theduran--2020-02-13--The Forgotten Judeo-Muslim-Christian Alliance and China’s Silk Road

Last week ’ s messy announcement of the US-Israeli Peace Plan for the Middle East was always destined to fail .
The proposed Palestinian borders , although territorially enlarged , are entirely patchy and un-workable , as are the military concessions demanded by Israel .
Ultimately a two state solution is still the only viable option for peace , but something more is required which today ’ s evangelical/Zionist ideologues despise .
Recently , I wrote a paper called “ De-bunking the Myth of the Jewish Conspiracy ” which dealt with the 19th century origins of modern Zionism and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British Intelligence .
In that report I stated that these movements can only be defeated by the massive development projects being ushered into the Middle East under China ’ s Belt and Road Initiative .
Today , I would like to go a little deeper into the longer wave of history shaping our presently confused age knowing that this exercise will not only give us a greater appreciation into the cures for the Middle East ills but also a means of refuting those geopolitical zombies who believe that humanity is destined for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Khazaria in the Modern Era Typically well informed readers who frequent alternative media either have never heard of the Jewish Khazar Kingdom that dominated central Europe , southern Russia and the Caucuses in the 7-10th century or IF THEY HAVE heard of it , they tend to believe that this Kingdom was the source of everything evil up until modern times .
Mainstream scholars tend to simply deny all evidence that this Jewish kingdom ever even existed since it throws into question the genetic connection of Ashkenazi Jews to the Semitic people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exist .
I would like to take a novel approach to this anomalous matter of Khazaria and the broader role of Judaism in world history .
Not only do I assert that bountiful evidence allows us to conclude that this Jewish Kingdom certainly did exist , but all existence evidence points to the fact that it was the very opposite to a hotbed for “ evil Ashkenazi Jewry ” as so many lazy researchers have claimed .
Instead , this report will attempt to prove that the forgotten kingdom was not only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faiths under one ecumenical alliance of cooperation for well over a century , but also served as a keystone to the newly reborn Silk Road trade routes uniting Asia with Europe through the Confucian Tang Dynasty ( 618-912 CE ) .
This kingdom and the evidence of a broader inter-cultural alliance has been systematically obscured for centuries by the same oligarchy which is today attempting to consolidate an anti-human empire since acknowledgement of its existence undermines the foundations upon which the system of oligarchy is premised .
Much of the following report was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historian Pierre Beaudry in his online book The Charlemagne Ecumenical Principle .
Under a primitive version of Samuel Huntington ’ s Clash of Civilizations doctrine , the Byzantine Empire , their sister Venetian Empire and the Ultramontane Church which were the heirs of the recently collapsed Roman oligarchy hated the rise of the Carolingian Empire under Charlemagne and the Augustinian humanist educational and economic reforms enacted during Charlemagne ’ s reign .
More importantly , they hated the brilliant alliances Charlemagne oversaw alongside his co-thinker Harun al Rashid ( Caliph of the Abbasid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CE ) and the new King Bulan of Khazaria who converted his kingdom to Judaism in the mid-8th century .
The Turkish Conversion to Judaism : The China Angle Khazaria was first established in the mid-7th century by the western Turkish Kaghanate that had become independent from any obedience to the eastern Turkish parent empire when the later had been defeated militarily by the Taizong Emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China in 643 CE .
With the Western Khaganate ’ s defeat , an important Chinese-Turkish Alliance was established that endured for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Chinese Emperor was made “ Tengri Khagan ” ( Heavenly King ) , supreme authority over all Turks .
100 000 Turks then migrated to China ’ s vastly expanded realm and 10 000 Turkish elites settled in the capital .
Letters from various Turkish leaders to the Tang court all the way until 741 CE continued to recognize China ’ s emperors as Heavenly Khagan .
Confucianism spread electrically across the entire Turkish Empire and the newly independent Turks of the west quickly established a highly developed centralized government in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon fisheries , and agriculture .
Khazaria became a keystone in the Silk Road with primary routes of the Steppe Silk Road going east-west over land from Uygur Territory in the east to western Crimea and export/import lines along the Dnieper , Don and Volga Rivers which fed into the Caspian and Black Seas .
Khazaria also held the vital North-South trade route along the Volga from Scandinavia through Central Russia to Islamic Iran and Azerbaijan .
The fact that Khazaria was founded by Turks with a strong link to China can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we must hold three important facts in mind : 1 ) Countless scholars have noted the strong Confucian philosophy embedded in the western Turkish Khaganate that established the Kingdom of Khazaria before King Bulan ’ s later conversion to Judaism sometime around 750CE .
Even though they were shamanistic , the Confucian principle of the Mandate of Heaven was a core belief of the Khazarian turks .
2 ) The first recorded influx of Jews in China occurred in 618 CE with the start of the Tang Dynasty .
As the Tang emperor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had fallen apart after the fall of the Han Dynasty in the 200 CE , Buddhists , Hindus , Nestorian Christians , Zoroastrians , Muslims and Jews flocked to China .
This was an especially positive breath of fresh air for Jews as Professor Pan Guang stated : “ they could preserve their native customs and religious beliefs… In education , work , buying and selling of land , marriage and the right to move , they enjoyed the same rights and treatment as Han Chinese .
They never faced discrimination ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrast to the Byzantine-directed persecution and forced conversions had run rampant across the west .
Much of this persecution stemmed less from religious reasons and more from geopolitical ones as the earlier Jewish Himyaritic Kingdom ’ s conversion to Judaism in 380 CE destroyed Byzantium ’ s designs to take control of Arabia .
Waves of violence descended upon Jews during this time and beyond Himyaria ’ s collapse in 525 CE as vengeance for resisting imperial hegemony .
3 ) The primary group in this early phase of the renewed Silk Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city of Radhan in Iraq .
According to Persian scholar al Masudi ( 896-956 ) , these Jewish traders spoke Arabic , Greek , Persian , Slavic , Spanish and Frankish and according to 9th century geographer Ibn Khurdabhe , there were four Radhanite trade routes linking Europe to China .
The primary and most active corridor moving through the Middle East and to Europe was “ the Steppe Silk Road ” much of which under the jurisdiction of Khazaria .
The Ecumenical Diplomacy as a Lesson for Today ’ s Middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gold that the Jewish Khazars had established an incredible military alliance with the Islamic Abbasid Dynasty who supplied an army of 10 000 Muslim soldiers to the Jewish Khazars under the condition that if any future Jewish leader were to declare war on Islam , that army would fight for Islam !
This incredible safeguard was a creative flank which brought the self-interests of both cultures together in ways that made orchestrated imperial conflict nearly impossible .
Another distinguishing feature of Khazaria was its unique judicial system which wisely represented the diverse faiths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Khazaria had become renowned for its tolerance and openness ( the majority of the population were a mix of Christian , Muslim and Pagan though the King and his court were Jewish ) .
10th century Persian historian Abu al-Istakhri described the Khazarian Supreme Court of Justice whose judges comprised two Christians , two Muslims , two Jews and one Pagan stating : “ The king has 7 judges [ hukkan ] from the Jews , Christians , Muslims and Idolators .
When the people have a lawsuit , it is they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not approach the king himself but only these judges.
” The Abbasid Dynasty played another indispensable role in preserving the Silk Road and Confucian renaissance in conjunction with their alliance with Khazaria .
At a decisive moment in 755 CE , the Tang Dynasty faced a terrible crisis known as the An-Shi Rebellion when a renegade General An Lushan declared himself emperor of the North threatening both civil war and the dissolution of the new Silk Road .
Caliph al-Mahdi ( grandfather of the great Harun al Rashid ) sent 4000 Muslim soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rebellion , preserving the ecumenical alliance !
It is unfortunate that the Tang Dynasty was never able to recover to its pre-Civil War prestige and the Silk Road lost valuable vitality just as the Christian-Jewish-Muslim alliance was attaining its apex .
We have already noted many surprising and important ecumenical alliances around a higher concept of divine justice and common good in opposition to the policies of the 2nd Roman Empire which operated exclusively on “ divide to rule ” tactics .
However we have left out another important creative alliance worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caliphate in Spain lost a major territory called Septimania to the new Carolingian Dynasty of a Frankish King named Pepin the Short ( father of Charlemagne ) who ruled from 751-768 .
Septimania , a large area which hosts the strategic port city of Narbonne , had a large Jewish and Muslim population which Pepin and his son allied with against the intrigues of Venice and Byzantium .
This area later became a leading renaissance zone reviving the study of Greek classics , astronomy , poetry and medicine under the Andalusian Renaissance centuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vs Christian vs Muslim conflicts which the oligarchy would have liked , Pepin instead called for a Jewish leader from Baghdad descended from the House of David named Natronai al Makhir ( 725-765 ) to become king of Septimania even giving his daughter Alda to Makhir as wife .
Al Makhir in turn gave his Jewish daughter to King Charlemagne in marriage as part of a diplomatic flank against the war mongers in Rome .
Charlemagne ended the anti-Jewish policy dominant in Europe for centuries and even gave Jews rights to land ownership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whenever Charlemagne or his father established diplomatic embassies with the Muslim Abbasids , diplomatic envoys selected were always Jewish .
Ultramontane Pope Stephen III who advocated a ‘ clash of civilizations ’ policy , attacked Charlemagne ’ s policy in 768 CE writing to the Archbishop Aribert : “ Christians work the vineyards and the fields of these Jews .
Christian men and women live under the same roof as these prevaricators , listening to their blasphemous language , night and day ; these miserable men and women always have to humiliate themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What communion hath light with darkness and what concord hath Christ with Balial ?
” Both Pepin and Charlemagne ignored the Vatican ’ s many demands to renounce their ecumenical program .
The governance of Septimania was later divided by Charlemagne with 1/3 under the authority of Archbishop Thomas of Normandy , 1/3 under the Islamic Viscount and 1/3 under Jewish governance ironically putting a Muslim territory under Jewish and Christian protection !
This policy of creative war avoidance and win-win collaboration tied into a Muslim-Christian agreement led by Harun al Rashid in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Holy Land to Charlemagne declaring that the Christian leader ’ s land would be protected by Muslim rule .
According to the records of the Monk Zacharias , this diplomatic entente was negotiated by Charlemagne ’ s Jewish Ambassador to Baghdad Isaac of Rachen .
Tying this alliance back to the international geopolitical stage , it is important to recall that Narbonne/Septimania was the key entry point for Silk Road goods to Europe , and its early collapse would have been devastating to the humanist cause .
This ecumenical alliance was strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the later intrigues of Venice which had managed to get Charlemagne ’ s small-minded grandchildren to fall into civil war breaking the Carolingian Empire with the 842 Oath of Strasbourg into conflicting regions that later came to become the borders of modern Europe .
Without going into the details of Pepin and Charlemagne ’ s bold reforms centering on infrastructure ( vast roads , bridges over the Rhine , canals , cathedrals and schools ) , their Irish monastery movement , and financial reforms which saw private financiers lose control as Charlemagne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and credit… it is enough for now to state that the Carolingian Renaissance earned its name for the right reasons .
The philosophical basis for Charlemagne ’ s ability to break with anti-Jewish hate was found in the doctrine of Witness formulated by St. Augustine in the early 5th century and which asserted that Jews should no longer be slaughtered , but rather protected since their very existence and adherence to the Old Testament was a living testimony to Christian faith .
Historian Thomas MacDonald said of Augustine ’ s Doctrine : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under a divine order of physical protection , and that not only must they be protected , but they must be allowed to worship as Jews… His reason for this view is demeaning for Jews but it also informed centuries of theology and countless orders of protection of Jews living in Christian lands .
When Jews were persecuted at the hands of Christians , it was in direct defiance of this doctrine , and when they were protected it was because of this influence.
” In Islam , Augustine ’ s doctrine found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which asserted that Muslims must protect Jews because they had direct intercourse with the One God whom all Abrahamic faiths share in common .
It is also worth noting that the Abbasid Dynasty was known rightfully as the “ Islamic Golden Age ” which ushered in a parallel bureaucratic , monetary , and educational reform under the Confucian principle of the Mandate of Heaven ( i.e .
: A leader ’ s right to rule was valid only through his obedience to the laws of nature and the common good ) .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Charlemagne and Caliph al Rashid .
Under the humanist leadership of Caliph Al Mahdi , his son Harun Al Rashid and grandson al Mamun , networks of humanist education centers were created called “ Houses of Wisdom ” which brought Muslim , Christian , and Jewish scholars together to translate ancient works of Greek and Latin , study astronomy , literature , medicine and engineering .
Paper mills were established in 832 CE in Samarkand , Cairo , Damas and Baghdad applying Chinese technology to broaden humanity ’ s access to knowledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 618-907 ) distinguished itself early on as an ecumenical safe haven for all cultures and saw influxes of Muslims , Jews and large groups of Nestorian Christians who all made China their home .
During the 300 years of Tang Rule , the arts rose to new heights , and the Poet-statesman became an actualized ideal as the greatest poets and painters ( such as Wang Wei , Li Bai and Du Fu ) played major roles as political figures .
Torture and death penalties were nearly done away with and public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unfortunately , wars with Muslims , Turks , and Tibetans did occur over the years and many internal struggles occurred from within weakening the Dynasty .
Physical evidence of the Khazar Kingdom were nearly all destroyed or suppressed leaving very little empirical evidence to work with for modern scholars ( and leaving much room for speculative gossip led by such British Imperial assets like Arthur Koestler or lizard-man quackidoodle David Icke ) .
Luckily , dozens of Christian and Muslim scholars of the 8-12 centuries have written extensively of its existence , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of the 19th century in the Cairo Geniza are finally being made public- bringing direct evidence to light for the first time in millennia .
One question is still unanswered : Why did the Khazar Kingdom end by the 10th century and why were all traces of this golden age among Confucianism , Judaism , Christianity and Islam destroyed ?
The Venetian Takeover and the Rise of ‘ Jewish Bankers ’ Here we must look to towards that ugly center of spiritual pus : The heirs of the Roman Oligarchy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Byzantine Empire ( soon to be undone by the wilier Venetians in 1251 as outlined in my recent report The League of Cambrai and the BRICS Today and 2009 film The New Dark Age ) .
Although it took a couple hundred years of effort , the oligarchy was finally successful in breaking up Charlemagne ’ s unified kingdom into warring factions , and the Islamic Empire soon fell into its own internal and external discord .
Finally in 1095 , Venice and the Ultramontane Papacy were successful in launching the first Crusade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is noteworthy that all trade routes established by Rhadanite Jews were the first things destroyed in Europe by the Crusaders who then took over those routes , using this infrastructure to wage a most unholy war .
Whatever happened to cause the weakening and ultimate collapse of Khazaria under Kiev Rus invasions in 969 is not clear .
What is clear is that anti-Jewish laws were imposed at unprecedented rates from the 11th-16th centuries of Venetian global dominance .
In the late 10th century , Jews were cut off from Khazaria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over by Genoa and Venice .
Though other nations soon followed suite , Venice was the first to ban Jews from all international trade with the Venetian Senate passing a law in 945 CE forbidding any ship to Asia from carrying a Jew .
Laws were soon passed across Europe on Venice ’ s direction forbidding Jews from owning land , joining trade guilds of weavers , dyers , carpenters or blacksmiths or owning any trade companies .
Other laws like the 1181 English Assize Laws forbade Jews from owning weapons , serving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ word Ghetto began in Venice as well , as Jews were here relegated to a small neighborhood called the Ghetto and were excluded from any normal form of profession being forced to either deal in old rags , pawn broking or money lending for ( nominally ) Christian oligarchical families who used them as HofJuden servants .
Historian Cecil Roth addressed this devastating situation saying : “ The situation would have been an impossible one but for the presence of the Jew , who , precisely as he found himself excluded from other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced into this most unhonoured profession .
The non-Jewish capitalists lent to kings and magnates , under the cover of various devices ( such as making out the bond for a larger amount than the sum lent , or euphemistically calling the interest by some other name ) .
The more open , least lucrative , and most unpopular branches of the profession , such as lending on pledge for a short period to the artisan and tradesman , were forced upon the Jews .
” “ In Venice , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ century , the Jewish community was only tolerated on the express condition that it maintains in the Ghetto four loan-banks ( a more polite term for pawn broking establishments ) … The only other professions legally permitted there were old clothes dealing and the wholesale export trade to the Levant , which did not compete with Christian traders .
The same was the case in the cities of the terra firma .
This ignominious condition of affairs was sternly enforced , and any attempt on the part of the Jews to broaden their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a slightly more dignified plane , was the systematically blocked.
” Tune in for the next instalment as we tackle the controversial topic of… “ The Venetian Origins of the Jewish Bankers ” .
Matthew Ehret is the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Patriot Review , BRI expert correspondent on Tactical Talk and has authored 3 volumes of ‘ Untold History of Canada ’ book series .
His works appear regularly on The Duran , Strategic Culture , Sott , Fort Russ , Zero Hedge , L.A. Review of Books , LeSaker.fr , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2019 Matthew co-founded the Montreal-based Rising Tide Foundation .
He can be reached at [ email protected ]

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Originally published on Strategic Culture
Last week’s messy announcement of the US-Israeli Peace Plan for the Middle East was always destined to fail. The proposed Palestinian borders, although territorially enlarged, are entirely patchy and un-workable, as are the military concessions demanded by Israel. Ultimately a two state solution is still the only viable option for peace, but something more is required which today’s evangelical/Zionist ideologues despise.
Recently, I wrote a paper called “De-bunking the Myth of the Jewish Conspiracy” which dealt with the 19th century origins of modern Zionism and even radical Islamicist movements in the bowels of British Intelligence. In that report I stated that these movements can only be defeated by the massive development projects being ushered into the Middle East under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Today, I would like to go a little deeper into the longer wave of history shaping our presently confused age knowing that this exercise will not only give us a greater appreciation into the cures for the Middle East ills but also a means of refuting those geopolitical zombies who believe that humanity is destined for an unwinnable clash of civilizations.
The Mystery of Khazaria in the Modern Era
Typically well informed readers who frequent alternative media either have never heard of the Jewish Khazar Kingdom that dominated central Europe, southern Russia and the Caucuses in the 7-10th century or IF THEY HAVE heard of it, they tend to believe that this Kingdom was the source of everything evil up until modern times. Mainstream scholars tend to simply deny all evidence that this Jewish kingdom ever even existed since it throws into question the genetic connection of Ashkenazi Jews to the Semitic people of Palestine which small-minded intellectuals demand to exist.
I would like to take a novel approach to this anomalous matter of Khazaria and the broader role of Judaism in world history. Not only do I assert that bountiful evidence allows us to conclude that this Jewish Kingdom certainly did exist, but all existence evidence points to the fact that it was the very opposite to a hotbed for “evil Ashkenazi Jewry” as so many lazy researchers have claimed. Instead, this report will attempt to prove that the forgotten kingdom was not only a beautiful phenomenon uniting all three major Abrahamic faiths under one ecumenical alliance of cooperation for well over a century, but also served as a keystone to the newly reborn Silk Road trade routes uniting Asia with Europe through the Confucian Tang Dynasty (618-912 CE).
This kingdom and the evidence of a broader inter-cultural alliance has been systematically obscured for centuries by the same oligarchy which is today attempting to consolidate an anti-human empire since acknowledgement of its existence undermines the foundations upon which the system of oligarchy is premised. Much of the following report was made possible by the pioneering work of historian Pierre Beaudry in his online book The Charlemagne Ecumenical Principle.
Under a primitive version of Samuel Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations doctrine, the Byzantine Empire, their sister Venetian Empire and the Ultramontane Church which were the heirs of the recently collapsed Roman oligarchy hated the rise of the Carolingian Empire under Charlemagne and the Augustinian humanist educational and economic reforms enacted during Charlemagne’s reign. More importantly, they hated the brilliant alliances Charlemagne oversaw alongside his co-thinker Harun al Rashid (Caliph of the Abbasid Dynasty of Baghdad who ruled from 786-809 CE) and the new King Bulan of Khazaria who converted his kingdom to Judaism in the mid-8th century.
The Turkish Conversion to Judaism: The China Angle
Khazaria was first established in the mid-7th century by the western Turkish Kaghanate that had become independent from any obedience to the eastern Turkish parent empire when the later had been defeated militarily by the Taizong Emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China in 643 CE. With the Western Khaganate’s defeat, an important Chinese-Turkish Alliance was established that endured for another century.
With this 643 victory, the Chinese Emperor was made “Tengri Khagan” (Heavenly King), supreme authority over all Turks. 100 000 Turks then migrated to China’s vastly expanded realm and 10 000 Turkish elites settled in the capital. Letters from various Turkish leaders to the Tang court all the way until 741 CE continued to recognize China’s emperors as Heavenly Khagan.
Confucianism spread electrically across the entire Turkish Empire and the newly independent Turks of the west quickly established a highly developed centralized government in Khazaria whose economy would be based primarily upon fisheries, and agriculture. Khazaria became a keystone in the Silk Road with primary routes of the Steppe Silk Road going east-west over land from Uygur Territory in the east to western Crimea and export/import lines along the Dnieper, Don and Volga Rivers which fed into the Caspian and Black Seas. Khazaria also held the vital North-South trade route along the Volga from Scandinavia through Central Russia to Islamic Iran and Azerbaijan.
Anomalies of Jewish Khazars
The fact that Khazaria was founded by Turks with a strong link to China cannot be overstated. When evaluating this, we must hold three important facts in mind:
1) Countless scholars have noted the strong Confucian philosophy embedded in the western Turkish Khaganate that established the Kingdom of Khazaria before King Bulan’s later conversion to Judaism sometime around 750CE. Even though they were shamanistic, the Confucian principle of the Mandate of Heaven was a core belief of the Khazarian turks.
2) The first recorded influx of Jews in China occurred in 618 CE with the start of the Tang Dynasty. As the Tang emperor revived the Silk Road trade routes that had fallen apart after the fall of the Han Dynasty in the 200 CE, Buddhists, Hindus, Nestorian Christians, Zoroastrians, Muslims and Jews flocked to China. This was an especially positive breath of fresh air for Jews as Professor Pan Guang stated: “they could preserve their native customs and religious beliefs… In education, work, buying and selling of land, marriage and the right to move, they enjoyed the same rights and treatment as Han Chinese. They never faced discrimination”.
This tolerant Chinese policy stood in stark contrast to the Byzantine-directed persecution and forced conversions had run rampant across the west. Much of this persecution stemmed less from religious reasons and more from geopolitical ones as the earlier Jewish Himyaritic Kingdom’s conversion to Judaism in 380 CE destroyed Byzantium’s designs to take control of Arabia. Waves of violence descended upon Jews during this time and beyond Himyaria’s collapse in 525 CE as vengeance for resisting imperial hegemony.
3) The primary group in this early phase of the renewed Silk Road routes were Jewish Radhanite traders originating from the city of Radhan in Iraq. According to Persian scholar al Masudi (896-956), these Jewish traders spoke Arabic, Greek, Persian, Slavic, Spanish and Frankish and according to 9th century geographer Ibn Khurdabhe, there were four Radhanite trade routes linking Europe to China. The primary and most active corridor moving through the Middle East and to Europe was “the Steppe Silk Road” much of which under the jurisdiction of Khazaria.
The Ecumenical Diplomacy as a Lesson for Today’s Middle East
Al Masudi reported his Meadows of Gold that the Jewish Khazars had established an incredible military alliance with the Islamic Abbasid Dynasty who supplied an army of 10 000 Muslim soldiers to the Jewish Khazars under the condition that if any future Jewish leader were to declare war on Islam, that army would fight for Islam! This incredible safeguard was a creative flank which brought the self-interests of both cultures together in ways that made orchestrated imperial conflict nearly impossible.
Another distinguishing feature of Khazaria was its unique judicial system which wisely represented the diverse faiths which sought refuge in this Jewish land. Khazaria had become renowned for its tolerance and openness (the majority of the population were a mix of Christian, Muslim and Pagan though the King and his court were Jewish). 10th century Persian historian Abu al-Istakhri described the Khazarian Supreme Court of Justice whose judges comprised two Christians, two Muslims, two Jews and one Pagan stating: “The king has 7 judges [hukkan] from the Jews, Christians, Muslims and Idolators. When the people have a lawsuit, it is they who judge it. The parties do not approach the king himself but only these judges.”
The Abbasid Dynasty played another indispensable role in preserving the Silk Road and Confucian renaissance in conjunction with their alliance with Khazaria. At a decisive moment in 755 CE, the Tang Dynasty faced a terrible crisis known as the An-Shi Rebellion when a renegade General An Lushan declared himself emperor of the North threatening both civil war and the dissolution of the new Silk Road. Caliph al-Mahdi (grandfather of the great Harun al Rashid) sent 4000 Muslim soldiers to aid the Emperor in putting down the rebellion, preserving the ecumenical alliance!
It is unfortunate that the Tang Dynasty was never able to recover to its pre-Civil War prestige and the Silk Road lost valuable vitality just as the Christian-Jewish-Muslim alliance was attaining its apex.
Septimania: European Entry to the Silk Road
We have already noted many surprising and important ecumenical alliances around a higher concept of divine justice and common good in opposition to the policies of the 2nd Roman Empire which operated exclusively on “divide to rule” tactics. However we have left out another important creative alliance worth mentioning.
In 751, the Umayyad Caliphate in Spain lost a major territory called Septimania to the new Carolingian Dynasty of a Frankish King named Pepin the Short (father of Charlemagne) who ruled from 751-768. Septimania, a large area which hosts the strategic port city of Narbonne, had a large Jewish and Muslim population which Pepin and his son allied with against the intrigues of Venice and Byzantium. This area later became a leading renaissance zone reviving the study of Greek classics, astronomy, poetry and medicine under the Andalusian Renaissance centuries later.
Rather than fall into Jewish vs Christian vs Muslim conflicts which the oligarchy would have liked, Pepin instead called for a Jewish leader from Baghdad descended from the House of David named Natronai al Makhir (725-765) to become king of Septimania even giving his daughter Alda to Makhir as wife. Al Makhir in turn gave his Jewish daughter to King Charlemagne in marriage as part of a diplomatic flank against the war mongers in Rome.
Charlemagne ended the anti-Jewish policy dominant in Europe for centuries and even gave Jews rights to land ownership and titles unprecedented in that age. Whenever Charlemagne or his father established diplomatic embassies with the Muslim Abbasids, diplomatic envoys selected were always Jewish. Ultramontane Pope Stephen III who advocated a ‘clash of civilizations’ policy, attacked Charlemagne’s policy in 768 CE writing to the Archbishop Aribert:
“Christians work the vineyards and the fields of these Jews. Christian men and women live under the same roof as these prevaricators, listening to their blasphemous language, night and day; these miserable men and women always have to humiliate themselves before the demeaning display of dogs. What communion hath light with darkness and what concord hath Christ with Balial?”
Both Pepin and Charlemagne ignored the Vatican’s many demands to renounce their ecumenical program.
The governance of Septimania was later divided by Charlemagne with 1/3 under the authority of Archbishop Thomas of Normandy, 1/3 under the Islamic Viscount and 1/3 under Jewish governance ironically putting a Muslim territory under Jewish and Christian protection!
This policy of creative war avoidance and win-win collaboration tied into a Muslim-Christian agreement led by Harun al Rashid in 800 CE when he gave control of the Holy Land to Charlemagne declaring that the Christian leader’s land would be protected by Muslim rule. According to the records of the Monk Zacharias, this diplomatic entente was negotiated by Charlemagne’s Jewish Ambassador to Baghdad Isaac of Rachen.
Tying this alliance back to the international geopolitical stage, it is important to recall that Narbonne/Septimania was the key entry point for Silk Road goods to Europe, and its early collapse would have been devastating to the humanist cause. This ecumenical alliance was strong enough to last 90 years before collapsing under the later intrigues of Venice which had managed to get Charlemagne’s small-minded grandchildren to fall into civil war breaking the Carolingian Empire with the 842 Oath of Strasbourg into conflicting regions that later came to become the borders of modern Europe.
The Carolingian Renaissance
Without going into the details of Pepin and Charlemagne’s bold reforms centering on infrastructure (vast roads, bridges over the Rhine, canals, cathedrals and schools), their Irish monastery movement, and financial reforms which saw private financiers lose control as Charlemagne’s government took control of coinage and credit… it is enough for now to state that the Carolingian Renaissance earned its name for the right reasons. The philosophical basis for Charlemagne’s ability to break with anti-Jewish hate was found in the doctrine of Witness formulated by St. Augustine in the early 5th century and which asserted that Jews should no longer be slaughtered, but rather protected since their very existence and adherence to the Old Testament was a living testimony to Christian faith.
Historian Thomas MacDonald said of Augustine’s Doctrine: “His positions is that the Jews are under a divine order of physical protection, and that not only must they be protected, but they must be allowed to worship as Jews… His reason for this view is demeaning for Jews but it also informed centuries of theology and countless orders of protection of Jews living in Christian lands. When Jews were persecuted at the hands of Christians, it was in direct defiance of this doctrine, and when they were protected it was because of this influence.”
The Abbasid Renaissance
In Islam, Augustine’s doctrine found a parallel in the Doctrine of Dimi which asserted that Muslims must protect Jews because they had direct intercourse with the One God whom all Abrahamic faiths share in common.
It is also worth noting that the Abbasid Dynasty was known rightfully as the “Islamic Golden Age” which ushered in a parallel bureaucratic, monetary, and educational reform under the Confucian principle of the Mandate of Heaven (i.e.: A leader’s right to rule was valid only through his obedience to the laws of nature and the common good). This was an anti-oligarchical concept of governance shared by Charlemagne and Caliph al Rashid. Under the humanist leadership of Caliph Al Mahdi, his son Harun Al Rashid and grandson al Mamun, networks of humanist education centers were created called “Houses of Wisdom” which brought Muslim, Christian, and Jewish scholars together to translate ancient works of Greek and Latin, study astronomy, literature, medicine and engineering. Paper mills were established in 832 CE in Samarkand, Cairo, Damas and Baghdad applying Chinese technology to broaden humanity’s access to knowledge.
The Chinese Renaissance
In China, the Tang Dynasty (618-907) distinguished itself early on as an ecumenical safe haven for all cultures and saw influxes of Muslims, Jews and large groups of Nestorian Christians who all made China their home. During the 300 years of Tang Rule, the arts rose to new heights, and the Poet-statesman became an actualized ideal as the greatest poets and painters (such as Wang Wei, Li Bai and Du Fu) played major roles as political figures. Torture and death penalties were nearly done away with and public schools were built at record numbers. Unfortunately, wars with Muslims, Turks, and Tibetans did occur over the years and many internal struggles occurred from within weakening the Dynasty.
Physical evidence of the Khazar Kingdom were nearly all destroyed or suppressed leaving very little empirical evidence to work with for modern scholars (and leaving much room for speculative gossip led by such British Imperial assets like Arthur Koestler or lizard-man quackidoodle David Icke). Luckily, dozens of Christian and Muslim scholars of the 8-12 centuries have written extensively of its existence, and some of the 250 000 fragments discovered at the end of the 19th century in the Cairo Geniza are finally being made public- bringing direct evidence to light for the first time in millennia.
One question is still unanswered: Why did the Khazar Kingdom end by the 10th century and why were all traces of this golden age among Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam destroyed?
The Venetian Takeover and the Rise of ‘Jewish Bankers’
Here we must look to towards that ugly center of spiritual pus: The heirs of the Roman Oligarchy found in the Lagoons of Venice and Byzantine Empire (soon to be undone by the wilier Venetians in 1251 as outlined in my recent report The League of Cambrai and the BRICS Today and 2009 film The New Dark Age).
Although it took a couple hundred years of effort, the oligarchy was finally successful in breaking up Charlemagne’s unified kingdom into warring factions, and the Islamic Empire soon fell into its own internal and external discord. Finally in 1095, Venice and the Ultramontane Papacy were successful in launching the first Crusade against Islam turning the world upside down. It is noteworthy that all trade routes established by Rhadanite Jews were the first things destroyed in Europe by the Crusaders who then took over those routes, using this infrastructure to wage a most unholy war.
Whatever happened to cause the weakening and ultimate collapse of Khazaria under Kiev Rus invasions in 969 is not clear. What is clear is that anti-Jewish laws were imposed at unprecedented rates from the 11th-16th centuries of Venetian global dominance. In the late 10th century, Jews were cut off from Khazaria as all east-west trade routes were taken over by Genoa and Venice. Though other nations soon followed suite, Venice was the first to ban Jews from all international trade with the Venetian Senate passing a law in 945 CE forbidding any ship to Asia from carrying a Jew. Laws were soon passed across Europe on Venice’s direction forbidding Jews from owning land, joining trade guilds of weavers, dyers, carpenters or blacksmiths or owning any trade companies. Other laws like the 1181 English Assize Laws forbade Jews from owning weapons, serving in military or even farming.
The word Ghetto began in Venice as well, as Jews were here relegated to a small neighborhood called the Ghetto and were excluded from any normal form of profession being forced to either deal in old rags, pawn broking or money lending for (nominally) Christian oligarchical families who used them as HofJuden servants.
Historian Cecil Roth addressed this devastating situation saying: “The situation would have been an impossible one but for the presence of the Jew, who, precisely as he found himself excluded from other methods of gaining a livelihood, was forced into this most unhonoured profession. The non-Jewish capitalists lent to kings and magnates, under the cover of various devices (such as making out the bond for a larger amount than the sum lent, or euphemistically calling the interest by some other name). The more open, least lucrative, and most unpopular branches of the profession, such as lending on pledge for a short period to the artisan and tradesman, were forced upon the Jews. ”
“In Venice, for example, down to the close of the eighteenth century, the Jewish community was only tolerated on the express condition that it maintains in the Ghetto four loan-banks (a more polite term for pawn broking establishments)… The only other professions legally permitted there were old clothes dealing and the wholesale export trade to the Levant, which did not compete with Christian traders. The same was the case in the cities of the terra firma. This ignominious condition of affairs was sternly enforced, and any attempt on the part of the Jews to broaden their economic status, or to place it on a slightly more dignified plane, was the systematically blocked.”
Tune in for the next instalment as we tackle the controversial topic of… “The Venetian Origins of the Jewish Bankers”.
Matthew Ehret is the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Patriot Review, BRI expert correspondent on Tactical Talk and has authored 3 volumes of ‘Untold History of Canada’ book series. His works appear regularly on The Duran, Strategic Culture, Sott, Fort Russ, Zero Hedge, L.A. Review of Books, LeSaker.fr, Vigile Quebec, and South Front. In 2019 Matthew co-founded the Montreal-based Rising Tide Foundation. He can be reached at matt.ehret@tutamail.com
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theduran--2020-02-13--Crisis in Syrian Idlib Has Firmly Put Turkey Back into NATO’s Sphere

Submitted by InfoBrics , authored by Paul Antonopoulos , Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies… Syria was the very reason why relations between Turkey and the United States deteriorated as the latter openly backed the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party , known as the People ’ s Protection Units ( YPG ) , that Ankara considers a terrorist organization .
Although Turkey has always been a loyal ally and member of the U.S.-led NATO , the Syrian War saw relations between Ankara and Moscow flourish despite an initial speedbump when Turkey downed a Russian jet in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder of the pilot by Turkish-backed terrorists .
Russia not only improved relations by selling Turkey the powerful S-400 missile defense system , but sympathized with Turkish concerns against the YPG and partnered with Turkey in Syria-related discussions through the Astana and Sochi formats .
The S-400 sale triggered the wrath of NATO , and many within the political establishment in Washington considered the option of kicking Turkey out of the Atlanticist organization .
It appeared that with Russo-Turkish relations strengthening , Turkey would join the new Multipolar World System .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had an outburst against Russia , revealing his frustration by stating “ Russia is not abiding by Astana or Sochi ” as Moscow refused to discourage their Syrian allies from fighting Turkish-backed terrorist forces operating in Idlib province in Syria ’ s northwest .
However , the Astana and Sochi agreements allow for operations against terrorist organizations – the Syrian Army are battling against Al-Qaeda affiliated formations like the Turkestan Islamic Party and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham .
With Russia refusing to step away from backing its Syrian ally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by mobilizing thousands of soldiers to illegally occupy large swathes of the province .
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wasted no time and during a press discussion yesterday after the first day ’ s session of the Meeting of NATO Defense Ministers , he announced that NATO is giving support to Turkey against Syria in Idlib .
This came when on the same day U.S. Special Representative for Syria , James Jeffrey said in an interview with the Turkish news channel NTV that Turkish soldiers that are currently stationed in Idlib have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ankara have a common geostrategic goal in Syria and Libya .
Effectively , as Russia and Turkey find huge differences in not only Idlib , but also in Libya , both NATO and the U.S. have pounced at the opportunity to bring Turkey firmly back into its camp and away from Russia – Ankara has been more than happy to oblige .
As Turkey occupies a strategic space in Eurasia , serving as the bridge between East and West , while also controlling the Bosporus and Dardanelles , the straits where Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is little doubt that the Syrian Army ’ s offensive in Idlib has deepened the rift between Russia and Turkey , so-much-so that Erdoğan , emboldened by support from Stoltenberg and Jeffrey , claimed that “ most of the attacks carried out by the [ Syrian ] regime and Russia in Idlib target civilians rather than terrorists.
” Of course , he had no evidence to back this claim and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied the charge .
Ankara claims that it is deeply concerned by the danger posed by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Syrian civilians in Idlib .
However , the de facto currency of Idlib is no longer the Syrian pound , but rather the Turkish lira .
This is in conjunctions to the installation of Turkish communication systems in the province , duty free Turkish goods flooding in and Syrian industry dismantled and taken into Turkey .
These actions would suggest that Turkey is planning to permanently control the region .
Syrians remember when its Hatay province was stolen by Turkey in 1939 and also remember when the northern portion of maritime neighbor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the minds of Syrians , a permanent Turkish occupation of Idlib is not an exaggeration as many officials in Ankara openly proclaim their dreams for a neo-Ottoman Empire and a Syrian jihadist leader even said on Turkish television that the so-called Free Syrian Army will fight “ wherever jihad is ” and for the “ Ottoman Caliphate.
” As Turkey has been insubordinate to NATO over the YPG issue and strengthened relations in Russia as a reaction , both NATO and the U.S. have jumped at the opportunity to bring Ankara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This was an inevitable result as Russia would not abandon its Syrian ally or accept a permanent occupation .
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed in 2016 that “ every inch of Syria ” would be liberated , and Moscow has always supported the notion that full Syrian sovereignty must be restored and the country not Balkanized .
As Turkey ’ s long-term goal to replace Assad with a Muslim Brotherhood and Turkish-sympathetic leader has failed , it is likely that the occupation of Idlib is Plan B as a consolation prize towards the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants Erdoğan back within its sphere of influence , it is willing to allow Turkey to occupy Idlib and perhaps even annex the region .
As NATO and Washington have given their blessing for Erdoğan to military engage in Idlib , something that Russia has condemned , there is little doubt that the Idlib crisis has put Turkey firmly back into the NATO sphere and away from Russia .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by InfoBrics, authored by Paul Antonopoulos, Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies…
Syria was the very reason why relations between Turkey and the United States deteriorated as the latter openly backed the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the People’s Protection Units (YPG), that Ankara considers a terrorist organization. Although Turkey has always been a loyal ally and member of the U.S.-led NATO, the Syrian War saw relations between Ankara and Moscow flourish despite an initial speedbump when Turkey downed a Russian jet in Syria in 2015, leading to the murder of the pilot by Turkish-backed terrorists. Russia not only improved relations by selling Turkey the powerful S-400 missile defense system, but sympathized with Turkish concerns against the YPG and partnered with Turkey in Syria-related discussions through the Astana and Sochi formats. The S-400 sale triggered the wrath of NATO, and many within the political establishment in Washington considered the option of kicking Turkey out of the Atlanticist organization.
It appeared that with Russo-Turkish relations strengthening, Turkey would join the new Multipolar World System. However, at the end of January, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had an outburst against Russia, revealing his frustration by stating “Russia is not abiding by Astana or Sochi” as Moscow refused to discourage their Syrian allies from fighting Turkish-backed terrorist forces operating in Idlib province in Syria’s northwest. However, the Astana and Sochi agreements allow for operations against terrorist organizations – the Syrian Army are battling against Al-Qaeda affiliated formations like the Turkestan Islamic Party and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
With Russia refusing to step away from backing its Syrian ally, Turkey has escalated the situation in Idlib by mobilizing thousands of soldiers to illegally occupy large swathes of the province. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wasted no time and during a press discussion yesterday after the first day’s session of the Meeting of NATO Defense Ministers, he announced that NATO is giving support to Turkey against Syria in Idlib. This came when on the same day U.S. Special Representative for Syria, James Jeffrey said in an interview with the Turkish news channel NTV that Turkish soldiers that are currently stationed in Idlib have the right to defend themselves and that Washington and Ankara have a common geostrategic goal in Syria and Libya.
Effectively, as Russia and Turkey find huge differences in not only Idlib, but also in Libya, both NATO and the U.S. have pounced at the opportunity to bring Turkey firmly back into its camp and away from Russia – Ankara has been more than happy to oblige. As Turkey occupies a strategic space in Eurasia, serving as the bridge between East and West, while also controlling the Bosporus and Dardanelles, the straits where Turkey holds huge leverage against the Great Powers.
There is little doubt that the Syrian Army’s offensive in Idlib has deepened the rift between Russia and Turkey, so-much-so that Erdoğan, emboldened by support from Stoltenberg and Jeffrey, claimed that “most of the attacks carried out by the [Syrian] regime and Russia in Idlib target civilians rather than terrorists.” Of course, he had no evidence to back this claim and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied the charge.
Ankara claims that it is deeply concerned by the danger posed by a new wave of refugees and its concerns for Syrian civilians in Idlib. However, the de facto currency of Idlib is no longer the Syrian pound, but rather the Turkish lira. This is in conjunctions to the installation of Turkish communication systems in the province, duty free Turkish goods flooding in and Syrian industry dismantled and taken into Turkey. These actions would suggest that Turkey is planning to permanently control the region. Syrians remember when its Hatay province was stolen by Turkey in 1939 and also remember when the northern portion of maritime neighbor Cyprus was invaded by Turkey in 1974. In the minds of Syrians, a permanent Turkish occupation of Idlib is not an exaggeration as many officials in Ankara openly proclaim their dreams for a neo-Ottoman Empire and a Syrian jihadist leader even said on Turkish television that the so-called Free Syrian Army will fight “wherever jihad is” and for the “Ottoman Caliphate.”
As Turkey has been insubordinate to NATO over the YPG issue and strengthened relations in Russia as a reaction, both NATO and the U.S. have jumped at the opportunity to bring Ankara out of Moscow’s orbit. This was an inevitable result as Russia would not abandon its Syrian ally or accept a permanent occupation. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed in 2016 that “every inch of Syria” would be liberated, and Moscow has always supported the notion that full Syrian sovereignty must be restored and the country not Balkanized. As Turkey’s long-term goal to replace Assad with a Muslim Brotherhood and Turkish-sympathetic leader has failed, it is likely that the occupation of Idlib is Plan B as a consolation prize towards the neo-Ottoman Empire project. As Washington desperately wants Erdoğan back within its sphere of influence, it is willing to allow Turkey to occupy Idlib and perhaps even annex the region. As NATO and Washington have given their blessing for Erdoğan to military engage in Idlib, something that Russia has condemned, there is little doubt that the Idlib crisis has put Turkey firmly back into the NATO sphere and away from Russia.
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theduran--2020-02-13--Sinn Fein gets green light to form ‘broad left coalition’ gov’t in Ireland (Video)

The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss the 2020 election surge of Sinn Fein , which has collapsed the decades long , centrist status quo in Ireland .
As disgruntled Irish voters sent a clear message to the ruling center parties , Sinn Fein will now be challenged to form a left government coalition , while managing to deliver on ambitious economic policies that won it much of the vote .
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The Duran Audio Podcast : Follow on Soundcloud – Subscribe on iTunes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ blared the front page of the Irish Daily Star on Monday , using a slang term for Sinn Fein supporters , as it became clear that a true electoral earthquake had hit Ireland .
As exit polls showed Brexit was a nonissue compared to Ireland ’ s housing and health crises , voters turned on the establishment parties that have been leading them since the foundation of the state a century ago .
With a plurality of votes going to her party , Sinn Fein ’ s left-wing nationalist leader , Mary Lou @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer a two-party system.
” It ’ s hard to argue with her .
Every election since the 1922 founding of what is now called the Republic of Ireland has led to a victory for either of the country ’ s two large centrist parties , Fianna Fail and Fine Gael .
Simply put , in the nearly 100 years since the island of Ireland was divided in two , something like this has never happened .
Other records were set , too .
In what was meant to be his party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gael leader and Taoiseach ( Prime Minister ) Leo Varadkar watched as Sinn Fein topped the poll in his multiseat constituency of Dublin West .
He eventually won his seat back after the fifth round of counting , but it ’ s the first time a sitting taoiseach has failed to win the most votes on his own turf .
With Fine Gael receiving their lowest share of votes since 1948 , Varadkar will now face pressure to resign as party leader , although no major figures within the party have called for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two big parties had been trending down over a number of general elections , but their combined vote share of 43 percent on Saturday is the lowest ever .
Is this the end of the Fine Gael-Fianna Fail duopoly ?
Even with Saturday ’ s dramatic result , it ’ s still too early to write off Fine Gael , which has previously revived its fortunes after suffering electoral setbacks , most recently bouncing back from a trouncing in 2002 to top polls in 2011 following the global financial crisis .
Fianna Fail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was formed in the aftermath of the Irish Civil War and whose political program closely resembles its rival ’ s , however , is still struggling to regain public trust since that same crisis .
In 2011 , it won only 17.5 of first preference votes as it lost 51 seats .
On Saturday , it managed to earn 22.2 percent of first preference votes but ended with just one more seat than Sinn Fein—a draw in reality given that one seat goes to the parliament ’ s outgoing speaker uncontested .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominant party to disappear from the political scene .
It ’ s not unprecedented for a previously dominant party to disappear from the political scene .
Canada ’ s Progressive Conservative Party collapsed in 1993 ’ s federal elections , losing 167 out of 169 seats , and it never recovered .
“ Fianna Fail ’ s collapse really started in the financial crisis of 2008 , didn ’ t register until that 2011 election , and essentially has been going on ever since , ” said Richard Katz , a professor at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of large political parties .
For Katz , the old loyalties that propped up Ireland ’ s main parties are dissolving with time .
“ The old party system , derived from Ireland ’ s civil war based on what side your father or your grandfather was on , doesn ’ t work so well when it ’ s your great-grandfather : You never even met him , ” he said .
Does this mean a Sinn Fein-led government ?
Despite the history made in Saturday ’ s results , party support has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still no clean victory for Sinn Fein .
Final seat allocations put Fine Gael , Fianna Fail , and Sinn Fein at 35 , 38 , and 37 seats , respectively .
Barring a confidence-and-supply arrangement , in which parties agree to support the government on certain critical votes , it ’ s now up to the parties to find a way to reach the 80 seats needed to form a majority .
A Sinn Fein-led left coalition seems to be on the table , after confirmed reports of early contact being made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Sinn Fein ’ s McDonald , with the two set to meet on Wednesday .
Even if the conversation proves fruitful , Sinn Fein will need a lot more than Labour ’ s six seats .
Indeed , even with the support of Ireland ’ s other left-wing parties , they would still come up short of a majority .
Gaining the support of the sizable independent cohort in the Dail Eireann , the lower house of the Irish legislature , could make the math add up , but that may involve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to put up with .
Fianna Fail is traditionally skeptical of Sinn Fein due to the party ’ s past IRA links , and any decision to enter into government must be approved by the rank and file of both parties .
Another scenario that ’ s only slightly less complicated would involve an alliance between Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail , with a third partner likely needed in the form of the Green Party or independents .
Fianna Fail ’ s leader , Micheal Martin , already swallowed his pride last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign promise not to enter a coalition with Sinn Fein .
After decades in the political wilderness , Sinn Fein may see the opportunity as too good to pass up .
However , such an outcome would still involve complicated tradeoffs : Although Sinn Fein won more votes , Fianna Fail would hold one more seat .
Defining who the junior partner in such a government would lead to some awkward arrangements , including a “ rotating taoiseach ” where each party leader would take it in turns to lead the government—something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s also the question of grassroots approval .
Fianna Fail is traditionally skeptical of Sinn Fein due to the party ’ s past IRA links , and any decision to enter into government must be approved by the rank and file of both parties .
A Fianna Fail member in Dublin , speaking anonymously in order to discuss internal party decision-making , said that “ there would be a strong feeling against [ coalition ] amongst Fianna Fail ’ s grassroots ” and that despite alignment on many policy issues , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fein.
” If no Sinn Fein or Fianna Fail-led coalition can be agreed on , a new election would have to be called .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss the 2020 election surge of Sinn Fein, which has collapsed the decades long, centrist status quo in Ireland.
As disgruntled Irish voters sent a clear message to the ruling center parties, Sinn Fein will now be challenged to form a left government coalition, while managing to deliver on ambitious economic policies that won it much of the vote.
Support Free Speech:
Subscribe to The Duran on YouTube – Find us on BitChute.
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Follow on Soundcloud – Subscribe on iTunes.
Via Foreign Policy…
“THE SHINNERS TAKE IT ALL” blared the front page of the Irish Daily Star on Monday, using a slang term for Sinn Fein supporters, as it became clear that a true electoral earthquake had hit Ireland. As exit polls showed Brexit was a nonissue compared to Ireland’s housing and health crises, voters turned on the establishment parties that have been leading them since the foundation of the state a century ago.
With a plurality of votes going to her party, Sinn Fein’s left-wing nationalist leader, Mary Lou McDonald, declared that Ireland is “no longer a two-party system.” It’s hard to argue with her. Every election since the 1922 founding of what is now called the Republic of Ireland has led to a victory for either of the country’s two large centrist parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Simply put, in the nearly 100 years since the island of Ireland was divided in two, something like this has never happened.
Other records were set, too. In what was meant to be his party’s post-Brexit victory lap, Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar watched as Sinn Fein topped the poll in his multiseat constituency of Dublin West. He eventually won his seat back after the fifth round of counting, but it’s the first time a sitting taoiseach has failed to win the most votes on his own turf.
With Fine Gael receiving their lowest share of votes since 1948, Varadkar will now face pressure to resign as party leader, although no major figures within the party have called for it. Support for Ireland’s two big parties had been trending down over a number of general elections, but their combined vote share of 43 percent on Saturday is the lowest ever.
Is this the end of the Fine Gael-Fianna Fail duopoly?
Even with Saturday’s dramatic result, it’s still too early to write off Fine Gael, which has previously revived its fortunes after suffering electoral setbacks, most recently bouncing back from a trouncing in 2002 to top polls in 2011 following the global financial crisis. Fianna Fail, which, like Fine Gael, was formed in the aftermath of the Irish Civil War and whose political program closely resembles its rival’s, however, is still struggling to regain public trust since that same crisis. In 2011, it won only 17.5 of first preference votes as it lost 51 seats. On Saturday, it managed to earn 22.2 percent of first preference votes but ended with just one more seat than Sinn Fein—a draw in reality given that one seat goes to the parliament’s outgoing speaker uncontested.
It’s not unprecedented for a previously dominant party to disappear from the political scene.
It’s not unprecedented for a previously dominant party to disappear from the political scene.
Canada’s Progressive Conservative Party collapsed in 1993’s federal elections, losing 167 out of 169 seats, and it never recovered. “Fianna Fail’s collapse really started in the financial crisis of 2008, didn’t register until that 2011 election, and essentially has been going on ever since,” said Richard Katz, a professor at Johns Hopkins University who studies the evolution of large political parties. For Katz, the old loyalties that propped up Ireland’s main parties are dissolving with time. “The old party system, derived from Ireland’s civil war based on what side your father or your grandfather was on, doesn’t work so well when it’s your great-grandfather: You never even met him,” he said.
Does this mean a Sinn Fein-led government?
Despite the history made in Saturday’s results, party support has become so fragmented that it’s still no clean victory for Sinn Fein. Final seat allocations put Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, and Sinn Fein at 35, 38, and 37 seats, respectively. Barring a confidence-and-supply arrangement, in which parties agree to support the government on certain critical votes, it’s now up to the parties to find a way to reach the 80 seats needed to form a majority.
A Sinn Fein-led left coalition seems to be on the table, after confirmed reports of early contact being made between Irish Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin and Sinn Fein’s McDonald, with the two set to meet on Wednesday. Even if the conversation proves fruitful, Sinn Fein will need a lot more than Labour’s six seats.
Indeed, even with the support of Ireland’s other left-wing parties, they would still come up short of a majority. Gaining the support of the sizable independent cohort in the Dail Eireann, the lower house of the Irish legislature, could make the math add up, but that may involve more backroom dealing than Sinn Fein is willing to put up with.
Fianna Fail is traditionally skeptical of Sinn Fein due to the party’s past IRA links, and any decision to enter into government must be approved by the rank and file of both parties.
Another scenario that’s only slightly less complicated would involve an alliance between Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail, with a third partner likely needed in the form of the Green Party or independents. Fianna Fail’s leader, Micheal Martin, already swallowed his pride last Sunday and made a U-turn on his campaign promise not to enter a coalition with Sinn Fein. After decades in the political wilderness, Sinn Fein may see the opportunity as too good to pass up.
However, such an outcome would still involve complicated tradeoffs: Although Sinn Fein won more votes, Fianna Fail would hold one more seat. Defining who the junior partner in such a government would lead to some awkward arrangements, including a “rotating taoiseach” where each party leader would take it in turns to lead the government—something that has never happened in Ireland.
There’s also the question of grassroots approval. Fianna Fail is traditionally skeptical of Sinn Fein due to the party’s past IRA links, and any decision to enter into government must be approved by the rank and file of both parties. A Fianna Fail member in Dublin, speaking anonymously in order to discuss internal party decision-making, said that “there would be a strong feeling against [coalition] amongst Fianna Fail’s grassroots” and that despite alignment on many policy issues, there remains a “deep suspicion of Sinn Fein.”
If no Sinn Fein or Fianna Fail-led coalition can be agreed on, a new election would have to be called.
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theduran--2020-02-14--Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, CIA and State Dept.: New Documents Unclassified

2020 began with the visit of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the US and will be marked by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew ’ s historic visit to America .
Within some two months , there also took place a meeting of Geoffrey R. Pyatt and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostas Vlasis and the latter ’ s trip to Washington where he attended the events organized by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for the International Religious Freedom Alliance .
So , this year is remarkable for an exceptional development of Greek-American relations , particularly , in terms of religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous period of close ties between Constantinople and Washington comes to mind – the times when Athenagoras Spyrou of blessed memory was the Archbishop of America and later the Ecumenical Patriarch .
The centralization of the Greek American Archdiocese ’ s administration , emerging role of the Clergy-Laity Congress , creation of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos society , St .
Basil Academy , the foundation of the first Orthodox seminary in the US , consecration of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity – these are the results of Athenagoras ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patriarch , Athenagoras first of all is remembered for his contribution to lifting the mutual anathemas of the Roman Catholic Church and Constantinople in 1964 .
He also contested the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of America granted by Moscow arguing that autocephaly can not be granted unilaterally but must have the consent of all the Orthodox Churches , and rebooted the process of planning the long-awaited Great and Holy Council , organizing a series of pan-Orthodox conferences that helped thaw relations between the Orthodox countries in the Soviet orbit and those outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was an active advocate of Western values and a fierce opponent of communism which prompted him to cooperate with the American intelligence .
As historian Matthew Namee , editor at the OrthodoxHistory.org , mentioned in a recent series of his articles , new unclassified CIA documents show that Athenagoras ’ ties to the US intelligence and diplomacy were much closer than it was supposed before .
During World War II Athenagoras , elected in 1930 the head of the Church of America , closely collaborated with the American intelligence .
In particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 26,1942 , by Ulius L. Amoss , an intelligence agent of the Office of Strategic Services , the CIA ’ s predecessor agency , the Archbishop of America assured him that three Bishops , three hundred priests and a large and far flung organization under his order were at the OSS disposal .
A few weeks after that , on May 14 , 1942 , the OSS head William J. Donovan himself thanked Athenagoras for cooperation , “ The reports and descriptions of Greek-American youth of military age so kindly undertaken by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The care with which Your Grace has managed this important service is of great interest to our armed services and I wish to express my deep appreciation for your loyal and patriotic assistance.
” In an OSS report prepared sometime in early 1945 , Archbishop Athenagoras , Albanian Bishop Fan Noli and the Serbian Bishop Dionisije Milivojevich are listed among its key contacts with whom it is possible to “ talk intimately and as frequently as needed.
” Against this background it becomes clear why , when the Cold War began , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ V , enthroned in early 1946 , with Athenagoras .
The Agency described Maximos as too weak to be an effective leader of the Orthodox world .
American and Turkish mass media wrote about the 48-year-old Patriarch ’ s emotional disorder , Soviet diplomats ’ attempts to persuade him to cooperate and a possible involvement of Patriarch Maximos in the embezzlement of a big donation which took place during the patriarchate of his predecessor Benjamin I .
In 1948 , the 62-year-old Archbishop Athenagoras of America was elected the new Ecumenical Patriarch .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ way : “ Soviet attempts to use the Greek Orthodox Church as a medium for persuasion and propaganda have undoubtedly received a setback with the election of Athenagoras.
” Athenagoras was received by President Truman who offered the presidential airplane for the Patriarch-elect to fly to Istanbul .
Within the first years of his patriarchate , Athenagoras is described in the Department of State archives as a partner in the war against communism willing and eager to collaborate with the American government .
Consul General LeVerne Baldwin wrote , “ He [ Athenagoras @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Good Neighbor policy , in democratic methods , and in the courage and frankness of America , which he had endeavored to carry out in his policies as Patriarch.
” And the Patriarch proved these words with his deeds .
Consul General Frederick Merrill noted that Athenagoras intended to diminish the Soviet influence over the Patriarchate of Alexandria by overthrowing Patriarch Chrystopher .
Being deeply concerned with the issues of Orthodoxy in the Middle East , His All-Holiness discussed them with Consul General Merrill in spring 1951 .
In a memorandum of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said to be much more optimistic about his various plans to draw the Orthodox Churches in the Near Eastern area closer to the Phanar in Istanbul , and America .
Besides , he was eager to have Mount Athos placed under the “ cultural benediction ” of the Byzantine Institute in Washington to attract financial support to the Monastery and to throw open its archives , library , etc .
to the Byzantine Institute and other American scholars .
The cooperation with the CIA also went on .
Thus , as mentioned in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assuring the Americans that the Patriarch of Antioch will not “ stray from the fold.
” In conclusion , it should be said that Patriarch Athenagoras was without any doubt an outstanding figure in the history of the Orthodox Church .
His merits to the faithful mustn ’ t be underestimated .
As many of those living in the past century , the Patriarch viewed the Cold War as a war between Good and Evil .
“ And the United States was , in the eyes of Patriarch Athenagoras the obvious agent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existential threat of Soviet Communism , ” writes Namee .
However , a question arouses : should such influential religious leaders as the Ecumenical Patriarchate be so deeply involved in politics collaborating with intelligence agencies and the government of this or that state ?
And what does Patriarch Bartholomew , who is to visit the US this year , think about it ?
The piece is based on the unclassified CIA documents studied by historian Matthew Namee and described at the Orthodox History .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by Nadia Bazuk…
2020 began with the visit of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the US and will be marked by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s historic visit to America. Within some two months, there also took place a meeting of Geoffrey R. Pyatt and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostas Vlasis and the latter’s trip to Washington where he attended the events organized by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for the International Religious Freedom Alliance. So, this year is remarkable for an exceptional development of Greek-American relations, particularly, in terms of religious freedom.
In view of this, the previous period of close ties between Constantinople and Washington comes to mind – the times when Athenagoras Spyrou of blessed memory was the Archbishop of America and later the Ecumenical Patriarch.
The centralization of the Greek American Archdiocese’s administration, emerging role of the Clergy-Laity Congress, creation of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos society, St. Basil Academy, the foundation of the first Orthodox seminary in the US, consecration of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity – these are the results of Athenagoras’ 18-year-long archbishopric tenure.
As the Ecumenical Patriarch, Athenagoras first of all is remembered for his contribution to lifting the mutual anathemas of the Roman Catholic Church and Constantinople in 1964. He also contested the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of America granted by Moscow arguing that autocephaly cannot be granted unilaterally but must have the consent of all the Orthodox Churches, and rebooted the process of planning the long-awaited Great and Holy Council, organizing a series of pan-Orthodox conferences that helped thaw relations between the Orthodox countries in the Soviet orbit and those outside of it.
Besides, however, he was an active advocate of Western values and a fierce opponent of communism which prompted him to cooperate with the American intelligence.
As historian Matthew Namee, editor at the OrthodoxHistory.org, mentioned in a recent series of his articles, new unclassified CIA documents show that Athenagoras’ ties to the US intelligence and diplomacy were much closer than it was supposed before.
During World War II Athenagoras, elected in 1930 the head of the Church of America, closely collaborated with the American intelligence. In particular, as mentioned in a memo of March 26,1942, by Ulius L. Amoss, an intelligence agent of the Office of Strategic Services, the CIA’s predecessor agency, the Archbishop of America assured him that three Bishops, three hundred priests and a large and far flung organization under his order were at the OSS disposal.
A few weeks after that, on May 14, 1942, the OSS head William J. Donovan himself thanked Athenagoras for cooperation, “The reports and descriptions of Greek-American youth of military age so kindly undertaken by you are coming in in splendid volume. The care with which Your Grace has managed this important service is of great interest to our armed services and I wish to express my deep appreciation for your loyal and patriotic assistance.”
In an OSS report prepared sometime in early 1945, Archbishop Athenagoras, Albanian Bishop Fan Noli and the Serbian Bishop Dionisije Milivojevich are listed among its key contacts with whom it is possible to “talk intimately and as frequently as needed.”
Against this background it becomes clear why, when the Cold War began, the CIA strived to replace Patriarch Maximos V, enthroned in early 1946, with Athenagoras. The Agency described Maximos as too weak to be an effective leader of the Orthodox world. American and Turkish mass media wrote about the 48-year-old Patriarch’s emotional disorder, Soviet diplomats’ attempts to persuade him to cooperate and a possible involvement of Patriarch Maximos in the embezzlement of a big donation which took place during the patriarchate of his predecessor Benjamin I.
In 1948, the 62-year-old Archbishop Athenagoras of America was elected the new Ecumenical Patriarch. The CIA described this event the following way: “Soviet attempts to use the Greek Orthodox Church as a medium for persuasion and propaganda have undoubtedly received a setback with the election of Athenagoras.”
Athenagoras was received by President Truman who offered the presidential airplane for the Patriarch-elect to fly to Istanbul.
Patriarch-elect Athenagoras and President Truman
Within the first years of his patriarchate, Athenagoras is described in the Department of State archives as a partner in the war against communism willing and eager to collaborate with the American government. Consul General LeVerne Baldwin wrote, “He [Athenagoras] stressed his Americanism, belief in the Good Neighbor policy, in democratic methods, and in the courage and frankness of America, which he had endeavored to carry out in his policies as Patriarch.”
And the Patriarch proved these words with his deeds. Consul General Frederick Merrill noted that Athenagoras intended to diminish the Soviet influence over the Patriarchate of Alexandria by overthrowing Patriarch Chrystopher.
Being deeply concerned with the issues of Orthodoxy in the Middle East, His All-Holiness discussed them with Consul General Merrill in spring 1951. In a memorandum of April 4, 1951, Athenagoras was said to be much more optimistic about his various plans to draw the Orthodox Churches in the Near Eastern area closer to the Phanar in Istanbul, and America. Besides, he was eager to have Mount Athos placed under the “cultural benediction” of the Byzantine Institute in Washington to attract financial support to the Monastery and to throw open its archives, library, etc. to the Byzantine Institute and other American scholars.
The cooperation with the CIA also went on. Thus, as mentioned in a 1951 report, Patriarch Athenagoras was assuring the Americans that the Patriarch of Antioch will not “stray from the fold.”
In conclusion, it should be said that Patriarch Athenagoras was without any doubt an outstanding figure in the history of the Orthodox Church. His merits to the faithful mustn’t be underestimated. As many of those living in the past century, the Patriarch viewed the Cold War as a war between Good and Evil. “And the United States was, in the eyes of Patriarch Athenagoras the obvious agent of all that was good, against the existential threat of Soviet Communism,” writes Namee.
However, a question arouses: should such influential religious leaders as the Ecumenical Patriarchate be so deeply involved in politics collaborating with intelligence agencies and the government of this or that state?
And what does Patriarch Bartholomew, who is to visit the US this year, think about it?
The piece is based on the unclassified CIA documents studied by historian Matthew Namee and described at the Orthodox History.
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theduran--2020-02-14--Wyoming Steps Up to Protect the 2nd Amendment From the Federal Government

On February 7 , 2020 , House Republicans in Wyoming introduced the “ Second Amendment Preservation Act ” .
The first of its kind , if passed , HB0118 ( 2020 version ) would exempt citizens of Wyoming from any federal legislation past , present and future that would infringe upon their right to bear arms .
As far as HB0118 is concerned “ infringement ” pertains to any federal acts , laws , executive orders , administrative orders , court orders , and rules and regulations past , present and future that do not uphold a citizens right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also targets taxes on firearms and bullets that may make a citizen hesitant to purchase a firearm .
In the words of the sponsors and authors , “ Any tax , levy , fee or stamp imposed on firearms , firearms accessories or ammunition , not common to all other goods and services , which might reasonably be expected to create a chilling effect on the purchase or ownership of those items by law abiding citizens ; ” is forbidden.
” The same goes for a federal gun register which brings to mind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchase a firearm after applying for a medical marijuana card or after presenting a state ID to purchase legal marijuana .
Also addressed are the concerns many of us have with regard to transferring ownership of a firearm to a relative or even loved one who feels their life may be in danger and in need of immediate access to a firearm .
Another tactic proposed by communist like legislators that wish to impede on law abiding citizens right to bear arms .
Which makes me think of the many women that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the advantage of protecting their lives because they were hesitant to buy or had to wait to take possession of a firearm to protect themselves from immediate present danger .
It ’ s refreshing to know that Wyoming House Republicans have not taken lightly the Commiecrats ( those I see to be Communist like in there agenda , definitely not all Democrats ) shadowed threats to confiscate guns .
Seriously , one would have to be living under a brick to not understand HB0118 is a legitimate reaction to Virginia ’ s actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arms and be the model for states wishing to follow in its footsteps .
Tasked with the duty of upholding HB0118 and protecting the citizens of Wyoming ’ s right to bear arms naturally are delegated to the courts and law enforcement agencies .
Although that goes without saying , its the language of 6-8-504 ( a ) that makes the common sense fact worth mentioning .
It clearly states “ No person , including any public servant as defined in W.S .
6-5-101 , shall have the authority to enforce or attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , executive order , administrative order , court order , rule , regulation , statute or ordinance infringing on the right to keep and bear arms ensured by the second amendment to the United States constitution and article 1 , section 24 of the 11 Wyoming constitution.
” Even more interesting is 6-8-504 ( b ) that would hold those delegated with upholding HB0118 and not doing so liable to the Wyoming citizen whose rights were infringed upon .
This is truly power to the people .
Any citizen in Wyoming that pursued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bear arms infringed upon , if prevailing in the court of law , could be reimbursed for “ costs and expenses , including reasonable attorney fees.
” Upon reading HB0118 it is highly apparent that the Republican sponsors invested much thought in protecting 2A rights for their citizens .
An extensive investment that addresses those acting as an official agent , employee or deputy of the federal government that may covertly try to enforce any legislation or act that would impede on the rights given by our Second Amendment .
Any of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barred from being a “ peace officer or to supervise peace officers ” in the state of Wyoming .
Worthy of applause , the state takes that provision a step further by allowing any person residing in or conducting business in the state the right to pursue legal action against any person “ reasonably believed ” to be acting as a federal agent attempting to enforce federal gun laws that would infringe on the Second Amendment .
If found guilty the police officer or supervisor of officers would be immediately terminated .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ peace officer ” would have to reimburse the complainant for expenses incurred as a result of the legal process .
As those that follow me on Twitter know , I am constantly pointing out how much of a distraction the ongoing beef between President Trump and the Democrats is .
Only because the media wants it to be .
That ’ s why it is my duty as an American to not be a part of the echo chamber , and present information that informs the people to the threats against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these articles in order to keep like minded citizens informed .
Read the actual bill here Second Amendment Preservation Act

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
On February 7, 2020, House Republicans in Wyoming introduced the “Second Amendment Preservation Act”. The first of its kind, if passed, HB0118 (2020 version) would exempt citizens of Wyoming from any federal legislation past, present and future that would infringe upon their right to bear arms.
As far as HB0118 is concerned “infringement” pertains to any federal acts, laws, executive orders, administrative orders, court orders, and rules and regulations past, present and future that do not uphold a citizens right to keep and bear arms. The bill also targets taxes on firearms and bullets that may make a citizen hesitant to purchase a firearm. In the words of the sponsors and authors, “Any tax, levy, fee or stamp imposed on firearms, firearms accessories or ammunition, not common to all other goods and services, which might reasonably be expected to create a chilling effect on the purchase or ownership of those items by law abiding citizens;” is forbidden.”
The same goes for a federal gun register which brings to mind those that may find themselves unable to purchase a firearm after applying for a medical marijuana card or after presenting a state ID to purchase legal marijuana.
Also addressed are the concerns many of us have with regard to transferring ownership of a firearm to a relative or even loved one who feels their life may be in danger and in need of immediate access to a firearm. Another tactic proposed by communist like legislators that wish to impede on law abiding citizens right to bear arms. Which makes me think of the many women that have lost their lives to domestic violence without the advantage of protecting their lives because they were hesitant to buy or had to wait to take possession of a firearm to protect themselves from immediate present danger. It’s refreshing to know that Wyoming House Republicans have not taken lightly the Commiecrats (those I see to be Communist like in there agenda, definitely not all Democrats) shadowed threats to confiscate guns. Seriously, one would have to be living under a brick to not understand HB0118 is a legitimate reaction to Virginia’s actions to squash their citizens right to bear arms and be the model for states wishing to follow in its footsteps.
Tasked with the duty of upholding HB0118 and protecting the citizens of Wyoming’s right to bear arms naturally are delegated to the courts and law enforcement agencies. Although that goes without saying, its the language of 6-8-504 (a) that makes the common sense fact worth mentioning. It clearly states “No person, including any public servant as defined in W.S. 6-5-101, shall have the authority to enforce or attempt to enforce any federal act, law, executive order, administrative order, court order, rule, regulation, statute or ordinance infringing on the right to keep and bear arms ensured by the second amendment to the United States constitution and article 1, section 24 of the 11 Wyoming constitution.”
Even more interesting is 6-8-504 (b) that would hold those delegated with upholding HB0118 and not doing so liable to the Wyoming citizen whose rights were infringed upon. This is truly power to the people. Any citizen in Wyoming that pursued legal action for having their right to bear arms infringed upon, if prevailing in the court of law, could be reimbursed for “costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees.”
Upon reading HB0118 it is highly apparent that the Republican sponsors invested much thought in protecting 2A rights for their citizens. An extensive investment that addresses those acting as an official agent, employee or deputy of the federal government that may covertly try to enforce any legislation or act that would impede on the rights given by our Second Amendment. Any of the previously mentioned federal assets would be permanently barred from being a “peace officer or to supervise peace officers” in the state of Wyoming.
Worthy of applause, the state takes that provision a step further by allowing any person residing in or conducting business in the state the right to pursue legal action against any person “reasonably believed” to be acting as a federal agent attempting to enforce federal gun laws that would infringe on the Second Amendment. If found guilty the police officer or supervisor of officers would be immediately terminated. Not only that, the agency that hired the “peace officer” would have to reimburse the complainant for expenses incurred as a result of the legal process.
As those that follow me on Twitter know, I am constantly pointing out how much of a distraction the ongoing beef between President Trump and the Democrats is. Only because the media wants it to be. That’s why it is my duty as an American to not be a part of the echo chamber, and present information that informs the people to the threats against their rights and freedoms. Please share these articles in order to keep like minded citizens informed.
Read the actual bill here Second Amendment Preservation Act
James Cheef
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