US expresses concern about Iran-Venezuela fuel trade

18 May 2020

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A senior Pentagon commander said today that growing energy ties between Tehran and Caracas pose a challenge to the US but downplayed the possibility of intercepting Iranian fuel shipments to Venezuela.

"You have to ask yourself what interest Iran has in Venezuela, where we have seen recent indications of Iranian military and state support," US southern command chief, Admiral Craig Faller, said at an event hosted by the Florida International University. "It is to gain a positional advantage in our neighborhood as a way to counter US interests."

Five fuel tankers loaded in Iran are currently heading out of the Mediterranean toward Venezuela, shipping data indicate. The first tanker, the Iranian-flagged Fortune, is due to arrive at a Venezuelan port early next week.

The shipments follow a bevy of Iranian flights ferrying catalyst and Chinese equipment into Venezuela to help restart state-owned PdV's 635,000 b/d Amuay and 305,000 b/d Cardon refineries.

The refinery work and new gasoline supplies would help Venezuela claw out of a severe fuel shortage. Both Iran and Venezuela are targets of US sanctions.

Faller, who commands the US military forces in South America, declined to comment directly on the fuel shipments, while adding that the US views Iranian activity in Venezuela "with concern."

The shipments lay bare that Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his late predecessor Hugo Chavez "wrecked the oil industry and ruined the once prosperous country," Faller said.

In recent days, Iran has warned the US against trying to disrupt the shipments to Venezuela. "The delivery of these tankers carrying gasoline was ordered by the Venezuelan government, and it relies on the free will of countries to engage in traditional international exchanges. We want to ensure the safety of these cargoes from the risk of marine robbery/piracy by the US, which it has engaged in in the past," Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said today.

"Although it is still to early to comment on what Iran's response would be to a possible theft by the US, if they make such a mistake, we will leave all options open and take the appropriate action to protect maritime freedom and increase the price of breaking the law," he added.

The shipments come against the backdrop of a recent build-up of US naval assets in the Caribbean and enhanced cooperation between the Pentagon and Venezuela's neighboring states, led by Colombia.

The enhanced naval forces are focused on combating transnational criminal organizations and drug trafficking, Faller said. "This is all about getting after a persistent threat that has begun before the current Covid crisis."

President Donald Trump in March ordered the US military to step up counter-trafficking efforts, a move that was coupled with criminal indictments against Maduro and other Venezuelan officials over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

Faller downplayed the possibility of military conflict in the Caribbean. "With respect to Venezuela, our focus has been to share intelligence, trying to figure out what Maduro and his cronies are up to." The Pentagon is also helping plan for the "day after" democracy is restored in Venezuela, he said.

Faller said the US has not changed its policy of achieving a government transition in Venezuela by means of economic and diplomatic pressure, and denied involvement in a recent incursion with participation by former Venezuelan soldiers and two retired US special forces personnel. "The US southern command and the US government have no connection to that botched event, zero," Faller said.

Statements on Venezuela from US military commanders have tended to be less confrontational than remarks by Trump's national security officials.

Washington has few available tools to thwart Iranian energy cooperation with Venezuela, as nearly all Iranian and Venezuelan oil industry entities are already on the US sanctions list. The US has also threatened to penalize shippers and port authorities that knowingly assist any tanker carrying Iranian oil and crude products.

https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2106437-us-expresses-concern-about-iranvenezuela-fuel-trade

Neil Cavuto Stunned by Trump Taking Hydroxychloroquine: ‘It Will Kill You ’

Fox Business Network host Neil Cavuto expressed shocked over President Donald Trump’s announcement Monday that he is taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure against the Chinese coronavirus, warning that the drug could kill certain people taking it.

President Trump told reporters at the White House that he’s been taking hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug, saying that he’s been taking one tablet daily for anout a week and a half. The president also revealed that he is taking zinc.

“A number of studies, those certainly vulnerable in the population have one thing to lose, their lives,” Cavuto said on his program following President Trump’s announcement. “A VA study showed that among a population of veterans in a hospital receiving this treatment, those with vulnerable conditions, respiratory conditions, heart elements, they died.”

“Those who took it, in a vulnerable population, including those with respiratory or other conditions, they died,” the Fox Business Network host continued. “I want to stress again — they died. If you are in a risky population here and you are taking this as a preventative treatment to ward off the virus or, in a worst-case scenario, you are dealing with the virus, and you are in this vulnerable population, it will kill you. I cannot stress that enough. This will kill you.”

“So again, whatever benefit the president says this has — and certainly has had for those suffering from malaria, dealing with lupus — this is a leap that should not be taken casually by those watching at home or assuming, ‘well, the President of the United States says it’s okay,’” he added.

Adding zinc to hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin might help the drug combination resolve some COVID-19 symptoms, a study posted online this week said, though experts say the two-drug treatment’s benefit is questionable and carries health risks.

The findings breathe new life into a treatment regimen that has been touted by political and business leaders even before the results of clinical trials were in, experts said Wednesday.

Studies to date have indicated that the combination offers limited benefits at best, with potentially dangerous side effects.

“There is currently no highly effective agent for COVID-19 that we are aware of,” Dr. Joseph O. Rahimian, an infectious disease specialist at New York University Langone Health and co-author of the zinc study, told UPI.

“It may end up that optimal treatment will include multiple agents and that zinc may be a part of a treatment ‘cocktail,'” he said.

Historically, hydroxychloroquine has been used to treat malaria, while azithromycin is a commonly used antibiotic. Both have been studied in numerous clinical trials since the start of the outbreak of the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.

To date, research has yielded mixed results. Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about “life-threatening” side effects associated with hydroxychloroquine and advised that the drug only be used in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.

https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2020/05/18/neil-cavuto-stunned-by-trump-taking-hydroxychloroquine-it-will-kill-you/

House Dems tell SCOTUS ‘new articles of impeachment’ possible for Trump if Mueller docs turned over

In a filing with the U.S. Supreme Court, House Democrats reportedly said "'new articles of impeachment" could be filed against President Trump if Democrats are able to review documents from from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe.

The filing seeks to obtain redacted grand-jury material from Mueller’s Russia probe in order to fulfill an "ongoing presidential impeachment investigation" in their "weighty constitutional responsibility," as reported by Fox News on Monday.

"The [House Judiciary] Committee’s investigation did not cease with the conclusion of the impeachment trial," the Democrats wrote in their filing. "If this material reveals new evidence supporting the conclusion that President Trump committed impeachable offenses that are not covered by the articles adopted by the House, the committee will proceed accordingly – including, if necessary, by considering whether to recommend new articles of impeachment."

Democrats claimed they were investigating "the possible exercise of improper political influence over recent decisions made in the Roger Stone and Michael Flynn prosecutions, both of which were initiated by the special counsel."

The House has already conducted an impeachment trial on Trump, voting for an impeachment of the president. The U.S. Senate rejected the impeachment and voted to acquit the president of allegations that he improperly interacted with the president of the Ukraine in order to boost Trump's own domestic re-election

The Justice Department earlier this month, recommended a federal judge reverse the conviction of Flynn and drop the criminal charges, a stunning reversal in a case that became a powerful symbol of FBI misconduct in the Russia investigation.

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/all-things-trump/house-dems-tell-scotus-they-are-considering-new-articles

Judge Overturns Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s Ban On Religious Gatherings; “NULL AND VOID”

A judge in the sleepy rural area of Baker County has sided with churches and pastors and issued an injunction in their favor, declaring Oregon governor Kate Brown’s ban on religious gatherings “null and void.” This was part of a lawsuit that was brought forth last week, when 10 churches and 20 individuals filed a lawsuit against the governor, after she extended her lockdown orders another 60 days, into July.

The Oregonian reports:

A Baker County judge on Monday ruled that Gov. Kate Brown’s restrictions on religious gatherings are “null and void” because her emergency order amid the coronavirus pandemic exceeded its 28-day limit.

Circuit Judge Matthew B. Shirtcliff granted a preliminary injunction to 10 churches that had sued the governor, finding they had shown “irreparable harm” from the deprivation of the right to freely exercise their religions.

“The governor’s orders are not required for public safety when plaintiffs can continue to utilize social distancing and safety protocols at larger gatherings involving spiritual worship,” he ruled.

He found that the churches can take necessary social distancing precautions, just as grocery stores and other essential businesses have done. He also ruled that the injunction was in the public’s interest, allowing people the right to freely worship and the ability to restore economic viability.

“This court understands that the current pandemic creates an unprecedented crisis in the state as well as in our country,” Shirtcliff said, speaking from the bench in a videoconference hearing.

He said he must weigh the governor’s public health concerns against the constitutional right of freedom of worship, but he found that “the balance of equities tips in favor of Plaintiffs.”

“Plaintiffs have shown that they will be harmed by deprivation of the constitutional right to freely exercise their religion. Other plaintiffs have also shown great economic harm to their businesses and their ability to seek livelihood,” the judge said.

Darth Kater, as she’s getting called in conservative circles, released the following statement in response to the ruling:

“From the beginning of this pandemic, I have taken action to protect the health and safety of all Oregonians. We acted quickly and decisively at the beginning of the outbreak, using the best science and data available, to protect Oregon from COVID-19.

“Today’s ruling from the Baker County Circuit Court will be appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court within hours to keep my emergency orders in effect. This will ensure we can continue to safeguard the health of all Oregonians — including frontline health care workers, those living in nursing homes, workers in agriculture and food processing plants, and Oregonians with underlying health conditions –– while the legal process moves forward.

“The science behind these executive orders hasn’t changed one bit. Ongoing physical distancing, staying home as much as possible, and wearing face coverings will save lives across Oregon.

“Together Oregonians have turned the tide on the spread of COVID-19, allowing us to only now begin the process of gradually and safely reopening parts of our communities and our economies. Reopening the state too quickly, and without ongoing physical distancing, will jeopardize public health and cost lives.

“It is irresponsible to dismiss the health risks and science behind our measures to stop COVID-19. We would be faced with the prospect of another mass outbreak without the tools that have proven to be effective in protecting our friends, families, neighbors, and loved ones from this disease.”

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/05/judge-overturns-oregon-governor-kate-browns-ban-religious-gatherings-null-void/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=websitesharingbuttons

>>9230407

True that!

Never could stand that asshat.

>>9230479

Put the whole grapefruit in a blender, add honey, chill - tastes like tanq&tonic.

're welcome!

Huber: Childhood should be free from sexual exploitation

Child exploitation cases merit federal prosecution. My office files dozens of child exploitation cases every year. Each year, the ages of the children in the images get younger, and an increasing number of offenders use online platforms to target children.

The label “child pornography” fails to capture the true essence of the crimes.

More accurately described, our prosecutions involve images that depict sexual violence and rape of children by depraved adult perpetrators. Even one image of this violence would evoke tears, nausea or anger from a parent, grandparent or any human being. Yet federal defendants record and possess videos and images in the hundreds and thousands. They barter and trade images amongst themselves like collectible sports cards.

Adult perpetrators do not limit themselves to images of rape. Some of them creep online through social media in search of child victims. They assume a false online persona, groom victims with gifts and promises, and blackmail children by coaxing them to send embarrassing sexualized images to the perpetrators. Parents and those who try to guard against this conduct may not realize that no boundary or safety wall exists that adult perpetrators cannot cross to meet a child with the intent to sexually abuse the victim.

During the pandemic, parents have taken on more and more during stay at home directives. Work, school and parenting blend into demanding days. With everyone at home together, we may expect that the threat of child sexual exploitation would diminish. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that COVID-19 school closings may present increased risk of child exploitation. Children will potentially have an increased online presence and be in a position that puts them at an inadvertent risk. In order for the victimization to stop, children must have the courage to come forward to someone they trust — like a parent, teacher, caregiver or law enforcement. Understandably, the embarrassment of being enticed or coerced to engage in unwelcome behavior often prevents children from coming forward.

As a community, we can take measures to help educate and prevent children from becoming victims of child predators and sexual exploitation during this time of national emergency. We should help our young people come forward and report this predatory behavior when it happens to them or their friends. Offenders may have hundreds of victims around the world, so coming forward to help law enforcement identify offenders may prevent countless other incidents of sexual exploitation.

We can discuss internet safety with children of all ages, review and approve games and apps, and generally monitor internet usage. Children should understand that images posted online exist permanently. We should assure our children that it is not a crime for a child to send sexually explicit images to someone if they are compelled or coerced to do so — sometimes fear of being “in trouble” causes a child to hesitate to tell a trusted adult, because they feel guilty about their conduct. We want to ensure that children know they should report to a trusted adult when someone asks them to engage in sexual activity.

We should not forget about physical dangers that exist offline, as well, and watch over our children as our community transitions back to more normalized activity beyond the pandemic. Let’s teach our children about body safety and boundaries. Parents should continue to be mindful and screen those who provide childcare or babysitting, and consider safety precautions during playdates and overnight visits.

The adult perpetrators are out there, and we can all do more to prevent crimes against our children.

John W. Huber serves as U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah. President Barack Obama appointed him to that position in 2015, and President Donald Trump reappointed him in 2017. The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed each appointment.

https://www.standard.net/opinion/guest-commentary/huber-childhood-should-be-free-from-sexual-exploitation/article_ac228b71-8e66-5cdc-b451-211ced401239.html