The Russian government said today that it had arrested eleven people — including the four gunmen — after last night’s attack at a Moscow concert hall. The death toll has risen as high as 143, according to some reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to “punish” anyone involved in the attack, and said that the terrorists had “relevant contacts” in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia launched a missile and drone attack against Ukraine’s electric sector yesterday, plunging several cities into darkness.
In other news, thousands of people gathered in Prague’s Wenceslas Square this afternoon to oppose Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s government.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, DV, Insubria, JW, Reader from Chicago, Roger, SS, Upananda Brahmachari, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.
Notice to tipsters: Please don’t submit extensive excerpts from articles that have been posted behind a subscription firewall, or are otherwise under copyright protection.
Caveat: Articles in the news feed are posted “as is”. Gates of Vienna cannot vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of any individual item posted here. I check each entry to make sure it is relatively interesting, not patently offensive, and at least superficially plausible. The link to the original is included with each item’s title. Further research and verification are left to the reader.
California Insurance Commissioner Declares ‘Crisis’ After Major State Farm Announcement
California’s insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara spoke out after the state’s largest home insurance provider announced that it would discontinue coverage for tens of thousands of policies this summer.
State Farm announced on March 20 that it would cut 72,000 home and apartment policies in California because of inflation, regulatory costs and increasing risks from catastrophes. The decision is a blow to California property owners, who already suffer under high insurance rates or scarce policy coverage.
“This is a real crisis,” Commissioner Lara told KABC in an interview Friday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Connecticut Teen Files Lawsuit Amid Social Media Addiction Accusations
A major legal action is alleging social media is harmful, especially for young people. The lawsuits are targeting platforms many of us use every day.
And now, a young woman from Glastonbury is opening up about how the apps were so damaging to her.
“For me, it just ended up turning very, very severe,” Caroline Koziol said.
Koziol bravely shared how social media affected her growing up.
The Connecticut native is among hundreds of plaintiffs alleging the platforms are designed to hook users and can encourage addictive behavior in young people.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis spoke out in a Saturday interview about the recent scandal with Nathan Wade, asserting that her criminal prosecution against former President Trump will proceed despite the controversy, stating she is “not embarrassed” by her actions.
“I don’t feel like we’ve been slowed down at all,” Willis stated during a CNN appearance. “I don’t feel like my reputation needs to be reclaimed. Let’s say it for the record, I’m not embarrassed by anything that I’ve done.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
FBI Tells Passengers on Blown-Out-Door-Plug Flight They May be ‘Victim of a Crime’
In the latest bad news for Boeing, the FBI has started notifying passengers on the Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines flight that experienced a terrifying blowout of a door-plug that they may be a “victim of a crime.”
“As a victim specialist with the Seattle division, I’m contacting you because we have identified you as a possible victim of a crime,” read the FBI letters to travelers on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. “This case is currently under investigation by the FBI. A criminal investigation can be a lengthy undertaking, and for several reasons, we cannot tell you about its progress at this time.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
FDA Settles Lawsuit Over Ivermectin Social Media Posts
The FDA has agreed to delete and never republish several social-media posts suggesting that ivermectin, a drug that some doctors used to treat COVID-19, is for animals and not humans.
While the FDA still does not approve of using ivermectin to treat COVID, it settled Thursday a lawsuit brought by three doctors who sued it, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services and its secretary, Xavier Becerra, and FDA secretary Robert Califf. All parties have settled.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A shocking video captured the moment a California man walked off with a severed human leg after a train accident where a woman died, according to police.
The video shows a disheveled man looking around while carrying a large, ragged object.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office said that a train struck a woman at about 8:05 a.m. near G and 7th streets in the town of Wasco near Bakersfield.
A witness told KGET-TV that they saw a man remove a severed leg from the scene near an Amtrak Station.
The video shows the man in a red hooded sweatshirt and black pants leaning over an object. He turns around and erratically laughs at the person recording the scene, then staggers away.
A second scene in the video appears to show the police response and the man waving the leg at the officers.
KGET published a censored version of the video with words bleeped out and the image of the leg blurred out.
A voice can be heard on the video saying, “He’s eating that s**t!” in English and then in Spanish.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A federal judge on Friday allowed a lawsuit from Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to proceed against two California cities that canceled their rallies in 2021.
In a 22-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Hernan Vera said there is adequate evidence to suggest the GOP lawmakers have a legitimate claim against officials in Anaheim and Riverside, Calif., who shut down their events. But the judge castigated the two firebrands for alleging that a handful of liberal nonprofits had colluded with the cities to violate their free speech rights.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Judge Orders Release of Transgender Nashville School Shooter’s Manifesto
A judge has just ordered the release of the Nashville, Tennessee, school shooter’s manifesto.
The manifesto is contained in journals written by the radical transgender shooter.
These journals are currently in the hands of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Fox News reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A Virginia dad convicted then pardoned by Gov. Glenn Youngkin for protesting the Loudoun County School Board expressed outrage Thursday over the group’s latest bid to “shut” out parents.
Last week, the board voted along party lines to turn cameras off during the public comment portion of meetings, according to FOX5. When the new policy takes effect in April, it will only provide audio and closed captioning during that portion of the meeting.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
On March 13, the town of Ridgely, Maryland announced that it had made the decision to suspend its entire police force.
Town commissioners noted that an investigation had been launched, however no explanation was provided regarding exactly what spurred the mass suspension.
In a statement, Commissioners Anthony Casey, John Hurley, and Leonard Buckle informed residents that they had “suspended with pay the entirety of the Ridgely Police Department (the ‘Department’), effectively immediately, pending investigation by the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Michigan Man Sues to See Election Records After His Freedom of Information Requests Were Denied
Authored by Steven Kovac via The Epoch Times
Michigan’s Democrat Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is being sued for working with local officials to stonewall a citizen’s efforts to access public election records from the Nov. 8, 2022 general and the May 2, 2023 primary elections.
Ms. Benson has a record of resisting transparency dating back to the 2020 presidential contest, after which she ordered local clerks to delete all electronic poll book (EPB) data from that election. In Nov. 2022, just days after the midterms, she ordered local clerks to deny public information requests to examine certain election data stored on their EPBs.
EPB files are an original public record and a component of the electronic voting system audit trail.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
MS-13 Leader Among the FBI’s Most Wanted Apprehended at Southern Border
Earlier this month, a senior leader of the brutal MS-13 gang and one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives, Freddy Ivan Jandres-Parada was apprehended at the San Ysidro Port of Entry at the border of San Diego, California, and Mexico.
According to Court Watch, the 48-year-old was caught on March 7 after being on the run for narco-terrorism charges for nearly four years. A detention order showed that Jandres-Parada voluntarily waived his right to bail.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Former President Barack Obama has reportedly met with President Joe Biden in private at least twice, expressing deep concerns about the possibility of a Trump victory in the upcoming 2024 election.
According to TIME Magazine, sources familiar with the meetings revealed that Obama met with Biden last June to advise him to adopt a more aggressive approach to Trump’s campaign efforts. This advice, as per TIME’s Democrat insider source, emphasized the need for Biden to make the election a referendum on Trump rather than focusing solely on his own agenda.
After meeting with Biden and seeing little improvements, Obama returned to the White House once again in December with a larger sense of urgency.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Parents of Parkland Victims Blast Kamala Harris for ‘Photo-Op’ at Shooting Site
Vice President Kamala Harris’s visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was met with criticism from Parkland shooting victims’ parents.
Harris visited the site of the school shooting six years after the fact alongside Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL). Her stop in Parkland, Florida, comes amid her reelection campaign on President Joe Biden’s ticket. Ryan Petty, father to 14-year-old victim Alaina Joann Petty, called it a “campaign event” at the site where his daughter was shot in her English classroom.
“The VP is not there to make schools safer, she’s visiting to reinforce a gun control agenda,” Petty wrote on X. “It’s a photo op & campaign event for a do nothing administration that ignores the real work of protecting schools.”
| — Hat tip: DV | [Return to headlines] |
Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Florida on Saturday where she will tout a Biden administration effort to provide “training and technical assistance” to individuals “responsible for implementing laws designed to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a threat to themselves or others.”
The new program drew immediate backlash from some Republicans who called the effort a “massive Red Flag Operation.”
The National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Resource Center, according to a Saturday Department of Justice press release, will specifically provide assistance to law enforcement officials, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, clinicians, victim service and social service providers, community organizations and behavioral health professionals.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Controversial BLM activist and race hoaxer Shaun King, who recently converted to Islam, has been disinvited from a Ramadan event in Minneapolis after the community accused him of being a “grifter” when they found out that he was selling tickets for up to $1,000 apiece.
King, 44, was slated to be the keynote speaker at a Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) event in Minneapolis on Thursday but the branch disinvited him following mass backlash on social media, the Daily Mail reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A St. Louis teen who was brutally attacked in a viral video is reportedly now breathing on her own and remains in stable condition as of Friday.
Kaylee, 16, suffered a fractured skull, resulting in life-threatening brain swelling and bleeding after a March 8 assault where she had her head repeatedly pounded on the pavement near Hazelwood East High School in Spanish Lake, Missouri, just outside St. Louis.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Responds After Pence Refuses to Endorse Him: ‘Couldn’t Care Less’
President Donald Trump has issued a response after his former VP Mike Pence revealed that he would not endorse his re-election bid.
Pence revealed last week that he would not endorse Trump due to their falling out in disagreement during the aftermath of the disputed 2020 election.
Trump was asked this week by a reporter about the overt snub from his former vice president.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
US Records Highest Drug Overdose Deaths in 2022
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that nearly 108,000 Americans succumbed to drug overdoses in 2022, marking a record-breaking figure, as reported by CBS News.
The official tally for 2022 stands at 107,941 deaths, a marginal increase of about 1% from the previous year’s nearly 107,000 fatalities. Disturbingly, the fatal overdose rate for synthetic opioids like fentanyl and tramadol rose by 4.1% between 2021 and 2022, alongside increases in cocaine and psychostimulant-related deaths.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Elon Musk Offers Help to Canadian Doctor Targeted for Opposing Lockdowns
Billionaire and Tesla owner Elon Musk has pledged to support a Canadian physician entangled in legal and professional challenges due to her criticism of COVID-19 lockdown measures.
Musk’s response came after Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill asked him for help on X, the social media platform he now owns.
“As one of the first Canadian MDs to oppose lockdowns on Twitter in 2020… I’ve been persecuted for four years solely due to my Tweets. Please help a fellow Canadian! ~$300k in court-ordered costs due in four days,” said Gill. She included a screenshot of a post from Musk last August vowing to support those facing hardship from employers over things they do on X.
“If you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform, we will fund your legal bill. No limit. Please let us know,” wrote Musk in the August post.
In response to Gill’s request, Musk wrote in a reply, “We will help.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Belgium: Farmers Will Protest in Brussels Again on Tuesday
Farmers are gearing up for another demonstration in Brussels on Tuesday, March 26th, marking their third protest this year. The previous protest led to clashes with law enforcement, traffic snarls, and damage to public property.
Via Campesina, the international farmers’ organization, announced the upcoming action on Friday. Shortly after, Belgian farming federations FJA, FWA, and FUGEA confirmed their participation on Tuesday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Belgium Enforces Stricter Tax Regulations for Expatriates
Since 1983, expatriates in Belgium have benefited from a relatively lenient tax system thanks to the introduction of a “legal fiction of non-residence,” which shielded externally earned income from Belgian taxation.
However, recent court rulings suggest that tax regulations for expats will become more rigorous, reports The Brussels Times.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Climate Activists Damage Runway at Braunschweig-Wolfsburg Airport, Germany
Members of the “Last Generation” temporarily blocked Braunschweig-Wolfsburg Airport in Lower Saxony on Saturday, primarily used by Volkswagen, reports BILD.
Four anarchists illegally accessed the airfield, barricading the runway with tape and cones, and posted warning signs declaring a shutdown due to the climate crisis. They proceeded to dismantle the runway asphalt with tools before being temporarily detained by the police.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
After half a year since the previous large-scale protest in the center of Prague, Czechia has once again faced a wave of citizens’ dissatisfaction, who took to the streets united in their demand for change. This time, the targets were not only the unwanted policies of the government but also corruption, inflation, and support for Ukraine in the armed conflict.
Organized by the association “Czechia Against Poverty” and the PRO party, the anti-government demonstration gathered thousands of people on the streets of Prague. The leader of the PRO party, Jindrich Rajchl, along with deputies from the SDPG, Jaroslav Foldyna and Jiri Kobza, as well as Senator Jana Zvirtek Hampl, addressed the crowd expressing general discontent with the current state of affairs in the country.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Czechia: Thousands of People Attended an Anti-Government Protest in Prague
On Saturday afternoon, thousands gathered in Prague’s Wenceslas Square to oppose Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s government, organized by Czechia Against Poverty and the PRO party, reports Novinky.
The gathering follows similar demonstrations from the previous year, which drew thousands. By 3 p.m., conflicts emerged, requiring police intervention, as demonstrators occupied the upper quarter of Wenceslas Square on Saturday afternoon. Organizers allege that the current government disregards citizens’ needs, curtails free speech, and poses security threats. PRO party leader Jindrich Rajchl and SPD MPs addressed the crowd, joined later by Senator Jana Zwyrtek Hamplova.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Diabetes Cases in Belgium Reach All-Time High
A surge in the number of Belgians diagnosed with diabetes has reached an all-time high, as reported by the Brussels Times. Nearly 7.1% of the population, or around one in 14 Belgians, have been identified with the condition, marking a substantial increase from the 5% reported in 2009. The rise, exceeding 5% annually, represents the largest spike ever recorded.
As of 2022, approximately 810,000 individuals have been diagnosed, although health experts suggest this figure underestimates the actual prevalence with many cases going undiagnosed. Regional variations exist with Wallonia showing higher rates compared to Flanders and Brussels.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Moldovan farmers continue to express their dissatisfaction with the emergency loan program, stating that it fails to fulfill its purpose of aiding the country’s agricultural sector. The “Strength of Farmers” Association has expressed deep disappointment and demands an urgent meeting with the leadership of the National Bank to find an effective solution.
The program, which promised agricultural producers loans under state guarantees, has encountered serious difficulties. According to the association, within three weeks of the program’s existence, hundreds of farmers have been denied loans, despite government promises of support.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Friendship Under Threat: Poles and Ukrainians Talk About the Crisis Between the Countries
Relations between Ukraine and Poland have been systemically changing over the past two years. In the first months since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Warsaw became almost the main partner for Kyiv in the European Union, sheltering millions of Ukrainians forced to flee the war and publicly urging Western countries to allocate military aid to Ukraine. It seemed that such a friendly partnership between the countries appeared for the first time in the countries’ history. Now Ukraine and Poland are experiencing a crisis that could offset all the progress made between the countries.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany and France Reach Agreement on Details in New Military Cooperation
Berlin and Paris are aiming to collaborate more closely militarily, yet the concrete implementation has often encountered obstacles. Now, the two countries have reached an agreement on details regarding the development of a new tank system, as reported by Spiegel.
The future German-French arms project, Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), not only has a cryptic name but has also seen many uncertainties in the details of the development cooperation. However, it appears that there is now consensus on many aspects between Berlin and Paris.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
German Volunteers in Ukraine Conflict: Discrepancies in Figures
Germans are fighting in large numbers in Ukraine regardless of combat experience, as written by Berliner Zeitung. New data from Russia shows that a considerable number of Germans are participating in the fighting in Ukraine, although the German Interior Ministry presents different figures.
Reports of fallen German citizens fighting on the side of Ukraine in the conflict in the Donbass region are appearing on social media.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: FC Bundestag Wants to Exclude AfD MPs
In a recent decision, the FC Bundestag, Germany’s parliamentary soccer team, has announced its intention to exclude members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party from its ranks.
This move, as articulated by Green MP Bruno Hönel, who serves as one of the team’s vice-captains, is grounded in the team’s commitment to principles of inclusivity, cosmopolitanism, tolerance, and democracy.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
High Court in Spain Temporarily Halts Telegram’s Services
Spain’s High Court has mandated the temporary suspension of Telegram’s messaging services within the country following complaints from media entities alleging unauthorized content uploads by users.
As reported by Reuters, the suspension, effective from Monday, comes in response to requests from major media firms such as Atresmedia, EGEDA, Mediaset, and Telefonica.
Judge Santiago Pedraz approved the blocking of Telegram’s services in Spain pending investigation into the claims. Mobile service providers will be tasked with enforcing the suspension, as confirmed by a court source.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hungary Warns of the Threat of a Third World War if Western Troops Are Sent to Ukraine
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned of the threat of a Third World War if Western troops are sent to Ukraine, according to the news agency MTI.
Balazs Orban, a political adviser and namesake of the Hungarian prime minister, said on the sidelines of the European Union summit that the situation in Ukraine “is becoming ominous,” and “the stakes are high.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Italy: 8-Yr Term Asked for Fini Over Monte Carlo Flat
Hid the origin of cash says his partner Elisabetta Tulliani
The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office on Monday asked for eight years in jail for former rightwing National Alliance leader, House Speaker and foreign minister foreign minister Gianfranco Fini, defendant in a trial related to the purchase of a flat in Monte Carlo.
Nine years have been requested for his partner Elisabetta Tulliani.
The prosecutor has also requested a 10-year sentence for her brother Giancarlo Tulliani and a 5-year sentence for their father Sergio.
The charges also include the offence of money laundering.
“I hid from Gianfranco Fini my brother’s intention to buy the house in Monte Carlo.
“I never told Fini the origin of that money that I was convinced was my brother’s,’ Elisabetta Tulliani said in court.
| — Hat tip: Insubria | [Return to headlines] |
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was called out by French populist Marine Le Pen on Saturday during a video address to the ‘Winds of Change’ convention for not coming out against the second term of European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.
Failing to live up to her reputation as a populist firebrand, Giorgia Meloni has governed from the centre since coming into power in 2022 and has sought to deepen Rome’s ties with Brussels rather than opposing the globalist agenda of the likes of Von der Leyen.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Netherlands: Climate Protest by Extinction Rebellion Causes Flight Disruptions at Eindhoven Airport
Climate action groups Extinction Rebellion (XR) and Scientist Rebellion (SR) are staging a protest at Eindhoven Airport, calling for drastic reductions in flights and immediate cessation of private jet operations.
Despite warnings from the airport about potential fuelling issues during the protest, XR and SR have assured that flights will not be blocked or postponed. However, several airlines have preemptively adjusted their schedules, leading to cancellations and transfers to alternative airports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Poland Claims That the US Knew in Advance About the Sabotage of the “Nord Stream” Pipelines
The United States knew in advance about the sabotage of the “Nord Stream” pipelines. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski, in an interview with the newspaper Rzeczpospolita.
“If we believe the press, someone who was interested did it. And the American side knew about it in advance and did not prevent it (here Rzeczpospolita remarks that the Washington Post wrote about it). So it seems there was something to be grateful for… And my personal attitude towards the ‘Nord Stream’ has been known for many years,” said Sikorski, who in 2006 called the construction of Nord Stream 1 “a new Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Surge in Firework Attacks in Netherlands Despite Measures: 250 Incidents Recorded This Year
Despite measures taken, there have already been 250 fireworks attacks this year in the Netherlands, indicating a growing number of explosive incidents, as reported by NOS.
In the first months of this year, the police recorded these attacks or attempted attacks, with repeated explosions in Vlaardingen and particularly in the Rotterdam and Amsterdam regions.
Last year alone, there were 900 attacks and attempted attacks in the Netherlands, which was higher than previously estimated by the police. The unrest is spreading to other areas, such as North Holland, where explosions occurred in Purmerend, IJmuiden, and Alkmaar.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Anti-ULEZ Protesters Installing Bat Boxes to Stop TfL Repairing Cameras
Photos have shown that anti-ULEZ activists are installing bat boxes on ANPR camera poles in an effort to stop TfL installing or repairing devices that monitor drivers. Sadiq Khan expanded the capital’s £12.50 fee to outer boroughs in August.
Those using non-compliant vehicles (broadly, pre-2015 diesel and pre-2005 petrol) have to pay the daily charge. So-called ‘Blade Runners’ have vandalised and removed a number of cameras.
As of November 2023, almost 1,000 crimes relating to the damage or stealing of the devices have been recorded by the Metropolitan Police Service since April 1. Others against the scheme have also taken to ‘blocking’ cameras’ vision by standing or parking in front of them.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Boy, 12, Arrested After Teenage Girl Stabbed in Kent
A 12-year-old boy has been arrested after a teenage girl was stabbed in Kent.
Police are appealing for witnesses after being called to a report of assault in Sittingbourne on Friday at around 3.55pm.
The girl was taken to a London hospital to receive treatment for her injuries, which were described as being consistent with a stab wound.
Kent Police said she remains in hospital in a stable condition.
A 12-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
| — Hat tip: Roger | [Return to headlines] |
A Just Stop Oil activist stunned fellow eco-zealots at a key strategy meeting with some home truths — railing against them for being too ‘white and middle-class’.
The critic — called Olive, and sporting pink hair — told them they were living in a ‘student bubble’ and had to attract more people who were not like them or they would die out.
Her sentiments chime with what millions think of the environmental protest group, which is seen as attracting the offspring of the wealthy with scant connection to the everyday realities of most Britons.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Sadiq Khan Braced for Major Blow as Government Backs Bill to SCRAP ULEZ Expansion
The Government has decided to back a Tory MP’s Private Member’s Bill seeking to scrap the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) in a move which could cause a major upset for Sadiq Khan.
The Greater London Low Emission Zone Charging (Amendment) Bill, introduced by MP Gareth Johnson, had its second reading in the Commons today.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A couple was threatened with bailiffs over nearly £1,000 in unpaid Ulez and Lez charges which they were not allowed to appeal — even though TfL said their cars meet emissions standards.
Iain Watt, 53, and his partner Tina Kilnan, 52, saw their TfL auto pay account hit with multiple £12.50 Ulez charges when driving their compliant cars, a BMW X3 and a Mini Cooper, in the capital.
The motorist, from Wensleydale, Yorkshire, told MailOnline that the threats of debt recovery action caused anxieties for him — and his lawyer branded the system as guilty until proven innocent.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Israel Military Signals Extended Operation at Gaza Hospital
Israeli forces launched a military raid in and around Al-Shifa hospital on Monday, claiming senior Hamas operatives were based at the sprawling compound.
Israel says it has killed more than 170 people in its raids and attacks around the complex, with the Palestinian health ministry reporting that five patients have also died.
“We are continuing with this operation,” Southern Command chief Major General Yaron Finkelman said in comments released on Saturday.
“We will finish this operation only when the last terrorist is in our hands — alive or dead,” he added, following a Friday visit to Shifa.
| — Hat tip: JW | [Return to headlines] |
‘Will Send Netanyahu to Allah’: Erdogan’s Words Spark Outrage in Israel
Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan has from the start of the Israel-Hamas war been among the most aggressive and fiercest critics of Israel and especially its prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While Erdogan has long denounced Israel’s operation in Gaza, on Thursday he unleashed his harshest rhetoric yet, which came close to perhaps being a direct threat against Netanyahu’s life. In an election rally the Turkish president vowed to “send [Netanyahu] to Allah to take care of him, make him miserable and curse him.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Death Toll Soars in Moscow Terrorist Attack, 11 Detained as Islamic State Claims Responsibility
The death toll from a terrorist attack at a Moscow concert hall soared past 100 on Saturday as Russian authorities arrested 11 people in a deadly plot that ISIS claimed responsibility for.
Fires still burned at the Crocus City Hall and the complex’s roof partially collapsed hours after gunman opened fire and unleashed explosives inside the crowded venue.
U.S. intelligence reportedly warned Moscow of an impending threat, and Russian authorities confirmed the attack had been carefully planned.
Officials said the death toll stood at 115, and more than 150 people were wounded.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Kremlin has claimed Isis terrorists involved in last night’s horrific attack on a concert hall had “relevant contacts” in Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to “punish” anyone standing behind the plot.
As many as 143 people were killed at a large gathering on the outskirts of Moscow in Krasnogorsk, Russian security officials have claimed.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Putin Vows to Punish Those Behind Russia Concert Massacre
MOSCOW, March 23 (Reuters) — Russia said on Saturday it had arrested all four gunmen suspected of carrying out a shooting massacre in a concert hall near Moscow, and President Vladimir Putin pledged to track down and punish those behind the attack.
Militant Islamist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for Friday’s rampage but there were indications that Russia was pursuing a Ukrainian link, despite emphatic denials from Ukrainian officials that Kyiv had anything to do with it.
Russia’s state Investigative Committee said 133 people had been killed. State TV editor Margarita Simonyan, without citing a source, had earlier given a toll of 143.
In a televised address, Putin said 11 people had been detained, including the four gunmen. “They tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the state border,” he said.
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
Some 121 victims — including children — were in hospital, as Muscovites queued to donate blood. In all 183 were wounded, including eight children.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
By Upananda Brahmachari.
Russia has arrested 11 people including four suspected Muslim gunmen in connection with a deadly shooting massacre that killed at least 143 people in a concert hall near Moscow, the Kremlin said on Saturday. President Vladimir Putin pledged to track down and punish those behind the attack.
Militant Islamist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for Friday’s massacre but there were indications that Russia was pursuing a Ukrainian link, despite emphatic denials from Ukrainian officials that Kyiv had anything to do with it.
Russia’s state Investigative Committee said 133 people had been killed. State TV editor Margarita Simonyan, without citing a source, had earlier given a toll of 143.
This Ramadan in Russia has spelt a Jihad in Moscow against the enemies of Islam. You and me, anybody who doesn’t believe in Islam is a Kafir (infidel) and subject to kill according to Jihadi Islam. They tell, Ramadan is the most holy month, in this month all violence and mischief are prohibited. But, the death march is going on in Moscow. Death toll in Moscow concert hall jihadist massacre crosses 14. It’s a result of a brutal attack by the worshippers of Allah and followers of Mohammad. Fanatic Islam is the most dangerous religion in the world. Don’t know whether Putin and other world leaders believe it or not!!!
In a televised address, Putin said 11 people had been detained, including the four gunmen. “They tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the state border,” he said.
The FSB security service said the gunmen had contacts in Ukraine and were captured near the border. It said they were being transferred to Moscow. But, many of the media agencies raised the question of lack of proof for Russian claims.
| — Hat tip: Upananda Brahmachari | [Return to headlines] |
Russia Announces 11 Arrests After Moscow Concert Hall Terror Attack That Left at Least 115 Dead
(AFP) — Russia on Saturday said it had arrested 11 people — including four gunmen — over the attack on a Moscow concert hall claimed by the Islamic State, as the death toll rose to 115.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was yet to comment publicly on the attack and Moscow has not addressed the Islamic State’s claim of responsibility, even as some lawmakers pointed to a possible Ukraine connection.
Camouflaged gunmen opened fire at the packed Crocus City Hall in Moscow’s northern suburb of Krasnogorsk on Friday evening ahead of a concert by Soviet-era rock band Piknik in the deadliest attack in Russia for at least a decade.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Russia Admits Its Invasion of Ukraine is a ‘War’ for the First Time
The Ukraine “special military operation” is a “de facto” war, Russia admitted for the first time, while blaming the West for the escalation and accusing Ukraine of occupying Russian territory.
Vladimir Putin’s chief spokesman Dmitry Peskov is the first senior Russian figure to acknowledge the country is at war, saying the conflict changed in nature after Western states began to arm Ukraine. Responding to internal comments about his comments on Friday, Peskov later clarified his position, saying that while the government acknowledged it is “de facto” at war, that did not change the state’s legal position that the invasion of Ukraine remains a “de jure” special military operation.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Russia Launches Coordinated Assault on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia unleashed one of its most devastating attacks against Ukraine’s electric sector on Friday, an aerial assault it said was retaliation for recent strikes inside Russia and which could signal an escalation of the war just days after President Vladimir Putin cemented his grip on power in a preordained election.
Many Ukrainians were plunged into darkness across several cities, at least five people were killed, and damage to the country’s largest hydroelectric plant briefly cut off power to a nuclear plant that has been a safety risk throughout the war.
Russia fired off more than 60 exploding drones and 90 missiles in what Ukrainian officials described as the most brutal attack against its energy infrastructure since the full-scale war began in early 2022.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Art Museum Sued for Women’s-Only Exhibit Where Male Butlers ‘Live to Serve’ Them
An art museum is being sued for a women’s only exhibit that contains some of the museum’s most-acclaimed works.
The Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Tasmania features a “Ladies Lounge” which takes the imagery of an old Australian pub and twists it on its head, by only allowing women inside.
Inside the exhibit, there is a chandelier that hangs over a phallus-shaped velvet couch and a chequered marble floor.
Women guests are ushered into the space and handed champagne by male butlers “who live to serve” them.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Major Australian Bank Closes All Physical Branches as Nation Ushers in ‘Cashless Society’
One of Australia’s leading banks has announced that it is closing down all of its physical branches as it makes the shift to becoming 100 percent digital.
The move comes as Australia continues to usher in the “cashless society” agenda pushed by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
As Slay News previously reported, the WEF has been calling on governments around the globe to begin ushering plans to eliminate physical cash and roll out digital “money.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New York Post’s Jennie Taer is on the ground at the southern border wall and was the first to report the shocking invasion footage in El Paso, Texas, one day ago, when migrants attacked US National Guard troops. In response, the federal government has blocked media access to at least one stretch of the wall because the footage is extremely shocking and embarrassing for the White House.
“Media now being blocked from the scene where we captured a breach by hundreds of migrants in El Paso yesterday, how do we do our jobs now?” Taer posted on X on Friday evening.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Belgium Sees Decline in Asylum Requests as Rest of Europe Witnesses Surge
Across the European Union, over one million individuals sought asylum for the first time last year. While many countries experienced a notable uptick in applications, Belgium reported a decrease, according to the Brussels Times.
Belgium saw an 8.8% decline in first-time asylum applications in 2023, with 29,325 submissions, contrasting sharply with trends in other EU nations. Overall, asylum applications surged by 20.1%, totaling 1.049 million, according to De Tijd, citing Eurostat data.
While the Netherlands and France saw modest increases of 7.6% and 5.5%, respectively, Germany experienced a significant 51.1% rise.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Illegal Immigrants Who Charged National Guard at Border May Have Been Released Into the US: Report
The illegal immigrants who stormed National Guard troops at the border on Thursday may have been released into the US, according to New York Post reporter Jennie Taer.
Taer appeared on Fox News where she was asked by Dana Perino if any of these individuals made it into the interior of the country. Taer confirmed that many of these illegal immigrants were processed by Border Patrol under Title 8, a practice commonly known as “catch and release.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Mohammed Tawfiqi, 20, hoped to stay in the UK after fleeing his native country four years ago aged 16 to escape ‘political persecution’.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
NYC Mayor Eric Adams CANCELS Trip to Southern Border, Citing ‘Safety Concerns’
Mayor Eric Adams has scrapped his planned trip to the southern border, citing “safety concerns” as the reason for the cancellation.
Adams was originally scheduled to visit the Texas-Mexico border, including a trip into Mexico, after he had received an invitation from Sister Norma Pimentel, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley in San Juan.
“As Lent draws to a close, our team was excited to stand with faith and humanitarian leaders who have dedicated their lives to serving the most needy among us, and we were eager to discuss our work in New York City and explore new ways to collaborate with leaders in cities across the country,” Adam’s spokeswoman said in a statement on Saturday.
“But due to safety concerns at one of the cities we were going to visit in Mexico flagged by the U.S. Department of State, we have decided to pause this visit at this time.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Federal prosecutors have accused Eric Nshimiye, 52, of concealing his his involvement in the mass murders, which included him hacking people to death.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Two migrants led Texas Department of Safety troopers on a wild high-speed chase this week in Kinney County before they were arrested for human smuggling.
Law enforcement dashcam video of the chase and arrest shows a trooper in pursuit of the suspects, saying on the radio “they’re not stopping” and driving at speeds “in excess of 100 mph.”
Eventually, the suspects’ car catches fire and pulls over to the shoulder of the road. Two backseat passengers, police say were illegal immigrants, are seen darting from the vehicle and running away, while the driver and his front-seat passenger remain in the car. The officers are heard shouting in Spanish and English for the suspects to exit the car and get on the ground.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott, the third-wealthiest woman in the US, has awarded $640 million in new charitable donations — with most of it going to far-left nonprofits pushing left-wing causes, including assisting migrants who commit crimes and promoting transgender biological males who compete against women, the NY Post reports.
Scott will provide 67 migrant-advocacy organizations a combined $122 million for legal aid and other assistance, according to an analysis of 361 awards she announced Tuesday through her foundation Yield Giving.
The big winners include the Florida Immigrant Coalition, which vehemently opposes Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ crackdown on migrants who commit crimes; and the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, which is fighting that state’s efforts to increase illegal-migrant enforcement. Both scored $2 million awards. —NY Post
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
DEI Newsletter Circulates US Intel Community, Promoting Cross-Dressing and Woke Language: Report
A “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” newsletter that highlighted cross-dressing and woke language was recently circulated in the U.S. intelligence community, according to reports.
It was sent to organizations such as the CIA and featured a secret agent who revealed he was a cross-dresser.
The newsletter, called The Dive, included several left-wing initiatives, and was circulated by the Intelligence Community Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Office, according to Fox News Digital, which reviewed the document.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
In an interview with a New York Times columnist, Democratic Party strategist James Carville railed against his party’s pursuit of wokeness, calling it a “giant, stupid argument” that will lead to more Democrat losses in the future.
Published on Saturday, Carville’s interview with Times opinion columnist Maureen Dowd covered a wide range of topics but had some notable points slamming the culture of wokeness and censorship coming from modern liberals in politics and the media.
Carville, who Dowd described as “blithely un-P.C,” claimed that “no one” wants to live according to woke principles and that they’re a fast track to conservative political victories.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New York High Schoolers Stage Walk-Out Protest Against Transgender Agenda
Authored by Eric Lundrum via American Greatness
High school students at a New York high school staged a massive walk-out protest this week in opposition to the district’s attempts to force them to share restrooms with the opposite gender, in the name of “transgender” acceptance.
Breitbart reports that the Wappingers Central School District, which oversees John Jay High School and other campuses, is set to allow students to choose whichever restrooms they want to use, rather than assigning them on the basis of their actual gender.
The protest consisted entirely of students who do not support the policy, with one student, Shauna Neilan, saying that “a bunch of people from our school, John Jay, feel uncomfortable.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A sex and gender conference in central London has been disrupted after protesters reportedly three smoke bombs as police rushed to the scene.
The First Do No Harm, Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender conference has been taking place today in Euston.
According to CAN-SG’s X profile, they are “a group of UK and Ireland based clinicians calling for greater understanding of the effects of sex and gender in healthcare.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Woke People Are More Unhappy in Life Than Conservatives, Study Finds
“Woke” people are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression than their conservative colleagues, a team of psychologists has found.
Researchers from the University of Turku in Finland had led a study into people’s commitment to ‘social justice’ via a survey which judged respondents against a set of “woke” tests.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Woke NC Soccer Team Fan Group Triggered by Sponsor of Opponent — ‘America First’ Credit Union
A group regarded to be the most loyal supporters of North Carolina’s professional women’s soccer team issued a statement on Friday condemning the Utah Royals’ partnership with America First Credit Union.
The group of fans called “The Uproar” took significant issue with the credit union’s name and claimed that the phrase “America First” is rooted in “racism, fascism, and hateful ideology.”
This is despite the fact that the major credit union was established in 1939 and the motto “America First” has only recently been popularized by Republican Party supporters.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Wyoming Bans ‘Gender-Reassignment’, Puberty Blocking Procedures for Children
The state of Wyoming has outlawed “gender-reassignment” procedures for children in an effort to ban the permanent sterilization, castration, and mutilation of minors.
Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed SF0099, also known as the “Children gender change prohibition,” into law on Friday. The law allows exceptions for “procedures or treatments that are performed with the consent of the child’s parent or guardian and are for a child who is born with a medically verifiable genetic disorder of sex development.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
_________________________________________________________
Below you will find today’s column, 3/24 2024,
by (KOA) Karl-Olov Arnstberg, formerProfessor in
ethnology at Stockholm University.
This is thus a stand-alone contribution
that has nothingto do with GoV News Feed.
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Sunday column:
Incitement to war
Published on 23 March, 2024 by IKarl-Olov Arnstberg
‘Neocons’ is the name of the group that controls the Washington regime and still prevents peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. In a previous column, I have somewhat reluctantly translated the term neocons into ‘neoconservatives’. Reluctantly, because they are not conservative in the true sense of the word. Simply put, the misconception is the same as in Swedish politics: because they are anti-left, they are right-wing.
Neocon ideology” corresponds quite well with a passage in the introduction to a book written and published in 2004 by the political manipulator and financier George Soros: The Bubble of American Supremacy:
*
“After the end of the Cold War, the United States is undoubtedly the dominant power in the world. It therefore has the capacity to impose its views, interests and values on the world. The world would benefit from adopting American values, as the American model has proven its worth. However, under previous administrations, the US failed to realise the full potential of its power. This must be corrected. The US must assert its supremacy in the world.”
*
Neocons believe that there is a struggle between evil and good of cosmic dimensions. The evil in the world can only be eradicated if the US uses its military supremacy without hesitation. The US has a moral obligation to spread democracy in the world, by force of arms.
When Ronald Reagan was president (1981-1989), his administration believed that negotiations and diplomacy with the Soviet Union were futile. The Soviet leaders were completely governed by their ideology. They could therefore only be influenced by military and economic power. When Reagan made contact with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the neocons of the time considered it both pointless and frivolous. When it appeared that he was successful in slowing the military buildup, it was argued that because of his age he was unable to display the necessary toughness. Then, when Reagan’s diplomacy actually worked and he succeeded in ending the Cold War, these Neocons turned the tables and claimed that Reagan followed their advice, despite the contrary.
Under George W. Bush (2001 – 2009), the neocons strengthened their control over foreign policy. The lack of diplomacy resulted in the mistaken belief that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and that was the main reason for the US invasion of Iraq.
Fast forward to the present, the US’s first reaction to Hamas’ mindless killing spree on defenseless Israelis was not that mediation must now take place, but to send more weapons to already well-provided Israel.
That diplomacy for the US is overplayed is most clearly seen in Ukraine. In December 2021, after seven years of civil war in Donbass and more than 14,000 dead, Putin attempted to contact US President-elect Joe Biden to negotiate a halt to NATO expansion. Biden turned his back. The US, NATO, and for that matter also Israel, do not negotiate. They want to win war.
For the US, it is ultimately about not losing its world domination, being the only superpower. To maintain the war industry that gives legitimacy to world domination, the United States must, if necessary, even invent its enemies. In that sense, Putin brought the increasingly strong Russia as a gift from above. It is for the same reason that tensions are increasing between the United States and China.
That Russia would somehow threaten NATO and the USA is a fantasy. However, they have every reason to see Ukrainian membership in NATO as a violation of the reddest of all security boundaries. Geographically, it is the route that Russia has always been threatened by, by Charles XII, by Napoleon and by Hitler. From a security perspective, NATO in Ukraine is as unacceptable from a Russian perspective as it was in 1962 for the United States with Soviet missile launchers in Cuba. Great powers go to war if they feel threatened. Safety is more important than anything else. This is, among other things, why they acquire nuclear weapons, despite the fact that these can end the existence of humanity.
The reason why Russia in February 2022 started its “special military operation”, which they have finally started calling war, was not that they wanted to defeat and incorporate Ukraine into Russia, but that they wanted to force the country to the negotiating table. Zelensky immediately responded by endorsing negotiations on Ukraine’s neutrality. Within a month, there was a first draft of the negotiation agreement in which Russia and Ukraine agreed. Russia would withdraw if Ukraine’s neutrality was guaranteed. NATO was not allowed to expand further east.
continuation follows
Part 2
Boris Johnson then appeared completely unexpectedly and stopped the negotiations, on behalf of the Biden administration. They had no interest in neutrality and peace. They hoped to get rid of Putin and to defeat or at least weaken Russia and if it was Ukrainian soldiers instead of American ones who died, it was pure dream state. On the one hand, they were convinced that Ukraine would win the war, because they had large, strong NATO behind them, and on the other hand, they believed that the economic sanctions against Russia would yield results. None of this occurred.
It turned out that the Russian arms industry was more advanced than that of the NATO countries and that the Russian military power is, after two years of war in Ukraine, far more competent than NATO. Perhaps the first person to see this was former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter. In particular, he singled out the German military as a joke, better at rambling and gulping beer than fighting, which is understandable since they never did.
The NATO countries are now fully equipping themselves, both in the USA and Europe. More guns and more ammo! There is a great risk that NATO will make the same mistake that the Soviet Union did: militarization. It was what the Soviets prioritized in the arms race with the US, especially during the 1970s and 80s. As you know, it led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The United States and the Western world behave far more treacherously today than during the days of the Cold War. One of the consequences is that Russia turns its back not only on the United States but also on Europe. The Russian elite has always admired and turned towards Europe, but I think that love is ending. Why should Russia sit and wait for Europe to sober up? Economically, Europe ends up in recession while Russia can trade Europe for India and China, which are far bigger markets; Europe needs Russia. Not only because Russia with the Nord Stream pipeline delivered energy at a low cost, but because Russia was also an important partner when it came to investment, trade and industry. Russia does not need Europe as much as Europe needs Russia.
The war threatens to economically sink Europe. If we believe the Danish peace researcher Jan Öberg, it is not only about Europe, but about the entire Western empire, with the United States at the head, losing its world domination. He is talking about MIMAC, which is to be defined as the US Military-Industrial-Media-Academic Complex. MIMAC’s exercise of power and warmongering is in no way democratically anchored. An American political and economic elite is leading the United States along the same path that the Soviet Union took. They produce weapons, they sell weapons, they use weapons. They attack and destroy countries with unfavorable regimes. Huge sums are in circulation and the owners of the arms industry are making fortunes. Where MIMAC operates, they are the enemies of the people. Look what’s happening in Ukraine, look what’s happening in Gaza. It is not primarily the people who are at war with each other, it is the elites. Weapons, militarism and armor are about power and money.
America no longer engages in diplomacy but that does not mean war is more effective. The war on terror that began after 9/11 has cost millions of lives but we still have terror. Further back in history, we have seen it time and time again. Now we see it in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war. War does not solve but deepens conflicts.
In an article in The Atlantic magazine, Phillips Payson O’Brien, professor of strategic studies, writes that NATO is at great risk of collapsing next year, due to growing contradictions between, above all, the US Republicans and Europe’s NATO members. If the US withdraws its support to Ukraine, and there is much evidence that they will be forced to do so very soon, then the main responsibility will fall on Europe, both for Ukraine’s economic and military support. The question then is why all the small countries that make up the majority in NATO should stay.
I can wonder why no successor has been appointed to Jens Stoltenberg. He was persuaded to continue leading NATO. Now he will still resign this autumn. Could it possibly be that the job is not very attractive, that those in the know not only see a US-controlled war machine but also understand that NATO belongs to a bygone era, is a horror lizard that should not have survived.
—
Sweden is now a member of NATO. During the drawn-out process, the media has served us brain-dead reports about what is happening even when nothing is happening. We want to participate because we are afraid that the war in Ukraine will spread to Sweden. But why would it? We have no land border with Russia. The relationship was previously not exactly friendly, but not problematically tense either. Besides, the world needs the few neutral states that exist. Namely, it is where enemies can meet and negotiate with each other. In his book “La défaite de L’occident” (2023), the French anthropologist and historian Emmanuel Tdd writes:
*
“As for the notion that Russia could attack Sweden, I must say it bluntly and in a familiar way: it is a delusion. While it is conceivable that the Finns made a mistake in their analysis, since they were drawn into NATO by Estonia, their linguistic cousin, in the case of the Swedes, who do not even share a border with Russia, we must psychiatrically diagnose them as having suffered of madness.”
*
It’s almost like in The Emperor’s New Clothes. A child could ask the forbidden question why should we join an organization that is waging a proxy war with Russia. Thus we become Russia’s enemies!
Before membership in NATO, Sweden entered into an extreme and far-reaching agreement [Defence Cooperation Agreement] with the USA at the end of last year. The decision was made without debate and without the Swedish people having any opportunity to make their voice heard. The US gets access to as many as 17 military bases in Sweden. The agreement has no restrictions and thus does not even prevent the US from bringing in nuclear weapons. The argument is that it makes Sweden safer and that the country can receive earlier and faster support from the US, for example in the event of an isolated attack on Gotland.
Why Russia or any other state would attack Gotland is completely incomprehensible, an argument completely without a basis in reality. On the other hand, with all these US military bases, we can be pretty sure that Russia – to protect its own security – brings Sweden into the threat picture. If the US establishes weapons systems in northern Sweden that can reach the Russian naval base in the Murmansk area, Russia will respond with countermeasures.
As the Sweden Democrats’ fired defense expert Roger Richthoff notes, Sweden could become a new Ukraine, where the US conducts a proxy war against Russia on Swedish and Finnish soil, with devastating losses for us. The fact that Sweden will appear as a threat to Russia through our political elite’s completely deranged policy does not seem to concern the government.
I would like to know if this policy, where the Pentagon will decide Sweden’s future fate, is our Defense Minister Pål Jonson’s payback to the USA and NATO for his expensive education at the American Georgetown University, which ended with a PhD in military science at the strongly NATO-affiliated Kings College in London . Is Pål Jonson a NATO lobbyist who puts US interests before Sweden’s? Will Pål Jonsson go down in history as the man who abolished Sweden’s neutrality and made the country a nuclear weapon target?
There are almost Watergate vibes to this issue. It should be tempting for competent journalists to dig into. And there are plenty of them, but not on SVTV, not on Sveriges Rdio, not on Aftonbladet, DN, SvD or Expressen.Equally little as in any of Sweden’s other
opportunistic newspaper offices.
Karl-Olov Arnstberg
All texts are © on this blog. It is permitted to spread the texts on the condition that you always link to the source here on the blog.
https://morklaggning.wordpress.com/2024/03/23/sondagskronika-krighetsen/
(from Swedish by LN)
Ouch, it hurts the ears…
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Swedish Foreign Minister:
NATO must get ready for a Russian attack | DW News
https://swebbtube.se/w/tJkqbcSgDpBB1pZh978Hgv