History of International Women's Day

History of International Women's Day

    Wednesday, March 08, 2023   No comments

International Women's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. 

It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.

Since those early years, International Women's Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. 

The growing international women's movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women's conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women's rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.

Given how many time have men screwed the world, many times over, perhaps we all can sit down and learn from the women in our lives today, March 8. 

So, shut up and listen to her! 

What is the difference between the war in Iraq and the war in Ukraine?

What is the difference between the war in Iraq and the war in Ukraine?

    Tuesday, March 07, 2023   No comments

 While US and EU Allies attack Russian military intervention in Ukraine as illegal, and in a display of complete tone deafness, US military chief lands in Iraq to remind the world of its own illegal war on Iraq.

Just before the twentieth anniversary of the American invasion, Lloyd Austin visits Iraq.

An American official says that this visit aims to demonstrate Washington's commitment to maintaining its military presence in Iraq after nearly 20 years of invasion.

An American official said that this visit aims to demonstrate Washington's commitment to maintaining its military presence in Iraq after nearly 20 years of US-led invasion alongside an international coalition to overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime.

On Twitter, when landing in Baghdad, Austin wrote, "I am here to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the United States and Iraq as we move towards a safer, more stable and sovereign Iraq".

The Gulf states and "Israel" are secretly pressuring Russia not to arm Iran

The Gulf states and "Israel" are secretly pressuring Russia not to arm Iran

    Tuesday, March 07, 2023   No comments

 The American news site Semafor reported that "Israel and the main Gulf states are pressuring Russia not to send advanced military equipment - including helicopters and fighter jets - to Iran, for fear that its strong alliance will affect the balance of power in the Middle East."

According to the same site, "officials from Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, with the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent months, have raised their concerns directly," according to what they were quoted as saying by officials in the Middle East and the United States, who were briefed on the discussions. 

The officials told the site that "leaders in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have become more widely interested in the military know-how Iran is acquiring, "by helping Russia wage war in Europe, especially when it comes to carrying out drone strikes."

The tensions come after the Saudis, Emiratis and Israelis have all sought to "maintain relatively strong relations with Moscow" since the start of the Russian war in Ukraine.

The United States accused the Saudis and other Arab oil states of siding with Moscow in the war by agreeing to cut production in the "OPEC +" organization, an accusation denied by the Gulf states.

Likewise, Arab diplomats told Russian officials that "providing Tehran with advanced weapons will not only destabilize the military balance in the Gulf, but will also put Russia firmly on Iran's side in any potential conflict, isolating Moscow from its Arab partners."

They added that they asked Russia "at least" to postpone any arms shipments to Iran, if it "does not agree to cancel them completely."

While those briefed on recent discussions between the Arabs and the Russians said they were "skeptical about the possibility of influencing the Russian president, given his dependence on Iranian aid in a war of central importance to Russia," the Arab diplomats said.

As a high-ranking Arab official briefed on the deliberations said, “I think it will get worse” for Saudi Arabia and “Israel,” considering that “the Russian-Iranian relationship will only get stronger because they now need each other.”

For his part, Norman Roll, who served as the US government's director of national intelligence for Iran from 2008 to 2017, told semafor that, "Iran is also gaining valuable experience by learning how to organize drone strikes against an equipped conventional army." NATO weapons and intelligence systems.

Washington has previously talked about Russia using Iranian war marches in Ukraine, but Moscow and Tehran have repeatedly denied the validity of these allegations.

"The conflict could provide Tehran with important lessons on how to launch imbued attacks against civilian and military targets, and they are likely to be used against Iran's neighbors and US forces," Roll added, referring to tactics designed to overwhelm an adversary's defenses.

According to the "semafor" website, "Tehran and Moscow have developed a close relationship over the past decade," as they cooperated to confront US interests abroad. The alliance was strengthened in Syria, where the two countries merged their military operations to support the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, against the fighters of "ISIS" and "Al-Nusra", who received American support.

The United States and its allies, according to the website, also follow closely the movement of Russian and Iranian delegations to each other's capitals, as some discussions focused on the future supply of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia, according to the American website.

According to "semafor", Iran is seeking, in return, to purchase more advanced weapons systems from Russia, as Iranian state media reported that Tehran expects to obtain dozens of "Sukhoi Su-35" combat aircraft, as well as a group of attack helicopters and other equipment. arms.

A member of the Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian Parliament, Shahriar Heidari, previously revealed this matter in mid-January.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters in late February that "the administration will be watching closely to see what transactions are actually taking place, if any."

The Turkish opposition alliance chooses Kilicdaroglu as its candidate in the presidential elections against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The Turkish opposition alliance chooses Kilicdaroglu as its candidate in the presidential elections against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

    Monday, March 06, 2023   No comments

The Turkish opposition alliance announced today, Monday, that Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People's Party, will be its joint candidate against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming elections scheduled for May 14.

"As a result of our meetings, we decided that Kemal Kilicdaroglu would be our candidate for the presidency," Temel Karamullah Oglu, head of the opposition Felicity Party, said after a meeting of six opposition party leaders.

Midhat Sancar, co-chair of Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), said on Monday the party could support main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the May 14 presidential election after "clear and frank talks".

“Our clear expectation is a transition to a strong democracy. If we can agree on basic principles, we may support him in the presidential elections.”

The opposition alliance of six parties in Turkey announced the selection of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People's Party, as a joint candidate to run in the upcoming elections against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The six-party table announced by the opposition in Turkey "The six-party opposition party announced Kemal Kilicdaroglu as a consensus candidate for the presidency."

In turn, the six-party opposition table in Turkey announced that "the mayors of Istanbul and Ankara will be appointed as vice-presidents of the republic." Noting that Davutoğlu will be its joint candidate in front of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming elections scheduled for May 14.

For his part, the co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party in Turkey, Kamal Kilicdaroglu, blessed his candidacy for the presidency, commenting: "We are waiting for him at our party headquarters."

The talk about the Turkish elections comes at a time when Turkey is still suffering from the worst humanitarian disaster in the country's modern history, due to the repercussions of the earthquakes that struck 10 provinces in southern Turkey on February 6.

Politicians’ Micromanagement of the war in Ukraine is exacting a heavy cost

Politicians’ Micromanagement of the war in Ukraine is exacting a heavy cost

    Monday, March 06, 2023   No comments

There is no doubt that Russian leaders started their operation in Ukraine with different calculus. They may have underestimated the cohesion of the Ukrainian armed forces, perhaps thinking that many will switch side or even overthrow the civilian leadership in order to settle the conflict with minimum losses.  By the second week of the conflict, however, Russian generals seem to have become convinced that Ukrainian generals prepared for the war and the war will be years long--not days or weeks. The Russian generals recommended retreat from areas near Kiev. The redeployment was quick, within days, Russian troops that were just 20 miles from the seat of the Ukrainian government were moved the Donbass region. Still, the Russian forces lost many troops and military hardware. 

By the fall of 2022, Russian generals also realized that their positions in the south, in Kherson, west of the Dnipro River, are difficult to defend. They recommended moving troops across the river. The ministry of defense leaders took their recommendation to the political leadership, where the recommendation was approved. Troops moved across and the bridges were destroyed to limit the chance of success of any massive counter attack by Ukrainian troops.

In contrast, when Ukrainian troops were loosing the battle in Mariupol, south of Ukraine, they were ordered to stay and fight. They stayed. The city was besieged and no one was able to escape. Those who did not die, an estimated 2000 Ukrainian troops, surrendered and were taken as POWs, some of whom were handed over in return for Russian POWs. 

The same scenario repeated itself in Soledar and other cities and town in the vicinity of Bakhmut. It is reasonable to assume that the hundreds of miles long underground tunnels and mines are very valuable defensive locations and should not be abandoned without a fight. However, when such positions cannot be defended, delaying the inevitable can have a huge strategic and tactical impact on the course of the war.

The images of Ukrainian troops dead, and those who did not die are exhaustedly walking in muddy backroad because all major roads are now under the control of Russian forces, such images can be demoralizing to the rest of the troops in nearby towns. They will be forced to think that their turn will be next and they will be thinking of escape routes, which would take their focus away from the battle. 

In an attempt to open a road for retreating troops, mechanized forces brought in heavy weapons, which exposed them to arial attacks. When these forces return to their defensive positions, such positions will be known and that will degrade their ability to launch counter attacks.

When Russian generals recommended retreat from some areas, the move was approved and the retreat took place quickly, minimizing losses. 

When Ukrainian generals recommended the same, every time the president of Ukraine ordered them to stay until the last minute, only to retreat leaving behind dead soldiers and destroyed equipment. That is the cost of politicians running the war by remote.

The outcome of the war in Ukraine may not depend on how much weapons NATO can supply to Ukraine, but how many costly mistakes politicians would make managing battles.

Here is Zelenskiy's recent statement about the reported difference of opinion; he said there was no other opinion. If true, that would be troubling state of mind.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops are chaotically retreating from Bakhmut, leaving behind destroyed western supplied hardware. With no major roads available for the retreating troops, they are forced to use backroads that do not allow for relocation of heavy equipment. If political leaders send more troops to reopen supply roads or to secure roads for retreating troops, those forces will be exposed and may suffer the same fate.

Here is a glimpse of Ukrainian troops retreat.

UN nuke watchdog chief in Iran: Any military attack on a nuclear facility is illegal

UN nuke watchdog chief in Iran: Any military attack on a nuclear facility is illegal

    Sunday, March 05, 2023   No comments

Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi says any military attack on nuclear facilities is outlawed, responding to US and Israeli threats to target those in Iran.

Grossi made the remarks in Tehran Saturday, in a joint news conference with head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami who urged the IAEA to help build trust.

The Biden administration has drawn closer to Israel in recent weeks, conducting large-scale joint military exercises with the regime.

“There are two separate issues in this regard. First, attacks on nuclear power plants have unfortunately become common, and this is due to the war in Ukraine. Second, these attacks have been condemned during the Agency’s public conferences. So I think that the attack on nuclear facilities is totally condemned and illegal,” Grossi said.

He is visiting Tehran after Western reports claimed that IAEA inspectors had found 84% enriched uranium in Iran – an allegation Tehran has rejected.

Eslami told reporters that the Islamic Republic is enriching uranium up to 60% fissile purity.

Grossi said he had “constructive discussions” with Iranian officials that could pave the way for the revival of a landmark 2015 agreement to bring the US back to compliance and remove sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

“By having a constructive discussion, like we are having now, and having good agreements, like I am sure we are going to have, we are going to be paving the way for important agreements,” he said.

Eslami called for the remaining signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), namely France, Britain, Germany along with China and Russia, to fulfill their obligations.

“Three European and some other countries are just focusing on Iran’s JCPOA obligations,” he said. “They too have obligations that they need to adhere to.”

Eslami said, “We came to an arrangement (with Grossi) to define our cooperation within the framework of the safeguards.”

He called on the UN nuclear agency to avoid being swayed by those who aim to hinder cooperation between the two sides.

Reactions

Today, Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the statements of the Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, in which he asserted that carrying out an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities was "illegal." Netanyahu said that Grossi was a worthy person, but he made inappropriate statements.

Grossi said during his visit to Tehran on Saturday - in response to a journalist's question about the threats of Tel Aviv and Washington to attack Iranian nuclear facilities if they consider that diplomatic means to prevent Tehran from acquiring an atomic bomb have reached a dead end - that "any military attack on nuclear facilities is prohibited." ".

Netanyahu said - at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting - that "Israel will continue to defend itself in the face of those who call for its annihilation and prepare for the slaughter of its citizens."

He added that his country "continues to work to confront Iran, through discussions and actions it is conducting around the clock."

The International Atomic Energy Agency issued yesterday from Vienna a joint statement with the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency at the end of Grossi's visit to Tehran.

The statement stated that Iran is ready to continue cooperation with the agency regarding 3 sites that the agency said were undeclared and where traces of uranium were found.

Iran has also indicated its willingness to provide more information and access to it in order to address the remaining safeguards issues.

The joint statement added that Iran will allow the IAEA, when needed, to carry out more verification and supervision activities in nuclear facilities, provided that the method for this is agreed upon during a technical meeting to be held in Tehran soon.

Grossi's visit came as negotiations aimed at reviving the agreement on the Iranian nuclear file concluded in 2015 - officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - reached a dead end.

It also coincides with the start of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's tour of the Middle East today, Sunday, including Egypt, Jordan and Israel, during which he will hold talks on the Iranian nuclear program.

An African president extends his finger towards Macron, saying: Look at us with respect, far from paternity and contempt

An African president extends his finger towards Macron, saying: Look at us with respect, far from paternity and contempt

    Sunday, March 05, 2023   No comments

On Saturday, the press conference that brought together French President Emmanuel Macron with his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi sparked a wide interaction on communication platforms, due to "diplomatic friction" that occurred between the two presidents, or the game of "ping pong" as Macron called it.

The matter began with a question posed by a journalist from the French News Agency, about a controversial statement by the former French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in 2019 when he indicated that the results of the presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were the result of a prior arrangement, between the outgoing President Joseph Kabila, and Felix Antoine Tshisekedi. The country's election authority has nothing to do with it.

The Congolese President, Felix Tshisekedi, asked during his response, saying: Why do things differ when it comes to Africa?

An atmosphere of tension prevailed during the press conference, as Tshisekedi extended his fingers towards the French president, saying: "This also must change the way of cooperation between France, Europe in general, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ... Look at us in another way with respect as a true partner and not with a paternal look that bears contempt."

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that these matters are actually happening in France, but the difference is that the press speaks and denounces, stressing that any journalist who asks a question represents his own point of view, and does not concern the government with anything, which angered the Congolese president, who responded in a sharp tone, saying : "But she talked about Le Drian, who was Minister of Foreign Affairs."

Modern Urban Warfare

Modern Urban Warfare

    Saturday, March 04, 2023   No comments

This is how "liberated cities" look like when modern armies engage in Urban Warfare. 

It happened in Syria; it is happening now in Ukraine.

Medvedev: NATO will provide Ukraine with fighters and maintain them in Poland, entering into a direct war with Russia

Medvedev: NATO will provide Ukraine with fighters and maintain them in Poland, entering into a direct war with Russia

    Thursday, March 02, 2023   No comments

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) against supplying combat aircraft to Ukraine and conducting maintenance in Poland, saying that this is tantamount to entering a direct war against Russia.

Medvedev wrote on the Telegram application today, Thursday, that "anyone who decides to hand over (or repair) such equipment or means of destruction, as well as provide foreign mercenaries and military trainers, should be considered a legitimate military target."

He explained that this may be the only thing preventing “the childish behavior of the West” from supplying planes and long-range weapons to “drug addicts in Kiev.” Medvedev, who is currently deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council, said he did not expect this to continue for a long time "because of the great desire to destroy Russia."

A Translation of Medvedev's full Statement:

Western analysts reluctantly admitted that when NATO specialists teach the Ukronazis how to use their military equipment in combat, this can be seen as direct involvement of NATO in the military conflict on the side of the Ukrainian regime.

Since the 20s of the last century, the understanding has been established that a country can be recognized as a participant in hostilities if, in addition to supplying weapons, it trains personnel to handle it (Briand-Kellogg pact of 1928, Budapest resolution to the 1934 pact).

This is how it is happening today: Canadian and German instructors in the EU are already teaching Ukrainian killers how to handle Leopards.

If we imagine that the NATO aircraft delivered in the future will be serviced by their military on the territory of some overgrown Poland (the only possibility, given the deplorable state of the defense industry in Little Russia), this will be a direct entry of the Atlanticists into the war against Russia with all the ensuing consequences. And all persons making decisions on the supply (repair) of such equipment or weapons, along with foreign mercenaries and military instructors, will have to be considered as a legitimate military target.

Apparently, this is the only thing that keeps Western infantiles from handing over aircraft and long-range weapons to Kyiv drug addicts. Although not the fact that for a long time. The temptation to crush Russia is already very great.

And one more thing - today's events have shown who is really supported in the USA, NATO and the EU. This is not the "freedom-loving people of Ukraine", which does not want to return to the "Moskal scoop". They're just Nazi bastards, terrorist scum who attack civilians by brandishing a stinky yellow-black rag. Let them now be justified in London, Paris, Berlin and Washington.

These are your fosterlings, Messrs. Sunak, Macron, Scholz and Biden! And our attitude towards you is now the same as towards them. Now your countries are participants in the terrorist acts of the Ukrainian regime, and you are direct accomplices of terrorists.

Prime Minister of Qatar: The war with Iran is not in the interest of the Gulf states, and reaching a solution through frank dialogue would be a great achievement for peace, trade and the economy

Prime Minister of Qatar: The war with Iran is not in the interest of the Gulf states, and reaching a solution through frank dialogue would be a great achievement for peace, trade and the economy

    Thursday, March 02, 2023   No comments

The former Prime Minister of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassim, said that the war with Iran is not in the interest of the Gulf states, calling for a frank dialogue to reach a solution that would be “a great achievement not only for peace but also for trade and the economy.”

This came in an interview with “Bloomberg” in response to a question about the concern of many Arab countries from Iran, especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Bin Jassim added, “My first fear is not Iran, but we are in the region and the way we behave, I mean the leaders, I am not one of them. It should be discussed in a civilized manner.”

He continued, “If we have challenges ahead, and if we agree that Iran is our number one enemy, how will we deal with this matter? Will we deal with it through direct negotiations or war? Nobody wants war because it is not in our interest.”

He explained, “The problem is that this decision is not in our hands because we are not currently in a position, as I said about the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, to take the lead in our region and say, ‘Okay, we have problems with Iran. In harmony between Iran, Iraq and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

And the former Prime Minister of Qatar believed that "if the Gulf countries were able to do this, it would be a great achievement not only for peace, but also for trade, business and the economy."

And he added, “They (in Iran) have more than 100 million people, Iraq has 40 million people, and we (the Gulf countries) have about 50 million people. We are talking about 200 or 250 million people in oil-rich countries, imagine what they can do.”