southfront--2020-09-23--China Accuses U.S. Of Flying Spy Planes By Using Civilian Aircraft Codes, Calling It Dangerous

On September 16th , China ’ s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the US Air Force has been flying missions with spy planes over the South China Sea disguised with Malaysian civil aircraft codes .
According to it , this action is provocative and dangerous .
According to Chinese media reports , a United States Air Force RC-135W electronic reconnaissance aircraft took off from an airbase on Okinawa at 8:00 am on September 16th .
Shortly after taking off , the identification signal disappeared , then an aircraft identified as a Malaysian passenger plane appeared on a flight path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has happened for three consecutive days , the reports said , accusing the US of using Malaysian civil aircraft identification codes to conduct surveillance on China .
“ It is the old trick of the US military to use a transponder code to impersonate civil aircraft of other countries .
According to incomplete data , since the beginning of this year , the US reconnaissance aircraft have electronically impersonated civil aircraft of other countries in the South China Sea for more than a hundred times .
This above-mentioned practice is egregious , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disrupted the aviation order and safety in relevant airspace , threatened the security of China and countries in the region .
China firmly opposes that .
We urge the US side to immediately stop such dangerous , provocative behaviors to avoid accidents in the air and at sea .
China will continue work with regional countries to firmly safeguard the freedoms and safety of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea as well as the peace and stability in the region , ” Wang Webin said .
Beijing think-tank SCS Probing Initiatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Malaysian plane on September 8th , and again September 10th .
Another case was detected on September 3rd .
One of the best known incidents of misidentification occurred in 1983 when Korean Airlines flight 007 was shot down by the Soviet Union air force , killing all 269 on-board .
The civilian plane was mistaken for a US spy plane after an RC-135 was observed crossing its flight path in Soviet airspace .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Trump Denounces China ’ s COVID-19 ‘ Lies ’ In Fiery UN Address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of The World ” • China Carries Out Minesweeping Exercise Near Taiwan , Following Days Of Maritime And Aerial Drills

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On September 16th, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the US Air Force has been flying missions with spy planes over the South China Sea disguised with Malaysian civil aircraft codes.
According to it, this action is provocative and dangerous.
According to Chinese media reports, a United States Air Force RC-135W electronic reconnaissance aircraft took off from an airbase on Okinawa at 8:00 am on September 16th.
Shortly after taking off, the identification signal disappeared, then an aircraft identified as a Malaysian passenger plane appeared on a flight path consistent with the same route.
The has happened for three consecutive days, the reports said, accusing the US of using Malaysian civil aircraft identification codes to conduct surveillance on China.
“It is the old trick of the US military to use a transponder code to impersonate civil aircraft of other countries. According to incomplete data, since the beginning of this year, the US reconnaissance aircraft have electronically impersonated civil aircraft of other countries in the South China Sea for more than a hundred times. This above-mentioned practice is egregious, which has severely violated international aviation rules, disrupted the aviation order and safety in relevant airspace, threatened the security of China and countries in the region. China firmly opposes that. We urge the US side to immediately stop such dangerous, provocative behaviors to avoid accidents in the air and at sea. China will continue work with regional countries to firmly safeguard the freedoms and safety of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea as well as the peace and stability in the region,” Wang Webin said.
Beijing think-tank SCS Probing Initiatives reported a USAF RC-135W flying disguised as a Malaysian plane on September 8th, and again September 10th. Another case was detected on September 3rd.
Similar situation just happened a fews days ago.
On Sep 3, the very RC-135W was suspected of entering the #SouthChinaSea with the hex code #07675C, and left with #AE01CD. pic.twitter.com/Pvs5DcgW13 — SCS Probing Initiative (@SCS_PI) September 8, 2020
“This undoubtedly added up to great risk and uncertainty to international flight safety, which could lead to misjudgment (by ground air defence systems) and probably bring danger to civilian aircraft especially those being impersonated,” the think tank said in its report.
One of the best known incidents of misidentification occurred in 1983 when Korean Airlines flight 007 was shot down by the Soviet Union air force, killing all 269 on-board. The civilian plane was mistaken for a US spy plane after an RC-135 was observed crossing its flight path in Soviet airspace.
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southfront--2020-09-23--Assange’s Eleventh Day at the Old Bailey: Suicide, Hallucinations and Psychological Torture

Today , the prosecutors in the Julian Assange case did their show trial predecessors from other legal traditions proud .
The ghosts of such figures as Soviet state prosecutor Andrey Vyshinsky , would have approved of the line of questioning taken by James Lewis QC : suggest that Assange , accused of 17 counts of violating the US Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to commit a computer crime , reads medical literature to exaggerate his condition .
Additionally to the political hook the defence is hanging its case on – political offences being a bar to extradition in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act ) – a medical one has been fashioned .
Section 91 makes it clear that the judge in the extradition hearing must order the discharge of a person or adjourn the extradition hearing if “ the physical or mental condition of the person is such that it would be unjust or oppressive to extradite him.
” This can be read alongside the application of the European Convention of Human Rights , which stipulates under Article 3 that , “ No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emeritus Professor of Neuropsychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry at King ’ s College London , took the stand at the Old Bailey to delve into Assange ’ s medical condition .
His visits to Assange had yielded a man deprived of sleep , suffering “ loss of weight , a sense of pre-occupation and helplessness as a result of threats to his life , the concealment of a razor blade as a means to self-harm and obsessive ruminations of ways of killing himself.
” Kopelman was , he stated in submissions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a psychiatrist ever can be that , in the event of imminent extradition , Mr Assange would indeed find a way to commit suicide.
” The cross-examination by Lewis was in the worst traditions of the law .
Non sequiturs were aplenty ; baseless assessments on expertise generously made .
Kopelman was , claimed the prosecutor , an expert in brain disease and its link with mental health , making him ill-suited to comment on Assange ’ s health .
Kopelman , rather put out at this , reminded Lewis that he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difference case .
It was “ a bit rich ” for the prosecutor to now be challenging his qualifications .
The prosecution also suggested that Kopelman ’ s psychiatric credentials were somehow shaded , if not rendered inconsequential , by him being “ more of an advocate ” .
The defence witness snapped , suggesting he would respond to that assertion with an “ unparliamentary word ” .
The prosecution focused on Kopelman ’ s summaries of days in April and May 2019 , when Assange was evaluated by psychiatrists .
This gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of omissions unsuitable to the defence .
Kopelman had to constantly remind Lewis that he only started to attend such sessions in person at the end of May .
In another feeble sortie , the prosecution suggested that Assange was medically sound because his performance at the extradition trial over the previous days had indicated no signs of depression .
He was attentive to proceedings ; he could answer the judge .
To even the most untrained and untutored in the field of mental health , this should be regarded as an amateurish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the absence of depression or cognitive disturbance .
Kopelman duly made that point , referring to the transcripts Lewis had used .
“ I can not evaluate his mental and cognitive state from what ’ s in here.
” Assange had “ made a few comments ” ; he had “ some long-standing semantic knowledge ” ; he “ replied appropriately ” .
None of this need suggest that his “ cognitive state is normal.
” If anything , they lent credibility to a diagnosis of Asperger ’ s syndrome .
In Kopelman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have experienced “ auditory hallucinations ” featuring “ derogatory and persecutory ” voices : “ you are dust , you are dead , we are coming to get you ” .
In assertions that were verging on the preposterous , even by the standards of this prosecution , Lewis attempted to erect an edifice of illusion .
Assange was taking everyone for a joy ride in a fantasy of mental ill-health that had no foundation .
He had been surely “ malingering ” about his symptoms .
His hallucinations had been “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an elementary lesson : psychiatry tended to rely on self-reporting .
“ I don ’ t believe he ’ s got delusions .
He ’ s very worried about whether discussions are recorded.
” Given the “ experiences in the embassy , that was a rational anxiety.
” Another sally followed , this time using Assange ’ s family as crude props for psychobabble .
In the course of the extradition proceedings , it had become clear that Assange had formed a relationship with Stella Morris , having had two children with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in London .
Two reports prepared by Kopelman included quotes from a visit with Morris .
The failure to mention Morris in his first report peeved Lewis .
Kopelman ’ s explanation : “ This was not in the public domain at that point , and she was very concerned about privacy so we decided not to put it in.
” Once knowledge of her existence became public , “ I included it.
” Lewis would have none of it : the duty to the court overrode any matters of embarrassment to Assange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was of no consequence .
Knowledge to the court of Morris and the children ’ s existence was vital , suggested Lewis , as it might be a “ protective factor against suicide.
” Charmingly , Lewis seemed to ignore the point that having a young family would hardly be a deterrent against self-harm when facing a promise of being locked up for life in solitary confinement in another country notorious for its lugubrious prison conditions .
Death could well prove a desperate consolation .
Kopelman was on to this : married people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The psychiatric picture of Assange drawn by Kopelman was one of regression and severity , made worse by the likelihood of harm that can arise to those with Asperger ’ s syndrome .
He had an “ intense suicidal preoccupation.
” Findings from autism specialist Dr Simon Baron-Cohen – that suicide is nine times more likely in patients with Asperger ’ s “ than in the general population in England ” – were mentioned .
That study also found that people with Asperger ’ s syndrome “ were significantly more likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at suicide if they also had depression.
” Assange , Kopelman reasoned , faced “ an abundance of known risk factors ” .
In December 2019 , conditions proved acute ; in February and March , moderately severe .
The lockdown at the Belmarsh prison facility precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic did its share of harm .
Assange had sought confession with a Catholic priest , “ who granted him absolution ” .
He had drawn up a will , scribbled farewell letters to family and friends .
All signs of a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As appalling as his conditions in Belmarsh had been , including a stint in confined isolation , the conditions “ he would experience in North America would be far worse than anything experienced in the embassy or Belmarsh.
” The imminence of extradition would “ trigger a suicide attempt.
” Assange ’ s most probable pre-trial accommodation would also encourage this .
It was at the Alexandria Detention Center where Chelsea Manning attempted suicide while being held refusing to relent to a grand jury subpoena to answer questions on WikiLeaks .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awful conditions must be.
” Attention turned to the prevalence of depression during Assange ’ s time in the Ecuadorean embassy , starting around 2015 .
This had caught the attention of Nils Melzer , the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture .
Melzer has taken the long view on Assange : that the combined effort of several states – Ecuador , the United Kingdom , United States , Sweden – had created conditions of “ psychological torture ” , part of a deliberate , progressively cruel effort .
There had been , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a relentless and unrestrained campaign of public mobbing , intimidation and defamation against Mr Assange , not only in the United States , but also in the United Kingdom , Sweden , and more recently , Ecuador.
” In company with two medical experts experienced in examining potential victims of torture and ill-treatment , Melzer ’ s May 9 , 2019 visit to Assange confirmed that his “ health has been seriously affected by the extreme hostile and arbitrary environment he has been exposed to for many years.
” Assange , “ in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms typical for prolonged exposure to psychological torture , including extreme stress , chronic anxiety and intense psychological trauma.
” In November 2019 , Melzer reiterated his concerns in the face of tardiness on the part of the British authorities .
“ Despite the medical urgency of my [ May ] appeal , and the seriousness of the alleged violations , the UK has not undertaken any measures of investigation , prevention and redress required under international law.
” Melzer ’ s views did not impress Lewis .
His labours on the Assange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lacking in balance and accuracy .
Kopelman was asked to distance himself from such conclusions , despite them not being an “ important factor ” in his work .
Lewis remains comfortably deaf , not merely to Melzer ’ s work , but the findings of such eminent groups as Doctors for Assange , an initial collective of 60 medical doctors , growing to 117 spanning 18 countries .
The Assange case , they argued in February in , “ highlights several concerning aspects that warrant the medical profession ’ s close attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the group noted that , “ Isolation and under-stimulation are key psychological torture tactics , capable of inducing severe despair , disorientation , destabilisation , and disintegration of crucial mental functions.
” The psychological torture of a publisher and journalist in a climate already hostile to journalism “ sets a precedent of international concern.
” In a crude , somewhat farcical manoeuvre typical of the day ’ s proceedings , Lewis went just that bit lower in wondering whether Assange ’ s depression would have made a difference in soliciting or leaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Would such a tormented mind have been able to meet his media commitments ( “ doing a chat show ” for Russia Today ) , or conduct public speaking engagements ?
Such views of depression , that great tormenter and killer , do not merely show this prosecution to be venal ; they show it to be profoundly ignorant of history and medicine .
Assange ’ s defence team have a bright precedent to rely on .
British computer scientist Lauri Love , who was also diagnosed with Asperger ’ s syndrome , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the request of the United States for allegedly hacking various government entities .
These included the Federal Reserve , the Environmental Protection Agency , NASA and the US Army .
Initially losing his case to avoid extradition on September 16 , 2016 , and facing the approval to do so by then Secretary of State Amber Rudd , Love successfully appealed to the High Court .
It was accepted that the US was an inappropriate forum to try Love ; and that prison conditions awaiting him “ would be oppressive by reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The High Court also accepted that “ the fact of extradition would bring on severe depression , and that Mr Love would probably be determined to commit suicide , here or in America.
” Being put on suicide watch would hardly have been adequate – it did not constitute a “ form of treatment ; there was no evidence that treatment would or could be made available on suicide watch for the very conditions which suicide watch itself exacerbates.
” This was strikingly appropriate and relevant .
Kopelman , who also testified in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been given reassurances at the time that the US prison system was up to scratch in guarding against suicide .
Since then , the US prison system had been marked by the prominent suicide of Jeffrey Epstein and the attempted suicide by Manning .
“ Those reassurances were not very reassuring.
” Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College , Cambridge .
He lectures at RMIT University , Melbourne .
Email : bkampmark @ gmail.com MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Assange ’ s Tenth Day at the Old Bailey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plots of Eviction • Assange ’ s Ninth Day at the Old Bailey : Torture Testimonies , Offers of Pardon and Truth Telling • Assange ’ s Eighth Day at the Old Bailey : Software Redactions , the Iraq Logs and the Extradition Act • Assange ’ s Seventh Day at the Old Bailey : Diligent Redactions and Avoiding Harm • Assange ’ s Sixth Day at the Old Bailey : US Prison Conditions and Politicised Prosecutions • Assange ’ s Fourth Day at the Old Bailey : COVID in the Courtroom • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Old Bailey : Bias , Politics and Wars on Journalism • Assange ’ s Second Day at the Old Bailey : Torture , Drone Strikes and Journalism

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Submitted by Dr. Binoy Kampmark
September 22. Central Criminal Court, London.
Today, the prosecutors in the Julian Assange case did their show trial predecessors from other legal traditions proud. The ghosts of such figures as Soviet state prosecutor Andrey Vyshinsky, would have approved of the line of questioning taken by James Lewis QC: suggest that Assange, accused of 17 counts of violating the US Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to commit a computer crime, reads medical literature to exaggerate his condition.
Additionally to the political hook the defence is hanging its case on – political offences being a bar to extradition in the United Kingdom’s 2003 Extradition Act) – a medical one has been fashioned. Section 91 makes it clear that the judge in the extradition hearing must order the discharge of a person or adjourn the extradition hearing if “the physical or mental condition of the person is such that it would be unjust or oppressive to extradite him.” This can be read alongside the application of the European Convention of Human Rights, which stipulates under Article 3 that, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Dr. Michael Kopelman, Emeritus Professor of Neuropsychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London, took the stand at the Old Bailey to delve into Assange’s medical condition. His visits to Assange had yielded a man deprived of sleep, suffering “loss of weight, a sense of pre-occupation and helplessness as a result of threats to his life, the concealment of a razor blade as a means to self-harm and obsessive ruminations of ways of killing himself.” Kopelman was, he stated in submissions to the court, “as certain as a psychiatrist ever can be that, in the event of imminent extradition, Mr Assange would indeed find a way to commit suicide.”
The cross-examination by Lewis was in the worst traditions of the law. Non sequiturs were aplenty; baseless assessments on expertise generously made. Kopelman was, claimed the prosecutor, an expert in brain disease and its link with mental health, making him ill-suited to comment on Assange’s health. Kopelman, rather put out at this, reminded Lewis that he had previously called upon his services in a difference case. It was “a bit rich” for the prosecutor to now be challenging his qualifications. The prosecution also suggested that Kopelman’s psychiatric credentials were somehow shaded, if not rendered inconsequential, by him being “more of an advocate”. The defence witness snapped, suggesting he would respond to that assertion with an “unparliamentary word”.
The prosecution focused on Kopelman’s summaries of days in April and May 2019, when Assange was evaluated by psychiatrists. This gave Lewis a chance to accuse the witness of omissions unsuitable to the defence. Kopelman had to constantly remind Lewis that he only started to attend such sessions in person at the end of May.
In another feeble sortie, the prosecution suggested that Assange was medically sound because his performance at the extradition trial over the previous days had indicated no signs of depression. He was attentive to proceedings; he could answer the judge. To even the most untrained and untutored in the field of mental health, this should be regarded as an amateurish presumption: a competent performance hardly suggests the absence of depression or cognitive disturbance.
Kopelman duly made that point, referring to the transcripts Lewis had used. “I cannot evaluate his mental and cognitive state from what’s in here.” Assange had “made a few comments”; he had “some long-standing semantic knowledge”; he “replied appropriately”. None of this need suggest that his “cognitive state is normal.” If anything, they lent credibility to a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome.
In Kopelman’s testimony, Assange is reported to have experienced “auditory hallucinations” featuring “derogatory and persecutory” voices: “you are dust, you are dead, we are coming to get you”. In assertions that were verging on the preposterous, even by the standards of this prosecution, Lewis attempted to erect an edifice of illusion. Assange was taking everyone for a joy ride in a fantasy of mental ill-health that had no foundation. He had been surely “malingering” about his symptoms. His hallucinations had been “self-reported”. Kopelman reminded Lewis of an elementary lesson: psychiatry tended to rely on self-reporting. “I don’t believe he’s got delusions. He’s very worried about whether discussions are recorded.” Given the “experiences in the embassy, that was a rational anxiety.”
Another sally followed, this time using Assange’s family as crude props for psychobabble. In the course of the extradition proceedings, it had become clear that Assange had formed a relationship with Stella Morris, having had two children with her during his stay at the Ecuadorean embassy in London. Two reports prepared by Kopelman included quotes from a visit with Morris. The failure to mention Morris in his first report peeved Lewis. Kopelman’s explanation: “This was not in the public domain at that point, and she was very concerned about privacy so we decided not to put it in.” Once knowledge of her existence became public, “I included it.”
Lewis would have none of it: the duty to the court overrode any matters of embarrassment to Assange, and sensitivity to Morris’ privacy was of no consequence. Knowledge to the court of Morris and the children’s existence was vital, suggested Lewis, as it might be a “protective factor against suicide.” Charmingly, Lewis seemed to ignore the point that having a young family would hardly be a deterrent against self-harm when facing a promise of being locked up for life in solitary confinement in another country notorious for its lugubrious prison conditions. Death could well prove a desperate consolation. Kopelman was on to this: married people do not resist the pathway to suicide.
The psychiatric picture of Assange drawn by Kopelman was one of regression and severity, made worse by the likelihood of harm that can arise to those with Asperger’s syndrome. He had an “intense suicidal preoccupation.” Findings from autism specialist Dr Simon Baron-Cohen – that suicide is nine times more likely in patients with Asperger’s “than in the general population in England” – were mentioned. That study also found that people with Asperger’s syndrome “were significantly more likely to report suicidal ideation or plans or attempts at suicide if they also had depression.” Assange, Kopelman reasoned, faced “an abundance of known risk factors”.
In December 2019, conditions proved acute; in February and March, moderately severe. The lockdown at the Belmarsh prison facility precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic did its share of harm. Assange had sought confession with a Catholic priest, “who granted him absolution”. He had drawn up a will, scribbled farewell letters to family and friends. All signs of a man possibly readying for the other side.
As appalling as his conditions in Belmarsh had been, including a stint in confined isolation, the conditions “he would experience in North America would be far worse than anything experienced in the embassy or Belmarsh.” The imminence of extradition would “trigger a suicide attempt.” Assange’s most probable pre-trial accommodation would also encourage this. It was at the Alexandria Detention Center where Chelsea Manning attempted suicide while being held refusing to relent to a grand jury subpoena to answer questions on WikiLeaks. According to Kopelman, “It just shows how awful conditions must be.”
Attention turned to the prevalence of depression during Assange’s time in the Ecuadorean embassy, starting around 2015. This had caught the attention of Nils Melzer, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture. Melzer has taken the long view on Assange: that the combined effort of several states – Ecuador, the United Kingdom, United States, Sweden – had created conditions of “psychological torture”, part of a deliberate, progressively cruel effort. There had been, he claimed in May 2019, “a relentless and unrestrained campaign of public mobbing, intimidation and defamation against Mr Assange, not only in the United States, but also in the United Kingdom, Sweden, and more recently, Ecuador.”
In company with two medical experts experienced in examining potential victims of torture and ill-treatment, Melzer’s May 9, 2019 visit to Assange confirmed that his “health has been seriously affected by the extreme hostile and arbitrary environment he has been exposed to for many years.” Assange, “in addition to physical ailments … showed all symptoms typical for prolonged exposure to psychological torture, including extreme stress, chronic anxiety and intense psychological trauma.”
In November 2019, Melzer reiterated his concerns in the face of tardiness on the part of the British authorities. “Despite the medical urgency of my [May] appeal, and the seriousness of the alleged violations, the UK has not undertaken any measures of investigation, prevention and redress required under international law.”
Melzer’s views did not impress Lewis. His labours on the Assange case were “palpable nonsense”, lacking in balance and accuracy. Kopelman was asked to distance himself from such conclusions, despite them not being an “important factor” in his work. Lewis remains comfortably deaf, not merely to Melzer’s work, but the findings of such eminent groups as Doctors for Assange, an initial collective of 60 medical doctors, growing to 117 spanning 18 countries. The Assange case, they argued in February in The Lancet, “highlights several concerning aspects that warrant the medical profession’s close attention and concerted action”. In June, the group noted that, “Isolation and under-stimulation are key psychological torture tactics, capable of inducing severe despair, disorientation, destabilisation, and disintegration of crucial mental functions.” The psychological torture of a publisher and journalist in a climate already hostile to journalism “sets a precedent of international concern.”
In a crude, somewhat farcical manoeuvre typical of the day’s proceedings, Lewis went just that bit lower in wondering whether Assange’s depression would have made a difference in soliciting or leaking “material from the US government.” Would such a tormented mind have been able to meet his media commitments (“doing a chat show” for Russia Today), or conduct public speaking engagements? Such views of depression, that great tormenter and killer, do not merely show this prosecution to be venal; they show it to be profoundly ignorant of history and medicine.
Assange’s defence team have a bright precedent to rely on. British computer scientist Lauri Love, who was also diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, was arrested in 2015 in the UK at the request of the United States for allegedly hacking various government entities. These included the Federal Reserve, the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA and the US Army. Initially losing his case to avoid extradition on September 16, 2016, and facing the approval to do so by then Secretary of State Amber Rudd, Love successfully appealed to the High Court. It was accepted that the US was an inappropriate forum to try Love; and that prison conditions awaiting him “would be oppressive by reason of his physical and mental condition.”
The High Court also accepted that “the fact of extradition would bring on severe depression, and that Mr Love would probably be determined to commit suicide, here or in America.” Being put on suicide watch would hardly have been adequate – it did not constitute a “form of treatment; there was no evidence that treatment would or could be made available on suicide watch for the very conditions which suicide watch itself exacerbates.”
This was strikingly appropriate and relevant. Kopelman, who also testified in Love’s case, had also been given reassurances at the time that the US prison system was up to scratch in guarding against suicide. Since then, the US prison system had been marked by the prominent suicide of Jeffrey Epstein and the attempted suicide by Manning. “Those reassurances were not very reassuring.”
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com
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southfront--2020-09-23--Kavkaz-2020 Kicks Off With Variety Of Drills, Mostly Focused Against All-Domain Invasion

It involves more than 80,000 troops from Russia , China , Pakistan and others .
The exercise also engages up to 250 tanks , 450 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers , 200 artillery systems and multiple launch rocket systems .
Various exercises took place such as defense from a landing on the shores of the Black Sea .
Destruction of a mock enemy convoy by the marines of the Caspian flotilla at the Kavkaz-2020 command and control squadron : Night defensive battle of mountain motorized riflemen of the Southern Military District : The work of the army aviation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of concentration of a supposed militant formation in Abkhazia : Rocket launches of the “ Bastion ” missile system at a sea target : Flights of the Su-30SM of the Russian Aerospace Forces : Reflecting and responding to a massive missile and air strike at the Ashluk training ground : Rocket firing from the S-300PM2 air defense systems of the Western Military District at the Ashuluk training ground : The exercises are still actively on-going .
The marines of the Caspian Flotilla , as part of the Caucasus-2020 strategic exercise , under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on an unequipped coast near the town of Zelenomorsk , located in Dagestan .
“ Small artillery ships have fulfilled the task of fire support for the landing of the forward detachment of the amphibious assault .
From the air , fire support was carried out by two flights of Mi-24 and Mi-35 helicopters .
The helicopters struck at the positions of the mock enemy on the coast , ” the Russian Defense Ministry said .
After the cover work of artillery and aviation , airborne assault groups of the marines from Mi-8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , the scouts of the Caspian Flotilla landed in the rear of the imaginary enemy from the Mi-8 AMTSh “ Terminator ” helicopters .
Their actions provided the opportunity for tactical maneuver of the forward detachment of the amphibious assault .
Finally , a new rocket launcher specifically used to clear mines – the UR-15 Meteor was featured and used at the Kavkaz-2020 .
It is reported that the UR-15 is equipped with an original electromechanical transmission .
The vehicle is equipped with an active protection complex “ Afganit ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to known information , research and development work on the UR-15 ( code “ Meteor ” ) was carried out by the Chelyabinsk LLC “ Research and Production Enterprise ” Resonance “ .
This enterprise announces that it was established in 1990 and “ is currently one of the main Russian developers and manufacturers of modern electrical equipment for road construction , traction , agricultural and earthmoving equipment and urban electric transport , including microprocessor-based automatic control systems , protection and control “ , and one of its main developments is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wheeled vehicles TsP EMT ” .
It is worth noting that earlier UR-93 , UR-07 and UR-07M demining rocket launchers were developed on the BMP-3 chassis , but , according to known data , none of them were brought to mass production .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Kavkaz-2020 War Games Begin In Russia Involving 80,000 Troops From China , Pakistan And More • U.S. Says Russia Should Sign New START Extension , Or Treaty Terms Will Turn Unfavorable For It

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On September 21st, Russia launched the Kavkaz-2020 (Caucasus-2020) military exercise.
It involves more than 80,000 troops from Russia, China, Pakistan and others.
The exercise also engages up to 250 tanks, 450 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, 200 artillery systems and multiple launch rocket systems.
Various exercises took place such as defense from a landing on the shores of the Black Sea.
Destruction of a mock enemy convoy by the marines of the Caspian flotilla at the Kavkaz-2020 command and control squadron:
Night defensive battle of mountain motorized riflemen of the Southern Military District:
The work of the army aviation at the drills:
Blocking the area of concentration of a supposed militant formation in Abkhazia:
Rocket launches of the “Bastion” missile system at a sea target:
Flights of the Su-30SM of the Russian Aerospace Forces:
Rocket fire from the Black Sea Fleet warships:
Reflecting and responding to a massive missile and air strike at the Ashluk training ground:
Rocket firing from the S-300PM2 air defense systems of the Western Military District at the Ashuluk training ground:
The exercises are still actively on-going.
The marines of the Caspian Flotilla, as part of the Caucasus-2020 strategic exercise, under the cover of warships and aircraft, landed on an unequipped coast near the town of Zelenomorsk, located in Dagestan.
“Small artillery ships have fulfilled the task of fire support for the landing of the forward detachment of the amphibious assault. From the air, fire support was carried out by two flights of Mi-24 and Mi-35 helicopters. The helicopters struck at the positions of the mock enemy on the coast,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
After the cover work of artillery and aviation, airborne assault groups of the marines from Mi-8 helicopters landed on the coast.
At the same time, the scouts of the Caspian Flotilla landed in the rear of the imaginary enemy from the Mi-8 AMTSh “Terminator” helicopters.
Their actions provided the opportunity for tactical maneuver of the forward detachment of the amphibious assault.
“After the landing of the forward and main group, the marines destroyed the antiamphibious defense forces of the mock enemy. To create a situation as close as possible to combat, smoke bombs, blank cartridges and charges imitating the burst of an artillery shell were used,” the Ministry of Defense said.
Finally, a new rocket launcher specifically used to clear mines – the UR-15 Meteor was featured and used at the Kavkaz-2020.
It is reported that the UR-15 is equipped with an original electromechanical transmission. The vehicle is equipped with an active protection complex “Afganit” and a remotely controlled machine-gun mount.
According to known information, research and development work on the UR-15 (code “Meteor”) was carried out by the Chelyabinsk LLC “Research and Production Enterprise” Resonance “.
This enterprise announces that it was established in 1990 and “is currently one of the main Russian developers and manufacturers of modern electrical equipment for road construction, traction, agricultural and earthmoving equipment and urban electric transport, including microprocessor-based automatic control systems, protection and control “, and one of its main developments is “digital platform with electromechanical transmission of tracked and wheeled vehicles TsP EMT”.
It is worth noting that earlier UR-93, UR-07 and UR-07M demining rocket launchers were developed on the BMP-3 chassis, but, according to known data, none of them were brought to mass production.
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southfront--2020-09-23--North Macedonia Asks Constantinople For Autocephaly For Its Schismatic Church

Following the Ukrainian example , North Macedonian authorities have appealed to Patriarch Bartholomew and the Patriarchate of Constantinople to grant autocephaly status to the “ Macedonian Orthodox Church ” ( MOC ) , which is presently unrecognized by the Orthodox world .
In his public statements , Pat .
Bartholomew has wavered on whether or not he will intervene in the Macedonian situation since the issue of its autocephaly was , though he has taken a more active role recently .
In a letter dated September 16 , published by , President Stevo Pendarovski congratulates Pat .
Bartholomew with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue the process begun earlier and to use the Patriarchate ’ s right of appeal for the recognition of the autocephaly of the MOC .
As the President of my country , I want to personally inform you that … we have decided to put historical differences behind us .
I address you on behalf of many of my fellow citizens who identify themselves as Orthodox Christians and whose only desire and need is to make peace with their neighbors and move towards a common future , a common life , and true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask Your Holiness to accept the call of our pious people and our Church to exercise your right of appeal , so that our Orthodox citizens will finally be able to be equal with all other Orthodox Christians in the world .
The territory of North Macedonia canonically belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church , and the MOC has been recognized as schismatic by the Orthodox world since it broke from the Serbian Church in 1967 .
In May of last year , the Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MOC , though there does not seem to have been any progress in this regard since then , leaving room for Constantinople to step in .
Presidents of Macedonia have asked Pat .
Bartholomew to support the cause of the MOC many times before , writes Religija.mk , but Pendarovski ’ s letter comes at a time when the Patriarchate has already taken up the cause , following the .
Zaev , who has said that he is and his successor Prime Minister Oliver Spasovski met with Pat .
Bartholomew in Istanbul in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ initiative .
Both sides agreed at that time that the Patriarchate will invite representatives of the Serbian Church and of the unrecognized MOC to the Patriarchal residence in Istanbul for consultations and an attempt to find a mutually acceptable solution .
Hierarchs of the MOC have repeatedly expressed their hope and belief that Constantinople will grant them autocephaly , just as it did in Ukraine .
Soon after the January meeting in Turkey , “ Archbishop ” Stefan Veljanovski of Ohrid and Macedonia , the primate of the MOC , stated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ autocephaly and Eucharistic unity with the Orthodox Church .
The MOC also has the support of the United States .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited the head of the MOC , after which the “ Archbishop ” declared that the U.S. is committed to protecting the MOC .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • The Global Money Laundering Ring And Its Adverse Effects On Human Life : ICIJ Report

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Originally appeared at Orthochristian.com
Following the Ukrainian example, North Macedonian authorities have appealed to Patriarch Bartholomew and the Patriarchate of Constantinople to grant autocephaly status to the “Macedonian Orthodox Church” (MOC), which is presently unrecognized by the Orthodox world.
In his public statements, Pat. Bartholomew has wavered on whether or not he will intervene in the Macedonian situation since the issue of its autocephaly was raised again in 2017 , though he has taken a more active role recently.
In a letter dated September 16, published by Religija.mk , President Stevo Pendarovski congratulates Pat. Bartholomew with the ecclesiastical new year and asks him to continue the process begun earlier and to use the Patriarchate’s right of appeal for the recognition of the autocephaly of the MOC.
“The Ecumenical Patriarchate is an example of how to remain in harmony with values and at the same time be dynamic in solving current problems,” the President writes.
He continues:
As the President of my country, I want to personally inform you that … we have decided to put historical differences behind us. I address you on behalf of many of my fellow citizens who identify themselves as Orthodox Christians and whose only desire and need is to make peace with their neighbors and move towards a common future, a common life, and true freedom. In this regard, I ask Your Holiness to accept the call of our pious people and our Church to exercise your right of appeal, so that our Orthodox citizens will finally be able to be equal with all other Orthodox Christians in the world.
The territory of North Macedonia canonically belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the MOC has been recognized as schismatic by the Orthodox world since it broke from the Serbian Church in 1967. In May of last year , the Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church announced that it would reopen dialogue with the MOC, though there does not seem to have been any progress in this regard since then, leaving room for Constantinople to step in.
Presidents of Macedonia have asked Pat. Bartholomew to support the cause of the MOC many times before, writes Religija.mk, but Pendarovski’s letter comes at a time when the Patriarchate has already taken up the cause, following the letter of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in 2018 .
Zaev, who has said that he is ready to pay for autocephaly, and his successor Prime Minister Oliver Spasovski met with Pat. Bartholomew in Istanbul in January of this year at the politicians’ initiative. Both sides agreed at that time that the Patriarchate will invite representatives of the Serbian Church and of the unrecognized MOC to the Patriarchal residence in Istanbul for consultations and an attempt to find a mutually acceptable solution.
Hierarchs of the MOC have repeatedly expressed their hope and belief that Constantinople will grant them autocephaly, just as it did in Ukraine. Soon after the January meeting in Turkey, “Archbishop” Stefan Veljanovski of Ohrid and Macedonia, the primate of the MOC, stated that they are filled with hope of obtaining autocephaly and Eucharistic unity with the Orthodox Church.
The MOC also has the support of the United States. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited the head of the MOC in October last year , after which the “Archbishop” declared that the U.S. is committed to protecting the MOC.
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southfront--2020-09-23--Rockets Fall Much More Often Than Rain In Baghdad’s Green Zone

On September 22nd , Baghdad ’ s Green Zone came under fire again .
Initially , the Iraqi authorities said that three artillery mines had been detonated in the specially protected area .
However , the security forces soon discovered the place where the shelling was being conducted from .
As before , unknown militants used a homemade installation .
However , this time it was loaded with Iranian-made PG-7-AT grenade launchers .
At the same time , half of the grenades never flew out of the guides ( which is also typical for 107-mm rockets ) .
Previously , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even in the hands of Idlib militants , who , apparently , took possession of them in battles against Iranian mercenaries in Syria .
There is no other report regarding the attack , however , these happen somewhat frequently and generally either target positions that host US troops , or just hit near the US Embassy in the Baghdad Green Zone .
Almost exactly a week ago , on September 16th , a Katyusha rocket landed inside the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad , and that happened just a day after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key highway in the city .
There were no casualties and no one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack — the latest in near-daily rocket assaults targeting the Green Zone and Iraqi army bases hosting U.S. troops .
The attacks have raised security concerns about armed groups outside of the state ’ s control .
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has promised to reign in armed groups acting outside of the state ’ s authority .
The attacks surged after al-Kadhimi traveled to the U.S. in August to conclude strategic talks , putting pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 14th , two rockets were fired at the Green Zone but caused no casualties ; one was intercepted by the U.S. embassy ’ s C-RAM defense system .
That attack came after a roadside bomb targeted a convoy of vehicles carrying equipment for Americans earlier in the day on the main highway in Babylon province , south of Baghdad .
It appears that al-Kadhimi ’ s claims to stop the attacks have proved useless so far .
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On September 22nd, Baghdad’s Green Zone came under fire again.
Initially, the Iraqi authorities said that three artillery mines had been detonated in the specially protected area.
However, the security forces soon discovered the place where the shelling was being conducted from.
As before, unknown militants used a homemade installation. However, this time it was loaded with Iranian-made PG-7-AT grenade launchers. At the same time, half of the grenades never flew out of the guides (which is also typical for 107-mm rockets).
Previously, this ammunition was seen in Yemen and even in the hands of Idlib militants, who, apparently, took possession of them in battles against Iranian mercenaries in Syria.
There is no other report regarding the attack, however, these happen somewhat frequently and generally either target positions that host US troops, or just hit near the US Embassy in the Baghdad Green Zone.
Almost exactly a week ago, on September 16th, a Katyusha rocket landed inside the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, and that happened just a day after a British Embassy convoy was targeted on a key highway in the city.
There were no casualties and no one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack — the latest in near-daily rocket assaults targeting the Green Zone and Iraqi army bases hosting U.S. troops. The attacks have raised security concerns about armed groups outside of the state’s control.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has promised to reign in armed groups acting outside of the state’s authority. The attacks surged after al-Kadhimi traveled to the U.S. in August to conclude strategic talks, putting pressure on his administration.
Earlier, on September 14th, two rockets were fired at the Green Zone but caused no casualties; one was intercepted by the U.S. embassy’s C-RAM defense system.
That attack came after a roadside bomb targeted a convoy of vehicles carrying equipment for Americans earlier in the day on the main highway in Babylon province, south of Baghdad.
It appears that al-Kadhimi’s claims to stop the attacks have proved useless so far.
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southfront--2020-09-23--“Spiritual” Assistance And “Experience” Sharing: Iran Explains How It Helps Houthis In War With Saud

“Spiritual” Assistance And “Experience” Sharing: Iran Explains How It Helps Houthis In War With Saudi Arabia

Iran has only provided Ansar Allah ( also known as the Houthis ) with technical advice and know-how in the defence sector , a spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces said denying reports that the Islamic Republic is directly assisting the group and sending it weapons in the military conflict in Yemen .
He emphasized that Iran has not supplied Yemen with missiles .
Unlike what the enemy is trying to portray , Yemenis are a very cultured and smart people who have managed to manufacture missiles and the most advanced drones at the shortest possible time while they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warfare , the Iranian military official said .
According to Iran ’ s state-run Press TV , Shekarchi said that Iran has no plan to have military presence anywhere and added that the country merely has “ spiritual and advisory presence ” in the region .
He added that Iran was prepared to provide whatever help it could to any country confronted by Israel and the United States .
Earlier this month , Iran ’ s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh dismissed as ‘ baseless ’ a report published by the United Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Rights ( OHCHR ) alleging that Tehran has been sending weapons to Yemen .
“ Placing Iran ’ s name next to those supplying weapons to the Saudi coalition against Yemen is completely wrong , ” Khatibzadeh said .
The report of the findings of the UN Group of Experts for Yemen stated in part : After six unremitting years of armed conflict in Yemen , the multi-party war continues with no end in sight for the suffering millions caught in its grip .
Whether through ongoing airstrikes , the crippling blockade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief supplies and access to food and healthcare , harm from landmines , arbitrary detention , torture and enforced disappearances , widespread displacement , assaults on civil society and minorities , recruitment and use of children , gender-based violence , and endemic impunity , Yemen remains a tortured land , with its people ravaged in ways that should shock the conscience of humanity .
It has been reported that , since the beginning of the conflict , approximately 112,000 people have died as a direct result of hostilities , of whom around 12,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented at least 7,825 civilians killed ( including at least 2,138 children and 933 women ) and 12,416 civilians injured ( including 2,898 children and 1,395 women ) as a direct result of the armed conflict between March 2015 ( when it began such tracking ) and June 2020 .
These figures do not include the many thousands of people who have died as a result of the worsening socioeconomic , health and humanitarian conditions… Notwithstanding the strong recommendations by the Group of Experts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Canada , France , the Islamic Republic of Iran , the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , and the United States of America , continued their support of parties to the conflict including through arms transfers , thereby helping to perpetuate the conflict… The Group of Experts has reasonable grounds to believe that the Governments of Yemen , Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates and the Southern Transitional Council , to the extent they exercise jurisdiction , and as applicable to each party , are responsible for human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , enforced disappearances , arbitrary detention , gender-based violence , including sexual violence , torture and other forms of cruel , inhuman or degrading treatment , the recruitment and use in hostilities of children , the denial of fair trial rights , violations of fundamental freedoms , and economic , social and cultural rights .
According to the Iranian leadership , components for missiles and drones used by the Houthis seem to be mysteriously appearing just in their hands without any Iranian participation .
Apparently , the “ spiritual ” presence of Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , the Ambassador appointed by Yemen ’ s Houthis to Tehran , Ibrahim Dailami , has signed a military cooperation deal with Iran , in the first such formal deal between the two parties .
During the signing ceremony , the Houthi envoy commended relations between the two countries and Tehran ’ s diplomatic position on the Saudi-led international aggression against Yemen .
In his remarks on the occasion , Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami stressed Tehran ’ s support for a political solution in Yemen , and the necessity of giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine the future of their country .
LINK The Houthis took over control of Sana ’ a in September 2014 , and forced the then government into exile .
In March of 2015 , a Saudi-led coalition launched a campaign to try to restore the ousted government of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi , carrying out thousands of air raids and launching a massive ground invasion on multiple fronts .
Despite more than five years of heavy fighting in which the ‘ Saudi-led coalition ’ has had a huge advantage in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the necessary supporting infrastructure and materials , the Houthis have maintained territorial control over a substantial portion of Yemen ’ s territory including the most populated provinces and the country ’ s capital , Sana ’ a .
Despite efforts by civil society organizations and opposition politicians to stop weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE , the United States , Britain , Canada , France and Germany have continued to export and in many cases operate and maintain advanced weapons and associated platforms and facilities .
Apart from the horrific toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ US supplied ’ air strikes , according to a CNN investigation released in October 2019 , many US-made weapons supplied to Washington ’ s allies involved in the war on Yemen have also been distributed to militant groups in Yemen , including the southern separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) , al-Qaeda-linked militants and hardline Salafi militias .
In July of last year , US President Donald Trump vetoed three congressional resolutions barring billions of dollars in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the White House , Trump argued that the bills would “ weaken America ’ s global competitiveness and damage the important relationships we share with our allies and partners.
” In May 2019 , the Trump administration invoked an emergency provision of the law governing arms sales to fast-track the sale of $ 8.1 billion worth of munitions to Saudi Arabia and the UAE without the usual 30-day congressional review period .
In September of 2019 the United Nations said that countries that supply weapons to parties involved in Yemen ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Turkey is increasing its involvement in Yemen conflict-reports • Saudi-led blockade of Yemen how did it all start will it ever end

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Iran has only provided Ansar Allah (also known as the Houthis) with technical advice and know-how in the defence sector, a spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces said denying reports that the Islamic Republic is directly assisting the group and sending it weapons in the military conflict in Yemen.
“We provided them (Yemenis) with the technical experiences in the defence sector. They have learned how to produce missiles, drones and weapons in Yemen on their own,” Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said in a televised program on Tuesday.
He emphasized that Iran has not supplied Yemen with missiles.
“We have shared our experience and knowledge with the Yemeni people.”
Unlike what the enemy is trying to portray, Yemenis are a very cultured and smart people who have managed to manufacture missiles and the most advanced drones at the shortest possible time while they have also made great headways in the electronic warfare, the Iranian military official said.
“Countries of the resistance front have armies and forces themselves. We provide them with advisory help. In order to share our experience with the people of Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, our skilled forces go there and assist them, but this is the people and armies of these countries who stand against the enemies in practice.”
According to Iran’s state-run Press TV, Shekarchi said that Iran has no plan to have military presence anywhere and added that the country merely has “spiritual and advisory presence” in the region.
He added that Iran was prepared to provide whatever help it could to any country confronted by Israel and the United States.
Earlier this month, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh dismissed as ‘baseless’ a report published by the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) alleging that Tehran has been sending weapons to Yemen. “Placing Iran’s name next to those supplying weapons to the Saudi coalition against Yemen is completely wrong,” Khatibzadeh said.
The report of the findings of the UN Group of Experts for Yemen stated in part:
After six unremitting years of armed conflict in Yemen, the multi-party war continues with no end in sight for the suffering millions caught in its grip. Whether through ongoing airstrikes, the crippling blockade, indiscriminate artillery attacks, impeding humanitarian relief supplies and access to food and healthcare, harm from landmines, arbitrary detention, torture and enforced disappearances, widespread displacement, assaults on civil society and minorities, recruitment and use of children, gender-based violence, and endemic impunity, Yemen remains a tortured land, with its people ravaged in ways that should shock the conscience of humanity. It has been reported that, since the beginning of the conflict, approximately 112,000 people have died as a direct result of hostilities, of whom around 12,000 were civilians. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented at least 7,825 civilians killed (including at least 2,138 children and 933 women) and 12,416 civilians injured (including 2,898 children and 1,395 women) as a direct result of the armed conflict between March 2015 (when it began such tracking) and June 2020. These figures do not include the many thousands of people who have died as a result of the worsening socioeconomic, health and humanitarian conditions… Notwithstanding the strong recommendations by the Group of Experts in its previous reports, third States, including Canada, France, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America, continued their support of parties to the conflict including through arms transfers, thereby helping to perpetuate the conflict… The Group of Experts has reasonable grounds to believe that the Governments of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Southern Transitional Council, to the extent they exercise jurisdiction, and as applicable to each party, are responsible for human rights violations including arbitrary deprivation of life, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, gender-based violence, including sexual violence, torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, the recruitment and use in hostilities of children, the denial of fair trial rights, violations of fundamental freedoms, and economic, social and cultural rights.
According to the Iranian leadership, components for missiles and drones used by the Houthis seem to be mysteriously appearing just in their hands without any Iranian participation. Apparently, the “spiritual” presence of Iran in Yemen works pretty well.
In 2019, the Ambassador appointed by Yemen’s Houthis to Tehran, Ibrahim Dailami, has signed a military cooperation deal with Iran, in the first such formal deal between the two parties. During the signing ceremony, the Houthi envoy commended relations between the two countries and Tehran’s diplomatic position on the Saudi-led international aggression against Yemen.
“The group’s ambassador conveyed the greetings from the Minister of Defence in Sana’a, Major General Mohammad El-Atefi, and the Chief-of-Staff, Major General Mohammad Al-Ghammari, to the Iranian Minister of Defence,” Ibrahim Dailami said, praising “the cooperative relations that link the two countries at various levels and the Iranian position towards aggression against Yemen,” the Houthi affiliated Al-Masirah TV reported.
In his remarks on the occasion, Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami stressed Tehran’s support for a political solution in Yemen, and the necessity of giving the people of Yemen the opportunity to determine the future of their country. LINK
The Houthis took over control of Sana’a in September 2014, and forced the then government into exile. In March of 2015, a Saudi-led coalition launched a campaign to try to restore the ousted government of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, carrying out thousands of air raids and launching a massive ground invasion on multiple fronts.
Despite more than five years of heavy fighting in which the ‘Saudi-led coalition’ has had a huge advantage in terms of overall weaponry and firepower as well as the necessary supporting infrastructure and materials, the Houthis have maintained territorial control over a substantial portion of Yemen’s territory including the most populated provinces and the country’s capital, Sana’a.
Despite efforts by civil society organizations and opposition politicians to stop weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the United States, Britain, Canada, France and Germany have continued to export and in many cases operate and maintain advanced weapons and associated platforms and facilities.
Apart from the horrific toll on civilians of the ‘Saudi-led’, ‘US supplied’ air strikes, according to a CNN investigation released in October 2019, many US-made weapons supplied to Washington’s allies involved in the war on Yemen have also been distributed to militant groups in Yemen, including the southern separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), al-Qaeda-linked militants and hardline Salafi militias.
Analyzing social media video of militant infighting in southern Yemen, CNN found multiple instances of American Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles being used by UAE-backed groups, such as Alwiyat al-Amalqa or the Giants Brigade. CNN also filmed a BAE Caiman being used by Emirati-backed separatist militants in Shabwah Province in August. The armored vehicle can be traced back to a $2.5 billion arms sale contract between Washington and Abu Dhabi in 2014. Responding to the evidence compiled by the CNN investigation, a UAE official said, “There were no instances when US-made equipment was used without direct UAE oversight. Except for four vehicles that were captured by the enemy.” LINK
In July of last year, US President Donald Trump vetoed three congressional resolutions barring billions of dollars in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
In veto messages to Congress released by the White House, Trump argued that the bills would “weaken America’s global competitiveness and damage the important relationships we share with our allies and partners.”
In May 2019, the Trump administration invoked an emergency provision of the law governing arms sales to fast-track the sale of $8.1 billion worth of munitions to Saudi Arabia and the UAE without the usual 30-day congressional review period.
In September of 2019 the United Nations said that countries that supply weapons to parties involved in Yemen’s conflict may be complicit in war crimes.
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