southfront--2020-07-02--China’s New National Security Law Enters Into Effect In Hong Kong

The new national security law for Hong Kong has taken effect in the semi-autonomous Chinese city , amid renewed protests and ongoing criticism by many Western governments led by the US and former colonial power the UK .
The protests only attracted a small number of people compared to protests held earlier this year .
The law will punish crimes of secession , subversion , and collusion with foreign forces with sentences of up to life in prison .
Mainland security agencies will also be officially based in Hong Kong for the first time , with powers that are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws in certain circumstances .
The law also provides for greater oversight of non-governmental organizations and news groups , at least in part a response to US and other Western countries to promote and fund dissident groups and other protestors , and specifies that those who destroy government facilities and utilities would be considered subversive .
Damaging public transportation facilities and arson would constitute acts of terrorism .
The law stipulates that Hong Kong ’ s governor – currently Chief Executive Carrie Lam – will appoint judges for national security cases .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ complex ” cases such as those involving a foreign country , or serious situations that pose a major or imminent threat to national security .
Suspects arrested by the mainland ’ s new office in Hong Kong on charges of violating the new national security law for the city would be tried in the mainland as the national security office functions in accordance with Chinese law .
China says the law is necessary to tackle secession , subversion , terrorism , and collusion with foreign forces following violent anti-government protests that escalated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law consider it to be a serious threat to the region ’ s autonomy and civil liberties .
Large protests erupted in Hong Kong after the law was proposed in May of this year .
Following the approval of the law , some protesters gathered near the venue of the formal ceremony announcing the law on Wednesday carrying banners and shouting slogans in opposition to the measures adopted .
Earlier , Hong Kong authorities barred an annual march scheduled to be held on Wednesday , citing a ban on gatherings of more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curb the coronavirus epidemic .
Police fired water cannon to disperse protesters who defied the ban and gathered in the city ’ s downtown for the annual rally marking 23 years since British rule ended .
Riot police also used pepper spray and warned that certain slogans and banners might constitute serious crimes under the new national security law .
Later in the day police made their first arrest under the new law , detaining a protester for carrying a flag calling for Hong Kong ’ s independence .
The man was arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd at a protest in the city ’ s Causeway Bay shopping district that they might be in violation of the law .
Western countries , led by the US and the UK , continue to denounce the Chinese law and threaten China with punitive countermeasures .
Anticipating the enactment of the security law , late last week the US Senate unanimously approved a bill to impose sanctions on Chinese businesses and individuals — including the police — that undermine Hong Kong ’ s autonomy or restrict the rights and freedoms of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new law .
US officials also say they will end favourable trading terms granted to the former British colony after it passed to Chinese control in 1997 .
One of the bills , the Hong Kong Autonomy Act , would impose sanctions on businesses and individuals that help China restrict Hong Kong ’ s autonomy .
That bill was authored by GOP Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland .
A second measure from Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley is a resolution condemning China for violating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong .
The measures were combined into one bill before passing and still need to be passed in the House and signed by US President Donald Trump if they are to take effect .
Chinese officials responded to the measures earlier this week , saying that China would retaliate against US sanctions and other unilateral punitive measures by imposing visa restrictions on US ‘ personnel ’ it considers to have ‘ performed badly ’ on matters regarding the semi-autonomous Chinese territory .
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian reiterated China ’ s insistence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internal affair of China , and no foreign country has the right to interfere.
” In the UK , the Guardian cited ‘ prominent activists ’ claiming , inter alia , that : On Tuesday , Japan called the development “ regrettable ” .
President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan , which is opening a dedicated office to helping residents fleeing from Hong Kong , said the latest move from Beijing shows that the one country , two systems formula is “ not feasible.
” LINK The US Air Force has also been active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week .
Taiwan News reports that : MORE ON THE TOPIC :

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The new national security law for Hong Kong has taken effect in the semi-autonomous Chinese city, amid renewed protests and ongoing criticism by many Western governments led by the US and former colonial power the UK. The protests only attracted a small number of people compared to protests held earlier this year.
The law will punish crimes of secession, subversion, and collusion with foreign forces with sentences of up to life in prison. Mainland security agencies will also be officially based in Hong Kong for the first time, with powers that are not subject to the city’s local laws in certain circumstances.
The law also provides for greater oversight of non-governmental organizations and news groups, at least in part a response to US and other Western countries to promote and fund dissident groups and other protestors, and specifies that those who destroy government facilities and utilities would be considered subversive. Damaging public transportation facilities and arson would constitute acts of terrorism.
The law stipulates that Hong Kong’s governor – currently Chief Executive Carrie Lam – will appoint judges for national security cases. However, mainland authorities will exercise jurisdiction in “complex” cases such as those involving a foreign country, or serious situations that pose a major or imminent threat to national security.
Suspects arrested by the mainland’s new office in Hong Kong on charges of violating the new national security law for the city would be tried in the mainland as the national security office functions in accordance with Chinese law.
China says the law is necessary to tackle secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces following violent anti-government protests that escalated in June last year.
Carrie Lam stated that the national security law is “the most important development” since the city’s return from British to Chinese rule in 1997. “It is a historical step to perfect Hong Kong safeguarding national security, territorial integrity, and a secure system,” she said, adding that the law was “constitutional, lawful, sensible, and reasonable.” LINK
Critics of the law consider it to be a serious threat to the region’s autonomy and civil liberties. Large protests erupted in Hong Kong after the law was proposed in May of this year.
Following the approval of the law, some protesters gathered near the venue of the formal ceremony announcing the law on Wednesday carrying banners and shouting slogans in opposition to the measures adopted.
Earlier, Hong Kong authorities barred an annual march scheduled to be held on Wednesday, citing a ban on gatherings of more than 50 people in a bid to curb the coronavirus epidemic.
Police fired water cannon to disperse protesters who defied the ban and gathered in the city’s downtown for the annual rally marking 23 years since British rule ended.
Riot police also used pepper spray and warned that certain slogans and banners might constitute serious crimes under the new national security law.
Later in the day police made their first arrest under the new law, detaining a protester for carrying a flag calling for Hong Kong’s independence. The man was arrested after police issued multiple warnings to the crowd at a protest in the city’s Causeway Bay shopping district that they might be in violation of the law.
Western countries, led by the US and the UK, continue to denounce the Chinese law and threaten China with punitive countermeasures. Anticipating the enactment of the security law, late last week the US Senate unanimously approved a bill to impose sanctions on Chinese businesses and individuals — including the police — that undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy or restrict the rights and freedoms of the city’s residents in anticipation of the new law. US officials also say they will end favourable trading terms granted to the former British colony after it passed to Chinese control in 1997.
One of the bills, the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, would impose sanctions on businesses and individuals that help China restrict Hong Kong’s autonomy. That bill was authored by GOP Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. A second measure from Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley is a resolution condemning China for violating a 1984 agreement to guarantee autonomy for Hong Kong.
The measures were combined into one bill before passing and still need to be passed in the House and signed by US President Donald Trump if they are to take effect.
Chinese officials responded to the measures earlier this week, saying that China would retaliate against US sanctions and other unilateral punitive measures by imposing visa restrictions on US ‘personnel’ it considers to have ‘performed badly’ on matters regarding the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian reiterated China’s insistence that the law was “purely an internal affair of China, and no foreign country has the right to interfere.”
“The U.S. side’s attempt to obstruct China from promoting Hong Kong’s national security legislation through the so-called sanctions will never succeed. In response to the above-mentioned wrong behavior of the U.S. side, China has decided to impose visa restrictions on U.S. personnel who perform badly on Hong Kong related issues.” LINK
In the UK, the Guardian cited ‘prominent activists’ claiming, inter alia, that:
“From now on Hong Kong enters a new era of reign of terror. However, even under … China’s direct authoritarian rule Hong Kongers will continue to fight … When justice fails, our fight goes on.”
On Tuesday, Japan called the development “regrettable”. President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, which is opening a dedicated office to helping residents fleeing from Hong Kong, said the latest move from Beijing shows that the one country, two systems formula is “not feasible.” LINK
The US Air Force has also been active in the vicinity of China over the last week. Taiwan News reports that:
A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon airplane was spotted flying over the Bashi Channel on Sunday (June 28), marking eight days in a row that U.S. military aircraft sightings were reported near Taiwan’s airspace. The aircraft was seen taking the route south of Taiwan over the waterway separating the island country and the Philippines, according to Twitter user South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI). The account is operated by China’s Peking University Institute of Ocean Research. The P-8A Poseidon is the U.S. Navy reconnaissance aircraft carrying out maritime patrol missions and capable of engaging in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare… A dozen U.S. warplanes have been sighted in the region over the past weeks, including maneuvers of P-8A, RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, and a C-17A transport plane on Thursday (June 25) in the South China Sea. Experts believe the missions could be associated with the actions of the PLA’s nuclear-powered submarines in proximity to the Philippine Sea, wrote the South China Morning Post. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) declined to comment on Sunday’s aerial activity other than to say that the airspace and seas were being monitored and that there was no cause for concern. LINK
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southfront--2020-07-02--In Video: PKK Targets Turkish Battle Tank With Anti-Tank Guided Missile In Hakkari Province

Notice how whenever something bad for Turkey is posted it ’ s always these same 3 or 4 Turk trolls @ @ @ @ @ .
Probably paid shills or just a few Turkophile losers with no life .

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The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) released a video showing an anti-tank guided missile strike on a Turkish Army battle tank near the town of Semdinli in the Turkish province of Hakkari.
#GerillaTv 2 Haziran’da Colemergin Şemzinan ilçesinde İmha edilen Tankın eylem görüntülerini yayınladı. pic.twitter.com/q0dewbJiTN — Mazlume Torî (@mazlum_dikmen) July 2, 2020
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southfront--2020-07-02--Iraqi ‘Resistance’ Shot Down Drone In Al-Anbar, U.S. Responded By Killing Two Farmers

U.S. forces targeted and killed two Sunni farmers after losing a drone over the western Iraqi province of al-Anbar on June 29 .
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq – ‘ Ashab al-Kahf ( AK ) revealed the incident in a statement released on July 2 .
The group confirmed that the drone was shot down by its fighters near the town of al-Bu Zuir in the area of Therthar .
The victims , Kilan Bashir Hamid al-Nimrawi and Sadiq Salim Sharif al-Nimrawi , were present at the scene of the incident .
They recovered the wreckage of the downed drone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security forces .
On their way back , a U.S. strike targeted their pick-up truck killing both of them .
Iraqi sources confirmed the incident .
However , the Iraqi government and the U.S.-led coalition are yet to comment on the matter .
Founded in August of 2019 , AK is a pro-Iran Shiite armed group .
Last April , the group claimed responsibility for the attack on a U.S. convoy in northern Iraq .
In a recent statement , the group warned Iraqi companies from cooperating with U.S. forces .
The al-Bu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the ongoing covert war between Iranian-backed groups and U.S. forces in Iraq .
The assassination of Popular Mobilization Units ( PMU ) Deputy-Commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iran ’ s Quds Force Commander Maj. Gen. Qassim Soleimani , sparked the conflict .
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U.S. forces targeted and killed two Sunni farmers after losing a drone over the western Iraqi province of al-Anbar on June 29.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq – ‘Ashab al-Kahf (AK) revealed the incident in a statement released on July 2. The group confirmed that the drone was shot down by its fighters near the town of al-Bu Zuir in the area of Therthar.
The victims, Kilan Bashir Hamid al-Nimrawi and Sadiq Salim Sharif al-Nimrawi, were present at the scene of the incident. They recovered the wreckage of the downed drone, likely to hand it over to security forces. On their way back, a U.S. strike targeted their pick-up truck killing both of them.
“A pledge from us to you, dear martyrs, that we are on your path, walking, following your traces and calling for your revenge,” the AK’s statement reads.
Iraqi sources confirmed the incident. However, the Iraqi government and the U.S.-led coalition are yet to comment on the matter.
Founded in August of 2019, AK is a pro-Iran Shiite armed group. Last April, the group claimed responsibility for the attack on a U.S. convoy in northern Iraq. In a recent statement, the group warned Iraqi companies from cooperating with U.S. forces.
The al-Bu Zuir’s incident is an example of the ongoing covert war between Iranian-backed groups and U.S. forces in Iraq. The assassination of Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) Deputy-Commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iran’s Quds Force Commander Maj. Gen. Qassim Soleimani, sparked the conflict.
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southfront--2020-07-02--Latest Russia-Gate Fear Porn: New Hollywood Blockbuster – Debbie Rambowsky Does Afghanistan?

As the US globalist media , led by the New York Times , continues to push stories alleging another unproven and in all likelihood unprovable conspiracy theory about Russian attacks against the US , this time paying Taliban bounty hunters in Afghanistan to kill US and NATO occupying military forces – as if they needed additional motivation after almost 20 years of savage warfare against the invaders – the truth , if it exists , is likely to become more irrelevant with every new sensational media story and posturing Military-Industrial Complex-backed politician .
The latest Russia-Gate scandal appears to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former and current senior US intelligence officials corroborate US President Donald Trump ’ s assertions that he was not informed of allegations that Russian military intelligence has been paying the Taliban a bounty to kill NATO forces in Afghanistan – preferably , from the US .
Moreover , that he was not informed of the allegations because they were considered unverified and unlikely .
The likelihood of ever getting to the bottom of the allegations becomes less and less probable as they become lost in the swarm of media leaks by anonymous sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pundits seeking to score political points in an election year or simply damage or bolster Trump ’ s election prospects irrespective of the veracity or otherwise of the allegations , and ongoing domestic social , political and economic firestorms .
On Wednesday , National security adviser Robert O ’ Brien said in an interview with FOX media outlet that it ’ s “ another false story.
” He was cited in another media story , making the point that the media and political hype only serves to muddy the waters and make the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
O ’ Brien said leaks to the media about the episode have hampered U.S. intelligence officials from determining what actually happened .
“ Sadly because of the leak , it may now become impossible ever to get to the bottom of this , to get to the truth of the matter , and that ’ s one of the very sad things , ” he said .
“ We were working very hard on this matter .
It might be impossible to get to the bottom of it because someone decided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uphold their obligations to the American people.
” LINK The website Military.com reviews the respective claims and the evidence thus far disclosed .
It notes the acceptance of the allegations at face value by many Establishment politicians , the denials of the Trump administration , and also the denials of senior Russian and Taliban officials : It further notes that : Before proceeding to examine the claims , the nature of the relevant information and the substantive evidence , the article comments : What are we to make of this report ?
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is accurate ; that the GRU paid a bounty to Taliban jihadists for every American service member they killed .
Whether the White House was aware of this report is an entirely different matter .
It ’ s a serious issue , so it ’ s likely that it would at least have gotten as far as staffers on the National Security Council .
Whether the President was ever specifically briefed on the matter is a question that only the White House can answer definitively .
So far , they have denied it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what little there is , however , raises some serious doubts.
” Among the many points made are that Afghan warlords , armed groups , criminals , freedom fighters , terrorists and politicians have been awash with US dollars ever since the US invasion , and that finding caches of US dollars hardly proves that they have been paid off by Russian military intelligence to kill US military personnel .
Also , the language used by the anonymous sources is not the sort of language that is usually employed by military and intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall nature of the allegations are not credible .
“ Make no mistake , Russia is actively supporting the Taliban with cash , arms , supplies and intelligence .
They have been doing so for several years .
These facts are well known to the U.S. intelligence community and the Pentagon and have been extensively documented .
For that matter , there is also evidence that Iran has provided assistance to the Taliban , even though they are religiously and ideologically opposed to them and were bitter enemies in the past .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. exactly what we did to the Soviets when they were bogged down in Afghanistan .
Starting with the Carter administration and continuing through the Reagan and Bush administrations , the U.S. supplied financial assistance , arms , supplies , and in some cases , even training , to Afghan militants , including jihadists , fighting the Soviets .
U.S. President Ronald Reagan even invited the leaders of the Afghan resistance to a meeting in the Oval Office .
In those days , we called them freedom fighters .
The payment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing enemy combatants is nothing new .
It has a long , despicable , history in the annals of warfare .
The distinction between paying bounties for killing American military personnel and supporting the Taliban , knowing that support would be used to carry out attacks on American and allied forces , may seem like a subtle difference , but it is an important one… ” The report also notes that 17 US military personnel were killed in Afghanistan in 2019 , and four were killed up to February , when a provisional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Taliban .
None have been killed since then .
What happened ?
Did the Russians run out of US dollars ?
Or is the Taliban proving itself to be a trustworthy partner with which serious negotiations and commitments can be undertaken ?
Unlike some other State and non-State actors in the international arena .
“ The larger question we should pose , however , is who benefits from the release of this information ?
The obvious answer is Russia .
The Kremlin doesn ’ t want the U.S. to disengage from Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the U.S.-Taliban agreement fall apart and for the U.S. to continue to be bogged down there .
In the short term , Moscow is content to cause problems for the U.S. even if that means supporting an organization that , long-term , is inimical to Russian interests in the region .
In fact , this whole incident feels like a classic example of a Soviet style misinformation campaign .
It has just enough truth in it to be credible but packaged , i.e.
, spun , in such a way as to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LINK Maybe the US should finally stop falling for the endless traps set by the dastardly , unscrupulous Russian , or go one better and beat them at their own game , by taking their troops out of Afghanistan and bringing them home where they belong .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • US Director of National Intelligence denies reports of Russian bounties on troops

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As the US globalist media, led by the New York Times, continues to push stories alleging another unproven and in all likelihood unprovable conspiracy theory about Russian attacks against the US, this time paying Taliban bounty hunters in Afghanistan to kill US and NATO occupying military forces – as if they needed additional motivation after almost 20 years of savage warfare against the invaders – the truth, if it exists, is likely to become more irrelevant with every new sensational media story and posturing Military-Industrial Complex-backed politician.
The latest Russia-Gate scandal appears to be rapidly running out of traction as more former and current senior US intelligence officials corroborate US President Donald Trump’s assertions that he was not informed of allegations that Russian military intelligence has been paying the Taliban a bounty to kill NATO forces in Afghanistan – preferably, from the US. Moreover, that he was not informed of the allegations because they were considered unverified and unlikely.
The likelihood of ever getting to the bottom of the allegations becomes less and less probable as they become lost in the swarm of media leaks by anonymous sources, grand posturing by politicians and media pundits seeking to score political points in an election year or simply damage or bolster Trump’s election prospects irrespective of the veracity or otherwise of the allegations, and ongoing domestic social, political and economic firestorms.
On Wednesday, National security adviser Robert O’Brien said in an interview with FOX media outlet that it’s “another false story.”
“The president was not briefed because at the time of these allegations they were uncorroborated. As a result, the president’s career CIA briefer decided not to brief him because it was unverified intelligence, and by the way, she’s an outstanding officer, and knowing all the facts I know, I certainly support her decision.”
He was cited in another media story, making the point that the media and political hype only serves to muddy the waters and make the facts even difficult to verify or refute.
O’Brien said leaks to the media about the episode have hampered U.S. intelligence officials from determining what actually happened. “Sadly because of the leak, it may now become impossible ever to get to the bottom of this, to get to the truth of the matter, and that’s one of the very sad things,” he said. “We were working very hard on this matter. It might be impossible to get to the bottom of it because someone decided to leak to hurt the president rather than uphold their obligations to the American people.” LINK
The website Military.com reviews the respective claims and the evidence thus far disclosed. It notes the acceptance of the allegations at face value by many Establishment politicians, the denials of the Trump administration, and also the denials of senior Russian and Taliban officials:
Spokespeople for both the Kremlin and the Taliban have categorically denied the report. Responding to a question from NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons about the existence of the program, according to a report in The Guardian, Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson replied, “you know, maybe I can say it’s a little bit rude but this is 100% bull—-.”
It further notes that:
On Monday evening, the Pentagon issued a statement, declaring, “The Department of Defense continues to evaluate intelligence that Russian GRU operatives were engaged in malign activity against United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan. To date, DOD has no corroborating evidence to validate the recent allegations found in open-source reports.”
Before proceeding to examine the claims, the nature of the relevant information and the substantive evidence, the article comments:
What are we to make of this report? It’s entirely possible that the report is accurate; that the GRU paid a bounty to Taliban jihadists for every American service member they killed. Whether the White House was aware of this report is an entirely different matter. It’s a serious issue, so it’s likely that it would at least have gotten as far as staffers on the National Security Council. Whether the President was ever specifically briefed on the matter is a question that only the White House can answer definitively. So far, they have denied it. A scrutiny of the evidence, what little there is, however, raises some serious doubts.”
Among the many points made are that Afghan warlords, armed groups, criminals, freedom fighters, terrorists and politicians have been awash with US dollars ever since the US invasion, and that finding caches of US dollars hardly proves that they have been paid off by Russian military intelligence to kill US military personnel. Also, the language used by the anonymous sources is not the sort of language that is usually employed by military and intelligence experts, and many aspects of the overall nature of the allegations are not credible.
It then states:
“Make no mistake, Russia is actively supporting the Taliban with cash, arms, supplies and intelligence. They have been doing so for several years. These facts are well known to the U.S. intelligence community and the Pentagon and have been extensively documented. For that matter, there is also evidence that Iran has provided assistance to the Taliban, even though they are religiously and ideologically opposed to them and were bitter enemies in the past. In this sense, Russia is doing to the U.S. exactly what we did to the Soviets when they were bogged down in Afghanistan. Starting with the Carter administration and continuing through the Reagan and Bush administrations, the U.S. supplied financial assistance, arms, supplies, and in some cases, even training, to Afghan militants, including jihadists, fighting the Soviets. U.S. President Ronald Reagan even invited the leaders of the Afghan resistance to a meeting in the Oval Office. In those days, we called them freedom fighters. The payment of bounties to soldiers or irregular militias for killing enemy combatants is nothing new. It has a long, despicable, history in the annals of warfare. The distinction between paying bounties for killing American military personnel and supporting the Taliban, knowing that support would be used to carry out attacks on American and allied forces, may seem like a subtle difference, but it is an important one…”
The report also notes that 17 US military personnel were killed in Afghanistan in 2019, and four were killed up to February, when a provisional ceasefire was concluded between the US and the Taliban. None have been killed since then. What happened? Did the Russians run out of US dollars? Or is the Taliban proving itself to be a trustworthy partner with which serious negotiations and commitments can be undertaken? Unlike some other State and non-State actors in the international arena.
“The larger question we should pose, however, is who benefits from the release of this information? The obvious answer is Russia. The Kremlin doesn’t want the U.S. to disengage from Afghanistan. They’re perfectly happy to see the U.S.-Taliban agreement fall apart and for the U.S. to continue to be bogged down there. In the short term, Moscow is content to cause problems for the U.S. even if that means supporting an organization that, long-term, is inimical to Russian interests in the region. In fact, this whole incident feels like a classic example of a Soviet style misinformation campaign. It has just enough truth in it to be credible but packaged, i.e., spun, in such a way as to cause maximum disruption in the U.S.” LINK
Maybe the US should finally stop falling for the endless traps set by the dastardly, unscrupulous Russian, or go one better and beat them at their own game, by taking their troops out of Afghanistan and bringing them home where they belong.
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southfront--2020-07-03--U.S. Attempts To Pressure Russian Hypersonics Over Alleged Radiation Leak

The recent radiation leak could have been a result of two of Russia ’ s new hypersonic weapons – the Poseidon and the Burevestnik ( Skyfall ) , Forbes reported in a piece authored by H.I .
Sutton .
On June 23rd , the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization ( CTBTO ) revealed that scientists in Sweden had detected higher than usual levels of radiation .
Based on analysis of the weather , the origin was projected to be in Northern Russia .
Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo tweeted that they had detected “ 3 isotopes ; Cs-134 , Cs-137 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went on to say that “ These isotopes are most likely from a civil source.
” and that it is “ outside the CTBTO ’ s mandate to identify the exact origin.
” The US Envoy for Arms Control Marshall S. Billingslea wasted no time to share the piece , saying that both weapons are “ terrible concepts.
” The report was proof that Russia should give on the project and that they ’ re a “ big waste of money.
” Most notably , the current New START doesn ’ t cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so .
Tom Moore , a nuclear policy expert and former senior professional staff member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee , believes that these military reactors can not be ruled out : Russia denied the allegations , and the Rosenergoatom Concern said that the two nuclear power plants in northwestern Russia – the Leningrad NPP and the Kola NPP – operate normally , with radiation levels being within the norm .
Sutton ’ s report says that it is possible that the alleged leaks came from the weapons , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Institute for Public Health and the Environment ( RIVM ) in the Netherlands reported that the concentration of substances was very low and did not present any threat to human health and the environment .
The same was stated by the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) .
Finally , the Kremlin ’ s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that there was no cause for concern over reports of increased background radiation in Northern Europe .
He recalled the above-mentioned statement by the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substances is not harmful to human health and the environment .
Despite that , the US Envoy for Arms Control Marshall S. Billingslea immediately propagated Sutton ’ s report as factual , and not as coming down to speculation , as the text itself says that it is .
This is simply another attempt for the US to grasp at straws , since the time to conclude a new arms control treaty is nearing , and Washington needs every possible benefit it can get .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Russia Not @ @ @ @ @ @

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The recent radiation leak could have been a result of two of Russia’s new hypersonic weapons – the Poseidon and the Burevestnik (Skyfall), Forbes reported in a piece authored by H.I. Sutton.
On June 23rd, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) revealed that scientists in Sweden had detected higher than usual levels of radiation. Based on analysis of the weather, the origin was projected to be in Northern Russia.
22 /23 June 2020, RN #IMS station SEP63 #Sweden?? detected 3isotopes; Cs-134, Cs-137 & Ru-103 associated w/Nuclear fission @ higher[ ] than usual levels (but not harmful for human health). The possible source region in the 72h preceding detection is shown in orange on the map. pic.twitter.com/ZeGsJa21TN — Lassina Zerbo (@SinaZerbo) June 26, 2020
Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo tweeted that they had detected “3 isotopes; Cs-134, Cs-137 & Ru-103 associated w/Nuclear fission.” He went on to say that “These isotopes are most likely from a civil source.” and that it is “outside the CTBTO’s mandate to identify the exact origin.”
Re nuclear event in North Russia reported by @SinaZerbo: 5 days ago the Poseidon nuclear drone-torpedo linked ship Akademik Aleksandrov was out at sea. Sentinel-1 satellite image did catch a ship her size in that position. pic.twitter.com/lArDG6y4Q2 — bottema37 (@FrankBottema) June 27, 2020
The US Envoy for Arms Control Marshall S. Billingslea wasted no time to share the piece, saying that both weapons are “terrible concepts.”
The report was proof that Russia should give on the project and that they’re a “big waste of money.”
Most notably, the current New START doesn’t cover them, and the next one must do so.
Hope it’s not the case. We repeatedly warned Skyfall & Poseidon are terrible concepts. Whether or not responsible for latest incident, highlights why Russia should shelve these projects. Big waste of money. Not covered by #NewSTART. Next agreement must. https://t.co/3DmxvMdd5Q — Ambassador Marshall S. Billingslea (@USArmsControl) July 3, 2020
Tom Moore, a nuclear policy expert and former senior professional staff member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, believes that these military reactors cannot be ruled out:
“CTBTO radionuclide monitoring is intended to discriminate explosive events and to complement seismic monitoring. Not to effectively rule in or rule out a source of radionuclides as being civil or military reactors.”
Russia denied the allegations, and the Rosenergoatom Concern said that the two nuclear power plants in northwestern Russia – the Leningrad NPP and the Kola NPP – operate normally, with radiation levels being within the norm.
“Both stations are working in normal regime. There have been no complaints about the equipment’s work. Aggregated emissions of all specified isotopes in the above-mentioned period did not exceed the reference numbers. No incidents related to release of radionuclide outside containment structures have been reported,” the company said.
Sutton’s report says that it is possible that the alleged leaks came from the weapons, while the CTBTO make no claims.
“Radiation levels at both NPPs and surrounding areas remained unchanged in June, and no changes are also observed at present. It remains at levels that correspond to normal work of reactors. Those levels do not exceed natural background radiation figures,” Rosenergoatom said, adding that no incidents have been reported at the Leningrad and Kola NPPs.
The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands reported that the concentration of substances was very low and did not present any threat to human health and the environment. The same was stated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Finally, the Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that there was no cause for concern over reports of increased background radiation in Northern Europe.
He recalled the above-mentioned statement by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that a slight increase in the concentration of radioactive substances is not harmful to human health and the environment.
Despite that, the US Envoy for Arms Control Marshall S. Billingslea immediately propagated Sutton’s report as factual, and not as coming down to speculation, as the text itself says that it is.
This is simply another attempt for the US to grasp at straws, since the time to conclude a new arms control treaty is nearing, and Washington needs every possible benefit it can get.
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southfront--2020-07-03--RIOTSLeft-Wing CHOP Zone Responsible For 525% Spike In Seattle Crime

After characterizing the infamous CHOP area of downtown Seattle as a “ summer of love , ” Mayor Jenny Durkan was eventually forced to acknowledge that the failed communist experiment was responsible for a whopping 525 per cent spike in crime .
As we highlighted yesterday , following weeks of violence and chaos , CHOP was finally dismantled by Seattle police , but only after occupiers marched on Mayor Durkan ’ s 5,000 sqft.
, $ 7.6 million house .
For almost the entirety of June , the area was plagued with fights , bickering , robberies and rapes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other .
It has now emerged that compared to the same period last year , from June 2 to June 30 there was a 525 per cent jump in crime .
This figure is even greater than the 300 % number repeatedly cited by Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best .
Rather embarrassingly , after proclaiming a “ summer of love ” and telling President Trump , “ Seattle is fine , don ’ t be so afraid of democracy , ” Mayor Durkan was forced to acknowledge the numbers in her own emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were , “ 22 additional incidents , in person-related crime in the area , to include two additional homicides , 6 additional robberies , and 16 additional aggravated assaults ( to include 2 additional non-fatal shootings ) .
” So in other words , a commune that was built in the name of opposing violence and brutality led directly to a massive increase in violence and brutality .
So much for the tolerant left !
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Written by Paul Joseph Watson; Originally appeared at Summit News
After characterizing the infamous CHOP area of downtown Seattle as a “summer of love,” Mayor Jenny Durkan was eventually forced to acknowledge that the failed communist experiment was responsible for a whopping 525 per cent spike in crime.
As we highlighted yesterday, following weeks of violence and chaos, CHOP was finally dismantled by Seattle police, but only after occupiers marched on Mayor Durkan’s 5,000 sqft., $7.6 million house.
For almost the entirety of June, the area was plagued with fights, bickering, robberies and rapes, with occupiers targeting both outsiders and each other.
It has now emerged that compared to the same period last year, from June 2 to June 30 there was a 525 per cent jump in crime.
This figure is even greater than the 300% number repeatedly cited by Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best.
Rather embarrassingly, after proclaiming a “summer of love” and telling President Trump, “Seattle is fine, don’t be so afraid of democracy,” Mayor Durkan was forced to acknowledge the numbers in her own emergency order.
The order states that there were, “22 additional incidents, in person-related crime in the area, to include two additional homicides, 6 additional robberies, and 16 additional aggravated assaults (to include 2 additional non-fatal shootings).”
So in other words, a commune that was built in the name of opposing violence and brutality led directly to a massive increase in violence and brutality.
So much for the tolerant left!
* * *
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southfront--2020-07-03--Greece Says It’s Willing To Do “Whatever It Takes” Against Turkey, Even … Negotiate

On July 3rd , Athens said that Greece would do “ whatever it takes ” to protect its sovereignty , including even entering discussion with Turkey on bilateral issues .
“ If the only difference we have is on the proclamation of an exclusive economic zone , then we are ready to negotiate and sit at the table with Turkey and discuss the issue , ” Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs Miltiades Varvitsiotis said in an interview in Athens .
“ But if the issue is to contest Greek sovereignty over islands in the Aegean sea , then the response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re not discussing our sovereignty , we ’ re not giving away Greek soil and we will do whatever it takes to defend it.
” Separately from migrants , economy , tourism , the deals between Libya ’ s Government of National Accord ( GNA ) and Turkey , there is also another issue : Turkey ’ s plan to turn Istanbul ’ s iconic Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque .
Erdogan has long pushed for the conversion , rebuffing criticism from the U.S. and Greece .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s World Heritage List , carries a special significance for Greeks , who see it as one of the most important Christian monuments and a legacy of an Orthodox tradition dating back to the Byzantine Empire .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on July 1st urged Turkey to let Hagia Sophia , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , to remain a museum and to ensure it remains accessible to all .
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew , the spiritual head of some 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide and based in Istanbul , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christians and would “ fracture ” East and West .
Completed in the year 537 in what was then Constantinople , capital of the Byzantine empire , Hagia Sophia was the biggest cathedral in Christendom for 900 years before becoming a mosque after the city fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 .
It has remained a museum since 1934 , under the Kemal Ataturk , founder of the secular Turkish republic .
The biggest proponent to turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque , once again , is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey And Greece Continue On Collision Course , EU Backing Greece • Turkey Abuses Migrants And Blames It On Greece

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On July 3rd, Athens said that Greece would do “whatever it takes” to protect its sovereignty, including even entering discussion with Turkey on bilateral issues.
“If the only difference we have is on the proclamation of an exclusive economic zone, then we are ready to negotiate and sit at the table with Turkey and discuss the issue,” Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs Miltiades Varvitsiotis said in an interview in Athens. “But if the issue is to contest Greek sovereignty over islands in the Aegean sea, then the response is no,” the minister added. “We’re not discussing our sovereignty, we’re not giving away Greek soil and we will do whatever it takes to defend it.”
Separately from migrants, economy, tourism, the deals between Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) and Turkey, there is also another issue: Turkey’s plan to turn Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque.
Erdogan has long pushed for the conversion, rebuffing criticism from the U.S. and Greece. The site, which is included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, carries a special significance for Greeks, who see it as one of the most important Christian monuments and a legacy of an Orthodox tradition dating back to the Byzantine Empire.
“Hagia Sophia is a world heritage monument… Many countries, culminating in the intervention of the US State Department, highlighted this very point, urging Turkey not to take steps which would create a huge emotional chasm between the Christians of the world and Turkey,” Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas told a news briefing.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on July 1st urged Turkey to let Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to remain a museum and to ensure it remains accessible to all.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual head of some 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide and based in Istanbul, said converting it to a mosque would disappoint Christians and would “fracture” East and West.
Completed in the year 537 in what was then Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine empire, Hagia Sophia was the biggest cathedral in Christendom for 900 years before becoming a mosque after the city fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.
It has remained a museum since 1934, under the Kemal Ataturk, founder of the secular Turkish republic.
The biggest proponent to turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque, once again, is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
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southfront--2020-07-03--In Video: Russian FSB Detained 5 Members Of Takfir wal-Hijra Terrorist Group In North Caucasus

The Federal Security Service ( FSB ) in Russia ’ s Karachay-Cherkessia has detained 5 members of the Takfir wal-Hijra @ @ @ @ @ persons were promoting the rejection of national laws and the creation of the so-called caliphate @ @ @ @ @ actively promoting their radical ideology and recruiting new followers “ At their home addresses and @ @ @ @ @ clandestine meetings , 45 copies of brochures containing pseudo-religious extremist literature , 10 handwritten notes @ @ @ @ @ , a traumatic pistol converted to fire live ammunition and ammo to go with it @ @ @ @ @ a pneumatic pistol , and bladed weapons were uncovered and confiscated , ” the FSB @ @ @ @ @ Using the evidence collected , the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation is pressing @ @ @ @ @ and 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ( The @ @ @ @ @ or participation in it ) .

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The Federal Security Service (FSB) in Russia’s Karachay-Cherkessia has detained 5 members of the Takfir wal-Hijra terrorist group. The detained persons were promoting the rejection of national laws and the creation of the so-called caliphate.
The detained persons were actively promoting their radical ideology and recruiting new followers
“At their home addresses and at locations where they conducted clandestine meetings, 45 copies of brochures containing pseudo-religious extremist literature, 10 handwritten notes of lectures by radical preachers, a traumatic pistol converted to fire live ammunition and ammo to go with it, a sawed-off shotgun, a pneumatic pistol, and bladed weapons were uncovered and confiscated,” the FSB Public Relations Center stated.
Using the evidence collected, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation is pressing criminal charges under parts 1 and 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (The organization of extremist group activity or participation in it).


southfront--2020-07-03--Syrian Army, Turkish Forces Exchanged Artillery Fire In Southern Idlib

On July 3 , the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) and the Turkish Armed Forces exchanged artillery fire in the southern Idlib countryside .
Early in the morning , the army fired more than 35 rockets at the militant-held towns of Fatterah and Sufuhon .
The Turkish Armed Forces and their proxies immediately responded by shelling the government-held town of Kafr Nabl .
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the Turkish shelling had inflicted losses on the SAA .
However , pro-government sources didn ’ t report any casualties .
In the last few weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the SAA in Greater Idlib .
The militants targeted army personnel in the region with rockets , anti-tank guided missiles and sniper rifles .
These operations were a blatant violation of the ceasefire in Greater Idlib , that was brokered by Russia and Turkey on March 5 .
By attacking the SAA in Greater Idlib , Turkey is encouraging the hostile behavior of the militants instead of reinforcing the ceasefire .
This could soon lead to a dangerous escalation in the region .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • In Photos : Syrian @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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On July 3, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the Turkish Armed Forces exchanged artillery fire in the southern Idlib countryside.
Early in the morning, the army fired more than 35 rockets at the militant-held towns of Fatterah and Sufuhon. The Turkish Armed Forces and their proxies immediately responded by shelling the government-held town of Kafr Nabl.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the Turkish shelling had inflicted losses on the SAA. However, pro-government sources didn’t report any casualties.
In the last few weeks, militants have stepped up their operations against the SAA in Greater Idlib . The militants targeted army personnel in the region with rockets, anti-tank guided missiles and sniper rifles.
These operations were a blatant violation of the ceasefire in Greater Idlib, that was brokered by Russia and Turkey on March 5.
By attacking the SAA in Greater Idlib, Turkey is encouraging the hostile behavior of the militants instead of reinforcing the ceasefire. This could soon lead to a dangerous escalation in the region.
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southfront--2020-07-03--French Government Resigns As Macron Turns To “Eco-Populism”

In a shot at extreme populism , French President Emmanuel Macron vowed that the French government would invest 15 billion euros that would be put towards a greener economy .
In a way , Macron is weaponizing the eco agenda , and he is doing immediately after France ’ s Green party won big in the municipal elections , turning many cities throughout the country .
Macron vowed that he was prepared to call a referendum to revise the French constitution so that it includes “ climate aims ” – but only if parliament would allow it .
Potentially linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eco agenda , on July 3rd , the French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe , together with all ministers resigned .
This is the first act on Macrons pledge to “ reinvent his administration and win back disillusioned voters ahead of a possible re-election bid in 2022.
” France is in the biggest economic depression since World War II , and the economy is expected to shrink 11 % in 2020 .
Macron and Philippe dined together on July 1st and met on July 2nd .
Both men agreed on “ the need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phase , a new path , ” an anonymous Presidential aide said .
Philippe was elected as mayor of the city of Le Havre , so he will not be unemployed , and he could potentially attempt to rival Macron in 2022s presidential election .
Regardless , Macron ’ s vows are simply following through on earlier populist promises such as the Citizens ’ Climate Council , which was formed in the wake of the “ yellow vest ” protests .
Macron expressed support for a proposal to impose a moratorium on new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he would consider bringing in a new law against “ ecocide ” .
This is of great significance , since ecocide appears to be a very loose term and it may be used to strongarm many .
Macron , however , didn ’ t go all out in supporting it , since he refused to introduce a 4 % tax on corporate dividends , in an attempt to fund greener policies , which would make investment less attractive .
With the mainstream being on the side of individuals such as Greta Thunberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she has accrued .
And his policies are now turning inward .
Earlier , France made attempts to meddle into the situation with the Amazon forest fires in Brazil and it was met with strong opposition , which led to significant diplomatic tension and accusations of meddling into Brasilia ’ s internal affairs .
Now , after being introduced internationally , like for a dress rehearsal , the term “ ecocide ” could be applied to independent states around the world , which , in one way or another , are “ ruining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intervention or sanctioning is required .
As such , this is a double-test – if this form of populism would prove effective and bring back some votes for Emmanuel Macron , plus see if “ ecocide ” is an adequate justification for some questionable activity , both internally and internationally .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Frances president says he wants to build new Syria with US

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In a shot at extreme populism, French President Emmanuel Macron vowed that the French government would invest 15 billion euros that would be put towards a greener economy.
In a way, Macron is weaponizing the eco agenda, and he is doing immediately after France’s Green party won big in the municipal elections, turning many cities throughout the country.
Macron vowed that he was prepared to call a referendum to revise the French constitution so that it includes “climate aims” – but only if parliament would allow it.
Potentially linked to this populism and weaponization of the eco agenda, on July 3rd, the French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, together with all ministers resigned.
This is the first act on Macrons pledge to “reinvent his administration and win back disillusioned voters ahead of a possible re-election bid in 2022.”
France is in the biggest economic depression since World War II, and the economy is expected to shrink 11% in 2020.
Macron and Philippe dined together on July 1st and met on July 2nd. Both men agreed on “the need for a new government to embody the next phase, a new path,” an anonymous Presidential aide said.
Philippe was elected as mayor of the city of Le Havre, so he will not be unemployed, and he could potentially attempt to rival Macron in 2022s presidential election.
Regardless, Macron’s vows are simply following through on earlier populist promises such as the Citizens’ Climate Council, which was formed in the wake of the “yellow vest” protests.
Macron expressed support for a proposal to impose a moratorium on new commercial zones in city outskirts, and said he would consider bringing in a new law against “ecocide”.
“The Climate Council defined ecocide as any action causing serious environmental damage and proposed the crime be punishable by imprisonment and a fine of up to 10 million euros ($11.27 million).”
This is of great significance, since ecocide appears to be a very loose term and it may be used to strongarm many.
Macron, however, didn’t go all out in supporting it, since he refused to introduce a 4% tax on corporate dividends, in an attempt to fund greener policies, which would make investment less attractive.
With the mainstream being on the side of individuals such as Greta Thunberg, Macro is the highest-level follower that she has accrued. And his policies are now turning inward.
Earlier, France made attempts to meddle into the situation with the Amazon forest fires in Brazil and it was met with strong opposition, which led to significant diplomatic tension and accusations of meddling into Brasilia’s internal affairs.
Now, after being introduced internationally, like for a dress rehearsal, the term “ecocide” could be applied to independent states around the world, which, in one way or another, are “ruining the environment” and some sort of intervention or sanctioning is required.
As such, this is a double-test – if this form of populism would prove effective and bring back some votes for Emmanuel Macron, plus see if “ecocide” is an adequate justification for some questionable activity, both internally and internationally.
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southfront--2020-07-03--Why Is Constantinople Loathe To Resolve Conflict Between Antioch And Jerusalem?

The world is slowly beginning to return to a normal way of life .
Shops , cafes , restaurants , and government offices are opening .
Church life is also returning to its usual course .
It would seem that the pause and problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could unite Local Churches in the fight against the virus , make faith a bigger support for people around the world in these dark times .
But apparently , some Church leaders have only increased their activities aimed at separating the Churches .
So , in April , the Ecumenical Patriarchate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Democratic Party by publishing a document titled “ For The Life of The World ” , in which Donald Trump ’ s policy is criticized .
This is not the first time that the Phanar has indulged the interests of the Democrats in an attempt to divide the Orthodox faith – the same thing happened in Ukraine and is happening now in the Balkans .
As for the Middle East , the conflict between the Patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem , from which Constantinople disassociates itself , comes to mind .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting of Primates and representatives of Local Orthodox Churches , convened by Patriarch Theophilus of Jerusalem , ended in Amman , the capital of Jordan .
The event was primarily aimed at paving the way for dialogue between the Churches in view of the discord that has arisen in recent years , including the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine ( OCU ) by Constantinople .
The meeting was attended by Primates and representatives of seven Local Churches of Jerusalem , Russia , Serbia , Czech Lands and Slovakia , Romania , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To be mentioned is that shortly before the meeting , the Antiochian Patriarchate refused to participate .
As noted in the Church ’ s statement , it decided not to attend this meeting “ to avoid whatever increases divergence and deepens the rift between brothers ” .
The main reason for the refusal was the long-standing conflict between Antioch and Jerusalem over the issue of Qatar .
On the eve of the meeting in Amman , a compromise between Jerusalem and Antioch was almost reached .
Patriarch John X was ready to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment he changed his mind .
This was allegedly induced by a number of phone calls from the Phanar .
Patriarch John ’ s decision was preceded by a number of publications on pro-Constantinople media ( fanarion.blogspot.com and others ) , which stated that Antioch had no right to go to Amman until the Qatari issue was resolved .
The essence of the dispute is the jurisdiction of Qatar .
Both Jerusalem and Antioch lay prerogative claims to the only local parish .
It was founded in 1997 with the assistance of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the consent of the Qatari government , since up to that point the country had a ban on holding any ceremonies related to non-Muslim cults .
The first Parish Rector was Archimandrite Theophilus Giannopoulos of the Church of Jerusalem , now its Primate .
Subsequently , Theophilus was replaced by Archimandrite Macarios , also a clergyman of the Church of Jerusalem .
The reason why representatives of Jerusalem were sent to Qatar , which is considered the canonical territory of the Antiochian Patriarchate , lies in the tense relations between Damascus and Doha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict , the Qatari authorities refuse to issue visas to the Antioch clergy .
During services in the Qatari parish , Jerusalem clergy commemorated the Patriarch of Antioch , thus recognizing the jurisdiction of the Antioch .
However , in 2013 , the Patriarchate of Jerusalem suddenly created the Archdiocese of Qatar , appointed Archimandrite Macarios as its Primate and titled him the Archbishop of Qatar .
In the Orthodox tradition , the appointment of an Archbishop to a particular area means claiming rights to it .
Obviously , Jerusalem ’ s actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antioch .
However , the Patriarchate of Jerusalem not only did not change its decision , but also claimed the Syrian diocese of Bosra and Hauran , which originally was under the jurisdiction of the Antioch .
During 2013 , the Patriarchate of Antioch attempted to resolve the conflict .
Thus , in June 2013 , a meeting between representatives of both Patriarchates with the participation of the Phanar delegation was held in Athens under the mediation of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece .
At the same time , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not want to help find a compromise during the negotiations .
Instead , it informally – directly and via the Greek Foreign Ministry – put pressure on Patriarch John and the Antiochian delegation so that they accepted the presence of the Bishop of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Qatar .
Even those weak and tentative agreements that were reached then were not ratified by the Synods of both Churches .
As a result , the Jerusalem Patriarchate did not give up its claim to Qatar , and in 2014 the Antioch broke off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Antiochian Orthodox Church repeatedly asked the Phanar to act as a judge in this dispute .
There were already precedents for the influence of Constantinople on Jerusalem : in 2005 , Patriarch Bartholomew organized a Pan-Orthodox Council that confirmed the removal of Patriarch Irenaeus of Jerusalem , and in 2008 , the Phanar attached the Vicariate of the Palestinian-Jordanian communities , which united the churches and monasteries of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the United States , to the Greek American Archdiocese of the Church of Constantinople .
However , Constantinople @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which obviously would have been resolved in favor of the Patriarchate of Antioch .
Hoping to ensure the presence of both Churches at the Council of Crete in 2016 , Constantinople was unable to fulfill the role of the supreme arbiter and peacemaker , which it claims .
Instead of real negotiations , the representatives of Constantinople took the lazy way out .
They put aside the most difficult diplomatic task of reconciling the two Churches , and gave empty promises to Patriarch John that the issue would be settled later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March 2014 , Patriarch Bartholomew refused to include the Qatari issue on the agenda , despite repeated requests from Patriarch John .
His All-Holiness Bartholomew again tried to put pressure on the Antiochian delegation and , in particular , handed them a letter from Patriarch Theophilus claiming jurisdiction over Jerusalem in Qatar , making it clear that there was no other solution to the dispute .
The pressure was so scandalous that Metropolitan Silouan ( Mousa ) refused to sign the final document , and a month later the Synod of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eucharistic communion with Jerusalem .
This behavior of the Ecumenical Patriarchate , “ the first among equals ” , only led to an increase in the Church of Antioch ’ s distrust of the Pan-Orthodox process , which was meant to take place at its expense .
In 2014 , Antioch first refused to participate in a meeting of Primates and representatives of Local Orthodox Churches during preparations for Patriarch Bartholomew ’ s Pan-Orthodox Council of 2016 in Crete , and subsequently skipped the Council itself .
So , what is impeding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conflict between the two ancient Churches , one of which is suffering from the war in Syria ?
To answer this question , we must first understand what prevents Patriarch Bartholomew from taking care of preserving the unity of Orthodoxy – his Holy duty as the first in honor .
In the light of recent events , it seems that His All-Holiness seeks to act only when his exceptional role is recognized , and makes loyalty to Constantinople as the “ bearer of the idea of Hellenism ” , a condition for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the example of the meeting in Jordan shows that Constantinople opposes any attempts by Local Churches to build a dialogue without its chairmanship .
This is evidenced by angry letters addressed to the Primates of the Jerusalem Patriarchate ( without any mention of the Qatari issue ! )
and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia , and the fact that Patriarch Bartholomew thanked the Primate of the Cypriot Orthodox Church , Archbishop Chrysostom , for criticizing the meeting in Amman and refusing to participate in it – and even gifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is presented as “ revenge ” against Moscow and Antioch for the failure of the Council of Crete and holding the meeting in Jordan : after all , in Amman there gathered those Churches that are actually wary of recognizing the decision of Constantinople to create the Orthodox Church of Ukraine .
In fact , this is due to the systemic inability of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to solve Orthodox issues if it ’ s done not in the format of Greek solidarity .
And Moscow is only a virtual threat to rally the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phanar can be reluctant to intercede for the Antichian Patriarchate because it is “ jealous ” of it on account of Moscow .
And to restore justice , Patriarch Bartholomew would have to spoil relations with Patriarch Theophilus , a native of Gargalianoi ( Greece ) – for the sake of Patriarch John , a native of Latakia ( Syria ) .
This view may seem absurd and biased , but this is how it will be perceived by the majority of the hierarchy of Greek-speaking Churches – Constantinople , Alexandria , Jerusalem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accident that since the break with Moscow , Patriarch Bartholomew has increasingly spoken about the key role of Hellenism in Orthodoxy .
Moreover , it is quite possible that the crisis is of a purely political nature , and without external intervention from Constantinople would not have lasted this long : the faithful in Doha did not want to divide into jurisdictions and continued to pray together , as the Bishop of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Qatar said .
Constantinople benefits from maintaining contradictions between Jerusalem and Antioch , especially now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to interfere in the affairs of other Local Churches ( in Macedonia , Montenegro , the Czech Republic ) cause increasing irritation in Orthodoxy .
The goal of Patriarch Bartholomew is to set the ancient Churches at loggerheads as much as possible in order to prevent the possibility of their union against him .
In fact , Patriarch Bartholomew was caught in a vicious circle .
In a truly Ecumenical format , without the monolithic support of the Greek Churches , he is not able to secure the primacy it claims .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loses his authority in the world Orthodoxy and splits it along national lines : into Greeks and Arabs , into Greeks and Slavs , into Greeks and Georgians , and so on .
The Phanar seems to refuse to consider a possibility to return to the original , Gospel model of building relationships in the Church in which there is “ no Greek , … nor barbarian ” ( Colossians 3:11 ) .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Erdogan Is Footstep Away From Turning Hagia Sophia Back Into Mosque • Ukrainian Troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TB2 Drones In Eastern Ukraine

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Submitted by Nadia Bazuk
The world is slowly beginning to return to a normal way of life. Shops, cafes, restaurants, and government offices are opening. Church life is also returning to its usual course. It would seem that the pause and problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could unite Local Churches in the fight against the virus, make faith a bigger support for people around the world in these dark times. But apparently, some Church leaders have only increased their activities aimed at separating the Churches. So, in April, the Ecumenical Patriarchate literally voiced its support for Joe Biden and the Democratic Party by publishing a document titled “For The Life of The World”, in which Donald Trump’s policy is criticized. This is not the first time that the Phanar has indulged the interests of the Democrats in an attempt to divide the Orthodox faith – the same thing happened in Ukraine and is happening now in the Balkans. As for the Middle East, the conflict between the Patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem, from which Constantinople disassociates itself, comes to mind.
On February 26, 2020, a meeting of Primates and representatives of Local Orthodox Churches, convened by Patriarch Theophilus of Jerusalem, ended in Amman, the capital of Jordan. The event was primarily aimed at paving the way for dialogue between the Churches in view of the discord that has arisen in recent years, including the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) by Constantinople.
The meeting was attended by Primates and representatives of seven Local Churches of Jerusalem, Russia, Serbia, Czech Lands and Slovakia, Romania, Poland and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. To be mentioned is that shortly before the meeting, the Antiochian Patriarchate refused to participate. As noted in the Church’s statement, it decided not to attend this meeting “to avoid whatever increases divergence and deepens the rift between brothers”.
The main reason for the refusal was the long-standing conflict between Antioch and Jerusalem over the issue of Qatar. On the eve of the meeting in Amman, a compromise between Jerusalem and Antioch was almost reached. Patriarch John X was ready to go to Jordan, but at the last moment he changed his mind. This was allegedly induced by a number of phone calls from the Phanar. Patriarch John’s decision was preceded by a number of publications on pro-Constantinople media (fanarion.blogspot.com and others), which stated that Antioch had no right to go to Amman until the Qatari issue was resolved.
The essence of the dispute is the jurisdiction of Qatar. Both Jerusalem and Antioch lay prerogative claims to the only local parish. It was founded in 1997 with the assistance of the then US Ambassador Patrick Theros and with the consent of the Qatari government, since up to that point the country had a ban on holding any ceremonies related to non-Muslim cults. The first Parish Rector was Archimandrite Theophilus Giannopoulos of the Church of Jerusalem, now its Primate. Subsequently, Theophilus was replaced by Archimandrite Macarios, also a clergyman of the Church of Jerusalem.
The reason why representatives of Jerusalem were sent to Qatar, which is considered the canonical territory of the Antiochian Patriarchate, lies in the tense relations between Damascus and Doha. As a result of the political conflict, the Qatari authorities refuse to issue visas to the Antioch clergy.
During services in the Qatari parish, Jerusalem clergy commemorated the Patriarch of Antioch, thus recognizing the jurisdiction of the Antioch. However, in 2013, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem suddenly created the Archdiocese of Qatar, appointed Archimandrite Macarios as its Primate and titled him the Archbishop of Qatar. In the Orthodox tradition, the appointment of an Archbishop to a particular area means claiming rights to it.
Obviously, Jerusalem’s actions provoked a protest from the Patriarchate of Antioch. However, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem not only did not change its decision, but also claimed the Syrian diocese of Bosra and Hauran, which originally was under the jurisdiction of the Antioch.
During 2013, the Patriarchate of Antioch attempted to resolve the conflict. Thus, in June 2013, a meeting between representatives of both Patriarchates with the participation of the Phanar delegation was held in Athens under the mediation of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece. At the same time, the Patriarchate of Constantinople could not or did not want to help find a compromise during the negotiations. Instead, it informally – directly and via the Greek Foreign Ministry – put pressure on Patriarch John and the Antiochian delegation so that they accepted the presence of the Bishop of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Qatar. Even those weak and tentative agreements that were reached then were not ratified by the Synods of both Churches.
As a result, the Jerusalem Patriarchate did not give up its claim to Qatar, and in 2014 the Antioch broke off Eucharistic communion with it.
After that, the Antiochian Orthodox Church repeatedly asked the Phanar to act as a judge in this dispute. There were already precedents for the influence of Constantinople on Jerusalem: in 2005, Patriarch Bartholomew organized a Pan-Orthodox Council that confirmed the removal of Patriarch Irenaeus of Jerusalem, and in 2008, the Phanar attached the Vicariate of the Palestinian-Jordanian communities, which united the churches and monasteries of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the United States, to the Greek American Archdiocese of the Church of Constantinople.
However, Constantinople decided not to interfere in the conflict, which obviously would have been resolved in favor of the Patriarchate of Antioch. Hoping to ensure the presence of both Churches at the Council of Crete in 2016, Constantinople was unable to fulfill the role of the supreme arbiter and peacemaker, which it claims. Instead of real negotiations, the representatives of Constantinople took the lazy way out. They put aside the most difficult diplomatic task of reconciling the two Churches, and gave empty promises to Patriarch John that the issue would be settled later, after the Council.
At a Synaxis in March 2014, Patriarch Bartholomew refused to include the Qatari issue on the agenda, despite repeated requests from Patriarch John. His All-Holiness Bartholomew again tried to put pressure on the Antiochian delegation and, in particular, handed them a letter from Patriarch Theophilus claiming jurisdiction over Jerusalem in Qatar, making it clear that there was no other solution to the dispute. The pressure was so scandalous that Metropolitan Silouan (Mousa) refused to sign the final document, and a month later the Synod of the Church of Antioch decided to break off Eucharistic communion with Jerusalem.
This behavior of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, “the first among equals”, only led to an increase in the Church of Antioch’s distrust of the Pan-Orthodox process, which was meant to take place at its expense. In 2014, Antioch first refused to participate in a meeting of Primates and representatives of Local Orthodox Churches during preparations for Patriarch Bartholomew’s Pan-Orthodox Council of 2016 in Crete, and subsequently skipped the Council itself.
So, what is impeding the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s assistance in resolving the conflict between the two ancient Churches, one of which is suffering from the war in Syria? To answer this question, we must first understand what prevents Patriarch Bartholomew from taking care of preserving the unity of Orthodoxy – his Holy duty as the first in honor. In the light of recent events, it seems that His All-Holiness seeks to act only when his exceptional role is recognized, and makes loyalty to Constantinople as the “bearer of the idea of Hellenism”, a condition for any assistance from it.
Thus, the example of the meeting in Jordan shows that Constantinople opposes any attempts by Local Churches to build a dialogue without its chairmanship. This is evidenced by angry letters addressed to the Primates of the Jerusalem Patriarchate (without any mention of the Qatari issue!) and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and the fact that Patriarch Bartholomew thanked the Primate of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, Archbishop Chrysostom, for criticizing the meeting in Amman and refusing to participate in it – and even gifted him an expensive pen.
All this is presented as “revenge” against Moscow and Antioch for the failure of the Council of Crete and holding the meeting in Jordan: after all, in Amman there gathered those Churches that are actually wary of recognizing the decision of Constantinople to create the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. In fact, this is due to the systemic inability of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to solve Orthodox issues if it’s done not in the format of Greek solidarity. And Moscow is only a virtual threat to rally the Greek Churches around the Phanar.
The Phanar can be reluctant to intercede for the Antichian Patriarchate because it is “jealous” of it on account of Moscow. And to restore justice, Patriarch Bartholomew would have to spoil relations with Patriarch Theophilus, a native of Gargalianoi (Greece) – for the sake of Patriarch John, a native of Latakia (Syria). This view may seem absurd and biased, but this is how it will be perceived by the majority of the hierarchy of Greek-speaking Churches – Constantinople, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Greece, Cyprus… It is no accident that since the break with Moscow, Patriarch Bartholomew has increasingly spoken about the key role of Hellenism in Orthodoxy. Moreover, it is quite possible that the crisis is of a purely political nature, and without external intervention from Constantinople would not have lasted this long: the faithful in Doha did not want to divide into jurisdictions and continued to pray together, as the Bishop of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Qatar said. Constantinople benefits from maintaining contradictions between Jerusalem and Antioch, especially now, when the situation in Ukraine and attempts to interfere in the affairs of other Local Churches (in Macedonia, Montenegro, the Czech Republic) cause increasing irritation in Orthodoxy. The goal of Patriarch Bartholomew is to set the ancient Churches at loggerheads as much as possible in order to prevent the possibility of their union against him.
In fact, Patriarch Bartholomew was caught in a vicious circle. In a truly Ecumenical format, without the monolithic support of the Greek Churches, he is not able to secure the primacy it claims. And while relying on the Greeks, he loses his authority in the world Orthodoxy and splits it along national lines: into Greeks and Arabs, into Greeks and Slavs, into Greeks and Georgians, and so on. The Phanar seems to refuse to consider a possibility to return to the original, Gospel model of building relationships in the Church in which there is “no Greek, … nor barbarian” (Colossians 3:11).
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