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
Thank You
Here is what is catching my eye today
Wuhan Virus -
A couple days ago I noted that China was underreporting asymptomatic infections (WHO protocols). Seems they caught up with vengence overnight with a huge jump in both infected and dead. Deaths jumped because they misrepresented the cause of death separate from the virus. For example, deaths were stated to be due to pnunomia when it was caused as a secondary effect by the virus. Numbers fluxuating, but one new count reported over 60,349 infections and about 1370 deaths. This is a jump of nearly 15,000 new cases. So we are still talking a mortality rate in the 2.2% range, and a likely higher Ro. Around the world, the number of new cases continue to grow, the only bright spot is that it appears the mortality rate is very low in comparison to China.
Israel/West Bank (PA) -
Good read at the following link on the below the surface relations between Israel and PA in the West Bank. This is one of the reasons the West Bank has been calm versus the continued turmoil in Gaza.
https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/israel/articles/20200213.aspx
Syria/Turkey -
Situation is still escalating as Syrian forces push further into the Idlib area.
Venezulea -
Mostly quiet, got noisy after the elected president Juan Guaido’s appearance at the SOTU address. Yesterday he returned to Venezula and was immediately set upon by a mob organized by Maduro. Since the crisis there last year, a very much bimodal society has developed. An elite class enjoying the ‘benefits’ of graft from Maduro and an underclass of very poor. Violence by Maduro organized militias keeps the underclass in check.