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Area: WoT Operations    Non-WoT    Opinion        Politix   
Duterte invites the Abu Sayyaf to peace talks
Today's Headlines
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Page 3: Non-WoT
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
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Afghanistan
Tehran supplying Taliban with Iranian-made weapons, says Afghan MP
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The Afghan Taliban
...Arabic for students...
have been accused of using Iranian weapons in the war against the authorities in Afghanistan, preventing the establishment of security and peace in the country, which has been through many wars in the last four decades.

This new accusation was carried by Afghani media on Saturday, quoting Member of Parliament Karameldinne Rida Zadah, a representative for Ghor province.

The politician said that the Taliban movement uses Iranian weapons in its war in Ghor province located in central Afghanistan.

According to Al Arabiya news channel correspondent, who was quoting Afghani media, the MP said "a popular people's force" in Ghor province found Iranian-made weapons with a captured Taliban member.

For the last two weeks, Taliban intensified its attack against government troops in the western areas of Firozkoh, the capital city of the province.

Previous Similar Accusations To Iran
The Afghan police department revealed during a presser held in mid-May of this year, that the Iranian regime supplied the Taliban movement with weapons in Farah province on the western Afghani border with the Islamic Theocratic Republic.

At that time, the Afghan government declared that the battles ended in Farah province defeating the Taliban and regaining total control of the region.

The head of the Police department in Farah, Alfazel Ahmed Shirzad, said: "Iran supplys and arms Taliban in order to spread chaos in the province," adding that Iranian-made-weapons were found in the area when the Talibs fled following their defeat.

Also, the Afghani Authorities had revealed previously that Afghan cops found Iranian-made-weapons in Paktia province.

In April this year, the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan, made a statement in the capital Kabul that the Iranian government, through its Revolutionary Guards Corps is providing the Taliban with logistics support.

Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  That does seem to be the theme of the day, including the Houthis and Hamas.
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/29/2018 10:30 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Life returns to Egypt's Sinai city despite anti-jihadist war
[IsraelTimes] Army opens El Arish to foreign journalists for first time in months, amid ongoing operation against Islamic myrmidons

With fruit and vegetables aplenty in the markets, public transport back on the roads and universities reopened, life is returning to El-Arish in North Sinai state where Egypt’s army is at war with jihadists.

During an army-organised visit for foreign media, the city’s streets showed telltale signs of fighting in the "Sinai 2018" operation launched by the military on February 9. Roadblocks stood at several locations.

According to official figures, most than 200 jihadists and over 30 soldiers have been killed since the start of the campaign.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi ordered the operation, launched almost three months after more than 300 people died in a devastating attack on a Sinai mosque some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from El-Arish.

The carnage, the deadliest in Egypt’s history, has gone unclaimed but authorities point to the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
group as the main suspect.

Military operations restricted many aspects of everyday life for the 225,000 residents of the Mediterranean city, in particular their freedom of movement. But a measure of normality has returned.

"We restarted classes on June 21," student Alaa Abdul Ati said with an enthusiastic smile.

Abir, a colleague, chimed in that shared taxi services were back in El-Arish and gone were the long queues for food products.

Since the army toppled Egypt’s Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in 2013, hundreds of coppers and soldiers have been killed in attacks in the Sinai by jihadists and other myrmidon groups.

"With the improvement in the security situation, life is starting to go back to more or less normal," a senior army official told journalists.

Back at the beach
Other military commanders said curbs on freedom of movement were being relaxed, such as leaving El-Arish between Thursday and Saturday, the weekend in Egypt, without written authorization.

Fuel rationing will continue, however, "to limit the movements of the takfiri
...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who most be killed...
s", said North Sinai governor Abdel Fattah al-Harhur, using the official term for Sunni Moslem myrmidons.

The governor said the easing of security measures would run in parallel with a government programme to improve health, housing, and education services as well as the industry sector.

At an El-Arish market, 25-year-old vegetable salesman Bassem said he welcomed the changes although goods were still being delayed because of checkpoints.

Mohammed Ali, a 22-year-old student, said he was delighted to be able to enjoy beach life again.

"At the start of the [army’s] operation, it was difficult to leave the house and access to many areas, such as the beach which is our only escape, was forbidden," he said.

El-Arish sports centre with its Olympics-size pool reopened last month.

"It’ll take time for life to fully go back to normal in El-Arish but I’m optimistic. We’re staying in this city because we love it," said the head of the center’s sports activity, Sally al-Husseini.
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (IS)


Cairo court sentences 75 protesters to death
[Al Jazeera] Senior members of outlawed Muslim Brotherhood among those ordered executed by the Cairo Criminal Court.
Filed on P.2: WoT Background because this is only an intermediate step in a process with several levels aid review and appeal, all of which already has, and will continue to take years.

Egypt court seeks Mufti's opinion on death sentences for 75 leading Brotherhood members in Rabaa dispersal case

[AlAhram] An Egyptian criminal court issued on Saturday preliminary death sentences to 75 members of the terrorist-designated Moslem Brüderbund group in the criminal case known as "the Rabaa Dispersal Case."

Those defendants sentenced to death include the former Supreme Guide of the Moslem Brüderbund Mohammed Badie as well other prominent Brotherhood members Essam El-Erian, Mohammed Beltagy and Wagdy Ghoneim.

The case dates back to the dispersal of the Rabaa sit-in by supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in August 2013.

The dispersal left hundreds dead including dozens of coppers.

The defendants were charged by prosecution of several crimes including premeditated murder, attacking citizens, resisting authorities, destroying public property, and possessing firearms and Molotov cocktails

The court referred the preliminary sentences to the Grand Mufti for a non-binding consultation per the Egyptian penal code.

The court set 8 September as the date to issue the final verdict for all 739 defendants accused in the case.

A final verdict can be appealed.
Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Muslim Brotherhood


Africa Subsaharan
Refugees flee violence in Cameroon into neighbouring Nigeria
[Al Jazeera] Since separatists declared an independent 'Ambazonia' state in south Cameroon, tens of thousands have fled violence into Nigeria and relief workers are struggling to keep up
Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Arabia
Saudi ambassador to UN: Security Council inaction allowed Iran to arm Houthis
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
's Ambassador to the UN Abdallah al-Mouallimi expressed concern on Friday, over the UN Security Council’s inaction in Yemen, which he said helped Iran arm the Houthi
...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ...
militias.

Mouallimi condemned the Houthis’ ongoing attacks against international navigation trade routes, the latest of which was the targeting of two Saudi oil tankers in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, according to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

He said that it was unfortunate that the Security Council was not confronting the blatant violations of its resolutions.

The Houthi attack on Wednesday prompted Saudi Arabia to temporarily suspend oil shipments through Bab al-Mandeb.

European Union
The European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
on Friday expressed its understanding of the Saudi decision, saying it is closely monitoring the development of events in the wake of the Houthi attack.

The French foreign ministry condemned that assault, underlining the importance of ensuring safety of marine navigation and security in the region.

In separate letters to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the president of the Security Council in July, Mouallimi said that the kingdom strongly condemns the Houthi militias for their ongoing Iran-backed terrorist attacks against international navigation trade routes.

"Saudi Arabia notes with regret the Security Council’s inaction .... which has allowed Iran to arm the terrorist Houthi militias with several ballistic missiles, drones and sea mines," he continued.

"The Houthis have used and will continue to use these weapons, which they acquired through illegal means, to threaten Saudi borders, Middle Eastern stability and the safety of international navigation in the Red Sea and Mandeb Strait."

Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Saudi Arabia


The Grand Turk
Turkey's Erdogan warns US over sanctions threat
[TimesofIndia] ANKARA: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned the US that sanctions would not force Ankara to "step back" after Donald Trump threatened to punish Turkey if a US pastor was not freed, in comments published Sunday.

"You cannot make Turkey take a step back with sanctions," Erdogan said in his first comments since relations soured after Trump threatened the measures on Thursday if Pastor Andrew Brunson was not released.

"The US should not forget that it could lose a strong and sincere partner like Turkey if it does not change its attitude," he was quoted as saying by Hurriyet daily.

Ties had already been strained over multiple issues including Washington's support of a Syrian Kurdish militia which Turkey views as a terrorist group and the failure to extradite the Pennsylvania-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen.

The Washington Post on Friday reported a deal between Ankara and Washington was made to secure the release of a Turkish woman imprisoned in Israel in exchange for the freedom of Brunson.

Ebru Ozkan, 27, had been held for over a month by Israel on charges of passing hundreds of dollars to a "terrorist" group but returned to Turkey on July 16.

The newspaper said the agreement was "personally sealed" by Trump but fell apart when Brunson was transferred to house arrest.

Erdogan addressed the claims, stressing that Turkey had "never made Pastor Brunson a bargaining chip."

However, he said Ankara had asked for Washington's help in securing Ozkan's return home.

"But we didn't say: 'In return for this, we will give you Brunson'. Nothing like this was discussed," Erdogan insisted in remarks to journalists during a visit to South Africa.

Brunson risks up to 35 years in jail if found guilty of charges of carrying out activities on behalf of two groups deemed by Turkey to be terror organisations -- the Gulen movement and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Brunson rejects the accusations while US officials have repeatedly insisted the pastor is innocent.

Erdogan in September suggested Turkey could free Brunson if the US handed over Gulen -- an offer brushed off by Washington.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 07/29/2018 09:53 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte

#1  Sorry Brunson, you're gonna be there for the long haul, cuz this attitude by Yippy is gonna have to be forced to change. Shame if Yippy caught a bullet from his own security
Posted by: Frank G || 07/29/2018 15:01 Comments || Top||

#2  And... Erdogan just got onto a presidential shitlist. When you do a worse job abiding by agreements than North Korea, you are no longer an "ally".
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 07/29/2018 17:30 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Report: Obama administration transferred $ 115,000 to a designated al-Qaeda Affiliate
[Ynet] Former US president Barack Obama approved a $ 200,000 grant to an al-Qaeda affiliate in Sudan, as reported by Fox News.

"Government officials specifically authorized the release of at least $115,000 of this grant even after learning that it was a designated terror organization," as first published by the National Review.
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/29/2018 00:35 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa

#1  This is not "keeping your enemies closer"
Posted by: newc || 07/29/2018 3:07 Comments || Top||

#2  Just $ 115,000?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 07/29/2018 4:50 Comments || Top||

#3  Bathhouse's take on buying Brennan a gold watch...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 07/29/2018 8:30 Comments || Top||

#4  Dancing boy payoff?
Posted by: Skidmark || 07/29/2018 8:39 Comments || Top||

#5  Outrage unjustified. A small monetary transfer between common terrorist entities.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/29/2018 9:50 Comments || Top||

#6  Words fail me.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 07/29/2018 10:28 Comments || Top||

#7  "It was a wedding gift from Hillary to Huma"
Posted by: Frank G || 07/29/2018 10:39 Comments || Top||

#8  Color me SHOCKED.
Posted by: JohnQC || 07/29/2018 12:07 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Seven things Pakistan's election results reveal
[Al Jazeera] 1. THE PTI RODE A WAVE OF SUPPORTACROSS THE COUNTRY
Khan's PTI will almost certainly form the next government, even though it is just short of the 137 seats needed to take an outright majority on its own. With smaller parties and independents winning at least 45 seats, it should not be difficult for the PTI to form alliances and elect Khan as prime minister.

The PTI's victory was built on the back of two major wins. First, it was able to wrest much of southern and northern Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Jamaat loses Dir stronghold to PTI
[DAWN] One of the Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
leaders wasn’t far wrong earlier this month when he compared the party’s loosening grip on its stronghold of Dir districts to the fall of Granada, the last battle of Spanish Reconquista leading to the expulsion of Moors from Spain in 1492.

For the JI, the ’grim prophecy’ came true rather quickly as the party was literally wiped out from its strongholds in Upper and Lower Dir.

On July 25, the party lost all three National Assembly seats to the Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
and managed to win only one of the total eight provincial assembly seats of the two districts.

The magnitude of defeat could be judged from the fact that the party’s chief, Senator Sirajul Haq
...current head of the Pak Jamaat-e-Islami. Siraj was born in 1962 and entered politics shortly after that...
, a candidate for a NA seat from home constituency, lost to the PTI’s little-known candidate with a huge margin of over 17,000 votes.

In 2013, the party had won both NA seats from Upper and Lower Dir and six provincial assembly seats.

Post elections, it became part of the province’s PTI-led ruling coalition and remained so for five years having a fair share of development funds to use primarily on both districts.
Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Islami


Two PML-N activists injured in Mansehra shoot 'em up
[DAWN] Two activists of Pakistain Moslem League-Nawaz received bullet wounds when Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
workers allegedly fired at a rally organised by the former.

The tension had gripped the city after eight workers of PTI were maimed when PML-N activists opened fire on a rally organised by the former on Thursday.

The latest firing incident occurred on the Abbottabad
... A pleasant city located only 30 convenient miles from Islamabad. The city is noted for its nice weather and good schools. It is the site of Pakistain's military academy, which was within comfortable walking distance of the residence of the late Osama bin Laden....
road when participants of a rally taken out by PML-N shouted anti-PTI slogans while passing by the district secretariat of PTI.

The injured identified as Mohammad Siddique and Basharat Kasana were taken to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital where condition of them was stated be out of danger.

PML-N activists demanded registration of FIR against the perpetrators of the firing incident.

Meanwhile,
...back at the alley, Slats Chumbaloni was staring into a hole that was just .45 inch in diameter and was less than three feet from his face ...
Babar Saleem Swati, PTI MPA-elect, said that participants of the PML-N rally fired at the central secretariat of their party, but fortunately no one was injured. He said that PTI workers did not fire at the PML-N rally.
Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


MMA stages rallies in KP against alleged rigging in elections
“Save dignity of vote. We will not let the agent of Jews to be imposed on the nation,”
[DAWN] Workers of religio-political parties erupted into the streets in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
and other parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Friday to protest against alleged rigging in the general elections held on July 25.

Rallies were organised on the appeal of Maulana Fazlur Rehman
Deobandi holy man, known as Mullah Diesel during the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty ...
, the president of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), an alliance of five religio-political parties.

Rallies were taken out in Dera Ismail Khan
... the Pearl of Pashtunistan ...
, Orakzai, Buner, Lakki Marwat, Mardan, Malakand, Battagram, Karak and Lower Dir.

Like other political parties, MMA was also humbled in the elections and its top leaders, including Fazlur Rehman and Sirajul Haq
...current head of the Pak Jamaat-e-Islami. Siraj was born in 1962 and entered politics shortly after that...
, the Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
chief, suffered defeat at the hands of PTI candidates.

The protesters blocked the Karakoram Highway, the land route between Pakistain and China, for traffic for more than five hours to protest against alleged rigging and manipulation of the election results.

Hundreds of activists of various religious parties took out a protest rally from a mosque in the Peshawar city that turned into a big public meeting at Bajauri Gate. The protesters were carrying placards and banners and rolled their eyes, jumped up and down, and hollered poorly rhymed slogans real loud against the Election Commission of Pakistain, caretaker setup and the other state institutions.

"The role of judiciary and the army has disturbed every Pak," read a banner. Another read: "Save dignity of vote. We will not let the agent of Jews to be imposed on the nation," referring to Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
chairman Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree...
.

Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Taliban say they spoke with a US official for peace negotiations
[DAWN] A senior Taliban
...Arabic for students...
official says the murderous Moslem group has held the first direct talks with a U.S. official in a preliminary discussion about future plans for peace negotiations.

This week's meeting with Alice Wells, the U.S.'s top diplomat for South Asia, was an attempt to jump-start talks on ending Washington's longest military engagement, a senior Taliban official told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named early Saturday.

U.S. officials neither confirmed nor denied a meeting took place.

The Taliban have long demanded direct talks with Washington.

"The discussion was preliminary, initial and both discussed a future meeting and contacts," said the official on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Pak: PTI largest party with 115 NA seats
[DAWN] The Election Commission of Pakistain (ECP) on Saturday released the complete preliminary results of the July 25 election, more than 56 hours after the conclusion of voting for the 11th General Elections in the country.

According to figures provided by the ECP, Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
(PTI) has emerged as the largest political party in the country, winning 115 of the 270 National Assembly seats on which the elections were held.

The party, however, is short of the 137 needed for simple majority even.

PTI leaders who have won more than one seat will also have to give up additional seats as the law allows an individual to retain only one. This means that the party will have to rely on independents as well as parties like the PML-Q, Balochistan...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
Awami Party (BAP) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) in addition to its natural ally, Sheikh Rashid, to be able to form the next government. There are also reports of a possible alliance with MQM-Pakistain (MQM-P).

The PML-N, whose government completed its tenure in May, has this time won 64 seats, while the PPP is in third place with 43 seats to its name.


Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


KP police arrest two suspects for shooting dog wrapped in party flag
[DAWN] Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police on Saturday announced that they had caught two men accused of shooting a dog multiple times for 'politically-motivated reasons'.

A 45-second clip of two men shooting a dog wrapped in a Pakistain Tehrik-e-Isaf (PTI) flag had emerged on Twitter on Friday night and quickly attracted condemnation from several users.

A series of tweets posted by an account claiming to be the official account of the KP police department said that police had acted on the matter after a video of the incident went viral on social media.

The suspects were tossed in the clink
Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out!
for "torturing, killing the animal and making [a] video of the shameful crime".
Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


International-UN-NGOs
How BRICS Plus clashes with the US economic war on Iran
[AsiaTimes] Rhetorical war has far-reaching consequences, including a potential economic slump via the disruption of global oil supplies.

The key take away from the BRICS summit in Johannesburg is that Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – important Global South players – strongly condemn unilateralism and protectionism.

The Johannesburg Declaration is unmistakable: “We recognize that the multilateral trading system is facing unprecedented challenges. We underscore the importance of an open world economy.”

Closer examination of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech unlocks some poignant details.

Xi, crucially, emphasizes delving further into “our strategic partnership.” That implies increased BRICS and Beyond BRICS multilateral trade, investment and economic and financial connectivity.

And that also implies reaching to the next level; “It is important that we continue to pursue innovation-driven development and build the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) to strengthen coordination on macroeconomic policies, find more complementarities in our development strategies, and reinforce the competitiveness of the BRICS countries, emerging market economies and developing countries.”

If PartNIR sounds like the basis for an overall Global South platform, that’s because it is.

In a not too veiled allusion to the Trump administration’s unilateral pullout from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), Xi called all parties to “abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations and to settle disputes through dialogue and differences through consultation,” adding that the BRICS are inevitably working for “a new type of international relations.”

Relations such as these certainly do not include a superpower unilaterally imposing an energy export blockade – an act of economic war – on an emerging market and key actor of the Global South.

Xi is keen to extol a “network of closer partnerships.” That’s where the concept of BRICS Plus fits in. China coined BRICS Plus last year at the Xiamen summit, it refers to closer integration between the five BRICS members and other emerging markets/developing nations.
Lots of words and text, then Iran stuff.
Iranian “nuclear weapons” was always a bogus issue. Tehran did not have them – and was not pursuing them. Yet now the highly volatile rhetorical war introduces the hair-raising possibility of Tehran perceiving there is a clear danger of a US nuclear attack or an attack whose purpose is to destroy the nation’s infrastructure. If cornered, there’s no question the IRGC would buy nuclear weapons on the black market and use them to defend the nation.

This is the “secret” hidden in Soleimani’s message.
Besides, Russia could easily – and secretly – supply Iran with state-of-the-art defensive missiles and the most advanced offensive missiles.
Posted by: 3dc || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  These nations could only prosper in an environment where the US Navy gives them free protection for exports. It's not that they're not paying their fair share, it's that they aren't paying a dime.

Why is the already overtaxed American taxpayer subsidizing these hostile countries?
Posted by: Herb McCoy || 07/29/2018 0:56 Comments || Top||

#2  Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – important Global South players

Eh?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 07/29/2018 4:53 Comments || Top||

#3  Quite a Rogue's Gallery there: Brazil and India are just doing their tedious "Third World Unaligned Nation" (which actually means Kleptocracies of the 3rd World Unite!)
Circus Show while the others are just are Enemies...
Posted by: magpie || 07/29/2018 10:45 Comments || Top||

#4  Another Communist viewpoint article by Pepe Escobar. Meh.
Posted by: Count Galeazzo Snusons8281 || 07/29/2018 12:29 Comments || Top||

#5  Another Communist viewpoint article by Pepe Escobar. That's "Comrade" Pepe.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 07/29/2018 13:42 Comments || Top||

#6  {Why is the already overtaxed American taxpayer subsidizing these hostile countries? }

We're not subsidizing them. We're maintaining a collar over their windpipes that can be tightened at will. China understands this. That's why they're building their own navy - so it can be used to remove this collar (i.e. US Navy ships) so their land grabs will go off without a hitch, even if Uncle Sam opposes those land grabs with more than just words.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 07/29/2018 14:40 Comments || Top||

#7  Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – important Global South players

Russia?! They’ll be shocked to discover that along the way the famous Russian winter became a tropical paradise.

Iranian “nuclear weapons” was always a bogus issue. Tehran did not have them – and was not pursuing them.

Vacuous nonsense or outright lies? Why would Iran need a deal with President Obama to discontinue that pursuit if there was no pursuit? All they would have to do is open the claimed facilities to inspection, showing that the claimed equipment and supplies did not exist.

Besides, Russia could easily – and secretly – supply Iran with state-of-the-art defensive missiles and the most advanced offensive missiles.

At the moment North Korea cannot continue its part of the joint nuclear weapons development program, but Pakistan and China are as viable potential suppliers as Russia. China is more likely than Russia, anyway, having supplied technology to Pakistan, at the very least. “Indigenously developed”, my Aunt Fanny.
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/29/2018 15:33 Comments || Top||


Iraq
US dedicates $70 million to Nineveh's religious minorities
[Rudaw] Religious minorities and "vulnerable communities" living on the Nineveh plains of northern Iraq are to be allocated a $70 million fund, US Vice President Mike Pence announced this week.

Pence, who describes himself as an evangelical Catholic, unveiled the Genocide Recovery and Prosecution Response Program during the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom conference in Washington DC on Thursday.

"America is launching a new initiative that will not only deliver additional support to the most vulnerable communities but we trust it will also embolden civil society to help stop violence in the future. It is my privilege as Vice President to announce today the United States of America will establish the Genocide Recovery and Prosecution Response Program, effective today," he said.

Without specifying the sort of aid, Pence said his government and USAID "will closely partner local faith and community leaders to rapidly deliver aid to persecuted communities ‐ beginning with Iraq".

Nineveh and the Kurdistan Region are historically some of the most diverse places in the Middle East, where Persian, Ottoman Turkish, Arabic, Kurdish and Levantine cultures meet. At different times pre-Abrahamic, Abrahamic, and other ethno-religious minorities like Yezidis have coexisted, albeit not always without conflict.

In a bid to preserve the dwindling Christian and Yezidi populations, Pence announced in 2017 that USAID funding could go directly to faith-based NGOs.

At his direction, a USAID delegation including its Administrator Mark Green and Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Samuel Brownback led a delegation to northern Iraq and the Kurdistan Region from June 30 to July 3.

Green briefed Pence after returning to Washington.

The Yezidis suffered genocide and enslavement at the hands of ISIS. Considered devil worshippers by the Lion of Islam brand of Islam practiced by the bully boy group, thousands of Yezidis were massacred or sold into sexual slavery.

Pence praised Nadia Murad, a Yezidi women "brutalized by ISIS fighters during her captivity. She was only able to escape because her captor left a door unlocked, and a neighboring family hid her until she could be smuggled to safety."

Murad is now the UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking.

"The suffering of the Yezidi people, and all the victims of ISIS has sickened the American people and mobilized this President and this administration to action," said Pence.

Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s representative to the US, attended the conference, where she met with religious leaders and Yezidi groups.
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Iraq sacks five local election officials on corruption charges
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi sacked five local election officials on Saturday on charges of corruption during the May 12 parliamentary election, a front man for the Independent High Elections Commission (IHEC) said.

The move comes as Iraq conducts a manual recount of the ballots - a move likely to speed up the ratification of the final result and the formation of a new government.

Abadi had appointed a special committee to investigate claims of vote-rigging in several regions, and on Saturday he approved its recommendation to dismiss local election chiefs in Kirkuk,
... a thick stew of Arabs, Turkmen, Kurds, and probably Antarcticans, all of them mutually hostile most of the time...
Anbar and Salahuddin, Judge Laith Jabr Hamza said in a statement.

Those in charge of overseas election offices in The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
and Jordan were also dismissed.

"The decision to sack the officials was approved by the prime minister after they committed violations, manipulation and financial corruption, said Judge Laith Jabr.

Sistani Urges Action
The announcement comes the day after Iraq’s top Shiite holy man Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani urged for government action to fight corruption amid further protests sweeping the southern provinces - Iraq’s Shi’ite heartland - over the lack of proper government services and jobs.

Vote-rigging allegations centered on the city of Kirkuk, although there have been reports of irregularities in multiple provinces.

Opposition politicians have claimed that the tabulation system in electronic voting machines that were used for the first time during the election were not secure enough from tampering.

In response to the claims, the outgoing parliament in June ordered a nationwide manual recount of the votes.

The law also called for IHEC’s leadership to be replaced by a panel of judges.

Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Activists on flotilla heading to Gaza realize nobody cares
[Ynet] Flotilla boat Al Awda is 150 miles from Gazoo shore, but the activists on board know the Israeli Navy will soon stop them; they say they won't invite the Navy on board, 'but we also won't try to hurt them or create a situation in which we are a threat to them.'

The flotilla boat Al Awda (the return) was less than 150 miles from the Gazoo Strip shores on Saturday night and theoretically could reach its destination by Sunday afternoon.

But even the activists abroad understand that they might be stopped in the coming hours by the Israeli Navy, which will prevent them from "breaking" the naval blockade on Gazoo.

In an interview with Ynet from far out at sea, the activists stressed that they will resist to the IDF's expected takeover of the boat in non-violent ways.

There are 22 activists from different countries on board Al Awda, which is only a few days ahead of another boat also making its way to the strip in an effort to break the blockade.

This is the fourth flotilla that left-wing activist Yonatan Shapira participates in. But in a conversation with Ynet, he allowed that there is truth to the claim the flotillas are a form of protest that has run its course.
"We want and plan to reach the Gazoo Strip," said Zohar Regev, an Israeli living in Spain who is on board the boat. "But if we are stopped by the army, we will resist their takeover of the boat in non-violent ways. It means we won't invite them to come on board, but we also won't try to hurt them or create a situation in which we are a threat to them."

The flotilla nears Gazoo amid Hamas, one of the armed feet of the Moslem Brüderbung millipede,'s "March of Return" campaign, but Regev insists there is no connection between the flotilla and the campaign.

"This flotilla was planned even before the 'March of Return' campaign, but as soon as we saw there was a civilian campaign that is gaining momentum, it gave us a push and motivation," she said. "There are people in the flotilla's coalition with ties to the campaign in Gazoo, but this flotilla was planned before that and with no connections to the campaign."

This is the fourth flotilla that left-wing activist Yonatan Shapira participates in. But in a conversation with Ynet, he allowed that there is truth to the claim the flotillas are a form of protest that has run its course.

"Our goal is to lift the blockade over Gazoo. When a civilian group is fighting against a bigger body like a state, it has to develop creative ideas to succeed, and I'd be happy to hear such ideas from people," he said.

International activist Charlie Anderson, who was in the Gazoo Strip before and is now on board the ship, agreed. "I'm aware of the fact the mainstream media hasn't covered this flotilla, but we receive a lot of comments on social media, and it helps keep the issue of the siege over Gazoo on the agenda," he said.

Shapira said the boat carries medical equipment for Gazoo, but stressed this was a symbolic amount and that the main goal of the flotilla is to raise awareness about the blockade.

According to Shapira, there are no activists from the Ottoman Turkish organization IHH on board the boat, as there were on the Mavi Marmara.

Past experience indicates that the Navy takes over all flotillas when they are several dozens of miles from the Gazoo Strip's coast. After the takeover, the boats are towed to the Ashdod port, where the activists on board are detained for questioning and then deported from Israel shortly thereafter through Ben-Gurion Airport.

Detained
:
“The international community must assume its responsibilities and demand that Israeli authorities ensure the safety of those on board, the speedy delivery of our gifts to the Palestinian people in Gaza, an end to the illegal blockade of Gaza, and to stop impeding our legal right of innocent passage to Gaza to deliver our gift of much-needed medical supplies.”
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  kite terrorism is more exciting than following the adventures of a boat with peace zombies
Posted by: lord garth || 07/29/2018 0:48 Comments || Top||

#2  we also won't try to hurt them or create a situation in which we are a threat to them

Considering the boarders are Israeli analog of Seals, that's smart.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 07/29/2018 4:51 Comments || Top||

#3  'but we also won't try to hurt them or create a situation in which we are a threat to them.'

...Fella really doesn't understand how this sort of thing works, does he?

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 07/29/2018 7:33 Comments || Top||

#4  ship was intercepted by Israeli Navy just within the past two hours or so
Posted by: lord garth || 07/29/2018 8:50 Comments || Top||

#5  "I'm aware of the fact the mainstream media hasn't covered this flotilla, but we receive a lot of comments on social media,

"We have 47 'Likes'!"
Posted by: Frank G || 07/29/2018 9:13 Comments || Top||

#6  Its obvious to Gazoo that the whole world doesn't care.

Here, hold this bucket of Bum Grease. It'll only take a moment.
Posted by: Pearl Gleasing3315 || 07/29/2018 10:46 Comments || Top||

#7  Is Bill Ayres the admiral of this flotilla again.

#Nobodygivesashit
Posted by: JohnQC || 07/29/2018 12:09 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Trump 'Extends Lebanon Sanctions Because of Hizbullah'
[AnNahar] US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
has reportedly extended sanctions imposed on Leb since 2007 for another year, the White House announced on Saturday.

The White House explained in a statement that Trump made the decision because "Iran continues to supply arms to Hizbullah
...Party of God, a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as The Resistance and purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory...
In a letter to the US Congress, Trump said "Iran was supplying its allies in Leb with increasingly sophisticated weapons."

Washington says "these sanctions were imposed on those who undermine illusory sovereignty and democracy in Leb, organize violence for political reasons and contribute to Syria's influence on Lebanese territory."

Under Executive Order 13441, Washington announced in 2007 that sanctions would be imposed on Leb as a result of "international threats posed by Hizbullah," according to the United States.

The latest sanctions imposed on Hizbullah by the United States and six Gulf states last May included party leaders, including Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb...
Hizbullah is fighting alongside the Syrian regime of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
The Scourge of Hama...

...among other projects in the Olde World and the New.
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/29/2018 00:55 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah


Iran to sue US over sanctions on handmade Persian rugs
In what court? There was no signed and ratified treaty, merely a personal agreement between two heads of state, one of whom no longer has official standing,
[Rudaw] Iran will file a lawsuit against the United States following a decision to put the country’s iconic, hand-woven Persian rugs on the list of new sanctions targeting Iran’s economy, the head of the Iran National Carpet Center said on Saturday.

"Hand-made carpets belong to the land of the Medes and the Persians and US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
has made a mistake to sanction this Iranian art which is a symbol of culture and intellectual property of the Iranian people," Fereshteh Dastpak told the Islamic Theocratic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Handmade carpets are one of Iran’s most iconic industries. Thousands of skilled weavers rely on the carpet industry to earn a living.

Last month the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) cancelled the license for importing rugs, pistachios, and caviar from Iran as part of Washington’s efforts to squeeze the Iranian economy.

According to the Iranian National Carpet Center, carpet exports generated $336 million between March 2017 and January 2018. A third of these exports went to the US. Iran exported more than $97 million worth of handmade carpets to the US last year alone.

In May this year, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, announcing a raft of new sanctions to be imposed on Iran in the coming months. Under the sanctions regime imposed on Iran prior to the 2015 deal, Iranian carpet exports to the US fell to zero.

Iran is the biggest carpet exporter in the world, selling to 80 countries. In the US, Persian rugs are sold for between $10,000 for a smaller rug and $100,000 or even twice as much for a fine, large rug, according to the Iran National Carpet Center.
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  You will just have to explore the Persian Rug markets in Peru or the Andaman islands.
Look into that

. ...And my advice is when you get off the plane and are out of Iran....explore the possibilities of staying for an extended time( stay and enjoy the local color and cuisine ) and not returning to Iran anytime soon
. Word to the wise.
Posted by: Pearl Gleasing3315 || 07/29/2018 10:54 Comments || Top||


Hundreds of Syrian refugees return home from Lebanon
[Rudaw] Hundreds of Syrian refugees started crossing the border from Leb on Saturday, the latest group to return to Syria from its western neighbor.

Three buses carrying scores of people crossed the border into Syria in the early afternoon and more than 30 other buses are in Leb to carry more refugees later in the day.

Russia has put forward an initiative to return hundreds of thousands of refugees to Syria, and hundreds have returned from Leb over the past weeks.

The head of Leb’s General Security Directorate Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim called on Syrian refugees to come to the directorate’s offices to register their names to return home. He added that the move will eventually end up returning "hundreds of thousands" to their homes.

He said that some delays were caused by vetting those that are wanted back home. "We are insisting that no Syrian refugee returns home and then is detained," Ibrahim told news hounds at the border.

Syrian state TV said up to 1,200 Syrians are expected to end up returning on Saturday, adding that more than 30 Syrian buses crossed into Leb to bring them back home.

"I have no words to express my feelings," a Syrian woman told the channel while aboard a bus after she reached the Syrian side of the border. A teenager in the bus carried a poster of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Trampler of Homs...
with a caption that read: "Together on the roads of victory."

Many have returned from the northeastern Lebanese town of Arsal over the past weeks. Most of those heading home Saturday were coming from the southern Lebanese village of Chebaa.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun
...president of Leb, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hizbullah
...Party of God, a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as The Resistance and purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory...
...

said on Friday that the Russian initiative aims to return some 890,000 Syrians from Leb.

Leb is home to some 1 million Syrian refugees, a large number for a country of 4.5 million people.

The Russian initiative was proposed following the summit in Helsinki between U.S. President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
and Russian President Vladimir Putin
...President-for-Life of Russia. He gets along well with other presidents for life. He is credited with bringing political stability and re-establishing something like the rule of law, which occasionally results in somebody dropping dead from poisoning by polonium or other interesting substance. Under Putin, a new group of business magnates controlling significant swathes of Russia's economy has emerged, all of whom have close personal ties to him. The old bunch, without close personal ties to Putin, are in jail or in exile or dead from poisoning by polonium or other interesting substances...
, although it was not clear whether the U.S. supported the proposal.
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Iran to respond in kind if interests endangered: IRGC commander
[PRESSTV] A senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned any country that seeks to endanger Iran's interests, particularly the United States, saying Tehran will retaliate in kind in such a case.

"If some seek to endanger the Islamic Theocratic Republic of Iran’s interests, Iran will also endanger their interests with its capabilities," IRGC’s Deputy Commander for Political Affairs Brigadier General Yadollah Javani said in an interview with Tasnim News Agency published on Saturday.

He added that if the Americans seek to continue with their bullying attempts, the Iranian "Armed Forces will use their own capabilities and potential to safeguard the Iranian nation's interests."

In response to a question about US threats to stop Iran's oil exports, Javani emphasized that the Islamic Theocratic Republic would carry out "credible" reciprocal threats.

"When a country threatens Iran and raises this issue that it can block Iran's oil exports if it wants to, Iran’s reciprocal threat would be a credible threat," the IRGC commander pointed out.
Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  In the BRICS article this warning is suggested to be a hidden message that they have a seller who will sell them nukes.
Posted by: 3dc || 07/29/2018 0:27 Comments || Top||

#2  Iran's interests or IRGC's financial interests?
Posted by: Mercutio || 07/29/2018 8:27 Comments || Top||

#3  Iran had to fight Iraq for about seven years and took Allah's own toilet bowl of casualties.

The United States hit Iraq and took the whole place with hardly any casualties and did it in about a week or so of drive time.

Iran is now gonna do "better" against the US than Saddam did?
We don't have to take all of Iran...how about we just take he one Province of Khuzestan and keep your wallet while Iran tries to get over the five roads across the Zagros mts. and the US has air superiority. And then we invite Saudi in the pump Iran's wallet and we never give it back.

Iranian money is worth about what the Venezuelan bolivar is worth right about now. If the US takes Khuzestan Iranian's can lick salt off the rocks in the Farsi desert after that. Or they can nuke Austria if they reach real hard. Anyway you cut it, Iran will lose. You nuke anybody and we nuke you back and how hard is it for the US to hit Teheran? And who is Iran's friend and ally ? You got any friends?
F*&k you, towel-head.
Posted by: Pearl Gleasing3315 || 07/29/2018 11:07 Comments || Top||

#4  What, they can't protect their interests but other countries can?

Here's an idea: make allegations that country X has chemical weapons and go from there.
Posted by: DooDahMan || 07/29/2018 11:13 Comments || Top||

#5  "You got any friends?"

Russia & Turkey may not be Iran's "friends" but they all have the same fleas.
Posted by: Mercutio || 07/29/2018 11:13 Comments || Top||


Lebanese minister accuses Joumblatt of conspiring against Syrian Druze
[ALMASDARNEWS] The Lebanese Minister of Displaced Persons and leader of the Lebanese Democratic Party, Talal Arslan, slammed his political foe, Walid Joumblatt, in a statement on Saturday evening.

Arslan, a prominent Druze politician, began his statement on Saturday by offering his condolences to the families that lost loved ones as a result of the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
(ISIS/ISIS/ISIS) terrorist attack on Wednesday.

The Lebanese minister then accused the U.S. military of conspiring with Islamic State to carry out this deadly attack that killed more than 250 people in the al-Sweida Governorate.

"Washington has not wanted to withdraw from any area in Syria, but their primary objective of protecting Israel has failed," Arslan stated.

The veteran politician then turned his attention to Walid Joumblatt, who he accused of conspiring against the Syrian Druze of al-Sweida.

"Walid Joumblatt has been conspiring against Syria and Syrian Druze," the Lebanese minister said.

"Walid Joumblatt continues to play tricks against Syria and adhere to foreign agendas," he continued.

The Lebanese minister then accused Walid Joumblatt of going to The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...just another cheapjack Moslem dictatorship, brought to you by the Moslem Brüderbund....
to request the deportation of Syrian Druze from the Idlib province.

Arslan would conclude his statement by affirming his support for the Syrian government and Syrian Druze, adding that the latter is firmly in support of the state.

Posted by: Fred || 07/29/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria



Who's in the News
19[untagged]
6Govt of Pakistan
6Islamic State
5Govt of Iran
5Govt of Syria
3Houthis
2Tin Hat Dictators, Presidents for Life, & Kleptocrats
2Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (IS)
2Commies
2Hamas
2Moslem Colonists
2Sublime Porte
2Taliban
1Hezbollah
1al-Qaeda in North Africa
1al-Nusra
1Jamaat-e-Islami
1Maute group (IS)
1Abu Sayyaf (ISIS)
1Govt of Saudi Arabia
1Govt of Iraq
1Muslim Brotherhood
1Haqqani Network

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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
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Two weeks of WOT
Sun 2018-07-29
  Duterte invites the Abu Sayyaf to peace talks
Sat 2018-07-28
  Police enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, clash with worshipers in Temple Mount riots
Fri 2018-07-27
  Imran to be next PM
Thu 2018-07-26
  Houthis send missiles at tankers transiting from the Red Sea
Wed 2018-07-25
  Russian Air Force launches more than 40 airstrikes over southwest Syria
Tue 2018-07-24
  2 Syrian missiles with half-ton warheads trigger Israel's anti-missile system
Mon 2018-07-23
  Several dead in Kabul suicide blast as exiled VP Dostum returns
Sun 2018-07-22
  Iraq protests death toll reaches 11 amid ongoing popular unrest
Sat 2018-07-21
  Rebels handover more towns to ISIS in southwest Syria
Fri 2018-07-20
  Senegal convicts 13 suspected Boko Haram fighters
Thu 2018-07-19
  26 persons killed in regime offensive on Daraa and Qunaitra
Wed 2018-07-18
  15 Afghan Taliban killed in attack by suspected IS rivals
Tue 2018-07-17
  Israeli army drills for Gaza incursion, in apparent warning to Hamas
Mon 2018-07-16
  Boko Haram overruns Nigerian military base
Sun 2018-07-15
  Palestinian killed in mysterious Gaza blast identified as head of rocket unit

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