Threat Matrix 2021

Threat Matrix is a thread where global and domestic threats and trends to America are noted and commented on. Goal it to peel back the BS and get to the root of things.

I’m back and a bit overwhelmed so lets get summarizing it.

Globalism / Great Reset -
The WH will be hosting a global warming conference including the likes if Bill Gates. There continues to be calls to institute wuhan like global shutdowns to force green goals and standards.
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Economy -
WH is beginning to direct aid to drought stricken areas of the west.
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Biden watch -
Wednesday, Biden warned that Americans may be forced to cancel their plans for celebrating the 4th of July this year if too many Americans choose to not get a coronavirus vaccine, as reported by the New York Post.
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CW2/Domestic violence -
The United States Postal Service is running a “covert operation program” to monitor the social media activity of American citizens without their knowledge or consent, according to official documents.
The documents, obtained by Yahoo News, reveal a program called Internet Covert Operations Program (iCOP) which hasn’t previously been made public, that’s meant to monitor the activity of conservatives and “right-wing” Americans.

OBSERVATION - This operation spells out all kinds of illegalities and potential abuses. Its charter calls for actions and threats sent by mail - not screening internet social accounts. Civil rights leaders are sounding the alarm over this supposedly innocuous government agency spying on American citizens instead of focusing on mail -related issues. But it makes perfect sense in that it is taking an obscure unit and turning it into a spy on Americans - circumventing the the traditional intelligence collection agencies and associated laws.

There is a schism developing between BLM and Antifa in Portland after Antifa destroyed a number of businesses and organizations that provide support to the black community. Leaders from Portland’s Black community write an open letter calling on white protesters to stop “doing damage to us.”

More sporadic violence following the Floyd verdict. BLM activists continue to warn that ‘reform’ and defunding the police haven’t gone far enough as they continue to look for more incidents to bring their riots to bear upon.
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Cyber Warfare -
The Chinese Communist Party is believed to be responsible for newly found hack attacks on the U.S. government, businesses and American infrastructure, cybersecurity company Mandiant said Wednesday. This is the third major cybersecurity breach to hit the U.S. in recent months — including two in March blamed on hackers linked to China’s government: one targeting 30,000 U.S. victims, including small businesses and local governments, the other hitting Microsoft.
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Russia - POTENTIAL FOR WAR IN UKRAINE

Russia’s defense minister on Thursday ordered troops back to their permanent bases following massive drills in Crimea that involved dozens of navy ships, hundreds of warplanes and thousands of troops in a show of force amid tensions with Ukraine. After watching the drills, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu declared the maneuvers over and ordered the military to pull the troops taking part in maneuvers in Crimea and western Russia back to their permanent bases. It is also being indicated that the heavy equipment / armor will remain at the forward bases that were set up at Pogonovo firing range in the southwestern Voronezh region and Crimea.

CLOSELY MONITORING - This could be a head fake or a real pull back of the approximately 150,000 Russian forces that were deployed the border region of Ukraine.
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Israel -
Syria launched a SA-5 surface-to-air missile toward Israel from Syria and that it exploded in the southern Negev. Initial concern was that it was targeting the Israeli nuclear research facility in the area. There was much initial confusion as to the nature of incident. Israel just prior to the SA-5 launch was striking Iranian bases around Damascus. IAF units conducted counter strikes against Syrian ADA batteries including the one suspected of firing the rocket.
OBSERVATION - uncertain if this was a rogue that missed an earlier target and didn’t preemptively self destruct or was designed to travel ballistically.
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Iran -
The UN atomic agency on Wednesday said Iran has installed additional advanced centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear plant, the site of a recent blast blamed on Israel. According to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, seen by Reuters, Iran added two more cascades of IR-4 centrifuges and six clusters of IR-2m at its underground facility. The IAEA also confirmed that some of the centrifuges were in use and said the Islamic Republic plans to install another four cascades of the IR-4 at Natanz. Iran said it began enriching a small amount of uranium up to 60 percent purity at the site — its highest level ever, and a short step from weapons-grade. The UN atomic agency confirmed the enrichment, saying it was being done in an above-ground facility at Natanz.

OBSERVATION - Iran has accelerated getting its underground facility back in operation. Initial estimates of 9 months now appear to be too long and could be fully operational again in far less time.
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Wuhan virus -
India’s medical system is reportedly in collapse due to a surge in wuhan infections/hospitalizations.

CDC is claiming that the Moderna or Pfizer shots are safe for pregnant women, with complications no different than pre-shot.
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Economy -
Biden will propose almost doubling the capital gains tax rate for wealthy individuals to 39.6%, which, coupled with an existing surtax on investment income, means that federal tax rates for investors could be as high as 43.4%, according to people familiar with the proposal. The plan would boost the capital gains rate to 39.6% for those earning $1 million or more, an increase from the current base rate of 20%, the people said on the condition of anonymity because the plan is not yet public. The dow dropped when this news came out.
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Invasion of Illegals -
Biden’s administration may provide immigration rights and citizenship to many foreign “climate migrants” who claim they are being displaced by climate change, the Associated Press (AP) reported this week.
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Biden watch -
Biden will give his first address to Congress as commander in chief on Wednesday, though not an official ’SOTU’ address. Increasing numbers of Republican will likely be absent from the address.
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POLITICAL FRONT -
Anger over the spying program is known as iCOP, or Internet Covert Operations Program, continues to grow as new information on its activities come out.
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Strategic Developments /Deployments -
The whole fleet of B1 bombers (45 aircraft) has been grounded after a hole was is found in the fuel system. Individual aircraft will return to flight when they are deemed safe to fly by Air Force officials.
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Russia - THREAT STANDING DOWN
Russia says it will end its military drills along border with Ukraine on April 23rd according to the Russian defense minister. Ukraine spokespersons ”welcomes” the drawdown of troops from the border. NATO says it has taken note but remains vigilant, U.S. looking to see if withdrawals actually occur.

OBSERVATION - Russia is claiming that the equipment is in storage for another exercise later this summer. The pre-positioning of the equipment will make any future aggression easier and quicker provided Russia is able to properly store/maintain the weapon systems they left behind. Putin was also able to get a good fix in the clown act from the US and NATO response. Weakness only promotes future adventurism and war.

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Israel -
Israel is evaluating why a Patriot missile failed to destroy the SA-5 missile that strayed in from Syria. Iran is trying to take credit for it as an attack on Israel’s nuclear facility whereas the evidence shows it to have been a stray missile.
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Wuhan virus -
India suffering from an oxygen shortage as its health care system is swamped by wuhan hospitalizations.

US vaccination sites are closing from California to Texas, Ohio to Mississippi as demand for Covid shots plummets across the country - despite less than 28% of the population being fully inoculated. As of Friday, just shy of 42 percent of Americans - and nearly 53 percent of adults 18 and older - have had at least one dose of vaccine.
OBSERVATION - many see the administration resorting to more coercive measures to get people to take the ‘vaccine’ - even revisiting the vaccine ‘passport’ issue. Numerous states have stepped up to deny/repudiate any such ‘passport’ as well as there being significant legal obstacles - even if created by the ‘private’ sector - as experimental drugs cannot be mandated for use. Anyone who chooses not to vaccinate will ultimately be blamed for the inevitable and continual failure of the covid-19 vaccines. This shaming tactic has already been identified and put in practice by the mainstream media.

The Food and Drug Administration ended its recommended pause on the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine on Friday and will add a warning to its label to note the potential risk of rare blood clots.
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Globalism / Great Reset -
Gov Newscum announced that California is now the first state to declare an end to oil extraction in the country. “Today, we’re announcing that we will phase out all oil extraction — as part of a world-leading effort to achieve carbon neutrality — and ban fracking by 2024.” All extraction will cease by 2045.

biden calling for emissions to be reduced by 50% by 2030. Automotive companies have endorsed the ‘plan’, but like most liberal wet dreams this will only further destroy the economy. See economy below.
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Economy -
biden’s increasing the capitol gains to 28% reportedly will cause the loss of $720 billion in GDP over 10 years - a number that slightly exceeds the estimated $694 billion of tax revenue that would be raised over 10 years after accounting for the smaller economy.

The global supply chain continues to be broken and one of the latest impacts to be felt will be disposable diapers. (CNN) Procter & Gamble (PG) said Tuesday that it will raise prices on brands such as Pampers diapers and Always and Tampax tampons, the latest consumer goods’ manufacturer to hike what it charges retailers. The exact amount of price increases will vary by brand, but will be in the mid-to-high single digit percentage range, P&G said. They will go into effect in mid-September. The company will also raise prices on Always Discreet adult incontinence products and Luvs diapers.
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Invasion of Illegals -
VP Harris hasn’t visited the southern border in over 30 days since been put in charge of the fiasco. But apparently she’s provided a children’s book she wrote to the illegals.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stopped fining illegal aliens who refused to depart the United States, the agency revealed. In an announcement on Friday, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated that the agency has stopped issuing fines to illegal aliens who refused to depart the U.S. despite previously stating that they would depart.
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Biden watch -
In a climate change video call, biden was the only speaker wearing a mask and there was no US flag in the image. Biden pledged to cut U.S. emissions from 2005 levels by up to 52% by the end of this decade.

In a phonecall to Turkey’s Erdogan, biden told him he will call the Armenian massacres a genocide. Saturday is Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, and he would be the first U.S. president in 40 years to publicly recognize the 1915 mass killings as a genocide.
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CW2/Domestic violence -
Scattered BLM/Antifa riots present across the county in the usual hot spots. The likelihood of violence and rioting this weekend remains high as Far Left groups are committed to demanding the total abolition of police. “All Cops are Derek Chauvin” has become a popular rallying cry in Far Left chat rooms where activists continue to organize protests and direct action demonstrations. Multiple groups are already looking ahead to August, when the other former Minneapolis police officers implicated in the death of George Floyd are set to begin their trials. The death of Ma’Khia Bryant is the latest incident that Far Left groups have latched onto for protests and calls for abolition. Almost any police involved shooting will likely be used to stir up unrest. Some legal experts such as Andrew F. Branca, a respected criminal law attorney, are predicting Chauvin will return to court due to credible “grounds for reversal of a conviction.” Any movement to appeal or reverse the conviction of Chauvin is likely to spark another wave of Far Left violence.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed legislation Wednesday that will protect drivers who injure or kill demonstrators while attempting to escape a riot, in addition to increasing penalties for individuals who intentionally block roadways. This follows a protest by BLM/Antifa members that forced their way in to the legislature halls to stop the bill.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte on Friday signed a bill that prohibits state and local law enforcement in Montana from enforcing federal bans on firearms, ammunition and magazines. Supporters of the law have said it would protect the Second Amendment from stiffer gun control laws that could come from federal legislation or executive orders by President Joe Biden. Montana is one of at least a dozen states that have sought to nullify new gun restrictions this year.

Portland mayor Ted Wheeler, pro-BLM/Antifa, is pushing back following recent violence. “I’ve extended the state of emergency through the weekend. Our job is to unmask them, arrest them, and prosecute them. I want to personally thank neighbors, family, friends and others who have come forward with vital evidence. People know who these criminals are. They know what they’re up to. If you have any information, please contact the police. Acting Chief Davis will provide specifics shortly. I also want you to know that these people often arrive at their so-called direct actions, in cars. And they’re all dressed in all black. If you see this, call the police. If you can provide a license plate, if you can do so safely, that information can help later. Together we can make a stand. We’re doing what we can today. I’m also asking for your help to make a stand and take our city back.”
NOTE - He has tied the hands of the police in arresting and virtually no rioter has been charged and jailed in any of the violence over the course of the past year plus.

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POLITICAL FRONT -
Democrats have pushed forward bills to make DC into a separate state. However, any final resolution would require a constitutional amendment.
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China -
Over 500 federally-funded U.S. scientists are under investigation for being compromised by China and other foreign entities, according to testimony from the National Institute of Health Thursday. China uses American researchers and steal intellectual property.

Now routine and rarely in the news, China continues to fly aircraft into Tiawan’s air defense zone on a daily basis.
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Japan -
This past week Japan AF flew 4 - F-16 jets, fully combat armed, over its portion of the China Sea that China claims. This is the first combat patrol by Japan and indicates the seriousness Japan is placing on Chinese intrusion into territorial waters.
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Russia - THREAT STANDING DOWN
Western allies are still looking to see if there are any substantial troop movements out of the border region as announced by Russia. There are numerous twitter videos showing military convoys but little other data associated with it. Cease fire violations continue in the Donetsk area between separatists and Ukrane forces.
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Israel -
After a month of relative calm, hamas launched about 36 rockets into southern Israel overnight. 6 interceptions by Iron Dome, 2 impacts in towns causing light damage, 28 in open areas. IDF conducted counterstrikes against hamas facilities. IDF naval forces were given orders to enforce a full marine blockade of the Gaza strip , meantime no fishing allowed.
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Syria -
US Soldiers in Syria reported flu-like symptoms last fall without known exposure to sick individuals. Upon further investigation, the Pentagon announced suspected “directed, pulsed radio frequency energy” as the likely cause of the troops’ illness. Known publicly since 2016 as “Havana Syndrome”, US diplomats and intelligence professionals reported suffering from similar ailments during a previously-classified series of incidents while in Cuba. The Pentagon declined to draw specific parallels between these events citing ongoing investigations.
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Afghanistan -
Defense officials have told CNN that U.S. forces are beginning the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Additional support and security measures are also underway to support the withdrawal effort; assets on alert and on standby to ensure safety of U.S & NATO personnel. Primarily the Eisenhower CSG will be on station to provide support if necessary. Additionally, several B-52 bombers will be deployed to the Mideast for additional support.
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Turkey -
biden is reportedly planning to announce that the Armenian massacres a genocide. See biden watch above

Wuhan virus -
India’s medical system continues to collapse under wuhan hospitalizations.

MIT study indicates social distancing makes no difference in the spread of wuhan.
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Globalism / Great Reset -
Rumors coming out of biden’s climate plan has extreme measures such as limiting American beef consumption to 4 lbs / year. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has reportedly said that farmers and ranchers would be “given incentives” (welfare) to stop farming and ranching.

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Economy -
Bloomberg Agriculture Spot Index — which tracks key farm products — surged the most in almost nine years, driven by a rally in crop futures. With global food prices already at the highest since mid-2014, this latest jump is being closely watched because staple crops are a ubiquitous influence on grocery shelves — from bread and pizza dough to meat and even soda.
NOTE - Stock up NOW!

The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development on Friday reported a 20.7% increase on sales of new single-family houses at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.021 million units up from 846,000 in February. Home sales skyrocketed 66.8% above the March 2020 estimate of 612,000 home sales when the pandemic first hit, according to the data.
OBSERVATIONS - Two major drivers. 1) Incredibly low interest rates. and 2) one of the largest mass movements of people in the country since the Great Depression out of blue states and into red states.

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Invasion of Illegals -
Biden is reportedly moving to significantly increase the number of migrants released into the U.S. who were apprehended by U.S. officials for trying to illegally enter the country BY 800% according to sources. U.S. officials believe they will encounter 2 million migrants illegally trying to enter the U.S. southern border this year.

Now we find out VP Harris is privately profiting from her little book, U.S. taxpayer dollars were used to buy the books to give to children who came to the U.S. illegally.
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Biden watch -
biden’s first speech to Congress will be to a mostly empty chamber. Only 200 will be present - by invitation only - as a wuhan social distancing requirement by pelosi.
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CW2/Domestic violence -
Another weekend and scattered BLM/Antifa riots in the usual cities.
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North Korea -
A North Korean defector group has said it plans to send thousands of leaflets to North Korea next week. The last time leaflets were sent over successfully, North Korea threatened military action against South Korea and blew up the inter-korean liaison office.
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Russia - THREAT STANDING DOWN
Heavy US/NATO aerial surveillance missions being flown to monitor Russian withdrawal from the Ukraine border region.
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Israel -
More rocket and mortar fire from Gaza into southern Israel overnight. In Gaza media reports the Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades (militant wing of the Popular Resistance Committees) has announced a general mobilization within its ranks. Fire from Gaza reportedly ‘supporting’ riots in Jerusalem and other areas with a higher palestinian population.

Rioting reported in Al-Bireh, a Palestinian city in the West Bank, about 15km north of Jerusalem. Clashes continue throughout the area. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday called for “calm on all sides” after several nights of unrest in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem. Riots are associated with the month of Ramadan.
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Iran -
A fuel tanker was allegedly attacked near Syrian coast by a ‘drone’. 3 reported dead. “Russia Today” website quotes sources in the city of Baniyas, who denied that an oil tanker was targeted, saying that the aforementioned tanker “suffered a fire accident due to negligence and lack of safety measures during its unloading.” The tanker is not an Iranian vessel, but a Beirut-registered tanker called WISDOM. She has assisted the Iranian VLCC supertanker ARMAN 114 (ex. ADRIAN DARYA-1) by offloading 300-350K barrels at a time due to depth restrictions.
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France -
A group of former and current French military personnel signed an open letter this week warning of the imminent danger posed by so-called anti-racist ideology, and urging French President Emmanuel Macron to work quickly to prevent a civil war. The letter, published in French magazine Valeurs Actuelles, was signed by 20 former French generals, 100 officers and over 1,000 other military personnel. It accused the French government of kowtowing to destructive ideologies such as anti-racism and Islamism, which it said were being leveraged for the purposes of sowing unrest in French communities and risking a descent into full-blown civil war.
OBSERVATION - When France gets real, it is getting real.

Reminder - no post on Tuesdays and I’ll be on the road Thursday - Sat this week.

Wuhan virus -
Fauci facing another flip-flop as the CDC prepares to updated guidance on wearing face masks outdoors, in another reversal. Fauci is facing more scrutiny over a program he provided US tax dollars for the wuhan lab to conduct experiments outlawed in the US. Same wuhan lab now tightly linked to seeking out pathogens for the Chinese Army.

More colleges engaging in the probably illegal requirement for students to prove vaccination in order to return to class.
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Globalism / Great Reset -
VP Harris will make the case before United Nations members on Monday that now is the time for global leaders to begin putting the serious work into how they will respond to the next global pandemic. In a parallel, a smiling Bill Gates in an interview with excerpts all over the internet, talked about the ‘next’ pandemic.
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Economy -
There is reportedly a national chicken wing shortage. We may chuckle, but this is but the tip of the ice berg of what’s coming later this summer. . . . .
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CW2/Domestic violence -
Leftists continue to try to gain traction from police shooting of Ma’Khia Bryant in Columbus, Ohio. The problem is the multiple videos are clear and straight forward, Bryant was about to disembowel an unarmed victim and refused police orders.

Various police departments in the U.S. report they are experiencing “recruitment and retention issues,” including Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Baltimore. The defund the police movement and continued riots were the police have been forbidden to stop/arrest rioters are a major factor.
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Strategic Developments /Deployments -
The U.S. Air Force is considering a plan to put part of its nuclear bomber fleet on 24-hour alert status to fill the gap left by the aging U.S. nuclear missile arsenal, but one top general is warning that plan isn’t sustainable and could exhaust the force. Currently the entire fleet of B1 bombers is on stand down due to mechanical issues.
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Israel -
Following more overnight rocket attacks, Israel gave an ultimatum to Hamas that if rocket fire from Gaza continues it will respond with a wide military strike. Israeli officials told the UN envoy that closing down the fishing area in Gaza was the last attempt by Israel to respond in non military ways to the rocket fire from Gaza, but the next response will be of military nature and will have grave consequences. Israel communities targeted include Nir Am, Sderot, Ibim, and Erez.

Hamas called on the various Islamic factions in the Gaza Strip to prepare for a potential flare-up with Israel, amid renewed tensions in Jerusalem and southern Israel. In a statement released on Sunday, it said that the various armed groups in Gaza should “close ranks ... and continue to gather in the Old City of Jerusalem and preserve the prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.” The statement continued by praising the factions for “coping with the oppressive Zionist regime through determination” and added that they must “stay with the finger on the trigger by preparing the missiles and training them on the enemy’s bastions and essential military installations.”

Mahmoud Abbas, will reportedly hold a meeting with all Palestinian factions in the next 48 hours, where he will announce his intention to postpone parliamentary elections scheduled for May 22nd. A move that will undoubtedly raise tensions. Abbas will offer as an alternative, a broad Palestinian unity government that would include Hamas.
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Iran -
The New York Times is reporting that a high-ranking official in the Obama administration tipped off Iran to Israel’s covert actions. A leaked audio recording of Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reveals that John Kerry revealed that information to Tehran, presumably during the negotiations for the deal with Iran over its nuclear-weapons development.
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Afghanistan -
US officially started pulling troops out of country as directed towards a 9/11 completion date. Taliban OTOH have stepped their bombing and attacks against Afghan govt and military targets. The Taliban say by failing to meet the May 1 withdrawal deadline, the U.S. is in violation of the agreement negotiated by the Trump administration last year, and therefore U.S. forces are now subject to attack.
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Turkey -
Turkey threatening pushback for calling the Armenian genocide - genocide, by closing US bases, threaten its citizens and ally with Iran, China and Russia, or other US enemies.
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Reminder - I’ll be on the road Thursday - Sat this week.

Wuhan virus -
The CDC has updated its guidance. Fully vaccinated Americans can now go without masks outdoors, except in crowded settings. A lot of Americans have been doing this for a while without the ‘vaccine’. Its about control, not the virus.
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Globalism / Great Reset -
Foodie site Epicurous has removed beef recipes, saying that we must changed out diet to safe the earth from global warming. This follows the reports that biden’s global warming plan for 2030 includes limiting beef consumption to 4 lbs/person/year.

Yellen continues to work with the IMF to find a mechanism to place govt controls over cryptocurrencies, particularly bitcoin. Govt controls would facilitate monitoring of purchases and ultimate control of individuals via the pocket book.
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Economy -
Housing market continues to skyrocket to new heights. Forecasts of double digit price increases thru the end of the year.

The Federal Reserve will remain on hold for the rest of this year despite an increasing belief on Wall Street that policymakers should throttle back the stimulus they’re providing to the U.S. economy, according to the latest CNBC Fed Survey. Respondents to the survey forecast the Fed won’t reduce its $120 billion of asset purchases until January, three months later than predicted in CNBC’s March survey. And the first rate hike won’t come until December 2022, survey respondents said.
NOTE - a rate hike will have devastating consequences, even if by a minimal amount. The economy is running of credit, cheap credit, and if that starts to become more expensive prices will skyrocket even more than expected this summer - potentially triggering hyperinflation.
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Invasion of Illegals -
As if it couldn’t be proven to be lower, VP Harris proved pundents wrong when she announced that the cause of the surge in illegals is due to “climate change” and LGBTQ violence a “root cause”. According to polls, harris is failing miserably to do her job on immigration (as well as other aspects).
https://pjmedia.com/columns/stephen-kruiser/2021/04/28/the-morning-briefing-americans-waking-up-to-fact-that-kamala-harris-is-an-idiot-n1443158

biden has ordered that Immigration enforcement officials from ICE or the Border Patrol will not be allowed to arrest any illegal aliens at courthouses “unless there is a public safety threat.” Arrests at a courthouse can still be made if “it involves a national security matter, a risk of imminent death or harm to anyone, or a hot pursuit involving a public safety threat. Officers may also make an arrest at a courthouse if it appears evidence in a criminal case will be imminently destroyed.”
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Biden watch -
Biden, who is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, wore a mask Tuesday while walking outside by himself to the podium far from reporters and other people to announce new CDC guidelines that vaccinated people can go without masks outdoors as long as they are not in big crowds. Wait, what . . . .
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CW2/Domestic violence -
The Idaho State House passed HB 377 with a vote of 57 to 12, which seeks to ban Critical Race Theory from being taught at Idaho public schools. The House passed the bill as it warned, “the federal government is working to take over Idaho curriculum.”
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POLITICAL FRONT -
The FBI is combing through the data of Americans gathered illegally by the National Security Agency (NSA) to build cases against Trump supporters and other so-called right-wing extremists. A heavily-redacted report has been declassified from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) secret court showing that the FBI received private information about right-wing individuals in September 2019. This occurred as the FBI was ignoring pressing ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter terror threats while former President Donald Trump was still in the White House.

DHS is conducting a political purge of anyone who may be a patriot. This follows a similar ideological purge working thru the US Military . DHS leadership will provide the department’s employees with information on how they can accuse their co-workers by utilizing “mechanisms for reporting insider threats and other actions associated with domestic violent extremism.”
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Strategic Developments /Deployments -
USCG Cutter Hamilton entered the Black Sea, after working with the USS Roosevelt The Hamilton will be working with NATO Allies & partners in the region. Russian naval assets almost immediately started to shadow the ship.

biden ordered the deployment of over 600 soldiers to Afghanistan allegedly to assist in the troop pullout.
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North Korea -
South Korea’s unification minister is calling for the resumption of dialogue with North Korea. Seoul’s also announced the completion of a $361,945 conference room intended to facilitate video calls with Pyongyang on Monday.
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Russia - THREAT STANDING DOWN
Ukrainian border guards have not recorded any withdrawal of Russian troops from the borders of Ukraine, only from Crimea.
Russia is repeatedly refusing dialogue and diplomatic solution on Donbas and Crimea. It claims not to be a party to the ‘conflict’.
There continues to be mortar/grenade attacks by separatists along the line of contact in the Dombas region.
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Israel -
Two rockets were launched from Gaza towards southern Israel overnight. No damage was reported as they reportedly landed in an open field in Gaza. Reports that the Gaza factions are evacuating their HQs bases , outposts and other installations as IAF aircraft move over the strip.

Post election politics continue. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday finally caved in on his more than month-long opposition to appointing Blue and White leader Benny Gantz as Justice Minister in the current transitional government. The government approved the nomination of Gantz Wednesday afternoon.
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Iran -
A U.S. military ship fired warning shots after three vessels from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) came close to it and another American patrol boat in the Gulf, the United States military said on Tuesday.
The US ship involved is the USS Firebolt, (PC 10) a Cyclone class Patrol (coastal) ship which is currently home-ported in Bahrain. This is on top of Iranian harassment of two Coast Guard Cutters earlier in the month that was just reported.
NOTE - Iranian fast attack boats have been stepping up their harassment of US vessels in the gulf.

United States will no longer require Iran to comply with the nuclear deal before the U.S. will rejoin the deal, but that only Iran *intends* to comply.
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Syria -
Western Syria / Idlib relatively quiet. Most activity is in the eastern areas with clashes with ISIS.
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Black Swans -
The 7th IAA Planetary Defense Conference takes place week in Vienna, Austria, and it is there where NASA, ESA, JPL, and others will be playing asteroid impact games. Officially called a tabletop exercise, the idea behind this game is to simulate an asteroid impact. More to the point, on April 26, the participants pretended they’ve discovered a potentially dangerous near-Earth object (NEO). During this week, people will pretend to have made more discoveries about this imaginary asteroid and then come up with recommendations and responses.
OBSERVATION - it isn’t necessary tinfoil for this exercise. The earth has been hit with asteroids in the past and recent fireballs reinforce the fact that there are plenty of rocks out there that can damage the earth - the won’t be detected until the last minute if at all. I don’t see this as reflecting a ’secret’ asteroid targeting the earth.

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