TheOldGuy @TheOldGuy@qoto.org
I am a Democrat who supports Ukraine in their battle against The Russian fascist invaders.
I am a 73 year old Covid hermit who
lives on 10 acres in a sparsely populated area of the Ozarks. I heat with wood that is leftover by the lumber industry. When cutting oak for lumber only the trunk is used.
The largest town is population 2993. The county is 13k people scattered over 713 square miles.
Joined Dec 2022
Zelensky Will Address U.S. Senators Before Vote on Ukraine Aid
President Zelensky’s briefing, via a video call, will come a day after the White House warned that aid to his country would soon run out.
President Zelensky will make a direct appeal to U.S. senators on Tuesday aimed at reminding lawmakers ahead of a key vote what is at stake if they fail to quickly approve emergency military aid for his nation.
Republican support for funding Ukraine’s war effort is waning and an emergency funding package is stalled in Congress. With the Democratic-led Senate set to vote on Wednesday whether to approve more than $61 billion in Ukraine-focused assistance as part of a $106 billion national security package, Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, said had invited Mr. Zelensky to brief lawmakers.
In a confidential video call on Tuesday, the Ukrainian leader is expected to give senators updates on the state of the fighting and stress the urgency of maintaining American financial and military backing.
The Ukrainian leader's address comes after the White House warned Monday that aid will be exhausted by the end of the year, and that Russia's President Vladimir Putin could win the war if Congress fails to resolve a row over domestic policy that has deadlocked the funding.
"We can't ever put a price on defending democracy in its hour of need, because if Ukraine falls, Putin will keep on going," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said as he announced Zelensky's address in the Senate late Monday.
"Autocrats around the world will be emboldened. Democracy, this grand and noble experiment, will enter an era of decline."
Underlining the stakes for Washington, Kyiv and beyond, Zelensky's chief of staff and defense minister were due to make the rounds in the US capital in person, alongside the speaker of Ukraine's parliament, as part of a coordinated lobbying effort.
Several top administration officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines were due to take part in the closed-door briefing.
Congress is more divided over backing for Ukraine than it has been at any time during the nearly two-year conflict.
Senate Republicans are conditioning their support for the funding on President Joe Biden's Democrats accepting measures to address the migrant crisis at the southern border -- reforms they have already rejected as "extreme."
Schumer has teed up a vote Wednesday on clearing the first procedural hurdle for addressing Biden's $106 billion aid request for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
But it needs 60 votes to get through the 100-member Senate, and the 49-strong Republican minority looks likely to sink the package as it leaves out their immigration reforms.
Texas Republican John Cornyn said in a speech on the Senate floor the proposal had "zero chance of becoming law."
"If Senator Schumer, as the majority leader, puts a bill on the floor that fails to address the crisis at the border with real, substantive policy reforms, we will not proceed to that bill," he vowed.
"Our security cannot come second to that of other countries around the world, our allies, even those like Ukraine and Israel."
US officials worry that failure would embolden wavering European governments to cut back on Ukraine aid and send a message to Putin that fissures were appearing in the coalition opposing the invasion.
Yet even if the two sides can hammer out a deal in the Senate, it will be a tough sell for Republicans in the House, who have voiced what their leader Mike Johnson called "legitimate concerns about the lack of a clear strategy in Ukraine."
White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said Monday that there is no fallback plan if funding is exhausted.
"Congress has to decide whether to continue to support the fight for freedom in Ukraine... or whether Congress will ignore the lessons we've learned from history and let Putin prevail," he told reporters at the White House.
"It is that simple. It is that stark a choice."
Bassem Eid is a Palestinian human right advocate, journalist and political analyst that lives in Israel. In his video Mr. Eid recognizes Hamas as being responsible for the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
He is right on point! Hamas terrorists don't give a damn about Palestinian civilians!
https://www.prageru.com/video/a-palestinian-explains-hamas
Below is the transcript of the video.
To my Palestinian brothers and sisters, and to anyone who supports the Palestinian people, I implore you:
Please do not let Hamas brainwash you into thinking it has "achieved" anything on our behalf.
It hasn't.
Not in the Gaza Wars of 2021, 2014, 2012, or 2008.
Each one of these pointless conflicts has been a catastrophe, costing us dearly in lives and treasure.
Hamas is not a social justice movement, and it certainly does not care about the Palestinian people.
It is a criminal gang that only cares about increasing its own power.
Israel is not the main cause of your suffering.
Hamas is the main cause.
Israel is not your jailer.
Hamas is.
It was Hamas that led you into this most recent disaster.
They told you that the Israelis were evicting innocent Palestinians from their homes in the Sheik Jarrah area of East Jerusalem.
This is a lie.
The people living in those homes weren't tenants; they were squatters. They hadn't paid rent for decades.
They told you that the Israelis planned to destroy the Al Aqsa Mosque.
This, too, is a lie.
The mosque is still there. It will be there tomorrow. Say what you want about the Israelis, they are not stupid. They know that if they actually attempt to destroy Al Aqsa, it would lead to war with every Muslim country.
Yes, Hamas takes action and thus looks strong next to its rival, the corrupt Fatah party. But the only action it takes is to lead us into chaos.
Hamas has no ability—and, in fact, no desire—to govern.
The water isn't safe to drink; the power goes out for hours at a time; raw sewage washes up on your beaches. The Israelis are not responsible for these dismal failures—Hamas is. And everybody in Gaza knows it.
It is Hamas that steals the imported cement meant to build houses for you and uses it instead to build a massive network of tunnels from which it hopes to terrorize Israelis. It is Hamas that makes sure humanitarian aid meant for you is diverted to its favored elites who then sell it for a profit on the black market.
And it is Hamas that uses you as human shields, stationing rocket launchers and missile arsenals in your apartments, office buildings, schools, and even hospitals.
Israel uses rockets to defend its people. Hamas uses people to defend its rockets.
As for its war strategy, Hamas doesn't have one. It fires missiles at the most highly populated regions of Israel, with no specific target. Yet, I know from my sources in Gaza that as much as 25 percent of all rockets launched by Hamas in May 2021 crashed within Gaza. Fifty Gaza civilians were killed by these rockets, their deaths falsely blamed on Israel.
Are you aware of the fact that some of the Hamas missiles that Israeli Defense Forces failed to intercept ended up exploding in places like Jaffa, Abu Ghosh, and Lod—where Arab Israelis live? Palestinians living in Israel are as likely to be killed as Israelis themselves.
Hamas couldn't care less.
And what was gained?
Palestinians living in those four buildings in Sheikh Jarrah will still eventually be evicted, a fact that has been known to those families since they sold away the title to those buildings.
Think about the even greater number of Palestinians who are now homeless in Gaza because Hamas chose to hide weapons in residential buildings.
And when naïve American and European NGO's offer millions to "rebuild Gaza" who do you think will get that money? It won't be you—the people who really deserve it and need it—it will be the leaders of the Hamas gang and their friends who will add new rooms to their fancy villas rather than rebuild homes, purchase coronavirus vaccines, or provide social services for their people.
🇫🇮Finland to start producing artillery ammunition for Ukraine
"We have finished negotiations on how Finland will further increase the artillery ammunition production for Ukraine. This decision will be made very soon," Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said.
As he mentioned, the decision to start production is likely to be made by Christmas.
“A plan to significantly increase ammunition production has been revealed. We intend to support Ukraine even more than we do now. At the same time, we will further increase the readiness of Finland and the Nordic countries for ammunition production,” Häkkänen added.
🇪🇺The EU Council extended the EU’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime for a further 3 years.
The European Council's website states that the current sanctions, which currently apply to 67 natural and legal individuals and 20 entities, will be reviewed annually.
The general sanctions list includes 47 Russian citizens who are responsible for systemic human rights violations during actions against Ukraine, involved in internal repressions in Russia, or international crimes, particularly in the CAR.
Those targeted by restrictive measures are subject to a travel ban to the EU as well as an asset freeze. Additionally, persons and entities in the EU are forbidden from making funds available to those listed.
NATO Eastern Flank states have 3 years to prepare for a possible Russia attack, — the head of the National Security Bureau and minister in the Office of the President of Poland, Jacek Siewiera in an interview with Nasz Dziennik, The Times reports.
In a scathing report, the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) stated that the North Atlantic military alliance should be ready to repel a Russian attack within the next six to ten years.
However, Jacek Siewiera noted that analysts probably underestimate the urgency of the situation:
“Unfortunately, this analysis is consistent with studies conducted in the United States. However, in my opinion, the time frames presented by German analysts are too optimistic.
If we want to avoid war, then NATO countries on the eastern flank should adopt a shorter, three-year timeline to prepare for confrontation. This is the time when we have to create a capability on the eastern flank that would be a clear deterrent to aggression.
The arms industry in Russia works three shifts daily and can restore its resources over the next three years".
Mr Pallywod and the Hamas fake videos.
https://t.me/NewsWorld_23/2751
A report in the Wall Street Journal: Israel is trying to flood the Hamas tunnel network with seawater and thus destroy it
According to the report, Israel built a system of 5 large pumps, north of the Shatti refugee camp, with which it can transfer thousands of cubic meters of water per hour into the tunnels, and flood them within a few weeks. According to American officials, Israel notified the US at the beginning of November about the project, and completed its construction in mid-November. American officials told the newspaper that they do not know how close Israel is to completing the program and whether it has finally decided in favor of using it.
According to them, it is not clear how successful the plan will be since no one knows all the details of the tunnels and the land around them, and how the sea water will drain through the tunnels. They also added that there are American officials who expressed concern about the program.
The IDF refused to comment on the newspaper's inquiry regarding the project, but stated that they are working with a variety of methods to dismantle Hamas' capabilities. (Doron Kadush)
Statement and video evidence from the IDF of Hamas terrorists continue to utilize civilian infrastructure for terrorist operations.
IDF: Hamas continues using civilian areas for military activities
The IDF located additional military infrastructure of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Al-Shati area of the northern Gaza Strip. Hamas uses civilian infrastructure such as schools and civilian buildings to launch rockets, store weapons and carry out attacks against the IDF.
This is just one example of the broader operational method used by Hamas in Al-Shati and other areas. It reflects Hamas' combat tactics throughout the entire strip - using civilian buildings and infrastructure for terrorist purposes.
Hamas continues to endanger the lives and safety of Gazan civilians.
From "The Analyst":
FRONTLINE UPDATE
NORTHERN
There has been continued fighting in the Senrianski forest and north of the salient above it where Ukraine has managed to push back the Russians.
BAKHMUT
The Russians have pushed almost 1km down the railway line SE of Bohdaribka which seems intended to try and get them into higher ground. This is new territory for them and an unusual operational area so far.
AVDIVKA
Russian forces seem to be pressing their forces in the Stepove area and along the railway lines.
The Russians do seem to have held on to their link to Stepove village again.
Along the central area there are reports of small Russian advances. They did break back into the tree line for the third time but were expelled by Ukrainian forces using some novel tactics and supported by Bradley’s.
Overall there is a marked upturn in the forces Russia is allocating to the northern pincer, and they seem committed to more massed infantry attacks until they achieve something.
MARINKA
Heavy fighting north and south of the reservoir, but it’s largely considered that the Russians have the initiative at present.
KRYNKY
It seems that Ukraine is struggling to hold and maintain the Krynky bridgehead. Despite the level of losses the Russians have contained the site and Ukraine hasn’t expanded it. It’s starting to be a question of is it worth it?
Russian complaints about their forces and the lack of counter battery combat- Russia is hopelessly bad at it, and I mean bad, seem to be continuous.
Yet the Russians have numbers and that’s what Ukraine doesn’t have.
The weight of Ukraine artillery and drones balances out the quantity of Russians but it remains a stalemate.
On a wider note the US announced yesterday that it will have no more money to assist Ukraine at the end of the month and what little there is left is minuscule. The administration was begging congress to do something before it becomes critical.
There’s been some good news in that Ukraine is now successfully manufacturing its own self propelled guns - the Bohdana.
They have apparent managed to produce six per month for the first time.
Ukrainian defence industries are starting to get into gear now in several fields. It may seem like it takes a long time - but look back at any of the major wars and it’s taken at least eighteen months to two years to get things under way in any meaningful way. The Soviet Union took a full two years to restore its production post German invasion, and the Germans didn’t reach their maximum production levels until May-July 1944 when the war was already clearly lost. In WW1 Britain reached peak production only from late 1917 through 1918.
The point is it’s started to happen. It can only get better.
Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦!
The Russians are so dishonest about it, they probably have no idea what their actual death toll is.
Good morning. I am in Branson this morning for a doctor visit. Sunday we may get snow. And Saturday it's going to rain on Ava's Christmas parade.
Why do Palestinian Authority beat Palestinians at a hospital
Advance warning of ruzzian disinformation campaign
In the near future, another wave of disinformation will be launched on the propaganda channels of the aggressor country regarding the reasons for the suspension of prisoner of war exchanges. The goal of the Russian special services is to destabilize the situation within Ukrainian society and to sow distrust in the state bodies that organize prisoner exchanges.
Since the summer of this year, despite all the efforts of Ukraine to continue the humanitarian mission of returning prisoners of war, authorized representatives of the Russian side have been systematically complicating the exchange process.
In order to justify its inaction, the Russian side is preparing charges against Ukraine. In particular, the Coordinating Staff on the Treatment of Prisoners of War is being prepared to denounce the exaggeration of the requirements regarding the exchange formula and the intention to return servicemen of all units without exception, in particular those to which the Russian authorities harbor special propagandist fury.
The aggressor country continues to violate all norms of international humanitarian law, using the topic of prisoners for information and psychological operations against Ukrainian society, especially against the vulnerable category - families of prisoners and missing persons.
From our side, nothing has changed in the negotiation process since we managed to bring home more than 300 of our defenders every month. The opposing side's attempt to make excuses, rather than continue the humanitarian mission of exchanging prisoners, shows that they are little concerned about the fate of a large number of Russian prisoners of war who were captured on foreign soil, especially during the recent "meat assaults", as well as their families.
🇺🇦 Ukraine and the Coordination Headquarters are working every day on the return of all our defenders and search for the missing. The negotiation process with the opposite party continues. We are ready to hand over Russian prisoners of war to their families only by the returning of our Defenders home.
In Japan the law sets a 64 to one ratio between the CEO and the lowest paid worker at the company.
That small group were all killed. But the unit they belong to has not been turning in any POWs for some time.
Have you wondered why Hamas violated the cease fire?
Killed by an Islamic terrorist for the crime of celebrating his birthday.
https://t.me/visegrad24official/2418
I am a Democrat who supports Ukraine in their battle against The Russian fascist invaders.
I am a 73 year old Covid hermit who
lives on 10 acres in a sparsely populated area of the Ozarks. I heat with wood that is leftover by the lumber industry. When cutting oak for lumber only the trunk is used.
The largest town is population 2993. The county is 13k people scattered over 713 square miles.
Joined Dec 2022
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