tyb
>https://twitter.com/EzraACohen
Diggers 4 riggers!
What’s the story with Pence and the football! We’re they planning on Darn Kess?
They still can’t meme.
In a recent interview, President Joe Biden said the US will not return to the JCPOA, or Iran nuclear deal, until Iran stops enriching uranium first. A "US senior official" clarified the remarks, repeating a campaign line that Iran has to "stop enriching beyond the limits of the JCPOA" — not "all" enrichment.
Understandably, diplomacy advocates were concerned by Biden's initial remarks, but there are good reasons to remain hopeful. The public posturing is par for the course. President Barack Obama did the same, before approving secret talks in Oman in 2013 that laid the groundwork for the deal.
While public announcements remain important, the real scrutiny should be directed at substantive moves — some of which are happening behind the scenes. In this regard, Biden has made a number of positive moves signaling his desire to de-escalate away from the crisis the Trump administration created with Iran, return to the Iran deal, and ultimately avoid another endless war in the Middle East.
First, Biden quickly moved an aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz, out of the Persian Gulf in an early signal to Iran that he desires lower tensions.
In mid-January, Iran conducted its fifth military drill in two weeks, while the Trump administration sent the USS Nimitz, along with multiple B-52 flights, to the region as a threat to Iran. Between the Trump administration's military threats and Iran's increasing stockpile of uranium, tensions were high and speculation that Trump might order a strike on Iran churned until his last days in office.
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin "believes that we have a robust presence in the Middle East" and therefore didn't need to send any provocative signals to Iran.
The merits of having a "robust presence" in the region deserve their own scrutiny, but in this case avoiding dramatic displays is meaningful, even if more routine military activity in the Persian Gulf continues.
Second, the Biden administration suspended offensive arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE and reversed the decision to place Houthis on the official terrorism designation list. The suspension came in the context of Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling out Saudi Arabia for "contributing" to the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world today."
While these actions were done in the context of the Biden administration ending US support for the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen, they do send a signal the US is hoping to have a more balanced approach to the region.
Iran Courts China, Russia As New Nuclear Deal With 'Declining' U.S. Stalls
BY DAVID BRENNAN ON 2/12/21 Newsweek
Iranian officials are continuing to build stronger ties with Russia and China as Tehran faces what could be a prolonged standoff with President Joe Biden over any possible revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal.
Biden is demanding that Iran scale back its nuclear program in line with JCPOA restrictions before American sanctions are lifted. However, Iranian leaders have said they will not return to compliance until the U.S. eases sanctions and does the same.
Tehran is casting around for allies to help offset American pressure, along with the threat from regional U.S. allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia. International sanctions crippled Iran's economy before the signing of the JCPOA in 2015, and since former President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the deal in 2018 American sanctions have done so again.
The other signatories of the deal—Russia, China, Germany, France and the U.K.—have remained committed to the agreement, though Iranian leaders have repeatedly chastised the Europeans for failing to live up to their commitments for fear of American sanctions.
Russia and China have repeatedly spoken out against Trump's withdrawal from the deal, and have urged Biden to recommit to the accord with no conditions. In recent weeks, Tehran has been lauding ties with both countries as the nuclear issue remains stalled.
The coronavirus pandemic has been punishing for Iran, both in economic and human terms. Tehran has repeatedly complained that American sanctions are hindering its anti-virus efforts, though leaders have also rebuffed American offers of help and banned the import of Western vaccines.
https://www.newsweek.com/iran-courts-china-russia-new-nuclear-deal-declining-us-stalls-1568880%3famp=1
Eyes on. I share skepticism of this theory but there are oddities that make me wonder.
He’s a strange nut. I think he’s keeping his distance on purpose. He doesn’t want to fan any rumor he’s 17.,,,
They look harmless but they are dangerous in herds.
Marry and be happy.
>12921475
It was sad.
Welp, anons, the witches don’t like the generals of Myanmar stepping up for fair elections.
***
Otherworldly forces are displeased with the generals behind Myanmar's coup, according to the ornately dressed spirit mediums joining street protests to denounce the country's sudden turn back to army rule.
A group of the clairvoyants this week marched alongside civil servants, garment factory workers and students in the commercial capital Yangon to call for the release of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
They channel the 37 great "nats" — or deities — venerated in Myanmar, a Buddhist-majority country where animist worship and superstitious beliefs are part of everyday life for some.
"Nats do not want military rule," insisted Achaintan Man Gay Oo, 48. "They also want the release of Mother Suu."
It has become apparent to the mediums that the spirits are "unhappy" with the sudden end to Myanmar's nascent democracy, the 48-year-old told AFP.
Read | Myanmar army tightens laws on overnight guests as police hunt protesters
"Their withered faces show the hints of their dissatisfaction," she added.
The presence of Achaintan Man Gay Oo and other mediums among anti-coup protesters may seem little more than a curiosity from outside the country.
But Myanmar's military top brass have at times clamped down on spiritual practices led by popular soothsayers, mediums and sorcerers.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.deccanherald.com/amp/international/world-news-politics/myanmar-spirit-mediums-take-aim-at-military-coup-951058.html
>THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK
= superstitious fear porn pushed for political manipulation by supposed “Scientists”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-navalny-protests-ahead/2021/02/12/ab08126e-6ad3-11eb-a66e-e27046e9e898_story.html
Russia’s opposition is regrouping for a spring offensive. Here is why.
MOSCOW — Russia's opposition has gone into what it calls a strategic pause.
The decision came after more than 10,000 people were detained in back-to-back weekends of mass street protests throughout the country demanding the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Rather than attempt to keep the protest momentum going now — and take expected further blows from security forces — Navalny’s camp decided to regroup. Supporters were asked to conserve their energy, with an eye toward returning to the streets in spring and trying to back candidates in September parliamentary elections to challenge the grip of President Vladimir Putin’s governing party.
Watch out for FF.