Contributor’s links for Aug. 28, 2019

(Sorry it is late today, long difficult day yesterday)

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 must use it while we can.

About Eeyore

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

80 Replies to “Contributor’s links for Aug. 28, 2019”

  1. US Gives Tunisia $335 Million in Financial Aid over Five Years (aawsat, Aug 28, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1876626/us-gives-tunisia-335-million-financial-aid-over-five-years

    “The United States has agreed to give Tunisia financial aid worth $335 million over five years to support its democratic transition, the Tunisian Development and International Cooperation? ?Ministry said Wednesday.

    The aid will be financed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

    “Aid will fund projects that encourage private initiative, create new employment opportunities for young people, and improve governance towards supporting democratic transition”, the ministry said in statement, according to Reuters.

    Tunisia was the spark of the Arab Spring revolts that toppled a number of regimes around North Africa and the Middle East.

    The country remains mired in an economic crisis that has bred discontent especially among young people.

    Unemployment stands at about 15%, up from 12% in 2010, due to weak growth, low investment, and high inflation, which was 6.5% last month. Impatience is rising among lending institutions such as the International Monetary Fund that have helped keep Tunisia afloat and are pressing for economic reforms.”

  2. Stranded Migrants at Sea an ‘Unacceptable Situation’ Says Rescuer (aawsat, Aug 28, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1876411/stranded-migrants-sea-unacceptable-situation-says-rescuer

    “The rescue ship Ocean Viking completed a 23-day mission this week, plucking 356 migrants, mainly African, from Libya’s perilous waters, after a major stand-off with European nations.

    The over-crowded vessel, operated by French charities SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), had to cope for nearly two weeks as arguments raged over who should take in the stranded migrants.

    “This is an unacceptable situation,” MSF rescue coordinator Nicholas Romaniuk said in an interview with AFP after the ship docked Tuesday in Marseille, southern France.

    Here are the lessons he learned from the ship’s first mission:

    – Political questions that shouldn’t be asked –

    “The situation at sea is worse than before because now we have more information on the boats in distress,” says Romaniuk, referring to data that was previously provided by the Italian and Maltese Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centres(MRCCs).

    “And also because the wait to rescue people is still long. Twelve days in our case,” he says after European nations turned away the rescue ship.

    “(It was) thanks to the (six) European nations, including Malta, which organized themselves to welcome the survivors, but after the first rescue (August 9) we made a request to dock the survivors. And nobody answered except for Libya.

    “But the Libyan coastguards bring people back to Tripoli, a city at war in a country at war, and to detention centers such as Tajoura (bombed in early July).

    “No other MRCCs responded to our call.

    “We are no longer in the context of maritime law, they are political choices but we shouldn’t even be asking ourselves these questions.”

    – Fleeing ‘Libyan hell’ –

    Libya, caught up in civil conflict since the 2011 uprising killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi, remains a major and dangerous transit route for mostly sub-Saharan migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.

    “People are fleeing what they call Libyan hell and continue to do so even if there is no one left to help them except a handful of NGOs. It is unacceptable suffering and it is a shame for Europe,” Romaniuk said.

    “Well done, really well done to those who continue to intervene, whether NGOs, military boats, or commercial cargo ships: well done to all those who do not give up.”

    – A pricey operation –

    The Aquarius rescue ship, run by SOS Mediterranee, halted operations in December 2018 saying it was blocked by some EU governments following nearly three years rescuing 30,000 migrants at sea.

    “We have found the right tool and the right crew, even if the work remains difficult for all of us. We have found a new home, even though our heart will remain aboard the Aquarius ship forever” Romaniuk said.

    “But before (we set off) we said to ourselves: ‘It’s not going to be like before’. And we were surprised. It was like before! We will continue to improve it. For instance, installing containers on the deck, even though we could not house everyone, it was the right idea.

    “But of course, it’s expensive for an NGO operation to wait 12 days.

    “As nobody wanted to let us dock, we had to go back to the north, wait until we reached Malta and then as we were not allowed to refuel, we had to come back here, to Marseille … There are additional expenses in fuel in addition to the rental of the boat (14,000 euros or over 15,000 dollars per day).

    “Is it a deliberate plan to keep us out of the rescue zone?” Romaniuk asks.”

  3. Saudi woman flees to Canada to campaign for release of brother (memo, Aug 28, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190828-saudi-woman-flees-to-canada-to-campaign-for-release-of-brother/

    “A Saudi Arabian woman has fled to Canada in order to launch a campaign for the release of her brother who is imprisoned by the Saudi authorities, Al-Quds Al-Araby reported on Tuesday.

    Esal Adel Al-Khadeedi issued a video on Twitter in Arabic and English to speak about her brother Abdullah. She explained that he was imprisoned a year after he returned to the country, having been charged with criticising the government through a fake twitter account.

    “Abdullah is an ambitious youth who completed a university degree in electricity engineering,” Al-Khadeedi pointed out. “He is suffering from a problem in one of his hands as well as from heart disease.” She added that her brother was arrested violently, “as if he was a terrorist.””

  4. Italy grounds two migrant rescue planes documenting human rights violations (memo, Aug 28, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190828-italy-grounds-two-migrant-rescue-planes-documenting-human-rights-violations/

    “Italy has grounded two planes used to rescue migrant boats in the Mediterranean as the country’s far-right interior minister continues his hard-line stance against migrants.

    ENAC has confirmed it has grounded two aircrafts operated by the German NGO Sea-Watch and the French NGO Pilotes Volontaires, Moonbird and Colibri, on the grounds they are approved for recreational not professional use.

    Sea-Watch has said the decision is political and in breach of international law.

    “One reason our missions are so important, and the reason the European Union tries to stop us by any means necessary, is that it is annoying for them that there are eyes at sea that bring up their human rights violations, that are coming up again and again,” said spokesman Ruben Neugebauer.

    The planes document human rights violations by ships who don’t respond to rescue calls and EU deployed aircraft that alert migrant boats are present, which are then sent back to Libya.

    In May an air strike killed more than 50 refugees in a detention centre in Libya which ignited a fresh debate on conditions for refugees in the North African country, where migrants are beaten and forced into labour. Aid workers and rights groups appeal repeatedly against the return of migrants by Libya’s EU-backed coastguard.

    Despite this Italian Interior Minister and leader of the right-wing League Party Matteo Salvini has vowed to end Italy’s reputation as “the refugee camp of Europe” and has closed Italian ports to rescue boats and authorised €1 million fines ($1.1 million) for vessels that illegally enter Italian waters and dock without permission.

    Earlier this month he failed to give permission to the Spanish NGO boat the Open Arms to dock in Lampedusa which waited at sea for days with 147 migrants on board.

    A court in Rome eventually overruled Salvini’s ban.

    On Tuesday Salvini banned a German ship carrying migrants rescued off the coast of Libya from docking in Italy.

    Rights groups have repeatedly expressed concern that refusing to let migrant boats land is potentially dangerous if they are in urgent need of food, water or medicine.

    On Monday head of MSF in Spain warned against “the criminalisation of solidarity” and the “politicisation of humanitarian action.””

  5. More than 50 abducted in attack on northwest Nigerian village: residents (reuters, Aug 28, 2019)
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-security/more-than-50-abducted-in-attack-on-northwest-nigerian-village-residents-idUSKCN1VI2HN

    “More than 50 people, including pregnant women and children, were abducted in a raid on a village in northwest Nigeria, seven residents told Reuters on Wednesday.

    The attack on Wurma village in Katsina, northwest Nigeria, began around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. Police pegged the number of those abducted at 15, but multiple residents told Reuters that many more were taken.

    Alhaji Musa, whose two daughters were among those taken, said more than 100 bandits were “shooting from all angles.”

    “They operated for about three hours with nobody to challenge them,” he said.

    Seven residents, and one man who was abducted but released by the attackers, said at least 53 people were taken, including pregnant women, babies and children. Some residents had already received ransom requests from the abductors, the sources said.

    The attackers also took sheep, goats and food, they added.

    In a statement, Katsina police said 15 women were abducted, but that 10 of them were freed unharmed following a gun battle with police.

    “Search parties have been dispatched into the surrounding bushes with a view to rescue the others,” the police said.

    Instability has roiled northwest Nigeria, including Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, all year. The government attributes the attacks to bandits, a term applied to outlaws who rob, kidnap and kill residents.”

  6. Pakistan minister foresees imminent war with India this year (gulfnews, Aug 28, 2019)
    https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-minister-foresees-imminent-war-with-india-this-year-1.66066619

    “Amid heightening tension between Pakistan and India over Kashmir, Pakistan’s Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid on Wednesday said he ‘foresaw’ full-scale war between the two countries in late October or early November this year.

    Addressing media in his hometown Rawalpindi, Rashid said “time had come for Kashmir’s final freedom struggle”.

    He further declared that the imminent war with India “would be the last”.

    Rashid held Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for Kashmir’s “destruction”.

    He also criticised the United Nations’ role asking why the UN was not serious about implementing its resolutions over Kashmir.

    “The United Nations Security Council would have held a plebiscite in Indian-Administered Kashmir till now if it really wanted to solve the issue. We must stand with the people of the Valley,” the Pakistani minister added.”

  7. Tourism revenues from ‘European Turks’ at $3.7 bln (hdn, Aug 28, 2019)
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tourism-revenues-from-european-turks-at-3-7-bln-146114

    “Turkey collected 3.3 billion euros (some $ 3.7 billion) in tourism revenues last year from “European Turks,” Turks residing Europe, state-run Anadolu reported, citing a study by the Turkey Europe Education and Scientific Research Foundation (TAVAK).

    According to the study, 2.8 million European Turks visited the country in 2018, and 1.9 million of them were living Germany.

    European Turks spent an average of 1,175 euros during holidays in Turkey, while German tourists visiting the country spent an average 590 euros, TAVAK said.

    The TAVAK study also showed that European Turks stayed an average 24 days in the country during their holiday versus 16 days spent by German tourists in Turkey.

    In 2015, some 5.7 million German nationals visited Turkey, and revenues from German tourists stood at 3.9 billion euros, the foundation noted.

    European Turks allocated 460 euros for accommodation, while they spent some 106 euros on drinks, food and souvenirs and 9 percent (some 106 euros) of their total 1,175 euros expenditure went to entertainment, according to TAVAK.

    They traveled to Turkey not only to visit their relatives but to see popular holiday destinations, such as Istanbul, Antalya, Bodrum, Alaçat?, the Black Sea region and the country’s southeast.

    TAVAK estimates that more than 5.7 million European Turks live in 28 European Union countries, and 2.4 million of them hold Turkish citizenship. Germany is home to the largest Turkish community with a little over 3 million.

    The Netherlands and France host 478,330 and 434,540 Turks, respectively.”

  8. Ankara, Moscow to hold talks over Su-57 fighter jets (hdn, Aug 28, 2019)
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ankara-moscow-to-hold-talks-over-su-57-fighter-jets-146130

    “Turkey and Russia will commence talks on cooperation in the aviation industry in a bid to strengthen bilateral talks, including the Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter jets, after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an’s one-day visit to Moscow, according to a senior Russian official.

    “We will continue to talk about topics on the agenda and of course address the S-400s. We will talk about how we can go through a more advanced phase on the Su-35 and the possible procurement of Su-57,” Dmitry Shugayev, the head of the Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, told reporters on the sidelines of the MAKS-2019.

    Turkey has been showing interest in Russian fighter jets as the former was removed from the U.S. F-35 program, according to Shugayev.

    Erdo?an on Aug. 27 paid a one-day visit to Moscow to attend MAKS-2019, the annual Russian aviation and space fair. The president also held a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss bilateral relations as well as recent occurrences in Idlib, including the attacks of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

    During the aviation fair, Putin introduced the latest developments in Russian aviation and space industry, including the Su-57 and Su-35 fighter jets, Ka-52 military helicopter, Mi-38 heavy helicopter and Ka-62 medium helicopter.

    Putin conveyed that Erdo?an was the first foreign leader to see Russia’s “most perfect aircraft.”

    After the leaders examined the engines, they held a closed-door meeting for over an hour which was followed by a joint news conference.

    Turkey interested in joint production

    The most important element of the steps Turkey takes with Russia is joint production and Turkey wants to extend this solidarity to the defense industry as well, Erdo?an said at the press conference.

    “One of the most important characteristics of the steps we take with Russia is joint production. We have seen this in the S-400s. The training of our personnel is ongoing. We want to continue this solidarity in many areas of the defense industry, whether it is passenger or fighter jets,” Erdo?an said.

    “The spirit of solidarity is key here. But our economic solidarity is extremely important,” he said.

    “With that, in our meetings today, we had the opportunity to discuss what steps we could take in various fields within the defense industry and what we could do,” he added.

    The president added that the volume of trade between Russia and Turkey has hit $25 billion but the objective is to reach $100 billion.

    “Also, the arrival of Russian tourists in Turkey has meant a lot regarding the unity of our people,” he said.

    Putin, for his side, said he and Erdo?an discussed cooperation and joint works on the Su-35 and Su-57 jets.

    “We talked about cooperation on the Su-35 and the possible joint work on the new Su-57. We have a lot of opportunities,” he said.

    “[Erdo?an] wants to initiate a new program on air ambulances. Russia, too, has similar plans on its agenda. All our partners are interested in joint production. We are ready for this and will efficiently discuss it,” he added.

    ‘Regime attacks in Idlib not acceptable’

    Idlib has been facing a humanitarian crisis since the Assad regime commenced its attacks in May, Erdo?an said.

    “It is unacceptable that the regime spreads death both from land and air under the pretext of fighting terrorism,” he said.

    He said Turkey can fulfill its responsibility within the Sochi deal “if the regime ends attacks” there.

    “Our aim is to stop the bloodshed and to get our neighbor Syria a peaceful environment for which it has been longing for eight years,” he added.

    Turkey has to protect its borders because “harassment” from the Syrian side continues, the president stressed.

    Putin, for his part, said Russia understands Turkey’s concerns over the security situation of its border with Syria.

    “It [Turkey] needs to ensure its border security. This is Turkey’s legitimate right,” he added.

    Putin also said that the situation in Idlib raises a “serious” concern, adding that Russia and Turkey have a common understanding on how to solve the problem as both countries support Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    “Together with Turkey’s president we have outlined additional joint steps to neutralize the terrorists’ nests in Idlib and normalize the situation there and in the whole of Syria as a result,” Putin said.”

  9. FETO’s so-called Turkey operative arrested in Istanbul (aa, Aug 28, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/fetos-so-called-turkey-operative-arrested-in-istanbul/1567326

    “The suspected Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) member, the so-called ‘Turkey imam’ of the terror group, was arrested in Istanbul, according to the police on Wednesday.

    The suspect, with initials M.Y, was nabbed in a house with his wife G.Y. and his daughter B.Y. during an operation carried out on Tuesday by Istanbul Police Department and National Intelligence Organization (MIT), the police sources said in condition of anonymity.

    His wife was accused of using ByLock, terror group’s encrypted messaging app, while his daughter was found to be in contact with FETO.

    The police also confiscated 6,800 Turkish liras (nearly $1000), $2,800 and €15,980 (nearly $14,500) and organizational documents during the operation.

    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.

    Turkey 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.”

  10. 3 terrorists ‘neutralized’ in eastern Turkey (aa, Aug 28, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/3-terrorists-neutralized-in-eastern-turkey/1567737

    “Turkish security forces “neutralized” three terrorists in the country’s east, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday.

    Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in statements to imply terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

    The Interior Ministry said the Provincial Gendarmerie Special Command conducted an internal security operation in a rural area of eastern Tunceli province.

    The operations in the region are ongoing, the statement added.

    Though the statement did not mention a specific terrorist group, Turkey has long been conducting operations against the PKK terrorist group in the region.

    In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union — has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including many women, children and infants.”

  11. Salvini signs entry ban for Mare Jonio (ansa, Aug 28, 2019)
    http://www.ansa.it/english/news/2019/08/28/salvini-signs-entry-ban-for-mare-jonio_885d1114-ceaa-45ed-8e8b-63aec09895f3.html

    “Outgoing interior minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday signed an order banning the Mare Jonio migrant rescue ship from entering Italian waters with its 100 rescued migrants. The order bans the Mare Jonio from entering, transiting or stopping in Italian waters, according to his closed ports policy for NGO rescue ships.

    Mediterranea Saving Humans, the Italian NGO running the ship, said the Italian coast guard had asked Italian authorities for a safe port for the vessel.

    Mediterranea Saving Humans said earlier on its request for instructions regarding the rescue of 98 migrants earlier in the morning by its Mare Ionio ship, that the Italian sea rescue coordination center had responded ”as always” to speak to the Libyan authorities.

    The NGO replied on its Facebook page that they could not speak to the forces of a country in a civil war, where there is torture and inhumane treatment, on the future of people rescued and now on an Italian-flagged ship whose safety had thus become their responsibility. The NGO added that they had reiterated their request to the Italian authorities for instructions that are compatible with the international Law of the Sea and human rights laws.

    The Mare Jonio on Wednesday morning completed the rescue of the 98 people from a dinghy that had been drifting off Libya. Among those rescued are 26 women, at least 8 of whom are pregnant, 22 children under age 10 and at least 6 other minors.”

  12. German journalists demand more protection from far-right (DW, Aug 28, 2019)
    https://www.dw.com/en/german-journalists-demand-more-protection-from-far-right/a-50205732

    “The German government is not offering enough protection to journalists who appear on far-right “death lists,” according to an open letter signed by media organizations. Several such lists have been discovered recently.

    Six German journalist and activist organizations have sent an open letter to Interior Minister Horst Seehofer asking for more protection from far-right terrorists in the country.

    Recent police raids on far-right networks have uncovered several lists of journalists and left-wing politicians, apparently as potential targets.

    “In the context of the latest reports about ‘death lists’ compiled by far-right activists: can you guarantee that each individual whose name appears on such a list or a similar one will be informed of it when they request it, and receive recommendations for their safety?” the groups wanted to know of the ministry. “Will individuals be proactively informed if there is a concrete threat on their life?”

    “A free press is a basic pillar of our democracy,” the letter continued. “Given the proven fact that journalists have become special objects of hatred for many far-right extremists, it is essential that the safety of media representatives is guaranteed so that they can carry out their work without hindrance.”

    The letter was signed by both major German journalists’ unions, the non-profit association New German Media Professionals, as well as the research networks and outlets Krautreporter and Netzwerk Recherche, and the art activists’ group Peng!

    The organizations said the current level of protection was insufficient. According to the letter, the groups said they had “become aware of cases” where individuals who had been threatened were told by police to “withdraw from public life.” This, they said, was “simply impossible” for media professionals.

    In a statement issued in mid-August, following reports that several such lists had been found among far-right groups, including some that were available online and contained private contact information, the Interior Ministry downplayed their significance. “So far, there have essentially been no indications that they pose a tangible threat for those affected,” the ministry said. “The listed persons, institutions and organizations are currently not in danger, according to an assessment by the federal criminal police agency.”

    Many activists and journalists whose names had appeared on the lists were dismayed at the response. “We have been let down and left to our own devices by the authorities,” Ruben Neugebauer, of the migrant rescue organization Sea Watch, told DW at the time. “The Interior Ministry did not recognize and continues to deny what a danger these lists pose. That’s a huge scandal.””