US government approves experiment to create a type of bird flu that could 'could kill millions of people'

The National Institutes of Health will allow the viral engineering despite fears

One expert said if the viruses break out of labs they could kill millions of people

Professor Steven Salzberg, from Johns Hopkins University, called it 'dangerous'

The US Government has been scorned for lifting its ban on experiments to engineer deadly bird flu which could infect humans.

Research into the viruses will soon be allowed to carry on, despite experts warning people could die if the pathogens break out of laboratories.

Scientists say they want to study the virus 'to protect human health' so they can learn more about it and be better prepared for a pandemic.

But Professor Steven Salzberg, a biomedical engineering expert at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, said he cannot fathom why the US National Institutes of Health, which has permitted the 'dangerous' research, is allowing it to happen.

'I've said it before, more than once,' he wrote in a column for Forbes magazine.

'Engineering the flu to be more virulent is a terrible idea… This research has the potential to cause millions of deaths.'

Professor Salzberg claimed two scientists have spent years trying to mutate the avian flu to spread between humans.

But the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the US Government's medical research agency, put the research on hold in 2014 because of safety concerns.

Despite a letter signed by hundreds of scientists from around the world, the NIH has now lifted the ban and will allow Ron Fouchier and Yoshihiro Kawaoka to continue their experiment.

Science magazine reported last month a government board had decided to allow the research to continue but would not publicly release details of its review.

As a result, the government will consider new funding applications for research in this specific area of virology.

In 2014, the NIH granted professors Fouchier and Kawaoka more than $600,000 (£458,000) towards their project spreading bird flu between mammals.

Their research explored ways in which existing bird flu viruses could mutate so they would be able to pass between droplets of breath from ferrets.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6786195/US-Government-lifts-four-year-ban-allow-dangerous-bird-flu-experiments.html

Attacks on Gazans continue inside illegal Israeli-imposed ‘buffer zones’

The term “buffer zone” in land and at sea is used for land and sea areas, which were unilaterally and illegally declared by Israeli forces as areas with no access along the eastern and northern borders and in the sea of the Gaza Strip following the Israeli Disengagement Plan in 2005.

In violation of the provisions of the international humanitarian law, the Gaza Strip’s population are denied access to their property in the “buffer zone” in land while the fishermen are prevented from sailing and fishing in the “buffer zone” at sea. The area of the buffer zone vary from time to time according to the Israeli forces declarations, without taking in consideration the international law that bans any changes to the occupied territories. According to Israeli forces instructions, the “buffer zone” extends to an area ranging between 100 to 1,500 meters in some eastern land borders, while ranges between 3 to 9 nautical miles in the Gaza Strip sea.

https://israelpalestinenews.org/attacks-on-gazans-continue-inside-illegal-israeli-imposed-buffer-zones/

Delaying publication of the settlement blacklist exposes the UN’s false narratives on human rights

The UN is openly flaunting its priorities and, sadly, human rights are far from a major concern for the international organisation. Since its creation post-World War Two, and having established itself as the platform which determines what constitutes a human rights violation and which countries can be considered as perpetrators, several trends have emerged within the UN which reduces the seriousness of people being deprived of their legitimate rights.

This has been achieved by creating ample space for reports on human rights violations to be disseminated, while refusing to insist upon accountability and justice. Ironically, the increasing awareness regarding human rights violations is actually creating widespread impunity, as the UN promotes itself as a platform for reporting about violations while intentionally failing to take action.

Last month, for example, a UN report said that Israel “may have” committed war crimes against Palestinians participating in the Great March of Return demonstrations; it was publicised heavily, despite a predictable outcome. Israel will not be held accountable and those celebrating the UN’s recognition of Israel having possibly committed war crimes will not be vindicated by a thorough follow-up and prosecution. Another wave of silence will descend until the UN issues another report that reaches the same conclusion. We will never see an international court having the opportunity to test the evidence from both sides to judge whether “may have” is to become “has”, and appropriate action is to be taken.

On Tuesday, it was revealed that UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet has delayed the publication of a report exposing companies and institutions that do business with Israeli settlements due to “factual complexity”. According to Bachelet, “Further consideration is necessary to fully respond to the [human rights] council’s request.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190307-delaying-publication-of-the-settlement-blacklist-exposes-the-uns-false-narratives-on-human-rights/

German police failed to probe THOUSANDS of tip-offs on refugees suspected of war crimes – reports

Thousands of war crime-themed cases involving asylum-seekers were referred to the German authorities in recent years, but only a small portion of them was eventually picked up for investigation, a new report has found.

From 2014 to early 2019, the German migration and refugee services referred around 5,000 cases of “crimes under international law” to the police and the attorney general but only 129 cases ended up being investigated, Bild reported on Thursday.

This included the time between 2015 and 2016 when the nation saw a spike in the influx of migrants and asylum-seekers from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Sub-Saharan Africa. Some 3,800 referrals were filed during that period. Only 28 of those prompted an investigation.

The data was revealed following an official request lodged by the opposition Free Democratic Party (FDP), according to the paper. The report in the media didn’t provide the breakdown of the cases and didn’t specify the countries of origin of the persons involved.

The spokesperson for the Interior Ministry told the paper that the “large number of referrals prevented immediate investigation of each case.”

Lawmaker Linda Teuteberg (FDP), who sits on the parliamentary interior affairs committee, said that war criminals should not be granted protection in Germany.

“I have doubts as to whether the federal government has always pursued this with the necessary seriousness in the past few years,” Teuteberg said.

The effects of migration flows on national security remain a point of contention in Germany as foreign nationals have committed a number of high-profile terror attacks in recent years.

In 2016, Anis Amri, a failed asylum seeker from Tunisia, drove a truck through a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people.

Media reports said that, nine months before the tragedy, the state police in North Rhine-Westphalia had notified the state’s interior ministry that Amri was planning a suicide attack. However, the authorities left the notice unanswered and ruled that the man couldn’t be deported.

https://www.rt.com/news/453252-germany-refugess-war-crimes-reports/

Elliott Abrams’ Bloody Lies

The duplicity of Trump’s Venezuela envoy

Elliott Abrams, President Trump’s special envoy to Venezuela, first became notorious in 1982 after he was named assistant secretary of state for human rights in the Reagan administration. As a junior point man for the Reagan administration’s wars in Central America, Abrams was an aggressive defender of pro-U.S. forces that committed human rights atrocities and fierce critics of those who reported accurately on their war crimes.

With Abrams set to testify this week before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, his early days as a U.S. policymaker can serve as a guide to what we can expect from the Trump administration’s policy of “regime change” in Venezuela.

In an exchange that made national news at a House Foreign Affairs Committee last month, Rep. Ilhan Omar confronted Abrams about his conviction for lying to Congress and false statements he made about the infamous El Mozote massacre.

But the exchange only hinted at the scope of Abrams’ mendacious style. While in the Reagan administration, Abrams wove such particular lies into a tapestry of propaganda that prefigured Trumpism in its contempt for facts, gaslighting of critics, evasion of evidence, and tolerance of brutality.

Three Representative Lies

When Abrams began his career in the U.S. national security policymaking community in the early 1980s, Central America was convulsed by popular rebellions. Dictatorships in El Salvador and Guatemala had suppressed and exploited the poor majority for decades. By the late 1970s, these feudalistic governments, led by military officers and landholding elites, faced their most serious challenge ever.

In El Salvador, a once-conservative cleric Archbishop Oscar Romero gave voice to a popular rebellion that enjoyed support from the public and some factions in the military.

In Guatemala, the repression that began with the CIA coup in 1954 was driving most opponents of the government to sympathize with or join a growing guerilla movement in the countryside.

President Reagan, dedicated to “turning the tide” against communism worldwide, viewed anyone who did not pledge fealty to U.S. policy as a “communist,” “terrorist,” or “communist dupe.” As such, these forces were targets of violent suppression.

In El Salvador, the Reagan administration backed an ultra-right faction of the military led by intelligence officer Roberto d’Aubuisson who was trained at the CIA-run International Police Academy in Washington. D’Aubuisson masterminded the assassination of Monsignor Romero in March 1980 and commanded the death squads that liquidated civilians in favor of peaceful change.

In Guatemala, the ultra-right celebrated Reagan’s elections and stepped up its campaign of kidnapping opponents in the capital and massacring peasants in the countryside.

In the State Department’s annual country reports on human rights for which he was responsible, Abrams justified this bloody policy with creative cunning.

https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/03/06/elliott-abrams-bloody-lies

Israel breaks into Al-Araqeeb, demolishes homes for 141th time

Israeli army vehicles and bulldozers demolished houses in the village of Al-Araqeeb, in the south and displaced their residents for the 141st time, despite the stormy and cold weather.

According to some of the residents of Al-Araqeeb, the police stormed the village this afternoon using reinforcement forces to protect the bulldozers and vehicles that destroyed tents and tin houses, and displaced adults and children leaving them homeless despite the harsh weather.

The residents stressed their willingness to stay in their village and rebuild the tents and houses, refusing to accept displacement from their village.

The Magistrates Court in Beersheba sentenced Sheikh Sayah Al-Tury, 69, a citizen of Al-Araqeeb, for 10 months in Al-Ramlah prison late December 2018 following the struggle of the villagers with the Israeli courts.

40 charges were brought against Sheikh Al-Tury, 19 of which were related to “breaking into state lands,” 19 for “violating Israeli law and breaking into public land,” in addition to one charge related to “violating a court order.”

The Israeli authorities continue to demolish dozens of villages in the Naqab so as to confiscate hundreds of thousands of dunums of their land, as part of the plan to Judaise the Naqab. The Israeli authorities continue to build four new settlement towns there.

About 250,000 Arab Palestinians are living in Naqab desert; half of them are in villages and residential communities, established hundreds of years ago.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190308-negev-breaking-into-al-araqeeb-demolishing-homes-for-141-time/

God Promised Antisemitism to the Zionists

In order to say what some might consider the un sayable I first need to deconstruct some mythical terms so let me just wade into some taboo territory as though I don’t even see the no-entry signs.

What is anti-Semitism?

“Antisemitism” is a word and a political construct. It has been loaded with meaning and importance like no other word in the English language. This is no exaggeration, it is not meant as hyperbole, if you want evidence of this you need look no further than the UK National Curriculum. I had a look at the core curriculum for secondary school History, and have quoted a section of it below.

– challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day

In addition to studying the Holocaust, this could include:

Examples (non-statutory)

women’s suffrage

the First World War and the Peace Settlement

the inter-war years: the Great Depression and the rise of dictators

the Second World War and the wartime leadership of Winston Churchill

the creation of the welfare state

Indian independence and end of Empire

social, cultural and technological change in post-war British society

Britain’s place in the world since 1945

Now take a look closely at it. It does not say that the Holocaust is a mandatory subject, but it is implied, which is interesting in itself; the optional subjects follow and are clearly marked as such. The Holocaust is the only mandatory subject in this area. Not just any holocaust; there are so many to choose from by now; with new ones happening frequently; this is the Holocaust and is a proper noun with a capital.

The most important things being said here are those that are unsaid. What is unsaid? The Holocaust is the important holocaust i.e. the Jewish one. The Holocaust is exceptional. Not just important; nobody is here to argue with that; but exceptional. The other ideas suggested are important, and many, many ideas that would never appear on that list at all are also very important. The Holocaust is unique, and all students must know about it, and laws in place that criminalise Holocaust denial ensure not just that the topic is covered, but that it will be covered with the broadly accepted narrative. Every child educated in UK schools will be told about the Holocaust and they will be told the same things you were told.

Other holocausts might match it in terms of any particular respect; the brutality of the methods; the nature of the target population; the body count; the ideals of the perpetrators; their propaganda; their moral failings; and so on. But irrespective of any of those things, the proper noun Holocaust retains an exceptional and unique position in the prevailing historical narrative of all Western society.

As a result, a fully-educated Brit will certainly know that Hitler ran the Nazi party in Germany, unless he skipped class a great deal and his parents and friends never mentioned it, but may well be unaware that the British royal family are of German origin.

https://alethonews.com/2015/01/28/god-promised-antisemitism-to-the-zionists/

Syria Accuses US Stole 40+ Tons of Its Gold

The Syrian National News Agency headlined on February 26th, “Gold deal between United States and Daesh” (Daesh is ISIS) and reported that,

Information from local sources said that US army helicopters have already transported the gold bullions under cover of darkness on Sunday [February 24th], before transporting them to the United States.

The sources said that tens of tons that Daesh had been keeping in their last hotbed in al-Baghouz area in Deir Ezzor countryside have been handed to the Americans, adding up to other tons of gold that Americans have found in other hideouts for Daesh, making the total amount of gold taken by the Americans to the US around 50 tons, leaving only scraps for the SDF [Kurdish] militias that serve them [the US operation].

Recently, sources said that the area where Daesh leaders and members have barricaded themselves in, contains around 40 tons of gold and tens of millions of dollars.

Allegedly, “US occupation forces in the Syrian al-Jazeera area made a deal with Daesh terrorists, by which Washington gets tens of tons of gold that the terror organization had stolen, in exchange for providing safe passage for the terrorists and their leaders from the areas in Deir Ezzor where they are located.”

ISIS was financing its operations largely by the theft of oil from the oil wells in the Deir Ezzor area, Syria’s oil-producing region, and they transported and sold this stolen oil via their allied forces, through Turkey, which was one of those US allies trying to overthrow Syria’s secular Government and install a Sunni fundamentalist regime that would be ruled from Riyadh (i.e., controlled by the Saud family). This gold is the property of the Syrian Government, which owns all that oil and the oil wells, which ISIS had captured (stolen), and then sold. Thus, this gold is from sale of that stolen black-market oil, which was Syria’s property.

The US Government claims to be anti-ISIS, but actually didn’t even once bomb ISIS in Syria until Russia started bombing ISIS in Syria on 30 September 2015, and the US had actually been secretly arming ISIS there so as to help ISIS and especially Al Qaeda (and the US was strongly protecting Al Qaeda in Syria) to overthrow Syria’s secular and non-sectarian Government. Thus, whereas Russia started bombing ISIS in Syria on 30 September 2015, America (having become embarrassed) started bombing ISIS in Syria on 16 November 2015. The US Government’s excuse was “This is our first strike against tanker trucks, and to minimize risks to civilians, we conducted a leaflet drop prior to the strike.” They pretended it was out of compassion — not in order to extend for as long as possible ISIS’s success in taking over territory in Syria. (And, under Trump, on the night of 2 March 2019, the US rained down upon ISIS in northeast Syria the excruciating and internationally banned white phosphorous to burn ISIS and its hostages alive, which Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama had routinely done to burn alive the residents in Donetsk and other parts of eastern former Ukraine where voters had voted more than 90% for the democratically elected Ukrainian President whom Obama’s coupin Ukraine had replaced. It was a way to eliminate some of the most-undesired voters — people who must never again be voting in a Ukrainian national election, not even if that region subsequently does become conquered by the post-coup, US-imposed, regime. The land there is wanted; its residents certainly are not wanted by the Obama-imposed regime.) America’s line was: Russia just isn’t as ‘compassionate’ as America. Zero Hedge aptly headlined “’Get Out Of Your Trucks And Run Away’: US Gives ISIS 45 Minute Warning On Oil Tanker Strikes”. Nobody exceeds the United States Government in sheer hypocrisy.

The US Government evidently thinks that the public are fools, idiots. America’s allies seem to be constantly amazed at how successful that approach turns out to be.

https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/03/08/syria-accuses-us-stole-40-tons-of-its-gold.html

Cont. from images:

deceived? Are most people that stupid?

Back on 21 December 2018, one of the US regime’s top ‘news’-media, the Washington Post, had headlined “Retreating ISIS army smuggled a fortune in cash and gold out of Iraq and Syria” and reported that “the Islamic State is sitting on a mountain of stolen cash and gold that its leaders stashed away to finance terrorist operations.” So, it’s not as if there hadn’t been prior reason to believe that some day some of the gold would be found after America’s defeat in Syria. Maybe they just hadn’t expected this to happen quite so soon. But the regime will find ways to hoodwink its public, in the future, just as it has in the past. Unless the public wises-up (if that’s even possible).

House passes sweeping electoral reform bill

House Democrats passed a sweeping electoral reform bill in a 234-193 party-line vote on Friday.

The For The People Act, better known as H.R. 1 — spearheaded by Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) — aims to expand voting rights, implement new ethics rules and increase transparency in elections, according to its proponents.

The bill includes provisions to enable automatic voter registration, strengthen resources to stave off foreign threats on elections and make Election Day a national holiday for federal workers.

Democrats unveiled the legislation shortly after the start of the 116th Congress, underscoring its importance in their agenda. Supporters of the bill argued it's necessary in order to tackle corruption and dark money in politics. Under the legislation, the Citizens United Supreme Court case, which got rid of some limits on corporate and union political spending, would be overturned and coordination between super PACs and candidates would be prohibited.

Freshman Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.) lamented that Washington is home to 11,000 registered lobbyists — "25 lobbyists per member of Congress," he said — and recounted a lobbyist dinner he attended on one of his first nights in Washington.

"I thought it was going to be a chance to talk about some of the issues that I hear from families in our community," he said. "Imagine my surprise when the only thing these lobbyists wanted to talk about was what would benefit their clients."

"It's far too easy for well-financed lobbyists to crowd out the needs of our families in favor of their clients," he continued.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Friday that enactment of the package is vital if Congress is to restore the voters' trust in the idea that Congress is working in the public interest.

"It is fundamental to our democracy that people believe — they believe — that actions taken here will be in their interest," she said. "That is what this legislation will help to restore."

Portions of the bill appear to directly take aim at President Trump, including language requiring the president and vice president and candidates for those positions to disclose a decade’s worth of their tax returns.

But Republicans have blasted the bill as a power grab by Democrats, arguing it limits free speech and overreaches on states rights. Top Republicans have also slammed Democrats for failing to work across the aisle on bipartisan reforms, with many saying there are provisions in the bill they could have supported.

Language that would create a 6-to-1 federal campaign match on small donations has been one of the most controversial for Republicans, who argue taxpayer dollars should not be used for campaign purposes.

“The most important bill that the democrat socialist majority has is to take more of your money and give it to the politicians who want to vote for this bill. How ironic," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said on the floor ahead of the vote.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/433202-house-passes-sweeping-electoral-reform-bill-despite-republican-resistance

Trump Asks Germany, Japan To Pay For Being Occupied

It was fun to watch this developing:

Trump Seeks Huge Premium From Allies Hosting U.S. Troops

Under White House direction, the administration is drawing up demands that Germany, Japan and eventually any other country hosting U.S. troops pay the full price of American soldiers deployed on their soil – plus 50 percent or more for the privilege of hosting them, according to a dozen administration officials and people briefed on the matter.

…

Current and former administration officials briefed on the idea, who asked not to be identified discussing the program, describe it as far more advanced than is publicly known. As well as seeking more money, the administration wants to use it as a way to exert leverage on countries to do what the U.S. demands overseas.

As evidence, they say officials at the Pentagon have been asked to calculate two formulas: One would determine how much money countries such as Germany ought to be asked to pay. The second would determine the discount those countries would get if their policies align closely with the U.S.

The extortion scheme Trump wants to use against 'allies' is a perfect own goal.

The German government under Chancellor Angela Merkel is already accused of being too deep inside the U.S. rear.

Her party supported the war on Iraq and now joined the illegal regime change attempt in Venezuela. The public is way less pro-American than German politicians. It will be quite difficult for Merkel and others to justify additional billions for U.S. troops in Germany. They are neither needed nor wanted. (The only sound reason to keep the 30,000 U.S. troops in Germany is to prevent them from moving to Poland from where they could threaten the country.)

The situation in Japan is similar. The government of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe supports hawkish U.S. policies but is also under attack over a new U.S. base on Okinawa. It will have problems to justify spending for the privilege of keeping the country under U.S. occupation.

Trump's extortion racket will make it more difficult for Merkel and Abe to ally with the U.S. on other issues.

That is a sound reason to welcome it.

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2019/03/trump-asks-germany-japan-to-pay-for-being-occupied.html

These are the primary Israeli lobbies that control the U.S. Congress via campaign funding and raw political power

Commented submitted by tardpill

• Pro-Israel Political Action Committees (PACs): AIPAC does not give campaign contributions itself but instead uses a campaign finance network consisting of around thirty Pro-Israel Political Action Committees (PACs), which AIPAC is constantly signaling. Only four of these PACs have names that indicate their true agenda, such as ‘Allies for Israel’ or ‘World Alliance for Israel.’ The rest have innocuous names like ‘National Action Committee’ or ‘Heartland PAC.’ Constituents usually don’t realize their candidates are receiving money from PACs that advance the interests of a foreign government..

• Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CoP)

• The American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF)

• The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP)

• Anti-Defamation League (ADL)

• International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (aka Stand for Israel)

• Central Fund of Israel,

The Gideon Project

• Christians United for Israel (CUFI)

• Simon Wiesenthal Center

• The Israel Project

• Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces (FIDF)

• Hadassah (Women’s Zionist Organization of America)

• America’s Voices in Israel (AVI)

• The Jewish Agency for Israel

• American Friends of Likud

• American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (AICE)

• The Israel Allies Foundation

• The Jewish Policy Center

• The Haym Salomon Center

• The Foundation for Jewish Camp

and on and on and on.. sickening

https://ifamericaknew.org/us_ints/introlobby.html

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-03-07/pelosi-gives-omar-pass-anti-semitism-resolution-morphs-indictment-trump-supporters

1/2

>>5576806

Introduction to the Israel Lobby

The Israel lobby is one of the most powerful and pervasive special interest groups in the United States. It consists of a multitude of powerful institutions and individuals that work to influence Congress, the president, academia, the media, religious institutions, and American public opinion on behalf of Israel.

By Alison Weir

Council for the National Interest

Updated: October 2017

The Israel Lobby: A Partial List

• The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC): AIPAC is the most prominent governmental lobbying organization on behalf of Israel. Fortune Magazine typically rates it as the second most powerful lobby in the U.S. AIPAC frequently writes legislation for members of Congress, which extraordinarily large majorities of both parties typically endorse. It has a $100 million endowment and annual revenue of about $60 million and spends about $2-3 millioneach year in lobbying Congress. AIPAC’s annual conventions are typically a who’s who of high government office from both parties pledging their loyalty to Israel.

• Pro-Israel Political Action Committees (PACs): AIPAC does not give campaign contributions itself but instead uses a campaign finance network consisting of around thirty Pro-Israel Political Action Committees (PACs), which AIPAC is constantly signaling. Only four of these PACs have names that indicate their true agenda, such as ‘Allies for Israel’ or ‘World Alliance for Israel.’ The rest have innocuous names like ‘National Action Committee’ or ‘Heartland PAC.’ Constituents usually don’t realize their candidates are receiving money from PACs that advance the interests of a foreign government. (More info below)

• Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CoP): This group of 51 Zionist organizations also advocates on behalf of Israel, including a focus on Iran. It had revenues of over $2.2 million in 2011. All members of the CoP sit on AIPAC’s executive committee. The Conference of Presidents focuses on lobbying the Executive branch while AIPAC concentrates on Congress.

• The American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF): AIEF is a subsidiary of AIPAC that takes Congressional Representatives on all-expense-paid trips to Israel. In August 2011, 81 members of Congress from both parties took trips to Israel with the AIEF. Its annual budget is over $26 million, and its executive director, Richard Fishman, is officially “not compensated,” but he receives $395,000 annually from affiliates. Roll Call reports that in 2012 “The American Israel Education Foundation spent more than $650,000 last year — more than any other group — to send more than 60 lawmakers and staffers to Israel for tours of Jerusalem, seminars on Israeli politics and discussions of asymmetric warfare, according to congressional travel filings.”

• The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP): WINEP is a highly influential think tank that pushes Israel-centric Middle East policies. It was founded by a former AIPAC employee, and while it claims to promote a “balanced and realistic” understanding of the Middle East, it is “funded by individuals deeply committed to advancing Israel’s agenda.” It is frequently called upon by both the government and the media to provide “expert” analysis on Middle East issues. Its 2010 revenues were $9.4 million, and its net assets total $23.5 million. Former AIPAC member MJ Rosenberg stated: “I was working at AIPAC and it was Steve Rosen who cleverly came up with the idea for an AIPAC controlled think-tank that would put forth the AIPAC line but in a way that would disguise its connections.” More information is here.

• Anti-Defamation League (ADL): The ADL bills itself as a civil rights institution devoted to stamping out anti-Semitism. But in practice, it regularly works to promote Israeli interests and attacks virtually any prominent person who criticized Israel and labels them “anti-Semitic.” It has also been involved in a large spying operation against American citizens who opposed the policies of Israel and the Apartheid regime in South Africa. It is an architect of “hate crimes legislation” that may effectively criminalize criticism of Israeli policies. The ADL is a member of the CoP with revenues of around $60 million and net assets of over $115 million. Abe Foxman, its national director, makes $688,280 per year.

• International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (aka Stand for Israel): Founded in 1983 by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein “to promote understanding between Jews and Christians and build broad support for Israel,” it promotes advocacy for Israel among mostly right-wing Christians. It has annual revenues of nearly $100 million.

Part 2

>>5576879

“[Leona Helmsley] left instructions for her charitable trust fund… to benefit dogs. But the courts ruled that the Leona and Harry Helmsley Trust Fund she had established after her husband’s death was not legally bound to fund animals only, and that its grants should be directed solely at the discretion of the trustees she had appointed. Fortunately for the State of Israel, Mrs. Helmsley chose Sandor (Sandy) Frankel, 69, a local Jewish attorney who worked closely with her the last 18 years of her life, to be one of the four trustees who now oversee that major trust. Frankel, who is married to an Israeli and has visited Israel frequently since he was a teenager, is proud to say that he has a passion for the Jewish state.

Among the projects receiving its multi-million grants was a new press center in Israel. At its opening Frankel announced: “Our hope is that with the opening of the club’s doors, the press will flock here, and will accurately report” on the country and its people.

• AMIT: According to its website: “Founded in 1925, AMIT is the world’s leading supporter of religious Zionist education and social services for Israel’s children and youth, nurturing and educating Israeli children to become productive, contributing members of society.” It has numerous chapters throughout the U.S. It sponsors lectures about Israel, holds screenings of Israeli films, participates in pro-Israel parades, etc. In 2011 its annual expenses were over $8 million and its net assets were $11,705,151. Its executive vice president was paid $120,292.

• Aaron and Marie Blackman Foundation, Inc: Net assets of about $7 million (see also here and here). Distributes grants to various Israeli organizations and other organizations with relationships with Israel.

• Jewish Day Schools: As Shalom School in Sacramento states, many of these schools work to “instill in our students an attachment to the state of Israel.” They frequently have school trips to Israel (e.g. the Jewish Day school in Seattle). Their mission statements note that they teach “the centrality of the State of Israel” (see Contra Costa Jewish Day School). These are usually tax exempt institutions, which means they are subsidized by U.S. taxpayers.

• Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA): The Jewish Council for Public Affairs acts as an umbrella for many smaller organizations. One of its three goals, as announced in its mission statement, is to work for “the safety and security of the State of Israel.” Its annual funding is $3,128,795 and comes primarily from private individuals.

• Jewish National Fund (JNF): The Jewish National Fund is an international organization founded at Basil Switzerland by Theodore Herzl in 1901. The fund was originally created with for the purpose of purchasing land in Palestine for a future Jewish state. Today the main focus for the JNF is land “reclamation” and forestry. However, the group also serves to fund IDF military installations. The organization is well funded by donors with total assets of $1.15 billion dollars.

• Zionist Organization of America (ZOA): The Zionist Organization of America was established in 1887, making it the oldest pro-Israel organization in the US. Their goal is to spread the Zionist message wherever in all aspects of American life. Their objectives include spreading Zionism on American campuses, work to advance the interests Israel and Jewish people within the American legal system. They also engage in pro-Israel lobbying, with expenditures totaling$299,900 in 2009. Their finances include over $8 Million in assets and $2.5 million from donors.

Part 3

>>5576900

Haim Saban, multimedia mogul whose net worth is over $3 billion dollars, has said, “I’m a one-issue guy and my issue is Israel.” In 2010, he told New Yorker magazine that his greatest concern is to protect Israel by strengthening the United States-Israel relationship. Saban has bluntly outlined his formula for gaining influence in American politics: make donations to political parties, establish think tanks, and control media outlets. He tried to buy Time and Newsweek magazines, and has made repeated bids for the Los Angeles Times because he considers the paper to be pro-Palestinian. He donated $9 million to Democrats in the 2002 election cycle alone.

Sheldon Adelson, a businessman and casino magnate, is worth over $28 billion dollars. He owns a number of resorts as well as the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom, the most largely circulated paper in Israel. Adelson set a new record in political donations by giving $70 million (to Republicans) in the 2012 elections, nearly triple the previous highest amount. He also funds pro-Israel organizations such as Birthright Israel, which takes thousands of young Jewish Americans on recruiting visits to Israel.

Rahm Emanuel (full name Rahm Israel Emanuel), powerful Democratic politician –Congressman, chair of the House Democratic caucus, mayor of Chicago (despite allegations that he had not been a Chicago resident), in Bill Clinton’s administration (had been Clinton’s main fundraiser), White House Chief of Staff under President Obama, etc. Volunteered with the Israeli military during the first Gulf War (his father had served in the pre-Israel terrorist group the Irgun), was Israeli citizen until age of 18.

Stuart Weitzman, shoe designer, donated $1 million to Maccabi USA. The Maccabiah is an Olympics-style competition held every four years in Israel.

Part 4

>>5576806, >>5576879, >>5576900, >>5576916 Introduction to the Israel Lobby

Iran Navy foils pirate attack on oil tanker in Gulf of Aden

Iran's naval forces have successfully thwarted a pirate attack on an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden.

Pirates in 11 speedboats attacked the oil tanker with a cargo of more than 150,000 tonnes in Bab el-Mandeb Strait. However, commandos of the Navy’s 60th flotilla of warships, which patrols the Gulf of Aden in an overseas mission, managed to repel the attack.

The 60th flotilla, comprising Bayandor destroyer, Bushehr logistic vessel and Lavan logistic warship, set off for high seas on January 23 on a mission to maintain the Islamic Republic’s power in international waters and safeguard maritime routes.

In recent years, Iran’s Navy has increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.

In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, safeguarding merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries.

Iran’s Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters.

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/03/08/590504/iran-navy-pirates-aden

A day after Netanyahu makes threats!

Will Trump Veto? U.S Congress Drafts Bill Banning Recognition of Russia’s Crimea

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of the United States has, after a long time in committee, approved a bill banning the US government from recognizing Crimea as a Russian region.

The decision was made unanimously on March 7th, according to the website of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The text of the “Law on the non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea” was submitted to Congress on January 16th and was only now sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. If the bill is supported by both houses of Congress, it will be sent to president Trump for final ratification or veto.

At this point in time, it appears likely that the bill will pass both houses, given the political climate. The question remains as to whether Trump will veto the bill or not. Also at his disposal is the line-item veto – parts of the bill can be struck out by Trump, and then ratified.

This introduces more layers and complexity to the US political system. It is difficult at this time to project whether Trump will sign the bill.

Recently, in American media, was more hyperventilation about the Congress possibly moving forward with impeachment proceedings against Trump. The following day, Trump made a ‘180’ on Syria, and effectively renounced his plan to end the occupation of the beleaguered country.

However, Trump has used the question of recognizing Crimea as Russian as a very large bargaining chip, as a card that he has yet to finally play. Ideally, Trump would get Russia to give up most of Syria, and elements of its relationship with China, in exchange for a US supported initiative to gather global consensus that Crimea is an integral part of Russia.

The present discourse about redrawing the borders in the Balkans appears to be a smaller-scale test-balloon on the international diplomatic viability of such bold endeavors as redrawing maps.

Such changes have historically come as the precursor to, or in the aftermath of, a major war.

Nevertheless, it seems as a move against the lateral movement of Trump that congress would pursue such a bill. This, if passed and not vetoed in some form, would tie his hands to Congress’s foreign policy, and not the president’s.

• Advertisement -

The details of the bill in its present form are indeed problematic.

https://www.fort-russ.com/2019/03/flores-will-trump-veto-u-s-congress-drafts-bill-banning-recognition-of-russias-crimea/

Policeman of the world???

Democrats Vote To Give Illegal Immigrants The Right To Vote

Update: House Democrats voted Friday to defend localities that allow illegal immigrants to vote in their elections, turning back a GOP attempt to discourage the practice. As The Washington Times reports, the vote marks a stunning reversal from just six months ago, when the chamber - then under GOP control - voted to decry illegal immigrant voting.

“We are prepared to open up the political process and let all of the people come in,” Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and hero of the civil rights movement, told colleagues as he led opposition to the GOP measure.

Texas Republican. Rep. Dan Crenshaw raged:

“It sounds like I’m making it up. What kind of government would cancel the vote of its own citizens, and replace it with noncitizens?”

• • *

As we detailed earlier, using carefully chosen words in what appears an attempt to hide the truth, House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi admitted this week at a news conference on voting rights with Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, that Democrats want illegal immigrants to be able to come into the nation freely, across their open borders, in order to rig elections for the Democrats.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-03-08/pelosi-admits-push-giving-illegal-immigrants-right-vote

>>5577084

Israel lobby?????

Fucking kike baker