Re: #40 - Main news thread - conflicts, terrorism, crisis from around the globe

[KneelB4Zod!]

The Intercept
@theintercept
·
2m
Full interview: Evo Morales discusses the use of violence against Indigenous protesters, and how his removal by military force in favor of an unelected right-wing coup regime — led by Bolivia’s white, Christian minority — reflects broader political trends.

https://theintercept.com/2019/12/16/evo-morales-interview-glenn-greenwald/

[Zambeezi]

The Intercept
@theintercept
·
2m
Full interview: Evo Morales discusses the use of violence against Indigenous protesters, and how his removal by military force in favor of an unelected right-wing coup regime — led by Bolivia’s white, Christian minority — reflects broader political trends.

https://theintercept.com/2019/12/16/evo-morales-interview-glenn-greenwald/

awesome. thanx for this.

[KneelB4Zod!]

Al-Masdar News
@TheArabSource
·
58s
#Russia will help #Syria regain control over its oil fields: Deputy PM

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russia-will-help-syria-regain-control-over-its-oil-fields-deputy-pm/

[KneelB4Zod!]

Al-Masdar News
@TheArabSource
·
30s
#Syria plans to switch from gasoline to natural gas

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syria-plans-to-switch-from-gasoline-to-natural-gas/

[KneelB4Zod!]

I found this interesting interview with rabbi Yaakov Shapiro, published in 2018. Good read imo:

Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro: Zionism Has Nothing to Do with Judaism

https://ahtribune.com/religion/2332-yaakov-shapiro.html

[KneelB4Zod!]

Al-Masdar News
@TheArabSource
·
1m
Haftar-led Libyan Army attempts to advance into #Tripoli https://aml.ink/h1JUY #Libya

[KneelB4Zod!]

Al-Masdar News
@TheArabSource
·
1m
#Putin calls on #Erdogan to increase efforts to fight terrorism in #Syria https://aml.ink/wPmR8 #Turkey

[Zambeezi]

#Yemen pic.twitter.com/dzIrO1AkYH

— R&U Videos (@r_u_vid) December 17, 2019

This is an unbelievable shot w/ a crude weapon. calculating the ballistic azimuth 'on the fly'... like rocket powered horseshoes. amazing.

[Zambeezi]

Afghanistan: Graveyard of Empires

http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured-articles/2019/december/14/afghanistan-graveyard-of-empires/

Afghanistan War – The Crime of the Century
Ron Paul: http://ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured-articles/2019/december/16/afghanistan-war-the-crime-of-the-century/

“We were devoid of a fundamental understanding of Afghanistan. We didn’t know what we were doing.”
So said Gen. Douglas Lute, who oversaw the US war on Afghanistan under Presidents Bush and Obama.
Eighteen years into the longest war in US history, we are finally finding out, thanks to thousands of pages of classified interviews on the war
published by the Washington Post last week, that General Lute’s cluelessness was shared by virtually everyone involved in the war.

What we learned in what is rightly being called the “Pentagon Papers” of our time, is that hundreds of US Administration officials
– including three US Presidents –
knowingly lied to the American people about the Afghanistan war for years.
This wasn’t just a matter of omitting some unflattering facts.    
This was about bald-faced lying about a war they knew was a disaster from almost day one.

Remember President Bush’s Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld?
Remember how supremely confident he was at those press conferences, acting like the master of the universe?
Here’s what he told the Pentagon’s special inspector general who compiled these thousands of interviews on Afghanistan:
“I have no visibility into who the bad guys are.”

EVERYBODY
It is not only members of the Bush, Obama, and Trump Administrations who are guilty of this massive fraud.
Falsely selling the Afghanistan war as a great success was a bipartisan activity on Capitol Hill.

"In the dozens of hearings I attended in the House International Relations Committee,
I do not recall a single “expert” witness called who told us the truth.
Instead,
both Republican and Democrat-controlled Congresses called a steady stream of neocon war cheerleaders
to lie to us about how wonderfully the war was going.
Victory was just around the corner, they all promised. Just a few more massive appropriations and we’d be celebrating the end of the war."




TASS
Assad says US selling stolen Syrian oil to Turkey
https://tass.com/world/1099647
Assad said "now America is the one stealing oil and selling it to Turkey."

Pentagon spending bill authorizes new sanctions on Syria, Iran and Russia @deborahamos  https://t.co/QoQ08BJCuc

— Greg Myre (@gregmyre1) December 17, 2019

WE DID IT! The Caesar Act passes the Senate in a 86-8 vote.

After three years and countless meetings, together we ensured the Caesar Act will finally head to the President's desk to be come law. Read more:  https://t.co/0tl9dHvcki pic.twitter.com/7eAYrrbY0I

— Americans for a Free Syria (@AmFreeSyria) December 17, 2019

[Zambeezi]

[Zambeezi]

German crossbow YouTuber fights video giant for rights
https://www.france24.com/en/20191218-german-crossbow-youtuber-fights-video-giant-for-rights

At his out-of-the-way house in the forested German hills, Joerg Sprave spends his time building mutant crossbows and powerful slingshots -- and hounding one of the world's biggest technology companies.

The 54-year-old has for years uploaded clips of his ever-wackier projectile-throwing creations to YouTube, where hundreds of millions of views and 2.4 million subscribers put him in the top 50 channels nationwide.
https://www.youtube.com/user/JoergSprave/videos?disable_polymer=1

But years of hard blows to those making their living on the platform have turned him into a campaigner against YouTube itself, claiming to have enlisted some 26,000 fellow creators worldwide in a fight for better conditions and the unexpected backing one of Germany's biggest unions.

until 2017, many earned a healthy living from long days of creating, filming and building communities around their videos.

Sprave says he used to make around 6,000 euros ($6,500) per month after going full-time as a YouTuber.

These days he's lucky to break 1,200 euros.

His savings and his family income mean "I can put my channel at stake, firing massive broadsides at YouTube and Google" in the name of a battle for more rights, he says.

'We want to know the rules' -  

YouTube earns money by selling advertising slots before or during videos uploaded by its millions of users, sharing some of the revenue with users whose popular channels have earned them the title of "Partner".

In 2012-17, "we were largely free when it came to content, and well paid if we managed to get enough views", Sprave recalls.

These days especially controversial videos, including some of Sprave's, are shut out from "monetisation" entirely, while all are placed into categories and awarded scores measuring their attractiveness to advertisers -- both invisible to creators.

"We insist on transparency. We want to know the rules by which we are being judged," Sprave fumes.

And he complains there's often no human interlocutor.

Powerful German union IG Metall, already closely following the growing "gig" or "platform" economy of people working for online portals, has joined his battle.

One angle of attack is Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), under which companies must provide users with access to their personal data on pain of massive fines.

That could cover the categories and advertiser scores handed out secretly by YouTube, Sprave and IG Metall believe.

Meanwhile a battle with wider implications could come over the question of "false self-employment".

IG Metall sees a potential legal case that YouTubers are so closely tied to the platform that they are de facto employees.

A court ruling that this applies to YouTubers would imply a massive financial blow of back payments for social security and pension contributions.

"There's a new class of workers who are called 'self-employed' entrepreneurs by the platforms, but don't deal with them like entrepreneurs on a level playing field," says IG Metall's Fuss.

"There's a growing awareness among politicians that people working on digital platforms need protection," he added, pointing to a recent California law classifying Uber drivers as employees.

[Zambeezi]

Russian spy ship conducting erratic maneuvers off US coast
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/homeland-coast-guard/474853-russian-spy-ship-conducting-erratic-maneuvers-off-us

UPDATE: Russian spy ship now east of Bahamas, hundreds of miles from east coast based on latest satellite imagery Tuesday afternoon: U.S. defense official https://t.co/VmWfvlv1RN

— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) December 17, 2019

[Zambeezi]

NYT
‘The Far Side’ Is Back. Sort Of. Gary Larson Will Explain
http://archive.is/1l8Ww
https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/2019/12/official-the-far-side-website-finally-launches-after-25-years-despite-gary-larsons-fears-of-russian-hacking.html

I remember one I did of a couple dogs that were playing this game,
where they were smacking around a cat hanging from a long rope attached to a pole.
I called it “Tethercat.”
To me, and I assume my editor, it didn’t cross any line because this was just a game dogs might play.
But that one got people stirred up. Especially cat people.
Doing something controversial was never my intention. This was just my sense of humor, and the kind of humor in my family.
I never drew anything my mom wouldn’t have laughed at. Of course, my mom was insane.

[Zambeezi]

Zambia legalizes Marijuana growth for exports and for medical purposes only
https://www.lusakatimes.com/2019/12/16/zambia-legalises-marijuana-growth-for-exports-and-for-medical-purposes-only/

-------

good.
imo... all the 'westernized' efforts at indoor growth and cross-breeding cloned strains of unpollinated female sinsemilla has mutated and all but eliminated the 'balance' of 80+ natural medicinal cannabinoids and explains the poor 'results' when compared with Rick Simpson's pioneering work. Grow it outdoors. Let it 'breath'. Sunshine. Cross-pollinate. Seeds & stems.

[Zambeezi]

(Donald 'blinked')
Trump administration refrains from endorsing U.S. Senate measure on Armenian Genocide
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-turkey-armenia/trump-administration-refrains-from-endorsing-u-s-senate-measure-on-armenian-genocide-idUSKBN1YL23B


Erdogan says world cares more about Syria's oil than its children
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-syria-refugees/erdogan-says-world-cares-more-about-syrias-oil-than-its-children-idUSKBN1YL18K
so: It's 'ok' to steal.
and remember: YOU!(and McCain) CAUSED the stampede of refugees in the first place.
Fuck you Erdo.

Turkey warns of 'escalation' if US ends Cyprus arms embargo
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/turkey-warns-escalation-ends-cyprus-arms-embargo-191218071553526.html

[KneelB4Zod!]

A joint Syrian-Russian air warfare implementation, from morning to the present, on terrorist locations in the Idlib countryside

The majority of the bombing today targeted terrorists # Ma'arat al-Numan https://t.co/my1silrUau

— Y.N.M.S (@ynms79797979) December 18, 2019

[KneelB4Zod!]

#BREAKING : The #Israel's internal security agency "Shin Bet" announces suppressing the terrorist attack and detaining the 50 terrorist belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, on charges of planning terrorist attack against #Israeli targets.@guyelster pic.twitter.com/fFlc8GpyY8

— Conflict Intelligence Network (@ConflictTeam) December 18, 2019

[KneelB4Zod!]

Fighting terrorism in Xinjiang

[KneelB4Zod!]

US Senate approved a massive defense spending bill on Tuesday, sending Donald Trump a $738 billion package that creates a new space force fulfilling a presidential priority seeking sprawling space militarization ambitions https://t.co/PFvKippTdH

— DoC (@DocPakistan) December 18, 2019

[Zambeezi]

ISIS is Gaining Momentum in Northern Afghanistan: Russian Security Council Secretary https://t.co/DW3LuB2uAf

— SouthFront (@southfronteng) December 18, 2019

Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Nikolai Patrushev is attending a meeting of secretaries of security councils and national security advisers in Afghanistan taking place in Tehran, Iran.

   “The main efforts of the ISIS militants PROXIES are focused on consolidating their presence in northern Afghanistan, where over 2,000 militants are already concentrated, to counter the Taliban and prepare a bridgehead for invading the Central Asian region through Tajikistan and Turkmenistan,” Patrushev said.



Patrushev noted that, despite the recent successful operation of government forces, which resulted in the elimination or capture of more than 600 militants, the total number of ISIS militants in Afghanistan is between 2,500 and 4,000.

[Zambeezi]

It is not Russia who is “killing Ukrainians daily” @ChanelRion. It’s Kiev regime forces, armed and trained by US https://t.co/CVjWLmAFfs#BTW It’s not Kiev
It’s Odessa House of Trade Unions, where dozens of peaceful protesters were burned alive 5/2/2014
https://t.co/JT4S6Ey1sW pic.twitter.com/eRRWFYCfpW

— Russia in USA (@RusEmbUSA) December 17, 2019

btw...
if yer 'unfamiliar' with OAN... it's basically Trump News Network
free sample: just L@@K around Dec. 15 https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump

[Zambeezi]

The «Mine Kafon Drone» designed by Afghans is a drone capable of detecting and clearing landmines.https://t.co/ZfMfSk189b pic.twitter.com/jI8kbriP8H

— Caesar (@Ninja998998) December 18, 2019

[Zambeezi]

(Donald 'blinked')
Trump administration refrains from endorsing U.S. Senate measure on Armenian Genocide
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-turkey-armenia/trump-administration-refrains-from-endorsing-u-s-senate-measure-on-armenian-genocide-idUSKBN1YL23B


Erdogan says world cares more about Syria's oil than its children
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-syria-refugees/erdogan-says-world-cares-more-about-syrias-oil-than-its-children-idUSKBN1YL18K
so: It's 'ok' to steal.
and remember: YOU!(and McCain) CAUSED the stampede of refugees in the first place.
Fuck you Erdo.

Turkey warns of 'escalation' if US ends Cyprus arms embargo
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/turkey-warns-escalation-ends-cyprus-arms-embargo-191218071553526.html

dirtbag. spit.

We've reached Peak #Arab Uprisings: #Russia is frustrated #Turkey is deploying #Syrian rebel mercenaries from #Idlib, to intervene in the war in #Libya, against #Russian-backed #Haftar forces rife with #Sudanese and #Eyptian mercenaries. H/T @flintsparc.  https://t.co/z70q07VwSE

— Nicholas A Heras (@NicholasAHeras) December 17, 2019

of course...
this is a 'shit stirring' news piece out of Washington, DC who want nothing more than to sever Putin's patience with (and control of) Erdo.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Monitor

[Zambeezi]

So...
Israel & Turkey are now about to cut a pipeline 'deal' (to confiscate/steal Gaza gas)
Is Greece about to get tossed under the bus as well?
In exchange for what?

Greece should learn from Syria and the Kurdish betrayal. If Turkey attacks Greece, the EU, NATO, US and UN will do nothing. Just deeply concerned, that's all. Greece should talk with Russia now to develop an alternative defence... https://t.co/ldosQB0LMV

— Endi Zentarmi (@EndiZentarmi) December 18, 2019

[Slovák]

NATO-centered Euro-Atlantic security is illusory - Lavrov
Interfax

[Zambeezi]

Turkey doubles the pressure in 2019 to commit its crimes without consequences.
The majority of migrants that Turkey sends to Europe are not even Syrian refugees:
Afghanistan 30%
Syrian 14%
Pakistanis 9'5%
Iraquis 8%https://t.co/JOEC67m7S8

— Endi Zentarmi (@EndiZentarmi) December 18, 2019

[Zambeezi]

Riots In Kiev Over Zelensky’s Land Reform https://t.co/mCXgBpvms2

— SouthFront (@southfronteng) December 18, 2019

silly holhols.
Did you think climbing into bed w/ the hegemons was free? Cost you nothing?
ha. get ready. it's coming. Kolomoisky knows it too. hahaha.

[boris]

LIVE: Pro-Catalan independence protests held at Camp Nou ahead of El Clasico

[boris]

US House of Representatives to vote on two articles of Trump’s impeachment

[Zambeezi]

Russia to invest $500 mllion in Syrian port and build grain hub, Interfax reports | The Japan Times https://t.co/ujKf5hkdV3 via @DanielaColi2

— Elijah J. Magnier (@ejmalrai) December 18, 2019