Wuhan Virus -
Reports surfacing that the test kits for the virus China has mass produced have a very high failure rate (as much as 70%). Not good as it would permit infected individuals to be released to the general public to transmit the disease if true. Adding to this, it is being reported that China has been excluding asymptomatic cases (infections with not symptions) from its official count in contradiction to WHO guidelines.
Reported numbers for 10 Feb - 42,729 confirmed, 1013 fatalities (2.4%)
Meanwhile, WHO is out with concerns about the probability of infections appearing that are no longer associated with travel to china. From the start WHO has been essentially worthless and China has only recently let a small team of WHO researchers into the country to examine things first hand.
N Korea -
Mentioned yesterday under the Wuhan virus, but today stands alone for the simple reason of the secondary impacts the asian epidemic has had. Desperate to prevent the virus spread, NK has completely closed its border with china now for over three weeks. That means imports of food and fuel are not arriving. The country has no reserves to draw upon to begin with and what there is is reserved for the military, and this wont last much longer. Sanctions PLUS Wuhan virus has been a double wammy to the NK people.
Israel -
Arab states are calling on Abbas to ‘lower the volume’ on his opposition to the Trump peace plan, concerned that it would create greater instability in the region. OTOH, Abbas is taking heat from other Palestinians for failing to take ‘real measures’ to oppose the plan.
Terrorists in Gaza claim they will stop IED balloon attacks, but so far there are no indicators of it ceasing. In Gaza, Egyptian diplomats have reportedly warned Hamas to stop supporting Iranian interests in favor of the proposed peace plan.
Syria/Turkey -
Increased tensions and artillery exchanges between Turkish and Syrian forces around the town of Idlib. Turkey warning Syria it faces potential counterattacks if they do not pull back in accordance with and earlier agreement. Turkey has been moving substantial armor and manpower to the region over the weekend and has become a serious potential flash point. Some of these convoys have come under Syrian artillery fire.
Syrian forces have launched a significant offensive against Aleppo, capturing key terrain and roads.
CW2-
Anyone heard of what the political stance of the guy who drove into the Republican tent a couple of days ago? I’m getting silence. My guess is a democrat leftist not affiliated with Bernie - Why? - because if a bernie supporter, the anti-bernie democrat elements would have put it out as part of their effort to stymie his campaign.
More threats against college republican groups. Very few incidents of violence against attendees at recent Trump rallies. Could be because increased citizen readiness to protect attendees during the critical time following the end of the event. A contributing factor may be the antifa types just don’t like to leave their warm basements at momma’s house. Expect things to heat up as the weather improves.
According to Breitbart - VA state police refuse to rule out door-to-door enforcement of a suppressor ban. By projection, that leaves open door-to-door acts based on the other laws being passed. July is when these laws come into force - we will see what the sanctuaries do when state police start showing up in their jurisdictions.
Info seems to be slow today. Here’s some things I’m following.
Wuhan Virus -
A few days ago there were many reports that SO2 monitoring indicated the substantial burning of dead virus victims. This has generally been debunked. OSINT has shown that the high SO2 in the Wuhan area is centered over a steel mill.
China claims that the infection rate has decreased, health specialists around the world remain skeptical. Latest numbers - 45,171 confirmed cases worldwide, including 1,115 fatalities.
Israel/Gaza -
There are reports that security of the various terrorist faction leaders has been increased due to fear of Israeli targeted assassinations. Netanyahu has publicly spoken about special responses to Hamas and its allied factions. Meanwhile, standard night of scattered rocket/mortar/IED balloon attacks and Israeli retaliation.
Syria/Turkey -
Erdogan warns Syria that if Turkish troops are attacked, they will retaliate not only in Idlib but throughout Syria. Situation is escalating as Syrian forces push further into the Idlib area.
US / Syria
US forces skirmished briefly with Syrian units at a checkpoint. One Syrian killed, one wounded. No US causalities.
Iraq -
Things have dropped off the radar to a degree due to Wuhan virus and US political action. Protests continue and Iran presses its allies and proxy militias to force US out of Iraq. Some analysis seems to indicate that the support to expel the US by these elements is starting to wane due to Iranian insistence on using violence as a driving force. This has been evidenced by Muqtada Sadr, a soft Iranian supporting Shia, who initially mobilized his militias to attack protesters. In doing so he became associated as being just another opportunistic pro-Iranian Iraqi leader. He has since stopped offensive actions against the protesters.
CW2 -
In light of the socialist takeover of the democrat party, here is a good primer on why the left is violent.
https://disrn.com/opinion/opinion-socialism-must-have-violence