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New Hampshire: How Buttigieg swiped a delegate exactly how we predicted he would

Gerry Bello
The Mockingbird
Tue, 18 Feb 2020 13:10 UTC
chart
The mainstream media, predictably, has taken the focus off of Sanders following his narrow victory in New Hampshire to focus on the relative position of the candidates that came in second, third, and fourth. This takes the spotlight off of the election rigging that happened in the granite state exactly where and how The Mockingbird predicted it would happen on Monday February 10th in this article where we examined the obvious and long standing security flaws in tabulation equipment.

Those flaws would allow a malicious outside attacker or a partisan insider to change the numbers at the county tabulation level. The trick to changing numbers is to do so in a way that does not put the result too far outside of the margin of error of the exit polls. Prior polling can be somewhat ignored as they are often biased and unless the answer is the difference between leprechauns and unicorns the results will not arouse too much suspicion. That is what someone hoped to do on behalf of Pete Buttigieg. A closer look reveals their failure to conceal their graft.

According to the AP reporting of the published numbers at the time of this writing (9am EST Wednesday February 12th) Sanders got 71759 votes or 25.7% of the total with 87% of the precincts reporting. Buttigieg got 68141 votes or 24.7%. Both were awarded 9 delegates, which is a number we will return to later.

Breaking this result down by county leaves a much different set of results. New Hampshire has 10 counties. 7 of those counties tabulate votes the old fashioned way with human beings counting paper ballots in public. 3 of those counties (Carroll, Rockingham and Merrimack) use the previously highlighted AccuVote OS scanner -tabulator machines. Both rural and more urban counties are represented in both groups. The percentages between the two candidates should hold within one to two points. They differ wildly.

Comment: See also:

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Pirates

UK's Lords daily allowance higher than unemployed and disabled get in one month

Jack Aitchison
Glasgow Times
Mon, 17 Feb 2020 12:03 UTC
Michelle Mone
Baroness Michelle Mone in the House of Lords
MEMBERS of the House of Lords could now earn more in one day than Universal Credit claimants get in a whole month.

An increase in the daily allowance for members like Glasgow's Michelle Mone, would see peers getting a tax-free payment of £323 a day for attendance in the chamber.


Comment: They are not obliged to do or prove they have done anything else except attend.


This 3.1% increase, which is above the rate of inflation, would mean the daily sum would exceed the monthly standard allowance for a single person on Universal Credit of £317.82.

This is, however, set to rise to £323.22 in April.

The issue was raised in the House of Commons during Prime Ministers' Questions by SNP's East Renfrewshire MP, Kirsten Oswald.

She said: "Is that the 'levelling up' the Prime Minister keeps talking about?"

Comment: And it should come as no surprise that, for the poorest in the UK, poverty is soaring, life expectancy is declining and infant mortality is rising to unprecedented levels:

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Bizarro Earth

US pushing for INF-banned missiles to be placed in Europe & Asia - Lavrov


RT
Mon, 17 Feb 2020 11:13 UTC
us navy
© REUTERS/U.S. NavyFILE PHOTO
Just out of a milestone nuclear missile accord, the US is about to deploy short- and intermediate-range missiles in Europe and Asia, prompting Moscow to engage France and other partners to preserve security on the continent.

"In order to agree on specific solutions, we need multilateral talks and multilateral consultations involving, of course, the United States, who destroyed the treaty," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday, referring to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

This pact saw Washington and Moscow eliminate entire classes of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and missile launchers capable of carrying nukes back in the 1980s.

Comment: See also:

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Light Saber

Russia will continue to support Syria's fight against terrorists, despite Trump and Erdogan's calls to stop


RFE/RL
Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:47 UTC
Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump (file photo)
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on February 16, "expressing concern over the violence in Idlib, Syria," according to White House press secretary Judd Deere.

Trump called for Russia to end its support for the Syrian regime's "atrocities" and conveyed the United States' "desire to see an end to Russia's support" for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

He urged "a political resolution to the Syrian conflict," which has lasted for nearly nine years.

Their conversation came a day before a new round of talks are scheduled between Ankara and Moscow who back opposing sides in the conflict.

Comment: RT provides more detail on the situation:
Both the Russian Armed Forces and the country's advisers will "support the Syrian Arab Republic armed forces in their fight against terrorism," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a briefing on February 17.

Referring to escalating terrorist attacks in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, he said that the Russian government "still regrets that these terrorists have revitalized in Idlib."

The statement follows US President Donald Trump's recent call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during which Trump "expressed concern over the violence in Idlib." He also praised "Turkey's efforts to prevent a humanitarian crisis" in the province, and hoped that Russia would stop supporting the Assad government, according to Deputy White House Press Secretary Judd Deere.

Tensions in the Idlib de-escalation zone have been steadily rising in recent weeks. On February 3, a Turkish armed convoy came under artillery fire, leaving five dead as a result. The tragedy occurred when the Syrian Army was conducting an operation against terrorists in the area, and was not notified of the convoy's movements, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Ankara retaliated, firing on known Syrian Army positions, and sending additional troops into the de-escalation zone 10 days later. In response to the troop surge, Damascus officially recognized the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire.

Erdogan and Russia's President Vladimir Putin also discussed the situation on the ground in a phonecall last week. The two leaders agreed that the Sochi agreement on the Idlib de-escalation zone must be fully implemented.
Meanwhile the US recently sent over 50 military vehicles from Iraq to Syria.

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Laptop

China says US is an 'EMPIRE OF HACKERS,' mocks cyber-accusations in wake of Crypto AG scandal


RT
Mon, 17 Feb 2020 21:10 UTC
hacker laptop United Arab Emirates
© Sputnik / Natalia SeliverstovaThe three men are accused of gaining ‘unauthorized access to protected computers in the United States and elsewhere’.
Washington accusing other states of leading cyberwarfare against the US is like "a thief crying 'stop, thief!'" Beijing said, reacting to revelations the CIA used Swiss cryptography firm Crypto AG to spy on hundreds of countries.

The US government has "conducted large-scale, organized and indiscriminate cyber theft, tapping and surveillance on foreign governments, businesses and individuals, a fact already well-known to all," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily briefing in Beijing.

These spying activities, which violate international law and undermine trust between the US and other nations, had been unmasked by whistleblower Edward Snowden and by WikiLeaks - a fact Geng was also keen to remind the audience of. Among other things, the Americans have been collecting billions of phonecalls around the globe on a daily basis and were even revealed to be spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone.

The Chinese official pointed out that Washington never explained itself over those leaks and "now the Crypto AG incident adds... one more thing for the US to clarify to the world."

Comment: See also:

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Star of David

No one is ever held accountable - American citizens killed and tortured by Israel

Philip Giraldi
American Herald Tribune
Sat, 15 Feb 2020 02:06 UTC
Slain American
© CourtesyPalestinian-American Mahmoud Shaalan was shot five times by Israeli soldiers at a West Bank checkpoint.
One of the principal functions of a United States Embassy overseas is to provide citizen services, which includes coming to the assistance of Americans who are treated badly by the local government. It is a responsibility that most embassies take seriously, with the exception of the facility currently located in Jerusalem. One has to understand that that is so because the United States Embassy in Israel is like no other. In other countries, the American Embassy exists to support American travelers, businesses and a broad range of national interests. In Jerusalem the Embassy exists to support Israeli interests and to serve as an apologist every time the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu goes on a killing spree or does something else that is similarly outrageous, to include bombing neighboring Syria every other day.

America's current ambassador, former Trump bankruptcy lawyer David Friedman, has funded Israel's illegal settlements, which did not in any way complicate his confirmation as nearly everyone in Congress and the White House does not believe that the Palestinians actually are human beings. Since taking up his position, Friedman has defended Israel when its army sharpshooters have shot down scores of unarmed Gazans, including children, and has both praised and endorsed out-and-out theft by the Israeli government in Jerusalem, on the West Bank and the Golan Heights.

What the U.S. Embassy under Friedman will not do is put any real pressure on the Israeli government if its security forces or rampaging settlers kill, beat, maim or torture an American citizen, especially if said citizen happens to be of Palestinian descent. Indeed, Friedman is only the latest manifestation of Israel-first-itis among U.S. Ambassadors, the rot having started inevitably with Bill Clinton, who appointed Australian citizen Martin Indyk as the first Jewish ambassador to Tel Aviv. The two most recent ambassadors, Friedman and Daniel Shapiro, both political appointees, have also been Jewish. Shapiro so enjoyed being an Israeli that he decided to remain in the country after his appointment as ambassador was completed. He now works for an Israeli government funded think tank.
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Star of David

AIPAC is a "hate group," says Congresswoman Betty McCollum

Michael F. Brown
The Electronic Intifada
Mon, 17 Feb 2020 21:37 UTC
Betty McCollum
© Craig Lassig / ZUMA PressBetty McCollum, a tenacious advocate for the rights of Palestinian children, vigorously pushed back Wednesday against an attack ad by AIPAC
Betty McCollum this week issued one of the hardest hitting criticisms of AIPAC from a sitting member of Congress in recent memory, perhaps ever.

Her statement provided the extraordinary sight of a US elected representative telling the anti-Palestinian organization enough is enough. She pushed back - and hard.


Comment: The Times of Israel's take on McCollum is remarkable for its plain and factual tone, with nary a whiff of spin. What a novelty from an Israeli publication. Does this portend a small shift in the Israeli press' portrayal of those critical of Israel?
Democrat Betty McCollum from Minnesota accuses pro-Israel lobby of 'weaponizing anti-Semitism and hate to silence debate'

A Minnesota congresswoman called AIPAC a "hate group" inciting against her after the Israel lobby featured her in an attack ad.

"AIPAC claims to be a bipartisan organization, but its use of hate speech actually makes it a hate group," US Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat, said Wednesday in a statement. "By weaponizing anti-Semitism and hate to silence debate, AIPAC is taunting Democrats and mocking our core values."

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee declined to comment. The lobby removed and apologized last week for at least two Facebook ads that slammed "radical" Democrats in Congress, and altered an online petition that said Israel's harshest critics in Congress pose a threat "maybe more sinister" than ISIS and other terror groups.

"This is not a call to action, it is incitement," McCollum said. "Elected representatives in Congress 'more sinister' than ISIS? Last year, I met with AIPAC representatives from Minnesota in my office. Do forces 'more sinister' than ISIS sit down and meet with AIPAC's advocates?"

On Twitter, McCollum rejected what she called AIPAC's "non-apology." In its statement of apology, AIPAC said the ad was poorly worded" and "inflammatory," but also said it "alluded to a genuine concern of many pro-Israel Democrats about a small but growing group, in and out of Congress, that is deliberately working to erode the bipartisan consensus."

One of the ads was illustrated by a collage of three of Israel's toughest critics in Congress, including McCollum, who is the lead sponsor of a bill that would link Israel's assistance to its treatment of Palestinian juvenile detainees.

McCollum publicly rebuked AIPAC in 2006 after a lay leader of the group lashed out at her for backing funding for the Palestinians.
McCollum has been valiant in her advocacy for Palestinian rights in the implementation of U.S. foreign policy:

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Bad Guys

West's broken record: Russia denies rumors of Russian troops in Libya (again)

Joaquin Flores
Fort Russ
Mon, 17 Feb 2020 20:53 UTC
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov
Press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov made an announcement today apparently denying the rumors that Russian ground troops were present in Libya.

"Vladimir Putin, the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation did not send troops to Libya and did not give any orders in this regard," he said. "There are no Russian troops in Libya."

Comment: Russia's preferred strategy is influence through dialogue and diplomacy, not bombing a country to rubble:

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Light Saber

Libya's LNA-backed interim government slams Turkey's 'aggression' and accuses it of 'seeking to conquer the country'


Sputnik
Mon, 17 Feb 2020 20:15 UTC
GNA weapons Libya tripoli
© Agence France-Presse/Media Bureau of "Volcano of Anger" operationA photo reportedly showing Turkish-made armoured personnel vehicles, shipped to Libya's internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), arriving at Tripoli port
Ankara has accused Libyan National Army Commander Khalifa Haftar of violating the Libyan ceasefire, and has deployed troops and mercenaries to the country to shore up the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord.

Abdulhadi al-Hweij, foreign minister of the Tobruk-based Libyan government, has accused Turkey of not only interfering in Libya's internal affairs, but of seeking to conquer the North African country.

"This is not interference, but aggression by Turkey. This is another attempt by Turkey to conquer Libya. We will use all available means to protect our territory and involve all Libyans," al-Hweij said, speaking to reporters in Moscow on Monday on the sidelines of the Valdai Discussion Club's Middle East Conference.

Comment: Pretty rich coming from a government that has made it clear it considers Libya its personal property, and is deploying forces both openly and covertly to keep the country in turmoil.

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Attention

NYT: US under pressure as Russia, Syria step up efforts to counter occupying US troops

Drago Bosnic
Fort Russ
Sun, 16 Feb 2020 20:21 UTC
US troops Syria
US troops occupying parts of Syria have come under increasing pressure as Russia and Syria "step up their military presence in the region", according to the New York Times. It reported that American military and diplomatic officials have said that Russia has been intensifying patrol "run-ins" with US troops and that Russian helicopters are flying closer to US troops as part of an "intensifying pressure campaign".

According to the report, a notable presence of Syrian and Russian drones and other aircraft in the region has also "eroded American air superiority" in the regions where US forces are present. The report claimed that the Russian measures, alongside Syrian military presence, seek to "present a constant set of challenges" that will eventually make US military presence "more tenuous".

The report quoted Vice Admiral Tim Szymanski, a United States Navy SEAL (Sea, Air, and Land) who is deputy head of the military's Special Operations Command, saying that Russia and Damascus were effectively "pressing" the United States occupying forces in northeast Syria.

Speaking with reporters last week, top American diplomat overseeing Syria issues James F. Jeffrey also said that run-ins and encounters with Russian and Syrian troops are "not daily occurrences but have been increasing in number and thus is troubling".

Comment: See also:

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