18 Oct, 2023 10:20

ATACMS deliveries will prolong Ukraine’s agony – Putin

The Russian president stated that such moves are another mistake by the US and will only extend the conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned US deliveries of ATACMS long-range missiles to Ukraine’s forces when speaking to the press in Beijing on Wednesday. Putin argued that Moscow would still be able to repel such attacks, making it yet another mistake on Washington’s part.

“We, of course, will be able to repel these attacks,” Putin said, suggesting the US missiles will ultimately fail to have a significant impact on the situation on the battlefield. “What’s most important isthat [these deliveries], fundamentally, won’t be able to change the situationon the contact line at all. We can say this for sure,” Putin emphasized.

He also added that the ATACMS delivered will not be able to help Ukraine turn the tide on the battlefield and that “there is nothing good for Ukraine in this sense. It just prolongs the agony.”

“This is yet another mistake on the part of the United States,” Putin claimed, explaining that had Washington refrained from sending the missiles, it could have later positioned itself as the “good guy” for its attempts to prevent needless casualties. “But they did it, and there will be no result. That’s why it’s a mistake,”Putin said.

Putin’s comments came after the New York Times reported that theUS had secretly transferred some 20 ATACMS missilesto Ukraine under the condition that Kiev would not use them against targets on Russian territory.

In his remarks, the Russian leader also admitted that these deliveries would nevertheless cause harm and create additional risks for Russia.

However, themost significant error, according to the Russian leader, is that the US is becoming more and more personally involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and it is becoming increasingly obvious.“Let no one try to claim that they didn’t have a hand in this. We believe that they have,” Putin said.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zeelsnky personally thanked the US and President Joe Biden for supplying Kiev’s forces with long-range ATACMS missiles. That’s as the Ukrainian military issued a statement claiming that the US-made missiles were used for the first time to strike Russian airfields and helicopters in the Lugansk and Zaporozhye regions.

https://www.rt.com/russia/585240-putin-atamcs-ukraine-conflict/

Israel releases 'audio of Hamas operatives discussing failed rocket launch' and video showing missile exploding in the sky moments before blast killed hundreds at Gaza hospital

Israel released a recording of alleged Hamas members discussing the incident

The IDF also shared a clip they claimed showed a rocket misfiring in the night sky

A missile is seen to change its flight path and flame out, breaking up over Gaza

Israel's Defence Forces have released a slew of evidence they claim proves an overnight explosion at a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds of people was caused by a misfiring rocket launched by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

In an audio clip procured by Israeli military intelligence, two alleged Hamas terrorists can be heard discussing the explosion and confirming the rocket came from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) - an independent jihadist group.

'They are saying (the rocket) belongs to Palestinian Islamic Jihad. It's from us?' one alleged Hamas member asks in the clip provided by Israel's military intelligence.

'It looks like it,' the other responded. 'It misfired and fell on them… God bless - couldn't it have found another place to explode?'

The alleged recording came after Israeli officials released a video of the moment a rocket purportedly streaking towards Israel from Gaza appears to suffer a problem and suddenly changes course before flaming out.

In the darkness, it is not clear whether the rocket broke apart or simply lost its trajectory.

But moments later, a pair of explosions erupt in the city below - the result of what Israel claims was the rocket falling back to Earth and striking the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City.

'This is the tragic result of firing rockets from densely populated neighborhoods,' the IDF said.

And finally, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari showed a series of infrared images, satellite photos and intelligence documents he said proved the damage caused at the hospital could not possibly have come from an Israeli strike.

He explained the images showed there was no structural damage to buildings around the Al-Ahli hospital, no craters in the adjacent car park, and no debris consistent with an air strike, implying a direct hit from an Israeli missile would have caused far more destruction.

'The walls stay intact. There are no craters in the parking lot. These are the characteristics that show it was not an aerial munition that hit the parking lot,' he concluded.

He also pointed out images of what he claimed was shrapnel on the roof of nearby buildings, suggesting the rocket fell apart in the air and sprayed its detritus across a larger area.

Israel releases 'audio of Hamas discussing failed rocket launch'…

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12643229/Israel-blast-Gaza-hospital-Palestine-video-rocket-misfire.html

Republican donors are REFUSING to give money to Trump's rivals because they don't believe they can win: 'The cavalry's not coming'

By Katelyn Caralle, 18 Oct 2023

Republican megadonors aren't flocking to back candidates against former President Donald Trump for 2024 like they did in droves in 2016

Many are resigned that Trump will be the 2024 GOP nominee

Trump has the largest small donor money by far and the largest war chest

It's becoming increasingly clear that Republican megadonors aren't going to swoop in to save the flurry of struggling campaigns vying to take Donald Trump's spot as the GOPpresidential nominee in 2024.

In 2016, billionaire business leaders blew tens of millions of dollars trying to stop Trump from winning the nomination by backing competitors like Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz.

They seem less hyped to do it again this time around as the former president remains the far frontrunner with just three months until the primary elections kick off.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haleyand former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have all failed to earn the same buy-in from billionaires who kept some 2016 campaigns alive against Trump.

One person who works closely with several donors in the financial industry predicted their money would largely be absent from the presidential race, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Instead, the source notes, big GOP donor money might flow toward an effort to win Republican control of the Senate.

Financial disclosures filed over the weekend also show that in the third quarter of this year, Trump's campaign still far out-raised his competitors – bringing in $24.5 million between July 1 and September 30 from small donors.

DeSantis was the next highest earner at $11 million.

These figures prove that outside groups, which are able to funnel to candidates more than the maximum $3,300 single donor cap, is key if any candidates want a shot at defeating Trump.

Billionaire businessmen Paul Singer, Ken Griffin, Joe Ricketts and Stephen Schwarzman, among other wealthy donors, were able to pour millions to candidates through their super PACs.

Trump, it seems, was able to keep his fundraising so far ahead of his competitors by using the boost over the last three months of his first-ever jailhouse mugshot amid his litany of legal woes.

The ex-President nowhas a war chest of $37.5 million - about the same as all the other Republican candidates put together.

The huge cash advantage will allow him to flood the airwaves with adverts in Iowa and New Hampshire , the first states to vote in the race next year, as he seeks to knock out his opponents early.

Sen. Scott has the second biggest amount of cash to spend with $13.3 million.

DeSantis, Trumps' closest rival in the polls, has $12.3 million in the bank, Haley has $11.6 million and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy $4.2 million….

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12641611/Republican-donors-REFUSING-money-Trumps-rivals-dont-believe-win-cavalrys-not-coming.html

Jordan and Egypt Cancel Summit With Joe Biden

October 17, 2023 | Sundance |

Joe Biden was literally in the air, flying toward the region when Jordan’s King Abdullah just cancelled the summit between Egyptian President al-Sisi, Abdullah and Biden. This is more than a little sunlight on whoAbdullah was talking about earlier when he said, “the usual suspects were trying to create Defacto issues on the ground.”

(Reuters) Jordan has cancelled a summit it was to host in Amman on Wednesday with U.S. President Joe Biden and the Egyptian and Palestinian leaders to discuss Gaza, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said. (link)

Now tell me again, why Joe Biden is going to Israel? What strategic value is within this visit?

Yesterday I provided some of my own thoughts on the motives. “The people behind Joe Biden are sending him to Israel for (1) part of a rebranding effort; and (2) to impede Netanyahu and buy time for Hamas.”

Today, Caroline Glick affirms my perspective and also gives some troubling information about: (a) the White House demanding an invitation; and(b) Anthony Blinken threatening Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu to hold back the ground invasion or the U.S. will not allowmunitions and bombs Israel needs for resupply. WATCH:

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2023/10/17/jordan-and-egypt-cancel-summit-with-joe-biden/

https://youtu.be/9xwPA57xOXA

European Commission Announces Triple Funding for Palestinian/Hamas Effort!

October 17, 2023 | Sundance |

EU President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged to provide the Palestinian/Hamas effort with $50 million in supplemental assistance to support the resistance effort against Israeli retaliation.

EU Announcement – “President Ursula von der Leyen spoke to the Secretary General of the UN António Guterres this afternoon, in the context of her on-going contacts with regional leaders.

Following this call, she said: “The Commission will immediately increase the current humanitarian aid envelope foreseen for Gaza by 50 million euros. This will bring the total to over 75 million euros. We will continue our close cooperation with the UN and its agencies to ensure that this aid reaches those in need in the Gaza strip. The Commission supports Israel’s right to defend itself against the Hamas terrorists, in full respect of international humanitarian law. We are working hard to ensure that innocent civilians in Gaza are provided support in this context.”

Commissioner Lenarčič said: “The Commission is doing everything in its power to provide humanitarian support to civilians in the Gaza strip. This tripling of EU humanitarian assistance will help ensure that civilians in Gaza can be provided with the basic necessities required. It is essential that safe and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid is ensured.” (Read more)

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2023/10/17/european-commission-announces-triple-funding-for-palestinian-hamas-effort/

17 OCT, 07:08

Russia unveils ground-based combat robots fighting in Ukraine operation

According to the tech firm, all the three robotic vehicles are on display for the first time

MOSCOW, October 17. /TASS/. The ground-based BR-2 robotic vehicle with a flexibly mounted machine-gun and Minyor BR-1 minelaying equipment were unveiled at the Interpolitex 2023 international security show in Moscow, the Gran Scientific and Production Association told TASS on Tuesday.

The BRG-1 robotic vehicle designed to evacuate casualties and deliver cargo was also unveiled at the security show, it said.

"All the three robotic vehicles are on display for the first time. The systems are being successfully employed in the zone of the special military operation and the feedback is positive. In all, about 60 of our combat robots are being employed in the zone of the special military operation. The platforms are operated with a joystick. Russian service members learn how to operate them very quickly," the tech firm said.

The BR-2 robotized platform is employed by Russian assault teams in the special military operation in Ukraine. Russian troops also use the Minyor BR-1 robotic vehicle for remote-controlled minelaying.

The Interpolitex 2023 international security show is running in Moscow on October 17-19.

https://tass.com/defense/1692007

Trump Says Letitia James Has ‘Defrauded The Public,’ Rips $18 Million Mar-A-Lago Valuation

Harold HutchisonOctober 17, 2023 7:06 PM ET

Former President Donald Trump blasted Democratic Attorney General Letitia James of New York over his civil trial, accusing her of “defrauding the public.”

Judge Arthur F. Engoron ruled that Trump was liable for fraud on Sept. 26, and ordered that several business licenses Trump held were to be rescinded; an executive for Deutsche Bank testified on Tuesday that the loans were a “good credit decision,” according to ABC News. “As you know, the head of Deutsche Bank recently testified, just testified, and he said that Trump did nothing wrong,” Trump told members of the press during a break in the trial.

“We made a loan, we were very happy with the loan, we got paid back, there was nothing false.It was a very good transaction and we would do it again. He was a very powerful witness, and we have other executives coming in from banks that will say the same thing.”

During her 2018 campaign for attorney general, James made multiple statementsabout targeting Trump with legal action and called him an “illegitimate” president.

“This is a disgraceful situation. This is an attorney general, Letitia, that went out and campaigned on, ‘I will get Trump no matter what. I will get Trump. I promise I’ll get him,’” Trump continued. “We have new tapes out there now that have come out since the trial because people took tapes of her because they couldn’t believe her ranting and raving like a lunatic. But this is the attorney general of New York state, Letitia James, and she shouldn’t be allowed to be attorney general. She’s defrauded the public with this trial.”

“She said that Mar-a-Lago, she convinced the judge that Mar-a-Lago was worth — in Palm Beach, Florida, the most expensive land in the world, I guess, and the most expensive houses, definitely, in the world — that Mar-a-Lago’s biggest house, the most spectacular place in all of Florida was worth $18 million when it’s worth approximately — could be close to hundred times that amount,” Trump said. “And based on that testimony and based on her convincing the judge that Mar-a-Lago was worth $18 million instead of $1 billion to $1.5 billion, which would sell very easily, which we’ve already proven but we’ll have people come up and say that to prove it, the most important people, the brokers that make the sale, but based on that he ruled against me, he ruled fraud. I mean, he said fraud.”

One real estate expert told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the value of the estate owned by Trump was over $100 million, while multiple real estate listings for properties much smaller than Mar-a-Lago were listed for prices much higher than the $18 million valuation Engoron cited in his ruling.Forbes magazine estimated the estate to be worth about $325 million, more than 15 times the $18 million tax appraisal Engoron cited.

“So I just want to say the head of Deutsche Bank came in, he said we were right, the loan was right, everything was fine and it was perfect. And this was their witness, it wasn’t even my witness,” Trump said.

https://dailycaller.com/2023/10/17/trump-says-letitia-james-has-defrauded-the-public-rips-18-million-dollar-mar-a-lago-valuation/