US Approves $20BN In Weapons Sales To Israel As Wider War Looms

After already having given over $3 billion in annual foreign aid to America's number one ally in the Middle East stretching back years, the State Department has approved a series of potential weapons sales to Israel worth over $20 billion. This is the military-industrial complex's bread and butter: give allies huge amounts of foreign aid, and those dollars eventually return to line the pockets of the big US defense firms.

The sales are expected to include some 50 F-15 fighter jets and tank munitions, advanced air-to-air missiles, tactical vehicles, and on top of all this 50,000 high-explosive 120mm mortar rounds.

Some of this might be purchased with the $3.5 billion in military assistance recently released to Israel in the form of Foreign Military Financing.

While it will take years before 50 F-15s and many of the heavier, more sophisticated weapons would be delivered to Israel, it comes at a moment of deep global divide related to Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza.

Hamas sources have said that nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began last October, or about 2% of the total population. Much of this killing is being done by US-supplied weaponry courtesy of the US taxpayer.

The State Department in announcing the huge package said it is 'vital' to American interests:

"The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives."

Currently, there's a growing divide within Israeli leadership over a path forward in the war, particularly after yesterday Fitch downgraded Israel's rating from A+ to A.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid on Wednesday warned Israel is heading for an economic disaster under the policies Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

"The finance minister and prime minister both issued statements yesterday in which they said that the lowering of Israel’s credit rating is a result of the war," Lapid said. "That is a lie. Both of them are lying to the public."

Some US allies are starting to grow increasingly vocal in criticism against Israel on human rights in Gaza…

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-approves-20bn-weapons-sales-israel-wider-war-looms

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues General Motors for Illegally Harvesting and Selling Drivers’ Private Data to Corporate Giants, Including Insurance Companies

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued General Motors for its false, deceptive, and misleading business practices related to its unlawful collection and sale of over 1.5 million Texans’ private driving data to insurance companies without their knowledge or consent.

This action follows Attorney General Paxton’s June 2024 announcement that he opened an investigation into several car manufacturers regarding allegations that the companies had improperly collected mass amounts of data about drivers directly from the vehicles and then sold the information to third parties.

“Our investigation revealed that General Motors has engaged in egregious business practices that violated Texans’ privacy and broke the law. We will hold them accountable,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Companies are using invasive technology to violate the rights of our citizens in unthinkable ways. Millions of American drivers wanted to buy a car, not a comprehensive surveillance system that unlawfully records information about every drive they take and sells their data to any company willing to pay for it.”

General Motors used technology installed in most 2015 model year or newer GM vehicles to collect, record, analyze, and transmit highly detailed driving data about each time a driver used their vehicle. General Motors sold this information to several other companies, including to at least two companies for the purpose of generating “Driving Scores” about GM’s customers and selling these scores to insurance companies. General Motors deceived many of its customers when it compelled them to enroll in its products, including OnStar Smart Driver, as part of its vehicle “onboarding” process and told them that failing to enroll would result in the deactivation of their vehicle’s safety features. Unbeknownst to customers, however, by enrolling in GM’s products, they were “agreeing” to General Motors’ collection and sale of their data. Despite lengthy and convoluted disclosures, General Motors never informed its customers of its actual conduct—the systematic collection and sale of their highly detailed driving data.

The investigation was part of a broad data privacy and security initiative launched by Attorney General Paxton in June 2024 to ensure that companies respect Texans’ privacy rights and enforce privacy protection laws.

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-sues-general-motors-unlawfully-collecting-drivers-private-data-and

Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling Sued by Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif for “Aggravated Cyber Harassment” — Trump Potentially Next Target in Legal Battle

Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif has filed a criminal complaint for “aggravated cyber harassment” against tech mogul Elon Musk and famed author J.K. Rowling.

The complaint, filed last Friday in France, is reportedly part of a broader effort to address what Khelif’s legal team describes as a coordinated campaign of online harassment based on her gender. And now, former President Donald Trump might also be drawn into the legal fray.

Nabil Boudi, the gold medalist’s Paris-based attorney, wrote on X:

After the sporting time comes the legal time.

Fresh from winning a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, boxer Imane Khelif has decided to take on a new fight: that of justice, dignity and honor.

Ms. Khelif contacted the firm, which yesterday filed a complaint for aggravated cyber harassment with the Paris prosecutor’s office’s online hate unit.

The criminal investigation will determine who initiated this misogynistic, racist and sexist campaign. But will also have to look at those who fueled this digital lynching.

The unfair harassment suffered by the boxing champion will remain the biggest stain of these Olympic Games.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/08/elon-musk-j-k-rowling-sued-algerian-boxer/

The nation’s best hackers found vulnerabilities in voting machines — but no time to fix them

A hack that would disrupt the election is unlikely, but experts are worried that any vulnerabilities could provide fodder for those wishing to question the results.

Some of the best hackers in the world gathered in Las Vegas over the weekend to try to break into voting machines that will be used in this year’s election — all with an eye to helping officials identify and fix vulnerabilities.

The problem? Their findings will likely come too late to make any fixes before Nov. 5.

In one sense, it’s the normal course of events: Every August, hackers at the DEF CON conference find security gaps in voting equipment, and every year the long and complex process of fixing them means nothing is implemented until the next electoral cycle.

But Election Day security is under particular scrutiny in 2024. That’s both because of increasing worries that foreign adversaries will figure out how to breach machines, and because President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations of widespread fraud in 2020 undermined confidence in the vote among his supporters.

As a result, many in the election security community are bemoaning the fact that no system has been developed to roll out fixes faster and worrying that the security gaps that get identified this year will provide fodder for those who may want to question the results.

“As far as time goes, it is hard to make any real, major, systemic changes, but especially 90 days out from the election,” said Catherine Terranova, one of the organizers of the DEF CON “Voting Village” hacking event. She argued that’s particularly troubling during “an election year like this.”

From Friday to Sunday, Voting Village hackers clustered around tables with all shapes and sizes of voting machines and equipment to verify voters’ identities or tabulate ballots, trying to get past firewalls or other security measures. Nearby, secretaries of state and other election officials gave talks on misinformation and disinformation threats facing the upcoming election.

Unlike most of the other events at the conference though, the Voting Village was not on the main show floor. It was a decision organizers said was necessary in order to ensure security following years of hatred flung at the event online by those who see the hackers as undermining democracy. In recent years, individuals associated with election denialism showed up at the Voting Village to harass organizers and speakers.

The findings, at times ignored or resisted by the manufacturers of voting machines, have increasingly been accepted in Washington, and the event is often seen as key for boosting the security of machines.

And just like every year since the Voting Village began almost a decade ago, attendees found problems. Organizers of the Voting Village intend to put out a full report in the coming weeks detailing the vulnerability findings from this cycle, and according to Voting Village co-founder Harri Hursti, these vulnerabilities ran “multiple pages” as of Saturday afternoon. While Hursti would not comment on the exact problems found, the amount was fairly consistent with previous years.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/12/hackers-vulnerabilities-voting-machines-elections-00173668

Fighter jets collide over France

Search is underway for an instructor and a trainee from one of the lost aircraft, media has reported

Two French fighter jets have collided over the northeastern part of the country. The incident in Meurthe-et-Moselle department involved two Rafale aircraft and occurred around midday on Wednesday, Agence France Presse reported, citing civilian and military officials.

Both aircraft belong to the squadron stationed at the Saint-Dizier-Robinson Air Base, the army has told the press. The pilot from one jet was injured in the incident and is alive and conscious.

The second aircraft had an instructor and a trainee aboard, who remain unaccounted for. All three officers are French nationals and not foreigners, the military stressed.

Local media say a search-and-rescue operation is underway in the area. The location was cordoned off, while fire brigades were dispatched to the scene. Rescue workers said they have discovered plenty of debris from the incident.

Earlier reports suggested that the lost aircraft may have been Mirage jets rather than Rafales.

https://www.rt.com/news/602610-french-rafale-jets-collision/

Massive Cyberattack Cripples Central Bank Of Iran: Report

The opposition and Saudi-affiliated Iran International is reporting that the Central Bank of Iran has been hit with a large-scale cyber attack which is caused major disruption to the banking system across the Islamic Republic.

The outlet says the impact of the attack if far-reaching, suggesting it could be one of the largest cyberattacks on Iran's state infrastructure to date, coming amid soaring regional tensions with Israel.

Earlier Wednesday, Iran's Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned the country about threats of irregular warfare, stating, "The exaggeration of our enemies' capabilities is intended to spread fear among our people by the US, Britain, and the Zionists. The enemies' hand is not as strong as it is publicized. We must rely on ourselves."

He continued, "The enemy's goal is to spread psychological warfare to push us into political and economic retreat and achieve its objectives."

Could this reported major cyber attack be the work of Israeli intelligence? Likely many in Iran believe so.

Ironically it comes on the heels of claims by US officials and in Western media that Iranian state hackers are actively working to influence and interfere in the upcoming US elections.

However, there has been no proof of these allegations, but only references to poorly made spoof websites which seek to influence either conservative or liberal voters.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/massive-cyberattack-cripples-central-bank-iran-report

Japan's PM Kishida Announces Resignation Amid Scandals, Opening Door To Political Chaos

After the late Shinzo Abe valiantly tried to break Japan's dismal tradition of having Prime Ministers who last on average about a year - before quitting and eventually getting assassinated - it appears that Japan is back to its own ungovernable self.

On Wednesday morning, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida surprised markets when he said he would step down as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic party in September and effectively end his tenure as the country's prime minister, ending months of speculation over his ability to survive scandal and rising living costs.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/japans-pm-kishida-announces-resignation-amid-scandals-opening-door-political-chaos

Military Base Lockdown Over Alleged Drinking Water Sabotage, Russia Blamed

German politicians have pointed the finger at Russia after two military bases in the country had suspected incursion incidents overnight, with base drinking water apparently targeted.

A German army air base was placed on lockdown for several hours after water testing detected “abnormal values” in the on-base drinking water, and a man-sized hole was discovered in the fence surrounding the facility’s water plant. A second base, a NATO airbase hosted in Germany was pulled into the incident when there was a foiled attempt to gain entry overnight.

The attempts on both bases are being treated as linked acts of sabotage by some German politicians, and condemnation of the Russian Federation was swift. German broadsheet newspaper Die Welt states the centirst-liberal politician Marcus Faber, who is the chairman of the German Parliament’s Defence Committee, had said: “Due to the proximity in time of the incidents in the two barracks, one can assume that a hostile actor wants to demonstrate its sabotage capabilities here”.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2024/08/14/military-base-lockdown-over-alleged-drinking-water-sabotage-russia-blamed/

Politico reporter speculates that MBS's life in danger over Israel-Saudi deal - report

MBS referenced this threat to explain why the Israel-Saudi deal must include an immediate pathway to Palestinian statehood.

The US-based news website Politico raised speculation that the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), was at risk of assassination over his push for normalization ties with Israel.

The column, written by Politico’s senior foreign affairs correspondent Nahal Toosi, relied on anonymous sources who told her about conversations that MBS had with members of the US Congress regarding the threats he faced.

MBS, she wrote, referenced this threat to explain why it was important that the deal also include an immediate pathway to Palestinian statehood.

Israel has been opposed to this component of the triad deal, even as it has embraced the idea of Saudi normalization.

“The Saudi royal has mentioned to members of Congress that he’s putting his life in danger by pursuing a grand bargain with the US and Israel that includes normalizing Saudi-Israeli ties,” she wrote.

Salman has “discussed the threats he faces in explaining why any such deal must include a true path to a Palestinian state, especially now that the war in Gaza has heightened Arab fury toward Israel,” she explained.

Is MBS trying to push US officials to raise pressure on Israel?

“I’ve come to view MBS’ framing of the situation as a clever diplomatic marketing strategy: He’s saying his life is in danger to push US officials to raise pressure on Israel to bend to a deal he likes,” Toosi wrote.

“Arguing that you’re putting your neck on the line for a potentially epochal deal is certainly a compelling way to get your interlocutors’ attention,” she argued.

“In fairness,” Toosi stated, “It’s probably also true.”

The triad deal had been high on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s agenda prior to the Hamas-led October 7 attack, after which it was put on the back burner, and then resurrected.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-814761

CDC Caught Faking Data for ‘Covid Deaths’

A bombshell new report has revealed that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is publishing fabricated data on “Covid deaths” to massively exaggerate the alleged issue.

According to the CDC, COVID-19 is the fourth leading cause of death in America.

The federal health agency claims Covid is killing 186,552 people a year.

However, according to a new report, the incidence of COVID-19 death has plummeted since the pandemic.

Data from U.S. News & World Report shows that Covid was only listed as a cause of death for 49,931 Americans last year.

However, as Slay News has previously reported, Covid is often listed as a cause of death if the person had a positive test for the virus, even if it didn’t kill them.

In one shocking example, a man who was killed in a motorcycle accident was marked down as dying from Covid because his corpse tested positive for the virus.

According to the CDC’s own reports last year, there should have been about 51,000 “Covid deaths,” not over 186,000.

In the past, the CDC has admitted to overcounting the total number of Covid deaths.

Over the last week, the CDC’s most recent death data links 1.5% of all deaths to Covid.

However, the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics “Leading Causes of Death” is using the alleged data from 2022 to exaggerate the alleged issue.

Why do they continue to overstate the total number of deaths allegedly caused by COVID-19?

Interestingly the U.S News & World Report also notes that heart disease is the leading cause of death, followed by cancer.

The report reveals that cancer deaths are rising in the United States.

Both cancer and heart failure have been linked to Covid mRNA shots.

This is not the first time that the CDC has been caught faking data on Covid deaths, however.

As Slay News reported in August last year, the CDC quietly published new data that reveals a staggering 99% of reported “Covid deaths” were not actually caused by the virus.

https://slaynews.com/news/cdc-caught-faking-data-covid-deaths/

Hamas says it will not join ceasefire talks this week

In a statement, Ahmad Abdul Hadi said Hamas was not against ceasefire talks "in principle".

However, he said it would not participate this week because Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is not interested in reaching an agreement that ends the aggression completely".

"Rather he is deceiving and evading and wants to prolong the war, and even expand it at the regional level, and thus he uses negotiations as a cover to continue his aggression against our people and commit more massacres against them," he said.

https://news.sky.com/story/hamas-says-it-will-not-join-ceasefire-talks-this-week-13196535

Another U.S. Base In Syria Came Under Attack

A United States military base in the eastern Syrian governorate of Deir Ezzor came under attack late on August 13, with no reports of losses.

Citing a security source, Reuters reported that Iran-backed forces targeted the U.S. base, which is located at the Conoco gas plant in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside, with six shells, all of which fell in the vicinity of the base. The source added that the U.S.-led coalition responded to the attack with artillery.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based pro-opposition monitoring group, confirmed that retaliatory artillery strikes hit Iran-backed forces in the western countryside of the governorate.

A U.S. official also told Reuters the projectiles did not hit the base and there were no injuries. The unnamed official cited initial reports that can change.

The Conoco base is one of several military installations the U.S. maintains in Syria, mainly in Deir Ezzor, the neighboring northeastern governorate of al-Hasakah as well as in the southeastern area of al-Tanf, under the pretext of fighting ISIS remnants. At least 900 troops are deployed there.

U.S. forces in Syria and neighboring Iraq were attacked with drones and rockets more than 180 times after the outbreak of the Israeli war on the Palestinian Gaza Strip last October, with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella group of Iran-backed forces, claiming responsibility for most of the attacks.

The group suspended attacks against U.S. forces last February after the death of three American troops in a drone strike on a base in Jordan, reportedly upon a request from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to facilitate talks on a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. However, several attacks hit U.S. bases recently.

The attack on the Conoco ase came just a few days after U.S. troops were wounded in two separate attacks in Iraq and Syria, which were both blamed on the IRI.

Five U.S. troops were wounded in a rocket attack that targeted Ain al-Asad Air Base in the western Iraqi province of al-Anbar on August 5. Eight more troops were wounded on August 9 when a suicide drone struck a U.S. base near the town of Khrab al-Jir in the northeastern Syrian governorate of al-Hasakah.

https://southfront.press/another-u-s-base-in-syria-came-under-attack/

Former Attorney Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison on Embezzlement and Fraud Charges in Connection With Collapse of Washington Federal Bank

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/former-attorney-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-embezzlement-and-fraud-charges

Celery was used to conceal more than 2,300 pounds (1,043 kilograms) of meth that federal agents discovered in a truck at a farmers market outside Atlanta, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said.

In what the DEA called one of the largest seizures of its kind, agents confiscated the drugs being delivered to the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park, authorities said at a Monday news conference, WAGA-TV reported.

https://youtu.be/ExQaqZikl5E

Let's be clear. The salaries of Ukrainian soldiers invading Russia are paid by the USA and they use American arms. How long until Russia strikes back directly at the US and the West?