Reader’s links for June 2nd – 2017

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In order to preserve the flow of conversation about various posted items, and also in order to make it easier for visitors to find the list of related links being shared by other readers, regulars and interested parties in one place, each day a post is automatically created at a minute past midnight ET.

This way, under the various posts of the day, conversation can take place without as much ‘noise’ on the various links and articles and ideas in the main posts and all the news links being submitted can be seen under these auto-posts by clicking on the comments-link right below these ones.

Thank you all for those that take the effort to assist this site in keeping the public informed. Below, typically people can find the latest enemy propaganda, news items of related materials from multiple countries and languages, op-eds from many excellent sites who write on our topics, geopolitics and immigration issues and so on.

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

128 Replies to “Reader’s links for June 2nd – 2017”

  1. Terrorism, Conflicts Cost Over $14 Trillion to Global Economy (sputniknews, Jun 2, 2017)
    https://sputniknews.com/world/201706021054260583-terrorism-conflicts-global-economy/

    “According to the latest estimation by the Global Peace Index that annually analyzes the costs of security of living in countries and regions, worldwide terrorism is at an all-time high.

    The newly revealed report says that the constantly growing level of terrorism is one of the main problems of the contemporary world…”

  2. Bomb squad called in after police seal off car ‘significant’ to Manchester attack (RT, Jun 2, 2017)
    https://www.rt.com/uk/390586-manchester-attack-police-car/

    “Police investigating the Manchester terrorist attack have found a car which they believe might be “significant” to the inquiry. A bomb squad is reportedly at the scene.

    Greater Manchester Police say there is a 100m cordon in place around the car on Devell House, in Rusholme, not far from where a police raid is ongoing in Banff Road.

    A bomb disposal van and forensic officers were seen arriving at Devell House on Friday afternoon…”

  3. Rosneft gets access to vast oil transportation system in Iraqi Kurdistan (RT, Jun 2, 2017)
    https://www.rt.com/business/390621-rosneft-iraq-kurdistan-deal/

    “Russian energy major Rosneft and the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq have signed a number of oil exploration and production agreements. It is the biggest deal made by a Russian company so far at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2017).

    Rosneft will get access to a major regional transportation system with the capacity of 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), the company said. It is planned to expand capacity to more than 1 million bpd by the end of 2017…”

  4. Shock CCTV shows woman led down quiet street before being gang-raped in Covent Garden (express, Jun 2, 2017)
    http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/812353/CCTV-woman-led-down-quiet-street-before-being-gang-raped-in-Covent-Garden-Asian-men

    “A POLICE manhunt has been launched for three men who led a woman down a quiet street in Covent Garden and gang raped her.

    The men, were caught on CCTV approaching the 34-year-old woman and purposely leading her away from the main road.

    Police said that the woman had been in Central London for a night out with friends – in an area full of nice bars, restaurants and clubs.

    But as she walked down Greek Street at 12.15am on 20 March three men, of Asian appearance, approached her…”

  5. BREAKING: City on LOCKDOWN after gunman goes on rampage in busy tourist spot (express, Jun 2, 2017)
    http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/812426/Copenhagen-shooting-gunman-updates-Tivoli-Gardens

    “A CITY is on lockdown after a man opened fire in a busy tourist hotspot, according to reports.

    Dramatic footage has emerged showing police scrambling to the scene in central Copenhagen as terrified passerby run from the scene.

    Witnesses say a man was shot by police after he fired his gun at the officers.

    He has been taken to hospital but it remains unknown what condition he is in.

    Two people have been arrested, according to police.

    Henrik Møller Jakobsen, deputy police inspector in Copenhagen Police, said: “It will be investigated and we have cordoned off the entire area.

    “We have summoned the Independent Police Complaints Authority.”

    Officers say the incident at Tivoli Gardens is probably not terror-related.

    Local pub owner Michael told the Ekstra Bladet that he was about to open the pub when he heard four to five gunshots.

    He said: “Then came a dozen shocked people, including tourists who wept and were completely out of it.

    “I let them in at the pub, and got them out in the kitchen so they were safe.”

    The footage shows armed police with raised guns around HC Andersens Boulevard.

    According to several witnesses, the police were apparently looking for one or more people and a short while later opened fire.

    The US Embassy in Copenhagen issued a warning to people to avoid the area surrounding Tivoli Gardens.

    It said in a statement: “It is unclear if the shooter is still at large.

    “Police closed off the area and indicate there is no evidence to suggest the incident was terrorism-related.

    “Exercise caution if you are in the vicinity.”

    The situation is said to be now under control, but caused chaos in the area.”

    • One of the final steps in cultural enrichment for Denmark. A car bomb in Copenhagen is about all that’s left on the jihadist to-do list. This is so incredibly un-Danish that it’s nearly impossible to explain.

  6. Kurdish militants claim downing of Turkish military chopper (abcnews, Jun 2, 2017)
    http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/kurdish-militants-claim-downing-turkish-military-chopper-47791853

    “Kurdish militants have claimed responsibility for a Turkish military helicopter crash that killed all 13 personnel on board two days ago near the Turkey-Iraq border.

    The People’s Defense Forces or HPG said in a statement Friday that its units fired at the Cougar helicopter Wednesday in the border province of Sirnak. The statement said that “the hit helicopter crashed as it tried to move away.”

    The HPG is the armed wing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which has waged a three-decade-long insurgency against the Turkish state. The war has led to an estimated 40,000 deaths and a two-and-a half-year cease-fire collapsed in the summer of 2015.

    The Turkish military said the crash was an accident, with initial information indicating that the helicopter had hit a high-voltage transmission line.”

  7. 11 killed as girl suicide bombers hit camp in north Cameroon (abcnews, Jun 2, 2017)
    http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/11-killed-girl-suicide-bombers-hit-camp-north-47789557

    “Two girl suicide bombers attacked a camp for those displaced by Boko Haram extremist violence and left 11 people dead, authorities in northern Cameroon said Friday.

    The dead included the young bombers who detonated their explosives at the camp in Kolofata, said Gov. Midjiyawa Bakari of the Far North region. Several dozen others were wounded, the governor said.

    Authorities believed the girls had entered Cameroon the night before from neighboring Nigeria, where Boko Haram has killed more than 20,000 people in its eight-year insurgency that has spread into neighboring countries…”

  8. French soldiers kill 20 jihadis in Mali near Burkina Faso (abcnews, Jun 2, 2017)
    http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/french-soldiers-kill-20-jihadis-mali-burkina-faso-47794383

    “Officials say that French soldiers deployed to Mali to fight against Islamic extremists have killed at least 20 jihadis at the country’s border with Burkina Faso.

    French Operation Barkhane said Friday that activities carried out by soldiers from Sunday to Thursday in the Serma forest left 20 jihadis “out of combat.” It said the operation began with airstrikes followed by soldiers on land, but it didn’t specify how the jihadis were killed.

    A resident says various Islamic extremists are active in the forest, including Macina Liberation Front members, jihadis from Burkina Faso and Islamic State group members. The resident spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

    About 1,600 French soldiers are deployed in Mali as part of the larger Operation Barkhane against Islamic extremists in the Sahel region.”

  9. GERMANY – Rock Am Ring evacuated: German music festival suspended due to ‘terrorist threat’

    Police say they received ‘concrete’ information relating to a possible attack

    Police in Germany have evacuated the Rock Am Ring music festival after receiving a terror threat.

    The major event was cleared out on Friday evening after police in the nearby city of Koblenz said they had received information about a “concrete threat”.

    “Due to a terrorist threat the police have advised us to interrupt the festival,” organisers said on the festival website.

    Around 90,000 music fans were expected to attend the annual three-day event by the end of the weekend.

    The German band Rammstein was the Friday night headliner, but hadn’t yet started playing.

    Festival organisers say they hope to be able to go ahead with the programme Saturday.

    Festival-goers were told to move to the camping area after being told of the evacuation.

    Authorities took the precautionary measure less than two weeks after 22 people were killed as they left an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. […]

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/rock-am-ring-evacuated-germany-terrorist-threat-attack-musical-festival-a7770336.html

    POL-PPKO: Rock am Ring unterbrochen
    02.06.2017 – 21:17
    Nürburgring (ots) – Der Veranstalter von Rock am Ring hat in enger Abstimmung mit den Sicherheitskräften den heutigen Festivaltag vorzeitig beendet. Hintergrund sind konkrete Hinweise, aufgrund derer eine mögliche terroristische Gefährdung nicht auszuschließen ist. Derzeit laufen Ermittlungen mit Hochdruck. Genaue Hintergründe können wir derzeit noch nicht nennen.

    Da die Sicherheit an erster Stelle steht und eine Gefährdung von Festivalbesuchern in jedem Fall soweit wie möglich ausgeschlossen werden muss, wurde entschieden, das Festival für diesen Tag auszusetzen.

    Mit Blick auf den jüngsten Anschlag auf eine Konzertveranstaltung in Manchester wurde bereits im Vorfeld das Sicherheitskonzept für Rock am Ring modifiziert und die Zahl der Einsatzkräfte deutlich auf rund 1.200 erhöht.

    Wir nehmen alle Hinweise und alle Verdachtsmomente sehr ernst und gehen diesen intensiv nach.

    Nachdem eine Gefährdung nicht ausgeschlossen werden konnte, wurden sofort alle notwendigen Maßnahmen getroffen.

    Dies führte in der Konsequenz dazu die Veranstaltung heute aus Sicherheitsgründen zu unterbrechen.

    http://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/117715/3651630

    • OFFICE of the SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

      DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BUDGET FISCAL YEAR ( FY ) 2018

      Justification for FY 2018

      Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)

      COUNTER-ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA ( ISIS )
      TRAIN AND EQUIP FUND ( CTEF)

      […]

      page 5 B. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/JUSTIFICATION

      […]the Counter Terrorism Service ( CTS ) , Iraq’s premier fighting force […]

      […] Requested funding will be essential in rebuilding CTS combat power that suffered 40 percent battle losses in Mosul […]

      http://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/fy2018/fy2018_CTEF_J-Book_Final_Embargoed.pdf

      • page 11 .

        Resupply Combat Operations and Equipment Battle Losses. The Iraqis will continue to require NATO-standard ammunition to resupply units using NATO standard weapons in counter-ISIS operations. A larger requirement for non-NATO standard ammunition is necessary to resupply the large number of non-NATO weapons purchased with ITEF funds. These estimates represent the most likely requirements, but may be reduced or superseded by operational needs for other equipment, munitions, or weapons as required in the evolving counter-ISIS operational environment. The ISF have lost vehicles in combat operations and will need replacements to sustain and conduct future counter-ISIS operations. The ISF have sustained heavy losses of up-armored vehicles, some support vehicles, and heavy bulldozers which are used to clear mined areas as they counter ISIS. Many of the ITEF-provided armored troop carriers, gun trucks, route clearance, and counter-IED exploitation vehicles have suffered irreparable catastrophic damage. Existing data and campaign plan projections indicate that battle losses will continue, highlighting the need for CTEF appropriations and other
        Iraqi/Coalition resources, including Department of State foreign assistance funds such as Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and Iraqi National Funds via Foreign Military Sales (FMS).

    • Exclusive: See The Suicide Tractors And DIY Rounds ISIS Lost In Mosul

      The grueling ground offensive against the Islamic State in Mosul, Iraq, is entering its final stage. The last few neighborhoods held by ISIS — approximately five square miles of snaking alleyways and narrow city streets — are expected to be the most difficult to retake for the U.S.-backed Iraqi Security Forces.

      The ISIS fighters still in Mosul — estimated to number a few hundred — are left with what they have in the city: a parade of stitched-together technicals, car and truck-bombs, and various improvised weapon systems. Earlier this month, the 9th Iraqi Army Division conducted a clearing operation in the northwestern part of the city; and in the process, they raided ammo and supply caches left behind by dead or fleeing Islamic State fighters.

      Task & Purpose reached out to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, which is partnered with the 9th IAD, to ask about the ISIS gear the Iraqi troops recovered, how these weapons are used by the Islamic State, and how effective they are. It’s through these brief glimpses of ISIS’s armory that we can get a sense of the militant group’s power in Mosul, or what remains of it.

      more + pics :

      http://taskandpurpose.com/exclusive-see-suicide-tractors-diy-rounds-isis-lost-mosul/

  10. The Left’s Betrayal of Terrorism’s Victims
    “All you need is love” is not a counterterrorism strategy.

    The recent massacre of Ariana Grande concertgoers in Manchester at the hands of a Muslim suicide bomber prompted the usual celebrity blather about conquering terrorism through love. Pop superstar Katy Perry, for example, pleaded “No barriers, no borders, we all just need to co-exist. We’re just all loving on each other and we should just stay loving on each other.” Sorry, but as much singalong fun as The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love” was half a century ago, it’s not a counterterrorism strategy. Pretending that it is is a betrayal of the memory of the men, women, and children slaughtered in the name of Allah, as well as a betrayal of the victims to come – and there will be many, many more unless we stop passively mourning and act upon the righteous anger in our hearts.

    http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/266877/lefts-betrayal-terrorisms-victims-mark-tapson

  11. Europe’s Next Big War
    Thousands of terrorists and thousands of soldiers.
    June 2, 2017
    Daniel Greenfield

    2,000 cases.

    That was the most overlooked revelation to come from the testimony of the former FBI director. While the media parsed every Comey hiccup to bolster its election conspiracy theories, it ignored that number.

    Comey stated that there were around 2,000 terrorism investigations. 1,000 of those came from “home grown violent extremism” with no evidence of contact with foreign terrorists. Another 1,000 had “some contact with foreign terrorists”. 300 from that 2,000 had come to America as refugees.

    Two-thirds of the refugee terrorists were from Iraq. The other third were mainly from the six countries named in President Trump’s travel pause which left-wing activist judges have unconstitutionally halted.

    Two years ago, Comey listed around 900 investigations. Even assuming that some of the 1,000 “home grown extremists” aren’t Muslim terrorists, that’s a staggering and shocking rise in case numbers.

    http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/266852/europes-next-big-war-daniel-greenfield

  12. Turkey: Three wounded as ultra-conservative group attacks students at Ankara Uni

    At least three students were wounded and nearly 20 detained when an ultra-conservative group attacked Ankara University Cebeci Campus on Friday.

    Individuals from the group were reportedly heard shouting at students who were sitting in the cafeteria, ‘You cannot eat here during Ramadan’. Students reportedly fought back at the group.

    Police deployed tear gas to disperse crowds, while detaining people to break up the fighting.

    [...ultra- conservative ???? .... I guess they mean ...pious Muslims..... ]

  13. Mattis: North Korea a ‘clear and present danger’ to world

    SINGAPORE (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is calling North Korea a “clear and present danger” to the world.

    Speaking at an international security conference in Singapore, Mattis says the North Koreans are increasing the pace and scope of their efforts to develop nuclear weapons and the long-range missiles to deliver them. He calls for international cooperation to de-nuclearize Korea.

    Mattis notes what he calls China’s renewed commitment to helping solve the North Korea problem. And he says he believes that ultimately, China will see North Korea as a liability.

    Mattis is also reiterating U.S. objections to what he calls China’s militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea. But he also says conflict between China and the U.S. is not inevitable.

    http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_UNITED_STATES_ASIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-06-02-21-19-36

  14. Mattis presses China on North Korea, South China Sea

    The United States is encouraged by China’s efforts to restrain North Korea but Washington will not accept Beijing’s militarization of islands in the South China Sea, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Saturday.

    The comments by Mattis, during the annual Shangri-La Dialogue forum, show how U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is looking to balance working with China to restrain North Korea’s advancing missile and nuclear programs while dealing with Beijing’s activities in the South China Sea.

    Trump has actively courted support from Chinese President Xi Jinping to restrain North Korea, raising concern among Asian allies that Washington might allow China a more free rein elsewhere in the region.

    Mattis said the threat from North Korea was “clear and present” and that Pyongyang had increased its pace of pursuing nuclear weapons.

    The United States has struggled to slow North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, which have become a security priority given Pyongyang’s vow to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland.

    http://www.reuters.com/article/us-asia-security-idUSKBN18U015

  15. Austrian court jails parents who took kids to live under IS (middleeasteye, Jun 2, 2017)
    http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/austrian-court-jails-parents-who-took-kids-live-under-123133390

    “An Austrian court on Friday sentenced two couples to as many as 10 years in jail after they took their children to live in an Islamic State (IS) group-controlled part of Syria, where they were shown execution videos.

    The two men and their wives, all Austrian citizens, travelled to Syria with their eight children – the youngest of whom was two years old – in December 2014, the trial in the southern city of Graz heard.

    Housed by IS, the children had to watch the gruesome videos for initiation and one seven-year-old boy was even present at a beheading.

    Defendant Hasan O, 49, denied in court being a member of IS and said that he worked as a masseur treating injured fighters…”

  16. Desperate ISIS use ‘human shields as coalition airstrikes kill 484 civilians’ report says (express, Jun 3, 2017)
    http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/812526/isis-jihadi-us-coalition-pentagon-jim-mattis-syria-iraq-war-terror-airstrikes-donald-trump

    “FIGHTING ISIS means at least 484 civilians have been killed in US-led coalition airstrikes since the start of the campaign, a monthly Pentagon report has revealed.

    The total casualty figure is a jump of 132 from April which is largely due to a US airstrike that set off explosives, stored amongst civilians by ISIS, claiming 105 victims.

    The US Department of Defence released a statement which said: “The coalition takes all reports of civilian casualties seriously and assesses all reports as thoroughly as possible.

    “Although the coalition takes extraordinary efforts to strike military targets in a manner that minimises the risk of civilian casualties, in some incidents casualties are unavoidable.”

    Non-governmental groups like Airwars have disagreed with the reported figures and claim the true figure is closer to 3,817 civilian deaths since the mission to remove ISIS from power began…”

  17. Banned outfits start collecting ‘jihad’ donations (tribune, Jun 2, 2017)
    https://tribune.com.pk/story/1425905/banned-outfits-start-collecting-jihad-donations/

    “Outlawed organisations allegedly supporting those who’re fighting in Afghanistan and other regions, have once again started collecting donations in areas across the country.

    According to a BBC Urdu report, banned organisations have circulated videos and brochures, asking people to help the mujahidin. One of the videos, which has apparently been shot in a mosque of a far flung area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, invites people for jihad and helping Afghan fighters.

    K-P’s information minister Mushtaq Ghani, has, however, denied that such a campaign was being run, and said there was no information of such events taking place at the provincial level.

    Similarly, a letter circulating on social media appeals the people to help the Taliban in Afghanistan.
    The letter is addressed to a mosque in district Zhob, Balochistan, appealing for donations on Friday for mujahidin. According to the imam of the mosque, contributions are collected to help the mujahidin.

    Analysts say such an activity is seen after a long time.

    A professor carrying out research on terrorism, Khadim Hussain said the campaign has been started in various areas by banned outfits.

    The money collected, he said, is used to attract people towards these organisations, and the government is apparently not taking any steps to stop the campaign.

    Professor Hussain added that a lack of strong civil institutions is felt because though the army has achieved its targets through military operations, those associated with these organisations easily get mixed in civil population.

    Analyst Brig (retd) Mehmood Shah said it seemed the government was not paying due attention as such campaigns, which earlier could be seen in Peshawar and other big cities, were suspended after successful action against the outlawed groups.

    Experts say that as the military targets have been achieved, it was now time for civil institutions like the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) to ensure such elements do not regain a foothold.”

  18. Six killed in bomb blast in northern Yemen market (gulfnews, Jun 2, 2017)
    http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/yemen/six-killed-in-bomb-blast-in-northern-yemen-market-1.2037145

    “A bomb blast at a market in a northern Yemeni town killed six civilians and injured 15 others on Thursday night, security officials said.

    Assailants planted an improvised explosive device at a market in Al Hazm, northeast of the capital, just as it was packed with shoppers during Ramadan, said the officials, who spoke on conditions of anonymity.

    There was no immediate claim of responsibility and the motive for the attack remained unclear…”

  19. Denmark revokes 334-year-old blasphemy law (thelocal, Jun 2, 2017)
    https://www.thelocal.dk/20170602/denmark-revokes-334-year-old-blasphemy-law

    “Danish lawmakers on Friday repealed a centuries-old blasphemy law which forbid public insults of a religion, such as the burning of holy books like the Qur’an, cementing the country’s attachment to freedom of expression.

    Only a handful of blasphemy trials have taken place in the past 80 years, and several high-profile cases have been dropped, including the caricature of the prophet Mohammed published in the Jyllands-Posten newspaper in 2005.

    Predominantly Lutheran but also fiercely secular, Denmark was the only Scandinavian nation with a blasphemy law, which called for up to four months in prison upon conviction, but also just fines in many cases.

    Lawmakers who wanted to repeal the law introduced in 1683 “do not believe that there should be special rules protecting religions against expressions”, the parliament said on its website.

    But remarks and acts that threaten or demean certain groups of people because of their religious beliefs will still be punishable.

    “Religion should not dictate what is allowed and what is forbidden to say publicly,” Bruno Jerup, an MP who proposed to repeal the law, was quoted as saying by Jyllands-Posten.

    “It gives religion a totally unfair priority in society,” he said.

    A Danish man who filmed himself burning the Qur’an and posted the video to Facebook in 2015 was to face a blasphemy trial next week, but the case was dropped after the law was revoked.

    In 1938, four people were convicted for hanging posters with anti-Semitic writing.

    In 1946, two people were fined for conducting a baptism during a masked ball, and in 1971, two public radio officials were convicted for broadcasting a song about a woman’s sexuality and her refusal of any divine moral figure.”