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Capitol Police to bolster security for March 4 over QAnon theory

Jeff Mordock
The Washington Times
Wed, 03 Mar 2021 00:01 UTC
capitol breech
© AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, Trump supporters, including Doug Jensen, center, confront U.S. Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington. QAnon conspiracy theory believers were front and center at the Jan. 6 rally in support of Trump’s baseless claims of widespread election fraud as well as the riot that followed.
The U.S. Capitol Police said late Tuesday that it has bolstered security at the Capitol complex this week because of "concerning information and intelligence" related to March 4, the day QAnon conspiracy theorists believe former President Donald Trump will return to power.

"Based on the intelligence that we have, the Department has taken immediate steps to enhance our security posture and staffing for a number of days, to include March 4," the Capitol Police said in a statement. "The Department has communicated our enhanced posture as well as the available intelligence for the entire workforce."

The Capitol Police said it will continue to work with all of its law enforcement partners to make them aware of "concerning information and intelligence."

Comment: See also:

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Binoculars

UK gov ominously extends £5billion-a-month furlough scheme to OCTOBER

Jason Groves
Daily Mail
Tue, 02 Mar 2021 22:19 UTC
uk economy spanish flu covid frost

The Office for National Statistics has said over the whole of 2020 the economy dived by 9.9 per cent - the worst annual performance since the Great Frost devastated Europe in 1709
The furlough scheme that has cost Britain £53billion will be extended to the end of September as Rishi Sunak vows to do 'whatever it takes' to help the economy recover.


Comment: Note that's just what the government has paid out, this sum does not include the massive immediate financial losses by staff and small and medium businesses that have been prevented from working for nearly a year now.


In today's Budget, the Chancellor will extend the job protection scheme for an extra five months beyond the current deadline at the end of April.

The move takes the scheme, which has cost almost £5 billion a month, well beyond the official target for ending lockdown on June 21, and raises questions about whether ministers expect to lift all restrictions at that point.

Comment: Furlough extensions seem to coincide with lockdown extensions, which is notable because, as reported in the article, the UK government has just laid out it's 'road map' out of lockdown, and citizens are not expecting lockdown to last until (or past) October 2021: 'No route to zero-Covid': Boris Johnson unveils 'irreversible' lockdown-lifting plan

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NPC

As Biden bans export of defense articles to Russia, 'bewildered' Moscow reveals it hasn't received US weapons since WWII


RT
Wed, 03 Mar 2021 22:09 UTC
Russian military
© Sputnik / Kirill Braga
Military personnel during the pre-holiday training camps dedicated to the Defender of the Fatherland Day at the Prudboy training ground of the Southern Military District in the Volgograd region.
Russia's Service of Military-Technical Cooperation has noted its "bewilderment" after Washington imposed an export ban on "defense articles and defense services" to the country, despite Russia not receiving any US arms since 1945.

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken unveiled new sanctions against Moscow after the alleged poisoning and "attempted assassination of Russian opposition figure Aleksey Navalny."

"The US government has exercised its authorities to send a clear signal that Russia's use of chemical weapons and abuse of human rights have severe consequences," a press statement from Blinken said.

As part of the restrictions, Russia has been included in Section 126.1 of the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which essentially means that any requests from Moscow to buy defense-related items would be flatly rejected.
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Stormtrooper

Is Biden reenlisting in the Forever Wars?

Patrick J. Buchanan
buchanan.org
Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:00 UTC
Skull bullet
© buchanan.org/Pixabay
Thursday, in its first military action, the Biden Pentagon sent two U.S. F-15Es to strike targets of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia just inside the eastern border of Syria. The U.S. strikes were in retaliation for a missile attack on a U.S. base in Irbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, which killed a contractor and wounded a U.S. soldier.

"We're confident that the target was being used by the same Shia militia that conducted the strikes," said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. But Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine and Chris Murphy want to know where President Joe Biden got his authority to launch attacks in Syria, where there was no clear or present danger to any U.S. troops.

Days before the U.S. strike, Kataib Hezbollah issued a statement denying any complicity in the Irbil attack:

"We absolutely did not target Erbil or the Green Zone and have no knowledge of the group that did."

Iran has also denied any involvement in the missile attack on the Americans. On a visit to Baghdad, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called for an investigation as to who is initiating the attacks inside Iraq. "We emphasize the need for the Iraqi government to find the perpetrators of these incidents," said Zarif. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russian forces in Syria got only four or five minutes' notice that U.S. planes were on their way to a strike.

Bottom line: Those conducting these attacks on U.S. bases and troops in Iraq, provoking American counterstrikes, seek to ignite a conflict between the U.S. and Iran, and its proxies in Iraq and Syria.

And they are succeeding.

Comment: Trump championed America. His instincts, whether or not allowed to play out, considered its wellbeing and its future. Buchanan offers an interesting perspective on Biden's dilemma - should he even realize there is one.

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Arrow Up

Sidney Powell: 'More than enough evidence' to reverse election results in at least five states

Bob Unruh
WND
Mon, 01 Mar 2021 03:37 UTC
Powell
© Screenshot
Attorney Sidney Powell
One week ago, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review two Pennsylvania cases challenging the validity of votes in the 2020 election, and on Monday it rejected two petitions from attorney Sidney Powell with no explanation.

Powell had promised in the aftermath of the Nov. 3 election to "release the Kraken," with lawsuits that would blow up the claim that the vote count was legitimate. Her lawsuits were rejected on procedural grounds, however, and her claims never got traction.

But her confidence that the election was invalid is unshaken. She told Erskine Radio in an interview Saturday that there is "more than enough evidence in the public now to more than reverse the election in at least five states."

Powell said the existence of "fractionalized votes" weighted in favor of Joe Biden, created by a computer algorithm, can be proved in multiple counties. And it could be proved across the country, she said, "if anybody would issue an order allowing inspection of the machines."

Comment: And...nothing changed. The Fraud Will Stand.
Last Monday the United States Supreme Court refused to review the Pennsylvania 2020 Election cases. The court made the announcement on Monday morning.

Justices Alito, Gorsuch, and Thomas dissented from the denial.

On Monday, following their inaction last week, the US Supreme Court rejected without comment or explanation, lingering 2020 election challenges by Attorney Sidney Powell in Arizona and Wisconsin.

The Supreme Court rejected two mandamus petitions that Sidney Powell and other "Kraken"-aligned lawyers filed in late December. Those cases were stylized as In re Tyler Bowyer, et al. and In Re William Feehan. The cases took issue with the election results in Arizona and Wisconsin, where Trump lost to Joe Biden.

"The petitions for writs of mandamus are denied," the court said Monday. That's it, that's the order.

The matter-of-factness and brevity stands in stark contrast to the urgency and "public importance" that the lawyers communicated in the since-dismissed petitions. Each of the mandamus petitions said:
"A submission directly to this Court seeking an extraordinary writ of mandamus is unusual, but it has its foundation. While such relief is rare, this Court will grant it 'where a question of public importance is involved, or where the question is of such a nature that it is peculiarly appropriate that such action by this Court should be taken."
See also:

Supreme Court still sees no steal, again declines to hear Trump lawsuit against Pennsylvania's dodgy election rule changes

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R2-D2

Why privacy-busting, law-breaking GCHQ's pledges to protect the public using AI should raise an eyebrow

Kit Klarenberg
RT
Tue, 02 Mar 2021 16:42 UTC
Staff area GCHQ
© Getty Images/Jacob King/PA Images
Staff area inside GCHQ
The UK's signals intelligence agency isn't known for its commitment to the rule of law, so claims its new Artificial Intelligence capabilities will be used to safeguard citizens, not spy on them, shouldn't be taken at face value.

On February 24, GCHQ issued a report - Pioneering a New National Security - outlining how it intends to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to tackle child sex abuse, drugs, weapons and human trafficking, and online disinformation.

Mainstream media outlets widely reiterated the paper's headline claims without criticism or balance. The BBC went so far as to suggest the release reflected GCHQ's benevolent intentions and commitment to transparency.

News organizations particularly focused on the agency's pledge to use AI to prevent online grooming, track potential predators, identify sources of child pornography, and help law enforcement identify and infiltrate pedophile rings. That no alarm was raised about this particular commitment is understandable - after all, apart from pedophiles themselves, who wouldn't welcome child sex abuse being battled via every available means?

Comment: The plan, tech and mechanisms come first. The scenarios that require those aspects come second. The acceptance without question comes third. The elimination of public rights becomes irreversible.

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Stop

Kremlin blasts new EU, US sanctions as meddling in Russia's affairs


TASS
Wed, 03 Mar 2021 05:12 UTC
Peskov
© Sergei Bobylev/TASS
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov
The latest sanctions by the United States and the European Union against Russian individuals and organizations are intervention in Russia's internal affairs, Russian presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov told the media on Wednesday, adding that such restrictions were unacceptable. He said:
"We regard any such restrictions as absolutely unacceptable. They cause considerable harm to relations, which are already in a deplorable condition. They [sanctions] are nothing but interference in Russia's internal affairs."
He added though that the new sanctions introduced against several Russian citizens essentially duplicate the restrictions placed on them under the Russian legislation.
"If one talks about specific people against whom the so-called sanctions, or rather restrictions, were introduced, then it is practically a duplication of those restrictions that are placed on these people under the Russian laws. As it is, these people do not go abroad, do not have the right to open accounts at foreign banks and do not have the right to own property abroad. This cannot be said for some legal entities [against] whom [the sanctions] were also announced."
Asked if the Kremlin could offer an explanation as to why the United States and the European Union had selected a strategy of targeted restrictions, Peskov replied: "It is not our concern to explain motivations."

Comment: The Biden power trip is just beginning. It promises a bumpy ride.

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Arrow Up

Erdoğan unveils human rights plan for a more democratic Turkey


Daily Sabah
Tue, 02 Mar 2021 02:24 UTC
Erdogan
© AA
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan speaks at the Human Rights Action Plan introductory meeting Ankara, Turkey, March 2, 2021
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday unveiled Turkey's long-awaited Human Rights Action Plan, saying that the plan is expected to be executed within the upcoming two years and that "broad-based consultations were a part of every activity in the plan prepared according to our nation's expectations."

"It has 11 principles, the first one of which is the fact that human rights are under the protection of the law," he stated, speaking at the introductory meeting of the Human Rights Action Plan.

Around the 11 main principles that constitute the backbone of the plan, a total of nine aims, 50 goals and 393 activities are set herein. The activities envisioned within the framework of each goal under the relevant aims are organized as tangible "measurable and monitorable" actions.

"The ultimate aim of Turkey's action plan is a new civilian constitution," the president highlighted.

Initially mentioned during the announcement of the first Judicial Reform Package, the plan is based on the vision of "Free Individuals, Strong Society: More Democratic Turkey." Its motto, however, is the following: "Let people live so the state will live!" The plan originates from the state's "obligation to protect, in all of its affairs and acts and with all of the state institutions and organizations, the physical and moral integrity and the honor and dignity of individuals."

Comment: A positive turn for Turkey, should these efforts materialize and the country embrace and honor the changes.

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Rocket

Iran's revenge? At least 10 rockets slam into US airbase in Iraq, "killing 1 contractor"

Tyler Durden
Zero Hedge
Wed, 03 Mar 2021 09:30 UTC
Ain Al-Asad airbase
© Reuters
Ain Al-Asad airbase in Iraq
There's yet more significant escalation in Iraq as it appears pro-Iranian militia forces may have 'hit back' in a potential retaliation strike against US forces, as the Pentagon has confirmed at least ten rockets were fired on the the Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq's Anbar province Wednesday morning.

There were initial reports of no casualties and Iraq's military reported "no significant losses". A US Coalition statement said that according to its initial assessment "10 IDF rockets targeted an Iraqi military base, Al Asad Airbase, hosting Coalition troops, on March 03, 2021 at approx 7:20 a.m. (Iraqi time)."

However, the AFP in the hours afterward reported the following death related to the security threat:
"A civilian contractor with the US-led coalition in Iraq died of a heart attack during a rocket attack on the sprawling Ain al-Assad air base, Iraqi and Western security sources say."
It's the first such rocket fire on US facilities and assets in the region since the major US strike on Eastern Syria on Feb.25. Biden controversially authorized that attack which may have killed multiple 'Iranian militia' operating in the country in response to the prior rocket volley attack on Erbil Air Base last month.

Comment: There's been hardly any reporting on this in US media.

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Mail

Five attorneys-general sent letter to Biden urging him to reject 'radical nominee Vanita Gupta

Gabe Kaminsky
The Federalist
Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:00 UTC
Vanita Gupta
© screenshot/AP/YouTube
Vanita Gupta
Today, five attorneys general from Indiana, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma sent a joint letter to President Joe Biden urging him to withdraw his nomination of Vanita Gupta to be associate attorney general. It states:
"As the chief legal officers of Indiana, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, we write today to urge you to withdraw the nomination of Vanita Gupta for Associate Attorney General. Ms. Gupta's past comments and track record have demonstrated her disinterest in meaningful police reform in favor of destructive policies that would defund the police. Her nomination will further divide our nation instead of implementing policies to protect our communities and support law enforcement."
The letter alludes to Gupta's poor stance on law and order, given her support for defunding the police and for the openly Marxist organization Black Lives Matter. The five attorneys general, Todd Rokita of Indiana, Leslie Rutledge of Arkansas, Mike Hunter of Oklahoma, Jeff Landry of Louisiana, and Ken Paxton of Texas note:
"Endorsing such a radical nominee is no way to bring about unity. Our local law enforcement officers protect our families, our neighborhoods, and our cities, often at great risk to themselves. Policies to limit their ability to do their job will not make us safer but will instead put us — and them — at an increased risk of violence. Meanwhile criminals who have no respect for the law or human life will be given more freedom to wreak havoc on our streets."

Comment: Who is Vanita Gupta and what is her history and qualifications?
Currently head of the DoJ's Civil Rights Division, Gupta, an American civil rights attorney. She is the president and chief executive officer of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. From 2014 to 2017, she served as the principal deputy assistant attorney general and head of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, where she was the chief civil rights prosecutor for the United States.

She was formerly a civil rights lawyer and the deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, served as Assistant Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

President Joe Biden has nominated Gupta to serve as Associate Attorney General.A hearing on her nomination before the Senate Judiciary Committee has been scheduled for March 9, 2021.
Gupta may be qualified for the position, but her push to purge law enforcement and reward rioting offenders brings into question her judgement and biases. Since Kamala will assuredly endorse her, the decision may not be up for debate.

See also:

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