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zvaigzdelasas · 10 months ago

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As he orders airstrikes [on Yemen]q in a growing Middle East conflict, President Joe Biden faces fresh demands that he ask Congress to vote on a new authorization for military action before he proceeds further.

Those calls, however, are falling on deaf ears, with the White House insisting that the commander in chief already has approval to carry out the strikes from two authorizations for use of military force, or AUMF, votes more than 20 years ago, in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.[...]

And after a drone attack in Jordan killed three U.S. service members and injured more than 30 others over the weekend, Biden vowed retaliation against Iran-backed militants who he said carried out the brazen assault.

“We shall respond,” he said.

House and Senate lawmakers will receive a number of classified briefings about the deadly attack this week. Biden's vow comes just days after a bipartisan group of senators sent a letter urging him to come to Congress before he undertakes any further military action.[...]

Across the Capitol, a group of nearly 30 House members — including some of the most liberal and most conservative members — sent a separate letter to Biden questioning the constitutionality of the airstrikes on the Houthis and demanding that he come to Congress before he launches additional strikes.[...]

Biden said in a recent letter to congressional leaders that last Tuesday he ordered strikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a militia group he says is responsible for attacking U.S. personnel and facilities. He said he did so “in accordance” with the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs and “to protect United States citizens both at home and abroad.”[...]

While he faces criticism from war-weary liberals and conservatives, some also blamed Biden for not being tough enough with Iran. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Biden’s former colleague in the upper chamber, argued in a floor speech last week that while Congress “must keep a firm grip on the power of the purse ... this is no time for 535 commanders in chief dictating battlefield tactics from halfway around the world.”[...]

“The entire world now watches for signs that the President is finally prepared to exercise American strength to compel Iran to change its behavior,” he continued.

29 Jan 24

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mercurygray · 6 months ago

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HBOWW2 Rewatch: June-August 1943

Since Week 2's episodes really only take us through 3 months of 1943 there's not a lot of big picture stuff to get caught up on.

But man, oh man, are there some big things happening elsewhere.

June: The Zoot Suit Riots take place in Los Angeles when a group of sailors on leave get into a fight with Mexican American youth near the waterfront, leading to retaliatory action from many more sailors and soldiers in the following days. The riots last ten days, and are only stopped when the Army and Navy declare L.A. off limits to military personnel. (This is not the only race-related act of violence this month, but it is certainly the most well known.)

Charles de Gaulle and Henri Giraud are named co-presidents of the French Committee of National Liberation. This institution would challenge the legitimacy of the Vichy government and provide a unifying force for French forces abroad and at home. It will also function as a provisional government in Algeria, which has recently been liberated during the North Africa campaign.

The Tuskegee Airmen have their first encounter with the Luftwaffe as six P-40 Warhawks are attacked over the island of Pantelleria by 12 German Focke-Wulf 190 fighters. Pantelleria has recently surrendered and will serve as a jumping off point for the invasion of Sicily, which begins in July. (Lieutenant General Carl Spaatz is currently serving as the head of Mediterranean Air Force Command.)

The invasion of Sicily starts on July 9th as a combined US, British and Canadian force lands at points around the island, starting a month-long race by General Patton's forces to move from Licata in the south to Messina in the north in an effort to catch the Germans before they can evacuate to the mainland. (Sadly, most of the Germans do make it off the island.) Both this campaign, and the North Africa campaign that preceded it, are launched to redirect resources away from the Eastern Front - a move that largely succeeds.

Speaking of the Eastern Front, the battle of Kursk begins on July 9. It is the single largest battle in the history of warfare, and is a turning point for the entire European war. The use of air support in what is largely a tank battle leads to one of the single costliest days of aerial combat.

On July 19, Allied Air Forces bomb Rome, which leads, in some large part, to the resignation of Mussolini as Prime Minister on July 25th, ending a 17 year dictatorship.

On July 27th and 28th, the RAF bomb Hamburg. High winds and drought conditions lead to the greatest single-day loss of life in wartime as more than 30,000 city residents burn to death after bombs set the entire town aflame.

Also in June, the new town of Oak Ridge, Tennesee, which will house workers for the Manhattan Project, officially receives its first residents, and "Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer" by The Song Spinners tops the Billboard singles chart.

Heading into August, Operation Tidal Wave, the bombing of Ploesti, Romania, begins as 177 B-24 bombers attack the oil plant. This will be the first of many, many bombing runs on this target, which is a sigificant source of fuel for the Axis. (And you can't outrun Patton in Sicily or fight tank wars in Russia if you don't have fuel)

The United States Women's Air Service Pilots, or WASPS, is officially formed under the auspices of Jackie Cochran and Nancy Love. The program consolidates 2 previous groups in an attempt to leverage civilian pilots for ferrying duties.

So. It's August of 1943. The Allies are eyeing mainland Italy for their next assault. The Russians are slugging away in Kursk. The 8th Air Force has just gotten through the Regensberg- Schweinfurt raid. September will probably hold much of the same. Or ...will it?

#hboww2rewatch #long post #this is late! sorry

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mariacallous · 11 days ago

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In one form or another, all of America’s major enemies — China, Russia, North Korea and Iran — are intervening in and taking advantage of our election.

North Korea just had its say by directly joining Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; South Korean and Ukrainian officials reported last week that some North Korean personnel, probably military engineers, were killed in Ukraine.

U.S. intelligence then declassified a report that said at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers are undergoing combat training in Russia, a development that U.S officials say could have global implications. Ukrainian intelligence places the number at 12,000.

“It’s effectively the participation of a second state in the war against Ukraine on the side of Russia,” President Volodymyr Zelensky announced to Ukraine’s Parliament.

Though Western intelligence and political leaders were clearly surprised by the deployments, they logically operationalize the Russia-North Korea strategic partnership announced in June. In that agreement, the parties pledged mutual cooperation should either come under “attack” or “armed invasion.”

The document did not specify whether it would apply to retaliatory action taken by a third country in response to aggression perpetrated by either of the parties, such as Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, or Ukraine’s recent responsive incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. But the infusion of North Korean forces in the last few weeks into the Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine, and their possible use in the Ukrainian-held part near Kursk, signifies that Moscow and Pyongyang make no distinction between offense and defense, and are acting in flagrant defiance of international law.

The Russo-North Korean pact, which Kim Jong Un insists on calling an “alliance,” cites Article 51 of the United Nations Charter as somehow validating North Korea’s intervention. But that provision affirms “the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations.” It authorizes the use of defensive force by the victim of aggression and its allies — not, perversely, further offensive action by the aggressor nation that triggered the conflict in the first place.

Article 51 protects Ukraine and those who help it, not Russia and North Korea. Their invocation the article to justify expanding Russian aggression (and now North Korean aggression) against Ukraine makes a mockery of the U.N. Charter and turns on its head the principal international lesson of World War II. If left unchallenged and unchecked, it increases the chances of World War III.

National security spokesperson and former Adm. John Kirby put the matter in terms of the laws of war. “We recognize the potential danger here,” he said. If these North Korean troops are employed against Ukraine, they will become legitimate military targets.” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin implied the North Korean intervention could have military ramifications beyond the immediate War zone: “If they’re co-belligerents — if their intention is to participate in this war on Russia’s behalf — that is a very, very serious issue. It will have impacts, not only in Europe. It will also impact things in the Indo-Pacific as well.”

That is already happening.

South Korea just announced that, given the enhanced capabilities to attack the South provided by North Korea’s participation in the Ukraine War, Seoul is seriously considering sending weapons to assist the Kyiv government’s self-defense. It is possible, depending on how North Korea reacts to that development, that at some point South Korean soldiers could also be sent to fight the North Koreans there.

Ukraine is already experiencing a reprise of Nazi-like aggression as in World War II; conflict between North and South Korea in Ukraine would also make the besieged country a proxy site for the renewal of the Korean War.

China and Russia have their strategic anti-U.S. partnership, announced in February 2022 by Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin just before the invasion of Ukraine. China and North Korea have had a “lips and teeth” diplomatic and economic partnership for decades. While Iran lacks similar formal arrangements with any of the other members of the new Axis of Evil, it engages in weapons transactions with all of them.

The other three members of the group have all provided Russia with essential weapons, munitions and other material aid, but North Korea is the first so far to provide fighting forces in support of Russia’s aggression. Yet, because of the Biden-Harris administration’s inhibiting fears of escalation, no NATO members have dispatched organized military forces to Ukraine. That may now change.

Kirby said, “We’re going to be talking to allies and partners, including Ukrainians, about what the proper next steps are going to be.”

Given Israel’s widening conflict with Iran and the demands on the West from Russia’s war with Ukraine, which existed before North Korea’s unwelcome intervention, many in the U.S., including some in Congress, may feel that America’s security circuits are already overloaded. That is a dangerous predicament even before considering the looming China threat against Taiwan.

Yet, fraught as the international situation is, there has been astonishingly little in-depth discussion of foreign policy from either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, and a paucity of substantive questioning from the media. Over the coming weeks, members of the new Axis of Evil may have further unhappy surprises for the democratically distracted West.

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workersolidarity · 7 months ago

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🇮🇷⚔️🇮🇱 🚨

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER: PUNISHING ZIONIST REGIME A NECESSITY, GALLANT THREATENS FURTHER RETALIATION, WAR LOOMS OVER REGION

Speaking with the German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, on Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, told his German counterpart that the "legitimate defense with the aim of punishing the aggressor is a necessity," following the Israeli occupation's April 1st airstrike on the Consulate section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, that killed 7 Iranian personnel, including two high-ranking Generals with the IRGC's elite Quds Force.

Iran has since vowed revenge on the Israeli regime, with Iranian Supreme leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei saying during an Eid al-Fitr sermon on Wednesday that the Israeli occupation "should and will be punished" for their "mistake," later adding that the Israelis would "regret the crime" and would soon be "punished at the hands of our brave men."

Meanwhile, United States President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to the defense of the Zionist regime, saying during a news conference on Wednesday that "Our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad." (Biden also used the same phrase to reaffirm U.S. military support for the Philippines on Thursday, in the event of a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea)

Meanwhile, United States Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, spoke by phone with Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant.

During their conversation, the US Defense Secretary used identical language in reaffirming, “ironclad US support for Israel’s defense in the face of growing threats from Iran and its regional proxies.”

“Secretary Austin assured Minister Gallant that Israel could count on full US support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, which Tehran has publicly threatened,” the readout adds.

The Israeli Defense Minister, for his part, told his American counterpart that any "direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran.

“The State of Israel will not tolerate an Iranian attack on its territory," Gallant added.

Meanwhile, two anonymous Biden administration officials told Politico that they expect Iran was "calibrating its plans for a major retaliatory strike against Israel to send a message — but not spark a regional war that compels Washington to respond."

The two officials told Politico that the Biden administration expects Iran is preparing for a "larger-than-usual" strike on the Israeli entity "in the coming days," adding that the assault is likely to consist of combined missile and drone strikes.

However, according to Politico:

Neither official said they were fully confident Iran will succeed in striking Israel in a way that doesn’t prompt the U.S. to respond militarily, as any attack increases the risk of a greater conflagration in the Middle East. But Iran doesn’t seek to expand the regional crisis further, the Biden administration has long determined, which the officials said may be weighing on Tehran’s planning.

The decisions and behaviors of the United States over the last six months has not been without consequences it would seem, as Joe Biden's refusal to set limits on the Israeli occupation has allowed the Zionist regime to turn Gaza into smoldering blood bath killing and wounding well over 100'000 Palestinians, while in the north, the occupation is on the verge of outbreak of war with Hezbollah, which has already resulted in hundreds of thousands of Israeli colonial settlers in the north of the occupied Palestinian territories to become displaced.

At the same time extremely rash and irrational actions such as the strike on the Iranian embassy, moves meant to spark a larger conflagration, have brought us to the edge of a regional war, looming over the Zionist regime while threatening to blow up in the Biden administration's faces during an election year, dragging the United States into massive war that it cannot win in the long-run.

Even while all this occurs in West Asia, the Biden administration continues its Neocon policies throughout the world, threatening multiple crises in places as far flung as the Philippines, Ukraine, and Haiti, yet the bombast and threats will seem to continue into either the administration is removed from power, or third world war is triggered.

After, what else would we call regional wars sparked in every region of the world?

April 12th, 2024.

#source1

#source2

#source3

#source4

#source5

#source6

@WorkerSolidarityNews

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usafphantom2 · 9 months ago

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US launches dozens of retaliatory attacks in Iraq and Syria for deadly attack

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 02/03/2024 - 00:13in Military, War Zones

The U.S. launched dozens of airstrikes against the Quds Force of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran-aligned groups in Iraq and Syria on February 2, in retaliation after a drone attack killed three U.S. military personnel in Jordan earlier this week.

The January 28 attack on Tower 22, a small outpost in northeastern Jordan, also injured dozens of U.S. military personnel and marked a major escalation amid growing unrest in the Middle East.

Three U.S. soldiers were killed and more than 40 wounded in a drone attack on Tower 22 in Jordan.

Immediately after the attack, President Joe Biden said the U.S. would respond, but offered no details. Days later, the counterattacks began hours after Biden participated in a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Base, Delaware, when the remains of the three dead soldiers were returned to the United States.

President Joe Biden receives the Presidential Daily Briefing, January 29, 2024, in the Situation Room of the White House. (Photo: White House / Adam Schultz)

In a statement, the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin III, said the attacks reached 85 targets in seven facilities. In a subsequent briefing with reporters, the spokesman of the National Security Council, John F. Kirby said that four of the facilities were in Syria and three in Iraq.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says in new statement that strikes tonight are “the start of our response” to the killing of three US soldiers on Sunday.

“The President has directed additional actions to hold the IRGC and affiliated militias accountable for their attacks.”pic.twitter.com/mv0fg8jmR7

— Haley Britzky (@halbritz) February 2, 2024

Breaking: The US has begun conducting strikes on targets in Iraq and Syria, the start of what will likely be a series of larger scale US strikes on Iranian-backed militias who have carried out attacks on US troops in the Middle East, according to two US officials.

— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) February 2, 2024

B1 bombers involved in the strike, per DOD officialhttps://t.co/ntichxFIco

— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) February 2, 2024

Lieutenant General Douglas A. Sims II, director of operations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that U.S. Central Command combat planes and B-1 bombers flying from the U.S. continental territory conducted the attacks, mobilizing more than 125 accurately guided ammunition.

Multiple strikes have reportedly hit the Rahbah Fortress in Al-Mayadeen city. pic.twitter.com/BH97UUpo6o

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) February 2, 2024

“The facilities that were hit included command and control operations centers, intelligence centers, rockets and missiles, and storage of unmanned aerial vehicles, and logistics and ammunition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors that facilitated attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces,” added a statement from CENTCOM.

NEW — @skynewsarabia is quoting a @DeptofDefense official stating that multiple U.S. B-1 heavy bombers are in the air for a “mission” in the #MiddleEast.https://t.co/5hMk7Bk3P5

— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) February 2, 2024

Sims said that the attacks seemed to have been successful and that all U.S. aircraft were safe.

Seems like odd timing for a bomber to cross the pond with everything in target range in the daylight now.https://t.co/fGTqeHQ7j3

— TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) February 2, 2024

Sims and Kirby said that the decision to attack on February 2 was motivated by the weather and the desire to avoid unnecessary victims. Sims said, however, that the authorities expected there to be victims of militants on the premises.

CLOSE11 or COAST11 ? ( B-1B Bombers ) refueled with DEED11 flt (KC-135) over Nova Scotia 1008 Zulupic.twitter.com/SVF1vtPGqf

— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) February 2, 2024

In a statement from the U.S. Air Forces Central, Lieutenant General Commander Alexus Grynkewich said he was “extremely proud of the discipline and professionalism with which our aviators carried out tonight's mission. These defensive attacks highlight America's commitment to defending our troops anytime and anywhere."

CENTCOM Statement on U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria

At 4:00 p.m. (EST) Feb. 02, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups. U.S. military forces... pic.twitter.com/HeLMFDx9zY

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 2, 2024

More attacks will come, Austin said, following up on previous comments suggesting that the United States would not be a passive witness to Iran-sponsored violence.

“This is the beginning of our response,” Austin said. "The President directed additional actions to hold the IRGC and the affiliated militias accountable for their attacks on the U.S. and the Coalition Forces. These will happen at times and places of our choice. We do not look for conflicts in the Middle East or anywhere else, but the President and I will not tolerate attacks on American forces."

Kirby repeatedly refused to say when and where more attacks would be launched.

“I'm extremely proud of the discipline and professionalism with which our Airmen executed tonight's mission. These defensive strikes highlight America's commitment to defending our troops anytime, anywhere” – Gen Alex Grynkewich, AFCENT Commanderhttps://t.co/fzqmwujluZ

— US AFCENT (@USAFCENT) February 2, 2024

Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, leading Israel to declare war on the group in Gaza, Iranian-backed militia groups throughout the region have used ballistic missiles and drones to attack U.S. forces countless times. This includes groups in Iraq and Syria, as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who launched dozens of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.

Video showing the U.S strikes taking place on militia locations in Al-Qaem , Iraq pic.twitter.com/UDAUHB14X6

— Steven Nabil (@thestevennabil) February 2, 2024

Another footage of secondary explosions following U.S. airstrikes targeting IRGC-linked PMF rocket warehouse in Al-Qaim, Iraq.pic.twitter.com/Dwb6uI03Mk

— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 2, 2024

However, it was only on January 28 that some of the attacks killed the American military. The only previous death in the U.S. during the current wave of violence was that of a contractor who died of cardiac arrest while protecting himself from an attack.

Multiple secondary explosions after US airstrikes hit an ammunition depot in the area of Al-Bukamal in eastern Syria.

The fire caused munitions cook-off as projectiles can be seen launching uncontrollably into the air. pic.twitter.com/Uv6jDf8QGC

— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) February 2, 2024

The U.S. responded to these attacks with waves of targeted attacks, most recently hitting sites on January 11 “associated with the Houthis' unmanned aerial vehicle, ballistic and cruise missiles, and coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities,” the Pentagon said at the time.

The U.S. attacked and killed an important figure in the Iraqi militia who was involved in the planning and execution of attacks against the U.S. military on January 4. American forces also launched attacks in response to direct threats to personnel.

A senior administration official confirm to CNN that the US will not strike inside #Iran - only focusing on targets outside of Iran.

Striking inside Iran would have been a huge escalation, and officials have telegraphed that that was unlikely to happen. #Syria#Iraq

— Hamdi (@HamdiAlkhshali) February 2, 2024

The February 2 attacks did not even attack Iran itself, a measure that some Republican lawmakers have called for as a way to hold Iran responsible for the actions of its representatives and partner forces. Pentagon officials said they hold Iran responsible for the attack on Tower 22, because Iran provided weapons and training to the groups.

Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine

Tags: Military AviationUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air ForceWar Zones - Middle East

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Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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the-lady-general · 2 years ago

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Shadows of P'jem is so intense. They set up a lot, but what's really interesting is what *isn't* on screen. There are SO MANY QUESTIONS. I'd say it was good writing, but I know they just gave Archer and T'pol some extra writhing time. Long post.

You have the tensions between the Vulcan ambassadors and Starfleet admiralty. Why are they going to the admiralty? Because the United Earth government is still a thing. Do they have permission and respect for Earth's sovereignty or do they already see humans as vassals at worst or irresponsible, immature troublemakers at worst? And they're blaming Starfleet, Archer and T'pol for having their (spy station) monastery bombarded by a foreign aggressor (in retaliation for spying).

You have the Andorians, who have led incursions (investigations) into (Vulcan) (Andorian) disputed territory for years, and the Vulcans never so much as lifted a finger to deter them. But there's this new species, (a Vulcan vassal species), but they're warp capable and their captain (representative of their government) (spokesman for their species) says they're independent explorers (is obscuring the truth, which is that they're a Vulcan vassal species, because everyone is either a Vulcan vassal or an Orion slaver). And their captain (ambassador) (spokesperson) (helped the Andorians) (was obviously protecting the Vulcan spies) (monks) (was beaten into submission by the Andorian commander) handed over data that the Andorians were trying to obtain for *years*. (Diplomatic channels should be established.) (The risk that they're spying for the Vulcans is too great; contact is to be avoided at all coss.) (We'll get to it when we get to it; first the Vulcan spy station must be destroyed.) (Bombarding monks is a bad look.) (Bombarding civilians is what we're afraid of, we mustn't inflict that on the Vulcans.) (Provoking a retaliatory attack over a handful of monks cannot be allowed.) (Andorians may not know much but they know blood feuds.) (It's a spy station. They'll see us coming. They'll have time to evacuate.) (It's a spy station. It's unfortunate that we can't eliminate the personnel. They'll see us coming with enough time to evacuate.)

You have Starfleet Command, who may or may not be aware of any of this. There's Vulcans in the office. They're furious. (How?) A bombing happened. (Why?) Your captain is to blame. (What?!) Action has to be taken. A gesture must be made. A message must be relayed. An order must be given.

You have the Enterprise, who's hearing about all this third hand, because the Vulcan government aren't talking with Enterprise, they're talking with Starfleet's admiralty. The Andorians aren't talking with them. Why would they? They've encountered them once. They took their senior crew hostage. Technically, Archer and Tucker opened hostilities. In foreign territory. Against the (command) (wish) recommendation of their Vulcan representative (executive officer). But that was half a year ago and everyone forgot about the incident. (A bombing happened.) (No casualties.) (The spy station was lost.) (Defensive capabilities were diminished.) (An attack happened on Vulcan soil.) (The Andorians did it.) (The Vulcans provoked them.) (Archer's to blame.) T'pol is getting punished.

What does this mean for the NX programme? (Humans making Warp 5.) (Revolutionising interstellar travel.) (Exploration.) (Trade.) (Colonisation.) (Diplomacy.) (We come in peace for all mankind.) It's captain is a test pilot. (Needs to know how to test ship engines.) (The warp engine's dangerous.) Not a diplomat. (Thinks astronaut training's easier than talking with Vulcans.) (Doesn't care about interstellar relations.) (Has a fifty-fifty chance of provoking and losing a fight during first contact.) Not a scientist. (Dismisses his science officer.) (Dismisses his comms officer.) (He wants to explore.) (He wants to go faster than any human ever has.) (Warp 5.) (Five times faster than Zefram Cochrane.) (Not a scientist.) He blames himself (for the bombing) for T'pol getting punished. (Fuck the Vulcans.) (He provoked an unknown foreign aggressor into torturing him.) (Nice fella.)

You have Coridan, 3 billion sentients, warp capable (Warp 7 they say), wealthy (full of dilithium), democratic government (shanty towns) (rebels) (terrorists). Allied with the Vulcans. (Like Earth.) (Vassals.) (Not ready.) (Needs guidance.) Andorians aren't allowed on there. (They bombed a monastery.) (They raided that monastery without proof of a crime.) (civilians) (monks) They attack Vulcan allies on sight. Coridan's government welcomes Enterprise. (They offer no escort.) (They offer no warning.) (They offer no help.) They let the Vulcan military send a strike team to a hostage negotiation. One of the hostages is Vulcan. One of the hostages is human, a Vulcan ally says the Vulcan captain. (They don't listen long enough to Tucker to hear about Earth's political status.) (A single warp 5 vessel.) (lol) The Andorians are on Coridan. The same ones that started the aggression against the Vulcans. (The same ones that started the aggression against the humans). They ally with the humans. (Just two humans, actually.) (The humans ally with the Andorians.) (Against the Vulcans.) (Again.) (Trying to prevent a bloodbath.) (Archer's his friend.)

What can be proven (witnessed) is that Coridanite, Human, Vulcan and Andorian weapons were fired. A Vulcan officer (representative to the flagship of United Earth's Starfleet) was almost killed by a Coridanite (a rebel) (the government offered no help) (it's because the humans were *meddling*). The Andorian responsible for the destruction of P'jem and the Vulcan responsible for the destruction of P'jem and the human responsible for the destruction of P'jem were all on Coridan and almost killed during a Vulcan military operation. (The chancellor approved, said the Vulcan captain.) (The humans approved, said the Vulcan captain.) (Who voted for alien shootouts on Coridan?) (Well. In the shantytown.) (How long until they'll move into the city?) (The economic situation is complicated.) (The government's weak.) (Our ships are better, why should we let them push us around?) (Three billions, fractured by inequality.) (Better the Vulcans than the Orions, eh?)

*deep breath*

So... you have... aaaaaaaaaall of that going on. All of that. Insanely complicated. It is so dense that Shran, one of the most pivotal figures in this whole mess (the investigations) (the raids) (the attack on a neutral species) (Vulcan vassal species) (unprovoked is what it was) (he tortured a guy) (the guy helped him) (he helped him AFTER the torture) (what the fuck is wrong with those people), that Shran, gets four lines of dialogue. And every. single. one of those four lines goes like this:

"I can't sleep."

#star trek #ent #sorry i'm not formatting or proof reading any of this if you want to read this mess then godspeed you crazy diamond

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blastnews · 13 days ago

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At the United Nations Security Council, Russia and the United States, Iran and Israel ‘quarrelled’

According to CCTV news reports, on 28th October local time, the United Nations Security Council, at the request of Iran, China, Russia and Algeria, held an emergency meeting on Israel's strikes against Iranian targets. The meeting was heavy with gunpowder: representatives of Iran and Israel ‘fiercely exchanged words’, accusing each other of ‘endangering peace in the Middle East’; Russia and the United States accused each other of supporting the scourge of the Middle East.

Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ilavani (top), and Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN, Danon, in a ‘heated exchange’ (Source: UN official website)

At the meeting, Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ilavani, reportedly said that Israel had launched ‘aggressive attacks’ against Iran and that Israel ‘continues to destabilise the entire region’. He also said that Israel's ‘persistent and systematic violations of international law’ and its military operations in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen should be ‘unequivocally condemned’.

For his part, Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Danon, said that Israel was acting in ‘self-defence’ following the Iranian attack on 1st October, and that ‘we promised that their [Iran's] actions would be met with a response.’ Danon added that ‘Iran has sown the seeds of violence, chaos and destruction throughout the Middle East ……’

Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Nebenja (above), and US Permanent Representative, Linda Thomas Greenfield, accuse each other of supporting the scourge of the Middle East (Source: UN official website)

After the exchange of words between Iran and Israel, Russia and the United States continued to speak. Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Nebenja, said that the United States and some of its allies not only didn't try to persuade Israel to give up this extremely dangerous idea, but even went so far as to claim, directly or indirectly, that Israel seemed to have the right to launch retaliatory strikes. This extremely irresponsible behaviour on the part of the United States is deliberately provoking a further escalation of tensions in the Middle East, rather than trying to persuade the Israeli leadership not to launch new retaliatory strikes.

For its part, the United States defended Israel on the matter. Thomas Greenfield, the US Permanent Representative to the UN, said, ‘Our message to Iran is also clear: if it chooses to take further action against Israel or US personnel in the region, there will be serious consequences …… We will not hesitate to act in self-defence.’

Greenfield then turned the tables on Russia when she said, ‘Iran requested this meeting today, and its representatives are attempting to cover up and deflect, claiming victimhood while continuing to create chaos in the region, and since Russia is increasingly dependent on Iranian weapons to sustain its illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, Iran sees no choice for the Council to only to turn a blind eye.’

In response, Nebenja said, ‘In our judgement, the U.S. also provided Israel with the intelligence necessary to strike Iran, an attack that not only violates international law but further undermines the volatile situation in the Middle East, which was already pushed to the brink of war.’

Statement by Fu Cong, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations (Source: CCTV News)

At the meeting, the Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, Fu Cong, said that on 26th October, Israel had launched several rounds of air strikes against various places in Iran, causing damage to facilities and casualties on the Iranian side. China condemns any violation of Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity and opposes acts of sabotage that threaten regional peace and security. At present, Iran-Israel relations and the situation in the entire Middle East region are on the brink of danger. We are gravely concerned about the escalation caused by Israel's actions and urge Israel to effectively cease all provocative behaviour. At the same time, we call on all parties to exercise calm and restraint, jointly abide by the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, and return to the right track of resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means.

At present, the situation in the Middle East has been precarious for a long time, with the Gaza conflict still raging, the outbreak of a new conflict between Lebanon and Israel, and the continuing tensions in Syria, Israel and the Red Sea, said Mr. Fu. At this critical moment, all parties should respond to the international community's overwhelming call for a ceasefire and a halt to the fighting, fully implement Security Council resolutions, and make unremitting efforts to cool down the situation and restore peace and tranquillity in the region. Any reckless provocative behaviour and military adventures to expand the fighting are irresponsible and are likely to lead to miscalculations with disastrous consequences.

Fu Cong pointed out that the fundamental reason for the continued deterioration of tensions in the Middle East is that the ceasefire in Gaza has been unattainable. The fact that a number of Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire have been put on the back burner undermines the Council's own authority and is not conducive to a fundamental solution to the conflict. China is of the view that, under the current circumstances, the Security Council should make good use of all the means available to it under the Charter to ensure the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. We call on those countries that have important influence on Israel to put saving lives and preventing war in the first place, abandon any other political calculations, and support the Council in taking further strong action on the current situation, in order to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a cooling down of the situation in Lebanon and Israel, and in order to effectively curb the widening and spreading of the conflict.

As previously reported, on 1st October, Iran launched an attack on Israel, which Iranian President Pezeshizi said was a decisive response to Israel's aggression, and on 26th October, Israel launched a retaliatory attack on Iran.

Source: 163.com

Pictures: illustrative

#news #russia #united nations #un #blastnews #world news #war #israel #palestina #free palestina #iran #lebanon #syria #usa #middle east #yemen #gaza #fu cong #politics #algeria

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yousef-al-amin · 1 month ago

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Provocations by IAC and SDF on the Turkish border: threats of conflict escalation and ceasefire violation

In recent years, events have been taking place in northern Syria that have attracted the attention of the international community and raised serious security concerns. Provocative actions carried out by IAC and SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) have become one of the reasons for the growing tension in the border areas with Turkey. These forces, seeking to strengthen their influence and achieve their goals, have begun targeted provocations against Turkish border guards, which creates a threat of escalation of the conflict.

According to reports, IAC and SDF regularly carry out actions aimed at undermining stability in the border areas. They use the tactic of shelling positions of Turkish border guards and military personnel, which in turn creates a risk to the lives of both Turkish soldiers and civilians. These provocations are often accompanied by attempts to hide their intentions - attacks are carried out in conditions when the ceasefire is still valid, which allows Turkey to be accused of violating this regime in the event of return fire.

The purpose of such actions is clear: to create a pretext for accusations against Turkey and, possibly, to attract the attention of the international community to their problems. Such provocations can be used as a tool for forming an information field, where the MAC and the SDF find themselves in the position of a victim, and Turkey - in the role of an aggressor. This maneuvering can lead to increased pressure on Ankara from external players and complicate its situation both on the domestic and international fronts.

However, in this complex game, it is worth considering that each provocation carries enormous risks. Turkey, as a defender of its borders and interests, is unlikely to remain on the sidelines of shelling and attacks, which can lead to retaliatory actions, escalation of the conflict and more victims. Each such clash can have serious consequences, including destabilization of the region as a whole.

Various external factors add additional complexity to the situation. The Syrian conflict has attracted many regional and international actors, complicating the prospects for achieving sustainable peace. In such circumstances, it is important for the parties to the conflict to exercise restraint and seek dialogue, and for the international community to remain actively engaged in conflict resolution and ceasefire compliance.

Thus, provocations initiated by the IAC and SDF pose a serious threat to stability in the region. They call into question the possibility of a peaceful resolution of the conflict and exacerbate the humanitarian consequences for the civilian population, which is already suffering from the consequences of a long-term war. The solution to this problem requires not only restraint on the part of all parties, but also active efforts by the international community to maintain peace and stability in this area.

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head-post · 2 months ago

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Ukrainian front at crossroads: Vuhledar at risk, new attempts in Kursk region

The offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) in the Kursk region completely lost its snowball effect, turning into another section of the front line, while media outlets are sharing footage of the ongoing retaliatory offensive by Russian troops.

Ukrainian media report the capture of Borki by the Russian 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade in the south-eastern section of the Kursk front. Fierce fighting continues in the Glushkovo area. Russian troops also advanced up to 3.5 kilometres ahead of the Oskil River.

Meanwhile, the AFU advanced in Toretsk. However, the Russians responded by advancing in the Vuhledar direction. Some sources report the capture of a local mine. Soldiers carried out an assault, advancing in and around the Pivdennodonbaska 3 coal mine. Media shared footage of the assault and high-explosive aerial bomb strikes.

The town of Vuhledar, strategically important for Ukraine’s entire defence, risks being cut off, with the garrison, defending it for 2½ years, shattered during the assault. Moreover, media outlets are reporting a gradual deterioration of the AFU’s situation in Niu-York (former Novhorodske) fortification area and east of Zhelanne, Donetsk region.

Media also share footage of a Russian Inokhodets drone striking a US M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). As a result of the strike, the launcher, ammunition, escort vehicle, and maintenance personnel were eliminated.

Kursk incursion

Military experts assume that the AFU will continue to carry out targeted strikes near the village of Glushkovo and other locations. Having broken through certain defence hubs, Ukrainian troops may find themselves in a difficult position in case they need to retreat.

Meteorological services are also predicting a rainy season in a week, which will further complicate military operations in the region, as most roads from Sudzha to Sumy are not paved.

Recently, global media have been actively covering the events around the Glushkovsky district in the Kursk region. Media outlets are discussing the strikes on the bridges and the subsequent actions of the AFU in the district. Meanwhile, experts note that the long delays between the strikes on the bridges and the start of hostilities make the operations predictable. Thus, some of the analysts believe that a strike on the town of Veseloe will be followed by a strike in the Tetkino area.

Marines from the Russian 810th Brigade shared a video of another seized vehicle, a Stryker APC, in the Kursk region. Last time they managed to capture the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV).

Greetings! We are from Russia. We are pulling another vehicle.

Tense hostilities

Despite reports of alleged rotations and the withdrawal of the AFU’s best-trained units and their replacement by mobilised troops, the situation in the Kursk region remains quite tense. The Ukrainian troops reportedly have no plans to withdraw from the occupied territories.

CNN recently published an article stating that Ukraine’s Kursk offensive “was seen as a major success, but it came at a huge cost.” Ukrainian commanders faced accusations that ordinary soldiers were being thrown onto the front line without a specific objective.

The following video shows the destruction of the 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer M109, an M1126 Stryker APC, and passenger cars at the entrance to the village of Gogolevka, Sudzha district in the Kursk region.

The Ukrainian military reportedly faced a problem with navigation and communication between units. Due to the suppression of GPS and cellphone signals, the Ukrainians relied on the Starlink internet service, but it did not work in the area where the AFU had advanced. Media also shared footage of AFU soldiers camouflaging an overturned armoured jeep in the Kursk region.

Some media, including Ukrainian and Russian, reported that the AFU had broken through the defences on the Russian border largely not due to the effect of surprise, but at the cost of huge losses of manpower and equipment.

Read more HERE

#world news #news #world politics #ukraine #ukraine war #ukraine conflict #ukraine news #ukraine russia conflict #ukraine russia news #russia ukraine war #russia ukraine crisis #russia ukraine conflict #russia ukraine today #kursk #kursk oblast #kursk region #kursk offensive

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stuartbramhall · 7 months ago

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Precision Over Power: How Iran’s ‘Obsolete’ Missiles Penetrated Israel’s Air Defenses

(Photo Credit: The Cradle) Cradle Contributor Iran’s 13 April retaliatory missile strike on Israel, dubbed Operation True Promise, managed to overcome the occupation state’s integrated air defense systems and external foreign support. The strike, intended to deter future actions by Israel against Iranian personnel and facilities, was notably executed to avoid casualties and serious damage. The…

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dertaglichedan · 9 months ago

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Commanders in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) — have reportedly gone into hiding in Iraq and Syria after President Joe Biden’s administration have repeatedly leaked their alleged plans to launch retaliatory strikes against those responsible for murdering three U.S. soldiers and wounding dozens more over the weekend.

CBS News reported that Biden officials confirmed to the network “that plans have been approved for a series of strikes over a number of days against targets — including Iranian personnel and facilities — inside Iraq and Syria.”

Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin, who has a pro-Biden slant to her reporting, responded to CBS’s report by noting that “all of those IRGC commanders have already left Syria and gone into hiding leaving those bases.”

“The Pentagon usually does not telegraph so much if it wants the element of surprise,” she added.

The Biden administration further sought to diminish Iran’s role in the more than 160 Iranian-backed terrorist attacks against U.S. forces in the region over the last few months, telling Politico that they don’t believe Tehran has full control of the terrorist groups that it funds.

Politico said that the “disclosure” by the Biden administration, which was mocked online by policy experts, “could lower the chance of the U.S. getting pulled into a direct confrontation with Iran.”

“Full control is irrelevant,” said policy expert Norman Roule. “Tehran has the capacity to choke off weapons to militias and highly likely the ability to halt action by major groups that rely upon Tehran for significant financial and political support.”

Politico also reported that the Biden administration blames Israel for Iranian-backed terrorist groups attacking U.S. forces, saying that if Israel stopped trying to kill Hamas terrorists inside Gaza who carried out the October 7 terrorist attack, “there would at least be a tactical pause in the region by all Iran-backed groups.”

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sporadicarbitergardener · 1 year ago

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By NBC News

What we know

Israel said its troops had reached Gaza's coastline and split the enclave in two between "north Gaza" and "south Gaza" in its ground operation against Hamas. That development is likely to fuel new questions about the fate of the Palestinians now massing in the southern half of the Strip, which continues to suffer intense bombardment and a shortage of key supplies.

Israel has rebuffed mounting calls for a cease-fire, saying any deal would require the release of all hostages held by Hamas. The U.S. is pushing for a humanitarian pause in fighting amid growing anger at the civilian suffering.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Turkey after surprise visits to the occupied West Bank and Iraq, while the CIA chief is in Israel as Washington seeks to prevent a broader Middle East war.

More than 1.5 million people have been displaced in Gaza, and health officials there say more than 10,000 have been killed. Israel says 1,400 people were killed in the Hamas attack, and 240 are still held hostage.

NBC News’ Richard Engel, Raf Sanchez, Erin McLaughlin, Josh Lederman, Matt Bradley, Hala Gorani, Jay Gray and Chantal Da Silva are reporting from the region.

59m ago / 11:25 AM CST

Hostage family representatives meet opposition leaders

Annemarie Bonner

Representatives of the families of the hostages held by Hamas met with the leaders of the opposition, including Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Ra’am party. The meeting, which took place in the Knesset, was also attended by the opposition chairman, Yair Lapid, and the ead of the Labor party, Merav Michaeli.

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1h ago / 11:22 AM CST

U.S. targets in Iraq and Syria were attacked at least 10 times since Thursday

Courtney Kube

Bases in Iraq and Syria with U.S. personnel have been attacked at least 10 times since Thursday, bringing the total number of attempted attacks on U.S. targets in the region since Oct. 17 to 38, according to three U.S. defense officials.

The officials say most of the attacks have come via one-way drones and rockets, and there have not been any new U.S. casualties or damage to infrastructure.

Most of the newest attacks occurred yesterday and today, according to U.S. officials.

At least 19 of the 38 attacks against U.S. targets have come since the U.S. launched retaliatory strikes on two Iranian-linked targets in Syria on Oct. 26.

Before they retaliated, U.S. and coalition forces had been attacked repeatedly in Iraq and Syria, according to defense officials.

The U.S. defines attacks as attempted strikes on U.S. facilities. Not all attempts actually reach the U.S. targets.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Defense Department press secretary, said on Oct. 24 that the groups conducting the attacks are supported by Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“We always reserve the right to defend ourselves, and we will never hesitate to take action when needed to protect our forces and our interests overseas,” he said.

6, 2023

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mariacallous · 2 months ago

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On May 20, International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan applied for arrest warrants for five atrocity crimes suspects in the Israel-Hamas war. They include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, and Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. Israel reportedly killed two other Hamas leaders whom Khan had charged—Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike in Gaza, and Ismail Haniyeh, in a bombing in Iran, both in July. Hamas and Israel have denounced the request for warrants.

Khan’s application is based on evidence collected since the October 7 terrorist attacks—when Hamas massacred about 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage—and the start of Israel’s retaliatory military action in Gaza. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since then, with hundreds of thousands of others displaced and facing starvation.

The investigation spans a decade, beginning in 2015 when the State of Palestine accepted the ICC’s jurisdiction over atrocity crimes (e.g., war crimes and crimes against humanity) in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) from June 13, 2014, onward. The State of Palestine, officially represented by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), has been a “nonmember observer state” at the United Nations since 2012. This designation allows Palestine to join treaties like the ICC’s Rome Statute. There are two rival governments in Palestine: the Palestinian Authority (PA)—which speaks for the PLO, governs the West Bank, and initiated the ICC probe—and Hamas in Gaza. Hamas was briefly a part of the PA, after its 2006 general election win in Gaza and the West Bank, but splintered off when Fatah, a rival faction, refused to recognize the election results.

Because Hamas militants are ICC member nationals, they are liable for prosecution for atrocities committed in either Israel or Palestine; Israeli personnel, as nonmember nationals, are only liable for atrocities committed in Palestine.

Whether or not they ultimately lead to arrests, warrants matter, and Hamas’s and Israel’s allies shouldn’t attack the ICC for its findings. Doing so undermines international law and jeopardizes international justice for Israeli and Palestinian victims of atrocity crimes.

What are the allegations?

Khan’s filing asserts that Sinwar and Deif are criminally responsible for atrocities including murder, hostage taking, torture, and sexual violence since at least October 7, while Netanyahu and Gallant are criminally responsible for civilian targeting, wilful killing, and using the starvation of civilians as a weapon of war, among other crimes in Gaza since at least October 8. The “at least” language is important: Khan is focused on the current war, but he is also examining a broader range of abuses (potentially including genocide by Hamas and/or Israel) over a longer time frame. The U.S. Department of Justice has separately filed criminal charges against Hamas leaders.

Are the judges taking a long time?

There is no set time for ICC judges to deliberate, but they are taking longer in this case than they did with the last high-profile arrest warrants. In 2023, the judges took just three weeks to grant warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and one of his deputies for the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.

The judges may be taking more time for several reasons, including the number of perpetrators and violations, and the many amicus curiae observations (or briefs filed by outside advocates) that states and other groups have submitted for consideration. The judges also may want to decide on all the warrants before making an announcement. Consider this hypothetical: if the judges issue warrants for Hamas leaders first and do so for Israeli leaders at a later date, they could face two types of backlash—first, for appearing to be biased against Palestinians and, second, for seeming to capitulate to pressure to include Israelis. There will be backlash no matter what, but backlash on one front seems better than backlash on two fronts.

Do arrest warrants matter?

Judges can take months to issue warrants but they almost always accept the prosecutor’s requests (at least those we know about—some requests are made under seal). Warrants don’t always result in arrests, to be sure—but they still matter. They hold symbolic value, marking the accused as international pariahs and acknowledging victims’ suffering. Just the possibility of warrants makes it harder for allies to continue lending military and diplomatic aid. Foreign governments, like the U.K., have in recent weeks withdrawn aid they think Israel could use to violate international law.

Warrants also mean ICC members—124 countries—have a legal obligation to arrest suspects who enter their territory (per Article 59 of the Rome Statute) and to cooperate with court proceedings (per Article 86). But countries don’t always comply.

For example, South Africa failed to arrest former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during a 2015 African Union summit in Johannesburg. But in 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa agreed to not have Putin attend a BRICS summit in Johannesburg. Putin had threatened to declare war if Ramaphosa’s government tried to arrest him, but ultimately, the two leaders avoided a standoff.

Putin has traveled little outside Russia since the arrest warrant and only to ICC nonmembers like China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan—until recently. ICC member Mongolia has drawn global criticism, including from the United States, for welcoming Putin to Ulaanbaatar on September 3.

What happens after arrest warrants are issued?

If warrants are issued, Hamas and Israeli leaders could dodge the court, like 20 other current defendants. They could also be arrested if they visit an ICC member country. Alternatively, they could surrender themselves, as did Uganda’s Dominic Ongwen (now in prison for atrocities he committed as a brigade commander in the Lord’s Resistance Army) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Bosco Ntaganda (now in prison for atrocities he committed as a leader of the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo).

At this point, remaining at large (scenario one) seems most likely. To be arrested by an ICC member country (scenario two), Israeli and Hamas leaders would first have to travel there. Only if the suspects were likely to face worse punishment at home would they consider voluntarily surrendering (scenario three).

The blowback

Israeli officials, U.S. President Joe Biden, and others have challenged what they see as a false moral equivalence in the charges against both Hamas and Israeli leaders. But the prosecutor’s job isn’t to make moral judgments; it’s to apply the law. This isn’t to say that the prosecutor isn’t political or doesn’t act strategically. For instance, the prosecutor’s office has in the past been accused of targeting offenders in African countries, ostensibly because the prosecutions seemed easier to conduct. (These claims are contested, however, even in Africa.) What matters most is that, within each country investigation, the prosecutor is even-handed.

Hamas enacted unspeakable violence on October 7 and militants should be held criminally accountable. But this doesn’t give Israel a blank check to commit atrocities to secure itself and bring the hostages home. Israeli personnel should also be held accountable.

Some commentators assert that warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant will make peace harder to achieve but others challenge the “peace versus justice” assumption underlying such claims. The ICC can make negotiations more complicated, but it doesn’t necessarily make negotiations less productive. Other commentators have proposed that the arrest warrant request could help end the war and encourage Israelis to oust Netanyahu’s government, which is very unpopular.

However, the Israeli government isn’t going down without a fight and has threatened to punish Palestinians if the ICC issues warrants. The United States has similarly threatened to withhold aid to Palestinians. But as international law expert Mark Kersten argues,

“There is no moral, legal or political justification for Israel’s allies punishing civilians for an investigation by the only credible, impartial and independent court investigating atrocities against Palestinian and Israeli victims of atrocity crimes.”

During his announcement, Khan made an oblique reference to attempted interference in his investigation and threatened legal action under Article 70 of the Rome Statute, which provides for fines and up to five years imprisonment for individuals who obstruct justice.

A week later, The Guardian reported that Israel has “deployed its intelligence agencies to surveil, hack, pressure, smear and allegedly threaten senior ICC staff in an effort to derail the court’s inquiries”—likely the actions Khan was referencing, though an Israeli spokesperson denied the allegations.

This wouldn’t be the first—or likely the last—time the ICC has faced intimidation. During the Trump administration, the United States levied sanctions against court officials, and it could do so again. Some lawmakers have warned, “Target Israel and we will target you.” But others have spoken out against such threats, including the White House.

Still, Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have called Khan’s actions “outrageous” and “shameful,” reinforcing the idea that the system is unfair. Israeli officials have gone a step further, accusing the ICC of antisemitic bias, echoing prior allegations of an anti-African bias.

These attacks are intended to undermine the ICC’s credibility and effectiveness—and they shouldn’t continue or be allowed to succeed. Opponents can instead offer legal arguments and evidence to challenge the court’s determinations. States that value the rule of law should make their case using the law—not ad hominem attacks, intimidation, or obstruction.

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usafphantom2 · 1 year ago

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AC-130J aircraft attacks militants in Iraq after first ballistic missile attack against U.S. positions

U.S. forces have suffered the first attack from a ballistic missile, in a series of 66 attacks in Iraq and Syria since October 17.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 11/22/2023 - 16:00 in Military, War Zone

In response to a ballistic missile attack on November 21 at the Al-Asad air base in Iraq by an Iranian-backed militant group, a U.S. military AC-130J Ghostrider retaliated quickly, targeting militia vehicles and personnel involved in the attack.

The attack, which caused non-serious injuries to U.S. and coalition forces and minor damage to the infrastructure, triggered the unplanned self-defense attack, the Pentagon's deputy press secretary said.

The Pentagon's deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, reported that the AC-130J attack aircraft was in the air during the ballistic missile attack, allowing a quick response. Singh emphasized the effectiveness of the retaliatory attack, resulting in deaths among the hostile forces.

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Singh revealed that this incident marked the first use of a ballistic missile in the continuous series of 66 attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria since October 17. Although three previous attacks were pre-planned and targeted specific facilities linked to militias affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, this recent response was improvised.

Open source trackers began to report seeing a Ghostrider flying over western Baghdad on the night of the attack. The fact that I was doing this with the transponder on was very peculiar.

Addressing the ongoing threat, Singh said: "These groups target our forces in both Iraq and Syria. We feel at this moment that we have taken the appropriate measures to decimate some of your facilities and some of your weapons. We always reserve the right to respond at a time and place of our choice."

Subsequently, the U.S. Central Command released a note in the "X": "On November 21, an AC-130 gunship faced individuals responsible for launching a missile attack against U.S. and Coalition personnel at Al Assad Air Base in Iraq. The hunt maintained the visual confirmation of individuals from the moment of launch to the moment of engagement. This attack resulted in several enemy casualties."

See below a video of the AC-130J Ghostrider in action, using all its cannons.

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The USAF states that the Ghostrider has been modified with the 'Precision Attack Package', which includes a mission management console, robust set of communications, two electro-optical/infrared sensors, advanced fire control equipment, precision-guided ammunition delivery capability, as well as 30 mm and 105 mm cannons.

His main missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance.

The AC-130J also provides ground forces with a direct fire platform that is persistent, suitable for urban operations and provides precision and low-yield ammunition against ground targets.

Tags: Military AviationLockheed Martin AC-130J GhostriderUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air ForceWar Zones - Syria

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Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.