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Taiwan's top security officials visit US for secret talks - FT


RT
Thu, 22 Aug 2024 19:47 UTC
Lin Chia-lung
© Getty Images/Anadolu/ContributorTaiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung
Regular meetings between Washington and Taipei have reportedly been kept under wraps to avoid Beijing's criticism.

Taiwan's top foreign policy officials visited the US this week for secret meetings known as 'special channel' talks, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing sources. It's the first such visit since Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te took office in May.

China opposes contacts between Washington and Taipei, calling the Taiwanese issue its "red line." Beijing has previously accused the US of weakening the One China policy, which states that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory.

People familiar with the trip to Washington by Taiwanese officials said that foreign minister Lin Chia-lung and Joseph Wu, Taiwan's national security adviser, visited the Washington area for the channel, seen as a "rare opportunity for a larger group of senior officials from both sides to hold detailed talks." The sources did not disclose the location or the timing of the discussions.

According to the report, the US and Taiwan have held secret 'special channel' talks for years, though their existence was first disclosed by FT in 2021. Both sides have kept the channel under wraps to avoid China's criticism, it said.

Comment: Special delivery:
The first batch of 11 US-made HIMARS rocket launchers could arrive in Taiwan by the end of 2024, the Taipei Times has reported, citing military sources. The anticipated delivery is part of ongoing US backing for Taiwan, despite strong protests from Beijing, which regards the island as part of China.

Taipei has ordered a total of 29 units and hopes they will all be delivered by 2026. Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the weapons system, has said it would ramp up production due to increased demand from Ukraine.

The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) can fire volleys of GPS-guided rockets, GLMRS bombs, or Army Tactical Missiles (ATACMS). According to Taiwanese media, the island has contracted for at least 864 rockets and 84 ATACMS.

Last month, China imposed sanctions on Lockheed Martin and several other US weapons manufacturers, citing their participation in supplying Taiwan with military equipment. The move came after Washington announced the sale of $360 million worth of drones and other weaponry to the island.


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Attention

US preparing to lift ban on strikes deep inside Russia - Moscow


RT
Fri, 23 Aug 2024 09:14 UTC
rocket
© South Korean Defense Ministry/Getty ImagesUS-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) fired during training
Claims by Washington that it has banned Ukraine from using US-supplied long-range weapons for strikes deep inside Russian territory cannot be trusted, Moscow's ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, has said.

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has resumed his calls for the country's Western backers to allow long-range strikes on Russian territory during Kiev's ongoing incursion into Kursk Region.

The Pentagon stated last week that its stance remains unchanged, and that Ukraine is still banned from using US-supplied ATACMS missiles, which have a range of up to 300km (186 miles), for attacks deep inside Russia.

Speaking to journalists on Friday, Antonov claimed:
"The US authorities seem to be constantly teasing us by saying that today it is allegedly not allowed to use long-range systems to strike at Russian territory. But in reality, they are essentially preparing the ground to simply remove all existing restrictions, at a certain point. Judging by Washington's previous assistance to Kiev, including its training of pilots to fly F-16 jets, it is almost certain that Ukraine will fight with US-made [long-range] weapons against us. Where exactly will it happen? We cannot say or foretell."
According to Antonov, the administration of US President Joe Biden is becoming increasingly unpredictable.
"There is no guarantee that the whole world will not change tomorrow when you and I wake up. How the Americans will behave in this situation is very hard to tell. Russia must therefore act decisively, increasing our military-industrial potential, because only our army and navy will protect our country."

Comment: Latest upcoming weapons package for Ukraine is a doozy:
The US government is set to provide Ukraine with $125 million in additional weaponry and munitions. According to Associated Press, the new package could be formally announced later on Friday, on the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day.

In its report on Thursday, AP claimed that the new package would include air defense missiles, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Javelins and several other types of anti-armor rocketry, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, as well as counter-drone and counter-electronic warfare systems and other equipment.

The weapons will reportedly come directly from Pentagon stockpiles through the US president's drawdown authority, meaning they can be delivered more quickly.

AP has estimated that this latest package, if confirmed, would put the total value of US military assistance to Ukraine at more than $55.7 billion since February 2022. Washington has apparently approved this latest shipment despite still not being fully in the picture regarding Kiev's operation on Russian soil.

Speaking on Thursday, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said
"We are still working with Ukraine on how that fits into their strategic objectives on the battlefield itself."
Earlier this month, the US Department of Defense said in a statement that it would send Kiev $125 million in military aid, made up of largely the same systems and equipment. In late July, Washington allocated a bigger batch of weaponry and ammunition, worth some $1.7 billion.
Italian Deputy PM Matteo Salvini responded:
Ukraine's Western backers could trigger World War III by providing Kiev with weapons that can be used to strike targets on Russian soil. Salvini said:
"The sending of weapons to strike and kill also on Russian territory would be a disaster, the antechamber of a dramatic world conflict. We will no longer approve sending any type of weapon unless we have the certainty that those weapons will not be used to attack and kill inside Russia. It would be the incident that takes us straight towards the Third World War."
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed this, telling reporters:
"We are not fighting against Russia. We are defending Ukraine, [it] is not the same."
Though hairs have been split, it is still 'hair'.

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Footprints

NATO to deploy new armored brigade near Russia - media


RT
Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:42 UTC
armored vehicle
© Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesFinnish soldiers look on AMOS 120 armoured mortar vehicle
NATO is planning to deploy an armored brigade in Finland to serve as a deterrent against Russia, newspaper Iltalehti reported on Thursday, citing sources within the US-led military bloc and the government in Helsinki.

The unit, which could range in size from 4,000 to 5,000 troops, will be stationed at Mikkeli in the south-eastern part of Finland, according to the daily. Mikkeli, which has a population of 51,000, is just 87 miles (140 kilometers) from the border with Russia.

According to the newspaper's sources, the brigade will comprise NATO troops from neighboring Sweden and Norway.

The Finnish government has decided on the need to deploy NATO soldiers from other countries to "strengthen preventative deterrence" against Russia, according to the article. The decision to set up a NATO military headquarters in Mikkeli will be officially announced to the public in the coming weeks, Iltalehti reports.

Comment: Finland is the test case. How quickly will a 'line of defense' ditch its disguise?

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USA

Accused financier of Moise assassination apparently advised by US intelligence

Brian Saady
The Grayzone
Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00 UTC
Veintemilla
© x.com/GZWalter Veintemilla
Two plotters of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse were exposed as DEA informants. Another was unmasked as an FBI informant. Now, newly-released court documents provide the most startling evidence yet linking the conspirators with the US government.

A South Florida businessman accused of funding the plot to assassinate former Haitian President Jovenel Moise received legal advice endorsing a mission to capture the head of state from a confidential informant of a US intelligence agency, court documents unveiled in July 2024 allege. According to the accused's legal team:
"The discovery received from The Government redacts the U.S. intelligence agency with which [the informant] is affiliated, but it is clear that he is a [confidential informant] for a U.S. Intelligence Agency."
The businessman, Walter Veintemilla, and his company, Worldwide Capital Lending Group, stand accused of providing a $175,000 line of credit to Florida defense contractor CTU Security LLC, which reportedly carried out the assassination.

Comment: See also:

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Star

This is the best thing I have ever heard President Trump say

Sundance
The Last Refuge
Thu, 22 Aug 2024 00:00 UTC
Trump paintng
President Trump told the Daily Mail during an interview that he now declines intelligence briefings by the U.S Intelligence Community. This is the most exceptional news in a long time. WATCH:


I have researched the Intelligence Community, aka Deep State apparatus for many years. What President Trump outlines in that response is extremely accurate. The evidence for the corrupt and false presentations from the aggregate IC can be found in the example of 51 intel officials saying the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation. They did not misspeak, they lied.

Beyond the reasoning expressed by President Trump about "leaks", the best part of his remarks pertains to his brutally honest acceptance that the Intelligence Community is corrupt overall. Yes, yes, it is. It is refreshing to hear someone say it openly, publicly and with no hesitation about the reality of it.
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Eye 1

Israel agreed to withdraw troops from Gaza - Blinken


RT
Wed, 21 Aug 2024 00:00 UTC
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
© Getty Images / Tomohiro OhsumiUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Israel has agreed to withdraw its troops from parts of Gaza as part of ongoing attempts to reach a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday, following the latest round of negotiations in Qatar.

Speaking to reporters in Doha, Blinken was asked to comment on earlier reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had convinced Washington to allow Israel to keep its forces in the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and Gaza.

While he did not share any specific details about the ongoing talks, which are being mediated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, the secretary of state said that "the United States does not accept any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel," and that the current agreement being discussed is "very clear on the schedule and the locations of (Israel Defense Forces) withdrawals from Gaza, and Israel has agreed to that."

Comment: See also:

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Better Earth

Here's why Putin's latest trip is so important for the emerging world order


RT
Wed, 21 Aug 2024 15:11 UTC
Putin+
© Grigory Sysoev/SputnikRussian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the Zagulba Residence outside Baku, Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan, a new Russian ally, is in position to play a crucial role in an emergent Eurasia.

President Vladimir Putin's state visit to Azerbaijan can rightfully be described as historic. This marks the first time a Russian president has made an official state visit to this South Caucasian republic. The high status of this visit is a clear reflection of the current state of Russian-Azerbaijani relations, which are at an all-time high. Despite Azerbaijan not being a member of organizations such as the CSTO and EAEU, its relationship with Moscow remains robust.

A significant milestone in relations was the signing of the Declaration on Allied Interaction (the Moscow Declaration) on February 22, 2022, by the leaders of both countries, which, as Putin noted during his visit, is being successfully implemented. Azerbaijan is transitioning from being a strategic partner to becoming a strategic ally of Russia. This shift can be attributed in part to both countries' shared commitment to establishing a new multipolar world, resulting in aligned positions on many issues within the current international agenda.

Comment: See also:

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USA

The political matrix sustains the illusion of freedom

John and Nisha Whitehead
The Rutherford Institute
Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00 UTC
Dealer
© The Rutherford Institute
"When a population becomes distracted by trivia, when cultural life is redefined as a perpetual round of entertainments, when serious public conversation becomes a form of baby-talk, when, in short, a people become an audience, and their public business a vaudeville act, then a nation finds itself at risk; culture-death is a clear possibility." — Neil Postman What you smell is the stench of a dying republic.

Our dying republic.

We are trapped in a political matrix intended to sustain the illusion that we are citizens of a constitutional republic.

In reality, we are caught somewhere between a kleptocracy (a government ruled by thieves) and a kakistocracy (a government run by unprincipled career politicians, corporations and thieves that panders to the worst vices in our nature and has little regard for the rights of American citizens).

For years now, the government has been playing a cat-and-mouse game with the American people, letting us enjoy just enough freedom to think we are free but not enough to actually allow us to live as a free people.

In other words, we're allowed to bask in the illusion of freedom while we're being stripped of the very rights intended to ensure that we can hold the government accountable to abiding by the rule of law, the U.S. Constitution.

We're in trouble, folks.
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Nuke

Biden approved secret US nuclear strategy - NYT


RT
Wed, 21 Aug 2024 01:54 UTC
Pentagon
© Getty Images/Celal Gunes/AnadoluThe Pentagon, Washington, DC, August 20, 2024
Washington has reportedly updated its guidance with a focus on China.

US President Joe Biden has approved a highly classified nuclear strategy aimed at deterring Russia, China, and North Korea, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed officials at the Pentagon and the National Security Council.

The document - 'Nuclear Employment Guidance' - was adopted in March, marking the first time the US nuclear doctrine has been focused on Beijing's rapidly developing nuclear capabilities, the newspaper said.

According to the NYT, the document is updated roughly every four years and is so secretive that there are no digitized copies.

Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Vipin Narang told reporters earlier this month that Biden "recently issued updated nuclear weapons employment guidance to account for multiple nuclear-armed adversaries." China's growing nuclear arsenal was something the US "neither anticipated nor accounted for" during nuclear planning decades ago, he added.
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War Whore

Britain's Kursk Invasion Backfires?

Kit Klarenberg
Global Delinquents
Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:14 UTC
Starmer and Zelensky
British Challenger 2 tanks reached Ukraine with enormous fanfare, ahead of Kiev's long-delayed, ultimately catastrophic 2023 "counteroffensive". On top of encouraging other proxy war sponsors to provide Ukraine with armoured fighting vehicles, Western audiences were widely told the tank - hitherto marketed to international buyers as "indestructible" - made Kiev's ultimate victory a fait accompli. As it was, Challenger 2 tanks deployed to Robotnye in September were almost instantly incinerated by Russian fire, then very quietly withdrawn from combat altogether.

Hence, many online commentators were surprised when footage of the Challenger 2 in action in Kursk began to circulate widely on August 13th. Furthermore, numerous mainstream outlets dramatically drew attention to the tank's deployment. Several were explicitly briefed by British military sources that it marked the first time in history London's tanks "have been used in combat on Russian territory." Disquietingly, The Times now reveals this was a deliberate propaganda and lobbying strategy, spearheaded by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Comment: See also:

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