Podcasts about report russia

Clan fighting kills 55 in Somalia which is Africa's new member of the United Nations Security Council.  Stranded migrants in Tunisia face violence from the authorities that have blocked the European route for these desperate people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report from the State Department finds Israel may have violated international law in Gaza. Russian forces launched serious cross-border assaults in Ukraine as the US announces a new round of aid. The US unveiled new incentives to stop the spread of bird flu on dairy farms. Apple employees at one unionized store in the US are expected to vote on a possible strike. Finally, we'll tell you which vehicles thieves targeted the most in 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Visit our online shop, WEBERZ WAY EXCLUSIVE at https://www.weberzway.com/shopUse "WEBERZWAY" at CHECKOUT for 10% OFF MAKE THE PATRIOT SWITCH: https://patriotswitch.com/hippo88 Visit Cam's own perfume line: https://www.coastalcarolinaparfums.com/Use "WEBERZWAY" at CHECKOUT for 20% OFF Visit THE WELLNESS COMPANY: https://www.twc.health/Use "WEBERZWAY" at CHECKOUT for 10% OFF FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/weberzwayfilms/⁠⁠ MORE LINKS HERE: ⁠⁠https://campsite.bio/weberzway --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/weberzway/support

GET 10% OFF AT https://www.twc.health/ BY USING THE PROMO CODE: WEBERZWAYOUR STORE IS OPEN! ⁠⁠https://www.weberzway.com/shop⁠⁠ Support us at ⁠⁠https://www.weberzway.com/support ⁠⁠BUY MY BROTHER'S BOOK HERE: ⁠⁠https://a.co/d/eH7uDcH⁠⁠Get your vitamins at ⁠⁠https://zstacklife.com/⁠⁠ AND USE "WEBERZWAY" when checking out. Support us at ⁠⁠www.weberzway.com/shop⁠⁠. Use promo code ‘weberzway' for 10% off. Another way to support us is to buy MY PILLOW products at ⁠⁠www.mypillow.com/weberzway⁠⁠ or call 1.800.654.1268 to get up to 66% off. Use promo code ‘WEBERZWAY' at checkout. CHECK OUT ⁠⁠WWW.MYSTORE.COM⁠⁠ and support patriotic businesses all on one site and use WEBERZWAY at checkout for discounts. Smell great at: ⁠⁠https://www.coastalcarolinaparfums.com/⁠⁠ AND USE code: WEBERZWAY AT CHECKOUT TO GET 20% OFF Follow us on IG: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/weberzwayfilms/⁠⁠ more links here: ⁠⁠https://campsite.bio/weberzway --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/weberzway/support

1) Prigozhin, Putin, Lukashenko and what really happened.   1A) All charges dropped. How did 15K-25K troops capture a strategic city unopposed.  Was it staged?   1B) Prigozhin in Belarus.  For how long?   2) Trump leading Biden 44-41 in Morning Consult Poll. Harris poll he is up by 6.  +38 in Republican Primary,    Half of Republican primary voters want Trump and half want an alternative   2A) 64% believe Trump charges are politically motivated.  77% of Republicans do not care about the charges   2B) Main stream media begins to look for alternatives to Biden - Al Hunt names Whitmer, Newsom and NC Gov. Cooper. The MSM is finally asking the White House Press Secretary tough questions about Hunter.   3) NBC Poll shows Right track is at 20% and Wrong track at 74%   3A) Biden approval rating holds steady at 43% in NBC poll despite 68% saying he is not mentally healthy   3B Biden leads Trump by 4 and is even with DeSantis in the same NBC poll   3C) The problem for Trump he is underwater by 22 % on his favorability numbers among all voters.  But so is Biden. Americans do NOT want a rematch   4) The government and media cover up of the Burisma bribery claims could have contributed to the 2020 election results. Will it be different this time as allegations swirl and Garland faces possible Impeachment   4A) Biden denies lying about his discussions with Hunter   5) Trump Document Tapes leaked to CNN   6) DeSantis endorsed by Florida Police Union as he promises to fix the border problem

Putin's military suffers its worst day in 50 years as CNN provides exclusive new reporting about the lengths the CIA is undertaking to recruit Russian spies. Plus, four years and at least $6.5 million taxpayer dollars later, John Durham issues his report. Was it everything Trump promised it would be? Also, a Florida teacher is under investigation for playing a Disney movie that happens to include a gay character.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

AP correspondent Shelley Adler reports on American journalist in Russia.

1) Russia charges WSJ reporter on Spying charges.  WSJ denies it and demands immediate release. Court date set for May   1A) Top U.S. General confirms Russians are being slaughtered in the war.   2) Attorney General Merrick Garland in a blatant political move advised not to arrest abortion protestors earlier this yer at the homes of Supreme court Justices.   3) 9 dead after 2 black hawk helicopters collide while training in KY   4) There has been another train derailment, this time in MN.   5) Jobless claims are at 198K, up 7K but still a low figure   5A) Biden extends drilling in the Gulf of Mexico 2600 square miles - A move to the center?    6) In politics, Biden approval hovers between 38-42% while his disapproval is between 54-56% going in the wrong direction   6A) Trump leads DeSantis by 30 with the rest far behind.   6B) In a match up between Biden and either Trump or DeSantis, it is a 2 point race +/-   6C) AZ Democrats sue to prevent a 3rd party No Labels from being on the ballot. Growing concerns over Biden and losing the Senate.   7) NHL may cancel "Pride night" because players refuse to wear LGBTQ gear.  Good for the players!!   8) Pope hospitalized with upper respiratory infection   9) Batter Up

Rusty Halvorson provides an update on Russia backing out of July Black Sea deal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Krystal and Saagar talk about a new Uvalde report, Russia-Ukraine developments, Post-Roe culture wars, airline dysfunction, Pelosi insider trading, tech sector recession, civil war discourse, & Biden admin's press restrictions!To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show uncut and 1 hour early visit: https://breakingpoints.supercast.com/To listen to Breaking Points as a podcast, check them out on Apple and SpotifyApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-points-with-krystal-and-saagar/id1570045623 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Kbsy61zJSzPxNZZ3PKbXl Merch: https://breaking-points.myshopify.com/Steven Nelson: https://nypost.com/author/steven-nelson/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Krystal and Saagar talk about a new Uvalde report, Russia-Ukraine developments, Post-Roe culture wars, airline dysfunction, Pelosi insider trading, tech sector recession, civil war discourse, & Biden admin's press restrictions! To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show uncut and 1 hour early visit: https://breakingpoints.supercast.com/ To listen to Breaking Points as a podcast, check them out on Apple and Spotify Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-points-with-krystal-and-saagar/id1570045623  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Kbsy61zJSzPxNZZ3PKbXl  Merch: https://breaking-points.myshopify.com/ Steven Nelson: https://nypost.com/author/steven-nelson/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wenn der Krieg in der Ukraine irgendwann vorbei sein wird, dann muss dieses Land auch wieder aufgebaut werden – mit internationaler Hilfe. Darum geht es bei der zweitägigen Konferenz im schweizerischen Lugano mit Delegationen aus fast 40 Ländern. Der langjährige ARD-Korrespondent Carsten Schmiester sieht dieses Treffen als Zeichen für den Glauben an die Zukunft, an eine freie Ukraine nach dem Krieg. Im Gespräch mit dem NDR Militärexperten Andreas Flocken geht es auch um die militärische Lage im Land und um eine Frage: Hat Moskau wirklich – wie von Kiew beklagt – Ukrainerinnen und Ukrainer gegen ihren Willen nach Russland deportiert? “War in Ukraine: Ukrainians deported to Russia beaten and mistreated“ (englisch, BBC) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61248436 “An Independent Legal Analysis of the Russian Federation's Breaches of the Genocide Convention in Ukraine and the Duty to Prevent“ (englisch, Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights) https://www.raoulwallenbergcentre.org/images/reports/Report-Russia.pdf   „What to do in case of forced deportation to the territory of Russia: we tell you how to leave“ (englisch, ukrainische Regierung) https://visitukraine.today/blog/468/what-to-do-in-case-of-forced-deportation-to-the-territory-of-russia-we-tell-you-how-to-leave   “Dekret des Präsidenten der Russischen Föderation über berechtigte Personen zur Zulassung zur Staatsbürgerschaft der Russischen Föderation für humanitäre Zwecke“ (englisch, offizielles Internetportal für Rechtsinformationen der Russischen Föderation) http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202205250004#print   Rede des US-Botschafter bei der Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) vor dem Ständigen Rat der Organisation in Wien https://ge.usembassy.gov/the-russian-federations-ongoing-aggression-against-ukraine-2/ Podcast Empfehlung: „Leonora - mit 15 zum IS“ https://www.ardaudiothek.de/sendung/leonora-mit-15-zum-is/66335318/

Today on Rising, Russian Sanctions DIDN'T WORK to stop Putin, it only WORSENED inflation, Biden admin admits: Report (00:00)Biden KOWTOWS for Saudi Oil after criticizing Trump for the same: Briahna Joy Gray (10:58)Cancel culture comes for LIZZO, critics say 'spaz' is ABLEIST (23:51)Biden RECESSION Imminent? Dems fantasize about Oprah replacement (33:43)Brittney Griner used as a PAWN in Russia-US diplomacy: Researcher (44:48)Mayra Flores FLIPS blue district RED, thanks ELON MUSK as he hints he'll vote DeSantis in 2024 (54:46)LEAKED LAPTOP AUDIO: Hunter Biden BRAGS Dad Joe will 'talk about anything that I want him to'  (1:05:40)Where to tune in and follow: https://linktr.ee/risingthehillMore about Rising:Rising is a weekday morning show hosted by Ryan Grim, Kim Iversen, and Robby Soave. It breaks the mold of morning TV by taking viewers inside the halls of Washington power like never before, providing outside-of-the-beltway perspectives. The show leans into the day's political cycle with cutting edge analysis from DC insiders and outsiders alike to provide coverage not provided on cable news. It also sets the day's political agenda by breaking exclusive news with a team of scoop-driven reporters and demanding answers during interviews with the country's most important political newsmakers.

Terrifying new body cam video from Ukrainian soldiers reveals a fierce firefight taking place just outside Kharkiv as Putin is said to be firing some of his top commanders. Plus, the Dow is suffering eight straight weeks of losses, the longest streak in 100 years since before the Great Depression. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Topics: 1) Russians are also rounding up 27K Ukrainians and sending them to camps near Mariupol while 45K have already been sent to Russia 2) Putin looks for blame removing, and in some cases, arresting and detaining hundreds of officers 3) Blaming the war, the World Bank cuts global growth outlook in 2022 from 4.1% to 3.2% - This may be overly optimistic 4) Biden resumes oil and gas leasing on federal land thus infuriating climate activist (the crazy leftists) *144K acres in 9 states and he increased the fee from 12.5% to 18.75% the first increase in 100 years *80% more land was not allowed to drill + offshore where much oil and gas is located - Basically a half measure 5) Federal Judge rules NO more mask mandates - Biden administration says "Disappointing" - Passengers are thrilled *Liberals are outraged 6) Border Patrol stopped 23 people on the Terror Database list - Gov. Abbott declares he will begin shipping Illegals to Delaware 7) Former Attorney General Bill Barr - "The media are an extension of the Democratic Party" - We've been telling you that for years! 8) Former Detroit Mayor James Craig (whom we support) running to replace Michigan Gov. Whitmer says 'We need to root out woke judges and prosecutors" *He blames rising crime on light bail and reduced sentencing causing a revolving door of criminals 9) KY lawmakers join other Red states in overriding the Governors Veto banning transgender boys from competing in girls sports (This is great news and common sense) 10) Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra extends "Public Health Emergency" 3 months thus expanding food stamps and medicaid benefits *This reduces the need to work which results in 1.5M unfilled jobs and 3.6% unemployment - A massive give away *We now have 2.5M more people on food stamps than in 2019 and 500K more than April 2020 when the pandemic started 11) Student Loan repayment deferral SCAM saves the average borrower $343 per month - Another effort to buy votes *A CLASSIC Democratic plan destined to fail like so many others

Topics: 1) What is the U.S. and NATO response to chemical weapons use by Russia - Is Biden prepared to escalate as he said he would? *10,000 dead in Mariupol? 2) Finland and Sweden move closer to joining NATO a. Opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza detained in Russia b. 5,800 cases of Russian War Crimes being investigated c. Putin purges 100 FSB Agents, arrests leader and placed in prison d. As we predicted, starvation looms over many countries - Russia is at fault - Protests around the world e. China calls NATO confrontational in rebuke to driving wedge between Russia and China 3) 13 injured and 10 shot in Brooklyn subway station attack - police looking for black man wearing a gas mask 4) CPI comes in at 8.5%, core excluding food and energy is 6.5% *U.S. gas prices average $4.11 - Biden "I did this stickers" abound 5) Biden announces new rules on"ghost guns" - This issue is not even the top 20? 6) U.S. orders staff out of Shanghai as starvation looms 7) NY Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin arrested on Bribery and Fraud charges 8) Oberlin college owes $33M to bakery in judgment payment for being guilty of slander 9) 80% of Americans support reduced immigration 10) 15M still on lockdown in Shanghai 11) Senator Grassley - "Enough evidence to support Biden investigating" 12) Lunatic Climate activists arrested for blocking entrance to a coal waste plant targeting Sen. Joe Manchin for supporting fossil fuels in West Virginia

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and NDP transport critic Taylor Bachrach respond to the report from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) regarding the train derailment in 2019 near Field, B.C., that killed three CP Rail employees. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and NDP transport critic Taylor Bachrach respond to the report from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada regarding the train derailment Bloc Québécois foreign affairs critic Stéphane Bergeron and NDP deputy leader Alexandre Boulerice comment on Russia's continued membership in the G20 amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. NDP natural resources critic Charlie Angus discusses Environmental Defence's new report on fossil fuel subsidies and carbon capture. Justice Minister David Lametti is asked about the Quebec criminal trial involving a police informant that was held in secret.

Listen to the latest SBS Hindi report from India. 01/04/2022

Hosts Jack Fitzpatrick and Emily Wilkins spoke with Congresswoman Deborah Ross of North Carolina, Jared Bernstein, member of the White House Council of Economic Advisors and Bloomberg Politics Contributors Jeanne Sheehan Zaino and Rick Davis. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

1) Biden State of the Union Condemns Russia but nothing new in the speech - Biden pushes Build Back Better but Manchin says NO again *While Inflation runs hot, liberal democrats continue to push MORE spending - It will go nowhere 2) NATO countries pour weapons into Ukraine - The invasion has brought European countries together more in the last 6 days than the previous two decades 3) Missiles rain on Ukraine cities as Russia steps up bombardment campaign 4) Oil surges past $110 per barrel and the Federal Reserve is poised to raise interest rates 25 basis points 5) Russian stocks crash 98% on London Indexes as sanctions bite wiping out $572B *European energy companies distance themselves from Russian energy giant Gazprom **Exxon pulls out of a major Russian project 6) U.S. expands sanctions by closing all airspace to all Russian flights 7) Ukraine Foreign Minister reaches out to China in an effort to mediate a diplomatic solution - Don't hold your breath 8) Abbott and O'rourke easily win primaries and will square of in Texas Governors race - 100K more Republicans voted in the primary 9) Border towns in Texas flip from Blue to Red as we have predicted for months as a result of Biden's failed border policy

Topics: 1) Russia attacks airfields and fuel depots - 300K refugees flee *Germany shifts policy to deliver anti-tank weapons and increase defense spending to 2% of GDP 2) 3000 Russians arrested in demonstrations across Russia - Discontent grows at home 3) European skies are closed to Russian aircraft - Putin puts forces on Nuclear alert in an effort to intimidate the allies who call it reckless 4) Russian financial markets roiled as additional sanctions add to stress *SWIFT is partially utilized to hurt the Russian economy - Russian Central Bank cannot access foreign reserves ($600B frozen) **Russian central bank raised interest rates from 9.5 to 20% to halt the slide in the Ruble 5) Russia and Ukraine negotiators begin discussions at Ukraine/Belarus border while fighting continues 6) China calls for a halt to the violence as concern grows over global economic disruption 7) Washington Post/ABC News poll shows Biden at the lowest approval number ever at 37%, with 57% Disapproving *Harvard/Harris has similar numbers 38% Approval and 55% Disapproval 8) Control of Congress 50% Republican and 40% Democrat Economy 37% Approval and 58% Disapproval Pandemic 44% Approval and 50% Disapproval Border and Immigration 66% Disapproval and only 34% Approval from Biden's personnel polling company *62% believe Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if Trump was President 9) Consumer Price Index up 7.5% year over year in January - No surprise here 10) Trump hints at 2024 run in CPAC speech - Trump (59%) and DeSantis (28%) run 1-2 in CPAC straw poll - Pompeo 3rd at 2% 11) Biden's energy policy disaster under the microscope at gas prices increase across the country

SBTR NewsTalk: SPECIAL REPORT: Russia Invades Ukraine - Episode 5 of 2022 With Phil Jones and Philip KeelerA new podcast available to download every Saturday by 20:00 UK time“Alexa, play Strange But True Radio Podcast”NewsTalk with Philip Keeler and Philip Jones on Strange But True Radio.Check us out on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8tlkNOeGB2C1AnjYCl3fZgFollow us on Facebook @strangebuttrueradio and twitter @strangebtrMUSICAll music we play is legal for us to use, and is licensed through www.epidemicsound.com Any other music we play are from bands who have given us expressed permission to use their songs.Sting: A soft embrace.Show Theme: An animated Life by Imprismed.Special Edition Theme: ES_Eyes of Time - Reynard SeidelStory Bed: Screensaver Fractals - Midnight CyclerMusic 1: ES_Alive Again - Howard Harper-BarnesMusic 2: ES_In the Red Soil - Bonnie GraceMusic 3: ES_On Wings of Steel - Reynard Seidel____Listen to Strange But True Radio:On demand as a podcastYou can also listen on demand any time of the day and anywhere in the world, just search “Strange But True Radio Podcast” in any of these:Apple PodcastsAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsSpotifyDeezeriheartradioSmart Devicestrangebuttureradio.comStrange But True Radio is an online radio station, a mix of live shows from talk to music throughout the week. Running almost 20years with a few gaps, we aim to bring you Talk: intelligent discussion, on travel, politics, current trends, history, paranormal and ancient discoveries... Live news events. Music: Hand-picked tunes for the season. When we are not live tune into a podcast and hear all our shows. Fancy joining us as a listener tune in! Tell friends and family about us and spread the word.

Topics: 1) Russia hits Airfields, takes control of Kyiv airport - Invasion from North, South and East 2) Ruble plunges to record low, Russian stock market crashes 40% - $70B in losses 3) Oil over $100 per barrel 4) 27% of Americans expect U.S. to play Major role in the conflict - 52% play a Minor role - 20% No role 5) Under Obama Russia annexed Crimea, Under Biden there is war in Ukraine - Peace under Trump 6) Former National Security Advisor to Trump Rick Grenell casts blame squarely on shoulders of President Biden, Secretary Blinken and Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman - Blame also goes to Angela Merkel of Germany for Russian dependence on energy by Germany 7) Trump, DeSantis, Pompeo and Cruz to headline CPAC 8) Desantis, Rubio and Abbott lead by wide margins in race for Governor and Senate 9) Jobless claims fall to 232K and Continuing claims at 1.48M are the lowest since 1970 - The labor market remains tight 10) Stock market rallies off a 3% down day

Special Report: In this extremely interesting show, Mark talks about the question that everyone is asking: What will be the fallout of Russia-Ukraine tensions on the energy markets? ***We are pleased to offer new sponsorship opportunities in The Economy, EIA Report and The Frac Spread Count.*** Primary Vision Network is covering the hottest topics in energy and the economic implications affecting the US & International Markets. PVN covers the energy sector as well as the full supply chain with a granular focus on "well to wheel" economics. Get your brand in front of the movers & shakers of the energy industry and align with the industry's most accurate and trusted content. ➔ Reach out to Lisa O'Keefe at lisa.okeefe@primaryvision.co for more information.

On this episode, I report on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, along with analysis, history, and news clips. LIVE Reporting: https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-21-22/index.html https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/02/21/world/ukraine-russia-putin-biden News Reports, Clips: https://www.axios.com/putin-ukraine-donetsk-luhansk-republics-reaction-ca0561f6-1d81-4c5a-8f2d-a8e129e0043c.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh_bTk74K-k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmKS1b2jHr8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb9U1uoYCOc&t=66s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfSwBL4UkUs SHOW INFORMATION: The Jeremiah Patterson Show YouTube Channel- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmSdvXFGVYMtKItnF6qdaCw The Jeremiah Patterson Show TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@tjpsnews? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thejeremiahpattersonshow/message

In this episode I walk through four big news items for the week, starting with Russia saying they will regulate bitcoin not ban it. I then move onto the Bitfinex hackers and the recent news about Blackrock opening up bitcoin investing to their clients. I finish off by discussing Binance's newest investment in Forbes for $200M and the precedence that it might set for the entire bitcoin industry. Follow along with the Bitcoin Fundamentals Report at https://bitcoinandmarkets.com/r178/ This is part 1 of a series of episodes that will come out this week. Feedback is welcome.

Financial research firm FSInsight predicts in a new report that Bitcoin (BTC) could reach $222,000 and Ethereum (ETH) could reach $12,000 by the end of 2022. In other breaking Bitcoin News today: Russian government and central bank in Russia agree to treat Bitcoin and crypto assets as currency! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://afghannewswire.com/2021/09/12/report-russia-supports-northern-alliance/

Photo: No known restrictions on publication.CBS Eye on the World with John BatchelorCBS Audio Network@BatchelorshowReport Russia selling a spy satellite to Iran. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 @ThadMcCotter @theamgreatnesshttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-is-preparing-to-supply-iran-with-an-advanced-satellite-system-that-will-boost-tehran-e2-80-99s-ability-to-surveil-military-targets-officials-say/ar-AAKVgkS

While HTML email is nothing new, a recently discovered trick means a pretty wide open security flaw has been there all along, too. Security researcher, engineer, & tech columnist Ax Sharma joins us to explain how just a bit of code in the wrong hands can manipulate the "external sender" warning on your organization's emails - to either remove it altogether or change it to trick unsuspecting users into malicious clicks. Ax also tells us what solutions are out there to cut your risk. See the full story: Attackers can hide 'external sender' email warnings with HTML and CSSPlus, we dive deeper into the story of Facebook and the 533 million users whose data was exposed. Ax discusses the difference between a breach and data scraping, how social media users should protect their privacy, and Facebook's responsibility in this incident.In headlines, we talk about a ransomware attack targeting a major police department, another update on SolarWinds & Russia's role, and we hear more about the current state of the ransomware threat.See the stories:Hackers threaten to release DC police data in apparent ransomware attackhttps://www.theverge.com/2021/4/27/22405339/washington-dc-police-hack-data-department-ransomeware-babuk Report: Russia 'likely' kept access to US networks after SolarWinds hackhttps://www.engadget.com/russia-us-network-access-after-solarwinds-hack-192305973.html Ransomware extortion demands are growing, and so is the downtime caused by attackshttps://www.zdnet.com/article/ransomware-extortion-demands-are-growing-and-so-is-the-downtime-caused-by-attacks/Ransomware: don’t expect a full recovery, however much you payhttps://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2021/04/27/ransomware-dont-expect-a-full-recovery/ Get info on all things network security through our blog, https://firewalls.com/blog.Please do rate and review us wherever you listen, and reach out, as we want to hear from you. Suggest an episode topic, ask a question, or just say hi in a review or comment, or by emailing podcast@firewalls.com. New episodes are normally released every other Wednesday, so subscribe/follow to ensure you get the latest first.Thanks for listening!

Q&A Holes Podcast presents: The C Report with Mr. C for Thursday 02/04/2021 In this episode: Greta Thunberg publishes a copy of instructions given to her by handlers; America’s new sweetheart, Hunter Biden rides the pink horse alongside Stephen King; AOC’s fear and snow flaking at the capital, life and death over a cup of coffee; President Zelenksy of Ukraine stops China from getting in their business; United Arab Emirate emabassy attacks in Ethiopia funded by activist groups in Switzerland; and Biden sends fighter jets to Norway to the alarm of Russia. http://www.qandaholespodcast.com http://www.therootofmanyreturns.com -- -- --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theexpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theexpodcast/support

Russia’s Sokol and ESPO Blend crude oil grades, produced in the country’s Far East, have relatively easy access to the world’s largest crude oil buyer, China.In this episode of The Crude Report, our Vice President Will Harwood and Asia-Pacific and Middle East crude markets editor Azlin Ahmad, talk through the market fundamentals behind the Sokol and ESPO Blend crude.

PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1: Dems and Drive-Bys freak out over Crazy Bernie. Matthews compares Bernie victory to Nazis occupying Europe. Weinstein convicted on some charges, faces 25 years in prison. Coronavirus weaponized against Trump, overhyped. Coronavirus has lower mortality rate than the flu. Rush Apple TV app debuts. Report Russia meddling in favor of Bernie. Ted Kennedy meddled in elections, conspired with Soviets. Crazy Bernie’s socialism is nothing new, it’s mainstream Democrat Party, but they don’t say it out loud. Bernie defends Castro’s “literacy program.” Coronavirus shut down Hong Kong protests. Weinstein to jail.  PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 2: Who will lead the Never Bernie Democrats? 2016 Column: The Flight 93 Election by Michael Anton. Montage of Dems and Drive-Bys freaking out over Crazy Bernie. Krugman: I believe in everything Bernie believes in, just don’t call it socialism. Do Millennials know who Stalin was? Ric Grenell is a great choice for DNI, will clean out intelligence community, openly gay and brilliant. Everyone knew about Harvey Weinstein, did nothing. Crazy Bernie is not an outlier in the Democrat Party. PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 3: Who do Democrats prefer to lose with in 2020? Do Democrat power-brokers want to lose with socialism? What will Millennials do when they lose with Crazy Bernie? Dems still counting Iowa votes, Mayor Pete questions Nevada results. Crazy Bernie blasts APAC. Socialism is mainstream in the Democrat Party. Sotomayor upset Trump is winning, filling courts with conservative judges. Trump should go on education tour, explaining how liberals have screwed up higher education. Bloomberg releases 3 women from NDAs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

On today's episode, we talk mostly about the EPP slowly admitting they realise Orbán's a bit shit. We also talk about a weird La Lega funding scandal, that seems very legit if you ask me. Support us on Patreon! WE HAVE A T-PUBLIC STORE what a fashionable way to support our podcast We now have a website that you can find here! Feel free to send us an email at PreviouslyInEurope@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @PrevInEurope If you can please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and if you can't do that tell a friend, this stuff really helps us out Also, have you considered Matteo Renzi? Nonsense Section AfD wins case against spy agency "The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution", the not at all sinister sounding German domestic spy agency, apparently aren't allowed to announce they're looking into the AfD (https://www.dw.com/en/afd-wins-case-against-spy-agency/a-47695697) France is planning a 5% "digital tax" The French finance minister is apparently planning a 5% tax to promote 'fiscal justice'. This is largely due to the EU not pushing forward with something similar (https://www.bloomberg.com/technology). The problem being that some EU countries (cough, Ireland and Luxembourg) do quite well out of the current system The second referendum campaign is just kind of embarrassing God damn you fucking nerds! https://www.wooferendum.org/ Moldovan parliamentary election https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Moldovan_parliamentary_election,_2018 The general takeaway of this election, The Party of Socialists is still the biggest party but there still needs to be a government formed. The newly implemented voting system is terrible. Topic 1 €3M from Russia to La Lega ##Report: Russia offered Italy's Salvini €3m for EU election Russia was preparing to help Italian far-right deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini contest the European Parliament elections in May with a clandestine €3m funding boost for his League party, Italian weekly L'Espresso reports. The money was to come via a cushy oil deal brokered by a Russian state firm and Salvini's aide, Gianluca Savoini, in Moscow last October, L'Espresso said in a teaser ahead of further revelations due Sunday. https://euobserver.com/tickers/144246 Main article in L'Espresso http://espresso.repubblica.it/plus/articoli/2019/02/28/news/la-trattativa-per-finanziare-la-lega-i-nuovi-particolari-sull-uomo-di-salvini-a-mosca-1.332173?ref=HEF_RULLO&preview=true People involved: Gianluca Savoini, president of the Lombardy-Russia Cultural Association, and Claudio d'Amico, a senior foreign policy adviser to the party. They own Orion LLC. a Moscow-based company. At the weekend, the Italian magazine L'Espresso published a series of cases where senior figures in and around Lega were linked to businesses based in Russia, and, more significantly, allegations that the party was in talks to secure funding through an oil deal brokered by Savoini. The League has never hidden its desire to forge close economic and ideological links with Russia. League representatives have frequently travelled to Russia and appeared regularly on state-controlled media there. In 2017, a formal "cooperation and collaboration" agreement was signed between Russian president Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia and the League, aimed at boosting business, legislative and cultural ties between the two countries. https://euobserver.com/opinion/144255 Topic 2 People are starting to notice Orbán isn't a Christian Democrat Orbán has gotten used to getting his way nationally - having fun spending the tax payers' money on "information campaigns". In a repeat of last year for the Hungarian elections they're doing it again but this time against the current EU administration, which is run in a grand coalition with Orbán's own EPP party... The anti-Junker ads are a curious decision. Everyone should refer to the 2018 "stop Soros" ads which apparently cost the government €8m (https://english.atlatszo.hu/2018/03/22/hungarian-government-spent-e8-1-million-on-its-latest-stop-soros-campaign/) in the run up to their national elections. This is also generally money spent for air time and billboards controlled by Orbán friendly media (Politico have a fun chart https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-media-empire-hungary-election-antal-rogan-fidesz-propaganda/). The content is equivalent to low effort memes (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/27/world/europe/viktor-orban-hungary.html) Currently they're running basically the same idea but with Junker included as a Soros co-conspirator in his anti Hungarian people immigration agenda. EPP notice... /s In a shocking turn of events the EPP notice /s. We're now on 5-8 parties officially having said they've asked for Fidesz expulsion or suspension: Flemish Christian Democrats (Belgium) Walloon Humanist Democratic Center (Belgium) Luxembourg's Christian Social People's Party (Junker's party, Luxembourg) CDS-People's Party (Portugal) (https://www.politico.eu/article/belgian-and-luxembourgish-conservatives-ask-epp-to-expel-fidesz/) Swedish Moderate Party late last month also indicated they'd be on board (https://www.politico.eu/article/sweden-moderate-party-viktor-orban-fidesz-party-to-be-kicked-out-of-epp/) Swedish Christian Democrats National Coalition Party (Finland) Current count is at 10ish according to Politico (https://www.politico.eu/article/fidesz-epp-european-peoples-party-viktor-orban-what-happens-next/), but mostly parties with small seat numbers. Christian Democratic Appeal from the Netherlands have said there needs to be a conversation but it's unclear whether they're asking for expulsion. They need 7 parties to ask for expulsion for it to come to an EPP internal vote - "A proposal for the exclusion of a member may only be submitted by the Presidency or seven Ordinary or Associated Member Parties from five different countries." (https://www.epp.eu/files/uploads/2019/01/EPP-Statutes-adopted-by-the-Helsinki-Congress-on-7-Nov-2018.pdf). So this may happen, but whether they get a majority to vote them out is questionable. The EPP internal structure is controlled based on previous EU election results so... yeah maybe https://www.epp.eu/structure/political-assembly/. There's some powerhouses on the list of people who would probably vote against expulsion. Tajani (EU parliament president, Forza Italia) has been pretty pro Orbán previously and their block would probably vote against. PP from Spain are pretty gross lately. Les Republicans have been conspicuously quiet on it... So maybe not Orbán seems to think this is good fun Originally the news late in the week was they'd take the posters down on March 15th (as originally planned). Now they've revealed they're just going to replace them with Vice President Frans Timmermans posters ( https://www.dw.com/en/hungary-to-replace-anti-juncker-posters-with-anti-timmermans-posters/a-47753965). Now Timmermans isn't in the EPP, but he's part of the grand coalition ruling majority being in the S&D... so... I don't know, maybe some people will find that fine in the EPP... Merkel says posters bad, Orbán very bold (https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-voices-solidarity-with-juncker-stops-short-of-calling-for-orbans-fidesz-to-be-thrown-out-of-epp/a-47619513) The Hungarian government's website says that the response from the commission to the ads is a "confession" (http://www.kormany.hu/en/government-spokesperson/news/the-official-opinion-of-the-european-commission-is-yet-another-confession). Also who knew the Hungarian government had an English version? They're making the Left is evil argument Orbán is basically saying that criticism of him is just going to help the left wing (https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-calls-epp-critics-useful-idiots/), which is a curious message from someone who is running ads saying the effective leader of his EU party is a puppet of Soros... Maybe the EPP could just do with out him? They'd be giving up the juicy 13 seats of their coalition. They'd still be the largest party by a sizeable majority on current polling... I don't think Orbán's bullshit is worth it. Thought the current narrative is they're going to take a massive hit in seats from the last parliament so maybe not... (https://www.politico.eu/article/new-politico-2019-european-parliament-election-seat-projection/)

RUSSIA AND CANADA EYE ARCTIC WEALTH Canada may soon join Russia in exerting claims to parts of the Arctic. Stefan Christoff reports from Montreal. The planting of a Russian flag last week on the North Pole seabed could be opening salvo in a scramble by northern countries to claim arctic territory. The U.S., Russia, Canada, Denmark and Norway have all indicated an interest in parts of the North Pole. With the retreat of polar ice caps due to global warming comes an emerging drive to claim and access the Arctic's vast reserves of gas and mineral wealth. Canada's Conservative government in Ottawa recently announcing plans to establish a major military sea port in the far north, as an attempt to assert political control in the melting north. At the same time, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay criticized the recent Russian territory grab. (audio) “This isn't the 15th century. You can't go around the world and plant flags and say ‘we are claiming this'.” Lost in the recent international debate are the Inuit, an indigenous people to the Arctic territories estimated at 150,000 people, who continue to maintain sovereignty over certain Arctic territories. This is Stefan Christoff reporting for Free Speech Radio News in Montreal. /// listen to reports produced for Free Speech Radio News between 2002 - 2012, the flagship Pacifica radio daily news program, these reports were produced in Montreal, but also in Beirut, Lebanon. putting these reports up for archiving purposes, they address numerous grassroots struggles for justice and against oppression, particularly looking at struggles surrounding migrant justice, also indigenous movements for land and rights, while also struggles against colonialist wars today & the persisting impacts of wars past. thank you for listening ! stefan @spirodon

World Prophecy News, Wounded Lamb, Syrian report, Russia Religious freedom, Pastor Brunson, Follow Jesus, Pro-Life, Cross and Crescent | www.warn-usa.com | WIBR WARN Radio Check out the Watchman's new book, now on all Ingram distribution channels and Amazon distribution worldwide! Steel the Darkness, A Christian Mystery Thriller; this is book one in a four book series. Learn more here: Steel the Darkness paperback http://amzn.to/2z4Kcpe Today amidst the turmoil of nations we find the Lord moving throughout. He is Lord even in the midst of such upheaval. In the whirlwind of these last days, the Lord has his way! Nahum warns us well of the LORD and his power! We look at a dramatic miracle from reports in the middle east. We look at Human rights report on Christian persecution in Syria. In addition we move to Putin and Russia's crackdown on Religious freedoms there. More news as well on Pastor Brunson. We also discuss Pro-life and talk about a threatened war between the Cross and the Crescent. All this and more on today's show with the Watchman n Tower.

On Friday the 13th of April, President Trump bombed the government of Syria… Again. In this episode, learn some of the little-discussed history of and reasons for the on-going attempts to overthrow the government of Syria. Please Support Congressional Dish Click here to contribute using credit card, debit card, PayPal, or Bitcoin Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD167: Combating Russia (NDAA 2018) LIVE Additional Reading Article: 'Obscene masquerade': Russia criticised over Douma chemical attack denial by Patrick Wintour, The Guardian, April 26, 2018. Article: Why does Syria still have chemical weapons? by Patrick Wintour, The Guardian, April 18, 2018. Report: Russia rejects UN resolution for independent Douma investigation, Aljazeera, April 18, 2018. Report: Pentagon warns of IS resurgence in regime areas of Syria, France24, April 17, 2018. Interview: Legal questions loom over Syria strikes, Interview by Jonathan Masters of John B. Bellinger III, Council on Foreign Relations, April 15, 2018. Letter: Text of a letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, April 15, 2018. Report: Trump bombs Syria hours after 88 lawmakers urged him to first consult Congress by Jennifer Bendery, Huffpost, April 13, 2018. Interview: What are U.S. Military options in Syria? Interview by Zachary Laub of Mona Yacoubian, Council on Foreign Relations, April 13, 2018. Report: Thousands of US troops and Marines arrive in Jordan by Shawn Snow, Marine Times, April 13, 2018. Report: Global chemical weapons watchdog 'on its way to Syria', Aljazeera News, April 12, 2018. Report: Pentagon strips Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria troop numbers from web by Tara Copp, Military Times, April 9, 2018. Press Release: Press release on Israeli air strikes in Syria, MFA Russia, February 20, 2018. Article: Kurds pull back from ISIS fight in Syria, saying U.S. 'let us down' by Liz Sly, The Washington Post, March 6, 2018. Report: US has no evidence of Syrian use of sarin gas, Mattis says by Robert Burns, AP News, February 2, 2018. Article: The pundits were wrong about Assad and the Islamic State. As usual, they're not willing to admit it by Max Abrahms and John Glaser, Los Angeles Times, December 10, 2017. Report: [Syria investigator del Ponte signs off with a sting](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-, mideast-crisis-syria-investigator/syria-investigator-del-ponte-signs-off-with-a-sting-idUSKCN1BT29Q) by Reuters Staff, Reuters, September 18, 2017. Article: Trump's red line by Seymour M. Hersh, Welt, June 25, 2017. Article: The 'Pipelineistan' conspiracy: The war in Syria has never been about gas by Paul Cochrane, Middle East Eye, May 10, 2017. Article: MIT expert claims latest chemical weapons attack in Syria was staged by Tareq Haddad, Yahoo, April 17, 2017. Report: MIT expert claims latest chemical weapons attack in Syria was staged by Tareq Haddad, International Business Times, Yahoo, April 17, 2017. Report: Dozens of U.S. missiles hit air base in Syria by Michael R. Gordon, Helene Cooper, and Michael D. Shear, The New York Times, April 6, 2017. Report: ISIS used chemical arms at least 52 times in Syria and Iraq, report says by Eric Schmitt, The New York Times, November 21, 2016. Article: How the White Helmets became international heroes while pushing U.S. Military intervention and regime change in Syria by Max Blumenthal, Alternet, October 2, 2016. Meetings Coverage: Security council unanimously adopts resolution 2254 (2015), endorsing road map for peace process in Syria, setting timetable for talks by UN Security Council, December 18, 2015. Article: How Syria's 'geeky' President Assad went from doctor to dictator by Sarah Burke, NBC News, October 30, 2015. Report: Declared Syrian chemical weapon stockpile now completely destroyed by Thomas Gibbons-Neff, The Washington Post, August 18, 2014. Article: Analysts question US intel on Syria chem attack, DW, January 18, 2014. Book Review: Whose Sarin? by Seymour M. Hersh, London Review of Books, December 19, 2013. Article: UN report says sarin likely used in five locations in Syria, DW, December 13, 2013. Article: Assad did not order Syria chemical weapons attack, says German press by Simon Tisdall and Josie Le Blond, The Guardian, September 9, 2013. Article: Cameron forced rule out British attack on Syria after MPs reject motion by Nicholas Watt and Nick Hopkins, The Guardian, August 29, 2013. Article: Spooks' view on Syria: what wikileaks revealed by Alex Thomson, Channel 4, August 28, 2013. Article: Obama weighs 'limited' strikes against Syrian forces by Thom Shanker, C.J. Chivers, and Michael R. Gordon, The New York Times, August 27, 2013. Report: Moscow rejects Saudi offer to drop Assad for arms deal by Agence France-Presse, Hurriyet Daily News, August 8, 2013. Analysis: UN's Del Ponte says evidence Syria rebels 'used sarin' by Bridget Kendall, BBC News, May 6, 2013. Report: Syrian rebels used nerve gas, UN investigator says by TOI Staff, Times of Israel, May 6, 2013. Report: UN sources say Syrian rebels - not Assad - used sarin gas by Adam Clark Estes, The Atlantic, May 5, 2013. Report: U.N. has testimony that Syrian rebels used sarin gas: investigator by Reuters Staff, Reuters, May 5, 2013. Letter: Text of White House letter on Syria to senators by The Associated Press, The Seattle Times, April 25, 2013. Article: How economic reforms are contributing to the conflict in Syria by Rodrigo Abd, NPR, May 29, 2012. Article: The only remaining online copy of Vogue's Asma al-Assad profile by Max Fisher, The Atlantic, January 3, 2012. Report: IMF gives Syria high grade for economic reform by Stephen Glain, The National, January 6, 2009. Report: REFILE-LIberalised Syria banks "on sound track" by Reuters Staff, Reuters, May 26, 2008. Article: The redirection: Is the Administration's new policy benefitting our enemies in the war on terrorism? by Seymour M. Hersh, The New Yorker, March 5, 2007. Article: Syrian Arab Republic -- IMF article IV consultation, mission's concluding statement, International Monetary Fund, May 14, 2006. Report: Investigator says Syria was behind Lebanon assassination by Warren Hoge, The New York Times, December 12, 2005. Article: Reform hinges on Syria's leader by Evan Osnos, Chicago Tribune, April 22, 2005. Resources Congressional Research Service: Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response Council on Foreign Relations: Syria's War: The Descent into Horror by Zachary Laub Country Reports on Terrorism: Chapter 6 -- State Sponsors of Terror Overview Gov. Publishing Office: Counter-ISIS Training and Equipment Fund IMF Working Paper: Syria's Conflict Economy by Jeanne Gobat and Kristina Kostial Pipeline Report: Arab Gas Pipeline (AGP), Jordan, Syria, Lebanon Public Law: 9/11 AUMF Public Law: Iraq War AUMF Scientific Advisory Board: OPCW 27th Session March 23, 2018 Wikileaks Tweet on OPCW UN News: Action Group for Syria Final Communique June 30, 2012 UN Security Council Report: Goal in Syria Sound Clip Sources Hearing: US Policy Toward Middle East; House Foreign Affairs Committee; April 18, 2018. Witnesses: -David Satterfield - Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State - Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs - Wess Mitchell - Assistant Secretary of State of European and Eurasian Affairs 15:25 David Satterfield: While preventing the use of chemical weapons in Syria is our immediate concern, the administration’s priority remains the defeat of ISIS. ISIS has lost nearly all of the territory it once controlled in Iraq and Syria, but the fight in Syria still has to be pursued to its conclusion. More broadly, the United States supports a unified and territorially whole Syria. This objective is served by U.S. support for the UN-led Geneva political process, established by UN Security Council Resolution 2254, in which process the U.S. believes strongly that representatives of all Syrians, including all its Kurdish components, should fully participate. 16:30 David Satterfield: The Iraqi government is stabilizing communities, including minority communities that suffered greatly from ISIS, and now we’re beginning private-sector-led, investment-driven reconstruction. 34:15 Representative Eliot Engel (NY): To me, ISIS is one prong of something, an important prong, but one prong of what we should be doing. I really think to rid Syria of the butcher Assad ought to be as important as our ISIS concerns. David Satterfield: I strongly agree with you that a Syria in which Assad remains as leader of this regime is not a Syria which we would predict to be meaningfully secure or stable, or not a source of generation of threat and violent extremism under whatever name in the future, and it’s why we have strongly supported a political process led by the UN. Unfortunately, that political process has been blocked, and the parties responsible for blocking it are quite clear: it’s the Syrian regime itself and the Russians, who through their absence of pressure on the regime in Damascus contributes to, enables this freezing of a Geneva process which, virtually, the entire international community supports. Engel: And through the veto in the United Nations. Satterfield: Exactly, sir. 1:02:20 Representative Dana Rohrabacher: What is our purpose in Syria? Will we accept anything less than—would we accept a compromise that would keep Assad in power, at least in part of Syria, or is our goal and our purpose only to totally eliminate the Assad government? David Satterfield: Mr. Rohrabacher, our purpose of our forces in Syria, as Secretary Mattis, Chairman Dunford have stated repeatedly, is to defeat ISIS. The purpose of our diplomacy, of our international engagement, with respect to Syria, is to support a political process, which at its end has a revised constitution, elections conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. And our belief is that those elections, if freely and fairly conducted amongst all Syrians, including the émigré Syrian communities, would not produce the survival of the Assad regime. Rohrabacher: Okay, let me just note, what you described wasn’t just Syria, but probably three-quarters of the countries of the Middle East. And if we made those demands of—why is it that Syria, we have to make those demands against Syria and not against all these other countries in the Middle East? Satterfield: Because, sir, of the extraordinary depredations of this regime in this country against its citizens, because of the extraordinary and historically unprecedented, in modern times, outflow of— Rohrabacher: You don’t think the rest of the countries in the Middle East have similar track records? You’re trying to tell me that—well, we heard the same thing, of course, about Saddam Hussein, we heard the same thing about Gaddafi, and we ended up creating total chaos—total chaos—in that part of the world. Satterfield: No regime in modern history in the Middle East, including Saddam Hussein’s— Rohrabacher: Yes. Satterfield: —has killed as many of its own citizens, has produced external and internal displacement of its own citizens on the scale of the Assad regime. No. It’s unique, sadly. Rohrabacher: Well, let me just say, Mr. Ambassador, you read history differently than I do. That is an area that is filled with dictators, it’s filled with authoritarian regimes, filled with our allies, that if people rose up against them as they’re rising up against Assad—he’s a bad guy, he’s a dictator, he’s everything you said, but he’s not that different from these other regimes once they are challenged. Once they were challenged, don’t tell me the Qatar government wouldn’t mow down all of their guest workers if there was an uprising in Qatar, and vice versa with these other regimes. I’m very disturbed by the fact that we’re sliding into a war and not having an out that will not lead us to major military commitments to that region. That would be a disaster, and I think it’s based on the analysis that you just said: that Assad is somewhat different than everybody else. I don’t think so. News: Rand Paul Says Syrian Gas Attack was False Flag, or Assad is Dumbest Dictator on the Planet; CNN News; April 17, 2018. Meeting: U.N. Security Council on Airstrikes in Syria; U.N. Security Council; April 14, 2018. Testimony: Secretary Mattis and General Dunford on 2019 Budget Request; House Armed Services Committee; April 12, 2018. Witnesses: - James Mattis - Secretary of Defense - General Joseph F. Dunford Jr. - Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 41:42 Secretary of Defense James Mattis: On Syria, sir, both the last administration and this one made very clear that our role in Syria is the defeat of ISIS. We are not going to engage in the civil war itself. Now, you can look back to a year ago when we did fire missiles into Syria, unrelated to ISIS, and that was, of course, the use of chemical weapons. And some things are simply inexcusable, beyond the pale, and in the worst interest of not just the Chemical Weapons Convention but of civilization itself. 42:48 Secretary of Defense James Mattis: And the only reason Assad is still in power is because of the Russians’ regrettable vetoes in the UN, and the Russian and Iranian military. So, how do we deal with this very complex situation? First of all, we are committed to ending that war though the Geneva process, the UN orchestrated effort. It has been unfulfilled because, again, Russia has continually blocked the efforts. 50:10 Representative Niki Tsongas (MA): So as you’re considering possible steps forward—military actions you might take— what do you hope to achieve by any military action that the administration might eventually decide to take? Secretary of Defense James Mattis: Congresswoman, I don’t want to get, as you’ll understand, into the details of a potential decision by the commander in chief, due to this latest attack, which is absolutely inexcusable. There have been a number of these attacks. In many cases, you know we don’t have troops. We’re not engaged on the ground there, so I cannot tell you that we had evidence, even though we certainly had a lot of media and social-media indicators that either chlorine or sarin were used. As far as our current situation, if, like last time, we decide we have to take military action in regard to this chemical weapons attack, then, like last time, we will be reporting to Congress just as we did when we fired a little over a year ago, slightly over a year ago. As far as the counter violent extremists, counter ISIS— Tsongas: So, let me go back to this. So, before taking any action, you would report to Congress as to the nature of what that action might be. Mattis: I will speak only to the fact that we will report to Congress. We’ll keep open lines of communication. There will be notification to the leadership, of course, prior to the attack. But we’ll give a full report to the Congress itself, probably as rapidly as possible. 54:05 Secretary of Defense James Mattis: I believe there was a chemical attack, and we’re looking for the actual evidence. The OPCW—this is the organization for the Chemical Weapons Convention—we’re trying to get those inspectors in, probably within the week. 1:00:42 Representative Jackie Speier (CA): Mr. Secretary, a Military Times article this week revealed that the Defense Manpower Data Center failed to report the number of combat troops deployed in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan last quarter. That website was also stripped of deployment data from previous quarters. I’m very concerned about that. I think that there’s no combat advantage to obfuscating the number of U.S. service members that were in these countries three months ago, and, furthermore, the American public has a right to know. Do you intend to restore that information to the website? Secretary of Defense James Mattis: I’ll look at it, Congresswoman. As you know, we keep the Congress fully informed, right down to every week. We can update you on exactly the numbers in each case, and we do maintain some degree of confidentiality over the number of troops engaged against enemies in the field. So, I’ll have to look at it. But we will not, of course, ever keep those numbers away from members of Congress, for your oversight. Speier: Well, I know, but this has been an ongoing website that’s provided this information to the public, and all of a sudden, the last quarter, it’s not posted, and they’ve sweeped away all the data for previous quarters. So, it would suggest to, I think, the public and to members of this Congress that you are no longer going to make that information available, and I think the public has a right to know. Mattis: I see. When I come in, ma’am, I don’t come in intending to hide things, but I would just ask, what would you do if you thought the enemy could take advantage of that kind of data, seeing trends at certain times of the year and what they can expect in the future? But I’ll certainly look at it. I share your conviction that the American people should know everything that doesn’t give the enemy an advantage. Speier: Thank you. I yield back. 1:18:09 Representative John Garamendi (CA): What is the legal authority—the precise legal authority—of the United States government to engage in military action in response to the chemical weapons use by the Assad regime? Secretary of Defense James Mattis: Right. I believe that authority’s under Article II. We have forces in the field, as you know, in Syria, and the use of chemical weapons in Syria is not something that we should assume that, well, because you didn’t use them on us this time, you wouldn’t use them on us next time. 1:28:35 Representative Tulsi Gabbard (HI): You know, the president has indicated recently his intention to launch U.S. military attacks against Syria. Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war. Congress has not done so against the Syrian government. Section 3 of the War Powers Resolution requires the president to consult with Congress before introducing U.S. armed forces into situations of hostilities. Section 2 of the War Powers Resolution clarifies the constitutional powers of the president as commander in chief. In Article II, which you referenced, Secretary Mattis, to introduce forces into hostilities only pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by an attack upon the U.S., its territories, possessions, or armed forces. Syria’s not declared war against the U.S. or threatened the U.S. The launch of 59 missiles against Syria by Trump last year was illegal and did not meet any of those criteria in the War Powers Resolution. The consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, which was signed into law by President Trump, states that none of the funds made available by this Act may be used with respect to Syria in contravention of the War Powers Resolution, including for the introduction of U.S. armed military forces into hostilities in Syria. My question is, will the president uphold the Constitution, the War Powers Resolution, and comply with the law that he signed by obtaining authorization from Congress before launching U.S. military attacks against Syria? Secretary of Defense James Mattis: Congresswoman, we have not yet made any decision to launch military attacks into Syria. I think that when you look back at President Obama sending the U.S. troops into Syria at the time he did, he also had to deal with this type of situation, because we were going after a named terrorist group that was not actually named in the AUMF that put them in. This is a complex area, I’ll be the first to admit. Gabbard: It is simple, however, what the Constitution requires. So while you’re correct in saying the president has not yet made a decision, my question is, will he abide by the Constitution and comply with the law? Mattis: Yeah. I believe that the president will carry out his duties under the Constitution to protect the country. Interview: John Kerry - We Got All of the Chemical Weapons Out of Syria; CNN; April 9, 2018. Interview: John Kerry on Getting Chemical Weapons out of Syria, 2014; Meet the Press; April 9, 2018. Testimony: US Policy in Syria After ISIS; Senate Foreign Relations Committee; January 11, 2018. Witnesses: - David Satterfield - Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs 13:45 David Satterfield: A stable Syria absolutely requires the departure of President Assad and his regime. They’ve inflicted suffering and countless deaths on the Syrian people, including use of chemical weapons. This regime is a magnet for terror. It is incapable of democratically leading the whole of Syria. We, our allies, have come to Russia with a path towards the Syrian political transition, towards a political solution, on many occasions, and we call on Russia again today to pressure the regime to work seriously towards a political resolution to this conflict. 14:37 Sen. Bob Corker (TN): We are now not demanding that Assad leave. Instead, as I understand it, we’re embracing the UN resolution as Putin has recently done. Is that correct? David Satterfield: That’s correct, Mr. Chairman. Corker: And that would mean that there would then be an election that would take place. Satterfield: There would be a constitutional reform and revision process, and then there would be an electoral process. That electoral process would be fully under UN monitoring and supervision. Corker: And is it true that—it’s my sense that people like you and others believe that if that process occurs as has been laid out and as supported right now by Russia, do you believe that the way Assad would go through a democratic election where he would lose? Satterfield: Mr. Chairman, we cannot conceive of a circumstance which a genuinely fair electoral process overseen by the UN, with participation of a Syrian displaced community, could lead to a result in which Assad remained at the helm. 21:20 David Satterfield: First step was the defeat of ISIS. As long as ISIS remained a potent fighting force in Syria, the bandwidth, the space to deal with these broader strategic challenges, including Iran and, of course, Assad and the regime, simply wasn’t there. But that bandwidth is being freed up now. With the UN process, with international support for a credible electoral and constitutional reform process, we see political transition in Syria as a potentially achievable goal. We don’t underestimate the challenges ahead. It’s going to be hard—very hard—to do. Assad will cling to power at almost every cost possible. But with respect to Iran, we will treat Iran in Syria and Iran’s enablement of Hezbollah as a separate strategic issue. How do you deal with it? You deal with it in all places that it manifests itself, which is not just Syria, but Iraq, Yemen, the Gulf, other areas where Iran’s maligned behaviors affect our and our allies’ national interests. Difficult challenge, but not impossible challenge, and it is one we are seized with right now, but having a politically transformed Syria will, in and of itself, be a mitigating and minimizing factor on Iran’s influence, and the opposite is also true. Satterfield: We are working on stabilization in the north and the northeast right now very successfully and with a minimum of U.S. physical presence. About 2,000 U.S. military and seven, soon to be 10, foreign service colleagues. This is a highly efficient operation, and it’s working on the ground. But those are only the first steps. The 2254 political process, the process that the entire international community of like-minded states has signed on to, is the key. It’s the key to addressing Assad and his departure; it is the key to resolving the question of foreign forces and Iranian influence. And what are our levers, what are our tools to move that forward? They are denial of legitimacy and authenticity to any claim of victory by the regime or its supporters in Moscow or Tehran, and the withholding of reconstruction funds, which are vital to the regime and we think Moscow’s interests over the long term. Those are potent levers. 48:58 Sen. Bob Corker: As I understand, the troops that are there, they’re not involved in combat. Is that correct? David Satterfield: Senator, there are still combat activities going on in the middle Euphrates valley. The campaign against the so-called Caliphate, that is, the territorially structured presence of ISIS, is not over yet. That campaign continues. The level of fighting has significantly diminished since the days of urban conflict in Mayadeen, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor. But the fight goes on, and there is combat activity. Corker: But, most of their efforts are in support of those that are actually on the front lines. Satterfield: They are in facilitation of the SDF efforts, who have consistently carried this fight since the beginning. 49:47 Sen. Ron Johnson (OH): Reconstructing Syria’s going to cost somewhere in the order of 200 to 300 billion dollars. Is that…? David Satterfield: That’s a general international estimate, sir. Johnson: So, who has that kind of money? Satterfield: I can tell you who doesn’t: the Syrian regime, Moscow, and Tehran. Who does? The international community companies, international financial institutions. They’ve got the money collectively, but that money is not going to flow into a Syria which has not gone through a political transformation and transition. Hearing: Authorization for Use of Military Force; Senate Foreign Relations Committee; October 30, 2017. 2:55:15 Sen. Rob Portman (OH): Do you think there can be a lasting peace there as long as Assad is in power, and does the current AUMF give you the ability, General Mattis, to be able to deal with that issue if you think that has to be resolved? That might be one example. Rex Tillerson: Well, the current AUMF only authorizes our fight against ISIS in Syria, as I indicated in my remarks. We’re not there to fight the regime. There is no authority beyond the fight against ISIS. Therefore, we have to pursue a future Syria that’s kept whole and intact, and a process, which the UN Security Council process does provide a process by which, in our view, the Assad regime will step down from power. Breaking News: Brian Williams is Guided by the Beauty of Our Weapons in Syria Strikes; MSNBC; April 13, 2017. Breaking News: Zakaria: Trump Just Became President; CNN; April 7, 2017. Report: Hillary Clinton Discussed Rigging the Election in Leaked Audio; The Young Turks; November 1, 2016. Interview: Gen. Wesley Clark - 7 Countries in 5 Years; Democracy Now!; August 6, 2016. Hearing: U.S. Policy and Russian Involvement in Syria; House Foreign Affairs Committee; November 4, 2015. Witnesses: - Anne Patterson - Assistant Secretary of State - Victoria Nuland - Assistant Secretary of State Statement: Situation in Syria; Secretary of State Clinton calls on Assad to resign Interview: 100% Syria Have No Chemical Weapon, John Kerry; Charlie Rose; March 10, 2014. Debate: British House of Commons Debate on Syria; House of Commons; August 29, 2013. Press Briefing: US President Barack Obama in 'red line' warning to Syria over Chemical Weapons; Telegraph; August 21, 2012. Testimony: US Policy Toward Syria; House International Relations Committee; September 16, 2003. Speech: Democracy in Iraq; George Bush; February 26, 2003. Witnesses: - John Bolton - then Undersecretary at the Department of State for Arms Control, current National Security Advisor 53:12 Former Representative Gary Ackerman (NY): Are we talking about regime change in Syria if they do not voluntarily rid themselves of whatever it is we’re saying they have or do that threatens our national security? John Bolton: Mr. Ackerman, as the president has made clear and as we are directed, our preference is to solve these problems by peaceful and diplomatic means. But the president has also been very clear that we’re not taking any options off the table. 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)  

Cold War: Part Duex In early February, Defense Secretary James Mattis and Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Paul Selva testified to Congress about two recently released war strategy documents: The National Defense Strategy and the Nuclear Posture Review. In this episode, hear some of the most powerful people in the world discuss their plans to reboot the Cold War, including an extremely expensive plan, which has already begun, to replace the United States entire nuclear weapons arsenal. Please Support Congressional Dish Click here to contribute using credit card, debit card, PayPal, or Bitcoin Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD067: What Do We Want in Ukraine? CD093: Our Future in War Short Story Long Podcast Appearance Additional Reading Article: Trump's favorite general: Can Mattis check an impulsive president and still retain his trust? by Greg Jaffe and Missy Ryan, The Washington Post, February 7, 2018. Report: Beijing hits back at US defence strategy and 'cold war mindset' by Kinling Lo, South China Morning Post, January 20, 2018, Report: A top secret desert assembly plant starts ramping up to build Northrop's B-21 bomber by Ralph Vartabedian, W.J. Hennigan, and Samantha Masunaga, The Los Angeles Times, November 10, 2017. Article: Lockheed close to massive F-35 fighter jet deal with 11 nations by Thom Patterson, CNN Money, June 19, 2017. Article: Russian lawmaker: We would use nukes if US or NATO enters Crimea by Patrick Tucker, Defense One, May 28, 2017. Report: Russia is now the world's third largest military spender by Ivana Kottasova, CNN Money, April 24, 2017. Article: The F-35 may carry one of the US's most polarizing nuclear weapons sooner than expected by Alex Lockie, Business Insider, January 12, 2017. Article: Henry Kissinger's war crimes are central to the divide between Hilary Clinton and Bernie Sanders by Dan Froomkin, The Intercept, February 12, 2016. Review: Hillary Clinton reviews Henry Kissinger's 'World Order' by Hillary Rodham Clinton, The Washington Post, September 4, 2014. Resources Congressional Budget Office: Approaches for Managing the Costs of U.S. Nuclear Forces, 2017 to 2046 Congressional Research Service: Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress Defense.gov: 2018 Summary of the National Defense Strategy Indictment: Internet Research Agency Indictment Media.defense.gov: 2018 Nuclear Posture Review OpenSecrets.org: Huntington Ingalls Industries, Profile for 2016 Election Cycle OpenSecrets.org: General Dynamics Organization Summary OpenSecrets.org: Lobbyists Representing General Dynamics, 2017 OpenSecrets.org: Northrop Grumman Organization Summary OpenSecrets.org: Northrop Grumman Lobbying Info Book: World Order by Henry Kissinger Visual Resources Sound Clip Sources Hearing: National Defense Strategy and Nuclear Posture Review, C-SPAN, House Armed Services Committee, February 6, 2018. Witnesses James Mattis - Secretary of the Department of Defense General Paul Silva - Vice Chair of the Joints Chiefs of Staff 12:25 Defense Secretary James Mattis: To advance the security of our nation, these troops are putting themselves in harm’s way, in effect, signing a blank check payable to the American people with their lives. They do so despite Congress’ abrogation of its constitutional responsibility to provide sufficient stable funding. Our military have been operating under debilitating continuing resolutions for more than 1,000 days during the past decade. These men and women hold the line for America while lacking this most fundamental congressional support: a predictable budget. Congress mandated—rightfully mandated—this National Defense Strategy—the first one in a decade—and then shut down the government the day of its release. Today we are again operating under a disruptive continuing resolution. It is not lost on me that as I testify before you this morning we are again on the verge of a government shutdown, or, at best, another damaging continuing resolution. I regret that without sustained, predictable appropriations, my presence here today wastes your time because no strategy can survive, as you pointed out, Chairman, without the funding necessary to resource it. 19:15 Defense Secretary James Mattis: Our second line of effort is to strengthen traditional alliances while building new partnerships. History is clear that nations with allies thrive. We inherited this approach to security and prosperity from the Greatest Generation, and it has served the United States well for 70 years. Working by, with, and through allies who carry their fair share is a source of strength. Since the costly victory in World War II, Americans have carried a disproportionate share of the global-defense burden while others recovered. Today the growing economic strength of allies and partners has enabled them to step up, as demonstrated by more than 70 nations and international organizations participating in the Defeat ISIS campaign and again in the 40-some nations standing shoulder to shoulder in NATO’s Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. Most NATO allies are also increasing their defense budgets, giving credence to the value of democracies standing together. 24:33 Defense Secretary James Mattis: As Senator McCain said last week, since the end of the Cold War, we have let our nuclear capabilities atrophy under the false belief that the era of great power competition was over. As the new National Defense Strategy rightfully acknowledges, we now face the renewed threat of competition from Russia and China, and we cannot ignore their investments in nuclear weapons in addition to conventional forces. The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review reaffirms the findings of previous reviews that the nuclear triad—comprised of silo-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, bomber aircraft, and nuclear submarines—is the most strategically sound means of ensuring nuclear deterrence. To remain effective, however, we must recapitalize our Cold War legacy nuclear-deterrence forces, continuing a modernization program initiated during the previous administration. 27:05 Defense Secretary James Mattis: We need Congress to lift the defense spending caps and support the budget for our military of 700 billion for this fiscal year and 716 billion for next fiscal year. Let me be clear: as hard as the last 16 years of war have been on our military, no enemy in the field has done as much to harm the readiness of the U.S. military than the combined impact of the Budget Control Act’s defense spending caps, worsened by operating for 10 of the last 11 years under continuing resolutions of varied and unpredictable duration. The Budget Control Act was purposely designed to be so injurious that it would force Congress to pass necessary budgets. It was never intended to be the solution. 34:50 General Paul Selva: Two supplemental capabilities recommended in the Nuclear Posture Review—the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile and a modification of a small number of existing submarine-launched ballistic missile warheads—would enhance deterrence by ensuring that no adversary under any set of circumstances can perceive an advantage through the use of a limited nuclear escalation or other strategic attack. Fielding these capabilities will not lower the threshold at which the U.S. would employ nuclear weapons; rather, it will raise the nuclear threshold for potential adversaries, making the use of nuclear weapons less likely. 35:45 General Paul Selva: It is important to note that the National Defense Strategy and the Nuclear Posture Review both make the assumption that the military will receive timely, predictable, and sufficient funding to execute these strategies. As General Mattis has emphasized, we in uniform appreciate the support of this committee and the Congress, and we trust that the Congress will provide the funding needed to turn these strategies into reality. 1:03:05 Representative Joe Wilson (SC): Secretary Mattis, your Nuclear Posture Review, NPR, recommends that U.S. develop two supplemental nuclear capabilities: first, a low-yield submarine-launched ballistic missile, SLBM; and second, a sea-launched cruise missile. Why are these needed for deterrence and assurance? And following on that, some are arguing that they lower the threshold for the U.S. to use nuclear weapons. Do you believe that the addition of these capabilities to the U.S. nuclear arsenal is an increase or decrease the likelihood of a nuclear war? And another angle: why should we need a low-yield SLBM when we already have a low-yield nuclear gravity bomb? Are these capabilities redundant? Defense Secretary James Mattis: Congressman, I don’t believe it lowers the threshold at all. What it does, it makes very clear that we have a deterrent. If the Russians choose to carry out what some of their doctrine people have promoted, their political leaders have promoted, which would be to employ a low-yield nuclear weapon in a conventional fight in order to escalate to de-escalate; in other words, to escalate to victory and then de-escalate. We want to make certain they recognize that we can respond in kind. We don’t have to go with a high-yield weapon; thus, the deterrent effort stays primary. It is not to in any way lower the threshold to use nuclear weapons. On the sea-launched cruise missile, as you know, we have an ongoing issue with Russia’s violation of the INF. I want to make certain that our negotiators have something to negotiate with, that we want Russia back into compliance. We do not want to forgo the INF, but at the same time, we have options if Russia continues to go down this path. Discussion: Kissinger and Schultz on Global Challenges, C-SPAN, Senate Armed Services Committee, January 25, 2018. Witnesses: Henry Kissinger National Security Advisor & Secretary of State in Nixon & Ford Administrations George Shultz Secretary of State in Reagan Administration Richard Armitage Deputy Secretary of State in the first term of the George W. Bush administration 12:45 Henry Kissinger: The international situation facing the United States is unprecedented. What is occurring is more than a coincidence of individual crises. Rather, it is a systemic failure of world order, which is gathering momentum and which has led to an erosion of the international system rather than its consolidation, a rejection of territorial acquisition by force, expansion of mutual trade benefits without coercion, which are the hallmark of the existing system are all under some kind of strain. Compounding this dynamism is the pace of technological development, whose extraordinary progress threatens to outstrip our strategic and moral imagination and makes the strategic equation tenuous unless major efforts are made to sustain it. 19:45 Henry Kissinger: There is no doubt that the military capacity of China, as well as its economic capacity, is growing, and there have been challenges from Russia which have to be met, especially in Ukraine, Crimea, and Syria. And this raises these fundamental questions: What is the strategic relationship between these countries vis-a-vis the prospect of peace? Is their strength comparable enough to induce restraint? Are their values compatible enough to encourage an agreed legitimacy? These are the challenges that we face. The balance of power must be maintained, but it is also necessary to attempt a strategic dialogue that prevents the balance of power from having to be tested. This is the key issue in our relationship. 25:10 George Shultz: And I take the occasion to particularly underline one of the things that Henry brought out in his testimony, that is the concern we must have about nuclear proliferation. As you remember in the Reagan period, we worked hard. President Reagan thought nuclear weapons were immoral, and we worked hard to get them reduced. And we had quite a lot of success. And in those days, people seemed to have an appreciation of what would be the result of a nuclear weapon if ever used. I fear people have lost that sense of dread. And now we see everything going in the other direction, nuclear proliferation. The more countries have nuclear weapons, the more likely it is one’s going to go off somewhere, and the more fissile materials lying around—anybody who gets fissile material can make a weapon fairly easily. So this is a major problem. It can blow up the world. So I think we have to get at it. And the right way to start is what Henry said, is somehow to be able to have a different kind of relationship with Russia. After all, Russia and the United States have the bulk of all the weapons. 31:20 George Shultz: First, let me talk about the economy. What is happening as a result of these forces is de-globalization. This is already happening. This is not something for the future. The reason is that it’s becoming more and more possible to produce the things you want close to where you are. So the advantages of low labor costs are disappearing. And the more you produce things near where you are, the less you need shipping, and it has a big impact on energy, and it has a huge impact on the countries that are providing low-cost labor and a huge impact on places like ourselves which will wind up being able to produce these things near where we are. It’s a revolution. And a revolution in the economy has all sorts of security implications that need to be thought about. But this is a very big deal. 33:30 George Shultz: Robotics, 3-D printing, and artificial intelligence are driving manufacturers to reconsider not only how and what they make but where they make it. The world is on the very front end of a big shift from labor to automation. Robot sales are expected to reach $400,000 annually in 2018. This estimate does not account for the newly developed cobots, that is, collaborative robots. They assist human workers and, thus, dramatically increase human productivity. There are other things about all this that I won’t go into which underline it, but the new technologies are bringing manufacturing back to the United States. The United States has lost manufacturing jobs every year from 1998 to 2009, a total of 8 million jobs. Over the last 6 years, it regained about a million of them. With the cost of living no longer a significant advantage, it makes little sense to manufacture components in Southeast Asia, assemble them in China, and then ship them to the rest of the world when the same item can either be manufactured by robots or printed where it will be used. So this is a huge revolution taking place. It also underlines the enhanced ability to protect your intellectual property because you don’t have to ship it around. 35:35 George Shultz: You want to look at the dramatic improvements in nano-energetics, artificial intelligence, drones, and 3-D printing. They’re producing a revolution of small, smart, and cheap weapons that will redefine the battlefield. Open-source literature says nano-aluminum created ultra high burn rates which give nano-explosives four to ten times the power of TNT. The obvious result, small platforms will carry a very destructive power. Then you can put these small platforms on drones. And drones can be manufactured easily, and you can have a great many of them inexpensively. So then you can have a swarm armed with lethal equipment. Any fixed target is a real target. So an airfield where our Air Force stores planes is a very vulnerable target. A ship at anchor is a vulnerable target. So you’ve got to think about that in terms of how you deploy. And in terms of the drones, while such a system cannot be jammed, it would only serve to get a drone—talking about getting a drone to the area of where its target is, but that sure could hit a specific target. At that point, the optical systems guided by artificial intelligence could use on-board, multi-spectral imaging to find a target and guide the weapons. It is exactly that autonomy that makes the technologic convergence a threat today. Because such drones will require no external input other than the signature of the designed target, they will not be vulnerable to jamming. Not requiring human intervention, the autonomous platforms will also be able to operate in very large numbers. 38:48 George Shultz: I think there’s a great lesson here for what we do in NATO to contain Russia because you can deploy these things in boxes so you don’t even know what they are and on trucks and train people to unload quickly and fire. So it’s a huge deterrent capability that is available, and it’s inexpensive enough so that we can expect our allies to pitch in and get them for themselves. 40:10 George Shultz: The creative use of swarms of autonomous drones to augment current forces would strongly and relatively cheaply reinforce NATO, as I said, that deterrence. If NATO assists frontline states in fielding large numbers of inexpensive autonomous drones that are pre-packaged in standard 20-foot containers, the weapons can be stored in sites across the countries under the control of reserve forces. If the weapons are pre-packaged and stored, the national forces can quickly deploy the weapons to delay a Russian advance. So what’s happening is you have small, cheap, and highly lethal replacing large, expensive platforms. And this change is coming about with great rapidity, and it is massively important to take it into account in anything that you are thinking about doing. 54:10 George Shultz: Well, I read what I guess was an early version—somehow it was sent to me—of the national-security strategy. And I liked the beginning of it because it talked about our commitment to getting rid of nuclear weapons. But as you read on, it almost sounded a little bit as though there might be this or that occasion where we would use nuclear weapons. And this notion of using them that is spreading around is deeply disturbing to me. Video: Pinky and the Brain - The Really Great Dictator, March 6, 2011. Video: War on Iraq Breaking News - Shock & Awe Iraq, Sky News, October 20, 2006. 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)  

We’re doing it live! In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience at Podfest in Orlando, Florida, learn about the concerning permissions granted to the war departments in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act which are designed to antagonize Russia. Also, a special guest, Ryan DeLisle, joins Jen on her hotel patio to chat and say thank you to the listeners who keep this podcast in existence. Please Support Congressional Dish Click here to contribute using credit card, debit card, PayPal, or Bitcoin Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD067: What Do We Want in Ukraine? CD068: Ukraine Aid Bill CD136: Building WWIII CD156: Sanctions Book Recommendation The Pentagon's New Map: War and Peace in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas P.M. Barnett Bills H.R. 2810: 2018 NDAA: CLICK HERE for highlights and links to provisions in the 2018 NDAA   Additional Reading Report: Russian Su-25 jet downed in Syria, pilot killed - Defense Ministry, RT.com, February 3, 2018. Report: Poland wants U.S. sanctions to cover Nord Stream 2 by Reuters Staff, Reuters, January 29, 2018. Article: How Ukraine's president fooled Joe Biden by Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg View, January 25, 2018. Report: U.S. says it will provide Ukraine with 'defensive' aid by Reuters Staff, Reuters, December 22, 2017. Report: U.S. demands NATO action on Russian missile by Matthias Gebauer, Christoph Schult, and Klaus Wiegrefe, Spiegel Online, December 8, 2017. Article: There are four times as many U.S. troops in Syria as previously acknowledged by the Pentagon by Dan Lamothe, The Washington Post, December 6, 2017. Article: US talked about danger of "Nord Stream-2" for Ukraine and Europe, Front News, December 1, 2017. Report: Russia held a big military exercise this week. Here's why the U.S. is paying attention by Michael Birnbaum and David Filipov, The Washington Post, September 23, 2017. Video: NATO: Russia exercise resembles "preparation for a big war", CBS News, September 18, 2017. Article: A Russian helicopter accidentally fired on spectators during war games, state tv says by David Filipov, The Washington Post, September 9, 2017. Article: Russian gas pipelines to go ahead despite U.S. sanctions by Oksana Kobzeva and Alissa de Carbonnel, Reuters, August 3, 2017. Article: Congress just gave Trump the authority to send surface-to-air missiles to Syrian fighters by Thomas Gibbons-Neff, The Washington Post, December 6, 2016. Article: Congress authorizes Trump to arm Syrian rebels with anti-aircraft missiles by Julian Pecquet, Al-Monitor, December 2, 2016. Report: 16% of natural gas consumed in Europe flows through Ukraine by U.S. EIA: Today in Energy, The Energy Collective, March 15, 2014. Article: Ukraine crisis: Transcript of leaked Nuland-Pyatt call, BBC, February 7, 2014. Report: John McCain went to Ukraine and stood on stage with a man accused of being an anti-semitic neo-nazi by Adam Taylor, Business Insider, December 16, 2013. Press Release: Statement by IMF Mission to Ukraine, International Monetary Fund, October 31, 2013. Timeline: How President Obama handled Syria by Haley Bissegger, The Hill, September 15, 2013. Resources Gazprom: Nord Stream 2 Significance Gazprom: Nord Stream Overview Nord Stream 2: Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Info US Pacific Command: USPACOM Area of Responsibility Map Sound Clip Sources Remarks by Secretary of State: Remarks on the Way Forward for the United States Regarding Syria, U.S. Department of State, January 17, 2018. Discussion: Foreign Affairs Issue Launch with Former Vice President Joe Biden; Council on Foreign Affairs; January 23, 2018. Speakers: Richard Haass: President of the Council on Foreign Relations Joe Biden: former Vice President of the United States   00:06:15 Joe Biden: they cannot compete against a unified West. I think that is Putin’s judgment. And so everything he can do to dismantle the post-World War II liberal world order, including NATO and the EU, I think, is viewed as in their immediate self-interest. 00:20:00 Biden: They’re in a situation where they’re an oil-based economy. You have Gazprom going from a market value of something like $350 billion to $50 billion in the last 10 years. What do you do if you are a democratic leader of Russia? What do you do? How do you provide jobs for your people? Where do you go? How do you build that country, unless you engage the West? 00:24:15 Haass: In the piece, the two of you say that there’s no truth that the United States—unlike what Putin seems to believe or say, that the U.S. is seeking regime change in Russia. So the question I have is, should we be? And if not, if we shouldn’t be seeking regime change, what should we be seeking in the way of political change inside Russia? What’s an appropriate agenda for the United States vis-à-vis Russia, internally? Biden: I’ll give you one concrete example. I was—not I, but it just happened to be that was the assignment I got. I got all the good ones. And so I got Ukraine. And I remember going over, convincing our team, our leaders to—convincing that we should be providing for loan guarantees. And I went over, I guess, the 12th, 13th time to Kiev. And I was supposed to announce that there was another billion-dollar loan guarantee. And I had gotten a commitment from Poroshenko and from Yatsenyuk that they would take action against the state prosecutor. And they didn’t. So they said they had—they were walking out to a press conference. I said, nah, I’m not going to—or, we’re not going to give you the billion dollars. They said, you have no authority. You’re not the president. The president said—I said, call him. (Laughter.) I said, I’m telling you, you’re not getting the billion dollars. I said, you’re not getting the billion. I’m going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours. I looked at them and said: I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money. Well, son of a bitch. (Laughter.) He got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time. Hearing: Authorization for Use of Military Force; Senate Foreign Relations Committee; October 30, 2017. 8:00 Chairman Bob Corker (TN): In his last War Powers Resolution letter to Congress, the president identified the following 19 countries where U.S. military personnel were deployed and equipped for combat: Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Kenya, Niger, Cameroon, Uganda, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Cuba, and Kosovo. Hearing: Securing Peace After the Fall of ISIL; Oversight and Investigations Committee; October 3, 2017. 1:47:00 Joseph Pennington: I would also point out the support that we have provided to the Iraqi government in terms of getting its fiscal house in order on the economic side, the economic pressures that Iraq has been under because of the conflict, the presence of ISIS, the collapse of oil prices, the humanitarian crisis, that created an economic crisis both in Baghdad and Erbil of massive proportions. We and other G7 partners stepped forward to fill the fiscal gap. We, through a sovereign loan guarantee, a billion-dollar sovereign loan guarantee, which the Iraqis, then, followed up by borrowing in the private market that would not have been possible without our support, and getting a deal with the IMF, which provided the additional financing necessary to close that gap and keep the government on its feet during this time of tremendous challenge. Again, would not have been possible without U.S. support, and that the IMF program has been the key to starting the government on a path of significant economic reform, which they are complying with the conditions of the IMF program. Panel: U.S. Global Leadership Role; Aspen Institute; August 4, 2017. 40:00 Stephen Hadley: We’re putting battalions—we, NATO—putting battalions in the three Baltic states and in Poland and in Bucharest. Battalions are 1200 people, 1500 people. Russia is going to have an exercise in Belarus that newspaper reports suggest maybe up to 100,000 people and 8,000 tanks—I think I’ve got that number right— Unknown Speaker: This month. Hadley: —more tanks than Germany, France, and U.K. have combined. And we have to be careful that we don’t get in this very confrontational, rhetorical position with Russia and not have the resources to back it up. Debate: House Debate on Russia, Iran, and North Korea Sanctions; U.S. House of Representatives; July 25, 2017. 39:40 Tim Ryan (OH): What’s happening with these sanctions here in the targeting of Russian gas pipelines—their number one export—I think is entirely appropriate. The Nord Stream 2, which carries gas from Russia through the Baltics to Germany—and I know Germany isn’t happy about it, but this is something that we have to do. And the point I want to make is we have to address this issue in a comprehensive way. We must continue to focus on how we get our gas here in the United States, our natural gas, to Europe, to our allies, so they’re not so dependent on Russia. We’ve got to have the sanctions, but we’ve also got to be shipping liquid natural gas to some of these allies of ours so they’re not so dependent on the Russians, which is part and parcel of this entire approach. Confirmation Hearing: Defense Secretary Confirmation Hearing; Senate Armed Services Committee; January 12, 2017. 00:20:15 Sen. McCain: For seven decades, the United States has played a unique role in the world. We’ve not only put America first, but we’ve done so by maintaining and advancing a world order that has expanded security, prosperity, and freedom. This has required our alliances, our trade, our diplomacy, our values, but most of all, our military for when would-be aggressors aspire to threaten world order. It’s the global striking power of America’s armed forces that must deter or thwart their ambitions. Too many Americans, too many Americans seem to have forgotten this in recent years. Too many have forgotten that our world order is not self-sustaining. Too many have forgotten that while the threats we face may not have purely military solutions, they all have military dimensions. In short, too many have forgotten that hard power matters—having it, threatening it, leveraging it for diplomacy, and, at times, using it. Fairly or not, there is a perception around the world that America is weak and distracted, and that has only emboldened our adversaries to challenge the current world order. 00:51:20 McCain: You are a distinguished student of history, and, as we are all aware, that following World War II, a world order was established which has held for, basically, the last 70 years. Do you believe that that world order is now under more strain than it’s ever been? Sen. Mattis: I think it’s under the biggest attack since World War II, sir, and that’s from Russia, from terrorist groups, and with what China is doing in the South China Sea. Presidential Address: Islamic State Threat, C-SPAN, September 10, 2014. Daily Briefing: Nuland Tape Press Conference; State Department; February 6, 2014. Jen Psaki, State Department Spokesperson 0:19 Male Reporter: Can you say whether you—if this call is a recording of an authentic conversation between Assistant Secretary Nuland and Ambassador Pyatt? Jen Psaki: Well, I’m not going to confirm or outline details. I understand there are a lot of reports out there, and there’s a recording out there, but I’m not going to confirm a private diplomatic conversation. Reporter: So you are not saying that you believe this is a—you think this is not authentic? You think this is a— Psaki: It’s not an accusation I’m making. I’m just not going to confirm the specifics of it. Reporter: Well, you can’t even say whether there was a—that this call—you believe that this call, you believe that this recording is a recording of a real telephone call? Psaki: I didn’t say it was inauthentic. I think we can leave it at that. Reporter: Okay, so, you’re allowing the fact that it is authentic. Psaki: Yes. Reporter: “Yes,” okay. Psaki: Do you have a question about it? Phone Conversation: Nuland-Pyatt Leaked Phone Conversation; February 4, 2014. Press Conference: Senator John McCain on Ukraine at the Atlantic Council; C-Span; December 19, 2013. 00:09:30 McCain: In recent months, President Putin has pulled out all the stops to coerce, intimidate, and threaten Ukraine away from Europe. Russia has blocked large amounts of Ukrainian trade, especially chocolate. It has threatened to cut off its gas supplies in the dead of winter, which it has done before. And according to Ukrainian officials we met in Kyiv, President Putin threatened President Yanukovich with far worse economic retaliation if he signed the Association Agreement with the EU. 00:16:45 McCain: If Ukraine's political crisis persists or deepens, which is a real possibility, we must support creative Ukrainian efforts to resolve it. Senator Murphy and I heard a few such ideas last weekend—from holding early elections, as the opposition is now demanding, to the institution of a technocratic government with a mandate to make the difficult reforms required for Ukraine's long-term economic health and sustainable development. Decisions such as these are for Ukrainians to make—no one else—and if they request our assistance, we should provide it where possible. Finally, we must encourage the European Union and the IMF to keep their doors open to Ukraine. Ultimately, the support of both institutions is indispensable for Ukraine's future. And eventually, a Ukrainian President, either this one or a future one, will be prepared to accept the fundamental choice facing the country, which is this: While there are real short-term costs to the political and economic reforms required for IMF assistance and EU integration, and while President Putin will likely add to these costs by retaliating against Ukraine's economy, the long-term benefits for Ukraine in taking these tough steps are far greater and almost limitless. This decision cannot be borne by one person alone in Ukraine. Nor should it be. It must be shared—both the risks and the rewards—by all Ukrainians, especially the opposition and business elite. It must also be shared by the EU, the IMF and the United States. All of us in the West should be prepared to help Ukraine, financially and otherwise, to overcome the short-term pain that reforms will require and Russia may inflict. Presidential Address: Use of Force in Syria, C-SPAN, September 10, 2013 Debate: British House of Commons Debate on Syria, C-SPAN, August 29, 2013. Discussion: Beyond NAFTA and GATT, C-Span, April 20, 1994. Arthur Dunkel, Director General of the UN 26:00:00: Dunkel: If I look back at the last 25 years, what did we have? We had two worlds: The so-called Market Economy world and the sadly planned world; the sadly planned world disappeared. One of the main challenges of the Uruguay round has been to create a world wide system. I think we have to think of that. Secondly, why a world wide system? Because, basically, I consider that if governments cooperate in trade policy field, you reduce the risks of tension - political tension and even worse than that." 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)

An attacker drove a van into pedestrians just as they left a mosque near Finsbury Park in London, a missing Muslim teenager was found dead and Russia responds to a U.S. fighter jet shooting down a Syrian government plane. Links: • Finsbury Park Mosque: Latest update on London van incident police are treating as a terrorist attack • Nabra Hassanen's death wraps up an especially violent Ramadan for Muslim teenage girls • Report: Russia says it will treat coalition planes in Syria as targets after US downs Syrian jet See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.