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.
Germany Should Exercise Its Interests Abroad More Forcefully, Defence Minister Says (sputniknews, Nov 7, 2019?
https://sputniknews.com/military/201911071077249416-germany-exercise-interests-abroad-forcefully-minister/
George Soros dropped $800K to defeat a Republican DA, but she won and mocked him in her victory speech
A Republican district attorney in New York faced a challenger backed by more than $800,000 from liberal financier George Soros, but she came out victorious and mocked him in her victory speech.
Soros funded the New York Justice & Public Safety Political Action Committee, which purchased television ads for Democratic candidate Shani Curry Mitchell, the challenger to Monroe County district attorney Sandra Doorley.
On Tuesday, Doorley soundly defeated Mitchell soundly with 56 percent in the election, despite the overwhelming financial support from Soros.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/republican-defeats-george-soros-backed-candidate?utm_source=theblaze-breaking&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20191107Trending-SorosAttorneyRaceLaugh&utm_term=TheBlaze%20Breaking%20News
“ANDY NGO: Antifa’s Plan to Undermine Liberal Democracy”
The Heritage Foundation – November 7, 2019
I just spoke with Natalie, she’s the red poppy wearing suspendee. Contrary to what was reported, she was not suspended for not wearing the rainbow poppy. She was suspended for sharing this poster. The school declared this hate speech. What do you think? Full story soon.
https://twitter.com/TheRealKeean/status/1192484785899347970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1192484785899347970&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2F
Outstanding letter.
Outclassed her teachers, so they punished here.
Or else it’s another version of: _ 2+2=5 _ or else!
US Opens Bahrain Command Centre for Military Ships Protecting Persian Gulf – CENTCOM (sputniknews, Nov 7, 2019)
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201911071077249799-us-opens-bahrain-command-centre-for-military-ships-protecting-persian-gulf-centcom/
“A US-led coalition created following a series of recent attacks on ships transiting the Persian Gulf and nearby waterways opened a command centre in Bahrain on Thursday, the Central Command (CENTCOM) Naval Forces said in a press release.
“Today, we reach two significant milestones in the standing up of the CTF [Coalition Task Force] Sentinel headquarters under the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) and the introduction of the CTF’s first appointed commander, Rear Admiral Alvin Holsey”, Vice Adm. Jim Malloy said at a ceremony with participants from Australia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.
Malloy commands the US Naval Forces Central Command, US 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.
The International Maritime Security Construct was created in response to a series of attacks on ships, attacks on Saudi oil facilities, the downing of a US drone and the seizure of international oil tankers – incidents that the United States blames on Iran.
The effort includes large naval vessels such as frigates and destroyers (sentinels) to protect critical chokepoints and smaller naval vessels such as patrol crafts and corvettes (sentries) to patrol key shipping lanes, the release said.
The International Maritime Security Construct also includes drones and other aircraft to monitor the flow of traffic through the highest risk areas in the region, the release added.
In addition to hosting the International Maritime Security Construct headquarters, Bahrain serves as the primary host for the US 5th Fleet.”
US Offers Up to $6Mln for Info About Al-Qaeda Leaders in Arabian Peninsula – State Dept. (sputniknews, Nov 7, 2019)
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201911071077250003-us-offers-up-to-6mln-for-info-about-al-qaeda-leaders-in-arabian-peninsula-state-dept/
“The United States has offered up to $6 million in rewards for information about two senior al-Qaeda* terrorist group leaders, the State Department announced in a release.
“The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Programme is offering a reward for information on two senior al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leaders”, the release said. “RFJ is offering up to $6 million for information leading to the identification or location of Sa’ad bin Atef al-Awlaki and up to $4 million for information leading to the identification or location of Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al-Qosi”.
The State Department said al-Awlaki is the emir of Yemen’s province of Shabwah and has publicly called for attacks against the United States and its allies.
Al-Qosi, who joined the group’s Arabian Peninsula franchise in 2014, has been active in al-Qaeda for decades and for years worked directly for Osama bin Laden, the release said. The release said al-Qosi has encouraged lone-wolf attacks against the United States in online propaganda.
The State Department also noted that al-Qosi was a Guantanamo detainee after his capture in Pakistan in 2001. He was returned to Sudan in 2010 two years after pleading guilty to supporting al-Qaeda.
*Al-Qaeda is a terrorist group banned in Russia”
Tucker Carlson on Roger Stone trial and the overtly political judge:
Brexit Party MEP: EU Has Hate Speech ‘Obsession’, Is ‘Leading the Way on Censoring What We Say/Read’ (breitbart, Nov 7, 2019)
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/11/07/brexit-party-mep-hate-speech-obsessed-eu-censoring-what-we-say-read/
“Brexit Party MEP Claire Fox has told the European Union its “obsession” with hate speech has resulted in it “leading the way” on censorship and empowering the transgender lobby to deplatform lesbians and feminists who criticise its agenda.
At a Special Hearing on media freedom and freedom of speech, the left-wing Brexiteer took the European Union to task for its “obsession with clamping down on elastically defined hate speech”, which she believes has led to a situation where the EU is “now leading the way on censoring what we say/read etc.”
“I hate antisemitism, I hate racism, I hate anti-working class bigotry, I hate anti-democratic illiberal authoritarian politicians,” she said. “I’ve got a lot of hate in me — should I be censored?”
“I’m really sorry but I fear that one of the greatest threats to free speech today are hate speech legislation,” she continued.
“I think it silences legitimate speech — usually the legitimate speech of your opponents,” she told the chamber, which is dominated by politicians who favour subsuming Europe’s nation-states into an increasingly powerful supranational federation.
“Who gets to decide what is hate? … [T]he LGBTQI movement in the UK is tearing itself apart, it’s a really toxic atmosphere, but what that means is that the legitimate concerns expressed by lesbians and feminists concerned about some trans activist orthodoxies are now being labelled as transphobic hate, and those lesbians are being banned from social media, being reported to the state police, and actually being charged,” she said by way of example.
“We can’t sit here and talk about press freedom and free speech and then argue for things which will ban more speech,” she said.
“This is a betrayal of European enlightenment commitment to more speech in order to win arguments where we argue back.”
Ms Fox reported that, as a consequence of her intervention, another speaker in the debate branded her “transphobic” — which her supporters may believe serves to underline her point.”
UN urges tolerance in Malawi after schoolgirls prevented from wearing hijabs (abcnews, Nov 7, 2019)
https://abcnews.go.com/International/urges-tolerance-malawi-schoolgirls-prevented-wearing-hijabs/story?id=66818156
“The United Nations has called for religious tolerance in Malawi after two girls were reportedly prevented from attending school for wearing hijabs this week, sparking days of violence between the community’s Muslims and Christians.
The alleged incident happened at M’manga primary school in the southern town of Balaka. The Anglican church, which built the government-run school, has reportedly banned students from wearing head coverings in class, saying it violates the agreed-upon school uniform.
On Monday, men from the church reportedly snatched the hijabs off the heads of two pupils on their way to school, according to local newspaper The Daily Times.
ABC News has reached out to Malawi’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology for comment on the alleged incident.
Maria Jose Torres, the U.N. resident coordinator in Malawi, expressed concern over the intolerance in a statement released Tuesday.
“Such actions discourage girls from attending school, denying them the right to learn and actively participate in society,” Torres said, “at a time when Malawi is focusing on ending child marriage and keeping girls in school.”
The alleged incident reportedly led to disagreements between the town’s Muslim and Christian residents, which escalated into violence. At least two people were seriously injured in the clashes, according to The Daily Times.
The school’s windows were smashed, shops were vandalized and a house belonging to the priest of M’manga parish was also damaged, the newspaper reported.
Malawi’s population of over 18 million is predominately Christian, with less than a quarter of people practicing Islam. The country’s constitution enshrines the freedom of expression and religion.
Torres has urged all Malawians to “respect each other’s religious believe and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve differences.” She also called on the authorities in the southern African nation to ensure everyone is “able to exercise their beliefs and cultural practices free from persecution and discrimination.”
“The rights to freedom of expression and religion are fundamental rights that ensure human dignity and a functional democracy,” Torres said. “Preventing access to services such as education because students choose to wear an expression of their religion goes against these important human rights and international standards on freedom of education.””
Bosnia outraged after Macron calls it a ‘ticking time-bomb’ (abcnews, Nov 7, 2019)
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/bosnia-outraged-macron-calls-ticking-time-bomb-66831993
“Officials in Bosnia expressed outrage Thursday to remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron in which he described the country as a “ticking time-bomb” and the greatest concern for Europe in the Balkans due to what he said was its “problem of returning jihadists.”
Croat presidency member Zeljko Komisic said he would summon France’s ambassador to Sarajevo for an explanation of the comments Macron made in an interview with The Economist.
Asked about his successful bid in October to block Albania and North Macedonia from starting European Union membership talks, Macron said neither of the two nations was the primary source of concern in the Balkans.
“If you’re concerned about this region, the first question is neither Macedonia, nor Albania, it’s Bosnia-Herzegovina. The time-bomb that’s ticking right next to (the EU member) Croatia, and which faces the problem of returning jihadists,” Macron said, referring to escaped or released Islamic State fighters who could return to Europe.
The French Foreign Ministry had no immediate response to reaction in Bosnia to Macron’s comments.
A spokesman for Bosnia’s Islamic community, Muhamed Jusic, described Macron’s comments as “scandalous” and said the French president was slandering Bosnia to justify preventing Balkan countries with “significant Muslim populations” from fulfilling their aspirations of EU membership.
“Some 300 Bosnian citizens, most of them women and children, went to the battlefields in Syria and Iraq compared to over 1,900 French,” Jusic said.
“These days, France awaits the return of 450 jihadists. … I don’t see how this is a bigger problem in Bosnia than in France,” he added.
According to Bosnian intelligence, 241 adults and 80 children left Bosnia or the Bosnian diaspora in 2012-2016 for Syria and Iraq, where 150 more children were born. About 100 adults, around a half of them women, remain there, while at least 88 have been killed or died.
In 2014, Bosnia became the first country in Europe to introduce prison terms of up to 10 years for its citizens who fight in conflict abroad or recruit others. Fighters who have since returned to the country were tried and, in most cases, sentenced to prison.”
Nigeria soldiers killed in ISWAP ambush near Damboa in Borno state
https://thedefensepost.com/2019/11/07/nigeria-soldiers-killed-damboa-ambush-iswap-muchima/
“At least 10 Nigerian soldiers were killed and nine severely injured in an ambush near Damboa later claimed by Islamic State, military sources told AFP on Thursday.
Another 12 soldiers were missing after a column of troops on patrol was ambushed on Wednesday, November 6 in the Damboa district of Borno state, a military officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.
News of the latest deadly incident in northeast Nigeria came as ISIS propaganda agency Amaq released images that it said showed members of Islamic State’s West Africa Province affiliate pledging their loyalty to the new ISIS “Caliph.”
“We lost 10 troops in the intense fighting with the terrorists who ambushed our soldiers conducting a clearance operation in the area,” said the officer, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak about the incident.
“Nine soldiers were injured and 12 are still missing.”
A second military officer who gave the same casualty toll said the troops came under attack while returning to their base in Damboa…”
US adds al-Qaeda-linked Mali firebrand Amadou Kouffa to global terrorist list
https://thedefensepost.com/2019/11/07/amadou-kouffa-global-terrorist-mali-jnim-katiba-macina-al-qaeda/
“The U.S. State Department on Thursday, November 7 placed Mali-born radical preacher Amadou Kouffa on its Specially Designated Global Terrorist list, putting a new focus on the militant blamed for multiple attacks in the Sahel.
A member of the Fulani herding community, Kouffa has built a following among the young with fiery sermons urging a hardline form of Islam that have been disseminated widely by mobile app WhatsApp.
Kouffa is a senior figure in the variously spelled Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin – the Group to Support Islam and Muslims – better known as JNIM.
Led by Iyad Ag Ghaly, JNIM was formed in March 2017 from a merger of several smaller militant groups including the Sahara branch of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Al-Mourabitoun and Ansar Dine.
Kouffa leads Katiba Macina, an Ansar Dine affiliate active in central Mali and western Burkina Faso.
JNIM’s leadership has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
The majority of insurgent attacks in Africa’s Sahel region are attributed to JNIM, and the State Department said the alliance, itself designated as a terrorist group last year, is to blame for the deaths of more than 500 civilians.
JNIM regularly reinforces its opposition to “occupier” France, and in September warned the governments of the G5 Sahel group of states that attacks against their forces would continue while they support the France-led Operation Barkhane counter-terrorism mission in the Sahel.
That threat was underscored in late September, when at least 40 Malian soldiers were killed in simultaneous raids claimed by JNIM in Boulkessi and Mondoro, near central Mali’s border with Burkina Faso, one of the deadliest attacks against Mali’s military in recent insurgent violence. The troops in Boulkessi were from a battalion under G5 Sahel Joint Force command.
The U.S. Treasury Department listing says Amadou Kouffa was born in 1958, and is also known as Hamadou Kouffa, Hamadoun Kouffa and Amadou Barry.
“Today’s designation seeks to deny Kouffa the resources to plan and carry out terrorist attacks,” the State Department said.
The designation – which makes any dealings with Kouffa a crime in the United States – came two days after France said it had killed another senior JNIM figure, Ali Maychou…”
IRGC Chief: Iran Turning Threats Into Opportunities
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/11/07/2135497/irgc-chief-iran-turning-threats-into-opportunities
“The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) reminded the enemies of the inevitable failure of their pressures and threats against the Islamic Republic, saying Iran turns every single threat into an opportunity…”
Engineer Charged with Sending Trade Secrets to Iran
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1980986/engineer-charged-sending-trade-secrets-iran
“Federal prosecutors in Detroit have charged an engineer with sending corporate trade secrets to a brother in Iran.
Amin Hasanzadeh of Ypsilanti is also accused of lying on immigration forms by failing to disclose his service in the Iranian military.
He has permanent resident status in the US, commonly referred to as a green card.
The FBI said the 42-year-old Hasanzadeh sent confidential documents to Iran while working at a Michigan company that serves the auto and aerospace industries.
The government said his responsibilities included work on a supercomputer that had aerospace applications. The alleged scheme occurred in 2015 and 2016, reported The Associated Press.
Hasanzadeh appeared in court Wednesday and asked for an attorney. He stated he works at the University of Michigan. He is in custody until a Friday hearing.”
Albanian Boy Freed from ISIS Camp on Way Home to Italy
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1981016/albanian-boy-freed-isis-camp-way-home-italy
“An Albanian boy who was taken to Syria by his mother when she joined the ISIS group has been freed from a crowded detention camp in northeastern Syria and is on track to return home to Italy with his father, Red Cross and Red Crescent officials said Thursday.
The story of 11-year-old Alvin, who found himself with no family at the al-Hol camp after his mother died amid fighting in northeast Syria, has captivated public attention in Italy after a glitzy TV news show reported on his father’s agonized efforts to bring him home.
The evacuation also comes amid the shifting strategic landscape in Syria’s northeast. The Kurdish-led forces that run al-Hol camp have recently aligned themselves with the Syrian regime, after they were effectively abandoned by the US after years of fighting ISIS together…”
Dutch ISIS Militant Involved in Plot to Bomb Russian Aircraft in 2015
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1980716/dutch-isis-militant-involved-plot-bomb-russian-aircraft-2015
“An Australian convicted of terrorism has implicated a Danish national in the plot to blow up a Russian aircraft that crashed in 2015 shortly after taking-off from Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh airport, a Danish newspaper reported on Wednesday.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the bombing, which killed 224 people.
In a report published on its website, DR Newspaper said its information was based on statements made by Khalid al-Khayat.
Khayat was convicted in Australia earlier this year on charges of planning to blow up a passenger plane carrying 400 people during a flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi in 2017.
The paper said Danish and other foreign intelligence believe that the Danish, Bassil Hassan, is also involved in 2017’s incident.
It noted that the terrorist didn’t succeed to carry out this attack after the Australian police confiscated a meat chopping machine with explosives hidden inside.
It also explained that Khayat told the police that those who tried to blow up the plane in Sydney were also behind the bombing of the Russian aircraft above Egypt.
The Danish newspaper pointed out that its information is also based on court documents in Australia, adding that it confirms that Hassan was a key figure in ISIS “foreign operations.”
Hassan has been put on the wanted list since February 2013, when he disguised as a postman in an attempt to kill Lars Hedegaard, a writer known for criticizing Muslims, the paper said.
According to the police, Hassan fled Denmark to Lebanon and then to Syria, where he joined ISIS.
The paper pointed out that Hassan has been reported more than once that he was killed, but this has not been officially confirmed.”
Erdogan Says Turkey Will Let Refugees into Europe if EU Does Not Support it
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1981071/erdogan-says-turkey-will-let-refugees-europe-if-eu-does-not-support-it
“Turkey will have to open the doors to Europe for Syrian refugees unless the European Union provides Ankara with enough support, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, adding that Turkey could not carry that burden alone.
Turkey aims to establish a “safe zone” in northeast Syria, where it says up to 2 million Syrian refugees can settle once the region is cleared of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units.
Ankara has repeatedly urged the EU to help Turkey in hosting more than 3.5 million refugees.
“Whether we receive support or not, we will continue to aid the guests we are hosting. But, if this doesn’t work out, then we will have to open the doors,” Erdogan told a news conference alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest.”
How Saudi Arabia infiltrated Twitter with bribes and bling
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/twitter-saudi-arabia-bling-spying-bribes
No Nut November (The Coomer)
Erdogan says U.S. not fulfilling Syria promises, ahead of Trump talks
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-turkey/erdogan-says-u-s-not-fulfilling-syria-promises-ahead-of-trump-talks-idUSKBN1XH12G
“Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused the United States and Russia on Thursday of failing to fulfill their part of a deal for Kurdish militia to leave a Syrian region bordering Turkey, and said he would raise this with President Donald Trump next week…”
Iraqi forces kill 10 protesters in Baghdad and Basra
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-protests/iraqi-forces-kill-10-protesters-in-baghdad-and-basra-idUSKBN1XH0JG
“Iraqi security forces shot dead at least six anti-government protesters in Baghdad on Thursday and killed four others as they broke up a sit-in in the southern city of Basra, police and medical sources said…”
Dozens feared missing day after deadly ambush near Canadian-run mine in Burkina Faso
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-semafo-attack/dozens-feared-missing-day-after-deadly-ambush-near-canadian-run-mine-in-burkina-faso-idUSKBN1XH1JS
“Dozens of people were feared still missing on Thursday after an ambush on workers near a Canadian-owned mine in Burkina Faso killed at least 37, the worst such attack for years in a country plagued by jihadist violence…”
Antifa Attacks Escalate in German City
ISIS fighters disguised as women caught by Afghan forces in Nangarhar
https://www.khaama.com/isis-fighters-disguised-as-women-caught-by-afghan-forces-in-nangarhar-04310/
“The Afghan forces arrested four ISIS Khurasan militants who had disguised as women and were attempting to escape the operations in Nangarhar province.
According to a statement released by Governor’s Office in Nangarhar, the Afghan forces arrested the ISIS fighters in Achin district.
The statement further added that the Afghan forces arrested the ISIS fighters in Achin district on Wednesday.
The ISIS sympathizers have not commented in this regard so far.
Nangarhar is among relatively volatile provinces in East of Afghanistan where both Taliban and ISIS Khurasan groups have presence in some of its remote districts.
The Taliban and ISIS Khurasan militants often attempt to carry out attacks in this province.
Meanwhile, the Afghan forces routinely conduct counter-terrorism operations against the anti-government armed groups in this province.
The U.S. forces also conduct regular airstrikes in restive parts of the country to suppress Taliban and other anti-government militants.”
Ireland Can Turn The Corner
Turkey detains 17 foreign nationals over ISIL ties
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-detains-17-foreign-nationals-over-isil-ties-148430
“Turkish police detained 17 foreign nationals on Nov. 7 suspected of being linked to the terrorist organization ISIL in the capital Ankara.
Turkey has been attacked by ISIL terrorists numerous times since 2013, including in 10 suicide bombings, seven bombings, and four armed attacks which killed 315 people and injured hundreds.
In response to these attacks, Turkey launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad, neutralizing 3,500 Daesh/ISIS terrorists and arresting 5,500.”
Turkey condemns UEFA for military salute probe in football
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-condemns-uefa-for-military-salute-probe-in-football-148414
“Turkey condemned European football’s governing body UEFA on Nov. 7 for their discriminatory treatment of Turkish national team and clubs over celebratory salutes.
President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said in a news conference in the Turkish capital Ankara that UEFA should be aware of this wrongdoing.
“When it comes to Turkey and Turkish athletes, the attitude [of UEFA] changes,” Erdo?an said, adding that Europe’s football body should not let sports be politicized with their wrong decisions.
He said that the UEFA action targeting Turkish athletes’ solidarity with the Turkish army means “an obvious unlawfulness” as it described these celebrations “provocative political behavior”.
Erdo?an added that Turkish athletes representing their country abroad faced a “systematical lynch campaign” since the launch of Turkey’s cross border anti-terror operation dubbed Peace Spring.
Turkish players in all sports especially football have been celebrating by a salute in tribute to the Turkish soldiers engaged on the frontline…”
Italy: Lamorgese says ‘phantom’ landings up, 7,500 in 2019
http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2019/11/07/lamorgese-says-phantom-landings-up-7500-in-2019_4b87f6fc-e1b8-4bfa-8ea7-b7c896a535f2.html
“Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese on Thursday said that the number of autonomous migrant landings, also known as “phantom” landings, totaled 7,510 since the beginning of the year through November 4.
Phantom landings are those in which migrants arrive autonomously on Italian shores or are discovered only after they have arrived in port or on land.
Lamorgese presented the data to the Italian Parliament’s Schengen Commission.
She said the number is up compared to last year, when there were a total of 6,000 autonomous landings for the entire year.
Lamorgese said the upward trend began in April 2019, peakinging September and October.
Regarding the overall number of disembarkations, Lamorgese said a total of 9,944 migrants have arrived on Italian shores since the start of the year through November 7, 55% less than the same period last year.
In terms of departure countries, interior ministry figures as of October 31 showed a total of 3,491 migrants departed from Tunisia, 2,826 from Libya, 2,431 from Turkey and Greece, and 872 from Algeria, “with disembarkations spread across the coasts of Sicily, Calabria, and Sardinia”.”
Danish customs seizes 12,000 illegal weapons in one year
https://www.thelocal.dk/20191107/danish-customs-seize-12000-illegal-weapons-in-one-year
“Increased staff numbers and better scanning equipment have resulted in a marked increase in customs confiscations of illegal weapons.
The last three years have seen a seven-fold increase in the number of illegal weapons seized by the Danish Customs Agency (Toldstyrelsen).
The agency has clamped down on the area, an important measure according to tax minister Morten Bødskov.
“Recent years have seen customs officers at the border and the airport register a consistent increase in illegal weapons. That is evidence of a big problem which we must come down hard on,” Bødskov said.
In 2015, the customs agency confiscated around 1,400 illegal weapons, a figure that increased to 12,000 in 2018.
The trend appears to be continuing this year, with 9,400 illegal weapons seized in the first nine months.
In addition to increasing the number of customs officers, better equipment for scanning parcels has contributed to the results.
The confiscated weapons include knives, throwing stars, pepper sprays, brass knuckles and switchblades.
Other weapons made to resemble everyday objects like cards that can fold out into knives or tasers that look like torches have also been detected.
When packages containing illegal weapons are detected, they are reported to police who contact the package’s recipient on suspicion of breaking Danish weapons laws.”
Germany must repatriate IS-linked mother and children, says court
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-must-repatriate-is-linked-mother-and-children-says-court/a-51159144
“Three German children in northern Syrian and their one-time “Islamic State”-affiliated mother must be brought back by Germany’s federal government. That’s been confirmed by a regional appeal court in Berlin…”
Turkey using Interpol to track down dissidents (DW, Nov 7, 2019)
https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-using-interpol-to-track-down-dissidents/a-51159723
“Ankara doesn’t take kindly to critics — and has been using Interpol to hunt down Turkish dissidents in Germany and elsewhere. An exclusive DW report.
Turkey’s government is making extensive use of Interpol to issue arrest warrants and gather information about Turkish citizens in Germany. Since the attempted coup in July 2016, Ankara has called on Interpol 1,252 times to either extradite or provide information on Turkish nationals living in Germany.
This information was revealed following a parliamentary inquiry submitted by the socialist Left party.
The figures, seen by DW, break down into 1,168 red notices — requests to arrest and extradite Turkish citizen to Turkey — and 84 blue notices, or requests to collect information on a person’s identity, location or activities.
The uncommonly high number is a matter of deep concern for Left party lawmaker Andrej Hunko, who believes “Interpol is being instrumentalized” to hunt down and silence Turkish dissidents. He says Interpol’s sole purpose is to combat crime, and that its legal framework prohibits investigations launched on political grounds.
Violating Interpol’s constitution
Article 3 of Interpol’s constitution states that “it is strictly forbidden for the Organization to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.”
Nevertheless, Interpol is acutely aware of the risk that member states may abuse red notices for political reasons. That’s why, in 2018, the organization established the Notices and Diffusions Task Force, consisting of seven legal experts from Slovakia, Croatia, Ukraine, Sweden and Germany.
Their task is to scrutinize the 80,000-odd arrest warrants that have been submitted to Interpol and determine if any of them violate Article 3. Last year, the German government announced that Interpol had already found 130 instances of such violations going back to January 2014.
But Hunko wants Interpol to do more than just review all the red notices; he’s calling on the organization to examine the blue notices as well, which request that authorities gather information about a person’s whereabouts. He says Ankara has been abusing this second option in order to track down and abduct Turkish dissents abroad.
Ankara tracking down dissidents
Again and again, Germans of Turkish descent have been arrested abroad on international arrest warrants on Turkey’s behalf. Several of these cases made headlines in recent years.
Among them was 54-year-old Ismet Kilic, who was granted political asylum in Germany over 20 years ago and now lives in Duisburg. He was arrested in Slovenia in August on Turkey’s request, but Interpol decided that his arrest was unlawful in September. Kilic, meanwhile, was held in custody until mid-October.
Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office received the international arrest warrant for Kilic in the summer of 2013, yet failed to inform him or warn him of the risk of arrest abroad.
The case of Cologne-based novelist Dogan Akhanli is similar. In 2017, he was arrested in Spain on request of Turkey. Even though Akhanli has German citizenship, he was barred from leaving Spain for two months.
Ankara accuses Interpol of double standards
On Monday, Turkish Deputy Interior Minister Ismail Catakli said Interpol had so far rejected 646 Turkish arrest warrants, of which 462 had targeted supporters of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara have identified as the mastermind of a failed 2016 coup. A further 115 rejected warrants targeted members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a guerrilla campaign inside Turkey since the 1980s.
According to Catakli, Interpol had not, however, objected to 66 arrest warrants targeting “Islamic State” (IS) fighters. He also said there were still 784 outstanding international arrest warrants for PKK members.
The Turkish government regards IS, the Gulen movement and the PKK as terrorist organizations. Catakli accused Interpol of double standards by treating these groups differently, facilitating the prosecution of some but not others.”
“How Brazil Could Change All of Latin America”
By Joshua Philipp – November 6, 2019 Updated: November 7, 2019
https://www.theepochtimes.com/how-brazil-could-change-all-of-latin-america_3139203.html
“How Brazil Could Change All of Latin America”
Crossroads with Joshua Philipp – Premiered November 6, 2019
“Watch: New York Times Presents 1619 Project Memorializing 400th Anniversary Of Slavery In America” by Tim Hains – August 19, 2019
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/08/19/watch_new_york_times_presents_1619_project_memorializing_400th_anniversary_of_slavery_in_america.html
“The 1619 Project and the Fight for the Minds and Hearts of American Children”
by Clifford Humphrey – August 28, 2019 Updated: September 3, 2019
https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-1619-project-and-the-fight-for-the-minds-and-hearts-of-american-children_3056612.html
“1619, Slavery, the Founding, and All That”
by Bradley J. Birzer – September 8, 2019
https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2019/09/1619-project-slavery-founding-bradley-birzer.html