How many layers deep does this concept of human shields go?  Is Iran using Hamas and Hezbollah as human shields?  There are over 230 hostages, and their family members are relating the last time they spoke to them, sometimes during the kidnapping.  We’ve heard for days that Hamas has command centers under hospital facilities.  Now there are maps showing the network of tunnels.  Hostages are being held as protection.  That Iran is ultimately responsible for the carnage is something nobody dares admit.

At this point in the conflict Israel has opened up a corridor allowing civilians to flee.  According to reports, Hamas will shoot them if they dare.  The Israelis literally have to militarize a corridor in order for people to flee.  Israel has been dropping flyers telling civilians to go south, out of harm’s way.  But that doesn’t meet with the terrorists requirements.

Israeli troops are closing in on Shifa hospital, because according to a recently released map, there is an Hamas command center there.  At least the Israeli troops are not out to kill indiscriminately.  Reports say there are 300 miles of tunnels under Gaza city.  

How is it that we have demonstrators at American universities, shutting down transportation hubs in New York, San Francisco and cities from coast to coast?  They’re in London and all over Europe too.  Who didn’t see this coming, with all the Muslim immigration over the years?  Take a close look.  All these people are not home grown.  When did they come here?  How long are they staying?

It looks like the ‘60’s again, with rioters battling police.  What are they, professionals?  That’s what some of the commentators are saying.  They’re the same people who showed up and acted out for other “downtrodden” groups such as Code Pink and BLM.  You think people like down in the street for free?

Look what has happened to Europe.  Since the backwaters of the Middle East migrated, European cities are different.  They have large neighborhoods where nobody goes, even the police.  The streets of European cities are not safe for care-free activities.  

Impeachment talk is all over the news shows.  Apparently there is evidence they’ve seen that hasn’t  been made public.  Plenty though, has been made public.  Subpoenas have been issued, but probably won’t be complied with.  By the time they get through with all the procedural legal matters…

Meanwhile, San Francisco gets power-washed, and tents along the boulevard get removed for a big summit between the big guy and chairman Xi.  They do this for communist dictators, but not for the people who live there?  Hopefully the minders will be listening closely and won’t allow dementia to get us into any idiotic agreements.  Other big wigs in business attended a dinner with the Chinese leader.  I have a characterization for this, but you think of your own.

Erdogan of Turkey isn’t looking so good.  He gave a speech saying Israel is close to death.  Apparently he’s not watching the same news sources we are.  But this war threatens to escalate.  Most of these “terrorists” weren’t even born while important history was playing out, and have been taught a version of their history, even though the pertinent part doesn’t go back that far. They think they come from a long line of brave warriors.  The true story of the conflicts that have taken place over the years is so unacceptable, they can’t repeat it. These demonstrations all over America are attended by young people who have been taught a fractured version of history, full of emotion.

U. S. bases are being fired upon.  No American has been killed yet.  Rockets and missiles are coming from Lebanon.  So far Israel’s response has only been tit for tat.  Surely the terrorists can see what has happened in Gaza and not want Beirut to look like that. It’s uninhabitable.  Amid calls for “cease fire,” Israel is continuing with its mission to make certain this doesn’t happen again.

During the ‘70’s Henry Kissinger ran back and forth with what was called “shuttle diplomacy.”

“Land for peace” was the solution, and anybody old enough remembers.  Eventually Israel withdrew from the Gaza territories and allowed them self-rule.  Hamas was elected by a vast majority.  We’ve been throwing money at them, Iran has been advising and supplying rockets and missiles.  The high price of oil, since we decided to “save the planet” has contributed dramatically to Iran’s wealth.  

If not for these lame-brains saving the planet, this might never have happened.

Mark

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – November 17, 2023 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

EU countries are ready to impose new sanctions against Russia over the poisoning and imprisonment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Euronews has learned. A political decision is expected as early as next week.

The move comes after the widely-criticized visit of Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign affairs chief to Moscow.

The first set of EU sanctions over the Navalny case was introduced in October, targeting six individuals and one entity believed to be involved in the poisoning of the Kremlin critic. No further action has been taken since he was jailed in early February.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, diplomatic sources told Euronews that there will likely be a political decision on the topic during next week’s Foreign Affairs Council.

The decision will then be referred to technical teams to prepare the lists of Russian individuals which will then be sent to EU ambassadors for review and approval. The consensus among member states is helping to speed up the process.

In the best-case scenario, the sanctions could be adopted by European leaders when they come together at the end of March.

Magnitsky Act

Brussels plans to use, for the first time, its recently established sanctions regime, similar to the Magnitsky Act in America.

This mechanism enables the 27 member states to punish those considered responsible for human rights abuses through the freezing of assets and travel bans.

However, sources note that there are still some differences concerning the approach and the form of these sanctions, stemming from the long-standing disagreements inside the bloc on how to handle Russia.

Countries like Poland and the Baltic states have always defended a hardline position and they would like the European Council to impose restrictive measures immediately.

Others, such as Germany, France, Greece, and Cyprus, which have traditionally closer ties with the Russian Federation, prefer to avoid extreme solutions and would rather have sanctions in place while keeping the channels of communication open.

Moreover, Croatia and Slovakia are eyeing a purchase of Sputnik V, Russia’s homegrown COVID-19 vaccine. Hungary is already using the jab as part of its vaccination campaign.

The Nord Stream 2 project, a gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, which is nearing completion, is another thorny question in the complex EU-Russia agenda, although no member state has so far brought it up during the ongoing discussions.

Decisions on foreign affairs at EU level require unanimity among member states, which often slows down – or altogether impedes – taking decisive action.

Last year, Cyprus blocked EU sanctions against Belarus because the bloc refused to act in a similar manner against Turkey over its activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. The fallout from that blockage, which made international headlines, led to the establishment of the Magnitsky Act-style regime three months later.

Action on Ankara is still an option, but remains stuck at technical level. A recent change in attitude by the government of Recep Erdoğan, together with the inauguration of US President Joe Biden, has lessened the sense of urgency.

Neither Cyprus nor Greece are expected to obstruct the Russian process.

“The two cases [Russia and Turkey] cannot be directly linked, but EU solidarity is a two-way street and member states which are now asking for solidarity, didn’t offer it when needed by others,” a diplomat told Euronews.

Sanctions but also dialogue

The new raft of sanctions follows Borrell’s controversial visit to Moscow, which was described as “a complete disaster” by MEPs. During a press conference alongside Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov, Borrell shocked some when he publicly said the EU had no plans to impose further sanctions.

The intervention was met with immediate criticism. Borrell later corrected himself and told the European Parliament that sanctions were still a possibility and that he would come up with his own proposal.

Borrell’s words prompted Lavrov to announce that Russia was ready to break off relations with the EU if such punitive measures were to be imposed.

Lavrov suggested the EU’s decision to admit Baltic and Eastern European members 15 years ago had contributed to the current poor state of relations.

Diplomatic sources don’t share Lavrov’s uncompromising thinking.

“We want to keep the channels of dialogue open and, for sure, there is no appetite to further push Russia [in]to the arms of China because cutting ties with the EU is increasing [Russia’s] dependence on China,” said an EU diplomat.

Regarding Borrell, the official said there was initial disappointment and surprise with his performance, especially when he didn’t strike back when Lavrov condemned the EU as an “unreliable partner”.

Nevertheless, national ministers remain united behind the EU’s chief diplomat, something they consider necessary to face the Russian challenge together.

The new US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will take part in next week’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting, after accepting an invitation from Borrell. Relations with Russia and China will be the two main topics that EU ministers will tackle with his American counterpart.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/2021/02/18/eu-is-ready-to-impose-new-sanctions-against-russia-over-navalny

The post EU is ‘ready to impose new sanctions’ against Russia over Navalny first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.