Podcasts about north atlantic treaty

Third Place (Joint) AB David Dulla, HMS TAMAR It is more than 40 years since the Falklands conflict. Evaluate the challenges the Royal Navy face if it were to engage in a non-NATO supported conflict in the Southern Hemisphere Context and Considerations Argentina surrendered their claim on the British overseas territory 74 days after invading the Falkland Islands, an outcome determined by poor strategic planning coupled with an under estimation of the United Kingdom's political appetite for a military response. Using this short war as the sole benchmark for predicting future challenges for the Royal Navy is unreliable over 40 years later, however this essay argues the same four considerations still determine the scale and success of any scenario in the future. Political, social, environmental and economic factors drive the capabilities of everyone from the Prime Minister down to a tradesman running a small painting and decorating business, with all organisations subject to conditions of which they have limited levels of control. Challenges vary depending on these factors, but conclusions will highlight financial investments, determined by social and political support, will create risks for the Royal Navy. A turbulent world outlook and the NATO perspective Politically the United Kingdom is largely divided in 2024 between the Conservative and the Labour parties. The UK have led support for Ukraine in their ongoing defence when the Russian Federation invaded in February 2022, fuelling a deterioration in East-West relations which is comparable to the Cold War 1947-1991. Meanwhile, Israel invaded Palestinian Gaza in October 2023 after responding to a Hamas attack on a music festival, following years of unrest over territorial claims traced back to political agreements made in the wake of World War II. In addition, Yemen has seen the Iranian backed Houthis carry out attacks on western merchant ships attempting to transit the Red Sea. And finally, the People's Republic of China is attempting to assert dominance in the South China Sea, with the deployment of Royal Navy and NATO allies to safeguard free trade and fisheries. With these significant and potentially escalating conflicts dominating politics, focusing on the northern hemisphere is the key focus for UK governments. This prioritisation means deploying less operational capability south of the equator, arguably challenging the speed at which the Royal Navy's main fighting force could respond in these areas. Article 6 of the North Atlantic Treaty stipulates an attack on British overseas territory south of the Tropic of Cancer would not qualify for collective defence between NATO Nations, and as seen in the Iraq War 2003 it is easier to make a political argument for military conflict when you are supported by other countries because resources and risks are shared. With no weapons of mass destruction found during the Iraq campaign, and 179 UK military personal losing their lives, the conflict and consequent enquiry conducted in 2016 concluded a deficient case for war where preparations were inadequate and military objectives failed. Tony Blair, the Prime Minister during the conflict, was scrutinised publicly which emphasised the personal accountability of decision makers. Poor intelligence prior to any conflict in the southern hemisphere would potentially lead to the same outcomes. Voters responded when Labours government lost the election in 2010, with a decline in electorate trust a contributing factor. Conversely, Thatcher gained popularity in her Britain-alone response seen in the Falklands, cementing the nickname 'Iron Lady' while seeing her landslide re-election in 1983 and 1987 following a conflict 8000 miles away from the UK but a beacon for political support. Both the Iraq and the Falkland conflicts were positioned as the defence of British security, but both had very different outcomes for politicians which influences their predecessors. The Royal Navy would encounter g...

This episode is part 3 of examining common claims about something Donald Trump said.As we examine each trope let's ask ourselves "Did Trump really say that?!"Context is king. There can be more than meets the eye than what media will often have us believe.In part 3 we dissect two hoaxes:The "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by" hoaxThe Putin can "do whatever he wants" hoaxSources Cited:"President Donald Trump: White supremacist group Proud Boys should 'stand back and stand by'," CNBC Television, September 30, 2020."Trump Says He Doesnt Know Who the Proud Boys Are," Bloomberg Quicktake, September 30, 2020."Trump says he doesn't know who Proud Boys are after telling them to 'stand by'," Axios, September 30, 2020.Bill McCarthy, "In context: Donald Trump's 'stand back and stand by' debate comments on white supremacists," Politifact, September 30, 2020.Ed Pilkington, "'Stand back and stand by': how Trumpism led to the Capitol siege," The Guardian, January 6, 2021."Proud Boys chairman says group is misunderstood, doesn't stand for white supremacy," WPLG Local 10, October 1, 2020."Biden slams former Trump in State of the Union for telling Putin to 'do whatever the h*** you want'," ABC News, March 7, 2024."Donald Trump delivers speech in South Carolina," Sky News, February 10, 2024."Donald Trump Delivers Speech in South Carolina," rev.com, February 12, 2024."The North Atlantic Treaty," NATO, Last updated October 19, 2023.Danielle Cuddington, "Support for NATO is widespread among member nations," Pew Research Center, July 6, 2016.Francesca Chambers and Javier Zarracina, "GRAPHICS STORY: How much do NATO allies really spend on defense?" USA Today, July 10, 2024."Donald Trump says he would 'encourage' Russia to attack Nato," The Times and The Sunday Times, February 11, 2024."Donald Trump says he warned Nato ally he would let Russia 'do whatever they want'," Evening Standard, February 11, 2024."Trump says he'd encourage Russia to 'do whatever the h*** they want'," WCNC, February 12,...

This episode is part 3 of examining common claims about something Donald Trump said.As we examine each trope let's ask ourselves "Did Trump really say that?!"Context is king. There can be more than meets the eye than what media will often have us believe.In part 3 we dissect two hoaxes:The "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by" hoaxThe Putin can "do whatever he wants" hoaxSources Cited:"President Donald Trump: White supremacist group Proud Boys should 'stand back and stand by'," CNBC Television, September 30, 2020."Trump Says He Doesnt Know Who the Proud Boys Are," Bloomberg Quicktake, September 30, 2020."Trump says he doesn't know who Proud Boys are after telling them to 'stand by'," Axios, September 30, 2020.Bill McCarthy, "In context: Donald Trump's 'stand back and stand by' debate comments on white supremacists," Politifact, September 30, 2020.Ed Pilkington, "'Stand back and stand by': how Trumpism led to the Capitol siege," The Guardian, January 6, 2021."Proud Boys chairman says group is misunderstood, doesn't stand for white supremacy," WPLG Local 10, October 1, 2020."Biden slams former Trump in State of the Union for telling Putin to 'do whatever the h*** you want'," ABC News, March 7, 2024."Donald Trump delivers speech in South Carolina," Sky News, February 10, 2024."Donald Trump Delivers Speech in South Carolina," rev.com, February 12, 2024."The North Atlantic Treaty," NATO, Last updated October 19, 2023.Danielle Cuddington, "Support for NATO is widespread among member nations," Pew Research Center, July 6, 2016.Francesca Chambers and Javier Zarracina, "GRAPHICS STORY: How much do NATO allies really spend on defense?" USA Today, July 10, 2024."Donald Trump says he would 'encourage' Russia to attack Nato," The Times and The Sunday Times, February 11, 2024."Donald Trump says he warned Nato ally he would let Russia 'do whatever they want'," Evening Standard, February 11, 2024."Trump says he'd encourage Russia to 'do whatever the h*** they want'," WCNC, February 12,...

pWotD Episode 2689: September 11 attacks Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 488,772 views on Wednesday, 11 September 2024 our article of the day is September 11 attacks.The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001. On that morning, 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners scheduled to travel from the East Coast to California. The hijackers crashed the first two planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and aimed the next two flights toward targets in or near Washington, D. C., in an attack on the nation's capital. The third team succeeded in striking the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U. S. Department of Defense in Arlington County, Virginia, while the fourth plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania during a passenger revolt. The September 11 attacks killed 2,977 people, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in history. In response to the attacks, the United States waged the multi-decade global war on terror to eliminate hostile groups deemed terrorist organizations, as well as the foreign governments purported to support them, in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and several other countries.Ringleader Mohamed Atta flew American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan at 8:46 a.m. Seventeen minutes later, at 9:03, the World Trade Center's South Tower was hit by United Airlines Flight 175. Both 110-story skyscrapers collapsed within an hour and forty-one minutes, bringing about the destruction of the remaining five structures in the WTC complex and damaging or destroying nearby buildings. American Airlines Flight 77 flew towards Washington, D. C. and crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m., causing a partial collapse. The fourth and final flight, United Airlines Flight 93, also changed course towards Washington, believed by investigators to target either the United States Capitol or the White House. Alerted to the previous attacks, the passengers revolted against the hijackers who then crashed the aircraft into a Stonycreek Township field, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered an indefinite ground stop for all air traffic in U. S. airspace at 9:45 a.m. (59 minutes following the first impact), preventing any further aircraft departures until September 13 and requiring all airborne aircraft to return to their point of origin or divert to Canada. The actions undertaken in Canada to support incoming aircraft and their occupants were collectively titled Operation Yellow Ribbon.That evening, the Central Intelligence Agency informed President George W. Bush that its Counterterrorism Center had identified the attacks as having been the work of Al-Qaeda under Osama bin Laden. The United States formally responded by launching the war on terror and invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, which rejected the conditions of U. S. terms to expel Al-Qaeda from Afghanistan and extradite its leaders. The U. S.'s invocation of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty—its only usage to date—called upon allies to fight Al-Qaeda. As U. S. and NATO invasion forces swept through Afghanistan, bin Laden eluded them by disappearing into the White Mountains. He denied any involvement until 2004, when excerpts of a taped statement in which he accepted responsibility for the attacks were released. Al-Qaeda's cited motivations included U. S. support of Israel, the presence of U. S. military bases in Saudi Arabia and sanctions against Iraq. The nearly decade-long manhunt for bin Laden concluded on May 2, 2011, when he was killed during a U. S. military raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The war in Afghanistan continued for another eight years until the agreement was made in February 2020 for American and NATO troops to withdraw from the country. The last members of the U. S. armed forces left the region on August 30, 2021, after which the Taliban rapidly returned to power. Ayman al-Zawahiri, another planner of the attacks who succeeded bin Laden as leader of Al-Qaeda, was killed by U. S. drone strikes in Kabul, Afghanistan on July 31, 2022.Excluding the hijackers, the attacks killed 2,977 people, injured thousands more and gave rise to substantial long-term health consequences while also causing at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in history as well as the deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement personnel in American history, killing 343 and 72 members, respectively. The loss of life stemming from the impact of Flight 11 made it the most lethal multi-plane crash in aviation history followed by the death toll incurred by Flight 175. The destruction of the World Trade Center and its environs seriously harmed the U. S. economy and induced global market shocks. Many other countries strengthened anti-terrorism legislation and expanded their powers of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The total number of deaths caused by the attacks, combined with the death tolls from the conflicts they directly incited, has been estimated by the Costs of War Project to be over 4.5 million. Cleanup of the World Trade Center site (colloquially "Ground Zero") took eight months and was completed in May 2002, while the Pentagon was repaired within a year. After delays in the design of a replacement complex, six new buildings were planned to replace the lost towers, along with a museum and memorial dedicated to those who were killed or injured in the attacks. The tallest building, One World Trade Center, began construction in November 2006; it opened in November 2014. Memorials to the attacks include the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington County, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial at the Pennsylvania crash site.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:20 UTC on Thursday, 12 September 2024.For the full current version of the article, see September 11 attacks on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Matthew.

Part two on Chapter 19 of Conjectures and Refutations! Last time we got a little hung up arguing about human behavior and motivations. Putting that disagreement aside, like mature adults, we move on to the rest of the chapter and Popper's remaining theses. In particular, we focus on Popper's criticism of the idea of a nation's right to self-determination. Things were going smoothly ... until roughly five minutes in, when we start disagreeing about what the "nation" in "nation state" actually means. (Note: Early listeners of this episode have commented that this one is a bit hard to follow - highly suggest reading the text to compensate for our many confusing digressions. Our bad, our bad). We discuss Are there any benefits of being bilingual? Popper's attack on the idea of national self-determination Popper's second thesis: that out own free world is by far the best society thus far Reductions in poverty, unemployment, sickness, pain, cruelty, slavery, discrimination, class differences Popper's third thesis: The relation of progress to war Whether Popper was factually correct about his claim that democracies do not wage wars of aggression Self-accusation: A unique feature to Western societies Popper's fourth thesis about the power of ideas And his fifth thesis that truth is hard to come by References Conjectures and Refutations (https://www.routledge.com/Conjectures-and-Refutations-The-Growth-of-Scientific-Knowledge/Popper/p/book/9780415285940?srsltid=AfmBOorkyc4_sllmg2YLqfQ3jYz1HpLtAEUJODspqZ-3adzKrPaQlj9D) Definition of self-determination from Cornell Law School (https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/self_determination_(international_law)) The UN Charter (https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/full-text) Wilson's 14 Points (https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/president-woodrow-wilsons-14-points) Quotes The absurdity of the communist faith is manifest. Appealing to the belief in human freedom, it has produced a system of oppression without parallel in history. But the nationalist faith is equally absurd. I am not alluding here to Hitler's racial myth. What I have in mind is, rather, an alleged natural right of man— the alleged right of a nation to self-determination. That even a great humanitarian and liberal like Masaryk could uphold this absurd- ity as one of the natural rights of man is a sobering thought. It suffices to shake one's faith in the wisdom of philosopher kings, and it should be contemplated by all who think that we are clever but wicked rather than good but stupid. For the utter absurdity of the principle of national self-determination must be plain to anybody who devotes a moment's effort to criticizing it. The principle amounts to the demand that each state should be a nation-state: that it should be confined within a natural border, and that this border should coincide with the location of an ethnic group; so that it should be the ethnic group, the ‘nation', which should determine and protect the natural limits of the state. But nation-states of this kind do not exist. Even Iceland—the only exception I can think of—is only an apparent exception to this rule. For its limits are determined, not by its ethnic group, but by the North Atlantic—just as they are protected, not by the Icelandic nation, but by the North Atlantic Treaty. Nation-states do not exist, simply because the so-called ‘nations' or ‘peoples' of which the nationalists dream do not exist. There are no, or hardly any, homogenous ethnic groups long settled in countries with natural borders. Ethnic and linguistic groups (dialects often amount to linguistic barriers) are closely intermingled everywhere. Masaryk's Czechoslovakia was founded upon the principle of national self-determination. But as soon as it was founded, the Slovaks demanded, in the name of this principle, to be free from Czech domination; and ultimately it was destroyed by its German minority, in the name of the same principle. Similar situations have arisen in practically every case in which the principle of national self- determination has been applied to fixing the borders of a new state: in Ireland, in India, in Israel, in Yugoslavia. There are ethnic minorities everywhere. The proper aim cannot be to ‘liberate' all of them; rather, it must be to protect all of them. The oppression of national groups is a great evil; but national self-determination is not a feasible remedy. Moreover, Britain, the United States, Canada, and Switzerland, are four obvious examples of states which in many ways violate the nationality principle. Instead of having its borders determined by one settled group, each of them has man- aged to unite a variety of ethnic groups. So the problem does not seem insoluble. C&R, Chapter 19 How anybody who had the slightest knowledge of European history, of the shifting and mixing of all kinds of tribes, of the countless waves of peoples who had come forth from their original Asian habitat and split up and mingled when reaching the maze of peninsulas called the European continent, how anybody who knew this could ever have put forward such an inapplicable principle, is hard to understand. Open Society, Page 355 The nationalist religion is strong. Many are ready to die for it, fer- vently believing that it is morally good, and factually true. But they are mistaken; just as mistaken as their communist bedfellows. Few creeds have created more hatred, cruelty, and senseless suffering than the belief in the righteousness of the nationality principle; and yet it is still widely believed that this principle will help to alleviate the misery of national oppression. My optimism is a little shaken, I admit, when I look at the near-unanimity with which this principle is still accepted, even today, without any hesitation, without any doubt—even by those whose political interests are clearly opposed to it. C&R, Chapter 19 In spite of our great and serious troubles, and in spite of the fact that ours is surely not the best possible society, I assert that our own free world is by far the best society which has come into existence during the course of human history. C&R, Chapter 19 But before examining these facts more closely, I wish to stress that I am very much alive to other facts also. Power still corrupts, even in our world. Civil servants still behave at times like uncivil masters. Pocket dictators still abound; and a normally intelligent man seeking medical advice must be prepared to be treated as a rather tiresome type of imbecile, if he betrays an intelligent interest—that is, a critical interest—in his physical condition. C&R, Chapter 19 I have in mind the standards and values which have come down to us through Christianity from Greece and from the Holy Land; from Socrates, and from the Old and New Testaments. C&R, Chapter 19 My third thesis is that since the time of the Boer War, none of the democratic governments of the free world has been in a position to wage a war of aggression. No democratic government would be united upon the issue, because they would not have the nation united behind them. Aggressive war has become almost a moral impossibility. C&R, Chapter 19 I believe that it is most important to say what the free world has achieved. For we have become unduly sceptical about ourselves. We are suspicious of anything like self-righteousness, and we find self-praise unpalatable. One of the great things we have learned is not only to be tolerant of others, but to ask ourselves seriously whether the other fellow is not perhaps in the right, and altogether the better man. We have learned the fundamental moral truth that nobody should be judge in his own cause. This, no doubt, is a symptom of a certain moral maturity; yet one may learn a lesson too well. Having discovered the sin of self-righteousness, we have fallen into its stereotyped inversion: into a stereotyped pose of self-depreciation, of inverted smugness. Having learned that one should not be judge in one's own cause, we are tempted to become advocates for our opponents. Thus we become blind to our own achievements. But this tendency must be resisted. C&R, Chapter 19 Thus we learnt not only to tolerate beliefs that differ from ours, but to respect them and the men who sincerely held them. But this means that we slowly began to differentiate between sincerity and dogmatic stub- bornness or laziness, and to recognize the great truth that truth is not manifest, not plainly visible to all who ardently want to see it, but hard to come by. And we learnt that we must not draw authoritarian conclu- sions from this great truth but, on the contrary, suspect all those who claim that they are authorized to teach the truth. C&R, Chapter 19 # Socials Follow us on Twitter at @IncrementsPod, @BennyChugg, @VadenMasrani Come join our discord server! DM us on twitter or send us an email to get a supersecret link Help us revoke the UN charter and get exclusive bonus content by becoming a patreon subscriber here (https://www.patreon.com/Increments). Or give us one-time cash donations to help cover our lack of cash donations here (https://ko-fi.com/increments). Click dem like buttons on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_4wZzQyoW4s4ZuE4FY9DQQ) Form a nation and liberate yo' selves over at incrementspodcast@gmail.com.

Summary An expert panel of world leaders gathered at the International Spy Museum to discuss the importance of NATO today and in the future. Panelists included former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, among others.  What You'll Learn Intelligence Threats facing Baltic countries, including Russia The importance of NATO support for Ukraine Maintaining stability during political turmoil NATO's growth and where it still needs to evolve in the 21st century Reflections The power of global partnerships  The impact of honest leadership  And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “In the old days, NATO was kind of a place where everybody did their talking points and then left. But for the first time in a very long time, NATO is more than just a forum. It is a security alliance that is very important to protecting world peace.” – Leon Panetta  Resources  SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Zelensky, Ukraine & Intelligence with Simon Shuster (2024) CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024) Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler (2023) NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence & Security with David Cattler (2022) *Beginner Resources* Why are the Baltic states strategically important for NATO? A. Sytas, Reuters (2023) [Short article] Ukraine conflict: Simple visual guide to the Russian invasion, BBC (2022) [Short article] The Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact | History, YouTube (2017) [3 min. video] DEEPER DIVE Primary Sources  Statement by the North Atlantic Council on recent Russian hybrid activities (2024) Joint letter to DoD for Urgent Ukraine Aid (2024) Address by the President to Ukrainians at the end of the first day of Russia's attacks (2022)  Statement by the North Atlantic Council on the situation at the Poland-Belarus border (2021) Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Estonia (2003) Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of Latvia (2003) Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of Lithuania (2003) The North Atlantic Treaty (1949) *Wildcard Resource* Three of the panelists in this week's episode hail from the beautiful Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. To learn more about the history and culture of these countries, take virtual tours of their national museums or libraries here:  Lietuvos nacionalinis muziejus, National Museum of Lithuania Recommended exhibit: Women Warriors Latvijas Nacionālā bibliotēka, National Library of Latvia Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Estonian National Museum  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some things never change, and 75 years since 12 men representing 12 countries signed the first North Atlantic Treaty, there were just four women attending the NATO Summit in Washington D.C. It says a lot about women's representation around the world - Angela Priestley and Olivia Cleal share more.We also look at Australia's first national examination of filicide figures, and why we need to be examining this right now. Plus, the NDIS was under the microscope this week: how and why did sex work get approved for NDIS funding?This podcast contains references that some listeners may find distressing. To avoid this content, you can choose not to listen from 5 min 40 sec to 11 min 55 sec.If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Stories discussed this week:‘Art is a lie': Kirsha Kaechele confesses to replicated Picasso artworks in MONA's Ladies LoungeRecord number of women elected to UK parliament, with first female chancellor appointed138 children killed by parents in 8 years. It's ‘senseless' but research shows opportunities to stop itThe government wants to end gender-based violence in one generation but they have forgotten about children75 years of NATO but little change for women's representationHow and why did sex work get approved for NDIS funding?The Crux is produced by Agenda Media, the 100% women-founded and owned media business, publishing the daily news publication Women's Agenda.Producers: Olivia Cleal and Allison Ho Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ripped by an asteroid stray, the space-ship drifted helplessly … until suddenly, across the shuddering deeps, a strange voice called to her. Runaway by Alfred Coppel, that's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Alfred Coppel has been on the podcast before, with The First Man on the Moon, Wreck Off Titan and The Flight of the Eagle. Every one of them a story set in space and today's offering is more of the same, with a twist.In 1949 United States Secretary of State Dean Acheson signed the North Atlantic Treaty otherwise known as NATO and the Cold War entered a dangerous new chapter when the Soviet Union became the second country to develop the atomic bomb. Gasoline cost 26 cents a gallon, Bread 14 cents a loaf and a gallon of Milk would set you back 84 cents. And the Spring 1949 issue of Planet Stories magazine contained stories by Henry Hasse, Ray Bradbury, Damon Knight and on page 31, Runaway by Alfred Coppel…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, The essential requirements of a first-class triggerman are two: that he know how to pull the trigger–and when not to! By J. F. Bone☕ Buy Me a Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/scottsV===========================

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO /ˈneɪtoʊ/ NAY-toh; French: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance of 32 member states—30 European and 2 North American. Established in the aftermath of World War II, the organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty, signed in Washington, D.C., on 4 April 1949. NATO is a collective security system: its independent member states agree to defend each other against attacks by third parties. НА́ТО, Организа́ция Североатланти́ческого догово́ра, Североатланти́ческий алья́нс (англ. North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO; фр. Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, OTAN) — военно-политический блок, объединяющий большинство стран Европы (включая Турцию), Соединённые Штаты Америки и Канаду. Основан 4 апреля 1949 года в США с целью защиты Европы от возможной угрозы советской экспансии. Тогда государствами — членами НАТО стали 12 стран: США, Канада, Исландия, Великобритания, Франция, Бельгия, Нидерланды, Люксембург, Норвегия, Дания, Италия и Португалия. Это «трансатлантический форум» для проведения странами-союзниками консультаций по любым вопросам, затрагивающим жизненно важные интересы его членов, включая события, способные поставить под угрозу их безопасность. Одной из заявленных целей НАТО является обеспечение сдерживания агрессии или защиты от неё в отношении территории любого государства — члена НАТО.

Professors Peter Roberts and Julian Lindley French try and put the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty in perspective: how much of the history of the Alliance remains relevant today? NATO is certainly an impressive organisation on the surface – but it isn't perfect. What does the future hold? What of Old Europe/New Europe, American isolationism, and what does Chinese imperialism means for NATO? Much covered and debated in an episode that looks at the least-worst Alliance in military history. This episode was co-sponsored by NATO Public Diplomacy Division.

Max Pearson presents a collection of this week's Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service.It's 75 years since the founding of Nato. In 1949, a group of 12 countries formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to block the expansion of the Soviet Union.Professor Sten Rynning, the author of "Nato: from Cold War to Ukraine", talks about some of the most significant moments in Nato's history.It's 30 years since the beginning of the Rwandan genocide. We hear from one of the survivors. This programme contains disturbing content.Plus Britain's Mirpuri migration, the origins of the Heimlich Manoeuvre and Britain's first nudist beach.Contributors: Sten Rynning - Professor of War Studies at the University of Copenhagen Riyaz Begum - migrated from Mirpur to London Antoinette Mutabazi - Rwandan genocide survivor Janet Heimlich - daughter of Dr Henry Heimlich Adam Trimingham - Brighton based journalist David Johnson - nudist (Photo: British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin signs the North Atlantic Treaty. Credit: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

(Bonus) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO /ˈneɪtoʊ/ NAY-toh; French: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance of 31 member states – 29 European and two North American. Established in the aftermath of World War II, the organization implemented the North Atlantic Treaty, signed in Washington, D.C., on 4 April 1949.[3][4] NATO is a collective security system: its independent member states agree to defend each other against attacks by third parties. During the Cold War, NATO operated as a check on the threat posed by the Soviet Union. The alliance remained in place after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact and has been involved in military operations in the Balkans, the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. The organization's motto is animus in consulendo liber (Latin for 'a mind unfettered in deliberation').[5]

On this day in history, July 21, the North Atlantic Treaty, of NATO fame, was ratified in the Senate.In the wake of World War II, the United States emerged as an unrivaled superpower, boasting a robust military, thriving economy, and moral ascendancy. Despite a history of isolationism, encouraged since the time of George Washington, shifts in policy started to emerge. On March 12, 1947, President Harry S. Truman issued his doctrine of containment, signaling a departure from the U.S. tradition of avoiding non-domestic conflicts. Truman promised aid to all "free people" under threat, marking a shift with financial assistance to Greece and Turkey to shield them from communism. In 1948, the U.S. introduced the European Recovery Program, commonly known as the Marshall Plan, designed to rebuild war-devastated Europe and bolster its economies.Simultaneously, the Senate approved the Vandenburg Resolution in June 1948, paving the way for U.S. participation in peacetime collective defense systems. Beginning in 1948, confidential discussions among American, British, and Canadian officials eventually expanded to include other future Allies, laying the foundation for the North Atlantic Treaty. Despite strong isolationist and unilateralist sentiments in the Senate and among the American populace, significant events like the Berlin Blockade and the Czechoslovakian communist coup in 1948 helped alter perspectives on Europe. The Red Scare did a lot of that heavy lifting too. On April 4, 1949, U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson signed the North Atlantic Treaty, aligning the United States more closely with Europe's future. The Senate ratified this treaty on July 21, 1949, with an 83-13 vote. Four days later, President Truman and Secretary Acheson signed the Instrument of Accession, establishing the United States as a founding member of NATO. On July 20, 2023, New York City agreed to pay $13 million to hundreds of individuals arrested during the George Floyd protests in 2020. This marks the largest class action settlement ever paid to protesters in the United States. The protests were in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. Each of the more than 1,300 protestors arrested between May 28 and June 4, 2020, will receive $9,950 as part of the settlement. However, those charged with crimes like arson or property destruction will not receive any part of the settlement, which still requires approval by U.S. District Court Judge Colleen McMahon. Allegations of police misconduct during the protests include the use of pepper spray, excessive force with batons, and "kettling", a practice where police corral protestors into a confined area. Earlier in March, New York had agreed to a separate $7 million settlement for over 300 people arrested during a June 4, 2020, demonstration in the Bronx.New York to pay $13 million to protesters arrested during George Floyd protests | ReutersFTX Trading has filed a lawsuit against its founder Sam Bankman-Fried and several former executives, aiming to recover over $1 billion they allegedly misused before the company's bankruptcy. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware bankruptcy court, also includes defendants Caroline Ellison, Zixiao "Gary" Wang, and Nishad Singh. FTX accuses the defendants of misappropriating funds for luxury real estate, political donations, speculative investments, and other personal interests, describing their actions as "one of the largest financial frauds in history." The alleged fraudulent transfers took place between February 2020 and November 2022, when FTX filed for Chapter 11 protection. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to several criminal charges, while Ellison, Wang, and Singh have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. The lawsuit alleges that a significant portion of the misappropriated funds included over $725 million of equity awarded without any return value, as well as $546 million used to purchase Robinhood Market shares. The case is now pending in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware.FTX sues Bankman-Fried, others to recoup more than $1 billion | ReutersTwitter has announced plans to subpoena US Senator Elizabeth Warren as part of an ongoing dispute with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) concerning data breaches. Last year, following billionaire Elon Musk's acquisition of the social media company, extensive layoffs and cost reductions led to questions regarding Twitter's ability to comply with an FTC consent order. Twitter has asked for this consent order to be annulled, alleging FTC bias and overreach in its filings in a federal court in San Francisco. Warren, along with several other Democratic senators, previously urged the FTC to scrutinize Twitter's privacy policies post-layoffs and consider enforcing actions against its executives, if necessary. The subpoena demands all communications involving Twitter or Elon Musk between Warren's office and the FTC, as well as between her office and the Securities and Exchange Commission. In 2020, Twitter agreed to pay $150 million in a settlement with the FTC and the Justice Department over allegations of private user information misuse for targeted advertising.Twitter to subpoena Senator Elizabeth Warren over communications with US agencies | ReutersKPMG is harnessing generative artificial intelligence (AI) to assist tax professionals and audit processes, marking a significant stage in its $2 billion commitment to AI integration. The firm has developed a 'virtual assistant' which aids in gathering tax data and analyzing tax obligations. Powered by Microsoft's Azure cloud platform and OpenAI's ChatGPT, KPMG envisions a return of up to $12 billion in revenue from the five-year investment. Other "Big Four" accounting firms are also investing heavily in AI, with Deloitte, PwC, and Ernst & Young launching their own generative AI initiatives. While enhancing productivity, the firms remain cautious about the use of AI in audits, aiming to certify, verify, and understand the results it generates. However, the application of generative AI is not without potential risks, including the possibility of overlooking gaps in its applicability across different regions and functions. Despite these challenges, firms recognize AI's transformative potential for their business operations.KPMG Rolls out Generative AI to Tax Pros, Launches Audit Pilot Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

The one where we talk about the somewhat anticlimactic indictment of Donald Trump, Adam Nettina's violent threats, and some of the developments in Russia's War Of Choice in Ukraine. Here are some of the sources and references that we used to create this episode:Trump judge and his family receive threats after New York arrestIn the 24 hours since former President Donald Trump's arraignment, the presiding judge and his family have received multiple threats, two sources familiar with the matter said.One official said “dozens” of threats have recently been directed at Judge Juan Merchanand his chambers but did not give an exact time frame for them.The other source said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and other top officials in his office continue to receive threats. The threats have been in the form of calls, emails and letters.Maryland man threatened to 'slaughter' LGBTQ+ people after Covenant School shooting, DOJ saysAccording to an affidavit, on the morning of March 28, Nettina left a threatening voice mail at the D.C. office of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the United States. The call came just one day after six people, including three children, were killed in a shooting at The Covenant School – a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. Evan Gershkovich Loved Russia, the Country That Turned on Him. Mr. Gershkovich, 31 years old, is the American son of Soviet-born Jewish exiles who had settled in New Jersey. He fell in love with Russia—its language, the people he chatted with for hours in regional capitals, the punk bands he hung out with at Moscow dive bars. Now, espionage charges leave him facing a possible prison sentence of up to 20 years. His employer, colleagues and the Biden administration all deny Russia's claimthat he was spying on behalf of the U.S., and have called for his immediate release. Diplomats and legal experts see little hope Mr. Gershkovich, a reporter accredited by the Russian foreign ministry, will immediately be freed, given that espionage trials in Russia are conducted in secret and almost always end in a conviction.Finland joins NATO as 31st AllyFinland became NATO's newest member today (4 April 2023), upon depositing its instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the United States at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. NATO Allies signed Finland's Accession Protocol on 5 July 2022, after which all 30 national parliaments voted to ratify the country's membership. Speaking ahead of the ceremony, the Secretary General thanked President Niinistö for his outstanding leadership and for leading Finland into the most successful Alliance in history. “I am deeply proud to welcome Finland as a full-fledged member of our Alliance and I look forward to also welcoming Sweden as soon as possible,” he said. “Joining NATO is good for Finland, it is good for Nordic security and it is good for NATO as a whole,” he added. The Secretary General also noted that Finland's accession shows the world that President Putin failed to “slam NATO's door shut.” “Instead of less NATO, he has achieved the opposite; more NATO and our door remains firmly open,” he said. Putin has gone crazy' says his defected security officerPutin has 'gone crazy' according to one of highest ranking Russian security service officers who defected in 2022, Marc Bennetts tells Times Radio.‘He's a war criminal': Elite Putin security officer defects On Oct. 14, a Russian engineer named Gleb Karakulov boarded a flight from Kazakhstan to Turkey with his wife and daughter. He switched off his phone to shut out the crescendo of urgent, enraged messages, said goodbye to his life in Russia and tried to calm his fast-beating heart.But this was no ordinary Russian defector. Karakulov was an officer in President Vladimir Putin's secretive elite personal security service — one of the few Russians to flee and go public who have rank, as well as knowledge of intimate details of Putin's life and potentially classified information.Karakulov, who was responsible for secure communications, said moral opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and his fear of dying there drove him to speak out, despite the risks to himself and his family. He said he hoped to inspire other Russians to speak out also.“Our president has become a war criminal,” he said. “It is time to end this war and stop being silent.”Bill Clinton says he feels 'terrible' for pushing a 1994 agreement with Russia that resulted in Ukraine giving up its nuclear weaponsFormer US President Bill Clinton said that he regrets pressuring Ukraine to give up its nuclear warheads in a high-stakes negotiation in 1994. In an interview with Irish news service RTÉ released on Tuesday,Clinton said that he felt a "personal stake" in Ukraine's fragile territorial integrity. He said he believed that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine in 2014, and in 2022, had the weapons still been in the country — a position that a Soviet historian echoed to Insider."I feel a personal stake because I got them [Ukraine] to agree to give up their nuclear weapons," Clinton said. "And none of them believe that Russia would have pulled this stunt if Ukraine still had their weapons."This is our current events recap program, where we offer our takes on what's going on at the bleeding edge of the information war. Feel free to let us know what you think, suggest topics, etc. at didnothingwrongpod@protonmail.com, or in our group chat using the Substack app.Thanks for listening,Jay and Griff This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.didnothingwrongpod.com/subscribe

Vladimir Putin used fears of a NATO expansion to justify his invasion of Ukraine. And a NATO expansion is exactly what he's getting. Finland has officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty organization. Ishaan Tharoor from the Washington Post breaks down what this means for the transatlantic military alliance and for Russia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By: Ryan Dery, WXVU Roving Correspondent 2 people were killed on Tuesday when what the Polish President described as “most probably” a Russian-made projectile landed in a Polish village. Officially the US and other NATO states are saying that they cannot confirm whether or not this was a Russian missile. The Polish government has apparently invoked Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which calls for consultations within the alliance and is substantially less escalatory than invoking the Article 5 provision for collective self-defense US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met this tuesday for roughly 3 hours. The summaries of the meetings released by the two sides afterwards revealed on-going divisions over key issues like Taiwan, human rights, technology and trade. The United Nations estimates that the global population crossed the 8 billion threshold on Tuesday.

Host Helen Lee continues with the second part of her conversation with Maxim Dondyuk, Ukrainian photographer and visual artist, and his wife Irena Dondyuk, his Artistic Manager about the war in the Ukraine, the inaction of Ukraine's so-called allies, the nature of Russian comprehensive population control and the horror of living in a war-torn country. Then, join Helen as she explains how we can all transform, increasing our vibration and connection to our spiritual selves and the universal consciousness, to help this and have a real effect on the unsettled situation in the world today. Look out for episode 48 which will contain part 3, the fascinating conclusion of this interview.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Maxim feels that Russia does not need to use nuclear weapons. Hence, to him, the intermittent threats are just posturing. Also, the EU will remain inert against these threats, and Ursula Von De Lyon's words of retaliation are just more of the same. They did nothing about Crimea and they will do nothing now, according to Maxim.  The EU has supported Ukraine with weapons, but have taken advantage of the situation to fully test as yet not fully developed technology. Ukraine is seen as a grey area between the EU and Russia and so the EU are currently unwilling to take any real action. This is as per Maxim during the interview with Helen. NOTE that according to Helen's Ukrainian source in Singapore, however: After Feb 2022, there has been more and more help and it is now clear for most of EU members that 1. Ukraine is not a grey zone but a real nation state that is going back to the European family, after centuries of occupation; 2. It's very beneficial to have Ukraine as a strategic partner, especially for geopolitical security reasons; 3. But both EU and even US are concerned re: what will happen if Ukraine wins. If Russia falls apart, it has a chance to turn into a Yugoslavia occupying 1/6th of the planet and having nuclear weapons. This why they are helping slowly and cautiously, so as to not cause uncontrolled escalation. Maxim's perspective: The official application for NATO has been refused (even if not officially), as the offer has been made half-heartedly since the collapse of the Soviet Union, but no official moves have ever been made to allow Ukraine to join.  Note the following quote from TGP - The Geopolitics: "At the moment, a Ukraine NATO accession is a no-go. It would embroil the whole continent of Europe in a full-fledged war against Russia. According to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, an attack on one is an attack on all, and the US and Europe are not ready for that risk. Maxim's perspective: The similarities to the inaction at the beginning of World War 2 is palpable. The lack of action over the invasion of Crimea proved that the EU is willing to repeat the same old mistake, hand over parts of domination, just as they did with Hitler, to Putin. Still, Putin went ahead and invaded Ukraine.  Maxim's perspective: Appealing to the people of Russia's better nature seems like an option but due to the orthodox nature of their education system, media and political system they are incapable of perceiving any point of view other than that presented to them by their government. They will blindly march to war accepting that who they are fighting are evil and their mortal enemy.  It is difficult for us, so physically and emotionally far removed from being in a state of war and entire generations not experiencing war, to truly know what it is like to live in a war torn environment. Maxim and Irena are still amazingly balanced and kind people who lean greatly towards inclusiveness, peace and kindness. We can help by energetically using the power of intention and visualisation, collectively using the powerful quantum physics principle of expanding what we focus on. The pollution of the planet is only a reflection of an inner psychic pollution. Helen explains the thoroughly researched and science-based work of the late Dr David Hawkins to substantiate what she proposes ordinary people all over the world can do to collectively make a difference to create peace and abundance for ourselves and our world, including Ukraine by taking responsibility for our own inner space as well. More and more, our awakening shows us our old ways of thinking, emoting, acting, behaving and operating must be dismantled completely throughout our world in every way.  One individual who lives and vibrates to the energy of optimism and a willingness to be non-judgemental of others will, for instance, counterbalance the negativity of 90,000 individuals who calibrate at the lower weakening levels. BEST MOMENTS ‘I, for one, believe in them, believe in the right of all human beings to be free and to flourish greatly, that we are long past colonialism of any kind, that we need to raise our consciousness high enough where we no longer feel the need or desire to dominate or control others...' – Helen ‘We just protect the European border. A lot of talk. Of course there's support. Of course there is support out there. We cannot understand this game because for us it is better to stop this war as soon as possible. We don't want this war for ten years. But it looks like a big country will torture us and somebody may give us medicine and say, ok? Please destroy us or help us.' – Maxim ‘I was dictated to in a Soviet Union school. I was just retaught with books from the Soviet Union. It was all propaganda and afterwards I had to be reeducated to change my mentality. I was re-educated about history, about everything because they tried to raise everyone within the Soviet Union with an angry mood against America, democracy. They're really just an orthodox religion against everybody.' - Maxim  ‘The hardest part must be not knowing when it's going to end and not having the extent of help they would truly love to have right now, and perplexed about the game being played out on the world stage with Ukrainians caught in the middle.' – Helen ‘High energy people counterbalance the negative effect of low energy people. This doesn't happen on a one-on-one basis, because as much as 87% of humanity is in the lower weakening frequencies. But one person connected to the universal Source of energy, the Creator of everything in existence, can have an enormous impact on many people in the lower energy patterns.' – Helen quoting the late Dr David Hawkins' science-based research done over 4 decades.  ABOUT THE GUEST Maxim's professional career began in Ukrainian media as a photojournalist in 2007. He has been freelance since 2010, working on creating and promoting his own documentary projects, following the sociopolitical events in his country of Ukraine for years and expressing through the visual arts for well over a decade. He became world famous with his interviews on CNN and his publications in Time Magazine and is currently photo-documenting the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and recording atrocities that are difficult to imagine or behold. His accomplishments include being the recent winner of the W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography, a finalist in the Prix Pictet Photography Prize and Fotoevidence Book Award, and winner of the Prix Photo La Quatrieme Image, Ville de Perpignan Remi Ochlik Award at Visa pour l'Image, a Magnum Photoscompetition ‘30 under 30' for emerging documentary photographers, and received Grand Prix ‘Best Global Health Story' of Becton Dickinson (BD)'s 'Hope for a Healthy World Photo Competition.' ABOUT THE HOST HELEN LEE Founder & Principal Coach of Lee Heiss Coaching, Helen Lee coached thousands of clients worldwide and multinationals in Asia-Pacific in the last three decades. She created a powerful ontological coaching methodology that ignites the true greatness or invincibility in people. Thoroughly tested and honed over 20 years, this methodology consistently and rapidly produces desired results. Helen was also a journalist who later ran her own communications consultancies in Australia and Asia.The Business Times listed her in its “Who's Who of Women Shaping Singapore” while The Straits Times named her “The Leader Prodder” in a feature on Singapore's top coaches. VALUABLE RESOURCES To become a member of the Transform and Thrive Club and benefit from monthly powerful live sessions on Zoom video calls and multimedia coaching, check out and sign up here: www.transformandthrive.club CONTACT METHOD www.leeheiss.com www.facebook.com/leeheiss https://www.facebook.com/helenleeheiss https://www.facebook.com/groups/transformandthriveclub www.instagram.com/helenleeheiss enquiries@leeheiss.com

Recent events make it seem as though America may be on a collision course with China, and particularly with regard to Taiwan. What is even more troubling is that neither side really seems interested in avoiding that fate. And should China invade Taiwan, America has pledged to help, but none of America's traditional allies would be required to join the fight per Article 6 in NATO's North Atlantic Treaty. So what will happen if China invades Taiwan? Author: Ryan Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe

Congress has failed to fund the government on time again. In this episode, Graham Elwood joins Jen as she geeks out on all the dingleberries attached to the new law extending Congress's funding deadline until December 16th. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Support Congressional Dish via Patreon (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536. Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! View the shownotes on our website at https://congressionaldish.com/cd260-failure-to-fund-with-graham-elwood Graham Elwood Government Secrets Podcast with Lee Camp and Graham Elwood Political Vigilante Podcast Executive Producer Recommended Sources “From the Archive: Joe Hickman Blew the Whistle on Burn Pits 5 Years Ago.” August 8, 2022. The Peter Collins Show. Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD248: Understanding the Enemy CD244: Keeping Ukraine CD238: Losing Afghanistan CD087: Run for Congress with Chris Clemmons FDA User Fees Katie Hobbins. Oct 3, 2022. “FDA User Fee CR Passed, Questions on Policy and Reform Riders Remain.” Medical Device + Diagnostic Industry (MD+DI). New Mexico Fire Ryan Boetel. Sept 29, 2022. “$2.5 billion for fire damage relief included in spending bill.” Albuquerque Journal. Associated Press. Jun 21, 2022. “US Forest Service admits ‘multiple miscalculations' caused New Mexico fire.” The Guardian. Elizabeth Miller and Jason Samenow. May 5, 2022. “Large fires are raging in New Mexico, and the worst may be coming.” The Washington Post. Republicans and Disaster Relief Funding Sharon Zhang. Oct 3, 2022. “Every Single Florida House Republican Voted Against Disaster Relief Funding.” Truthout. Zach Schonfeld. Oct 3, 2022. “Gaetz asks for Florida hurricane aid after voting against CR with FEMA funding.” Lauren Book. Oct 3, 2022. “Today, President Biden included additional Florida counties as those considered major disaster areas…” [tweet] Sanjana Karanth. Oct 2, 2022. “Florida Senators Request More Federal Aid Despite Not Voting For Hurricane Relief.” HuffPost. Anna Skinner. Sept 30, 2022. “Matt Gaetz Votes Against Disaster Relief Days After Hurricane Ian Hits.” Newsweek. Sergio Bustos. Sept 30, 2022. “Marco Rubio, Rick Scott urge Senate leaders for more funds to recover, rebuild Florida after Hurricane Ian.” Tallahassee Democrat. Patrick Leahy. Sept 9, 2022. “Hurricane Ian shows reason for FEMA Disaster Relief Fund.” Vermont Biz. Jackson Water Crisis Anthony Warren. Sept 30, 2022. “$20 million federal allocation for Jackson water clears House of Representatives.” Jackson WLBT. Michael Goldberg. Sept 27, 2022. “Funds to aid Jackson's water system held up as governor rose.” Yahoo News. Annie Snider and Lara Priluck. Sept 21, 2022. “House appropriators eye as much as $200M for Jackson water crisis.” Politico. James Brasuell. Aug 20, 2022. “Water Supply Failure in Jackson, Mississippi.” Planetizen. Continuing Resolution Aidan Quigley. Sept 30, 2022. “Stopgap funding bill clears House; next stop is Biden's desk.” Roll Call. David Hawkings. Sept 7, 2016. “What Is a Continuing Resolution?” Roll Call. Ukraine James Bradley. Oct 4, 2022. “Why does a hurricane relief bill have money for Ukraine in it? Seriously.” [tweet] Emily Cochrane. Sept 29, 2022. “Senate Passes Bill to Aid Ukraine and Avert Government Shutdown.” The New York Times. Chelsey Cox. Sept 29, 2022. “Senate passes stopgap funding bill to avert government shutdown, provide more Ukraine aid.” CNBC. Jackie Walorski Crash Marek Mazurek. Sept 16, 2022. “Crash that killed U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, 3 others due in part to 'excessive speed.'” Appropriations “Appropriations Status Table: FY2023.” Congressional Research Service. Jeff Sachs Jeff Sachs on Bloomberg Global Financial News LIVE. Oct 3, 2022. “This is a path of dangerous escalation.” Bono. Apr 18, 2005. “The 2005 TIME 100: Jeffrey Sachs.” TIME. Peter Passell. Jun 27, 1993. “Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Shock Therapist.” The New York Times. Campaign Contributions from the Defense Industry “Defense: Top Recipients: 2020” Open Secrets. Afghanistan Craig Whitlock. The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War. Simon & Schuster: 2021. Spencer Ackerman. Apr 29, 2013. “How the CIA's Bags of Cash Undermined the Afghanistan War.” U.S. Infrastructure and Global Rankings “United Nations Sustainable Development Report Rankings.” “The Global Competitiveness Report, 2019.” Contaminated Water in the United States Gloria Oladipo. Sep 6, 2022. “Toxic arsenic levels make tap water unsafe for thousands in New York City.” The Guardian. Emily Holden et. al. Feb 26, 2021. “More Than 25 Million Americans Drink From the Worst Water Systems.” The Guardian. Maura Allaire. Feb 12, 2018. “National trends in drinking water quality violations.” The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) 115(9). Paul Pelosi Chip Stock Caroline Vakil. Jul 27, 2022. “Pelosi's husband sells off up to $5 million worth of chipmaker stock ahead of semiconductor bill vote.” The Hill. Starbucks Unionization “Current Starbucks Statistics.” Union Election Data. Laws and Treaties H.R.6833: Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2023, and for other purposes Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the accession of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic Vote breakdown Audio Sources Jeff Sachs on Bloomberg Global Financial News LIVE Oct 3, 2022 Jeff Sachs: The main fact is that the European economy is getting hammered by this by the sudden cut off of energy. And now to make it definitive the destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline, which I would bet was a US action, perhaps the US and Poland. This is a speculation — Bloomberg Host: That's quite a statement. Why do you feel that that was a US action? What evidence do you have of that? Jeff Sachs: Well, first of all, there's direct radar evidence that US helicopters, military helicopters that are normally based in Gdansk, we're circling over this area. We also had the threats from the United States earlier in this year that one way or another, we are going to end Nord Stream. We also have a remarkable statement by Secretary Blinken, last Friday in a press conference, he says this is also a tremendous opportunity. It's a strange way to talk if you're worried about piracy on international infrastructure of vital significance. I know this runs counter to our narrative, that you're not allowed to say these things in the West, but the fact of the matter is, all over the world, when I talk to people, they think the US did it. And by the way, even reporters on our papers that are involved tell me privately, “Well, of course,” but it doesn't show up in our media. House Session September 30, 2022 Jen's Highlighted PDF Senate Session September 29, 2022 Jen's Highlighted PDF Senate Session April 30, 1998 Jen's Highlighted PDF Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)

This week, Madeline and Kenna talk about NATO, Somali pirates who are sick of our nuclear waste, and why you should not just chew it! PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/pickmeupimscared SOURCES: https://tinyurl.com/yc7b47jt https://tinyurl.com/2p8vj97z https://tinyurl.com/552unr82 https://tinyurl.com/n68nz4hh https://tinyurl.com/yc7b47jt https://tinyurl.com/y9cjhevr https://tinyurl.com/4znnuphs https://tinyurl.com/4a2zz5cb https://tinyurl.com/5n8ua42v https://tinyurl.com/2v3jwvde https://tinyurl.com/2s3p9db5 https://tinyurl.com/9xwzspz6 https://tinyurl.com/zz5yrjba https://tinyurl.com/mrxuvr7c https://tinyurl.com/bdzfst5m https://tinyurl.com/5yvrcktf https://tinyurl.com/yckzp4d6 https://tinyurl.com/yckkf46b https://tinyurl.com/3fdv24da https://tinyurl.com/2wmcx64f https://tinyurl.com/2p8ksjrv https://tinyurl.com/yexcuhyu https://tinyurl.com/bdfst6hm https://tinyurl.com/ph6pwu4u https://tinyurl.com/ycx34p8a https://tinyurl.com/yz27995k https://tinyurl.com/27ew2kk5 https://tinyurl.com/4d36znuf https://tinyurl.com/48nzd9rh https://tinyurl.com/23n6mkbc https://tinyurl.com/yjtrvv9p https://tinyurl.com/ytb4wc2 https://www.jstor.org/stable/368437 https://tinyurl.com/yw5292bn https://tinyurl.com/98au5y5c https://tinyurl.com/ywywpnmn https://tinyurl.com/362hj2bw https://tinyurl.com/ywywpnmn https://tinyurl.com/5n6smtv4 https://tinyurl.com/yf88aa8a https://www.space.com/space-race.html https://www.history.com/news/ukrainian-famine-stalin https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17858981 https://www.britannica.com/event/Cold-War https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17632399 https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/costs/human https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202106/1226538.shtml https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18023383 http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/66181 https://fpif.org/russia-ukraine-nato-and-the-left/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/pickmeupimscared/message

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, widely known as NATO, is an intergovernmental military alliance that was established in the aftermath of World War II. At present, 28 European and 2 North American countries are members of this alliance, which is headquartered in Belgium. The United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia In 1949, there were 12 founding members of the alliance. These were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, France, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Other member countries which joined in the subsequent years are Greece, Turkey, Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. NATO implements the North Atlantic Treaty, which is a system of collective security. In simple terms, the member states have agreed to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party. One cannot understand NATO without knowing the essentials about the Warsaw Pact. The Warsaw Pact was also a collective defence treaty. It was established by the Soviet Union and seven other Soviet satellite states. These were Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. The Warsaw Pact was created in 1955, immediately after the accession of West Germany to the NATO alliance. While the Warsaw Pact embodied what was referred to as the Eastern bloc, NATO represented the Western bloc. NATO and the Warsaw Pact saw each other as their primary adversary and were ideologically opposed. They built up their own defences and were engaged in an arms race throughout the Cold War. After Albania in 1968, East Germany withdrew from the Pact following German reunification in 1990. On February 25, 1991, the Pact was declared at an end by the six remaining member states. As he seeks to limit NATO's presence in Eastern Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukraine never join the alliance. Days before he announced the military action against Ukraine, President Putin linked the current crisis directly to Russia's demands regarding NATO. In 2008, NATO appeared to open the door to membership for Georgia and Ukraine, which are also former Soviet republics. However, neither nation has formally received eventual membership with a lack of consensus among NATO members. Watch video

Photo:  Photograph of President Truman signing the document implementing the North Atlantic Treaty at his desk in the Oval Office, as a number of dignitaries look on; list below.* #Ukraine: Fully Funding NATO. Dan Henninger @WSJOpinion   https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-changes-everything-russia-putin-state-of-the-union-biden-sotu-crime-build-back-better-energy-climate-11646260972 ..  ..  ..  * List of attendees  Sir Derick Boyer Millar, Chargé d'affaires, United Kingdom; Ambassador Henrik de Kauffmann of Denmark; W. D. Matthews, Charge d'Affaires, Canada; Secretary of Defense Louis A. Johnson; Ambassador Wilhelm Munthe de Morgenstierne of Norway; Ambassador Henri Bonnet of France; Ambassador Pedro Teotónio Pereira of Portugal; Secretary of State Dean Acheson; Jonkheer O. Reuchlin, Chargé d'affaires, the Netherlands; and Mario Lucielli, Chargé d'affaires, Italy.

History of NATO - The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. We look at the origins of NATO including the Western Union, The Treaty of Dunkirk between the UK and France. Also, look at NATO's expansion through the Cold War and since the Cold War including the issues with the Russian Federation including the issues with the addition of Georgia and Ukraine to NATO.Is NATO the biggest threat to world peace? And what is the link between NATO and the Si-Fi series Start Trek?#NATO#History Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance among 28 European countries and 2 North American countries. Established in the aftermath of World War II, the organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty, signed 4 April 1949.

Quote of the Week  The secretary general is my boss but imagine him in this context to put it in a different frame is that he is the CEO of a large international conglomerate that engages in multiple business lines. And I am the CEO of the business line for intelligence and security. The nation's intelligence services in effect are my corporate board. So, they provide that governance and the oversight for all the work. Summary David Cattler (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss how intelligence functions at NATO. He is the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security. What You'll Learn o  What it is like to be the leader of intelligence and security across the largest peacetime alliance in history? o  How does intelligence come together at NATO – who are the key-players, institutions, and stakeholders? o  What are some of the main challenges facing the Alliance including Russia and Cyber? o  “Reading” an institution and its key players o  The importance of “soft skills” in professional life Episode Notes Every polisci student knows from their Plato to NATO class, that NATO is (a) considered the most successful alliance of its kind in history and (b) was founded in 1949. As you can imagine, intelligence is incredibly important to the whole endeavor, so why has NATO only had an intelligence supremo since 2016? To find out the answer, and much else besides, Andrew sat down with David Cattler. David is (a) the principal advisor on intelligence to the NATO Secretary General and (b) the lead for coordinating intelligence relationships between NATO and the 75 individual intelligence agencies across its 30 constituent nations (talk about herding cats). With Russian forces built up on the Ukrainian border in February 2022, the timing of this episode is, well, germane. And… Andrew picked David up outside the U.S. Department of State and drove him to the SpyCast studio at SPY – if the traffic is right, you can do it in under 10 minutes! Further Resources SpyCasts o  Able Archer 83: An Interview with Nate Jones o  Our Latest Long War: An Interview with Ben Jones Books o  Enduring Alliance: A History of NATO & the Postwar Global Order, Timothy Andrews Sayle (2019) o  How NATO Adapts: Strategy & Organization in the Alliance Since 1950, Seth A. Johnson (2017) o  The Memoirs of General Lord Ismay, Lord Ismay (1960) o  Present at the Creation, Dean Acheson (1969) o  The Best Books on Contemporary Russia (Five Books) Video o  What is NATO, Why Does it Exist, and How Does it Work? (NATO) o  How Does a Country Join NATO? (NATO) Documentary o  The Cold War, Narrated by Kenneth Branagh (CNN 1998) Websites o  NATO Declassified (NATO) o  NATO (Atlantic Council) o  NATO (RUSI) Primary Sources o  The North Atlantic Treaty (1949) o  Address by Harry S. Truman on the Signing of the North Atlantic Treaty (1949) o  North Atlantic Council – First Session – Summary Minutes (1949) o  Historical Holdings on NATO (Eisenhower Library) o  The NATO Problem: French Forces in Europe (CIA, 1966) o  Being NATO's Secretary General on 9/11 (2011) o  USNATO Oral Histories (ADST) Enjoy the show? Please leave a review here

Will Poland evoke Article IV of the North Atlantic Treaty due to tensions on the Belarus border? I don't know, but we'll discuss what these articles actually mean today --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Serge Da Deppo is Founder of the NATO Innovation Hub, and Human Sciences Project Officer, at NATO Transformation Command (https://www.act.nato.int/). The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 28 European countries and 2 North American countries. The organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949. NATO constitutes a system of collective security, whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party. The NATO headquarters are located in Haren, Brussels, Belgium, while the headquarters of Allied Command Operations is near Mons, Belgium. The Innovation Hub is the community where experts and innovators from everywhere collaborate to tackle NATO challenges and design solutions, and is the engine of the NATO Innovation Network, federating national entities leveraging open innovation and agile development. From 1990-2007, Mr. Da Deppo spent time in a variety of roles in the Belgian military, including platoon leader, training officer, Senior Officer Course Instructor, and International Defense Planning Officer. Mr. Da Deppo has a Master of Arts (M.A.) Military Applied Sciences from Belgium's Royal Military Academy and a degree in Advanced Military and Operational Studies from The Royal Higher Institute for Defense.

A transatlantic alliance became a reality in 1949 only when the promise of the end of war was overshadowed by the threat of communism. The North Atlantic Treaty, also known as the Washington Treaty, was an effective answer to an inflection point in the history of the international order,1 founding an alliance that succeeded in safeguarding the free world. More than seventy years later, the global system sits at another inflection point.2 Increasing challenges from authoritarian regimes, namely Russia and China, combined with democratic erosion, abandonment of norms, and a dramatically changed geopolitical and technological landscape demand a reexamination of the only alliance capable of organizing free nations' defense and guaranteeing their prosperity. What would the Washington Treaty look like if it were written today? How should NATO meet today's new and more complex geopolitical challenges while maintaining the elegant simplicity and flexibility of its founding treaty? Key Takeaways: 0:00 Intro 1:40 Will and Damon explain what the Washington Treaty is, what they meant when they used the word reimagine in their recommendation Reimagine the Washington Treaty  5:15 Damon explains why the reimagined NATO would position the Alliance as the backbone of the free world and not the original Washington treaty 7:17 Will and Damon talk about how allies will be able to recommit to meeting democratic values and principles to free people when they face the same problem themselves  9:10 Damon talks about whether Turkey was adhering to democratic principles when the coup happened and why NATO didn't deal with it and it's one of their recommendation 11:07 Damon also explains how their recommendation is different from that of NATO and yet no word is spoken when some allies take part in anti-democratic practices  13:22 Damon also explains how their recommendation is going to help NATO be able to hold its members to account to be able to face of the challenge of authoritarian and autocracies 15:22 Will and Damon explains what the standalone article would look like in ensuring NATO can compete in an era of geo-economics by protecting allies' economic security in the midst of rapid technological change and great power competition 19:54 Will and Damon explain how their recommendation would help change some of the EU governments strategic thinking so as to stop signing some deals with China to make them understand that this can also pose a geostrategic risk in the long term 24:24 Damon explains how to use NATO to help bring disparate actors on board while thinking about some of the big global challenges and develop common strategies and approaches  28:05 Will talks about having other small pieces linked to NATO's network handling some of the global issues more specifically in order to create global stability and prosperity  31:23 Damon also shares his thoughts on having other parties within the network of the Alliance dealing with some of the global issues since NATO has a lot on its plate 33:31 Will shares his thoughts if NATO needs a new treaty or if it needs to talk about the old treaty more and talk about how it can be enlivened 34:45 Damon also shares his thoughts on what NATO should do, if it should have a new treaty or revise the old one  37:53 Damon explains if their recommendation is something that the Alliance would be willing to do to Reimagine the Washington Treaty  Shows Mentioned: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-series/nato20-2020/reimagine-the-washington-treaty/  www.atlanticcouncil.org The North Atlantic Council is the principal political decision-making body of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, consisting of Permanent Representatives from its member countries. The Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium is a 750-seat historic neoclassical auditorium located at 1301 Constitution Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. The auditorium, which connects two wings of the William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building, is owned by the U.S. government but available for use by the public.  The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.  Quotes Mentioned: “NATO's adaptability is one of its strengths.” “In 1949, the Alliance emerged in part out of fear that European democracies couldn't survive in the face of communism and Soviet expansionism.” “Over most of the 70 years since the signing of the original Washington treaty, democratic free societies have made their point by proving that they can bring prosperity and economic opportunity.” “We realize that we can't be dependent on China for certain supplies.” “We need a more coherent approach as allies to this geo-economic competition.” “When the NAC talks about an issue, it shouldn't mean that the NATO bureaucracy goes into action.” Guests Social Media Links: Damon Wilson: Website: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/damon-wilson/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/damonmacwilson  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damon-wilson-b272682b/  Will O'Brien: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmtobrien/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/wmthobrien?lang=en 

Full length interview with Micheal Pearson, grandson of the Canadian Secretary of State Lester Pearson, who played a key role in drafting the North Atlantic Treaty and helping NATO find its feet as an international organisation. Additional info can be found here:https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_161511.htm

Nearly seventy years ago to the day, President Harry Truman signed the North Atlantic Treaty and established NATO. Ahead of an unprecedented address to a Joint session of Congress by NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and ministerial meetings in Washington, Out of Order explores the state of NATO and the key issues animating defense debates from DC to Paris to Warsaw. Around the table this week in Washington: Defense and Security fellow Steven Keil; Michal Baranowski, GMF’s Warsaw office director; and Martin Quencez, fellow and senior program office based in Paris.

Welcome to the radio magazine that brings you news, commentary and analysis from a Black Left perspective. I’m Glen Ford, along with my co-host Nellie Bailey. Coming up: The whole basis for the millions of words  and two maddening years of Russiagate has collapsed, but the near-state of war between the two nuclear superpowers continues; We’ll speak with a reearcher who studies African women at war; and, a Haitian activist explains why the people want their U.S.-backed government to step down. Anti-war forces have converged on the nation’s capital to denounce the aggressive policies of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty organization that links the militaries of the United States and Europe. Official Washington is staging an elaborate 70th birthday party for NATO on April 4th. That’s also the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, who more than half a century ago indicted the United States as the greatest purveyor of violence in the world. We spoke with Ajamu Baraka, the lead organizer of the Black Alliance for Peace. Baraka says the NATO birthday party is a celebration of state violence. David Swanson is an activist with World Beyond War, and publisher of the influential web site “War Is A Crime.” Swanson says Russiagate has dramatically increased tensions between the two nuclear super-powers. Haiti has been occupied by foreign militaries ever since the United States overthrew its elected government in 2004, and was the victim of several U.S. military invasions and occupations in the 20th century. Haitians have been taking to the streets by the hundreds of thousands, demanding that their U.S.-backed government step down. Daoud Andre is a Brooklyn-based radio host and an activist with the Committee to Organize Against Dictatorship. We spoke with him, last week. Mumia Abu Jamal, the nation’s best known political prisoner, is also an acclaimed author who has written extensively on the violence inherent in the U.S. State. U.S. warmakers have long had their eyes on Venezuela. Selinka Makana is a scholar at the Institute for Research on Women, Gender and Sexuality at Columbia University. Makana was born in Kenya, and specializes in studying African women at war. She’s author of a recent article titled “Contested Encounters: Towards a 21st Century African Feminist Ethnography.” Dr. Makana says the social science of ethnography must be de-colonized.

USS Thresher was lost, North Atlantic Treaty was signed, US enters WWI

Allied maritime forces including Spain seek NATO NRF certification with this large-scale international readiness exercise. Directed by NATO Maritime Command at Northwood in the United Kingdom, this multinational exercise in the Mediterranean brings together no fewer than 23 vessels and some 5,000 personnel from 14 different NATO and partner nations. Headed by the Spanish flagship Castilla, warships, submarines, combat aircraft, helicopters and amphibious assault craft are training in Mediterranean waters as part of a high-threat simulation. The objective is to train for collective defense, upholding Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and sharpening rapid reaction crisis management forces. This exercise is a NATO Response Force (NRF) certification, exercise for those forces that will be part of next year’s high readiness NRF to ensure they are capable of responding to a rapid response scenario. With the current situation in Iraq, Syria and Ukraine, this training is very important. This version includes graphics or voiceover.

We have a new law! President Obama signed a bill loaning a billion dollars and giving another $150 million to Ukraine. In this episode, we find out exactly what's in it and why we are giving money to Ukraine - and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. HR 4152: Ukraine Aid Bill Highlighted pdf of the Ukraine Aid bill that was signed into law by President Obama: Key Sections: Section 3: Lists seventeen aspects of United States policy toward Ukraine. Section 5: The Secretary of State will assist the new Ukraine government, the European Union, and "other appropriate countries" with investigative assistance and training to "support the identification, seizure, and return to the Government of Ukraine of assets linked to acts of corruption." Will be aided by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Department of the Treasury Specifically names the former President, his family, and other government officials. Section 6: $50,000,000 will be given to the Secretary of State for 2015- either directly or by giving money to non-governmental organizations -for election monitoring, "diversifying Ukraine's economy, trade, and energy supplies, including at the national, regional, and local level," expanding their access to independent media, and supporting political and economic reforms. The President will make the actual strategy for how this will be done. Section 7: $100,000,000 will be used to provide defense articles, defense services, and military training "to countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine." Additional amounts are allowed to be appropriated under other provisions of law. Section 8: Sanctions will be levied against any former or current Ukrainian government officials, anyone acting on behalf of the old government who the President says ordered or controlled acts of violence against antigovernment protestors on November 21, 2013. Sanctions also will be levied against Russian government officials, "close associates" and family members of that official that the President says has expropriated Ukrainian or Russian private or public assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts, the extraction of natural resources, bribery, or transferring their proceeds from these things to other countries Sanctions include exclusion from the United States and blocking and prohibiting all transactions of property and/or money that is either in the United States or in the possession of "United States persons". This is the Citizens United version of "United States persons" as "persons" includes "legal entities" - corporations - and the law specifically says that it includes foreign branches of United States corporations. The sanctions don't apply to the importation of goods. Section 10: Annual report detailing the capability of Russia's military, Russia's space program, Russia's nuclear program. Information about Moldova People in one region are asking to be a part of Russia. One of those two huge natural gas pipelines goes through Moldova. Actually goes into Moldova, back into Ukraine, and then into Romania. Information about Lithuania Russia has refused Lithuanian exports - dairy, pork, cars - which hurts Lithuanian businesses because Russia buys 20% of their crap. March 14, 2014: Lithuania's Prime Minister said the political crisis in Ukraine should steer Lithuanian public opinion towards becoming a part of the European Union in 2015. March 17, 2014: A plan to establish a joint Polish, Ukrainian, and Lithuanian military brigade was "re-launched" Information about NATO Since we promised not to expand East, NATO has absorbed Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovania, Albania, and Croatia. 2008: "A powerful military bloc appearing near our borders will be perceived in Russia as a direct threat to the security of our country." - President Putin of Russia. Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty says an attack on one NATO country is considered an attack on all NATO countries. Music in This Episode Intro and Exit music: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio) I Disagree by 20 Riverside (found on Music Alley by mevio)