Iran is working and Obama's failed. The article says that the crippling impact of the sanctions that Trump has imposed on Iran has rendered them unwilling to risk a war with the US. Which is of course precisely what we want. Under Obama's appeasement plan Iranian aggression was unchecked but now they're willingness to kill Americans is going way down. While Democrats are sad about that we the people are happy. Most Americans agree with Trump; if Iran abandons sponsoring international terrorism a... more »
Bernie Sanders organizer says that Soviet Gulags were great
BREAKING: @BernieSanders “free education” policies to “teach you how to not be a f**king nazi.”; 'There is a reason Stalin had Gulags'; 'Expect violent reaction' for speech. If Bernie doesn't get nomination "Milwaukee will burn" Stay tuned: https://t.co/BFGnoCeJE7#Expose2020 pic.twitter.com/Koh6UTibbe — James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) January 14, 2020 Once again Project Veritas has shed light on the dark reality lying under leftists in America. The Democrat base that supports openly communist Bernie Sanders aren't good hard working union members; they're often fascist monsters wh... more »
Skepticism Warranted Regarding New Study Suggesting Link Between Chemical Exposures And IQ Loss
Earlier today, Dr. Leonardo Trasande and colleagues from New York University (NYU) published yet another in a series of economic studies which they interpret to indicate that low level general population exposures to some brominated flame retardants (PBDEs)1 and organophosphate pesticides (OPPs)2 are now causing a larger share of societal economic burden from IQ loss and intellectual disability than from what they regard as the more traditional threats of lead and methylmercury. read more
Did the U.S. Army Welcome Its First Openly Transgender Working Dogs?
A routine review of content labeled satire.
Russians Hacked Company Key to Ukraine Scandal: Researchers
A U.S. cybersecurity company says Russian military agents have successfully hacked the Ukrainian gas company at the center of the scandal that led to President Donald Trump's impeachment.
The Pentagon’s and CIA’s Power to Assassinate Americans
[image: undefined] Pentagon officials are assuring Americans that the Pentagon’s recent assassination of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani will make Americans safer. There is at least one big problem with that formulation, one that, unfortunately, many Americans still don’t recognize. That problem is this: the power of assassination wielded by the Pentagon and the CIA extends to American citizens. Why is that a problem? Because there is no way to reconcile a government’s power to assassinate its own citizens with the principles of a free society. A free society necessarily is ... more »
Over 100 Years Ago the US Government lied us into World War I
[image: undefined] You may think “fake news” is a fairly recent development made possible by the internet and social media. But a little over 100 years ago President Woodrow Wilson created an official fake news agency to persuade the American people to support the United States entry into WWI. But first a little perspective on what drove Wilson’s unorthodox methods. Woodrow Wilson was elected President of the United States in 1912. Politically, he was a novice having only served two years as governor of New Jersey prior to his elevation to the Presidency. Wilson’s lack of politic... more »
Trump’s In-kind Contribution to Bernie
[image: trump-s-in-kind-contribution-to-bernie] With the killing of Iranian General Soleimani, Trump has energized the anti-war majority in the Democratic Party, specifically the candidacy of Bernie Sanders.
Heh - navigation edition
Found at Kim du Toit's place: *No s***, Sherlock!* Peter
Getting to know Bernie Sanders
With Bernie surging in the polls it's time to find out just who he is and what he believes in: - He says that we're facing a climate catastrophe but he flies in a private jet when he wants to - He said that the long lines for getting food found in all socialist countries are good - He held up Venezuela, where the middle class go dumpster diving for food, as an example of how the US should be - He honeymooned in the Soviet Union and praised that tyrannical regime - He was "nauseated" by a JFK speech which condemned the tyranny in Cuba - He criticized Jesse J... more »
Body Bag Britain
In November 2017, landmark research found that approximately 120,000 people had died as a direct result of the Conservative party policy of driving austerity in what has since become an era now associated with what some have branded ‘economic murder.’ And even today the number of deaths is calculated to reach 200,000 by the end of this year. This is a national catastrophe and demonstrates the sheer heartlessness of a particular political doctrine and its ultimate measure of failure.
Pelosi gets ZERO from Senate as impeachment holdout ends (Video)
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 432. More The post Pelosi gets ZERO from Senate as impeachment holdout ends (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
Reopening of Brazilian Base in Antarctica Postponed Until Tomorrow
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The vice-president of the Republic, Hamilton Mourão, will reopen tomorrow, January 15th, the Comandante Ferraz Station, Brazil's research base in Antarctica. The bad weather prevented the arrival of Mourão and the authorities that will participate in the ceremony, initially scheduled . . . To read the full NEWS and much […] The post Reopening of Brazilian Base in Antarctica Postponed Until Tomorrow appeared first on The Rio Times.
Brazil and Qatar End Visa Requirement
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The agreement between Brazil and Qatar, which ends the visa requirement for passport holders from both countries, was published in the Official Gazette today, January 14th. The document was signed during the visit of President Jair Bolsonaro to Qatar last October during a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Doha, […] The post Brazil and Qatar End Visa Requirement appeared first on The Rio Times.
Has China Been Manipulating Its Currency?
Global Issues News Headlines - 12 hours ago
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan 14 (IPS) - Many argue that China's impressive growth for last four decades has been due to deliberate exchange rate undervaluation, promoting exports and discouraging imports. Last year, the Trump administration accused China of engaging in currency manipulation. Read the full story, “Has China Been Manipulating Its Currency?”, on globalissues.org →
A #FakeNews media member apologies in Farsi
Iran State TV's anchor resigns saying, "It was very hard for me to believe the killing of my countrymen. I apologize for lying to you on TV for 13 years."#IranProtests2020 https://t.co/XnTv72KDkZ — Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) January 13, 2020 While Farnaz isn't a member of the American #FakeNews media, which is the propaganda arm of the Democrat party, she was part of the #FakeNews media in Iran. In the wake of Iran shooting down a civilian airliner, as well as possibly due to the horrible mismanagement of the Iranian economy by the fascist Imams, she not only resigned but ap... more »
VICTORY! Mandatory Vaccine Bill Fails After Thousands Show Up to Protest in New Jersey
[image: vaccines]After thousands turned out to protest, the state of New Jersey failed to pass a bill that would have stripped citizens of their right to informed consent in regards to vaccines.
WATCH: Cops Sic K9 on Innocent Man, Beat Him with Flashlights, Lie to Cover It Up, Get Off With Wrist Slap
[image: K9]A cop was granted a sweetheart plea deal despite a K9 being sicced on an innocent man who was then beaten, tasered, stomped and kicked.
RATIONAL ANIMAL TALES: Atticus Finch mutters at Cal!
*TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020#InterrogationSoDumb:* Readers all across the planet thought we were making it up. Surely, these people thought, there has never been an *actual* interview anywhere near that dumb! No one has ever said something as silly as what's shown in the passage we're posting again down below. We're all rational animals here! For that reason, many readers falsely assumed that no one is *really* this dumb: SIMS (12/17/19): *I had forgotten that To Kill a Mockingbird also ends with a crime—the [murder] of Bob Ewell* [by Boo Radley, trying to protect Scout]—being cov... more »
Rumors Of Abdul Mahdi Staying On As Iraq’s PM
(Al Jazeera) At the very end of November 2019 Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi resigned from office. That led to political deadlock as the Binna bloc led by Badr’s Hadi Amiri proposed several candidates backed by Iran only to have President Barham Salah reject them fearing that they would increase popular protests against the government. Iraq’s ruling parties usually take months to agree upon a new government, so this process was only in its infancy. Iran and Abdul Mahdi had plans of their own. Tehran and the retired premier decided to derail talk of forming a new administration by... more »
The #FakeNews media lies by omission: CNN and Sandmann edition
An innocent young boy was smeared by the #FakeNews media for politely listening to a Native American radical who put himself into the boys face and pounded a drum inches away from the boy. That boy, Nick Sandmann, was called a racist and painted as a monster for being polite while the odious Nathan Phillips who thinks that threatening kids is a good way to make a political comment was painted as a victim. This was especially vile since Sandmann wasn't a public figure at all. He was just one of a bunch of boys who were standing around waiting for a bus to take them home from the Marc... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Jan 14
1951 Grenade thrown at Baghdad synagogue 4 killed 10 wounded 4th of 7 such attacks on Jews 1950-51 1991 Saddam called on Iraqis to fight to the death to hold Kuwait 1991 Intel chief Gen Samarrie told Saddam Iraq would be hard pressed in war Had bad defensive positions and forces exposed 1991 Saddam said Iraq could take casualties and U.S. could not (Musings On Iraq book review *from storm to Freedom, America’s Long War with Iraq*) 1992 Iraq admitted to UN inspectors that it was trying to enrich uranium to build a nuclear bomb (Musings On Iraq article UN Inspectors Were Right Iraq Wa... more »
How an Israeli Spy-Linked Tech Firm Gained Access to the US Gov’t’s Most Classified Networks
Through its main investors, SoftBank and Lockheed Martin, Cybereason not only has ties to the Trump administration but has its software running on some of the U.S. government’s most classified and secretive networks. The post How an Israeli Spy-Linked Tech Firm Gained Access to the US Gov’t’s Most Classified Networks appeared first on MintPress News.
Lisa Savage issues statement on BIW $45 million tax break
In response to reports last week that top Democratic lawmakers in Maine are questioning a $45 million tax break for Bath Iron Works (BIW), US Senate candidate Lisa Savage issued the following statement: “Why would our state give BIW/General Dynamics Corporation a $45 million tax cut in the first place? Owner General Dynamics is one of the wealthiest weapons manufacturers in the world and does not need corporate welfare. I worked hard to block this bill in 2018 and was part of a group that succeeded in reducing the tax giveaway amount from the $60 million originally put in the bill... more »
The 'Super-Charged' F-15EX Fighter: Why This Combat Pilot Loves It
*Jack Jackson* *Security, * With growing threats abroad, including from nations like China and Russia that seek to take America’s top spot on the world’s economic and military stages, we need to deploy a fighter fleet that can guarantee global air superiority. This plane can do that. The ability to deploy a diverse fighter fleet with complementary capabilities is critical to our global air superiority. Now, more than ever, our nation needs to be prepared to take on new challenges and emerging threats from across the globe. Some of America’s most forward-thinking military leader... more »
This Is How the F-35 Is Training Against Russia's Anti-Air S-400 Missile System
*Kris Osborn* *Security, Americas* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/USA-MILITARY--RC2LAE94NV4Q.html] Difficult, but necessary. *Key point:* The F-35 may be a stealth fighter, but its pilots need to practice avoiding enemy anti-air systems. That means practicing under the most realistic conditions possible. Designed as part of the developmental trajectory for the emerging F-35, the test-firing facilities further development of an ability to fire the weapon “off-boresight,” described as an ability to target and destroy air to air targets that are not in front of the a... more »
Britain Wants to Make the F-35 a Hypersonic Stealth Fighter
*Michael Peck* *Technology, Europe* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/USA-MILITARY--RC118E57F410.html] Could it be done? *Key point: *Hypersonic aircraft and missiles are all the rage, but they are hard to build. It would be even more difficult to convert plane into a hypersonic one. Can an F-35 be turned into a hypersonic aircraft? News last month that Britain is boosting its hypersonic weapons program didn’t come as a surprise. Many other nations are doing it. What caught everyone’s attention was that there are plans to rework the jet engines on the 1990s Eurofigh... more »
This Plane Is How Russia Plans to Kill and F-22 or F-35 In a War
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * Meet Russia's Su-57 fighter. *Key Idea:* Can this plane take on America's best? Russia’s official designation of the PAK-FA/T-50 jet as the Sukhoi Su-57 is just another reminder that the field of fifth generation fighters is about to get more crowded. The United States, China, Russia, Japan and Korea are all working on their own fifth generation designs, but so far only three planes, the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Chinese J-20 are operational. Increased tensions between the United States and NATO on one side and Russia on the ot... more »
The Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut Stealth Fighter Was Russia's Attempt to Beat the F-22 Raptor
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * And it failed. *Key Idea:* This plane never went to war--but inspired Russian aviation dramatically. In 1996, the March/April issue of Russian military periodical *Air Fleet Bulletin* published an innocuous-seeming photo of a meeting between Russian military chiefs and aviation industry counterparts. Sitting on the table before them were two model airplanes. One was an advanced variant of the by-then well-known Flanker multi-role fighter. The other was a strange black jet with forward swept wings—that is, the wings seemed to be swept the “wrong... more »
We Now Know Why Russia Never Had an Aircraft Carrier Fleet
*Kyle Mizokami* *History, Europe* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/NORWAY-RUSSIA--D1BEUHUVRDAA.html] Not enough money or capacity. *Key point: *As a predominately land power, and one that was low on cash and ship-building capacity, Moscow was never able to field multiple true carriers. Russia did try, and continues to make plans, but it is unlikely it will build more carriers anytime soon. The Soviet Union was one of the largest, most industrial proficient countries the world has ever seen. Yet for all of its engineering talent and manufacturing capacity, during the... more »
What Exactly Is the AR-556 and Is It Really Just a Souped-Up AR-15?
*Kyle Mizokami* *Technology, Ameri* [image: https://ruger.com/products/ar556/specSheets/8502.html] It may be something entirely different. *Key point:* Technically, the AR-556 is an AR-15 pistol. That means it is designed to be smaller but still packs a big punch. Ruger’s AR-556 pistol, a short-barreled AR-15 designed for one or two-handed operation, delivers rifle-level performance in a pistol-sized configuration. The AR-15 rifle, or ArmaLite Rifle-15, was developed by Eugene Stoner as a potential military firearm. The AR-15, first adopted by the U.S. Air Force and later by ... more »
The U.S. Navy Wants to Reach Out and Sink Someone
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * The Navy is accelerating integration of a new, much more powerful radar system intended to find and destroy enemy drones, missiles and aircraft at farther ranges by combining ballistic missile defense with standard air and missile defense -- all as part of an emerging service-wide strategic approach to increase Naval attack power and better network maritime warfighting platforms. *Key Point:* Will the new strategy work? (Washington D.C.) The Navy is accelerating integration of a new, much more powerful radar system intended to find and destroy enemy d... more »
Just How Dangerous Is China's Modern Type 99 Tank?
*David Axe* *Security, Asia* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/KAZAKHSTAN-MILITARY--GM1E69P00OX01.html] A deadly weapon. *Key point:* Beijing's newest tank is up-to-date and can give other top-of-the-line armor a run for their money. China has been modernizing its army for decades and this serious tank is proof of that. China has a *lot* of tanks. Like, eight to nine *thousand* of them. Who *else* would bother to maintain such a ridiculous number? The United States. And Russia. (Note that *such counts* include vehicles in storage and reserve. The numbers for tanks in... more »
What If Future Naval Wars Are Fought by Drones and Robots?
*David Axe* *Technology, Americas* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/USA-MILITARY-ROBOT-SHIP-GF10000375088.html] Welcome to the future. *Key point:* AI-controlled (or at least partially-controlled) warships could be used on the front lines of tomorrow's naval wars. The United States is racing ahead with these technologies and its major rivals are following suit. The proliferation of robotic warships could make naval warfare safer for human beings. But it also could have the unintended effect of reducing the threshold for military action. Recent events in the Strait ... more »
1917: Why I Loved This Movie
*James Jay Carafano* *Society, * Military Expert: The plot is the stuff of a standard action/adventure flick: two soldiers on a desperate mission to stop a British unit from charging into a trap. At a more substantive level, however, it’s a movie about the humanity and inhumanity of war. On that front, it’s the best since Saving Private Ryan (1998) and definitely worth seeing. Yes, it’s up for this year’s “Best Picture” Oscar, but that hasn’t stopped critics delivered decidedly mixed reviews to *1917**. *The plot is the stuff of a standard action/adventure flick: two soldiers on ... more »
How the HK Universal Service Pistol Gained Such a Devoted Fan Base
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Americas* [image: https://s3.amazonaws.com/hkusa/20140509153029/HK-USP-9mm-right.jpg] The HK USP is no joke. *Key point:* The HK USP is strikingly similar to the very popular 1911. This is why they've had such niche commercial success. In the 1990s, U.S. Special Operations Command went looking for a new pistol. The new handgun would arm commandos from the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force, giving them a next generation handgun with the latest technology. One outgrowth of that program was the Heckler and Koch Universal Service Pistol, a handgun available to... more »
Garett Jones on Open Borders: More Endogenous Than Thou
Garett Jones faults me for treating cross-country productivity differences as exogenous. I disagree. On further reflection, though, I think he’s making an analogous error. Ponder his statement: As you know, my key disagreement is a theoretical and empirical one: the policy of Open Borders flows fairly naturally from the view that a nation’s level of […] The post Garett Jones on Open Borders: More Endogenous Than Thou appeared first on Econlib.
Zingers from Ronald Coase
When I was an intern with President Nixon’s Council of Economic Advisers in the summer of 1973, the Law of the Sea was a hot issue and my immediate boss, Robert Tollison, took me to a number of interagency meetings. At one such meeting I received a copy of a piece (I think unpublished) by […] The post Zingers from Ronald Coase appeared first on Econlib.
Breaking: Moqtada Al-Sadr calls for one million person march against US military presence in Iraq
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:10 P.M.) – Sayyed Moqtada Al-Sadr called on Iraqis via Twitter on Tuesday to form a million person march against the U.S. military presence in Iraq. The call for the massive protest comes just a week after the Iraqi Parliament voted in favor of all foreign forces leaving Iraq. The Iraqi Parliament’s vote […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Iran makes arrests over accidental downing of Ukrainian airliner
Arrests have been made in connection with the shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane near Tehran, Iran’s judiciary has announced, following President Hassan Rouhani’s call for a special probe into the deadly accident. Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told Iranian state media on Tuesday that individuals had been detained as part of “extensive investigations” into […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Iran says 25 million people attended Qassem Soleimani’s funeral
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:30 P.M.) – The Spokesman of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corp (IRGC) Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif said on Tuesday that approximately 25 million people attended the three-day-long funeral procession of Major-General Qassem Soleimani. “When the body of the late General was repatriated, in five cities of Ahvaz, Mashhad, Tehran, Qom and Kerman, 25 […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Erdogan vows to teach Libya’s Haftar a lesson over Tripoli offensive
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to teach a lesson to Commander of the Libyan National Army Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar if he did not stop attacks on the Government of National Accord’s positions. “Turkey is carefully watching the steps by legitimate Libyan authorities and allies of General Khalifa Haftar. If the strikes on […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
New footage shows aftermath of Iranian attack on US forces in Iraq
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:30 P.M.) – The U.S. Armed Forces have begun clearing the rubble at the ‘Ayn Al-Assad Base in the Al-Anbar Governorate after Iranian missiles targeted the installation last week. Footage shows U.S. troops were clearing rubble and debris on Monday from a military base housing American soldiers in western Iraq on Monday, days […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Iraqi gov’t gets final say on US troops in Iraq: Pompeo
The final decision on US military presence in Iraq will be made by the country’s government, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said on Monday in a speech at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. “Ultimately, our force posture will be resolved inside of Iraq, we will work along the duly elected leaders in Iraq […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Erdogan threatens to resume operation in northeastern Syria
BERIUT, LEBANON (12:10 P.M.) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to resume military operations in the eastern region of the Euphrates River Valley if the Syrian Kurds do not abide by the ceasefire. “We will launch the military operation again if the ceasefire is not adhered to,” Erdogan threatened. He then turned his […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
FATHER CHRISTMAS MAKES A PROMISE TO DELIVER THE TRUTH, BUT FIRST TO TIE UP THE LIARS
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with “From now onwards you tell the truth, and that’s it”, Robert Fisk, one of the few British journalists who do, explained recently for a television documentary that this was the credo he learned from his job. He’s still being published in a London newspaper controlled by the Lebedev family; […]
PRESIDENT PUTIN MAKES A PHENOMENAL REVELATION IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with During President Vladimir Putin’s four-and-a-half hour press conference on Thursday – the second longest on record in Russia; the longest in the rest of the world — he was congratulated several times by the audience for the answers he gave about the running of Russia. This is a regular feature. […]
RUSSIA LYING LITE – MARTIN CRUZ SMITH SELLS A NOVEL ABOUT MIKHAIL KHODORKOVSKY MAKING LOVE TO ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA IN IRKUTSK (NO JOKE)
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with Simon & Schuster is a New York publisher which is now the property of ViacomCBS, National Amusements Inc., and the part-demented Sumner Redstone (Rothstein). It has long made a business of selling lies about Russia. That’s the non-fiction department. It’s a harder sell for the fiction department to do the […]
SERGEI SKRIPAL’S THREE TELEPHONE-CALLS OPEN THE QUESTION OF WHICH SIDE THE BRITISH THINK HE’S ON
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with Sergei Skripal (lead image), the central figure in the British Government’s 21-month old story of an attempted assassination by GRU, the Russian military intelligence agency, is alive; not very well; and living in England. Skripal has revealed himself in three brief telephone calls to his niece Viktoria, living with […]
RUSSIAN STRATEGY VERSUS TURKISH ARMS, US FANTASIES, GREEK AND CYPRIOT FRIGHTS – GORILLA RADIO DISCUSSES THE WAR OF THE MEDITERRANEAN MAPS
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with In the great game of who will sell gas to Europe, and in the American game of stopping Russia from doing so, Turkey has now declared its stake in the outcome by erecting a paper barrier across the Mediterranean Sea from the Turkish coast to the Libyan coast, and preparing […]
THE SULTAN’S NEW POWER GRAB IS THE MEDITERRANEAN TO THE LIBYAN SHORE – WHAT ROLE FOR THE RUSSIAN S-400?
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with “We told you so”. In another case of the Russian General Staff telling the Kremlin that arming the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan puts strategic Russian interests at risk, Turkey has signed a plan to extend its control of the seabed southward across the Mediterranean to the Libyan coastline. The […]
THE SKRIPALS UNDER US CONTROL, AT A USAF NUCLEAR BOMBER BASE IN FAIRFORD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with English plane spotters and bird watchers have discovered the location of the Skripals in Gloucestershire. An hour and a half’s drive north of their well-known home in Salisbury, Sergei and Yulia Skripal have been hidden inside an airbase operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) for long-range B-52 and […]
BRITISH DEFENCE MINISTRY DOCUMENT REVEALS SKRIPAL BLOOD EVIDENCE IS MISSING – FAKE CHAIN OF CUSTODY MAKES NOVICHOK EVIDENCE WORTHLESS
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with A British Ministry of Defence document, issued on March 12 but unnoticed since then, reports the ministry has searched its files and records of the blood sampling and testing for Novichok in the blood of Sergei and Yulia Skripal, but “failed to locate any information that provides the exact time […]
NO THANKS FOR THE MEMORY – VALENTIN YUMASHEV TRIES TELLING RUSSIANS BORIS YELTSIN IS STILL ALIVE BUT NOT KICKING LIKE IN THE OLD DAYS
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with It was Richard Nixon (lead image, left) who famously connected his election defeat with the notion he had been victimized by other people’s boots, particularly the press. “You don’t have Nixon to kick around any more, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference.” Nixon had lost the vote for […]
The Real Reason the U.S. is Interested in Iran
The American obsession with Iran is about oil and natural gas. If these two resources had been absent, it is hard to imagine such an intense American focus on the country from the time of a U.S. Central Intelligence Agency-backed coup of Iran’s elected government in 1953 to today. The Foreign Policy magazine piece linked above is based … Continue reading The Real Reason the U.S. is Interested in Iran →
Pakistán busca anulación de laudo favorable al grupo chileno Luksic
bilaterals.org - 12 hours ago
14-Jan-2020 La compensación concedida a Luksic y Barrick ascendía a 4.087.000 millones de dólares por la denegación del arrendamiento minero, más intereses hasta la fecha de la adjudicación de 1.753.000 millones.
Boris Johnson's next Brexit fight looms on EU's fishing demands
bilaterals.org - 12 hours ago
14-Jan-2020 EU Commission says fishing must be part of a trade agreement. UK has said it wants control of its own waters after Brexit.
Seoul, Moscow to hold 3rd round of FTA talks on service sector
bilaterals.org - 13 hours ago
14-Jan-2020 South Korea said it plans to hold the 3rd round of FTA negotiations with Russia in the service and investment segments this week, as the country endeavors to diversify its trade portfolio amid protectionism.
Declaración Pública: Ojo con la Trampa constituyente del congreso
bilaterals.org - 13 hours ago
14-Jan-2020 Como Plataforma Chile Mejor sin TLC, alertamos al pueblo movilizado y reprimido, que la ley aprobada por el congreso para posibilitar el plebiscito, metió de contrabando en su artículo 135, disposiciones especiales para impedir el cambio de modelo económico, y permitir que hasta el fin de la Constituyente el Congreso siga legislando y pueda aprobar el TPP11 u otros tratados de Libre Comercio.
S. Korean investment agreements allow paper companies to request international arbitration
bilaterals.org - 13 hours ago
14-Jan-2020 South Korea has concluded no fewer than 99 investment agreements that allows paper companies to take advantage of investor-state dispute system.
Uber threatens Colombia with treaty-based arbitration after ban on use of its ride-sharing app
bilaterals.org - 13 hours ago
13-Jan-2020 The US-based ridesharing services platform Uber Technologies and its Colombian subsidiary, Uber Colombia, have threatened to initiate arbitration proceedings against Colombia under the Colombia-US Trade Promotion Agreement.
Oil Supplies to Belarus Stopped at Order of Kremlin
As reported by BelSat: https://belsat.eu/en/news/oil-supplies-to-belarus-stopped-at-order-of-kremlin-media/ “Oil supplies to Belarus stopped at order of Kremlin – media 2020.01.14 10:49 Moscow does … Continue reading →
France And Five West African States To Step Up Anti-Terror Efforts In Sahel Region
*Reuters:** France, West Africa to unite forces in fight against Islamist militants* PARIS (Reuters) - France and five West African states agreed on Monday to combine their military forces under one command structure to fight a growing Islamist militancy in the Sahel region, with Paris committing an extra 220 troops. French President Emmanuel Macron had called the leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Mauritania, known as the G5, to the southwestern French town of Pau to discuss the battle against insurgents in the Sahel, an arid region just below the Sahara desert. *... more »
Former Pope Benedict wants his name removed from new book that undermines successor
Just In - 13 hours ago
Former Pope Benedict wants his name removed as co-author of a new book about priestly celibacy, days after excerpts were published, in the latest twist in a saga that has riveted the Roman Catholic world.
Why a senator wants you to give that fidget spinner on your desk to fire-affected families
Liberal senator Hollie Hughes is appealing to people to donate sensory toys and items like weighted blankets to families of children with autism who have been affected by the bushfire emergency.
US Director Spike Lee to Lead Cannes Film Festival Jury
Festival organizers hope the provocative American director will “shake things up” at the gathering of the world's cinema elite.
"Economic Market Snapshot AM 1/14/20"
*AM 1/14/20, Updated frequently as available.* ◆ Gregory Mannarino, AM 1/14/20: "*Critical Market Updates"* - https://www.traderschoice.net/ ◆ *MarketWatch Market Summary, Live Updates* - https://www.marketwatch.com/tools/marketsummary *CNN Market Data:* - http://money.cnn.com/data/markets/ *CNN Fear And Greed Index:* - http://money.cnn.com/data/fear-and-greed/ ◆ *Buffett Indicator: Where Are We with Market Valuations?* "As of 1/14/20 (updates daily): The Stock Market is Significantly Overvalued. Based on historical ratio of total market cap over GDP (currently at 154.7%), it is lik... more »
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace: 'UK Must Be Prepared To Fight Wars Without US'
UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace *Insider*: *The UK is abandoning its alliance with Trump as the United States 'withdraws from its leadership around the world'* * The UK is threatening to tear up its defense alliance with the US after President Donald Trump's Iran crisis triggered a rupture between the two countries. * UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told The Sunday Times that the UK was looking to forge stronger alliances with other international partners that shared its priorities. * He said the US under Trump risked withdrawing from its global leadership role. * Wallace also sa... more »
Bernie-Bashing Backlash Bonanza
To say that Elizabeth Warren's accusation of sexism against Bernie Sanders doesn't pass the smell test is the understatement of the year. Even total nostril blockage would not quench the stench of her allegation that he told her at a private dinner that a woman could never win the presidency. What he likely said was that Donald Trump would act like the sexist pig that he is toward any woman candidate. Likely, given that Bernie has always stood up for women and Elizabeth does have this disturbing history of, ahem, exaggerating stuff, bending the truth, or even making things up. What... more »
Halifax’s Come From Away moment
News 1. Owls Head Provincial Park has been deleted from the province’s map of parks and protected areas Tim writes on the disappearance of Owls Head Provincial Park from the map of main protected areas on the province’s website. CBC’s Michael Gorman reported that the province removed Owls Head from a pending protected status list. […]
THE FOG OF WAR – GORILLA RADIO DISCUSSES THE RUSSIAN FOCUS
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with Political fog and the fog of war are different. The first is a way of believing first, seeing afterwards. The second is what happens when the weapons of camouflage and deception combine with confusion and fear to make seeing clearly impossible. Follow last week’s events as they happened in Damascus, […]
FATHER CHRISTMAS MAKES A PROMISE TO DELIVER THE TRUTH, BUT FIRST TO TIE UP THE LIARS
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with “From now onwards you tell the truth, and that’s it”, Robert Fisk, one of the few British journalists who do, explained recently for a television documentary that this was the credo he learned from his job. He’s still being published in a London newspaper controlled by the Lebedev family; […]
PRESIDENT PUTIN MAKES A PHENOMENAL REVELATION IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with During President Vladimir Putin’s four-and-a-half hour press conference on Thursday – the second longest on record in Russia; the longest in the rest of the world — he was congratulated several times by the audience for the answers he gave about the running of Russia. This is a regular feature. […]
RUSSIA LYING LITE – MARTIN CRUZ SMITH SELLS A NOVEL ABOUT MIKHAIL KHODORKOVSKY MAKING LOVE TO ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA IN IRKUTSK (NO JOKE)
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with Simon & Schuster is a New York publisher which is now the property of ViacomCBS, National Amusements Inc., and the part-demented Sumner Redstone (Rothstein). It has long made a business of selling lies about Russia. That’s the non-fiction department. It’s a harder sell for the fiction department to do the […]
SERGEI SKRIPAL’S THREE TELEPHONE-CALLS OPEN THE QUESTION OF WHICH SIDE THE BRITISH THINK HE’S ON
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with Sergei Skripal (lead image), the central figure in the British Government’s 21-month old story of an attempted assassination by GRU, the Russian military intelligence agency, is alive; not very well; and living in England. Skripal has revealed himself in three brief telephone calls to his niece Viktoria, living with […]
RUSSIAN STRATEGY VERSUS TURKISH ARMS, US FANTASIES, GREEK AND CYPRIOT FRIGHTS – GORILLA RADIO DISCUSSES THE WAR OF THE MEDITERRANEAN MAPS
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with In the great game of who will sell gas to Europe, and in the American game of stopping Russia from doing so, Turkey has now declared its stake in the outcome by erecting a paper barrier across the Mediterranean Sea from the Turkish coast to the Libyan coast, and preparing […]
THE SULTAN’S NEW POWER GRAB IS THE MEDITERRANEAN TO THE LIBYAN SHORE – WHAT ROLE FOR THE RUSSIAN S-400?
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with “We told you so”. In another case of the Russian General Staff telling the Kremlin that arming the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan puts strategic Russian interests at risk, Turkey has signed a plan to extend its control of the seabed southward across the Mediterranean to the Libyan coastline. The […]
THE SKRIPALS UNDER US CONTROL, AT A USAF NUCLEAR BOMBER BASE IN FAIRFORD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with English plane spotters and bird watchers have discovered the location of the Skripals in Gloucestershire. An hour and a half’s drive north of their well-known home in Salisbury, Sergei and Yulia Skripal have been hidden inside an airbase operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) for long-range B-52 and […]
BRITISH DEFENCE MINISTRY DOCUMENT REVEALS SKRIPAL BLOOD EVIDENCE IS MISSING – FAKE CHAIN OF CUSTODY MAKES NOVICHOK EVIDENCE WORTHLESS
by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with A British Ministry of Defence document, issued on March 12 but unnoticed since then, reports the ministry has searched its files and records of the blood sampling and testing for Novichok in the blood of Sergei and Yulia Skripal, but “failed to locate any information that provides the exact time […]
Homeless Californians Adapt to Camp Sweeps and ‘The Caltrans Shuffle’
A vignette from a homeless encampment.
U.S. Navy: Top-secret UFO files Could Damage U.S. National Security
*FOX News:* *Top-secret UFO files could ‘gravely damage’ US national security, Navy says* The Department of Defense has top-secret classified briefings and a classified video about a UFO incident. The U.S. Navy acknowledged the existence of the information, which concerns a 2004 encounter between the USS Nimitz and strange unknown aerial objects, in response to a public records request from Vice. Last year, the Navy for the first time acknowledged that three UFO videos -- one from the 2004 USS Nimitz incident and two from 2015 -- were real videos of unidentified flying objects. ... more »
Minsky and socialism
Recently, the Levy Institute, the think-tank centre for post-Keynesian economics (and in particular the theories of Hyman Minsky, the radical Keynesian economist of the 1980s), published a short video that that shows Minsky explaining his theory of crises under capitalism in his own words at an event in Colombia, November 1987. It is a very clear account of his theory of crises based on ‘financial fragility’’.
The Simple Reason Why America Could Lose the Next Cold War to Russia or China
*Michael Rubin* *Security, * To win the new Cold War, the United States must tap its private-sector technological superiority. Victory is not possible, however, if the Pentagon continues to rely on antiquated, clunky, and counterproductive processes. Soon after announcing he would seek the Republican presidential nomination, George W. Bush chastised President Bill Clinton for taking too soft an approach toward China. Clinton “made a mistake [in] calling China a strategic partner,” Bush said, saying China was instead a “strategic competitor.” This recognition was also at the hear... more »
Hi Point 4595 .45 ACP Carbine Gun: Just How Good Is It?
*Richard Douglas* *Security, * A top-tier gun or not? We take a look. Not all semi-auto guns have to be beautiful — and they don’t have to come with a price tag that will break the bank, either. Hi Point demonstrates both concepts with the Hi Point model 4595 .45 ACP semi-auto carbine. Though you may know Hi Point for its handguns, their carbines are just as worthy of attention. Hi Point makes their .45 carbines easy and comfortable to use. This seven-pound carbine has a polymer skeletonized stock with recoil pad. Plus, it uses the same magazine as Hi-Point's .45 ACP pistol! ... more »
Brexit Endgame: Brexit Nears, Northern Ireland Assembly Reconvenes, and Megxit Distracts
Photo Credit: Mike Dunham/WPA/Getty via CNBC *Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on *Order from Chaos*.* What a difference a year—and an election—makes. After months of gridlock, the newly elected British Parliament easily approved the Brexit deal last week. Days later, political leaders in Northern Ireland agreed to resume power-sharing after a three-year hiatus. At the end of January, the U.K. will almost certainly leave the European Union and begin negotiations on the future relationship. *Is Brexit Finally Happening?* Yes. Boris Johnson was re-elected prime minis... more »
Remembering Oman’s Sultan Qaboos, a Critical Interlocutor for the U.S. in the Middle East
Photo Credit: Axel Schmidt/DAPD/AP via Newsweek *Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on *Order from Chaos*.* Sultan Qaboos ruled Oman for five decades, shepherding its transformation from a medieval backwater in the Arabian Peninsula to a modern country with good relations with all its neighbors—despite living in the most dangerous region of the world. He became a valued ally of the United States. I had the opportunity to meet with him several times, and those meetings illustrate how important the Omani leader was for America’s role in the region. His passing comes at ... more »
The Man Behind The Curtain
Some people believe that Stephen Harper has left the building. Michael Harris writes that they're wrong: The Conservative Party continues to be haunted by the spectre of Harper, who led them to three national victories on the improbable basis of his northern Republican policies. Even though Harper was trounced by Justin Trudeau in 2015, he has never really released his grip on the party he built. The Conservative Party of Canada is still Harper's Party. Need proof? Consider the way people deemed troublesome are sent to the dustbin: In the wake of his defeat, Scheer had vowed to ... more »
WATCH: Insane Cop Tasers Teen On a Bicycle Over Popping a Wheelie
[image: bicycle]A cop chased down a teen and tasered him as he rode his bicycle — injuring him — because he witnessed the teen pop a wheelie on the road.
Canada’s Aphria reports loss, cuts revenue guidance for 2020
Aphria reported a net loss of 8 million Canadian dollars ($6.2 million) for the second quarter ending Nov. 30, 2019, and the Canadian cannabis producer lowered its fiscal 2020 revenue outlook. The company’s net revenue for the three-month period was CA$120.6 million, down from the previous quarter’s CA$126 million and lower than analyst expectations. Net […] Canada’s Aphria reports loss, cuts revenue guidance for 2020 is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Trulieve fights short-seller report as its dominance in Florida medical cannabis market continues
Trulieve Cannabis, the predominant player in Florida’s medical marijuana industry, is fending off attacks raised in a recent negative research report as competitors try to cut into the company’s nearly 50% market share in the state. Grizzly Research promotes itself as doing in-depth research of publicly held companies, but its website doesn’t list a headquarters address or […] Trulieve fights short-seller report as its dominance in Florida medical cannabis market continues is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
US House panel to hear marijuana reform issues
Cannabis reform is getting its first hearing in front of members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce committee on Wednesday, but no one from the industry has been called to testify. The Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a hearing titled “Cannabis Policies for the New Decade,” which is focused […] US House panel to hear marijuana reform issues is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Will the Real Michael Pompeo Please Stand Up
In a January 10th 2020 interview with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the Fox News program "The Ingraham Angle", we find the following exchange between Ms. Ingraham and Mr. Pompe when asked about the Congressional briefing regarding the Soleimani assassination: *"Laura Ingraham: But Vice President Pence said to reveal more and the compelling intel could have compromised sources and methods Mr. Secretary. Does that mean that the intel briefers in this administration don't trust Congress with classified information because that's what it sounded like?* *Mike Pompeo: We shared an... more »
India’s Homegrown Tejas Fighter Jet Has Just Made Its 1st Arrested Landing On On Board The Carrier Vikramaditya
This is how the developmental LCA (N) MK1 made the Maiden Arrested Landing on board the #AircraftCarrier #INSVikramaditya today. pic.twitter.com/Kfbj9aF1Rz — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 11, 2020 *Defense News*: *Indian Navy hits major milestone with its homegrown experimental jet* WASHINGTON — The Indian Navy hit a major milestone in its quest for a homegrown aircraft carrier-based fighter aircraft, the military’s research and development wing announced Saturday. A prototype of a naval version of India’s Tejas light combat aircraft performed an arrested landing on boa... more »
Trump’s Flip-Flop: ‘Imminent Threat’ Not Needed to Kill Soleimani, Only His ‘Horrible Past’
*Patrick Henningsen* | If the public allows the government to act lawlessly in overseas arenas, then it's only a matter a time before this very same policy becomes normalized at home.
Israel Continues To Upgrade Its Iron Dome Defense System
*Warzone/The Drive:* *Upgraded Israeli Iron Dome Defense System Swats Down 100 Percent Of Targets In Tests* Iron Dome is getting more updates after nearly a decade in service as the threat of improving rockets, missiles, small drones, and more grows. Israel says that an upgraded version of its combat-proven Iron Dome defense system successfully knocked down all of the simulated targets it faced in a recent series of tests. Israeli officials say that the updates will ensure that the system, which entered service nearly a decade ago, will be able to engage "evolving threats in the r... more »
Does The Iranian Military Still Have Its Military Trained Dolphins?
A U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program dolphin named KDog, wearing a locating pinger performed mine clearance work – VIA Wikimedia commons *Popular Mechanics:* *Does Iran Have Secret Armed Dolphin Assassins?* Twenty years ago, Iran bought a fleet of military mammals from the Soviets. Are they still alive? * In 2000, Iran purchased a fleet of killer dolphins from the Soviet Navy. * Twenty years later, we don’t know whatever happened to the mammals. But if they’re still alive, could Iran potentially use them for warfare against the U.S.? * The U.S. invented the concept of military dolphin... more »
The US Navy's Zumwalt-Class Stealth Destroyer Is Being Redesign
Reuters *National Interest:* *FIRE! The Zumwalt-Class Stealth Destroyer Is Getting a Big Redesign* *The old concept already costed $22 billion. * In January 2019, the Navy will commission its second hi-tech Zumwalt-class stealth destroyer, the USS Michael Monsoor. The third and last, USS Lyndon B. Johnson was launched this December 2018 and will be commissioned in 2022. Traditionally, warships are tailored to perform specific missions. But the cutting-edge Zumwalt has been a ship in search of a mission, especially since procurement of hyper-expensive ammunition for its primary wea... more »
Cairnsnews read today in 51 countries
Today Cairnsnews has been viewed by readers in 51 countries. We are pleased to advise our readers that this news service is dedicated to restoring democracy to Australia and to break up the UN controlled political party duopoly and to get the country out of the UN’s clutches. The electoral system and electoral rolls should […]
The Nomos Of Cybersecurity And A Sovereign Internet
The term “Nomos” was introduced into modern political science by the German lawyer Carl Schmitt. The word had several meanings in Ancient Greece, including “law” or “custom”. It was also an administrative territorial unit (divided into “nomoi”). Carl Schmitt used it to denote the principle of organising space. And with […]
YOUR RIGHT-WING UNCLE ALREADY THINKS THE BURISMA HACK STORY IS A LIE
Here we go again. ... Russian military hackers have been boring into the Ukrainian gas company at the center of the affair, according to security experts. The hacking attempts against Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company on whose board Hunter Biden served, began in early November.... It is not yet clear what the hackers found, or precisely what they were searching for. But the experts say the timing and scale of the attacks suggest that the Russians could be searching for potentially embarrassing material on the Bidens.... Then, as now, the Russian hackers from a military intelligenc... more »
Iran Announces Arrests over Downing of Plane that Killed 176
Iran's judiciary said arrests have been made for the accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane that killed all 176 people on board just after takeoff from Tehran last week.
The World Spends $3 Trillion a Year on Arms
*Michael Peck* *Security, * The United States accounted for 79 percent of the global arms trade, or an average of $143 billion per year, followed by the European Union at 10 percent, Russia at 5 percent and China at less than 2 percent. The world is spending almost $3 trillion a year on arms. That’s the estimate of the U.S. government. The State Department’s World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers (WMEAT) report examined global military spending for 2007 to 2017. “From 2007 through 2017, in constant 2017 U.S. dollar terms, the annual value of world military expenditures a... more »
U.S. Apache Helicopters Will Use Israel’s Spike Missile
*Michael Peck* *Security, * The U.S. Army is arming its AH-64 Apache attack helicopters with an Israeli missile that will enable Apaches to hit targets without a line of sight. The U.S. Army is arming its AH-64 Apache attack helicopters with an Israeli missile that will enable Apaches to hit targets without a line of sight. The Spike NLOS (non-line-of-sight) missile will allow Apaches to remain safely behind cover – a hill or trees – while they guide the munition to the target. The Spike NLOS uses electro-optical guidance – basically a camera – with both day and night vision. Wi... more »
China Is Developing an Airborne Laser Weapon
*Michael Peck* *Security, Asia* For the U.S. military, airborne lasers are more than a potentially useful weapon to fry enemy aircraft, or protect American planes from anti-aircraft missiles. They could also be a key component of ballistic missile defense: manned aircraft or drones, armed with high-powered lasers and flying North Korea and other nations, could disable ballistic missiles during the initial boost phase of their flight. China is developing an airborne laser weapon. The Chinese military’s procurement Web site recently posted a notice about a laser attack pod, accord... more »
Why The Pentagon Is Testing New Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * A message to Russia and China. *Key point: *An ability to fire 500km land-fired cruise missiles brings a number of substantial implications. (Washington, D.C.) The Pentagon fired-off a new prototype conventionally-configured, ground-launched ballistic missile as part of a broader effort to increase medium-range attack options and further fortify deterrence efforts. The missile launch, according to a Pentagon statement, took place earlier this month at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. “The test missile exited its static launch stand and terminated in ... more »
This Is How Humans Came To Rule Planet Earth
*Nick Longrich* *History, Europe* We are a uniquely dangerous species. Nine human species walked the Earth 300,000 years ago. Now there is just one. The Neanderthals, *Homo neanderthalensis*, were stocky hunters adapted to Europe’s cold steppes. The related Denisovans inhabited Asia, while the more primitive *Homo erectus* lived in Indonesia, and *Homo rhodesiensis* in central Africa. Several short, small-brained species survived alongside them: *Homo naledi* in South Africa, *Homo luzonensis* in the Philippines, *Homo floresiensis* (“hobbits”) in Indonesia, and the mysterious R... more »
America Should Have Left Afghanistan 8 Years Ago, And The Same Problems Remain
*Daniel L. Davis* *Security, Middle East* Nothing has changed. *Key point: *The Trump Administration will end the war and bring our troops home. The *Washington Post* published on Monday morning an explosive, in-depth report exposing how American military and civilian leaders have been systematically deceiving the public, since at least 2003, on the conduct of the war in Afghanistan. The report may be more painful to me than most, however, because I first publicly exposed our leaders’ duplicity almost eight years ago—yet because the government and military leaders were unwilli... more »
Why Cyberspace Is the Next Front in the Iran-US Conflict
*Bryan Cunningham* *Security, Middle East* [image: Reuters] Private companies may bear the brunt of the attacks. Iran and other nations have waged a stealth cyberwar against the United States for at least the past decade, largely targeting not the government itself but, rather, critical infrastructure companies. This threat to the private sector will get much worse before it gets better and businesses need to be prepared to deal with it. As in the days of pirates and privateers, much of our nation’s critical infrastucture is controlled by private companies and enemy nations and ... more »
Global Prosperity Killer: Brexit Could Spell the End of Globalization
*William Hauk* *economy, Europe* [image: Reuters] Many fear the UK will be worse off economically outside the EU. The U.K. House of Commons has finally voted for Brexit. If the plan passes the House of Lords without much delay, the U.K. will leave the European Union several years after a 2016 referendum set it down this path. More than merely tossing aside the EU, this vote represents a rejection of globalization and the implicit trade-off of some democratic control over economic policy for prosperity. It’s an exchange that more citizens across the world, including the United St... more »
China's Reliance On Foreign Technology Is Harming Its Air Force From The Inside
*Robert Farley, J. Tyler Lovell* *Security, Asia* A worse threat than the F-35. *Key Point:* Despite these formidable obstacles, Chinese advancement in military aviation continues apace, and it is unlikely that China will lag behind in engine technology forever. The Chinese defense industrial base is infamous for its tendency to “borrow” from foreign designs, particularly in the aerospace industry. Almost the entirety of China’s modern fighter fleet have either borrowed liberally from or directly copied foreign models. The J-10 was reputedly based on the Israeli IAI Lavi and by ... more »
Secret Subs, Secret Missions: These Submarines Won World War II In The Pacific
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Europe* On hundreds of special missions throughout World War II, American submarines performed myriad tasks, always at enormous risk to the crews and their boats. *Key point: *In the process, these subs played a manifest role in winning the war in the Pacific. Sunsets over Manila Bay are nothing less than spectacular. Once the sun dips below the horizon there is a lingering illumination known as “blue hour” as the sky gradually shifts from pale azure to deep indigo before fading completely into the black tropical night. But for the men of USS... more »
France Needs To Start Thinking About Replacing Its Only Aircraft Carrier
*Robert Farley* *Security, Europe* The Charles de Gaulle is getting older. *Key Point:* *Charles de Gaulle* has served effectively in keeping France a viable, even necessary presence in the Western multilateral intervention scene. France’s first carrier entered service in the interwar period, but for a very long time the French navy trailed behind international counterparts in naval aviation. This changed in the Cold War, however, and today France operates the world’s most advanced carrier outside of the U.S. Navy. How did France build its naval aviation force, what does it do t... more »
Britain's Lion-Class Battleships Would Have Sunk Hitler's Plans For Europe
*Robert Farley* *History, Europe* Except they were too late. *Key Point: **Lion* likely would have had little trouble with the latest German or Italian battleships, in part because of the latter’s fiscal inability to compete with the Royal Navy, and the former’s habitual inability to competently design battleships. The five battleships of the *King George V* class served the Royal Navy honorably during the war, participating in the destruction of the battleships *Bismarck* and *Scharnhorst* along with an array of other missions. *HMS Vanguard*, the last battleship ever built by ... more »
Japan's Submarines Were A Problem, Until The Royal Navy Came Up With An Answer (Mortars)
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Asia* The Japanese submarine force was rapidly being picked to pieces. *Key point: *Hedgehogs had become standard equipment on American destroyer escorts. In the Spring of 1944, Japanese Admiral Soemu Toyoda assembled a large fleet of warships at Tawi-Tawi in the southern Philippine Islands. There was no doubt in his mind that Allied military forces would continue their westward drive across the Pacific, but he was uncertain as to the direction of the next attack. General Douglas MacArthur, commander of the Allied forces in the Southwest Pac... more »
True Heroism: History's 5 Greatest Military Last Stands
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* These battles still inspire soldiers today. *Key point:* They won't be forgotten. *The Siege of the Alamo – February 23 – March 6, 1836* This famous battle pitted rebellious Texans, some of whom were Americans, against a Mexican army sent to crush their nascent independence movement. Mexican leader General Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna laid siege to the small mission, bombarding it for days and having several small skirmishes before a final assault on the night of March 5-6. All the combatants in the Alamo were killed other than one man,... more »
The Tavor Assault Rifle Might Be the Key to Israel's Success
*Michael Peck* *Security, Middle East* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/ROSEN-PBEAHUONTBQ.html] It's been their first-line rifle since 2009. *Key Point:* Israel has a long history of engineering advanced rifle designs. Israel builds its own high-tech military equipment, such as tanks, missiles and drones. Not bad for a nation of just 8.5 million people living in a state the size of New Jersey. But Israel has also proven adept at designing rifles. Perhaps its most famous firearm is the legendary Uzi submachine gun, an almost iconic 1950s design made famous by the pho... more »
This Is How Lockheed Martin Won The Battle For America's Stealth Fighter
*David Axe* *History, * Meet the YF-22. *Key point:* One key requirement was that the demonstrators be able to “supercruise” at supersonic speed without using their fuel-thirsty afterburners. The U.S. Air Force came very close to buying a rocket ship. In 1991, the Air Force selected Lockheed’s YF-22 fighter over Northrop’s YF-23 as the basis for the service’s new air-superiority fighter. That wasn’t the only major decision the Air Force made at the time. The service also selected Pratt & Whitney’s YF-119 as the engine that would power that YF-22, in the process rejecting Genera... more »
The Secret Origins of Presidential Polling
*Edwin Amenta* *Politics, Americas* [image: Reuters] Nowadays horse race presidential polls—in which candidates’ current electoral prospects are estimated scientifically—are expected as a regular part of election coverage. In the run-up to its January 14 debate in Des Moines, Iowa, the Democratic National Committee called on private polling firms to conduct more polls. To make it to the debate stage in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 14, candidates needed 5% support in four qualifying national polls or 7% in two early state polls. In part because of lack of polling, candidate Andrew Ya... more »
China's Plan For A New Aircraft Carrier: Ask Russia Nicely
*Robert Farley* *Security, Asia* China needs reactors more powerful than those that it currently uses on its submarines, and building icebreakers for Russia may provide the necessary experience. *Key point:* That the Russians seem okay with letting the Chinese study their icebreakers suggests, once again, that Moscow and Beijing currently see cooperation as in their long-term interests. It appears that China is relying on Russian know-how and experience to develop the reactor for its first nuclear aircraft carrier. As the South China Morning Post reports, China appears to be stu... more »
These Are the 5 Biggest Handgun Failures...in History!
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, World* The CIA invented one of them. *Key Point:* The close engagement range of handguns—typically zero to twenty-five feet—means that a handgun operator will often have little or no chance to clear a jammed weapon, and therefore complete, absolute, unqualified reliability is a must. Handheld firearms have existed in one form or another since the 13th century. Despite their long history, there have been relatively few real, genuine clunkers in the world of handguns. The close engagement range of handguns—typically zero to twenty-five feet—means that a ... more »
Russia Says It's S-500 Can Bring Down America's F-35, What's The Truth?
*Mark Episkopos* *Mark Episkopos (374352), Middle East* We look to Syria for hints. *Key point: I*t is increasingly apparent that the Kremlin never had any serious intention of replacing every S-400 with an S-500. Russia’s next-generation air and missile defense system is on the verge of entering serial production, according to the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov. “On time, they are putting a new system into operation-- the S-500,” Borisov told Russian news outlet *Interfaks* earlier today. Borisov is the latest top-tier Russian official to tease the readiness of the ... more »
Pistol Caliber Rifles: We Know the 5 Best
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * Do you agree? *Key Point:* These guns are the perfect combo. The explosion of interest in the modern sporting rifle, as well as the natural pace of industry innovation, has driven the firearms industry to field semi-automatic rifles in an increasingly broad number of configurations. One of the latest innovations is a new generation of pistol-caliber rifles, which combines smaller pistol calibers with a rifle or carbine-length weapon. Pistol caliber carbines (PCCs) are not new: some of the more famous from recent history include the Ruger .44 Magnum ... more »
Meet the Antitank Rifle That Put the Nazis In Their Place
*Warfare History Network, Bob Cashner* *Security, * [image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/ARMY_TRAINING_001_013-0.55_inch_Boys_Anti-tank_rifle.jpg] Axis armor had to treat carefully. *Key Point:* The Boys antitank gun was rendered useless in combat almost immediately. When the first tanks appeared in World War I, they were relatively lightly armored and protected the crews only against small-arms fire. In addition, much of the armor was riveted. Projectiles striking the exterior of the armor could pop off rivet heads or flake armor from the internal surface... more »
There Are Not Enough Votes In The US Senate To Dismiss President Trump's Articles Of Impeachment
*The Hill:* *GOP leadership: There aren't 51 votes to dismiss Trump articles of impeachment * Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) told reporters on Monday that the Senate Republican caucus doesn't have the votes to dismiss the articles of impeachment against President Trump, who endorsed an "outright dismissal" over the weekend. "I think our members generally are not interested in a motion to dismiss. ... Certainly there aren't 51 votes for a motion to dismiss," Blunt, the No. 4 Senate Republican, told reporters after a closed-door leadership meeting. Republicans have warned for months tha... more »
Disagreements With Ayn Rand’s Philosophy
I disagree with every sentence that Ayn Rand has written in her philosophy of objectivism which is a utopian movement with a naive view of the world. It never entered Rand’s mind to draw a line between her literature and philosophy. Being a fiction writer of the romantic school, she didn’t look at the strict reality in face; she didn’t conduct a serious study of past philosophers; she didn’t try to master the philosophical method; for her philosophy was a work of romantic fiction that she would write by relying on her own imagination. Her philosophy is an attempt at imposing a ficti... more »
Why the Court should grant the petitions in the ACA case despite the absence of any injunction
The recent Affordable Care Act decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit didn't, as a formal legal matter, result in any coercive judgment against anyone: No party is subject to any judicial decree, and no one is legally obligated to alter their behavior, as a result. Ordinarily, that fact would be reason enough for the Supreme Court not to get involved in the case--not yet, anyway. But this is no ordinary case. The divided Fifth Circuit panel acted inexplicably--I think it's fair to say indefensibly--in two major respects, and thereby caused a *de facto *crisis ... more »
Canadian police block access to Wet'suwet'en pipeline resistance camp
Video on Facebook: Wet'suwet'en blocked from delivering supplies by RCMP as police set up an exclusion zone Canadian police block access to Wet'suwet'en pipeline resistance camp By Brenda Norrell Censored News January 14, 2020 Canadian police established an exclusion zone and are restricting access to Indigenous land in B.C. where Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs are leading the
Julian Assange sighting & his punitive lockdown
- The 48-year-old Australian-born activist made a brief appearance at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Monday, with his lawyers seeking to prevent his extradition to the United States. At the hearing, Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled that Assange’s next hearing would take place on January 23. Assange is to take part in that hearing by video linkup. Assange's friends and fellow journalists have repeatedly expressed concerns over a 'rapid decline' in the WikiLeaks founder's health since his imprisonment. Assange's health is believed to have deteriorated s... more »
China and EU may hold summit in Beijing at end of March, ahead of ‘17+1' meeting
bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
14-Jan-2020 China and the EU are expected to hold their annual summit at the end of March, two weeks before Beijing hosts a high-profile meeting with the leaders of Central and Eastern European countries.
China to ramp up US car, aircraft, energy purchases in trade deal: source
bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
14-Jan-2020 China has pledged to buy almost $80 billion of additional manufactured goods from the United States over the next two years as part of a trade war truce.
La ministre du Commerce turc au Maroc pour sauver l'Accord de libre échange
bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
14-Jan-2020 Les relations économiques entre le Maroc et la Turquie se sont montrées tendues lorsque le Maroc a affirmé qu'il n'hésitera pas à rompre les relations commerciales avec la Turquie.
How To Change A Mind
By Paul Homewood Guest post by Duncan McNeil: How to change a mind. I have always found it difficult to answer the question from advocates of the dangers of anthropogenic climate change that “do you think there is a vast conspiracy of scientists lying to us about climate change?” I found the beginning […]
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