#International Freedom Battalion

[nando161mando]

"The anarchist group @pramenby of Belarus uploaded the documentary "We Need to Take Guns" with Russian language subtitles, about the International Freedom Battalion fighting against fascist imperialism, misguided "Jihadis", etc attacking Rojava."

[militarymenrbomb]

U.S. Army Warrior Fitness Team Member

Capt. Brian Harris

Capt. Brian Harris, was born in Edmond, Oklahoma and graduated from Edmond North High School in 2009. He was a member of the high school’s baseball and wrestling teams throughout high school. He enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard in August of 2009 as a firefinder radar operator (13R) in field artillery. While serving in the Guard from 2009 to 2013, Harris attended the University of Oklahoma and actively participated in the Army ROTC program. During this time, he was introduced to functional fitness and began competing at a high level at various competitions around the country. In 2013, Harris commissioned into the Regular Army as a Medical Service Corps officer and that year was selected as one of twenty two medical service officers to attend flight training and be trained as an aeromedical evacuation officer (67J) / UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot.

Harris’ assignment history includes Fort Rucker, Alabama where he attended Army flight school followed by Fort Carson, Colorado as a section leader, platoon leader and staff operations officer for the 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade. During his time with 4th CAB, Harris participated in several full-scale training exercises and served one nine-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation’s Freedom Sentinel and Resolute Support providing aeromedical evacuation services across RC-East and RC-North. In 2016, he was named the 4th Infantry Division’s “Junior Officer of the Year” for his efforts both in combat and garrison. After his time in Colorado, Harris returned to Fort Rucker to serve as the operations officer for their Air Ambulance Detachment (110th Aviation Brigade) known as “Flatiron” providing 24/7 crash rescue support to the Aviation Center of Excellence, as well as, routine support to 6th Ranger Training Battalion at Eglin Air Force Base and support to the local civilian population in accordance with the Wiregrass Letter of Agreement.

Harris is a CrossFit Level 2 certified trainer and master fitness trainer (phase 1) and has accumulated more than 700 hours of one-on-one and group coaching time teaching functional fitness methodologies to servicemembers and civilians enabling them to reach their fitness and lifestyle goals. He has competed at the local, regional and national level in functional fitness competitions. Under the old CrossFit season format, Harris was a 2 time regional qualifier and recently represented the United States of America as a member of the national team at the International Federation of Functional Fitness World Championships in Malmo, Sweden (2018).

His awards and decorations include the Air Medal with “C” device, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with 3 bronze oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Unit Citation (2-4 GSAB, 4CAB), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Basic Army Aviator’s Badge, Parachute Badge, and the Air Assault qualification badge.

[alcestas-sloboda]

"Russia will fall when Ukrainian sun rises" said the first President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Dzhokhar Dudayev born on this day 79 years ago.

Ukraine became the first UN country to recognise the independence of Ichkeria on October 18 last year but the close relationship between the two peoples date back. There are stories of Ichkerians saving Ukrainian people from prosecution of the USSR government by hiding them in the mountains. Ukrainians were also one of the only nations to help Ichkerians in the two Chechen Wars waged by russia, reportedly operating one of the few tanks in disposal of the Ichkerian Armed Forced lead by Dudayev.

In 2014 after russia annexed Crimea and started active warfare in the East of Ukraine, the Free Caucasus organisation based in Denmark, where large numbers of Ichkerians have fled to after the Second Chechen War, formed the International Peacekeeping Battalion named after Dzhokhar Dudayev. Ichkerians have been at the frontlines of the russian-Ukrainian war ever since. From November 2022 they have been operating in Bakhmut, the deadliest battles now are happening there.

За нашу і вашу свободу | "For your and our freedom"

[unhonestlymirror]

Why Kadyrov’s death will certainly be pleasant and joyful, but will not change the political situation in occupied Ichkeria

This is not the first time they have buried him and, unfortunately, most likely not the last. I would like to be wrong, but so far, this is the case. History shows that the abomination of the human race is tenacious like no other. Kadyrov’s potential death now is simply the death of the governor of the occupying russian government in Ichkeria. If this one dies, they will install a new one. In the same Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories, collaborators explode beautifully, but the army of russian occupiers knows only the language of physical destruction, and to destroy it, you need military and weapons, and also international support.

Whether Kadyrov is replaced by one of his offspring or, for example, a lord or Delimkhanov does not change the situation globally. Primarily because no one withdrew the russian army from Chechnya and the Caucasus as a whole. They weren’t even transferred to Ukraine. In Chechnya, they “love” Putin and Russia so much (and Kadyrov is precisely the russian government) that this requires a regular armed professional army of one hundred thousand. In Chechnya, they “love” Putin (and before that Yeltsin) and Russia so much that they have been destroying a small nation for 30 years.

Today, occupied Ichkeria is an “Akhmat” concentration camp. When russians shout about the “Chechenization of Russia”🤡 they, as usual, can not take russian propaganda out of their mouths. Inhuman torture and genocide were brought to Chechnya by russia and the federals (occupier army), and not vice versa.

Russian propaganda is far from just “Kremlin” - so-called. “Independent” russian media work for the russian world and support for the occupation of Ichkeria - news about every fart of Kadyrov and practically nothing about the Chechen battalions fighting for Ukraine since 2014. There is little about how they torture and kill - unless it is about the persecution of homosexuals. And so they persecute - kidnap, torture, execute - everyone in general.

By the way, about the Lord and Delimkhanov - they, together with Kadyrov, for example, personally torture and rape women. And no, these are not stupid funny clowns. These are terrible cruel people who kill ordinary people with impunity. This is also normal for Westerns. Westerns deport Chechens from the resistance to Russia, who are then tortured and killed there.

Lyulya (Kadyrov) and his image are part of russian propaganda. That clever part of it in which the New York Times publishes an article about “Putin’s opponent” Girkin. “Kadyrov’s men” are part of the russian army, but the “independent Russian media” call it “Chechen troops”🤡

Kadyrov is a squalor and a cruel creature, but they comment on his every fart, making all Chechens look like stupid idiots - only covertly “ч*рки”. They don’t name it, but the image takes shape. Compare Lyulya with Dudayev, Maskhadov, Isa Munayev, Muslim Cheberloevsky - these are the representatives of the “Chechen troops”, this is the army of Ichkeria.

Today, five (!) Chechen units are fighting for the freedom of Ukraine and the independence of Ichkeria, and volunteers keep coming and going - the russ cutter is sacred. And this is the hope for justice. "Why don’t the Chechens rebel?" - that is, military resistance - absolutely fierce, which is now constantly at the forefront of making the russians truly good - is this not resistance? There are only less than two million Chechens - this is the Odesa region in terms of the number of people. Which has been destroyed not only over the last 30 years - cruelly and mercilessly, under the indifference of the rest of the world.

Despite the fact that the world does not care about Ichkeria, the Chechens fight - with weapons in their hands. What can a small people do in Chechnya itself, where a 100,000-strong russian army is fully armed? Once Ichkeria won a war with russia, for which it was punished with institutionalized genocide.

As soon as Ichkeria is not only recognized by the international community but also supported with weapons for military resistance to the russians - then all the occupiers inside and collaborators will be destroyed. In the meantime, we are fighting shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainians for freedom and independence. Both our struggle and the fact that after such destruction of the nation, there is still resistance in spite of, not thanks to.

Today, we are fighting for the free world. A world without a racist terrorist federation. We have a common enemy. The name of this enemy is russia.

Marşo ya joƶalla.

[probablyasocialecologist]

In case no one has told you, the Nov 12th post about "Barib Yariel" is misinformation that originated ftom Jackson Hinkle, self-described "maga communist" who pals around with Tucker Carlson. (There are ofc real IDF snipers doing real violence, but that specific story is fake and Barib Yariel is not a real person.)

Speaking of misinformation, I saw someone claim that the header of your blog is something you just posted recently to show support for Hamas, as opposed to a picture from Rojava that you've had up for years?

Thanks for letting me know!

That's very silly of whoever said that, my header has been the International Freedom Battalion for years now.

[adrl-pt]

Peace and human rights are undesirable for the Russian authorities. How can Russians defend their choice?

You are watching news from the weekly rally at the Russian Embassy in Lisbon. Today is January 27, 14:30.

On January 22, it became known that the Anti-War Committee and our colleagues in Spain and France were declared undesirable in Russia. On January 25, our representative attended a meeting with Russian lawyer and human rights defender Pavel Chikov. Pavel explained that the concept of an undesirable organization is akin to "persona non grata". At the time of the meeting, the list of undesirable organizations included 128 organizations, among them: Open Russia, Transparency International, World Wildlife Fund, and the TV channel "Rain". https://ru.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_undesirable_organizations

The most dangerous part of Law No. 272-FZ is the punishment of supporters in Russia for reposts. The Russian authorities have programs that monitor the internet for keywords and links. A link to the website of an undesirable organization, its social media profile, its symbols, participation in its events, and media comments are considered as participation in its activities. For this, a fine is first issued, and for repeated participation, a criminal case is initiated.

Organizing the activities and financing of an undesirable organization, including donations, leads directly to a criminal case.

Russian authorities interact with countries such as Georgia, Turkey, Thailand. Visits to these countries, and especially to Russia, should be avoided. Remember, in addition to persecution for undesirable organizations, criminals in power in Russia have laws against spreading fake news about the army and many other ways to imprison you. The system is built on intimidation: by imprisoning one person, they intimidate thousands. Therefore, the best response to such actions is an increase in the number of people speaking out against the authorities.

Regarding property left in Russia, Dmitry Bykov said on Khodorkovsky Live: "Do you really think you can scare us by taking away our property? You've taken our Homeland from us!" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QXn50CxbMbo

On January 24, a column by Anastasia Sergeyeva was published on the Civic Council website. She reminds of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's victory in the Belarusian presidential elections. How her husband Sergey created an anti-corruption movement, and how after his arrest, opposition forces formed a coalition around Svetlana. It discusses the volunteer-driven election campaign that reached every home. Also, the parallel creation of a force resistance network, but its resources were not enough to protect the protesters. Anastasia notes that today Belarusians provide material and informational support to the Kalinovsky Regiment and the Belarusian Volunteer Corps. https://civiccouncil.info/podpis-za-nadezhdina-bez-sobstvennoj-armii-sovest-na-veter/

At the rally on January 21 in Lisbon, we read a statement to those gathered from the Siberian battalion. They are grateful to those who are already helping them and call on everyone to help new volunteers join the battalion. Right now, the Civic Council, together with Freedom birds for Ukraine, is raising funds for transportation expenses to transport a new group of our volunteers to Ukraine. Link in the description. https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=7F4CWC6RYGR82

Russian rock band B-2, which is against the war made by Putin's regime in Ukraine, was arrested in Thailand and they are planning to deport them to Russia. Last year, the group's leader publicly admitted that he financially supports the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to Lyova, other members of the group support him. Their stance led to the mass cancellation of B-2's concerts in Russia.

The group was arrested for violations during the organization of a concert in Phuket, and there was hope that there would be a fine. However, the court decided on deportation, and the Russian ambassador is personally involved in ensuring that those group members who have Russian passports are sent to Russia.

Help spreading the information, we need to pressurize the authorities in Thailand so that not only Sergey Lavrov is pressuring them. Don't let good people be handed over to Putin for the GULAG!

A proof on the Ukrainian news site that B-2 support Ukraine (in Russian): https://www.unian.net/lite/stars/v-rossii-isterika-iz-za-pomoshchi-bi-2-vsu-trebuyut-zapretit-vezd-v-stranu-12466509.html Their profile on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3SXDCIdqI1AR686ukKtKCq

[ricardian-werewolf]

Prelude: Over There

"So prepare, say a prayer Send the word, send the word to beware We'll be over, we're coming over And we won't come back till it's over Over there," - Over There, 1917. ***** Summary: Ravka, 1916, Kiribirsk. War has torn apart Ravka for two years. No one is quite sure who killed the old Tsar, Alexander III, but what is certain is that Fjerda and Shu Han are intent on bringing Ravka to unconditional surrender. For Olga Krylov, war is freedom. A chance to prove her worth while going up against First Army's inherently sexist and classist internal social circles. But it's who she meets one cold night in a mess tent that changes her life for something quite different - a fox in a Major's uniform. ***** CW/TWs: mentions of child marriage, violence, and overt discussions of smoking, famine and child-death.

******* Spring, 1916, Kiribirsk, last stop before the Fold.

Olga Krylov stared down at her dish of slop, and scowled into the watery depths. Clad as she was in the tunic and skirt of First Army issue, she adjusted the hooks and eyes of her collar, and popped them open. Here, behind the lines and next to the looming mass that was the Fold, no one would care if the good Sankta of First Army loosened her collar. She lifted her spoon, was about to dig around in the slop for a hopeful wayward pirogi, when she noted eyes on her.

Hazel ones, belonging to a Major of the regiment she’d so recently been attached to as part of her sniper squadron. His uniform was immaculate, though blood splattered the shoulder. It’d dried, stuck fast to the embroidered fronds of the front of it. She almost pitied him as his eyes widened. Like bullets digging into flesh, his pupils expanded.

He knew her. Hell, so did all of the First Army. She was their beloved Sankta Olga, the woman responsible for taking the lives of a whole battalion of Fjerdans with little more than her issued rifle and a few stick-grenades. All while she was crouched in a shell-hole filled with rat-water and surrounded by dead comrades. 

She returned to eating slop. Ensuring that she was somewhat neat in her way of eating, Olga’s eyes returned to staring at this silent major. Their staring contest broke when a man with a bushy salt-and-pepper beard and black hair sat down next to the major.

The man’s face was scarred, flesh cut with jagged lines from embedded shrapnel. There was a medal on his front denoting him a survivor of the first two years of this desperate war - an old boy.

“Dominik!” The major’s voice crowed, carrying with it a fragility that made Olga scowl. Majors were not supposed to be like this - though humanity was appreciated when with the Non-coms and “umpty-umps.” The old breed, the divides between the new and the old guard, all of it angered her. She was a woman, raised to sainthood for her actions, and was as unwelcome as gangrene. Except for a few press exposure pieces, she shot, killed, and slaughtered Fjerdans on her own time.

As for how she and this country had gotten to this point was a matter of rife and intense debate. Some had said that the Kerch merchant council had gone to the Fjerdans with a deal for trade - kill the Tsar - Alexander III, and invade Ravka. With the lecherous, traitorous Prince Vasily on the throne, Ravka would collapse and be wholly open to Kerch interests. There was another camp who argued it’d been Shu Han who’d sent spies to kill Alexander and cripple Ravka from the inside in order to regain its southern holdings. Either way, Ravka was engaged in fighting off a double-front invasion. A masterful pincer movement had taken either eagle’s head and was intent on tearing the throne, her people, and the state to pieces. 

Olga had been a mere child, a bride days away from her marriage, when Alexander had been killed. The famine in Northern Ravka had been an ongoing state crisis for the impoverished country, and the schools had been closed for months. Children dropped dead in the fields next to their starving parents, and mothers drowned their babies in order to save them from a slow death of malnutrition.

It was into this world that Olga had been brought to adulthood with the weight of a wedding band, a gold dress and the crushing pressure of the Kokochinik headpiece upon her raggedy hair. But the wedding had brought her something else as well - freedom. Her husband was a sickly man, older than her by a good 4 decades, and she’d taken her freedom however she could.

Her first kill was emblazoned on the walls of his country Dacha. Right under a Kerch Dekappell of the northern mountains blocking Fjerda, she’d poisoned him with his morning cup of tea, and slipped out. She’d turned over all of his Ravkan coins for soldiers' fatigues, and was in the notorious 34th regiment by the morning after. 

She raised her head. Dominik and the major were still talking.

“Good evening, gentlemen,” Olga purred. Somehow, she’d gotten to her feet and was now standing by their mess-table. Her own medals glittered in the oil lamp by her face. It made her glow like the fated Sun Summoner, turned her mousy hair into spun gold, and cut her chin in the manner of a marble bust.

“Sankta Olga,” Dominik coughed. The Major blinked, his hazel eyes wild-cat green. She smirked, leaned down towards them. “I’m afraid I don’t have the honor of knowing your friend’s name, Major Vertov,”. Doing this was grounds enough for her own punishment. She shuddered. Field Punishment number 1 was notoriously horrific - lashed to a howitzer wheel and held there in full kit for hours. Or maybe she’d get Field Punishment No 4. That was almost infinitely worse. Marching back and forth in full pack, with rifle, again, for hours. All while her commanding officer shouted at her and how much of a failure she was to the Ravkan state. 

“This is Major Nikolai Lantsov,” Dominik sputtered, and indicated the major. Olga saluted, knowing he was her superior. 

“Lieutenant Krylov. A surprise, to grace us with your presence.” Nikolai’s eyes were devoid of their spark now. His seriousness was like a mask. No longer did he crack jokes or bump Dominik’s shoulder. The shift in behavior and mood was startling to a civilian, but Olga merely let it wash over her. She returned the favor, relaxing in his company. 

“I hope I wasn’t disturbing your meal, sir,” she responded with a sharpness that she regretted instantly. Clearing her throat, she dug around in her pocket for a pack of Jurda cigarettes. She found one, and lit it with a match. “Want one, sir?”

“I don’t smoke,” Nikolai replied, sniffing. “Gaspers like that are for the boys. Not me,”

“Weren’t you one of us, once?” Olga’s tone was skating on extremely thin ice. Even the slightest amount of pressure and she’d be in irons before she can even hope to list off all of Nikolai’s titles in correctly descending order. 

He cracked a grin, at last. “You have a sharp way to you, Sankta,” he admonished as he took a cigarette from her crumpled carton. Yet, he didn’t light it. He began to peel the cheap and pulpy paper, and spread the crushed leaves out on the table with his pinky nail. Then, he brought out a razor and divided the leaf down further and further into smaller segments.

“Sir?” Olga asked, partially surprised at his words, and his actions. What kind of major do you have to be to take a cigarette and parcel the Jurda out? 

She turned back to watching the smoke pour from her nostrils in a steady, scented stream. The gas the Fjerdans had deployed in the field was wreaking havoc on Grisha powers and Otkazt’sya lungs in equal pain and misery. They’d deployed Jurda Parem to wreck The Ravkan Second Army forces, who were being pulled back on The Darkling’s orders and once more, First Army was throwing itself into the brunt of the chaos. The Fold crackled ominously. 

“Have you seen the new guns the Fjerdans are using?” Nikolai asked as he leaned forward. He brushed the Jurda away with a wave of his hand, and the smell of it filled the air like a miasma. “Their impact makes your ears hurt for hours afterwards. Some of the men are saying they’re firing them from behind the border.” 

“That’s over 50 miles!” Olga gasped, wheezing. She’d inhaled smoke into her lungs, which made for a coughing fit as the old sores on her lungs reacted. She coughed, hacked, and sighed. The attack passed, but the spinning and black spots danced in her vision for a few more minutes. “Here, tea,” a new voice called out. A voice she recognized with the close familiarity found in a sniper’s shadow. The voice belonged to a man with short cropped brown hair, dark blue eyes, and a hard face. Around his neck was a blue, hand-knitted scarf. His fingers were covered in finger-less gloves, and on his hand was the helmet he called a “brodie,”. He grinned, and sidled in next to her, throwing a snappy salute to both Majors. 

“And you are?” Nikolai asked, his charm once more sweet and flowing like a summer strawberry wine. The man grinned, showing chipped teeth. He offered his hand to shake, and the Ravkan that spilled from his lips was as fluent as any nobleman’s. 

“Will Bird. Sniper shadow to Olga Kylov, and Corporal in His Majesty’s Black Watch of Canada, 42nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force,” Will chirped. He took a cigarette from his own pack and let Olga light it. His grin never faltered. 

“And why are you here? This is the First Army. Most Sniper shadows are Grisha,” Nikolai replied calmly. There was an edge to his voice that reflected up and down the chain of command in the First Army. Underfunded, despised, and ultimately borne to bear the brunt of the fight, Otkazt’sya hated Grisha, so the Second hated the First and vice versa. It was a never-ending see-saw of guns versus Small Science and the power was never balanced fairly. Will continued to smile, though it became a grimace as Olga watched him turn over the question Major Lantsov asked, in his mind. Finally, he spoke, the smile becoming little more than at the corners of his lips. “I’m here because I want to be here. You all may hate me because I’m not Ravkan or whatever hell place you want to say I’m from, but I’ve fought as long and as hard as your men have.” 

“Have you?” Nikolai began, softly in a way that made Olga’s skin go cold with goose-pricks. The fox-prince with the gap-teeth that Olga remembered as her childhood imaginary friend was becoming quite the predator. She wanted to grip Will’s arm in her fingers and keep him from ending up being court-martialed. He settled down, and merely raised an eyebrow.

“No offense meant, Sir,” Will replied calmly. “None taken,”

Will smiled, and stretched his legs out under the table. All around them, the mess tent had filtered out. Men were too preoccupied with spending their last night before they crossed the Fold being distracted. Kvas, cards, brothel-women, anything. A skirt here, a bet lost there. Their voices rose all around them like some sort of prayer to the sins of a last throw of the dice; a spin of Fortuna’s wheel. All before the Fold swallowed them on the sunrise. Olga’s fingers twitched, reached for her wrist where four deep scars were carved into her skin - 4 trips. Two through to West Ravka, two returning.

Tomorrow would upset that perfect number. The Saints were testing her. By bringing the boy of her childhood to her mess hall, by putting her dearest friend across from him. Both men were going to tear each other to pieces for an imagined slight. Olga almost expected a duel to be issued, but scoffed. The idea of two soldiers dueling one another to the death felt… strangely out of place. 

“I’m going to bed. Goodnight Major Lantsov, Major Vertov, Corporal Bird. Rest well,” Olga stood, saluted smartly, and marched out. She didn’t see Will watch her go, his blue eyes fiery in the light of the lamps overhead. All that remained of her seat was the bowl of cold slop and a few, sad pirogi swimming in the greasy film.

The Fold seemed to grow darker, the shadows longer, and the night a little deeper as Olga headed back to her bedroll. She didn’t bother to look back once, and slid almost too easily into a deep, dreamless sleep. End of Prologue.

[deniigi]

#6 for Injury to One or It’s Called a Flush please!

6. What’s one fact about the universe of [insert fic] that you didn’t get a chance to mention in the fic itself?

Oh fuck. HMMMMM.

Well for "Injury to One," I think I missed out on going deeper into the fact that Cody is really fucking scared that Alpha will find out he's gay.

Cody is actually terrified that anyone (besides his batchmates and people he trusts) will find out he's gay or abnormal in any way. He isn't that way for other people, but on this point he's sort of stuck himself.

It isnt because of the queerness itself, though. It is actually because he's got a fuckload of internalized ableism around his own body that makes him think that he's not at all neurodivergent; he's not disabled, he thinks he doesn't have "enough" brain damage to be considered disabled. He doesn't see his extreme medical anxiety, imposter syndrome, or his impulse control struggles as a consequences of a traumatic childhood event, but as personal defects that might make others think he isn't fit to lead the battalion.

So rather than deal with all that head on, he has convinced himself that it's the queerness that won't be tolerated by the Kaminoans. He fears that Alpha, who Cody sees as an arm of the Kaminoan surveillance system, will report him on these grounds and ruin the house of cards Cody has worked so hard to build.

It sounds twisted and illogical because it is, but Cody also experiences a sense of great freedom in allowing himself to be the "fucked up" imposter because when he allows himself to imagines himself that way, he sort of thinks "in for a penny, in for a pound" and embraces his queerness and disability. He leans into being a "weird" brother and revels in it, especially since it earns him points in Obi-wan's favor and makes his batchmates laugh at him.

He figures that everyone will find out that he's the wrong, defective Kote-replacement eventually and that will be the end of his freedom so he may as well enjoy the feeling of having family, being silly, and feeling self important and special now.

It is pretty tragic, and there wasn't a whole lot of space in the fic to go through it. No real reason to either since the fic is from Fox's pov.

[beardedmrbean]

Switzerland and Austria have signed a declaration of intent to join the European air defence system Sky Shield.

The system was initiated by Germany following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and is designed to allow European countries to buy defence systems together, and train together.

It's being viewed as a historic moment for neutral Switzerland.

But some Swiss fear the move compromises their country's long standing neutrality.

Joining a Europe wide defence system would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine has focused minds.

The continent is unstable, and for many European countries an upgrade of air defences has become inevitable. The Swiss government says working with European neighbours on a common system makes both strategic and financial sense.

Austria is also a neutral country, and the government in Vienna argues that by pooling military resources it is able to maintain that status.

This is not the first dent in Switzerland's traditionally strict neutrality.

As part of Nato's partnership for peace it has had a peacekeeping battalion in Kosovo for two decades. And, to Moscow's anger, it has joined EU sanctions against Russia.

Nineteen countries have now signed up for the Sky Shield initiative, including the UK, the Nordic and Baltic countries, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

But some right-wing Swiss politicians fear Sky Shield is a compromise too far.

If an attack heading for one of its Sky Shield neighbours flew over Switzerland, for example, would the Swiss shoot it down, even if it wasn't involved in the conflict?

In signing an agreement to join the initiative, Switzerland and Austria have stressed their neutrality remains unchanged, but that hypothetical question hasn't really been answered. Probably they are hoping such a situation would never arise.

But the debate over sanctions, and now over Sky Shield, is just part of a wider Swiss soul-searching over neutrality.

Its historic origins dating back to the 19th Century have become obscured by the myth. At the time, Switzerland was sandwiched between much bigger, often warring powers, and it suited them to have a neutral buffer in between.

During World War Two, the Swiss defended their borders, but carefully stayed out of the conflict by making compromises with both Allied and Axis powers. Their population, and their cities, emerged virtually unscathed - which contributed to Switzerland's economic success today.

But now Switzerland is a member of the United Nations, and the UN has said Russia's invasion is a violation of the UN Charter.

Last month the Swiss parliament voted against a proposal to allow Swiss-made weapons and ammunition to be sent to Ukraine.

The decision is out of step with Switzerland's neighbours and some here have become frustrated by what they see as an outdated construct of neutrality.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a direct appeal to Swiss MPs, saying his country needed Swiss weapons to restore peace.

Switzerland has Leopard tanks languishing unused at home when they could be deployed in Ukraine.

Negotiations are continuing in parliament over how to find a way to adapt the laws on weapons exports, to allow support for Ukraine.

"Traditional neutrality is not sustainable, it's not morally acceptable in my view," Social Democrat MP Jon Pult told me earlier this year.

"If Swiss neutrality means we're somehow the advocates of international law and of the UN charter then I'm ok with neutrality, because then Switzerland can be a power of peace and freedom and rules-based world order."

But the far-right Swiss People's Party has condemned the signing as pushing the country into the arms of Nato.

[rexxdjarin]

Hi! I have a question that I was hoping you would be able to answer! Obviously, anyone can simp for whoever they want to simp for, but do people not simp for Commander Cody only because of the Codywan ship, thus labeling him as gay? I personally don’t like the ship because: a) they are forcing his sexuality, which isn’t right, b) they make Cody’s entire personality trait strictly and obsessively Obi-Wan, which in theory, isn’t a good thing because Cody is Obi-Wan’s subordinate, and c) The Clone Wars didn’t show anything super special about Cody and Obi-Wan’s relationship that could allude to a romantic connection either…they were friends and respected each other, yes, but Obi-Wan didn’t treat his battalion with as much special favor as say, Anakin and Ahsoka or Plo Koon. I also think Cody is really attractive, so maybe I’m just reading too much into it 😂 thank you! (Sorry this is long-winded lol)

Hmmmm so this requires a nuanced answer. I will start by saying

1) I absolutely thiiiirst over cody. I specifically see him and write him as a truly excellent dom which you should read what I’ve written for him in my masterlist hahaha

More below !!!

2) I think people may not think about or be attracted to him immediately because he’s not a major focus of the show ? The clones in the show that are really featured are mostly 501st guys. We just know their personalities a little better and I think people tend to build off of them first.

3) I wouldn’t say it’s forcing sexuality exactly…because we don’t know any of the clones sexualities really. people sort of have freedom of expression to view him or any of the clones as whatever way they would personally like to interpret. HOWEVER…

4) one of the main reasons I critique the codywan ship is for the reasons you’ve stated.

Making him so obsessed with obi-wan that he has no other discernible personality traits is reductive and tbh boring ??? I don’t mind people thinking they may have liked each other (tho the power dynamics of Jedi general/clone commander don’t make me exactly comfortable in every circumstance)

I think Cody is his own person with his own very important internal values. Whether you’d like him to be with obi-wan or not….he needs to be viewed as having other traits besides just being with him. ALSO tbh I think Cody could do better LMFAOOOOO

I personally believe Cody was just very close with Obi-wan and that if Obi-wan were ever to have chosen a partner, it would’ve always been Satine.

Thank you for asking this. I’d say try to block the codywan tag or just avoid/scroll past if you don’t like it. And go by what I did…if you don’t see enough cody, you can try your hand at writing him the way you see him OR see if you can request more from your favorite writer!

He’s wildly handsome, very by the book, sometimes a little stern and I LOOOOVE that about him too🤤🥰

[paliwalls]

Long live the Palestinian Struggle! Long live internationalism!

International Freedom Battalion, Syria

عاش النضال الفلسطيني! تحيا الأممية!

تابور الحرية العالمي، سوريا

x

[bllsbailey]

RedState Weekly Briefing: Joe's Illin', Tim's a Villain, Don's Chillin'

>Welcome to the RedState Weekly Briefing  — where we take a quick look at the week’s most viewed stories in case you missed any of them. Grab a cup of coffee (or something stronger — it's been a helluva summer), and sit down with this 21st Century Weekend Edition of your favorite (online) publication!

#1 - BREAKING: Las Vegas Police Recordings Released From Biden's Medical Event and Code 3 Transport to Airport — by Jennifer Van Laar

Audio from the Las Vegas Metro Police Department's protective detail for President Joe Biden on July 17 was released Friday afternoon by Oversight Project, which obtained the recordings through a Freedom of Information Act request. Those recordings confirm RedState's reporting that Biden was first headed to University Medical Center, a trauma center, after he suddenly canceled a speaking engagement due to illness, then suddenly diverted directly to Harry Reid International Airport. EXCLUSIVE: Sources Say Joe Biden Suffered Neurological Event Before Suddenly Leaving Las Vegas The three recordings span a time frame of a few hours and are not timestamped, so it's difficult to get exact time frames from them. Two of the clips, each about four minutes long, are clips from the general channel where LVMPD coordinated additional units (meaning, units that were not involved in the protective detail) used to shut down traffic and secure the routes after the sudden change of plans. The third, the event channel for the officers involved in the protective detail, is about 43 minutes long. We are sharing the audio in full here so readers can listen for themselves.

#2 - Tim Walz's National Guard Unit Chaplain Puts the Retirement Controversy to Rest With Just One Word — by streiff

Another thing has become obvious. Whenever anyone who served with Vance is asked about his service, they are very complimentary. The former Marines who served with Vance liked him and still like him even though their politics differ; see A Tale of Two Veterans: What the Service of Walz and Vance Tells Us About the Men. His former battalion commander put to rest the "he's not a combat veteran" slur; see WATCH: 'Noxious' CNN Host Brianna Keilar Has to Walk Back Comments Critical of JD Vance's Service Record – RedState.  The opposite is true of Walz. His military record was examined because two of his peers blew the whistle on his self-serving cowardice. When the brigade sergeant major, Walz's superior in the Noncommissioned Officer support channel, was interviewed, CNN abruptly terminated the damning testimony; see BOMBSHELL: Tim Walz's Former Superior Goes on CNN, Delivers Devastating Testimony. Now, in virtual chef's kiss to the controversy, the chaplain of Walz's battalion has offered his commentary.

#3 - Biden Randomly Starts Screaming at Cancer Event, Appears to Forget What Year It Is and Obama's Name — by Nick Arama

"I started this back in the administration of President...at the time, when I was vice president. And we found out I traveled to every major cancer research facility in the world," Biden said.  It could also be that after the effort to shove him out of the race, he doesn't even want to mention Obama's name.  Then at the event, Biden told the false story about traveling "17,000 miles" with Xi Jinping. But he started saying it so softly, with his eyes half shut, that it seemed like he had no energy. He sounded half asleep and he struggled to read the teleprompter, even though he's told the same false story many times.

#4 - Trump Throws a Curveball With Revamped Social Media Game, Takes Completely New Tone — by Bonchie

The first step to fixing a problem is admitting you have one. Trump revamping his social media game, including handing control of his account (seemingly for the first time) to campaign operatives needed to happen. It was too big of a tool in the toolbox to keep hidden away and unused. Truth Social is a tiny bubble. It's the epitome of preaching to the choir. Coming back to X means he can reach tens of millions of followers and he can ad-boost posts that will reach millions more (which he's currently doing). This wasn't a random decision. The Trump campaign is on rocky ground right now due to a relentlessly dishonest propaganda push by the mainstream press that has sought to completely redefine Harris despite her terrible track record.

#5 - Trump on X Taps Into a Voting Bloc That Legacy Media Doesn't Even Know Exists — Jennifer Oliver O'Connell

The "edgelord influencers," make up a young and MALE segment of voters who have huge online followings, eschew TikTok, and promote alpha males. Trump and his VP running mate JD Vance have been speaking to these influencers and appearing on their podcasts and shows, so who knows how many have tuned in Monday night? So far, over 30 million people (and counting) have already plugged into Trump's X conversation with Musk.  While many are writers, the political class, and the MAGA base, among that number are probably undecided voters or people who pay little attention to the legacy media. The Kamala coronation is either passing over their heads or viewed like a person with three heads. But the iconic former president who survived an assassination attempt? 

[head-post]

Ukraine not seeking internal order amid Russian pressure

Amid the ongoing offensive by Russian troops, Ukraine has increasingly witnessed internal discord, from the detention of MPs and corruption allegations to border tightening and fortification scandals.

Mykola The Wad-of-Cash

People’s Deputy of Ukraine Mykola Tyshchenko, also known as The Wad (of Cash), who was involved in beating Ukrainian Kraken National Battalion fighter Dmytro Pavlov, has been sent under house arrest, according to Ukrainian media.

The Pechersk District Court ruled on Tyshchenko, granting the prosecutor’s motion to impose a 60-day preventive measure of house arrest. The Prosecutor-General of Ukraine has reported suspicion against incumbent MP Tyshchenko over the illegal deprivation of liberty of a former serviceman in Dnipropetrovsk. On 20 June, a group of individuals unlawfully deprived a former serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) of his freedom on the instructions of the Ukrainian MP.

According to Ukrainian media, during the search and detention, Tyshchenko broke his phone so that it would not be used as evidence in the case. Law enforcers also found bundles of undeclared cash and a watch worth $40,000.

Hiring of private security guards, extortion call centres, as well as engagement of police officers from other regions of Ukraine have caused outrage among Ukrainians, many of whom condemn the government’s activity at such a difficult time for the country.

Corruption

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) stated that it had opened a criminal case against a former official of the national energy company Ukrenergo. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) accused the unnamed official of purchasing body armour at an inflated price.

To implement the deal, the official engaged an affiliated commercial structure, which not only does not have documents and licences for the production of military ammunition, but in general has never been involved in the manufacture of body armour.

In total, the former civil servant embezzled about 10 million budget funds, according to Ukrainian media. In the spring of 2022, he reportedly organised the purchase of bulletproof vests for employees of the energy company at a deliberately exaggerated cost. Now he faces up to six years in prison.

Fortification scandal

Ukrainian MP Dmytro Razumkov criticised fortifications 15 kilometres from the battle line in Kharkiv region. Having visited one of those locations, the MP showed how the fortifications actually look like.

Very convenient positions, but, unfortunately, not for our defenders, for the enemy! God forbid if our defenders needed these fortifications! It’s just a trap with nothing that normal fortifications should have.

He also emphasised that a country at war could not have fortifications that were allegedly erected but served to absorb the budget.

Border issues

The State Border Service of Ukraine introduced restrictions in another border district of the Transcarpathian region due to attempts by Ukrainian men of conscription age to flee abroad.

In the border strip within the Uzhhorod district additional regime restrictions have been introduced. The introduction of such is due to the strengthening of state border protection and control (…) in order to prevent offences in the border area.

In particular, there is a ban on staying outside the borders of settlements, travelling by motor vehicles towards the border, as well as on the roads leading to it, from 10:00 p.m. until 05:00 a.m. Stopping of motor vehicles on roadsides in the border area is also prohibited.

Back to battle

MP Oleksandr Tkachenko stated that more than 120,000 Ukrainians had returned back to the combat zone and to Russia this year, as they “did not find shelter in other regions.” According to Tkachenko, these are mostly women, the elderly, and those unable to work. Among the reasons that prompted people to return was the lack of habitable housing.

They come back home where they don’t have to rent accommodation, pay owners who are abroad, and receive compensation from international partners there, but in Ukraine they rent their accommodation for 10-15 thousand.

These are catastrophic figures, because in the remaining Ukraine, against the background of the circumstances described above, amid total mobilisation and border tightening, people are turning towards Russia, looking for conditions for existence. Moreover, residents of Ukraine’s westernmost regions actively resist accepting refugees from the eastern part of the country, often accusing them of being friendly to Russia.

Ukrainian political and public figure Iryna Farion has long spoken out against Russian-speaking Ukrainians. Earlier, the former Verkhovna Rada deputy called on all Russian speakers to “pack their bags” and leave for Russia.

Read more HERE

[giftsforus]

Azov Regiment A30B Azov Battalion, Ukraine Military T-Shirt

The Azov Regiment A30B Azov Battalion is one of the most well-known and controversial military units in Ukraine. As a symbol of their dedication and patriotism, the regiment has their own line of military t-shirts designed for both men and women. The Azov Regiment, established in 2014, is a volunteer unit of the Ukrainian National Guard. It was formed during the Russian annexation of Crimea and subsequent conflict in Eastern Ukraine. The regiment's main goal is to defend the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Despite facing criticism from some international observers due to alleged far-right affiliations, the Azov Regiment remains a significant force in the Ukrainian military. The military t-shirt, featuring the emblem of the regiment, serves as a symbol of the bravery and commitment of the Azov Battalion soldiers. It is not just a piece of clothing, but a statement of support for Ukraine and its fight against external aggression. Available for both men and women, the t-shirt is designed to be comfortable and durable, ideal for daily wear or as a gift for someone who appreciates military history or values. It is made from high-quality materials and features a sleek design, showcasing the  emblem and insignia of the Azov Regiment. Wearing this t-shirt is a way to show solidarity with the soldiers who risk their lives defending Ukraine. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the men and women of the Azov Battalion and the ongoing struggle for Ukraine's independence. The t-shirt is not limited to Ukrainians alone but can be a meaningful gift for anyone who supports the cause of freedom and human rights. Furthermore, purchasing this t-shirt helps support the regiment. The proceeds from the sale of these shirts often go towards improving the welfare of the soldiers and their families. By buying this t-shirt, you are contributing to a noble cause and providing much-needed support to those fighting on the front lines. Wearing the Azov Regiment A30B Azov Battalion t-shirt also helps raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It serves as a conversation starter, allowing individuals to educate others about the situation and the importance of international intervention to restore peace and stability in the region. In conclusion, the Azov Regiment A30B Azov Battalion t-shirt is not just a fashion item but a powerful symbol of support for Ukraine's struggle for independence and defense against external aggression. Whether you are a proud Ukrainian, a supporter of human rights, or simply someone who appreciates military history, this t-shirt is a meaningful and impactful gift for everyone.

Get it here : Azov Regiment A30B Azov Battalion, Ukraine Military T-Shirt

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Related : https://giftsforus.tumblr.com/post/717390043872903168/unisex-fishing-fish-lover-limited-edition-hawaiian

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 3.6 (after 1940)

1943 – Norman Rockwell published Freedom from Want in The Saturday Evening Post with a matching essay by Carlos Bulosan as part of the Four Freedoms series. 1943 – World War II: Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel launches the Battle of Medenine in an attempt to slow down the British Eight Army. It fails, and he leaves Africa three days later. 1943 – World War II: The Battle of Fardykambos, one of the first major battles between the Greek Resistance and the occupying Royal Italian Army, ends with the surrender of an entire Italian battalion, the bulk of the garrison of the town of Grevena, leading to its liberation a fortnight later. 1944 – World War II: Soviet Air Forces bomb an evacuated town of Narva in German-occupied Estonia, destroying the entire historical Swedish-era town. 1945 – World War II: Cologne is captured by American troops. On the same day, Operation Spring Awakening, the last major German offensive of the war, begins. 1946 – Ho Chi Minh signs an agreement with France which recognizes Vietnam as an autonomous state in the Indochinese Federation and the French Union. 1951 – Cold War: The trial of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg begins. 1953 – Georgy Malenkov succeeds Joseph Stalin as Premier of the Soviet Union and First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. 1957 – Ghana becomes the first Sub-Saharan country to gain independence from the British. 1964 – Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad officially gives boxing champion Cassius Clay the name Muhammad Ali. 1964 – Constantine II becomes the last King of Greece. 1965 – Premier Tom Playford of South Australia loses power after 27 years in office. 1967 – Cold War: Joseph Stalin's daughter Svetlana Alliluyeva defects to the United States. 1968 – Three rebels are executed by Rhodesia, the first executions since UDI, prompting international condemnation. 1970 – An explosion at the Weather Underground safe house in Greenwich Village kills three. 1975 – For the first time the Zapruder film of the assassination of John F. Kennedy is shown in motion to a national TV audience by Robert J. Groden and Dick Gregory. 1975 – Algiers Accord: Iran and Iraq announce a settlement of their border dispute. 1984 – In the United Kingdom, a walkout at Cortonwood Colliery in Brampton Bierlow signals the start of a strike that lasted almost a year and involved the majority of the country's miners. 1987 – The British ferry MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes in about 90 seconds, killing 193. 1988 – Three Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteers are shot dead by the SAS in Gibraltar in Operation Flavius. 1992 – The Michelangelo computer virus begins to affect computers. 2003 – Air Algérie Flight 6289 crashes at the Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport in Tamanrasset, Algeria, killing 102 out of the 103 people on board. 2008 – A suicide bomber kills 68 people (including first responders) in Baghdad on the same day that a gunman kills eight students in Jerusalem. 2018 – Forbes names Jeff Bezos as the world's richest person, for the first time, at $112 billion net worth. 2020 – Thirty-two people are killed and 81 are injured when gunmen open fire on a ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Islamic State claims responsibility for the attack.

[probablyasocialecologist]

Hey!

I hope you don’t mind me asking this.

Your profile pic and background for this tumblr.

Who are those people? The men with guns covering their faces?

I’m assuming some sort of militia group.

I’m gonna guess the SDF (the ONLY faction in this sordid bloody conflict what has been making ANY plans for Syria’s post-war future beyond removing Assad and his putrid cronies)? I genuinely don’t know for sure, admittedly.

Idk.

I’m just curious since I didn’t recognise them.

And why did you choose them for your icon and background?

Okay that’s two questions.

Again, I’m just curious.

The profile pic is of Subcomandante Marcos. The banner image is the International Freedom Battalion who support the SDF.

Both help give the vibe that nonviolence can't be the only strategy for leftists: https://socialistregister.com/index.php/srv/article/view/5565/2463