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Fri, 05 Nov 2021
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Snakes in Suits

New York Black and Latino Legislators Association stealing from students to pay for lavish lifestyle

Black and Latino

I thought the slogan was 'Black Lives Matter?' Apparently not to these politicians.
A nonprofit run by state lawmakers to raise scholarship money for needy minority students spends most of the cash on its lavish annual soiree - including $6,000 on limos - and gave out no grants the last two years, The Post has learned.

The New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators organizes a "Caucus Weekend" - a series of workshops, concerts and parties - in Albany every February for minority members of the Assembly and the Senate.

The group charges sponsors up to $50,000 for a chance to party with lawmakers at events that have ­included Grammy Award-winning rappers and high-profile speakers such as Hillary Clinton and Jesse Jackson.

Comment: It doesn't matter the color of their skin, a crooked politician is a crooked politician, and these legislators seemed to have had no problem using their power and authority in the community to essentially indulge in lavish lifestyles and parties, on someone else'e dime, at the expense of underprivileged youth from the communities they are meant to serve. Candace Owens has touched on this that even though the Democratic party is keen to play the race-card, a shift is occurring. Situations like this will further that along.



TV

Netflix caves to Saudi pressure and yanks comedy show on Khashoggi murder

Mohammed bin Salman
© Reuters / Kevin Lamarque
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Netflix has removed an episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj from its Saudi catalog, after the Kingdom's government took offense to a segment criticizing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In the episode, still available in the US, the Muslim American comedian blasts Saudi Arabia's role in the war in Yemen and the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as well as MBS' self-stoked image as a 'reformer.'

"Now would be a good time to reassess our relationship with Saudi Arabia," Minhaj said in the episode. "And I mean that as a Muslim, and as an American."

"There are people in Saudi Arabia fighting for true reform," he continued, "but MBS is not one of them. And to those who continue to work with him, just know that with every deal you close, you are simply helping entrench an absolute monarch under the guise of progress."

Comment: Netflix is hardly an impartial entertainment company.


Attention

The West is in disarray and getting worse

tattered flag
© Unknown
We are witnessing the withdrawal from Syria of the American military contingent, protests in France, the prospect of a British hard Brexit, the political decline of Angela Merkel in Germany, Netanyahu in crisis, and Mohammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia suddenly becoming an international pariah. The contemporary crisis of leadership in Europe, the United States and among their main allies has thrown the West into chaos, leading it to one of its most critical junctures in recent decades. It is a situation brought on by the United States and its contradictory politics, which results in diminishing the sovereignty and decision-making power of Washington's allies.


Comment: Does it really do this? The US is not responsible for the ineptitude of European and Middle East decision-makers. This premise negates the responsibility of those leaders to make independent evaluations and decisions.


Well before the election of Donald Trump, European Union leaders Merkel, Cameron and Hollande were already faltering and evidencing signs of failure.

Hollande fell in the polls because of policies favoring the interests of the elites at the expense of the increasingly poor and indebted French population. Cameron, to stave off a Labour victory under Jeremy Corbyn, promised a vote on Brexit, a decision that would eventually end up costing him his political career. Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, the undisputed master of the German political scene, suffered for the first time in fifteen years heavy electoral defeats stemming from recent migration policies. The Chancellor, harshly criticized for these results, resigned from the position of president of the party, leaving the CDU split into two factions. The situation worsened in the UK and France over the next twelve months, with Cameron resigning following the Brexit vote and Hollande forced to give up on the the idea of ​​running for reelection given his unpopularity.

Comment: Has Trump unwittingly thrown Europe into chaos due to ineptitude or has he exposed the entrenched US coattail behavior of particular countries and their leadership suddenly left to figure things out for themselves? Whatever the case (and it could be both), the Trump upheaval is forcing change and redefinition on several fronts, including the option of autonomy.


Star of David

Pompeo: Cooperation with Israel over Syria and Iran is ongoing

PompeoNeti
© Thomas Coex/Reuters
US Secretary of State Pompeo • Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday that the United States would continue to cooperate with Israel over Syria and in countering Iran in the Middle East, even as President Donald Trump plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said as he met with Pompeo in the Brazilian capital that he planned to discuss how to intensify intelligence and operations cooperation in Syria and elsewhere to block Iranian "aggression."

In his first public comments on Trump's decision, Pompeo said it
"in no way changes anything that this administration is working on alongside Israel. The counter-ISIS campaign continues, our efforts to counter Iranian aggression continue and our commitment to Middle East stability and the protection of Israel continues in the same way it did before that decision was made."

Comment: Israel's 'self-defense' is an excuse for aggression and destruction. Pompeo's diplomatic purpose is to reinforce the fakery.


Arrow Down

Houthi leader dismisses UN's allegation of misuse of food relief in Yemen

Yemen food relief
© AP/Jon Gambrell
Yemen food relief
The president of the Houthi-led Supreme Revolutionary Committee Mohammed Houthi has dismissed the World Food Program (WFP)'s allegations of diversion of humanitarian food relief practiced by the movement.

"We are very surprised of the statement of the Executive Director of the World Food Program, which includes the threat to suspend aid shipments for large numbers of people in need of food in Yemen with the justification of manipulation," Houthi said in a statement, as quoted by Al Masirah broadcaster on Tuesday.

According to the Houthi leader, the accusations seem to be the WFP's attempt to evade responsibility for fighting famine in Yemen. He also noted that the WFP had not contacted the Houthis at an official level to tackle the situation, preferring instead to issue unsubstantiated accusations.

On Monday, the WFP urged Houthi rebels in Yemen to stop the purported diversion of humanitarian food deliveries from people who live in areas under their control. According to the UN program, a local organization affiliated with the Houthi government that is responsible for the distribution of food rations was removing food from distribution centres and then selling the meals.

Comment: See also:


Stop

$75T in resources is why sanctions on Russia are impossible

Eastern Siberia
© Reuters/Ilya Naymushin
Eastern Siberia
The country with the largest mineral reserves in the world, Russia, is the second top exporter of rare earth minerals. Its natural resources are estimated at tens of trillions of dollars.

It has abundant supplies of oil, natural gas, timber and valuable minerals, such as copper, diamonds, lead, zinc, bauxite, nickel, tin, mercury, gold and silver. Most of those resources are located in Siberia and the Far East.

Russia's mining industry, which is the country's second largest after oil and gas, accounts for a significant share of its GDP and exports. The country is among the top three producers of mineral commodities such as platinum, gold and iron ore. It is also the world's largest producer of diamonds and palladium. The Ural Mountains have vast amounts of minerals while most deposits of coal, oil, gas and timber are located in Siberia.

Comment: See also:


Pistol

Three Egyption anti-terror raids kills 40 militants a day after deadly attack on tourist bus

Egyptian Special Forces
© Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Egyptian special forces
Egyptian security forces have neutralized dozens of militants suspected of plotting atrocities across the country during the holiday season. The raids in Giza and North Sinai came a day after jihadists targeted a tourist bus.

Security forces managed to foil a number of terrorist plotters that were "seeking to commit terrorist operations during celebrations of the New Year and Christmas," the Egyptian Interior Ministry said Saturday, noting that 40 suspects were killed in three simultaneous raids.

Two of the operations took place in the Giza Governorate, popular with tourists, where a total of 30 militants were killed. The third raid took place in the North Sinai region. Large quantities of firearms, ammunition and explosive material were seized in the operations, authorities said.

The ministry did not comment on whether the dismantled terrorist cells were connected to Friday's roadside bomb attack on a tourist bus near the iconic Giza pyramids. Three Vietnamese tourists and their Egyptian tour guide were killed, while at least 10 others were injured in the explosion. So far no group has admitted responsibility for the atrocity.


Comment: See also:
Tourist bus explodes near Giza pyramid complex, at least two killed, 11 injured


Smiley

Trump Bite: Warren's 'psychiatrist' knows whether she thinks she can win White House in 2020

Trump and Warren
In an exclusive interview aired during Fox News' "All-American New Year" special Monday night, President Trump suggested that only U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's "psychiatrist" knows whether she thinks she can win the White House in 2020.

Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat and progressive firebrand, announced Monday she is filing paperwork to launch an exploratory committee for president, becoming the first candidate to take the major step toward a 2020 run for the presidency.

Fox News' Pete Hegseth asked Trump whether Warren really thinks she could make him a one-term president.

Brick Wall

Shutdown to continue: House Democrats announce plan to pass Bills without funding border wall, But Trump may Veto

Nancy Pelosi
© Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call Group | Getty Images
House Democrats said on Monday that they have put forward legislation to end the ongoing partial government when they take control of the chamber starting Thursday.

The House will vote on six appropriation bills to fund most agencies through September 30 with the exception of The Department of Homeland Security. The chamber will vote on a separate continuing resolution to fund DHS through February 8.

Russian Flag

Russia 'never had helpers & never will,' says Putin in New Year's address - calls for Russia people to stand together

Putin 2019 new year address
© RT
Russia has never had "helpers" aiding it and so the nation should stay united and work as one strong, solid team, President Vladimir Putin told his compatriots in the traditional New Year's message for 2019.

There are challenges facing Russia in economy, science, education and healthcare, Putin said. Improving the quality of life is also a top priority in the coming year.
"We can achieve it only if we stand together side by side. We had never had helpers and will never have."

The Russians thus should continue to "work as a cohesive, united and strong team," believes Putin.