veteranstoday--2020-02-13--Emperor Trump: Tweeting While Rome Burns? (Chuck Baldwin Nails It!)

There is still bread in the stores and circuses on television .
The Imperial Legions keep right on occupying distant hinterlands , though the ominous thunder of barbarian war drums grows louder every day .
Superficial normalcy pervades in the heart of the American Empire , where billionaire citizens and working class slaves alike continue to go about their daily business .
The But don ’ t let that fool you .
The USA is beginning to resemble Rome during its final , decadent stages right before collapse .
Even setting aside the allegations of Katie , Donald “ Pussygrabber-in-Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decadence reminiscent of Caligula or Nero .
Is somebody slipping lead into the 12 Diet Cokes he drinks each and every day ?
Then again , when you ’ re guzzling that much Diet Coke do you even need lead ?
Whatever the cause , there ’ s definitely some imperial brain damage occurring in that orange head of his .
Nero and Caligula were never terribly popular in the Roman Christian community .
For them , Christians were lion food .
Yet today , our mad emperor Donald Trump , one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is adored by multitudes of Christian Zionist cretins .
It ’ ll be a horrible , cruel spectacle when Trump starts feeding them to the lions .
But it sure won ’ t hurt the gene pool .
Still , not every conservative evangelical Christian is a complete idiot .
One of America ’ s sharpest political commentators , believe it or not , is SPLC-certified “ guns n ’ God right-wing patriot movement extremist ” Chuck Baldwin , a pastor based in Kalispell , Montana .
Below is his latest epistle—a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BS .
If you have any friends or family members of the Evangelical persuasion , be sure to turn them on to Pastor Chuck .
Even the most casual student of history knows that the mighty Roman Empire fell from within .
More serious students of history have read tomes of scholarly research on the subject .
Most of them also share the conclusion that the collapse of the greatest economic and military power in the world came primarily from within .
And many of these same researchers are saying that America is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s collapse .
I believe they are right .
Excessive taxation with unbridled spending , a hedonistic culture preoccupied with pleasure and sport , fascination with military conquest that bred overextended military adventurism and perpetual war and extreme corruption in government seem to be the consistent themes describing the fall of the mighty Roman Empire .
In truth , the Roman Empire was doomed .
.
.
when it became an empire .
The power lust of Julius Caesar drove him to lead the Roman army in many unsanctioned , unlawful and barbaric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made him extremely powerful and popular with the Roman people .
The Roman senate wanted Caesar to face criminal charges for his unlawful wars and summoned him home from the battlefield to face those charges .
Instead , Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with his 13th Roman Legion in 49 B.C .
and seized Rome by force .
He then summarily dismantled the power of the senate , gave great wealth and lands to the military troops that were loyal to him and implemented monarchical law .
He soon forced the senate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life.
” Julius Caesar was assassinated by senators loyal to the Roman Republic on March 15 , 44 B.C.
, but they lacked the power to overcome Caesar ’ s adopted heir , Octavian , and were soon defeated .
Their defeat eliminated all opposition to the new monarchy .
Octavian , named Caesar Augustus ( the title as ascribed in Luke 2:1 ; called Augustus Caesar in secular history ) , became the first official Emperor of Rome .
The Roman Republic fell when the Roman Empire began .
Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal position is inseparable from that of the nation itself .
This is similar to the notion that took hold during the ascendancy of the man known as Rome ’ s first emperor , Augustus , who was in power from 31 B.C .
to A.D. 14 .
Trump defense attorney Alan Dershowitz asserted that “ abuse of power ” by the president is not an impeachable offense .
A central part of Dershowitz ’ s argument was that “ every public official that I know believes that his election is in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest , that can not be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment.
” This inability to separate the personal interests of a leader from the interests of the country he or she leads has powerful echoes in ancient Rome .
Much of Rome ’ s decline into one-man rule can be observed in a series of developments during the time of Augustus , who held no formal monarchical title but only the vague designation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among equals.
” But in fact the senate had ceded him both power ( “ imperium ” in Latin ) over Rome ’ s military and the traditional tribune ’ s power to veto legislation .
Each of these powers also granted him immunity from prosecution .
He was above the law .
Augustus ’ position thus gave him exactly the freedom from oversight – or what Trump calls “ presidential harassment ” – that the president demands .
Such immunity is also the sort that Richard Nixon seemed to long for , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ when the president does it , that means that it is not illegal.
” In Augustus ’ time the idea also emerged that the “ princeps ” and the Roman state were to a great extent one and the same .
The identity of the one was growing to become inseparable from the identity of the other .
So , for example , under Augustus and then his successor Tiberius , insults against the emperor could be considered acts of treason against the state , or , more officially , against “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A critic of the “ princeps ” – be it in unflattering words or in the improper treatment of his image – was subject to prosecution as an “ enemy of the people.
” Many higher-ups in the Trump administration , from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to former Secretary of Energy Rick Perryto former Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders , have spoken publicly of Trump as a divinely chosen figure .
And Trump himself declared earlier this year , “ I do really believe we have God on our side.
” To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Lady Liberty and Trump along the lines of the Temple of Roma and Augustus has not yet been constructed .
But the Senate impeachment trial has shown us how far along the identification of leader and state has moved in the Trump era .
A central part of the president ’ s impeachment defense is , as we have seen , that the personal will of the president is indistinguishable from the will of the state and the good of the people .
Will the GOP-led Senate ’ s endorsement of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the manifestations – and consequences – of authoritarianism ?
The case of the Roman Republic ’ s rapid slippage into an autocratic regime masquerading as a republic shows how easily that transformation can occur .
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham is even more direct .
He said that the U.S. Senate ’ s vote against allowing evidence and witnesses at Trump ’ s impeachment trial had made Trump “ functionally a monarch.
” Meachan said , “ He ’ s [ Trump ’ s ] functionally the most politically powerful president in American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more unconstitutional power to himself than any other president in U.S. history .
With the exception of Abraham Lincoln , this is doubtless true .
Donald Trump is doing what no liberal Democrat could ever do : He is turning America from a constitutional republic into a monarchical dictatorship .
Anyone who doesn ’ t see that is either completely ignorant of history or willfully blind .
Donald Trump ignores congressional oversight of the president ’ s financial spending ; he ignores congressional oversight of the president ’ s ability to wage war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subpoena witnesses .
In short , Trump has all but completely neutralized the legislative branch of government .
Donald Trump is not attacking the Deep State ; he is attacking constitutional government .
He is attacking the United States .
CNN analyst Stephen Collinson was absolutely right when he wrote : [ Donald Trump ] is completing his project of fashioning the office around his own personality .
It ’ s unrestrained , unaccountable , often profane , impervious to outside influence and factual constraints of normal governance .
The President has established @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his own media complex .
He loosened Congress ’ s constraints by refusing to cooperate with the impeachment probe .
The result is that there are very few political constraints on his behavior left .
And here is the scary part : The stronger ( and more reckless and ruthless ) Trump ’ s rogue presidency becomes , the more popular he becomes .
Trump ’ s poll numbers have risen exponentially since his impeachment .
With Republicans and conservative Christians , Trump ’ s popularity tops 90 % .
As with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump has made the country all about HIM .
Patriotism is all about HIM .
Even Christian faith is all about HIM .
Any legal restraint , any constitutional prohibition , any moral impediment and any voice of opposition must be swept away .
Trump is der Führer .
And just as with der Führer Adolph Hitler , Donald Trump receives his most rabid , enthusiastic , even fanatical support from professing Christians .
[ Conservative Christians ] rationalize that any criticism of Trump will weaken him and empower his opponents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then they begin to attack his critics even when they agree with them : “ They ’ ll echo Trump ’ s lies .
They ’ ll defend Trump ’ s lies .
They ’ ll adopt many of his same rhetorical tactics , including engaging in mocking and insulting behavior as a matter of course.
” Somewhere along the way , the idea of loving your enemies gets lost .
Along with it , the standard against lying is abandoned .
And , since Trump can not be criticized and must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s history is either denied or ignored .
Traditional norms of American government , like the separation of powers and Congress ’ s right to subpoena witnesses and documents , are thrown to the wayside because the president doesn ’ t abide by them .
Trump takes kind old ladies who worry about the unborn and transforms them into hate-tweeters .
He turns upright and model citizens into apologists for sexual assault , white nationalism , business fraud , self-dealing and foreign interference in our elections .
For French , his primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative Christians .
For the rest of us , the concern is what it does to the nation as a whole .
As [ sic ] the core of Trumpism is the corruption of the national character .
Add to all of the above the fact that the establishment has successfully orchestrated almost the entire Democrat Party in Washington , D.C. , becoming nothing but a cartoonish compilation of radicalized left-wing extremists , making it increasingly repugnant to most Americans , thereby making Trump look better by comparison and greasing the skids for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has ALWAYS been about expunging America ’ s Bill of Rights and constitutional form of government and returning America to monarchism .
It ’ s a lot easier for the power elite to control one man than it is 435 congressmen , 100 senators , 9 Supreme Court justices and a president and vice-president—not to mention 50 sovereign states .
Donald Trump is the strongman who will give the establishment Deep State everything it has ever wanted .
We are going back to Rome .
Christians who are cheering on this wanna-be Caesar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

There is still bread in the stores and circuses on television. The Imperial Legions keep right on occupying distant hinterlands, though the ominous thunder of barbarian war drums grows louder every day. Superficial normalcy pervades in the heart of the American Empire, where billionaire citizens and working-class slaves alike continue to go about their daily business.
The But don’t let that fool you. The USA is beginning to resemble Rome during its final, decadent stages right before the collapse.
Even setting aside the allegations of Katie, Donald “Pussygrabber-in-Chief” Trump cuts a figure of narcissistic decadence reminiscent of Caligula or Nero. Is somebody slipping lead into the 12 Diet Cokes he drinks each and every day? Then again, when you’re guzzling that much Diet Coke do you even need a lead? Whatever the cause, there’s definitely some imperial brain damage occurring in that orange head of his.
Nero and Caligula were never terribly popular in the Roman Christian community. For them, Christians were lion food.
Yet today, our mad emperor Donald Trump, one of the least Christlike individuals who ever lived, is adored by multitudes of Christian Zionist cretins. It’ll be a horrible, cruel spectacle when Trump starts feeding them to the lions. But it sure won’t hurt the gene pool.
Still, not every conservative evangelical Christian is a complete idiot. One of America’s sharpest political commentators, believe it or not, is SPLC-certified “guns n’ God right-wing patriot movement extremist” Chuck Baldwin, a pastor based in Kalispell, Montana. Below is his latest epistle—a refreshing contrast to the usual Trump-kool-aid-drinking evangelical BS. If you have any friends or family members of the Evangelical persuasion, be sure to turn them on to Pastor Chuck.
-Kevin Barrett, VT Editor
Back To Rome
By Chuck Baldwin
February 13, 2020
Even the most casual student of history knows that the mighty Roman Empire fell from within. More serious students of history have read tomes of scholarly research on the subject. Most of them also share the conclusion that the collapse of the greatest economic and military power in the world came primarily from within. And many of these same researchers are saying that America is on a course to repeat Rome’s collapse. I believe they are right.
Excessive taxation with unbridled spending, a hedonistic culture preoccupied with pleasure and sport, fascination with military conquest that bred overextended military adventurism and perpetual war and extreme corruption in government seem to be the consistent themes describing the fall of the mighty Roman Empire.
In truth, the Roman Empire was doomed . . . when it became an empire. The power lust of Julius Caesar drove him to lead the Roman army in many unsanctioned, unlawful and barbaric wars of aggression. But it also made him extremely powerful and popular with the Roman people.
The Roman senate wanted Caesar to face criminal charges for his unlawful wars and summoned him home from the battlefield to face those charges. Instead, Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with his 13th Roman Legion in 49 B.C. and seized Rome by force. He then summarily dismantled the power of the senate, gave great wealth and lands to the military troops that were loyal to him and implemented monarchical law. He soon forced the senate to declare him to be a “dictator for life.”
Julius Caesar was assassinated by senators loyal to the Roman Republic on March 15, 44 B.C., but they lacked the power to overcome Caesar’s adopted heir, Octavian and were soon defeated. Their defeat eliminated all opposition to the new monarchy. Octavian, named Caesar Augustus (the title as ascribed in Luke 2:1; called Augustus Caesar in secular history), became the first official Emperor of Rome.
The Roman Republic fell when the Roman Empire began.
Historian Timothy Joseph writes:
Trump’s lawyers argued that the president’s personal position is inseparable from that of the nation itself. This is similar to the notion that took hold during the ascendancy of the man known as Rome’s first emperor, Augustus, who was in power from 31 B.C. to A.D. 14.
Trump defense attorney Alan Dershowitz asserted that “abuse of power” by the president is not an impeachable offense. A central part of Dershowitz’s argument was that “every public official that I know believes that his election is in the public interest” and that “if a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment.”
This inability to separate the personal interests of a leader from the interests of the country he or she leads has powerful echoes in ancient Rome.
Much of Rome’s decline into one-man rule can be observed in a series of developments during the time of Augustus, who held no formal monarchical title but only the vague designation “princeps,” or “first among equals.”
But in fact, the senate had ceded him both power (“imperium” in Latin) over Rome’s military and the traditional tribune’s power to veto legislation. Each of these powers also granted him immunity from prosecution. He was above the law.
Augustus’ position thus gave him exactly the freedom from oversight – or what Trump calls “presidential harassment” – that the president demands. Such immunity is also the sort that Richard Nixon seemed to long for, most famously in his post-presidency declaration that “when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.”
In Augustus’ time, the idea also emerged that the “princeps” and the Roman state were to a great extent one and the same. The identity of the one was growing to become inseparable from the identity of the other.
So, for example, under Augustus and then his successor Tiberius, insults against the emperor could be considered acts of treason against the state, or, more officially, against “the majesty of the Roman people.”
A critic of the “princeps” – be it in unflattering words or in the improper treatment of his image – was subject to prosecution as an “enemy of the people.”
Many higher-ups in the Trump administration, from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to former Secretary of Energy Rick Perry to former Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, have spoken publicly of Trump as a divinely chosen figure. And Trump himself declared earlier this year, “I do really believe we have God on our side.”
To this point, however, a Temple of Lady Liberty and Trump along the lines of the Temple of Roma and Augustus has not yet been constructed.
But the Senate impeachment trial has shown us how far along the identification of leader and state has moved in the Trump era. A central part of the president’s impeachment defense is, as we have seen, that the personal will of the president is indistinguishable from the will of the state and the good of the people.
Will the GOP-led Senate’s endorsement of this defense clear a path for more of the manifestations – and consequences – of authoritarianism? The case of the Roman Republic’s rapid slippage into an autocratic regime masquerading as a republic shows how easily that transformation can occur.
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham is even more direct. He said that the U.S. Senate’s vote against allowing evidence and witnesses at Trump’s impeachment trial had made Trump “functionally a monarch.”
Meachan said, “He’s [Trump’s] functionally the most politically powerful president in American history,” meaning Trump has accrued more unconstitutional power to himself than any other president in U.S. history. With the exception of Abraham Lincoln, this is doubtless true.
Donald Trump is doing what no liberal Democrat could ever do: He is turning America from a constitutional republic into a monarchical dictatorship. Anyone who doesn’t see that is either completely ignorant of history or willfully blind.
Donald Trump ignores congressional oversight of the president’s financial spending; he ignores congressional oversight of the president’s ability to wage war, and he ignores congressional power to subpoena witnesses. In short, Trump has all but completely neutralized the legislative branch of government.
Donald Trump is not attacking the Deep State; he is attacking the constitutional government. He is attacking the United States.
CNN analyst Stephen Collinson was absolutely right when he wrote:
[Donald Trump] is completing his project of fashioning the office around his own personality. It’s unrestrained, unaccountable, often profane, impervious to outside influence and factual constraints of normal governance. The President has established dominance over his party, his Cabinet and his own media complex. He loosened Congress’s constraints by refusing to cooperate with the impeachment probe.
The result is that there are very few political constraints on his behavior left.
And here is the scary part: The stronger (and more reckless and ruthless) Trump’s rogue presidency becomes, the more popular he becomes. Trump’s poll numbers have risen exponentially since his impeachment. With Republicans and conservative Christians, Trump’s popularity tops 90%.
As with tyrannical strongmen such as the Caesars, Donald Trump has made the country all about HIM. Patriotism is all about HIM. Even Christian faith is all about HIM. Any legal restraint, any constitutional prohibition, any moral impediment and any voice of opposition must be swept away. Trump is der Führer.
And just as with der Führer Adolph Hitler, Donald Trump receives his most rabid, enthusiastic, even fanatical support from professing Christians.
Writing for the Washington Monthly, Martin Longman quotes David French:
[Conservative Christians] rationalize that any criticism of Trump will weaken him and empower his opponents, so they refrain from criticizing him. Then they begin to attack his critics even when they agree with them: “They’ll echo Trump’s lies. They’ll defend Trump’s lies. They’ll adopt many of his same rhetorical tactics, including engaging in mocking and insulting behavior as a matter of course.”
Somewhere along the way, the idea of loving your enemies gets lost. Along with it, the standard against lying is abandoned. And, since Trump cannot be criticized and must be defended, every foul act in Trump’s history is either denied or ignored. Traditional norms of the American government, like the separation of powers and Congress’s right to subpoena witnesses and documents, are thrown to the wayside because the president doesn’t abide by them.
Trump takes kind old ladies who worry about the unborn and transforms them into hate-tweeters. He turns upright and model citizens into apologists for sexual assault, white nationalism, business fraud, self-dealing and foreign interference in our elections.
For French, his primary concern is what this does to faithful conservative Christians. For the rest of us, the concern is what it does to the nation as a whole. As [sic] the core of Trumpism is the corruption of the national character.
Add to all of the above the fact that the establishment has successfully orchestrated almost the entire Democrat Party in Washington, D.C., becoming nothing but a cartoonish compilation of radicalized left-wing extremists, making it increasingly repugnant to most Americans, thereby making Trump look better by comparison and greasing the skids for his re-election.
The establishment Deep State has ALWAYS been about expunging America’s Bill of Rights and constitutional form of government and returning America to monarchism. It’s a lot easier for the power elite to control one man than it is 435 congressmen, 100 senators, 9 Supreme Court justices and a president and vice-president—not to mention 50 sovereign states.
Donald Trump is the strongman who will give the establishment Deep State everything it has ever wanted.
We are going back to Rome.
Christians who are cheering on this wanna-be Caesar should remember what Caesars do to Christians.
© Chuck Baldwin


veteranstoday--2020-02-13--Meet the Pink Inspector Clouseau

Meet the Pink Inspector Clouseau

Just in time for the rosiest holiday of the year , another diver has snapped a rare photo of Inspector Clouseau , the world ’ s only known pink manta ray .
First spotted lurking in the waters off Australia ’ s Lady Elliot Island in late 2015 , the 11-foot male fish—cheekily named for the detective in the Pink Panther franchise—has been glimpsed only a handful of times since , reports Bethany Augliere for National Geographic .
So rare are the sightings that Kristian Laine , the photographer behind Clouseau ’ s most recent close-up , was certain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of malfunctioning camera equipment .
“ At first I was very confused , ” Laine tells Angela Heathcote at Australian Geographic .
“ I actually thought my strobes were playing up.
” Clouseau was concealed by seven other male manta rays , all flashing more typical white undersides .
According to Australian Geographic , the fishy octet had assembled to vie for the attention of a nearby female—an elaborate courtship ritual that typically involves a lady ray releasing pheromones into the water before zooming away , triggering a train of males into giving @ @

by Katherine J. Wu/Smithsonianmag.com
Just in time for the rosiest holiday of the year, another diver has snapped a rare photo of Inspector Clouseau, the world’s only known pink manta ray.
First spotted lurking in the waters off Australia’s Lady Elliot Island in late 2015, the 11-foot male fish—cheekily named for the detective in the Pink Panther franchise—has been glimpsed only a handful of times since, reports Bethany Augliere for National Geographic. So rare are the sightings that Kristian Laine, the photographer behind Clouseau’s most recent close-up, was certain the ray’s coloration was an artifact of malfunctioning camera equipment.
“At first I was very confused,” Laine tells Angela Heathcote at Australian Geographic. “I actually thought my strobes were playing up.”
Clouseau was concealed by seven other male manta rays, all flashing more typical white undersides. According to Australian Geographic, the fishy octet had assembled to vie for the attention of a nearby female—an elaborate courtship ritual that typically involves a lady ray releasing pheromones into the water before zooming away, triggering a train of males into giving chase.


veteranstoday--2020-02-13--Pablo Escobar’s Hippos: Polluting Lakes in Columbia

In 1978 , drug lord Pablo Escobar purchased a sprawling Colombian estate that he filled with an assortment of extravagant and unusual features—among them a soccer field ; statues of dinosaurs ; a bullfighting arena ; and a menagerie filled with rhinos , giraffes , zebras and four hippos .
After Escobar was shot dead in 1993 , the country ’ s government seized control of his estate and relocated most of the animals living there to zoos .
But the hippos , of which Escobar was said to be particularly fond , were deemed too aggressive and dangerous to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the hippos began roaming Hacienda Nápoles , as the property is known , and beyond .
They formed a feral population in both artificial lakes and the Magdalena River , and have since been spotted as far as 93 miles away from the estate .
Now numbering between 65 and 80 individuals , this herd of lumbering creatures may pose a problem to Colombia ’ s aquatic ecosystems—a poopy problem , to be precise .
“ They only eat on land , ” Jonathan Shurin , a biologist at the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rowe of the Los Angeles Times .
“ Then they come into the water and crap all day.
” In their native African habitat , hippos ’ prolific bathroom behavior ….read more :

Pablo Escobar’s Pooping Hippos Are Polluting Colombia’s Lakes
by Brigit Katz/Smithsonianmag.com
In 1978, drug lord Pablo Escobar purchased a sprawling Colombian estate that he filled with an assortment of extravagant and unusual features—among them a soccer field; statues of dinosaurs; a bullfighting arena; and a menagerie filled with rhinos, giraffes, zebras and four hippos. After Escobar was shot dead in 1993, the country’s government seized control of his estate and relocated most of the animals living there to zoos. But the hippos, of which Escobar was said to be particularly fond, were deemed too aggressive and dangerous to move.
Left to their own devices, the hippos began roaming Hacienda Nápoles, as the property is known, and beyond. They formed a feral population in both artificial lakes and the Magdalena River, and have since been spotted as far as 93 miles away from the estate. Now numbering between 65 and 80 individuals, this herd of lumbering creatures may pose a problem to Colombia’s aquatic ecosystems—a poopy problem, to be precise. “They only eat on land,” Jonathan Shurin, a biologist at the University of California, San Diego, tells Peter Rowe of the Los Angeles Times. “Then they come into the water and crap all day.”
In their native African habitat, hippos’ prolific bathroom behavior…
Carol graduated from Riverside White Cross School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio and received her diploma as a registered nurse. She attended Bowling Green State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Literature. She attended the University of Toledo, College of Nursing, and received a Master’s of Nursing Science Degree as an Educator. She has traveled extensively, is a photographer, and writes on medical issues. Carol has three children RJ, Katherine, and Stephen – one daughter-in-law; Katie – two granddaughters; Isabella Marianna and Zoe Olivia – and one grandson, Alexander Paul. She also shares her life with her husband Gordon Duff, many cats, and two rescues. Carol’s Archives 2009-2013


veteranstoday--2020-02-13--Yea! No Jellies In Lake Michigan

Yea! No Jellies In Lake Michigan

These Jellyfish Don ’ t Need Tentacles to Deliver a Toxic Sting A mysterious burning , itchy sensation after a swim is usually the telltale sign of a jellyfish sting .
But in coastal mangroves and other subtropical ecosystems , snorklers and swimmers have long reported a similar sensation without ever coming in contact with a jellyfish .
A phenomenon called “ stinging water ” is to blame , but the cause is unknown .
One potential culprit is a type of jellyfish belonging to the genus Cassiopea called the upside-down jellyfish , but they are missing a key appendage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : spaghetti-like tentacles .
Instead of a gelatinous , umbrella-shaped body with long , swaying tentacles undulating beneath as it floats through the water , Cassiopea got its common name for being the exact opposite .
The soft , circular body , known as the medusa , rests on the seafloor while just a few short , tentacles float above them .
Cassiopea are known to get the bulk of their energy through their symbiotic relationship with the photosynthetic algae Symbiodinium that lives within their body .
But how could the upside-down jellyfish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with their victims ?
These unassuming invertebrates are known to unleash plumes of mucus into the water , and ….read more :

by Hannah Knighton/Smithsonianmag.com
A mysterious burning, itchy sensation after a swim is usually the telltale sign of a jellyfish sting.
But in coastal mangroves and other subtropical ecosystems, snorkelers and swimmers have long reported a similar sensation without ever coming in contact with a jellyfish. A phenomenon called “stinging water” is to blame, but the cause is unknown.
One potential culprit is a type of jellyfish belonging to the genus Cassiopea called the upside-down jellyfish, but they are missing a key appendage normally necessary to deal a stinging blow: spaghetti-like tentacles.
Instead of a gelatinous, umbrella-shaped body with long, swaying tentacles undulating beneath as it floats through the water, Cassiopea got its common name for being the exact opposite. The soft, circular body, known as the medusa, rests on the seafloor while just a few short, tentacles float above them. Cassiopea are known to get the bulk of their energy through their symbiotic relationship with the photosynthetic algae Symbiodinium that lives within their body.
But how could the upside-down jellyfish sting something without ever coming in direct contact with their victims? These unassuming invertebrates are known to unleash plumes of mucus into the water, and…


veteranstoday--2020-02-13--Trump Expected to Veto Both House and Senate’s Move to Limit Abuse of Power

ump ‘ s ability to wage war against Iran , rebuking the president after a strike against an Iranian military commander and Tehran ’ s retaliation last month raised fears of broader regional conflict .
The measure , authored by Senator Tim Kaine , says Trump must win approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran .
Eight Republicans joined with Democrats to pass the resolution by a 55-45 vote .
Kaine and other supporters said the resolution was not about Trump or even the presidency , but instead was an important reassertion of congressional power to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidents “ must always have the ability to defend the United States from imminent attack , the executive power to initiate war stops there ” , Kaine said .
“ An offensive war requires a congressional debate and vote.
” The Democratic-controlled House passed a separate , nonbinding war powers resolution last month .
The House could take up the Senate resolution later this month , said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer .
Two-thirds votes in the House and Republican-run Senate would be needed to override an expected Trump veto .
Answering a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters and Trump himself that the measure would send a signal of weakness to Iran and other potential adversaries , Kaine said the opposite was true .
“ When we stand up for the rule of law – in a world that hungers for more rule of law – and say ‘ this decision is fundamental , and we have rules that we are going to follow so we can make a good decision , ’ that ’ s a message of strength , ” Kaine said .
read more…

Al-Jazeera: Trump’s ability to wage war against Iran, rebuking the president after a strike against an Iranian military commander and Tehran’s retaliation last month raised fears of broader regional conflict.
The measure, authored by Senator Tim Kaine, says Trump must win approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran. Eight Republicans joined with Democrats to pass the resolution by a 55-45 vote.
Kaine and other supporters said the resolution was not about Trump or even the presidency but instead was an important reassertion of congressional power to declare war.
While Trump and other presidents “must always have the ability to defend the United States from imminent attack, the executive power to initiate war stops there”, Kaine said. “An offensive war requires a congressional debate and vote.”
The Democratic-controlled House passed a separate, nonbinding war powers resolution last month. The House could take up the Senate resolution later this month, said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. Trump expected Two-thirds votes in the House and Republican-run Senate would be needed to override an expected Trump veto. Answering a claim by some of Trump’s supporters and Trump himself that the measure would send a signal of weakness to Iran and other potential adversaries, Kaine said the opposite was true. “When we stand up for the rule of law – in a world that hungers for more rule of law – and say ‘this decision is fundamental, and we have rules that we are going to follow so we can make a good decision,’ that’s a message of strength,” Kaine said. Read Full Story on AlJazeera.com


veteranstoday--2020-02-13--New McCarthyism: Deep State ‘Alliance for Securing Democracy’ a ‘disinfo-smear shop’ like Wikipedia

The Alliance for Securing Democracy , an online censorship initiative of the Western government-funded German Marshall Project , falsely and hypocritically characterized The Grayzone and independent journalist Jordan Chariton as “ state-backed media , ” smearing them for their factual reporting on the shadowy network behind the controversial app that undermined the integrity of the Iowa caucuses .
The Grayzone has exposed the Alliance for Securing Democracy ( ASD ) in a series of investigative reports as a neo-McCarthyite outfit prone to spreading disinformation , staffed by counter-terror cranks and national security hustlers .
The ASD ’ s parent organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US government , numerous European governments , and the European Union , at the tune of millions of dollars — making these false accusations against The Grayzone and Jordan Chariton actual state-backed smears .
Chariton , who founded the independent progressive news outlet Status Coup , hit back at the ASD ’ s outrageous claims .
“ The days of faux democracy gladiators defaming journalists – whose factual work they seek to discredit – as part of a Kremlin syndicate are over .
It ’ s time to fight back , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the ASD published a dubious analysis of a supposed Russian effort to spread conspiracies and disinformation around the Iowa caucuses .
It honed in on the Russian-funded Sputnik News and three shows broadcast by RT .
Those programs included “ Going Underground , ” which is hosted by British journalist Afshin Rattansi .
The post continued : “ In addition , all the most popular tweets about Iowa retweeted in this time period by at least one monitored account pushed a narrative that the Democratic National Committee and/or the Democratic establishment more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means .
Monitored accounts ‘ Redacted Tonight ’ ( @ redactedtonight ) and ‘ Watching the Hawks ’ ( @ watchinghawks ) are the primary accounts engaging directly with this material.
” read more…

By Alex Rubinstein for thegrayzone.com
The Alliance for Securing Democracy, an online censorship initiative of the Western government-funded German Marshall Project, falsely and hypocritically characterized The Grayzone and independent journalist Jordan Chariton as “state-backed media,” smearing them for their factual reporting on the shadowy network behind the controversial app that undermined the integrity of the Iowa caucuses.
The Grayzone has exposed the Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD) in a series of investigative reports as a neo-McCarthyite outfit prone to spreading disinformation, staffed by counter-terror cranks and national security hustlers.
On Twitter, state-backed media accounts spread various conspiracy theories about the Iowa caucus, many of which claimed the DNC, news media, and other candidates used “dirty tricks” to steal the victory from Sen. Bernie Sanders. pic.twitter.com/mQJcbaGKzd — Securing Democracy (@SecureDemocracy) February 11, 2020
The ASD’s parent organization also happens to be bankrolled by the US government, numerous European governments, and the European Union, at the tune of millions of dollars — making these false accusations against The Grayzone and Jordan Chariton actual state-backed smears.
Chariton, who founded the independent progressive news outlet Status Coup, hit back at the ASD’s outrageous claims. “The days of faux democracy gladiators defaming journalists – whose factual work they seek to discredit – as part of a Kremlin syndicate are over. It’s time to fight back,” he told The Grayzone.
On February 10, the ASD published a dubious analysis of a supposed Russian effort to spread conspiracies and disinformation around the Iowa caucuses. It honed in on the Russian-funded Sputnik News and three shows broadcast by RT. Those programs included “Going Underground,” which is hosted by British journalist Afshin Rattansi.
The post continued: “In addition, all the most popular tweets about Iowa retweeted in this time period by at least one monitored account pushed a narrative that the Democratic National Committee and/or the Democratic establishment more broadly seeks to undermine Sanders via nefarious means. Monitored accounts ‘Redacted Tonight’ (@redactedtonight) and ‘Watching the Hawks’ (@watchinghawks) are the primary accounts engaging directly with this material.”
Read Full Story at TheGrayZone.com


veteranstoday--2020-02-13--Breaking/Powerful: CIA-US Marine Torture Drawings Released

In November , 2012 , President Barak Obama apologized for not being able to overcome a GOP congressional block on @ @ @ @ @ up to 4 dozen other prisons and up to 6 biological and chemical warfare facilities @ @ @ @ @ , not just the one in Tbilisi , but others as well , several in @ @ @ @ @ to the limited torture on Guantanamo , done by CIA and US Marines .
American @ @ @ @ @ Romania , Ethiopia and in particular Afghanistan and Poland killed thousands .
MIT Professor Aafia @ @ @ @ @ children , who died under US custody .
Of those detained and tortured , including @ @ @ @ @ estimated that most were due to wrong identity or simply gathered up in a “ @ @ @ @ @ the one that got

In November 2012, President Barak Obama apologized for not being able to overcome a GOP congressional block on funds to close Guantanamo and up to 4 dozen other prisons and up to 6 biological and chemical warfare facilities the US is currently running, not just the one in Tbilisi, but others as well, several in Africa.
These drawings apply to the limited torture on Guantanamo, done by CIA and US Marines.
American prisons in the UK, Romania, Ethiopia and in particular Afghanistan and Poland killed thousands.
MIT Professor Aafia Siddiqui and her two small children, who died under US custody.
Of those detained and tortured, including those executed, it is estimated that most were due to the wrong identity or simply gathered up in a “usual suspects” dragnet like the one that got
Gordon Duff posted articles on VT from 2008 to 2022. He is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. A disabled veteran, he worked on veterans and POW issues for decades. Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of the top global intelligence specialists. He manages the world’s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with governments challenged by security issues. Duff has traveled extensively, is published around the world, and is a regular guest on TV and radio in more than “several” countries. He is also a trained chef, wine enthusiast, avid motorcyclist, and gunsmith specializing in historical weapons and restoration. Business experience and interests are in energy and defense technology. Gordon’s Archives: 2008-2015
Gordon’s Archives: 2016-2022


veteranstoday--2020-02-13--WWII PPSH-41 Goes Through Destruction Test

Ed : I have one of these RT/Moscow : Kalashnikov Concern gun experts have put an iconic WWII-era PPSh-41 submachine gun through a stress test , trying to destroy it with continuous full-auto shooting .
The 78-year-old weapon , however , did not give up easily .
The renowned gun maker produced a new video in its ‘ Destroyers of Weapons ’ series .
Unlike previous ones , Kalashnikov did not put one of its own guns through a full-auto torture , testing a true classic instead – a legendary wartime PPSh-41 submachine gun , designed by Georgy Shpagin back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tokarev rounds , packed in box and drum magazines , were prepared for the test to try and put the veteran of a gun to a fiery demise .
Yet , the submachine gun – that was manufactured back in 1942 – chewed through all of them , experiencing troubles only with the last 71-round drum .
The issues were apparently linked to the magazine itself – the PPSh mags were not very reliable and often were not interchangeable between different guns .
The only change in the gun ’ s behavior , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in its rate of fire around the 500th round , when the PPSh apparently got all warmed up .
The post-test examination showed that the gun sustained no damage at all and was ready for more after cooling off a bit .
Over six million pieces of PPSh-41 were produced by the Soviet Union during WWII and it became the most used submachine gun of the war .
While the gun was quite heavy and not very wieldy by modern standards , it was significantly more suitable for mobile infantry warfare than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the main weapons of the Soviet Army when the war began .
In 1945 , over a half of all the Soviet infantrymen were armed with PPSh submachine guns .
A very thick barrel ( comparable to a barrel of an AKM ) , a minimum of contact metal and wooden parts , and use of a quite weak pistol round make this iconic gun virtually indestructible .
The only way to make it jam , apparently , is to shoot so many rounds that powder discharge blocks the barrel completely .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard with it , so as to not break the vintage gun into pieces .

RT/Moscow: Kalashnikov Concern gun experts have put an iconic WWII-era PPSh-41 submachine gun through a stress test, trying to destroy it with the continuous full-auto shooting. The 78-year-old weapon, however, did not give up easily.
The renowned gun maker produced a new video in its ‘Destroyers of Weapons’ series. Unlike previous ones, Kalashnikov did not put one of its own guns through full-auto torture, testing a true classic instead – a legendary wartime PPSh-41 submachine gun, designed by Georgy Shpagin back in 1941.
A whopping 913 7.62×25mm Tokarev rounds, packed in box and drum magazines, were prepared for the test to try and put the veteran of a gun to a fiery demise. Yet, the submachine gun – that was manufactured back in 1942 – chewed through all of them, experiencing troubles only with the last 71-round drum.
The issues were apparently linked to the magazine itself – the PPSh mags were not very reliable and often were not interchangeable between different guns.
The only change in the gun’s behavior, that the expert noted, was an increase in its rate of fire around the 500th round when the PPSh apparently got all warmed up. The post-test examination showed that the gun sustained no damage at all and was ready for more after cooling off a bit.
Over six million pieces of PPSh-41 were produced by the Soviet Union during WWII and it became the most used submachine gun of the war. While the gun was quite heavy and not very wieldy by modern standards, it was significantly more suitable for mobile infantry warfare than classic bolt-action rifles and carbines which were the main weapons of the Soviet Army when the war began. In 1945, over half of all the Soviet infantrymen were armed with PPSh submachine guns.
A very thick barrel (comparable to a barrel of an AKM), a minimum of contact metal and wooden parts, and use of a quite weak pistol round make this iconic gun virtually indestructible. The only way to make it jam, apparently, is to shoot so many rounds that powder discharge blocks the barrel completely. And try not to bash your enemies too hard with it, so as to not break the vintage gun into pieces.


veteranstoday--2020-02-14--Trump offers New York State immigration deal if it drops its criminal investigation of his taxes

Donald Trump appeared to offer New York Governor Andrew Cuomo a deal on a state immigration law if he agreed all investigations of his personal life and businesses are dropped .
In other words , the president floated a this-for-that deal focused on a personal political benefit .
If that sounds familiar , it should .
House Democrats , joined by a smattering of Republicans , admitted the US leader asked his Ukrainian counterpart for such a quid pro quo on a 25 July call that became the basis for House Democrats impeaching him late last year .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The White House , ” Trump tweeted before their mid-afternoon meeting .
“ He must understand that National Security far exceeds politics .
New York must stop all of its unnecessary lawsuits & harassment , start cleaning itself up , and lowering taxes.
” State prosecutors in Manhattan are seeking eight years of Trump ’ s tax records , according to reports .
All efforts to see his financial records have greatly irked Mr Trump since before he took office .
He said as a candidate he would release some information , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angering Democrats .

Donald Trump appeared to offer New York Governor Andrew Cuomo a deal on a state immigration law if he agreed all investigations of his personal life and businesses are dropped.
In other words, the president floated a this-for-that deal focused on a personal political benefit.
If that sounds familiar, it should.
House Democrats, joined by a smattering of Republicans, admitted the US leader asked his Ukrainian counterpart for such a quid pro quo on a 25 July call that became the basis for House Democrats impeaching him late last year. “I’m seeing Governor Cuomo today at The White House,” Trump tweeted before their mid-afternoon meeting. “He must understand that National Security far exceeds politics. New York must stop all of its unnecessary lawsuits & harassment, start cleaning itself up, and lowering taxes.” State prosecutors in Manhattan are seeking eight years of Trump’s tax records, according to reports. All efforts to see his financial records have greatly irked Mr. Trump since before he took office. He said as a candidate he would release some information, but he has yet to do so, angering Democrats. Source: Independent.co.uk


veteranstoday--2020-02-14--Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, CIA and State Dept: New Unclassified Documents

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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 Athenagoras for cooperation , “ The reports and descriptions of Greek-American youth of military age so kindly undertaken by you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 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 , “ He [ Athenagoras ] stressed his Americanism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 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 of April 4 , 1951 , Athenagoras was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 , Patriarch Athenagoras was assuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

By Nadia Bazuk for VT Ukraine
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 the 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 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 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 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 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.


veteranstoday--2020-02-14--Russian CIC Explains Uniqueness of the S-500

Pravda.ru : Supreme Commander-in-Chief , President of the Russian Federation Vladimir set the task for manufacturers to make Russian weapons the most advanced .
This mandate is fulfilled .
It can be stated that Russia is leading in some areas .
In particular , we are talking about anti-aircraft missile systems ( SAM ) S-500 .
As the chief designer of the Almaz-Antey Concern , Pavel Sozinov , noted , the air defense system is designed to intercept targets at unimaginable distances – several hundred kilometers from the Earth .
The promising complex was studied by the commercial director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military expert Alexei Leonkov .
On the radio of Sputnik , he noted that the S-500 are unique and universal .
Recall , recently in the USA they lamented that they do not have complexes capable of intercepting targets in the upper atmosphere .
Earlier , Pravda.Ru wrote about the timing of receipt of the S-500 in the arsenal of the Russian army .
The day is not far off when the first samples of the new brainchild of the Almaz-Antey concern , the S-500 anti-aircraft missile system , will enter the arsenal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time , tests are ongoing of another modern S-350 Vityaz complex , which will replace the S-300PS air defense system .
This is described in a material published by the American publication The National Interest , observer Dave Majumdar , quoting the commander of the air defense forces of the Russian Air Force , Lieutenant General Viktor Gumenny : “ We expect that the first samples of the S-500 anti-aircraft missile system will be delivered to the troops soon ” .
The new complex , which will occupy the upper tier of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , will be able to fight targets at altitudes of about 200 kilometers .
This means that the S-500 will be able to hit the approaching supersonic aircraft , cruise and ballistic missiles of the enemy at a distance of 640 kilometers .
The first regiment of new anti-aircraft missile systems will defend Moscow and the central part of Russia .
It is expected that the S-500 will be able to detect and simultaneously hit up to 10 warheads of ballistic missiles flying at speeds up to seven kilometers per second .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with interceptor missiles with an active homing radar , which resembles the THAAD system ( a missile defense system for mobile ground-based for high-altitude atmospheric interception of medium-range missiles ) Lockheed Martin .
Like all modern Russian air defense systems , the S-500 must be highly mobile and have a whole network of radars providing interception and guidance at a target over long distances .
It will use the 91N6A ( M ) combat control radar , a modified 96L6-CPU target radar and target radar , as well as new multi-mode 76T6 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Missile Threat publication of the George Marshall and Clermont Institutes .
Meanwhile , the Russian armed forces are already testing the air defense and missile defense system S-350 Vityaz .
This new system will replace the older S-300PS and will complement the Buk-M3 , S-300VM4 , S-400 and S-500 complexes .
“ The tests of the Vityaz S-350 anti-aircraft missile system are ongoing , ” said Gumenny .
“ The first launches were successful , the system has confirmed its characteristics and will be widely used to replace the S-300PS anti-aircraft missile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a radar with electronic scanning of the phased array and a new combat control vehicle .
Typically , the complex includes a control machine , two radars and eight launchers .
The S-350 complex uses the same missiles with an active homing radar as the S-400 , which can hit targets at a distance of 120 kilometers and at an altitude of about 30 kilometers .
The complex is able to fight 16 targets at the same time , with 32 missiles in the kit .
The Russians intend to link together the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S-400 , S-300VM4 , S-350 and others , creating a single integrated air defense network .
As one US industry expert noted , although the Russian military-industrial sector suffered greatly as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union , Moscow somehow managed to continue developing modern air defense systems , preserving mainly their combat capabilities .
Some samples of these new systems are so perfect that many US military leaders fear that even invisible planes such as the F-22 , F-35 and B-2 will encounter problems in overcoming them , Majumdar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth told .
Ru , modern anti-aircraft missile systems – this is the main air shield of Russia .
The first development of the ZKS began back in the USSR with the S-200 , which was developed in 1965 by designer Grushin .
He was replaced by the S-300 air defense system , created in 1975 under the leadership of designer Efremov .
The third modification of the S-400 – “ Triumphant ” – a new generation anti-aircraft missile system .
He is able to detect and shoot invisible aircraft , ballistic missiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service since 2007 .
And finally , the S-500 anti-aircraft system .
It was developed in 2012 by the Almaz-Antey concern and will go into service in 2016 .

Pravda.ru: Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir set the task for manufacturers to make Russian weapons the most advanced. This mandate is fulfilled. It can be stated that Russia is leading in some areas. In particular, we are talking about anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) S-500.
What can the S-500
As the chief designer of the Almaz-Antey Concern, Pavel Sozinov, noted, the air defense system is designed to intercept targets at unimaginable distances – several hundred kilometers from the Earth.
“Interception in the upper atmosphere is real. It is hundreds of kilometers from the Earth. It is a system that solves a whole range of tasks of both air defense and missile defense. Today we are testing the elements of the system with the maximum cost savings for testing,” Sozinov said in an interview.
Ahead of the planet
The promising complex was studied by the commercial director of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, military expert Alexei Leonkov. On the radio of Sputnik, he noted that the S-500 is unique and universal.
“There are no analogues. Even the closest competitors – the Americans – have two separate complexes. This is the Patriot complex, which works to certain heights, and the THAAD missile defense complex, which works only for ballistic purposes. And we get a universal complex that can work and on-air targets at long ranges, and on high-altitude targets – at high altitudes, “said Alexei Leonkov.
Recall, recently in the USA they lamented that they do not have complexes capable of intercepting targets in the upper atmosphere.
Earlier, Pravda.Ru wrote about the timing of receipt of the S-500 in the arsenal of the Russian army.
The day is not far off when the first samples of the new brainchild of the Almaz-Antey concern, the S-500 anti-aircraft missile system, will enter the arsenal of the Russian army. At the same time, tests are ongoing of another modern S-350 Vityaz complex, which will replace the S-300PS air defense system.
This is described in a material published by the American publication The National Interest, observer Dave Majumdar, quoting the commander of the air defense forces of the Russian Air Force, Lieutenant General Viktor Gumenny: “We expect that the first samples of the S-500 anti-aircraft missile system will be delivered to the troops soon”.
The new complex, which will occupy the upper tier of the echeloned unified air defense system of Russia, will be able to fight targets at altitudes of about 200 kilometers. This means that the S-500 will be able to hit the approaching supersonic aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles of the enemy at a distance of 640 kilometers. The first regiment of new anti-aircraft missile systems will defend Moscow and the central part of Russia.
It is expected that the S-500 will be able to detect and simultaneously hit up to 10 warheads of ballistic missiles flying at speeds up to seven kilometers per second. In addition, this system is equipped with interceptor missiles with an active homing radar, which resembles the THAAD system (a missile defense system for mobile ground-based for high-altitude atmospheric interception of medium-range missiles), Lockheed Martin.
Like all modern Russian air defense systems, the S-500 must be highly mobile and have a whole network of radars providing interception and guidance at a target over long distances. It will use the 91N6A (M) combat control radar, a modified 96L6-CPU target radar and target radar, as well as new multi-mode 76T6 and 77T6 anti-missile radars, as reported by the Missile Threat publication of the George Marshall and Clermont Institutes.
Meanwhile, the Russian armed forces are already testing the air defense and missile defense system S-350 Vityaz. This new system will replace the older S-300PS and will complement the Buk-M3, S-300VM4, S-400 and S-500 complexes.
“The tests of the Vityaz S-350 anti-aircraft missile system are ongoing,” said Gumenny. “The first launches were successful, the system has confirmed its characteristics and will be widely used to replace the S-300PS anti-aircraft missile system.”
The S-350 is equipped with a radar with electronic scanning of the phased array and a new combat control vehicle. Typically, the complex includes a control machine, two radars, and eight launchers. The S-350 complex uses the same missiles with an active homing radar as the S-400, which can hit targets at a distance of 120 kilometers and at an altitude of about 30 kilometers. The complex is able to fight 16 targets at the same time, with 32 missiles in the kit.
The Russians intend to link together the S-500 and other such systems like the S-400, S-300VM4, S-350 and others, creating a single integrated air defense network. As one US industry expert noted, although the Russian military-industrial sector suffered greatly as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union, Moscow somehow managed to continue developing modern air defense systems, preserving mainly their combat capabilities.
Some samples of these new systems are so perfect that many US military leaders fear that even invisible planes such as the F-22, F-35 and B-2 will encounter problems in overcoming them, Majumdar concludes his review.
Recall how the truth told. Ru, modern anti-aircraft missile systems – this is the main air shield of Russia. The first development of the ZKS began back in the USSR with the S-200, which was developed in 1965 by designer Grushin. He was replaced by the S-300 air defense system, created in 1975 under the leadership of designer Efremov. The third modification of the S-400 – “Triumphant” – a new generation anti-aircraft missile system. He is able to detect and shoot invisible aircraft, ballistic missiles, etc. He has been in service since 2007. And finally, the S-500 anti-aircraft system. It was developed in 2012 by the Almaz-Antey concern and will go into service in 2016.
Source: Pravda.ru


veteranstoday--2020-02-14--Turkey Threatens to Murder Another Russian Ambassador…’Fool me Once…’

ANKARA ( Sputnik ) – Escalation in Syria ’ s northwestern province of Idlib has triggered anti-Russian sentiment on Turkish social media , Russian Ambassador to Turkey , Aleksei Erkhov , said in an interview with Sputnik on Thursday , adding that he also has been threatened .
“ By the way , all this [ anti-Russian sentiments ] happened once , five years ago , in media and on social networks , only it was in Aleppo instead of Idlib .
How did it end ?
[ With an ] ‘ Aircraft crisis ’ and the outrageous murder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I also have already been directly threatened , ” Erkhov noted .
The ambassador pointed out that blog posts were full of the kind of anger and hatred that discourages people to think logically and understand thier Russian partner ’ s actions , increasing the danger .
“ There is absolute reluctance to understand the partner , logic of their actions , to listen to their words and take for granted their right to own a point of view , different from your vision , of what is happening .
That kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the diplomat noted .
Regarding the ongoing escalation in Idlib , Erkhov described a withdrawal of Syrian armed forces from the province as ‘ unlikely ’ .
“ The Syrian army is fighting on its own sovereign territory for the rights of its people , including the right to live the way their fathers and grandfathers used to live , and not by rules imposed by some bearded outlanders .
So it has liberated dozens of villages from the illegal armed groups , as well as the strategic М5 highway , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for someone to be capable of turning back the advancing army , ” Erkhov said .
He also addressed the issue of the Turkish observation points .
“ When we agreed in Sochi on their continued existence we meant that they would monitor the implementation of the ceasefire and the agreements , committed to the memorandum .
But the agreements are not fulfilled , combat is still going on , and thus a question emerges : why do we conduct this so-called monitoring ?
What functions do these installations , which are essentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the military parlance , perform ?
” the ambassador added .
Tensions in Idlib , one of four de-escalation zones in Syria , intensified last week after the Turkish Defence Ministry said eight Turkish military personnel and a civilian died in shelling by Syrian troops on Turkey ’ s observation post in the province .
As a result , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to take retaliatory measures if Syria ’ s armed forces failed to stop their operation in the zone and withdraw from areas close to Turkish observation posts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition , Erdogan said he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to pressure the Syrian government into stopping its Idlib offensive .
Moscow has urged Ankara to comply with existing agreements on Idlib and expressed its regret over the Turkey ’ s failure to dissociate armed opposition from terrorists .
On Wednesday , Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed Erdogan ’ s decision to ask NATO for support against the Syrian army in Idlib .
In May 2017 , warring parties held talks in the Kazakh capital of Nur Sultan ( formerly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Iran , and Turkey , and concluded a ceasefire agreement and established four de-escalation zones .
The Sochi agreement , brokered in September 2018 by Putin and Turkish counterpart Erdogan , created a demilitarized zone along the contact line between the armed opposition and government forces in Idlib .
Under the terms of the deal , militants must withdraw from this zone .

ANKARA (Sputnik) – Escalation in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib has triggered anti-Russian sentiment on Turkish social media, Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Aleksei Erkhov, said in an interview with Sputnik on Thursday, adding that he also has been threatened.
“By the way, all this [anti-Russian sentiments] happened once, five years ago, in media and on social networks, only it was in Aleppo instead of Idlib. How did it end? [With an] ‘Aircraft crisis’ and the outrageous murder of [Russian] Ambassador Andrey Karlov. I also have already been directly threatened,” Erkhov noted.
The ambassador pointed out that blog posts were full of the kind of anger and hatred that discourages people to think logically and understand their Russian partner’s actions, increasing the danger.
“There is absolute reluctance to understand the partner, logic of their actions, to listen to their words and take for granted their right to own a point of view, different from your vision, of what is happening. That kind of attitude can turn into big trouble,” the diplomat noted.
Situation in Idlib
Regarding the ongoing escalation in Idlib, Erkhov described a withdrawal of Syrian armed forces from the province as ‘unlikely’.
“The Syrian army is fighting on its own sovereign territory for the rights of its people, including the right to live the way their fathers and grandfathers used to live, and not by rules imposed by some bearded outlanders. So it has liberated dozens of villages from the illegal armed groups, as well as the strategic М5 highway, in recent days, and it is unlikely for someone to be capable of turning back the advancing army,” Erkhov said.
He also addressed the issue of the Turkish observation points.
“When we agreed in Sochi on their continued existence we meant that they would monitor the implementation of the ceasefire and the agreements, committed to the memorandum. But the agreements are not fulfilled, combat is still going on, and thus a question emerges: why do we conduct this so-called monitoring? What functions do these installations, which are essentially what is called ‘defended positions’ in the military parlance, perform?” the ambassador added.
Tensions in Idlib, one of four de-escalation zones in Syria, intensified last week after the Turkish Defence Ministry said eight Turkish military personnel and a civilian died in shelling by Syrian troops on Turkey’s observation post in the province. As a result, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to take retaliatory measures if Syria’s armed forces failed to stop their operation in the zone and withdraw from areas close to Turkish observation posts by the end of February. In addition, Erdogan said he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to pressure the Syrian government into stopping its Idlib offensive.
Moscow has urged Ankara to comply with existing agreements on Idlib and expressed its regret over Turkey’s failure to dissociate armed opposition from terrorists. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed Erdogan’s decision to ask NATO for support against the Syrian army in Idlib.
In May 2017, warring parties held talks in the Kazakh capital of Nur Sultan (formerly Astana) under the mediation of Russia, Iran, and Turkey, and concluded a ceasefire agreement and established four de-escalation zones. The Sochi agreement, brokered in September 2018 by Putin and Turkish counterpart Erdogan, created a demilitarized zone along the contact line between the armed opposition and government forces in Idlib. Under the terms of the deal, militants must withdraw from this zone.


veteranstoday--2020-02-14--Trump Says He’d Vote for a Gay Man for President (like he did in 2016)

Sputnik/Moscow : The US president ’ s comments come as Democratic presidential hopeful and former Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg has risen to second place in his party ’ s nomination race , following Senator Bernie Sanders in Tuesday ’ s New Hampshire primary .
US President Donald Trump on Thursday during an interview on Fox News ’ s “ Roadkill With Geraldo ” podcast said by phone that he would give his voice to a gay presidential candidate .
In response to the host ’ s question of whether Americans would “ vote for a gay man to be president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg , Trump said , “ I think so ” .
“ I think there would be some that wouldn ’ t , and I wouldn ’ t be among that group , to be honest with you , ” the president stated .
“ I think that , yes , I think that it doesn ’ t seem to be hurting Pete Boot-edge-edge as you say , as you would call him .
It doesn ’ t seem to be hurting him very much but … there would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t .
But you or I wouldn ’ t be in that group ” .
Former mayor Pete Buttigieg joined the 2020 presidential race as the first gay man to run for president in the nation ’ s history .
He is now one of the tops candidates in the Democratic Party ’ s primary race , after his recent victory in the caucuses in Iowa and a second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary .
According to a 2019 Gallup poll , 76 percent of Americans agreed that they would be ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the president of the United States .

Sputnik/Moscow: The US president’s comments come as Democratic presidential hopeful and former Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg has risen to second place in his party’s nomination race, following Senator Bernie Sanders in Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday during an interview on Fox News’s “Roadkill With Geraldo” podcast said by phone that he would give his voice to a gay presidential candidate.
In response to the host’s question of whether Americans would “vote for a gay man to be president”, referring to the openly gay Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, Trump said, “I think so”.
“I think there would be some that wouldn’t, and I wouldn’t be among that group, to be honest with you,” the president stated. “I think that, yes, I think that it doesn’t seem to be hurting Pete Boot-edge-edge as you say, as you would call him. It doesn’t seem to be hurting him very much but … there would be a group that probably wouldn’t. But you or I wouldn’t be in that group”. Former mayor Pete Buttigieg joined the 2020 presidential race as the first gay man to run for president in the nation’s history. He is now one of the tops candidates in the Democratic Party’s primary race, after his recent victory in the caucuses in Iowa and a second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary. According to a 2019 Gallup poll, 76 percent of Americans agreed that they would be ready to vote for a gay man to be the president of the United States.
Headquartered in Moscow Russia, Sputnik is a news agency with offices around the world. Sputnik covers global political and economic news for an international audience. Launched in November 2014 by the Russian media group Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik works in more than 30 languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Chinese, and more. *All posts on behalf of Sputnik News are made by Gordon Duff and Jim W. Dean


veteranstoday--2020-02-14--Book Review: Concussion Rescue – A Comprehensive Program to Heal Traumatic Brain Injury

Health Editor ’ s Review : What is a concussion ?
In its most simple terms , a concussion is the assault of the brain as it moves within the skull and strikes the inside of the hard skull bone .
Brains are soft tissues and are easily damaged when striking a hard object .
Depending on the severity of the blow to the head , there may be more than one area of damage to the brain as the brain can bounce back and forth within the skull .
Signs and symptoms of a concussion may include a headache @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head , confusion , temporary loss of consciousness , amnesia ( forgetting what happened ) after a traumatic event , dizziness , or “ seeing stars , ” ringing in the ears , nausea and vomiting , slurred speech , slow response to questions , feeling tired , or appearing to be “ out of it “ Another term for a concussion to the brain is traumatic brain injury ( TBI ) which can be mild to severe .
Some causes of traumatic brain injury are sports-related with any contact sport , explosions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , etc .
The cause of a TBI is when the skull meets an immovable object and the soft brain tissue within the skull is assaulted .
This book is an effort to address the “ silent epidemic ” of traumatic brain injuries .
Why is this injury termed as “ silent ?
” This is because the symptoms can range from hardly noticeable to devastating .
Results of a TBI may be anger , loss of cognitive ( thinking ) functions , personality changes , depression , and even thoughts of suicide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to concussions and TBIs .
Some of the answers will be a description of exactly what happens to the brain after the injury , first aid for the brain , natural treatments , key factors for all-inclusive evaluations of injury , correction of skull damage , training the brain , knowing when to get sleep , how to exercise to increase blood flow , mental health , immune systems , and the use of hyperbaric oxygen .
The author provides both natural and effective protocols for TBI recovery and offers detailed plans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brain and rescue your mind……Carol About the author : Dr. Kabran Chapek is a staff physician at the Amen Clinics since 2013 .
After graduation from Bastyr University , he became an expert in the use of functional and integrative treatments and collaborates extensively with many of the Amen Clinic physicians .
He has a special interest in the assessment and treatment of Alzheimer ’ s and dementia , traumatic brain injuries , PTSD , and anxiety disorders .
Dr. Chapek has additional training in the assessment and utilization of hormones to treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imaging and the Amen Method .
Dr. Chapek is the founding president of the Psychiatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians and affiliate group of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians .

Concussion Rescue: A Comprehensive Program to Heal Traumatic Brain Injury, Kabran Chapek, M.D. Citadel Press, Kensington Publishing Corporation.
Health Editor’s Review: What is a concussion? In its most simple terms, a concussion is the assault of the brain as it moves within the skull and strikes the inside of the hard skull bone. Brains are soft tissues and are easily damaged when striking a hard object. Depending on the severity of the blow to the head, there may be more than one area of damage to the brain as the brain can bounce back and forth within the skull.
Signs and symptoms of a concussion may include a headache or a feeling of pressure in the head, confusion, temporary loss of consciousness, amnesia (forgetting what happened) after a traumatic event, dizziness, or “seeing stars,” ringing in the ears, nausea and vomiting, slurred speech, slow response to questions, feeling tired, or appearing to be “out of it “
Another term for a concussion to the brain is traumatic brain injury (TBI) which can be mild to severe. Some causes of traumatic brain injury are sports-related with any contact sport, explosions, car and motorcycle wrecks, falls, etc. The cause of a TBI is when the skull meets an immovable object and the soft brain tissue within the skull is assaulted.
This book is an effort to address the “silent epidemic” of traumatic brain injuries. Why is this injury termed as “silent?” This is because the symptoms can range from hardly noticeable to devastating. Results of a TBI may be anger, loss of cognitive (thinking) functions, personality changes, depression, and even thoughts of suicide.
Concussion Rescue will answer questions related to concussions and TBIs. Some of the answers will be a description of exactly what happens to the brain after the injury, first aid for the brain, natural treatments, key factors for all-inclusive evaluations of injury, correction of skull damage, training the brain, knowing when to get sleep, how to exercise to increase blood flow, mental health, immune systems, and the use of hyperbaric oxygen. The author provides both natural and effective protocols for TBI recovery and offers detailed plans, hope, and help to improve your brain and rescue your mind……Carol
About the author: Dr. Kabran Chapek is a staff physician at the Amen Clinics since 2013. After graduation from Bastyr University, he became an expert in the use of functional and integrative treatments and collaborates extensively with many of the Amen Clinic physicians. He has a special interest in the assessment and treatment of Alzheimer’s and dementia, traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, and anxiety disorders.
Dr. Chapek has additional training in the assessment and utilization of hormones to treat traumatic brain injuries in combination with SPECT imaging and the Amen Method. Dr. Chapek is the founding president of the Psychiatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians and affiliate group of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.


veteranstoday--2020-02-14--Urgent: Nuclear Army Russian TU 160 bombers arrive at Hmeimim in Syria to Confront Turkey and US

Nahed is VT Damascus Bureau Chief .
She is a member of the American Institute for Middle East Strategic Studies @ @ @ @ @ as Assistant Director of Arab-American and Muslim Congress ( Detroit , USA ) .
She @ @ @ @ @ Literature from Damascus University ( 1987 ) .
She ’ s also been a reporter @ @ @ @ @ Special Coordinator for Arab-Armenian International Law Assembly , Correspondent for Qatari News Agency , Al @ @ @ @ @ , Al Liwaa in Lebanon , Correspondent for Petra News Agency in Jordan , correspondent @ @ @ @ @ USA , and worked as a freelance journalist for CBS , ABS and CNN in @ @ @ @ @ in both English and Arabic .

Nahed is VT Damascus Bureau Chief. She is a member of the American Institute for Middle East Strategic Studies (USA) and serves as Assistant Director of the Arab-American and Muslim Congress (Detroit, USA). She has a Diploma in English Literature from Damascus University (1987).
She’s also been a reporter for Turkish newspaper Aydinlik, Special Coordinator for Arab-Armenian International Law Assembly, Correspondent for Qatari News Agency, Al Ayam news Paper in Bahrain, Al Liwaa in Lebanon, Correspondent for Petra News Agency in Jordan, correspondent for the Associated Press in USA, and worked as a freelance journalist for CBS, ABS and CNN in Syria. She is fluent in both English and Arabic.