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Today: 66 articles and 186 comments as of 11:53.
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Area: WoT Operations    Non-WoT    Opinion        Politix   
Iran moves to strike 4 zeroes from its battered currency
Today's Headlines
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
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-Land of the Free
Customs and Border Protection rebuked by watchdog and whistleblowers for 'failure' to collect DNA from migrant detainees
[Washington Examiner] A federal watchdog agency has joined a group of whistleblowers in alleging Customs and Border Protection failed to collect DNA from detained migrants to be checked against the FBI’s database for violent crimes.

Fox News reported the whistleblowers claim the pilot program to collect DNA was put on hold during President Barack Obama’s administration, and efforts to institute it under President Trump’s administration were derailed.

"U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and illegal aliens in this country are and have been harmed due to our agency not collecting DNA," Mike Taylor, one of the government whistleblowers, said.

"There is no current pilot program. It’s basically dead in the water," another whistleblower, Fred Wynn, noted.

The whistleblowers filed a complaint in 2018 with the Office of Special Counsel, a different entity from Robert Mueller’s former office. The OSC issued a statement of support for the whistleblowers Monday.

"OSC fully supports these whistleblowers. While OSC does not typically comment on open investigations, we do want to point out that in this case, the Special Counsel determined there was a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing by CBP for its failure to collect DNA from undocumented detainees and arrestees," spokesman Zachary Kurz said in a statement.

Kurz said that special counsel Henry Kerner met with former acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner John Sanders and current Deputy Commissioner Bob Perez to urge them to revisit the decision not to collect the DNA.

Records from the whistleblowers indicate that the program stalled under the Obama administration when Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano received a waiver from Attorney General Eric Holder that noted "severe organizational, resource and financial challenges."

The Customs and Border Protection pilot program was designed to take samples that would be run against the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS. Former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was asked about the program in April 2018 while testifying before Congress.

"We’re working on the pilot right now," Nielsen said. "We’re in the planning stages and doing it in batches. Some of it is processing. We want to make sure we have the chain of custody."
Jose Ines Garcia Zarate deported how many times ?
Despite that statement, the whistleblowers claim there was a Homeland Security conference call that continued to place the program on hold. At the time of Nielsen’s testimony, now-acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan was the head of Customs and Border Protection.

A DHS official confirmed in a Monday statement to the news organization that the program remains on pause.

"In response to further inquiries specific to the DNA collection for CODIS; CBP in coordination with DHS has explored and evaluated the DNA program in relation to the DNA collection for inclusion into CODIS. Upon review, it’s been determined that the exceptions noted in the 2010 waiver remain unchanged. There are currently no plans to change this waiver but DHS is moving forward on a DNA testing pilot to verify familial relationships," the official said.
Posted by: Besoeker || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  In retrospect, perhaps Bill championed 'Kate's Law' a bit too aggressively.

Chasing after an endless stream of criminal aliens, catch-and-release, flooded court systems, etc, exacerbates the mission of the Border Patrol and other law enforcement agencies.

A tactical diversion, perhaps that was actually the goal.

Posted by: Besoeker || 08/22/2019 1:18 Comments || Top||

#2  Another legacy of Obama helping to change our demographic character....
Posted by: NoMoreBS || 08/22/2019 12:34 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
'Not Fair India Not Fighting Terror in Afghanistan.' - Trump
[ANI] US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said it is "not fair" that India, which is geographically "much closer" to Afghanistan than the United States, is not fighting terrorist groups in the war-ravaged nation.

"Look, India is right there. They are not fighting it. We are fighting it. Pakistan is right next door. They are fighting it very little. Very, very little. It's not fair. The United States is 7,000 miles away," he said in reply to questions by reporters on the lawns of White House.

Trump, who has been repeatedly talking about mediation in the Kashmir problem, also said that countries including India, Iran and Russia would have to fight against the terrorists in Afghanistan at some point of time.

"At a certain point Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey they are going to have to fight their battles too. I did it in record time but at a certain point all of these other countries where ISIS is around they have been decimated, by the way, badly decimated," said Trump.

This comes days after around 80 people lost their lives in a suicide attack launched by the ISIS in Kabul.

"All of these countries are going to have to fight them because do we want to stay there for another 19 years? I don't think so. So, at a certain point, other countries and that includes Russia and it includes Iran and Turkey and Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan and India," he added.

Trump has repeatedly said he wants American troops out from Afghanistan. The United States is leading the Afghan peace process with the Taliban. The talks with Taliban are centred around US' promise to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, in exchange for the guarantee by Taliban that the Afghan soil, particularly the areas under their control, would not become a platform for transnational terrorism.

On Tuesday, he indicated that the United States forces will not completely withdraw from Afghanistan.

Early this month, United States special representative to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad had come to India and held discussion with External affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The two leaders discussed how India and the US could work effectively to ensure lasting peace in Afghanistan that has been engulfed in an 18-year-long war. (ANI)
Posted by: Dron66046 || 08/22/2019 11:29 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Something happened to this post. It previewed fine but it's blank now. Should I post again ?
Posted by: Dron66046 || 08/22/2019 13:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Let me take a look, Dron66046. In the meantime, the link itself works just find, so our readers can go directly to the article.
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/22/2019 14:01 Comments || Top||

#3  Fixed. Perhaps it was hit by a stray gamma ray when you submitted it, my dear.
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/22/2019 15:04 Comments || Top||

#4  Thanks, TW.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 08/22/2019 15:57 Comments || Top||

#5  We just happened to convince the US that a pullout would doom the entire region. But I see India's insistence as coming more from an attitude that assumes 'the US created this mess in the first place, so it should stay and handle it for as long as it takes'.

While we bicker internally over kickbacks from arms contracts, posture about 'scaring off Pakistain', and rally around our shallow domestic victories, the world around us burns.

It's about time we entered this fray, gave our boys-in-perpetual-training some real action, earned some real xp. For now it's only been cloak-and-dagger and diplomatic one-ups with mediocre neighbours. I know we're good for it, but the Indian leadership has never really wanted a powerful military, or foreign policy to be 'besmirched' by our hands. No, that is to remain the province of pencil necks in Delhi and UN ass kissers trained in Harvard.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 08/22/2019 16:17 Comments || Top||

#6  India has enough problems with Kashmir, Pakistan and China.

Afghanistan doesn't fuck with them too much.
Posted by: DarthVader || 08/22/2019 16:29 Comments || Top||

#7  "Pakistan is right next door. They are fighting it very little. Very, very little. It's not fair."

I'd understood Pakistan was making a major effort in the war.... just not on our side.

Also we frequently take the burden from the locals so we can control the war, and to ensure the locals are not caught up in the conflict when it comes time to deal with lasting peace treaties. I'm not saying this is right, but it has been our way since WW2.
Posted by: ruprecht || 08/22/2019 16:29 Comments || Top||

#8  India covertly fights the Pakistain ISI which supports and supplies the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Tehrik-e-Taliban, and a couple of other splinter factions that collectively form the opium-jihad nexus across the Durand Line. But Indian policy itself is non-committal, non-confrontational and only targets Pak elements when an Indian investment or joint venture is at risk.

The lamentable banality of the Afghan condition is in the fact that it's a terminally muslim condition. You can help that only so much, and that too is a thankless job.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 08/22/2019 16:51 Comments || Top||

#9  The lamentable banality of the Afghan condition is in the fact that it's a terminally muslim condition. You can help that only so much, and that too is a thankless job.-- Dron66046

I would argue that it is a case of tribalism. Take away the Baluchis (Baluchistan proto-state) and the Pashtun majority in the center and what do you have left? Answer: a lot of small factions that don't like being lorded over by either of the above. How can you *fix* that?
Posted by: magpie || 08/22/2019 17:02 Comments || Top||

#10  arm them
Posted by: Frank G || 08/22/2019 19:38 Comments || Top||


Night Raids Draw Public Criticisms; NDS Defends The Move
[ToloNews] Night raids by special units of Afghan forces in the city of Kabul have faced doubts by military experts and residents of the capital who say the operations have not proved significant.
"military experts" who deride night raids? Reeeeaaaallly? Talib-symps like Kaped Krusader Karzai?
Kabul has witnessed at least five-night raids during this month, some of which have ended after five to 10 hours of festivities between Afghan forces and suspects.

"They conducted an operation in Khak-e-Jabbar [in the south of Kabul] where they arrested three or four people and later it was clarified that they were innocent and were released. This is really disappointing," an MP, Tawfiq Wahdat, said.

"Night raids are helpful, but on condition that they are well-coordinated," said Abdul Wahab Wardak, a military affairs analyst.

A Kabul resident, Mohammad Azim, said that he supports these operations but he suggested that they require more caution.

"We are cooperating with the security forces so that peace and stability can prevail in the country," Mr. Azim said.

But, the National Directorate of Security
...the Afghan national intel agency...
(NDS) in a statement described the night raids as effective and said they are aimed at searching, clearance and haunting predetermined targets.

Some members of the NDS Special Operations Unit said they are fully committed to serving the country.

"I will always serve my country, wherever the enemy tries to show itself, we will eliminate them," a member of the NDS Special Unit said.

"We are prepared to do the job whether it is day or night," a member of the NDS Special Unit said.
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/22/2019 00:33 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Africa Horn
Members of Sudanese ‘Sovereign Council’ revealed
[AAWSAT] After a 12-hour meeting and under increasing popular pressures, leaders of the Forces of the Freedom and Change (FFC) agreed on the six candidates list at the sovereignty council. The council would run the country during the transitional phase of three years and three months.

Muhammad Hassan Taayashi, residing in the UK and candidate of Sudanese Professionals Association, returned to the candidates’ list at the council after he was dismissed earlier – his dismissal sparked a debate over social media.

He was joined by Prof. Siddique Taur, Legal Expert Hassan Mohammed Sheikh Idris, Journalist Mohamed Elfaki Soliman, Dr. Aisha Musa al-Saeed and Legal Counsel Rajaa Nicolas Issa Abdul Masih.

Muhammad Hassan Taayashi

Born in 1973 in Rihed Al Birdi, Darfur, he received his high-school education at Buram then at the University of Khartoum. He joined students of National Umma Party and appeared as an experienced politician. Taayashi left the party in 2009 and moved to the UK, directing his work to the civil sector especially conflicts and wars resolution.

Rajaa Nicolas Issa Abdul Masih

The Transitional Military Council and the FFC agreed on Rajaa Nicolas Issa Abdul Masih as the 11th figure at the council. She is a Christian born in Omdurman, where she received her primary education.

Rajaa received a bachelor in law from Cairo University in 1980, and was appointed at the Ministry of Justice then promoted to become a legal counsel at the ministry.

Dr. Aisha Musa al-Saeed

Born in El-Obeid, north of Kurdufan, Aisha received Education Certificate from Teacher Training Institute in Omdurman and a Masters from the University of Manchester, a higher diploma from Leeds University and Training Teachers to Teach Languages Certificate from the US.

Journalist Mohamed Elfaki Soliman

He politically belongs to the Unionist Alliance, one of the main factions that participated in the popular movement. Elfaki is the youngest at the council, born in 1979. He studied political sciences at the University of Khartoum.

Legal Expert Hassan Mohammed Sheikh Idris

He is from Kassala, east of Sudan, and graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Khartoum in 1972. Then he got involved in state institutions.

Prof. Siddique Taur

He was chosen by the FFC as a member at the sovereign council, and is known for belonging to the Arab Socialist Baath Party.

Posted by: Fred || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan


Europe
Germany spends almost three quarters of a billion euros on US military bases
A substantial amount, amd we are grateful. But do German troops have enough bullets?
A cute little map of US bases in Germany can be seen at the link.
[DW] The German government has provided €243 million ($270 million) over the past seven years to support US troops based in the country.

The sum accounts for costs such as benefits for former workers and operating costs associated with maintaining buildings and other properties.

Another €480 million in financial support has gone toward contributing to NATO-related construction costs in Germany, "almost exclusively" on account of the United States.

The numbers were revealed in a parliamentary response from the Finance Ministry to the Left party that was seen by the dpa news agency.

Germany is the European country where most US troops are posted, with 35,000 soldiers deployed there along with 17,000 American civilians. Around 12,000 German civilians also work in jobs connected to the US military.

The United States has suggested it may withdraw some troops stationed in Germany amid differences between Berlin and Washington over NATO contributions. Poland has been mooted as a possible new location for some US troops.

Chancellor Angela Merkel last week downplayed Washington's threats but recognized more needed to be done to improve German military capabilities.
Bullets and spare parts so equipment can be repaired are shortages even I have heard about..
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/22/2019 00:33 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  All of which should have been closed when the Wall came down. Mission accomplished. Everything else is a very expensive and dangerous entangling foreign alliance.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 08/22/2019 9:49 Comments || Top||

#2  270 million doesn't sound like alot over 7 years too me.Especially since we are pretty much covering your ass as you let your own military go to shit.
Posted by: chris || 08/22/2019 9:56 Comments || Top||

#3  Pretty good return on investment considering the thousands of German nationals working on US bases, leases, landing fees, money spent by GI's on the economy. No telling what else.

Next time you want to get one over on a German, Austrian, or a Swiss, ring me up. I'd like to closely observe.
Posted by: Besoeker || 08/22/2019 10:07 Comments || Top||

#4  When they had the draw down for desert storm the locals started sweating bullets because the locals were losing customers and they feared base closures.
Posted by: Flesing Wittlesbach3140 || 08/22/2019 10:17 Comments || Top||

#5  If a German complains about America, or American troops in Germany, simply say "а ты говоришь по русски?" (Do you speak Russian?)

Of course if I ever heard about a Frenchman or Englishman say anything bad about America, I would simply say "Sprichst du Deutch?" (Do you speak German?)
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 08/22/2019 11:58 Comments || Top||

#6  The sum accounts for costs such as benefits for former workers and operating costs associated with maintaining buildings and other properties.

My BS detector is pinging.
Are the benefits for former workers simply government benefits that would be paid no matter where the workers were employed?
Are the building operating costs for maintaining leased buildings?
Posted by: SteveS || 08/22/2019 12:48 Comments || Top||

#7  Procopius2k, I have wondered what the relationship with Russia would have been like if we'd don't exactly that instead of expanding NATO right up to their border and inflaming the Russian paranoia.
Posted by: ruprecht || 08/22/2019 21:22 Comments || Top||

#8  We're responsible for Russian paranoia? It's congenital and convenient as an excuse for them: "We're crazeeee don't you know?". My response is "we put down rabid dogs and fence in others. Choose your future habitat"
Posted by: Frank G || 08/22/2019 21:33 Comments || Top||

#9  Japan pays about $2 billion/year. South Korea pays $1 billion/year and the bases are rent free. Each take in more than that from operations cost and the salary spent by the GIs.
Posted by: Wharong Splat5641 || 08/22/2019 21:59 Comments || Top||


German captain of migrant rescue ship turns down Paris award
[DW] Sea-Watch 3 captain Pia Klemp has rejected Gay Paree' most prestigious civilian award, the Grand Vermeil Medal. She and compatriot Carola Rackete were offered the prize for their efforts in rescuing migrants colonists in the Mediterranean.

Referring to city mayor Anne Hidalgo, she wrote: "You want to award me a medal ... because our crews 'work to rescue migrants colonists from difficult conditions on a daily basis.' At the same time your police steal blankets from people you force to live on the streets while you suppress protests and criminalize people who defend the rights of migrants colonists and asylum seekers."
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/22/2019 00:33 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Human Trafficking

#1  "Don't want an award? How about an Interpol Red Notice, bitch?"
Posted by: Frank G || 08/22/2019 9:34 Comments || Top||


A quarter of people living in Germany have foreign roots
Not all are Muslim colonists — there are plenty from Eastern Europe, too, as well as Westerners who came for a job or to study, then stayed on.
[Ynet] A quarter of all people living in Germany have a migrant background - the highest figure yet recorded in the country of 83 million.

The German Statistical Office said Wednesday that 25.5% of the population, or about 20.8 million people, have migrant roots according to the latest figures from 2018. That's an increase of 2.5% compared with 2017.

The agency defines a person as having a "migrant background" if they or at least one parent held a foreign passport at birth.
Deutsche Welle has the details:
While refugees catch the headlines, most migrants come from other parts of Europe. Only 15% of 20.8 million people with an immigrant background came as asylum-seekers.

In 2018, 52% of those with a migration background were German citizens while 48% had a foreign passport. Of the 10.9 million with German citizenship, about half received it at birth.

The top reasons for immigration were for family (48%), employment (19%) and education (5%). The vast majority of those who came for family or employment reasons were from European countries.

Only 15% of migrants, half of whom are from the Middle East, came as refugees seeking asylum.
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Moslem Colonists

#1  Not counting those who are decedents of the Red Army and American* liberators. Mostly by consent in the latter case.

* given the high percentage of those of German decent who migrated to America generations before, it might be a bit iffy on the DNA.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 08/22/2019 9:47 Comments || Top||

#2  ...ooops, descent.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 08/22/2019 9:47 Comments || Top||

#3  P2k, you're talkin' bout me there. Long line of kraut ancestors who mostly showed up between 1880 and 1910.
Posted by: AlanC || 08/22/2019 12:10 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Death sentence of PTI leader’s killers commuted to life term
[DAWN] The Sindh High Court on Tuesday commuted the death sentence
...the barbaric practice of sentencing a murderer to be punished for as long as his/her/its victim is dead...
of two political activists to life imprisonment in a case pertaining to the murder of Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
leader Zahra Shahid.

An antiterrorism court had sentenced Mohammad Rashid, alias Master, and Zahid Abbas, alias Zaidi, the workers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement
...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead...
, to death in August last year for killing the 70-year-old PTI leader inside her home in Defence Housing Authority on the eve of re-polling on Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
’s National Assembly constituency NA-250 in 2013.

Both the convicts through their lawyers challenged the death penalty
before the high court and after hearing arguments from both sides and examining the evidence, a two-judge bench of the SHC headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha converted the death sentence of both convicts into life term.
Posted by: Fred || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Iraq
Iran’s new weapons corridor now goes through Iraq – report
[IsraelTimes] Israeli analyst Ron Ben Yishai cites Iraqi, Syrian and Lebanese reports in recent weeks that say a newly expanded border terminal on the Iraqi-Syrian border at al-Bukamal will enable Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps to increase its weapons shipments to Hezbollah and allied forces in Syria and Leb.

The work at al-Bukamal, long controlled by anti-Assad rebels, is being carried out with Iran’s help, Ben Yishai reports (Hebrew link).

The new land corridor expands Iraq’s unwanted new role as a major hub for Iranian military interventions throughout the region ‐ and is likely a key reason that unknown forces, possibly Israel, have targeted weapons warehouses and other installation of pro-Iranian militias on Iraqi soil in recent months.

Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan, the abbreviation IRGC is a cognate form of Stürmabteilung (or SA), the term Supreme Guide is a cognate form of either Shah or Führer or maybe both, and they hate Jews Zionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol...
has no direct land border with Syria or its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, and has relied on secret cargo flights and other undercover methods to ship precise missiles and other armaments meant to be used in a future war against Israel.
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


Iraq probe of Baghdad explosion says drone strike set it off
[IsraelTimes] An Iraqi government fact-finding committee set up to investigate a massive munitions depot explosion near Baghdad earlier this month concludes the blast was the result of a dronezap.

The report, outlining the findings of the committee, says the August 12 explosion at the al-Saqr military base, which killed one civilian and maimed 28, wasn’t caused by faulty storage or an electricity circuit as had been suggested.

The report instead blames it on a dronezap that caused a huge fire. It didn’t say who the drone belonged to.

The blast was the latest in a series to hit bases for Iran-backed militia groups operating in Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi ordered an urgent investigation.
The Jerusalem Post adds:
According to intelligence reports, Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan, the abbreviation IRGC is a cognate form of Stürmabteilung (or SA), the term Supreme Guide is a cognate form of either Shah or Führer or maybe both, and they hate Jews Zionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol...
has been providing Shi’ite militias in Iraq with guided ballistic missiles capable of hitting Israel. The Islamic Theocratic Republic is also believed to be trying to build an alternative stronghold following Israel’s ongoing campaign against them in Syria.

Iran has been trying for a number of years to establish a 1,200 km. land bridge from Tehran to the Mediterranean. In May, satellite images taken by ImageSat International showed Iran has been building a new border crossing 2.6 km. west of the official al-Bukamal al-Qaim border crossing, which would expedite weapons transfers from Tehran to groups like Hezbollah.

While it could be that the Israeli jets were ordered to strike targets that posed an immediate threat to Israel, the Jewish state rarely strikes during the day. But it could be that Israel’s military under IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi’s command is not willing to wait.
If the thing were high enough, one can see how an observer on the ground could mistake an F-35 for a drone...
It could be assumed that Israel will now strike during the day to prevent Iran from transferring its missiles to Syria and hit them when they are still in Iraq.
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies


US transporting Israeli drones to Azerbaijan to attack Iraq: Hashd Al-Shaabi commander
Don’t be ridiculous. Allah had the djinns carry them over — he doesn’t like what Iran’s sock puppets have been doing... In fact, never mind about Israeli drones and djinns: the Father of Lies just metaphorically waved his metaphoric hand, twitched his metaphoric nose, and Hashd munitions started exploding “spontaneously”. Insh’allah, dudes. Suck it up and stop dissing your god.
[ALMASDARNEWS] The commander of Hashd al-Sha’abi (var. Popular Mobilization Units), Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, accused the U.S. of moving Israeli drones to Azerbaijan to target Iraq and Iran.

"Trump is considering various ways to violate Iraq’s illusory sovereignty and target Hashd al-Sha’abi," the Hashd al-Sha’abi commander said.

"We have accurate and confirmed information that this year, the Americans introduced four Israeli drones via Azerbaijan to operate within the U.S. fleet to carry out sorties that target the Iraqi military headquarters," Mohandis continued.

"We also have other information, maps and recordings of all types of American aircraft when they took off, when they landed and the number of hours they flew," the Hashd al-Sha’abi commander stated, adding "In Iraq, I recently surveyed our headquarters instead of following ISIS, and collected information and data concerning the brigades of the Coalition and the warehouses of their equipment and weapons, and we presented this to the brothers in joint operations and air defense."

Mohandis, who has long been a commander in the paramilitary group, is sanctioned by the U.S. and considered a key ally of Iran.

This claim by the Hashd al-Sha’abi commander comes just a month after Israel allegedly targeted the Iraqi paramilitary’s base in the Salaheddine Governorate.

Posted by: Fred || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Death of Gaza activist who fled Hamas shocks Palestinians
[Jpost] The death of a prominent political and social activist who fled from the Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamaswith about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
Strip to Bosnia and Herzegovina has shocked many people in the Hamas, a regional Iranian catspaw,-ruled coastal enclave.

Tamer Fathi al-Sultan, 38, was a staunch critic of Hamas. Sources in Gaza said he was affiliated with Fatah. His friends said he was one of tens of thousands of Paleostinians who emigrated from the Gaza Strip in recent years to escape Hamas "oppression."
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  believed to have died of cancer five days after he was admitted to a hospital in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a source in Gaza said. Another source, however, claimed that the man may have drowned while trying to enter Europe, or perhaps was bitten by a scorpion.

Or raped to death by Carnies? Pretty wildly divergent guesses causes
Posted by: Frank G || 08/22/2019 12:36 Comments || Top||

#2  I thought all of Gaza's problems were due to the Juices.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 08/22/2019 12:50 Comments || Top||

#3  Eaten by bears? Struck by a meteorite?
Posted by: SteveS || 08/22/2019 12:51 Comments || Top||

#4  How 'bout raped by a radioactive carny bear driven mad by a scorpion, and then died of cancer ?
Posted by: Dron66046 || 08/22/2019 13:52 Comments || Top||


Israel ‘Pursues’ Iran in Iraq with US approval, in Syria Under ‘Russian cover’
[AAWSAT] News has been confirmed on Israel’s bombing of Iranian weapons and missile warehouses in Iraq three times over the past few weeks thanks to a US-Russian understanding.

The understanding stipulates that "Israel’s security is a priority as well as pursuing Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan, the abbreviation IRGC is a cognate form of Stürmabteilung (or SA), the term Supreme Guide is a cognate form of either Shah or Führer or maybe both, and they hate Jews Zionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol...
in Iraq and Syria," according to Western diplomatic sources.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iranian news agency says Adrian Darya tanker leased to Revolutionary Guards
[Ynet] Iran's semi-official ILNA news agency said on Wednesday the tanker Adrian Darya tanker, which was released after being detained in Gibraltar, is currently leased to the country's elite Revolutionary Guards.

The United States has issued a warrant to seize the tanker on the grounds that it had links to the Revolutionary Guards C (IRGC), which it designates as a terrorist organization.

"It is worth noting that the Grace 1 vessel, renamed Adrian Darya after the seizure, is a Korean-made oil tanker owned by Russia which is currently leased to the Revolutionary Guards," ILNA said, without citing a source.
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


China warns of next jihadist wave in Syria
[ALMASDARNEWS] China has warned of "terrorist organizations" including remnants of ISIS* rising again in Syria if the international community ignores the "early warning" signs.

Xie Xiaoyan, Beijing’s envoy in Syrian, said: "There is now a danger of terrorist organizations like ISIS (ISIS) being revived. The international community should pay attention."

He was meeting in Geneva with the United Nations
...boodling on the grand scale...
Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen.​After the so-called Arab Spring, rebels challenged the government of President Assad in 2011 and three years later ISIS, an murderous Moslem Sunni Moslem militia, overran a huge chunk of eastern Syria and northern Iraq and proclaimed a "caliphate."

Eventually ISIS was forced to retreat and in March this year it relinquished its last stronghold, Baghouz, to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF).

The focus has now turned to Idlib, which since January has been administered by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly al-Nusra, before that it was called something else
...al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, from which sprang the Islamic State...
alliance, led by jihadists from Syria’s former al-Qaeda affiliate.​The UN has warned President Assad and his Russian allies an assault on Idlib could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe.

Tens of thousands of ISIS fighters who fled the region around Raqqa last year are believed to have infiltrated Idlib and are preparing for a last stand against the Syrian Army.

Mr Xie said the situation in Idlib was "very complicated".

​He said: "We all know that this is the last stronghold of some of the terrorist organizations... so this is an issue that needs to be dealt with. The fight against terrorism is not finished yet."

Posted by: Fred || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Iran moves to strike 4 zeroes from its battered currency
[DAWN] Iran's president sent a bill to parliament Wednesday that would cut four zeroes from the value of the Islamic Theocratic Republic's sanctions-battered currency, the rial, as tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington.

By sending the bill to politicians, President Hassan Rouhani's government shows it is serious about an idea mulled for some time in Iran, where people discuss monetary transactions in both rials and informally but more commonly in tomans. A toman is worth 10 rials.

If passed by parliament and approved by politicians, Iran's Central Bank would in effect devalue the rial and rename it as toman.

The bank would have two years to create the new toman currency, returning a currency name that has not been officially used since the 1930s.

Authorities have given no estimate for the cost of creating the new currency.

Also, it was unlikely the parliament would take up Rouhani's request anytime soon. The request carried a low-urgency level, meaning parliament has up to two years, or until 2021, to deliberate and possibly approve the bill.

Posted by: Fred || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


Pompeo: We Will Act If Iranian Tanker Tries to Deliver Oil to Syria
[AAWSAT] The United States will take every action it can to prevent an Iranian tanker sailing in the Mediterranean from delivering oil to Syria in contravention of US sanctions, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned on Tuesday.

Greece said earlier in the day that it had not had a request from the Adrian Darya 1, the vessel at the centre of a dispute between Tehran and the Washington, to dock at one of its ports, as US warned Greece against helping the vessel.

The tanker, formerly called Grace 1, left Gibraltar on Sunday, Rooters reported.
Changed its name and gender
Ship-tracking data on Tuesday showed the vessel was heading toward the Greek port of Kalamata on the southern coast of the Peloponnese and was scheduled to arrive next Monday.

"We have made clear that anyone who touches it, anyone who supports it, anyone who allows a ship to dock is at risk of receiving sanctions from the United States," Pompeo told news hounds at the United Nations
...an organization originally established to war on dictatorships which was promptly infiltrated by dictatorships and is now held in thrall to dictatorships...
"If that ship again heads to Syria, we will take every action we can consistent with those sanctions to prevent that."

He said that if the tanker's oil was sold, the revenue would be used by elite units of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
Posted by: Fred || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  As of this moment, I imagine a Seal team is standing-by.
Posted by: Chereting Pelosi1889 || 08/22/2019 9:00 Comments || Top||

#2  Time to arm those tubes, prime the MK67s.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 08/22/2019 9:22 Comments || Top||


Aoun Remarks on Change of Defense Strategy Standards Spark Debate
[AAWSAT] Disagreement over Hezbollah's weapons reemerged after remarks by Lebanese President Michel Aoun
...president of Leb, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hizbullah...
on changing the "defense strategy standards" related to the party, an issue he had promised to tackle after the parliamentary elections and the approval of the 2019 budget.

The Free Patriotic Movement
Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic...
(FPM) said that the call to discuss the strategy was still on the table but it was only a matter of timing.

Aoun answered a question on the call to renew a national dialogue on a defense strategy, saying that the defense strategy standards have changed. He wondered what the strategy would be based on, now that even the regional balances of power have changed.

"The military developments in the region neighboring Leb over the past years require a new approach for the issue of the defense strategy that would take into consideration these developments, especially after world powers and terrorist groups intervened in the wars that several countries that neighbor Leb witnessed, which created changes in the goals and strategies," the Presidency said, explaining Aoun’s remarks.

"The President is committed to the stances he had announced over the issue of the defense strategy and the need to discuss it in a consensual atmosphere," it added in a statement.

The Future parliamentary bloc saw that this topic should be permanent on the national dialogue agenda.

Reliable sources affirmed to Asharq al-Awsat that the call to discuss the defense strategy is still on the table but it was delayed by various developments in Leb.

FPM MP Alain Aoun noted that the president's remarks on the defense strategy mainly stem from the emergence of ISIS in the region, the conflict in Syria and Russia's role as a key regional player.

Lebanese Forces
A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb...
front man Charles Jabbour stressed hoped Aoun would amend his statements.

Political expert and Hezbollah specialist Qassem Qassir told Asharq al-Awsat that the president did not mean the calling off of discussions on the defense strategy, but it is required to take into consideration the changes in the region.
Posted by: Fred || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah


Iran's Rouhani Threatens Top Waterways Safety If US Halts Oil Exports
[AAWSAT] If Iran's oil exports are cut to zero, international waterways will not have the same security as before, its "moderate™" president said on Wednesday, cautioning Washington against upping pressure on Tehran in an angry confrontation between the longtime foes.
"Give us what we want or we'll do something vicious and stupid."
The comment by President Hassan Rouhani coincided with a remark by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that Tehran might act "unpredictably" in response to "unpredictable" US policies under President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
"World powers know that in the case that oil is completely sanctioned and Iran's oil exports are brought down to zero, international waterways can't have the same security as before," Rouhani said while meeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Khamenei's official website.

"So unilateral pressure against Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan, the abbreviation IRGC is a cognate form of Stürmabteilung (or SA), the term Supreme Guide is a cognate form of either Shah or Führer or maybe both, and they hate Jews Zionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol...
can't be to their advantage and won't guarantee their security in the region and the world."

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have risen since Trump's administration last year quit an international deal to curb Iran´s nuclear ambitions and began to ratchet up sanctions. Iranian officials have denounced the new penalties as "economic warfare".
Posted by: Fred || 08/22/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Is that a pic from inside the NYT?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 08/22/2019 9:42 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
28[untagged]
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5Islamic State
4Commies
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2Govt of Pakistan
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2Sublime Porte
1Hezbollah
1al-Nusra
1Human Trafficking
1Arab Spring
1Govt of Saudi Arabia
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1Lashkar e-Taiba
1Haqqani Network

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Two weeks of WOT
Thu 2019-08-22
  Iran moves to strike 4 zeroes from its battered currency
Wed 2019-08-21
  Taliban chief Mullah Haibatullah was the primary target of Quetta bombing
Tue 2019-08-20
  Furniture, books 'torched' at girls school in Gilgit-Baltistan's Diamer
Mon 2019-08-19
  Another prayer leader killed near Quetta
Sun 2019-08-18
  Explosion Targets Wedding Hall In Kabul; Casualties Feared UPDATE: 63 dead, ISIS claims it
Sat 2019-08-17
  Two killed in Pakistan mosque bomb blast
Fri 2019-08-16
  Special Forces arrest Khalifa Daud, Haqqani network’s key member in Kabul
Thu 2019-08-15
  Iraq anti-terrorism troops kill 10 IS militants, capture 5 others in Anbar
Wed 2019-08-14
  On beyond Veritas: Google Insider Turns Over 950 Pages Of Docs And Laptop To DOJ
Tue 2019-08-13
  North Macedonia police find 22 migrants packed into SUV
Mon 2019-08-12
  UAE-backed forces expel Saudi-backed troops from Yemeni Presidential Palace
Sun 2019-08-11
  Southern Transitional Council stages an attempted coup, says Yemeni government
Sat 2019-08-10
  Jeffrey Epstein dead in Arkancide
Fri 2019-08-09
  US slaps Hezbollah financier with 5-year prison sentence, $50m. fine
Thu 2019-08-08
  Clashes erupt between Indian, Pakistani forces in Kashmir

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