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Islamic State Claims Istanbul Nightclub Terrorist Attack
Today's Headlines
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Page 4: Opinion
14 23:34 Zenobia Floger6220 [] 
13 16:12 Airandee [1] 
4 07:46 jpal [] 
5 19:48 Glenmore [1] 
3 15:07 trailing wife [] 
Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 2: WoT Background
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Page 3: Non-WoT
1 11:46 Silentbrick []
3 14:56 Seeking cure for ignorance []
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7 19:06 SteveS [1]
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Page 6: Politix
9 21:00 Silentbrick [1]
13 20:34 Omomort Cheager7040 []
10 14:03 DarthVader []
15 15:25 Abu Uluque []
4 11:13 DepotGuy []
-Lurid Crime Tales-
Tech experts find flaws in US report on Russian hacking (Video)
About speaker Morgan Wright.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/02/2017 01:49 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The probably saw the info headed back to a Russian IP address and stopped thinking at that point.

IMO, the only responsible party for any hacking is the one who put the information on the internet in the first place.
Posted by: gorb || 01/02/2017 5:36 Comments || Top||

#2  Bangkok Billy comment from late yesterday:

Had a front row seat as 4 RU diplomats were PNG's yesterday out of LAX. Pretty much a non-event with zero fanfare. The RU folks were cordial and professional and we maintained distance. No press no asshats asking questions other than "Can you tell me where the Swiss Air counter is??" The LAX ID card is a moron magnet.
Posted by Bangkok Billy 2017-01-01 21:03
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/02/2017 6:37 Comments || Top||

#3  Saw a statement reportedly from Trump:
"If you want to send a secure message, write it down on paper and send it by courier. My ten year old can find anything on the Internet."
If a message you sent by courier leaks, it doesn't take much to find the leakier. If you use a bonded courier the leak is probably going to be on one of two ends.
Posted by: Jeasing Creque5352 || 01/02/2017 7:13 Comments || Top||

#4  Don't forget about the Super Secret decoder ring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvKlqMjfk1Y
Posted by: jpal || 01/02/2017 7:46 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Purtin's Real Long Game
[Politico] A little over a year ago, on a pleasant late fall evening, I was sitting on my front porch with a friend best described as a Ukrainian freedom fighter. He was smoking a cigarette while we watched Southeast DC hipsters bustle by and talked about ’the war’ -- the big war, being waged by Russia against all of us, which from this porch felt very far away. I can’t remember what prompted it -- some discussion of whether the government in Kyiv was doing something that would piss off the EU -- but he took a long drag off his cigarette and said, offhand: "Russia. The EU. It's all just more Molotov-Ribbentrop shit."

His casual reference to the Hitler-Stalin pact dividing Eastern Europe before WWII was meant as a reminder that Ukraine must decide its future for itself, rather than let it be negotiated between great powers. But it haunted me, this idea that modern revolutionaries no longer felt some special affinity with the West. Was it the belief in collective defense that was weakening, or the underlying certitude that Western values would prevail?

Months later, on a different porch thousands of miles away, an Estonian filmmaker casually explained to me that he was buying a boat to get his family out when the Russians came, so he could focus on the resistance. In between were a hundred other exchanges -- with Balts and Ukrainians, Georgians and Moldovans -- that answered my question and exposed the new reality on the Russian frontier: the belief that, ultimately, everyone would be left to fend for themselves. Increasingly, people in Russia’s sphere of influence were deciding that the values that were supposed to bind the West together could no longer hold. That the world order Americans depend on had already come apart.

From Moscow, Vladimir Putin has seized the momentum of this unraveling, exacting critical damage to the underpinnings of the liberal world order in a shockingly short time. As he builds a new system to replace the one we know, attempts by America and its allies to repair the damage have been limited and slow. Even this week, as Barack Obama tries to confront Russia’s open and unprecedented interference in our political process, the outgoing White House is so far responding to 21st century hybrid information warfare with last century’s diplomatic toolkit: the expulsion of spies, targeted sanctions, potential asset seizure. The incoming administration, while promising a new approach, has betrayed a similar lack of vision. Their promised attempt at another "reset" with Russia is a rehash of a policy that has utterly failed the past two American administrations.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/02/2017 01:15 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  To quote one of the comments on the author's twitter feed "some serious thinking going on here."
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/02/2017 1:37 Comments || Top||

#2  Ukrainians, Georgians and Moldovans

Hardly unbiased observers.

And if they won't to blame someone. Blame the United Nations. They are the ones proclaiming national borders fixed for all time (because African kleptocrats like it that way), but do nothing when they get redraw.
Posted by: phil_b || 01/02/2017 2:26 Comments || Top||

#3  Ukrainians, Georgians and Moldovans...Hardly unbiased observers.

Most certainly true but then again, healthy to gain perspective from those with some 'skin in the game.'
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/02/2017 2:34 Comments || Top||

#4  Russia has s demographic problem. If I were Putin I'd be trying to really stoke Russian pride hoping to get Russians from around the globe to move back to mother Russia.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 01/02/2017 17:29 Comments || Top||

#5  rjschwarz - Russia also needs to encourage Russians to make baby Russians. Of course that problem applies to most Caucasians.
Posted by: Glenmore || 01/02/2017 19:48 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Van Jones Says Muslim Keith Ellison Is Future of the Dem Party
[PJ] On CNN, liberal activist Anthony Kapel "Van" Jones said that "the Clinton days are over" in the Democratic Party, and pointed to two emerging leaders as the future of a more progressive political party focused on identity politics. Naturally, he chose two racial minority members of Congress -- and the extremely controversial first Muslim congressman.

"You have to understand, I think that the Clinton days are over," Jones told CNN's Jake Tapper on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. "This idea that we're going to be this moderate party ... those days are over." Jones called for a new generation of Democrat leadership, touting California Attorney General Kamala Harris (an anti-free speech activist) and Representative Keith Ellison, the first Muslim member of Congress and a candidate for the Democratic National Committee chairmanship.

"I think that Keith Ellison is very important because he is somebody who represents the progressive wing of the party," Jones declared. "On thing that happened, when Hillary Clinton had a chance to make a VP pick, she didn't pick someone from the progressive wing, which made it much harder to heal the wounds with the [Bernie] Sanders and Elizabeth Warren wing. Keith Ellison represents that wing very, very well."
Insightful, profound, what more can be said ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/02/2017 03:02 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Well, at least he will admit what his religion is.
Posted by: gorb || 01/02/2017 5:26 Comments || Top||

#2  Insightful, profound, what more can be said ?

I hope he's right.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 01/02/2017 6:45 Comments || Top||

#3  The last year I've been hearing about the 3rd party that would result from the splits in the Republican party.

If this actually is the direction that the 'rats choose to go I think that a 3rd party becomes very likely with a combination of what passes for moderate Dems and Rinos.

Things could get very messy, nasty and dangerous.
Posted by: AlanC || 01/02/2017 8:03 Comments || Top||

#4  ...Logical evolution to the Liberal "Beltway" Party. Leaving the Socialist and Chamber of Commerce Parties to their own agendas.
Posted by: P2Kontheroad || 01/02/2017 8:07 Comments || Top||

#5  Logical evolution to the Liberal "Beltway" Party. Leaving the Socialist and Chamber of Commerce Parties to their own agendas.
Posted by: P2Kontheroad


Unmasked as it were, for those who could not recognize the voices.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/02/2017 8:35 Comments || Top||

#6  Need I ask about Kamala?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/02/2017 10:25 Comments || Top||

#7  In 1973-75 I saw the demographic shift in the "Rainbow Coalition" Democratic future alliance: the Dixiecrats were out, good riddance, but every white male in Flyover Country got the boot unless they passed the new GroupThink tests. Logically, Politics is a Zero-Sum Game and after the Coastal Elites paid off their immediate cronies a yokel like myself living in the cultural wasteland of Oklahoma would get to lick the empty bowl, maybe, but only after a grovel or two. I registered (R) and voted "For" Ford.

Seems like '73 all over again, McGovern Clinton lost and the New Coalition is a subset of the old Coalition.
Posted by: magpie || 01/02/2017 11:07 Comments || Top||

#8  Need I ask about Kamala?

Background info:

A landmark bill allowing for the prosecution of climate change dissent effectively died Thursday after the California Senate failed to take it up before the deadline.

Senate Bill 1161, or the California Climate Science Truth and Accountability Act of 2016, would have authorized prosecutors to sue fossil fuel companies, think tanks and others that have “deceived or misled the public on the risks of climate change.”

The measure, which cleared two Senate committees, provided a four-year window in the statute of limitations on violations of the state’s Unfair Competition Law, allowing legal action to be brought until Jan. 1 on charges of climate change “fraud” extending back indefinitely.

The measure was introduced amid a national push by Democrats and activist groups to use the legal system to prosecute climate change “fraud,” prompting a backlash from skeptics who have denounced the campaign as an assault on free speech.

A coalition of 17 state attorneys general, including California Attorney General Kamala Harris, have joined forces to pursue climate change skeptics. At least four prosecutors reportedly have launched investigations into Exxon Mobil for climate change “fraud.”
Posted by: Pappy || 01/02/2017 11:30 Comments || Top||

#9  That bill would have been wonderful to watch as folks went after Mann for his deceptive hockey stick and emails suggestion they had to exaggerate the threat to ensure compliance.

I suspect it is this potential embarrassing blow-back that caused California's super-liberal judicial blokes to let it slide.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 01/02/2017 12:24 Comments || Top||

#10  What does it say about "Progressives" that they consider a Muslim their standard bearer?

For me, it says their biggest goal is to attack Christians. All else is second to that goal.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 01/02/2017 12:29 Comments || Top||

#11  Going full retard.
Posted by: Iblis || 01/02/2017 14:27 Comments || Top||

#12  The last year I've been hearing about the 3rd party that would result from the splits in the Republican party. If this actually is the direction that the 'rats choose to go I think that a 3rd party becomes very likely with a combination of what passes for moderate Dems and Rinos.

Aside from the traditional GOP, a significant portion of the 'moderate' (and much of the Establishment) wing of the GOP are what would have constituted the 'conservative' wing of the Democratic Party some forty years ago.

Things could get very messy, nasty and dangerous.

Likely. The question is how quickly a third party gets formed. I suspect politicians of both parties will wait until they see how the political winds blow before they jump ship.

Meanwhile, the media is dragging Evan McMullin to pontificate before the cameras. It'd be interesting to see if they bring Jill Stein on stage as well.
Posted by: Pappy || 01/02/2017 14:44 Comments || Top||

#13  Will American Jewish Democrats finally leave the democrats with move toward Ellison? Will be interesting to see already elected Jewish dems response.
Posted by: Airandee || 01/02/2017 16:12 Comments || Top||


Trump-cheering YouTube stars ‘stand with Israel’
[IsraelTimes] Diamond and Silk pronounce Secretary Kerry to be ‘trippin” over recent spat with Jerusalem: ‘Israel is our ally, so that means we have to have their backs!’
Video at the link. Enjoy!
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/02/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  For readers on a 2017 click diet.

Posted by: Skidmark || 01/02/2017 2:55 Comments || Top||

#2  Now you may laugh but I'm telling you, 'click-finger' RSI is painful and in some cases debilitating. It can also cause temporary loss of trigger control with flinching.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/02/2017 3:10 Comments || Top||

#3  Thank you for doing that for us, Skidmark. I couldn't figure out how to get it from the article.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/02/2017 15:07 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Vermont Democrats Residents Don't Want To ‘Foot The Bill' For Syrian Refugees
[Daily Caller] Some small-town residents of Rutland, Vt., are upset at their mayor’s decision to resettle 100 Syrian refugees throughout 2017 in the area.

Rutland Mayor Christopher Louras defended his decision, saying the town’s demographics are declining, and they are having trouble recruiting younger workers. He also thinks refugees will bring cultural diversity.

"We need people," Louras declared to The New York Times.

Louras’s decision sparked outrage among some residents who say they had little say in the mayor’s decision, which would effect them all. They formed an advocacy group called Rutland First to pressure Louras to reverse his decision.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/02/2017 09:32 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  How does a Mayor have that power on his own?
Posted by: Frank G || 01/02/2017 10:10 Comments || Top||

#2  So, workers who are able are leaving your little patch 'o sunshine, and your solution is to import as much slave labor as you can make other people pay for?
Posted by: ed in texas || 01/02/2017 10:27 Comments || Top||

#3  Other. Peoples. Money.
Posted by: magpie || 01/02/2017 11:08 Comments || Top||

#4  "We need people"

Except you're not getting people. You're getting masters. You just don't know it yet.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 01/02/2017 12:23 Comments || Top||

#5  Rutland Mayor Christopher Louras defended his decision, saying the town’s demographics are declining, and they are having trouble recruiting younger workers.
Posted by: Raj || 01/02/2017 12:27 Comments || Top||

#6  Rutland Mayor Christopher Louras defended his decision, saying the town’s demographics are declining, and they are having trouble recruiting younger workers.

If five of those 100 are 'working', I'd be shocked.
Posted by: Raj || 01/02/2017 12:28 Comments || Top||

#7  Following the Rotherham Model, I see.
Posted by: Rex Mundi || 01/02/2017 14:23 Comments || Top||

#8  Other. Peoples. Money.

Or, more likely, the lack thereof.
Posted by: Pappy || 01/02/2017 14:27 Comments || Top||

#9  1980 Refugee Act gives the Feds the right to resettle refugees.

Govs and Mayors and NGOs may make this go smoothly or not and Govs and Mayors may ask the Feds for more refugees but the 'decision' is not theirs. It is the Feds.
Posted by: lord garth || 01/02/2017 15:17 Comments || Top||

#10  Time to repeal the 1980 Refugee act, then. Replace it with the 2017 Stay In Your Own Cesspool Act.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 01/02/2017 17:13 Comments || Top||

#11  Yes. Shut it down. I like RC's working title, but would add some "save the children" wording to the name of the actual act.
Posted by: Regular joe || 01/02/2017 18:46 Comments || Top||

#12  How fraught are the ethical quandaries
Of melting pots, liberty's bigotry's foundries!
Let's act for the migrants,
Protecting their vibrance,
And call it "Respecting Their Boundaries."
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 01/02/2017 23:14 Comments || Top||

#13  Empirical souls put in peril
By facts -- fertile, footloose, and feral --
Are tempted to query,
But critical theory
Stays crystalline, pristine, and sterile.
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 01/02/2017 23:21 Comments || Top||

#14  And speaking of souls, and going all racist...

So sad that most coloreds play roles
(thick Coates, or the dullardly Knowles),
Convinced by brown wrappers
And cynical yappers
To doubt their avuncular Sowells.

"Some" might be truer than "most" (maybe... I hope... for a while yet), but dammit, I need that long O.
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 01/02/2017 23:34 Comments || Top||



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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
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Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
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Two weeks of WOT
Mon 2017-01-02
  Islamic State Claims Istanbul Nightclub Terrorist Attack
Sun 2017-01-01
  Top wanted Boko Haram commander arrested at Borno LG Chairman’s house
Sat 2016-12-31
  BREAKING: 'Many injured' in Istanbul nightclub attack
Fri 2016-12-30
  Drone Strike Kills Local Qaida Chief in Yemen
Thu 2016-12-29
  Jordan sentences 5 Islamic State members to death
Wed 2016-12-28
  Yemeni (Saleh) army commander defects
Tue 2016-12-27
  Top Taliban leader leading Kunduz battle killed in Ghazni ambush
Mon 2016-12-26
  Phoenix cops arrest alleged ‘jihadist’ plotting midnight Mass attack: ‘Get down with this ISIS s-t’
Sun 2016-12-25
  Buhari: Last Boko Haram base taken in Sambisa Forest
Sat 2016-12-24
  4 Suspects Charged Over Alleged Christmas Day Terror Plot in Australia
Fri 2016-12-23
  Suspect in Berlin Christmas market attack killed in Milan police shootout: Official
Thu 2016-12-22
  ISIS issues order for arrest of its missing finance minister
Wed 2016-12-21
  Syrian Army enters east Aleppo neighborhoods for first time in 4 years
Tue 2016-12-20
  At least 12 dead in 'terrorist attack' after truck crashes into Berlin Christmas market
Mon 2016-12-19
  Russian ambassador to Turkey assassinated

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