Reader’s Links for Aug. 7, 2020

Each day at just after midnight Eastern, a post like this one is created for contributors and readers of this site to upload news links and video links on the issues that concern this site. Most notably, Islam and its effects on Classical Civilization, and various forms of leftism from Soviet era communism, to postmodernism and all the flavours of galloping statism and totalitarianism such as Nazism and Fascism which are increasingly snuffing out the classical liberalism which created our near, miraculous civilization the West has been building since the time of Socrates.

This document was written around the time this site was created, for those who wish to understand what this site is about. And while our understanding of the world and events has grown since then, the basic ideas remain sound and true to the purpose.

So please post all links, thoughts and ideas that you feel will benefit the readers of this site to the comments under this post each day. And thank you all for your contributions.

This is the new Samizdat. We must use it while we can.

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

66 Replies to “Reader’s Links for Aug. 7, 2020”

  1. Bellingcat:
    Over the last few days we have identified several videos which claims to show that Beirut was hit by a missile.
    In @N_waters89’s latest article we examine these videos.

    Spoiler: none of them show a real missile.
    [examples, clips]
    Ultimately it is clear that some actors are already trying to create fake or misleading videos in an attempt manipulate viewers.
    https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1291770888849952774.html?refreshed=yes
    ……………
    Full Report:
    The Beirut Explosion – Is It A Bird? Is It A Plane? Is It A Faked Video Of A Missile?

    Conclusion

    Although we often believe “a lie can run around the world before the truth has got its boots on”, in this case the truth had a head start. In major incidents like this, the very earliest videos are much less likely to have been edited, because editing takes a little bit of time and a little bit of planning. Within a few minutes after the explosion, we had scores of videos showing the explosion from a multitude of angles, none of which showed any munition impacting the warehouse.

    Therefore, any video which appears later that claims to show a missile should be scrutinised with caution. In this case it is clear that a person or persons has created several fake videos of this incident in an attempt to manipulate and deceive those who view them.

    The question of the reported sounds of jets is more interesting. In this case multiple people reported hearing a similar sound, yet there doesn’t appear to be any other verified open source information which supports the presence of low flying jet aircraft. The nature and evolution of the fire at the warehouse appears to provide a likely explanation for this, increasing in intensity to create a roaring noise shortly before an interim explosion.

    Questions do remain about this disaster: what started the initial fire? Was there some other material stored in Warehouse 12 that was ignited before spreading to the ammonium nitrate? Who is responsible for the ammonium nitrate remaining at the port for so long? However, when answering these questions, care must be taken, because it is clear that some actors are already attempting to inject false information into the public discourse.

    https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2020/08/07/the-beirut-explosion-is-it-a-bird-is-it-a-plane-is-it-a-faked-video-of-a-missile/

  2. Joyce Karam @Joyce_Karam
    BREAKING: #Lebanon’s President rejects calls for International probe into Beirut Port blast that killed >150, wounded > 5000 (AFP).

    Lebanese Gov. is conducting its own investigation but has not laid out the facts yet
    Why would Lebanon reject an international probe

    • Access to Port
    • Access to what may be happening at Port: Smuggling, illicit activity, Hezbollah, route to Syria
    • Access to staff that know origin of ammonium nitrate,why it was there

    Could delay fact finding, Int’l response

    Access to Port: meaning the blast site (forensics, evidence samples) and documents. The Beirut port itself is gone.
    https://twitter.com/Joyce_Karam/status/1291737804209356801

  3. Turkey ‘neutralizes’ 7 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkey-neutralizes-7-pkk-terrorists-in-northern-iraq/1934858

    “Turkish security forces “neutralized” seven PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, Turkey’s National Defense Ministry announced Friday.

    The terrorists were targeted in an air-backed operation with the coordinated work of the Turkish Armed Forces and National Intelligence Organization, the ministry said on Twitter.

    The statement also added that the terrorists were “neutralized” in Asos region after they were detected through reconnaissance and surveillance activities.

    Turkish authorities use the term “neutralized” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

    Turkey’s operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle were launched in mid-June to ensure the safety of the Turkish people and borders by neutralizing the threat of PKK, and other terrorist groups, who often use northern Iraq to plan cross-border attacks.

    In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU — has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children and infants”

  4. Mosques in Germany receive threat letters
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/mosques-in-germany-receive-threat-letters-/1934882

    “At least two mosques in the central German state of Hesse received threat letters this week, local Muslim community representatives said on Friday.

    Suspected neo-Nazis sent threat letters to mosques in the small town of Fuerth and the nearby district Wahlen, Salih Ozkan, a representative of the Turkish-Muslim umbrella group DITIB, told local media.

    He said the letters contained threats of violence against Muslims, and were signed by a group calling itself “NSE 2020”.

    He called on the police to carry out a serious investigation and provide greater protection for the mosques.

    It was not immediately clear whether the threats were linked to the shadowy neo-Nazi network “NSU 2.0”, which has sent hundreds of death threats to prominent Muslims and immigrants in the last two years.

    In July, German authorities arrested a retired police officer and his wife on suspicion that some of the threat letters were written and sent by the couple.

    The signature “NSU 2.0” was a reference to the far-right terror organization National Socialist Underground (NSU).

    The shadowy NSU group killed 10 people, including eight Turkish and one Greek immigrant as well as a police officer, between 2000 and 2007, but the murders have remained unresolved.

    While recent revelations have shown that Germany’s domestic intelligence agency had dozens of informants who had contacts with the NSU suspects, officials insisted that they had no prior information about the NSU terror cell and the killings.”

  5. Turkey resumes drilling in Mediterranean
    http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/regions/lazio/2020/08/07/turkey-resumes-drilling-in-mediterranean_62f66421-f3f2-4445-917e-a6aee0eac767.html

    “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday announced that Turkey had restarted a search for energy in the eastern Mediterranean. He accused Greece of failing to keep its promises regarding energy exploration in the region. “We have resumed the drilling activity. We have sent (exploration vessel) Barbaros Hayrettin to the area,” Erdogan said after Friday prayers at Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia mosque. Last week Turkey had announced a suspension for an undefined time of its search for energy off the Greek island of Kastellorizo, which had sparked military tension with Athens. Erdogan reiterated that an agreement signed between Greece and Egypt on considering the Turkish drilling illegal – a view also held by Cyprus, the EU and other countries – is not recognised by Turkey and that the country was not concerned about the those with no territory rights in the area concerned.”

  6. Two Czech MPs appeal prosecution of Matteo Salvini
    https://rmx.news/article/article/two-czech-mps-appeal-prosecution-of-matteo-salvini

    “Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party leader and MP Tomio Okamura decided to hand over a letter to the Italian embassy in Prague in support of his friend, senator, and Lega Nord chairman, Matteo Salvini. He did so accompanied by another MP and his fellow SPD party member Jaroslav Foldyna. Okamura also noted that Matteo Salvini knew about the letter and welcomed the support.

    “We have addressed the letter to the President of the Italian Senate. Matteo is about to be prosecuted by the Italian Senate for preventing illegal migrants from landing on Italian soil while serving as the Minister of the Interior. He faces up to 15 years in prison. It is unbelievable what is happening in some EU countries. Matteo, I’m with you, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” said Okamura after handing over the letter.

    In a video that Okamura later posted on his Facebook page, he added that President Miloš Zeman would also receive the letter prepared.

    At the beginning of the appeal, its authors state that European history “has shaped the cultural background currently shared by all European nations.”

    According to them, as European countries are interconnected, it is fair to say that, to some extent, Italy shares its state borders with the Czech Republic. Therefore, the matter of migration cannot be viewed only as Italy’s internal affair.

    “For this reason, we dare to express our grave concerns at the decision of the Italian authorities to prosecute Mr. Matteo Salvini. We believe that anyone who seeks to protect European borders against the arrival of people, whom we may assume, based on all previous experience, do not intend to accept European customs and culture, should not be prosecuted or even punished, but appreciated. And we are convinced that in the case of the Minister of the Interior, such an effort is even his duty,” the authors of the letter continued.

    The letter also warns that prosecuting Salvini “will affect the security not only in Italy, but also in the Czech Republic, and other European countries. It will strengthen the motivation of all those who want to force their entry into Europe in any way and, at the same time, weaken the ability of politicians to make decisions that can prevent it.”

    In conclusion, the MPs have called on the President of the Senate to use all available means to prevent the prosecution of Matteo Salvini.

    “We are well aware of the fact that such a step or steps currently require not only political skills and influence but above all personal and political courage,” states the letter at the end.”

  7. VICE NEWS – AYODHYA – Hindu Zealots Razed a Mosque. Now Modi Wants A Temple in its Place.