Statement from Senate Foreign Relations Chairman excoriating the Biden administration’s decision to waive sanctions on the Russian-owned company and the Putin crony in charge of Nord Stream 2:

https://twitter.com/jonathanvswan/status/1395125057484206084

CHAIRMAN MENENDEZ STATEMENT ON STATE DEPARTMENT’S NORD STREAM 2 REPORT

WASHINGTON – Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued the following statement after Congress received a mandatory report from the State Department regarding entities involved in sanctionable activity by the builders of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Citing U.S. national security interests, the Biden Administration announced it would waive mandatory sanctions on the company Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO Matthias Warnig.

“I am opposed to the decision by the Biden Administration to waive sanctions on NS2 AG and Matthias Warnig. I urge the administration to rip off the Band-Aid, lift these waivers and move forward with the congressionally mandated sanctions. The administration has said that the pipeline is a bad idea and that it is a Russian malign influence project. I share that sentiment, but fail to see how today’s decision will advance U.S. efforts to counter Russian aggression in Europe.

“If the administration maintains these waivers, I have several questions. First, what does the administration now expect from Germany after having made this significant concession to exercise the waiver? Will Berlin strengthen its support for Ukraine in the Normandy Format? Will it provide additional assistance to Kyiv in its struggle against Russian aggression? Also, what will the administration do to bolster our relationship with Ukraine?

“This decision has created uncertainty in many corners of Europe and I expect to hear very soon from the administration on its plans moving forward. I believe President Biden should do everything possible to accomplish what the Trump administration failed to do for four years: stop the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline for good.”

https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/chair/release/chairman-menendez-statement-on-state-departments-nord-stream-2-report-

Rudy W. Giuliani

NEW PODCAST →

Joe Biden wants to give ANOTHER BILLION to a TERRORIST State?

The latest episode of

Rudy Giuliani's Common Sense | Ep. 138

May 19, 2021

45:54 minutes

https://youtu.be/S-DMSqjOyjA

11:01 AM · May 20, 2021

https://twitter.com/RudyGiuliani/status/1395394351111475209

Israel unleashes strikes as expectations for truce rise

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel unleashed another wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Thursday, killing at least one Palestinian and wounding several, and Hamas fired more rockets, even as expectations rose that a cease-fire could be coming.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back against calls from the U.S. to wind down the Gaza offensive, appearing determined to inflict maximum damage on Hamas in a war that could help save his political career. Still, officials close to the negotiations say they expect a truce to be announced in the next 24 hours.

In another possible sign of progress, Netanyahu scheduled a meeting later Thursday with his Security Cabinet, where the issue of a cease-fire was likely to be debated.

…

https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-middle-east-israel-palestinian-conflict-caac81bc36fe9be67ac2f7c27000c74b

EXPLAINER: How did Hamas grow its arsenal to strike Israel?

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — In this fourth war between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, the Islamic militant group has fired more than 4,000 rockets at Israel, some hitting deeper in Israeli territory and with greater accuracy than ever before.

The unprecedented barrages reaching as far north as the seaside metropolis of Tel Aviv, coupled with drone launches and even an attempted submarine attack, have put on vivid display a homegrown arsenal that has only expanded despite the choke hold of a 14-year Israeli-Egyptian blockade.

“The magnitude of (Hamas) bombing is much bigger and the precision is much better in this conflict,” said Mkhaimar Abusada, a professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City. “It’s shocking what they’ve been able to do under siege.”

Israel has argued that the blockade — which has caused severe hardship for more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza — is essential for preventing a Hamas arms build-up and cannot be lifted.

Here’s a look at how, under intense surveillance and tight restrictions, Hamas managed to amass its cache.

… (lots to read at link)

“Hamas is not aiming for the military destruction of Israel. Ultimately, the rockets are meant to build leverage and rewrite the rules of the game,” Hinz said. “It’s psychological.”

https://apnews.com/article/hamas-israel-africa-middle-east-business-4c50a826b5f4772f44a7c758aa229ae2

>>13709879

>Shouldn't we be connecting the dots?

better to use logic and think critically.

>>13709763

>Common Sense | Ep. 138

We are real at WAR with IRAN.

>>13710074

really

>>13710346

http://www.prisonplanet.com/paul-blasts-bernanke-federal-reserve-delivered-this-crisis-to-us.html