southfront--2020-06-20--Prospects Of Ukrainian Army Offensive On Donetsk And Lugansk People’s Republic

For the past several years , the war between Ukraine and the breakaway and still-unrecognized Donetsk People ’ s Republic and Lugansk People ’ s Republic has settled into a tense routine of attritional trench warfare , punctuated by sniping , clashes between patrols , small-scale raids , offensive minelaying , and ambushes using anti-tank guided missiles .
There have been few operations by units larger than company .
The front line has remained almost entirely unchanged .
At the same time , both sides have been preparing for the possible next round of high-intensity warfare .
What would happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again ?
That particular prediction is made more difficult by the very fact of the long lull in high-intensity fighting during which both sides have undergone a certain degree of transformation which remains relatively unknown to the other party .
Both sides have seen certain material improvements , though apparently nothing dramatic .
Ukraine ’ s armored vehicle fleet still relies on the same , but now even more worn out vehicles it went to war with in 2014 .
The planned re-equipment with the Oplot MBT never took place , and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be flawed .
Therefore the elderly T-64BV remains the main tank of Ukraine ’ s forces .
Light armored vehicle fleet has seen some improvement thanks to domestic production and deliveries from former Warsaw Pact member states .
If there is one area where Ukraine ’ s military may have made a major step forward , it is the artillery , using the large store of inactive weapons for Soviet-era reserve forces .
However , artillery munition production continues to be a problem .
While the number of Ukraine ’ s brigades has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with recruitment and retention , meaning that many of these brigades have the strength of a reinforced combined arms battalion .
On Novorossia ’ s side the situation is hardly different .
DPR and LPR units continue to use the same types of equipment they used during the campaigns of five years ago .
The numeric strength does not appear to have changed much , either , and here too recruitment and retention remains a problem .
The other factor making predictions difficult is the level of morale of these two forces that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endless war that is beyond their power to finish .
The combination of trench warfare boredom and terror means it is debilitating to the units ’ morale and proficiency if they are forced to remain in the trenches for too long .
While the most offensive-capable forces are kept out of the trenches as mobile reserves , they too can only maintain their state of alert for so long before losing their edge .
Paradoxically , this state of affairs give an advantage to the side that intends to go on the offensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and associated training would imbue the troops with the hope that , after the next big push , the war will finally be over .
At the same time , both sides know such an offensive would be an exceedingly risky proposition , because if it fails , it will grind down the attacking side ’ s most effective units and render the army vulnerable to a counteroffensive to which it would not be able to respond .
Therefore the likelihood of renewed fighting also heavily depends on who actually makes the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough , foreign ones in distant capitals may have different considerations in mind .
Only Biden could go to Moscow ?
A big unknown hanging over the future of the Donbass is the position of Joe Biden , the Democratic Party nominee and the likely winner of the November elections .
Biden has already played a highly destructive role in the politics of Ukraine and the US-Russia relations .
It is Biden that blackmailed Poroshenko into firing the Chief Prosecutor Shokin due to his interest in the corrupt dealings of the Burisma energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son Hunter on its board of directors .
It is also Biden who held a lengthy , 30-45 minute telephone conversation with Poroshenko on the day MH17 was shot down and promptly came out blaming Russia for it , even as the wreckage was still smoking where it fell .
Biden identified himself as a Russia foe much earlier , during the 2012 vice-presidential debates where he positioned himself as being “ hard on Putin ” , which in retrospect proved to be an early indicator of where the second-term Obama administration foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without saying Biden is an ardent promoter of the “ RussiaGate ” effort to paint Donald Trump as a Russian agent/stooge/fellow traveler/useful idiot .
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are sending military equipment to the front line : At the same time , Biden ’ s line against China has hardened as well , which may have implications for US-Russia relations during the probable Biden presidency .
As late as May 2019 , Biden would describe People ’ s Republic of China as “ they are not bad folks ” , adding that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , comments that may yet come to haunt him on the campaign trail .
However , once the COVID-19 broke out of control in the United States , Biden sought to out-do Trump in his accusations the high US death toll was due to China misleading the United States on the nature of the virus and not allowing US public health officials access to Wuhan and China ’ s epidemiology labs .
Even before that , Hunter Biden resigned from boards of directors of China-based firms .
While that might have been motivated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s , desire to keep a low profile due to the scrutiny Hunter ’ s business dealings have attracted during Donald Trump ’ s impeachment proceedings , it may also have been preparation for Joe Biden ’ s anti-China pivot .
The emergence of PRC as Biden ’ s perceived number one international adversary may mean a desire to improve relations with Russia in the way that Trump , compromised from the start by RussiaGate and without a history of own anti-Russia rhetoric to fall back on , could never deliver .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position as Nixon was in the late 1960s .
His earlier anti-Russian rhetoric and actions now make him nearly immune from the same sort of accusations which , even though false , nevertheless effectively stuck to Trump .
Nixon ’ s own enthusiastic participation in McCarthyite witch hunts made it possible for him to do what his Democratic Party predecessor Lyndon Johnson could not : end Vietnam War , engage in arms control treaties with USSR and “ go to China ” in order to exploit the growing divide between the two main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital necessary to repeat the process : end the war in Afghanistan ( something he had proposed already as vice president ) , enter into arms control treaties with China and…go to Moscow , which is currently seen in Washington in the same way that Beijing was in the 1970s , namely the secondary challenger which needs to be peeled away from the primary one .
Moreover , just as in the early 1970s , United States of the 2020s is wracked by a massive internal crisis requiring international retrenchment in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimistic scenario remains less likely than the prospect of renewed escalation .
Nixon-era United States was not suffering from the hubris of American Exceptionalism .
On the contrary , it was a country full of self-doubt and under no illusion concerning the limits of its power .
It entered into arms control treaties because it did not feel it could win them .
Disasters abroad and at home notwithstanding , the US elite still has not been shaken out of its complacency , and it does appear to sincerely believe it can win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both China and Russia .
We have not seen any indications so far that Biden intends any moderation in the area of foreign policy or returning to a policy of cooperation with Russia .
One should expect that , in the event of Biden victory , Ukraine will launch an offensive against the Donbass shortly after the inauguration , in other words , in February or March of 2020 .
This offensive would accomplish two objectives for Biden .
One , it would establish his hawkish , “ patriotic ” bona fides , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the eyes of the mainstream media and the national security establishment .
Secondly , it would allow the US to exert even more pressure on Germany and other EU member states concerning North Stream and other areas of cooperation with Russia .
In order to achieve these goals , particularly the second one , the offensive would not need to overrun the Donbass , in fact , that would not be the aim at all .
Rather , the goal would be to force Russian forces to intervene directly in support of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia as the aggressor in the matter .
And even if the republics ’ militaries can cope with the UAF assault on their own , the sheer level of violence will still make enough headlines to satisfy Biden ’ s requirements .
Whether Zelensky wants that kind of escalation for his country is almost irrelevant .
Both he and Biden know very well what the balance of power in that relationship is .
Ukraine is a failing state seriously dependent on foreign financial assistance in the form of continual IMF loans , debt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden knew how to use these levers to achieve an important change in Ukraine ’ s politics that benefited him personally , he will not hesitate to use them again .
Moreover , even if Biden were driven by the Nixonian motives described above , it ’ s doubtful the foreign policy Deep State would allow him to do that .
Biden ’ s own conversations with Poroshenko no doubt contain great many embarrassing moments whose release would instantly embroil him in a massive scandal .
The fact that Donald Trump was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security apparatchiks to continue their pet war in Ukraine is indicative of their power to make foreign policy quite independently of their supposed civilian bosses .
While a Ukrainian offensive is relatively unlikely in 2020 , its probability increases considerably in 2021 , particularly in the event of a Biden victory .
The conflict in Ukraine has lasted this long mainly because Ukraine ’ s current sponsors in the West are not interested in ending it , irrespective of what the will of the Ukrainian people might be .
The situation will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be taken over by someone with a well-established hostility toward Russia who believes his aims would be better served by another bloody campaign on the Donbass .
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Written by J.Hawk exclusively for SouthFront
Movable Object Meets Resistible Force
For the past several years, the war between Ukraine and the breakaway and still-unrecognized Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republic has settled into a tense routine of attritional trench warfare, punctuated by sniping, clashes between patrols, small-scale raids, offensive minelaying, and ambushes using anti-tank guided missiles. There have been few operations by units larger than company. The front line has remained almost entirely unchanged. At the same time, both sides have been preparing for the possible next round of high-intensity warfare. What would happen if the fighting were to break out again?
That particular prediction is made more difficult by the very fact of the long lull in high-intensity fighting during which both sides have undergone a certain degree of transformation which remains relatively unknown to the other party. Both sides have seen certain material improvements, though apparently nothing dramatic. Ukraine’s armored vehicle fleet still relies on the same, but now even more worn out vehicles it went to war with in 2014. The planned re-equipment with the Oplot MBT never took place, and even the upgraded T-64BU Bulat was found to be flawed. Therefore the elderly T-64BV remains the main tank of Ukraine’s forces. Light armored vehicle fleet has seen some improvement thanks to domestic production and deliveries from former Warsaw Pact member states. If there is one area where Ukraine’s military may have made a major step forward, it is the artillery, using the large store of inactive weapons for Soviet-era reserve forces. However, artillery munition production continues to be a problem. While the number of Ukraine’s brigades has grown, the military experiences major problems with recruitment and retention, meaning that many of these brigades have the strength of a reinforced combined arms battalion.
On Novorossia’s side the situation is hardly different. DPR and LPR units continue to use the same types of equipment they used during the campaigns of five years ago. The numeric strength does not appear to have changed much, either, and here too recruitment and retention remains a problem.
The other factor making predictions difficult is the level of morale of these two forces that have been bogged down in an apparently endless war that is beyond their power to finish. The combination of trench warfare boredom and terror means it is debilitating to the units’ morale and proficiency if they are forced to remain in the trenches for too long. While the most offensive-capable forces are kept out of the trenches as mobile reserves, they too can only maintain their state of alert for so long before losing their edge.
Paradoxically, this state of affairs give an advantage to the side that intends to go on the offensive, because the preparations for the attack and associated training would imbue the troops with the hope that, after the next big push, the war will finally be over. At the same time, both sides know such an offensive would be an exceedingly risky proposition, because if it fails, it will grind down the attacking side’s most effective units and render the army vulnerable to a counteroffensive to which it would not be able to respond.
Therefore the likelihood of renewed fighting also heavily depends on who actually makes the decision. While local leaders may be cautious enough, foreign ones in distant capitals may have different considerations in mind.
Only Biden could go to Moscow?
A big unknown hanging over the future of the Donbass is the position of Joe Biden, the Democratic Party nominee and the likely winner of the November elections. Biden has already played a highly destructive role in the politics of Ukraine and the US-Russia relations. It is Biden that blackmailed Poroshenko into firing the Chief Prosecutor Shokin due to his interest in the corrupt dealings of the Burisma energy company which infamously had Joe’s son Hunter on its board of directors. It is also Biden who held a lengthy, 30-45 minute telephone conversation with Poroshenko on the day MH17 was shot down and promptly came out blaming Russia for it, even as the wreckage was still smoking where it fell. Biden identified himself as a Russia foe much earlier, during the 2012 vice-presidential debates where he positioned himself as being “hard on Putin”, which in retrospect proved to be an early indicator of where the second-term Obama administration foreign policy would go. It also goes without saying Biden is an ardent promoter of the “RussiaGate” effort to paint Donald Trump as a Russian agent/stooge/fellow traveler/useful idiot.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are sending military equipment to the front line:
At the same time, Biden’s line against China has hardened as well, which may have implications for US-Russia relations during the probable Biden presidency. As late as May 2019, Biden would describe People’s Republic of China as “they are not bad folks”, adding that “they are not competition to us”, comments that may yet come to haunt him on the campaign trail. However, once the COVID-19 broke out of control in the United States, Biden sought to out-do Trump in his accusations the high US death toll was due to China misleading the United States on the nature of the virus and not allowing US public health officials access to Wuhan and China’s epidemiology labs. Even before that, Hunter Biden resigned from boards of directors of China-based firms. While that might have been motivated by his, and his dad’s, desire to keep a low profile due to the scrutiny Hunter’s business dealings have attracted during Donald Trump’s impeachment proceedings, it may also have been preparation for Joe Biden’s anti-China pivot.
The emergence of PRC as Biden’s perceived number one international adversary may mean a desire to improve relations with Russia in the way that Trump, compromised from the start by RussiaGate and without a history of own anti-Russia rhetoric to fall back on, could never deliver. Biden, however, is in the same position as Nixon was in the late 1960s. His earlier anti-Russian rhetoric and actions now make him nearly immune from the same sort of accusations which, even though false, nevertheless effectively stuck to Trump. Nixon’s own enthusiastic participation in McCarthyite witch hunts made it possible for him to do what his Democratic Party predecessor Lyndon Johnson could not: end Vietnam War, engage in arms control treaties with USSR and “go to China” in order to exploit the growing divide between the two main Communist powers. Biden has the political capital necessary to repeat the process: end the war in Afghanistan (something he had proposed already as vice president), enter into arms control treaties with China and…go to Moscow, which is currently seen in Washington in the same way that Beijing was in the 1970s, namely the secondary challenger which needs to be peeled away from the primary one. Moreover, just as in the early 1970s, United States of the 2020s is wracked by a massive internal crisis requiring international retrenchment in order to focus on internal reforms.
Vindman Brothers Ride Again
But that optimistic scenario remains less likely than the prospect of renewed escalation. Nixon-era United States was not suffering from the hubris of American Exceptionalism. On the contrary, it was a country full of self-doubt and under no illusion concerning the limits of its power. It entered into arms control treaties because it did not feel it could win them. Disasters abroad and at home notwithstanding, the US elite still has not been shaken out of its complacency, and it does appear to sincerely believe it can win a strategic and conventional arms race against both China and Russia. We have not seen any indications so far that Biden intends any moderation in the area of foreign policy or returning to a policy of cooperation with Russia. One should expect that, in the event of Biden victory, Ukraine will launch an offensive against the Donbass shortly after the inauguration, in other words, in February or March of 2020. This offensive would accomplish two objectives for Biden. One, it would establish his hawkish, “patriotic” bona fides, make him look “presidential” in the eyes of the mainstream media and the national security establishment. Secondly, it would allow the US to exert even more pressure on Germany and other EU member states concerning North Stream and other areas of cooperation with Russia.
Drills of DPR senf-defense forces:
In order to achieve these goals, particularly the second one, the offensive would not need to overrun the Donbass, in fact, that would not be the aim at all. Rather, the goal would be to force Russian forces to intervene directly in support of the Lugansk and Donetsk republics to justify depicting Russia as the aggressor in the matter. And even if the republics’ militaries can cope with the UAF assault on their own, the sheer level of violence will still make enough headlines to satisfy Biden’s requirements. Whether Zelensky wants that kind of escalation for his country is almost irrelevant. Both he and Biden know very well what the balance of power in that relationship is. Ukraine is a failing state seriously dependent on foreign financial assistance in the form of continual IMF loans, debt rescheduling, favorable trade deals, etc. Biden knew how to use these levers to achieve an important change in Ukraine’s politics that benefited him personally, he will not hesitate to use them again.
Moreover, even if Biden were driven by the Nixonian motives described above, it’s doubtful the foreign policy Deep State would allow him to do that. Biden’s own conversations with Poroshenko no doubt contain great many embarrassing moments whose release would instantly embroil him in a massive scandal. The fact that Donald Trump was impeached solely due to the desire of national security apparatchiks to continue their pet war in Ukraine is indicative of their power to make foreign policy quite independently of their supposed civilian bosses.
Conclusion
While a Ukrainian offensive is relatively unlikely in 2020, its probability increases considerably in 2021, particularly in the event of a Biden victory. The conflict in Ukraine has lasted this long mainly because Ukraine’s current sponsors in the West are not interested in ending it, irrespective of what the will of the Ukrainian people might be. The situation will get even worse should the US presidency be taken over by someone with a well-established hostility toward Russia who believes his aims would be better served by another bloody campaign on the Donbass.
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southfront--2020-06-20--North Korea Sends Troops & Ships To Border As More Attention-Grabbing ‘Explosive Displays’ Loom

While the world awaits more of North Korea ’ s attempt at attention-grabbing “ explosive displays ” following the dramatic televised explosion of the inter-Korean liaison office Tuesday , there ’ s been a reported build-up of NK troops along the the demilitarized zone ( DMZ ) , according to new reports .
Ships have also been observed entering areas along the disputed maritime border .
Pyongyang ’ s recent threats to mobilize extra forces have been made good on , apparently : “ North Korea ’ s military appeared to be moving to the front lines near the South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the peninsula , following days of threats and provocations from Pyongyang , ” UPI reports .
South Korean media and military sources report that “ North Korean troops were stationed on the North ’ s side of the Korean demilitarized zones , at vacated guard posts of the tense border.
” Pyongyang ’ s latest saber-rattling is ostensibly related to an ongoing campaign of defectors spreading propaganda leaflets into the north via the border .
Apparently in some cases activists are using balloons to transport messages into the north encouraging people to defect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it would retake vacated guard posts and take military action if North Korean defectors in the South continued to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets by helium balloon , ” the UPI report adds .
Thus it appears Pyongyang ’ s troop movements , including what it says are elite units , are an attempt to make good on the prior threats .
It also comes amid disappointment at stalled – and what now appears to be completely failed – nuclear talks with Washington , which Seoul had previously touted as something it would help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached out to restore communications with the north but have been rebuffed .
It ’ s widely believed that Kim John Un and his increasingly visible sister Kim Yo-jong , who has lately emerged as an outspoken military ‘ enforcer ’ of sorts , are seeking new leverage with the Trump administration , at a time sanctions are still in place with little openings forward .

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
While the world awaits more of North Korea’s attempt at attention-grabbing “explosive displays” following the dramatic televised explosion of the inter-Korean liaison office Tuesday, there’s been a reported build-up of NK troops along the the demilitarized zone (DMZ), according to new reports. Ships have also been observed entering areas along the disputed maritime border.
Pyongyang’s recent threats to mobilize extra forces have been made good on, apparently: “North Korea’s military appeared to be moving to the front lines near the South as a U.S. reconnaissance plane flew over the peninsula, following days of threats and provocations from Pyongyang,” UPI reports.
South Korean media and military sources report that “North Korean troops were stationed on the North’s side of the Korean demilitarized zones, at vacated guard posts of the tense border.”
Pyongyang’s latest saber-rattling is ostensibly related to an ongoing campaign of defectors spreading propaganda leaflets into the north via the border. Apparently in some cases activists are using balloons to transport messages into the north encouraging people to defect.
“On Wednesday North Korea had said it would retake vacated guard posts and take military action if North Korean defectors in the South continued to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets by helium balloon,” the UPI report adds.
Thus it appears Pyongyang’s troop movements, including what it says are elite units, are an attempt to make good on the prior threats.
North Korea releases pics of the destruction of the inter-Korean liason office. via Yonhap News. pic.twitter.com/Ge9dzFaqZe — Raphael Rashid (@koryodynasty) June 16, 2020
It also comes amid disappointment at stalled – and what now appears to be completely failed – nuclear talks with Washington, which Seoul had previously touted as something it would help achieve.
South Korean diplomats have reportedly reached out to restore communications with the north but have been rebuffed. It’s widely believed that Kim John Un and his increasingly visible sister Kim Yo-jong, who has lately emerged as an outspoken military ‘enforcer’ of sorts, are seeking new leverage with the Trump administration, at a time sanctions are still in place with little openings forward.
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southfront--2020-06-20--In Photos: French Nuclear Submarine Burned To Ashes Following Incident At Toulon Port

Slavery was only a small part of the Frech succes .
Maybee You also should read a little about why @ @ @ @ @ and aming them most of the French taken parts has been investments given minus if @ @ @ @ @ And before the French came there of course – according to You – was happiness @ @ @ @ @ no slavery .
You even has slavery in the old French colonies today fx like @ @ @ @ @ who sold the Frech their slaves .
Well local did .
Very good income selling @ @ @ @ @ in local tribe matters .

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On June 12, fire broke out onboard the French Navy’s Ruby-class nuclear submarine Perle docked at the Mediterranean port of Toulon. Photos from the site show that the submarine in fact burned to ashes and barely can be restored.
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southfront--2020-06-20--Syrian Army Repels Large ISIS Attack Near Ithriyah

At least 6 soldiers were killed and 9 others were injured in an ISIS attack on a Syrian Army checkpoint near the town of Ithriyah , located on the Hama-Aleppo road .
According to pro-government sources , at least 5 ISIS members were killed in the clashes .
Regular ISIS attacks in desert areas in central Syria are a serious problem for Syrian government forces .
During the past few weeks , the army and its allies completed a series of combing operations against ISIS cells in eastern Homs , southern Raqqa and western Deir Ezzor .
It seems that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shift its focus towards eastern Hama .
Nonetheless , there is little doubt that as soon as the Syrian military sends units hunting down ISIS cells along the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor road to the Itriyah area , ISIS attacks in the Deir Ezzor countryside will resume once again .
The Damascus government will likely continue lacking resources to clear the entire desert of ISIS cells as long as it needs to keep large forces on the contact line with the Turkish Army and its proxies in Greater Idlib , near the region of Afrin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups are not only waging a never-ending propaganda war against the Damascus government , but also find time for regular infighting .
On June 17 , Hayat Tahrir al-Sham arrested Abu Salah al-Uzbeki , the founder and former leader of the Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad terrorist group , which consists mostly of ethnic Uzbeks .
Al-Uzbeki and two of his bodyguards were captured by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham forces near the city of Idlib on June 17 .
The reason for tensions is that Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad recently distanced itself from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Ansar al-Din , another al-Qaeda-linked group .
Earlier this month , Ansar al-Din and several other medium and small groups created a new coalition – Fa Ithbatu .
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham may have considered this move as an attempt to challenge its dominant position among the so-called moderate opposition .
Usbat al-Tha ’ ireen , an Iraqi pro-Iranian group formed earlier in 2020 , released a new video claiming responsibility for a series of attacks on US forces and facilities across Iraq .
In the video entitled “ Victory Comes With Patience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 8 , it shelled Camp Taji damaging a C-130 military transport aircraft of the US Air Force ; • On June 11 , it launched rockets at the US embassy in Baghdad ’ s Green Zone ; • On June 16 , it launched rockets at the US-operated military section of Baghdad International Airport .
Usbat al-Tha ’ ireen is the group that killed 3 US-led coalition personnel with a rocket strike on Camp Taji on March 11 .
Nonetheless , its claims about the damaging of the C-130 aircraft belonging to @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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At least 6 soldiers were killed and 9 others were injured in an ISIS attack on a Syrian Army checkpoint near the town of Ithriyah, located on the Hama-Aleppo road. According to pro-government sources, at least 5 ISIS members were killed in the clashes.
Regular ISIS attacks in desert areas in central Syria are a serious problem for Syrian government forces. During the past few weeks, the army and its allies completed a series of combing operations against ISIS cells in eastern Homs, southern Raqqa and western Deir Ezzor. It seems that these efforts forced the terrorist group to shift its focus towards eastern Hama.
Nonetheless, there is little doubt that as soon as the Syrian military sends units hunting down ISIS cells along the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor road to the Itriyah area, ISIS attacks in the Deir Ezzor countryside will resume once again.
The Damascus government will likely continue lacking resources to clear the entire desert of ISIS cells as long as it needs to keep large forces on the contact line with the Turkish Army and its proxies in Greater Idlib, near the region of Afrin and in northeastern Syria.
Idlib militant groups are not only waging a never-ending propaganda war against the Damascus government, but also find time for regular infighting.
On June 17, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham arrested Abu Salah al-Uzbeki, the founder and former leader of the Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad terrorist group, which consists mostly of ethnic Uzbeks. Al-Uzbeki and two of his bodyguards were captured by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham forces near the city of Idlib on June 17. The reason for tensions is that Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad recently distanced itself from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and signed a pact with Ansar al-Din, another al-Qaeda-linked group. Earlier this month, Ansar al-Din and several other medium and small groups created a new coalition – Fa Ithbatu. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham may have considered this move as an attempt to challenge its dominant position among the so-called moderate opposition.
Usbat al-Tha’ireen, an Iraqi pro-Iranian group formed earlier in 2020, released a new video claiming responsibility for a series of attacks on US forces and facilities across Iraq.
In the video entitled “Victory Comes With Patience” it claimed that:
On June 8, it shelled Camp Taji damaging a C-130 military transport aircraft of the US Air Force;
On June 11, it launched rockets at the US embassy in Baghdad’s Green Zone;
On June 16, it launched rockets at the US-operated military section of Baghdad International Airport.
Usbat al-Tha’ireen is the group that killed 3 US-led coalition personnel with a rocket strike on Camp Taji on March 11. Nonetheless, its claims about the damaging of the C-130 aircraft belonging to US military can hardly been verified.
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southfront--2020-06-20--ISIS Cells Carried Out 39 Attacks In Northeast Syria During Last 30 Days – Report

ISIS cells in northeast Syria increased their attacks in the last 30 days despite the recent operations by the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) and the U.S.-led coalition , the Syrian Observatory or Human Rights ( SOHR ) reported on June 19 .
The UK-based monitoring group revealed that the terrorist group carried out at least 39 operations between March 19 and June 19 .
The operations included bombings , shootings and executions .
As a result of ISIS attacks , 22 personnel of the SDF and 6 civilians , including a woman and two children , were killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalition and the SDF eliminated a number of ISIS commanders in northeast Syria during a series of special operations .
Between June 4 and 10 , the coalition and the SDF launched a large-scale security operation in the southern al-Hasakah countryside and the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside .
More than 100 suspects were arrested .
After the large-scale operation , the SDF security forces launched an operation to secure and reorganize the notorious al-Hawl Camp in eastern al-Hasakah .
Despite this , the ISIS influence in Syria ’ s northeastern region , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growiing .
The U.S.-led coalition and the SDF will have to make more efforts to address this threat .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Newly-Formed Greater Idlib Operations Room Carries Out First Attack On Syrian Army

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ISIS cells in northeast Syria increased their attacks in the last 30 days despite the recent operations by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the U.S.-led coalition, the Syrian Observatory or Human Rights (SOHR) reported on June 19.
The UK-based monitoring group revealed that the terrorist group carried out at least 39 operations between March 19 and June 19. The operations included bombings, shootings and executions. As a result of ISIS attacks, 22 personnel of the SDF and 6 civilians, including a woman and two children, were killed.
Earlier this year, the U.S.-led coalition and the SDF eliminated a number of ISIS commanders in northeast Syria during a series of special operations.
Between June 4 and 10, the coalition and the SDF launched a large-scale security operation in the southern al-Hasakah countryside and the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside. More than 100 suspects were arrested.
After the large-scale operation, the SDF security forces launched an operation to secure and reorganize the notorious al-Hawl Camp in eastern al-Hasakah.
“Security operations of the international coalition and the SDF did not succeed in curbing the Islamic State in any way, many of these operations even witnessed random arrests,” the SOHR’s report reads.
Despite this, the ISIS influence in Syria’s northeastern region, especially in southeast Deir Ezzor, has been growiing. The U.S.-led coalition and the SDF will have to make more efforts to address this threat.
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southfront--2020-06-20--YouTube’s New Clumsy Attempt To Justify Censorship Of SouthFront

The story with the censorship of SouthFront on YouTube continues developing .
More than 1.5 months since the censorship of SouthFront on YouTube , the YouTube staff has been ignoring SouthFront rejecting requests to provide at least some kind of formal reason behind this decision .
However , in mid-June , YouTube finally invented some formal explanation for its illegal decision to censor SouthFront .
Now , YouTube claims that SouthFront ’ s main channel was terminated because of “ repeated or severe violations ” of YouTube Community Guidelines , including “ spam , scams or commercially deceptive content ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YouTube somehow promoted spam , scams or deceptive content is a blatant lie .
HINT : On May 1 , YouTube terminated all of South Front ’ s channels , with approximately 170,000 subscribers .
The main YouTube channel in English had over 152,000 subscribers , 1,900 uploaded videos and approximately 60 million views .
The termination of our channels occurred without any warnings or notifications and regardless of the fact that our YouTube channels had zero active strikes .
We immediately appealed this decision and during the next weeks repeatedly requested YouTube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , no real answers have been provided until now .
On June 16 , YouTube requested us to provide him links to SouthFront channels , which were terminated ( like YouTube Support Team can not get these links by itself ) : On June 18 , YouTube finally invented a formal explantion for its unjustified decision to censor SouthFront by claiming that our main YouTube channel with over 152,000 subscribers was promoting “ spam , scams or commercially deceptive content ” : However , this claim goes contrary to YouTube ’ s official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Community Guidelines strikes or any other strikes on the channel .
On May 3 , YouTube Support Team officially confirmed this fact in its own email saying that there were “ no reasons ” to terminate SouthFront ’ s channel : We emphasized this in our answer to YouTube ’ s new claims : We eagerly await the further development of this situation .
How would YouTube try to explain this act of illegal censorship next time ?
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The story with the censorship of SouthFront on YouTube continues developing.
More than 1.5 months since the censorship of SouthFront on YouTube, the YouTube staff has been ignoring SouthFront rejecting requests to provide at least some kind of formal reason behind this decision. However, in mid-June, YouTube finally invented some formal explanation for its illegal decision to censor SouthFront.
Now, YouTube claims that SouthFront’s main channel was terminated because of “repeated or severe violations” of YouTube Community Guidelines, including “spam, scams or commercially deceptive content”. The claim that SouthFront content on YouTube somehow promoted spam, scams or deceptive content is a blatant lie.
HINT: On May 1, YouTube terminated all of South Front’s channels, with approximately 170,000 subscribers. The main YouTube channel in English had over 152,000 subscribers, 1,900 uploaded videos and approximately 60 million views. The termination of our channels occurred without any warnings or notifications and regardless of the fact that our YouTube channels had zero active strikes. We immediately appealed this decision and during the next weeks repeatedly requested YouTube to explain reasons behind it. However, no real answers have been provided until now.
A summary of the recent events:
On June 16, YouTube requested us to provide him links to SouthFront channels, which were terminated (like YouTube Support Team cannot get these links by itself):
SouthFront provided all the requested information:
On June 18, YouTube finally invented a formal explantion for its unjustified decision to censor SouthFront by claiming that our main YouTube channel with over 152,000 subscribers was promoting “spam, scams or commercially deceptive content”:
However, this claim goes contrary to YouTube’s official data itself. There was zero YouTube Community Guidelines strikes or any other strikes on the channel.
On May 3, YouTube Support Team officially confirmed this fact in its own email saying that there were “no reasons” to terminate SouthFront’s channel:
We emphasized this in our answer to YouTube’s new claims:
We eagerly await the further development of this situation. How would YouTube try to explain this act of illegal censorship next time?
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southfront--2020-06-20--Newly-Formed Idlib Militant Coalition Carries Out First Attack On Syrian Army

On June 19 , the newly-formed Fa Ithbatu militant coalition in Greater Idlib carried out its first attack on the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) .
According to several opposition sources , the terrorists destroyed a bulldozer of the SAA while it was building fortifications near the town of Tanjarah in the northwestern countryside of Hama .
The bulldozer was targeted with an anti-tank guided missile .
In what appears to be a response to the attack , the SAA artillery pounded militnats ’ positions around the town of Benin in southern Idlib .
The Fa Ithbatu coalition was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ansar al-Din , Ansar al-Islam , Liwa al-Muqatlin al-Ansar and Tansiqiyat al-Jihad .
Fa Ithbatu succeeded the so-called wa-Harid al-Mu ’ minin coalition .
Horas al-Din , Ansar al-Din , Ansar al-Islam are affiliated with al-Qaeda .
Liwa al-Muqatlin al-Ansar and Tansiqiyat al-Jihad , on the other side , were formed by defectors from Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) .
The coalition was apparently established to sabotage the March 5 Russian-Turkish agreement as well as to challenge HTS ’ authority in Greater Idlib .
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On June 19, the newly-formed Fa Ithbatu militant coalition in Greater Idlib carried out its first attack on the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).
According to several opposition sources, the terrorists destroyed a bulldozer of the SAA while it was building fortifications near the town of Tanjarah in the northwestern countryside of Hama. The bulldozer was targeted with an anti-tank guided missile.
In what appears to be a response to the attack, the SAA artillery pounded militnats’ positions around the town of Benin in southern Idlib.
The Fa Ithbatu coalition was formed on June 12 by Horas al-Din, Ansar al-Din, Ansar al-Islam, Liwa al-Muqatlin al-Ansar and Tansiqiyat al-Jihad. Fa Ithbatu succeeded the so-called wa-Harid al-Mu’minin coalition.
Horas al-Din, Ansar al-Din, Ansar al-Islam are affiliated with al-Qaeda. Liwa al-Muqatlin al-Ansar and Tansiqiyat al-Jihad, on the other side, were formed by defectors from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
The coalition was apparently established to sabotage the March 5 Russian-Turkish agreement as well as to challenge HTS’ authority in Greater Idlib.
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southfront--2020-06-20--UAE-Backed Separatists Seized Largest Town On Yemen’s Socotra Island (Videos, Photos)

On June 19 , forces of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council ( STC ) captured Socotra island ’ s municipal area following a short battle with forces of the Aden-based Saudi-backed government .
The battle , which began in the early morning , saw the use of heavy weapons by STC forces .
After resisting for a few hours , Saudi-backed forces withdrew from the municipal area that is located in the island ’ s largest town , Hadiboh .
A day earlier , Saudi forces , which were deployed in Socotra as guarantor , withdrew from a key checkpoint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is located a few meter away from the municipal council that was captured by the STC .
This was the fourth such an attack by the STC on Saudi-backed forces in Socotra .
The Saudi-led coalition is yet to comment on the issue .
The UAE has been working to establish a lasting influence in Socotra since the beginning of the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen in 2015 .
The UAE first tried to win the hearts and minds of the locals by channeling investments and aid to the island .
Now , Abu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its influence in the island in a more aggressive manner .
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Houthis both warned in the past that the UAE is planning to annex the island .
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On June 19, forces of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) captured Socotra island’s municipal area following a short battle with forces of the Aden-based Saudi-backed government.
The battle, which began in the early morning, saw the use of heavy weapons by STC forces. After resisting for a few hours, Saudi-backed forces withdrew from the municipal area that is located in the island’s largest town, Hadiboh.
A day earlier, Saudi forces, which were deployed in Socotra as guarantor, withdrew from a key checkpoint in Hadiboh. The forces’ headquarters is located a few meter away from the municipal council that was captured by the STC.
المجلس الانتقالي الجنوبي يرفع أعلام “الانفصال” على المبان الحكومية في “حديبو” عاصمة أرخبيل سقطرى pic.twitter.com/7PbbbFsuI4 — يمن مونيتور (@YeMonitor) June 19, 2020
الله أكبر…
مبنى محافظة سقطرى حديبو تم تحريره من مليشيات حزب الإصلاح الإرهابي… pic.twitter.com/TVoSB4AiDD — أفنااان… (@afnan66555) June 19, 2020
بعد استكمال السيطره علئ حديبو عاصمة ارخبيل سقطره مندوب التالف في سقطره يقول ليسة هناك حاضنه شعبيه للشرعيه وغالب ابناء سقطره يناصرون الانتقالي والقوات السقطريه تعلن ولاءها للانتقالي pic.twitter.com/9M8XbeRRAk — محمد سيف النقيب (@sXsq4J3QZacHbJN) June 19, 2020
Rafat Al-Shukili, head of the STC in Socotra, told AFP that the new attack was launched to “clear the capital [Hadiboh] from terrorists’ remnants.”
This was the fourth such an attack by the STC on Saudi-backed forces in Socotra. The Saudi-led coalition is yet to comment on the issue.
The UAE has been working to establish a lasting influence in Socotra since the beginning of the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen in 2015. The UAE first tried to win the hearts and minds of the locals by channeling investments and aid to the island. Now, Abu Dhabi is using STC forces to strengthen its influence in the island in a more aggressive manner.
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Houthis both warned in the past that the UAE is planning to annex the island.
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southfront--2020-06-20--Journalist Abducted, Assaulted & Robbed In Syria’s Greater Idlib (Photos)

Late on June 18 , Mustafa al-Khalaf , a journalist working as correspondent for Turkey-based Syria TV was abducted in @ @ @ @ @ Greater Idlib .
Zaman al-Wsl , a pro-opposition outlet , said al-Khalaf was abducted by @ @ @ @ @ driving his car on the Ma ’ arrat Misrin-Idlib road .
The gunmen tied up @ @ @ @ @ assaulted him for several hours .
Al-Khalaf ’ s car , phone , camera , @ @ @ @ @ of money he was carrying were stolen by the gunmen , who eventually ditched him @ @ @ @ @ ’ arrat Misrin .
Following the incident , al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( @ @ @ @ @ forces on all roads in Greater Idlib .
These security forces themselves assaulted pro-opposition journalists @ @ @ @ @ Russian-Turkish patrol on the M4 highway a few weeks ago .
The journalists were beaten @ @ @ @ @ equipment were destroyed .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Foreign Jihadists In Greater Idlib @ @ @ @ @ New Statement

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Late on June 18, Mustafa al-Khalaf, a journalist working as correspondent for Turkey-based Syria TV was abducted in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib.
Zaman al-Wsl, a pro-opposition outlet, said al-Khalaf was abducted by unidentified gunmen as he was driving his car on the Ma’arrat Misrin-Idlib road. The gunmen tied up the journalist and then violently assaulted him for several hours.
Al-Khalaf’s car, phone, camera, personal handgun and an amount of money he was carrying were stolen by the gunmen, who eventually ditched him near the town of Ma’arrat Misrin.
#إدلب تعرض الإعلامي الإرهابي مصطفى الخلف أبو زياد، مراسل تلفزيون سوريا التابع لعصابات الإرهاب، لعملية تشليح وضرب مبرح، داخل مدينة إدلب..???? pic.twitter.com/gCu00rpSxL — Muhammad Alyounes (@mhmdalywns56) June 19, 2020
?تَعرض الصحفي “مصطفى الخلف” مراسل تلفزيون سوريا، ليلة أمس بالاعتداء والخطف والضرب والسرقة من قبل مُسلّحين مجهولين بالقرب من مدينة #إدلب. pic.twitter.com/yGi6lhuOif — عبدالرحمن للإعلام (@abdulrhman570) June 19, 2020
Following the incident, al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) deployed additional security forces on all roads in Greater Idlib.
These security forces themselves assaulted pro-opposition journalists that were covering the 16th Russian-Turkish patrol on the M4 highway a few weeks ago. The journalists were beaten up and some of their equipment were destroyed.
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southfront--2020-06-20--Over 2,600 Turkish-Backed Syrian Militants Have Returned From Libya – Report

More than 2,600 Turkish-backed Syrian militants have returned from Libya where they were fighting for the Government of National Accord ( GNA ) , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) reported on June 19 .
At least 12,100 Syrian militants are still present in Libya .
According to the SOHR , Turkey is now working to deploy even more militants there .
More than 1,800 Syrians are currently receiving military training in camps inside Turkey ahead of deployment .
The SOHR also revealed that 300 Syrian militants fighting in GNA forces are minors , between the ages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these minors were recruited by the Turkish-backed Sultan Murad Division .
Despite the relative calm in Libya , the remaining Syrian militants there are still taking part in combat operations .
In the last few days , at least 17 were killed .
This raised the number of Syrians killed while fighting in Libya to 417 .
The deployment of Syrian militants in Libya boosted the offensive capabilities of GNA forces , enabling them to make gains in northwest Libya .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Foreign Jihadists In Greater Idlib Stress @ @ @ @ @ @

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More than 2,600 Turkish-backed Syrian militants have returned from Libya where they were fighting for the Government of National Accord (GNA), the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on June 19.
“The returnees have received all of their financial entitlements after the recent advance by GNA forces in Libya,” the monitoring group’s report reads.
At least 12,100 Syrian militants are still present in Libya. According to the SOHR, Turkey is now working to deploy even more militants there. More than 1,800 Syrians are currently receiving military training in camps inside Turkey ahead of deployment.
The SOHR also revealed that 300 Syrian militants fighting in GNA forces are minors, between the ages of 14 and 18. Most of these minors were recruited by the Turkish-backed Sultan Murad Division.
Despite the relative calm in Libya, the remaining Syrian militants there are still taking part in combat operations. In the last few days, at least 17 were killed. This raised the number of Syrians killed while fighting in Libya to 417.
The deployment of Syrian militants in Libya boosted the offensive capabilities of GNA forces, enabling them to make gains in northwest Libya.
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southfront--2020-06-20--Kiev Releases Video Showing Heavy Strikes On Positions Of DPR Forces

Talking of Ukraine , does anybody remember the Cookie Monsters , Nuland and McCain ?
Well , one is down @ @ @ @ @ is Nuland upto ?
Working for the Albright Foundation ‘ the death of 500,000 Iraq @ @ @ @ @ well worth the price ’ Maddie .
What is she trying to get going ?
@ @ @ @ @ Moscow .
Well , it worked in Ukraine and she believes by hitting into the @ @ @ @ @ who live in the villages , outside Moscow , well , they would be stupid @ @ @ @ @ Maidan .
I wonder how that will work out ?
The Reconstruction of 3 Russian @ @ @ @ @ of Ukraine ’ s Gas Transit System Into Scrap Metal…https : //www.stalkerzone.org/the-reconstruction-of-3-russian-gas-pipelines-will-turn-two-thirds-of-ukraines-gas-transit-system-into-scrap-metal/

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Media accounts affilated with forces of the Kiev regime released a video showing heavy strikes on positions of the self-defense forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine. The incident reportedly took place near Bahmutka. The video shows destruction of the supposed KAMAZ vehicle with ammunition. Pro-Kiev sources also claim that the strikes destroyed 2 mortars of the DPR.
Despite the formal ceasefire regime in eastern Ukraine, pro-Kiev forces regularly violate it shelling territories controlled by the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
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southfront--2020-06-20--Foreign Jihadists In Greater Idlib Stress Support To HTS In New Statement

Foreign Jihadists in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib stressed their support for al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham @ @ @ @ @ joint statement released on June 18 .
In the joint statement , the jihadists praised @ @ @ @ @ religion and serving Mujahedeen ” as well as for “ preserving security ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ Islamic law ] .
” The jihadists noted in their statement that the group is @ @ @ @ @ statement was signed by many prominent terrorists , including leaders in HTS ’ own ranks @ @ @ @ @ as well as the following groups : The statement was clearly meant to support HTS @ @ @ @ @ ‘ more radical ’ al-Qaeda-affiliated factions in Greater Idlib .
HTS is now involved in @ @ @ @ @ and Ansar al-Din .
Both groups and defectors from HTS formed a new operations room @ @ @ @ @ month .
HTS apparently sees this as a threat .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : @ @ @ @ @ In Complex Afrin Operation , Turkish Forces Respond With Artillery Fire ( Video )

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Foreign Jihadists in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib stressed their support for al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in a joint statement released on June 18.
In the joint statement, the jihadists praised HTS for “supporting the religion and serving Mujahedeen” as well as for “preserving security” and “implementing Shari’a [Islamic law].” The jihadists noted in their statement that the group is not faultless.
“Supporting Hay’at is not a claim to infallibility or immunity to mistakes, nor a favorite a faction or a bigotry to a tribe,” the statement reads.
The unusual statement was signed by many prominent terrorists, including leaders in HTS’ own ranks like Abu al-Harith al-Masri, as well as the following groups:
The Turkistan Islamic Party [Uyghur jihadists];
Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad [Uzbek jihadists];
Liwa al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar [Caucasian jihadists];
Sham al-Islam [Moroccan jihadists];
Jzazrawiat al-Hay’at [Saudi jihadists];
Tajiki Jamat [Tajiki jihadists];
Muhajree Ahl al-Sunnah Min Iran [Iranian jihadists];
Jamat al-Alban [Albanian jihadists];
Jamat al-Maldives [Maldivians jihadists].
The statement was clearly meant to support HTS which is being criticized by ‘more radical’ al-Qaeda-affiliated factions in Greater Idlib.
HTS is now involved in conflicts with both Horas al-Din and Ansar al-Din. Both groups and defectors from HTS formed a new operations room in Greater Idlib earlier this month. HTS apparently sees this as a threat.
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southfront--2020-06-20--The Saker: “What Kind of “Popular Revolution” Is This?!”

Written by The Saker ; Originally appeared at The Unz Review I have to say that I am amazed that so many folks on the Left seem to think that the current riots in the US are a spontaneous rebellion against police violence , systemic racism , and history of persecution and exploitation of Blacks and Indians , etc .
As for the violence , looting and riots – they are either excused as a result of some kind of righteous wrath or blamed on “ infiltrators ” .
In I tried to show how the Democrats and the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use them against Trump ’ s bid for reelection .
I accompanied the article with a carefully staged photo-op of US Democrats “ taking a knee ” in solidarity ( as if the leaders of the Democratic Party gave a hoot about Blacks or poor US Americans ! )
.
What I did not mention was how the US ( and even trans-national ) corporate world backed these riots to the hilt .
Here are just a few examples of this : And it is not only in the USA .
Check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to : All those of us who thought that the corporate world was all about money , that the corporate “ culture ” had all the signs of severe psychopathy and that billionaires did not give a damn about the poor and the oppressed , but now we know better : we thought of them as evil 1 % ers , and it turns out that there are kind , highly principled people , who care about injustice and freedom and who truly feel bad , very very bad , for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you really buy this ?
These are not small mom-and-pop stores where ethics and kindness still exist .
These are the very corporations who benefited most from all the inequalities , injustice , violence and imperial wars of aggression and it would be truly pollyannish to think that these corporations and their CEOs suddenly grew a conscience ( the exact same applies to the leadership of the Democratic Party , of course ! )
.
So let ’ s go back to the basics : corporations are about money , that is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to present a “ human face ” , but this is nothing more than a marketing trick destined to create consumer loyalty .
Now I don ’ t believe for one second that the mega-corporations listed above expect to make much money from supporting the riots , at least not in a direct way .
Nor do I believe that these corporations are trying to impersonate a conscience because they fear a Black consumer boycott ( what was true in is not true today , if only because of the completely different scale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not money – what is at stake here ?
Specifically , the US deep state – at a major faction within that deep state – is clearly desperate to get rid of Trump ( and for the right reasons , of which there are plenty ) .
There are plenty of signs that illustrate that Trump is even losing control of the Executive , including on what is a key issue – restoring law and order – or the US Ambassador to South Korea voicing support for BLM ( I consider that these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commander in Chief border on treason ) .
Needless to say , the immediately began dreaming about , and calling for , a military revolt against Trump .
Last but not least , we now have a “ free zone ” in Seattle , the notorious Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone , “ CHAZ ” aka “ CHOP ” where , among other “ curiosities ” , Whites are told to give 10 bucks to a Black person .
This means that until law and order are restored to what is now the CHAZ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sovereignty over a part of one of its cities .
That is a “ black eye ” for any US President who , after all , is the leader of the Executive branch of government and the Commander in Chief of a military supposed ( in theory only , of course ) to defend the United States against all enemies .
What do all of these developments have in common ?
They are designed to show that Trump has lost control of the country and that all good and decent people now stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major problems with this plan .
For one thing , this is all completely illegal .
What began as a typical race riot is now openly turning into sedition .
The second major problem of this plan is that it relies on what I call a “ coalition of minorities ” to achieve its goal , it is therefore ignoring the will of the majority of the people .
This can backfire , especially if the chaos and violence continue to spread .
Next , there is the “ Golem/Frankenstein ” issue : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildfire than to contain or suppress it .
Nancy Pelosi might be dumb enough to think that she and her gang can control the likes of , but history shows that when the state abdicates its monopoly on violence , anarchy ensues .
By the way , it is important to note here that Trump , at least so far , has not taken the bait and has not used federal forces to reimpose law and order in Seattle , Atlanta or elsewhere .
He must realize that liberating the so-called CHAZ might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be plenty of weapons inside the CHAZ ) and that the Democrats are dreaming about blaming him for a bloodbath .
Trump ’ s strategy , at least so far , appears to let the lawlessness continue and blame the Democrats for it .
While Trump ’ s strategy makes sense , it also is inherently very dangerous because if the state can not reimpose law and order , then all sorts of “ volunteers ” might decide to give it a shot ( literally ) .
Check out this headline “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On July 4th “ .
Whether these bikers will actually try to take over the CHAZ or not , even the fact that they are preparing to do so shows , yet again , that the state has lost its monopoly on violence .
Finally , this strategy to oust Trump by means of lawlessness and anarchy could greatly contribute to the breakup of the United States , if not , then at least .
How ?
For one thing , the United States is a big country , not only in terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socio-economic and even cultural terms .
Some US states have a large Black population , others much less .
But they all mostly watch the same news media .
Which means that when there are race riots in , say , Los Angeles or Baltimore , the people who live in states like Montana or the Dakotas feel that it is their country which is threatened .
Coincidentally ( or not ? )
, these mostly White states happen to have a large part of their population as , Hillary ’ s famous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these states “ flyover states ” .
It also happens that civilians in these states own a large number of firearms and know how to use them .
The same applies to different locations within any one state .
Take California for example , which many view as being very liberal , progressive .
Well , that might be true for many cities in California , but as soon as you enter rural California , the prevailing culture changes rather dramatically .
The same urban vs rural dichotomy also exists in many other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here is the following one : some parts of the United States can collapse and become zones of total lawlessness while others will “ circle the wagons ” and take whatever measures are needed to protect themselves and their way of life .
This does not mean that the US , as a country , will break-up into several successor states .
That could only happen much further down the road , but it does mean that different areas of the country could start facing the crisis autonomously and even possibly in direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens , poverty and violence typically sharply rise .
There are already reports of vigilantism in New Mexico ( interestingly , in this case the authorities did send in the cops ) .
In his seminal article “ ” ( an absolute for any person wanting to understand what is taking place today ! )
Ron Unz makes a very interesting observation : In other words , the larger the Black minority , the more likely Whites will vote Republican .
Of course , one can dismiss this by saying that these Whites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not help either because it begs the question of why Whites do not become racists when living next to Hispanics and Asians , but do so when they live near Blacks .
The explanation is in Ron ’ s article : “ local urban crime rates in America seem to be almost entirely explained by the local racial distribution ” ( please see the charts in Ron ’ s article for the data supporting this conclusion ) .
This makes for a potentially very explosive mix , especially in a time when police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demotion .
being fired or even criminal charges for using “ excessive force ” against any Black suspect ( yes , US cops often do use excessive force , but the solution here is not to paralyze the police forces , lest the civilians feel like they need to defend themselves .
Conclusion : this is no popular revolution at all It is undeniable that a major chuck of the US ruling classes have decided to support the BLM movement and the riots it instigates .
Furthermore , these US ruling classes have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just like the Republicans have been destroying the AngloZionist empire on the international scene , the Democrats have been destroying the United States from within .
Far from being a real popular protest movement , the BLM movement is a tool in the hands of one faction of the US deep state against another faction .
A lot of Trump nominees/appointees are now seeing the writing on the wall and are betraying their boss in order to switch sides and abandon what they see as a sinking ship .
My personal feeling is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of a coward to fight his political enemies ( if he had any spine , it would have shown at the time when Trump betrayed Flynn only a month into his presidency ) .
History , however , shows that a political vacuum can not last very long .
In Russia the chaos lasted from February to November 1917 , at which point the Bolsheviks ( who were a relatively small party ) easily seized power and , following a bloody civil war , restored their version of law and order .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil war taking place in the USA , but some kind of coup is , I think , a very real possibility .
This is especially true considering that most Democrats will never accept a Trump reelection while most Republicans will never accept a Biden presidency .
This is a case of “ not my president ” powerfully backfiring on its creators .
Those of us who live in the US better prepare for a very dangerous and difficult year !

Written by The Saker; Originally appeared at The Unz Review
I have to say that I am amazed that so many folks on the Left seem to think that the current riots in the US are a spontaneous rebellion against police violence, systemic racism, and history of persecution and exploitation of Blacks and Indians, etc. As for the violence, looting and riots – they are either excused as a result of some kind of righteous wrath or blamed on “infiltrators”. In my previous article I tried to show how the Democrats and the US media tried to instrumentalize these riots and to use them against Trump’s bid for reelection. I accompanied the article with a carefully staged photo-op of US Democrats “taking a knee” in solidarity (as if the leaders of the Democratic Party gave a hoot about Blacks or poor US Americans!).
What I did not mention was how the US (and even trans-national) corporate world backed these riots to the hilt. Here are just a few examples of this:
YouTube:
Amazon, Bank of America & Sephora:
And it is not only in the USA. Check out what Adidas in Germany has been up to:
and finally, my personal super-favorite:
Jamie Dimon and the JP Morgan Chase Bank:
All those of us who thought that the corporate world was all about money, that the corporate “culture” had all the signs of severe psychopathy and that billionaires did not give a damn about the poor and the oppressed, but now we know better: we thought of them as evil 1%ers, and it turns out that there are kind, highly principled people, who care about injustice and freedom and who truly feel bad, very very bad, for all the injustices done to Blacks!
Do you really buy this?
I sure don’t!
These are not small mom-and-pop stores where ethics and kindness still exist. These are the very corporations who benefited most from all the inequalities, injustice, violence and imperial wars of aggression and it would be truly pollyannish to think that these corporations and their CEOs suddenly grew a conscience (the exact same applies to the leadership of the Democratic Party, of course!).
So let’s go back to the basics: corporations are about money, that is a truism. Yes, sometimes corporations try to present a “human face”, but this is nothing more than a marketing trick destined to create consumer loyalty. Now I don’t believe for one second that the mega-corporations listed above expect to make much money from supporting the riots, at least not in a direct way. Nor do I believe that these corporations are trying to impersonate a conscience because they fear a Black consumer boycott (what was true in Tuskegee in the late 1950s is not true today, if only because of the completely different scale of the protests).
So if not money – what is at stake here?
Power.
Specifically, the US deep state – at a major faction within that deep state – is clearly desperate to get rid of Trump (and not for the right reasons, of which there are plenty).
There are plenty of signs that illustrate that Trump is even losing control of the Executive, including Secretary Esper contradicting Trump on what is a key issue – restoring law and order – or the US Ambassador to South Korea voicing support for BLM (I consider that these actions by top officials against their own Commander in Chief border on treason). Needless to say, the pro-Dems neo-libs at Slate immediately began dreaming about, and calling for, a military revolt against Trump.
Last but not least, we now have a “free zone” in Seattle, the notorious Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, “CHAZ” aka “CHOP” where, among other “curiosities”, Whites are told to give 10 bucks to a Black person . This means that until law and order are restored to what is now the CHAZ, the United States has lost its sovereignty over a part of one of its cities. That is a “black eye” for any US President who, after all, is the leader of the Executive branch of government and the Commander in Chief of a military supposed (in theory only, of course) to defend the United States against all enemies.
What do all of these developments have in common?
They are designed to show that Trump has lost control of the country and that all good and decent people now stand united against him.
There are several major problems with this plan.
For one thing, this is all completely illegal. What began as a typical race riot is now openly turning into sedition.
The second major problem of this plan is that it relies on what I call a “coalition of minorities” to achieve its goal, it is therefore ignoring the will of the majority of the people. This can backfire, especially if the chaos and violence continue to spread.
Next, there is the “Golem/Frankenstein” issue: it is much easier to launch a wildfire than to contain or suppress it. Nancy Pelosi might be dumb enough to think that she and her gang can control the likes of Raz Simone , but history shows that when the state abdicates its monopoly on violence, anarchy ensues.
By the way, it is important to note here that Trump, at least so far, has not taken the bait and has not used federal forces to reimpose law and order in Seattle, Atlanta or elsewhere.
He must realize that liberating the so-called CHAZ might result in a bloodbath (there appear to be plenty of weapons inside the CHAZ) and that the Democrats are dreaming about blaming him for a bloodbath. Trump’s strategy, at least so far, appears to let the lawlessness continue and blame the Democrats for it.
While Trump’s strategy makes sense, it also is inherently very dangerous because if the state cannot reimpose law and order, then all sorts of “volunteers” might decide to give it a shot (literally). Check out this headline “ Bikers For Trump Organizing to Retake Seattle On July 4th “. Whether these bikers will actually try to take over the CHAZ or not, even the fact that they are preparing to do so shows, yet again, that the state has lost its monopoly on violence.
Finally, this strategy to oust Trump by means of lawlessness and anarchy could greatly contribute to the breakup of the United States, if not de jure, then at least de facto. How?
For one thing, the United States is a big country, not only in terms of geographical size, but also in socio-economic and even cultural terms. Some US states have a large Black population, others much less. But they all mostly watch the same news media. Which means that when there are race riots in, say, Los Angeles or Baltimore, the people who live in states like Montana or the Dakotas feel that it is their country which is threatened. Coincidentally (or not?), these mostly White states happen to have a large part of their population as, Hillary’s famous “deplorables”. Some liberals call these states “flyover states”. It also happens that civilians in these states own a large number of firearms and know how to use them.
The same applies to different locations within any one state. Take California for example, which many view as being very liberal, progressive. Well, that might be true for many cities in California, but as soon as you enter rural California, the prevailing culture changes rather dramatically. The same urban vs rural dichotomy also exists in many other states, including Florida.
The risk here is the following one: some parts of the United States can collapse and become zones of total lawlessness while others will “circle the wagons” and take whatever measures are needed to protect themselves and their way of life.
This does not mean that the US, as a country, will break-up into several successor states. That could only happen much further down the road, but it does mean that different areas of the country could start facing the crisis autonomously and even possibly in direct violation of US laws. When that happens, poverty and violence typically sharply rise. There are already reports of vigilantism in New Mexico (interestingly, in this case the authorities did send in the cops).
In his seminal article “ Race and Crime in America ” (an absolute MUST READfor any person wanting to understand what is taking place today!) Ron Unz makes a very interesting observation:
“The empirical fact is that presence or absence of large numbers of Hispanics or Asians in a given state seems to have virtually no impact upon white voting patterns. Meanwhile, there exists a strong relationship between the size of a state’s black population and the likelihood that local whites will favor the Republicans”.
In other words, the larger the Black minority, the more likely Whites will vote Republican. Of course, one can dismiss this by saying that these Whites are all racists, but that does not help either because it begs the question of why Whites do not become racists when living next to Hispanics and Asians, but do so when they live near Blacks. The explanation is in Ron’s article: “local urban crime rates in America seem to be almost entirely explained by the local racial distribution” (please see the charts in Ron’s article for the data supporting this conclusion).
This makes for a potentially very explosive mix, especially in a time when police officers now risk a reprimand, a demotion. being fired or even criminal charges for using “excessive force” against any Black suspect (yes, US cops often do use excessive force, but the solution here is not to paralyze the police forces, lest the civilians feel like they need to defend themselves.
As I have said it many times, I don’t believe that the term “race” has a scientific basis, nor do concepts such as “Black” or “White”. This does not mean that they don’t have a political meaning, especially in a country which is obsessed by race issues (yes, one can obsess about non-existing things). In the US most people self-identify with a color, thus to them this is something very real. For example, the figures used in Ron Unz’ article are based upon these concepts understood sociologically, not biologically, and this is the only reason why I use them too, though somewhat reluctantly, I will admit.
Conclusion: this is no popular revolution at all
It is undeniable that a major chuck of the US ruling classes have decided to support the BLM movement and the riots it instigates. Furthermore, these US ruling classes have instrumentalized these riots in a transparent attempt to prevent a Trump reelection in November . And just like the Republicans have been destroying the AngloZionist empire on the international scene, the Democrats have been destroying the United States from within. Far from being a real popular protest movement, the BLM movement is a tool in the hands of one faction of the US deep state against another faction. A lot of Trump nominees/appointees are now seeing the writing on the wall and are betraying their boss in order to switch sides and abandon what they see as a sinking ship.
My personal feeling is that Trump is too weak and too much of a coward to fight his political enemies (if he had any spine, it would have shown at the time when Trump betrayed Flynn only a month into his presidency). History, however, shows that a political vacuum cannot last very long. In Russia the chaos lasted from February to November 1917, at which point the Bolsheviks (who were a relatively small party) easily seized power and, following a bloody civil war, restored their version of law and order. I still don’t see a civil war taking place in the USA, but some kind of coup is, I think, a very real possibility. This is especially true considering that most Democrats will never accept a Trump reelection while most Republicans will never accept a Biden presidency. This is a case of “not my president” powerfully backfiring on its creators.
Those of us who live in the US better prepare for a very dangerous and difficult year!


southfront--2020-06-20--11 Days To Keep SouhFront Alive!

11 Days To Keep SouhFront Alive!

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southfront--2020-06-20--Philip Giraldi: “America’s Recessional: Time to Bring the Troops Home”

Written by Philip Giraldi ; Originally appeared at The Unz Review Two weeks ago a senior Trump Administration official revealed that the president had decided to withdraw 9,500 American soldiers from Germany and that the administration would also be capping total U.S. military presence in that country at 25,000 , which might involve more cuts depending what is included in the numbers .
The move was welcomed in some circles and strongly criticized in others , but many observers were also bemused by the announcement , noting that Donald Trump had previously ordered a reduction in force in Afghanistan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which has actually been achieved .
In Syria , troops were only moved from the northern part of the country to the oil producing region in the south to protect the fields from seizure by ISIS , while in Afghanistan the nineteen-year-long training mission and infrastructure reconstruction continue .
In a somewhat related development , the Iraqi parliament has called for the removal of U.S. troops from the country , a demand that has been rejected by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
Put it all together and it suggests that any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ending America ’ s useless wars should be regarded with some skepticism .
The United States has its nearly 35,000 military personnel remaining in Germany as its contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) , founded in 1949 to counter Soviet forces in Eastern Europe in what was to become the Warsaw Pact .
Both the Organization and Pact were ostensibly defensive alliances and the U.S. active participation was intended to demonstrate American resolve to come to the aid of Western Europe .
Currently , 75 years after the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the fall of communist governments in Eastern Europe , NATO is an anachronism , kept going by the many statesmen and military establishments of the various countries that have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo .
Since the demise of the European communist regimes , NATO has found work in bombing Serbia , destroying Libya and in helping in the unending task to train an Afghan army .
In spite of the clearly diminished threat in Europe , NATO has expanded to 30 members , including most of the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pact .
The most recent acquisition was Montenegro in 2016 , which contributed 2,400 soldiers to the NATO force .
That expansion was carried out in spite of assurances given to the post-Soviet Russian government that military encroachment would not take place .
Currently , NATO continues to focus on the threat from Moscow as its own viable raison d ’ être , with its deployments and training exercises often taking place right up against Russia ’ s borders .
Few really believe that the Russia , which has a GDP only the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or is even capable of reestablishing anything like the old Soviet Union .
But a vulnerable Russia is nevertheless interested in maintaining an old-fashioned sphere of influence around its borders , which explains the concern over developments in Ukraine , Georgia and the Baltic States .
Given the diminished threat level in Europe , the withdrawal of 9,500 soldiers should be welcomed by all parties .
Trump has been sending the not unreasonable message that if the Europeans want more defense , they should pay for it themselves , though he has wrapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ derogatory language .
A wealthy Germany currently spends 1.1 % of GDP on its military , far less than the 2 % that NATO has declared to be a target to meet alliance commitments .
That compares with the nearly 5 % that the U.S. has been spending globally , inclusive of intelligence and national security costs .
Fair enough for burden sharing , but the European concern is more focused on how Trump does what he does .
For example , he announced the downsizing without informing America ’ s NATO partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back immediately .
Conservative politician Peter Beyer said “ This is completely unacceptable , especially since nobody in Washington thought about informing its NATO ally Germany in advance , ” and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas regretted the planned withdrawal , describing Berlin ’ s relationship with the Washington as “ complicated.
” Chancellor Angela Merkel was reportedly shocked .
The timing of the decision has also been questioned , with many observers believing that Trump deliberately staged the announcement to punish Merkel for refusing to attend a planned G-7 Summit in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to arrange .
Merkel argued that dealing with the consequences of the coronavirus made it difficult for her to leave home at the present time and the G-7 planning never got off the ground , which angered Trump , who wanted to demonstrate his global leadership in an election year .
Trump ’ s behavior has real world consequences .
The Canadians and Europeans regard him as a joke , but a dangerous joke due to his impulsive decision making .
He can not be trusted and when he says something he often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arguably Donald Trump was elected president on the margin of difference provided by an anti-war vote after many Americans took seriously his pledge to end the burgeoning overseas wars and bring the soldiers home .
It all may have been a lie even as he was saying it , but it was convincing at the time and a welcome antidote to Hillary the Hawk .
There will be costs associated with removing or relocating the troops in Germany , to include constructing new bases somewhere else , hopefully in the United States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not really needed could lead to the downsizing of the U.S. military across the board .
That would be strongly resisted by the Pentagon , the defense industries and Congress .
If Trump is serious about downsizing America ’ s overseas commitments , the reduction in the German force is a good first step , even if it was done for the wrong reasons .
It would be even better if he would force NATO into discussions about ending the alliance now that it is no longer needed , which would mean that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come home .
The U.S. mission of global dominance has meant huge budget deficits and a national debt of $ 26 trillion , which is likely unsustainable .
Germany and other European nations , by way of contrast , balance their government budgets every year .
South Korea , which hosts 30,000 American soldiers , is wealthy and far more powerful than its northern neighbor .
The continued occupation of Japan with 50,000 troops makes no sense even considering an increase in China ’ s regional power .
Overall , the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , airmen and Marines based overseas in 150 countries and its military budget exceeds one trillion dollars when everything is considered .
The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars may have cost as much as seven trillion dollars given the fact that much of the money was borrowed and will have to be repaid with interest .
It is past time for Donald Trump to make a bold move because the Democrats won ’ t have the backbone to rattle the status quo .
End the foreign wars , shut down the overseas bases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars to improve the lives of Americans , not to fight wars for Saudis and Israelis .
A simple formula for change , but sometimes simple is best .

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Written by Philip Giraldi; Originally appeared at The Unz Review
Two weeks ago a senior Trump Administration official revealed that the president had decided to withdraw 9,500 American soldiers from Germany and that the administration would also be capping total U.S. military presence in that country at 25,000, which might involve more cuts depending what is included in the numbers. The move was welcomed in some circles and strongly criticized in others, but many observers were also bemused by the announcement, noting that Donald Trump had previously ordered a reduction in force in Afghanistan and a complete withdrawal from Syria, neither of which has actually been achieved. In Syria, troops were only moved from the northern part of the country to the oil producing region in the south to protect the fields from seizure by ISIS, while in Afghanistan the nineteen-year-long training mission and infrastructure reconstruction continue.
In a somewhat related development, the Iraqi parliament has called for the removal of U.S. troops from the country, a demand that has been rejected by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Put it all together and it suggests that any announcement coming from the White House on ending America’s useless wars should be regarded with some skepticism.
The United States has its nearly 35,000 military personnel remaining in Germany as its contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), founded in 1949 to counter Soviet forces in Eastern Europe in what was to become the Warsaw Pact. Both the Organization and Pact were ostensibly defensive alliances and the U.S. active participation was intended to demonstrate American resolve to come to the aid of Western Europe. Currently, 75 years after the end of World War II and thirty years after the fall of communist governments in Eastern Europe, NATO is an anachronism, kept going by the many statesmen and military establishments of the various countries that have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Since the demise of the European communist regimes, NATO has found work in bombing Serbia, destroying Libya and in helping in the unending task to train an Afghan army.
In spite of the clearly diminished threat in Europe, NATO has expanded to 30 members, including most of the former communist states that made up the Warsaw Pact. The most recent acquisition was Montenegro in 2016, which contributed 2,400 soldiers to the NATO force. That expansion was carried out in spite of assurances given to the post-Soviet Russian government that military encroachment would not take place. Currently, NATO continues to focus on the threat from Moscow as its own viable raison d’être, with its deployments and training exercises often taking place right up against Russia’s borders.
Few really believe that the Russia, which has a GDP only the size of Italy’s, intends or is even capable of reestablishing anything like the old Soviet Union. But a vulnerable Russia is nevertheless interested in maintaining an old-fashioned sphere of influence around its borders, which explains the concern over developments in Ukraine, Georgia and the Baltic States.
Given the diminished threat level in Europe, the withdrawal of 9,500 soldiers should be welcomed by all parties. Trump has been sending the not unreasonable message that if the Europeans want more defense, they should pay for it themselves, though he has wrapped his proposal in his usual insulting and derogatory language. A wealthy Germany currently spends 1.1% of GDP on its military, far less than the 2% that NATO has declared to be a target to meet alliance commitments. That compares with the nearly 5% that the U.S. has been spending globally, inclusive of intelligence and national security costs.
Fair enough for burden sharing, but the European concern is more focused on how Trump does what he does. For example, he announced the downsizing without informing America’s NATO partners. The Germans were surprised and pushed back immediately. Conservative politician Peter Beyer said “This is completely unacceptable, especially since nobody in Washington thought about informing its NATO ally Germany in advance,” and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas regretted the planned withdrawal, describing Berlin’s relationship with the Washington as “complicated.” Chancellor Angela Merkel was reportedly shocked.
The timing of the decision has also been questioned, with many observers believing that Trump deliberately staged the announcement to punish Merkel for refusing to attend a planned G-7 Summit in the U.S. that the president had been trying to arrange. Merkel argued that dealing with the consequences of the coronavirus made it difficult for her to leave home at the present time and the G-7 planning never got off the ground, which angered Trump, who wanted to demonstrate his global leadership in an election year.
Trump’s behavior has real world consequences. The Canadians and Europeans regard him as a joke, but a dangerous joke due to his impulsive decision making. He cannot be trusted and when he says something he often contradicts himself on the next day. Arguably Donald Trump was elected president on the margin of difference provided by an anti-war vote after many Americans took seriously his pledge to end the burgeoning overseas wars and bring the soldiers home. It all may have been a lie even as he was saying it, but it was convincing at the time and a welcome antidote to Hillary the Hawk.
There will be costs associated with removing or relocating the troops in Germany, to include constructing new bases somewhere else, hopefully in the United States, but the realization that the soldiers are not really needed could lead to the downsizing of the U.S. military across the board. That would be strongly resisted by the Pentagon, the defense industries and Congress.
If Trump is serious about downsizing America’s overseas commitments, the reduction in the German force is a good first step, even if it was done for the wrong reasons. It would be even better if he would force NATO into discussions about ending the alliance now that it is no longer needed, which would mean that the remaining American soldiers in Europe could come home.
The U.S. mission of global dominance has meant huge budget deficits and a national debt of $26 trillion, which is likely unsustainable. Germany and other European nations, by way of contrast, balance their government budgets every year. South Korea, which hosts 30,000 American soldiers, is wealthy and far more powerful than its northern neighbor. The continued occupation of Japan with 50,000 troops makes no sense even considering an increase in China’s regional power. Overall, the United States continues to have 170,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines based overseas in 150 countries and its military budget exceeds one trillion dollars when everything is considered. The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars may have cost as much as seven trillion dollars given the fact that much of the money was borrowed and will have to be repaid with interest.
It is past time for Donald Trump to make a bold move because the Democrats won’t have the backbone to rattle the status quo. End the foreign wars, shut down the overseas bases and bring the soldiers home. Spend tax dollars to improve the lives of Americans, not to fight wars for Saudis and Israelis. A simple formula for change, but sometimes simple is best.
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southfront--2020-06-20--Security Forces Arrest Traffickers, Uncover Weapons In Southern Syria (Video)

Syrian security forces have arrested arms traffickers and seized large quantities of weapons in the country ’ s southern region @ @ @ @ @ Agency reported on June 20 .
“ After monitoring and a pursuit , we apprehended @ @ @ @ @ to foreign entities that was smuggling materials used to make improvised explosive devices … Thousands @ @ @ @ @ , which were being smuggled in shipping trucks , were seized , ” a military @ @ @ @ @ .
The weapons seized by security forces also included dozens of assault rifles , loads @ @ @ @ @ launcher as well as a Yugoslav-made M79 Osa anti-tank weapon along with six rounds .
@ @ @ @ @ forces uncovered loads of weapons in the southern region , including two Soviet-made man-portable air-defense @ @ @ @ @ of the weapons usually seized by Syrian authorities in the southern region was supplied to @ @ @ @ @ its regional allies , mainly Qatar and Saudi Arabia .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : @ @ @ @ @ ’ Was Killed In Recent Drone Strike On Turkish-Occupied Al-Bab – Reports

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Syrian security forces have arrested arms traffickers and seized large quantities of weapons in the country’s southern region, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported on June 20.
“After monitoring and a pursuit, we apprehended a group of terrorists linked to foreign entities that was smuggling materials used to make improvised explosive devices … Thousands of fuses and explosive materials, which were being smuggled in shipping trucks, were seized,” a military source told the state-run agency.
The weapons seized by security forces also included dozens of assault rifles, loads of ammunition, an RPG-7 launcher as well as a Yugoslav-made M79 Osa anti-tank weapon along with six rounds.
Last month, Syrian security forces uncovered loads of weapons in the southern region, including two Soviet-made man-portable air-defense systems.
A large part of the weapons usually seized by Syrian authorities in the southern region was supplied to militants by the U.S. and its regional allies, mainly Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
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southfront--2020-06-20--Military Situation In Iraq On June 20, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq : • After an airstrike @ @ @ @ @ people marched in Sulaimani city against Turkish military operations in northern Iraq ; • The @ @ @ @ @ actions in northern Iraq and also called on the PKK to withdraw from the area @ @ @ @ @ artillery struck about 20 targets in the Zakho district in Duhok Governorate ; • At @ @ @ @ @ as a result of a Turkish operation in northern Iraq in recent days .
A @ @ @ @ @ the clashes ; • Warplanes and artillery units of the Turkish Armed Forces struck PKK @ @ @ @ @ ; • Two Turkish warplanes conducted airstrikes on Mount Spi , west of Duhok city @ @ @ @ @ :

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
After an airstrike killed civilians, several hundred people marched in Sulaimani city against Turkish military operations in northern Iraq;
The Kurdistan Region Government condemned Turkish actions in northern Iraq and also called on the PKK to withdraw from the area;
Turkish warplanes and artillery struck about 20 targets in the Zakho district in Duhok Governorate;
At least 8 people were killed as a result of a Turkish operation in northern Iraq in recent days. A Turkish soldier was killed in the clashes;
Warplanes and artillery units of the Turkish Armed Forces struck PKK positions in the Haftanin area;
Two Turkish warplanes conducted airstrikes on Mount Spi, west of Duhok city.
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southfront--2020-06-20--Military Situation In Afghanistan On June 20, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan : • At least 7 @ @ @ @ @ attack on the outpost in the Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province ; • According @ @ @ @ @ Defense , 17 Taliban militants were killed , 12 were wounded and an ANDSF soldier @ @ @ @ @ were wounded in a Taliban attack in the Sarozai district of Paktika province ; • @ @ @ @ @ shot dead on the spot in the Dehyak area of Farah city ; • An @ @ @ @ @ Forces was shred into pieces by an IED blast in the Sara Sakher area of @ @ @ @ @ were killed or wounded .
MORE ON THE TOPIC :

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan:
At least 7 soldiers were killed in Taliban attack on the outpost in the Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province;
Taliban claimed 54 ANDSF personnel allegedly defected in Balkh province;
According to the Afghan Ministry of Defense, 17 Taliban militants were killed, 12 were wounded and an ANDSF soldier was killed, 2 others were wounded in a Taliban attack in the Sarozai district of Paktika province;
An Arbaki trooper has been shot dead on the spot in the Dehyak area of Farah city;
An APC of the Afghan Armed Forces was shred into pieces by an IED blast in the Sara Sakher area of Shawalikot district. Several soldiers were killed or wounded.
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