1 Jun, 2023 19:35

Ukraine-bound US weapons weren’t ready for combat – watchdog

The Pentagon’s inspector general has found that equipment stockpiled in Kuwait hadn’t been properly maintained

Some of the weaponry that the US military provided to Ukraine to help battle Russian forces wasn’t ready for combat – leading to delays in deployment – because it hadn’t been properly maintained, the Pentagon’s inspector general has found.

Theweapons in question had been prepositioned in Kuwait, one of seven such stockpiles around the world, andrequired repairsbefore they could be sent to Ukraine, the US Department of Defense (DOD) inspector general said in a report issued last week. “We identified issues that resulted in unanticipated maintenance, repairs, and extended lead times to ensure the readiness of the military equipment selected to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

The US military used its so-called drawdown authority dozens of times last year to provide more than $18.3 billion worth of stockpiled weapons and ammunition to Kiev. The aid was drawn from stashes called army prepositioned stock, or APS, which are supposed to be kept ready for immediate use in case of emergencies.

In the case of the Kuwait-based gear that was designated for Ukraine,all six M777 howitzers and 25 of the 29 M1167 armored vehicles weren’t “mission-ready,” according to the inspector general’s report. Repairs were required before the US European Command could send the equipment to Ukraine.

In some cases, a contractor had to strip parts from other equipment to meet a deadline for making repairs to the Ukraine-bound gear, leaving the remaining stock unprepared for use. The IG recommended that the US Army beef up its inspection procedures and factor in the amount of lead time required when tapping APS stockpiles for Kiev.

The audit on which the report was based is still ongoing; however, the Pentagon watchdog announced its preliminary findings on concern that “issues with poor maintenance and lax oversight” could lead to future delays of weapons shipments to Ukraine. “In addition, if US forces needed this equipment, they would have encountered the same challenges,” the report said. (Maybe they can assign the trans people to this duty)

The US and its allies have committed nearly $65 billion worth of military aid to Ukraine since the conflict with Russia began in February 2022, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said last week.

https://www.rt.com/news/577317-ukraine-bound-us-weapons-unprepared-ig-says/

1 Jun, 2023 17:30

US defense chief sounds alarm over China row

(Gorilla king warns the other gorillas, they have a problem)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has cautioned that an incident could “spin out of control” because communication has broken down

Pentagon chiefLloyd Austin has lamented a breakdownin US-Chinese defense relations, warning that the absence of communication between leaders of the two countries adds to the risk of an incident escalating into a more dangerous geopolitical conflict.

“You’ve heard me talk a number of times about the importance of countries with large, with significant capabilities being able to talk to each other so you can manage crises and prevent things from spiraling out of control unnecessarily,” Austin told reporters on Thursday in Tokyo, following a meeting with Japanese Minister of Defense Yasukazu Hamada. (Why is he telling this to reporters)

Austin made his comments two days after the US Indo-Pacific Command accused a Chinese pilot of nearly causing a midair collision by buzzing his fighter jet in front of an American reconnaissance plane last week over the South China Sea. Beijing blamed the US for the incident and demanded that Washington stop flying spy planes in the region, saying the flights are “dangerous provocations.”

Austin warned that an inability to discuss such conflicts makes them more dangerous. “As we take a look at some of the things that China is doing in the international airspace in the region and international waterways – you know, the provocative intercepts of our aircraft and also our allies’ aircraft – that’s very concerning. And we would hope that they would alter their actions. But since they haven’t yet, I’m concerned about, at some point, having an incident that could very, very quickly spiral out of control.”

China cut off defense and climate ties with Washington last August, citing alleged meddling by US officials in Taiwan. Just this week, Beijing declined Washington’s request for a meeting between Austin and his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, on the sidelines of a security summit that’s scheduled to begin on Friday in Singapore.

Asked about the decision, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said US officials must “earnestly respect” China’s sovereignty and security interests. Responsibility for ongoing tensions between the countries “lies entirely with the US side,” she added.

Austin called the refusal to grant a meeting “unfortunate” and said he would “welcome any opportunity to engage” with Chinese leaders.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told his defense chiefs on Tuesday that they must prepare for “worst-case and extreme scenarios,” as well as “choppy waters and even dangerous storms,” because Beijing faces increasingly difficult and complex security challenges.

https://www.rt.com/news/577311-pentagon-chiefs-warns-over-china-row/

Mike Pence Will Launch 2024 GOP Nomination Effort From Des Moines Iowa, June 7th

May 31, 2023 | Sundance

According to NBC and confirmed by Politico, former Indiana Governor Mike Pence is scheduled to launch his bid for the GOP nomination in Iowa on June 7th.

Oddly, and speaking to the framework of the larger GOPe operation,Pence isn’t making his announcement in his home state; instead, he is going to launch his campaign during a speech in Des Moines, Iowa.

Mike Pence is a well-known name to voters having previously been vice-president to Donald Trump, and he is currently polling around 3% support according to Monmouth.

In his biggest role as Vice-President, Mike Pence was in charge of the federal COVID-19 emergency response as head of the White House COVID taskforce in 2020.

Pence is a well-known traditional Republican who identifieswith voters primarily on social issues. Pence will make an appeal to the evangelical community in Iowa and is organized in that effort byGOP brand consultant Chip Saltsman, the architect of former Gov. Mike Huckabee’s 2008 Iowa caucuses victory.

(Via NBC) – Mike Pence plans to enter the GOP presidential nomination fray June 7 with a campaign video and a kickoff speech in Des Moines, Iowa, according to a person familiar with his launch schedule.

The former vice president, a longtime advocate of the priorities of traditional conservatives on social and economic issues, will join the race at a time when his onetime boss, former President Donald Trump, claims a majority in most national polls and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is in a clear second place.

Redefining himself to Republican voters, most of whom know him primarily as Trump’s vice president, will be a challenge.

But the Indiana-bred Pence views his fellow Midwesterners in the Iowa GOP, and their first-in-the-nation caucuses, as a hospitable home for his brand of politics. Typically, the Iowa caucuses play a winnowing role in the nomination fight, providing rocket fuel to a handful of candidates while burying the hopes of the rest.

“We view this race as absolutely wide open, and Iowa is really going to solidify itself as the pivotal player,” the person familiar with Pence’s plans said. “It’s a place that values Mike Pence’s principles — traditional conservative principles — deep-rooted faith and uncommon character.” (read more)

Pence’s job, on behalf of the Sea Island group, will be to present an opticalcontrast to the unacceptable vulgarian Trump, while Chris Christie acts as the attack dog and the rest of the field protect Ron DeSantis fromThe Great Godzilla MAGA King.

The team effort is increasingly transparent, and the debate hosts, like Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News, are proactively positioning to shape the staged narrative. At this point inthe dynamic, it is all rather shallow and obvious; however, in approved Republican operations – they never look outside the cloister.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2023/05/31/mike-pence-will-launch-2024-gop-nomination-effort-from-des-moines-iowa-june-7th/

Project Veritas Sues James O’Keefe Because He Left After They Fired Him – Demand Injunction to Stop O’Keefe From Working

May 31, 2023 | Sundance

Apparently, when the Project Veritas board of directors fired founder and CEO James O’Keefe,they didn’t expect the result to be a collapse in their operational business model. As the kids would say, Veritas f**ked around and found out.

Stunningly, Project Veritas is now suing James O’Keefe, the man they fired, for having the audacity to launch O’Keefe Media Group (OMG), and they aredemanding a court order to stop O’Keefe from earning a living. [FULL pdf HERE]

According to the lawsuit, O’Keefe will not stop doing the expose’ journalism and activism that O’Keefe is known for. Project Veritas is not happy, because many of the donors and supporters have left PV to follow James O’Keefe at OMG.

Veritas demands an injunction against O’Keefe, which may stop people -workers and donors- from leaving PV to join him. The lawsuit is a little extreme in the way it is written as an effort to convince a civil jury to find in their favor. [READ HERE]

Project Veritas sounds like they are an organization full of professional Republicans.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2023/05/31/project-veritas-sues-james-okeefe-because-he-left-after-they-fired-him-demand-injunction-to-stop-okeefe-from-working/

(Personally I think Project Veritas should have let this thing go, because they weren’t being hated or talked about, but because they lost a lot of funding and business and are pissed off they just couldn’t think it through. Bad Move PV, you will lose lot more funding now!)

>>18936751

This is hilarious, the first paragraph of the lawsuit:

Being known as the founder of an organization does not entitle that person to run amok and put his own interests ahead of that organization. Defendant James O’Keefe (“O’Keefe”) failed in his duties to Plaintiff, Project Veritas, causing it serious and significant damage. (PV fired him, his personal interests are starting a new business, and he no longer has responsibility to continue to support PV. This sounds like they are trying to sue him for prior actions, but didn't do so at that time, how are they going to hold him accountable to always support PV? Weird strategy there! I wonder if James has a counter suit ready?)

O’Keefe must be held accountable, as must the organization O’Keefe created, (they are saying he can't be in competition to PV? That's a novel approach) Defendant Transparency 1, LLC d/b/a O’Keefe Media Group (“OMG”) for suborning his violations.

Similarly, two individuals formerly affiliated with Plaintiffs, Defendants RC Maxwell (“Maxwell”) and Anthony Iatropoulos (“Iatropoulos”) breached their own contracts with Plaintiffs for the benefit of OMG. Plaintiffs Project Veritas and Project Veritas Action Fund (together “Project Veritas” or “Plaintiffs”) by their attorneys, allege as follows:

(They don't accuse James of violating their contract, they didn't mention it above why are they including him in this language?)

PN>>18936172 Zelensky Honored with NATO Award Shortly After Bakhmut’s Defeat

Anons you know what they are doing right?This is normalizing failures,such as Bidan being elected, Feddermen, Hobbs now it's Zelensky! They praise failures and totally incompetent leaders and the world's expectation of exceptionalism in leadership is gone. They will never put up another competent leader or front man again. Demoralization Psyop, intentionally crazy making by thinking people! Acceptance for the retards they have created on the left.

Zelensky is getting an award for sending close to 350,000+ Ukrainians to die in the war, he knew along with the West that couldn't have won, that's why he said "we will fight to the last Ukrainian. Him getting this award is like getting an award for wanting to fight and win, but not really doing anything to make it happen, the the achievement awards at a child's baseball game for effort or just showing up.

This strategy is intentional, just like the choosing the incompetent Prime Minister's in UK, etc. people can never expect world renown historical leaders again, they will just need to make do with what we give you.

"You will own nothing and be happy"!

"You will be ruled by useful idiots that are tyrants and be happy, until we kill you off"!

"Zelensky Honored with NATO Award Shortly After Bakhmut’s Defeat

Amid heavy losses for Kiev on the battlefield, Atlantic Council Chairman John F.W. Rogers and President and CEO Frederick Kempe awarded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the Atlantic Council’s highest honor, the Global Citizen Award, which is given to individuals whoallegedly make significant contributions to improving the state of the world".

What to fuck did he do to improve the state of the world?

>>18936709

Here's the video

>>18937060

10% for JAG fag

>>18937059

he was pointing at the wire idiots, FOX is all in

1 Jun, 2023 20:09

Musk says decision to cancel gender film a ‘mistake’

(Musk is lying, he was and is overruled all the time)

Twitter had earlier canceled a planned stream of 'What Is a Woman?' for ‘misgendering’ its subjects

Twitter’s decision to cancel an agreement with conservative media outlet Daily Wire to stream its gender-critical documentary ‘What Is A Woman?’was an employee mistake, the platform’s CEO Elon Musk claimed on Thursday amid thousands of outraged tweets.

“This was a mistake by many people at Twitter. It is definitely allowed,” Musk tweeted in response to a thread by Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing, referring to the film’s alleged sins of “misgendering.” Musk added that he personally chose to respect people's pronouns but did not think failing to do so should be cause for violence or censorship.

While the billionaire did not elaborate on where in the decision-making chain things had gone awry, he explained that using the incorrect pronoun to address someone was “at most rude and certainly breaks no laws.”

After initially agreeing to stream ‘What is a Woman?’ for free for 24 hours to celebrate one year since its premiere and even offering the Daily Wire a customized promotional package tailored to its needs – an agreement that Boreing claimed was sealed with a signed agreement – Twitter staff asked to see the film, supposedly to understand what parts were likely to “trigger” users so as to better prepare their response.

Upon watching the film,Twitter staff allegedly forbid the Daily Wire from purchasing the package it had initially offered, promising to limit the film’s reach and label it “hateful conduct” because of two instances of “misgendering.” In one scene, a father refers to his 14-year-old female-born offspring as “her,” and in the other, a store owner uses the “wrong” pronoun during an altercation with a trans person.

When reminded that they had removed “misgendering” from their content policy, Twitter staff countered that it was still implicitly included under the heading of “abuse and harassment.” The platform reportedly offered the Daily Wire the chance to edit the offending scenes out of the film, which filmmaker Matt Walsh declined to do.

Despite Musk’s insistence the decision had been a mistake, Boreing pointed out that Walsh’s attempts to postclips of the two scenes were still flagged as “hateful conduct.” The share functions on both posts remained disabled as of Thursday afternoon. Walsh also accused the platform of manually removing ‘What Is a Woman?’ from the trending topics list.

Musk’s claims of free-speech absolutism have come under scrutiny in recent weeks following the announcement that NBC Universal advertising chief and World Economic Forum exec Linda Yaccarino would be taking over as Twitter’s CEO.The platform has also significantly increased its compliance with government content takedown requests, from 50% pre-Musk to 80% since his acquisition.

https://www.rt.com/news/577319-musk-misgendering-woman-film-censorship/

>>18937044

Thank you anon!

>>18937121

Hey the cheering got a lot louder when he fell, listen to it!

GOOD NEWS

1 Jun, 2023 22:04

Most US voters believe there are only two genders – poll

A new survey has shown that most Americans, including Democrats, think sex-change treatments for minors should be banned

A new poll has shown that the vast majority of US voters, including Democrats, hasn’t bought into the transgender ideology championed by corporate America and legacy media outlets.

More than seven in ten (71%) US adults agree with the statement that “there are two genders, male and female,” according to a Rasmussen

Reports poll released on Thursday. The survey suggested, too, that left-wing politicians are out of step with their voters,as 67% of Democrats concur that male and female are the only genders. In fact, only 14% of Democrats strongly disagree with the statement.

There’s also strong bipartisan support for laws prohibiting transgender treatment for minors, including hormone therapy and sex-change surgeries.

The poll showed that 59% of Americans favor bans on hormone therapy for children, up from 52% in February, and 62% believe surgical interventions should be outlawed.

A majority of Democrats agrees that minors shouldn’t have access to sex-change treatments, Rasmussen said.Nearly three in four US voters (74%) oppose allowing schools or teachers to counsel children on sexual identity without parental consent.

At least 18 US states have passed laws or enacted policies restricting transgender treatments for minors, a trend decried by Democrat politicians as bigoted and harmful to children.

“I’ve met a lot of parents of trans kids in the past couple of months who have told me these devastating stories, whether they’re in Texas or Oklahoma or wherever they are, saying how they now have to seriously consider leaving their state to protect their child,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in May. “That’s something that we have to call out and continue to be very clear about. These are kids. These are our kids. They belong to all of us.”

The release of Rasmussen’s poll coincided with the beginning of Pride Month, a celebration of LGBTQ culture and activism promoted by major corporations. Conservatives have pushed back against Pride-themed messaging this year, launching financially devastating boycotts.

For instance, US retailer Target has lost about $13 billion in market value over the past two weeks amid public outcry over its marketing of Pride merchandise for children. Sales of Bud Light beer have tumbled nearly 30% on consumer revolt over the brand’s marketing promotion with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Mark Mitchell, head pollster at Rasmussen, said backlash to corporate messaging on the issue could be the driving force behind rising support for restrictions on transgender treatments for children. “That would be pretty ironic if their little publicity stunt is what essentially caused a massive 13-point swing in support in favor of laws banning transgender treatment.”

https://www.rt.com/news/577320-rasmussen-poll-gender-identity/