[ZERO] On Monday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced the arrest of Joshua Cobb, 23, on a single-count indictment of transmitting an interstate threat over the internet. According to a complaint filed in the case, Mr. Cobb authored a social media post on Dec. 17, 2022, indicating his interest in inflicting mayhem "on the white community."
The author of the Dec. 17, 2022, social media post states, "I want to cause mayhem on the white community. The reason i specifically want to target white people is because as a black male, they will NEVER understand my struggles."
The post’s author goes on to state he has already begun planning the attack, which he intended to carry out somewhere in New Jersey at some point in 2023, though he had not chosen an exact time.
"I have not chosen a exact date but I am going to be sure it is close to an important holiday to their race. I have a location in mind already which I have frequented for the past year and I am certain nobody there is armed to be able to stop me from spraying them to the ground," the suspect’s social media post continues. "I have already acquired 2 of the 4 firearms I plan to use for my attack, and I also know my entry and exit points already after the mayhem."
The social media post was published under the handle "NearbyUserl0l." Investigators determined that social media activity was associated with an internet protocol (IP) address matching the Trenton, New Jersey residence in which Mr. Cobb resided at the time.
#3
Right. "Rich-ass white people" shop at Aldi's. This scumbag surely isn't too bright (but bright enough for the USMC to recruit him and check a block, I suppose).
#4
#3 I agree. I have interacted with many different peoples and there are a few unbalanced people. Whites, black grizzled and gray. I would guess he is mentally unbalanced. Certainly this would have been noticed in his service records. Democrats thrive on this sort of outcome. He was programed well. All his problems were caused by white people.
[IsraelTimes] Jaime Tran, 29, will admit to two counts of hate crimes with intent to kill and two counts of using, carrying and discharging a firearm during a violent crime
The suspect who was arrested in February 2023 for two shootings of Jewish men as they left synagogues in Los Angeles has agreed to plead guilty to all of the charges he is facing, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.
Jaime Tran, 29, will plead guilty to two counts of hate crimes with intent to kill and two counts of using, carrying and discharging a firearm during a violent mostly peaceful crime. Under the plea agreement, Tran will receive a prison sentence of 35 to 40 years, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party,. Had the case gone to trial, Tran would have faced a potential life sentence.
According to US Attorney Martin Estrada, Tran, who had a previous track record of antisemitic behavior, "sought to murder two men simply because they were Jewish."
The attacks took place on consecutive days in February 2023 in Pico-Robertson, a heavily Jewish neighborhood in LA. Tran drove to the area and shot a man wearing a kippah as he left a synagogue, then returned the following morning and shot a second man, also wearing a kippah and exiting another synagogue blocks away.
Both victims survived with only minor injuries. Tran was arrested the following day and has remained in jug since.
According to the US attorney’s statement, Tran paid someone to buy guns for him in Arizona in January. Prosecutors had previously said Tran researched kosher supermarkets before committing the attacks, and was influenced by an antisemitic flier he saw that blamed Jews for COVID-19. He also also had a history of mental illness.
Federal hate crime charges have been filed against Jaime Tran for shooting two Jewish men on Wednesday and Thursday after they left their synagogue in Los Angeles.
The statement said Tran left dental school in 2018 after making a series of antisemitic remarks and continued to harass former classmates online. Between August and December 2022, it said, Tran told a former classmate, "I want you dead, Jew," "Someone is going to kill you, Jew," and "Burn in an oven chamber."
"The defendant’s hatred led him to plan the murder of two innocent victims simply because he believed they were practicing their Jewish faith," said Krysti Hawkins, the acting assistant director of the FBI’s LA office, according to the release. "I’m relieved that the hard work by Sherlocks and prosecutors led to Tran’s admission to these abhorrent crimes, and hope that members of the Jewish community take some solace in knowing that he will not be in the position to target their fellow members."
LA’s Jewish federation said in a statement that it was "pleased that justice will be served in the horrific antisemitic hate crime committed against two local Jewish community members." The federation also thanked local and federal law enforcement.
The statement added, "At a time when antisemitism has skyrocketed across the country and in Los Angeles, this news sends a strong message that our city will have zero tolerance for violent mostly peaceful acts of antisemitism."
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] …for shooting AK-47 wielding BLM protester during 2020 riot
Daniel Perry, a US Army Sergeant, has been pardoned by Texas Governor Abbott
He was sentenced to 25 years over the July 2020 murder of BLM protestor Garrett Foster in Austin
Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested the state parole board investigate his case to discuss a possible pardon just days later, which led to a unanimous approval vote that was announced Thursday.
In a statement after the vote was announced, Abbott cited Texas' 'Stand Your Ground' laws, which allow people to use deadly force if they feel they are in imminent danger.
'Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney,' Abbott said.
The progressive DA in this case being Soros-backed Travis County District Attorney José Garza, who was elected in 2020. He quickly developed the habits of prosecuting some police officers and forcing others to perjure themselves in order to obtain his convictions.
'I thank the Board for its thorough investigation, and I approve their pardon recommendation.'
To many, the conviction was a common example of a Soro's politically owned DA, and a demographically selected jury for a pre-determined conviction.
Seriously, how could any jury convict knowing that the attacking now dead POS, BLM protester was carrying and firing a AK-47 during a Large Massive looting /riot.
#2
NN, it's Austin and Travis County. Logic goes there to die.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
05/17/2024 8:13 Comments ||
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#3
Earlier in the day, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a pardon recommendation to the governor’s office, indicating in a statement that it had “delved into the intricacies” of Mr. Perry’s case, including reviewing police reports, court records, witness statements, and interviews with people linked to the case.
“The Board voted unanimously to recommend a full pardon and restoration of firearm rights,” the board said in the statement. Epoch Times
Posted by: Bobby ||
05/17/2024 9:49 Comments ||
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#4
Jury wanted to "send a message." Abbott sent one right back.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
05/17/2024 9:59 Comments ||
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#5
It sends a message to activists to behave in Texas.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/17/2024 10:37 Comments ||
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#6
^ Professional deaf ears.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
05/17/2024 10:40 Comments ||
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[SUDANTRIBUNE] Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of Sudan ...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans... ’s Sovereign Council and Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces has pledged to arm civilians in the Gezira state following a meeting with the High Committee of Popular Resistance®.
On Thursday, al-Burhan met with a delegation from the Supreme Committee of Popular Resistance® in Gezira state, which has been under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the end of last year. The city of al-Managil, now serving as the state’s provisional capital, replaced Wad Madani.
Al-Burhan assured the committee of his commitment to fulfil their demands, including arming civilians and volunteers, supporting local resistance groups, and reinstating veteran fighters. The meeting was attended by a diverse group, including representatives of Sufi orders, Native Administration, and prominent community figures.
This pledge comes in response to the dire situation in al-Jazirah, where the RSF has been accused of grave human rights When they're defined by the state or an NGO they don't mean much... violations since assuming control. These abuses range from murder, kidnapping, and forced displacement to terror campaigns, sexual violence, and rampant looting of property and resources.
Al-Jazirah residents have expressed growing frustration with the government’s response to attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In recent days, WhatsApp groups for the region have seen calls for self-armament and the formation of local militias to defend against the RSF. These calls criticize General al-Burhan and the army for failing to provide weapons for defence.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/17/2024 00:00 ||
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[34 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan
#1
Jazirah, center of large agricultural developments, is the Sudan's breadbasket; it has been since the region switched from cotton to grains. It is populated almost exclusively by Arabs. It is a terrible irony but the depredations suffered by the Sudan's African minorities in Darfur and elsewhere along Sudan's periphery are now, and for the first time in the nation's history, being suffered by the Arab majority in the Arab heartland.
[AFRICANEWS] On May 15, President Patrice Talon met with the Director General of CNPC, the Chinese company handling the Benin ...Benin, a French-speaking West African nation, that they put where Dahomey used to be. It is a birthplace of voodoo and zombies. In Abomey, Dahomey's former capital, the Historical Museum occupies two royal palaces with bas-reliefs recounting the kingdom’s past and a throne mounted on human skulls. To the north, Pendjari National Park offers safaris with elephants, hippos and lions and tigers and bears, oh my!... -Niger export pipeline.
Following the meeting, Benin's Energy Minister announced that Benin has granted temporary and provisional authorization for the first ship to load Nigerian oil at the Sèmè platform. This decision came after a request from Nigerien customs to participate in the loading operations.
However,
facts are stubborn; statistics are more pliable... this authorization does not mark the start of normal exploitation activities. The Minister emphasized that regular pipeline operations require a proper state-to-state relationship framework and mentioned the importance of reopening the Nigerien border. The first ship is expected to load within 36 hours.
The Chinese called for a meeting of the Benin-Niger inter-state committee to resolve issues. This meeting's date is yet to be set, but Benin has agreed to participate. The Chinese delegation will visit Niamey to seek support from Nigerien authorities.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/17/2024 00:00 ||
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[33 views]
Top|| File under: Tin Hat Dictators, Presidents for Life, & Kleptocrats
[AFRICANEWS] Former Mauritanian president Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz has been ruled out of the June 29 presidential election for lack of the necessary sponsorship, his front man Mohammed Ould Djibril told journalists on Tuesday, May 14, denouncing the sponsorship system in place.
"This blocking by the authorities is undemocratic," The spokesperson added. "There are ten of us who are victims of this plot by the authorities."
Mr. Aziz, who led Mauritania, a pivotal country between the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa, until 2019, had taken steps to present his candidacy, according to his front man. If so, he would have faced the outgoing president, Mohammed Ould Ghazouani, his successor and one of his most loyal companions in the past, with whom he is now in open conflict.
The former president was sentenced in 2023 to five years in prison for illicit enrichment.
The government through the ruling party had set conditions requiring presidential candidates to get approvals from the municipal councillors and mayors. Only the opposition Islamist party Tewassoul has any room for maneuver, as it has the required number of municipal councilors.
The opposition parties had previously denounced the law terming it unjust.
"We denounce the hegemony of the majority parties, who are thus choosing their opponents from among the candidates and leading the country towards the holding of a unilateral electoral parody," denounced a dozen opposition candidates, including Mr. Aziz, in a joint statement.
"Even if the former president had collected sponsorships, his qualifications would have been highly uncertain. Candidatures must be submitted to the Constitutional Council. However,
Caliphornia hasn't yet slid into the ocean, no matter how hard it's tried... according to the Constitution, the president "may be re-elected only once", and Mr. Aziz has already served two terms," they added.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/17/2024 00:00 ||
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[26 views]
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Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The evacuation of US military personnel from Niger will lead to the fact that American equipment and military equipment will end up in the hands of the Russian military. This warning was made on May 15 by former CIA and Pentagon intelligence officer Rebecca Koffler in an interview with Fox News.
According to Koffler, any military equipment that the departing US military leaves in Niger will become a Russian trophy. She pointed out that Russian military personnel are always hunting for American weapons left on the battlefield or at military bases.
“These systems will be captured, studied and <...> will make it possible to equip Russian weapons with means that reduce the effectiveness of American weapons,” the ex-intelligence officer explained her fears.
According to the analyst, the likely evacuation of American forces from Niger and Chad would be a victory for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
At the same time, Gustavo de Carvalho, a senior researcher at the South African Institute of International Relations, in turn, objected that Russia is only helping African countries ensure their security in the face of the catastrophic failure of Western policy on the continent.
Regnum reported earlier that in early May the Pentagon ordered the full withdrawal of American troops from Niger over the next few months. In total, more than a thousand people will leave the country.
In March, Niger authorities terminated a military agreement with the United States that allowed American military personnel to remain in the country. Niger's Interior Minister Mohamed Toumba said the country is interested in the Russian military training its troops.
Reuters, citing a Pentagon representative, reported on May 3 that Russian military personnel entered the air base in Niamey.
On May 8, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said at a hearing in the Appropriations Committee of the US Senate that Washington would have to withdraw all its troops from Niger.
#4
The only true reason the USA was in Niger was to keep watch over yellowcake production. Niger, like Chad, like Darfur, like Upper Volta, like Mali, are human pesteholes.
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) May 16, 2024
The Kano StateHisbah Board has banned male disc jockeys (DJs) from performing at female-dominated events in the state.
This ban was announced by the Commander General of the board, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, at a meeting with the representatives of DJs in the state.
The Hisbah Commander said the decision was necessary to prohibit the mixing of males and females during events, adding that only women would be allowed henceforth to officiate at women’s gatherings.
"As an Islamic state, it is unacceptable for us to allow the indiscriminate mixing of males and females at the same event. This is because this act can promote and spread immorality," he was quoted by Daily Trust as saying.
He mentioned that another meeting had been held with the state's event facility owners and managers to educate them about the essential regulations governing their operations.
In his remarks, the DJs' representative, Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known as DJ Farawa, praised the board for inviting them and instructing them on the new criteria that the board had implemented to regulate their business.
He said, "We are happy with the invitation of the Hisbah board to our union of DJs. They have given us guidelines on the sanctity of prayer times during events, as well as the need to prevent the mixing of males and females during those events."
“Thank you, sir! Please sir, may I have another!” *ouch!*
Ibrahim noted that all DJs performing in the state must adhere to the new guidelines issued by the board to avoid being sanctioned.
He said, "This is why we are calling on all DJs to register with our union in order to benefit from the guidelines that have been issued."
He also warned that non-registered DJs performing in the state would not be protected by the union if found to have violated the Hisbah guidelines.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Regnum] The Basmanny District Court of Moscow granted the investigation's request to extend the arrest of four defendants in the criminal case regarding the terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow. The court hearing took place on May 16.
The preventive measure in the form of detention was extended for Muhammadsobira Faizov (included by Rosfinmonitoring in the list of terrorists and extremists), Shamsidin Fariduni (included in the list of terrorists and extremists by Rosfinmonitoring), Dalerjon Mirzoev (included in the list of terrorists and extremists by Rosfinmonitoring), Rachabalizoda Murodali (included in Rosfinmonitoring) itoring in list of terrorists and extremists). They are accused of committing a crime under paragraph “b” of Part 3 of Art. 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Terrorist act”).
The defendants in the case will remain in custody until August 22.
On May 16, the court must consider petitions to extend the preventive measure for eight defendants in the case of a terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk.
As Regnum reported, in March the court arrested four defendants in the case of the terrorist attack in Crocus until May 22. During interrogation, the suspects admitted that they were promised 500 thousand rubles
…at about 91 rubles to the dollar, that converts to $5,500 — not nearly as imoressive..
for carrying out a terrorist attack. In total, 12 people were arrested in connection with the terrorist attack, including four direct perpetrators.
On the evening of March 22, a group of armed militants broke into the Crocus City Hall building before a concert of the musical group Picnic. The terrorists opened fire on the visitors. As a result of the terrorist attack, 145 people were killed, including six children, and another 550 people were injured.
Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov said on March 26 that the testimony of those involved in the terrorist attack case confirms the Ukrainian trace. According to investigators, the perpetrators of the terrorist attack received significant amounts of money from Ukraine.
On May 7, Bortnikov also stated that the main organizer of the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall was abroad. Answering a question about the customers, the FSB director noted that investigative actions are currently underway and he cannot speak more specifically.
President Vladimir Putin said on April 2 that those who ordered the terrorist attack wanted to sow panic, strife and hatred in Russia, as well as split the country from within.
[MAIL] The Netherlands has today said it will opt out of European Union rules and bring in its 'strictest-ever' asylum policy following Geert Wilders' shock election victory.
The newly agreed Dutch coalition government said the new policy will see people removed from the European country 'by force' - setting up a clash with leaders in Brussels even before it has taken office.
The 26-page coalition agreement emerged early this morning after six months of gruelling talks between four parties following last years' stunning election victory by Wilders, the long-time Euro-sceptic and leader of the far-Right PVV party.
The parties said they would file a request to the European Commission for an opt-out on European asylum policy 'as soon as possible'. People without a valid residence permit will be deported 'by force if necessary,' said the report.
Wilders on Wednesday reached a deal to form a coalition with three right-wing partners, almost six months after last year's major election victory. He has ruled himself out of the top job, but has not yet proposed his choice for prime minister.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Dmitry Polyakov
[REGNUM] At the beginning of May this year, the Turkish Ministry of Trade announced the suspension of trade relations with Israel. The decision is the second stage of the policy of economic pressure on the Jewish state - earlier in April, Ankara introduced restrictions on the export of 54 groups of goods. However, these measures did not lead to any results.
Therefore, this time the Republic of Turkey decided to toughen its course.
An official statement from the Ministry of Commerce said that “ export-import transactions related to Israel have been stopped, the decision applies to all types of goods. Turkey will strictly and resolutely implement these measures until the Israeli government allows a continuous and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza."
Meanwhile, the ministry clarified that it has already begun to work with colleagues from the Palestinian Authority to ensure that the measures taken do not affect the population of the West Bank. This is because Türkiye exported goods to the Palestinian territories through Israeli customs.
The PA government does not control its external borders, so that could get interesting, now that all is in the open. Were I Bibi, I’d be feeling more than a tad vindictive at the moment.
The suspension of trade came as a complete surprise to the Israeli side.
Or not, as the case may be. He’s done it before.
Thus, Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized Turkish policy, specifically mentioning President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “This is how a dictator behaves, ignoring the interests of the Turkish people, businessmen and international trade agreements,” the head of the foreign ministry of the Jewish State wrote in a message.
Well, yes.
In addition, Katz noted that he has directed his ministry to seek alternatives for trade, focusing on "local production and imports from other countries."
Lots of people want Israeli products, even if they have to pretend otherwise — taking off the labels before selling to the public. I seem to recall hysteria in Saudi Arabia a few years ago about Jaffa oranges...
In many ways, Turkey’s actions increase tensions in relations with Israel, which noticeably worsened against the backdrop of a new round of escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict last fall. However, states limited themselves to negative rhetoric towards each other and tried not to resort to direct action.
Since the spring of this year, Ankara has decided to raise rates.
Despite playing Big Sultanate On Campus, Turkey is still just a Third World country, so doesn’t have the kind of economic leeway of Germany or America. So sorry.
At the end of April, Erdoğan formally received a high-level Hamas delegation along with Politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh. Leaders of the Palestinian movement were received in Ankara for the first time since October 7, 2023. Already in May, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that his country had submitted a request to the International Court of Justice, joining South Africa's lawsuit against Israel.
Therefore, measures aimed at restricting trade are in line with Turkey’s course towards a consistent weakening of ties with the Jewish state.
THE ROLE OF ELECTIONS
In this context, it is important to trace the chronology of Turkey’s actions - precisely from April 2024.
Turkish authorities began to put pressure on Israel after the failure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in municipal elections in all major cities in March this year.
In addition, in the districts of Sanliurfa and Yozga (considered the main electoral centers of the AKP), the New Welfare Party (NPP), which takes a tougher stance against Gaza, won.
In previous years, Erdogan’s image as a protector of Muslims in the region added some support for the ruling party in elections, which made it possible to mobilize the conservative electorate to vote for the AKP.
However, since the new stage of the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation, the current president has been losing political points. Today, Turkish society actively criticizes the authorities for maintaining trade ties with Israel. Therefore, Erdogan was forced to act and began a policy of pressure.
I think the Regnum reporter has confused cause and effect there…
It is worth emphasizing that Ankara’s current course is being implemented only to suit the political situation and does not in any way correspond to economic feasibility. Because the Turkish economy is in a deplorable state.
The decline began even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Formally, in 2023, the country's economy grew by 4.5%. In reality, this came at a rather high cost—the price was a currency crisis.
The lira has lost nearly half its value in five years, leading to hyperinflation that reached nearly 70% in May. The weak currency has caused prices for manufactured goods to rise, with the manufacturing sector, which accounts for a fifth of the country's GDP, hit hardest.
I started hearing about government-spending driven inflation driving Turkish businesses into bankruptcy back in the mid-1990s. They’ve had several cycles since — truly, it’s a wonder there still is a manufacturing sector in Turkey, even without the stripping of the Gulens in the middle of the past decade.
For these reasons, millions of Turks today struggle to make ends meet.
It was against this background that Erdogan decided to suspend trade ties with Israel, one of Turkey’s key trade and economic partners in the region.
Is it a long term solution?
Indeed, trade and economics are the basis of Turkish-Israeli relations.
The free trade agreement between the parties has been in force since 1997. In 2023, Ankara was the fifth-largest exporter to the Jewish State, with exports reaching $4.6 billion—about 76% percent of total bilateral trade, which stood at $6.3 billion.
Given the existing trade imbalance, the greatest harm from the measures taken will not be Israel, but Türkiye itself.
In order to have at least some impact, Ankara decided to limit access to Turkish ports, through which the Jewish state also traded with third countries. For example, Azerbaijani oil comes to Israel through the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.
Realizing that local businesses would suffer from the sudden stop in trade, the Turkish Ministry of Trade granted a three-month grace period to exporters to Israel. The ministerial directive states that companies must complete contract transactions through third countries.
It is noteworthy that the released document became a reason for speculation.
In Israel they immediately started talking about the fact that Türkiye had lifted many trade restrictions. Foreign Minister Israel Katz made a statement with the following content: “The lesson is clear: we must not give in to the dictator’s threats.” This suggests that the country did not feel the consequences of the suspension of trade, and the postponement for Turkish companies is regarded as a victory in this confrontation.
As a result, it is not the Israeli economy that suffers from Ankara’s policies, but the Turkish one.
Those juices sure are tricksy…
While Turkish officials say there are no exceptions to the trade ban, the reality is that the measures may be short-lived. Erdogan’s actions are subject to political conjuncture and are largely of an image nature.
Given the existing problems in the Turkish economy, the trade ban may remain at the formal level, but export companies will receive various concessions to conduct their activities.
And everyone will realize that President Erdogan backed down. How deservedly humiliating for him.
WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that would force President Joe Biden to send weapons to Israel, seeking to rebuke the Democrat for delaying bomb shipments as he urges Israel to do more to protect civilians during its war with Hamas.
The Israel Security Assistance Support Act was approved 224 to 187, largely along party lines. Sixteen Democrats joined most Republicans in voting yes, and three Republicans joined most Democrats in opposing the measure.
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Warren Davidson of Ohio all bucked their party.
Posted by: Grom the reflective ||
05/17/2024 01:37 ||
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[104 views]
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#1
Rep. Davidson is mine — I voted for him twice. Army Ranger, head of a mid-sized family company, then got into politics, first locally then Congress. I just wrote to him about this, asking him to explain his thinking.
#2
Not sure about the other two, but if Massie voted a certain way, then he had the US Constitution in mind. AIPAC is already attacking him. Capitol Hill needs a few hundred more Thomas Massies.
#3
Massie automatically votes against all foreign aid. It's a principle he's expounded forever. It's also an illustration that "one size fits all" will get you sideways with pretty much everyone at some point.
His point, that the US is broke and doesn't have the aid money to give, isn't incorrect.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
05/17/2024 7:40 Comments ||
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#4
Have been reading about Thomas "Woodrow" Wilson recently...a scumbag of the absolute highest order...reminded me of Wisconsin Senator La Follette and his passionate speech on the Senate floor against Wilson's perversion on going to war in April 1917. La Follette was one of only six Senators to vote against going to war.
Some men & women have principles. Those principles might not pay well, but they have principles.
[Jpost] Pakistan's intelligence agencies have disclosed in their joint report a notable surge in the smuggling of Iranian oil within the country.
The report, submitted to the Ministry of Petroleum on Thursday, sheds light on the alarming escalation of this illicit activity. “There was a significant reduction in this illegal trade during the caretaker government, but after the recent general elections (held in February 2024), illegitimate trade has now escalated by a staggering 67%,” the report stated.
A troubling connection between militant groups in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province and the profits generated from oil smuggling was also revealed in the report. It suggests that banned Baloch-armed organizations operating in the restive region, including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), are directly involved in this unlawful oil trade.
According to the report, Balochistan’s thriving underground smuggling operation spans six land and sea routes across five districts. An estimated 90,000 liters of Iranian oil are smuggled daily, and around 70% of this oil makes its way to consumption hubs in Pakistan’s three other major provinces.
SMUGGLING AND THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT
The report states that “2.8 billion liters of Iranian oil, including diesel and petrol, are smuggled into Pakistan annually. This rampant smuggling has resulted in a staggering loss of at least 227 billion rupees [an estimated $816 million] to the national treasury.”
Not to mention the loss to the Iranian government, beleaguered as they are despite being the beloved of Allah, masters of the Master Religion.
Approximately 2.2 to 2.4 million people, constituting anywhere between 14% and 16% of Balochistan's population, rely on Iranian oil smuggling within the province, according to the report.
“Predominantly, individuals from terrorism-affected areas in southern Balochistan are engaged in this trade, primarily due to limited economic prospects in the region,” it further stated.
The 44-page report, prepared by intelligence operatives, exposes the involvement of numerous high-profile figures in this smuggling ring. Among those implicated are sitting members of the Balochistan Assembly, former provincial ministers, and influential politicians.
The report identified one hundred and five smugglers who play pivotal roles in facilitating the illegal trade, coming from 14 districts in Balochistan, including the provincial capital, Quetta. It also identified 100 corrupt officials across the country who are said to be involved in oil smuggling.
Additionally, the report highlights the complicity of 533 petrol pumps operating without proper licenses, actively participating in the sale of contraband Iranian oil.
Emphasized in the report is the urgent need for immediate, though non-specific, measures to combat the multiple threats the country faces because of this Iranian oil smuggling operation. These threats include revenue loss, depletion of foreign exchange reserves, and damage to the state's reputation.
The illicit trade of oil in Pakistan's Balochistan province is not new; it has existed for several decades already. Iranian oil smuggling predominantly occurs within the Baloch belt, characterized by challenging mountain ranges, uninhabited deserts, and a lack of industries or economic opportunities for its residents. The districts identified by intelligence agencies as prone to smuggling Iranian oil are situated within the same belt. Consequently, the sole source of employment for the local population revolves around the illegal oil trade.
According to official records, Mashkel, a desert expanse along the Pakistan-Iran border, is home to around 60,000 individuals. In this town, two to three people per household are involved in the oil smuggling trade. This makes a complete operation shutdown challenging, as the government lacks alternative solutions.
Despite repeated promises and assurances from the Pakistani government to crack down on this smuggling and illegal trade within the borders, the efforts thus far have proven ineffective in curbing this nefarious activity.
Malik Siraj Akbar, an ethnic Baloch and Washington-based expert on Balochistan issues, told The Media Line that “amid a backdrop of deprivation and underdevelopment in the Baloch regions, Baloch militants on both sides of the border have exploited these grievances to further their agendas. They attribute the backwardness of their areas and the creation of hostile environments to the central governments of both countries.”
Akbar highlighted the significant support garnered by insurgent groups among the local populace, noting that “this support often surpasses that received by the Iranian and Pakistani national armies.”
He pointed out that “both nations have responded by ramping up security measures and enhancing cooperation to combat the Baloch insurgents.” However, Akbar cautioned that such crackdowns might incentivize militants to seek alternative funding sources for their movements.
He also emphasized that the Baloch insurgency extends its impact far beyond the immediate border regions, “potentially destabilizing the broader geopolitical landscape. This situation creates opportunities for external actors to exploit vulnerabilities within the affected countries, thereby complicating efforts to establish lasting peace and security in the region.”
Expanding on this point, Akbar said that “the persistent insurgency in the Baloch regions poses significant challenges to regional security and stability. The ongoing unrest disrupts the socio-economic fabric of the affected areas and heightens tensions between neighboring countries.”
He elaborated that “the intricate interplay of socio-economic dynamics, political interests, and security concerns adds complexity to resolving the Baloch insurgency issue.”
Dr. Dost Barrech, a geostrategic analyst who teaches international relations at the University of Balochistan, told The Media Line, “The Iranian oil trade is a lifeline for 50% of the population in the Baloch belt. Enforcing a crackdown could plunge these individuals into uncertainty. With a lack of alternative skills or education, they would face the grim prospect of unemployment and financial hardship.”
He underscored the “necessity for comprehensive policymaking considering the region's complex economic and social dynamics. Investment in education and skills training programs could offer alternative avenues for livelihood, reducing dependence on a single industry.”
Barrech also said that if terrorists are involved in this illegal trade, “then this issue is a question mark for our security operatives.”
Emphasizing the importance of China's massive $400 billion investment in Iran,
*Blink* That’s a lot of money…
Barrech noted that a considerable amount is directed towards sectors beyond energy. Stressing the mutual need for a stable trade route between China and Iran, he said that Pakistan must seize this opportunity, advising the government to withstand American pressure.
Barrech proposed that the government “legitimize the trade of Iranian oil to bolster the economy and facilitate the development of underdeveloped regions.” He argued that this approach would foster economic growth and uplift disadvantaged areas.
“The trade of Iranian oil, often labeled as smuggling, has been a subject of prolonged discussion due to its detrimental effects on the Pakistani economy and its alleged support for Baloch armed resistance,” Hazar Khan Baloch, a Quetta-based political analyst who closely monitors border issues, told The Media Line.
“However, despite widespread acknowledgment of these issues, there has been a lack of concrete action plans to address the situation,” he added.
Baloch claimed that “the primary obstacle to implementing effective measures against this trade is the involvement of various stakeholders, including politicians and border guards. This complex web of interests often leads to a resumption of the smuggling process after temporary disruptions.”
He further asserted that the trade in Iranian oil is a significant source of employment, particularly for residents of Balochistan's border areas.
“The resurgence of Iranian oil smuggling poses significant challenges for law enforcement agencies in Pakistan. It undermines national security and fuels corruption and illicit financial flows,” he claimed.
"The involvement of government officials and politicians in this disgraceful business also contributes to a culture of impunity, where criminal elements thrive at the expense of law-abiding citizens,” Baloch added.
“As authorities grapple with this pressing issue, urgent measures are required to dismantle the intricate networks perpetuating this illegal trade and safeguarding the country's interests,” he concluded.
Qiamuddin Agha, president of the Balochistan Petroleum Dealers Association, expressed concerns about the impact of the Iranian petroleum smuggling on legal petrol pumps.
“While Iranian oil is undercutting our legitimate business, there's also a human aspect to consider. Despite the losses, we continue to operate. When the Iranian oil supply diminishes, our sales increase,” he told The Media Line, emphasizing “the need for government policies that preserve employment opportunities and do not harm legal petrol sellers, especially considering the limited business opportunities in Balochistan.”
To rejuvenate Pakistan’s national economy, leaders from both civil and military sectors came together in March to discuss and tackle the obstacles hindering financial growth in Pakistan, including smuggling, corruption, and criminal syndicates.
The civil and military leadership attended a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where strategies to address a range of illegal activities, such as the Iranian oil smuggling trade and criminal mafias, were carefully considered.
Posted by: Skidmark ||
05/17/2024 05:15 ||
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#1
The crux: Malik Siraj Akbar, an ethnic Baloch and Washington-based expert on Balochistan issues [notes] “amid a backdrop of deprivation and underdevelopment in the Baloch regions, Baloch militants on both sides of the border have exploited these grievances to further their agendas. They attribute the backwardness of their areas and the creation of hostile environments to the central governments of both countries.”
[Times of Israel] Accusing Israel of seeking to “destroy Palestinian life and to wipe them off the face of the earth,” South Africa on Thursday demanded that the International Court of Justice order Israel to cease not only its military operation in the southern Gazan city of Rafah but its entire campaign against the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip.
During two and a half hours of oral argument, the seven-member team of South African and international lawyers and jurists repeatedly sought to pressure the court to order an end to Israel’s operations against Hamas, claiming that Israel had ignored previous court orders and implying that the court would appear futile if it did not act.
The ICJ hearings were called after South Africa asked for emergency measures from the court to protect Rafah, after it earlier alleged that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the coastal enclave.
The request was South Africa’s fourth application to the court since Jerusalem declared war against Hamas following the terror group’s brutal onslaught against Israeli civilians on October 7.
South African jurists argued Thursday that the current IDF operation in Rafah will make life in Gaza untenable due to the already severe humanitarian situation in the territory, the lasting widespread destruction in other parts of the Strip, and the importance of the Rafah goods crossing in supplying Gaza with aid.
#2
offer the gazooks a new home in your utopian paradise.
Perhaps the displaced Paleos could help South Africa to become a beacon of African prosperity, a shining city on a hill, so to speak. Or at least keep the electricity on. Probably shouldn't bet money on it though.
[IsraelTimes] ‘We cannot allow the normalization of this unprecedented form of terrorism,’ freed hostage tells informal gathering of body; US envoy calls on terror group to release the captives
Shoshan Haran, her daughter and two grandchildren were taken hostage by Hamas terrorists in Israel on October 7. On Thursday, Haran recalled the effects of 50 days in captivity on her three-year-old granddaughter when they were finally released.
“Three weeks after we were released, Yahel only whispers, too afraid to make a noise. She hid from everyone, too afraid to go outside. She wet the bed and had nightmares, too afraid she may be captured again,” Haran told an informal UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, convened by the United States.
Continued on Page 49
#1
The SS men kept the people fated to die unaware of what awaited them. They were told that they were being sent to the camp, but that they first had to undergo disinfection and bathe. After the victims undressed, they were taken into the gas chamber, locked in, and killed with Zyklon B gas.
[NEWARAB] The Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing... on Thursday called for a United Nations ...aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society... peacekeeping force in the Paleostinian territories at a summit dominated by Israel's offensive in 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 Hamas with 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.
The meeting of Arab heads of state and government convened in Bahrain more than seven months into the war on Gaza that has convulsed the wider region.
The "Manama Declaration" issued by the 22-member bloc called for "international protection and peacekeeping forces of the United Nations in the occupied Paleostinian territories" until a two-state solution is implemented.
The declaration also called on "all Paleostinian factions to join under the umbrella of the Paleostine Liberation Organization," which is dominated by Hamas ..not a terrorist organization, even though it kidnaps people, holds hostages, and tries to negotiate by executing them,... ' political rivals, the ruling Fatah movement.
The Arab League added that it considered the PLO "the sole legitimate representative of the Paleostinian people".
Posted by: Fred ||
05/17/2024 00:00 ||
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#1
Among them Arab countries territory is 2000 Israel's territory - but to them it's not enough.
[JPost] The IDF has given the US military assurances it will provide security to US forces operating on the temporary floating causeway.
The Pentagon said US Central Command successfully anchored the temporary Trident pier to the beach in Gaza on Thursday with assistance from Israel Defense Forces engineers who received mission-specific training from US Army engineers in Israel.
In the coming days, aid will be offloaded from ships at a floating roll-on-roll-off distribution facility, ferried to the Trident pier and will then be driven to shore in Gaza where USAID and the UN will handle distribution, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters during a news briefing Thursday afternoon.
"For weeks, we have been working side-by-side with the USAID team, the Cypriots, the Israelis and the United Nations to increase the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza," Singh said. "Today, we have hundreds of tons of aid ready for delivery and 1000s of tons of aid in the pipeline.
Once ships are able to get to the pier and transport aid onto the pier the delivery will happen quickly, according to Singh, with an initial 90 trucks of aid driving to shore per day eventually ramping up to 150 trucks per day.
Singh said the trucks will be able to reach the populations that need it most, including Northern Gaza.
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/17/2024 00:00 ||
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#1
The IDF has given the US military assurances it will provide security to US forces operating on the temporary floating causeway.
And since this is impossible, soon Biden gov will have a new excuse to sabotage Israel's fight for survival.
#11
The US State Department on Friday issued a worldwide caution security alert, saying it is aware of increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQ+ people and events.
[JPost] Yippy's mouth earns consequences
"Raising the import tariff on Turkey is a suitable Zionist answer to Erdogan," Smotrich said. "For too many years, the State of Israel struggled with Erdogan's antisemitism. Not on my shift!"
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Thursday that Israel would abolish its free trade agreement with Turkey and impose a 100% tariff on imports from Turkey in retaliation for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's decision to halt exports to Israel.
Smotrich submitted the plan for cabinet approval, including the abolition of the Israel-Turkey Free Trade Agreement, signed in 1996.
The FTA was expanded in 2000 to include all industrial goods, abolishing all duties and charges for importing them from Turkey.
By 2007, the FTA had been expanded further to cover a significant amount of agricultural products, including eggs, live plants, vegetables, dried tomatoes, coffee concentrates, various juices (orange, lemon, apple), beer, several types of nuts, and dried figs and apricots. The FTA reduced their tariffs to 0%.
The recent abolition of this agreement will mean that previous tariff rates will be reimposed, and a new 100% will be added on.
Additionally, the Economy, Foreign Affairs, and Finance Minister are expected to take the necessary steps to diversify Israeli imports away from Turkish products and create alternate import sources to reduce Israeli reliance on the Turkish economy.
INCREASE IMPORT DIVERSITY
Additionally, the Economy, Foreign Affairs, and Finance Minister are expected to take the necessary steps to diversify Israeli imports away from Turkish products and create alternate import sources to reduce Israeli reliance on the Turkish economy.
The plan explains that the diversification may cause short-term disruptions but should, in the long term, reduce costs and help mitigate future supply issues due to geopolitical events.
The move is also expected to help improve Israeli industrial resilience and competitiveness in the global markets.
Manufacturers Association of Israel, which claims to represent 1800 members responsible for over 90% of Israeli industrial output, pushed manufacturers to pursue alternative imports from China, Eastern Europe, Greece, Germany, Cyprus, and Taiwan.
From kosher food to construction materials, Israel has long relied on Turkish goods, many of which were supplied by Jewish businesses now suffering after the halt to exports.
Turkey’s Jewish population has been in decline for decades, with spurts of emigration in step with periods of political and economic instability. But between 10,000 and 15,000 Jews live in the country today, most in Istanbul with a smaller community in the Aegean port city of Izmir. Many of those who remain are involved in exports with Israel.
Rami Simon, a Turkish Jew who trades aluminum and construction materials to Israel said he and others he knows are looking into other countries to ship their products to, but it’s an industry based on connections, and new markets are hard to break into. He also noted that he supplied buyers in Gaza and Palestinian areas of the West Bank as well and now cannot ship his products to them because Israeli ports are closed to Turks.
Simon also said he’s pinning his hopes on a ceasefire, even though Hamas and Israel have so far failed to reach one. Hamas has not accepted any of the ceasefire deals offered to it, insisting that only a permanent ceasefire would be tolerable. Israel rejects the idea of any ceasefire that leaves Hamas in power in Gaza.
“Hopefully, we won’t still be thinking about this in a few months when there will be a ceasefire in Gaza. We are waiting for this,” Simon said about the trade embargo.
“If it’s going to take five or six months we’re going to have a big, big issue and problem,” he added. “After that, if we can still not do business, to export to Israel, I think many people are going to try to look for a different solution for their lives, and maybe ultimately leave Turkey.”
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/17/2024 00:00 ||
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#1
Israel should also expand military cooperation with Greece.
#2
I imagine this is all over the offshore energy fields Israel had discovered and Erdy has been trying to butt in on for a few years, and Erdy is trying to use the moment and lay claim, maybe moving assets into?
[JPost] In Manama, the Arab League met to voice its opposition not just abuot the Rafah operation but to the war itself, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on Thursday on the importance of a military campaign in Rafah, one day after Defense Minister Yoav Gallant took him to task for failing to have a day-after plan, and warning of the consequences.
"The battle in Rafah is critical," Netanyahu said, as he visited soldiers in the Bnei Netzarim military base, and focused on the importance of the IDF destroying the last remaining four Hamas battalions in the terror group’s last stronghold in Gaza.
"It is not only the remaining battalions there but their escape and supply pipelines. This battle, of which you are an integral part, is a battle that will decide many things in this campaign," Netanyahu told the soldiers.
Netanyahu has faced criticism, both domestic and international, for his push to enter Rafah, with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating on Thursday that the Biden administration has been clear in its opposition to "a potential major military operation and Rafah."
But, she noted that Israel assured the White House that its military activity in Rafah was limited and targeted.
She stressed that while the US supported Israel’s stance that Hamas could not remain in Gaza, she appeared to back Gallant in his position, in stating that the White House has "underscored the importance of having a clear and concrete plan for the day after the conflict in Gaza."
In Manama, Bahrain, the Arab League met on Thursday to voice its opposition not just to the Rafah operation, but to the war itself, and to call for an immediate ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave. It stressed the need for a two-state resolution to the conflict, one based on the pre-1967 lines.
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/17/2024 00:00 ||
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#1
Hamas has a lot of weapons - all (including the putatively garage-made qassams) came through Egypt.
[NEWARAB] The head of a Syria's hardline Islamist 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... (HTS) rebel group, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, on Wednesday issued a warning to demonstrators protesting against HTS's rule.
HTS was formerly affiliated to al-Qaeda and controls much of Syria's northwestern Idlib province.
HTS security forces accompanied by military fighters are on high alert in and around Idlib city, sources from the area told The New Arab's Arabic edition al-Araby al-Jadeed.
They have set up dozens of checkpoints and positions at entrances to the city and on roads leading to it and other major cities in Idlib province, the sources said.
Since the start of 2024, Idlib and the surrounding areas have seen protests against HTS's practices — from torture in prisons to the monopolisation of the region's economic and security administration.
Al-Araby al-Jadeed's sources said the protests against al-Jolani continued in towns and villages in Idlib province such as Taftanaz, Binnish, and Maarrat Misrin.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/17/2024 00:00 ||
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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.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans...
...Benin, a French-speaking West African nation, that they put where Dahomey used to be. It is a birthplace of voodoo and zombies. In Abomey, Dahomey's former capital, the Historical Museum occupies two royal palaces with bas-reliefs recounting the kingdom’s past and a throne mounted on human skulls. To the north, Pendjari National Park offers safaris with elephants, hippos and lions and tigers and bears, oh my!...
[Regnum] The Basmanny District Court of Moscow granted the investigation's request to extend the arrest of four defendants in the criminal case regarding the terrorist attack in the 
..not a terrorist organization, even though it kidnaps people, holds hostages, and tries to negotiate by executing them,...
[JPost] The IDF has given the US military assurances it will provide security to US forces operating on the temporary floating causeway.
...al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, from which sprang the Islamic State...
