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.
DAILY MAIL – Knifeman shot dead by police in central London after ‘threatening officers with two 10-inch blades’ is named as 30-year-old
Hassan Yahya was killed in Westminster last weekend after Tasers were fired
The 30-year-old did not stop for police and was carrying two knives, IOPC says
Incident has not been treated as terror-related, police watchdog confirms
The IOPC has not informed next-of-kin, and inquest date has not been set
A knifeman shot dead in central London last weekend after he allegedly threatened officers with twin 10-inch blades has been named by the police watchdog.
Hassan Yahya, 30, was killed in Westminster on Sunday night after three Tasers were fired in an incident which has not been treated as terror-related.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is investigating the shooting, believes the victim had run over Hungerford Bridge into Northumberland Avenue.
Wielding two large blades, Yahya was shot by City of London Police responding to an emergency call at around 11.30pm on the South Bank.
The IOPC said police at the scene of the incident had recorded body-cam video. The footage has been passed to investigators, along with CCTV.
It said it was awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination, and was yet to inform the man’s next-of-kin. An inquest date has not yet been set.
IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: ‘It’s important we establish exactly what happened. We’ve already gathered a substantial amount of evidence, including CCTV and officers’ body-worn video, which will be carefully analysed by our investigators.’
Yahya acted suspiciously near the Royal Festival Hall, where he was cautioned by two Ministry of Defence police officers.
He did not stop, and they radioed for back-up after firing one Taser.
Metropolitan Police fired another Taser when he entered Northumberland Avenue. A third was fired before he was shot dead by a City of London officer.
Yahya was carrying two knives, recovered from Great Scotland Yard – a road connecting Whitehall and Northumberland Avenue, by Trafalgar Square.
In terms of armed officers, the nearby area between Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament is the most heavily-covered part of the UK.
No police officers or members of the public were injured during the incident.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8110585/Knifeman-shot-dead-police-central-London-named-30-year-old.html
Media condemns label ‘Chinese coronavirus’ after using it themselves
twitter
Liberal media pundits want you to think referring to the coronavirus as the “Wuhan” or “Chinese” virus is racist.
Here’s just a few of the times the liberal media did just that.
https://twitter.com/mrctv/status/1238186498433966081
Precious metals moves have been interesting. Futures markets or simply paper holders are blamed for yesterday’s price dive. Panic selling of most paper assets, such as stocks and PM certificates give us that smoke we see in the air. But don’t forget, the true physical bullion price of both silver and gold are masked so long as paper traders have their way. –Price discovery is a sham. Incinerate the paper, however, as enough people wake up to get physical, and the story changes. Unfortunately, by the time Main Street wakes up PMs will no longer be available. This is called Backwardation
https://www.gata.org/node/19931
An expert explains:
https://youtu.be/tkNa4tm9ZM8
Sorry that’s wrong.
And this:
https://youtu.be/3iYADquljNY
Dystopia’s Dear Leader is giving out $1,000,000,000 to battle the Chicom virus. I wonder if the virus knows this as the money lands in the pockets of Iroquois Chieftans and all the David Suzukis. Ironically, Dear Leader is doing this from “isolation”. Well, it is hardly breaking news that he has been in his own little bubble his entire life. Funny how msm took this long to point out his isolation.
https://youtu.be/y7mxLzKUPHk
he has been in his own little bubble his entire life. Funny how msm took this long to point out his isolation.
LOL
Deutch Bank, according to Charles Nenner in yesterday’s posting, is insolvent. There will be inter-bank contagion. DB is, perhaps, more leveraged with rehypothecated assets than any other bank.
https://youtu.be/vAiFPQbOSTI
It’s hard to imagine any article from the past being more on point now, than this one. Harper was good, but he would have accomplished much better insurance for the bankers by stockpiling precious metals for a rainy day, rather than making law the bail-in of depositors’ money to make banks solvent. When I raised this with my accountant some years back he had no response.
https://canadafreepress.com/article/conservative-budget-bail-in-regime-may-allow-banks-to-confiscate-customers
This is why Nenner is afraid to sell his Dutch property. A wack of cash in a vulnerable bank can be “bailed-in” to make it solvent. The DB insolvency virus will likely leave few banks, worldwide, untouched.
Solutions? Tough. Multiple accounts under $100,000 at multiple banks may work. Convert to PMs and bury it may work but is highly problematic for multiple reasons.
Didn’t Trudeau sell off all Canada’s gold reserves very early on? It is almost like he knew this was coming and wanted to make sure Canada would fail.
Hey whats the exchange rate today, still 40%?
https://www.google.com/search?q=currency+exchange&oq=currency+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l3.2798j0j4&client=ms-android-bell-ca&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
And Trudeau selling the last few meaningless ounces of gold had to be a fealty signal to Soros or some other asshole.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/15729/coronavirus-europe-crisis
WATCH: Alleged refugees at the Greek border screaming, ” I want you dead!” – Turkish right-wing extremists are also among the invaders
Which of the left-wing crybabies chanting “We have room” on demonstrations wants to accommodate this allegedly desperate refugee? Interesting also the “wolf salute” on the right side of the picture. These are Turkish right-wing extremist fighters for Islam. Even in the mainstream media one could read these days that the majority of the people at the border to Greece are not refugees from Syria.
More:
https://medforth.blog/2020/03/14/watch-alleged-refugees-at-the-greek-border-screaming-i-want-you-dead-turkish-right-wing-extremists-are-also-among-the-invaders/
Sexual Abuse Allegations Against UN Civilian Staff Double in One Year (breitbart, Mar 14, 2020)
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/03/14/sexual-abuse-allegations-against-un-civilian-staff-double-year/
“Allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation in UN peacekeeping and political missions rose significantly in 2019, with allegations against civilian personnel nearly doubling, a UN report said Friday.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the report to the UN General Assembly that while the number of alleged victims and perpetrators decreased last year, the number of allegations increased to 80 from the 56 reported in 2018.
More than half of the 2019 allegations — 41 — were related to the UN peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic, while 15 involved the mission in Congo, the report said. The joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur, the UN force in Lebanon, and the former peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Haiti accounted for three-fourths of the remaining 24 cases, it said.
The rest involved three special political missions — the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, and the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea -Bissau.
The United Nations has long been in the spotlight over allegations of child rape and other sexual abuses by its peacekeepers, especially those based in Central African Republic and Congo. But the latest figures demonstrate again that sexual misconduct spans the entire UN system.
The report said allegations involving UN civilian personnel rose from 13 in 2018 to 25 in 2019, while allegations involving military personnel increased from 39 in 2018 to 49 in 2019. There were 37 allegations associated with paternity claims, it said.
As for sexual exploitation and abuse involving staff working for UN agencies, funds and programs, it said 95 allegations were reported in 2019, up from 93 in 2018.
Guterres stressed in the report that the majority of the more than 190,000 uniformed and civilian personnel in more than 30 bodies in the UN system serve “with professionalism and dedication,” but he said “significant challenges” remain in dealing with sexual abuse and exploitation…”
Greece Deploys Large Fans to Blow Back Migrant Tear Gas Attacks (breitbart, Mar 14, 2020)
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/03/14/greece-deploys-large-fans-to-blow-back-migrant-tear-gas-attacks/
“Greek authorities have deployed large fans at the Turkish border to blow back against tear gas and other chemicals fired at the Greek border by migrants allegedly armed by Turkey.
The large fans were attached to the back of pickup trucks and placed along the border area where Greek authorities have come under repeated attack in recent days by migrants armed with tear gas and with Molotov cocktails.
The fans also serve to increase visibility for the Greek authorities, according to a report from Proto Thema, who added that Greek police were also firing blue paint at migrants attempting to cross the border.
Civilians have also formed groups to aid authorities, including local hunters and farmers near the border village of Feres, where an estimated 300 or so volunteers are supplying border guards with coffee, water, and food.
A video widely circulated on social media also showed a local farmer appearing to be spraying some sort of liquid across the border fence towards roving migrants — later revealed to be simple water, intended to dampen the ground and make it harder for migrants to light fires along the border fence.
Proto Thema has released several short videos showing various alleged migrant attacks along the frontier, including a migrant apparently throwing a Molotov cocktail toward Greek border guards.
The European Union border agency, Frontex, has announced it will be sending an additional one hundred border guards.
Executive Director of Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri, commented on the measure, saying: “The presence of 100 officers from all around Europe underlines the fact that the protection of the area of the European area of freedom, security and justice is a shared responsibility of all member-states and Frontex.”
However, some European governments, such as Finland’s, have said they believe Greece’s decision to suspend asylum applications and push migrants back is “wrong” and against EU law, and the European Commissioner for migration has also suggested that the Mediterranean country must accept migrants who claim to be asylum seekers.”
Turkish Radio & Television – TRT- Refugee Crisis: Migrants brave bullets, cold weather and harsh Greek forces
Amanpour – What Role Should Greece Take in the “Syrian” Refugee Crisis?
History is repeating itself at Europe’s border, as migrants are desperately trying to make their way from Turkey into Greece.
Many of these migrants come from Syria, where airstrikes have caused civilians to flee their country.
Since Turkey is unable to handle the influx, it is no longer stopping these migrants from crossing into the European Union.
Now President Erdogan says there will be a ceasefire in northern Syria, set to go into effect at midnight local time.
The result is a scene of shocking violence at the edge of the continent.
Greek Minister of State Giorgos Gerapetritis is the closest official to the Greek PM. In an exclusive interview, he says that there has been “no excessive violence” used against migrants trying to enter Greece at the Turkish border as the humanitarian crisis there worsens.
EU states to take in 1,600 migrant children in Greece
Earlier this week, Johansson said that migrant children traveling alone “face violence, abuse and exploitation.
Many of them just disappear from the asylum and reception centers and we don’t know where they are.
I am afraid that many of them fall into the hands of criminals.”
I’m so glad to see this, I could cry.
Go Greece!
Turkey: Makeshift migrant camp continues to grow at Pazarkule border crossing
LESBOS – Protest against Fascism – MARCH 14 2020
Iraq officials: Rocket attack hits base housing US troops (abcnews, Mar 14, 2020)
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/iraq-officials-rocket-attack-hits-base-housing-us-69594755
“A barrage of rockets hit a base housing U.S. and other coalition troops north of Baghdad on Saturday, Iraqi security officials said, just days after a similar attack killed three servicemen, including two Americans…”
Note to self (I just want to share the inspiration)
“Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out, honestly,
I wanna see you be brave.
Why don’t you tell them the truth.”
The Maccabeats.
ty!
What fun!
Asymptomatic Infection With Coronavirus
China threatens US medical supplies amid coronavirus outbreak;Meat delivered in Wuhan garbage trucks
Thread by Barak Ravid:
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1238818365600382981.html
1\ Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu asked several days ago his Indian counterpart @narendramodi for assistance in countering the Corona Virus crisis
2 \ Israeli officials told me Netanyahu asked Modi to give a special exemption for the export of N95 face masks for medical teams and raw material for the Israeli pharmaceutical industry
3 \ Why it matters? The Indian government ordered lately a ban on exports of raw material for the pharmaceutical industry and a ban on exports of face masks and other protective gear
4 \ India is the biggest exporter of raw material for pharmaceuticals and the Israeli industry is dependent of imports from India. The ban could have created a shortage of medicine in Israel. India also has the biggest factory for face masks in the world…
……
Long story short, Mr. Modi said ok to Bibi, just fewer masks than requested.
Hugs & kisses (virtual, germ-free), endless twitter-streams of Indians & Israelis exchanging heart-emojis.
Is Israel-India diplomacy run by teen-aged girls?
Coronavirus Reveals China’s Darkest Secret | China Uncensored
COVID-19 cases surge in Europe, and Spain declares state of emergency
Italy “Closes Lombardy” from Wuhan and the last train is stormed in Milan: “We feel like refugees”
Brigitte Gabriel Sounds the Alarm on CoronaVirus Panic!
Italian musicians helping to raise people’s spirits with music:
https://www.rt.com/news/483116-italy-musicians-flash-mob-coronavirus/
President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency for the United States over the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The President spoke from the Rose Garden at the White House, calling his announcement “decisive”.
“We will overcome the threat of the virus,” he began, before reiterating the Europe travel ban.
The President’s announcement releases a further $50 billion for states, territories, and localities to help deal with the virus and its fallout.
The Rose Garden speech also included details of “emergency operations centers” which will be set up “immediately”.
The President then went on to discuss the details of the plan, including the Health Secretary’s new ability to waive local laws and regulations to give all hospitals maximum flexibility to respond to the virus.
President Trump discussed new private sector partnerships to increase the government’s capacity to test people with symptoms of coronavirus.
https://thenationalpulse.com/news/trump-coronavirus-national-emergency/
Democrats, Media Were the First to Raise Issues About Biden’s Cognitive Health
Posted by Stacey Matthews Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 5:00pm
Just months ago, Democrats and the MSM led the way in questioning Joe Biden’s mental and physical health. But they have now declared the issue off limits. Wonder why?
Two things have been made clear in recent weeks as Joe Biden has moved ever closer to winning the Democratic presidential nomination:
1) The Trump campaign is going to continue to make questions about his cognitive health a campaign issue.
2) The mainstream media and Democrats are going to continue to run interference for Biden.
As I wrote last week, asking questions about Biden’s age and health should not be off the table – especially when you consider how the left and their MSM allies have set the standard on this by way of questioning Trump’s mental health for years.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2020/03/democrats-media-were-the-first-to-raise-issues-about-bidens-cognitive-health/
Pandemic accelerates push to move supply chains out of China
The coronavirus pandemic has businesses and lawmakers intensifying efforts to move their supply chains out of China.
Businesses will never pull out of China completely since it represents too large of a market in itself to ignore. But the virus has put many businesses on notice that they need to diversify their supply chains. At the same time, President Trump and members of Congress are providing additional incentives by vowing to change trade rules to discourage Chinese sources.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
The trend of manufacturers rethinking China as a source began well before the virus, said Michael Dunne, director of ZoZo Go, a China-based automotive consulting group. Tariffs sparked by the Trump administration’s trade war with Beijing forced many companies to realize that they depended too much on one region and were vulnerable if the terms of trade were altered. Many were well into a search when the year started for other places in Asia and the Pacific region to source materials or to establish manufacturing.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/economy/pandemic-accelerates-push-to-move-supply-chains-out-of-china
Multiple rockets hit Iraq’s Taji base for second time in a week
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Several Iraqi air defense servicemen were critically wounded on Saturday as multiple rockets hit a military base which houses U.S.-led coalition troops, in the second such strike in a week, the Iraqi military said.
The U.S.-led coalition said three of its troops and two Iraqi soldiers were wounded in the attack.
Iraq’s Joint Operations Command said 33 Katyusha rockets were launched near a section of the Taji base which houses coalition troops. It said the military found seven rocket launchers and 24 unused rockets in the nearby Abu Izam area.
The military said it would arrest those responsible.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack which, unlike recent similar attacks, took place in daylight hours.
An Iraqi colonel inside the base had earlier told Reuters he heard rockets hit the site and sirens blaring.
https://www.oann.com/multiple-rockets-fall-inside-iraqs-taji-base/
China’s imported coronavirus cases rise as local infections drop again
BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – The number of new coronavirus cases imported into mainland China from overseas surpassed the number of locally transmitted new infections for the first time on Friday, according to data released by the National Health Commission.
Mainland China had 11 new confirmed cases on Friday, up from eight cases a day earlier, but only four of those – all in the virus epicenter of Hubei province – were locally transmitted, according to the data released on Saturday.
https://www.oann.com/mainland-china-reports-11-new-coronavirus-infections-new-hubei-cases-continue-to-drop/
BBC – ‘Dangerous’ Sheffield rapists jailed for exploiting teenager
Four “dangerous” men who raped an “extremely vulnerable” teenage girl have been jailed.
The girl was 15 when the men began plying her with drink and drugs in order to exploit her.
The victim told Sheffield Crown Court she had been “scarred for life” as a result of the abuse she suffered.
Jasim Mohammed, Kawan Ahmed, Nzar Anwar and Shangar Ibrahimi were jailed for between 12 and 25 years after being convicted of rape after a trial.
A fifth man was also jailed for four years after being convicted on conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
The girl grew up in East Yorkshire but, after her mother died when she was 13, she taken into local authority care and placed in Sheffield.
During their trial the court heard the men had used her like a “piece of meat”.
The offences were carried out between September 2010 and December 2012.
Prosecutors said that in 2011 the complainant had told police she was being raped but no investigation was carried out.
In a statement read out to the court the victim said: “For many years I was made to feel like a liar and nobody, the police and local authority especially, listened to me.
“I was being regularly abused by many men but when I was crying out for help nobody was there.”
Judge Michael Slater said the investigation had taken a long time “in no small part as a result of what occurred in 2011” but praised South Yorkshire Police for its “considerable hard work and expertise during the trial.”
Speaking after the hearing Assistant Chief Constable Tim Forber said: “I am pleased with the significant sentences which have been handed to five very dangerous individuals today.
“These men have shown no remorse throughout this trial, while a courageous young woman has had to re-live her traumatic experiences in front of a jury.”
The sentences were:
Jasim Mohammed, 38, of Maxwell Way, Sheffield – jailed for 25 years after being found guilty of three counts of rape.
Kawan Omar Ahmed, 32, of Margate Drive, Sheffield – jailed for 18 years after being found guilty of two counts of rape.
Nzar Anwar, 41, of Exeter Drive, Sheffield – jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of one count of rape and one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Shangar Ibrahimi, 30, of Cemetery Road, Barnsley – jailed for 12 after being found guilty of one count of rape.
Saba Mohammed, 41, of Faranden Road, Sheffield – jailed four four years after being found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-england-south-yorkshire-51875301?__twitter_impression=true
Coronavirus cases in South Africa now at 38, says health ministry
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South Africa’s total number of coronavirus infections rose to 38 on Saturday, from 24 a day earlier, the health ministry said.
“This means that our numbers have increased by 14 from yesterday’s confirmed cases of 24,” the ministry said in a statement.
https://www.oann.com/coronavirus-cases-in-south-africa-now-at-38-says-health-ministry/
“Sidney Powell | How to Fix Justice”
Hillsdale College – March 11, 2020
“Where is Timothy Cunningham’s Whistleblower Report on Coronavirus?” by Tore – March 13, 2020
https://toresays.com/2020/03/13/where-is-timothy-cunninghams-whistleblower-report-on-coronavirus/
Many of America’s most powerful political leaders are in high-risk age category for coronavirus
By Daily Caller News Foundation March 14, 2020
Many of America’s most powerful politicians are in the age categories most at risk in the coronavirus pandemic.
Data from countries further along in the coronavirus process than the United States show that fatality rates are significantly higher for adults older than 60. Italy’s aging population is thought to be one reason why the number of coronavirus deaths in the country is so high.
Early data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention put the fatality rate of coronavirus patients ages 70 to 79 at 8% and 14.8% for those 80 and older, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
https://libertyunyielding.com/2020/03/14/many-of-americas-most-powerful-political-leaders-are-in-high-risk-age-category-for-coronavirus/
Der Spiegel Reportage aus Lesbos: Rechte Gewalt gegen Geflüchtete und Helfer
VICE NEWS – Greek Islanders Want the Refugee Crisis Over — and the Migrants Gone
Five years into Europe’s refugee crisis, the multi-billion Euro refugee deal with Turkey has broken down. Less than 2% of the refugees slated for resettlement in the rest of Europe have left Greece, as European nations refuse to implement the bloc’s continent-wide asylum policy. At the same time, almost no failed asylum claimants have been returned to Turkey, while the number of new arrivals have spiked, doubling in the past year.
As a result, Greece has been left to cope with the crisis alone, with the bankrupt Southeast European nation transformed into the continent’s open-air prison camp. On the island of Samos, where 7000 migrants and refugees live in squalid conditions on the hillside overlooking a town of 7000 Greeks, locals are enraged.
With the tourist economy devastated, islanders feel abandoned by both the Greek government in Athens and the European Union as a whole. The situation’s about to explode: and local islanders blame the mostly Northern European NGOs and journalists they accuse of exacerbating the migrant crisis, and ruining the image of their island overseas.
VICE News travelled to Samos to meet the refugees, migrants and locals living in uncomfortable proximity as tensions mount, and local officials demand action from the capital. With tensions at boiling point, this once-idyllic island is the frontline of Greece and Europe’s migrant crisis.
GREECE – CHIOS – I want to go to Germany
AUSTRALIA – Persian New Year events cancelled over coronavirus concerns
Next week tens of thousands of Iranians in Australia will celebrate the start of the Persian new year also known as Nowruz.
But public celebrations have been affected by coronavirus fears in the local community, with many traditional events now scrapped.
Comparing Obama’s handling of Ebola to Trump’s handling of COVID-19 is a fool’s errand
By Howard Portnoy March 14, 2020
It was inevitable that the Left’s never-ending quest to oust Donald Trump would lead them to compare his handling of the coronavirus outbreak to Barack Obama’s handling of Ebola. That comparison came on Friday courtesy of Boston Public Radio (WGBH).
To mount its case that Orange Man Bad, Black Man Good, the station interviewed Bina Venkataraman, chief policy advisor to Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Venkataraman hit the ground running. “It’s hard to overstate the contrast,” she said. “For one, you had a president who actually accepted and cultivated scientific advice.”
Ah, yes: The president who informed us tediously often that the science on global warming (later rechristened “climate change” when warming was shown to be inaccurate) is “settled.” He also spoke frequently of the “scientific consensus” — another term never used by scientists.
Venkataraman went on to castigate Trump for failing to engage with world leaders to “contain” COVID-19 “in the multiple places in the world it is, so that we could think about better tracking it, understanding its mortality rate and seeing how it evolves and emerges over time.” She stopped short of explaining how that might be accomplished when the country where the virus first occurred, China, refuses to acknowledge that fact, insisting instead that the U.S. brought the virus to Asia.
https://libertyunyielding.com/2020/03/14/comparing-obamas-handling-of-ebola-to-trumps-handling-of-covid-19-is-a-fools-errand/
Trump says travel ban to be extended to UK, Ireland
Trump says he has taken coronavirus test, no result yet
FRANCE – PARIS – YELLOW VESTS PROTEST – WEEK 70
BORDEAUX
Canadian, Italian freed in Mali 15 months after abduction
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/canadian-italian-freed-mali-15-months-abduction-69597575
“Canadian woman and an Italian man who had been kidnapped in December 2018 in Burkina Faso have been released in good health, according to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in neighboring Mali.
Quebec resident Edith Blais and Italian Luca Tacchetto had been travelling by car in the southwest of Burkina Faso when all communication with their families abruptly ended on Dec. 15, 2018. Burkina Faso’s security situation had been deteriorating in the year before their abduction and has gotten increasingly worse in the past year. Al-Qaida and Islamic State-linked groups are active in Burkina Faso.
Mali’s U.N. peacekeeping spokesman Olivier Salgado told The Associated Press the two were brought to the MINUSMA based in Kidal in a civilian car on Friday. There they were taken in by the U.N. peacekeeping mission. On Saturday, the two flew to Bamako and have met with the head of MINUSMA, Mali’s president, other Malian authorities and the Canadian ambassador.
It is not known who kidnapped the two, if a ransom was paid or who arranged for the release.
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that he spoke with Blais and Tacchetto, who are safe.
Jihadists groups in the past year have been pushing across Mali’s border into Burkina Faso, and are increasing attacks further east as they gain territory in the smaller West African nation. More than half a million people have been displaced by the violence and almost 2,000 more fatalities were reported last year than in 2018 — a six-fold increase — according to a report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, which collects and analyzes conflict information.”
Post-Soleimani, Russia’s Role Will Grow in Iran’s Geopolitical Thinking
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: US-Iran relations reached a nadir following the killing by US drone strike of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. As Iran’s isolation grows, its link to Russia is likely to strengthen. Moscow can use Iran’s geopolitical weakness to its own economic advantage by making large sales of Russian military hardware to the Islamic Republic and encouraging deeper cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union and Tehran. At the same time, Russia will use the death of Soleimani to constrain Iranian troop activities on the Syrian battlefield and will generally limit Damascus’s dependence on Iran.
As the emotional tide following the January killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani ebbs, we have a clearer perspective on what the event meant and whether it was as significant as many analysts and politicians believed.
Though many focused (understandably) on the US’s evolving policies regarding the Middle East in general and Iran in particular, Russia’s stance was less discussed. Those analyses that touched on Moscow focused more on its immediate reaction to the Soleimani crisis than on analyzing its Iran policy over the long term.
First, it is important to understand Iran’s role in Russia’s strategic calculus. Iran is crucial for Moscow, as its location at times renders it the most important player in the Middle East. This fits the rationale of the Russian political elite. Its political thinkers of the 1990s contended that Iran should be a pillar of Russian influence in the Middle East. The so-called Eurasianists, who believe Russia is a mixture of Europe and Asia, say that if Moscow is to limit western power in the Middle East, it needs Tehran.
https://besacenter.org/perspectives-papers/iran-russia-geopolitics/
Sup with the Devil
Use a very long spoon.
Bad News For Democrats – A ‘Never Biden’ Movement Is Growing On The Left
Just as four years ago, they are disenfranchising far left supporters of Bernie Sanders, many of whom are already saying they will never vote for Joe Biden.
Democrats obviously hope these people will eventually come around but if history is any guide, many of them won’t.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/03/bad-news-for-democrats-a-never-biden-movement-is-growing-on-the-left/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailyam&utm_content=weekend
HE DID IT AGAIN! Trump Takes Out Top Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander in Iraq – General Siamand Mashhadani Killed in US Strike
Earlier this week Iranian backed militia killed two US soldiers and a female UK soldier at Taji military base in Iraq.
Read more
5/6
HE DID IT AGAIN! Trump Takes Out Top Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Commander in Iraq – General Siamand Mashhadani Killed in US Strike
Jim Hoft by Jim Hoft March 14, 2020 418 Comments
9.2KShare 420Tweet Email
Earlier this week Iranian backed militia killed two US soldiers and a female UK soldier at Taji military base in Iraq.
Read more
3/6
Last night the US responded killing at least 18 militia members in Iraq including Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander General Siamand Mashhadani.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/03/he-did-it-again-trump-takes-out-top-iranian-revolutionary-guards-commander-in-iraq-general-siamand-mashhadani-killed-in-us-strike/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=weekend
Seth Frantzman knows the languages, the players, and the territory first-hand. He has doubts about this “Siamand Mashhadani”. Does he exist? What’s the real story here?
This article is just straight reporting, doesn’t go into speculations he makes elsewhere:
Was Iranian IRGC General ‘Siamand Mashhadani’ killed in US airstrikes?
The name “Siamand Mashhadani” may be a nickname, code name or Arabic kunya war name because it is not common.
https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Was-Iranian-IRGC-General-Siamand-Mashhadani-killed-in-US-airstrikes-620862
European Union: Closing the Borders?
by Judith Bergman
March 14, 2020 at 5:00 amOn February 27, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made good on his many threats to send millions of migrants and refugees to Europe, despite a 2016 deal between Europe and Turkey to hold them. Apparently seeking to make Europe experience the full force of his intentions, Turkish officials sent busloads of migrants — predominantly young men from Afghanistan and Iran, according to several reports — to Turkey’s border with Greece.
“We prepared a plan with our colleagues and we are committed to arranging free buses for the refugees in Bolu towards the border town of Edirne,” said Tanju Özcan, the mayor of Bolu, a town in northern Turkey, 550 kilometers from the border with Greece. “Refugees willing to go to Edirne can apply to the Bolu municipality and its branches. We are ready to assure the transport whatever the number [of refugees].”
In November, Erdogan had also threatened to release ISIS prisoners into Europe. Whether the migrants Erdogan sent to the border with Greece at the end of February currently include terrorists is not known. Migrating terrorists, research has shown, are a serious issue that seems to receive only scant attention in Europe.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/15719/eu-closing-borders
Remember what Brad Johnson said about Erdogan wanting to recreate the Ottoman Empire. By turning loose the migrants/invaders he has committed an act of war but I doubt that the EU will consider it one. The tactic is an old one:
1) Send in agitators to create chaos and make the target nation ungovernable.
2) Have your citizens in the target nation call for help.
3) “Reluctantly” send you military across the border to protect your citizens.
Given the current state of affairs in Western Europe the only military force that is even close to combat ready is the small amount of people the US has stationed in Europe. Yes I know that the Special Forces of the European nations are combat ready but there aren’t enough of them to stop a massive push by about half of the Turkish Military, I say about half because Erdogan has to leave enough people to keep Russia and Iran from attacking once the Turks are committed in Europe. There is a US air base inside Turkey and it could be used to receive large numbers of ground troops to fortify the base and then to expand out of the base to create a conquered area from which to strike into the rest of Turkey. This is a fairly new tactic that was developed when we became air mobile, we would have to make some type of deal with Putin to keep him from hitting us to help Turkey.
It looks like this summer is going to get real nasty.
Houthis Seek to Impose New Restrictions on Relief Groups in Yemen
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2179446/houthis-seek-impose-new-restrictions-relief-groups-yemen
“The Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen are insisting on imposing more restrictions on relief organizations in the war-torn country, despite international warnings that these agencies may lower their aid in areas controlled by the militias.
The militias have abused the funds of their own government institutions for the war effort and their personal enrichment.
Ignoring international warnings, the Houthis also seized more than 300 billion rials (a dollar amounts to some 600 rials) in zakat funds during the past year and have used them for their war effort.
The Houthis have claimed to have distributed the zakat funds to the poor, but residents in Sanaa and other regions refuted the allegations, saying the money was actually hoarded by the militias.
Meanwhile, the United States warned on Thursday that it would cease aid to Houthi-held regions starting late March.
Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, US permanent representative Kelly Craft accused the Houthis of obstructing humanitarian operations in Yemen. “Aid obstructions are unacceptable and have already caused many aid programs to shut down.”
“We therefore urge the Houthis to take immediate steps to meet all the minimum conditions for principled humanitarian operations before the end of this month …. In the absence of credible Houthi actions to address our concerns, the United States will suspend US assistance to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen at the end of March, except for certain critical lifesaving programs,” she announced.
Informed sources in Sanaa told Asharq Al-Awsat that de facto ruler of the Houthi coup council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, had recently met with several UN officials to list new militia dictates on their operations.
Official Houthi sources acknowledged that the meeting was held. It was attended by UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Lise Grande, Director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen (OCHA), Aiden O’Leary, and other relief group officials.
The Houthis claimed that the meeting was aimed at developing their partnership with these organizations to confront mounting humanitarian challenges in Yemen.
The sources, however, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthi officials sought to impose new mechanisms for the operation of the relief agencies that would allow the militias to impose complete control over their work.
The Houthis are seeking to force the agencies to obtain permits in advance to carry out relief projects in areas under their control. The Houthis would also oversee the implementation of the projects, revealed humanitarian workers to Asharq Al-Awsat.
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi threatened during his meeting with the relief officials to force them to halt their work should they refuse to comply with these conditions.”
Turkey Orders 4 Baghdadi Relatives Jailed for Joining ISIS
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2179671/turkey-orders-4-baghdadi-relatives-jailed-joining-isis
“A Turkish court ordered the imprisonment of four relatives of slain ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi for joining the terrorist group.
Four were sentenced to six years and three months in jail after they were convicted of joining a terrorist group. Seven others were ordered to be deported back to their countries.
The defendants appeared before a court in the central Turkish region of K?r?ehir.
Baghdadi was killed in an American raid in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib in October.
Two of the suspects denied being related to him, while two others did. They all denied belonging to ISIS despite witness testimony and the discovery of ISIS propaganda and photos of the corpses of gunmen on their mobile phones.
Ankara had revealed late last year the arrest of 25 of Baghdadi’s relatives in operations in four Turkish cities.
Turkey’s most prominent detainees include Baghdadi’s sister, her husband, son-in-law and one of his sons. They were arrested in Syria’s Azaz region.
Another, Ismail al-Issawi, who is a close aide to Baghdadi, was turned over to Iraq. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had previously stated that Issawi had revealed Badghadi’s whereabouts in Idlib ahead of the US raid that killed him.”
Syria Death Toll 384,0000 after 9 Years of War
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2179961/syria-death-toll-3840000-after-9-years-war
“At least 384,000 people have died in Syria, including more than 116,000 civilians, since the war began in March 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Saturday.
Sparked by deadly repression of peaceful pro-democracy protests, the conflict has since turned into a complicated war involving opposition factions, militant groups and foreign powers.
As the war enters its 10th year, the regime of Bashar al-Assad now controls more than 70 percent of Syrian territory, thanks to the military support of its allies Russia, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
The conflict is the “worst man-made disaster since World War II,” the United Nations human rights chief declared in 2017.
Idlib was one of the first provinces to join the uprisings against Assad, and is now the last to remain in opposition hands.
Despite a ceasefire agreed on March 6 between Turkey and Russia, few believe the Syrian regime will back off its plans to eventually retake the province.”
Saudi Arabia Announces $13 Bln Coronavirus Financing Package
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2180231/saudi-arabia-announces-13-bln-coronavirus-financing-package
“Saudi Arabia’s central bank said on Saturday it had prepared a 50 billion-riyal ($13 billion) package to help small and medium-sized enterprises cope with the economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak.
The funding from the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) is aimed at granting SMEs six-month deferrals on bank payments, concessional financing and exemptions from the costs of a loan guarantee program.
Saudi Arabia, with 86 reported infections, said it will suspend all international flights for two weeks from Sunday.
Saudi health ministry spokesman Mohammed Abdelali on Saturday urged the population of 30 million to avoid gathering in public places, minimize movements and stay at home as much as possible.”
Saudi Arabia to suspend international flights to prevent spread of coronavirus
http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/590889/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Arabia-to-suspend-international-flights-to-prevent-spread-of-coronavirus
OIC wants March 15 to be observed as international day against Islamophobia
http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/590907/SAUDI-ARABIA/OIC-wants-March-15-to-be-observed-asinternational-day-against-Islamophobia
“The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called on the United Nations and other international and regional organizations to declare March 15 as international day of solidarity against Islamophobia, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen as saying on Saturday.
Al-Othaimeen stressed that the call comes to enhance global awareness of the danger of Islamophobia, hatred and intolerance against Muslims, calling on the international community to take practical measures to address this phenomenon and promote tolerance, understanding and peaceful coexistence in the world.
Al-Othaimeen was speaking on the occasion of the first anniversary of the terrorist attack, which targeted two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, and killed a large number of innocent worshipers, expressing the organization’s sympathy and solidarity with the families of the victims and the Muslim community there.
The OIC chief reaffirmed the organization’s appreciation of the firm and frank stance taken by the New Zealand government and people against terrorism, appreciating the distinguished position undertaken by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in her care of Muslims in her country in these difficult circumstances and the measures taken by her government to address hatred and terrorism.
He affirmed that this heinous terrorist act sent a strong message that hate speech, intolerance and Islamophobia are a threat to all societies, and that terrorism has no religion, race or nationality.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, told a meeting of ambassadors of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states, said the use of terms linking terror to religion, such as Daesh (so-called IS), should be avoided.
In his address as chairman of the Islamic group to combat terrorism on behalf of the OIC, Al-Mouallimi said there should be no discrimination between terrorist groups from all religions and sects, and calls for extremism and terrorism should be condemned regardless of their source, he added.
The meeting was chaired by the UAE at the UN headquarters in New York.”
Egypt shuts schools, universities for two weeks as virus cases increase
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200314-egypt-shuts-schools-universities-for-two-weeks-as-virus-cases-increase/
“Egypt will close schools and universities for two weeks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as the number of cases rises each day, reaching 109 with two deaths, the prime minister said on Saturday, Reuters reports.
The suspension of classes from Sunday follows previously announced measures including the cancellation of large public gatherings, restrictions on the time allocated for mass prayers and the halting of local football league matches for two weeks.
“Because we found that the numbers have started rising as of late, we decided to take such precautionary measures from this point in time (to prevent) the rapid spread that happened in other countries that delayed these kinds of decisions,” Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told a news conference as he announced the temporary closure of schools and universities.
Egypt has also taken measures aimed at reassuring tourists that it is safe to visit the country after passengers contracted the coronavirus on a Nile river cruise ship.
Hundreds of tourists and tourism workers have been tested for the virus, and hotel facilities and cruise ships in Luxor and Aswan have been sanitised.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also called for a 100 billion Egyptian pound ($6.38 billion) fund to finance a “comprehensive” state plan for tackling the outbreak, a statement by the presidency said, without giving details about the source of the funding.”
11 killed in clashes in Yemen’s Taiz
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200314-11-killed-in-clashes-in-yemens-taiz/
“Six government forces and five Houthi rebels were killed in clashes in the southwestern Taiz province, the Yemeni military said on Saturday, Anadolu reports.
A military statement said a senior rebel commander was among those killed in the clashes, without giving any further details.
There was no comment from the Houthi group on the claim.
The center of Taiz is currently held by Yemeni government forces while clashes are still raging on between the two sides on the city’s outskirts.
Yemen has been beset by violence and chaos since 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.
The crisis escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led military coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi territorial gains.
Since then, tens of thousands of Yemenis, including numerous civilians, are believed to have been killed in the conflict, while another 14 million are at risk of starvation, according to the UN.”
Qatar overcomes Gulf crisis despite 1,000-day blockade
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200314-qatar-overcomes-gulf-crisis-despite-1000-day-blockade/
“Doha continues to flourish and overcome economic difficulties despite a blockade that has been underway for more than 1,000 days, Anadolu reports.
“At the end of February 2020, the unfair besiege completed 1,000 days, it was an era of failure, confusion, and moral downfall for the countries of the blockade,” Qatar’s Ambassador to Turkey, Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi told Anadolu Agency. “But for Qatar, it was 1,000 days of pride and steadfastness.”
In mid-2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt all abruptly severed ties with Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups.
Qatar, for its part, has vociferously denied the allegation, describing the Saudi-led embargo against it as a “violation of international law”.
There are no signs of resolving the crisis until today despite mediation attempts and reciprocal statements from Saudi and Qatari officials.
Stressing that Qatar would not compromise its sovereignty, the ambassador reiterated that Doha would always “adopt dialogue and peaceful solutions.”
“The countries of the blockade aimed to isolate Qatar internationally, by flooding the international community with a stream of allegations and lies,” he said. “But the facts are always victorious and cannot be withheld, so all these efforts failed.”
Turkey’s position
Following the announcement of the blockade, the Qatari economy managed to successfully navigate the move, Al Shafi said adding: “And we don’t forget the historic stand of Turkey to our side when it immediately established and air bridge break the economic besiege in the first hours.”
He noted Turkey also established a Turkish-Qatari maritime line from western Izmir port to Hamad port to maintain the constant flow of goods.
“Turkey’s standing at our side was the greatest evidence of the distinguished brotherly relationship that binds us to it, especially since it is biased towards the right, and it is the one that has never failed to do everything that contributes to the security, unity and stability of the region,” he said.
Citing brotherly relations, Al Shafi also said Turkey has “never refrained to do everything that contributes to security, unity and stability of the region.”
“We understand the Turkey’s moves it has taken to protect its national security and ensure decent living conditions for the immigrants who took shelter in its lands,” he said.
He pointed out that Qatar is aware of the humanitarian positions of Turkey and its moral approach “made it almost alone in front of other blocs.”
“But history does not forget and records everything either those who wanted to rebuild homelands or those who wreak havoc on earth,” the ambassador said.
Qatar continues to flourish
Al Shafi emphasized his country has undertaken projects to ensure its self-sufficiency in sectors such as food and medicine by diversifying investments with regional and international collaborations.
He pointed out that Qatar’s mediation efforts for a peace agreement between the U.S. and Afghanistan’s Taliban after 20 years of war, is the most obvious example of success despite efforts employed by blockade countries to obstruct it.
The ambassador stressed that Qatar continued to flourish politically, economically, scientifically and in sports, and have become a hub for art, culture, sports and science, and hosted dozens of intellectual activities, sports championships, conferences and political events.
Qatar “continued to implement huge projects related to organizing Doha 2022 FIFA World Cup,” he said.
Despite the blockade, Al Shafi said Qatar did not hesitate to support those in need citing its aid campaign for displaced people in northern Syria who suffer in difficult humanitarian conditions.
“We respect the sovereignty of states within their territories, and we wish to achieve stability and security in the region,” the ambassador said. “But this can only be done through the collaboration of all efforts, sincere cooperation, and respect for the sovereignty of the state of Qatar.””