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.
“Nolte: Netflix Releases ‘Gay Jesus’ Christmas Special”
by John Nolte – December 12, 2019
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2019/12/12/netflix-releases-gay-jesus-christmas-special/
“If you’re a satirist, you satirize everyone equally.
If you’re a bigot, you single certain groups out for mockery and place others off limits.
In this way, lazy, cowardly garbage like The First Temptation of Christ is useful — it exposes who the bigots are, and if this so-called comedy troupe wants to produce a “Gay Mohammed” special for Ramadan and Netflix wants to stream it, I will take it all back.”
Satire, is to reveal hidden truths. Ridicule, is to poison the well.
The Gospels are satire. Therefore anything of ridicule is not of the gospels.
The Koran poisons the well. Therefore anything of ridicule challenges the koran to a pissing-contest.
Netflix is not going to produce a Gay Muhammad Special. Period.
Jesus and the Fig Tree.
Satire:
https://youtu.be/Uqpdeqj7E8k
The tree is symbolic. Life, bears fruit. Religion, bears the traders of debts.
Ridicule:
https://youtu.be/g0RMnPCpLYY
The tree is literal. Get your Saviour, (The Master who can destroy you), now!
From Greek freedom of conscience, to Roman slavery of mind.
Stabbing at asylum center leaves two injured
https://nltimes.nl/2019/12/20/stabbing-asylum-center-leaves-two-injured
Two people were injured in a stabbing at an center for asylum seekers in Oisterwijk on Friday morning. One of the two victims was transported to an area hospital under police guard, a witness at the scene told broadcaster Omroep Brabant.
The other victim had a leg injury that was treated at the scene. The witness told the broadcaster there was a “large puddle of blood.”
The stabbing was reported shortly before 6 a.m. at the center on Kievitsblekweg in the Noord-Brabant town. The motive for the incident was still unknown a short time later.
It is at least the third violent incident reported at that asylum reception center in the last 12 months.
https://nltimes.nl/2019/12/04/man-dies-possible-fight-weert-asylum-center
The police are investigating the death of a man at a shelter for asylum seekers on Kazernelaan in Weert on Wednesday morning.
At around 8:45 a.m. the police and other emergency services responded to the asylum center after receiving a report of a possible fight. At the scene, they found the man’s body. He was a resident of the asylum center, according to the police.
“The police are taking multiple scenarios into account and are investigating”, the police said. Investigators currently assume the man was killed in a crime.
At this stage, the victim’s identity is unknown.
The Kazernelaan center is a former military academy barracks that can house up to a thousand asylum seekers at a time. The shelter has been in use since September 16, 2015, according to the COA, the Dutch agency that handles the reception of people seeking asylum.
London Bridge attack: Darryn Frost on using a narwhal tusk to stop knifeman
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50870309
A man has described how he fought off the London Bridge knifeman with a narwhal tusk before pinning him to the ground to help end the attack.
Darryn Frost, 38, was seen in pictures confronting Usman Khan, 28, who was armed with two knives.
The civil servant has spoken of his “deep hurt” at not being able to save Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones who were killed by Khan on 29 November.
Khan, who was wearing a fake suicide vest, was shot dead by police.
Mr Frost, who works in communications at the Ministry of Justice, told how he grabbed the narwhal tusk from the wall in Fishmongers’ Hall as Khan launched his attack during a prisoner rehabilitation event near London Bridge.
The South African-born Londoner then chased Khan onto the bridge, where footage captured him and fellow members of the public fending off the attacker.
Mr Frost, whose identity was unknown until now, can be seen pinning Khan to the ground before being pulled away by a police officer. The terrorist was shot dead moments later.
Khan was out on licence from prison when he killed Mr Merritt and Ms Jones and injured three others in the stabbing attack.
[..]
Pakistan Sentences Professor to Death for ‘Blasphemy’ Against Islam (breitbart, Dec 21, 2019)
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/12/21/pakistan-sentences-professor-death-blasphemy-against-islam/
“A Pakistani court on Saturday convicted a Muslim professor of blasphemy, sentencing him to death for allegedly spreading anti-Islamic ideas.
Junaid Hafeez has been held for six years awaiting trial. He’s spent most of that time in solitary confinement because he would likely be killed if kept with the general population, local media have reported. Due to security concerns, Saturday’s trial was held inside the jail where Hafeez is being held.
Defence attorney Shahbaz Gormani said his client was wrongly convicted and that the verdict would be appealed.
Pakistan´s controversial blasphemy law carries an automatic death penalty for anyone accused of insulting God, Islam, or religious figures.
While authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy, even the mere accusation can cause riots. Domestic and international human rights groups say blasphemy allegations have often been used to intimidate religious minorities and to settle personal scores.
A Punjab governor was killed by his own guard in 2011 after he defended a Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, who was accused of blasphemy.
She was acquitted in January after spending eight years on death row in a case that drew international media attention. Faced with death threats from Islamic extremists upon her release, she flew to Canada to join her daughters in May.
Hafeez was arrested in 2013 for allegedly displaying blasphemous content while a visiting university lecturer in the city of Multan.
Prosecutor Athar Bukhari said Hafeez had spent three years in the United States under a special programme for Pakistani educators.
The prosecutor said investigators retrieved anti-religions material from Hafeez’s laptop after his arrest.
Hafeez was also fined half a million Pakistani rupees (over $3,200) on Saturday.”
France: Youths Charged with Forcing Children Into Prostitution (breitbart, Dec 21. 2019)
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/12/21/france-youths-charged-with-forcing-children-into-prostitution/
“Four young men have been arrested and indicted in the French city of Rouen on charges of forcing at least four underage girls into prostitution.
The suspects aged 16 to 22 were arrested on Sunday and are believed to have formed a pimping gang and forced the underage girls, whom they had kidnapped, to engage in as many as 15 sex acts per day, radio broadcaster Tendance Ouest reports.
“One of the accused was already in pre-trial detention and the other three have been placed under judicial supervision,” said Rouen public prosecutor Pascal Prache.
The four suspects are accused of forcing the underage girls, whose identities and ages were not disclosed, to be sexually abused for money for several months, with as many as 15 acts per day at an average price of 100 euros.
“The cases started in apartments located on the Hauts de Rouen before also taking place in an accommodation in downtown Rouen. The victims were young girls who ran away or lived in foster homes. At this stage, there are at least four,” a police source said.
Investigators say the gang had been active since the start of 2019 and that the investigation that led to their arrests started in February when an alleged victim testified at the Le Havre police station.
The arrests come just days after five men in Chaperon-Vert Gentilly, a suburb of Paris, were arrested after they kidnapped a 16-year-old and forced her to engage in as many as 200 sex acts in a five day period.
The suspects in the case were also young men, aged 17 to 22, and were previously known to police.
Child sex abuse and child prostitution have become a pressing issue in areas like Seine-Saint-Denis, a “no-go zone” suburb of Paris.
A report released last month claimed that a third of the underage prostitutes in the suburb were under 15, with some of them as young as just six.”
Afghan official: Dozens of IS members surrounded, detained (abcnews, Dec 21, 2019)
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/afghan-official-dozens-members-surrounded-detained-67867336
“The Afghan government said Saturday it has arrested or surrounded up to 700 Islamic State group fighters and family members in eastern Afghanistan over the past six months.
The Afghan intelligence service, the National Deteriorate for Security, said at least 75 women and 159 children, most of them from foreign countries, are in custody.
There was no way to independently confirm that the prisoners the government presented to reporters are affiliated with the Islamic State group.
Most of the arrested IS members are from Pakistan, Jordan and Central Asian countries, said an NDS officer who asked that his name not be used as the rules of the agency don’t allow him to be identified.
As many as 277 foreigners are among the arrested militants, he said.
Washington’s peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad tweeted earlier this month that IS in eastern Afghanistan has been weakened by operations carried out not just by the U.S. and Afghan forces, but by the Taliban as well.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said last week that President Donald Trump may announce an American troop drawdown from Afghanistan before the year’s end, which would likely begin next year.
Graham, speaking from the Afghan capital of Kabul, said the president could reduce troop numbers to 8,600, down from the current estimated 12,000.”
Emily Lau: Carrie Lam Made “the Biggest Blunder in Hong Kong’s History” | American Thought Leaders
UK police force now hiring from the grooming gang recruitment pool. Highly disturbing:
Police officer Amjad Ditta in group charged with sex offences
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-50838823
Sixteen men including a police officer have been charged with historical sex offences against children aged between 13 and 16.
West Yorkshire PC Amjad Ditta, also known as Amjad Hussain, 35, has been charged with sexual touching.
He and 15 other men are charged with offences against three girls in the Halifax area, dating from 2006 to 2009.
The allegations include several counts of rape, sexual assault, supplying drugs and trafficking.
Mr Ditta, who was attached to West Yorkshire Police’s Protective Services Operations, was a serving officer at the time of the offence he has been accused of.
He has been suspended from duty, the force said.
The 16 men, all from Halifax, will appear at Bradford Magistrates’ Court on 6 January 2020.
sargon has a video on this case:
Grooming Gang Representation
Man fires live round at officers during arrest operation in Tai Po
Quid Pro Joe: Biden’s Brother’s Firm Was Handed $1.5bn Iraq Contract
With the 2020 election season underway, there’s been no shortage of media-driven mudslinging about presidential candidates, as well as scandals both real and manufactured.
It may, therefore, seem pretty unremarkable that a few journalists have rehashed Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden’s reputation for using his political career to turn favors for family members and business partners.
But in season and out, my mission is to stand in solidarity with the vulnerable.
That means particularly those with the least access to media megaphones. I’m no investigative journalist, but for that mission, I can play the role of truffle pig. And when it comes to Joe Biden, I smell a big one–the one scandal if any that must not be lost amid this election season’s mud.
https://warroom.org/quid-pro-joe-biden-iraq/
Another Chinese National Arrested For Sneaking Into To Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Estate
A second Chinese national, again a woman, was arrested trying to trespass on President Donald Trump’s “southern White House,” his Mar-a-Lago estate and social club, according to the Associated Press.
“Jing Lu, 56, was confronted by the private club’s security officers and told to leave, but she returned to take photos, Palm Beach police spokesman Michael Ogrodnick said in an email. Palm Beach officers were called and arrested her. It was determined she had an expired visa, Ogrodnick said,” the AP reported.
Lu spent the night in the Palm Beach County jail, the AP adds, before being charged with a host of crimes including “loitering and prowling.” The outlet did not specify whether Lu’s camera and photos were confiscated, but photos are allowed inside Mar-a-Lago.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/another-chinese-national-arrested-for-sneaking-into-to-trumps-mar-a-lago-estate
Hundreds arrested in India during days of protests over citizenship law
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) – More than 1,500 protesters have been arrested across India in the past 10 days, officials said, as police try to quell sometimes violent demonstrations against a citizenship law that critics say undermines the country’s secular constitution.
Additionally, some 4,000 people have been detained and then released, the officials said.
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Those arrested and detained had been resorting to violence during the protests, said two senior federal government officials overseeing the country’s internal security who spoke on condition of anonymity.
At least 19 people have been killed in clashes between police and protesters since parliament passed the law on Dec. 11. Critics of the law say it discriminates against Muslims and threatens India’s secular ethos because it makes religion a criteria for citizenship.
The law aims to grant citizenship to minorities of the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Sikh, Jain and Parsi faiths from Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, deemed as suffering persecution there. The applicant should have entered India on or before Dec. 31, 2014.
https://www.oann.com/indias-modi-summons-ministers-to-discuss-security-situation-following-protests/
Rut-ro: Former NSA Director Michael Rogers has been cooperating with Durham investigation
By Daily Caller News Foundation December 21, 2019
Retired Adm. Michael Rogers, the former director of the National Security Agency, is cooperating with U.S. attorney John Durham’s investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, according to a new report.
The Intercept, citing four sources familiar with the matter, reports that Rogers has met voluntarily with Durham multiple times.
“He’s been very cooperative,” a former intelligence official familiar with the meetings told The Intercept.
The development comes after The New York Times reported Thursday that Durham, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, has asked the CIA for emails, call logs and other correspondence from John Brennan, the former CIA director. (RELATED: Report: Durham Is Seeking John Brennan’s Emails, Call Logs)
The Intercept report does not say whether Rogers has provided any information that contradicts Brennan, the CIA, or the FBI.
Nancy Pelosi channels her inner Henry V
By J.E. Dyer December 20, 2019
I’m concerned about Nancy Pelosi. I’m not sure what she said here on Thursday
But at least the context and what she seemed to be trying to say had some relation to each other.
Now comes a press release from Pelosi, also on Thursday, in which she quotes Shakespeare. (H/t: Daniel Greenfield at FrontPage) It’s not just one line either. She goes full-bore with the Henry V St. Crispin’s Day speech.
The press release is of a “Dear Colleague” letter, for which the subject line reads:
https://libertyunyielding.com/2019/12/20/nancy-pelosi-channels-her-inner-henry-v/
Sécurité de Justin Trudeau: deux Québécois arrêtés
L’Équipe intégrée de la sécurité nationale de la GRC a arrêté hier deux Québécois, dont l’un est un associé au groupe d’extrême droite Storm Alliance. Ils sont soupçonnés d’avoir appelé sur Facebook à tuer le premier ministre Justin Trudeau durant la dernière campagne électorale.
Les deux hommes ne font pour l’instant l’objet d’aucune accusation. La Presse a donc choisi de ne pas les nommer. L’enquête est toujours en cours. Une perquisition a eu lieu vendredi à Montréal en lien avec cette affaire. Du matériel électronique a été saisi.
Selon des documents judiciaires obtenus par La Presse, les policiers de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada (GRC) ont les hommes dans leur ligne de mire depuis septembre.
Les enquêteurs reprochaient alors aux hommes d’avoir conseillé à autrui de commettre un meurtre prémédité et d’avoir incité à la haine, deux infractions au Code criminel. Un des suspects, celui qui a des liens avec Storm Alliance, un groupe ultranationaliste et identitaire québécois, était aussi soupçonné d’encouragement au génocide pour des commentaires tenus sur Facebook à l’encontre de la communauté musulmane.
On ne sait pas encore si ce sont ces mêmes chefs d’accusation qui seront éventuellement déposés devant le tribunal.
Menaces contre Trudeau
Les propos qui ont mis la puce à l’oreille de la police remontent au 16 septembre 2019. Ils ont été signalés aux autorités par des citoyens inquiets.
« Enweil donc un petit trou dans le front pour Trudeau », écrit un des hommes.
« Let’s do it », répond l’autre.
L’échange accompagne une photo d’une affiche électorale vandalisée de la candidate libérale de Hochelaga, Soraya Martinez. Un rond noir a été peint sur le front de la politicienne.
Le logo du parti politique est recouvert d’un signe nazi.
À l’aide d’indices découverts sur les profils Facebook, la police croit avoir identifié les auteurs des messages.
Le premier serait un camionneur de la région de Lanaudière.
Le second serait un Montréalais qui « s’identifie comme un membre de l’organisation Storm Alliance », groupe d’extrême droite québécois dans le collimateur des autorités de Sécurité publique et qui « a été vu lors d’une manifestation soutenue par le regroupement », selon les documents obtenus.
Les enquêteurs ont répertorié sur la page de ce dernier « plusieurs publications en lien avec le premier ministre Justin Trudeau ou avec la religion musulmane ».
« Advenant que nous ne pourrons pas battent les libéraux alors je suggère que nous devrons se faire justice SOIS-MÊME ! », lit-on dans une publication datée du 13 septembre. La phrase est accompagnée de dessins de mains mimant une arme à feu et de têtes de démons.
La même journée : « FRIDAY THE 13 : Que J’pogne pas Justinette Trudette la mauviette dans 1 ti-coin noir… » Les mots sont encore ici suivis des mêmes signes de main imitant un pistolet.
Un mois plus tard, c’est une sortie remarquée du premier ministre vêtu d’un gilet pare-balles lors d’un rassemblement partisan en Ontario qui provoque un autre commentaire.
« Justin Trudeau protégé avec sa “veste pare balle” PROUVE a quel point nous sommes prêts à TOUT pour le… » Encore ici, des mains qui miment une arme à feu.
Des messages menaçants à l’endroit de la communauté musulmane répertoriés sur la même page Facebook ont aussi alerté les enquêteurs. L’auteur y fait notamment référence de manière implicite à la tuerie survenue à la Grande Mosquée de Québec en 2017 et directement à celle qui a fait 51 morts à Christchurch en Nouvelle-Zélande plus tôt cette année.
« Des peines sévères »
Joint par La Presse, le cabinet de M. Trudeau n’a pas souhaité réagir à l’affaire, expliquant ne jamais commenter la sécurité du premier ministre.
Ce n’est toutefois pas la première fois que des Canadiens tombent dans la ligne de mire de la police pour des menaces contre le chef de gouvernement, ou d’autres politiciens ou groupes ethniques, proférées sur internet.
« Devant un tel phénomène, la GRC a adapté ses ressources pour assurer une vigie efficace sur le web. Les enquêteurs sont davantage en mesure d’identifier les menaces réelles et de les prévenir. Pour des raisons de sécurité, nous ne pouvons expliquer nos méthodes d’enquête. Mais nous menons constamment des évaluations de risques et de menaces pouvant provenir du web », explique la caporale Mélanie Cappiello-Stébenne.
« Malgré que les individus enquêtés ne soient pas nécessairement en contact direct avec les personnes ou les groupes visés, il demeure que ces propos sont tout aussi préoccupants et peuvent mener à des actions violentes. »
En 2018, un quadragénaire de la région de Trois-Rivières, Jean-Sébastien Joubert, a été condamné à 13 mois de prison pour avoir proféré entre autres des menaces de mort contre Justin Trudeau et l’ancien premier ministre du Québec Philippe Couillard sur Facebook.
L’année précédente, un résidant de la Saskatchewan se voyait imposer deux ans d’emprisonnement avec sursis pour avoir lui aussi proféré des menaces en ligne contre le premier ministre Trudeau. Derek Hurrell avait publié un message sur Facebook dans lequel il disait vouloir tirer sur le politicien et lui faire éclater la tête.
Un homme de la même province a été condamné la même année à neuf mois de probation et à une amende de 500 $ pour un crime semblable.
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/justice-et-faits-divers/201912/20/01-5254595-securite-de-justin-trudeau-deux-quebecois-arretes.php
NOTICE that only the Right Wing seems to be the main target.
GERMANY to FORCE INTERNET PROVIDERS to Hand Over Data, Passwords of People Accused of ‘Hate Speech’
Angela Merkel’s government is preparing a new bill that will force Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to hand over data, including passwords, of those accused of engaging in “hate speech” online.
Minister of Justice Christine Lambrecht, a member of the Social Democrats (SPD), is preparing the bill, which will force service providers, email hosts, online retailers, and others to give the government the usernames, passwords, IP addresses, and more of suspects, MDR reports.
Lambrecht was slammed by many over the proposal, with Hamburg’s data protection officer Johannes Caspar calling it an attack on privacy.
“The fight against the ugly phenomena of right-wing extremism and hate crime apparently acts as a door opener for a comprehensive expansion of state control powers,” he warned.
The German minister defended herself and the bill, claiming that the passwords and data would only be requested as part of a court order and only in serious cases.
“It is not a question of asking for passwords en masse, it is a completely wrong representation and not at all the point and purpose,” she said.
Populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician Joana Cotar said the proposed legislation was a “fight against the free Internet” and argued it would be used to silence citizens critical of the German government.
The far-left Die Linke agreed with the AfD, accusing the government of setting up a surveillance state.
Germany already has one of the most draconian sets of laws concerning “hate” on social media, including approving legislation imposing fines of up to 50 million euros on social media companies who do not remove hate content in what the government considers a timely manner.
The German authorities are also known to engage in large-scale raids of citizens accused of spreading “hate speech” online, with a 2016 raid seeing 60 homes searched across 14 states.
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/12/21/germany-to-force-internet-providers-to-hand-over-data-of-those-accused-of-hate-speech/
NETHERLANDS: Dutch Court Upholds Government Order to Cut CO2 Emissions 25% by EOY 2020
* The case was brought six years ago by the Urgenda environment group in a bid to force ministers to go well beyond EU targets. *
A judgment in a Dutch court has left the Netherlands government with a legal requirement to perform the politically suicidal task of cutting emissions 25% by the end of 2020.
The Dutch Government has been badly caught out by their own climate hypocrisy. Enshrining climate action in law may have seemed a good idea at the time, but that law means Dutch politicians can be held accountable for failing to meet their fantasy climate targets.
At the same time, rising discontent with increasingly draconian climate action is threatening to cause major civil unrest. The recent climate action inspired tractor road blockade, which saw furious Dutch farmers defying army roadblocks, is only a taste of what will happen if the Dutch Government seriously attempts to act on this latest carbon emissions court order.
In the background is the undemocratic, authoritarian European Union, which like the UN appears to be increasingly turning to climate action as the source of its political legitimacy. The EU will likely vigorously oppose any attempt by the Dutch Government to defuse their current climate dilemma by backing down on climate action.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2019/12/20/dutch-court-upholds-government-order-to-cut-emissions-25-by-eoy-2020/
Belgium: Extinction Rebellion and Christmas festival both hit Brussels square
Climate activists of the Extinction Rebellion (XR) group demonstrated in Brussels’ central square Grand Place on Friday.
The action was reportedly set to start after the planned Christmas light and sound performance. The demonstrators projected the XR logo on the City Hall facade and the activists wearing costumes with string lights performed a dance, but it seemed that the two events coincided.
“I didn’t like that much because they [city council] continued to play the music and it looked like they called us to make an extra performance, although we are supposed to be against the system,” said an activist.
Another XR activist also commented on the situation: “We are here to claim the action, to reclaim it. And they just want to stop us, they want to mute us.”
BREITBART – Italian Leftist Govt to Give 400k Euros to Communists to Celebrate 100th Anniversary
The Italian leftist coalition is reportedly lookingto give the Italian Communist Party (PCI) 400,000 euros to celebrate its 100th anniversary and make the day a national day across Italy.
The sum was revealed earlier this month as part of the proposed 2020 national budget and this week. The national-conservative Brothers of Italy (FdI) leader Giorgia Meloni has claimed the government also wants to make the anniversary a recognised national day, Il Giornale reports.
Meloni criticised the coalition of the Five Star Movement (M5S) and the Democratic Party (PD), saying: “After proposing the incredible allocation of almost half a million euros to finance the PCI centenary, now PD and M5S also want to make it a national anniversary.”
“The birth of the Communist Party as the Unification of Italy! Here are the priorities of this Government,” she added.
Populist senator and leader of the League (Lega) party Matteo Salvini also slammed the proposal, stating: “They say that there is no money, and then they tax plastic, sugar, cigarette papers, but an amendment comes up that manages to allocate 400,000 euros to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the Italian Communist Party.”
“Do the anniversary with your money, not with the money of the Italians,” he added.
League senator Roberto Calderoli went even further, telling the coalition to “wake up” and saying that Communism was dead.
The proposition would be just the latest far-left policy to be put forward by the ruling coalition, which has reversed key initiatives spearheaded by Salvini and the League in the previous Five Star/League coaltion government, including his policy to keep Italy’s ports closed to NGO migrant transport ships.
While the coalition continues to hang on to power, it remains vastly unpopular among Italian voters and cracks have begun to form, with three Five Star Movement senators defecting to the League last week.
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/12/21/italian-leftist-govt-to-give-400k-euros-to-communists-to-celebrate-100th-anniversary/
the globe & mail –‘I FEEL LIKE A STRANGER HERE NOW’
Quebec’s law has derailed careers and left many religious minorities feeling like second-class citizens in their own province.
Six women share their stories.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/resizer/fEhBQAZCA9eJPnjPLOaZQmcNQmk=/1200×0/filters:quality(80)/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/NADJNI6NVNBOLOLKK72BY4RXPA.jpg
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-i-feel-like-a-stranger-here-now-for-six-muslim-women-quebecs/
TORONTO SUN – Mentally ill ‘lone wolf’ who attacked Canadian soldiers not a terrorist
Ayanle Hassan Ali, the mentally ill man who attacked military personnel at a Yonge St. recruiting centre three years ago, will not be retried as a terrorist.
Ontario’s highest court agreed with the trial judge who found section 83.2 of the Criminal Code — the anti-terrorism section enacted by Parliament after 9/11 — isn’t designed to capture a “lone wolf.”
In May 2018, Superior Court Justice Ian MacDonnell acquitted Ali on the terror part of the indictment, finding that while he was motivated by extremist beliefs linked to his mental illness, he wasn’t acting on behalf of any terror group.
Instead, the judge found him not criminally responsible for the lesser included offences of attempted murder, assault causing bodily harm and possession of a dangerous weapon.
Federal prosecutors had urged the appeal court to order a new trial on the terrorism charges, insisting MacDonnell was mistaken and Ali did act “for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a terrorist group” — a group composed of himself alone.
“Lone-wolf terrorists are a serious problem in Canada and abroad and their recent ‘successes’ may inspire others,” they contended in documents filed with the court earlier this year. “The trial judge’s interpretation impedes the ability to arrest and charge the lone wolf.”
The appeal court disagreed.
“That the principal and the terrorist group may be one and the same person — is inconsistent with the modern principle of statutory interpretation,” wrote Justice David Watt on behalf of the three-member panel. “It is a reasonable inference that Parliament did not intend that s. 83.2 would apply to the lone wolf terrorist.”
And so when Ali, 31, is deemed mentally healthy enough to be released from his current residence in the secure forensic unit at Hamilton’s St. Joseph’s Health Centre, he will not be saddled with the terrorist label.
Yet Ali’s belief system hasn’t changed much since he stormed into the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre in North York on March 14, 2016.
Suffering from untreated schizophrenia and in the midst of a psychosis, his frenzied attack lasted less than a minute.
“I have a licence to kill, I have a green light to kill,” he had written in his diary. “One soldier is all it takes, just one. I can’t let those fools play games with me. I’ve been ready and willing for a while now.”
He repeatedly punched the first uniformed soldier in the head, then lunged at him with a large kitchen knife he’d hidden in a folder, leaving a three-inch gash in the corporal’s arm.
When a sergeant rushed out of her office, Ali gave chase and narrowly missed slicing the back of her neck. He then tried to slash and stab another sergeant who, in the chaos, had slipped on spilled coffee and fallen to the ground.
With Ali’s first blow, the blade hit the floor. He then continued stabbing the man in the head and torso but, luckily, was now using the wrong end of his knife.
After Ali was disarmed and restrained, he “appeared to be laughing, smiling, and giggling, and on something.” Others described him as “not present” and “lost in the clouds.”
At his latest Ontario Review Board hearing held in July, all agreed the mentally ill man has improved with medication but continues to pose a “significant threat” to the community.
According to his psychiatrist, he’s still receiving messages from the Internet and TV telling him he’s being watched by the military. More troubling, “Mr. Ali still believes that military are a legitimate target, and this belief remains a risk issue.”
he good news, the ORB says, is “Ali is no longer looking to become a martyr.”
If they get “his beliefs under control,” the review board predicts there’s a “reasonable likelihood” he’ll be allowed passes of up to 48 hours to visit his family in Toronto — to be supervised only by his father and sister.
Good thing he’s not a terrorist.
https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/mandel-appeal-court-finds-mentally-ill-lone-wolf-who-attacked-canadian-soldiers-not-a-terrorist
Sky News – Saudi royal issues Iran warning
Rumors of detente are in the air. Probably something to them, with this diplo-babble “setting the table”.
Taken to Brink by Trump, Gulf States Are Backpedaling on Iran
Moves come after September attacks on Saudi oil facilities
U.S. is seen as losing influence over region it had dominated
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-02/taken-to-brink-by-trump-gulf-states-are-backpedaling-on-iran
…..
The Gulf: Signs of a partial thaw in the Intra-Sunni Cold War?
Israel needs to make clear to Washington the harm done in the region, and the potential for more harm, by the perception of American policy disarray, weakness and withdrawal.
https://jiss.org.il/en/krasna-signs-of-partial-thaw-in-intra-sunni-cold-war/
Muslim Countries Reveal How They Will Tackle US Sanctions Threat (sputniknews, Dec 21, 2019)
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201912211077703803-iran-us-sanctions-dollar-domination/
“Earlier this week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged the Muslim world to join forces and take measures to get rid of the domination of the US system and the dollar.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has stated that his country, Iran, Turkey and Qatar may use the Iranian medieval gold coin, the dinar, as well as barter trade as a hedge against economic sanctions.
“With the world witnessing nations making unilateral decisions to impose such punitive measures, Malaysia and other nations must always bear in mind that it can be imposed on any of us,” Mahathir said during the 2019 Kuala Lumpur Summit in the Malaysian capital on Saturday.
He apparently referred to the situation related to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severing diplomatic and trade links with Qatar in 2017 over allegations that it supports terrorism, as well as the US’ anti-Iranian sanctions that Washington imposed after its pull-out from the Iran nuclear deal.
“I have suggested that we re-visit the idea of using the gold dinar and barter trade among us. We are seriously looking into this and we hope that we will be able to find a mechanism to put it into effect”, Mahathir added.
Rouhani Urges Islamic World to Break Free of ‘Dollar Domination’
The statement comes a few days after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the Kuala Lumpur Summit that “the Islamic world should adopt measures to set itself free from the domination of America’s financial system and the US dollar”.
He suggested that Islamic-majority countries could support one another, for example, by signing new banking cooperation agreements and forming new financial mechanisms.
Earlier, he pledged that Iran will overcome US sanctions one way or another, either by bypassing them or through negotiations.
In mid-September, Iranian Central Bank (CBI) head Abdolnaser Hemmati said Tehran is planning to evade US economic sanctions by switching entirely away from the dollar to national currencies in mutual trade and by bypassing SWIFT, an international messaging network for communications between banks, which announced its ban on Iranian financial institutions soon after the US targeted them with sanctions in November 2018.
The network said that this was done in order to preserve the “global stability of the system” and that the decision was preceded by Washington threatening to impose sanctions on SWIFT itself if it would not cut ties with Iran.
US Sanctions Against Iran
The US reinstated strict sanctions against the Iranian economy’s energy, banking, and shipping sectors following Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The White House also threatened to impose restrictive measures against any entity dealing with Iran, including EU member states.
The JCPOA lifted a raft of international sanctions against Tehran in exchange for the Islamic Republic limiting its nuclear programme, but was subsequently sabotaged under the Trump administration.”
‘Destruction Will be Universal’: Former Saudi Intelligence Chief on Potential War With Iran (sputniknews, Dec 21, 2019)
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201912211077700293-destruction-will-be-universal-former-saudi-intelligence-chief-on-potential-war-with-iran/
“Hostilities between the United States and its Arab allies, on one side, and Iran, on the other side, shaped this year’s political landscape in the Middle East and brought the region to the brink of an armed conflict.
Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the former head of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence agency, has warned that the possibility of a military conflict in the Middle East persists, even though the escalation of tensions stopped in the past two months.
Prince Turki spoke to reporters on Friday as he visited London to promote an exhibition about his father, the late King Faisal.
“We have seen no signs from Iran that they are pulling back on their very negative and provocative military posturing – not just towards Saudi Arabia – but towards the rest of the countries in the area,” he told Sky News.
“Nobody wants war, that’s for sure, because nobody will be a winner in a military conflict. The destruction will be universal.”
Prince Turki, 74, is currently chairing the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies. He was the director of al-Mukhabarat al-A’amah, Saudi Arabia’s intelligence agency, from 1977 to 2001, before serving as ambassador to the UK in 2003-2005 and to the US in 2005-2007.
Saudi Arabia, which has aligned itself more closely with the United States since Donald Trump took office, saw tensions increase dramatically in the Persian Gulf this year because of Iran’s reluctance to cave in to America’s “maximum pressure” campaign.
Donald Trump last year quit the Obama-era nuclear deal and imposed a set of stringent sanctions on the oil sector-dependent Islamic Republic in a bid to pressure it into a new agreement. His rationale is that the previous pact had failed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and supporting terrorism – allegations Tehran denies.
The situation became more combustible over the summer following attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, seizures of vessels by Britain and Iran, the destruction of a US spy drone over Iran and attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
The shoot-down of the drone nearly caused the United States to launch a strike against Iran in response, while the drone attacks on Saudi Aramco’s oil refineries in September briefly knocked out 5 percent of global oil output. Yemen’s Houthi militia claimed responsibility for the Aramco drone strikes, but Saudi Arabia and the United States accused Iran of orchestrating them. Tehran rejects the allegations.
As Iran continues to roll back its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, the pressure is likely to continue and put more strain on its relations with the United States and its allies.”
Pope Francis: Migrants Are ‘Voice Crying in the Wilderness’ (breitbart, Dec 21, 2019)
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2019/12/21/pope-francis-migrants-voice-crying-wilderness/
“Pope Francis said Saturday that migrants are among the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society, while for God no one is a “stranger.”
In his yearly Christmas address to the Roman Curia, the pope spoke of the need for an attitude of “epochal change” to meet the needs of the present day, while calling on the Church to promote the “integral development of the human person.”
This development takes place by “serving those who are most vulnerable and marginalized, particularly those forced to emigrate, who at the present time represent a voice crying in the wilderness of our humanity,” Francis said, with an allusion to the biblical figure of Saint John the Baptist.
“The Church is thus called to remind everyone that it is not simply a matter of social or migration questions but of human persons, of our brothers and sisters who today are a symbol of all those discarded by the globalized society,” he said.
The Church “is called to testify that for God no one is a ‘stranger’ or an ‘outcast,’” he continued. “She is called to awaken consciences slumbering in indifference to the reality of the Mediterranean Sea, which has become for many, all too many, a cemetery.”
Pope Francis has made immigration a hallmark of his pontificate, urging nations to open pathways to streamline migration, which furnishes opportunities for “racial mixing.”
On Thursday, Pope Francis presided over the installation of a migrant crucifix in the Vatican, on which he had a migrant life vest placed on the cross in place of the body of Jesus.
“We are facing another death caused by injustice,” Francis said in his address prior to the unveiling of the crucifix. “Yes, because it is injustice that forces many migrants to leave their lands. It is injustice that forces them to cross deserts and suffer abuse and torture in detention camps. It is injustice that rejects them and makes them die at sea.”
“I decided to exhibit this life jacket, ‘crucified’ on this cross, to remind us that we must keep our eyes open, keep our hearts open, to remind everyone of the absolute commitment to save every human life, a moral duty that unites believers and non-believers,” he said.
In referring to migrant deaths at sea, the pope seemed to take aim at the policies of former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who closed Italy’s ports to curb the nation’s mass illegal immigration.
“I thank the Lord for all those who have decided not to remain indifferent and do their utmost to help the victim, without asking too many questions about how or why the poor half-dead person wound up on their street,” Francis said. “It is not blocking their boats that the problem is solved.”
In reality, migrant sea deaths declined significantly as a result of Mr. Salvini’s closing of Italian ports, which blocked the illegal trafficking of migrants across the sea. After Italy’s new leftist government reopened the ports, migrant sea deaths have again begun rising.”
Police Evacuate Berlin’s Christmas Market, 2 Suspects Reportedly Detained at Breitscheidplatz (sputniknews, Dec 21. 2019)
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201912211077707835-police-evacuate-christmas-market-in-berlin-amid-reports-of-suspicious-item/
“According to Berlin police, an event in the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, located on the Kurfürstendamm in the centre of the Breitscheidplatz, was ended prematurely.
Berlin Police said that they have evacuated a Christmas market in the centre of the city and are currently searching for suspicious bags or objects.
Police reportedly detained two individuals, Berliner Zeitung said without elaborating. Other unconfirmed media reports claim detained suspects had alleged links to Islamist radicals and a record of handling explosive devices. Police have not confirmed the reports yet.
?Berlin’s Weinachtsmarkt (Christmas market) at Breitsheidplatz was attacked by a terrorist on 19 December 2016. The Daesh sympathizer rammed his truck into crammed area, killing 12 and injuring dozens of people.
“Our colleagues are engaged in investigation of reports of a suspicious object at the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz…”, police said.
Berlin police said that all participants of the festive event have left the area without incidents, allowing special units to conduct a thorough search of the area.
“All visitors have left Weihnachtsmarkt area calmly and cautiously. Thank our colleagues. We are launching search at Breitscheidplatz and in Gedächtniskirche [Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church]”, police said…”
FISA Court Releases Previously Classified Order – Expands Investigation to Include ALL Warrants Brought Before the Court by FBI Attorney Kevin Clinesmith
On Friday the Department of Justice declassified an order from FISA Judge Collyer written on December 5th on the fraud perpetrated on the court by Obama operatives.
The FISA Court also expanded its investigation to include ALL warrants brought before the court by far left FBI Attorney Kevin Clinesmith.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/12/fisa-court-releases-previously-classified-order-expands-investigation-to-include-all-warrants-brought-before-the-court-by-fbi-attorney-kevin-clinesmith/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailyam&utm_content=weekend
Hariri supporters hurl stones and firecrackers at security forces in Beirut
Clashes erupted in Lebanon’s Beirut on Friday evening between supporters of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and security forces made up of the Lebanese Army and riot police.
Supporters of Hariri hurled stones and firecrackers as security forces tried to open a road that had been blocked earlier in the day.
Hariri’s supporters were protesting against the appointment of a new designate Prime minister Hassan Diab.
According to a statement released by the Lebanese army, seven soldiers were wounded during the confrontation as protesters hurled stones and fired firecrackers.
“I’ve Seen the Documents” – Rep. Ratcliffe Confirms Obama Deep State Was Lying and Spying on Trump Camp Way Before Opening Crossfire Hurricane
On Friday night former US Attorney and Rep. John Ratcliffe went on with Jason Chaffetz on Hannity and revealed he has seen the documents that indicate that Comey and Brennan were running an op BEFORE the opening of Crossfire Hurricane.
Fired FBI Director James Comey stated in March of 2017 under oath that the FBI investigation into the Trump – Russia scandal started in July 2016.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/12/ive-seen-the-documents-rep-ratcliffe-confirms-obama-deep-state-was-lying-and-spying-on-trump-camp-way-before-opening-crossfire-hurricane/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=weekend
Christmas Is Inclusive And SJWs Need To Realise It
House Dems Who Rushed Impeachment Are Now Stalling, Because They Have No Case – and They Know It
Hey Siri
https://twitter.com/jewsfortrump/status/1207922481543204864
Jews for Trump are better aligned with CUFI and other Evangelicals. We’re also doing outreach with Hindu Americans, who are horrorified by tards marching through the institutions.
Egypt Launches Programs to Raise Awareness on Illegal Immigration Risks
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2045871/egypt-launches-programs-raise-awareness-illegal-immigration-risks
“Egypt’s Ministry of Immigration and Expatriates Affairs is launching programs geared towards school children in provinces that witness illegal immigration. These programs seek to raise awareness on the risks of this phenomenon.
Minister of State for Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs Nabila Makram said Friday that an agreement was reached with the Wellspring Learning Community to carry out simplified activities and programs in schools to educate them about illegal migration.
During the recent third edition of the World Youth Forum, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi directed the ministry in coordination with the relevant authorities and the forum’s administration to launch the “Survival Ships” initiative.
Earlier this month, Egypt, Greece and Cyprus discussed reinforcing cooperation in combating illegal immigration within this initiative.
Makram stated that this week witnessed preparations for the awareness activities and programs, adding that she will accompany the team during its tours of schools.
Two years ago, the Egyptian parliament passed a law to curb illegal immigration, following the increased numbers of migrants to Europe.
This issue was discussed on the sidelines of the World Youth Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh. The dialogue was attended by Sisi and participants recommended raising awareness among potential immigrants about their future.
Illegal immigration represents a huge challenge to Europe where the vast majority of migrants opt to take the treacherous journey from North Africa across the Mediterranean to reach the continent. Egypt said that it has managed to combat the phenomenon through a comprehensive strategy.
Egypt’s special ambassador for migration Naela Jabr stated during the Forum that not a single migrant vessel had departed Egyptian shores in three years and the total of Egyptians who immigrated illegally from January until November was limited to 777.”
Pentagon: Saudi Military Students Present No Threat
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2045751/pentagon-saudi-military-students-present-no-threat
“The Pentagon said on Thursday that military students of Saudi nationality presented no threat to the United States, following a shooting earlier this month by a Saudi Air Force officer, who killed three people at a base in Florida.
In its review of about 850 military students from Saudi Arabia studying in the United States, the Pentagon found no information indicating an immediate threat to US security.
“We can report that no information indicating an immediate threat scenario was discovered,” said Garry Reid, a director for defense intelligence, counter-intelligence, law enforcement and security, briefing Pentagon reporters.
“A summary of all relevant information has been provided to the sponsoring organizations, namely the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, or DSCA, and the military departments,” he added.
“We will continue the vetting for the remainder of all current international military students, and apply the same procedures to any inbound IMS while we work with our colleagues from State and Homeland Security on any permanent policy changes for vetting foreign students.”
Following the shooting on December 6, the Pentagon ordered a broad review of vetting procedures for international students who participate in training on US military installations and demanded the process be strengthened.
About 5,000 military students from 150 countries are receiving training in bases within the United States.
Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi ambassador to the US, visited the military air base in Pensacola, Florida last week, to extend her condolences after the tragedy caused by the second lieutenant Saudi Mohammed Shamrani.
The ambassador met with the base commander, and reiterated her condemnation of the attack, stressing her readiness to provide any possible assistance to expedite the investigation.”
Locust Invasion Threatens Somali Farmers with Starvation
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2046321/locust-invasion-threatens-somali-farmers-starvation
“Somali farmers on Saturday urged their government and the international community to help protect their crops from an invasion of locusts that is leaving many unable to feed their families.
“Locusts already ate our grazing area so we are now fighting to save at least our farm, where we planted watermelon and beans. We aren’t able to protect them and we call on the Somali government and international community to help us,” said Jamad Mohamed, a farmer in Dhusamareb, the provincial capital of Galgadud, a semi-autonomous region.
The insects have already destroyed 70,000 hectares (175,000 acres) of farmland in Somalia and neighboring Ethiopia, threatening food supplies in both countries in the worst locust invasion in 70 years, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Wednesday.
For Jirow Qorhere, another Somali farmer in the region, it is too late. He has lost all his crops to the insects.
“Locusts devoured the whole area and have now reached our farm to eat our plants, as you can see,” Qorhere said. “This is the end, we have nothing left to feed our children and we aren’t even able to buy from the market.””
Turkish Parliament Approves Controversial Military Deal with Libya’s GNA
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2046306/turkish-parliament-approves-controversial-military-deal-libya%E2%80%99s-gna
“Turkey’s parliament approved a security and military deal with Libya’s Government of National Accord on Saturday on the heels of a controversial maritime agreement earlier this month that has drawn international ire.
The deal allows Turkey to provide military training and equipment at the request of the GNA that controls the capital, Tripoli, and some of the country’s west.
Libyan National Accord forces based in Libya’s east opened a fierce new assault on the capital last week and on Friday. They gave the militias defending Tripoli a three-day deadline to pull out.
The LNA, led by commander Khalifa Haftar, has been trying to capture the capital since April.
The UN has criticized foreign interference in Libya amid the recent escalation in violence, and urged Libyans to return to political dialogue.
UN experts have also identified multiple cases of non-compliance with a UN arms embargo. They said the majority of arms sent to the GNA came from Turkey.
Russian concern
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the two agreements with Tripoli in November. He said Turkey could deploy troops to Libya upon request.
Turkish lawmakers now have given the green light to send military advisors, experts and personnel to the conflict, if asked. Ankara could also send weapons and military vehicles, conduct military training, joint exercises and share intelligence.
Russia said it was very concerned about the possibility of Turkey deploying troops in Libya and that the security deal raised many questions for Moscow.
Erdogan will discuss Ankara’s potential troop deployment to Libya with Russian President Vladimir Putin during talks in Turkey next month, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
Speaking on Saturday, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said the accords with Libya were historic for Turkey and added Ankara was ready to evaluate possible troop deployment.
The separate maritime boundary agreement, signed into law earlier this month, could give Turkey access to a contested economic zone across the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The deal has added tension to Turkey’s ongoing dispute with Greece, Cyprus and Egypt over oil and gas drilling rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
Greece says the deal violates international law, but Turkey has rejected the accusations, saying the accord aims to protect its rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
Speaking before the vote, parliamentarians from the ruling party argued the deal would aid the “legitimate government” in Tripoli, ensuring Libya’s stability and Turkey’s interests in the eastern Mediterranean.
Opposition Republican People’s Party legislator Unal Cevikoz said the agreement amounted to meddling in Libya’s internal affairs, violating a UN arms embargo and further destabilizing the country by “adding fuel to fire in Libya.” He said the deal was against Turkey’s interests and created the possibility of putting Turkish troops at risk.
“Do you want to protect the interests of our country? Then don’t be party to the war in Libya. Don’t send weapons and fighters to Libya,” Cevikoz said.
A senior US State Department official on Saturday described the maritime agreement between Ankara and Tripoli as “unhelpful” and “provocative”.
“Now with the maritime boundaries, you’re drawing in Greece and Cyprus… From the United States’ perspective, this is a concern,” the official said. “It’s not the time to be provoking more instability in the Mediterranean.””
Pompeo: Russia, China Have Blood on their Hands after Veto on Syria Cross-Border Aid
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2046326/pompeo-russia-china-have-blood-their-hands-after-veto-syria-cross-border-aid
“US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday said Russia and China had blood on their hands after the two countries used a veto of a UN Security Council resolution to block cross-border aid deliveries from Turkey and Iraq to millions of Syrian civilians.
“The Russian Federation’s and China’s veto yesterday of a Security Council resolution that allows for humanitarian aid to reach millions of Syrians is shameful,” Pompeo said in a statement.
“To Russia and China, who have chosen to make a political statement by opposing this resolution, you have blood on your hands,” he added.
Russia, backed by China, on Friday cast its 14th U.N. Security Council veto since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011.
The resolution, drafted by Belgium, Kuwait and Germany, would have allowed cross-border humanitarian deliveries for a further 12 months from two points in Turkey and one in Iraq. But Syrian ally Russia only wanted to approve the two Turkish crossings for six months and had proposed its own draft text.
Russia and China vetoed the text while the remaining 13 members of the Security Council voted in favor. A resolution needs a minimum nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France to pass.
“The United States will remain committed to helping the voiceless, the hungry, the displaced, and the orphaned receive the humanitarian aid they require to survive no matter where they live,” Pompeo said.
Since 2014 the United Nations and aid groups have crossed into Syria from Turkey, Iraq and Jordan at four places annually authorized by the Security Council. In a bid to compromise with Russia, the Jordan crossing was dropped by Belgium, Kuwait and Germany from their draft.
The current authorization for the four border crossings in Turkey, Iraq and Jordan ends on Jan. 10, so the Security Council could still attempt to reach an agreement, though some diplomats acknowledged this could now be difficult.”
Eastern Libya military leader Haftar’s forces seize Turkish ship
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/libyan-eastern-military-leader-haftars-forces-seize-turkish-ship
“Eastern forces loyal to Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar said on Saturday that they had seized a Turkish ship to search its cargo, hours after the Turkish parliament approved a security and military cooperation deal with Libya.
Ankara signed the agreement with the UN-recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) just weeks after concluding a controversial deal on maritime jurisdiction, AFP said.
Haftar launched an offensive in April to seize Tripoli from fighters loyal to the GNA, the latest unrest in the North Africa country since a NATO-backed uprising ousted and killed former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The Turkish ship, registered in Grenada, was taken to the port of Ras al-Helal near the eastern city of Derna “to search and verify its cargo,” Ahmed al-Mesmari, spokesman for Haftar’s forces, said in a statement.
The forces loyal to Haftar provided Reuters with a video that shows them stopping the ship and questioning three crew members. They also published copies of passports of three Turkish nationals.
It was not immediately clear what the ship was carrying. Ankara has sent military supplies to Libya in violation of a United Nations arms embargo, according to a report by UN experts seen by Reuters last month.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Ankara is ready to send troops into Libya if requested by Tripoli, but no request has been made.
The latest Turkey-Libya memorandum of understanding also covers increased cooperation in the fields of intelligence, terrorism, the defence industry and migration.
Haftar had in June threatened to attack Turkish interests in Libya.”
MiddleEastEye is not a news source.
It’s not even al-Jaz or Hurriyet.
Pure toxic gas.
Erdogan warns of legalising Haftar at the expense of UN-backed Libyan government
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191221-erdogan-warns-of-legalising-haftar-at-the-expense-of-un-backed-libyan-government/
“Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warned on Friday of legalising renegade Libyan General, Khalifa Haftar, at the expense of the internationally-backed government in Tripoli, Anadolu Agency reports…”
Iraq: Calls for ending assassination and kidnapping of activists
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191221-iraq-calls-for-ending-assassination-and-kidnapping-of-activists/
“Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights called on Friday for the Interior Ministry to put an end to the assassination and kidnapping of activists protesting against the government and its politicians, Anadolu Agency reports…”
Libya Security Chief Says Russians Spearhead Tripoli Battle
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-21/libya-security-chief-says-russians-spearheading-tripoli-fighting
“The security chief of Libya’s UN-backed government in Tripoli said Russian mercenaries backing eastern commander Khalifa Haftar are now spearheading a battle to capture the capital.
Fathi Bashagha, the interior minister for the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, said fighters with the Russian Wagner group, headed by a confidant of Russian president Vladimir Putin, are leading the battle on the frontlines in Tripoli’s outskirts, which has been accompanied by heavy shelling.
Western officials say more than 1,000 Wagner mercenaries have arrived since September to back Haftar’s Libyan National Army in his nine-month offensive to capture Tripoli. The campaign, which has stalled at Tripoli’s outskirts, has drawn intervention from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt on Haftar’s behalf, while Turkey has assisted the Tripoli-based government.
Russia and Haftar’s forces have denied that mercenaries are fighting in Tripoli.
“Our fighters report that all the attacks are now being done by the Russians,” Bashagha told Bloomberg News in a phone interview. “They are fighting as infantry in the front lines.”
Bashagha said the Russians have sophisticated drone-jamming technology and artillery. “Over two days, they launched 2,500 projectiles, whether mortar rounds or artillery,” he said…”
France kills 33 militants in Mali raid: president
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-mali-conflict/france-kills-33-militants-in-mali-raid-president-idUSKBN1YP0CT
“French forces killed 33 Islamist militants in Mali on Saturday using attack helicopters, ground troops and a drone, near the border with Mauritania where a group linked to al Qaeda operates, French authorities said.
“The raid about 150 km (90 miles) northwest of Mopti in Mali targeted the same forest area where France wrongly claimed last year it had killed Amadou Koufa, one of the most senior Islamist militants being hunted by French forces in the Sahel.
A spokesman for the French army’s chief of staff declined to say at this stage whether Koufa was the target this time.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the operation in a speech to the French community in Ivory Coast’s main city of Abidjan, describing it as a major success.
“This morning … we were able to neutralize 33 terrorists, take one prisoner and free two Malian gendarmes who had been held hostage,” Macron said, a day after visiting French troops stationed in Ivory Coast.
The operation took place in a different part of Mali to where 13 French soldiers died last month in a helicopter crash while tracking a militant group suspected of being linked to Islamic State.
That was the biggest loss of French troops in a day since an attack in Beirut 36 years ago and raised questions about the human cost to France of its six-year campaign against Islamist insurgents in West Africa.
In Saturday’s raid, soldiers aboard Tiger attack helicopters used a Reaper drone to guide them to the forest area where Koufa’s group Katiba Macina operates, French army command said.
Koufa is one of the top deputies to Iyad Ag Ghali, the leader of Mali’s most prominent jihadi group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which has repeatedly attacked soldiers and civilians in Mali and neighboring Burkina Faso.
The Malian authorities welcomed the success of the raid. “Happy that the fight against terrorism is taking a more offensive turn,” said government spokesman Yaya Sangare in a message to Reuters. “I salute this operation, which must continue.”
The United Nations, France and the United States have poured billions of dollars into stabilizing the Sahel, an arid region of West Africa south of the Sahara desert, but with little success.
France, the former colonial power in a number of West African countries, has more than 4,000 soldiers in the region in its counter-terrorism taskforce Operation Barkhane. The United Nations has a 13,000-strong peacekeeping operation in Mali.
French officials have expressed frustration that some countries in the region have not done more to curb criticism of French operations. Paris is also vexed that some countries have not fully implemented deals to bring more stability to areas of the Sahel with little law and order.
On Dec. 10, Islamist militants killed 71 soldiers at a remote military camp in Niger near the border with Mali – an attack claimed by a West African branch of Islamic State.
France announced separately this week that its Reaper drones deployed in the Sahel would now have the capacity to carry weapons, although the army command said the drone used in Saturday’s operation had not been armed.”
Egypt heightens security measures nationwide ahead of Christmas, New Year Eve
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/358149/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-heightens-security-measures-nationwide-ahead.aspx
“Egypt’s interior ministry said it has intensified security measures nationwide ahead of Christmas and New Year Eve.
Security directorates deployed security in main streets, axes and squares, and around vital institutions and houses of worship, to maintain security and respond promptly and decisively to those who attempt to disturb celebrations, read a statement.
The plans include boosting the security presence and deploying security checkpoints to monitor conditions, and providing rapid deployment forces in vital areas.
The ministry also deployed inspection forces and secret services units, and female police to help in inspection and security operations.
Coptic Egyptians, who make up 90 percent of all Christians in the country, celebrate Christmas on 7 January.
Egypt is also home to a number of other denominations which observe Christmas on 25 December.
Over the past years, terrorist attacks targeting churches during religious holiday seasons have left dozens of Christians killed and injured.”
US Re-Designates Saudi Arabia as Country With Low Religious Freedom
http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/12/289490/us-re-designates-saudi-arabia-as-country-with-low-religious-freedom/
“The United States has re-designated Saudi Arabia as a “country of particular concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998” that has engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, [and] egregious violations of religious freedom.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the announcement on Friday, December 20, through the US Department of State website. The press release, titled “United States Takes Action Against Violators of Religious Freedom,” listed multiple countries with poor religious freedom records.
The designation is part of the United States’ work “to promote religious freedom and combat abuses,” says the statement.
“[The designation underscores] the United States’ commitment to protect those who seek to exercise their freedom of religion or belief. We believe that everyone, everywhere, at all times, should have the right to live according to the dictates of their conscience. We will continue to challenge state and non-state entities that seek to infringe upon those fundamental rights and to ensure they are held to account for their actions,” concludes the press release.
The re-designation of Saudi Arabia as a country that does not respect religious freedom is only an extension of what international human rights organizations have been condemning in regard to other human rights in recent years.
In September, the Guardian reported that 15 European Union members issued a joint statement to condemn unlawful detention, the alleged use of torture, and unfair trials of activists and journalists in Saudi Arabia.
In November, Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report condemning the continued oppression of activists, clerics, and women in Saudi Arabia.
HRW found that Saudi Arabia arrested approximately 70 people in September 2017 alone, including several clerics and religious thinkers.
More recently, on December 16, Saudi Arabia stripped a Saudi journalist of his citizenship for “normalization and cooperation with Israel.”
The journalist said that the loss of his citizenship came after a “ministerial decision” and that he does not know the reasons behind it.
The State Department list of countries “violating religious freedoms” included Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
As for entities “of particular concern,” the list included al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qaeda, al-Shabab, Boko Haram, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Khorasan, and the Taliban.”
“But what has this to do with my recent conversion to Catholicism? Everything. Because, sadly, I have come to the conclusion that in some important respects Britain is starting to resemble Soviet-era Eastern Europe.
Freedom of speech is slowly being eroded; those who refuse to be ‘politically correct’ risk accusations of thought crime and Christians are being unfairly persecuted.
And where is the Church of England in this crucial culture war? Is it on the front line? Not that I can see. If anything, it has switched sides.”
“This isn’t just a shame, it’s a calamity. For 2,000 years, Christianity has led the way in the quest for truth, freedom of thought and freedom of conscience.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-7817735/The-Queens-former-chaplain-GAVIN-ASHENDEN-speaks-conversion-Catholicism.html
Turkey hopes 2020 will mark progress on EU accession bid
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-hopes-2020-will-mark-progress-on-eu-accession-bid-150091
“Turkey sees a glimmer of hope in reviving its stalled accession process to the European Union in 2020 in the context of the new leadership taking the helm of key European institutions and with expectations of the accelerated reform process by the government.
“With the new commission and the new parliament, we hope that in 2020, if we can accelerate the reform path in Turkey, we can build confidence,” Deputy Foreign Minister Faruk Kaymakc? told a small group of reporters late Dec 19. He underlined that restoring confidence between Turkey and the EU would pave the way for addressing some obstacles to Turkey’s accession process in 2020.
German politician and former Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen took office as president of the European Commission on Dec. 1, and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an was one of the first leaders she contacted on her first day in office. The government has evaluated this gesture and the dispatch of a senior delegation to Ankara as an indication that the new commission wishes to stay in dialogue and to engage with Turkey, despite problems in the accession process.
“There is a will from both sides. The will has always been on our side. But now, we see that the new commission is also willing to engage with Turkey,” he stressed.
The EU has stalled the accession process due to the deteriorated democratic and human rights conditions in Turkey in the aftermath of the July 15 failed coup. It also stopped a process for upgrading the customs union.
The ongoing strain in the eastern Mediterranean over the hydrocarbon activities, Turkey’s unilateral operation into northeastern Syria and the decades-old Cyprus problem constitute other major problems in the Ankara-Brussels dialogue.
The experienced diplomat admits the fact that the Cyprus problem and the tension over the hydrocarbon drillings in the Mediterranean would continue to create major obstacles in building trust between Ankara and Brussels.
A clear deadline and new parameters
“Of course, the Cyprus problem will always be there. We hope we can also work on it, but we need a clear deadline and maybe some new parameters,” he said, referring to a potential launch of a fresh intercommunal effort for a negotiated settlement on the island.
New parameters are needed because all the related parties are playing the game according to the old parameters that produce nothing but just postpone sound talks, he said.
Kaymakc? criticized the stance of the EU on the eastern Mediterranean conflict for trying to put itself into a role of court although it has no jurisdiction over the matter. He repeated Turkey’s urging that any unilateral decision by the EU under the excuse of membership solidarity will not yield any result in terms of the eastern Mediterranean dispute.
“What we need is engagement and dialogue. If the EU is really sincere in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, if the EU is really sincere in contributing to the settlement of the delimitation of the maritime zone issue, the EU can play an honest broker role but not by taking sides or by categorically saying that Turkey’s activities are illegal,” he added.
EU should not take sides on east Med
The deputy foreign minister has drawn attention to a series of contradictions on the EU position regarding the problem in the eastern Mediterranean. On the one hand, Brussels describes the Turkish activities as illegal, but on the other hand, it calls on all parties to engage in dialogue to delimit their maritime zones, Kaymakc? underlined.
“Still, we hope that we can try to find some solutions to this issue with the new commission,” he said.
“Since the beginning, since 2011, Turkey said that the Greek Cyprus should not be in drilling activities without consulting with the Turkish Cypriots. At that time, we had no drilling capacity, but now we have. And what we are doing now is just a response to the unilateral actions of Greek Cyprus.””
Turkey not to allow violations in E Med: Official
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-not-to-allow-violations-in-e-med-official-150116
“Foreign remarks on Turkey’s recent maritime deal with the U.N.-recognized government of Libya will not prevent the Turkish government from pursuing its own agenda in the Eastern Mediterranean, the country’s communications director said on Dec. 21.
Fahrettin Altun issued an article on microblogging platform Medium where he discussed Turkey-Libya maritime jurisdiction pact and how it confirms the sovereignty of Turkey in the region.
Altun said the maritime pact demonstrated that Ankara administration would never turn a blind eye to any fait-accompli in the Eastern Mediterranean, and it ensured that Turkey was an actor that should not be denied.
Emphasizing that Turkey had long been busy dealing with its domestic affairs that hindered producing regional political policies, Altun argued this was no longer the case as Ankara, with its political and historical responsibilities, could not be a bystander watching regional incidents without intervening.
Turkey will not allow any violations in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as the conduct of operations near its southern borders, he said, referring to the YPG/PKK terror group’s occupation in northern Syria…”
5 ISIL members surrender to Turkish forces
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/5-isil-members-surrender-to-turkish-forces-150102
“Five women ISIL terrorists surrendered to Turkish security forces on Dec. 20, local sources said.
The terrorists surrendered at the Cilvegozu border crossing with Syria in Turkey’s southeastern province of Hatay.
The Turkish-origin women were wanted by security forces for their links to the terrorist outfit, said the sources who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.
Since 2013, Turkey has been attacked by ISIL numerous times, including in 10 suicide bombings, seven bombings, and four armed attacks which killed 315 people and injured hundreds.
In response to the attacks, Turkey launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad, neutralizing 3,500 ISIL terrorists and arresting 5,500.”