Since the release of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee’s report on the Benghazi attacks this November, many uninformed people in the political and media world insisted the report “debunks” claims that the government did not sufficiently defend its embassy on September 11, 2012.
The report, however, is full of inaccuracies–but the authors of the report printed them anyway, despite testimony and other information that proved those statements wrong.
2. Ezra Levant explains why he feels he must appeal his loss on the defamation case recently.
3. This is a link to the original photo that was changed to read “Rob a store” instead of “leaves Home”. The point was a valid one though.
4. Britain Confronts Turkey Over Trading Its Nationals In Hostage Swap with ISIS
According to a Turkish news source, the British government has demanded Turkey to offer an “urgent explanation” on reasons for handing over its citizens -Shabazz Suleman (19) and Hisham Folkard (26) to the ISIS.
Back in October, the Turkish government in a deal with the Islamic State militants, reportedly swapped at least 180 ISIS terrorists, including the two British jihadists, in exchange for its embassy staff from Mosul.
The issue has since then led to an increase in tension between the governments of the two countries,Todays Zaman reported.
Despite the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) informing Turkey that Suleman and Folkard, who are being sought on Interpol red corner notice, Ankara kept the UK government in the dark over the arrests.
5. Respected journalists expose media bias against Israel
(This is not just your typical, anti-Israel media bias article. This is an important one)
There’s a serious problem when a major US network tells its employees they won’t get compensation for decades of work unless they promise not to say or write anything about their former working place.
In other words, they are saying: You must not reveal any of our secrets or tell the world about double standards and hypocrisy of the foreign media.
Not only is this unethical and filthy, but it’s also a form of blackmail. I wonder if NBC NEWS would treat its employees in the US in the same way. And what is NBC NEWS afraid of?
Toameh who writes for The Jerusalem Post and other outlets, has always been a lone wolf in his battle for real journalism in media coverage of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He told us during a meeting some years ago that the international media have done a great injustice to Israel. He said he was not pro-Israel but pro truth. Toameh accused the foreign media in Israel of a double standard and of manipulating the news about Israel.
Thank you GoV, ML.,M., Yucki and all.
This nonsense is going on and on and on…
Iran Dismisses UN Probe of Alleged Work on Nukes (abcnews, Dec 2, 2014)
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/iran-dismisses-probe-alleged-work-nukes-27316690
“Iran says that the UN atomic agency is out of line in pushing for new information on allegations that the country worked on nuclear weapons, and appears to serve notice that it will not cooperate with such an investigation.
The probe is separate from newly extended talks between Iran and six world powers meant to reduce Iran’s technical capacity to make nuclear weapons by reconfiguring what it says are purely civilian projects. But its failure would throw hopes of a deal at the talks into doubt because the U.S. says an agreement can be reached only if the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency is satisfied with the probe and its final results.
In its statement on the IAEA’s website, Tehran said the agreement signed last year with the IAEA did not include any pledges of cooperation by Tehran in any investigation of the alleged weapons work.
“Iran has not recognized such irrelevant notions,” said the note dated Monday….”
Yea… Lets keep deluding ourselves… That is the best way to embrace future… lol
Don’t ‘talk up’ Taliban attacks says ex-UK army chief (BBC, Dec 2, 2014)
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-30302597
“Recent attacks by the Taliban in Afghanistan are not a sign it is making advances as the last foreign troops prepare to withdraw, the former head of the British army has said.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme, General Lord Dannatt said it was wrong to “talk up” the incidents.
Five Afghan soldiers died in an assault on the former UK base Camp Bastion and capital city Kabul has been attacked.
Lord Dannatt said the Afghan government must retain the support of the West.
The last UK combat troops left Afghanistan in October, with Camp Bastion in Helmand Province being handed over to local armed forces.
But a surge in insurgent attacks over the past month, targeting Afghan forces, foreigners and civilians, has raised concerns about whether local Afghan forces will be able to protect the country when the bulk of the other foreign forces depart this month.
Three South Africans were killed in a Taliban attack on a compound used by a US-based charity on Saturday in Kabul, the third such incident on foreigners in 10 days.
Ahead of a conference this week on Afghanistan’s future in London, Lord Dannatt said: “It is important the new government shows it has competence and confidence to govern… it is absolutely critical to show international determination to go on financing and supporting the developing Afghanistan.”….”
Egypt sentences 188 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death (BBC, Dec 2, 2014)
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30302258
“More than 180 supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood have been sentenced to death in Egypt over a 2013 attack on a police station near Cairo.
The attack took place on the same day as Egyptian security forces broke up protest camps set up by Brotherhood supporters, leaving hundreds dead.
Egypt has been fiercely criticised for its crackdown on Islamist supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.
Hundreds of death sentences have been passed but none have been carried out.
The latest sentences are subject to the opinion of Egypt’s top religious authority, the Grand Mufti.
A final verdict is due on 24 January, after which defendants may appeal.
More than 140 of the 188 defendants are already in custody, while the rest have been sentenced in absentia….”
Yemen: Car Bomb Near Home of Iranian Ambassador (abcnews, Dec 3, 2014)
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/yemen-car-bomb-home-iranian-ambassador-27327639
“Yemeni security officials say a massive car bomb has rocked the capital, Sanaa, apparently targeting the home of the Iranian ambassador.
The Wednesday morning blast heavily damaged several buildings in the area. At least two people were killed, both security guards at the ambassador’s residence, the officials said. The fate of the ambassador himself is still uncertain.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to brief the media.”
Doctors Without Borders Hits Greece on Refugees (abcnews, Dec 3, 2014)
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/doctors-borders-hits-greece-refugees-27327638
“Thousands of men, women and children fleeing war-ravaged countries face dreadful holding conditions and a dysfunctional reception system after risking their lives in smuggling boats to reach Greece’s Aegean Sea islands, an international medical aid organization warned on Wednesday.
A Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, report said many refugees, exhausted and often soaked from the sea-crossing, spend days sleeping outdoors or squashed in tiny police cells before being moved to the mainland.
“We have seen intolerable overcrowding, with 53 people crammed into a cell meant for six,” MSF field coordinator Kostas Georgakas said. “What little they are offered after such a grueling journey is shameful, and dangerous for their health.”
Along with Italy, financially-struggling Greece is a major destination for refugees and migrants from the Middle East and Africa seeking a better life in Europe. Last week, 591 people ? mostly Syrians ? reached Crete on a crippled freighter.
Syrians make up more than 90 percent of the 14,000 migrants who reached the southeastern Dodecanese islands ? a prime tourist destination ? this year. They qualify for, and are quickly granted, refugee status in Greece, but most prefer to head for other European countries.
A mobile MSF team provides health care, sleeping bags and toiletries in the Dodecanese, where arriving migrants, including families, unaccompanied children and elderly people, have increased six-fold over 2013 as the situation in Syria has worsened….”
So… It was up to Iraq… How convenient… 😉
Iran bombs Islamic State targets in Iraq, says Pentagon (BBC, Dec 3, 2014)
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30304723
“Iran has conducted air strikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in eastern Iraq during recent days, a Pentagon spokesman says.
Rear Adm John Kirby said the US, which has conducted its own air strikes in Iraq, was not co-ordinating with Iran.
A senior Iranian military official also dismissed talk of co-operation between the two countries.
A US-led coalition has launched hundreds of air strikes against IS since August.
The US has said it would be inappropriate for Iran to join that coalition, even though the two long-time adversaries face a common enemy in IS.
Since the Islamic revolution in 1979, the US and Iran have had a fraught relationship.
Washington severed ties the following year after Iranian students occupied the US embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage.
Rear Adm Kirby’s comments followed reports that American-made F4 Phantom jets from the Iranian air force had been targeting IS positions in the eastern Iraqi province of Diyala.
“We have indications that they did indeed fly air strikes with F-4 Phantoms in the past several days,” he said.
It was up to Iraq to oversee and co-ordinate flights by different countries in its airspace, he added….”
4. exchanging people that are not your citizens in a state of war? Doesn’t that count as a war crime?
I feel like I’m in the twilight zone with this one.
me too
I don’t think it is a war crime, but it does violate the Interpol treaty.
I’m learning. Anything you don’t like, say: “It’s against International Law. War Crime! Geneva Convention!
Only a few dedicated bloggers will check it out and challenge you. And who cares about them?
it was a question, “Doesn’t that count as a war crime?”
I wasn’t sure. I still don’t know
Although Richard’s answer is very logical.
I am basing my answer on what I remember about war crimes from my time in the Army, we were taught what was a war crime so we wouldn’t accidentally commit one.
Not many care about those who try and stick to the facts.
4 killed in attack on African Union convoy in Somalia (CNN, Dec 3, 2014)
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/03/world/africa/somalia-violence/index.html
“A car packed with explosives sped up and into an African Union troop convoy near Mogadishu airport Wednesday morning, claiming at least four lives in the ensuing explosion, police said. A plume of black smoke could be seen rising from the airport, which also acts as a staging ground for United Nations operations and for the African Union troops on a peacekeeping mission in Somalia. “I saw at least two dead bodies lying in a pool of blood on the ground and police arrived soon at the area and began shooting in the air to disperse the crowds,” a witness named Sharma’arke said by phone from the scene.”
2/ May Ezra not have to wait long to see himself vindicated.
National Guard in Ferguson recovering pieces of burned American flag.
It’s so intimate. The flag from my Dad’s coffin was his most cherished bequest, more than even his service medals.
I ended up with his dog-tags.
It is a symbol that people die for, the sign that you are an American, and the sign that you served.
And the dog-tags?
They are used to identify the body after the battle, they are suppose to be worn around your neck, some Marines have the info tattooed on their chest in case the dog tags are destroyed.
Will Germany Abolish Itself and France Commit Suicide?
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4921/germany-france-suicide
From the forgotten front in the Islamic conquest. The Islamic State Widens its Bridgehead in North Africa
http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/ari-lieberman/the-islamic-state-widens-its-bridgehead-in-north-africa/?
The US government is wimping out to a major degree.
Soldiers Told to Remove Anti-ISIS Social Media Posts After Threats from Group
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/12/01/ISIS-Threatens-US-Military-Personnel-Soldiers-Told-to-Remove-Anti-ISIS-Social-Media-Posts
NATO to develop a rapid response force
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2014/12/02/nato-developing-rapid-response-force-to-counter-russian-threat-obama-dismissed-in-2012/
5/ More:
Blacklisting of pro-Israel watchdog organization NGO Monitor by the Associated Press
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/12/02/blacklisting-of-pro-israel-watchdog-organization-ngo-monitor-by-the-associated-press/
This link is from a day or so before:
http://vladtepesblog.com/2014/11/30/has-the-whole-world-become-a-james-bond-movie-islam-and-its-agents-of-influence-links-post-3-for-nov-30-2014/#comments
Direct link:
STATEMENT ON MEDIA CENSORSHIP OF CRITICISM OF NGOS
http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/response_to_the_ap_ban_on_ngo_monitor_and_prof_steinberg_
IMAGINING RACISM TO DEMONIZE ISRAEL
http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/adalah_s_database_of_laws_imagining_racism_to_demonize_israel_
ICRC: World holds Israel to legal double standard
http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/ICRC-World-holds-Israel-to-legal-double-standard-383509
The world holds all of the good guys to a double standard, heaven help them if we start holding them to a double standard.
– ‘fraid it’s too late for heaven…