Glenn Diesen: it’s human to struggle between instinct and reason

He's right, but it's abnormal for an entire nation to be controlled by a small group of demented manipulators who are constantly striving to drag them into unreasonable wars that could kil us all.

Glenn Diesen’s short essay is entitled Here’s why Western media ‘coverage’ of Russia is incredibly dangerous. The author starts out reminding us that our herd instinct is a natural human tendency whose purpose is to protect us by making us stick to the herd for protection against the “other.”

He also reminds us that we have something called “reason,” and this other side of human nature is there to protect us from precisely the kind of predicament we now find ourselves in. I think that besides the aforementioned instinct and reason, there is, or needs to be, something one could call instinctive morality, a compass inside each of our hearts and minds that tells us some behaviors are right while others are wrong.

And this does not depend on religion. Even the Apostle Paul, who was as much a philosopher as a religious leader, affirms that God (morality) reveals himself to everyone, even the non-religious (Romans 1:18-20).

However, I think that the American tendency to allow a group of deceivers to lead us by the nose as our Neocons have done for generations, into one unjustified war after the other cannot be attributed simply to human nature. One is tempted to think that if it is human for people to behave like cattle huddling in a snow storm, even when there is no snow storm, being human is not a desirable condition.

However, it is probably more accurate to say that humans are not adapted to resist the kind of extreme propaganda bombardment to which Americans are exposed 24-7 by our media and our political class.

I think there is an aspect of americana that helps explain this US-specific behavior, and that is evangelical fundamentalism, one aspect of which, ie, "Christian" Zionism, which I have already briefly analyzed. This heretical doctrine is indirectly responsible for the US government’s unswerving support for the crime syndicate we refer to as Israel.

Its adherents reject both reason and morality in favor of a magical interpretation of the universe.

This specifically American aspect of human behavior merits deeper and more extensive study.

**

Here’s your air strike update for Mar 20, 2024 plus an important battlefield report

Translation with my notes in bold and in [brackets]

Use this map to locate oblasts mentioned in the following report.

https://ok.ru/yesttaka/topic/157895917418673

THE ARMED FORCES OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION LAUNCHED A MISSILE STRIKE AND DESTROYED UKRAINIAN FORCES.

On March 20, 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued the special operation in Ukraine to protect Donbass, as well as the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. On March 20, 2024, the Russian armed forces launched a massive, powerful missile and bomb attack on the territory of Ukraine. Last night and today Gerans flew to the Sumy oblast.

Tactical aviation carried out attacks on targets in the Sumy oblast, as well as in the occupied part of the DPR and Zaporozhye oblast. The Russian Aerospace Forces are launching strikes on the outskirts of Kharkov. Ballistic missile strikes were carried out against targets in the Kharkov oblast and the occupied part of the DPR.

Missile strikes were launched against the positional area of the air defense system on the territory of slag heap of Kramatorsk Ferroalloy Plant LLC. The impact destroyed the radar station of the S-300 air defense system and damaged the launcher, which detonated as a result of the damage received. Around midnight, Russian troops struck a temporary storage point for a Western-made multiple launch rocket system on an industrial territory in the village of Malinovka.

Powerful strikes were carried out against militants in the border areas of the Belgorod and Kursk oblasts. The strike of two ballistic missiles of the Russian Armed Forces destroyed the RM-70 Vampire MLRS and the 80K6KS1 Phoenix-1 radar, which operated in a single complex. A fire broke out at the impact site, which was accompanied by the sounds of secondary detonation. The air defenses of the Ukrainian sabotage group in the village of Ryzhevka, Sumy oblast, were destroyed. The reconnaissance uncovered a group of Ukrainian Armed Forces in the forest area of the oblast border. A high-precision strike destroyed a concentration of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The Russian Aerospace Forces conduct daily massive strikes in the Sumy and Kharkov oblasts, targeting areas where enemy forces are concentrated and inflicting significant damages. Munitions flew to the city of Chuguev in the Kharkov oblast. Sumy oblast: Strike on the city of Konotop.

In the Chernihiv oblast, the city of Nizhyn received a missile attack on an airfield, hangars with ammunition and fuel and lubricant tanks. Aircraft from the Chernivtsi oblast were transferred to this airfield after the disbandment of the military airfield, which came under a missile attack by the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Russian army managed to deal a powerful blow to a cafe with officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kovsharovka, the cafe “Marichka”. Many were killed and wounded.

On March 20, 2024, the Russian Armed Forces killed 1,715 Ukrainian Armed Forces militants in five areas.

In the Kupyansky area, on March 20, 2024, fighting continues on the outskirts of the village of Terny. In the Serebryansky forest and on the right bank of the Zherebets River, positional combat operations. Active actions of units of the “Western” group of forces improved the situation along the front line and defeated the enemy in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka, Kislovka, Yagodnoye and Timkovka in the Kharkov oblast. In the area of the settlement of Terny, Donetsk People's Republic, two counterattacks by assault groups of the 18th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine were repelled.

The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces amounted to up to 85 military personnel, three vehicles and the US-made M777 artillery system.

In the Belgorod area, Russian units have completely cleared the settlement of Kozinka from the remnants of Ukrainian militants and continue to take measures to prevent the penetration of sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Ukrainian Armed Forces into the border area. The Skat UAV detected the RM-70 MLRS of the Ukrainian Armed Forces of Czech production, which was preparing another shelling of Belgorod from the territory of the Kharkov oblast. As a result of the missile attack, the RM-70 was critically damaged and out of action, among its crew there were “two hundreds” and “three hundreds” [dead and wounded] As a result of air strikes and artillery fire, the enemy lost up to 650 militants, two armored combat vehicles and two Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicles.

In total, over 735 Ukrainian Armed Forces militants, two armored combat vehicles, and two Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicles, three vehicles and an M777 artillery system made in the USA were destroyed.

In the Donetsk area, on March 20, 2024, units of the “Southern” group of forces, as a result of successful actions, occupied more advantageous lines and positions, and also defeated the formations of the 79th air assault and 46th airmobile brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of the settlements of Krasnoe, Andreevka, Kleshcheevka, Novomikhailovka and Georgievka of the Donetsk People's Republic. In the area of the settlement of Belogorovka, Lugansk People's Republic, a counterattack by formations of the 81st airmobile brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was repelled.

During the counter-battery fight, the following were hit: a D-20 gun, two howitzers: M119 made in the USA and L119 made in the UK, a Grad MLRS combat vehicle, an illumination and guidance radar for the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, a counter-battery counter-battery radar made in the USA AN/TPQ -50, two Enklav-N electronic warfare stations, a combat vehicle of the Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile system, as well as four field ammunition depots.

Up to 420 Ukrainian Armed Forces militants, a tank, two armored combat vehicles and eight cars were destroyed.

On Krasnoarmeysky (Avdeevsky area is now called Krasnoarmeysky) on March 20, 2024, reconnaissance officers from the Center group of troops destroyed the fourth American-made Abrams tank. It was this crew that knocked out the second American tank near the village of Berdychi in early March. Aviation is actively operating along the entire sector of the front. In Berdychi, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are stubbornly trying to hold their position. Orlovka was liberated from the ukrofascists.

In the Avdeevsky sector, the Russian Armed Forces have completed clearing Orlovka and are fighting in Berdychi and Tonenkoye. In the north of the village of Orlovka, fighting continues, the cleansing of enemy support forces is underway. There are battles in Tonenkoye, the supply route for Ukrainian forces from Orlovka is now gone, the enemy has only dirt country roads left. Our aircraft are attacking the adjacent territory under enemy control. The Russian Armed Forces are destroying the Armed Forces of Ukraine with lethal “miracle bombs.” The Russian Aerospace Forces actively use aerial bombs equipped with universal gliding and correction modules (UMPC). The Ukrainian Armed Forces are fleeing Orlovka and Berdychi.

In the Avdeevsky area, units of the Center group of troops inflicted fire on the enemy and improved the situation along the front line. Seven counterattacks of the assault groups of the 47th, 53rd mechanized, 59th motorized infantry and 3rd assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were repelled in the areas of the settlements of Novgorodskoye, Pervomaiskoye, Tonenkoye, Vodyanoye and Berdychi of the Donetsk People's Republic.

Up to 385 Ukrainian Armed Forces militants, four armored fighting vehicles, 16 vehicles, an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery mount and an MT-12 Rapier anti-tank gun were destroyed.

In the South Donetsk direction, on March 20, 2024, units of the Vostok group of troops improved their tactical position and inflicted fire on the Ukrainian Armed Forces formations in the areas of the settlements of Vodyanoye, Pavlovka, Urozhainoye and Staromayorskoye of the Donetsk People's Republic. The assault units of the Russian Armed Forces have made good progress in Georgievka in the northeastern sector and continue to conduct attack operations in the direction of Oktyabrskaya Street and from the east. The Russian Armed Forces are delivering intense and sensitive artillery strikes, which is very hard for the fighters. With the support of aviation strikes and artillery fire, the Armed Forces units improved the situation along the front line. Units of the Russian Armed Forces defeated the formations of the 79th Air Assault, 46th Airmobile Brigades and the 118th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of Novomikhailovka, Razdolovka and Georgievka.

Up to 110 Ukrainian Armed Forces militants, two armored combat vehicles, three pickup trucks, two Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery mounts, as well as a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery mount were destroyed.

In the Kherson sector, on March 20, 2024, units of the Dnepr group of troops inflicted fire on accumulations of manpower and equipment of the 28th mechanized, 128th mountain assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 126th terrestrial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Kopani, Mirnoye, Zaporozhye oblast and Ivanovka, Kherson oblast. Over the past 24 hours, the Russian Army continued offensive operations at the Rabotino-Verbovoye line. Soldiers of the 1430th Guards Regiment, together with units of the 42nd Guards Division and other units of the Russian Armed Forces, defeated forces from the 65th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 121st Terrorist Defense Brigade. At night, Russian artillery and MLRS systems in the Rabotino-Verbovoye sector carried out targeted strikes on detected concentrations of enemy manpower and equipment. Our soldiers actively used UAVs to direct and adjust artillery fire. In Krynki and in the Antonovsky Bridge area, groups of the Ukrainian army are being destroyed. Gradually, the number of military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is decreasing. Their morale also drops, since the command has practically forgotten about them, and they have to sit out in territory where there is no chance of success. The enemy's attempts to move to the left bank were reduced. Our army is delivering a retaliatory fire strike on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The command of the Ukrainian army is actively building coastal defensive positions on the right bank, as it expects an offensive by the Russian Armed Forces.

Up to 65 Ukrainian Armed Forces militants, seven vehicles, a US-made Paladin self-propelled artillery mount and a D-20 gun were destroyed.

On March 20, 2024, the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed, using operational-tactical and army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and, using artillery of groupings of troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation: a fuel depot for military equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, combat and transport-loading vehicles of the multiple launch rocket system "Grad”, and also damaged the personnel and military equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 121 districts.

On March 20, 2024, air defense systems shot down 145 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, 22 rockets from the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and the Czech-made Vampire, the Tochka-U tactical missile, and the S-200 anti-aircraft guided missile system, which was converted for firing at ground targets, as well as the US-made Patriot anti-aircraft guided missile.

**

What Putin’s re-election means for NATO war hawks

https://schillerinstitute.com/blog/2024/03/19/webcast-what-putins-re-election-means-for-natos-war-hawks/

Things simply didn’t work out the way they expected.

**

Translation with my notes in bold and in [brackets]

https://tsargrad.tv/news/makron-podygral-rossii-otpravka-specnaza-v-odessu-stala-rokovoj-oshibkoj-medvedev_975811

MACRON BENEFITTED RUSSIA. SENDING SPECIAL FORCES TO ODESSA BECAME A FATAL MISTAKE - MEDVEDEV

Sending French special forces to Odessa was a fatal mistake, says Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev. According to him, French President Emmanuel Macron actually benefitted Moscow.

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev noted that sending a French military contingent to Odessa would play into Russia's hands. It will be difficult to hide such a number of soldiers, which means that pretty soon coffins with bodies will go to France. Moreover, the destruction of NATO will become a priority task for the Russian army.

[Macron and the rest of NATO have no idea what they are facing in Odessa, which has emerged as a pro-Russian city. Russia routinely receives information from spies there, who inform the Russian military of the locations of troops, officers and mercenaries, providing coordinates for air strikes on them. Following this translation is a translation of a report headline from Mar 16 stating that about 100 French troops were hit by an Iskander in Odessa and most were sent back to France in coffins]

The results are obvious. Firstly, Macron will collapse his own rating. It will be difficult to say “We are not a party to the conflict” after sending the military, and even more so to explain to mothers why their sons died in a foreign country. Secondly, the whole of Europe will see what attempts to get into the conflict lead to.

For the cocky French leadership, this will be tantamount to the guillotine. They will be cut to pieces by angry relatives and malicious representatives of the opposition, who were told that France is not at war with Russia. And for other restless idiots in Europe this will be a good lesson, Medvedev pointed out.

Let us remember that Macron has been trying for a long time to persuade Western countries to send NATO troops to the conflict zone. Apparently, it was not possible to persuade him, since now we are talking about sending only French military personnel. Yesterday it became known that two planes with French military personnel landed at a Bulgarian airport. The soldiers were loaded into trucks and taken to an unknown direction. All this is carried out in the strictest secrecy, so this is not a routine NATO event, but a real military operation. Most likely, the soldiers are being taken to Odessa. Previously, Macron had already stated the need to defend this city. [But Odessa is a Russian city and the residents feel they need to be defended by the Russians, NOT NATO, which they see as an enemy] He also discussed the topic of sending troops to Moldova, from where there is a direct corridor to Odessa.

This is a step towards a serious escalation of the conflict, since previously all Western countries, including France, declared that they were not a party to the conflict. And that in the SMO zone there are either mercenaries not associated with the army, or service personnel who “only monitor” military equipment, but do not directly participate in hostilities. Now it will be possible to state that France is entering into open armed confrontation with Russia.

…

Translation with my notes in bold and in [brackets]

https://m.vz.ru/news/2024/3/16/1258372.html?ysclid=ltzv6hehrd235383389

MARCH 16, 2024, 12:58 • NEWS OF THE DAY

Foreign mercenaries and high-ranking officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed in Odessa

A group of foreign mercenaries and high-ranking officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed in Odessa

[This headline of Mar 16 from the news site bloknot.ru reads:  В Одессе ракетным ударом уничтожено порядка 100 наемников из Франции, ie, In Odessa, about 100 mercenaries from France were destroyed by a missile strike. One Ukrainian site claimed this report a fake, but others confirmed it]

Foreign mercenaries and high-ranking officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed in Odessa@ Press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation/TASS

Text: Alexandra Yudina

About a hundred foreign mercenaries and high-ranking officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were killed and more than a hundred were wounded as a result of a missile attack on the Mriya sanatorium in Odessa.

It is noted that the Russian military attacked the Mriya sanatorium, where a large group of Western mercenaries and high-ranking officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were based, TASS reports.

The strike also destroyed military equipment located on the territory of the sanatorium.

Yesterday, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed the base of the national battalion in Odessa with an Iskander.

**

https://ria.ru/20240320/frantsuzy-1934345895.html

03/20/2024

“There is a place for them in the fields of Russia”: Macron sends the French to the slaughter

Two thousand French soldiers are preparing to be sent to Ukraine, the head of the SVR Sergei Naryshkin said the day before. Of course, this information is denied in Paris, but after the recent statements of Emmanuel Macron himself, this message does not look like something unexpected.

Judge for yourself: over the past few weeks, the President of the Fifth Republic has accomplished a lot. For example, to call on Russia for a truce during the Olympics, without saying what Kyiv will do at this time and what kind of relationship Russia as a state has with the upcoming Games.

At the same time, Macron does not forget about his reputation as the main telephone operator in the West and promises to answer the phone if he receives a call from the Kremlin. True, why Vladimir Putin should seek contacts with his French colleague is an open question.

Finally, Macron managed to promise to send French troops to Ukraine if there was a threat of a Russian breakthrough to Odessa or Kyiv.

Probably, they decided not to wait for this moment, and the troops are already actively preparing, and according to some media reports, they are already in Ukraine. French television at this time is openly discussing where it would be better to place its contingent.

Actually, sending French soldiers to the Dnieper has two dimensions - military and political. There are good reasons to doubt that anyone will see them on the front line, but even if they find themselves there, they will not be able to radically influence the course of events. Firstly, there were already enough Western “vacationers” at the front, and the number of those who will not return from vacation is already in the thousands. To change the situation, Ukraine needs half a million mobilized, not four motorized rifle battalions.

Secondly, if we talk about the quality of the Ukrainian infantry and their French comrades in misfortune, the big question is who has superiority: the Taras, who managed to survive at Rabotino or Avdievka, or the Jean-Pierres, who last year prepared them to fight at the training grounds in a “network-centric war” that never began.

Perhaps, much more significant news from a military point of view is the news about the transfer of the new Ukrainian 141st brigade to the Zaporozhye oblast.

But in political terms, reports about the appearance of French troops in Ukraine after Macron’s announcement about this play in completely different colors. Of course, there can be no talk about any fifth article of the NATO charter: Paris in Ukraine is engaged in anything, but definitely not in defense. And the West will not dare to use this option in conditions when there is no unity in the alliance itself on the issue of assistance to Kyiv. A clear confirmation of this is the statement of Italian Prime Minister Giorgi Meloni. According to her, sending foreign troops will lead to escalation, which must be avoided at all costs. A similar point of view is shared in Berlin. And in general: if the West wanted to start World War III, it would have happened earlier.

Against this background, it becomes clear that Paris, in addition to trying to play on strategic uncertainty with this step, is pursuing some goals of its own. And in order to understand which ones, it is necessary to recall some circumstances.

The maximum program of this conflict in strategic terms for Russia is to drive a wedge between the United States and Europe. In the face of a possible Trump victory and the curtailment of Washington’s NATO activities, the Europeans will be left alone with Russia. And then the unity of Europe itself will be in question. For many countries on the continent, post-conflict cooperation with Moscow promises far more benefits than maintaining tensions. Primarily for Germany.

For France, the strengthening of the Germans is extremely undesirable - this is a long-standing dispute between potential leaders “on the continent,” and although at a particular moment their positions are quite close, we should not forget about the historical confrontation. Actually, this is why Paris is much less diligent - in comparison with Berlin - supporting Kyiv with money and is much more active on the political front.

So sending a very limited contingent serves two purposes. Firstly, to maintain anti-Russian sentiments in the still united Europe for as long as possible. Secondly, to earn political points - primarily in the eyes of the Baltic limitrophes and Poland - through an active position in the conflict, thereby strengthening their own positions.

And of course, in the long run, this step contradicts the Kremlin’s long-term strategy. Therefore, the response to the appearance of troops under French flags in Ukraine should be expected to be extremely harsh - especially since the bad example of Paris can become contagious. I am glad that throughout the territory controlled by Kyiv, there is hardly a place that is inaccessible to Russian missiles.

Fortunately, for French soldiers in the fields of future Russian oblasts there will always be a place “among the coffins that are familiar to them.

**

”https://eir.news/2024/03/news/the-glass-half-full-or-how-to-conquer-cynicism/

Excerpt:

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the first time doesn’t warn of the onset of famine. It reports that northern Gaza is now in a famine; that over 70% of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza face “catastrophic hunger; and that only an immediate ceasefire, enabling massive deliveries of food aid, stands in the way of imminent death.” They estimate that 450 people per day may die, not from bullets, but a slower, more agonizing death, from malnutrition, disease, and starvation.

**

https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2024/03/20/v-cherkassy-pribylo-ogromnoe-kolichestvo-naemnikov-ih-rasselyayut-v-detsadah-i-shkolah

A huge number of mercenaries have arrived in Cherkassy; they are being resettled in kindergartens and schools

Mar 20, 2024

An impressive number of mercenaries from Germany, France and Poland arrived in Ukraine. The militants were resettled in schools and kindergartens in Cherkassy, telegram channel lpr1 reports.

“We received information about the arrival of a huge number of foreign military personnel in the city. Poles, Germans, French,” the message says.

According to the data received, the mercenaries were settled on the first floors of schools and kindergartens in the city. At the same time, educational institutions continue to operate, and during the daytime there are children on the second and third floors.

“And parents are very worried about the lives of their children, as provocations are possible,” writes TK.

lpr1 notes that militants of the Kyiv regime regularly use civilians and children as their own shield.

**

Our thanks to JS:

Yes, Don, those damned drums are beating.       Ref. your last sentence, - We once did this for OUR people but no longer, thanks to the injection of jelly, where once was a spine.

**

The movie Civil War is just more anti-Russia propaganda. We need LESS, not more.

Yury Bezmenov was a typical Soviet defector who knew that to survive in the US, he had to say outrageous things about Russia, which he did. He claimed that USSR was trying to subvert the US. That may have been true, but Russia never had the clout needed to subvert anything. This movie is just another anti-Russia propaganda piece.

The subversion of Russia by the US is REAL and deadly. To pretend that it was the other way around is just BS!

**

https://www.diwaninc.com/uncategorized/israels-war-against-palestine-day-166-israel-kills-gaza-officials-handling-food-delivery-to-the-north-canada-votes-to-halt-arms-sales-to-israel/

Israel’s War Against Palestine, Day 166: Israel kills Gaza officials handling food delivery to the north; Canada votes to halt arms sales to Israel

Hamas slams Israel for "spreading chaos" after an Israeli airstrike killed two local police officers in charge of securing and delivering food to north Gaza. In the West Bank, Israeli forces and settlers kill two Palestinians.

BY MUSTAFA ABU SNEINEH

Casualties

·       31,923 + killed* and at least 74,096 wounded in the Gaza Strip.

·       435+ Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.**

·       Israel revises its estimated October 7 death toll down from 1,400 to 1,147.

·       594 Israeli soldiers killed since October 7, and at least 3,221 injured.***

*Gaza’s Ministry of Health confirmed this figure on Telegram channel. Some rights groups put the death toll number at more than 40,000 when accounting for those presumed dead.

** The death toll in West Bank and Jerusalem is not updated regularly. According to PA’s Ministry of Health on March 17, this is the latest figure.

*** This figure is released by the Israeli military, showing the soldiers whose names “were allowed to be published.”

Key Developments

·       Israel bombs members of Palestinian clans and officers of Gaza’s emergency committee who handled aid supplies and delivery in north Gaza.

·       Among people Israel killed on Tuesday evening is Amjad Hathat, director of Gaza’s emergency committee. On Monday, Israel assassinated Faiq Mabhouh, head of police operations in Gaza, who handled delivery of food in north Gaza.

·       Hamas accuses Israel of spreading chaos in north Gaza in bid to create “administrative vacuum” by targeting members of emergency committee.

·       In north Gaza, every 25 individuals share one kilogram of flour, or 20 loaves of bread, over one or two days. However, thousands of others cannot get a single loaf.

·       Doctor who visited Gaza tells UN that “infections are getting worse and worse,” with whole families suffering from explosive injuries and burns. 

·       Israeli airstrikes on houses in Nuseirat refugee camp kill at least 27 Palestinians from the Habbash family.

·       Israel’s Finance Minister says expanding settlements is “holistic Zionist response to [EU] declaration” of planned sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

·       Israeli forces and settlers kill two Palestinians in the West Bank in separate incidents.

·       Canada to halt arms sales to Israel after non-binding vote in parliament.

Agreement made between White House and U.S. Congress bars U.S. funds to UNRWA until March 2025, according to a Reuters report.

·       Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says, “We will reiterate our opposition to military action on the ground by Israel in Rafah that could have even more catastrophic consequences for the civilians crowded in that area.”

Israel bombs north Gaza’s Kuwait roundabout, targeting authorities tasked with aid delivery.

 Read more

**

Link to alkhanadeq article on armed humanitarian intervention

Tuesday 23 January 2024

Armed humanitarian intervention: a mandate for the axis of resistance

Humanitarian intervention

The subject of humanitarian intervention is one of the most important topics that have formed a jurisprudential debate and a wide debate at the international level. Humanitarian intervention is defined as “the use of armed force or the threat of its use by a state, or by a belligerent, or with the knowledge of an international body, for the purpose of protecting human rights. Humanitarian intervention is assumed to be directed to a state accused of acts of cruelty and torture against its citizens in a way that denies their basic human rights and in a way that shocks the human conscience.

Armed humanitarian intervention: an indirect mandate to the axis of resistance

In the face of the inability of the international community, and the absence of international legitimacy and the ability to stop the war of annihilation to which the Palestinian people in Gaza are subjected daily, in front of the eyes of the world, and in the face of the inability of international organizations and agencies to intervene, the axis of resistance has become, and with an indirect mandate, the one who works on this, in accordance with moral and humanitarian principles. It allows him to support and assist the Palestinian people in their ordeal, and to restore their legitimate rights (stipulated in all divine and man-made laws). In the face of this huge amount of political and legal violations, and the inability of the United Nations, and even the entire international community, to stop the grave violations against the Palestinian people, the forces of the axis of resistance, states and non-state groups, have the right to take all possible measures to repel the aggression against Gaza and its people. In fact, it is possible To say that its position in this case gives it full legitimacy for armed humanitarian intervention - not as the West has adopted in many countries - but in accordance with true humanitarian and moral principles aimed at supporting the just choice of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination, stopping aggression against civilians, and exposing the crimes of the occupation that exceed all perceptions and violate all international conventions.

Strengthening the legitimacy of armed humanitarian intervention in Gaza

The war on Gaza once again confirms the seriousness of the thesis of those who say that the human rights system as adopted by the West is not based on any abstract moral basis, but rather on double selective and discriminatory standards, and this is what makes the demands of Western countries to respect human rights a pressure and bargaining chip against regimes hostile to them. This opinion is supported by the speed of this system’s response to what are believed to be war crimes committed by Russia in its war on Ukraine, and its failure in the face of the horrific crimes committed by the occupation in Gaza.

In the face of this international inability and the absence of opportunities for humanitarian intervention, as previously laid down by international powers that considered it an incentive to intervene without restrictions and far from the exceptions permitted by international law, it is possible for non-state actors to intervene in this sense, meaning that it is possible to use this international right to reduce violations. What happened, whether by providing humanitarian protection tools or by military intervention that pressured the enemy to stop military operations and the serious violations occurring.

The gap between theory and practice

Despite the tremendous development that has occurred in the field of human rights, the vast gap between theoretical principles and practical reality must be reduced. With the presence of a huge arsenal of international texts that guarantee human rights legislatively, we can clearly see the shortcomings of the supposed protection mechanisms in practice, and therefore it must Put these provisions and rules related to human rights into practice.

In this context, armed humanitarian intervention gave the forces of the resistance axis the opportunity to support the Palestinian people and their just cause, and expose the crimes of the Israeli occupation that contradict all international charters and agreements. This support can also be considered legitimate because it defends a rightful cause that the international community, with its organizations and forces, was unable to defend, and even contributed to its overthrow for the sake of an illegal occupying entity.

It is a new equation in the heart of regional and international changes that today make it necessary to look at armed humanitarian intervention in a completely different way than the West did in the past. This armed humanitarian intervention exists according to a new legitimacy that allows every free person in this world to take all available measures and capabilities, politically and militarily, to support this just cause, and to support this people until they regain their full freedom and legitimate rights.

Writer: Editorial room