Reader’s Links, November 26, 2019

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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

107 Replies to “Reader’s Links, November 26, 2019”

  1. Residents of Dytopia’s capital city should brace themselves for an even greater increase in crime. Its new diversity-hire police chief believes in seeing cockroaches through a “…harm reduction wellness lens…”, and will solve the city’s problems through an “…equity, diversity and inclusion action plan…”.

    The language of the Woke has rarely sounded so exquisitely excremental:

    https://ottawasun.com/news/local-news/demonstrable-continuous-progress-sloly-reveals-more-of-his-vision-for-policing-in-ottawa/wcm/d3e1e5ed-2f10-437d-b982-a21d1b042e76

  2. Because she’s accused of being Islamophobic: Viennese students protest against German feminist Alice Schwarzer+++
    The student body of the Vienna University of Applied Arts (hufak) protests against an invitation of the German journalist and feminist Alice Schwarzer.Schwarzer was invited by a dean to a panel discussion followed by a discussion on the 25th of November.In a statement, the student body explained in an initial statement that the founder and editor of the women’s magazine “Emma” was spreading her anti-Muslim racism “under the guise of feminism”. Schwarzer’s views would be “outdated and unacceptable”, according to the students. In addition, the hufak criticises an incident at the Goethe University in Frankfurt in May this year where there was a violent clash between the women’s rights activist and a Muslim protester,
    On several videos you could see a woman with a headscarf yelling at Schwarzer that she should not touch her: “Don’t touch me! Otherwise I’ll report you to the police”, whereupon Schwarzer provocatively replies: “I thought only men were not allowed to touch you”.
    The students of the Applied Arts University now demand from their university a “clear position against people who constantly express themselves in a racist, transphobic and sex-work hostile manner”.At the request of the newspaper HEUTE, the University of Applied Arts announced that it had already held a clarifying discussion with the student representatives. The criticism of the hufak was taken note of.However, it was clear from the outset that the lecture would not be cancelled under any circumstances, precisely because Schwarzer was controversial with some students.The university says: ” Debates are also important”.
    More:
    https://searchlight-germany.blogspot.com/2019/11/because-shes-accused-of-being.html

  5. Two Killed, Several Injured in IED Blast in Kashmir (sputniknews, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://sputniknews.com/asia/201911261077406522-two-killed-several-injured-in-ied-blast-in-kashmir/

    “At least two people were killed and five injured on Tuesday in an IED blast in the Anantnag district on the Indian-side of Kashmir, police said.

    Initial information revealed that one of the dead was as local village representative Peer Rafi Ahmad while another was from the fisheries department. Four of the injured have been admitted to a local hospital while one government official has been taken to Srinagar.

    Tuesday marks the second day of the second phase of the Indian government’s flagship ‘Back to Village’ outreach programme that is aimed to provide governance to the rural populace. Senior government officials including the lieutenant governor of the state, will be visiting various Halqa Panchayats in both Kashmir and Jammu Divisions between 25 and 30 November.

    The state police also confirmed another blast in Srinagar in which at least three people were injured…”

  6. Exclusive: China sets up Hong Kong crisis center in mainland, considers replacing chief liaison

    HONG KONG/SHENZHEN, China (Reuters) – Tightening control over efforts to manage the upheaval in Hong Kong, the Chinese leadership has set up a crisis command center on the mainland side of the border and is considering replacing its official liaison to the restive semi-autonomous city, people familiar with the matter said.

    As violent protests roil Hong Kong, top Chinese leaders in recent months have been managing their response from a villa on the outskirts of Shenzhen, bypassing the formal bureaucracy through which Beijing has supervised the financial hub for two decades.

    https://www.oann.com/exclusive-china-sets-up-hong-kong-crisis-center-in-mainland-considers-replacing-chief-liaison/

  7. The myth of an epidemic of racist police shootings is wrong and dangerous
    By Daily Caller News Foundation November 25, 2019

    A dangerous myth has been propagated by the media: that there is an epidemic of racially biased shootings of black people (primarily black men) in America, by the police.

    The false narrative claims that individual police officers, motivated by overt racism or implicit racial bias, are rampantly targeting black Americans. Some go further to allege these shootings are proof of “systemic racism” within American law enforcement. Nonstop broadcast of the anti-police message by radical activists, Hollywood celebrities, professional athletes, politicians, academics, and most mainstream media outlets have made this myth pervasive. The myth, and the powerful voices who perpetuate it, are rarely challenged — even by law enforcement leaders. The result has been fear, distrust, hatred of the police, and a breakdown of the rule of law.

    However, this destructive delusion has been completely demolished by a recent study that demonstrates there is no epidemic of racially biased police shootings of black people, that black citizens are not more likely to be shot by white officers, and that the shooting of unarmed people of any race is extraordinarily rare. In fact, an individual American citizen is substantially more likely to be struck by lightning than he is to be shot by the police while unarmed.

    https://libertyunyielding.com/2019/11/25/the-myth-of-an-epidemic-of-racist-police-shootings-is-wrong-and-dangerous/

  8. Schiff says he won’t testify if called to do so in the Senate’s impeachment trial
    By LU Staff November 25, 2019

    Adam Schiff is nothing if not hypocritical. During his two-week Democratic-run impeachment inquiry sham, he intimated that the House might charge Donald Trump with was obstruction of justice for instructing certain witnesses not to testify. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, Schiff is singing a different tune. When asked on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday whether he would testify in a Senate impeachment trial, as the president had demanded, he replied no, adding:

    https://libertyunyielding.com/2019/11/25/schiff-says-he-wont-testify-if-called-to-do-so-in-the-senates-impeachment-trial/

    Richard: One rule for me another for thee.

  9. Turkey’s Newly-Acquired S-400s Scan Sky for F-16 Jets As Part of Military Exercise – Video (sputniknews, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201911261077406470-turkeys-newly-acquired-s-400s-scan-sky-for-f-16-jets-as-part-of-military-exercise—video/

    “Turkey has acquired Russian air defence systems this year under a deal signed in 2017. The systems are expected to become operational by April 2020; and Ankara has not ruled out the possibility of purchasing an additional batch of S-400s in the future.

    Turkey conducted a series of tests of Russian-made S-400s in Ankara Province on Monday and Tuesday, according to the ?hlas News Agency.

    The exercise involved US F-16 Fighting Falcon jets flying at low altitudes, while the Russian-made defence systems scanned the airspace.

    The tests took place at a time when the United States is urging Turkey to abandon the S-400s by “destroying, returning or somehow getting rid of them.”…”

    • Pompeo Brands Turkey’s S-400 Tests ‘Concerning’ as Ankara Seeks Further Talks With Washington (sputniknews, Nov 26, 2019)
      https://sputniknews.com/us/201911261077409295-mike-pompeo-iran-sanctions-human-rights/

      “During a press briefing on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo specifically focused on Washington’s approach to Turkey testing S-400 missile systems and the likelihood of further sanctions on Iran.

      US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has expressed alarm over Turkey’s tests of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system which began this week.

      “Yes, it’s concerning. We are hopeful, we are still talking to the Turks, we are still trying to figure out the way through this thing. We have made very clear to the Turkish government our desire to see them move away from putting into full operationalization the S-400 weapons system,” Pompeo told reporters on Tuesday.

      The statement comes after Turkey started testing the radars of the S-400 air defence system on Monday, a process that involves scrambling F-16 fighters and other airplanes, media reported on Monday citing a military source. The aircraft are supposed to simulate raids on Turkey’s capital Ankara to check if the S-400 radar detects them…”

  10. Erdogan Calls On Turks to ‘Leave the Dollar’ and Convert to Turkish Lira (sputniknews, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://sputniknews.com/world/201911261077405949-erdogan-calls-on-turks-to-leave-the-dollar-and-convert-to-turkish-lira/

    “Since mid-2018, Turkey has faced mounting financial woes, with the lira devaluating after several rounds of interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve and amid the heightened geostrategic tensions with its NATO allies.

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Turks to convert their foreign currency to Turkish lira, asking them to “leave the dollar”.

    “Leave the dollar and the rest. Let’s turn to our money, the Turkish lira. The Turkish lira doesn’t lose value anymore. Let’s show our patriotism like this,” Erdogan said.
    Recep Tayyip Erdogan also added that Turkey plans to have its own locally made fighter jet ready in 5-6 years amid an ongoing dispute with the United States over the purchase of F-35 jets.

    In 2019 lira has dropped 10 percent, as the Turkish government has delayed key economic reforms amid the rising political tensions within the country.

    In 2018 Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his country would boycott US electronic goods, citing “an economic attack” against Turkey. He continued to say that Turks should instead opt for locally produced gadgets or those manufactured by Turkey’s economic partners, possibly “new” ones, in a bid to strengthen the lira.

    Turkish national currency collapsed amid geopolitical tensions and deteriorating relations with the United States.

    In mid-September last year, the central bank raised its key rate by 625 basis points to 24 percent per annum, which helped strengthen the Turkish lira.”

  11. Thirteen French Soldiers Die as Two Helicopters Collide During Anti-Terror Raid in Mali (sputniknews, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://sputniknews.com/africa/201911261077404290-macrons-office-13-french-soldiers-killed-in-helicopter-accident-during-anti-terror-raid-in-mali/

    “France has been conducting, along with the governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, a military operation against Islamist insurgents in the territories south of Sahara.

    Two helicopters carrying French soldiers collided in midair on Monday, 25 November, during an operation against jihadists in Mali, the French president’s office has said in a statement.

    The Elysee Palace confirmed the death of 13 French troops in the accident between a Tigre and a Cougar helicopter, which took place in the region of Sahel, south-western Mali.

    According to the statement, among the victims were six army officers, six non-commissioned officers, and one corporal. It was France’s biggest single military loss in more than three decades, since 58 soldiers were killed in the bombing in Beirut in October 1983.

    There has been no word on what caused the collision.

    French Defence Minister Florence Parly promised that the incident wouldn’t deter France in the fight against terrorism.

    “We receive valuable support from our European allies and join forces to protect Europe from the scourge of terrorism”, she told reporters on Tuesday. “We stand tall, united, resilient. It is this solidarity which strengthens us, which allows us to continue the fight,” the minister added…”

  13. Corbyn rages as he blames Boris for ‘rise of NAZIS’ in UK (express, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1209520/election-2019-jeremy-corbyn-boris-johnson

    “JEREMY CORBYN has insinuated that policies of the Conservative and Brexit parties are similar to those championed by fascism in 1920’s Europe.

    Speaking during Labour’s Faith and Race manifesto launch, Mr Corbyn said: “What we’re faced within this country, and across Europe and in the United States is a rise of the intolerant far right, the far right that can only ever seek to give out a message of division and hatred. They walk in the footsteps of the Nazis of the 1920s in their hatred.” The Labour leader took a thinly veiled shot at his opponents by exploring the reactionary policies of the Nazi’s whilst delivering his vision for race relations in the UK.

    He said: “Blaming economic problems on refugees, on migrants.

    “Blaming it on people who have suffered the most and often lead the poorest lives in our society.

    “And they seek to divide and when they finish with one scapegoat, be it, refugees, they move on to migrants workers to European workers they move on to somebody else and they keep doing it.”

    Since the end of World War II in 1945, few parties have openly described themselves as fascist, and the term is instead now usually used pejoratively by political opponents.

    Mr Corbyn highlighted hatred as a fuel for far right populism.

    He said: “When you’ve created all that hate and all that division and all that nastiness in society, have you built a school, have you built a hospital, have you trained a doctor, no, you’ve achieved absolutely nothing but the empowerment of those who want to divide people.

    “We will do everything to challenge the rise of the far-right in our society.

    “The rise of Islamophobia and mosques and temples.”

    Last year the Labour leader backed a call for an inquiry into allegations of Islamophobia within the Conservative Party…”

  15. EU FARCE: Macron and Merkel finally admit bloc is not democratic and plan urgent overhaul (express, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1209385/EU-news-Emmanuel-Macron-France-Angela-Merkel-Germany-Conference-on-the-Future-of-Europe

    “EMMANUEL MACRON and Angela Merkel have drawn up a two-year blueprint to give the European Union a much-needed democratic overhaul.

    The EU heavyweights have proposed a “Conference on the Future of Europe” to “address all issues at stake” as the bloc seeks to rebuild after Brexit. Initial talks will focus on “EU democratic functioning” and its process for selecting future leaders after an institutional row over Ursula von der Leyen’s appointment as European Commission president. The German was eventually appointed after a backroom stitch-up by EU leaders, much to the frustrations of the democratically elected members of the European Parliament. The plan promises a “bottom-up process” allowing EU taxpayers to finally vent their frustrations and help shape the Brussels project’s future.

    The Franco-German non-paper says: “As proposed by the new European Commission, the process should follow two phases, on the basis of on inter-institutional mandate to be agreed in January 2020.

    “The mandate / institutional setting could be simplified for phase 1, to ensure an early start.

    “Phase one would start as early as February 2020, until the summer of 2020, and focus on issues related to EU democratic functioning.”

    Senior EU figures want the so-called Spitzenkandidaten process overhauled after it was ignored by leaders to select Mrs von der Leyen as Commission chief.

    Supporters of the process, which states the top candidate from the largest political group in the European Parliament takes the top job, were left seething after it was essentially thrown out of the window.

    Senior German MEP Manfred Weber decried the way Mrs von der Leyen was handpicked by EU leaders.

    Writing for Politico, he said: “The Parliament’s democratic mandate is beyond doubt. More than 200 million people voted in the last European Parliament election — nearly 50 percent more than in the last presidential election in the United States.

    “And yet, there are many in Brussels and other European capitals who prefer to make decisions through quick backroom deals, in which the direct choice of the voters becomes victim to personal power games.

    “As members of the Parliament, we failed in our attempt to put in place a lead-candidate — or Spitzenkandidat — system to allow European citizens an opportunity to elect the president of the Commission. But we cannot stay licking our wounds.

    “The time has come to adjust our checks and balances and give more weight to parliamentary democracy. Indeed, we have a duty to translate the interests and concerns of the people who have voted for us into a representative voice in EU decision-making.”

    Germany will become the conference’s first arbiter in the second phase when the country takes over the bloc’s rotating presidency in July next year.

    And France will become its final overseer just two years later when Paris holds the same role.

    The paper adds: “Phase 2 focusing on policy priorities should be launched in mid-2020 and be closed in early 2022.

    “The involvement of all EU Member states and midterm reviews would ensure ownership and structure the process.

    The end goal for Paris and Berlin is to make the EU “more united and sovereign”.

    The first planned brainstorming over the bloc’s future is proposed for next month’s summit of European leaders.

    Mr Macron will eventually claim credit for the blueprint after he first raised the proposal in a letter to Europeans ahead of the EU Parliament election in May.

    His plans have already been endorsed by Mrs von der Leyen, who looks finally set to take office next month with a EU Parliament vote schedule on her team of commissioners this week.

    While the blueprint does not offer much in the way of clarity, Paris and Berlin agree that the conference should be headed up by a “senior European personality”, who would act as an interlocutor between the Commission, Council and Parliament.

    “The Conference should commit itself already in the inter-institutional mandate to produce tangible and concrete results,” it says.

    The plan adds: “The final document with recommendations should be presented to the EUCO for debate and implementation.””

    Guy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister and the EU Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator, has been touted for the senior role.

    Whoever secures the job will be tasked with overhauling almost every EU policy area over the two-year process.

    “The Conference should address all issues at stake to guide the future of Europe with a view to making the EU more united and sovereign,” the two-page document says.

    “Such as Europe’s role in the world and its security/defence, neighbourhood, digitalisation, climate change, migration, fight against inequalities, our ‘social market economy’ model (including social rights, industrial and innovation policy, trade, EMU, competitiveness), the rule of law and European values.”

    EU ambassadors will discuss the plans at a meeting on Wednesday.”

  16. British children orphaned after their family travelled to Syria are back in the UK and ‘as happy as they possibly could be’, judge says (dailymail, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7727047/British-children-orphaned-family-travelled-Syria-UK-relatives.html

    “British children who were orphaned after their family travelled to Syria have arrived back in the UK and are with relatives, a High Court judge has said.

    Mr Justice Keehan says the children appear to be ‘as happy as the possibly could be’ in the circumstances.

    The judge, who has considered issues relating to the children’s welfare at private hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London, revealed detail of their return in a written ruling published online on Tuesday.

    He did not say how many children were involved, or give their sexes or ages, and he has ruled that the youngsters cannot be identified in media reports of the case…”

  17. Judge bans noisy anti-LGBT protesters gathering outside school gates (telegraph, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/11/26/anti-lgbt-teaching-protests-permanently-banned-outside-birmingham/

    “Anti-LGBT equality teaching protests have been permanently banned from outside a primary school which witnessed weeks of noisy demonstrations, a judge has ruled.

    The ban, handed down at the High Court in Birmingham on Tuesday, includes an exclusion zone surrounding the city’s Anderton Park Primary School.

    The legal bid had been opposed by protesters, along with an interim ban first granted at the same court in the summer.

    Birmingham City Council was granted an order temporarily banning protesters from outside the school’s gates in June, over safety fears about repeated large-scale demonstrations, often involving people with no direct connection to the school.

    The injunction was made against three individuals – the protest’s main organisers Shakeel Afsar and Amir Ahmed, and parent Rosina Afsar, as well as “persons unknown”.

    Christian campaigner John Allman from Okehampton, Devon, had also opposed the legal bid, claiming it limited public protest.

    Headteacher Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson had previously described the demonstrations as “awful”, “toxic and nasty”, and has spoken of receiving threats as a result of the gatherings.

    Mr Afsar repeatedly claimed the weekly demonstrations, held just yards from classrooms and featuring megaphones and a sound-boosting PA system, were “peaceful”.

    The self-styled businessman, who has no children himself at the school, claimed protests were only triggered because the headteacher had not properly consulted parents about relationships teaching.

    He had argued education material used was not age appropriate, and further claimed the school was “over-emphasising a gay ethos”.

    Mrs Hewitt-Clarkson rejected the claims, saying the material was appropriate and great care had been taken in how children were taught about different relationships.

    She also told the judge, giving evidence at the injunction’s trial, that parents had had “numerous informal and formal chances to speak to us as a school” about any concerns.

    But describing a private meeting she had with Mr Afsar in her office, she said: “He slammed his hand on my desk. He used the word ‘demand’… It was volatile, it was aggressive.

    “I had never had a meeting like that before in 26 years of teaching.

    “He set up a WhatsApp group that afternoon … trying to whip up a frenzy.”

    Mr Justice Warby QC, handing down the permanent injunction at the High Court in Birmingham, said the protests had “a very significant adverse impact on the pupils, teachers and local residents”.

    Recounting claims made by speakers at the protests, including one that the school had a “paedophile agenda” and that staff were “teaching children how to masturbate”, the judge said: “None of this is true.”

    He added: “None of the defendants have suggested it was true and the council has proved it is not true.”

    Imposing the injunction, he said: “The court finds on the balance of probabilities the defendants bear responsibility for the most extreme manifestations (of the protest).”

    The injunction does not include an earlier ban on use of social media to abuse teaching staff.

    Mr Justice Warby added that what was being taught at the school had been “misrepresented and misunderstood” by the protesters.

    He said there had been leaflets handed out “suggesting the school was promoting homosexuality – which is not the case”.

    “This judgment notes that the true position has been misrepresented, sometimes grossly, in the course of these protests,” he added.”

  18. Man pleads guilty to terrorism offence and attempted murder after New Year’s Eve knife attack in Manchester (telegraph, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/11/26/man-pleads-guilty-terrorism-offence-attempted-murder-new-years/

    “Aman who launched a frenzied knife attack on commuters and police at Manchester Victoria railway station last New Year’s Eve has pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

    Mahdi Mohamud, 26, raised the fillet knife and walked up behind unsuspecting James Knox, screaming “Allahu Akbar!” and “Long live the Caliphate!” as he stabbed his victim repeatedly in the back, shoulders and head.

    He then turned the knife on Mr Knox’s companion, Anna Charlton, slashing her across the face after the couple, in their 50s, randomly crossed his path heading for a tram platform shortly before 9pm last December 31.

    British Transport Police (BTP) officers heard a blood-curdling scream and dashed to the scene.

    Pcs Ashleigh Williams, 27, and her colleague Marsha Selby, 28, along with two tram staff confronted Mohamud, who “like an animal” was “fixated” on stabbing and slashing, witnesses said…”

  20. Swedish Municipalities Who Took in Too Many Migrants Face Service Cuts (breitbart, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/11/26/swedish-municipalities-who-took-in-too-many-migrants-face-service-cuts/

    “Eight out of ten Swedish municipalities will be forced to make serious cuts to local services this year due to changing demographics and costs of newly arrived migrants.
    Just under half of the municipalities, 46 percent, plan cuts to disability services, while 50 percent say they will be making spending cuts in individual and family care in order to save money, Swedish broadcaster SVT reports.

    Göran Eriksson, the city manager for the municipality of Bengtsfors, said that his municipality relies heavily on subsidies and other programmes from the national government and would not be able to cope with the costs of social services and welfare without them.

    “We have been generous and received many new arrivals, but basically it is also a demographic problem. We have an ageing population and the municipality is shrinking,” he told the broadcaster.

    Among the measures planned to save money is a merger of those who handle migrant integration with those who work in the labour market and welfare. Street light usage is expected to be reduced by 20 percent and snow ploughing will only occur when there are higher levels of snowfall than previously.

    According to centre-right Moderate politician Anders Forsberg, the austerity measures are there in place of potential tax increases.

    Bengtfors lawmakers sounded the alarm in August, claiming that the municipality faced potential bankruptcy due to taking in far too many migrants that it could locally afford.

    “Costs in municipalities that have received new arrivals have continued to be substantial even when government revenues have stopped. This creates a large negative hole in the municipal cash register,” Moderate Party member Stig Bertilsson said.

    Several other local governments have expressed similar situations such as Hässleholm, whose City Council chairman Lars Johnsson said at least 100 of the migrants living in the munci0paity were illiterate and claimed it would be “impossible” to get them into work.”

  21. Russia warns Syria’s Kurds against relying on US support (abcnews, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russia-warns-syrias-kurds-relying-us-support-67315907

    “Russia’s foreign minister is warning Syria’s Kurds that relying on U.S. support “won’t bring them any good.”

    Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday accused Syria’s Kurds of failing to abide by a Russia-Turkey deal that halted a Turkish offensive into Syria.

    He says the Kurds are trying to stay allied with the U.S., and avoid engaging in dialogue with the Syrian government.

    U.S. and Kurdish-led forces fought the Islamic State group for years. Washington’s support allowed the Kurds to set up an independent government in eastern Syria.

    But American troops pulled out of most of the country in October, paving the way for Turkey’s offensive against the Kurds. Russia, which backs the Syrian government, helped broker a cease-fire.

    Lavrov dismissed the Kurdish claims of Turkey’s violations of the cease-fire.”

  22. Iran takes action against TV channel that aired protests (abcnews, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/iran-takes-action-tv-channel-aired-protests-67316871

    “Iran has imposed punitive measures on individuals associated with a London-based TV channel that aired videos of anti-government protests.

    The judiciary’s website said it imposed “judicial and legal restrictions” on property held by individuals associated with Iran International, without elaborating. The channel is believed to be linked to Saudi Arabia. Iran has accused Saudi Arabia and Western nations of fomenting the unrest.

    The Persian language channel had aired several videos of the anti-government protests that erupted across Iran last week in response to a fuel price hike.

    Amnesty International says at least 143 people were killed and that security forces fired on unarmed protesters.

    In 2017, BBC filed a complaint to the United Nations over Iran freezing the assets of more than 150 people linked to its Persian service.”

  23. Denmark withdraws passports from 2 foreign fighters (abcnews, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/denmark-withdraw-passport-foreign-fighter-67312841

    “Denmark’s government has withdrawn the Danish passports of two men who joined the Islamic State group — the first such cases since a new law was passed last month.

    Denmark’s immigration minister, Mattias Tesfaye, said Tuesday his ministry is looking into a total of four cases “where two have had their citizenship withdrawn.”

    The lawyer for one of the men — a 25-year-old man with dual Turkish citizenship who is wanted by Denmark — said she learned about the decision Monday and informed her client, whose location is not known.

    Mette Grith Stage told Danish media she would bring the ruling before Danish courts. The man reportedly joined the group in September 2013. He cannot be identified due to a court order.

    No information was given about the second man.

    On Oct. 24, Danish lawmakers voted in favor of a law allowing the withdrawal of Danish citizenship from foreign fighters with dual citizenship without courts being asked.”

  25. Dutch police arrest 2 men suspected of year-end terror plot (abcnews, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/dutch-police-arrest-men-suspected-year-end-terror-67319318

    “Police counterterror officers have arrested two men suspected of plotting a jihadi attack using suicide vests and one or more car bombs, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

    The two, aged 20 and 34, were arrested by anti-terror squads on Monday, according to a statement issued by the National Prosecutor’s Office.

    The men are suspected of plotting an attack around the end of the year. The exact target is not clear.

    Police who arrested the men and searched their homes found no explosives or firearms.

    An ax and a dagger were found concealed above the ceiling in one of the men’s homes in the town of Zoetermeer, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of The Hague, prosecutors said.

    The arrests followed an investigation launched in October following a tip off to police by the main Dutch intelligence agency that the suspects had the intention of staging an attack using explosives and were seeking training.

    Prosecutors said undercover police were used to monitor the suspects and gather evidence in the investigation.

    The Netherlands has long been at level four of a five-step scale of alertness for terrorist attacks, meaning that there is a “substantial” risk.

    In March, a Dutch man of Turkish descent opened fire in a tram in the central city of Utrecht, killing four people. Prosecutors say the gunman had a terrorist motive.”

  27. Young Voter Registrations Surge As Stormzy Announces Support for Jeremy Corbyn (sputniknews, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://sputniknews.com/europe/201911261077408803-young-voter-registrations-surge-as-stormzy-announces-support-for-jeremy-corbyn/

    “Rapper Stormzy has been a long-time supporter of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, urging fans and young people to vote for him against then Prime Minister Theresa May at the last general election. The surge in youth support has been credited with the loss of the Conservative majority in the June election of 2017.

    Over 150,000 young people under 25 applied to vote on the second last day before the registration deadline at 11.59pm on Tuesday, following grime artist Stormzy making an Instagram post urging supporters to register.

    The number is the biggest spike in registrations since 22 May 2017, which was the deadline day to register for the the snap general election, which saw the ruling Conservative Party lose its majority.

    ?In an Instagram post, the rapper urged his audience to apply to vote before explaining his support for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

    The rapper called Prime Minister Boris Johnson a “sinister man with a long record of lying.”

    “It is very, very, very important that every single person who reads this goes and registers to vote. ‘Don’t sit there and think, ‘my one little voice ain’t gonna do anything’ – your vote is CRUCIAL”.

    He added that be believed the Labour leader is “committed to giving the power back to the people.”

    The rapper’s comments were attacked by Michael Gove who said the star was “better at rap than politics”….”

  28. Iraqi Air Force Strikes Daesh Fuel, Vehicle Storage Facilities – CENTCOM (sputniknews, Nov 26, 2019)
    https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201911261077409365-iraqi-air-force-strikes-daesh-fuel-vehicle-storage-facilities—centcom/

    “The Iraqi Air Forces have carried out a successful airstrike on the Daesh* terror group fuel and vehicle storage facilities and bed-down locations, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) said in a press release on Tuesday.

    “Two Iraqi Air Force 9th Fighter Squadron F-16s dropped two precision-guided munitions weighing 2,000 pounds each during an Iraqi-led operation to defeat Daesh [Islamic State] fuel and vehicle storage facilities and bed-down locations,” the release said. “The Iraqi Air Force led the effort to include the pre-brief, execution and debrief of the mission.”
    After the strike, Salah ad-Din operations commander Iraqi Maj. Gen. Abd al-Muhsin al-Abbasi ordered a ground clearance operation to assess the strike as well as to gather intelligence, according to the release.

    “The combination of effects delivered by the Iraqi Air Force and Iraqi Security Forces on this target serves as an example of Iraqi-led joint planning and execution of joint fires and maneuver as a product of the ongoing training and advising mission of the Coalition,” the release said…”

  31. “I Have Initiated the Destruction of the Republic!” – BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: Adulterous Attorney Kevin Clinesmith After First Carter Page FISA App Originated

    Obama’s FBI became the place where corrupt actors had promiscuous affairs, ignored crimes from those they liked, prosecuted made up and fraudulent crimes from those they disliked and ruined lives ruthlessly in the process. It will take years, if ever, to mend the reputation of today’s FBI.

    One set of FBI lovers have been in the news for the past few years. This disgusting couple, Creepy Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, reportedly maintained an affair while letting Hillary Clinton off of all charges related to her email crimes. They then used taxpayer funded dollars to text each other on their FBI phones and email each other on their FBI laptops about their affair while on company time. They then became the key players in the greatest scandal in US history, the Mueller Special Counsel.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/11/i-have-initiated-the-destruction-of-the-republic-breaking-exclusive-adulterous-attorney-kevin-clinesmith-after-first-carter-page-fisa-app-originated/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailyam&utm_content=daily

  33. 59-Year-Old Texas Woman Killed in Feral Hog Attack

    No, she wasn’t hunting. No, she wasn’t out in the sticks somewhere. Chirstine Rollins was visiting the home of a client in Anahuac, Texas, an exurb east of Houston just south of I-10 when she was set upon by feral hogs.

    From the scene the local sheriff found, it appears that she was attacked in her client’s yard after she got out of her car in the home’s driveway early Sunday morning.

    https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/59-year-old-texas-woman-killed-in-feral-hog-attack/?utm_source=wideopen&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wos_daily&utm_content=%5B%5Brssitem_title%5D%5D

  34. 59-Year-Old Texas Woman Killed in Feral Hog Attack

    No, she wasn’t hunting. No, she wasn’t out in the sticks somewhere. Chirstine Rollins was visiting the home of a client in Anahuac, Texas, an exurb east of Houston just south of I-10 when she was set upon by feral hogs.

    From the scene the local sheriff found, it appears that she was attacked in her client’s yard after she got out of her car in the home’s driveway early Sunday morning.

    https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/59-year-old-texas-woman-killed-in-feral-hog-attack/?utm_source=wideopen&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wos_daily&utm_content=%5B%5Brssitem_title%5D%5D

    https://www.facebook.com/457548700999996/videos/2547229541993685/

  36. (Richard: This is more important then most people understand, if the exclusivity of Congress and only Congress can write laws is restored not only are the various Departments of the Administrative Branch forbidden to write new regulations but the Activists Judges will also be forbidden from writing laws. Almost all of the damaging liberal advances in the law were written by Judges not Congress.

    Justice Kavanaugh Signals There Are Now Five Votes To Restore A Crucial Constitutional Doctrine

    After today, it seems that constitutionalists have reason to be optimistic about the U.S. Supreme Court’s willingness to soon rectify a pivotal separation of powers doctrine.

    Last term, in the case of Gundy v. United States, the Court refused to resuscitate constitutional law’s so-called “non-delegation doctrine.” The non-delegation principle, which directly flows from Article I, Section 1‘s provision that “[a]ll legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress,” simply affirms that Congress cannot delegate its exclusively vested lawmaking power to other branches of the federal government — meaning lawmaking power delegated to the executive branch’s sprawling administrative state, in practice. Although that proposition might seem like an unassailable interpretation of the Article I Vesting Clause’s plaint text, the Court has muddled the doctrine since the time of the New Deal by only requiring that Congress cabin its delegations to the administrative state with the veneer of a discretion-constraining “intelligible principle.”

    https://www.dailywire.com/news/justice-kavanaugh-signals-there-are-now-five-votes-to-restore-a-crucial-constitutional-doctrine?itm_source=parsely-api%3Futm_campaign%3Ddw_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=housefile&utm_content=non_insiders&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9QMCoLnVoAUK1O9P_ojc12GC8ymRzKhMiJTvp71ZWvd-9abM5bI-dwionpaMtbDeAU6e10fWPhdZfEG2TwPH89wd8XFQ&_hsmi=79951542

    • Indeed. It is excellent news.Trump did say his most important duty was the nomination of Conservative judges, of which the Supreme Court.

  37. Ilhan Omar ‘working for Qatar’: Florida court hears testimony

    Ilhan Omar was recruited by a foreign government, received funding from a foreign government, and passed sensitive information through intermediates to Iran, a Florida court has been told.

    The claims came during testimony by Kuwati-born Canadian businessman Alan Bender, who was giving evidence in the trial of Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al-Thani. The Qatari emir’s brother stands accused of ordering his American bodyguard to murder two people, and of holding an American citizen hostage. His deposition, obtained by Al Arabiya English, was authenticated by the attorney for the plaintiffs, according to the publication.

    Speaking from Toronto by video link, Bender told the Florida District Court that he met with Qatar’s Secretary to the Emir for Security Affairs Mohammad bin Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Masnad and two other senior Qatari officials.

    According to his sworn deposition, the three officials told him: “If it wasn’t for our cash, Ilhan Omar would be just another black Somali refugee in America collecting welfare and serving tables on weekends.”

    Bender testified that the officials asked him to recruit American politicians and journalists as Qatari assets, and that when he objected, was told that several prominent figures were already on the payroll. US Congresswoman Omar was described as the “jewel in the crown,” he said.

    Qatar “recruited Ilhan Omar from even way before she thought about becoming a government official. […] They groomed her and arranged the foundation, the grounds, for her to get into politics way before she even showed interest. They convinced her,” he added.

    http://www.gopusa.com/?p=80148?omhide=true

  38. A social media video showing a woman being assaulted in Brampton has that city’s mayor saying such “scum” should be locked up.

    The disturbing video posted Monday shows a woman being repeatedly kicked while seated in the middle of a residential street.

    “It’s crazy,” said an angry Mayor Patrick Brown. “It’s appalling to see such disregard and respect for others. Scum like this should be behind bars.”

    Peel Regional Police said the assault occurred Saturday morning.

    “Police responded to (an incident) and one charge of assault was laid,” said Const. Danny Marttini, who added police were alerted by a 911 call on Saturday and not a posted video.

    The woman, fortunately, did not suffer major physical trauma.

    A man, 37, was charged with assault and appeared in court Sunday. Details are unknown since police are not releasing his name. The allegations have not yet been tested in court. He is innocent until proven guilty.

    https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/shocking-video-woman-kicked-by-man-on-brampton-street

  40. Navy SEAL who shot bin Laden backs Trump’s support of Edward Gallagher

    The Navy SEAL who shot Osama bin Laden during the May 2011 raid at his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan has his own opinion on a case that threatens to tear apart his former service and further strain ties between President Trump and his military chiefs.

    Robert J. O’Neill sides with Mr. Trump in an extraordinary battle of wills over military justice and a commander’s prerogative, saying in an interview he believes Eddie Gallagher should be able to retire as a chief petty officer and the prized Trident pin signifying his membership in the elite SEALs unit.

    Mr. O’Neill said he believes Chief Gallagher had been the victim of a vendetta by military bureaucrats and some members of the Navy Criminal Investigative Service, better known as NCIS.

    “It’s like someone wanted a notch on their belt: They took down a SEAL,” Mr. O’Neill said in a telephone interview on Monday. “They were looking to advance their own agenda.”

    But while Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs of Staff head Gen. Mark Milley have signaled they’re ready to move on — and President Trump again defended his intervention in a trio of war crimes cases — there was no sign Monday that controversy or the underlying problems that sparked it have been resolved.

    Mr. Trump showed no signs of having second thoughts in a session with reporters in the Oval Office Monday.

    Mr. Trump said he intervened to “stick up for the warriors,” as opposed to what he characterized as the Obama administration’s leniency for deserter Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl and former soldier Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of military espionage.

    “I think what I’m doing is sticking up for our armed forces,” Mr. Trump said. “I will stick up for the warriors.”

    http://www.gopusa.com/?p=80136?omhide=true

  41. Argentine School Reportedly Fires Teacher After Nazi ‘Barbie Girl’ Homework Clip Goes Viral

    Students at a secondary school in the Argentinian city of San Juan recently received unusual homework from their history teacher, which they almost flawlessly completed, receiving 9 of 10 possible points for their work. They had no idea, however, that their “funny” historic interpretation would have serious consequences.

    A group of teenagers made a clip, mocking – they allegedly thought – gruesome crimes against humanity, particularly Adolf Hitler and the notorious atrocities of his Nazi regime.

    The students “creatively” approached their class assignment, using the melody of the once-popular ear worm by the Norwegian dance group Aqua ‘Barbie Girl’; changing lyrics and dressing in Halloween-style Nazi costumes for their video, which after being posted earlier this week on social media went viral.
    ===================================================

    https://twitter.com/AgenciaAJN/status/1198674857313144833

    ===================================================
    “I’m a Nazi girl in a Nazi world”, sings a female student, along with singing young men in the video. The clip, which sparked an outcry in the local community, also contains Nazi symbols and shows the ‘singing Nazis’ humiliating actors dressed to represent Jews and homosexuals.

    The Times of Israel reported that the controversial homework delivered to the Argentinian students prompted a representative of the national Jewish political umbrella DAIA to schedule for Monday a special meeting with officials from the Education Ministry of San Juan province.

    The school apologized in a statement issued on Saturday to the representative of the Sociedad Israelita de San Juan, as well to other groups who felt that they had been insulted in the video. The teacher who allegedly assigned students with the task was reportedly sanctioned and fired.

    https://sputniknews.com/viral/201911251077391138-argentine-school-reportedly-fires-teacher-after-nazi-barbie-girl-homework-clip-goes-viral/

  42. White House lockdown lifted after potential airspace violation
    David Jackson
    USA TODAY

    WASHINGTON – The Secret Service placed the White House on lockdown for about 20 minutes Tuesday morning amid reports of an unauthorized aircraft in the area.

    “The White House was locked down this morning due to a potential violation of the restricted airspace in the National Capital Region,” the Secret Service said in a statement. “The lockdown has been lifted at this time.”

    The statement did not describe what happened to the aircraft; private planes occasionally drift into air space that is restricted within the city of Washington, D.C., after the attacks of 9/11.

    NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, in a statement said senior officials monitored the situation on a conference call. “NORAD Command aircraft are on site and responding,” the statement said. “Plane is not considered hostile at this time.”

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/11/26/white-house-lockdown-lifted-after-potential-airspace-violation/4305654002/

  43. Dutch forces arrest two plotting terrorist car bomb attack by year’s end
    https://nltimes.nl/2019/11/26/dutch-forces-arrest-two-plotting-terrorist-car-bomb-attack-years-end
    Two men were arrested in the Netherlands on Monday, accused of preparing to carry out a terrorist attack using at least one car bomb and bomb vests, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) revealed on Tuesday. The suspects were allegedly plotting to carry out an attack in the Netherlands by the end of the year.
    Authorities said it was not yet clear what was targeted in the attack. Intelligence agency AIVD first found out about the men because the two “suspects intended to commit a jihadist attack. They wanted to make use of explosives, and to receive training for this purpose,” the OM stated.
    The men are aged 20 and 34. Both are from Zoetermeer, a Zuid-Holland city just east of The Hague. One of the two was taken into custody on a street in the Hague, while the other was captured at his home.
    “No firearms or explosives were found on the suspects,” the OM said. Their homes were searched following the arrests, which turned up a throwing ax, a dagger, a mobile phone and several SIM cards.
    Undercover police were assigned to gather evidence against the men, after they became known to the AIVD. The AIVD tipped off Dutch police in early October, which prompted a criminal investigation.
    Both suspects were interrogated on Tuesday. They will be processed during a remand hearing in front of a magistrate in Rotterdam on Thursday.

    VIDEO

  44. Implications of Afghan-Pakistani Clashes Along the Durand Line

    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Frequent violent clashes between Afghan and Pakistani security forces along their disputed border, the colonial-era Durand Line drawn in 1893, have strained ties between Islamabad and Kabul. Afghanistan does not accept the legitimacy of the Durand Line, claiming it is a violation of its sovereignty, while Pakistan believes it is an accepted international border. These tensions will likely worsen following the pending departure of the Americans from Afghanistan.

    Pakistani forces are building border fortifications along the Durand Line, the colonial-era border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Durand Line is controversial for Afghans as it divides the dominant Pashtun tribes living in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Islamabad claims the fortifications are being built for counterterrorism purposes, but their construction is sparking violent clashes and diplomatic tensions with the fragile Afghan government.

    The Durand line has been a major irritant between Islamabad and Kabul ever since the founding of Pakistan in 1947 following the partition of British India, and there is little prospect for a resolution of the matter anytime soon. The looming American withdrawal from Afghanistan is likely to exacerbate these tensions.

    Two recent incidents highlight the tricky and tangled geopolitics of the Durand Line. Last week saw Afghan and Pakistani border troops engaging in cross-border clashes resulting in casualties on both sides, with each accusing the other of committing aggression. The fighting took place after Afghan forces and local tribal leaders attempted to prevent Pakistani forces from setting up a military outpost along the border.

    https://besacenter.org/perspectives-papers/afghanistan-pakistan-clashes/

  47. UPDATE: Navy Secretary Spencer Was Fired for “Dishonesty and Undermining the Military Justice System” and “Lack of Candor”

    Fired Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer lashed out at President Trump in an interview with CBS News on the steps of the Pentagon Monday evening.

    Spencer, who mutinied against Trump over his order to not kick Chief Petty Officer Eddie Gallagher out of the Navy SEALs, also attacked Trump in his letter acknowledging his firing this past weekend over the Gallagher case.

    FOX News National Security Reporter Jennifer Griffin revealed a little more background on Secretary Esper’s firing this past weekend.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/11/update-navy-secretary-esper-was-fired-for-dishonesty-and-undermining-the-military-justice-system-and-lack-of-candor/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=daily

    (Richard: I can imagine what Trump did when he was told that the Sec of Navy wanted to fix a review board, this is so far beyond the pale that the pale is barely in sight. Obama did a lot of damage to the military but the actions of the prosecutors on this case and the actions of the Sec of Navy did a lot more. Too bad the SOB can’t be black listed from every getting another job that doesn’t involve using a shovel.