The US government’s top oversight official for Afghanistan has accused the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) of stonewalling ongoing investigations, saying they have refused interviews with staff and even failed to provide “basic information” to assist the probes.
Russia-Ukraine Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen walked out of a G20 meeting once a Russian official started talking. [Link] The US imposed another round of sanctions on Russia. [Link] A delegation of Senators pressures Serbia to sanction Russia. [Link] Germany’s foreign minister says her country will phase out Russian oil imports by the end of the year. Germany will continue to import Russian gas. [Link] Germany will send artillery ammunition and provide training to Ukraine. [Link] Germany evicts some Afghan refugees to make room for Ukrainians. [Link] NATO continues to increase security...
US News The US donated 4.9 million Pfizer covid vaccination doses to Vietnam through Covax. [Link] The Chicago police officer who shot and killed Adam Tolodeo will not be charged. [Link] A US consulate in Mexico closes after coming under fire. [Link] Russia Ukraine's president addressed the American Congress. He compared the Russian attack to 9/11 and called for a no-fly zone. [Link] Biden tweets “We will make sure Ukraine has weapons to defend against the invading Russian force.” He added the US would welcome Ukrainian refugees. [Link] US troops will remain deployed near the Polish...
NATO member Turkey will preside over high-level negotiations between Ukraine and Russia later this week, its foreign minister said, the first sit-down involving top diplomats from the warring nations since Moscow’s invasion began in late February.
Introduction In the mainstream view, al-Qaeda did not play a role in the Syria conflict until Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi dispatched his deputy, Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, to Syria in August 2011 to establish a wing of the group there, called Jabhat al-Nusra, or the Nusra Front. Additionally, al-Qaeda allegedly did not carry out any military operations until December 2011 and did not announce its establishment until January 2012. However, there is evidence that al-Qaeda affiliated militants were involved in the Syrian conflict much earlier. Saudi intelligence...
On COI #187, Kyle Anzalone breaks down the increasing tensions in Eastern Europe. Thousands of migrants from the Middle East and North Africa are seeking to enter the EU through Belarus. The refugees are currently living in freezing conditions near the border with Poland. Rather than supporting the migrants, Biden - along with the EU - has slammed the migrants as part of a nefarious plot by Belarus and Russia. Kyle updates the fight in Afghanistan between ISIS-K and the Taliban. The Islamic State’s ranks may be growing as former members of the US-backed Afghan National Army join ISKP. ...
On COI #179, Kyle Anzalone refutes Max Boot’s recent Washington Post op-ed arguing against boycotting Israel. In the article, Boot admits that the reason we must reject BDS is that the movement calls for a “right of return” for Palestinian refugees. He admits that Palestinians cannot live in their homeland because that would make Israel a majority Palestinian state. Boot concludes his article by cowardly suggesting that people who oppose Israel only do so because they harbor a hatred for Jews. Kyle breaks down Joe Biden’s gaffe at his town hall with Anderson Cooper. Biden said the US was...
Great interview of Isa Blumi by Joanne Leon. Isa reviews in detail the realignment of power with the change from Trump to Biden, the fight for natural resources, trade routes and influence in the Middle East and Africa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuONqOM9oVc Guest: Dr. Isa Blumi. This is a wide-ranging discussion about the political realignments in the Gulf states, new partnerships in the Middle East and Africa, Qatar’s involvement in the withdrawal from Afghanistan, developments in Yemen, quiet military repurposing of strategic island of Socotra, the long and complicated...
US News New Jersey will divest from Ben and Jerry’s parent company because of its decision not to sell ice cream in Israeli settlements. [Link] Korea North Korea says it test-launched a new rail-based missile system. [Link] China The US signs a new anti-China defense pact with the UK and Australia. Australia will get access to US nuclear submarine technology to build eight subs. [Link] Taiwan announces it will spend an additional $8 billion on defense over the next five years. Taiwan said the growing Chinese threat was the reason for the move. [Link] Middle East Israeli Defense Minister...
Afghanistan Polling shows Americans are supportive of Biden’s decision to leave Afghanistan. [Link] The US used three helicopters to airlift 169 Americans from a hotel outside of the Kabul Airport. [Link] UK officials report seven people were crushed to death outside the Kabul Airport. [Link] The Pentagon is using 18 civilian planes from 18 airlines to fly Afghan refugees. The planes will not be used in Afghanistan. [Link] The Taliban say they have recaptured three districts that had fallen into the hands of opposition fighters. [Link] Middle East Israeli snipers opened fire on protesters...
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