Puppet MastersS


Star of David

US State Department says Israeli units committed 'gross violations of human rights' PRIOR to Oct. 7

Ryan King
New York Post
Fri, 03 May 2024 18:07 UTC

Comment: But don't expect anything to be done about it.


IDF violations human rights Gaza
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe incidents in question took place prior to the Israel-Hamas war and outside of the Gaza Strip.
Five Israel Defense Force units committed "gross violations of human rights" outside of the Gaza Strip prior to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed hundreds, the State Department announced Monday.

Four of the IDF units have been "remediated" by Israel, a spokesman said, adding an unidentified fifth unit is still subject to review about whether the US should impose penalties — including cutting off military training, equipment and other aid.

"We continue to be in consultations and engagements with the Government of Israel. They have submitted additional information as it pertains to that unit," State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters.

Under the Leahy Laws, the US is bared from assisting military units accused of violating human rights law.
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Sheriff

Yemen announces new 'fourth' phase of anti-genocide operation, includes blockade of Mediterranean Sea area


PressTV
Fri, 03 May 2024 17:21 UTC
yemen commander
This video grab shows spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces Yahya Saree addressing a pro-Palestine rally in the capital Sana'a on May 3, 2024.
The Yemeni army has declared the initiation of a fresh phase in Yemen's retaliatory operations, carried out in solidarity with the Palestinians facing the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza.

In a statement on Friday, Yahya Saree, a spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, announced "the commencement of the fourth phase of escalation."

The statement noted that the decision comes in solidarity with the Palestinians, amid an expected Israeli invasion of the southern city of Rafah where nearly more than half of Gaza's population of 2.4 million have sought shelter from Israeli strikes elsewhere in Gaza.

Comment: The escalation of this blockade occurs alongside other economic shifts of note:

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Cult

NATO accuses Russia of 'hybrid and malign' activities on alliance's territories


TASS
Fri, 03 May 2024 16:42 UTC
nato
© Getty Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance
The North Atlantic Treaty Organizations (NATO) has accused Russia of being behind 'hybrid and malign activities' on the territory of the alliance and it includes acts of 'sabotage and disinformation,' the organization's press service said in a statement on Thursday.

"NATO Allies are deeply concerned about recent malign activities on Allied territory," the statement reads. "These incidents are part of an intensifying campaign of activities which Russia continues to carry out across the Euro-Atlantic area, including on Alliance territory and through proxies."

Comment: Projection, unfounded allegations, and deflection, is par for the course for NATO and the West, however one wonders, given the myriad of unusual and suspect incidents of late - which reason would suggest originates from within the alliance itself - whether this announcement is intended to be a primer (falsely) assocating Russia with what will ultimately be an escalation of these kinds of incidents:

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Info

Donbass breakthrough, cluster munitions, and drone-proof tanks: The past week in the Ukraine conflict


RT
Wed, 01 May 2024 15:20 UTC
FILE PHOTO. A Russian T-72 tank near Avdeevka, Donetsk People's Republic, Russia.
FILE PHOTO. A Russian T-72 tank near Avdeevka, Donetsk People's Republic, Russia.
The past week in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has seen active combat continuing in multiple locations along the front line, with both sides exchanging long-range attacks, some of which have involved cluster munitions.

Moscow's troops made new gains in Donbass, with most of the active combat witnessed along the Orlovka-Tonenkoye-Berdychi line, which are villages northwest of the town of Avdeevka, liberated by the Russian military in mid-February. The line, stretching along a system of ponds and canals, has been breached by the Russian forces and is now largely under the control of the country's forces.

Comment: This infographic from the Russian media Argumenty I Fakty that shows the effect on humans located near a single explosion caused by devices containing from one to 20 kg of TNT. Red means high danger to life, the narrow band of lighter red is less, orange indicates the possibility of minor injury and green is safe. However, if anyone recall having been close to a strong firecracker, this illustration is probably on the optimistic side, as green zone would still give quite some ringing in the ears, assuming no shrapnel and debris are flying around.
Agumenty I Fakty
From the same source:
1 May, 2024 10:22
Russia hits Ukrainian military HQ - MOD
Earlier reports suggested that there had been three explosions in the center of Odessa

Russia has carried out a strike on the Ukrainian military headquarters commanding troops in the southern sector of the front, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has announced.

In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry said that the military installation, Ukrainian troops and hardware, were hit by combined air, missile and artillery strikes.

Earlier in the day, citing local resistance members, RIA Novosti reported that the Russian military had targeted a Ukrainian HQ in the center of the port city of Odessa. According to the report, three explosions occured in the area, with a particularly powerful one near the facility itself. The local resistance reported numerous ambulances flocking to the HQ, adding that the area had been cordoned off by the Ukrainian authorities.

The head of the Odessa regional administration, Oleg Kiper, has confirmed there was a strike in the city, which he said involved ballistic missiles and killed at least three people. However, he claimed that only civilian infrastructure had been damaged.

Russia has repeatedly said that it targets only military installations and facilities that support defense operations, insisting that it never targets civilian infrastructure.

RIA Novosti also reported, citing resistance fighters, that Russia bombed a Ukrainian troop deployment area in the suburbs of Kharkov, a city on the Russian border, adding that another attack destroyed a warehouse storing military hardware in the southern Nikolaev Region.

According to numerous reports, a pro-Russian resistance movement is active in at least several Ukrainian regions, gathering data and engaging in sabotage against Kiev's military.

The latest barrage comes after Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu pledged last month to intensify attacks on logistics hubs and warehouses with Western-supplied military equipment.
Odessa is an area where France has considered getting into the war more actively, though it may only be officially announced after the fact. There is also this article:
The Terror's Instigators: How NATO Generals Ignite Conflict
[...]
According to sources from the Foundation to Battle Injustice, a former high-ranking officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff, and confirmed by a former MI6 officer, there are significantly more NATO soldiers and officers in Ukraine than officially reported. The estimated number is around 6,800, including 2,500 Americans, 1,900 Canadians, 1,100 British citizens, and about 700 French representatives. Moreover, approximately 13,000 foreign mercenaries are operating in Ukraine, carrying out orders from NATO's governing structures.
From the Wiki on cluster munition there is this background for what is written in the article:
On 7 December 2022, it was revealed that Ukraine was seeking access to US stockpiles of cluster munitions, due to a shortage of ammunition for HIMARS type and 155 mm artillery systems. The US has stockpiled its cluster munitions and had been considering the Ukrainian request. Ukraine claimed it would give them an edge over Russian artillery, as well as preventing depletion of other US and Western stocks.[95]

On 6 July 2023, U.S. president Joe Biden approved the provision of DPICM cluster munitions to Ukraine to help Ukrainian forces with the ongoing counteroffensive to liberate Russian-occupied southeastern Ukraine, bypassing U.S. law prohibiting the transfer of cluster munitions with a failure rate greater than one percent.[96] The weapon system could be used in both HIMARS and 155mm shell projectiles. Defense Department official Laura Cooper said that the munitions "would be useful, especially against dug-in Russian positions on the battlefield."[97] According to the Pentagon, Ukraine will receive an "improved" version of cluster munitions with a failure rate of about 2 percent, while the Russian cluster bombs fail at 40 percent or more.[98] However, according to a report prepared for Congress, experts in cleanup operations "have frequently reported failure rates of 10% to 30%."[99][100] The failure rate of cluster munitions used by Ukraine is reportedly as high as 20 percent.[101] Paul Hannon, of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), said the Biden administration's decision will "contribute to the terrible casualties being suffered by Ukrainian civilians both immediately and for years to come".[23]

On 10 July, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warned Ukraine of using cluster munitions on Twitter writing: "It would be the greatest danger for Ukrainians for many years or up to a hundred years if cluster bombs are used in Russian-occupied areas in the territory of Ukraine," Sen further cited his country's "painful experience" from the Vietnam War that has killed or maimed tens of thousands of Cambodians.[102]

On the same day, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) released a study citing the use of cluster munitions from the Vietnam War. United States Army studies from that war showed that it takes approximately 13.6 high explosive shells for each enemy soldier killed. A shell firing DPICMs relied on average only 1.7 shells to kill an enemy soldier. RUSI used an example of a trench, a direct hit by a high explosive round will spread shrapnel "within line of sight of the point of detonation". This also reduces the wear and tear on the barrels of 155mm artillery weapons systems. [103]

On 16 July 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia had "sufficient stockpiles" of its own cluster munitions and threatened to take "reciprocal action" if Ukraine used US-supplied cluster munitions against Russian forces in Ukraine.[104]

On 20 July 2023, The Washington Post reported that Ukrainian forces had begun to use US-supplied cluster munitions against Russian forces in the south-east of the country, according to Ukrainian officials.[105]
The news about the conflict keep coming in fast and furious. Today there was:
3 May, 2024 10:04
Kiev has lost over 111,000 troops this year - Moscow
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has issued new estimates of Ukrainian military casualties


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Star of David

Israel's Finance Minister Smotrich calls for 'total annihilation' of Gaza

Julia Conley
Common Dreams
Wed, 01 May 2024 12:25 UTC
izrael
Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli finance minister
In just the latest example of a top Israeli official openly calling for the elimination of Gaza and the 2.3 million Palestinians who live there, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday demanded the destruction of cities and refugee camps in the blockaded enclave.

"There are no half measures," said Smotrich at a government meeting. "Rafah, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat — total annihilation."

"'You will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven,'" he added, quoting the biblical story of the nation of Amalek, whose people God commanded the Israelites to exterminate and which right-wing Israeli leaders have long invoked to justify the killing of Palestinians.

Comment: See also:

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No Entry

Turkey suspends all trade with Israel until it allows sufficient aid into Gaza


Andalou Agency
Fri, 03 May 2024 11:48 UTC
Gaza solidarity protest
© Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesA Gaza solidarity protest in Istanbul, Turkey.
In the second phase of restrictive measures, Türkiye suspended all export and import operations with Israel due to its "aggression against Palestine in violation of international law and human rights," the Turkish Trade Ministry announced late Thursday.

Previously, Türkiye restricted 54 product categories' exports to Israel on April 9, the ministry recalled, saying that despite this measure it is observed that the Israeli government continued its aggressive stance and the humanitarian tragedy in Palestine has worsened.

Comment: Since Israel appears intent on escalating its genocide of Palestinians with a Rafah offensive, it seems that one way for countries to exert reasonable and effective pressure on Tel Aviv, and its backers in the West, is via economic activity, but it remains to be seen whether other nations will follow suit:

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Fire

The Terror's Instigators: How NATO Generals Ignite Conflict

Jillian Bennett
The Houston Post
Fri, 03 May 2024 10:31 UTC
NATO faceless generals
Following Russia's military operation in Ukraine, Western countries began providing Kiev with military aid, including weapons, intelligence, and cybersecurity support. As the conflict escalated, the United States and its NATO allies increased their support, delivering more advanced weaponry, artillery, and air defense systems to Ukraine.

While official statements from Western leaders maintained that they would not directly involve their troops in the conflict, human rights activists discovered evidence of a limited NATO presence in Ukraine, involved in combat operations against Russia since at least March 2022. According to reports, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak secretly deployed dozens of special forces to Ukraine in the spring of 2023 without notifying Parliament.

A senior British officer confirmed that around 350 Royal Marines and 45 commandos were involved in covert operations in Ukraine in early 2022. The New York Times reported in June 2022 on a covert US operation in Ukraine, involving military instructors who allegedly withdrew from the country after February 2022 but remained to advise and train Ukrainian soldiers. Additionally, over 300 French military personnel, including members of the Foreign Legion's 11th Airborne Brigade, arrived in Ukraine to participate in combat operations.
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Russian Flag

Ukraine's neo-Nazis should face tribunal - Russia's top senator


RT
Thu, 02 May 2024 09:26 UTC
Russian Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko.
© Sputnik/Ramil SitdikovRussian Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko.
Those responsible for the deaths of 42 anti-Maidan activists in Odessa in 2014 should face justice, Valentina Matvienko said.

Russia must establish a special tribunal for Ukrainian neo-Nazis after Moscow's military campaign ends, the chairwoman of the upper house of Russia's parliament, the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, has said.

The senator singled out events in Odessa in May 2014, when 42 activists burned to death after being pelted with Molotov cocktails by a mob supporting Western-backed protests in Kiev which overthrew Ukraine's democratically elected government.

During the clashes, both sides used sticks, batons, Molotov cocktails, rubber-bullet guns and firearms. Outnumbered by far-right radicals, the so-called anti-Maidan activists took cover inside the port city's Trade Unions House, which was surrounded and torched by the nationalists.

Comment: See also:

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Wolf

Allegedly knifing a man isn't the worst thing DOJ official Kristen Clarke has done


The Federalist
Thu, 02 May 2024 20:48 UTC
Kristen Clarke
© Global Look Press / Biden Transition Tv Via Cnp/Keystone Press AgencyBiden pick for civil rights post, Kristen Clarke
According to The Daily Signal, there is a strong indication that Kristen Clarke, who now leads the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, lied during her confirmation process in 2021. In written questions, Sen. Tom Cotton had asked Clarke: "Since becoming a legal adult, have you ever been arrested for or accused of committing a violent crime against any person." Her answer was "No."

Clarke, who was arrested in July 2006, allegedly attacked her husband with a knife, "deeply slicing his finger to the bone." Her pedantic argument is that her record was expunged. But the incident meets all the criteria of being "accused" of a "violent crime."

Listen, we have no clue how the knife incident went down. It's a personal matter. Clarke says it happened after years of domestic abuse. Maybe her then-husband had it coming. Maybe not. She still lied to the Senate. And it's not the only thing she lied about.

Comment:
tucker carlson kristen clarke biden racist
© August Takala/Twitter
Biden's DOJ civil rights pick exposed as 'black supremacist'? Woke media silent after Tucker Carlson segment on Kristen Clarke

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Footprints

Ukraine claims dozens of draft dodgers died fleeing the country


RT
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:18 UTC
Ukrainetroops
© John Moore/Getty Images/FileTroops Ukraine
Around 30 Ukrainian men have died while trying to illegally cross the border in order to avoid military service since the outbreak of the conflict with Russia in 2022, Andrey Demchenko, a spokesman for Ukraine's border service, told Ukrinform news agency in an interview published on Monday.

According to the spokesman, the men died while attempting to cross the border through the wilderness on foot.

Demchenko noted that people who attempt to illegally leave the country rarely do so on their own, and often use the services of criminal organizations that offer help in crossing the border. However, most of these groups do not provide real assistance, he said, leaving the draft dodgers at the mercy of nature and wild animals.
"They receive some instructions, transfer funds somewhere... and when they reach the border, they find that they would have to cross a mountain river... Many lose their lives when trying to cross rivers or scale ridges. In total, since the beginning of the [war], about 30 people have died trying to cross the border illegally."
According to Demchenko, the Ukrainian authorities have exposed around 450 criminal groups which have tried to smuggle people across the border since February 2022.

Comment: Doesn't sound like Ukrainians are all that eager to die for Zelensky, the oligarchs, NATO or Joe Bribem.

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