Contributor’s Links post for March 1, 2019

Daily Links Post graphic

Each day at just after midnight Eastern, a post like this one is created for contributors and readers of this site to upload news links and video links on the issues that concern this site. Most notably, Islam and its effects on Classical Civilization, and various forms of leftism from Soviet era communism, to postmodernism and all the flavours of galloping statism and totalitarianism such as Nazism and Fascism which are increasingly snuffing out the classical liberalism which created our near, miraculous civilization the West has been building since the time of Socrates.

This document was written around the time this site was created, for those who wish to understand what this site is about. And while our understanding of the world and events has grown since then, the basic ideas remain sound and true to the purpose.

So please post all links, thoughts and ideas that you feel will benefit the readers of this site to the comments under this post each day. And thank you all for your contributions.

This is the new Samizdat. We muse use it while we can.

About Eeyore

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

96 Replies to “Contributor’s Links post for March 1, 2019”

  1. The Kentucky House on Friday passed a bill that would allow people to carry concealed firearms without a permit or training.

    The GOP-led state House voted 60-37 to approve the legislation and send it to Gov. Matt Bevin for a potential signature, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported.

    The legislation had passed the state’s Republican-controlled Senate last month on the one-year anniversary of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting.

    The Hill has reached out to the governor’s office about whether he plans to sign the measure.

    Kentucky law currently requires people to get a permit before carrying a concealed firearm. The process includes a background check, gun safety training and $60 fee, the Courtier-Journal noted.

    https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/432266-kentucky-house-approves-bill-to-let-people-to-carry-concealed-guns

    • That makes 14 or 15 states that have Constitutional Carry, the Originalists are slowly moving the states back to the original intent of the Constitution.

  2. Turkish Radio and Television – UK shooting range criticised for using Shamima Begum’s image as a target

    • RT- Unease over UK shooting range using teen ISIL bride’s picture as target (Debate)

      That’s what Andre Walker and Raza Kazim, spokesperson for Islamic Human Rights Commission, are debating after Ultimate Airsoft Range LTD uses Shamima Begum’s photo as a target on their shooting range.

  3. BREITBART – Nancy Pelosi to Trump: ‘Do the Country a Favor, Don’t Run’ in 2020

    This week “Rolling Stone” Magazine released video to promote their cover story featuring Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT).

    When asked what her message to President Donald Trump is, Pelosi said, “Mr. President, do the country a favor, don’t run,” Pelosi said in the video interview.”

    https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2019/03/01/nancy-pelosi-to-trump-do-the-country-a-favor-dont-run-in-2020/

  4. Roadside bomb blast in Mali kills 9 soldiers in G5 Sahel joint force (thedefensepost, Mar 1, 2019)
    https://thedefensepost.com/2019/03/01/mali-roadside-bomb-kills-g5-sahel-soldiers-boulkessi/

    “Nine Malian soldiers attached to the G5 Sahel Joint Force were killed when a vehicle in which they were traveling was struck by a roadside bomb, the Armed Forces of Mali said on Friday, March 1.

    The incident occurred in the morning in Boulkessi in the Mopti region near the border with Burkina Faso, the military said in a statement.

    The attack also left a number of wounded “who require urgent treatment,” a military official told AFP…”

  5. Commander Warns of Enemy’s Hybrid War against Iran (tasnimnews, Mar 1, 2019)
    https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/03/01/1958550/commander-warns-of-enemy-s-hybrid-war-against-iran

    “Head of the Iranian Army’s Strategic Studies Center Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan highlighted the importance of the country’s preparedness to counter foreign threats and said the enemy has waged “a hybrid political-economic-cultural war” on the Islamic Republic…”

  6. You’ll Never Get A Better Deal than JCPOA, Iran’s Zarif Tells Trump (tasnimnews, Mar 1, 2019)
    https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/03/01/1958839/you-ll-never-get-a-better-deal-than-jcpoa-iran-s-zarif-tells-trump

    “Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif highlighted the massive efforts behind the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and said US President Donald Trump would “never get a better deal”…”

  7. Al Jaber: Iran Absent from Geneva Conference, Continues Providing Mines for Houthis (aawsat. ,Mar 1. 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1613686/al-jaber-iran-absent-geneva-conference-continues-providing-mines-houthis

    “Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber condemned Iran’s role in Yemen, criticizing its absence from providing any humanitarian aid at the recent Geneva conference on financing the humanitarian response plan in Yemen.

    Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait committed themselves to providing the largest share of support to the war-torn country…”

  8. Saudi Public Prosecutor Prepares Trials of Individuals Accused of Undermining Security (aawsat, Mar 1, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1613866/saudi-public-prosecutor-prepares-trials-individuals-accused-undermining

    “The Public Prosecution said Friday that it has concluded its probe and prepared the indictment list against several people accused of attempting to create instability in the Kingdom.

    Following up on its previous statement in June 2018, the Public Prosecution announced that it “has concluded its investigation and prepared the indictment list against the defendants in this case, and will refer the case to the relevant court.”

    The individuals were arrested by the Presidency of State Security after it uncovered coordinated and organized activities that “aim to undermine the Kingdom’s security, stability, and national unity.”

    The Public Prosecutor affirmed that “all detainees in this case enjoy all rights preserved by the laws in the Kingdom.””

  9. Kurdish forces launch operation on last Islamic State stronghold in Syria (mee, Mar 1, 2019)
    https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/kurdish-forces-launch-operation-last-islamic-state-stronghold-syria

    “Kurdish-led forces launched an assault on the last remaining Islamic State (IS) group stronghold in eastern Syria, AFP reported.

    The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said it renewed its offensive on the final sliver of IS-controlled territory after helping the remaining civilians to evacuate the area, the news agency reported on Friday.

    The SDF, dominated by the Kurdish Peoples’ Protection Unit (YPG) militia, has been backed by the United States in the fight against IS.

    “The people we evacuated today told us that no civilians were inside and that those still inside did not want to leave,” SDF spokesman Mustefa Bali told AFP, referring to the small village of Baghouz on Syria’s border with Iraq.

    How many IS fighters remain in the enclave is unknown, AFP reported, but Bali on Friday told Reuters he expected “a fierce and heavy battle”.

    The offensive to regain control of the last remaining territories under IS control in eastern Syria began about six months ago.

    Bali declined to tell AFP how long the last phase of the offensive might take, the news agency reported…”

  10. Saudi lobbying blocks its inclusion on EU blacklist (memo, mar 1, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190301-saudi-lobbying-blocks-its-inclusion-on-eu-blacklist/

    “The European Commission’s attempt to include Saudi Arabia in its money-laundering blacklist has been struck a heavy blow by EU member states. The virtually unanimous opposition against the inclusion of Saudi along with four US territories means that the Commission will have to go back to the drawing board and work with European governments to devise a new methodology; presumably one that does not place the oil rich Kingdom under special restriction.

    Twenty-seven of the 28 countries, led by the UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, blocked the publication of the list, which has been the source of tension and intense lobbying. Only Belgium didn’t actively oppose it. Riyadh rolled out its big guns during the summit of EU and Arab League leaders earlier this week in Sharm Al-Sheikh.

    It was reported that at that meeting, British Prime Minister Theresa May discussed the issue with the Saudi King and that Britain and France were leading the group of EU countries opposed to the kingdom’s inclusion on the list. Concerns over being blacklisted promoted Riyadh to threaten to cut contracts with EU states if the list was approved.

    According to a note of the meeting seen by the Financial Times, Saudi ministers warned that the blacklist would have “severe negative consequences” for the kingdom’s trade and financial flows with Europe.

    The blacklist was first adopted by the EU justice commissioner Vera Jourova on 13 February in line with new EU rules to prevent money laundering and as part of a process agreed with EU states since last summer. Twenty-three jurisdictions are on the provisional list, including Nigeria, Panama, Libya, the Bahamas and the four US territories.

    Brussels argued that the list used tough criteria to protect Europe’s banking system from illicit cash flows after a series of high-profile money laundering scandals. But the Saudis and the US strongly disapproved and dismissed the exercise as being “purely political”.

    The strength of opposition means the European Commission will have to rethink its draft list of 23 non-EU territories deemed to be failing in fighting money laundering.”

  11. Return of abused Bangladeshi maids from Saudi prompts calls for govt action (memo, Mar 1, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190301-return-of-abused-bangladeshi-maids-from-saudi-prompts-calls-for-govt-action/

    “More than 100 Bangladeshi female workers abused or exploited in Saudi Arabia returned home this week, according to human rights activists, fuelling calls to stop sending Bangladeshi women to the Middle East to work as housemaids, Thomson Reuters Foundation reports.

    Bangladeshi non-government organisation BRAC said an increasing number of women were returning from the Middle East after being mistreated, with about 227 coming back in February – including the latest 100 – compared to 180 in January.

    The number of Bangladeshi women going to Saudi Arabia to work jumped to about 83,000 in 2017 from about 20,000 in 2015 when the two governments signed an agreement on domestic workers, according to government data.

    But human rights groups said the surge in numbers had been accompanied by an increasing number of reports of female workers being mistreated and returning home, prompting calls to review Bangladesh’s policy of sending housemaids to the Middle East…”

  12. Turkish entertainment TV channel suspends broadcasting, blaming government pressure (reuters, mar 1, 2019)
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-media/turkish-entertainment-tv-channel-suspends-broadcasting-blaming-government-pressure-idUSKCN1QI59E

    “Turkish entertainment channel Flash TV said on Friday it would suspend broadcasting due to “unbearable” political and financial pressure from the government.

    On air since 1992, the station was one of Turkey’s first private television channels. The broadcaster said the alleged government pressure included curbs on advertising.

    “We are lowering our voice for some time due to unbearable pressure we have been experiencing for a long time. The unlawful application of government, administrative, political and financial pressure became intolerable,” Flash said in a statement.

    A government official was not immediately available for comment…”

  13. Survey: 41% of Moroccan-Dutch People Actively Volunteer in Netherlands (moroccoworldnews, Mar 1, 2019)
    https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/03/266971/survey-moroccan-dutch-volunteer-netherlands/

    “A new study by the Netherlands’ Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) shows that Dutch people of Moroccan background are among the Dutch demographic groups with a high percentage of weekly contact with their family members.

    “The study shows that, within the four large non-western groups, around 85 percent of people with a Surinamese, Moroccan, Turkish or Antillean background have weekly contact with family members and around 80 percent have weekly contact with friends.” CBS wrote.

    More than 84 percent of Dutch people of Moroccan background maintain weekly contacts with relatives and friends.

    The study added that people of Moroccan background offer more “informal help” than other people of foreign background.

    According to statistics from 2012-2017, 31.9 percent of Moroccan-Dutch people provide informal help at least once every four weeks.

    “People with Turkish, Antillean or other non-western backgrounds offer informal help less often than people with Moroccan and Surinamese backgrounds,” the study said.

    Moroccans are also more active in volunteering than people of Turkish or Surinamese background. According to the 2012-2017 statistics, 41.2 percent of people with Moroccan background volunteer.

    Another study issued recently by CBS said that the employment rate is high among Moroccan-Dutch citizens in the Netherlands.

    According to the study, 153,000 Moroccan-Dutch people had paid work in 2018. Of nationals with Turkish migration background, according to the survey, 187,000 people had jobs in 2018.

    SpringerLink noted that in January 2005, 314,699 people of whom “at least one parent was born in Morocco were living in the Netherlands.””

  14. China shuts down its consulate in ?zmir amid Uighur row (hurriyetdailynews, Mar 1, 2019)
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/china-shuts-down-its-consulate-in-izmir-amid-uighur-row-141573

    “Chinese Embassy to Turkey has announced that the country’s general-consulate in Izmir was closed as of Feb. 28 due to general arrangements with regard to consular activities. The move comes amid an ongoing row between Ankara and Beijing over the Uighur problem in which the former has harshly criticized Chinese government of assimilating the Muslim Turkic minority…”

  15. Turkey: 6 soldiers arrested over suspected FETO links (aa, Mar 1, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-6-soldiers-arrested-over-suspected-feto-links/1406221

    “Six suspects were arrested across Turkey for being members of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup, judicial sources said on Friday.

    Turkish prosecutors in capital Ankara issued warrants for nine personnel of the air forces including 4 dismissed soldiers and 5 suspended active-duty soldiers, for their alleged links to FETO, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

    Turkish police continued operations to arrest the remaining three suspects, according to the sources.

    FETO and its U.S.- based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

    Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.”

  16. Over 80 irregular migrants held in eastern Turkey (aa, mar 1, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/over-80-irregular-migrants-held-in-eastern-turkey/1406353

    “At least 85 irregular migrants were held in the eastern Van province, security sources said on Friday.

    A group of 52 Afghan, 26 Pakistani, 6 Bangladeshi and an Iranian were held by gendarmerie forces during regular patrols, said a security source speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

    All the migrants were later referred to provincial migration directorates.

    Three people were arrested on suspicion of human smuggling.

    Turkey has been the main route for refugees trying to cross to Europe, especially since 2011, when the Syrian civil war began.

    Some 265,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.”

  17. Turkey has positive impact on African economy: envoy (aa, mar 1, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/turkey-has-positive-impact-on-african-economy-envoy/1406435

    “Rwanda’s Ambassador to Paris said Turkey is among the four countries which have had a positive impact on African economies.

    Turkey has become one of Africa’s most important economic partners in the last 20 years, Jacques Kabale said, speaking at an event held at the Turkish Embassy in Paris.

    He added that Turkey’s bilateral trade volume with Africa increased to reach $20 billion in 2018…”

  18. Migrant arrivals by sea down 95% in 2019 – Salvini (ansa, Mar 1, 2019)
    http://www.ansa.it/english/news/2019/03/01/migrant-arrivals-by-sea-down-95-in-2019-salvini_eeb8a43a-829d-4a28-a08d-65b4d34f7a27.html

    “Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Friday that 262 migrants arrived in Italy via sea in the first two months of 2019, down 95% on the 5,247 that landed in the same period in 2018.

    The League leader said that 1,099 migrants were repatriated in January and February (1,013 were forced to leave while 86 went voluntarily) – four times the number that arrived.”

  19. Spanish government’s third ‘Africa Plan’ for facing change (ansamed, mar 1, 2019)
    http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/politics/2019/03/01/spanish-governments-third-africa-plan-for-facing-change_305048e3-56db-4d0a-ab93-6ad9fba5e95a.html

    “The Spanish government has drafted its third Africa Plan for facing the new challenges in the region, said Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell in a press conference on Friday following the Council of Ministers meeting.

    “It is a long-term strategic document that makes Africa a priority axis in our foreign policy, drafted after eight months of intense work between ministries, public and private institutions, and civil society from various African countries,” Borrell said.

    He said beginning on Monday he will present the plan to “various African countries and before the African Union”.

    The plan responds to the need to “adapt our strategy to profound changes taking place on the continent” that already affect Spain and Europe and will increasingly continue to do so during the 21st century.

    “From now to 2050, the African population will double, going from the current 1.2 billion to 2.5 billion residents,” Borrell said.

    “A more democratic and prosperous Africa” represents “not a threat, but an opportunity” and the fulcrum of the new Africa Plan is that of “exploring and taking advantage of the immense opportunities that current and future growth represent to the country”.

    Citing World Bank forecasts, Borrell said Africa will need to generate 900 million jobs over the next 30 years to absorb large demographic growth, and that it is necessary to “combine all available tools to contribute in a significant way”.

    Borrell said 80% of migrant flows are intra-African and that in order to face the challenges of migratory movements, “the key is working with the Africans to promote sustainable growth and development and their ability to manage the flows, with the final objective that they can continue to absorb them with growing results,” he said.”

  20. Conflicts grow in German care sector as more foreign workers come (DW, Mar 1, 2019)
    https://www.dw.com/en/conflicts-grow-in-german-care-sector-as-more-foreign-workers-come/a-47739907

    “Misunderstandings between German-trained care workers and foreign colleagues can be a source of tensions, a study says. The number of carers in Germany who trained abroad has recently risen dramatically.

    German hospitals and aged-care centers are seeing growing tensions among staff members as more and more carers come from abroad with different training and a lack of German-language skills, a study published on Friday said.

    Researchers from the Hans-Böckler Foundation found that there were often two mutually hostile camps in care institutions, one made up of established carers and the other of staff recently arrived from abroad.

    Different views

    The study said that differing attitudes to the profession were often at the root of misunderstandings between the two sides.

    For example, the report said, carers from abroad were often trained at universities, something that German-trained staff tended to see as lacking in practical relevance.

    Foreign-trained care workers, for their part, often felt that they were working under their proper level, particularly those from southern Europe, who are used to taking on responsibilities for management and patient treatment — decisions that in Germany are left up to doctors. In southern Europe, helping patients eat or looking after their personal hygiene is usually done by special assistants or family members.

    Language skills problematic

    German-trained carers also often complained that staff from abroad could not work optimally because of a deficient command of the German language. The foreign-trained carers, in their turn, frequently had the impression that the German language was being used to create hierarchies and push them into an outsider role.

    The researchers behind the study said it was essential that hospitals and aged-care facilities set aside enough time to allow an exchange of views and the resolution of conflicts. They said independent coaches should be employed to help overcome communication barriers between locally trained staff and those coming from abroad.

    Carer shortage

    Most of the new care workers in Germany come from the EU countries of Romania, Croatia, Poland and Hungary, as well as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Albania. In addition, a growing number of staff members come from the Philippines under a special agreement, the study said.

    The annual influx of foreign-trained care workers rose from some 1,500 per year in 2012 to around 8,800 in 2017, the study showed. Despite the growth in numbers, however, Germany still has a much lower proportion of carers trained abroad than countries such as Great Britain or Switzerland, which have two to three times as many, according to the researchers.

    German care institutions have long complained about a local shortage of qualified workers in the sector.”