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Iran seizes foreign tanker with 12 crew accused of smuggling oil
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Page 4: Opinion
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2 09:45 Besoeker [] 
5 12:52 M. Murcek [] 
4 10:06 SteveS [] 
3 14:16 Skidmark [] 
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Page 6: Politix
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Arabia
Saudi Arabia: The world's largest arms importer from 2014-2018
[Aljazeera] Saudi Arabia became the world's largest arms importer from 2014 to 2018, accounting for 12 percent of the imports, an increase of 192 percent over 2009-2013, according to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

According to data for 2018, the United States continued to supply the bulk of arms to Saudi Arabia, accounting for 88 percent of all arms sold to the country.

Between 2014 and 2018, Saudi Arabia received 22 percent of the US's arms exports, a sharp increase from 4.9 percent from 2009 to 2013.

The data includes major arms, such as armoured vehicles, guided missiles, aircraft, artillery and ships.

Arms deliveries to Saudi Arabia in 2014-2018 included 56 combat aircraft from the US and 38 from the United Kingdom, according to the report. In both cases, the aircraft were equipped with cruise missiles and other guided weapons.

Planned deliveries for 2019-2023 include 98 combat aircraft, seven missile defence systems and 83 tanks from the US, 737 armoured vehicles from Canada, five frigates from Spain and short-range ballistic missiles from Ukraine, according to SIPRI.

The report noted that arms flows to the Middle East have surged, almost doubling in the past five years.

Four of the world's top 10 arms-importing countries in 2014-2018 were in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia, which received 33 percent of arms transfers to the region, Egypt at 15 percent, the United Arab Emirates 11 percent and Iraq 11 percent.

Shown below are the countries that export the most major weapons to Saudi Arabia.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/18/2019 03:26 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Not one word of the war in Yemen started by Qatar's ally Iran.
Posted by: Otto Speaking for Boskone7923 || 07/18/2019 5:21 Comments || Top||

#2  "War is our business, and business is GOOD!"
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/18/2019 9:45 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
U.S. officials wonder: Did Turkish leader's coup memories drive Russia arms deal?
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For some U.S. officials, the Trump administration’s failure to persuade Turkey not to buy a Russian air defense system may have its roots in a coup attempt against President Tayyip Erdogan three years ago this week.

While they recognize that worsening U.S. relations with Turkey in recent years and Russia’s growing clout with Ankara may also have helped sway Turkey toward buying the S-400 system, three U.S. officials and a defense source told Reuters of another working theory that has gained ground within the Trump administration.

One reason Erdogan may have chosen to buy from Russia rather than from a fellow NATO member is that he might be wary of his own air force, which played a major role in the coup attempt on July 15, 2016, these officials say.

S-400 missiles, which Turkey began taking delivery of last Friday, would be better at fending off any attack on the Turkish government from its own jets than a U.S.-supplied Patriot system would, experts say.

Raytheon Co’s’s Patriot missiles, which have been on offer to Turkey, would have safeguards to help avoid "friendly fire" against other NATO warplanes, such as Turkish air force jets.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/18/2019 03:15 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte

#1  One reason Erdogan may have chosen to buy from Russia rather than from a fellow NATO member is that he might be wary of his own air force, which played a major role in the coup attempt on July 15, 2016, these officials say.

An entirely plausible theory.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/18/2019 3:22 Comments || Top||

#2  Nah. He arranged the "coup" as the pretext for a purge. I will buy that he wanted something not subject to NATO IFF, though.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 07/18/2019 7:11 Comments || Top||

#3  Nah. He arranged the "coup" as the pretext for a purge.

Also entirely plausible.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/18/2019 9:51 Comments || Top||

#4  Embrace the power of "AND".
Posted by: AlanC || 07/18/2019 11:44 Comments || Top||

#5  LM plans to build / sell almost 4000 F-35s. I don't see them letting Turkey hold that up.
Posted by: M. Murcek || 07/18/2019 12:52 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Far Left Prepares To Throw Barack Obama Into The Dustbin Of History
[The Federalist] The mood of left-wing Democrats might be neatly summarized by the media coverage of last weekend’s Netroots Nation conference. The progressive left seems poised to consign former President Barack Obama to the dustbin of history. Moreover, supposedly woke agitators do not seem to care how their exercise might affect black voters who comprise a crucial part of their 2020 electoral strategy.

According to Vox, "Progressive activists know their enemy in the 2020 Democratic primary: Joe Biden." As Vox notes, "Some activists at Netroots conceded they would support Biden in a general election if they had no other choice."

Dean Obeidallah of CNN and The Daily Beast finds this concession a sign of a pragmatism that should make President Donald Trump quake with fear, as opposed to the rock-bottom minimum expectation for a group that claims to believe the president is an existential threat to the republic. Not unlike the Hollywood types who take private jets to climate change conferences, the gap between rhetoric and action is considerable.

After a Mere Four Years, Obama Nostalgia Is Gone
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/18/2019 03:34 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Progressives can almost taste victory, but the manner in which they dismiss major blocs of the Democratic coalition remains as big an obstacle to their success as their extreme platform.

Maybe they expect the capture the NeverTrumpers.
Posted by: Bobby || 07/18/2019 8:22 Comments || Top||

#2  As Vox notes, "Some activists at Netroots conceded they would support Biden in a general election if they had no other choice."

But unenthusiastically
Posted by: Frank G || 07/18/2019 8:42 Comments || Top||

#3  groundbreaking hasn't happened yet on the Obama Presidential Center

they have a lot of fundraising yet to do
Posted by: lord garth || 07/18/2019 9:56 Comments || Top||

#4  Could levy a 10% tax on all the choom sold in the state to go towards the narcissist's book-free library/house of mirrors.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 07/18/2019 11:21 Comments || Top||

#5  Should have done this in 2008 then you wouldn't have to deal with DJT and you would be farther ahead................too bad.
Posted by: AlanC || 07/18/2019 11:41 Comments || Top||

#6  I like the idea of his wikipedia entry saying he is the only modern president without a library. I like that idea a lot.
Posted by: M. Murcek || 07/18/2019 12:37 Comments || Top||

#7  This is a surprise to me. I mean, after you get to full on freaking Bolshevik, how much further left can you get?
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 07/18/2019 13:18 Comments || Top||

#8  Remember that the useful idiots are cast aside rather quickly. The real challenge that Justice fascists are going to run into is that the right side political party will not go quietly, and all the rhetoric of being bigots and haters is falling on the same deaf ears as the Deplorable comments. The big push into socialism is about to be on us.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 07/18/2019 13:32 Comments || Top||

#9  They certainly didn't even thank him for paving the way.
Posted by: gorb || 07/18/2019 13:51 Comments || Top||

#10  The big push into socialism is about to be on us.

Keep the firearms clean and oiled up with a good supply of ammo.

Socialism has done very little to advance and better people in this world. Those at the top dispatch with their enemies and steal all the money and leave the country gutted. Those Progressives who embrace socialism do little for progress. There is little difference between socialists and fascists; two sides of the same coin. Socialists are internationalists and fascists tend to be nationalists. Both are statists and totalitarian and against individual freedoms.
Posted by: JohnQC || 07/18/2019 17:23 Comments || Top||


Leana Wen Fired After Failing To Hit Baby-Killing Quota
[Babylon Bee] NEW YORK, NY‐Planned Parenthood fired Leana Wen this week, stating that the former president had regularly failed to hit her monthly goals in regards to the number of babies killed by the organization.

According to internal memos, Wen consistently fell short of killing a sufficient number of babies month after month for the company to hit its financial goals. When she was hired last year, she was given a quota of how many lives she was supposed to snuff out every month, quarter, and fiscal year. While Wen did oversee thousands upon thousands of deaths, it wasn't enough for Planned Parenthood.

"Sorry, we were just looking for someone a little more murderous," a Planned Parenthood board member told Wen after informing her of her forced departure. "We're ending your term with the company just short of nine months. We wish you the best in whatever immoral job you take on next."

The company has reportedly tapped Thanos the Mad Titan as interim president as it searches for someone who can get the job done.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/18/2019 03:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  All the Bee had to do was change a few words from the 'real' news to more obvious synonyms.
Posted by: Glenmore || 07/18/2019 9:20 Comments || Top||

#2  Sometimes I can't tell satire from reality. This may actually Bee - see what I did there? -- close to the truth
Posted by: Warthog || 07/18/2019 9:21 Comments || Top||

#3  Nothing personal mind you, but we have sales and business targets for a reason.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/18/2019 9:30 Comments || Top||

#4  Obviously satire because her real sin was refusing to say that men can have babies. Still funny in a savage sort of way tho.
Posted by: SteveS || 07/18/2019 10:06 Comments || Top||


Joe diGenova shares conspiracy theory about FBI using Mueller phone to secretly record Trump
[Washington Examiner] Attorney Joe diGenova amplified a conspiracy theory about special counsel Robert Mueller during an interview Wednesday on Fox Business.

On Lou Dobbs Tonight, diGenova, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, referred to an interview Mueller had with President Trump in May 2017 about taking over as FBI director after James Comey was fired.

"Something very interesting that hasn't been written about occurred," diGenova told guest host Gregg Jarrett. "Bob Mueller went into that meeting with [Deputy Attorney General] Rod Rosenstein, and it was just three of them in the Oval Office, and Bob Mueller had a telephone, a cellphone," diGenova told Jarrett.

"He left that cellphone in Oval Office after the meeting. And it is now believed by many people that cellphone was used to broadcast the meeting between the president, Rod Rosenstein, and Bob Mueller, back to FBI headquarters, where they recorded the conversation with the president," diGenova said, before adding that Mueller likely left the phone there to "record what happened after they left."

Talk of Mueller leaving behind his cellphone in the Oval Office began with a book written by former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. He only mentions the phone off-hand and makes no assertions about clandestine surveillance.

"Mueller had gone in for an interview with Trump, and left his phone there, and then the phone had to be retrieved," McCabe wrote in The Threat: How the F.B.I. Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump.

Speculation about the FBI recording the president has ensued on right-wing blogs and social media and now has been given a voice on cable television. DiGenova's claim was not contested by Jarrett.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/18/2019 02:43 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I suspect this alleged incident could easily be confirmed or dispelled.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/18/2019 2:53 Comments || Top||

#2  Simple as correlation of Call Detail Records(CDR) with locational detail from phone or cell tower triangulation data.
Posted by: Skidmark || 07/18/2019 14:15 Comments || Top||

#3  I would be amazed, and often am, if there wasn't a limited range cell jammer in the OO.
Posted by: Skidmark || 07/18/2019 14:16 Comments || Top||


Elizabeth Warren Melts Down After Defense Secretary Nominee Rejects Her Insults
[Legal Insurrection] An agitated Elizabeth Warren treated Mark Esper as though he was a corruptocrat-in-waiting, and he was not having it.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has been enjoying a steady rise in presidential polling numbers over the last two months. She also had very impressive numbers for second quarter fundraising, bringing in $19.1 million, coming in third only to Joe Biden and South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Perhaps it was the rise in polling numbers, the massive fundraising haul, or both that made Warren feel confidently contemptuous enough to treat Defense Secretary nominee Mark Esper like a corruptocrat-in-waiting during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination on Tuesday.
RTWT
Posted by: Frank G || 07/18/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  She is really just a pu$$y
Posted by: Uleck Spererong9442 || 07/18/2019 6:34 Comments || Top||

#2  Working up to her Downfall parody?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 07/18/2019 6:39 Comments || Top||

#3  Princess Grey Beaver speaks with forked tongue.
Posted by: Warthog || 07/18/2019 9:26 Comments || Top||

#4  Chief Spouting Bull, true to form
Posted by: Lex || 07/18/2019 10:42 Comments || Top||

#5  A hectoring nag with strong totalitarian impulses who reminds nearly all married men of the mother in law they hate, and has none of Hillary's charm. What's not to like?
Posted by: Raj || 07/18/2019 11:03 Comments || Top||

#6  Typical narcissistic lefty totalitarian wannabe.
Posted by: DarthVader || 07/18/2019 11:08 Comments || Top||

#7 
Posted by: Skidmark || 07/18/2019 14:17 Comments || Top||

#8  Warren, who had been lagging with just 4 percent in a March Quinnipiac University poll, reached 13 percent in their latest survey

Princess GB's attempt to get out of the dumper. OTH, all these Donk candidates seem to be in the dumper in regards to a winning agenda for the U.S..
Posted by: JohnQC || 07/18/2019 17:09 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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1al-Nusra
1Govt of Pakistan
1Govt of Sudan
1Govt of Syria
1Hamas

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Two weeks of WOT
Thu 2019-07-18
  Iran seizes foreign tanker with 12 crew accused of smuggling oil
Wed 2019-07-17
  Pakistani police arrest Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed (again)
Tue 2019-07-16
  United Arab Emirates oil tanker vanishes after drifting into Iranian waters
Mon 2019-07-15
  Car bomb and all-night hotel siege kill 26 in Somalia's Kismayo
Sun 2019-07-14
  African Migrants Turned Church Into Base to Deal Heroin
Sat 2019-07-13
  Kismayo attack: 26 dead as gunmen storm Somali hotel
Fri 2019-07-12
  Labor Sec. Alex Acosta Resigns Amid Pall of Jeffrey Epstein Investigation
Thu 2019-07-11
  Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boats tried, failed to seize British oil tanker in Persian Gulf
Wed 2019-07-10
  Egyptian Court Convicts Al-Azhar Professor, Others For Spying For Iran
Tue 2019-07-09
  Hafiz Multan, Taliban’s deputy Red Unit commander killed in Kandahar
Mon 2019-07-08
  Bouteflika’s ex-party chief detained in Algeria corruption probe
Sun 2019-07-07
  Radioactive material worth $72m seized from car in Turkey
Sat 2019-07-06
  Deal between protest leaders and Sudan’s ruling generals
Fri 2019-07-05
  Second ‘son of Hamas’ leaves terror group, exposing corruption, Turkish spy ring
Thu 2019-07-04
  Wishing all Rantburgers a happy and safe Independence Day!

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