Reader’s Links for October 20, 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 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

113 Replies to “Reader’s Links for October 20, 2019”

  1. Militants attack villages and military forces across Turkey
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191020-militants-attack-villages-and-military-forces-across-turkey/

    “In two separate incidents, militants opened fired on both Turkish military forces and civilians, in east and southeastern Turkey.

    The Turkish news agency, Anadolu Agency, attributed the attacks to the militant wing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

    At the incident in southeastern Turkey, Anadolu Agency claims that PKK militants opened fire on villagers, who went to gather wood, in Uludere district of Sirnak. Four people were wounded in the attack.

    Injured villagers were taken to Sirnak State Hospital with a helicopter. According to the hospital’s statement, villagers do not have life threatening injuries.

    At a separate incident, militants opened fire on soldiers on patrol in Dogubeyazit district of eastern Turkey’s Agri province on Sunday, injuring five of them.

    According to Turkish security sources, the militants attacked with rockets on an armored vehicle of the Turkish military during its patrol along the Iranian border.

    Five soldiers were injured in the attack. Wounded soldiers were immediately taken to Dogubeyazit and Igd?r State Hospitals.

    After the attack, reinforcement troops were sent to the region to carry out an operation against the suspected militants.

    While the PKK is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the EU, Kurdish groups aligned to it have been the key partner for the US in Iraq and Syria, during it’s campaign against Daesh.”

  2. UAE releases $700 million in frozen Iranian funds ‘in return for security’
    https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/10/20/uae-releases-700-million-in-frozen-iranian-funds

    “The United Arab Emirates has released $700 million of Iran’s frozen money,” a member of the Islamic Republic’s parliament told the state-run ICANA news agency on Sunday.

    Lawmaker Akbar Torki told the news agency that the funds had been released amid improving ‘currency relations’ between the two states.

    “UAE’s currency relations with Iran have improved and some Iranian exchange offices in Dubai have resumed activity,” Torki was quoted as saying.

    “Emiratis have also understood that Western countries and Saudi Arabia cannot provide the country with security in current circumstances,” he added.

    Toirki also suggested that the release of the funds was in exchange for security cooperation or assistance from Iran.

    “UAE is introducing itself as the Middle East’s Switzerland but trade, banking, energy, and aviation of this country depends on security and it knows that it cannot prosper without security,” he said.

    Torki’s remarks follow that of Iranian President Hasan Rouhani, who told a reporters on Monday that diplomatic relations between Abu Dhabi and Tehran have warmed.

    “There have been communications between Iran and the UAE in recent months,” Rouhani said during a press conference.

    “Some UAE officials came to Iran and some Iranian officials went there. Relations between Tehran and the UAE have been better in recent months, and the trend is towards better relations.”

    Iran is currently in the grip of punishing US sanctions which were imposed since the Trump administration’s withdrawal from a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

    The sanctions on Iran that have kept it from selling its oil abroad and have crippled its economy.”

  3. Turkey’s Syria offensive violates international law: Germany
    https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/turkeys-syria-offensive-violates-international-law-germany-1.1571607595466

    “Berlin: Turkey’s offensive in northeastern Syria falls foul of international law, Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Sunday.

    “We don’t believe that an attack on Kurdish units or Kurdish militia is legitimate under international law,” Heiko Maas told Germany broadcaster ZDF.

    “If there is no basis in international law for such an invasion, then it can’t be in accordance with international law,” he said, in his strongest comments yet on the assault.”

  4. 23 million contraceptives disbursed in Egypt in 2019 in efforts to reduce birth rates
    http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/353247/Egypt/Politics-/-million-contraceptives-disbursed-in-Egypt-in–in-.aspx

    “As part of the Egyptian Ministry of Health’s efforts to reduce population growth, the ministry announced on Sunday that around 20 million women have benefited from family planning and reproductive health services during the fiscal year 2018/2019, which is 17 percent higher than last year.

    The statement explained that among the 20 million women, 2.8 million are benefiting from family planning services for the first time.

    Sahar El-Sunbati, head of the health ministry’s population and family planning department, said that the ministry aims to reduce the country’s birth rate to 3.1 children per woman by the end of 2020 and 2.4 children per woman by the end of 2030.

    El-Sunbati said that nearly 23 million contraceptives of various types were disbursed during the 2018/2019 fiscal year, including some 142,000 capsules, 855,000 intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD), 15.1 million mono-compound tablets, 5.8 million injections, and 1.5 million condoms.

    During World Population Day in July, the Egyptian Cabinet said in a statement that population growth is forecasted to drop from 1.99 percent in 2017-2022 to 0.85 percent in 2047-2052. In 2052, the population is projected to reach over 153 million.

    Last year, USAID Egypt announced that it will be contributing $19 million to help Egypt’s family planning efforts through a five-year programme.

    The Ministry of Social Solidarity also launched in late 2018 the ‘Two Is Enough’ family-planning campaign to break the tradition of having large families in rural areas.”

  5. Algerians Ask for Departure of General Salah, Interim Government in 35th of Protests
    https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/10/285005/algerians-general-salah-interim-government-protests/

    “In the eight month of what has come to be known as the Algerian Hirak, thousands took to the streets in Algiers on Friday to demand the departure of the army chief, General Gaid Salah, as well as key civilian figures of the transition, according to local reports.

    “Huge crowds of Algerians demonstrated against the political establishment in the capital on the 35th Friday and renewed demands to end the General’s rule,” one local paper reported.

    Despite some reports of fatigue or loss of revolutionary fervor over the weeks, Algerians have continued to take to the streets every Friday to ask for the “radical changes” and reforms for which they have been demonstrating since late February…”

  6. UNODC, EU Launch Project in Morocco to Dismantle Irregular Migration Networks in North Africa
    https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/10/284986/unodc-eu-project-morocco-irregular-migration-networks-north-africa/

    “The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Regional Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for the Middle East and North Africa launched in Rabat a project to dismantle cross-border criminal networks involved in human trafficking and migrant smuggling in North Africa.

    Launched in Rabat on Friday, October 18, the joint EU-UNODC initiative is set to operate with a budget of €5 million.

    The project seeks to support Morocco and other North African nations in dismantling irregular migration networks active in the region.

    The plan entails capacity building and specialized training for authorities in charge of the detection and interception of smuggling and human trafficking neworks, according to Maghreb Arab Press. The project also seeks to assist security services to have the ability to identify and investigate such cases, while protecting the victims.

    The project will span three years, with the primary aim of developing the skills of law enforcement officials and the methods they employ to catch suspects involved in criminal networks…”

  7. Pakistan rejects Indian claims about ‘so-called launchpads’ targeted along LoC
    https://tribune.com.pk/story/2083676/1-pakistan-rejects-indian-claims-called-launchpads-targeted-along-loc/

    “Pakistan on Sunday categorically rejected Indian media reports regarding “so-called launchpads” being targeted by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC).

    In a statement, the Foreign Office said Indian Charge d’Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia had been summoned by Dr Muhammad Faisal, Director General (SA & SAARC), to register Pakistan’s protest over the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian forces along the LoC.

    “The Indian occupation forces, along the LoC and Working Boundary, have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy calibre mortars, and automatic weapons,” read the statement.

    “Heinous Indian targeting of civilians is a typical attempt by India to divert international attention from the humanitarian nightmare in IOJ&K [Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir],” it added.

    As for the targeting of “so-called launchpads”, Pakistan called upon the five permanent United Nations members, or P5, to press New Delhi for proof and concrete information.

    Islamabad also conveyed its willingness to arrange a visit of P5 diplomats to the alleged locations “to expose Indian falsehood.”…”

  8. Turkish FM condemns Amnesty International’s report on Turkey’s operation in Syria
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-fm-condemns-amnesty-internationals-report-on-turkeys-operation-in-syria-147730

    “Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned Amnesty International’s report on Turkey’s counter-terrorism operation in northern Syria.

    “We completely reject the baseless claims in Amnesty International’s report on the Operation Peace Spring,” the ministry said in a written statement on Oct. 20.

    The ministry said that it considers these unfounded claims as part of a “smear campaign” against “our struggle with the terrorism threat that originates from Syria and targets our national security,” the statement said.

    The statement reiterated that Operation Peace Spring is a counter-terrorism operation against PYD/YPG terrorist organization which threatens Turkey’s national security and Syria’s territorial integrity through its separatist agenda.

    “Only PYD/YPG elements and their shelters, positions, weapons, tools and equipment are targeted in the planning and implementation of the operation,” it added.

    The ministry stressed that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent damage to civilians and civilian infrastructure.

    It also reminded that the Syrian National Army, which supports Turkey’s anti-terror operation, has set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate cases of civilian casualties allegedly caused by its elements.

    PYD/YPG’s ties with the PKK, which is also considered a terrorist organization by the EU and NATO, crimes and violations committed by its elements have been repeatedly documented, it highlighted.

    The statement called on Amnesty International to review these documents by independent international organizations, including itself.

    The ministry’s statement came after Amnesty International’s statement on Oct. 18 which claimed that Turkey carried out “violations” during its anti-terror operation into northeast Syria.

    Previously, Amnesty International in its report on Oct. 13 said that YPG forces in northern Syria had committed war crimes during its battles with ISIL.

    The human rights body said that thousands of people had been deliberately forced to leave their homes and entire villages were razed to the ground by YPG fighters.

    On Oct. 9, Turkey had launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

    Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG/PKK.”

  9. Durham’s Trail Leading to SSCI – Ali Watkins Never Slept With James Wolfe – It Was a Cover Story….
    Posted on October 20, 2019 by sundance
    With media reporting that U.S. Attorney John Durham has expanded the timeline and scope of his investigation into U.S. government and intelligence community activity during the 2016 election, there’s an interesting quote from NBC:

    …”Justice Department officials have said that Durham has found something significant, and that critics should be careful.”…
    The expanded investigative timeline is now into May 2017 when Mueller was appointed special counsel would mean all of the preceding (and surrounding) activity, leading up to Mueller, would be reviewed. With that carefully in mind….

    During the 2016 effort to weaponize the institutions of government against the outside candidacy of Donald Trump, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) was headed by Richard Burr and Dianne Feinstein. After the 2016 election Senator Feinstein abdicated her vice-chair position to Senator Mark Warner in January 2017.

    While the SSCI was engaged in their part of the 2016 effort Vice-Chair Feinstein’s lead staffer was a man named Daniel Jones. Dan Jones was the contact point between the SSCI and Fusion-GPS.

    After the election, and after Feinstein abdicated, Dan Jones left the committee to continue paying Fusion-GPS (Glenn Simpson) for ongoing efforts toward the impeachment insurance policy angle.

    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2019/10/20/durhams-trail-leading-to-ssci-ali-watkins-never-slept-with-james-wolfe-it-was-a-cover-story/#more-174163

  10. The Liberal party has told an advocacy group that it will regulate social media content if re-elected.

    The response came after the Ukrainian Canadian Congress sent a questionnaire to all federal parties, which included a question on “online hate and disinformation.”

    In its response, the Liberal party made it clear that social media companies will have to abide by government “hate speech” rules or face consequences.

    “To help stop the proliferation of violent extremism online, we will move forward with new regulations for social media platforms starting with a requirement that all platforms remove illegal content, including hate speech, within 24 hours or face significant financial penalties,” the Liberal response said.

    “This will also include other online harms such as radicalization, incitement to violence, exploitation of children or creation or distribution of terrorist propaganda.”

    The Conservatives, the Greens, and the NDP all told the Ukrainian Canadian Congress that they would not create additional internet regulations.

    https://tnc.news/2019/10/19/liberals-reveal-they-will-regulate-social-media-content-if-re-elected/

  11. House Speaker Pelosi Holds Talks In Jordan With King Abdullah
    U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) addresses the audience during the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) 2019 Women’s Leadership Forum in Washington
    FILE PHOTO: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) addresses the audience during the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) 2019 Women’s Leadership Forum in Washington, U.S. October 17, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso
    October 20, 2019

    By David Shepardson

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other senior members of Congress held talks in Jordan on Saturday with King Abdullah II and other top Jordanian officials.

    Pelosi said in a statement the visit was at “a critical time for the security and stability of the region… With the deepening crisis in Syria after Turkey’s incursion, our delegation has engaged in vital discussions about the impact to regional stability, increased flow of refugees, and the dangerous opening that has been provided to ISIS, Iran and Russia.”

    The U.S. delegation included the heads of key House committees including Foreign Affairs committee chairman Eliot Engel, Homeland Security Committee chairman Bennie Thompson, Intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff and Representative Mac Thornberry, the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee.

    The delegation also met Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, Prince Feisal bin Al Hussein, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and other senior Jordanian officials.

    “We expressed our continued appreciation for the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Jordan and engaged in a constructive dialogue on regional stability, counter-terrorism, security cooperation, Middle East peace, economic development and other shared challenges,” Pelosi said.

    https://www.oann.com/house-speaker-pelosi-in-jordan-for-talks-with-king-abdullah/

    Note: tow words: Logan Act

  12. October 20, 2019
    The Seedy History of Joe Biden and Russia
    By Daniel Ashman
    Although Joe Biden’s Burisma scandal has gotten attention, Republicans have glossed over it, accepting superficial explanations for what happened.

    Few are looking at the serious questions. Whom, exactly, has Biden been a friend to? Is it a coincidence that this scandal is based around Ukraine, Russia’s neighbor? Who is behind Burisma?

    Things are not always as they seem in international geopolitics. The first-glance and facile explanation that this was a simple pay-to-play scheme between Ukraine and Biden doesn’t hold up.

    Biden has had a long and public career. If he were an ardent advocate for Ukraine, it would be clear for all to see. But he has not been.

    In fact, he has consistently sided with Ukraine’s arch-nemesis, Russia. Biden was the vice president in an administration that pushed for a “reset” with Russia and oversaw Russia’s entry into the WTO. Biden even advocated for a Biden-Putin Commission to bolster ties.

    The defining moment came when Russia invaded Ukraine. Obama and Biden did nothing.

    https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/10/the_seedy_history_of_joe_biden_and_russia.html

  13. The ATF Has Been Enforcing a Rule That Does Not Exist
    By ROBERT VERBRUGGEN
    October 18, 2019 6:30 AM

    AR-15 rifles displayed for sale at a gun show in Oaks, Pa., in 2017 (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)
    While Beto fantasizes about confiscating AR-15s, a court finds a shocking loophole in the way they’re regulated.
    Anyone else sick to death of watching the Democrats debate each other already? Tuesday saw them rehash numerous conversations they’ve already had, and there are still eight excruciating nights of such television for us to endure.

    Beto O’Rourke, for instance, once again loudly and obnoxiously announced his intention to confiscate semiautomatic “assault weapons” from their lawful owners. He said he “believes” that compliance will be forthcoming.

    If I really need to engage with this nonsense, I’ll go ahead and note that the American people don’t support gun confiscation — even in polls where they endorse banning sales of new assault weapons; that compliance with gun bans is low pretty much everywhere; that his policy would violate the Second Amendment; and that there’s little solid evidence that blanket gun bans are effective in reducing crime. We’re not going to pass this law, we wouldn’t comply with it if we did, and the courts might not allow it anyway.

    But with that out of the way, let’s address what should be an elephant in the room: While Beto was rambling on about his bizarre fantasies in which docile AR-15 owners happily identify themselves to the government and dutifully surrender their arms, our actual legal regime for regulating these guns came under serious threat from a case out of California — because the folks who are supposed to enforce the gun laws have royally messed up for decades.

    https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/10/gun-regulation-ar-15-atf-enforcing-rule-that-does-not-exist/

  14. Pompeo Tells Israel It Has “Fundamental Right” To Attack Iranian Targets In The Region
    Profile picture for user Tyler Durden
    by Tyler Durden
    Sun, 10/20/2019 – 12:55
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    “Our administration’s been very clear,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told The Jerusalem Post in an exclusive Friday interview, published on Sunday. “Israel has the fundamental right to engage in activity that ensures the security of its people. It’s at the very core of what nation-states not only have the right to do, but an obligation to do.”

    Immediately after assisting Vice President Mike Pence in negotiating a Syria ceasefire with Turkey in Ankara on Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo headed to Israel. He told the Israeli newspaper in the interview that the ceasefire deal with Erdogan “saved lives”. However, with American troops now exiting Syria, the question of potential Iranian expansion and Israel’s security was focus of his statements.

    “We know this is a corner where Iran has attempted to move weapon systems across into Syria, into Lebanon, that threatens Israel, and we are going to do everything we can to make sure we have the capacity to identify those so that we can, collectively, respond appropriately,” Pompeo explained in the interview.

    https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/pompeo-tells-israel-it-has-fundamental-right-attack-iranian-targets-self-defense

  15. A 20-strong gang set upon four tree surgeons in Rochdale, England, calling them “white bastards” and cutting off a teenage worker’s hand with an axe.
    27-year-old Habibur Rahman, of Milnrow Road, Rochdale, gathered the mob after the workers had stopped him from abusing an elderly woman, the Manchester Evening News reports.

    Rahman, incensed that he had been “disrespected” on his “territory”, tracked the four workers to the property they were working on in the rape gang blighted city, blocking them in by parking his car across the driveway while the mob approached armed with weapons including a claw hammer, knives, machetes, a knuckle-duster — and the fateful axe.

    “I am not going to let them leave,” Rahman said from his car, abusing the workers as “white bastards” who were in his “country”, the court heard.

    “They’re going to get what they deserve. They’re going to get stabbed.”

    One of the workers, who was just eighteen years old, interposed himself as a “peacemaker”, “completely defenceless” — only for the member of Rahman’s mob armed with the axe, Mohammed Awais Sajid, or ‘Skinny’, to suddenly slam the weapon into the young man’s chest, smashing through his ribs and collapsing a lung.

    “[Sajid] followed up with a 360 degree spin of his arm, an act which was doubtless employed to enhance the speed and devastation of the attack,” recalled prosecutor Tim Storrie.

    “The blow itself was aimed at the victim’s head. He was dimly aware at this stage of the weeping of blood down into his waistband. He was turning his body, attempting to leave the scene.

    “Through good fortune, he said he realised the axe was above him aiming for his head. He put his arm up to defend himself and the blade essentially severed his arm at the wrist.”

    https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/10/20/uk-20-strong-gang-target-white-bastards-cut-off-mans-arm-axe/

  16. CNN’s Anderson Cooper stumped Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris on Friday night when he asked her what specific laws President Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani has broken.

    Harris spoke to Cooper on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” and the host asked Harris for her reaction to reports that Giuliani tried to override the Ukrainian embassy and State Department in an effort to get a visa for Viktor Shokin, a former Ukrainian prosecutor.

    Harris said Giuliani “has clearly broken many laws,” adding that his actions are “further evidence of corruption” by the Trump administration and that they violate an “extraordinary number of rules and ethical laws.” When Cooper asked Harris what specific laws she believes Giuliani has broken, the senator seemed unable to answer directly.

    “Well I, I, I don’t know,” Harris replied when Cooper asked her what specific laws she believes Giuliani has broken. (RELATED: Democrats Subpoena Giuliani Associates In Latest Move For Impeachment Inquiry)

    https://dailycaller.com/2019/10/19/anderson-cooper-kamala-harris-rudy-giuliani-ukraine/?fbclid=IwAR3RAp2jAn34qbdadJBIFHitjiueLYEEn59OexAwrH7iROqUZGUU8FnHtwk

  17. October 20, 2019
    Some perspective on Hunter Biden’s gigantic Burisma compensation
    By Ronald C. Tinnell
    I did a little research. Hunter Biden is reported to have received $80,000 per month in compensation for serving on the Board of Directors of Burisma. This is a total of $960,000 per year. Burisma’s books are not open to the public, but its revenue is estimated to be $400 million in 2018.

    All of the coverage of this that I have seen focuses on the large amount of money Biden received. I decided to see how this compares to normal compensation for a board member.

    How much does a member of a Board of Directors normally make? Here’s a little chart showing the average compensation for a nonemployee board member for two prominent corporations along with the gross revenue of the company (2018):

    https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/10/some_perspective_on_hunter_bidens_gigantic_burisma_compensation.html#.XaxBT2sA560.twitter

  18. This Sure Looks Like Mitt Romney’s Secret Twitter Account
    Ashley Feinberg 2 hrs ago
    Your favorite stars with and without makeup
    Trump rescinded G-7 plan after GOP pushback
    Earlier today, The Atlantic’s McKay Coppins published a lengthy profile on Mitt Romney, apparently part of Romney’s effort to set himself up as the noble Republican foil to an out-of-control president. These sorts of pieces, which are more about narrative setting than anything else, typically don’t contain a lot of new information, but this had one notable exception. About midway through, the usually guarded senator revealed that, just like fellow lone-voice-of reason-haver James Comey, he was the owner of a secret Twitter account.

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/this-sure-looks-like-mitt-romneys-secret-twitter-account/ar-AAJ4TX4?ocid=spartanntp