Posted on 01/01/2024 5:05:22 AM PST by Godzilla
I read it decades ago too.. so I’m not a hundred percent sure of the spit ice temp. Stay safe.
-37 and falling as I write. Putting this in some sort of perspective - there is over 100 degrees of temperature difference between the temperature in the house vs outside.
Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WEF Davos Jan 15-19
- WHO February 19 to 21, Trans guideline committee.
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024
*****
Google has reportedly launched a new data collection project, hiring a contractor to gather facial recognition data from children, offering $50 to parents for their child’s participation.
404 Media reports that the project revolves around Google collecting specific data, including eyelid shape and skin tone of children. Parents are asked to film their children wearing various props, such as hats and sunglasses. TELUS, acting on Google’s behalf, is paying parents $50 for this data collection effort. The primary objective of this project is to build datasets for machine learning, artificial intelligence, and facial recognition technologies.
Participants in the project are required to be minors, specifically aged between 13 and 17 years. The process involves taking multiple short videos, each under 40 seconds, with the overall task expected to take 30 to 45 minutes. The project insists that the filming of children be done on private premises, not in public spaces, and requires parental consent.
Google’s latest data collection scheme is particularly troubling based on the fact that it was revealed in December that AI training datasets include child pornography
OBSERVATION - All about refining facial recognition software for future population control - much like what China is actually using today. The child porn aspect is further worrisome, will AI child porn skirt the law because computer generated children are used, so no ‘real’ children are harmed? Globalists have a great interest in multiple forms of perversion and in particular child porn and direct sex.
***
The WHO trans guideline committee will be meeting Feb 19 - 21 to finalize guidelines for global transgendering ‘rights’.
According to the WHO, the guidelines will focus on five areas:
1 Provision of gender-affirming care, including hormones
2 Health workers education and training for the provision of gender-inclusive care
3 Provision of health care for trans and gender diverse people who suffered interpersonal violence based in their needs
4 Health policies that support gender-inclusive care
5 Legal recognition of self-determined gender identity
OBSERVATION - These ‘guidelines’ will easily be folded into the WHO ‘pandemic’ treaty as a global health emergency to force it on the world.
BTW, the WHO assigned a radical, pro-Trans advocate to lead the group, that is also composed of other radical advocates.
***
Farmers, supported by truckers and even the railroads, continue their massive multi-day protests against new German laws and taxes designed to close down farming in favor of EU climate change standards.
***
REUTERS – The most talked-about person in Davos next week will be nowhere near the Swiss mountain resort. As politicians, financiers and chief executives converge for this year’s World Economic Forum, Donald Trump will be 7,500 kilometres away in Iowa, starting his quest to win the U.S. Republican Party’s presidential nomination for the third time. Even so, his possible return to the White House will pervade Davos discussions on topics ranging from Ukraine, China, trade, and climate change.
OBSERVATION - Globalist concerns will fuel (and fund) greater efforts to keep Trump from being reelected president. IMHO, this includes even going as far as seeking a way to assassinate him. His America First policies threaten their attempt to subjugate the US to WEF/globalist controls.
***
The Biden administration proposed a new regulation Friday that would impose fines on oil and gas companies for methane emissions, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced.
The policy would require companies to pay a penalty of $900 per every ton of methane emitted beyond limits established by the government starting this year, with the cost for each ton above the government’s thresholds increasing to $1,200 in 2025 and jumping to $1,500 in 2026 and beyond, according to the EPA. While the agency touts the proposal as a tool to reduce methane emissions, energy producers have slammed it for adding complexity to the regulatory environment and potentially driving up energy costs for consumers.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2024/01/12/biden-admin-unveils-natural-gas-tax-proposal/
OBSERVATION - EPA/biden following the tyrannical lead of the WEF and affiliated globalist interests in making it too costly for the energy sector to continue to produce oil and gas. Get ready for the new dark ages folks.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
Upcoming events of importance
- Jan 13th - prohamas March on DC
- 18 January 2023, Atlanta, “Day of the Forest Defender,” protests against the Police training facility being constructed
****
Weekend is here and there are quite a number of pro-hamas protests scattered across the country. The biggest to watch is today’s march on DC.
***
See “Illegal Immigration” below on the growing conflict between TX and the feds over property control along the border. The border is becoming a pivotal issue in the resurgent effort for TX to leave the union.
Economy-
Upcoming dates of importance
- The Fed next meets on Jan. 30-31.
*****
There is still a lot of mixed forecasts for 2024, particularly regarding the recession, or lack there of.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Dates of importance
January 19 - funding for federal transportation programs, housing and food plans and other resources will expire.
February 2 - funding for Departments of Health and Human Services, Commerce, Labor, State and Defense will expire
March 5- Super Tuesday primaries
****
Increasing action by some House Republicans to seek accountability of regime henchmen via impeachment.. That is well and good, except that other than show, it will do nothing since the Senate, even if under Republican control, will not convict and remove the administration officials or even biden.
Biden / Harris Watch –
Dates to watch -
March 7 - State of the union
****
Biden received a rude welcome from swing-state voters who mercilessly heckled him during a Friday trip to Pennsylvania. He was met with shouts of “Go home, Joe!” and “You’re a loser!” by residents of an Allentown-area house as he walked into a bicycle store, according to a pool report.
He was also seen creeping out a teen girl, who moved away from his advances.
Illegal Immigration –
In overnight DOJ filing, Feds confirm that the TX National Guard “has deployed armed soldiers and vehicles to block federal gov from accessing the river” in Eagle Pass, & TX informed them no BP agents will be allowed to enter Shelby Park “in any operational capacity”. Videos showed feds being turned away from the park after being denied entrance.
OBSERVATION - TX has a good basis for its argument - the feds are violating immigration law by facilitating entry by illegal aliens. Permitting an ‘invasion’ and TX activating its constitutional right to defend against same. Clearly, this will likely be one of the first big state vs federal conflicts of 2024.
***
Mitch McConnell has sold out the country. The Senate GOP leadership’s draft border deal with the White House would reward illegal migration and encourage more foreign graduates to take jobs from American graduates, says the Immigration Accountability Project.
It essentially authorizes the Biden administration to continue to catch and release people into the country. It authorizes them to give them work permits [to illegal migrants and] authorizes them to grant parole [legal status] to everybody that they’re able to funnel to a port of entry.
The Republicans got played by the Democrats, he said. “The Republicans went to the auto shop to get their car fixed and walked out with a broken cup holder,” said Chmielenski, who posted the details in a tweet:
Border deal would:
1) Increase green cards by 50,000/year
2) Work permits for adult children of H-1B holders
3) Immediate work permits to every illegal alien released from custody
4) Taxpayer funded lawyers to certain UACs and mentally incompetent aliens
5) Expulsion authority for a limited number of days ONLY if encounters exceed 5k/day over a seven day period
6) Restricts parole for those who enter without authorization between ports of entry
OBSERVATION - This bill will only make matters worse on the border, as even more will rush in to cash in on these golden tickets.
China –
Important dates of notice -
13 January 2024 - Taiwan general election
*****
Lai Ching-te, the winner of Saturday’s presidential election, thanked the people of Taiwan for “writing a new chapter” in his victory speech.
“We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy,” the 64-year-old said.”The Taiwanese people have successfully resisted efforts from external forces to influence this election,” Lai also said in reference to alleged attempts by China to sway the vote for a more pro-Beijing party.
For the past eight years, the DPP’s now outgoing president Tsai Ing Wen had moved Taiwan away from Beijing’s orbit closer to the United States - increasingly angering Beijing.
William Lai is likely to continue with the Party’s strong self governing stance - and China has already issued staunch warnings against any moves for independence.
Lai said he is “determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threat and intimidation from China” and will maintain the cross-strait status quo.
OBSERVATION - In spite of China’s efforts to influence the election, their worst case scenario was elected. I expect China’s response to be furious verbally, with a probability of increased air/sea intrusions and perhaps another ‘exercise’ practicing for a potential blockaide of the island. Lai has reportedly been careful in his post election interviews with reporters, avoiding potential statements that could further inflame China.
***
Exports from China dropped by nearly 5 percent in 2023 as demand from Western nations waned over the past year, with the United States leading with a 13 percent decline. Beijing’s exports to the United States saw the largest decline, falling 13 percent in 2023. Exports to Southeast Asia and the European Union also fell. A notable exception to the trend was Russia, with Chinese exports jumping 47 percent.
China’s economy has been sputtering since wuhan. “[And, while] the Chinese government indicated recently that policy measures next year will prioritize development, the efficacy of the measures will be instrumental to curb downside risks to economic growth, which Fitch Ratings forecasts to slow to 4.6 percent in 2024 from 5.3 percent in 2023.”
In a Dec. 14 press release, the World Bank said that while China’s economic activity picked up in 2023, its economic performance has been “marked by volatility, ongoing deflationary pressures, and still weak consumer confidence.” It projected GDP growth to slow to 4.5 percent this year.
OBSERVATION - Severe economic woes will play an important role in any Chinese decision on action against Taiwan.
Is China in a position to act against Taiwan? The fundamental answer is yes, but those actions are limited. Xi’s recent purges of military leadership indicate he as concerns over officer loyalty as well as competency to some degree. A military action such as an invasion will require all branches of the military to be working on all cylinders as such an invasion would be on the scale of Normandy, and China has never launched an operation of that scale before, let alone an amphibious one. China has demonstrated that they could initiate a blockade of the island, however, this brings into question its readiness to fight a naval battle to maintain the blockade. With the current biden regime cast of clowns running the military, our willingness to challenge and break a blockade is highly questionable and in an election year, doubly so. Under a potential Trump administration, that perception would change. While a war could help pull the country out of some of its economic woes, it can also make matters worse, so an intensive, internal propaganda campaign will be needed to divert the citizens woes on the economy to the nationalistic reunification of the country. Guess bottom line is we are looking at perilous times this year in the western Pacific.
North/South Korea –
South Korea’s defense minister Shin Wonsik said in an interview with Yonhap News published Thursday that NK’s cooperation with Russia on arms and ammo sales may be getting focused on the development of a reentry vehicle for their nuclear weapons and the world may see such a test soon. NK has demonstrated that they have missiles with the necessary range. There are just two components missing - demonstration that they have mastered the capability to down size the components necessary to spark a nuclear explosion to the size that can be carried by these missiles, and a reentry system that can prevent them from burning up as they reenter the atmosphere.
I would expect to see at least one underground test of the warhead, possibly an exoatmospheric (outside of the atmosphere) blast followed by reentry vehicle (absent warhead) tests. Russian technical ‘help’ could greatly accelerate NK’s program.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Jan 1, 2024
With the end of the Ukraine summer offensive and the ongoing winter mud season, Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Russia maintains it attacks to take Adviivka, even in the face of huge losses. Russia continues to launch smaller attacks daily across the front lines.
Russian has been shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones with the likelihood of attempting to take down the Ukraine power grid as they did winter 2023. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. In the latest, large missile / drone attack, the Black Sea fleet was noticeably out of action. In the last half of 2023, Ukraine was able to take out about 20% of the fleet.
While Russia has reportedly about 400K of soldiers in the theater, all evidence indicates that they are poorly trained and equipped. Russian forces are increasingly having to rely on 50’s and 60’s vintage tanks, APCs and other vehicles. Russian large assaults continue to be what are referred to as ‘meat’ attacks - throwing large numbers of lightly armed, foot troops at Ukraine defenses in hopes of overwhelming them. These tactics ‘worked’ at Bakhmut but there Russia still had a superiority in artillery support. Concerted efforts by Ukraine to locate and destroy Russian artillery, combined with wear and tear taking systems out and poor/no ammo has generally caused Russia to lose the edge in artillery firepower.
Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.
Russia is believed to be trying to muster a force for a winter offensive, once the soils freeze up and permit cross country maneuver. Focus of such an offensive has not solidified but the most likely candidate for one front is the continued attempt to eliminate the salient at Adviivka.
*****
Russian Personnel Issues –-
Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Deputy Chief Major General Vadym Skibitskyi stated on January 11 that Russian forces have 462,000 personnel in Ukraine and that this represents the entire land component of the Russian military. Skibitskyi stated that the size of the Russian grouping in Ukraine allows Russian forces to conduct rotations throughout the theater.
Russia’s ability to conduct operational level rotations will likely allow Russian forces to maintain the overall tempo of their localized offensive operations in eastern Ukraine in the near term. It is unclear if Russian forces will be able to conduct effective rotations in the long term or in the event of intensified Russian offensive efforts or a significant Ukrainian counteroffensive operation. (ISW)
***
Wildberries employees burned down the 100,000m² (25 acres) warehouse in Saint Petersburg in response to Putin’s raids at the location earlier today - masses of workers were arrested to be sent to fight in Ukraine. Wildberries is Russia’s Amazon ripoff.
.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temps in the single digits to 20s degree F range with on again, off again snow. Lows 0 to the teens.
24 HOUR ROUND UP – Weather continues to dominate action on the ground. However, temperatures are reaching levels that are starting to freeze the ground locally, meaning that ground operations may have their tempo increase over the coming days/weeks.
Russia launched another barrage of missiles overnight. Ukrainian air defense shot down 7 of 12 Kh-101 cruise missiles and 1 of 4 Kh-59 missile. Russian army also launched 7 S-300/S-400 missiles from Belgorod region, 3 Shahed drones, 6 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles, 6 Kh-22 cruise missiles, 6 ballistic Iskander-M missiles, and 2 Kh-31P missiles.
This missile attack caused Poland to scramble fighters and activate its air defense system.
Outlook —
Weather and mud conditions are continuing to dictate ground operations, which are at a low level due to lack of maneuverability cross country and on dirt roads due to the mud.
Russia’s recent missile barrages indicate that they have identified gaps or seams in the Ukraine air defense network, and are directing the appropriate missiles that can exploit those gaps. Ukraine has put together a relatively effective ADA network of a hodge-podge of NATO and Russian systems but lack a lot of the more sophisticated systems that can take out the ballistic systems, meaning more Patriot systems are needed. Expect more Russia missile attacks every few days probably thru the end of February.
The Ukraine assessment of 462,000 Russian troops in the Ukraine theatre of operations may be on the high side, but Russia has been able to scrape together more and more for the fight. Key matter is the training and capability of these forces. Historically for this war, these conscripts have been poorly trained. Belarus has been helping train Russian conscripts, but those activities have been on the down side lately. The other aspect is the equipping. Personal gear is becoming old and outdated. There is a growing dependency of soldiers to strip fallen comrades of there weapons and personal equipment. At a higher level, Russia is running quickly out of its modern tank and APC forces, evidenced by more cold war era T-62 / T-54 tanks and MTLP APCs being used on the fronts. Modern equipment replacement is very slow - poor production practices and sanctions being key.
What this all wraps up as Russia can continue to conduct small scale offensive operations, but lacks the appropriate trained and equipped forces for a more substantial operations in the near and intermediate future.
Poland –
Protests in Poland against the tyrannical arrests of opposition by new leftist PM Tusk continue to grow.
***
Poland scrambled fighters and activated air defense units in response to Russia’s missile attack on Ukraine overnight.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- US and UK forces, launched followup strikes on Houthi installations and facilities.
——— GENERAL ——————————-
After talks between the Mossad and Qatari officials, Israel will send medicine to the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for the 1st time since October 7, Israeli Prime Minister’s office says
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
After largely securing the northern Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Force continued to lead intense battles in its central and southern portions as it encircled the al-Bureij camp and advanced deeper into the town of Khan Younis. Currently, four IDF divisions are operating in the Gaza Strip, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari said in a press briefing on Thursday.
Rockets were fired from Gaza at Ashdod and communities near the Strip, in the first attack in some 34 hours
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Continued exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and IDF along the border.
———WEST BANK——————————-
Multiple engagements between West Bank groups and Israeli security forces. Security forces make many raids throughout the West Bank capturing Hamas and other terror leaders and cells.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
U.S. Defense Officials state that U.S. Naval aircraft have carried out additional airstrikes tonight on Houthi rRadar and air defense sites in the Houthi Capital of Sana’a near Al-Dailami Air Force Base, as a response to an anti-ship ballistic missiles which were launched against a commercials Ship yesterday in the Gulf of Aden.
The Houthi movement threatened a “strong and effective response” after the United States carried out another strike in Yemen overnight.
——— FORECAST ————————-
Israel to continue search and destroy operations across Gaza. Fighting to continue to be intense in central and S Gaza while N Gaza levels are dropping fast.
Follow-up airstrikes against Houthi facilities shows that someone has their act together to some degree. The big airstrike of yesterday will not immediately stop the Houthi from continuing their attacks on shipping. Only continued pressure by US and allied forces via missile and bombing attacks will accomplish that. Some would say that the Saudis were incapable of defeating the Houthi. The reality is that, though well equipped, the Saudi forces were limited in numbers and in some cases, willingness. The Eisenhower CSG contains a ton of firepower. US planners should start factoring in strategic bombers for even heavier strikes.
Near term - Houthi attempts to step up interdiction of shipping. Hopefully US will respond quickly to those attacks with more and heavier airstrikes.
Central / South America General-
Ecuador - Civil war alert
Military / police now systematically locating and arresting narco-terrorist gang members across the country. Stability is returning as is a sense of normality. This action is far from being over though.
Keep the fire going... In my part of Florida it's 60 degrees right now... our sweater weather.
Still cold, -21, but this time next weekend looking at highs in the low +40s.
Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WEF Davos Jan 15-19
- WHO February 19 to 21, Trans guideline committee.
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024
*****
Meeting on Ukrainian peace formula at the level of advisors to leaders has started in Davos. Looks like the WEF seeking to end their war.
***
Bureaucrats with ties to the World Economic Forum (WEF) are demanding powers to legally euthanize children.
WEF-linked officials in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Human Rights Commission are pushing new laws that would see minors killed for “their own dignity.”
Australia’s new Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill of 2023 has drawn the attention of those who wish to see assisted death opened to those under the age of 18.
OBSERVATION - The article summarizes it well -
“Allowing children to request legal suicide is a dangerous proposition when it is known that decision-making skills are not fully developed in humans until their early twenties.
Minors may also be more easily influenced or coerced by caregiver and parental decisions, friend groups, and social media — all of which may make voluntary assisted suicide appear as the best solution to their pain.”
This same fixation on coercing children into transgenderism and sexual behavior is now expanding to include suicide. As noted before on other WEF / Globalism issues, Australia is acting as a beta test bed for these diabolical proposals.
***
This year’s Davos may be the last hurrah for Kerry as climate czar. Reports are that he will leave the administration later this winter, and plans to help President Biden’s campaign, according to Axios.
OBSERVATION - ketchup boy will still parrot globalist goals. But biden must be desperate to bring this loser on board to help his ailing campaign.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
Upcoming events of importance
- 18 January 2023, Atlanta, “Day of the Forest Defender,” protests against the Police training facility being constructed
****
March for Gaza” protesters, many waving red and green Palestinian flags, gathered by the thousands in Washington, D.C., Saturday to call for a cease-fire in Gaza and for the United States to quit providing aid to Israel, joining in a day of worldwide pro-Palestinian marches in cities including Rome, London, Paris, Dublin, Johannesburg, and Kuala Lumpur.
The protests in D.C. centered in Freedom Plaza, just blocks from the White House, with busloads of demonstrators arriving from across the United States to protest the war and the American support for Israel’s bombing campaign that has been going on since Oct. 7, when Hamas fighters attacked in Israel, reports The Washington Post.
The rally was organized by several groups, including the American Muslim Task Force for Palestine, and marked the second largest pro-Palestinian march in the nation’s capital since the war began.
These marchers just couldn’t hold back their violent tendencies and later moved to try to penetrate the security fences surrounding the White House. All non-essential White House staff were evacuated as massive group of pro-Houthi and pro Hamas protesters push up on the fences on Pennsylvania Avenue.. Some protestors managed breached the WH gate and other scaled the wall.
Police and Secret Service personnel rushed to the scene to secure it. There they faced thrown water bottles and rocks. No word on injuries.
NOTE - biden was not at the WH when this occurred but in Pennsylvania (?). I’ve not seen reports on any arrests yet either.
IN RELATED
A large crowd of protesters who denounced Israel’s military actions in Gaza were trying to shut down the Port of Oakland on Saturday morning.
Hundreds of people blocked the entrance to the port, which they say is used to ship military equipment to Israel. The crowd gathered before dawn, trying to prevent port workers from getting to their jobs.
OBSERVATION - Violent islamic supporters with supportive Antifa elements are pushing towards more aggressive marches, to say the least. Democrats are not exempt as the attack on the WH demonstrates. This is similar to the raw power push by BLM and Antifa in their west coast strongholds of Portland and Seattle - to keep the progressive city leadership cowed.
Economy-
Upcoming dates of importance
- The Fed next meets on Jan. 30-31.
Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –
The US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remains in hospital in “good condition” following treatment for prostate cancer, the Pentagon has said.
In a statement, it said Mr Austin had resumed some of his duties and is in “contact with his senior staff”.
It added that there was no specific date for his release from hospital.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Dates of importance
January 19 - funding for federal transportation programs, housing and food plans and other resources will expire.
February 2 - funding for Departments of Health and Human Services, Commerce, Labor, State and Defense will expire
March 5- Super Tuesday primaries
****
Congressional leaders have agreed on a two-tranche stopgap spending bill to keep the federal government funded into March and avert a partial government shutdown starting late next week, according to multiple reports Saturday.
The short-term continuing resolution will keep in place Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) two-part approach, in which four appropriations bills would be funded until March 1, and the remaining eight will be funded until March 8, according to two sources familiar with the matter. During that time frame, Congress would work to write and pass appropriations bills at the top-line agreement between the two chambers of $1.66 billion.
OBSERVATION - Speaker Johnson really stepped in it when the bill to cover the full year was revealed. It contained everything that got McCarthy kicked out of the chair for. Johnson is not out of the woods yet, as he will be facing the funding fight in the middle of campaign season.
***
Iowa Caucuses on this week, and motivation is high and the blizzard conditions do not appear to be a threat to turnout. Trump is by all polls maintaining a massive lead.
Illegal Immigration –
Speaker Johnson basically rendered Sen (RINO) Lankford’s Senate Immigration Deal dead on arrival. As noted yesterday, this bill is nothing but a massive amnesty bill.
***
The Texas National Guard is now using riot shields to stop the massive inflow of illegal immigrants in Eagle Pass, Texas.
OBSERVATION - A few illegals managed force their way in before the Guard established a reinforced barrier. These illegals were arrested. This is a huge challenge to biden and DHS now that force is beginning to be used to stanch the flow of illegals.
***
Maine taxpayers are footing the bill for new apartments built specifically for illegal immigrants. They have *two years worth of rent paid for by state taxpayers.
OBSERVATION - We have millions of American CITIZENS on the streets, and Maine is paying the tab for illegals to live off our taxes. I certainly hope lawsuits quickly hit them.
China –
Taiwan election - Joe Biden says US does not support independence. The US congratulated Taiwan’s president-elect William Lai Ching-te, but also sought to reassure Beijing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Washington is ‘committed to maintaining cross-strait peace and stability’
***
China dismissed the outcome of Taiwan’s Saturday elections, saying its ruling Democratic Progressive Party does not represent mainstream public opinion after it failed to win a majority in the presidential and legislative votes.
“Taiwan is China’s Taiwan,” Chen Binhua, the spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Saturday after DPP’s Lai Ching-te emerged as the winner of the self-governing island’s presidential contest with more than 40% of the popular vote.
OBSERVATION - China invested a lot of effort and political capitol in trying to defeat the DPP.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Jan 1, 2024
With the end of the Ukraine summer offensive and the ongoing winter mud season, Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Russia maintains it attacks to take Adviivka, even in the face of huge losses. Russia continues to launch smaller attacks daily across the front lines.
Russian has been shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones with the likelihood of attempting to take down the Ukraine power grid as they did winter 2023. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. In the latest, large missile / drone attack, the Black Sea fleet was noticeably out of action. In the last half of 2023, Ukraine was able to take out about 20% of the fleet.
While Russia has reportedly about 400K of soldiers in the theater, all evidence indicates that they are poorly trained and equipped. Russian forces are increasingly having to rely on 50’s and 60’s vintage tanks, APCs and other vehicles. Russian large assaults continue to be what are referred to as ‘meat’ attacks - throwing large numbers of lightly armed, foot troops at Ukraine defenses in hopes of overwhelming them. These tactics ‘worked’ at Bakhmut but there Russia still had a superiority in artillery support. Concerted efforts by Ukraine to locate and destroy Russian artillery, combined with wear and tear taking systems out and poor/no ammo has generally caused Russia to lose the edge in artillery firepower.
Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.
Russia is believed to be trying to muster a force for a winter offensive, once the soils freeze up and permit cross country maneuver. Focus of such an offensive has not solidified but the most likely candidate for one front is the continued attempt to eliminate the salient at Adviivka.
*****
Russia’s power grid has seriously collapsed in the face of a fridgid arctic air mass. Operator of Russian power grid Rosseti imposed schedule of rolling blackouts in Rostov region. Rolling blackouts also reported for the Moscow region. Blackouts in several district of Rostov-on-Don and Bataisk.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temps in the single digits to 20s degree F range with on again, off again snow. Lows 0 to the teens.
24 HOUR ROUND UP – Weather continues to dominate action on the ground. However, temperatures are reaching levels that are starting to freeze the ground locally, meaning that ground operations may have their tempo increase over the coming days/weeks.
Kherson Axis -
For 3 months the Russian army has been trying & failing to destroy Ukraine’s small southern bridgehead on the southern bank of the Dnipro river anchored by Ukrainian defenses in the village of Krynky.
Ukraine has established a degree of ‘drone superiority’ in the region, detecting and hitting Russian forces early and often, breaking up attacks and inflicting severe losses. Russians say that they enter a ‘hornets nest” of drones, apparently working in pairs, with the first drone hitting the main target with the second monitoring the strike, then swooping in to clean up.
Outlook —
Weather and mud conditions are continuing to dictate ground operations, which are at a low level due to lack of maneuverability cross country and on dirt roads due to the mud. However, seeing reports that the ground is beginning to solidify in areas, to the level of being capable to support off road movement.
ISRAEL –
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Israel continues to conduct search and clearing operations in central and S Gaza. N Gaza is essentially been subdued. Fighting is the fiercest in S Gaza and IDF continues to work its way into the major Hamas strongholds in Khan Yunis.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Continued exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and IDF along the border.
The Israeli army reports that 4 Hezbollah militants who infiltrated from Lebanon into the Kafr Shuba area were killed.
———WEST BANK——————————-
Multiple engagements between West Bank groups and Israeli security forces. Security forces make many raids throughout the West Bank capturing Hamas and other terror leaders and cells.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
Armed factions in Iraq say they targeted an American base in northeastern Syria.
***
Local Houthi sources state that a naval base in the Dune area was hit by aerial bombs. US denies making the attack. Israel is believed to be the source - though no word if they used aircraft (likely F-35) or cruise missiles.
***
President Biden says the US has delivered a “private message” to Iran about the Houthis in Yemen after the US carried out a second strike on the group.
“We delivered it privately and we’re confident we’re well-prepared,” he said without giving further details.
The US said its latest strike was a “follow-on action” targeting radar.
Iran denies involvement in attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea.
However Tehran is suspected of supplying the Houthis with weapons, and the US says Iranian intelligence is critical to enabling them to target ships.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67967233
——— FORECAST ————————-
Israel to continue search and destroy operations across Gaza. Fighting to continue to be intense in central and S Gaza while N Gaza levels are dropping fast.
The Houthis have hit a pause as they reassess their tactics and targets. It is expected that they will continue drone / missile attacks on Red Sea shipping soon. CENTCOM seems to suggest that any further attacks will be quickly responded to with more airstrikes. We will have to see if this will be the case.
Iran –
biden ‘warned ‘ Iran following airstrikes on their proxy Houthi forces. Iran responded with a claim that they are not involved - a claim that was fully rejected and with good reason.
Iraq -
The Iranian-backed Badr Organization announced the submission of a draft law that requires the removal of US forces from Iraq. This law is part of Iran’s decades-old effort to expel US forces from Iraq and the region.
OBSERVATION - Continuation of the push by Iranian supported politicians and militias. Given the amorphous foreign policy by the biden regimen I can expect that if the bills get passed and soon, we could see US forces pulling out before the election.
Syria -
Turkish Ministry of Defense: Air strikes hit 25 targets of Kurdish militants in northern Syria and Iraq.
NOTE - One of the largest airstrikes in many months.
Misc of Note –
Latest reports say that a new fissure has opened just north of Grindavik, the Icelandic town closest to where the latest eruption has taken place.
The lava is now only 50m (160 feet) away from the nearest houses.
The main road leading to Grindavik has been cut off, and the local mayor describes the situation as ominous.
This is the second volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland in a month, and the fifth since 2021.
OBSERVATION - Grindavik may be a loss. Initial reports indicate that the fissure eruption breached across the earthen barrier, making it virtually impossible to stop the flow.
Another balmy -26 this morning. Should be the last seriously cold morning for the rest of the month.
Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WEF Davos Jan 15-19
- WHO February 19 to 21, Trans guideline committee.
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024
*****
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky will share a special stage with World Economic Forum (WEF) executive chairman and founder Klaus Schwab on Tuesday to make a guest appearance at the annual gathering of the globalist elites.
OBSERVATION - Seen in part as an effort to garner more supplies and support for Ukraine’s war against Russia, there are likely deeper roots to this impending show at Davos. There are those who believe that the war has been orchestrated by the WEF and associated to weaken Russia and other western nations ability to provide armed opposition to the WEF during the course of its ‘global reset’.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
Upcoming events of importance
- 18 January 2023, Atlanta, “Day of the Forest Defender,” protests against the Police training facility being constructed
****
(NBC). A network of public interest groups and lawmakers, nervous about former President Trump’s potential return to power, is quietly devising plans to foil any effort on his part to pressure the U.S. military to carry out his political agenda.
According to the article, these insiders will go all out “to foil any efforts to expand presidential power,” even if Trump has been given a mandate to do so by the American people.
However, critics say that the plan is clearly part of an effort to have the military override Trump’s constitutional authority as president.
“Never forget this tweet for the rest of your life,” wrote Mike Benz, executive director for Foundation For Freedom Online and former State Department official.
“This is an admitted plan, in advance, for the military to no longer observe the military chain of command. This is military-run government. This is a plan to end civilian-run government,” he added.
OBSERVERS - Commentators are correctly noting that this is nothing short of treason and a coup attempt. God help us if they try this. There are enough leftist, progressive generals in the military that would support such a plan. This is clearly evidenced by Milley’s admission that he would - on his own initiative - have called China to warn of any impending military action against it. Will the rank and file members of the military follow along?
***
Andy Ngo is reporting on X that Portland Antifa members have put out a call to target “zios” (zionists) in public.
OBSERVATION - The Gaza War has given these leftist anarchists a new target for now. Ngo’s coverage of Antifa has been spot on and Jews and any supporters in the Portland and Seattle strongholds should seriously watch their 6.
Terrorism - Level is HIGH due to increased lone wolf threats.
“A few minutes ago at the coffee shop, you said you think the Houthis are a terrorist group. I’m wondering, how soon are you willing to designate them as such?” a wire reporter asked.
“It’s irrelevant whether we designate them,” Biden said.
OBSERVATION - The lackadaisical attitude of biden shows a complete lack of concern over the protection of this country or international interests. In a detached manner, his attitude also serves to condone Iran’s support of global terror as the Houthi are established to be a puppet organization of Iran.
Economy-
Upcoming dates of importance
- The Fed next meets on Jan. 30-31.
*****
Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –
The U.S. Navy has deployed the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and the remainder of Carrier Strike Group 9 (CSG-9). The CSG departed from Naval Base San Diego on Friday heading towards the Western Pacific; the Roosevelt was expected to deploy within the next few months to replace the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) but it seems this has come much earlier than expected without any kind of announcement or press release from the Navy.
OBSERVATION - I noted that the removal of the USS Ford CSG from the region absent any ready replacement was hazardous. Now with the action against the Houthi heating up and potential retaliatory actions by China over the Taiwan elections, things have just gotten hotter.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Dates of importance
January 19 - funding for federal transportation programs, housing and food plans and other resources will expire.
February 2 - funding for Departments of Health and Human Services, Commerce, Labor, State and Defense will expire
March 5- Super Tuesday primaries
****
Iowa Caucuses ensue today.
***
In a practical confession that the charges against her last week are valid, Fani Willis declared in a church Sunday (!?!) “You cannot expect Black women to be perfect and save the world,” Willis said. “We need to be allowed to stumble. We need grace,”.
OBSERVATION - Book her Dano. . . . .
Illegal Immigration –
Texas his holding the line while the regime seeks USSC order to stop them and allow uncontrolled illegals to continue to flood the country.
Meanwhile, NYC mayor Adams claims that illegals released into the country pending courts are legitimate immigrants and deserve same rights as citizens.
North/South Korea –
North Korea said it has tested a new solid-fuel missile fitted with a hypersonic warhead as it continued efforts to develop more powerful, harder-to-detect weaponry. The claim that the warhead was ‘maneuverable’ has not be substantiated by Japan, SK or the US.
The missile flew towards the East Sea, traveling approximately 1,000km (621 miles), with a maximum altitude was at least 50km (30 miles).
OBSERVATION - A maneuverable warhead is the current golden ring countries are reaching for in regards to this technology. Technically, every ballistic missile is ‘hyper sonic”, but the added factor of maneuverability to avoid/mitigate interception of ABM systems while in the terminal phase of their transjectory is the goal. Israel’s Arrow system shows that the maneuverable factor is negated when interception is obtained outside the earth’s atmosphere.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Jan 1, 2024
With the end of the Ukraine summer offensive and the ongoing winter mud season, Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Russia maintains it attacks to take Adviivka, even in the face of huge losses. Russia continues to launch smaller attacks daily across the front lines.
Russian has been shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones with the likelihood of attempting to take down the Ukraine power grid as they did winter 2023. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. In the latest, large missile / drone attack, the Black Sea fleet was noticeably out of action. In the last half of 2023, Ukraine was able to take out about 20% of the fleet.
While Russia has reportedly about 400K of soldiers in the theater, all evidence indicates that they are poorly trained and equipped. Russian forces are increasingly having to rely on 50’s and 60’s vintage tanks, APCs and other vehicles. Russian large assaults continue to be what are referred to as ‘meat’ attacks - throwing large numbers of lightly armed, foot troops at Ukraine defenses in hopes of overwhelming them. These tactics ‘worked’ at Bakhmut but there Russia still had a superiority in artillery support. Concerted efforts by Ukraine to locate and destroy Russian artillery, combined with wear and tear taking systems out and poor/no ammo has generally caused Russia to lose the edge in artillery firepower.
Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.
Russia is believed to be trying to muster a force for a winter offensive, once the soils freeze up and permit cross country maneuver. Focus of such an offensive has not solidified but the most likely candidate for one front is the continued attempt to eliminate the salient at Adviivka.
*****
RUMINT-
Some analysts believe that Russia is preparing air assault brigades to land behind the defense lines of the Armed Forces.
NOTE - Russia lost most of this capability in the early months of the war, with their air assault designed to quickly move TRAINED forces south and capture Kyiv quickly. That assault failed miserably. Since then airborne/air assault forces have been cut up severely in the many battles Russian has thrown them into
Since then, the proliferation of MANPADS and other ADA assets make any kind of overflight by Russian helicopters a suicide mission. Air assault operations by their nature are very risky operations and success must be met by rapid link up with ground forces. The WW2 bridge at Remagen (A Bridge Too Far), is a prime example. Russian armor has shown from day 1 the inability to maneuver that far, that fast. And under current conditions - vastly lower quality troops, training and equipment, such an operation is unlikely.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temps in the single digits to 20s degree F range with on again, off again snow. Lows 0 to the teens.
24 HOUR ROUND UP – Weather continues to dominate action on the ground. However, temperatures are reaching levels that are starting to freeze the ground locally, meaning that ground operations may have their tempo increase over the coming days/weeks.
BIG loss for Russian’s air force. Overnight Russia AF lost a Beriev A-50 airborne early warning and control plane over the Sea of Azov. It is believed that Russia only had about 9 of these expensive and hard to maintain planes available. May be even less considering that a kamikaze drone hit an A-50 nearly a year ago at an airfield in Belarus. The A-50 is able to detect low flying Ukrainian aircraft at long range and passing on targeting information to the S-300 and S-400 air defense missiles.
In addition a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M SIGINT platform was also hit in the same area and signaled mayday, including the attempt for an emergency landing in Anapa, Russia, as well as the request for ambulances. There is no information that the plane arrived at the destination but even if then it was certainly severely damaged.
The cause for both incidents are still a matter of speculation, but the fact that two valuable Russian birds got hit at the same time and the same region, make enemy fire the most plausible explanation. However, both were out of range even for known Ukraine ADA systems. However, Ukraine did claim have conducted the shootdowns. See discussion below.
Russian ground assaults focused on the Donetsk sector from Adviivak south to Novobakhmutivka.
Outlook —
Weather and mud conditions are continuing to dictate ground operations, which are at a low level due to lack of maneuverability cross country and on dirt roads due to the mud. However, seeing reports that the ground is beginning to solidify in areas, to the level of being capable to support off road movement.
Reports coming out that Ukraine disabled more than two dozen Russian missiles with the help of “countermeasures by EW” . Military analysts say that Ukrainian electronic warfare systems have previously been credited with disabling Russian drones, but not missile systems. If this is a valid observation - then Russia’s winter missile offensive maybe facing further degradation.
The loss of Russian A-50 and Il-20M, is factual. What is being questioned is how and why. While Russia seems to have quickly called the loss being due to ‘friendly fire’, it could be to reduce the embarrassment that Ukraine may have found a way to exert force over the Sea of Azov. Currently, no KNOWN air defense assets that Ukraine has has the range to hit these aircraft. But as we’ve seen so far, Ukraine has been very creative using drone technology to extend their influence - just ask the Black Sea fleet. Speculation is that Ukraine could have placed radiation seeking air-to-air missiles (locking onto the aircraft’s radar) on long range aerial drones that could work their way around Crimea and into the Sea of Azov. Ukraine has made it a priority to take out land based air defense radars in Crimea - potentially blinding Russia to this threat.
The loss of the A-50 may well be followed up in the coming days by anther major Ukraine drone/missile strike on Crimea. Many expect the Kerch Strait bridge to be long over due for another attack. Blinding Russia ADA could permit a lot of cruise missiles and drones to penetrate Crimean airspace to target the bridge. Even if the bridge is ‘reparable’ it could be put out of commission for many, many months. Such an action would severely stress the support capabilities to the Russian army and could effectively stop any potential Russian winter offensive plans. It would definitely hurt defensive operations as well. Russia relies heavily on the bridge to supply the southern and southeastern fronts with arms and material.
Finally, loss of the A-50 with the expected soon use of F-16s by Ukraine will further tip the balance away from Russia to Ukraine in many areas. Time will tell if Ukraine is as crafty with the use of the F-16 has it has adapted other western systems for its fight with Russia
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- Drone launched at US naval vessel shot down by US fighter jet.
——— GENERAL ——————————-
Hamas on Sunday released a new propaganda video featuring three Israeli hostages: Noa Argamani, Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky. It’s unclear as to when the video was taken at this time.
Rough summary of the first 100 days of the Gaza war - 9,000 Hamas members killed, 11,000+ rockets fired into Israel. After 100 days of war, IDF data says dozens of Hamas commanders slain, 30,000 targets struck in Gaza; more than 170 terrorists in Lebanon killed, over 750 Hezbollah posts hit.
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Israel continues to conduct search and clearing operations in central and S Gaza. N Gaza is essentially been subdued. Fighting is the fiercest in S Gaza and IDF continues to work its way into the major Hamas strongholds in Khan Yunis.
Overnight, intense air strikes targeted the central region of the Gaza Strip
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Continued exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and IDF along the border.
Hezbollah Secretary-General - “We have been ready for war with Israel for 99 days and we will fight without restrictions or limits”
Several Hamas officials who were living in Lebanon have fled to neighboring countries and other allies after Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri was killed in an alleged Israeli strike, the Kan public broadcaster reports.
———WEST BANK——————————-
Multiple engagements between West Bank groups and Israeli security forces. Security forces make many raids throughout the West Bank capturing Hamas and other terror leaders and cells.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
Houthis fired an anti-ship cruise missile at a US warship today and was shot down off the coast of Yemen’s Hodeidah by American fighter jet according to CENTCOM.
A missile attack from Iranian backed militias targeted U.S. forces at the Kharab al-Jir base in Syria and the international coalition base in the “Conco Gas Plant” east of Deir ez-Zor Iraq.
———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
“With its actions, Turkey shows that it’s the executive arm of Hamas” says the Israeli Defense Minister Gallant
——— FORECAST ————————-
Israel to continue search and destroy operations across Gaza. Fighting to continue to be intense in central and S Gaza while N Gaza levels are dropping fast.
Much of the news seems almost routine over the past few days. Hamas trying to hold its strongholds by their fingernails, IDF systematically eliminating them and their bunker system. Fighting along the Lebanese border appears to have scaled back a degree as well. Retribution for Hamas and Hezbollah senior leaders taken out in Lebanon last week has not appeared in any significant form.
All this to say that things could well change in a moment.
Quick note on the 100 day summary. 11,000+ rockets launched against Israel. It is estimated that Hezbollah has accumulated about 150,000 rockets/missiles for use against Israel. When the S hits the fan in S Lebanon, the rocket barrage Israel could face will be something like they’ve never had to deal with before. OTOH, the fury of Israel’s response will be nothing like Hezbollah has ever experience before as well.
Central / South America General-
Ecuador - Narco-Terrorist Alert.
Nearly 900 people have been arrested in Ecuador since Tuesday in a national security operation to stop an outburst of gang violence, Ecuador’s presidency said.
The presidency says 94 of the 859 people detained are members of what they call “terrorist” groups.
In a further measure, the Ecuadorian government announced on Thursday that foreigners who want to enter the country from Colombia or Peru will have to provide a criminal record certificate in a measure designed to “prevent and control the entry of individuals who constitute a threat or risk to public safety.”
Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa has claimed that 90% of the foreign prisoners in Ecuador are Colombians, Peruvians, and Venezuelans.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/13/americas/ecuador-arrests-suspected-gang-members-intl/index.html
OBSERVATION - Levels of violence seem to be dropping as the military and police crack down. The narco uprising was a show of force intended to deter the govt from clamping down on the drug trade that passes thru the country. Located between two major cocaine producers, Peru and Colombia, drug trafficking has substantially increased over the years.
OBSERVATION - The Gaza War has given these leftist anarchists a new target for now. Ngo’s coverage of Antifa has been spot on and Jews and any supporters in the Portland and Seattle strongholds should seriously watch their 6.
Ping
Late because other stuff came up. Sorry
Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WEF Davos Jan 15-19
- WHO February 19 to 21, Trans guideline committee.
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024
*****
Davos confab is ongoing.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Dates of importance
January 19 - funding for federal transportation programs, housing and food plans and other resources will expire.
February 2 - funding for Departments of Health and Human Services, Commerce, Labor, State and Defense will expire
March 5- Super Tuesday primaries
****
Iowa Caucuses - Trump crushed the other republican candidates to win by a record amount of votes in all 99 counties. Vivek drops out following the vote and endorses Trump.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Jan 1, 2024
With the end of the Ukraine summer offensive and the ongoing winter mud season, Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Russia maintains it attacks to take Adviivka, even in the face of huge losses. Russia continues to launch smaller attacks daily across the front lines.
Russian has been shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones with the likelihood of attempting to take down the Ukraine power grid as they did winter 2023. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. In the latest, large missile / drone attack, the Black Sea fleet was noticeably out of action. In the last half of 2023, Ukraine was able to take out about 20% of the fleet.
While Russia has reportedly about 400K of soldiers in the theater, all evidence indicates that they are poorly trained and equipped. Russian forces are increasingly having to rely on 50’s and 60’s vintage tanks, APCs and other vehicles. Russian large assaults continue to be what are referred to as ‘meat’ attacks - throwing large numbers of lightly armed, foot troops at Ukraine defenses in hopes of overwhelming them. These tactics ‘worked’ at Bakhmut but there Russia still had a superiority in artillery support. Concerted efforts by Ukraine to locate and destroy Russian artillery, combined with wear and tear taking systems out and poor/no ammo has generally caused Russia to lose the edge in artillery firepower.
Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.
Russia is believed to be trying to muster a force for a winter offensive, once the soils freeze up and permit cross country maneuver. Focus of such an offensive has not solidified but the most likely candidate for one front is the continued attempt to eliminate the salient at Adviivka.
*****
RUMINT-
According to a leak, Russia only has 2 remaining A-50 AWACS planes that are serviceable and combat-ready.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temps in the single digits to 20s degree F range with on again, off again snow. Lows 0 to the teens.
24 HOUR ROUND UP – Weather continues to dominate action on the ground. However, temperatures are reaching levels that are starting to freeze the ground locally, meaning that ground operations may have their tempo increase over the coming days/weeks.
Discussion continues over the two aircraft shot down over the Sea of Azov. Image reportedly of the damaged IL-22M appeared. It was able to land in Anapa but the tail is heavily damaged.
The A-50 AWAC reportedly was carrying a dozen pilots as well as Lieutenant General Oleg Vladimirovich Pchela, commander of the long-range aviation of the Russian Air Force.
Speculation that this was friendly fire has shifted towards a Patriot scenario. The distance from Ukrainian controlled territory to the location where the planes were believed to be is just at or outside of the range of a Patriot MIM-104D/E PAC-2 which has a published range of 160 km (86 nmi; 99 mi). Some are thinking Ukraine devised a way to extend the range enough to reach the targets or received a shipment of enhanced range Patriots.
Further word that a Su-34 fighter/bomber was also targeted that same time frame, but broke and got away in time, just before firing a Kinzel missile.
RUMINT suggests that Russia only has 2 remaining A-50 AWACS planes that are serviceable and combat-ready.
Russian ground forces continue their attacks along a line southward from Adviivka past Donetsk.
Ukraine targeted an airfield near Voronezh with drones overnight.
Outlook —
Weather and mud conditions are continuing to dictate ground operations, which are at a low level due to lack of maneuverability cross country and on dirt roads due to the mud. However, seeing reports that the ground is beginning to solidify in areas, to the level of being capable to support off road movement.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- Hamas threatens Israel after killing two hostages.
——— GENERAL ——————————-
Hamas issued a new video on Monday in which it forced an Israeli hostage, Noa Argamani, announced the death of two other hostages who had appeared in another video with Argamani the day before
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Israel continues to conduct search and clearing operations in central and S Gaza. N Gaza is essentially been subdued. Fighting is the fiercest in S Gaza and IDF continues to work its way into the major Hamas strongholds in Khan Yunis.
Hamas managed to put together a 50 rocket barrage, the largest since the end of the operational pause. Fired from S Gaza / Khan Yunis region.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Continued exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and IDF along the border.
PM of Lebanon Mikati: Our choice is diplomatic and we want permanent stability on the border with Israel
——— SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
Aleppo hit by Israeli missiles to intercept Iranian supplied war material for Hezbollah.
———WEST BANK——————————-
Multiple engagements between West Bank groups and Israeli security forces. Security forces make many raids throughout the West Bank capturing Hamas and other terror leaders and cells.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
On Jan. 15 at approximately 4 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship. The ship has reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey.
Earlier in the day, at approximately 2 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Forces detected an anti-ship ballistic missile fired toward the Southern Red Sea commercial shipping lanes. The missile failed in flight and impacted on land in Yemen. There were no injuries or damage reported.
CENTCOM.
US naval forces also intercepted a boat carrying missiles and components from Iran destined for Houthis.
———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
Freight container volumes through Red sea region have fallen by around 65% from expected values
——— FORECAST ————————-
Israel to continue search and destroy operations across Gaza. Fighting to continue to be intense in central and S Gaza while N Gaza levels are dropping fast.
Things will continue to escalate with the Houthi’s until constant and consistent pressure and air strikes are applied.
Iran steeped dangerously into a serious escalation with the US with the ballistic missile attack.
Iran –
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claims responsibility for the attack on Erbil, Iraq saying it destroyed “spy headquarters and the gathering of anti-Iranian terrorist groups in the region with ballistic missiles”. It is believed the missiles to be that at least 6 Fateh-110 Tactical Short-Range Ballistic Missiles were used.
According to U.S. Officials, the ballistic missile attack which Struck near the U.S. Consulate within the City of Erbil in Northern Iraq appears to have been launched directly by the IRGC from Iranian territory.
However, Iranian State Media is reporting that the missile attack originated from the Aleppo in Northwestern Syria and was the longest-range missile attack in Iranian history, with the missiles flying over 1,200km or 760 miles.
Commander of the Revolutionary Guards Air Forces statement - “We bombed the Israeli Mossad headquarters in Erbil, Iraq, with 11 ballistic missiles”
Iraqi sources say the US Consulate was heavily damaged.
OBSERVATION - Waiting to see if the US is going to respond to this attack. biden said he gave Iran a ‘message’ Looks like Iran returned the favor.
Iraq -
Iraq denounced the Erbil attacks, calling them a violation of its sovereignty.
Syria -
Israel Air Force just destroyed IRGC’s weapon shipments recently transferred from Iran to Syria in Aleppo a few minutes ago. Six cruise missiles launched by Israeli fighter jets hit multiple targets in southwest of Aleppo and also the Airport of the city
Old saying here in the Redoubt - It has to warm up in order to snow -and as sure as shooting, it’s warming up and preparing to snow. Banana belt +14 this morning. Potential 3-7 inches of snow in the forecast.
Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WEF Davos Jan 15-19
- WHO February 19 to 21, Trans guideline committee.
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024
*****
Numerous statements are coming out of Davos of concern to the world.
***
Panels are going to be discussing the mysterious “Disease X” today and tomorrow and how the world should respond to it.
***
Speaking at the WEF 2023 summit, unelected EU technocrat Věra Jourová, threatens Elon Musk with sanctions if the EU’s totalitarian censorship rules are not “complied with”.
“Our message was clear: We have the rules, which have to be complied with, and otherwise there will be sanctions.”
Harvard’s Naomi Oreskes says X is “such a toxic place” with a “scary name” at Klaus Schwab’s WEF.
NOTE - Threat against a platform that has shifted to free speech.
***
Speaking at the WEF, former head of the IMF’s China division, Eswar Prasad: CBDC will be programmable, in a way that will enable governments to dictate how, when, where, on what and by whom they can be spent, including the imposition of expiry dates.
OBSERVATION - Clear outline of the goals for the use of digital currency. For those unfamiliar with the term “ expiry dates”, it is essentially a use it or lose it clause meaning that you cannot save your money, that it must be spent by that ‘date’ or its gone.
***
January 14, 2024 Yuval Harari joined host Steven Bartlett on The Diary Of A CEO podcast last week for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of humanity.
“Are you concerned that Trump might be elected again,” asked Bartlett.
Harari responded, “I think it’s very likely, and if it happens it is likely to be the kind of like death blow to what remains of the global order, and he says it openly. It should be clear that many of these politicians present a false binary vision of the world as if you have to choose between patriotism and globalism… between being loyal to your nation and being loyal to some kind of global government or whatever.”
OBSERVATION - The target on Trump’s back grows with statements like this. NOTE - Some consider Harari to be a lunatic. That is too easy of a label. He is a stone cold WEF right hand of Schwab - carrying a lot of influence. His words have been echoed by many other syncopates of Schwab - so dismiss them at your own risk.
***
Latest buzzword that has made its appearance at Davos.
Farming, fishing and making money etc is now called “Ecocide.”
So basically if you want to live, you’re committing a crime. You are ‘killing ‘ the ecology (and global climate change)
****
WEF digital ID efforts becoming applied here in the US by TSA
TSA will expand the pilot for mobile driver’s license or digital ID at TSA checkpoints from seven to nine states, and from five to six platforms, giving more passengers digital ID options.
Expand the use of facial identification technology with TSA PreCheck®
TSA will expand the use of facial identification technology with TSA PreCheck®, from five to 10 airport locations and from two to three airlines. More passengers may opt for a live facial image to be matched against a temporary gallery of pre-staged photos, improving both verification security and line speed.
https://docs.reclaimthenet.org/hisp-action-plan-dhs-tsa.pdf
OBSERVATION - The continued push for digital and biometric ID being expanded in the US.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
Upcoming events of importance
- 18 January 2023, Atlanta, “Day of the Forest Defender,” protests against the Police training facility being constructed
****
RE the Jan 18 Atlanta protests - Expect them to last thru the weekend. In the past the construction contractor has suffered considerable vandalism of equipment and supplies. Also these Antifa related elements have set booby traps in adjacent parks. Could be a lot of violence coming.
***
See “Illegal Immigration” below as a showdown is developing today between Texas and the DHS.
***
Dozens of pro-hamas protests are in the works around the country. This weekend could be very busy. Recent protests coordinated actions in front of hospitals, particularly those with special children’s wards and care centers.
Wuhan and other “new” Plandemics –
Chinese scientists affiliated with the military have engineered a lethal mutant coronavirus strain, GX_P2V, with a 100% mortality rate in mice, igniting concerns over the potential transmission to humans.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/coronavirus-wuhan-china/2024/01/16/id/1149829/
OBSERVATION - Could this be the disease “X” the WEF is discussing? A lot of speculation as the discussion in Davos shifts to panels discussing X
POLITICAL FRONT –
Dates of importance
January 19 - funding for federal transportation programs, housing and food plans and other resources will expire.
February 2 - funding for Departments of Health and Human Services, Commerce, Labor, State and Defense will expire
March 5- Super Tuesday primaries
****
Attention now being focused on New Hampshire.
Illegal Immigration –
A show down is set today in Texas. A strongly worded letter from the Department of Homeland Security to the State of Texas demands access to the U.S.-Mexico border on land seized by the State in Eagle Pass. DHS officials ordered the State to cease and desist its efforts to block Border Patrol’s access in and around Shelby Park “and remove all barriers to access” by the end of the day on January 17 (today).
OBSERVATION - The USSC has not ruled on the DHS emergency petition. The big question is will DHS/Border Patrol force an armed incident. Will the fed govt “nationalize” the TX NG units at the park? Will TX reinforce the NG with TX Rangers? Depending on the path DHS chooses to take, this could be a significant event of constitutional crisis proportions. If the support of TX by the Border Patrol union reflects rank and file, BP officers may well be reluctant to square off in this situation. Would US Fed Marshals or FBI do the same?
As I understand the law, State ‘owned’ lands , the state can tell the BP to pound sand. The emergency declaration makes the park ‘state owned’.
Also, the wording of the order suggests that criminal charges may be made against the TX governor and state officials.
China –
I am not seeing any major military based response to Taiwan’s election rejection of China.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Jan 1, 2024
With the end of the Ukraine summer offensive and the ongoing winter mud season, Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Russia maintains it attacks to take Adviivka, even in the face of huge losses. Russia continues to launch smaller attacks daily across the front lines.
Russian has been shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones with the likelihood of attempting to take down the Ukraine power grid as they did winter 2023. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. In the latest, large missile / drone attack, the Black Sea fleet was noticeably out of action. In the last half of 2023, Ukraine was able to take out about 20% of the fleet.
While Russia has reportedly about 400K of soldiers in the theater, all evidence indicates that they are poorly trained and equipped. Russian forces are increasingly having to rely on 50’s and 60’s vintage tanks, APCs and other vehicles. Russian large assaults continue to be what are referred to as ‘meat’ attacks - throwing large numbers of lightly armed, foot troops at Ukraine defenses in hopes of overwhelming them. These tactics ‘worked’ at Bakhmut but there Russia still had a superiority in artillery support. Concerted efforts by Ukraine to locate and destroy Russian artillery, combined with wear and tear taking systems out and poor/no ammo has generally caused Russia to lose the edge in artillery firepower.
Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.
Russia is believed to be trying to muster a force for a winter offensive, once the soils freeze up and permit cross country maneuver. Focus of such an offensive has not solidified but the most likely candidate for one front is the continued attempt to eliminate the salient at Adviivka.
*****
Russia is moving towards national elections, and putin has no opposition - all those candidates are in prison.
Electrical and heating systems continue to fail across the country, leaving millions without power and heat in the face of severe, sub zero (F) temperatures. Collateral damage from broken water lines is mounting to the millions of dollars range.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Warming trend bringing temps into the 40’s with rain/snow dropping back down to the 20-30s with snow towards the end of the forecast period.
24 HOUR ROUND UP – Weather continues to dominate action on the ground. However, temperatures are reaching levels around Ukraine that are starting to freeze the ground locally, meaning that ground operations may have their tempo increase over the coming days/weeks.
Ukrainian air defense shot down 19 of 20 Shahed drones, launched by Russia overnight
Russian army conducted missile strikes with Onyx missiles in Odesa and Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky districts this morning.
Russian attacks around Adviivka have made some minor gains in terrain in recent days, but at heavy cost.
Outlook —
Weather and mud conditions are continuing to dictate ground operations, which are at a low level due to lack of maneuverability cross country and on dirt roads due to the mud. However, seeing reports that the ground is beginning to solidify in areas, to the level of being capable to support off road movement.
Europe / NATO General –
Against the background of the news about tomorrow’s consideration of the resolution on deprivation of the right to vote in the EU Council, Hungary is ready to unblock funding for Ukraine for 50 billion. - Politico
OBSERVATION - Hungary’s pro Russian leadership has been a sticking point for EU support to Ukraine - wielding its veto authority. Unless Hungary changes its ways, it will lose its vote and the EU will proceed with Ukrainian support that Hungary can no longer veto. Very significant move by the EU.
Pakistan –
The regime in Iran launched a wave of combined missile and drone strikes against Pakistan. Iran claims it is targeting bases of Jaish al-Adl militants near Panjgur in Balochistan.
Pakistan has announced that it considers yesterday’s ballistic missile attack by the regime in Iran against Panjgur in Pakistan an attack on its sovereignty. Pakistan also warned the mullahs in Iran that there will be serious consequences for the attack.
OBSERVATION - Iran went trigger happy the past few days. Iran needs to be careful, Pakistan is a nuclear nation that may have no qualms nuking Iran right back.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- Intense bombing os Khan Younis
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Israel continues to conduct search and clearing operations in central and S Gaza. N Gaza is essentially been subdued. Fighting is the fiercest in S Gaza and IDF continues to work its way into the major Hamas strongholds in Khan Yunis.
Residents of Khan Younis in southern Gaza say they have faced one of the most intense nights of air strikes since the start of Israel’s offensive.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, has said that the intense stage of Israel’s military operations against Hamas would “soon” wind down in the south of Gaza, including Khan Younis, where it is thought local leaders of the armed group may be hiding.
He said that the military had already switched to more targeted action in the north, where it began its ground offensive.
However, in recent days, the return of Israeli tanks to parts of the north which ground forces had previously left has led some Gazans - who had been planning to return home - to think again.
Israeli military officials have repeatedly warned that the fighting will continue for months.
Some reports that IDF is drawing down its operations in Central Gaza and pulling out at least one brigade sized unit.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Continued exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and IDF along the border.
IDF still using the skirmishes to also strike deeper Hezbollah targets key to any major war breaking out.
——— SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
Confusion in Syria as Iranian IRGC forces fire on ISIS targets in Syria
———WEST BANK——————————-
Multiple engagements between West Bank groups and Israeli security forces. Security forces make many raids throughout the West Bank capturing Hamas and other terror leaders and cells.
Israeli air strikes killed nine in two areas of the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, and the Israeli military described at least five of the dead as terrorists suspected of planning an imminent attack.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
The Biden administration was expected to announce plans to relist Houthi rebels as specially designated global terrorists, a US official told Reuters on Tuesday.
OBSERVATION - Remember, biden took the Houthi’s off the list from essentially day one of his takeover of the WH.
*****
Reports coming out that commanders and advisers from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are on the ground in Yemen and playing a direct role in Houthi rebel attacks on commercial traffic in the Red Sea.
The U.S. military carried out preemptive strikes in Yemen on Tuesday, targeting four anti-ship ballistic missiles that the Houthis were preparing to launch, according to two U.S. officials
After U.S. forces conducted a preemptive strike on Houthi missiles early today, the militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile against another commercial ship in the southern Red Sea, per 2 U.S. officials. Missile hit but did not sink the ship, no casualties
———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
Presidential Command Council in Yemen: What Britain and America are doing against the Houthis is “required”
NOTE - This is the internationally recognized govt of Yemen.
——— FORECAST ————————-
Israel to continue search and destroy operations across Gaza. Fighting to continue to be intense in central and S Gaza while N Gaza levels are dropping fast.
Houthi actions against vessels in the Red Sea will continue until the US and allies get serious about taking out not only their capability, but leadership as well.
Iran –
Yesterday, I reported initial reports that the Iranian ballistic missile attack on Erbil targeted the US consolidate. Seems that another location was the actual target.
The family home of Peshraw Dizayee was destroyed, a kurdish businessman and real estate investor was killed alongside 4 members of his family by the Iranian ballistic missile attack on the City of Erbil in northern Iraq. Iran claimed the target was a Mossad spy center.
OBSERVATION - Deliberate, or incorrect targeting inputted into the missiles?
It is interesting that we have a push for digital ID and money to control your every move but it is racist and evil to ask for ID to vote in US elections.
The ‘matrix?’ Simple. All the third world slag illegal alien countries and those super mega-population countries who ‘game’ our visa and immigration system.
New Snow's so beautiful - you're blessed. Still cold in Florida - high of 58 today - won't be in the 70's until Friday...
May more likely be just training flights.
Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WEF Davos Jan 15-19
- WHO February 19 to 21, Trans guideline committee.
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024
*****
We are seeing from Davos the rise of a new order of global dictators. They haven’t yet reached the level of an Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, or even a Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping, but their actions during the wuhan plandemic brought them out of the wood work and into the sun shine. They not only want to bring America into their own view of what the world should look like, but the whole world. And that view is them at the top, with the rest of us here to serve them.
***
At the WEF meeting they now say that countries have to sign up to the WHO pandemic treaty to be prepared for “Disease X”. This is looking to be another PLANdemic of epic proportions.
***
President of Argentina Javier Milei demolished socialism in front of a bunch of socialists at the World Economic Forum. Speaking to the assembled throng he hammered them -
“I’m here to tell you that the western world is in danger and it is endangered because those who are supposed to have to defend the values of the West are co-opted by a vision of the world that inextricably leads to socialism and thereby to poverty.”
“Unfortunately, in recent decades, motivated by some well-meaning individuals willing to help others and others motivated by the wish to belong to a privileged caste.”
“The main leaders of the Western world have abandoned the model of freedom for different versions of what we call collectivism. We are here to tell you that collectivist experiments are never the solution to the problems that afflict the citizens of the world. Rather, they are the root cause.”
OBSERVATION - Some expressed wonder why the conservative newly elected PM of Argentina would go to the pit of snakes that is the Davos confab. He went to plant a truth bomb. The only thing that was missing was his chainsaw.
***
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry lashed out at a reporter who asked him about his “carbon footprint” at the World Economic Forum’s Davos conference on Tuesday.
“What’s the carbon footprint of these events every single year that you come here? Think it’s worth it? Peasants pay for your crimes?” Avi Yemini asked Kerry.
“That’s a stupid question,” Kerry responded.
A female member of Kerry’s entourage then appeared to shove Yemini, aggressively telling him the interview was over.
“Don’t grab me. You can’t grab us. This is a free society, mate,” Yemini retorted. “We have freedom of the press. Why do you think you’re more important? Your carbon footprint doesn’t matter.”
“I never suggested that,” Kerry snarled. “Nobody ever suggested that. Don’t make up stupid questions.”
OBSERVATION - Lurch can’t handle having the mirror put to his face.
***
Lurch just can’t keep his mouth shut. In a session, he basically states that govts can not stop the WEF climate change juggernaut.
“If you wound up with a different President who was opposed to climate crisis, I got news for you. No one politician anywhere in the world can undo what is happening now...The only issue for all of us is not whether or not we can get or will get to a low carbon, no carbon economy globally. We will. The only question is, will we get there in time to meet the challenge of the scientists in order to avoid the worst consequences of this crisis. That is what is at stake.”
***
WEF acolyte and Harvard professor Naomi Oreskes at Davos issued similar fatwas against anyone standing in the way of the forced de-industrialization of society for the sake of, allegedly, the Earth.
Via TIME :
“It will be crucial to build on the framework established in the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. This will include opposing infrastructure that will lock in fossil-fuel energy for decades to come and carbon capture and storage projects that are adjuncts to fossil-fuel production. It will also be crucial not to allow new forms of denial to take hold. We are already seeing examples, such as the false claim that off-shore wind kills whales and that restrictions on gas stoves are the latest excuse by liberals to control our lives and deny our freedom. Scientists will have to work with climate activists to block the spread of such misleading narratives”.
OBSERVATION - Once again, control of free speech and criticism of the ‘narrative’ are key points of order from the globalists. They will spare nothing to jam their agenda down our throats.
***
Trump announced at a campaign rally that he will prohibit the Fed Reserve from establishing a CBDC during his term.
***
Lurch’s daughter took up the climate change theme -
“We have to phase out fossil fuels, because this is a crisis of burning fossil fuels.”
Speaking on a panel at the WEF’s annual Davos summit, John Kerry’s daughter, Vanessa Kerry, attempts to paint the “climate crisis” as a “health crisis”, going on to express concern that the UN Agenda 2030 sustainable development goals are “losing progress”.
“2023 was an apocalyptic year in terms of extreme weather events... That is about to get worse.”
OBSERVATION - More fear mongering, however, it lays the foundation for globalists to push the agenda (see censorship above) and foment potential global orders to force compliance. Note that climate change is defined as a “health” issue, permitting the WHO to potentially go after it once the pandemic treaty has been modified.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
Upcoming events of importance
- 18 January 2023, Atlanta, “Day of the Forest Defender,” protests against the Police training facility being constructed
****
Showdown in TX continues. Texas AG Ken Paxton responds to threats from DHS—
“According to your letter, ‘the U.S. Constitution tasks the federal government with… securing the Nation’s borders.’ When were you planning to start?”
“Your letter misstates both the facts and the law in demanding that Texas surrender to President Biden’s open-border policies. Because the facts and law side with Texas, the State will continue utilizing its constitutional authority to defend her territory, and I will continue defending those lawful efforts in court…”
OBSERVATION - How far is the biden/DHS going to go to push this fight? I think the globalist cause - replacement of the US population - will drive the issue and biden regimen will go to the mat on this one. The outstanding question is will they resort to force of arms to gain control of the park? Such an act could well trigger state wide push back on federal officials. TX is already favorable to dissolving its link to the country (TEXIT) and such a conflict may trigger TX patriots and militias to form and mass on border crossing in support of the state - triggering more potential armed confrontations with DHS/FBI/ BP.
Given the govt track record so far, resorting to an armed conflict with TX NG and TX Rangers is definitely within the envelope of probability at this stage of the game.
RELATED - Texas DPS is now rounding up and arresting illegal aliens who are caught invading in Eagle Pass. This comes just one week after TX seized Shelby Park in Eagle Pass from federal authorities.
***
Fed govt surveillance state continues to consume more and more data once thought to be private and only accessible via court orders. Now the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government has revealed that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the United States Department of Treasury, urged financial institutions in the wake of January 6, 2021 to look through customers’ transactions, using search terms like “Trump” and “MAGA”
The letter from the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of Government and the Committee on the Judiciary have obtained documents indicating that following January 6, 2021, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) “distributed materials to financial institutions that, among other things, outline the ‘typologies’ of various persons of interest and provide financial institutions with suggested search terms and Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) for identifying transactions on behalf of federal law enforcement.”
OBSERVATION - As you work your way thru the article, it becomes apparent that the Stasi would have loved to have the capabilities the govt has today to intrude on our privacy. A lot of people say things like ‘get off the internet’ or use burner cell phones, etc to avoid surveillance. Folks, they have a bazillion ways from Friday to surveil us. Sorry to say that those who go off line in these ways could likely trigger a flag that suggests to the feds you are trying to avoid monitoring - thus increasing their attention using the many multiple other ways.
Terrorism - Level is HIGH due to increased lone wolf threats.
The FBI has arrested a 56-year-old Cottage Grove woman accused of making threats online to harm Jews and Black people in posts displaying a Nazi flag and multiple guns.
Elizabeth Ballesteros West, who was found with a cache of guns and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, was arrested Friday and is being held in the Lane County Jail, according to federal agents and court records. She [sic] has not yet made her [sic] first appearance in federal court in Eugene.
OBSERVATION - The number of “transitioned” individuals either committing or planning to commit mass murder has skyrocketed over the past few years. Add one mental instability onto another and Trans are turning deadly.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Dates of importance
January 19 - funding for federal transportation programs, housing and food plans and other resources will expire.
February 2 - funding for Departments of Health and Human Services, Commerce, Labor, State and Defense will expire
Feb 8 - The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the Colorado case.
March 5- Super Tuesday primaries
****
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he will push for tighter border security during his meeting with President Joe Biden on Wednesday, signaling that legislation to send more aid to Ukraine is not possible without a deal.
“Before we even talk about Ukraine, I’m going to tell the president what I was telling all of you and what we told the American people: border, border, border,” Johnson said Wednesday. “We have to take care of our own house. We have to secure our own border before we talk about doing anything else.”
Republicans in Congress have blocked emergency funding that Biden has requested for Ukraine and threatened to force a partial shutdown of the government in an effort to tighten security along the U.S.-Mexico border; they blame Biden’s policies for leading to an influx of immigrants into the United States.
OBSERVATION - Republicans have the leverage with the immigration crisis on a public opinion angle. However, even if an “agreement” takes place favorable to border security first - guess what - biden will move the goalposts and likely blow off the agreement or redirect the funds to settlement rather than closing the border.
RELATED -
Chuck Schumer just stated that the Democrats won’t fund border security until they get billions more for the war effort in Ukraine.
Illegal Immigration –
Rumors that Sen McConnell in backroom meetings is concerned that Trump will be elected and is seeking ways to pass a massive amnesty bill before the inauguration.
***
See CW2 for TX response to DHS threats.
China –
According to Newsweek, China’s stock market “appears to be in free fall now”…
The FTSE China 50 index—a real-time tradable index comprising 50 of the country’s largest and most liquid stocks—has plunged by 1.77 percent between Monday and Tuesday as part of a long-term large decline over the past six months. Compared to one year ago, the index is down by 29.24 percent.
China’s market regulators have tried to stabilize the market by imposing restrictions that stop some investors from being net sellers of equities on certain days. This strategy—with authorities offering what’s known as “window guidance” in an attempt to help the country’s stock market bounce back—was first introduced in October.
https://www.newsweek.com/china-stock-market-free-fall-1860933
OBSERVATION - This growing level of financial losses will be a serious drag on Xi’s goals of beefing up the military and any associated action against Taiwan - primarily the invasion option. People have gotten a taste of capitalism and like it, and now losing market gains is biting them. Xi is increasingly swinging toward Maoist principles to bring the people back under communism in all aspects, but it looks like a very hard landing is coming.
North/South Korea –
Robert Carlin and Siegfried Hecker, intelligence experts with over 50 years of studying and observing NK suggest that in 2023, Kim turned a corner and is now actively preparing to go to war against SK, US and even Japan. In part, they see Kim infatuated with Russia and its war in Ukraine, plus the abysmal state of US foreign policy as an opportunity to move forward by war.
https://www.38north.org/2024/01/is-kim-jong-un-preparing-for-war/
OBSERVATION - Clearly, the NK threat has evolved seriously since the years of the Soviet Union and the cold war. My intel briefings on NK were full of apocalypic scenarios of massive artillery strikes on Seoul, special ops flying in by antique biplanes and a massive ground force supported with the newest (at that time) armor.
The implosion of the Soviet Union and global changes put NK on the outside. No longer receiving lots of support to maintain its status as a Soviet pawn threatening US interests in Asia, its military fell into disrepair as well as its economy. Kim has managed to scrape together other allies, like Iran, to help fund modernization of its military -the biggest star being the development of thermonuclear weapons (H bomb) as well as development of a wide variety of missiles, short ranged to ICBM, to potentially carry warheads. This effort still hasn’t addressed modernization of its ground or airfares, who’s equipment is increasingly unreliable or vastly obsolete. War on the peninsula would be ugly, made more ugly by the potential use of nukes against the south, Guam and even Japan.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Jan 1, 2024
With the end of the Ukraine summer offensive and the ongoing winter mud season, Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Russia maintains it attacks to take Adviivka, even in the face of huge losses. Russia continues to launch smaller attacks daily across the front lines.
Russian has been shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones with the likelihood of attempting to take down the Ukraine power grid as they did winter 2023. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. In the latest, large missile / drone attack, the Black Sea fleet was noticeably out of action. In the last half of 2023, Ukraine was able to take out about 20% of the fleet.
While Russia has reportedly about 400K of soldiers in the theater, all evidence indicates that they are poorly trained and equipped. Russian forces are increasingly having to rely on 50’s and 60’s vintage tanks, APCs and other vehicles. Russian large assaults continue to be what are referred to as ‘meat’ attacks - throwing large numbers of lightly armed, foot troops at Ukraine defenses in hopes of overwhelming them. These tactics ‘worked’ at Bakhmut but there Russia still had a superiority in artillery support. Concerted efforts by Ukraine to locate and destroy Russian artillery, combined with wear and tear taking systems out and poor/no ammo has generally caused Russia to lose the edge in artillery firepower.
Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.
Russia is believed to be trying to muster a force for a winter offensive, once the soils freeze up and permit cross country maneuver. Focus of such an offensive has not solidified but the most likely candidate for one front is the continued attempt to eliminate the salient at Adviivka.
*****
GPS signal disruptions were reported over Poland, with significant disruptions in Piła and Konin, and moderate in Poznań. Similar incidents occured in Finland and Estonia. According to John Wiseman from gpsjam, it could be a deliberate Russian jamming attempt or a military exercise. Russia has jamming systems within range in the Königsberg region.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Warming trend bringing temps into the 40’s with rain/snow dropping back down to the 20-30s with snow towards the end of the forecast period.
24 HOUR ROUND UP – Weather continues to dominate action on the ground. However, temperatures are reaching levels around Ukraine that are starting to freeze the ground locally, meaning that ground operations may have their tempo increase over the coming days/weeks.
Ukrainian air defense shot down 22 of 33 Shahed drones
Russian Ministry of Defense reports shooting down drones over Moscow and Leningrad regions
Outlook —
Weather and mud conditions are continuing to dictate ground operations, which are at a low level due to lack of maneuverability cross country and on dirt roads due to the mud. However, seeing reports that the ground is beginning to solidify in areas, to the level of being capable to support off road movement.
There has been a great video that has gone viral of a M2 Bradly using its 25mm Bushmaster gun to tear apart a Russian T-90. Though its armor generally protected it, the volume of fire and unprotected others items, like sights for the gun and driver - were toast. Eventually the Bradly got an engine hit and the tank taken out.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- US redesignated Houthi as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist”
——— GENERAL ——————————-
Israeli media reports this morning that the Hezbollah militants had officially notified the US mediators that they reject the ceasefire with Israel plan that was proposed by the US.
The Israeli army announces that its losses in the Gaza battles have risen to 192 soldiers
***
The Biden administration is trying to lay the groundwork for the establishment of a Palestinian state with Israeli leaders and representatives of civil society, expecting a future post-Netanyahu government: “He will not remain there forever.”
“We have today a profound regional opportunity in the Middle East that we did not have in the past,” said Blinken during an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “The challenge is to realize it.” When asked if Netanyahu is the right prime minister to seize this opportunity, Blinken responded that “these are decisions that Israelis need to make” and added, “We are at a turning point.”
In an attempt to bypass Netanyahu, Blinken also separately met with members of the diplomatic security cabinet and other Israeli leaders, including opposition leader Yair Lapid, during his visit to the Middle East.
OBSERVATION - biden’s regime is the most anti-Israeli group since 0bama. Deliberately going behind Netanyahu’s back during a time of war to push for the “Two State” solution and to leverage him out of power is pretty low. The “Two State” solution has been offered something like 5 or 7 times since Israel became a nation once again - every time rejected by the arabs. You cannot co-exist with people who actively seek your total annihilation. Pressures are coming globally to try to force that ‘solution’ on Israel.
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Israel continues to conduct search and clearing operations in central and S Gaza. N Gaza is essentially been subdued. Fighting is the fiercest in S Gaza and IDF continues to work its way into the major Hamas strongholds in Khan Yunis.
Israeli military has repositioned, after several weeks of withdrawal on the outskirts, deeper inside Gaza city. A while ago, Israeli vehicles entered Rimal neighborhood
Intense fighting and IAF bombardment of Khan Yunis overnight as IDF continues to contact the hamas controlled areas of the city.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Continued exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and IDF along the border.
5 missiles were launched from Lebanon towards the Al-Manara settlement in the Upper Galilee
Israeli Chief of Staff - The possibility of war with Lebanon has become greater than before, and the army is increasing its preparedness
———WEST BANK——————————-
Multiple engagements between West Bank groups and Israeli security forces. Security forces make many raids throughout the West Bank capturing Hamas and other terror leaders and cells.
Israeli forces arrest 50 Palestinians in the West Bank overnight.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
Yemeni Foreign Minister to Al Arabiya Net - Washington returning the Houthis to the terrorist list is a serious step to hold them accountable.
The US designates the Yemen’s Houthis as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” group amid Red Sea attacks. Stops short of “Foreign Terrorist Organization” (FTO) label, as some in Congress has advocated but which aid groups said would hinder their work
Houthi spokesman Muhammad Abdul Salam: The American classification has no value and will not deter us from our positions with Palestine
CENTCOM confirms strikes that targeted 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles on launch rails in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. “These missiles presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region and could have been fired at any time”
A large fire was reported in the Dhamar Governorate of Western Yemen following the U.S. strikes.
———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
Iranian Foreign Ministry: Returning the Houthis to the terrorist list is an unconstructive measure by Washington and raises tensions
——— FORECAST ————————-
Israel to continue search and destroy operations across Gaza. Fighting to continue to be intense in central and S Gaza while N Gaza levels are dropping fast.
Action against the Houthi continues to build, with the US conducting preemptive strikes on drone/missile launching sites - particularly those identified as preparing to fire. I suspect drones monitoring these areas closely as there are only so many launching sites available. Same goes for munition storage.
War drums continue as the mental battlespace is being prepared for the eventual showdown with Hezbollah.
Iran –
Sources in the Pakistani Armed Forces are reporting that the Air Force has conducted several airstrikes overnight on a Baloch Militant Group in Eastern Iran near the city of Saravan, roughly 20 miles into the Sistan and Baluchestan Provence from the border with Pakistan.
OBSERVATION - This seems to be the same militant group Iran hit on Pakistani terrain. Curious.
Central / South America General-
Ecuador - Narco-Terrorist Alert.
A prosecutor investigating an attack on a TV studio in Ecuador last week has been killed, officials say.
César Suárez was shot dead in the port city of Guayaquil, Guayas province on Wednesday, the attorney general said.
It is not clear whether Mr Suarez’s death is linked to his investigation into the TV station attack.
During the dramatic incident last week, masked men burst into public TV channel TC’s studio during a live broadcast and threatened them at gunpoint.
Pictures that were broadcast live on air showed journalist Jose Luis Calderon pleading with the gunmen, while station staff were forced to sit or lie on the studio floor.
One cameraman was shot in the leg, while another’s arm was broken during the attack, TC’s deputy director of news said.
Local media reports that Mr Suárez was shot while driving near his office. Unverified footage on social media also shows a vehicle with bullet holes in the window.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68014040
OBSERVATION - The level of violence is down from last week, however, there are still plenty of nacro-terrorists out there to accomplish assassinations of opponents or other threats.
The masks are really coming off the WEF globalists and they don’t even care.
What unbridled arrogance. They think they are invincible and untouchable. News for them is that they are not going to live forever, and there is a great day of reckoning they cannot avoid or escape from.
But at this point, considering how old so many of them are, Satan is clearly protecting his own best and most useful tools.
Nailed it. They don’t care and 5hink they are invincible
Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WEF Davos Jan 15-19
- WHO February 19 to 21, Trans guideline committee.
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024
*****
Business is booming for prostitutes at Davos, reportedly they are ‘all sold out’ and only the ultra rich can manage to book them.
***
The president of the Heritage Foundation, Kevin Roberts, confronted hosts at the World Economic Forum Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, challenging claims that the WEF is protecting democracy and calling so-called elites “part of the problem.”
The moderator, British international affairs expert Sir Robin Niblett, at one point asked Roberts about former President Trump’s promise of “retribution” if he regains office, and that the World Economic Forum’s purported defenses of liberal democracy could be “swept under the rug” by the mogul.
“It’s laughable that you or anyone would describe Davos as ‘protecting liberal democracy’,” Roberts said.
“It’s equally laughable to use the word ‘dictatorship’ at Davos and aim that at President Trump. In fact, I think that’s absurd.”
OBSERVATION - This following Milei’s taking a sledgehammer to the leftists at Davos is interesting. I suspect it is a fig leaf attempt to fulfill the theme of the group “Restoring confidence”. Observers are noting that attendees are ‘shocked’ to get feed back that the general public opposes their gracious and generous policies.
With the smoke lifting from the wuhan plandemic, all the sneaky behind the scenes maneuvering from CBDC, to digital ID to climate change war on agriculture and business, people seem to have woke up and are not happy about the loss of their quality of life brought (or will be coming) as a result of these policies. They increasingly see these elites telling them to ‘let them eat cake’ and ignoring the restrictions they want to place on them.
Yet, you can see that the WEF elite are going to press forward with their agenda anyway - by force if necessary and that this soul searching is but for show only.
***
The world is entering a “new economic regime” that will see company performance driven by how boards manage mega-trends including the transition to a low-carbon economy and AI, asset manager BlackRock said Thursday.
Four structural shifts would shape the new economic regime, it added: digital disruption and artificial intelligence (AI); geopolitical fragmentation and economic competition; the low-carbon transition; and demographic divergence.
OBSERVATION - As noted here often, BlackRock is a massive co-conspiratory with the WEF, pushing the multiple agendas such as DEI, climate change, etc onto the corporate world thru leveraging their massive portfolio and money. Here, for 2024 they lay out how they are going to ‘convince’ business to cowtow to the globalist agenda.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
****
Showdown in TX continues. See Illegal immigration for latest.
***
The Media Research Center (MRC) has uncovered a Biden Administration plot — yes, plot — to silence conservatives before the 2024 election with a “media literacy” program that targets conservatives, Christians, gun owners, and the GOP in the name of fighting terrorism. The program uses federal taxpayer funds to pay people to write, blog, and podcast messages that are anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-Republican, and anti-anyone who ever thought Donald Trump wore nice ties.
Phase one of the three-phase program pays people to write blogs and do podcasts that are anti-conservative. This phase is well under way
Phase two of the program uses seminars produced by the University of Rhode Island’s Media Education Lab that “train educators across the country on how to divert students away from conservative ideas and media sources skeptical of the administration’s agenda.”
And phase three of the plan grants $1,000 to the Biden Youth to demand action!
OBSERVATION - PJM is a relatively OK source at times bombastic, but in this instance their claims are documented within the article. This is not an outrageous assessment given that the FBI has infiltrated Catholic Churches, surveilled and tracked parents objecting to the Trans and CRT objectives in school board meetings and now Treasury Department having credit card/banks flag even purchases of Bibles. We already know schools have become indoctrination centers, this only adds another brick to that pile.
Economy-
Upcoming dates of importance
- The Fed next meets on Jan. 30-31.
*****
U.S. mortgage rates fell this week to the lowest since May 2023, Freddie Mac reported Thursday, providing a possible boost to buyer traffic in the housing market.
The average fixed-rate 30-year mortgage fell to 6.60% as of Thursday from 6.66% the week prior, Freddie Mac said in its weekly report on home loan borrowing costs.
OBSERVATION - IMHO, a 0.06% drop is nothing to crow about. New homes are still seen as out of reach for most americans, and that continues to drag the economy down. Lowered home prices and lowered rates (should you have a credit rating suitable to get it) reflect a market trying to move product against massive financial forces that are deterring it.
Wuhan and other “new” Plandemics –
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s investigation into the origins of COVID-19, led by Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), uncovered that a SARS-CoV-2 sequence was submitted to GenBank, the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) genetic sequence database operated by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), on December 28, 2019—two weeks before the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) first released the virus’s sequence.
The sequence was submitted by Dr. Lili Ren, an accomplished virologist at the Institute of Pathogen Biology of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing, China, which has ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and People’s Liberation Army. She is also a current subgrantee of non-profit EcoHealth Alliance on the same National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) grant as the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), which has been debarred from receiving NIH grants for ten years for failing to provide laboratory records requested by NIH and for conducting research that “did lead or could lead to health issues or other unacceptable outcomes.”
Dr. Ren’s submission was missing some of the technical (not scientific) information required for publication on GenBank. She was notified by NIH staff on December 31, 2019, that her submission would be deleted without the additional information. Dr. Ren’s sequence is not the first instance of Chinese researchers attempting to delete early SARS-CoV-2 sequences posted to GenBank, but it is the earliest known one.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed that Dr. Ren’s December 28, 2019, sequence was nearly identical to the sequence later made public by the China CDC on January 10, 2020, which at the time was the first known sequence. China has consistently stated that it published the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 as soon as it was available.
OBSERVATION - More and more confirmation of that which was considered three years ago to be conspiracy theory. It pushes the time line back by two additional weeks and further confirms a Chinese release from a lab (wuhan) of the disease.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Dates of importance
Feb 8 - The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the Colorado case.
March - latest CR expires
March 5- Super Tuesday primaries
****
Congress sent President Joe Biden a short-term spending bill on Thursday that would avert a looming partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies into March.
The House approved the measure by a vote of 314-108, with opposition coming mostly from the more conservative members of the Republican conference. Shortly before the vote, the House Freedom Caucus announced it “strongly opposes” the measure because it would facilitate more spending than they support.
Nevertheless, about half of Republicans joined with Democrats in passing the third stopgap funding measure in recent months. The action came a few hours after the Senate had voted overwhelmingly to pass the bill by a vote of 77-18.
OBSERVATION - Johnson may well face a vacate the seat motion given that the CR gives the democrats everything they want with no budget cuts or action to stop the tsunami on the border.
Cyber attacks/warfare – HEIGHTENED ALERT
JPMorgan Chase & Co., in response to a mounting wave of global cybercrime, reported an uptick in attempts by hackers to breach its systems.
JPMorgan Chase said it is combating approximately 45 billion daily hacking attempts, twice the number from the previous year. Mary Callahan Erdoes, the head of JPMorgan’s asset and wealth management division, revealed the concerning trend during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Bloomberg reported.
OBSERVATION - Interesting that this is being brought up at Davos. A massive cyber attacks is one of the hypothetical scenarios globalists have been bringing up lately that they could covertly used to push the world into ‘secure’ CBDC aligned financial systems.
Illegal Immigration –
Migrants without proper identification may apparently opt out of being photographed by TSA upon entry at Miami International Airport.
According to a sign posted on X by conservative podcaster Dave Rubin Thursday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is allowing migrants to pass through entry points without having their picture taken.
OBSERVATION - Probably cross reference under Terrorism as well. TSA is allowing tens (hundreds?) of thousands of illegal aliens to transit our county in an untrackable manner. As much of a farce TSA has turned into over the years, this just goes beyond the pale.
***
Texas is doubling down on its occupation of the park at Eagle’s Pass by installing more fencing
The floating buoy barrier in the Rio Grande River at Eagle Pass, Texas remains in place, at least for now. Thanks to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Governor Abbott was handed a victory Wednesday.
In December the court ruled against Abbott in an order that would have forced him to move the barrier from the river. But on Wednesday, the court granted Abbott’s request for a rehearing of the case with the entire Fifth Circuit instead of the three-judge panel that made the initial call.
The decision means Abbott will get to keep the buoy barrier in the water at least through May when the new hearing is scheduled to be held.
North/South Korea –
North Korea conducted a test of their underwater nuclear drone system, which is known as the “Haeil-5-23.”
The test was done in response to the joint maritime exercise between South Korea, the United States, and Japan
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Jan 1, 2024
With the end of the Ukraine summer offensive and the ongoing winter mud season, Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Russia maintains it attacks to take Adviivka, even in the face of huge losses. Russia continues to launch smaller attacks daily across the front lines.
Russian has been shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones with the likelihood of attempting to take down the Ukraine power grid as they did winter 2023. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. In the latest, large missile / drone attack, the Black Sea fleet was noticeably out of action. In the last half of 2023, Ukraine was able to take out about 20% of the fleet.
While Russia has reportedly about 400K of soldiers in the theater, all evidence indicates that they are poorly trained and equipped. Russian forces are increasingly having to rely on 50’s and 60’s vintage tanks, APCs and other vehicles. Russian large assaults continue to be what are referred to as ‘meat’ attacks - throwing large numbers of lightly armed, foot troops at Ukraine defenses in hopes of overwhelming them. These tactics ‘worked’ at Bakhmut but there Russia still had a superiority in artillery support. Concerted efforts by Ukraine to locate and destroy Russian artillery, combined with wear and tear taking systems out and poor/no ammo has generally caused Russia to lose the edge in artillery firepower.
Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.
Russia is believed to be trying to muster a force for a winter offensive, once the soils freeze up and permit cross country maneuver. Focus of such an offensive has not solidified but the most likely candidate for one front is the continued attempt to eliminate the salient at Adviivka.
*****
Russia is having power problems all over the place. Now large swaths of Crimea have lost power -blackouts in Simferopol, Sevastopol, Feodosiya, Dzhankoi, Saky in occupied Crimea
RUMINT-
Another A-50 AWAC is reportedly now in operation in the Sea of Azov region.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Warming trend bringing temps into the 40’s with rain/snow dropping back down to the 20-30s with snow towards the end of the forecast period.
24 HOUR ROUND UP – Weather continues to dominate action on the ground. However, temperatures are reaching levels around Ukraine that are starting to freeze the ground locally, meaning that ground operations may have their tempo increase over the coming days/weeks.
Russia launched renewed attacks all along the eastern front. Minimal territorial gains.
Ukrainian drones have struck St Petersburg for the first time since the war started, targeting an oil facility
Russian Territory –
Fire at the oil depot in Klintsy, Bryansk region
Outlook —
Weather and mud conditions are continuing to dictate ground operations, which are at a low level due to lack of maneuverability cross country and on dirt roads due to the mud. However, seeing reports that the ground is beginning to solidify in areas, to the level of being capable to support off road movement.
Recent Russian ground attacks are taking the form of an attempt to gain momentum for a winter offensive. Large numbers of attacks along the broad eastern front. They do not, other than chronologically, appear to be organized and coordinated into a larger effort. Just a lot of attacks.
Europe / NATO General –
The largest since the Cold War: NATO announces military training involving 90,000 troops - Reuters
The troops will assess their ability to fight an enemy like Russia. The training will start next week.
OBSERVATION - Exercise is raising some eyebrows as some in Europe are saying that conflict with Russia could happen very soon.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- Hamas hostage Kfir Bibas turns one in captivity
——— GENERAL ——————————-
President of the United Nations General Assembly - “The continuation of the war in Gaza will affect generations of Palestinians and will nullify the peaceful solution”
***
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority - “The bodies of 21 Israeli detainees (hostages) were found in a cemetery in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza last night.”
***
IDF eliminates Wael Abu-Fanounah, deputy head of Islamic Jihad’s psychological warfare operations. Wael Abu-Fanounah was originally arrested in Israel on December 12, 1989, and was sentenced to three life sentences for his terrorist activities. He was released in 2011 as part of the Gilad Schalit prisoner deal.
****
The rift between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu deepened on Thursday as the Israeli Prime Minister accused the US of trying to ‘coerce’ Israel.
In an interview on national TV, Netanyahu rejected US calls to scale back Israel´s military offensive in the Gaza Strip and take steps toward the establishment of a Palestinian state after the war.
Netanyahu accused the US of trying to ‘coerce’ Israel into a situation which would ‘endanger’ the country and said ‘we will not settle for anything short of an absolute victory’.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby immediately responded, saying: ‘We obviously see it differently.’
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
The IDF says it has completed demolishing Hamas’s main rocket and weapon manufacturing industrial zone in the central Gaza Strip, along with a vast tunnel network beneath it that houses some of the facilities.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Continued exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and IDF along the border.
——— SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
Local authorities in Golan Heights say three rockets were fired from Syria, which landed in open areas near Yonatan. The Golan Regional Council says the Israeli army is response with shelling as explosions heard in West Daraa countryside where those rockets were fired from.
———WEST BANK——————————-
Multiple engagements between West Bank groups and Israeli security forces. Security forces make many raids throughout the West Bank capturing Hamas and other terror leaders and cells.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
CENTCOM - “As part of ongoing multi-national efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels in the Red Sea, on Jan. 18 U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes on two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed into the Southern Red Sea and were prepared to launch. U.S. forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at approximately 3:40 p.m. (Sanaa time) and determined they were an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region. U.S. forces subsequently struck and destroyed the missiles in self-defense”
British Maritime Authority - A new attack on a ship off the port of Al-Shihr in Hadhramaut Governorate
UKMTO has received a report of 4 unidentified Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) flying close to a merchant vessel 85NM South East of Ash Shibt, Yemen (Gulf of Oman) . 1 UAV hitting the water in close proximity to the vessel. Coalition forces responding
——— FORECAST ————————-
Israel to continue search and destroy operations across Gaza. Fighting to continue to be intense in central and S Gaza while N Gaza levels are dropping fast.
Action against the Houthi continues to build. CAPs by US jet fighters are spotting Houthi launchers, but Houthi are not backing down and still firing on shipping. The target zone appears to be expanding to the Sea of Oman.
Iran –
Iran confirmed the hijacking of a U.S. oil tanker off the coast of Oman which may now threaten further trade globally.
OBSERVATION - Under weak president carter, Iranian students held over 50 American hostages for longer than a year. Iran sees biden in the same light.
Iraq -
A MQ-9 “Reaper” Surveillance Drone was shot down overnight over the Diyala Governorate of Eastern Iraq by Iranian-Backed Militias. Since 2017 at least 4 MQ-9s have been Downed by the Houthis in Yemen, with 1 being downed over the Red Sea in November of 2023 during the ongoing war in Israel.
Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WEF Davos Jan 15-19
- WHO February 19 to 21, Trans guideline committee.
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024
*****
Business is booming for prostitutes at Davos, reportedly they are ‘all sold out’ and only the ultra rich can manage to book them.
***
The president of the Heritage Foundation, Kevin Roberts, confronted hosts at the World Economic Forum Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, challenging claims that the WEF is protecting democracy and calling so-called elites “part of the problem.”
The moderator, British international affairs expert Sir Robin Niblett, at one point asked Roberts about former President Trump’s promise of “retribution” if he regains office, and that the World Economic Forum’s purported defenses of liberal democracy could be “swept under the rug” by the mogul.
“It’s laughable that you or anyone would describe Davos as ‘protecting liberal democracy’,” Roberts said.
“It’s equally laughable to use the word ‘dictatorship’ at Davos and aim that at President Trump. In fact, I think that’s absurd.”
OBSERVATION - This following Milei’s taking a sledgehammer to the leftists at Davos is interesting. I suspect it is a fig leaf attempt to fulfill the theme of the group “Restoring confidence”. Observers are noting that attendees are ‘shocked’ to get feed back that the general public opposes their gracious and generous policies.
With the smoke lifting from the wuhan plandemic, all the sneaky behind the scenes maneuvering from CBDC, to digital ID to climate change war on agriculture and business, people seem to have woke up and are not happy about the loss of their quality of life brought (or will be coming) as a result of these policies. They increasingly see these elites telling them to ‘let them eat cake’ and ignoring the restrictions they want to place on them.
Yet, you can see that the WEF elite are going to press forward with their agenda anyway - by force if necessary and that this soul searching is but for show only.
***
The world is entering a “new economic regime” that will see company performance driven by how boards manage mega-trends including the transition to a low-carbon economy and AI, asset manager BlackRock said Thursday.
Four structural shifts would shape the new economic regime, it added: digital disruption and artificial intelligence (AI); geopolitical fragmentation and economic competition; the low-carbon transition; and demographic divergence.
OBSERVATION - As noted here often, BlackRock is a massive co-conspiratory with the WEF, pushing the multiple agendas such as DEI, climate change, etc onto the corporate world thru leveraging their massive portfolio and money. Here, for 2024 they lay out how they are going to ‘convince’ business to cowtow to the globalist agenda.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
****
Showdown in TX continues. See Illegal immigration for latest.
***
The Media Research Center (MRC) has uncovered a Biden Administration plot — yes, plot — to silence conservatives before the 2024 election with a “media literacy” program that targets conservatives, Christians, gun owners, and the GOP in the name of fighting terrorism. The program uses federal taxpayer funds to pay people to write, blog, and podcast messages that are anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-Republican, and anti-anyone who ever thought Donald Trump wore nice ties.
Phase one of the three-phase program pays people to write blogs and do podcasts that are anti-conservative. This phase is well under way
Phase two of the program uses seminars produced by the University of Rhode Island’s Media Education Lab that “train educators across the country on how to divert students away from conservative ideas and media sources skeptical of the administration’s agenda.”
And phase three of the plan grants $1,000 to the Biden Youth to demand action!
OBSERVATION - PJM is a relatively OK source at times bombastic, but in this instance their claims are documented within the article. This is not an outrageous assessment given that the FBI has infiltrated Catholic Churches, surveilled and tracked parents objecting to the Trans and CRT objectives in school board meetings and now Treasury Department having credit card/banks flag even purchases of Bibles. We already know schools have become indoctrination centers, this only adds another brick to that pile.
Economy-
Upcoming dates of importance
- The Fed next meets on Jan. 30-31.
*****
U.S. mortgage rates fell this week to the lowest since May 2023, Freddie Mac reported Thursday, providing a possible boost to buyer traffic in the housing market.
The average fixed-rate 30-year mortgage fell to 6.60% as of Thursday from 6.66% the week prior, Freddie Mac said in its weekly report on home loan borrowing costs.
OBSERVATION - IMHO, a 0.06% drop is nothing to crow about. New homes are still seen as out of reach for most americans, and that continues to drag the economy down. Lowered home prices and lowered rates (should you have a credit rating suitable to get it) reflect a market trying to move product against massive financial forces that are deterring it.
Wuhan and other “new” Plandemics –
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s investigation into the origins of COVID-19, led by Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), uncovered that a SARS-CoV-2 sequence was submitted to GenBank, the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) genetic sequence database operated by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), on December 28, 2019—two weeks before the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) first released the virus’s sequence.
The sequence was submitted by Dr. Lili Ren, an accomplished virologist at the Institute of Pathogen Biology of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing, China, which has ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and People’s Liberation Army. She is also a current subgrantee of non-profit EcoHealth Alliance on the same National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) grant as the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), which has been debarred from receiving NIH grants for ten years for failing to provide laboratory records requested by NIH and for conducting research that “did lead or could lead to health issues or other unacceptable outcomes.”
Dr. Ren’s submission was missing some of the technical (not scientific) information required for publication on GenBank. She was notified by NIH staff on December 31, 2019, that her submission would be deleted without the additional information. Dr. Ren’s sequence is not the first instance of Chinese researchers attempting to delete early SARS-CoV-2 sequences posted to GenBank, but it is the earliest known one.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed that Dr. Ren’s December 28, 2019, sequence was nearly identical to the sequence later made public by the China CDC on January 10, 2020, which at the time was the first known sequence. China has consistently stated that it published the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 as soon as it was available.
OBSERVATION - More and more confirmation of that which was considered three years ago to be conspiracy theory. It pushes the time line back by two additional weeks and further confirms a Chinese release from a lab (wuhan) of the disease.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Dates of importance
Feb 8 - The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the Colorado case.
March - latest CR expires
March 5- Super Tuesday primaries
****
Congress sent President Joe Biden a short-term spending bill on Thursday that would avert a looming partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies into March.
The House approved the measure by a vote of 314-108, with opposition coming mostly from the more conservative members of the Republican conference. Shortly before the vote, the House Freedom Caucus announced it “strongly opposes” the measure because it would facilitate more spending than they support.
Nevertheless, about half of Republicans joined with Democrats in passing the third stopgap funding measure in recent months. The action came a few hours after the Senate had voted overwhelmingly to pass the bill by a vote of 77-18.
OBSERVATION - Johnson may well face a vacate the seat motion given that the CR gives the democrats everything they want with no budget cuts or action to stop the tsunami on the border.
Cyber attacks/warfare – HEIGHTENED ALERT
JPMorgan Chase & Co., in response to a mounting wave of global cybercrime, reported an uptick in attempts by hackers to breach its systems.
JPMorgan Chase said it is combating approximately 45 billion daily hacking attempts, twice the number from the previous year. Mary Callahan Erdoes, the head of JPMorgan’s asset and wealth management division, revealed the concerning trend during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Bloomberg reported.
OBSERVATION - Interesting that this is being brought up at Davos. A massive cyber attacks is one of the hypothetical scenarios globalists have been bringing up lately that they could covertly used to push the world into ‘secure’ CBDC aligned financial systems.
Illegal Immigration –
Migrants without proper identification may apparently opt out of being photographed by TSA upon entry at Miami International Airport.
According to a sign posted on X by conservative podcaster Dave Rubin Thursday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is allowing migrants to pass through entry points without having their picture taken.
OBSERVATION - Probably cross reference under Terrorism as well. TSA is allowing tens (hundreds?) of thousands of illegal aliens to transit our county in an untrackable manner. As much of a farce TSA has turned into over the years, this just goes beyond the pale.
***
Texas is doubling down on its occupation of the park at Eagle’s Pass by installing more fencing
The floating buoy barrier in the Rio Grande River at Eagle Pass, Texas remains in place, at least for now. Thanks to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Governor Abbott was handed a victory Wednesday.
In December the court ruled against Abbott in an order that would have forced him to move the barrier from the river. But on Wednesday, the court granted Abbott’s request for a rehearing of the case with the entire Fifth Circuit instead of the three-judge panel that made the initial call.
The decision means Abbott will get to keep the buoy barrier in the water at least through May when the new hearing is scheduled to be held.
North/South Korea –
North Korea conducted a test of their underwater nuclear drone system, which is known as the “Haeil-5-23.”
The test was done in response to the joint maritime exercise between South Korea, the United States, and Japan
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Jan 1, 2024
With the end of the Ukraine summer offensive and the ongoing winter mud season, Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Russia maintains it attacks to take Adviivka, even in the face of huge losses. Russia continues to launch smaller attacks daily across the front lines.
Russian has been shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones with the likelihood of attempting to take down the Ukraine power grid as they did winter 2023. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. In the latest, large missile / drone attack, the Black Sea fleet was noticeably out of action. In the last half of 2023, Ukraine was able to take out about 20% of the fleet.
While Russia has reportedly about 400K of soldiers in the theater, all evidence indicates that they are poorly trained and equipped. Russian forces are increasingly having to rely on 50’s and 60’s vintage tanks, APCs and other vehicles. Russian large assaults continue to be what are referred to as ‘meat’ attacks - throwing large numbers of lightly armed, foot troops at Ukraine defenses in hopes of overwhelming them. These tactics ‘worked’ at Bakhmut but there Russia still had a superiority in artillery support. Concerted efforts by Ukraine to locate and destroy Russian artillery, combined with wear and tear taking systems out and poor/no ammo has generally caused Russia to lose the edge in artillery firepower.
Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.
Russia is believed to be trying to muster a force for a winter offensive, once the soils freeze up and permit cross country maneuver. Focus of such an offensive has not solidified but the most likely candidate for one front is the continued attempt to eliminate the salient at Adviivka.
*****
Russia is having power problems all over the place. Now large swaths of Crimea have lost power -blackouts in Simferopol, Sevastopol, Feodosiya, Dzhankoi, Saky in occupied Crimea
RUMINT-
Another A-50 AWAC is reportedly now in operation in the Sea of Azov region.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Warming trend bringing temps into the 40’s with rain/snow dropping back down to the 20-30s with snow towards the end of the forecast period.
24 HOUR ROUND UP – Weather continues to dominate action on the ground. However, temperatures are reaching levels around Ukraine that are starting to freeze the ground locally, meaning that ground operations may have their tempo increase over the coming days/weeks.
Russia launched renewed attacks all along the eastern front. Minimal territorial gains.
Ukrainian drones have struck St Petersburg for the first time since the war started, targeting an oil facility
Russian Territory –
Fire at the oil depot in Klintsy, Bryansk region
Outlook —
Weather and mud conditions are continuing to dictate ground operations, which are at a low level due to lack of maneuverability cross country and on dirt roads due to the mud. However, seeing reports that the ground is beginning to solidify in areas, to the level of being capable to support off road movement.
Recent Russian ground attacks are taking the form of an attempt to gain momentum for a winter offensive. Large numbers of attacks along the broad eastern front. They do not, other than chronologically, appear to be organized and coordinated into a larger effort. Just a lot of attacks.
Europe / NATO General –
The largest since the Cold War: NATO announces military training involving 90,000 troops - Reuters
The troops will assess their ability to fight an enemy like Russia. The training will start next week.
OBSERVATION - Exercise is raising some eyebrows as some in Europe are saying that conflict with Russia could happen very soon.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- Hamas hostage Kfir Bibas turns one in captivity
——— GENERAL ——————————-
President of the United Nations General Assembly - “The continuation of the war in Gaza will affect generations of Palestinians and will nullify the peaceful solution”
***
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority - “The bodies of 21 Israeli detainees (hostages) were found in a cemetery in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza last night.”
***
IDF eliminates Wael Abu-Fanounah, deputy head of Islamic Jihad’s psychological warfare operations. Wael Abu-Fanounah was originally arrested in Israel on December 12, 1989, and was sentenced to three life sentences for his terrorist activities. He was released in 2011 as part of the Gilad Schalit prisoner deal.
****
The rift between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu deepened on Thursday as the Israeli Prime Minister accused the US of trying to ‘coerce’ Israel.
In an interview on national TV, Netanyahu rejected US calls to scale back Israel´s military offensive in the Gaza Strip and take steps toward the establishment of a Palestinian state after the war.
Netanyahu accused the US of trying to ‘coerce’ Israel into a situation which would ‘endanger’ the country and said ‘we will not settle for anything short of an absolute victory’.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby immediately responded, saying: ‘We obviously see it differently.’
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
The IDF says it has completed demolishing Hamas’s main rocket and weapon manufacturing industrial zone in the central Gaza Strip, along with a vast tunnel network beneath it that houses some of the facilities.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Continued exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and IDF along the border.
——— SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
Local authorities in Golan Heights say three rockets were fired from Syria, which landed in open areas near Yonatan. The Golan Regional Council says the Israeli army is response with shelling as explosions heard in West Daraa countryside where those rockets were fired from.
———WEST BANK——————————-
Multiple engagements between West Bank groups and Israeli security forces. Security forces make many raids throughout the West Bank capturing Hamas and other terror leaders and cells.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
CENTCOM - “As part of ongoing multi-national efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels in the Red Sea, on Jan. 18 U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes on two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed into the Southern Red Sea and were prepared to launch. U.S. forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at approximately 3:40 p.m. (Sanaa time) and determined they were an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region. U.S. forces subsequently struck and destroyed the missiles in self-defense”
British Maritime Authority - A new attack on a ship off the port of Al-Shihr in Hadhramaut Governorate
UKMTO has received a report of 4 unidentified Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) flying close to a merchant vessel 85NM South East of Ash Shibt, Yemen (Gulf of Oman) . 1 UAV hitting the water in close proximity to the vessel. Coalition forces responding
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Israel to continue search and destroy operations across Gaza. Fighting to continue to be intense in central and S Gaza while N Gaza levels are dropping fast.
Action against the Houthi continues to build. CAPs by US jet fighters are spotting Houthi launchers, but Houthi are not backing down and still firing on shipping. The target zone appears to be expanding to the Sea of Oman.
Iran –
Iran confirmed the hijacking of a U.S. oil tanker off the coast of Oman which may now threaten further trade globally.
OBSERVATION - Under weak president carter, Iranian students held over 50 American hostages for longer than a year. Iran sees biden in the same light.
Iraq -
A MQ-9 “Reaper” Surveillance Drone was shot down overnight over the Diyala Governorate of Eastern Iraq by Iranian-Backed Militias. Since 2017 at least 4 MQ-9s have been Downed by the Houthis in Yemen, with 1 being downed over the Red Sea in November of 2023 during the ongoing war in Israel.
“... president of the Heritage Foundation, Kevin Roberts, confronted hosts at the World Economic Forum Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, challenging claims that the WEF is protecting democracy and calling so-called elites “part of the problem.”
The moderator, British international affairs expert Sir Robin Niblett, at one point asked Roberts about former President Trump’s promise of “retribution” if he regains office, and that the World Economic Forum’s purported defenses of liberal democracy could be “swept under the rug” by the mogul.
“It’s laughable that you or anyone would describe Davos as ‘protecting liberal democracy’,” Roberts said.
“It’s equally laughable to use the word ‘dictatorship’ at Davos and aim that at President Trump. In fact, I think that’s absurd.”
OBSERVATION - Observers are noting that attendees are ‘shocked’ to get feed back that the general public opposes their gracious and generous policies)
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LOL - this is rich stuff - - and on the mark. Our ‘elites’ are a little out of touch with reality. Thanks for finding this on Godzilla.
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