Minneapolis City Council Unanimously Approves Pledge to Abolish Police Department

The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a pledge to seek the replacement of its police department with a so-called community-led public safety system amid pressure from Black Lives Matter and far-left Democrats to defund law enforcement in the wake of protests and riots over George Floyd’s death.

“The murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, by Minneapolis police officers is a tragedy that shows that no amount of reforms will prevent lethal violence and abuse by some members of the Police Department against members of our community, especially Black people and people of color,” the five city council members wrote in the resolution.

The vote follows a veto-proof majority of the council members voting to disband the department.

Last Thursday, Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender vowed that the council will “dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department and replace it with a transformative new model of public safety.” Minneapolis City Council member Jeremiah Ellison, son of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, echoed Bender’s pledge.

“We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department. And when we’re done, we’re not simply gonna glue it back together. We are going to dramatically rethink how we approach public safety and emergency response. It’s really past due,” he tweeted.

The development places the council at odds with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, (D) who has voiced opposition to defunding the city’s police department during a recent Black Lives Matter protest, prompting demonstrators to boo him away.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/06/12/minneapolis-city-council-unanimously-approves-pledge-to-abolish-police-department/

U.S. And Iraq Release Joint Statement Loosely Outlining Troop Withdrawal And Other Issues

On June 11th, the US and Iraq released a joint statement on their strategic dialogue, outlining American troop withdrawal from the Middle East country.

The statement also included information on other topics. However, notably, following the assassination of Major General Qassem Soleimani by US drone strike.

Nine others were killed alongside Soleimani, including four Iranian and five Iraqi nationals such as deputy chairman of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and commander of the Iran-backed Kata’ib Hezbollah militia, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis

“On the security partnership, the two countries recognized that in light of significant progress towards eliminating the ISIS threat, over the coming months the U.S. would continue reducing forces from Iraq and discuss with the Government of Iraq the status of remaining forces as both countries turn their focus towards developing a bilateral security relationship based on strong mutual interests. The United States reiterated that it does not seek nor request permanent bases or a permanent military presence in Iraq, as previously agreed to in the 2008 SFA which provides for security cooperation to be undertaken on the basis of mutual agreement. The Government of Iraq committed to protecting the military personnel of the International Coalition and the Iraqi facilities hosting them consistent with international law and the specific arrangements for their presence as will be decided upon by the two countries.”

The joint statement, was released quickly, and the strategic dialogue was brief, with David Schenker, the top US diplomat for the Middle East, telling reporters the delegations did not discuss a timeline for reducing troops.

Separately, in terms of economy, the US vowed to support its economy. This was the first strategic dialogue in more than ten years.

The United States said it would look to encourage investment and promote economic reform in Iraq, which was rocked last year by major protests against unemployment and corruption.

“We will support the new government through the international financial institutions to help it meet the challenge of COVID-19 and declining oil revenues,” Schenker said.

“The United States discussed providing economic advisors to work directly with the Government of Iraq to help advance international support for Iraq’s reform efforts, including from the international financial institutions in connection with firm plans to enact fundamental economic reforms. The two governments discussed the potential for investment projects involving world-class U.S. firms in the energy and other sectors, provided that business conditions are favorable.”

Tensions have calmed substantially since Mustafa al-Kadhimi– an ex-spy chief with close ties to the US and its allies in the region — took the reins as Iraq’s premier in May 2020.

Two Iraqi officials said al-Kadhimi has been invited to the White House this year.

“There was a lack of confidence in the relationship with the previous government,” one of the officials said.

And the US statement underlined that it was prepared to work with him.

“The two sides reaffirmed the importance of the strategic relationship and their determination to take appropriate steps to enhance it in the interest of both countries and to achieve security, stability, and prosperity in the region. The United States Government welcomed the opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen its partnership with Iraq as Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi begins his term in office. The two governments look forward to in-depth discussions of the above issues at a Strategic Dialogue Higher Coordination Committee meeting in Washington, D.C., likely in July.”

As such this Strategic Dialogue is just a sort of intro into potential in-depth talks in July, after a short period of seeing what will transpire in the country, following this initial statement.

The spokesman for the pro-Iran Fatah bloc, Ahmad al-Assadi, has insisted on a six-month deadline for foreign troops’ departure.

https://southfront.org/u-s-and-iraq-release-joint-statement-loosely-outlining-troop-withdrawal-and-other-issues/

Bernie Sanders: Trump Is Endangering People by Holding GOP Convention Celebration in Florida

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) issued a sharp rebuke following Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announcing Jacksonville, Florida, as the host city to “celebrate President Trump’s acceptance of nomination,” proclaiming that the president is ignoring the advice of medical experts and, therefore, endangering thousands.

Sanders’ assertion comes mere days after praising the throngs of protesters taking to the streets.

“Trump wants 15,000 delegates cheering him at his GOP convention in Florida. No social distancing. His rejection of medical advice endangers not only those there but those they come in contact with,” the former presidential hopeful said.

“Trump’s a threat to the health and well-being of the country,” he added. “He must be defeated”:

McDaniel on Thursday announced that, while the “official business” of the convention will remain in Charlotte, North Carolina, the celebration of Trump’s nomination will take place in Jacksonville due to Gov. Roy Cooper (D) refusing to “provide assurances” that the celebration could occur in Charlotte as planned, citing coronavirus-related concerns.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville,” McDaniel said in Thursday’s statement. “Not only does Florida hold a special place in President Trump’s heart as his home state, but it is crucial in the path to victory in 2020.”

“We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State in just a few short months,” she added:

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/06/12/bernie-sanders-trump-is-endangering-people-by-holding-gop-convention-celebration-in-florida/

Apple CEO Tim Cook Announces $100 Million Racial Justice Initiative

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced a $100 million program aimed at promoting racial justice inside the tech giant.

Forbes reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook recently announced a $100 million program to promote racial justice inside the company. Cook’s announcement comes in the wake of the death of George Floyd which has sparked protests and riots across the country.

Cook reportedly plans to expand its recruitment efforts with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), create a camp for black developers, and increase spending with black-owned businesses. Cook stated that Apple would be forming a partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative which is a nonprofit group providing legal representation to prisoners who they believe have been denied a fair trial.

Lisa Jackson, Apple’s VP of environment, policy, and social initiatives will be leading the program. In 2009, Jackson was named the first black EPA Administrator.

Discussing the new initiative, Cook stated: “Growing up in Alabama during the civil rights movement, I saw firsthand that the only thing that ever made lasting and durable change was people of goodwill putting aside comfort and safety to speak up to march to call for accountability and to do what they could to make a flawed society more perfect.”

Cook tweeted a video discussing the new program, which can be seen below:

https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2020/06/12/apple-ceo-tim-cook-announces-100-million-racial-justice-initiative/

Engel Goes Dark: Pompeo Sends Scathing Letter On Fired State Department IG

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent a scathing letter Thursday to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-NY, assuring him that if he wants to take an active role in pursuing his requested investigation into former State Department Inspector General Steve Linick’s dismissal, he will have the State Department’s full transparency.

The letter comes shortly after Engel declined to speak with Deputy Secretary of State Steve Biegun, who wanted to provide him with the information he needed to proceed with his probe. Linick was removed from his post after a Defense Department investigation discovered that he had sent work emails – containing sensitive information – to his personal account regarding Brian Hook, the State Department’s top Iran official. It appears that Linick was probing the Trump administration’s actions on Iran, according to the investigation.

“You and I share a responsibility to ensure the American people have the full truth about former State Department Inspector General Steve Linick,” Pompeo wrote. “I hear you’ve been busy in your District, so let me get you up to speed on what’s been going on with your Committee.”

“Two weeks ago, we offered for Under Secretary of State for Management Brian Bulatao to speak with you and all Members of your Committee. 2 This week, Deputy Secretary of State Steve Biegun asked to have a call with you to discuss our offer and how to provide you the information you seek.”

Pompeo added, “Last night, your staff informed us you personally declined to speak to both Mr. Bulatao and Mr. Biegun. Instead, you asked your staff to have this conversation on your behalf. As you stated in your June 10 press release, if ‘State Department officials want to refute Mr. Linick’s account, they can do so.’ That is precisely what we‘ve been attempting to do.”

Democrats jumped on Linick’s dismissal, saying Pompeo didn’t want Linick to do his job over allegations of misconduct between himself and his own staff.

In his letter, Pompeo offered Under Secretary Bulatao “to voluntarily testify at a public hearing before the full House Committee on Foreign Affairs. If you, Mr. Chairman, want to hear the ‘answer[s to] critical questions about why President Trump fired Mr. Linick at the request of Secretary Pompeo,’ Mr. Bulatao is prepared to unambiguously refute your incorrect accusations at a hearing on June 22 or 23 – in the morning, afternoon, or evening.”

Pompeo continued, “Please let the Deputy Secretary know if you want to afford your Members this opportunity by returning his phone call at your earliest convenience. An email from your staff will not suffice.”

https://saraacarter.com/engel-goes-dark-pompeo-sends-scathing-letter-on-fired-state-department-ig/

Pompeo letter to Engel

https://www.scribd.com/document/465389928/Pompeo-letter-to-Engel#from_embed

Military Situation In Libya On June 12, 2020 (Map Update)

A brief overview of the recent developments in Libya:

Turkish sources claim that the Turkish military will establish a permanent presence at the al-Watiya airbase;

Turkish-backed forces have been sending reinforcements to the contact line with the Libyan National Army (LNA) near Sirte;

Turkish explosive ordnance disposal units started working in southern Tripoli;

At least 3 Turkish military cargo planes delivered equipment and weapons to Misrata.

https://southfront.org/military-situation-in-libya-on-june-12-2020-map-update/

Why the Sudden U.S. Keenness for Arms Control Talks With Russia?

The answer to the above question comes down to one word: China.

U.S. envoy Marshall Billingslea is, rather belatedly, making enthusiastic sounds about arms control talks to be held with Russia later this month. The talks are scheduled for June 22 in Vienna. The Kremlin has confirmed the venue and discussions, with deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov representing the Russian side.

On announcing the June 22 meeting with Russia, Billingslea showed an unseemly haste to link the event to the possibility of China also attending. “China also invited. Will China show and negotiate in good faith?” he added.

That sounds odd, if not inappropriate. The talks are supposed to be bilateral efforts by the world’s foremost nuclear powers to get down to serious negotiations on global security. After all, the U.S. and Russia possess over 90 per cent of the world’s total number of warheads. Why the haste by the U.S. side to get China involved at this stage?

The U.S. envoy sounds more like a dodgy salesman than a principled negotiator on arms control. Billingslea’s career history as an accused advocate of torture techniques under President GW Bush and his stint at the Treasury with responsibility for imposing sanctions on other nations does not inspire confidence that he has expertise in arms control issues nor has serious scruples about advancing global peace.

From previous announcements by the Trump administration, it is clear that the real U.S. aim is to use the talks with Russia as a way to rope China into trilateral arms control. This is hardly the spirit of trust and genuine negotiations.

The Trump administration has been abandoning nuclear security treaties with gusto. Last month it walked away from the Open Skies Treaty. In 2018, it ditched the international nuclear accord with Iran, and last year binned the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. The latter step gravely undermines security architecture in Europe. The American side disingenuously accused Russia of breaching the INF, but it has since become clear that Washington wanted out of that treaty in order to have a free hand to confront China with short and medium-range missiles.

Under Trump, the U.S. has promoted the endeavor to weaponize outer space in violation of an existing United Nations’ treaty.

His administration has also adopted a mercurial, non-committed attitude towards the New START accord governing long-range nuclear warheads. Despite repeated appeals from Moscow for clarity, the U.S. side has demurred on whether it will extend the treaty which is due to expire in February 2021. If START is abandoned – the last remaining arms control treaty – then there is a real danger of a new global arms race being unleashed.

The U.S., it seems, is using veiled threats of leaving New START as a leverage point on Russia to corral China. Such a negotiating ploy shows a reckless, gambling disregard for global security and peace. It also illustrates a total lack of integrity and principle.

For its part, China this week said it has no intention of joining trilateral talks in Vienna. Beijing points out that its nuclear arsenal is a fraction of those belonging to the U.S. and Russia. It is up to Washington and Moscow to first drastically reduce their nuclear inventories before Beijing is obligated to join wider efforts for disarmament.

“We noticed that the United States has been dragging China into the issue…whenever it is raised, with the intention of deviating from its responsibility,” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2020/06/12/why-sudden-us-keenness-for-arms-control-talks-with-russia/

Coronavirus strengthens China’s ties to Middle East

Chinese medical professionals have been teaching coronavirus best practices to counterparts in the United Arab Emirates, while Beijing has provided a laboratory for testing in Iraq.

On May 31, Jordan received $750,000 worth of medical aid from the People’s Republic of China to fight COVID-19.

The donation underscores the way the relationship between China and the Middle East has been bolstered during the pandemic. This stands in stark relief to the ties between Beijing and Washington as tempers flare over just who is responsible for more than 6 million infections worldwide.

Jonathan Fulton, assistant professor in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, has written extensively about China-Middle East relations and says the donation “further established” Beijing as a provider of aid to the region.

“It builds upon the outreach it has made throughout the Middle East during the pandemic, which has helped improve its image after the initial outbreak in Wuhan,” he told The Media Line. “It also provides China with an opportunity to demonstrate its usefulness as a partner, having established a strategic partnership with Jordan in 2015.”

Fulton argues that China’s actions are filling a vacuum left by the United States, which has reduced its profile in the Middle East.

“While in the past, MENA [Middle East/North Africa] countries would have expected aid and support to come from the US, the domestic political situation there, combined with its dismal response to COVID-19, means they have to look elsewhere,” he explained. “China has taken advantage of this lack of leadership from Washington to improve its standing in the region.”

Dr. Mordechai Chaziza, a senior lecturer in the Department of Politics and Governance at Ashkelon Academic College in Israel, and author of China and the Persian Gulf: The New Silk Road Strategy and Emerging Partnerships, says Beijing has been making inroads to Middle Eastern countries other than Jordan, while nations in the region helped China itself at the onset of the outbreak.

“At least for now, the relationships between China and Middle Eastern states are close and supportive in both directions,” he told The Media Line.

Chaziza notes that Qatar Airways flew over 300 tons of health supplies to Beijing, while the Saudis agreed in February to six different shipments of medical aid. Israel sent masks and 200 complete sets of personal protective equipment, including items like outer suits, goggles and shoes.

In the other direction, Chinese medical professionals have been teaching coronavirus best practices to counterparts in the United Arab Emirates, while Beijing has provided a laboratory for testing in Iraq.

“The PRC will likely continue to provide medical equipment and aid to those Middle Eastern countries that want it,” he stated, explaining that the bottom line plays a major role in motivating both sides.

“Economic considerations very much influence the underlying calculation behind the positive interaction of Middle Eastern states with China,” he said.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/coronavirus-strengthens-chinas-ties-to-middle-east-630099

John Bolton Book To 'Go Beyond Ukraine' - Accuse Trump Of 'Misconduct With Other Countries'

Failed Trump handler John Bolton may not have gotten his Iran war - yet, but he'll have his revenge on Donald J. Trump if it's the last thing he does.

According to Axios, Bolton's upcoming memoir, "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir," will reportedly offer "multiple revelations about Trump's conduct in office," according to a source familiar with the book.

Bolton will 'go beyond Ukraine,' and argue that Trump is guilty of 'misconduct with other countries,' an anonymous source told Axios.

Of note, the White House says Bolton's manuscript contains classified material which could pose a national security risk, and will provide Bolton with a redacted copy by June 19, four days before its scheduled publication date.

According to Axios' Jonathan Swan, the Trump team is rattled because Bolton was known as 'the most prolific note taker in high-level meetings,' filling multiple yellow legal pads.

"In short: Bolton saw a lot, and he wrote it down in real time. And when he left, the White House never got those notes back."

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/john-kelly-book-go-beyond-ukraine-accuse-trump-misconduct-other-countries

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan say they are 'deeply shaken and disgusted by Trump's divisive and incendiary rhetoric' in a letter to 160 scientists who criticized Facebook for not flagging his posts

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan responded to a letter criticizing Facebook's moderation policies regarding President Trump

The letter, written by scientists funded through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, said Trump is being allowed to spread misinformation and use divisive language

The couple said in a reply that they are 'deeply shaken and disgusted by President Trump's divisive and incendiary rhetoric'

But they added the social media platform and CZI are operated independently of one another

Zuckerberg and Facebook have been heavily criticized for not flagging Trump's posts like Twitter has done in the past

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have responded to dozens of scientists who criticized Facebook for not censoring President Donald Trump's comments.

More than 160 researchers, who receive funding through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), sent a letter to the couple on Sunday, asking them to reconsider policies regarding people who post misinformation and 'incendiary language.'

They claimed the current guidelines oppose the Initiative's goals of using technology to eradicate diseases, improve childhood education and reform the criminal justice system.

In a reply, Zuckerberg and Chan said they were 'deeply shaken and disgusted by President Trump's divisive and incendiary rhetoric' on Facebook.

However, they added the social media platform operates independently from their organization and has its own moderation policies.

More

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8414461/Mark-Zuckerberg-Priscilla-Chan-say-deeply-shaken-Trumps-rhetoric.html

New York man arrested for sexual exploitation of minors

NEW YORK – A 29 year-old Middletown, New York, man was arrested Thursday for the sexual exploitation of minors following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York.

Jonathan Weiss, a/k/a "Ian_Jameson," is charged with communicating with three different underage victims online and directing them to take sexually explicit images and send them to Weiss.

"Jonathan Weiss allegedly posed as a minor and directed his teenage victims to take and send sexually explicit photographs to him through Snapchat," said Peter C. Fitzhugh, special agent in charge of HSI New York. "It is horrific for anyone to prey on our most vulnerable. HSI New York's Child Exploitation Investigation Unit is resolute in the pursuit of alleged predators lurking within our communities, and we will continue to work with our partners in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York to protect our community from predators seeking to pull them into their dark, evil world."

"Jonathan Weiss's alleged crimes are abhorrent and predatory. Using a common social media app, Weiss allegedly sexually exploited three 13-year-olds. We will continue to work with our partners at Homeland Security Investigations to vigorously investigate and prosecute defendants who prey on children," said Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

According to the complaint filed yesterday in White Plains federal court and unsealed today, in September 2019, Weiss, a/k/a "Ian_Jameson," communicated online via Snapchat with a 13-year-old minor ("Victim-1") and directed Victim-1 to take and send sexually explicit photographs of Victim-1 to Weiss. Weiss engaged in the same type of activity with another 13-year-old minor ("Victim-2") in August 2019 and a third 13-year-old minor ("Victim-3") in May 2020.

During his communications with his victims, Weiss utilized the Snapchat screen name "Ian_Jameson" and posed as a minor. Weiss allegedly told Victim-1 that if she did not send more nude pictures to Weiss, he would send the pictures she had already sent to others. In response to the threats to send her pictures to others, Victim-1 "blocked" "Ian_Jameson" on Snapchat. Shortly thereafter, people began telling her that they had received her nude images.

Weiss is charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, each carrying a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Special thanks to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the Clay County Sheriff's Office in Orange Park, Florida, and the Longview Police Department in Longview, Texas, in connection with this investigation.

The prosecution is being handled by the SDNY's White Plains Division. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/new-york-man-arrested-sexual-exploitation-minors

America Convulses in Pain, Fed Bails Out the Wealthy

What’s so insidious about the Fed’s bailouts of investors in hedge funds, mortgage-REITS, stocks, bonds, leveraged loans, and other often risky assets? The destruction of capitalism.

By Wolf Richter. This is the transcript of my podcast last Sunday, THE WOLF STREET REPORT. You can listen to it on YouTube, and you can find it on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and others.

We’re in an economic meltdown like I’ve never seen before. Tens of millions of people have lost their jobs – and so suddenly, that the government data to track them has fallen into chaos, with different agencies reporting data that is all over the place and contradicting each other. None of these systems were designed to track this type of sudden collapse of the labor market during a pandemic.

Then there are the many small businesses that have had to shut down or lost most of their customers and revenues. And these entrepreneurs have no idea if they can make it through this period.

Over the past three months, about 110,000 people in the United States have died from the coronavirus. That number is still growing every day at a rate of about 1,000 deaths. But the efforts to slow the spread of the virus and save lives have caused enormous economic damage.

And people’s frustration and anger with racial injustice has boiled over, and they’re frustrated and angry over a host of systemic issues, including the inequality of economic prospects, and there have been big protests every day around the country for well over a week.

Just now, there was a protest march going by our place here in San Francisco. They had police escorts on motorcycles and cars. They were chanting “black lives matter” and other phrases, and clapping and waving, and holding up cardboard signs with various messages written on them. They were of all races – and I would say that the majority was young and white. These people woke up.

And there has been widespread looting earlier in this phase – in my neighborhood, all the drugstores were systematically looted a week ago at night by a convoy of cars that drove from store to store, and there were no protests anywhere near.

The looters came for the money and reacted to the horrendous economic inequality in this country, to the mind-boggling wealth disparity, and to the whole bizarre system that encourages a private equity firm to raid a company and loot it, and burn its creditors, and destroy its jobs, and then walk away a capitalist hero as the company collapses as nothing but a shell, which is what private equity firms have done repeatedly all over the place, including with Toys ‘R’ Us.

In a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll out today, 80% of the respondents said they feel that the country is spiraling out of control.

https://wolfstreet.com/2020/06/11/america-convulses-in-pain-fed-bails-out-the-wealthy/

REMOVE POLICE

Install 5G surveillance grid

Social distancing being used to map everyone

Use microwave weapons to zap those who do not comply