The phalanx of intelligence chiefs who testified on Capitol Hill delivered a chilling message: Not only did Russia interfere in the 2016 election, it is already meddling in the 2018 election by using a digital strategy to exacerbate the country's political and social divisions.Hmmm.... After almost two years of relentless public paranoia about Russia and US elections, don't you suppose these Ruskie gremlins would find some other way to make mischief in our world - maybe meddle in the NHL playoffs, or hack WalMart's bookkeeping department, or covertly switch out the real Dwayne Johnson with a robot? I kind of completely and absolutely doubt that they'll bother with our elections.
"First of all, I want to apologize to my Olympic teammates and our delegation and all the supporters, that could not seal myself and Nastya [Bryzgalova] off from these issues, which we have met today," the statement read.Exactly. Not only have the Russians been condemned en masse of being cheaters, the reality is that the real cheaters are those defaming the Russian athletes, and framing them. That's low.
"I can openly confirm that never, at any time that I have been involved in sport, have I ever used any prohibited substances or any other dishonest means of competition.
"I am categorically opposed to doping and have always strived to follow the conformities of all anti-doping rules with maximum attention. In light of that, my positive test for meldonium was a huge shock for me and for Nastya.
"It is a huge blow to my reputation and to my career. Not to mention the fact that only someone with a complete absence of common sense could use doping in any form, especially meldonium, in the lead-up to the Olympic Games, where testing is of the highest level."
Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov expressed his bewilderment at the situation, insisting that in curling there is no advantage to be gained by taking meldonium.
"It's obvious that in this particular case, the athlete could not have intentionally used a prohibited substance, it just does not make any sense. Curling, in theory, in not the kind of sport in which dishonest athletes dope," Kolobkov said, TASS reported.
At least 16 civilians, including 9 women, were killed in a new massacre committed by the US-led coalition in al-Bahra village in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.And Turkey has slaughtered 175 civilians in Afrin since they launched Operation Olive Branch:
Local sources told SANA that the warplanes of the US-led coalition carried out a number of airstrikes on citizens' houses in al-Bahra village about 45 km to the northwest of al-Boukamal city in the countryside of Deir Ezzor, claiming the lives of 16 civilians, 9 of them women.
The death toll is likely to rise as a number of civilians were injured and some of them are in critical condition as a result of airstrikes that also caused material damage and the destruction of homes and properties.
About 175 civilians were killed since the launching of the Turkish assault on Afrin in northern Syria.This puts De Mistura's recent statements in perspective: De Mistura: Violence and civilian deaths in Syria worst in 4 years.
Entering its 32nd day, the Turkish aggression continues to claim more civilian casualties and causing material damage to properties.
Medical sources at Afrin Hospital told SANA that so far, 175 civilians were killed and more than 450 civilians, most of them children and women, were injured due to the continued assault on civilians' houses and infrastructure.
Comment: Despite the bias for equality of outcome that underlies the article, the author at least considers the possibility of what is most likely the correct conclusion: if a society allows people to live a decent enough life in a broad range of professions, individuals will tend to follow their intrinsic interests.