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.
[Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Amos Yadlin, was a pilot in the strike on the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq in 1981, and later head of IDF Military Intelligence:
Is Iraq the New Front Line in Israel’s Conflict with Iran?
Washington’s response to Israeli attacks on bases controlled by Iranian-backed Iraqi militias is similar to its reaction to the Israeli strike on the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq in 1981: leaking information regarding the responsible party. Elements in the U.S. government appear displeased about alleged Israeli activity in Iraq, which they view as placing American soldiers stationed there at risk.
To understand the logic behind the recent strikes, it is important to view them within the broader Israeli counter-effort to prevent Iran from deploying precision missiles against Israel, some accurate to a 15-foot to 30-foot radius. Iran seeks to provide thousands of advanced missiles with ranges from 100 to 600 miles to its allies in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.
Iran has sought to build another front against Israel on Syrian territory since 2017, but failed to take into account Israel’s intelligence and air superiority in that theater. Israeli airstrikes led Iran to move a significant portion of its missile-related activity to Iraq and to Lebanon – where it believes Israel is less inclined to strike so as to avoid instigating a conflict with Hizbullah.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/08/27/is-iraq-the-new-front-line-in-israels-conflict-with-iran/
CRUSHING THE TAIL OF THE IRANIAN SNAKE
Israel appears to be changing its strategy against Iran in the region. Instead of focusing on cutting off the snake’s head, it now seeks out and strikes its proxies across the region. This new approach could prove very costly to the regime in Tehran.
Israel is targeting Iran’s proxies tasked with menacing the Jewish state. A simultaneous war against these proxies obligates Iran to employ military capabilities on several fronts and use vast amounts of money to fund these efforts. Weakening these Iranian “colonies” can make them a burden on the mother country.
We can also see this trend in Israel’s foreign policy, which keeps a close eye on those places where Iran is accumulating influence and tries to present those countries with an alternative. For example, Israel’s diplomatic campaign in Africa is part of its effort to eradicate Iranian influence on the continent.
https://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/crushing-the-tail-of-the-iranian-snake/
Shelter for Battered Women and Rape Victims Vandalized with ‘Kill TERFs’ and ‘Trans-Power’ Graffiti, Dead Rat Nailed to the Door
A Canadian shelter for battered women and rape victims has been the target of persistent threats from transgender activists over their denial of services to those who are biologically male.
They have now been vandalized twice in approximately two weeks.
In one incident, a dead rat was nailed to the Vancouver crisis center’s door.
When staff at the shelter and crisis center arrived for work on Tuesday they were greeted by vandalism declaring “kill TERFs,” which stands for “trans-exclusionary radical feminists,” and “trans-power.”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/08/shelter-for-battered-women-and-rape-victims-vandalized-with-kill-terfs-and-trans-power-graffiti-dead-rat-nailed-to-the-door/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailyam&utm_content=daily
Transgender entitlement.
Aggression betrays testosterone levels.
4Chan User Claims to Be Behind MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell Hoax
Avatar by Cassandra Fairbanks August 29, 2019 164 Comments
A 4Chan user has taken credit for the hoax which lead to MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell issuing an apology on air on Wednesday evening.
O’Donnell had reported, based on one single source, that Russian oligarchs had co-signed Donald Trump’s loans from Deutsche Bank in 1998, which was a lie.
“Deutsche Bank is in possession of loan documents that show Donald Trump has obtained loans with co-signers and that he would not have been able to obtain those loans without co-signers,” O’Donnell had said, adding, “The source close to Deutsche Bank says that the co-signers of Donald Trump’s Deutsche Bank loans are Russian billionaires close to Vladimir Putin.”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/08/4chan-user-claims-to-be-behind-msnbcs-lawrence-odonnell-hoax/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailyam&utm_content=daily
Why would you have a parade…
Boston Straight Pride Parade
https://www.superhappyfunamerica.com/parade/
… knowing that ANTIFA will show up?
“Antifa is Raising Bail Money For Arrests During Straight Pride Counter Protest…That Hasn’t Happened Yet”
by Luke Rohlfing – August 28, 2019
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/antifa-is-raising-bail-money-for-arrests-during-straight-pride-counter-protest-that-hasnt-happened-yet/
Israel Faces a Serious Escalation in its Proxy War with Iran
by Con Coughlin
August 29, 2019 at 5:00 am
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14784/israel-proxy-war-iran
The recent confirmation by US military officials that Israeli warplanes were responsible for the recent attack on an Iranian military base in Iraq demonstrates the alarming extent to which the so-called proxy war between Tehran and Jerusalem has escalated in recent weeks.
According to senior Israeli security sources, spoken to on an off-the-record basis, the base in the northern Iraqi province of Salaheddin was targeted because they believed it was being used to assemble Iranian-made medium-range missiles with the capability to hit targets in Israel.
The threat was deemed so important that senior Israeli officers decided to launch a daring bombing raid that required F-35 stealth warplanes to penetrate Saudi airspace to achieve their objective. It is unclear whether the Saudis, who oppose Iranian meddling in Iraq but do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, gave permission for the Israeli warplanes to enter their airspace.
The attack, which took place on July 19, on the base run a group of local Shia militias known collectively as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, which are sponsored by Iran, is said to have resulted in the deaths of two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, as well as several fighters from the Iranian-backed Hizbollah militia.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14784/israel-proxy-war-iran
Hossein Sheik-HOLE-slam [Snake] is making “moderate” noises:
“… [A] ballistic missile launched from Iran would take eight minutes to get to Israel and would be detected by American and NATO radars in the region. In contrast, he explained that missiles launched from Lebanon would start a rapid descent almost as soon as they can be detected and monitored.
“In addition, SheikHOLEslam said that Iran does not intend to drive Israel into the sea or to use nuclear weapons against it.
“Rather, he said that Iran’s military capabilities are exclusively for purposes of deterrence and that Iran simply wants the Zionists to “understand” that they have violated the rights of the Palestinians and to leave the region, especially since they “have citizenship in several European countries anyway.”
John Pilger
@johnpilger
I spoke to Julian #Assange at the weekend. His psychological torture is unabated. He remains isolated in his small cell, mostly 23 hours a day, denied proper exercise. He has lost more weight. Although ‘approved’, phone calls to his parents are still not possible. Britain 2019.
https://twitter.com/johnpilger/status/1166636799101476865
Israeli Druze: The Case of Hezbollah and Syria
STRICTLY SECURITY | Druze living in Israel has long been loyal to the state. But those living in the disputed Golan Heights remain loyal to Syria and see Israel’s strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon as unnecessarily aggressive. Our Craig Johnson has the story.
Story (related):
The Lebanese army opened fire on two Israeli drones that flew into Lebanon’s airspace near the border with Israel, causing them to turn around and return to Israeli airspace without any further incident, the army said on Wednesday evening.
The Israeli military confirmed that shots were heard from Lebanese territory towards airspace where its drones were operating at the time.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) noted that the drones “completed their mission” and no damage was inflicted on the equipment.
Tensions between Jerusalem and its northern neighbor have soared in recent days after Lebanon claimed Israel had violated its airspace, sending two drones into Beirut.
Hezbollah said late Monday that the two Israeli drones were carrying an 11-pound explosive device intended for attack purposes.
The Iran-backed Shiite group had originally said an Israeli reconnaissance drone had flown over the south of Beirut before crashing and that a second armed drone “hit a specific area” shortly before dawn on Sunday.
But overnight on Tuesday, Hezbollah said, “We confirm that the purpose of this first drone was not reconnaissance but to carry out a bomb attack.”
Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel for violating Lebanese sovereignty, with the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, warning Israeli residents in the north that they should prepare for an assault.
Terrible situation for the Druze. They’re first-cousins to the Jews. (Jethro was Moses’ father-in-law). They don’t share the tardish jihadi imperative; we’re good buddies who have each other’s back.
They _loathe_ the Syrian regime, have faced persecution for decades. Anybody pushing the incumbent Assad as a ruler who’s moderate, Western-educated, secular – a doctor, no less! – is parroting Russian propaganda.
I’m EXTREMELY suspicious of his champions in the West. That includes libertarian poseurs like Pat Buchanan, plus father and son Rand and Ron Paul. They’re staples on Sputnik, RT, and the blogs of ZeroHedge.
I’m similarly suspicious of Tulsi Gabbard. She engaged in the massive PR campaign to rehabilitate Assad Jr.’s image. (Remember all those soft-focus TV interviews with the well-spoken Butcher?)
All bull. Willful blindness.
Am I advocating anybody’s boots on the ground for regime change?
Of course not.
• Yes, Assad looks downright civilized compared to Isis cannibals. (If you don’t look too closely.)
• Yes, Syria’s border with Israel was quiet for 40 years.
• Yes, status quo ante would’ve been tolerable post-Isis.
But that doesn’t look like an option at present.
We’re facing Iran’s shitte militias, rabid animals sicced on the Jewish state. Afghans, Pakis, assorted tribal colonists have displaced the native Sunni population and now wear Syrian Army uniforms.
Israeli Druze are loyal citizens, among the very best. It’s their families on the other side of a sketchy border who’ll be collateral damage. Worse, they fear some 5% will be suborned to serve the enemy and thus bring calamity on the entire tribe. Terrible.
MASSIVE WORLD PROTEST FOR ASSANGE SAT 16th NOV 12-3pm Trafalgar Square lets all link up against this horrendous INJUSTICE
https://twitter.com/lord_truman/status/1166727876504367104
See if you can get something going locally to co-inside, please!
Ilhan Omar reveals racist threat to shoot her at state fair (BBC, Aug 29, 2019)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49513194
“A US Democratic lawmaker has publicised a racist threat that she would be killed at the state fair by “a very capable person with a very big ‘Gun'”.
Ilhan Omar, a Muslim representative from Minnesota, said such anonymous messages are why she now has security guards.
She spoke as US Senate candidate Roy Moore tweeted: “President Trump was right, she should go back to Somalia”.
Alabama Republicans have called for Ms Omar’s expulsion from Congress.
“I hate that we live in a world where you have to be protected from fellow humans,” Ms Omar, who came to the US as a Somali refugee aged 12, wrote on Wednesday.
“But until deranged people like this stop threatening my life and the lives of others, I have to accept the reality of having security.”…”
Ep. 1055 The Comey Report Drops. The Dan Bongino Show 8/29/2019.
UAE Pounds ‘Terrorist Organisations’ in Yemen’s Aden After Saudi Airport Attack – Reports (sputniknews, Aug 29, 2019)
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201908291076674727-uae-pounds-terrorist-organisations-in-yemens-aden-after-saudi-airport-attack—reports/
Yemeni President Calls on Saudi Arabia to Stop UAE Interference in Yemen – Report (sputniknews, Aug 29, 2019)
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201908291076674786-yemeni-president-calls-on-saudi-arabia-to-stop-uae-interference-in-yemen—report/
ISRAEL FACES A SERIOUS ESCALATION IN ITS PROXY WAR WITH IRAN
? The fact that Israel has found it necessary to attack targets so far from its traditional area of military operations close to its immediate borders is indicative of the alarming escalation that has taken place in recent months in the threat Iran poses to Israeli security.
? Earlier this week, in Lebanon, an Israeli drone was reported to have bombed a Palestinian base that is said to be funded by Iran. Israeli warplanes were also reported to have bombed Iranian military bases on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus.
? The very idea of Washington sitting down with the Iranians at a time when it is continuing to threaten the security of its closest Middle Eastern ally would be unconscionable.
? The reality is that there can be no meaningful dialogue between Washington and Tehran on a future deal so long as Iran remains committed to its long-standing policy of seeking the wholesale destruction of the Jewish state. Con Coughlin
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14784/israel-proxy-war-iran
***IDF: DECLASSIFIED: IRAN’S MISSILE TEAM EXPOSED
video – 1 minute 9 seconds
These are the senior Iranian commanders running Hezbollah’s precision missile project in Lebanon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhqAQiOMG0w
***IDF: IRAN, HEZBOLLAH & LEBANON: EXPLAINED
video – 2 minutes 7 seconds
Since 2013, #Iran has been trying to arm Hezbollah in Lebanon with precision guided missiles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__EggKjguMo
SENIOR IRANIAN OFFICIAL: 150,000 MISSILES IN LEBANON, SYRIA & GAZA ARE MEANT TO DETER ISRAEL
video – 3 minutes 46 seconds [Persian with English subtitles]
GRETA THUNBERG: OLD PEOPLE HAVE CAUSED THIS & WE ARE JUST CLEANING UP AFTER THEM
video – 1 minute 11 seconds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be03-0b7dpg
AUSTRALIA: GRETA THUNBERG’S PLANET-SAVING MISSION IS ‘NONSENSICAL CLIMATE ZEITGEIST’
video – 3 minutes 55 seconds
parents are “working against the interests” of their children’s education by encouraging them to strike over climate change like teen activist Greta Thunberg.
Publicity whore like that gung-ho, gun-foe Hogg.
A perfect match for virtue-signalling olympics. Neither would survive..
JACOB REES MOGG ON BBC RADIO 4’S TODAY PROGRAMME – 13 mins 18 secs
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Warns That ‘Diseases Could Escape’ From Frozen Glaciers Due To Climate Change
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told fans on a live stream Tuesday that if climate change isn’t stopped, glaciers could melt and expose humans to diseases tens of thousands of years old.
“There are a lot of diseases that are frozen in some of these glaciers that scientists fear that there is a potential that a lot of diseases could escape these melted glaciers,” Ocasio-Cortez said on Instagram Live.
https://dailycaller.com/2019/08/28/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-disease-glaciers-climate-change/
(Richard: She should find a good lawyer and sue the school that supposedly educated her.
White House Issues Scathing Statement on Comey, Says He is a ‘Proven Liar and Leaker’
The White House has issued a scathing statement about disgraced FBI head James Comey, amid the Inspector General releasing a report saying he “set a dangerous example for the over 35,000 current FBI employees” by mishandling his memos, including classified information.
The statement began by asserting that “James Comey is a proven liar and leaker.”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/08/white-house-issues-scathing-statement-on-comey-says-he-is-a-proven-liar-and-leaker/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=daily
Larry C. Johnson: Keep Your Powder Dry, Comey Is Not Out of the Woods Yet
There is no doubt that Jim Comey was part of a conspiracy to destroy Donald Trump and his Presidency. But all the evidence is not yet on the record. There is some understandable frustration reverberating around the web that Comey is not being indicted in the wake of the latest Inspector General report detailing Jim Comey’s inappropriate and unethical handling of Government material. But that is not the role of the Inspector General. It is up to DOJ to prosecute and a careful reading of the current report makes clear that there was not adequate foundation to get an indictment and prosecute.
However, ff you believe that Jim Comey is getting a pass and will get away with corrupt activity, let me suggest you are overreacting and that patience is warranted. Comey is not out of the woods.
My only previous experience with Bill Barr was the role he played in making sure that the two guys who planted the bomb on Pan Am 103 were prosecuted. Barr was a straight shooter and would not cut corners. I also am friends with a person who worked directly for him during that period. That person insists that Barr is not going to let Comey and Brennan and Clapper off the hook. But that person also has reminded me that Barr will do it by the book and do it fairly.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/08/larry-c-johnson-keep-your-powder-dry-comey-is-not-out-of-the-woods-yet/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=daily
DOJ IG Reveals Deputy Assistant Attorney General Lied Under Oath About Viewing Porn on Govt-Issued Computer – DECLINED PROSECUTION
Cristina Laila by Cristina Laila August 29, 2019 134 Co
First it was reported Thursday that the DOJ declined to prosecute James Comey despite the fact that he mishandled classified information and leaked to the media, then it was revealed another member of the Justice Department lied under oath to investigators and escaped prosecution!
The Office of Inspector General released findings of misconduct by a Then Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Misuse of DOJ-Issued Computers and for False Statements.
A DAAG (Deputy Assistant Attorney General) was caught viewing sexually explicit images on his government computer, which is in violation of DOJ policy.
And when the DAAG was asked about viewing pornographic images on his government-issued computer, he denied ever viewing or accessing the sexually explicit websites.
The OIG report stated that the DAAG lied under oath to investigators and only later admitted to watching porn after he was confronted with forensic evidence.
The DAAG resigned before the investigation concluded, the OIG report stated.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/08/doj-ig-reveals-deputy-assistant-attorney-general-lied-under-oath-about-viewing-porn-on-govt-issued-computer-declined-prosecution/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=daily
Comey Admits His Trump-Hating Wife and Pussy Hat Marcher Had Access to Classified Memo Kept in His Personal Safe at Home
he DOJ Inspector General released a report on James Comey Thursday morning on his mishandling of memos he drafted stemming from nine conversations he had with President Trump.
Although it was determined that Comey violated FBI policies pertaining to retention, handling and dissemination of FBI records and information, Barr declined prosecution.
According to the report, James Comey drafted Memo # 2 on his personal laptop rather than a secured FBI laptop.
Memo # 2 was determined to have six words that the FBI determined were classified.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/08/comey-admits-his-trump-hating-wife-had-access-to-classified-memo-kept-in-his-personal-safe-at-home/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=daily
The Truth About the Hong Kong Protests
Constitution Scholar Ocasio-Cortez Understands Democracy Better Than Republicans
CYMI: REMEMBER! Comey Had Memos About Trump in His Home! | Tom Fitton
Hong Kong police ban upcoming demonstration by protestors
MSNBC Host FORCED To Retract A New Trump-Russia Conspiracy, I Thought RussiaGate WAS OVER!!
Outstanding analysis by Seth Frantzman in Nat’l Review:
Israel’s Strategy against Tehran: Revealing the Iranian Threat
No longer will Iran and its allies be able to hide in the shadows.
[Conclusion]
“… Iran now faces two fronts, the sanctions and strikes, that together are designed to blow the lid on its regional strategy. Tehran will be tempted to make a misstep in its otherwise calculated reactions. Iran has a playbook: If a Western power seizes its tanker, as the U.K. did in July, Iran seizes a tanker. It downed a sophisticated U.S. drone in June but hasn’t harmed anyone in six sabotage operations on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.
“More than anything, Iran wants to preserve its regional power, based in proxies and allies that are often Shiite coreligionists. Its long-term goal is to get Hezbollah and its Shiite paramilitary allies in Iraq into more government positions and build up their parallel-state structures of armed fighters and bases.
“A war with the U.S. or Israel, or a direct confrontation with Saudi Arabia, as opposed to using proxies such as the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, is not in Tehran’s interest.
“This is the strategic calculation that underpins Israel’s actions, but it can go only so far. A game of whack-a-mole against Iran’s drones and missiles is just a setback for Tehran. If Tehran doesn’t gamble on a major conflict with Israel, it will continue its creeping annexation of neighboring states.”
https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/08/israel-strategy-against-tehran-reveal-iranian-threat/
Another one from Seth Frantzman, he’s really cooking these days:
America’s Key to Keeping ISIS Defeated
Partly by accident and partly by mission creep, the U.S. has found itself sitting astride the most important real estate in the Middle East.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/americas-key-to-keeping-isis-defeated-eastern-syria
One more, from JPost:
Can Turkey seal a Russia deal and get Northern Syria too?
Russia is pleased with these developments. Moscow’s Tass media had several stories about Turkey on its homepage on Thursday.
https://www.jpost.com//Middle-East/Can-Turkey-seal-a-Russia-deal-and-get-Northern-Syria-too-600082
Fresh Chinese troops arrive in Hong Kong
Police in eastern China arrest 138 over live-streaming scam
China’s plan for massive military parade to celebrate its 70th anniversary
This is a week old but still current.
Steve Bannon: If There Is Another Tiananmen in Hong Kong, the CCP Will Collapse | Zooming In
Iran Army Chief Warns of Consequences of US-Led Maritime Coalition (tasnimnews, Aug 29, 2019)
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/08/29/2085999/iran-army-chief-warns-of-consequences-of-us-led-maritime-coalition
“I ran’s Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi slammed the US decision to form a maritime coalition in the Persian Gulf as a “satanic plot” that would bring about instability in the region.”
Pakistan Carries Out Training Launch of Ballistic Missile (tasnimnews, Aug 29, 2019)
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/08/29/2085983/pakistan-carries-out-training-launch-of-ballistic-missile
“Pakistan’s military successfully carried out a training launch of a surface-to-surface ballistic missile on Thursday, at a time of heightened tension with neighboring India over the disputed region of Kashmir, a spokesman said…”
Bahrain Sentences 9 to Prison Over Terrorist-Related Activities (aawsat, Aug 29, 2019)
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1877856/bahrain-sentences-9-prison-over-terrorist-related-activities
“A court in Bahrain has sentenced nine people to prison on Wednesday for terror-related activities.
The first was sentenced to six years in prison and a BD100,000 fine. Three others received a one-year sentence and fined BD2,000. Four were sentenced to two years in prison while the ninth received three months in prison.
The defendants were accused of providing logistical support to terrorist elements in “Al-Wafa Islamic” and “February 14 Youth Coalition” organizations and promoting terrorist acts, riots, and sabotage through social media.
“The Fourth Grand Criminal Court sentenced nine defendants for receiving, transferring, and handing over funds allocated for supporting and financing terrorist groups, carrying out terrorist activities and promoting criminal acts,” said Attorney General Ahmed al-Hammadi, chief prosecutor for terrorist crimes.
The first defendant recruited the others and tasked them with managing social media accounts and publishing terrorist-related content, including acts of sabotage and assaults on the Kingdom’s security forces.
They were also assigned to transfer money to different locations and some of them were housed together.
The defendants also communicated with other terrorist groups abroad and received orders to create chaos in the country for terrorist purposes, Hammadi explained.”
Satellite Photos: Burning Iran Space Center Launch Pad (aawsat, Aug 29, 2019)
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1878106/satellite-photos-burning-iran-space-center-launch-pad
“Satellite images appear to show the smoldering remains of a rocket at an Iranian space center that was to conduct a US-criticized satellite launch, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
The satellite pictures were taken Thursday morning of the Khomeini Space Center in Iran’s Semnan province.
The photos show black smoke and part of a painted launch pad apparently scorched away.
David Schmerler, a senior research associate at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, told AP: “Whatever happened there, it blew up and you’re looking at the smoldering remains of what used to be there.”
NPR first reported on the satellite images.
Iran was to launch the Nahid-1 satellite in the coming days. There had been activity at the space center in recent days.”
Iraq court sentences 11 Daesh militants to death (memo, Aug 29, 2019)
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190829-iraq-court-sentences-11-daesh-militants-to-death/
“An Iraqi court sentenced 11 Daesh militants to death on Wednesday for bombing of a bridge to the north of Babel which resulted in the death of a number of security personnel.
According to the court, the 11 defendants confessed to membership in Daesh and working for the so-called Wilayat Al-Janoub.
The militants admitted to carrying out an attack on a strategic bridge to the province’s north, destroying it completely. The attack resulted in the killing of three and injury of 19 security personnel, the court stated.
Experts estimated the bridge’s value to be around 18 billion Iraqi dinars, the court added, noting that the defendants admitted to committing other crimes in various locations and times.”
Iraq: 4 killed in Daesh attack east of Anbar (memo, Aug 29, 2019)
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190829-iraq-4-killed-in-daesh-attack-east-of-anbar/
“Four members of a pro-government militia were killed in a Daesh attack on a patrol carrying them east of Anbar province today, an Iraqi security source said.
Captain Ahmed Al-Dulaimi of Anbar province police told the Anadolu Agency that the men “were ambushed by Daesh operatives while passing through a street in Al-Dabatiya area, north of Karmah, 53 kilometres east of Ramadi.”
“The attack killed four members of the tribal militia and wounded one,” Al-Dulaimi said…”
Saudi-bought European weapons now in the hands of Sudan militia (memo, Aug 29, 2019)
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190829-saudi-bought-european-weapons-now-in-the-hands-of-sudan-militia/
“Serious questions have once again been raised over Saudi Arabia’s ability to insure that weapons purchased in Europe do not fall into the wrong hands.
A report by the investigative media group Bellingcat has uncovered details of Serbian made weapons purchased by Riyadh winding up in the hands of Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese army fighting at the Saudi-Yemen border, in what is said to be a violation of end-user protection guarantees precluding re-export of arms to a third party…”
Saudi Arabia changes Ottoman ‘Empire’ to ‘occupation’ in school textbooks (memo, Aug 29, 2019)
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190829-saudi-arabia-changes-ottoman-empire-to-occupation-in-school-textbooks/
“Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education has made a series of modifications to its history textbooks altering the legacy of the Ottoman Empire and its former rule over parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
While the former curriculum taught the topic referencing the Ottoman Caliphate, the new curriculum will now cover the Empire’s “occupation”, crimes and subsequent collapse to pupils in the lower years of high school.
Among the crimes the Saudi text books will level against the Ottoman rule are “Fighting with the first and second Saudi states; supporting some local leaders against King Abdul Aziz; destroying Diriyah and surrounding towns; as well as many parts of Zahran and Asir, besides torturing Imam Abdullah Bin Saud, the last imam of the first Saudi state, and assassinating him after taking him to Istanbul.”
The curriculum also accuses the Ottoman government of having divided the Arabs of the Peninsula, stating: “The Arab land that came under the subjugation of the Ottoman administrative regime were divided into at least 15 states and each state was administered by a governor. The regime also sought to impose many taxes on the population and agricultural crops as well as on land, goods and services with collecting money to serve the Ottoman state and its sultans without leaving any significant revenues for these states.”The Ottomans, as the new narrative puts it, governed primarily by a policy of divide and rule, enforcing “political domination and sowing discord in order to prevent the Arabian Peninsula from being united, transferring skilled craftsmen and builders from Egypt and the Levant to Istanbul, building fortresses and forts to protect the state soldiers and their states, and prevalence of instability and insecurity within these countries and along the pilgrimage routes.”
Saudi Arabia’s official defamation of the Empire – or Caliphate, as it is widely known – signals a heightened sense of nationalism, as well as a strong anti-Turkish sentiment which has dominated the kingdom’s narrative in recent years.
Critics of the move by the Saudi ministry have likened it to the similarity of deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s popular narrative of the Ottoman Empire, exploiting a rising sense of Arab nationalism while countering the perceived increasing influence of Turkey in the region by attacking and defaming its imperial history.
Over the past few years, relations between Saudi and Turkey have been increasingly strained by diplomatic differences and by each other’s involvement in the Syrian civil war, and especially by Turkey’s support of Qatar following the ongoing blockade imposed on it by the kingdom, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt in 2017.
Relations reached breaking point with the murder of US-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October last year. Following months of investigations into the murder and a UN report concluding that Saudi agents killed Khashoggi under the direct command of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Turkey has repeatedly called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
Consequently, the Kingdom has been pushing a campaign to encourage its tourists to boycott Turkey through all possible means, including the purchase of products, consumption of foods, sale of properties, dealings with Turkish companies, and especially tourism to the country. The campaign has garnered support amongst Saudi royals and figures, a famous case being when Riyadh’s influential governor Faisal bin Bandar declined an offer of Turkish coffee, triggering a call for a boycott of Turkish products.”
Austrian club cancels signing of pro-Assad goalkeeper who ‘fought for Syrian regime’ (alaraby, Aug 29, 2019)
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/8/29/austrian-club-cancels-signing-of-syrian-goalkeeper-following-protests
“Austrian football club Wien FC has cancelled its plans to sign Ibrahim Alma, a Syrian goalkeeper who opposition activists say fought for the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
A Viennese football club has cancelled its plans to sign a Syrian goalkeeper following a storm of protest by Syrian refugees.
The Austrian Bundesliga side had been due to sign Ibrahim Alma, who plays for the Syrian national team and the Al-Wahda football club in the Syrian Premier League.
However, the football club’s Facebook page found itself inundated with over 6,000 comments from Syrians after posting about Alma’s signing…”
Syrian refugees go into hiding as Turkey begins crackdown (alaraby, Aug 29, 2019)
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2019/8/29/syrian-refugees-go-into-hiding-as-turkey-begins-crackdown
“It’s been some weeks since the end of the Eid al-Adha holiday and the streets of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district are vibrant again, but the usual landscape has one striking difference this time – Syrian refugees have somehow disappeared….”
Hong Kong police ban rally fearing ‘large-scale destruction’
There are videos of the new forces moving into Hong Kong, where are the pictures of the old forces moving out?
Weren’t those CCP-Hong Kong police?
I understood that China had a heavily militarized police force in place. Infiltrating every group everywhere.
Protest organizers should get out, STAT.
Dirty business: Sindh’s faecal matter is making its children dumber (tribune, Aug 29, 2019)
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2044428/1-dirty-business-sindhs-faecal-matter-making-children-dumber/
“Open defecation is effectively impeding the intellectual capacity of over half of the province’s population. The only solution, say, health experts, is that people stop urinating and defecating in the open. Unless this happens, over half the next generation will be stunted, they warn…”
Famed Afghan commander Ahmad Shah Massoud’s son to build a grand coalition of anti-Taliban elements (khaama, Aug 29. 2019)
https://www.khaama.com/famed-afghan-commander-ahmad-shah-massouds-son-to-build-a-grand-coalition-of-anti-taliban-elements-03790/
“Ahmad Massoud, the son of famed Afghan commander Ahmad Shah Massoud wants to build a grand coalition of anti-Taliban elements.
Massoud plans to officially launch his political movement on September 5 in Panjshir.
This comes as U.S. and Taliban representatives are engaged in extensive talks in Qatari capital of Doha to find a negotiated political settlement to end the conflict, a move which could lead to complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the younger Massoud plans to build the grand coalition to oppose the Taliban militants both on political and military levels.
Speaking to AFP in an exclusive interview, Massoud said “I really pray and hope that Afghans and Afghanistan never see another bloodshed.”
Massoud further added “God forbid. But if it comes, not just myself, but there are… hundreds of thousands of young people who are like me. We are ready to pick up guns.””
Erdo?an says he supports restoring death penalty amid nationwide outrage over femicides (hdn, Aug 29. 2019)
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogan-says-wont-allow-us-stalling-in-syria-deal-146147
“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has once again brought up the issue of restoring the death penalty, vowing to approve such legislation if parliament passes it, after the murder of a woman by her ex-husband last week sparked nationwide outrage…”
Turkey: 235,000 irregular migrants held in 2019 (aa, Aug 29. 2019)
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-235-000-irregular-migrants-held-in-2019-/1568314
“Some 235,000 irregular migrants aiming to illegally cross to Europe were held across Turkey over the past eight months, a ministry said on Thursday.
In a statement, the Ministry of Interior Directorate General of Migration Management said the numbers of irregular migrants attempting to illegally cross to European countries via Turkey increased by 42% in the January-August period of 2019, compared to the same period of last year.
About 158,000 people were held while attempting to illegally cross to Europe in the first eight months of 2018, the statement noted.
According to the ministry, some 10,000 irregular migrants crossed to EU countries by land in the past eight months of last year.
Thanks to measures taken by Turkish security forces against irregular migration, this figure decreased to 4,000 this year.
Meanwhile, most of the attempts of irregular migration occurred in the northwestern border province of Edirne where around 68,000 irregular migrants were held.
The number of irregular migrants held in Edirne by Turkish security forces has increased by 70% this year compared to the same period of last year.
Turkey has been a key transit point for irregular migrants aiming to cross to Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.”
Sweden scraps automatic asylum for Syrians after six years (thelocal, Aug 29, 2019)
https://www.thelocal.se/20190829/sweden-scraps-automatic-asylum-for-syrians-after-six-years
“The Swedish Migration Agency will no longer issue residence permits to all refugees coming from Syria, ending a generous policy which over the last six years has seen over 100,000 Syrians granted asylum in the country.
In September 2013, Sweden was the first country in the world to open its arms fully to those fleeing the country’s brutal civil war, with the agency ruling that all Syrians arriving in Sweden would be eligible for permanent residency.
But on Thursday, the agency announced in a press release that it was bringing the policy to an end.
“We had a very special situation in Syria and a special assessment which essentially meant that everyone was able to get a residency permit due to the general situation in the country,” the agency’s legal director Fredrik Beijer said in a video posted online.
“We now assess that the situation in Syria has become slightly better – in any case we see that the number of deaths has decreased so much in Syria that the general risk of coming to harm has decreased. We must therefore return to the standard practice that we had before…and we are doing this now.”
In its new legal assessment, the agency said it now judged that people living in the Syrian capital of Damascus, and in the nearby southern provinces of Rif Dimashq, Dara’a, Suwayda, and Quneitra could no longer be considered at risk simply because of where they lived.
The same went for people living in Hassakah in the country’s far northeastern corner, which is part of the de facto Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, or Rojava. Those living in and around the port city of Latakia were also not deemed eligible for asylum.
The agency stressed that the new legal assessment would apply only to Syrians newly arriving in the country, and would not affect those waiting for a ruling or seeking to renew temporary residence permits.
It did also not mean that those living in the more peaceful areas would necessarily be denied asylum.
“Their individual reasons are now much more important than they were before,” Beijer explained. “Now it will become very important who you are, where you come from, and what risk you are facing.”…”
AJ & PJW – Hong Kong
General Shepherd – August 29, 2019