.
Europe
Germany
04.12.2024 German chancellor rules out deploying troops to Ukraine. Olaf Scholz underlines that his government will refrain from actions that could trigger conflict between NATO, Russia. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
Lithuania
December 4, 2024 German-based defense firm Rheinmetall has begun construction of an artillery ammunition plant in the Lithuanian city of Baisogala, in the center of the Baltic nation. The plant will produce 155mm rounds – the NATO standard ordnance for weapons including the M777 towed howitzer, and numerous self-propelled artillery platforms. The facility is on track to begin manufacturing the ordnance by the middle of 2026, and once fully operational it will be able to produce tens of thousands of 155mm artillery shells annually, the German company announced. 180 million euros ($190 million) is being invested to build the plant, which will also create around 150 jobs. The 155mm shells are about two feet long, and each weighs around 100 pounds. The ordnance has been one of the most widely produced artillery shells of the 21st century – but also the most widely used as NATO has supplied Ukraine with vast quantities. The United States has set a goal to produce 100,000 monthly. The Rheinmetall plant in Lithuania will allow NATO to further build up its stockpiles. (Source: The National Interest – U.S.)
Romania
(Wednesday), 4.12.2024 Georgescu won the first round of the election. On social media and on TikTok in particular, he had a high profile. About nine million of the country's 19 million inhabitants, especially young people, use the service. His channel has 520,000 followers and 5.7 million likes. He not only criticizes Romania's political establishment but is also seen doing judo or riding horses, just like the man he so admires. Now, the extreme right-wing conspiracy theorist, NATO critic and Putin admirer has a chance of being elected president of Romania on Sunday. Extreme views are becoming normalized. Romania's electoral authority accused TikTok of giving Georgescu an advantage and Romania's media watchdog called on the EU to investigate the video-sharing platform. TikTok rejected all allegations and claimed that it had found no indication of covert interference from either inside Romania or abroad. Will TikTok decide the presidential election in Romania? (Source: DW - Germany)
European Commission
04/12/2024 - 15:23 GMT+1 'The latest chapters of Brussels' hypocrisy'. With the start of Der Leyen's second mandate coincide revelations about money-laundering scheme Reynders, 66, as Commissioner for Justice has allegedly operated for years, including during his five-year mandate. The presumed scheme involved purchases of lottery tickets and cash of unknown origin, according to revelations made by Follow The Money and Le Soir yesterday evening. Belgian police have already questioned Reydners and raided several of his properties. It's unclear how much money could have been potentially laundered. The criminal probe is said to cover Reynders's mandate as Commissioner and his previous position in domestic politics. Asked if the probe could diminish the credibility of the Commission in matters related to the rule of law and fundamental rights, a spokesperson refused to comment. Against Hungary and Poland Reynders and his team launched legal proceedings and froze EU funds. (Source: Euronews - Headquarters Lyon, France)
European Parliament
December 04, 2024 Parliament halts anti-corruption talks under the Hungarian Government’s watch. This Hungarian government cannot be in the driver's seat on the Anti-Corruption Directive, leading negotiations on this Directive designed to strengthen anti-corruption measures in the EU, the Parliament's lead rapporteur Der Walle said. 'The integrity and credibility of all EU institutions and this crucial piece of legislation must remain intact. Therefore, with the Polish Presidency less than a month away, it is in the best interest of our Union and our citizens to wait until then to start the talks with Council on the Directive', she added. (Source: Renew Europe Group)
European Union
December 4, 2024 Trump and the European right: an attraction-repulsion relationship. We can’t rule out the possibility that some of Trump’s staunch supporters, or even political clones, might turn against him if their conflicts of interest become too acute. Indeed, the first signs of such a shift are already perceptible when, for example, Italy’s Prime Minister, Mrs. Meloni, or her friend, the Dutchman Mr. Wilders, denounce Trump’s protectionism and stand up with their other European partners against the tariffs he wants to impose on their countries’ products. But what seems to worry Europeans most are Trump’s atypical character traits, which make him totally unpredictable and uncontrollable. And this is all the more true given that he decides everything on his own, because he has cleared the air around him and there are no longer any safeguards or institutional safety valves to prevent him from doing anything crazy. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of those who see Trump as an anti-system activist are also Putin sympathizers. Just as it is not unsurprising and without historical precedent to see people on the left adopting such positions that drift towards the far right. In reality, today’s supporters and admirers of Trump and Putin are merely perpetuating a sad, or rather criminal, phenomenon from the interwar period, which saw even eminent representatives of the labor movement and the left, such as the Italian Bombacci or the French Doriot recognize in…Mussolini and Hitler 'champions of peace', 'anti-imperialist revolutionaries' and 'unifiers of Europe'! (Source: CounterPunch - U.S.)
by Mitralias
Russia
December 4, 2024 The Mikoyan MiG-31 (NATO reporting name Foxhound) first entered service in 1982. A total of just 519 were produced – with most remaining in operation with the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Russian Defense Ministry has stated that the MiG-31 would remain in service until 2030 or beyond. The latest variant – the MiG-31I – has been upgraded and will be armed with the Kinzhal hypersonic missile and will be taking part in joint drills in the eastern Mediterranean. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)
United Kingdom
December 4, 2024 Quoted directly from the Hippocratic oath: "I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel." Despite the good doctor’s concerns, MPs backed the landmark bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales in the end. As lawyer Vlaardingerbroek said after 20 years of euthanasia and assisted suicide for over 20 years in her country of Holland: ‘Always keep in mind that the power one gives to emperor Augustus can – and will – end up in the hands of someone like Nero.’ (Source: CounterPunch - U.S.)
Vatican
04.12.2024 Pope Francis today discussed the situation in Ukraine and the efforts for peace with the Hungarian prime minister. The Pope received Viktor Orbán at the Secretariat of State and the meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere. During the dialogue, particular attention was paid to the war in Ukraine, focusing on the humanitarian consequences and the efforts to promote peace. Pope Francis and Orbán also examined the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union, the central role of the family and the protection of the young generations. Orbán in post on X said: "The peace mission continues!" (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
Asia
Syria
December 04, 2024 Neocons try again in Syria. A day after Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon last week the long dormant war in Syria reignited as jihadist forces seized the city of Aleppo and advanced virtually unhindered in its quest to overthrow the Syrian government until finally meeting resistance from the Syrian Army backed up by Russia. This is the last chance for neocons in the United States to topple Syrian President Assad before Trump, who tried to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, resumes the presidency in 49 days. On the neocon list of ways to make the world safer for Israel, Iran originally occupied pride of place. As the invaders/occupiers got bogged down in Iraq, it seemed more sensible to 'do Syria' next. With the help of 'friendly services,' the neocons mounted a false-flag chemical attack outside Damascus in late August 2013, blaming it on President Assad, whom U.S. President Obama had earlier said, 'had to go.' Obama had called such a chemical attack a red line but, mirabile dictu, chose to honor the U.S. Constitution by asking Congress first. Worse still for the neocons, during the first days of September, Russian President Putin pulled Obama’s chestnuts out of the fire by persuading Syria to destroy its chemical weapons under U.N. supervision. Obama later admitted that virtually all of his advisers had wanted him to order Tomahawk cruise missiles into Syria. The neocons would face another humiliation three days later when The New York Times published an op-ed by Putin, who wrote of growing trust between Russia and the U.S. and between Obama and himself, while warning against the notion that some countries are 'exceptional.' That the various groups trying to overthrow Assad had ample incentive to get the U.S. more deeply involved in support of that effort was clear. It was also quite clear that the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had equally powerful incentive to get Washington more deeply engaged in yet another war in the area – then, and now. NYT reporter Rudoren, writing from Jerusalem had the lead article on Sept. 6, 2013, addressing Israeli motivation in an uncommonly candid way. Her article, 'Israel Backs Limited Strike Against Syria,' notes that the Israelis have argued, quietly, that the best outcome for Syria’s at the time two-and-a-half-year-old civil war, at least for the moment, was no outcome. Rudoren wrote: 'For Jerusalem, the status quo, horrific as it may be from a humanitarian perspective, seems preferable to either a victory by Mr. Assad’s government and his Iranian backers or a strengthening of rebel groups, increasingly dominated by Sunni jihadis. ‘This is a playoff situation in which you need both teams to lose, but at least you don’t want one to win, we’ll settle for a tie,’ said Pinkas, a former Israeli consul general in New York. ‘Let them both bleed, hemorrhage to death: that’s the strategic thinking here. As long as this lingers, there’s no real threat from Syria.’ ' Instead of Tomahawks, Obama approved (or winked at) covert action to topple Assad. That did not work out very well. An investment of $500 million to train and arm ’moderate rebels’ yielded only ’four or five still in the fight,’ as then-CENTCOM commander Gen. Austin explained to Congress on Sept. 17, 2015. In late September 2015 at the U.N., Putin told Obama that Russia is sending its forces into Syria; the two agreed to set U.S. Secretary of State Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov off to work out a ceasefire in Syria; they labored hard for 11 months. A ceasefire agreement was finally reached and approved personally by Obama and Putin. Does 2015 Chronology Foreshadow 2025? The following list of events beginning in the fall of 2015 is instructive in considering how the revived conflict might work out (probably minus U.S.-Russian talks), if the ongoing jihadi attack on Syrian forces continues for more than a few weeks. Sept. 28, 2015: At the U.N., Putin tells Obama that Russia will start air strikes in Syria; invites Obama to join Russia in air campaign against isis. Obama refuses, but tells Kerry to get together with Lavrov to 'deconflict” U.S. and Russian flights over Syria, and then to work hard for a lessening of hostilities and political settlement in Syria – leading to marathon negotiations. Sept. 30, 2015: Russia starts airstrikes both against isis and in support of Syrian forces against rebels in Syria. Oct. 1, 2015 to Sept. 9, 2016: Kerry and Lavrov labor hard to introduce ceasefire and some kind of political settlement. Finally, a limited ceasefire is signed Sept 9, 2016 – with the explicit blessing of both Obama and Putin. Sept. 12, 2016: The limited ceasefire goes into effect; provisions include separating the „moderate” rebels from the, well, ’immoderate ones’. Kerry had earlier claimed that he had "refined' ways to accomplish the separation, but it did not happen; provisions also included safe access for relief for Aleppo. Sept. 17, 2016: U.S. Air Force bombs fixed Syrian Army positions killing between 64 and 84 Syrian army troops, with about 100 others wounded – evidence enough to convince the Russians that a renegade Pentagon was intent on scuttling the ceasefire and meaningful cooperation with Russia and felt free to do so and then merely say OOps, with no one being held accountable! Sept. 26, 2016: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said: “My good friend Kerry … is under fierce criticism from the U.S. military machine. Despite the fact that, as always, [they] made assurances that the U.S. commander in chief, President Obama, supported him in his contacts with Russia (he confirmed that during his meeting with President Putin), apparently the military does not really listen to the commander in chief.' Lavrov went beyond mere rhetoric. He specifically criticized Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dunford for telling Congress that he opposed sharing intelligence with Russia, “after the agreements concluded on direct orders of Russian President Putin and U.S. President Obama stipulated that they would share intelligence… It is difficult to work with such partners…' Sept. 29, 2016: Kerry’s hubris tinged frustration: Apparently Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Nuland, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Power, National Security Advisor Rice, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, et al. had told Kerry it would be easy to ’align things’ in the Middle East. And so, this is how Kerry started off his remarks at an open forum arranged by The Atlantic magazine and the Aspen Institute on Sept. 29, 2016. Kerry said: 'Syria is as complicated as anything I have ever done in my public life in the sense that there are probably about six wars going on at the same time: Kurds against Kurds, Kurds against Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sunni, Shia, everybody against isis, people against Assad, Al-Nusra… this is a mixed up sectarian and civil war and strategic and proxies, so it is very difficult to be able to align forces.' Ultimately, Syrian, Russian and Hezbollah forces beat back the jihadists and liberated Aleppo and other parts of the country in spite of U.S. opposition and are being called upon again now to do the same. (Source: Antiwar - U.S.)
by McGovern, who works with Tell the Word, a publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in inner-city Washington. His 27 years as a C.I.A. analyst included leading the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch and conducting the morning briefings of the President’s Daily Brief. In retirement he co-founded Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS)
Dec 4, 2024, 10:26 AM Terrorist groups, including the Nusra Front, with the support of some countries and the arrival of fresh foreign forces, launched a massive attack on Syrian army positions last week, sparking fierce clashes in Idlib, the outskirts of Aleppo, and parts of Hama and Latakia. The Arab League Council will convene for an emergency meeting on Syria on December 8. The ministerial-level meeting will take place at Damascus's request. Syria’s Arab League membership was revoked after President Assad ordered a crackdown on foreign-backed terrorists back in 2011 that spiraled the country into a civil war that has since killed nearly half a million people and displaced another ’23 million’. Ties with Damascus normalized in May last year, as the bloc hoped for an Arab-led political path to solve the Syrian crisis and foreign ministers from Arab League member states agreed to reinstate Syria into the bloc. (Source: MEHR News – Iran)
December 4, 2024 Thousands of Kurds displaced from Aleppo arrive in Kurdish-controlled areas near Raqqa. Syrian Kurds fled Tel Rifaat in northern Aleppo Governorate in large numbers yesterday after Turkish-backed rebels seized it from rival U.S.-backed Kurdish authorities. /Video/ (AP - U.S.)
646 views
Turkey
(Wednesday), December 4, 2024 Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other rebel groups have seized a large swathe of the northern city of Aleppo in recent days, and are now advancing towards the central city of Hama. Iraq, which has assured Damascus of its support, sent armored vehicles Monday to bolster security on its 600-kilometre long border with Syria. The resumption of hostilities in Syria’s civil war has intensified diplomatic maneuvers in the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi held talks in Ankara on Monday with his Turkish counterpart Fidan, a day after visiting Damascus, where he met President Assad. Turkish President Erdoğan spoke by phone yesterday with Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani about renewed conflict in their joint neighbor Syria, with Erdoğan stressing Turkey’s priority, the need to prevent unrest on Turkey’s border. He declared maintaining peace on its borders Turkey’s priority as well as the unity, stability and territorial integrity of Syria, where last week the Islamist-led rebel coalition went on the offensive, breaking a years-long stalemate in Syria’s civil war. Erdoğan’s office said he had urged the Syrian regime to engage in a real political process to avoid the situation deteriorating. Turkey’s head of state also warned he had taken and would take measures to prevent the terrorist organization Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its extensions from taking advantage of developments in northern Syria, home to numerous Kurdish militants. (Source: Turkish Minute – Turkey)
North America
United States
Dec 04, 2024 11:58 AM IST President-elect Trump is rumoured to be reconsidering his choice of former Fox News personality Hegseth as Defense Secretary, with reports suggesting he may turn to Florida Governor DeSantis instead. (Source: Hindustan Times - India)
04/12/2024 - 05:12 US president-elect Trump’s lawyers sought to dismiss his hush money criminal conviction in a filing released yesterday. The motion argued that President Biden used similar politically motivated reasoning days earlier to pardon his son. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office. (Source: France 24 / AP - U.S.)
NATO
04.12.2024 NATO member states will do their best to provide Ukraine with more air defense, Alliance chief Rutte said speaking to the press on day two of a meeting of NATO member state foreign ministers in Brussels. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
.4 12 4 18:49
