have wondered if FDR somehow allowed the Japanese to attack Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, think it's A Okay if the administration tips off a reporter about an impending attack before it happens?
Showing posts with label Yemen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yemen. Show all posts
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Wars and Rumors of War, 2024. Part 7. Undermined.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
Matthew, Chapter 24.
The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
May 11, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
Russian forces began an offensive operation along the Russian-Ukrainian border in northern Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of May 10 and made tactically significant gains. Russian forces are likely conducting the initial phase of an offensive operation north of Kharkiv City that has limited operational objectives but is meant to achieve the strategic effect of drawing Ukrainian manpower and materiel from other critical sectors of the front in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces have so far launched two limited efforts in the area, one north of Kharkiv City in the direction of Lyptsi and one northeast of Kharkiv City near Vovchansk. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (MoD) reported that Russian armored assault groups of an unspecified size attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses near Vovchansk early in the morning and that fighting continued in the area after Ukrainian forces repelled the Russian assaults.[1] Russian and Ukrainian sources stated that Russian forces also began infantry-heavy assaults between Strilecha (north of Lyptsi) and Zelene (northeast of Lyptsi) on the night of May 9 to 10.[2] Russian and Ukrainian sources reported that Russian forces significantly intensified airstrikes, shelling, and MLRS strikes against Ukrainian positions, logistics, and infrastructure ahead of and during Russian offensive operations in these areas.[3]
ISW
May 12, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
Russian troops have seized Borysivka, Ohirtseve, Pylna and Strilecha in north east Ukraine. Russia claims to have taken Pletenivka as well, but Ukraine reports fighting in ongoing in Strilecha and Pletenivka, as well as Krasne, Morokhovets, Oliinykove, Lukyantsi and Hatyshche.
May 13, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
Russia's defense minister Sergei Shoigu has been replaced with Andrei Belousov.
Ukraine warns northern front has ‘significantly worsened’
Middle Eastern War
Secretary of State Blinken made statements yesterday which were highly critical of Israel.
May 14, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
Secretary Blinkin is in Ukraine
Russia gained ground in northeaster Ukraine again yesterday.
Ukraine is deploying reservists in the area, which gets to part of the extremely odd nature of the war. Ukraine has conscription, and has used it, but up until recently it didn't dip down to the lower 20s age bracket, and moreover almost all, or maybe all, of the troops it has deployed to the front are volunteers.
This is not true, of course, of Russia.
The US has banned imports of Russian uranium.
Middle Eastern War
Hamas conducted increased attacks in northern Gaza yesterday, demonstrating that it has the ability to reconstitute.
Cont:
China v. The West
Governor Gordon Expresses Support for Decision Blocking Chinese Bitcoin Operation From Owning Land Near FE Warren Air Force Base
CHEYENNE, Wyo. –Governor Mark Gordon has issued a statement supporting an order that prevents a Chinese-backed cryptocurrency mining firm from owning land near FE Warren Air Force base. The Governor’s statement follows:
“I am acutely aware and have been monitoring the concerns of surrounding property owners, as well as the potential threats to national security that this operation posed. I am pleased that the Administration recognized the potential threat and took steps to ensure the security of our military installations and the safety of Wyoming residents. Protection of our infrastructure remains paramount to protecting our national security and must always be our highest priority.
I am also grateful to Senator Nethercott for sponsoring SF077 -Homeland defense-infrastructure reporting and investigating to help protect Wyoming's critical infrastructure from foreign threats. I signed this bill, effective July 1, because it provides clear guidance and support to counties, under the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, to investigate land sales near critical infrastructure.”
-END-
May 16, 2024
Middle Eastern War
The US humanitarian pier in Gaza has been completed.
Russo Ukrainian War
The Russian offensive northeast of Kharkiv has slowed.
May 17, 2024
Middle Eastern War
The U.S. House voted to force President Biden to send arms to Israel.
May 20, 2024
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A coup attempt was put down over the weekend.
Iran
Iranian President and hardliner Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash with other members of the Iranian cabinet.
May 25, 2024
China v. Taiwan
Large-scale naval exercises by the PRC have ended.
Middle Eastern War
Egypt is allowing aid to Gaza to cross its border with the enclave.
Three US servicemen have been injured at the humanitarian pier.
Spain, Norway and Ireland said on Wednesday that they would recognize an independent Palestinian state.
May 26, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
President Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainians have obtained "combat control" over the areas where the Russians were recently on the offensive.
May 27, 2024
Middle Eastern War
Hamas fired rockets at Tel Aviv, they hit but did not cause any casualties. Israel responded with airstrikes.
June 2, 2024
Middle Eastern War
President Biden proposed an extended ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for a complete release of hostages. The proposal is causing turmoil in Israel itself.
June 3, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
Strikes on infrastructure shut down most of the power grid in Ukraine.
June 5, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
In Crimea, Ukraine is beating Russia
The Russian military has been decimated. You don’t write about that. It’s been freaking decimated.
Joe Biden to Time magazine.
June 6, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
Message for U.S. Citizens: Elimination of “Residence Abroad” Exception to Dual Citizen Departure
Date: June 4, 2024
Location: Ukraine (countrywide)
Event: The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv understands that, effective June 1, Ukraine has eliminated a “residence abroad” exception that previously allowed certain Ukrainian males aged 18 to 60 to depart the country. After this change, U.S.-Ukrainian dual citizens, including those who live in the United States, may no longer be able to depart the country.
Ukrainian law does not recognize dual citizenship. U.S.-Ukrainian dual citizens are therefore treated solely as Ukrainian citizens while in Ukraine and are subject to the rights and obligations of Ukrainian citizens. Under Ukraine’s martial law, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not permitted to leave the country. Previously, dual U.S.-Ukrainian citizens in this group could enter and then depart Ukraine if they had deregistered their Ukrainian residency and registered their U.S. residency. According to our information, this exception was revoked as of June 1.
The U.S. Embassy is limited in our ability to influence Ukrainian law, including the application of martial law and the mobilization law to Ukrainian citizens. If you are in Ukraine and cannot leave the country, shelter in place and obey all local orders. If you are not currently in Ukraine, we strongly recommend against all travel to Ukraine by U.S. citizen males aged 18 to 60 who also have Ukrainian citizenship or a claim to Ukrainian citizenship and who do not wish to stay in Ukraine indefinitely. There is an extremely high risk you will not be allowed to depart, even with a U.S. passport.
We remind all Americans of the State Department’s Level 4: Do Not Travel warning for Ukraine. For further information, see State Department websites for what you should know as a dual citizen traveler, and what we can and cannot do during a crisis.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Kyiv
+380 44 521 50 00
kyivacs@state.gov
https://ua.usembassy.gov/
State Department – Consular Affairs
+1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444
Ukraine Country Information
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts
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Mexican Border Crisis
June 7, 2024
Middle Eastern War
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will address Congress on July 24 which is probably a phenomenally bad idea.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the West Bank Palestinian organization the Lion's Den.
Russo Ukrainian War
The US is sending $225M in military aid to Ukraine through Presidential draw down authority.
June 10, 2024
Middle Eastern War
An Israeli raid freed 4 hostages, but resulted in the deaths of 274 Palestinians.
June 11, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
The Russian offensive in the north has failed and some ground has been retaken by the Ukrainians.
A Ukrainian offensive in the south has retaken ground held by the Russians since the beginning of the war.
June 16, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
A peace summit has convened in Switzerland, but as the Russians are absent, there's little chance that anything will be accomplished.
June 17, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
The conferenced called for Ukrainian territorial integrity to be the basis for peace.
Italian Prime Minister Meloni stated: "Defending Ukraine means uniting all the efforts of the international community to protect Ukraine. If Russia does not agree to Ukraine's terms, we will force it to surrender. We need to set the minimum conditions for this discussion."
Middle Eastern War
The Israeli war cabinet has been dissolved.
Israel is pausing fighting along a humanitarian route during daytime hours.
June 18, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
Interesting set of Russian dismissals and replacements:
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 17, 2024
June 22, 2024
Russo Ukrainian war
The Russians are making extensive use of retrofitted "dumb bombs" converted into glide bombs. The press is treating this as a new weapon, but it is not. Readers here will recall reading about the deployment of the Fritz X German guided glide bomb at Anzio, which was also a devastating weapon.
June 26, 2024
Haiti
Kenyon police are arriving in Haiti as police keepers.
Russo Ukrainian War
North Korea is apparently going to send military engineers to the war in Ukraine.
June 28, 2024
Bolivia
The Bolivian government put down a coup attempt by the commander of its army, General Juan José Zúñiga.
July 4, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
President Zelenskiy challenged Donald Trump to release his peace plan that supposedly will end the war in a day if Trump is unfortunately reelected to the Oval Office.
Ukrainian forces have retreated from a neighborhood in the outskirts of Chasiv Yar.
Middle Eastern War
Israel annexed five square miles of the West Bank.
Such moves necessarily outrage Palestinians and others.
July 21, 2024
Middle Eastern War
Last Thursday Houthi's launched drones on Tel Aviv, which is an impressive feat. Yesterday Israel retaliated with air strikes on port facilities in Yemen.
Russo Ukrainian War
Russia launched its 5th drone attack on Kyiv in two weeks.
July 22, 2024
Middle Eastern War
Israel intercepted and destroyed a missile fired from Yemen yesterday.
July 25, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
In another of a series of Russian arrests of defense officials, Andrei Belkov, the director of the Defense Ministry's Military Construction Company has been arrested.
The Russian Navy no longer has any vessels in the Sea of Azov.
A Russian drone strike accidentally hit territory in Romania.
July 26, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
From ISW:
Middle Eastern War
Also from ISW:
July 28, 2024
Middle Eastern War
A rocket launched from Lebanese soil killed 11 children in a Druze village in the Golan Heights. The suspect, Hezbollah, denied responsibility.
July 29, 2024
Middle Eastern War
Israel retaliated with strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
July 30, 2024
Middle Eastern War
Israeli Air Force fighter jets eliminated the Hezbollah terrorist organization’s most senior military commander [Fu’ad Shukr]
Israeli announcement.
July 31, 2024
Middle Eastern War
Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in a raif of some sort in Iran. He and his body guards went down after attending the swearing in of Iran's new president, showing the extent to which (probably) Israel will go to eliminate its enemies, its military capabilities, and the lack of the same on the part of Iran.
In Iraq, "U.S. forces in Iraq conducted a defensive airstrike in the Musayib in Babil Province, targeting combatants attempting to launch one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWAUAS)", according to US officials.
Mali
The Mali army and mercenary Wagner group have taken a pounding after a two day battle with Tuareg separatist rebels and al-Qaeda-linked militants.
August 3, 2024
Mexican Border Crisis
Governor Gordon Responds to Border Crisis by Providing Support to Texas
August 01, 2024
In response to a request for assistance from Texas, Governor Mark Gordon announced that Wyoming law-enforcement personnel will be deploying to the southern border with Mexico.
The deployment of 10 Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) troopers later this month is in response to an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and is being coordinated through the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security (WOHS). During the 14-day deployment, the WHP troopers will provide law enforcement and emergency assistance in support of the Texas Department of Safety. Two deputies from the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office are also planned to deploy at a later date.
“Wyoming is committed to closing the open Biden-Harris border,” Governor Gordon said. “As part of our ongoing relationship with Texas, we will supply resources as they are requested while also making sure we are safe here at home. We are immensely grateful for the willingness of Wyoming law enforcement members and their families to assist in this important effort to help secure our southern border.”
In August 2023, Governor Gordon authorized the deployment of eight Department of Corrections and local law enforcement personnel to provide support along the southern border. Following that deployment, Texas Rangers traveled to Wyoming earlier this year to provide valuable training to Wyoming law enforcement officers. During the 2024 Legislative session, $750,000 was allocated to the Governor’s Office for expenses to assist border state law enforcement efforts.
Following a 2021 visit to the US-Mexico border, Governor Gordon signed a memorandum of understanding with 25 fellow governors in 2022 creating the American Governors’ Border Strike Force. This multi-state partnership was designed to address the negative impacts of increased illegal immigration, including a rise in the presence of illicit fentanyl in Wyoming.
Middle Eastern War
The US is reinforcing its forces in the Middle East following the Israeli bomb (it turned out to be pre planted) that killed the leader of Hamas. Iran will feel compelled to retaliate.
Russo Ukrainian War
Ukraine launched a largescale drone attack on Russian targets overnight.
Zelenskiy is seeking Western permission to strike Russian airfields with long range Western munitions.
August 5, 2024
Mali
In a really odd turn of events, Mali which hired Wagner Group mercenaries in its fight against Tuareg separatist, has cut diplomatic relations with Ukraine upon learning that Ukraine provided intelligence to the Tuaregs prior to the recent disastrous ambush on Wagner and Mali forces.
I doubt Ukraine cares, but if Mali has to rely upon Wagner, it should expect stuff like this.
Middle Eastern War
Israel has said the war has spread to include Iran. That's a comment, but a scary one.
August 6, 2024
Middle Eastern War
A rocket attack injured several U.S. troops at an American base in Iraq.
The 300th AFA is going to Kuwait.
Niger
The US has now completely withdrawn from Niger.
Last prior edition:
Wars and Rumors of War, 2024. Part 5. A Wider War.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
The Arabica variant of coffee is 600,000 years old.
It was the result of through natural crossbreeding of two other coffee species and emerged first in Ethiopia.
They were used for the drink, as far as we can tell, first in the 1400s to 1600s, having been brought to Yemen, which means they were probably brewed for that purpose in reality long before that.
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Wars and Rumors of War, 2024. Part 2. Only the dead
Mid-Holocene rock painting depiction of archers fighting, Cueva del Roure, Spain.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
Matthew, Chapter 24.
Only the dead have seen the end of war.
George Santayana
February 1, 2024
Iran v. The United States
In retaliation for the death of three servicemen in Jordan, and implicitly the ongoing Iranian misbehavior through their Houthi proxies, and others, the US is going to engage in retaliatory strikes, including cyber strikes, outside of Iran, over a period of weeks.
This is a gigantic escalation in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, and frankly I feel it's an error. It's a big step towards war.
Not that this expresses sympathy with Iran, a dangerous theocracy basically at war with the world.
Ironically, it might be noted, Republicans have been shilling for a greater response. In response to this, for example, Nebraska Republican Senator Deb Fischer seemed to complain it was too late. Keeping track of wars that the GOP feels we're not in enough, or are in way too much, is becoming a chore.
Perhaps showing that Biden is on to something, Iranian backed militia Hezbollah has indicated it will knock off attacks on US installations. Iran has indicated it does not want war, but in the current Administration's view, it may have basically crossed that bridge already. The US does not seem to be willing to let the low grade conflict to continue, and it's hard to see Iran agreeing to back down.
Hamas v. Israel
Israel is flooding Hamas tunnels.
Russo Ukrainian War
Ukraine hit Crimea with a missile strike yesterday.
Cont:
Iran v. The United States
The administration wants to avoid "escalation" — but it's time to realize that our enemies have already escalated.
The only attacks President Biden is deterring are our own.
My gosh, this has a Gulf of Tonkin feel to it.
Cont:
Russo Ukrainian War
Ukraine sinks Russian missile corvette
Putin has been expressing displeasure with Russian scientist working on a hypersonic missile program.
February 8, 2024
Hamas Isreali War
Executive Order on Imposing Certain Sanctions on Persons Undermining Peace, Security, and Stability in the West BankBy the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (NEA), section 212(f) and section 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 8 U.S.C. 1185(a)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, find that the situation in the West Bank — in particular high levels of extremist settler violence, forced displacement of people and villages, and property destruction — has reached intolerable levels and constitutes a serious threat to the peace, security, and stability of the West Bank and Gaza, Israel, and the broader Middle East region. These actions undermine the foreign policy objectives of the United States, including the viability of a two-state solution and ensuring Israelis and Palestinians can attain equal measures of security, prosperity, and freedom. They also undermine the security of Israel and have the potential to lead to broader regional destabilization across the Middle East, threatening United States personnel and interests. For these reasons, these actions constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. I hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat. Accordingly, I hereby order:Section 1. All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person, including any foreign branch, of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in:(a) any foreign person determined by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:(i) to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in, any of the following:(A) actions — including directing, enacting, implementing, enforcing, or failing to enforce policies — that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the West Bank; or(B) planning, ordering, otherwise directing, or participating in any of the following actions affecting the West Bank:(1) an act of violence or threat of violence targeting civilians;(2) efforts to place civilians in reasonable fear of violence with the purpose or effect of necessitating a change of residence to avoid such violence;(3) property destruction; or(4) seizure or dispossession of property by private actors;(ii) to be or have been a leader or official of:(A) an entity, including any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, any of the activities described in subsections (a) or (b) of this section related to the leader’s or official’s tenure; or(B) an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order as a result of activities relating to the leader’s or official’s tenure;(iii) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, any person blocked pursuant to this order; or(iv) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person blocked pursuant to this order; or(b) any foreign person determined by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury:(i) to have committed or have attempted to commit, to pose a significant risk of committing, or to have participated in training to commit acts of terrorism affecting the West Bank; or(ii) to be a leader or official of an entity sanctioned pursuant to subsection (b)(i) of this section.Sec. 2. The prohibitions in section 1 of this order apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted before the date of this order.Sec. 3. The prohibitions in section 1 of this order include:(a) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; and(b) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.Sec. 4. (a) The unrestricted immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of noncitizens determined to meet one or more of the criteria in section 1 of this order would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and the entry of such persons into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, is hereby suspended, except when the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security, as appropriate, determines that the person’s entry would not be contrary to the interests of the United States, including when the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security, as appropriate, so determines, based on a recommendation of the Attorney General, that the person’s entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives.(b) The Secretary of State shall implement this order as it applies to visas pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may establish.(c) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall implement this order as it applies to the entry of noncitizens pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may establish.(d) Such persons shall be treated by this section in the same manner as persons covered by section 1 of Proclamation 8693 of July 24, 2011 (Suspension of Entry of Aliens Subject to United Nations Security Council Travel Bans and International Emergency Economic Powers Act Sanctions).Sec. 5. (a) Any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.Sec. 6. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the types of articles specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)) by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order would seriously impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in this order, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by section 1 of this order.Sec. 7. For the purposes of this order:(a) the term “entity” means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;(b) the term “noncitizen” means any person who is not a citizen or noncitizen national of the United States;(c) the term “person” means an individual or entity;(d) the term “United States person” means any United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States; and(e) the term “terrorism” means an activity that:(i) involves a violent act or an act dangerous to human life, property, or infrastructure; and(ii) appears to be intended:(A) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;(B) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or(C) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, kidnapping, or hostage-taking.Sec. 8. For those persons whose property and interests in property are blocked or affected by this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that because of the ability to transfer funds and other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render those measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared in this order, there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to this order.Sec. 9. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may, consistent with applicable law, redelegate any of these functions within the Department of the Treasury. All executive departments and agencies of the United States shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to implement this order.Sec. 10. Nothing in this order shall prohibit transactions for the conduct of the official business of the Federal Government or the United Nations (including its specialized agencies, programs, funds, and related organizations) by employees, grantees, and contractors thereof.Sec. 11. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is authorized to submit recurring and final reports to the Congress on the national emergency declared in this order, consistent with section 401(c) of the NEA (50 U.S.C. 1641(c)) and section 204(c) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1703(c)).Sec. 12. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.THE WHITE HOUSE,February 1, 2024.
February 2, 2024
Mexican Border Crisis
More Border Support: Governor Ron DeSantis Sends Additional Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard to Assist Texas.
On February 1, 2024, in News Releases, by StaffNational Guardsmen and State Guard Soldiers will join FHP, FWC and FDLE officers already assisting Texas at the southern borderTALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida is deploying members of the Florida National Guard (FLNG) and members of the Florida State Guard (FSG) will be deployed to assist Texas in its efforts to stop the invasion at the southern border. Florida is offering up to a battalion of National Guard members (approximately 1,000 soldiers) to Texas, who will be deployed based on Texas’ needs. For more information about the announcement, click here.These deployments are in addition to the more than 90 officers from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) that are currently deployed to the border. Additional law enforcement resources are standing by and ready to deploy as requested by Texas state officials. In December, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data showed that more than 302,000 illegal immigrants were encountered attempting to cross the southern border – the highest month ever recorded.“States have every right to defend their sovereignty and we are pleased to increase our support to Texas as the Lone Star State works to stop the invasion across the border,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Our reinforcements will help Texas to add additional barriers, including razor wire along the border. We don’t have a country if we don’t have a border.”“This is not a new mission for us. For several years we have supported border security missions in Texas, to include both federal and state deployments,” said Major General John D. Haas, The Adjutant General of Florida. “Last spring the Florida National Guard was one of the first in the nation to deploy rotations of soldiers to support Operation Lone Star in Texas, and we have proudly and readily supported our own state’s efforts in similar roles here in Florida.”“The Florida State Guard is prepared to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with state agency partners in direct support of our brothers and sisters in Texas grappling with an unprecedented surge of illegal immigration along their border,” said Florida State Guard Director Mark Thieme. “The Florida State Guard is postured to deliver rapid emergency response, public safety operations and humanitarian assistance — wherever the need arises.”Since 2021, Florida has provided direct law enforcement and military assistance to Texas, including FLNG, which supported the Texas Military Department through mission sets including static observation points, roving patrols and engineer assistance with obstacle improvement. FHP has made contact with nearly 150,000 illegal aliens, conducted over 27,000 traffic stops, resulting in 2,102 Human Smuggling or Human Trafficking charges with 2,278 overall arrests.FDLE has sent rotations of officers to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety with arrests of violent felony suspects including gang members. Suspects were arrested on various Texas state charges including human smuggling, burglary, firearms, smuggling of persons, smuggling of persons with a firearm, child endangerment, escape from federal custody and possession of controlled substance. FWC has deployed a total of 540 FWC personnel, 525 four-wheel drive patrol trucks and 24 vessels.In Fiscal Year 2023, CBP recorded 2.5 million encounters – surpassing last year’s record. This includes 169 illegal immigrants on the terror watch list attempting to cross the southern border. Since Biden took office, more than 10 million illegal immigrants have crossed the border, including more than 1.7 million known gotaways. In December alone, roughly 260 million lethal doses of fentanyl were seized at the border.
Russia v. NATO
General Gheorghiță Vlad, Romania's chief of defense, issued a war warning in an interview with the Press, joining General Patrick Sanders, the United Kingdom's army chief, and Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in having recently said the same, and in urging their countries to prepare for war. They are not alone in this and this has been a common European theme in recent weeks.
Iran v the West
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force commander Brigadier General Esmail Qaani visited Baghdad to meet leaders of the Iraqi groups to try to stop military action against U.S. forces. The fear that the US is going to launch major strikes, which the US has said its preparing,and that this will lead to a wider war is clearly impacting Iran.
February 2, 2024
Iran v. the West
The US hit 85 targets in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for an Iranian backed militia strike that killed three U.S. Servicemen tin Jordan.
Nigeria
Unknown attackers killed Segun Aremu, the Olukoro of Koro, in Nigeria and kidnapped his wife.
February 4, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
It appears the Ukrainians assassinated a Tu-95 pilot inside of Russia.
Soldiers' wives protested in Moscow, many were arrested.
Middle East
The US and UK hit 36 Houthi targets yesterday in Yemen.
Mexican Border Crisis
A Take Our Border Back rally is going on, on the border.
February 5, 2024
Middle East and the US and wars.
The weekend shows featured the bizarre spectacle of Republican politicians criticizing President Biden's actions against Iran for not going far enough when we're on the verge of an outright war right now.
Somehow, we're in the situation where for a lot of Republicans supporting Ukraine is bad, because Trump likes Putin, supporting Israel is paramount, as there's a vague underlying Evangelical feeling its nearly religiously mandated, and we ought to push Iran up to and maybe over the brink of war.
Mexican Border Crisis
On the weekend shows, a preview of the extensive bipartisan Senate border bill was featured. Mike Johnson is pretty clearly going to oppose it as he has orders from his puppet master. A Republican Senator threatened to push Johnson into a vote over his speakership, which apparently there had been a backdoor deal with Democratic Senators to try to prevent when he was nominated. This was based on the assertion that he'd broken his promises in that closed door meeting.
Governor Kristi Noem was banned from the Pine Ridge Reservation for declaring she wants to send razor wire and National Guardsmen to the Texas border.
Russo Ukrainian War
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed of Ukraine’s top commander, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. The failure of the spring/summer offensive contributed heavily to this. He will be replaced by Command of Land Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi.
February 11, 2024
Hamas v. Israel
Israel has announced that it intends to enter Rafah.
This is being treated as a surprise for some reason, although I think it's always been clear that it intends to enter 100% of Gaza in stages.
The civilian death toll in Gaza is about 28,000.
February 12, 2024
NATO
Donald Trump's off the cuff comment that he'd invite Russia to attack countries that are delinquent in their NATO contribution has resulted in a firestorm of controvesy.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated:
Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US, and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk, I expect that regardless of who wins the presidential election the US will remain a strong and committed NATO Ally.
Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated; "I am still Putin’s press secretary, but not Trump’s".
Trump's cavalier comments were reckless and frankly weird, which is hardly an unusual thing for him. It does point out, however, the extent to which he's a reckless isolationist, perhaps in the early stages of dementia (he cannot seemingly control what he says) and bizarrely a Putin fanboy. The latter has never been adequately explained.
February 13, 2024
Russo Ukrainian War
From ISW:
Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported that elements of Lebanese Hezbollah (LH) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are training Russian drone operators at the Shayrat Air Base in Syria.
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