Threat Matrix 2022

Welcome to the Threat Matrix 2022. Keep up to date on the multiple threats to our country and life.

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Wuhan virus -

The U.S. Army has approved just 20 COVID-19 vaccine religious exemption requests out of 8,000 servicemembers who applied, approval rate of just 0.25% of permanent religious exemption requests

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Economy -

U.S. gasoline stockpiles rose by 3.5 million barrels in the last week. This windfall increase is nearly 50 times greater than predictions and has caused consumer gas prices to drop below $4.50 for the first time in months. This comes in the wake of a renewed oil boom in the United States which has increased drilling, raising its active rig count by 57% compared to 2021. The international rig count has also jumped 8.7% as global demands continue to increase.

OBSERVATION - I wouldn’t be singing “happy days are here again”. biden’s plans for the US oil industry haven’t changed - he wants them eliminated. Further, globally, things can change rapidly and with it the price and availability of oil and its byproducts.

Looking into the tea leaves, most expect the Fed to raise interest rates 75 basis points on Wednesday for the second straight month .
Matthew Luzzetti, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank, says the Fed is going to have to brake the economy much harder to get inflation down to its 2% goal.
“Simply getting relief on the supply side, isn’t enough” to return inflation back to 2%, said Luzzetti. “You need to impact demand materially.”
He sees the Fed raising rates to a range of 4% to 4.25% by the first quarter of next year, compared with 1.5% to 1.75% today, which will drive the unemployment rate to 5.5%.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen acknowledged Sunday that the U.S. is experiencing an economic “slowdown” but downplayed the potential for a recession, arguing that the country is in a period of “transition” following rapid economic growth/ “The economy is slowing down,” Yellen said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” adding that a correction is “appropriate” for a healthy economy.

OBSERVATION - “transition” is the new ‘transitory’.
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CW2/Domestic violence -

Observers have noticed an increase in the volume of firearms and related training courses offered by left wing training outfits. Not certain if this will be a continuing trend, but I’ve been noting firearm and military style training since 2020. Little doubt that Antifa et al will be more inclined to use firearms more in their protests than in the past.

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Cyber Warfare -

FBI investigation determined Chinese-made Huawei equipment could disrupt US nuclear arsenal communications. Since at least 2017, federal officials have investigated Chinese land purchases near critical infrastructure, shut down a high-profile regional consulate believed by the US government to be a hotbed of Chinese spies and stonewalled what they saw as clear efforts to plant listening devices near sensitive military and government facilities.
Among the most alarming things the FBI uncovered pertains to Chinese-made Huawei equipment atop cell towers near US military bases in the rural Midwest. According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, the FBI determined the equipment was capable of capturing and disrupting highly restricted Defense Department communications, including those used by US Strategic Command, which oversees the country’s nuclear weapons.

OBSERVATION - Our leadership is sooo stupid to allow this to go on for so long.

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China -

The Commerce Department is investigating cell towers equipped with hardware built by Chinese telecom firm Huawei, which could be used to gather information on nearby military facilities and missile silos.

There are reports that during last week, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) military conducted a large-scale repositioning of Corps and Army level command and control units south towards military bases near Hainan and west into Xinjiang province.

OBSERVATION - While moving commands around would not be uncommon for exercises, it may also represent a possible D-30 day indication and warning of imminent military action. Looking at other actions that would indicate exercise or war prep. If war, potential targets would be Taiwan or the LOC with India.

Taiwan began its largest annual military exercise aimed at preparing the nation for an attack or invasion by its neighbor China. The exercise, dubbed “Han Kuang” (Han Glory in English), is set to last five days and is heavily focused on urban warfare and deploying precision weapons like Stinger missiles and anti-tank guided missiles from urban strongholds.
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North/South Korea -

NUKE WATCH on going.

DPRK conducted a late day artillery drill firing Sunday in first detected projectile firing detected by ROK after recent weeks lull in projectile firing by DPRK
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Russia -

WAR WATCH - The Battle for Donbas is on - now entering its sixth month of the war since starting on Feb 24th.

CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Russia now essentially controls Luhansk Oblast, Russian forces are now focusing on pushing toward the towns of Siversk, Feroivka and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region

ALSO - there is a lot of propaganda out there. I’m doing my best to filter that out or put into context. When In doubt I’ve been trying to identify questionable information.

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Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Milder with thunderstorms and rain over parts of the 10 day forecast period

24 HOUR ROUND UP -
Detailed information on the Ukraine offensive to regain Kherson Oblast is foggy. In part because of Ukranian OPSEC. US intel says that the offensive is very much ongoing and aggressive. Russian response can be tracked - largely via artillery strikes and Russian milbloggers. Evidence indigoes that Ukraine is still preparing the battlefield via its artillery - taking out Russian controlled bridges and eliminating/reducing Russian ability to reinforce and rearm its forces. Rumors suggest Russian leadership has migrated east of the Donets river, trying to get out of harms way. However, this will leave the forces west of the Donets River in a situation where comms to higher commands are still poor to non-existent in some ways. This would hamstring the Russians into ineffectively defending themselves.

Kyiv front ——
Nothing significant to report (NSR)

Northern (Chernihv region ) and North Eastern (Konotop - Sumy salient) Fronts - ——
NSR

Eastern (Kharkiv) front -
Russian forces continue shelling Kharkiv Oblast, a wider number of targets than recent, but volume is uncertain. .

Donetsk Oblast ——
Russian artillery fire concentrated on the eastern and southeastern margins of the Slovyansk-Siversk-Bakhmut salient.

Ukrainian military repelled Russian assaults at Berestove - Ivano-Daryivka and Verkhniokamyanka - Ivano-Daryivka. Russian forces conducting offensive attacks near Spirne, but with no success.

Scattered artillery fire along the LOC along the western portion of the front

Crimean Front -
Russian aircraft launched Kh-59 missile at Lyubymivka village of Dnipro district.

Russian artillery struck targets along the Kherson - Mykolaiv front.

Western / Central Ukraine ——
Russian missile attacks scattered throughout the region.

Russian Territory - ——
NSR

Partisan Resistance ——

Ukrainian partisans blew up a Russian-controlled railway near Novobohdanivka, Zaporizhia Oblast, 30 km north of Melitopol, overnight on July 23-24. Geolocated images of the aftermath show splits in a rail juncture in Novobohdanivka that cuts off Vasylivka and Tokmak, Zaporizhia Oblast from the main rail line to Melitpool. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces use the rail line to transport equipment and personnel from Melitopol towards Vasylivka and Tokmak

Ammunition / logistical sites hit ——-
Explosions reported from a probable ammo/logistical dump in Tavriisk, Kherson region

OUTLOOK ——
Things are kinda slow on the battle lines. The continuation of the Russian offensive into Donbas i9s essentially stalled. Artillery hitting a lot of reported areas, but volume of fire is considerably lacking. Info out the Kherson area is cloudy, not much comoing out as far as action and where.

My best guess at this stage is that Ukraine has put Russian planners between a rock and a hard place. HIMARSs seems to have really hurt the Russian logistic - especially artillery ammo. In the east, personnel replacements are hardly trained and it appears command and control has broken down. In the west, HIMARS and even poorer troops (all the good ones went east to support the primary offensive) facing Ukranian counter offensive. And their supply lines are getting hammered.

I expect that more details of the offensive in the west will become clearer, and Russian will be forced to make some hard choices.
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Moldova/Transnistria -

The Prime Minister of Moldova - “We are very concerned about the risk of a possible Russian invasion if military operations are directed towards southwestern Ukraine.”
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Iraq -

2nd rocket attack against Turkish Zlikan base, Iraq, 7 rockets used.

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Syria -

Turkish forces bombarded positions of the Pro-Assad forces and SDF forces in the areas of Tal Madiq, Harbel, Abyan, Shawargha and Al-Alqmiya north of Aleppo.

OBSERVATION - Things are heating up with Turkey in both Syria and Iraq.
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Running late again, sorry
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Globalism / Great Reset -

Lots of internet talk about how we are supposed to abandon our car for the electric revolution.
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Economy -

Biden administration continues to double and triple down on its claims that the US is not in a recession, seeking to back up its redefinition of the word “recession” in an economical sense. Wednesday is the day IIRC that GDP data is released. However, as hard as the regime is trying to spin it ahead of release indicates that it is not going to be a good number.
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Invasion of Illegals -

The yearly count for migrant deaths at the United States-Mexico border has already surged to an all-time high, despite three months being left in the 2021-22 fiscal year, according to the Washington Examiner’s interpretation of data provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
For the period covering October 2021 through June 2022, 609 border deaths were reported, eclipsing the 566 deaths from October 2020 to September 2021 — the previous annual high.

Biden administration wants to provide temporary identification cards to illegal immigrants who are awaiting final decisions on their cases, Axios reported.
Officials are considering a pilot program that would help immigrants access housing, health care, transportation and other benefits, two government sources told Axios.
The program also would encourage more frequent communication with law enforcement throughout the legal process, the sources added.

OBSEVATONS - We all know that this is just a step towards providing them what will essentially be a green card and “legalizin”g them

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POLITICAL FRONT -

Alan Dershowitz rebuked the House Jan. 6 Select Committee and its supporters, the pursuit to “get” former President Donald Trump has Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans willing to “trash the Constitution.”
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China -

China has dispatched stricter admonishments to U.S. Functionaries about Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s probable visit to Taiwan a foreign ministry representative said on Monday; verifying a report by the Financial Times..
The “hush-hush” discourse conveys notions of possible military action according to the Financial Times citing 6 sources close to the situation.

OBSERVATION - If China takes any kind of action against Pelosi, it would be a declaration of war. There are the military options, but still they have the potential to start a broader war.
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North/South Korea -

NUKE WATCH on going.

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Russia -
WAR WATCH - The Battle for Donbas is on - now entering its sixth month of the war since starting on Feb 24th.

CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Russia now essentially controls Luhansk Oblast, Russian forces are now focusing on pushing toward the towns of Siversk, Feroivka and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region

ALSO - there is a lot of propaganda out there. I’m doing my best to filter that out or put into context. When In doubt I’ve been trying to identify questionable information.

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Logistics -
- Russia is withdrawing 2S7 howitzers from storage at the 94th arsenal located in the city of Omsk. In early April, 170 2S7s were visible in GE imagery. In Planet imagery of June 2, 135 were visible. In the last available images, dated July 18, 110 howitzers were still stored.
OBSERVATION - Many analysts assess these older S7’s as being in poor shape, like much of the other stored Russian material. Further reports of barrel failure due to poor quality metal and craftsmanship increasing.

Russian Personnel Issues -
- Still reports of personnel recruitment issues as well as desertions from units already in theater

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Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Milder with thunderstorms and rain over parts of the 10 day forecast period

24 HOUR ROUND UP -
Things relatively static though monitoring unconfirmed reports of some minor Russian gains in the east and Ukraine gains in the west.

Ukraine’s Minister of Infrastructure announced that the first shipment of grain will leave the port of Chornomorsk on July 27.

Kyiv front ——
Nothing significant to report (NSR)

Northern (Chernihv region ) and North Eastern (Konotop - Sumy salient) Fronts - ——
NSR

Eastern (Kharkiv) front -
Russian forces continue shelling Kharkiv Oblast, a wider number of targets than recent, but volume is uncertain, but from reports appear to be lower than it has been

Donetsk Oblast ——
Russian artillery fire concentrated on the eastern and southeastern margins of the Slovyansk-Siversk-Bakhmut salient.

Russian forces reportedly have captured a small town on the southern edge of the Slovyansk-Siversk-Bakhmut salient.

Crimean Front -
Appears that artillery and ground action along the Kherson LOC dropped way down overnight.

Western / Central Ukraine ——
Air sirens through out the region - scattered misile attqacks. No details on who got hit.

Russian Territory - ——
NSR

Partisan Resistance ——
NSR

Ammunition / logistical sites hit ——-
Explosions reported in Berdiansk, located southwest of Mariupol.
NASA’s FIRMS recently detected a fire at a fuel storage facility in the Budonivskyi district of Donetsk.

OUTLOOK ——

Still low levels of activity in the east. Some increase in fighting in the west - better reporting beginning to come out. Russia really showing no signs of breaking out of their doldrums yet.
Real event is the fight for Kherson and trying to find out just what is happening there. Hopefully things will loosen up and I can get a better feel for what’s happening then.
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Israel -

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Monday that all Israeli land and sea “targets” are within the range of the terror group’s missiles in the latest series of threats against the Jewish state amid an ongoing maritime dispute. Hezbollah has recently escalated its rhetoric and actions over the border dispute after Israel moved a natural gas drilling vessel into its Karish field, which Lebanon claims is a disputed area. In its boldest move, Hezbollah sent four drones toward the Karish platform late last month, all of which were intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces.

OBSERVATION - I don’t believe Hezbollah is ready to military strike in a significant way the gas rigs or Israel proper in this dispute.
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Lebanon -

See Israel above

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Another beautiful day in the Redoubt.
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Globalism / Great Reset -

Justin Trudeau is set to move forward with his government’s plan to reduce nitrogen emissions by limiting fertilizer use among Canadian farmers. The revelation came following a Friday meeting between Trudeau and Canadian provincial ministers, where the prime minister unexpectedly announced his decision to cap fertilizer emissions by unilaterally targeting the country’s agricultural sector.

The targets set by the federal government include a bid “to reduce absolute levels of [greenhouse gas] emissions arising from fertilizer application by 30% below 2020 levels by 2030,” which the Trudeau administration previously announced in December 2020.

“We’re really concerned with this arbitrary goal,” said Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture David Marit. “The Trudeau government has apparently moved on from their attack on the oil and gas industry and set their sights on Saskatchewan farmers.”

OBSERVATION - This is essentially the same course of action the governments of the Netherlands and Sri Lanka have followed. 30% reduction will result in about a 30% reduction in farm income. Provence affected may soon be revisiting their own continued affiliation with the nation.
If this trend continues, I’d expect that New Zealand and Australia may well be close behind. Both are identified based on the flat out totaltiarian wuhan response and passivity of the citizenry..

SEC proposed a rule titled “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors” (pdf). The nearly 500-page rule would require SEC registrants—mostly public companies, investment advisers, and broker-dealers—to report certain climate-related information including their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

OBSERVATION - Cutting to the quick, the proposed rule calls for corporations to track usage of its products by consumers. This appears to be one way Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scoring and tracking can be bootlegged in.

Just one day after officials promoted the passage of the Connecticut Clean Air Act, CTtransit, the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s bus service, has pulled its entire fleet of electric buses due to one bursting into flames. The electric vehicles have been replaced with traditional diesel-powered buses.

OBSERVATION - Battery fires are the single most dangerous aspect of EVs.
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Wuhan virus -

It is clear by their words that Fauci and Blix both lied through their teeth in regards to the jab as well. As the lockdown of the country.

Biden’s doctor, said Tuesday that the president “feels well enough to resume his physical exercise regime” on the fifth day of isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, and his symptoms have “almost completely resolved.”

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Economy -

The Fed is expected to raise its federal-funds rate by 0.75 percentage point, to a range between 2.25% and 2.5%

Commerce Department’s second-quarter 2022 GDP estimate is due tomorrow and the administration is wetting themselves trying to spin the results ahead of the release.

The index of consumer confidence fell to 95.7 in July from a revised 98.4 in the prior month, the Conference Board said Tuesday. The decline was larger than expected. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast a decline to 97 from the initial June reading of 98.7.

National railroad strike still hangs over the nation, but union hasn’t decided to drop the hammer - yet.

What in the world is a “pre-recession”? White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre floated out that term yesterday while denying that the US has entered a recession, apparently hoping to convince people that we’re not even close to one:

The U.S. has been ramping up exports to Europe in an effort to help, and one official is openly admitting that this could cause a dramatic increase in prices here in the United States…
“This was our biggest fear,” said the US official. The impact on Europe could boomerang back onto the US, spiking natural gas and electricity prices, the official said. It will also be a major test of European resilience and unity against Russia, as the Kremlin shows no signs of retreating from Ukraine.

According to Wolf Richter, the price of U.S. natural gas has “more than doubled” over the past year…
So here we go again. This morning, natural gas futures jumped to $8.29 per million Btu, adding to the jumps over the past week. The price has regained much of the lost spike, and is up about 30% from a month ago, and has more than doubled from a year ago.

OBSERVATION - Losses of a couple natural gas facilities here in the US, combined with more gas being shipped to europe does spell problems here. I’ve already stocked up on firewood and may revisit the addition of an additional cord in the next couple months.
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Biden / Harris watch -

‘I am Kamala Harris, my pronouns are she and her, I am a woman sitting at the table wearing a blue suit,’ the vice president said at the top of the meeting.

OBSERVATION - Well, somehow they realized they are ‘women’. Epic facepalm moment.
https://imgflip.com/i/2wdv4g

On Monday, the president’s comms team put together a clip of him ranting about “insurrection,” Biden goes a full 42 seconds without blinking (0:41-1:23 in the video).

OBSERVATION - Some have called this a deep fake. IDK, but his behavior in the video is unusual - even for him. How many times the average person blinks in a minute. The answer is somewhere between 15-20 times. Not one blink in that period and his vision unceasingly glued to the teleprompter.

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CW2/Domestic violence -

Attorney General Merrick Garland left open the possibility that former President Donald Trump could be prosecuted in connection with inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection in an exclusive interview Tuesday with NBC News.
“Look, we pursue justice without fear or favor,” Garland told NBC News’ Lester Holt, when asked whether indicting a former president would “arguably tear the country apart.”

OBSERVATION- they “pursue justice without fear or favor”, one would have to be totally blind to accept this. Any attempt to arrest and prosecute trump is the closest event that could trigger a CW

“Our Department of Justice is being weaponized as a political hit squad,” Former Democrat congresswoman (Hawaii) Tulsi Gabbard said Monday, commenting on how Democrats held in contempt of Congress have not been indicted, but former Trump White House official Steve Bannon has.
“The really dangerous thing that we’re seeing, as a consequence of what’s playing out here in this double standard that you’ve pointed out, is the clear message of fear: that, if you speak out against us, if you’re an opponent of the Powers-That-Be, then the Department of Justice can go after you and charge you and prosecute you.
“However, if you are on the other team, if you are in agreement with, or liked by, those in power, then we’re going to treat you kindly, or you’ll get off the hook, and you won’t be treated in the same way that your political opponents will be.”
“This is the telltale sign of an authoritarian regime and directly undermines our democracy. That is really what’s at the core of what’s wrong here,” Gabbard warned.

OBSERVATION - The two tier justice system that has exploded under biden is a prime example of how teh regime is at war with most americans. One thing that has been present in American culture in the past and that was fairness. When one side is treated differently than another - largely on the basis of politics or religion, the people get riled up. This will likely be on of the key grievances the next CW will be based on IMHO.

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China -

Taiwan Ministry of Defense reports that 3 PLA aircraft (Y-8 RECCE and JH-7*2) entered Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ on July 27, 2022

OBSERVATION - this is a daily occurrence pretty much, so hasn’t been posted a lot lately.

Biden and Chinese President Xi are expected to have a phoncon soon to discuss many issues, among which is Taiwan.
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North/South Korea -

NUKE WATCH on going.

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Russia -
WAR WATCH - The Battle for Donbas is on - now entering its sixth month of the war since starting on Feb 24th.

CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Russia now essentially controls Luhansk Oblast, Russian forces are now focusing on pushing toward the towns of Siversk, Feroivka and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region

ALSO - there is a lot of propaganda out there. I’m doing my best to filter that out or put into context. When In doubt I’ve been trying to identify questionable information.

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Russian Personnel Issues -
- The Kremlin continued measures to recruit additional volunteer battalions to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Observers note that efforts are focusing on areas that are not ethnic Russians, raising pushback that the kremlin is trying to avoid a general mobilization by recruiting these ‘hicks’ as soldiers and not ethnic Russians.
- Reports that Russia is emphasizing recruitment of medical specialists, to handle the casualities.
- Some recent estimates of Russian deaths in the fight have it as high as 40,000. Getting an accurate count on either side is difficult given the battle conditions and they OPSEC.
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Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Milder with thunderstorms and rain over parts of the 10 day forecast period

24 HOUR ROUND UP -
Both sides launching significant missile strikes against the other. Ukraine is close to effectively isolating a large number of Russian forces in the Kherson Oblast as more details come out on the offensive there.

Kyiv front ——
Nothing significant to report (NSR)

Northern (Chernihv region ) and North Eastern (Konotop - Sumy salient) Fronts - ——
NSR other than scattered Russian artillery attacks.

Eastern (Kharkiv) front -
Russian forces appeared to have focused its artillery and missile strikes mostly on Kharkiv with S-300 missiles

Futher south, Russian artillery hit along the western and southern margins o the Izyum salient.

Donetsk Oblast ——
Russian artillery fire hit all around the margins of the Slovyansk-Siversk-Bakhmut salient. Russian made minor gains south of Bakhmut as of July 26:
- RU forces entered Vuhlehirska plant and seized the main complex, UA troops retreated
- RU advanced in the area of Novoluhanske, UA troops likely retreated as well Wagner Group mercenaries reportedly lead the attacks in these areas.

Scattered Russian artillery southwestward from Donetsk to

Crimean Front -
Ukraine has definitely launched its offensive in the northern sector of the Kherson - Mykolaiv front. They may have broken out of its bridgehead at Davydiv Brid and liberated Lozove and Andriivka village of Beryslav district to the south. This northern pincer appears to be moving southward along the eastern bank of the Inhulets River.

The Antonovskiy Bridge across the Dnipro River in Kherson has been hit a third time by Ukrainian HIMARS rockets. Follow on examination of post strike commercial satellite imagery indicates that the bridge is no longer usable. Around 15 explosions heard by locals according to reports. Ukraine missiles also struck railway bridge nearby.
In response, reports coming out that Russian forces are attempting to establish a pontoon crossing over the Inhulets River in Darivka (approximately 24 km northeast of Kherson City) to resume transport of heavy equipment.

Ukrainian Air Force Command Spokesperson Yuriy Ignat reported that Russian bombers fired 13 air missiles at the coastal settlement of Zatoka south of the Dniester Estuary and other unspecified areas in Odesa Oblast from the Black Sea. Mykolaiv Oblast Administration Head Vitaly Kim reported that Russian forces fired 18 missiles (six Kh-59 cruise missiles and twelve S-300 modified air defense missiles) at Mykolaiv Oblast, and about half of the missiles hit a defunct railway bridge, industrial areas, residential buildings, and critical infrastructure.

Western / Central Ukraine ——
More scattered missile attacks across the region.

Russian Territory - ——
In a first for the war so far, today Ukrainian forces are confirmed to have used a US-supplied Switchblade 300 loitering munition on Russian territory, at the Troebortnoe crossing in Bryansk Oblast, barely 2km from the Ukrainian border

Partisan Resistance ——
Reports continue that the Kremlin plans to annex occupied Ukrainian territory into Russia via falsified referenda.

Ammunition / logistical sites hit ——-
The Ukrainian Southern Operational Command stated that Ukrainian forces destroyed a command post and an ammunition depot of the 11th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade (based in Ulan Ude, Buryatia) in northern Kherson Oblast on July 25.

OUTLOOK ——
Slight uptick in reported ground action. Ukraine’s hitting bridges over the Dnipir River, cutting off a substantial portion of Kherson Oblast from enforcement and supply, is taking hold as well as their offensive. Details are still sketchy as neither side wants the details to come out. However, it looks like a attack on Kherson from the west are freezing Russian forces and allowing greater action from the north.
Minor Russian gains in the east in part are linked to Ukrainian force realignments. It has been noted by some that Russia has spent over a month attempting to capture some of these small villages. That’s a lot of effort with little to show for it.

Expect more of the same over the short term.
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Moldova/Transnistria -

Russia claims a citizen of Moldova was killed and another is in the hospital, both “civilians”. Ukraine claims FSB officer (border control is formally all FSB) was killed. The area where it happened is an office of the “Alexandrovskiy” customs control point, though.
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Iraq -

Turkey’s consulate general in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul was attacked early on Wednesday but there were no reported casualties, the Turkish foreign ministry said.
Mortar rounds had fallen close to the building, one official said.
“We condemn this attack...in the strongest terms and expect those responsible to be brought to justice as soon as possible,” the ministry said.

OBSERVATION - Turkey has pasted a ‘hit me’ sign to their back following the attack on an Iraqi resort. This has them being hit with both Iranian and Iraqi supported militias, and will make Turkey’s anti Kurd operations in northern Iraq more costly.

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Lebanon -

Hezbollah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah has upped his rhetoric, threatening to use force to stop Israel from extracting gas. “If the extraction of oil and gas from Karish begins in September before Lebanon obtains its right, we would be heading to ‘a problem’ and we’ll do anything to achieve our objective,” Nasrallah said in an interview on Al Mayadeen TV on Tuesday night.

OBSERVATION - The Karish field is south of the area being negotiated between Lebanon and Israel. General intelligence assessment is that Nasrallah is not foolish enough to start a regional war over this - however, the geopolitical status of the region is very volatile and any thing can happen very quickly.

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Turkey -

See Iraq above

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Libya -

Photos of Dbeibeh (GNU) forces that entered Tripoli International Airport amidst the ongoing tensions with Bashagha forces (GNS) hit the interwebs. This increases tensions in the country that open civil war may break out again.
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Misc of Note -

The NYC emergency management agency advised residents to prepare a ‘Go Bag’ that “has everything you need to to leave home in a hurry.”
“Every household member should have on, including kids,” the agency notes. “What will you pack? Nonperishable snacks. Bottle water. Copies of important documents.”
This follows a recent PSA about how to react to a nuclear attack.

OBSERVATION - These PSAs have raised the eyebrows of many and conspiracies claims are afoot. As a prepper, the info being put out is reasonable. What is creating the stir is timing and motive. Why has this hit the NYC radar so suddenly? Please note - similar PSAs on emergency preparedness are put out there in other cities/states, so lets not get too crazy - yet.

Please enough monkeying around. As monkeypox continues to spread, with nearly 3,500 cases now reported in the United States, the Biden administration is weighing whether to declare the outbreak a public health emergency.

OBSERVATION - The disease spread is tightly limited to the gay/bisexual community. Its all about money at this stage and not about the behavior that has contributed to the spread of the disease.

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Wuhan virus -

“It’s already known from the clinical side that COVID-19 infection can induce heart injury; however, what we don’t know is the mechanistic details of how this occurs. What we suspect is that the spike protein has unknown pathological roles,” said Zhiqiang Lin, Ph.D., lead author of the study and an assistant professor at the Masonic Medical Research Institute in Utica, New York. The spike protein is on the surface of the COVID -19 virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, the heart association explains in its release. Spike proteins let the virus enter healthy cells, which is the first step in infection. The virus can spread to the lungs, of course, and to other organs in the body.

OBSERVATION- The mRNA jab (Pfizer and Moderna) causes the body to produce these spike proteins - in exceeding abundance.

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Economy -

The U.S. economy shrank from April through June for a second straight quarter, contracting at a 0.9% annual pace and signaling that the nation may be in a recession. This is slightly better than what was forecast (-1%), but still not good news. This follows negative GDP growth of -1.6% in Q1 of 2022.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday he does not believe the U.S. economy is in a recession. This is now in contrast to the shrinking of the economy announced today.

MORE - Fed is pushing the “technical recession” narrative, implying this isn’t a “real recession.” And the Fed is still leaving open the possibility that they can engineer a soft landing. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager ($9T AUM), says this is unlikely. Like other firms, their analysts believe the Fed will begin cutting rates in 2023, which is indicative of a recession. BlackRock is also calling for more volatility.

President Biden says US economy ‘on the right path’ despite GDP dip.

OBSERVATION - I’m no expert, but I suspect that the Fed used as much special sauce on the GDP rate to mitigate reality. Most likely future revisions will lower the GDP even more. Powell himself said Wednesday - “Generally, the GDP numbers do have a tendency to be revised pretty significantly,” he said. “You tend to take first GDP reports with a grain of salt.”
Remember too - these same experts said inflation was only transitory and peaked last December

The Fed increased the prime yesterday by 75 basis points.
These rate increases have not only impacted the home mortgage market, but all loans. A record number of Americans are paying at least $1000-a-month to finance their new cars as interest rates soar and supply chain issues caused by the pandemic. At least 12.7 percent of new car buyers who took out loans last month are making monthly payments of at least $1,000, according to car-shopping site Edmunds.
And this doesn’t even begin to address credit cad interest rates.

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Biden / Harris watch -

75% of Democratic voters want someone other than Biden in 2024, a new CNN poll shows.

Biden to talk to Xi today on ‘coercive and aggressive behaviour’ in South China Sea and reaffirm US commitment to the one-China policy, spokesman says. No specifics are given in response to a question about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s reported plans to visit Taiwan

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CW2/Domestic violence -

Antifa in Portland getting roused by recent police shootings. Elsewhere, protests are relatively peaceful and associated with environmental and LGBT causes.

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CANCEL CULTURE FRONT

The World Health Organization (WHO), has called for all social media platforms to work with it to “prevent and counter” monkeypox “misinformation” and “disinformation.” During a COVID-19 press briefing, WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, claimed that “stigma and discrimination can be as dangerous as any virus, and can fuel the outbreak.”

OBSERVATION - Cant / won’t speak the truth about the spread, so must silence voices that will say the truth.

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Strategic Activity / Deployments -

Officials told The Associated Press that if Pelosi goes to Taiwan — still an uncertainty — the military would increase its movement of forces and assets in the Indo-Pacific region. They declined to provide details, but said that fighter jets, ships, surveillance assets, and other military systems would likely be used to provide overlapping rings of protection for her flight to Taiwan and any time on the ground there.

It appears that the USS Reagan may have cut short its port call in Singapore, having departed on Monday. Naval spokesman reporting that -
“USS Ronald Reagan and her strike group are underway, operating in the South China Sea following a successful port visit to Singapore,” Commander Hayley Sims said in a statement to Reuters.

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China -

House Foreign Affairs Committee Member Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) revealed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has invited a small group of U.S. lawmakers to accompany her to Taiwan, including himself and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY).
Meanwhile, US military is repositioning the USS Reagan carrier group as a contingency.

OBSERVATION - The expansion of the delegation will not make China happy at all. However, it is still unlikely that China will do anything militarily at this juncture - they just aren’t ready to physically challenge US forces, yet. If the trip goes on, they may try to intimidate Pelosi’s plane, but expect F-18s to intervene, probably flying an escort mission of their own.

China has been upgrading Longtian and Haiyan air bases, located opposite of Taiwan, since 2020. Intelligence suggests that the upgrades are nearing completion and could be ready to host the airpower necessary for an invasion within months.

OBSERVATION - These bases are critical to China’s plans to maintain air superiority during an invasion.
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North/South Korea -

NUKE WATCH on going.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned he’s ready to use his nuclear weapons in potential military conflicts with the United States and South Korea, state media said Thursday, as he unleashed fiery rhetoric against rivals he says are pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war.
Kim’s speech to war veterans on the 69th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War were apparently meant to boost internal unity in the impoverished country suffering pandemic-related economic difficulties. North Korea will likely intensify its threats against the United States and South Korea as the allies prepare to expand summertime exercises the North views as an invasion rehearsal, some observers say.
“Our armed forces are completely prepared to respond to any crisis, and our country’s nuclear war deterrent is also ready to mobilize its absolute power dutifully, exactly and swiftly in accordance with its mission,” Kim said in Wednesday’s speech, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. (AP)

OBSERVATION - Breaking silence.

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Japan -

Japan has agreed to participate in next month’s Garuda Shield military exercise alongside the U.S., Australia and Indonesia. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made the announcement Wednesday following a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. This is the first time Japan’s Self Defense Forces will conduct military exercises in Indonesia.

OBSERVATION - One more piece of evidence that Japan is ramping up the readiness of its forces and extending cooperation with other countries in the region.
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Russia -
WAR WATCH - The Battle for Donbas is on - now entering its sixth month of the war since starting on Feb 24th.

CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Russia now essentially controls Luhansk Oblast, Russian forces are now focusing on pushing toward the towns of Siversk, Feroivka and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region

ALSO - there is a lot of propaganda out there. I’m doing my best to filter that out or put into context. When In doubt I’ve been trying to identify questionable information.

********
Russia’s defense ministry announced military exercises in the country’s Eastern Military District, scheduled for 30 August to 05 September. “Vostok” is a routine annual military exercise that features foreign military participation. Chinese military forces are anticipated to participate this year as they have in others.

US Senate on July 28 unanimously approved resolution calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Russia state sponsor of terrorism. The resolution calls out Russia for its actions in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Ukraine and its support for the Wagner Group.

Logistics -
- Russia has lost over one third of its national tank fleet in Ukraine, according to western officials

Russian Personnel Issues -
- Estimated 75,000 Russians wounded/killed - U.S. Intelligence. This would indicate that nearly half of the soldiers committed to the war have been killed or wounded.
- 80% of Russian land-forces bogged down, degraded capabilities
- The Kremlin continues to show preference for some ethnic groups over others during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which may spark ethnic unrest in Russia.
- Each region in Russia is being required to muster and train one volunteer battalion.
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Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Hot with scattered thunderstorms over parts of the 10 day forecast period

24 HOUR ROUND UP -
A Ukrainian counter-offensive in Kherson is gathering pace according to UK defense officials. Meanwhile in the east, Russia is smuggling to restore momentum to push into the rest of the Donbas. Analysts have had several weeks now to assess what effect the HIMARS have had on Russian operations and it appears that the capability to strike ammo/logistic/CPs has had a serious effect.

Kyiv front ——
Kyiv region under Russian missile attacks again. Missiles landed in northern Vyshhorod district

Northern (Chernihv region ) and North Eastern (Konotop - Sumy salient) Fronts - ——
Region came under Russian missile attacks again with the Chernihiv region being targeted.

Eastern (Kharkiv) front -
More Russian air and artillery strikes in the region. No significant ground combat.

RUMINT that Ukraine has launched a localized counterattack southeast of Izyum at the town of Pasika. Details are sketchy. As noted before, Ukrainan attacks eastward threaten supply lines of Russian operations further south.

Donetsk Oblast ——
Russian limited artillery fire hit all around the margins of the Slovyansk-Siversk-Bakhmut salient.

Russian forces continue to press towards Bakhmut and Soledar, with no reported gains.

Crimean Front -
More discussion on the offensive in Kherson Oblast by Ukraine, but details are scarce. Ukraine has cut off Russian forces west of the Dipnir River though the destruction of three key bridges. Russian forces have set up a ferry next to the destroyed E97 bridge in Kherson.

Russian artillery strikes appear to be concentrated in the northern portion of the LOC south of Kryvyi Rih and the Ukranian bridgehead at Davydiv Brid. These strikes may give clues as to where the current Ukranian assaults are occurring.

Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed a Russian stronghold in Andriivka, 15 km southwest of Davydiv Brid, and are continuing to press to the southwest towards Kherson.

Western / Central Ukraine ——
More scattered missile attacks across the region.

Russian Territory - ——
NSR

Partisan Resistance ——
A car containing 2 collaborators was blown up in Kherson on Admiral Senyavin Avenue.
Another collaborators car was blown up on 18th June on the same street just 2.5kms away.

Ukrainians in occupied territories are refusing to collaborate with Russian occupation officials en masse, forcing the Kremlin to import Russian citizens to fulfill basic tasks. Russian officials continue to struggle to procure enough labor to reopen businesses, clear rubble, or establish occupation bureaucracies in occupied Ukrainian territory.

Ammunition / logistical sites hit ——-
Fire reported as result of missile hits in Bryanka, Luhansk region.
Fire at the territory of machinery plant in Horlivka.
Fire and explosions reported in Donetsk.
Ukraine destroyed Russian ammunition warehouses in Chornobayivka and Bilohirka, Kherson region

OUTLOOK ——

Analysts are now suggesting that Russian forces appear able to sustain only two significant offensive operations in Ukraine at this time, one attempting to seize Siversk and the other advancing on Bakhmut. The scale and scope of these attacks are significantly smaller than the ones earlier - prior to the operational “pause”. Even with smaller objectives, Russian artillery appears to be smuggling to lay down the volume of fire they previously were able to.

HIMARS strikes have probably forced Russia to establish new ammo storage sites farther away from the front line. This makes mattes worse as the Russians likely do not have enough additional trucks to transport the shells to artillery units near the fighting.

This Russian problems in the east have opened the window of opportunity for the counter offensive towards Kherson in the west as well now as a possible smaller offensive into the Izyum western flank. Ukraine has done a good job isolating the Russian forces in the Kherson region and much of that offensive may rely a lot on western weapons and munitions - given the proximity to Poland as a supply source.

Russian continued use of older guided munitions as well as using S300 and ship to ship missiles against strategic targets indicate Russian has more supply woes. Inability to accurately and timely interdict western supply chains is looking to really hurt Russian soon.
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Europe / NATO General -
.
Germany’s govt is warning about the potential for civil uprisings in the event that Germany cannot procure enough fuel for the winter season.

The Estonian government on July 28 limited the granting of temporary residence permits to Russian and Belarusian citizens and halted the issue of study visas to Russian citizens, Estonian news outlet ERR reported.
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Iran -

Iran is building a new nuclear research reactor at a nuclear facility in Isfahan, Iranian Atomic Energy Organization head Mohammad Eslami announced on Wednesday, according to Iranian media.

The research reactor, which will be able to test fuel for other reactors, will be built at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, one of the country’s largest nuclear facilities. Eslami stated that the project is “completely indigenous and Iranian.”

OBSERVATION - Though advertised as a ‘peaceful’ use, I’m sure Iran is going to use it for their weapons program as well.

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Iraq -

Hundreds of angry protesters loyal to the powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr broke into Baghdad’s heavily protected Green Zone on Wednesday, denouncing the nomination of a new prime minister.
Mohammed Shiya al-Sudani was formally nominated to lead the country on Monday by the Coordination Framework, the largest Shiite alliance in the Iraqi parliament. His nomination followed the mass resignation of al-Sadr’s parliamentary bloc, a group of over 70 lawmakers who withdrew from the governing body last month in an apparent show of force after months of political stalemate.

The Iraqi president calls for calm and the use of the language of reason after storming the parliament headquarters.

iraqi special forces deployed in the Green Zone in Baghdad after the parliament building was evacuated from demonstrators

Iraq has struggled to form a new government since parliamentary elections in October; Sadr’s own attempts to form a government have previously foundered amid opposition from rival blocs.
“If the Sadrist bloc remaining [in parliament] is an obstacle to government formation, then all lawmakers of the bloc are honorably ready to resign from parliament,” Sadr said in a televised speech in June.

Iran’s Al Quds elite forces commander, Qaani arrived in Baghdad to support PM nominee Sudani.

OBSERVATION - Sadr continues to pressure to keep Iranian control and influence over Iraq to a minimum. The protest sends a strong message that he can rally the people. Could break out into limited civil war between Sadr’s militia and Iranian backed ones.

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Central / South America General-

Financial analysts in Argentina forecast the possibility of 90% inflation, or worse, by the end of this year. Inflation is currently running at 64% and is expected to get much worse as the Argentine Peso continues to fall against the dollar.

OBSERVATION - A ‘technical ‘ recession claim by the Fed ignores global conditions what can act as boat anchors to the US economy .
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Interesting mix of information today.
________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

Dutch farmers continue their protests, most recently by blocking at least nine highways with manure and burning hay. Reports that they are also organizing resistance cells to counter govt attempts to quash the protests.

The Biden administration’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommended breaching dams on the Snake River to ensure the survival of endangered salmon — a move that could jeopardize power supplies in the Pacific Northwest and worsen the supply chain crisis.
The dams, provide 3,033 megawatts of capacity to the Pacific Northwest, according to a 2016 fact sheet from the Bonneville Power Administration. The entity added this month that replacing the dams would cost $415 million to $860 million per year until 2045, amounting to a total cost of up to $19.6 billion and increasing electricity costs for households by up to 18% over the same horizon. The replacement is made more expensive over time “due to increasingly stringent clean energy standards and electrification-driven load growth.”

Data from the University of Washington, indicates that salmon returns have been increasing since 2019, with spring Chinook salmon returns rising 31% above the 10-year average.

OBSERVATION - The environmentalists claim the power lost can be made up by ‘green’ energy - namely wind. General wind turbines are rated at about 2.5 megawatts. Inefficiencies and variable winds cause true power output bo be reduced to 30 to 40 percent of the total wind power. Roughly then over 3000 wind turbines would need to be constructed. - at a bare minimum. This doesn’t factor replacement power sources when the wind doesn’t blow.
However, the GGR / climate racists don’t care about destroying real green energy.
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Wuhan virus -

Los Angeles County will not re-impose a mask mandate, as it had threatened to do, because coronavirus cases began to fall and the hospitalization rate fell below the threshold of ten cases per 100,000 residents, public health officials said Thursday.

OBSERVATION - Some think this is more due to many cities in the county rejecting the reimposed mandates.
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Economy -

The new Schumer-Manchin BBB bill is now called the “Inflation Reduction Act,” a misnomer since it raises taxes by $330 BILLION and adding to inflation while we are in a recession. The bill also moves to reduce emissions 40% by 2030. With additional actions planned by Democrats, the cut in emissions will be 50 to 52% by 2030.

OBSERVATION - Could have listed under GGR, everything is now focused on climate change ‘crisis’, ignoring the impacts of a 50% reduction in emissions on the greater economy. These are not American goals, but those promoted by the World Economic Forum and UN goals for Agenda 2030.

SOME OTHER KEY POINTS - The bill contains $433 billion in spending, t less than one-sixth of the approximately $3 trillion the democrats originally wanted.
It is claimed that it will raise $739 billion in tax revenue.
The bill will allow Medicare to negotiate for prescription drugs and lower health care costs for millions of Americans.

______________________________

Invasion of Illegals -

Muriel Bowser called the arrival of some 4,800 migrants from the southern border a “humanitarian crisis” that had brought her city to a “tipping point”. The bus trips were organized in Texas and Arizona in protest against the Biden administration’s border policies.
Sen. Cruz made a pithy observation of the mayor’s woes -
“DC Mayor—rightly—calls massive influx of illegal aliens a “humanitarian crisis.” She says w/ 4000 arriving in DC, we’re “at a tipping point.” If 4000 is a tipping point, what the hell do you call the THREE & A HALF MILLION illegal immigrants who’ve crossed our southern border??”

OBSERVATION - Though just a relatively small number, consider what Curz said. If poor DC is getting ‘hammered’ then what about the border cities and the other towns biden has shipped illegals to.

Some pundits and illegal immigation supporters are wondering why biden hasn’t terminated the Title 42 restrictions since the USSC ruled in his favor on the subject.
______________________________

CW2/Domestic violence -

MoveOn along with Demand Justice, both Leftist activist organizations, started a petition and called on Thomas to either resign or be impeached because after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade they fear that SCOTUS will next overturn “gay rights and contraception rights,” according to MoveOn.

OBSERVATION - linked by ideology to the more radical leftist elements like those who’ve threatened the lives and families of the justices.

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CANCEL CULTURE FRONT

Recent FOIA document release shows that the biden administration and Big Tech aggressively collaborated in an effort designed to stamp out purported COVID-19 misinformation and promoting government narratives.

OBSERVATION - I hear the argument already - they are private companies, first amendment doesn’t apply. However, their influence on society via pseudo-first amendment platforms is Orwellian. We already knew they were in bed with the swamp, this just documents it further.

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Strategic Activity / Deployments -

Six F-22 fighters recently were deployed to England to support NATO air security patrols overr smaller member states potentially threatened by Russian aggression in Ukraine.

_________________________________

China -

biden’s phone call to Xi was largely a nothing burger, just a repeat of public statements and positions already stated.

China warns US “not to play with fire or get burned”

OBSERVATION - The same could be said to China. As screwed up as biden has made out military over the past 18+ months, it is not toothless and regularly trains for these operations. China still has a big learning curve.

In a report released on Tuesday by Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, the Chinese government has apparently tried to obtain sensitive internal information and build a network of influence and informants inside the Federal Reserve’

OBSERVATION - Standard MO of chinese spy infiltration and attempts. China has aggressively stole US and other western techonology, national level financial operations and data are right there too.

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North/South Korea -

NUKE WATCH on going.

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Russia -
WAR WATCH - The Battle for Donbas is on - now entering its sixth month of the war since starting on Feb 24th.

CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Russia now essentially controls Luhansk Oblast, Russian forces are now focusing on pushing toward the towns of Siversk, Feroivka and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region

ALSO - there is a lot of propaganda out there. I’m doing my best to filter that out or put into context. When In doubt I’ve been trying to identify questionable information.

********

Russian Personnel Issues -
- there are reports that Russian military leadership has begun to assign the officer rank of junior lieutenant to non-commissioned officers (NCOs) without requisite education or experience on a widespread basis.
- Russia is increasingly relying on Wagner Group mercenaries to tackle key attacks and battles. However, they have been increasingly pressed to get recruits to replace casualties.
- Putin signed a decree appointing Colonel-General Viktor Goremykin to deputy defense minister and head of the Main Military-Political Directorate. The move replaces Colonel-General Gennady Zhidko.

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Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Hot with scattered thunderstorms over parts of the 10 day forecast period

RUMINT -
A disturbing video circulated on a pro Russian telegraph channel shows Russians dismembering and castrating Ukrainian POWs. Authenticity of the video is still being questioned.

24 HOUR ROUND UP -
A relatively slow 24 hours. Current Russian activity levels and locations are causing some analysts to rethink what Russia’s immediate tactical goals are.

Kyiv front ——
NSR

Northern (Chernihv region ) and North Eastern (Konotop - Sumy salient) Fronts - ——
NSR

Eastern (Kharkiv) front -
More Russian air and artillery strikes in the region. No significant ground combat.

There are some rumors that Russia may be trying to organize a counter offensive towards Kharkiv in the near future. Monitoring.

Scattered Russian artillery strikes south and west of Izyum. No more information on the suspected counter attack by Ukraine

Donetsk Oblast ——
Russian limited artillery fire hit all around the margins of the Slovyansk-Siversk-Bakhmut salient.

Russian forces continue to press towards Bakhmut with no reported gains. Russians have been trying to attack both north (via Soledar) and south (via Vershyna)of Bakhmut. Russia has made no appreciable gains.

Russian forces have been struggling to make concrete gains around Siversk and have not made any confirmed advances toward the city since the capture of the Luhansk Oblast Administrative border in early July.

Russian forces attempted to attack Pisky, Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka and Velyka Novosilka, all northwest of Donetsk, in an effort to push Ukrainan forces out of artillery range of the city.

Crimean Front -
Russian artillery fire appears to be more concentrated in the northern portion of the Kherson - Mykolaiv LOC, especially south of Davydiv Brid - possible indicating the current thrust of the Ukrainan offensive in the area.

Western / Central Ukraine ——
NSR. Russia continued missile attacks across the regions, but little or no information on targets are being released.

Russian Territory - ——
Explosions reported near Klimovo, Klintsy and Kurkovichi village of Briansk region this morning.

Partisan Resistance ——
NSR

Ammunition / logistical sites hit ——-
Suspected ammo dump hit in Russian occupied Brylivka, Kherson Oblast
Major Ammo dump hit in Russian-occupied Illovaisk, burned for hours with substantial secondary explosions
Fire reported in Donetsk, suspected logistic site.

OUTLOOK ——
Blackout of details concerning the Ukrainian offensive in Kherson. Judging from OSINT analysts commentary it is slowly gaining momentum.

What is happening in the east is becoming very interesting and potentially fluid. Russia has stalled out in its push westward, due in large part to a dramatic decease in volume of artillery they can used to support attacks. Ukrainan commanders on the ground subjectively say that volumes have been reduced by 50% or more. This is huge because numerically Russia has insufficient ground troops to continue the offensive absent the artillery cover.

Many link the reduction to successful attacks on Russian ammo dumps, and that is a factor still trying to be quantified. Another factor less mentioned is the loss of artillery pieces to attacks and wear out of barrels. It has been noted that the quality of the steel used for the gun barrels is of low quality and wear out fast - requiring more frequent replacement - except that replacements are in short supply and high demand.

Russia also finds itself in a different tactical situation where they cannot hamper the Ukrainan resupply routes as they could earlier. Ground given up by Ukraine since the loss of Luhansk Oblast Administrative border in early July appears to be largely designed to fall on better defensible locations and disposition of forces.

Some observers are suggesting that Russia’s Donbas offensive is soon to peter out completely. Time will tell, but a lot depends on Russia’s ability to quickly adapt to the situation and reinforcement with men and material. Men and material side isn’t looking that well either. . . .

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Europe / NATO General -

German economy stagnates with 0% growth in 2022 second quarter.

US Approves Sale of 35 F-35 Fighter to Germany for $8.4 billion.

____________________________________

Iraq -

Tensions are still high in Bagdad as Iraqi security forces close the entrances to the Green Zone in Baghdad with concrete blocks.

_________________________________

Misc of Note -

More monkey shines - Dr. Anthony Fauci says that the government’s response against monkeypox must include combating anti-gay stigmas that could be associated with the disease.

OBSERVATION - Anti-gay stigmas - you mean like 99% of the infected have been participating in high risk gay sex with numerous partners?

Happy weekend, have you stocked up your pantry lately?

________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

Take note - just because nothing specifically is stated in this section, much of the material in the following sections IS related.
______________________________

Wuhan virus -

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) database of adverse drug reactions is now reporting 46,160 deaths and 4,623,724 injuries following COVID-19 vaccines, while the United States’ Vaccine Adverse Events Recording System (VAERS) is now reporting 29,162 deaths and 1,314,594 injuries following COVID-19 vaccines.
https://medalerts.org/vaersdb/findfield.php?TABLE=ON&GROUP1=CAT&EVENTS=ON&VAX=COVID19

OBSERVATION - Should this country and world stave off the attempt to fall under global tyranny by the GGR, the despicable actions of govt and big Pharm need to be brought to court and put away for a long time. The reports of adverse results have passed the lefts ‘conspiracy theory’ level into reality.

Health care workers who were fired for not getting a COVID shot have won a major victory. The Liberty Counsel has announced a “historic” $10.3 million settlement in the nation’s first-of-its-kind classwide lawsuit.
The class action settlement against NorthShore University HealthSystem is on behalf of more than 500 current and former health care workers who were unlawfully discriminated against and denied religious exemptions from the COVID shot mandate, according to the non-profit religious rights law firm.

OBSERVATION - Justice moves slowly, but with decisions like this the doors of accountability for those who tried to force the now-demonstrated non protecting jab on unwilling victims will slowly open more.

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Economy -

The personal consumption expenditures price index rose 6.8%, the biggest 12-month move since the 6.9% increase in January 1982. The index rose 1% from May, tying its biggest monthly gain since February 1981.
Excluding food and energy, so-called core PCE increased 4.8% from a year ago, up one-tenth of a percentage point from May but off the recent high of 5.3% hit in February. On a monthly basis, core was up 0.6%, its biggest monthly gain since April 2021.
Economists had expected a slightly lower reading of 6.6 percent. This is the biggest year-over-year gain since January of 1982.

OBSERVATION - This is a raw inflation predictor. Don’t look for any relief from inflation any time soon.

The nationwide baby formula shortage has worsened with 70 percent of all brands reported out-of-stock, despite President Joe Biden’s efforts to make infant milk more accessible.
Families in Rhode Island and Vermont have been hardest hit by the shortage with out-of-stock rates at 79 percent and 78 percent, respectively.

OBSERVATION - Deliberate non-action by the administration. AS Rush used to say, their policy is “symbolism over substance” as they’ve only flown in enough formula to meet demands for a week.

The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 5.22% on Thursday from 5.54% on Wednesday, when the Fed announced its latest rate hike, according to Mortgage News Daily. The rate fell even further Friday to 5.13%. The drop Thursday also came on the heels of the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ gross domestic product report, which showed the U.S. economy contracted for the second straight quarter.

OBSERVATION - Economists are speculating that banks are trying to gauge what the economy and the fed will do next. Some view the recession as an indicator that the Fed will reverse course and lower rates and those banks don’t want to be stuck with high interest loans.
This has all gotten more volatile with the PCE indicating more record inflation, even after the first 75 point increase in the Fed rate and the most recent 75 point increase may not be the last, however in a recession, increasing rates are sure to make the recession even deeper.
______________________________

Invasion of Illegals -

Biden administration approved a plan to complete a section of the border wall near Yuma, Arizona. The plan includes filling four major gaps in the wall that continue to allow the Yuma area to be one of the busiest corridors for illegal immigration crossings.
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Biden / Harris watch -

Since Gallup started polling presidential approval in the 1950s, in fact, no one has ever rated more poorly in the summer of his second year than Biden. Gallup has Biden sitting at 38 percent approval today, the worst number of his term in their polling and the first time he’s been below the political Mendoza line of 40 percent. Among independents it’s 31 percent, also a new low. And he now enjoys the distinction of having the highest “strong disapproval” rating among members of the other party of any recent president.

OBSERVATION - Repeated - up front - reports like this coming from democrat friendly media sources continues to lend fire to rumors that the powers that be are setting up conditions for the removal (voluntarily or involuntarily) of biden from office.

___________________________

CW2/Domestic violence -

US House passes assault rifle ban, but bill likely doomed to fail in Senate, specifically targeting at least 45 semi-automatic weapons directly, including my hi-point 9mm carbine (ooooh scary black rifle). List matches similar one in Kalifornia.

OBSERVATION - Typical hot button issue for demonrats, however, general sentiment of the county is that this ban will not accomplish anything. In fact, the vote may have endangered more democrats seeking reelection.

___________________________________

Strategic Activity / Deployments -

The Air Force is grounding the majority of its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter fleet today, due to a faulty component inside its ejection seat that could prevent the pilot from being able to safely egress from the aircraft during an emergency, Breaking Defense has learned.
In response to an inquiry, Air Combat Command spokeswoman Alexi Worley confirmed the temporary standdown of ACC-controlled F-35s.
“ACC’s F-35s do have Martin-Baker ejection seats, and on July 19, began a Time Compliance Technical Directive to inspect all of the cartridges on the ejection seat within 90 days,” she stated. “Out of an abundance of caution, ACC units will execute a stand-down on July 29 to expedite the inspection process. Based on data gathered from those inspections, ACC will make a determination to resume operations.”
Actions being taken on Navy/Marine F35s is not clear at this time.

OBSERVATION - And right when we could anticipate a conflict with China.
_________________________________

China -

“If US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is invasion. The PLA has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets, including firing warning shots and making tactical movement of obstruction. If ineffective, then shoot them down,” Hu Xijin, a commentator with the Chinese state-affiliated Global Times, wrote on Twitter.

Diplomatic sources tell me Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan next week is expected to happen, in the early part of her Asia tour. Pelosi’s office says trip possible, but not confirmed

OBSERVATION - Currently, the USS Reagan is on station in the China sea (likely moving into position to protect any Pelosi visit to Taiwan). The USS Lincoln and its carrier group are in the western Pacific as part of exercises there. USS Tripoli (LHA-7) is currently at Okinawa. The US may use a two carrier show of force as was done in years past to discourage any Chinese military actions.
I’m personally wondering if this will turn into a type of Cuban missile crisis game of chicken. Though close, I don’t think China is ready to try to engage in open combat. However, it would be dangerous to make that assumption given their historical aggressiveness and aircraft harassment in the past.

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North/South Korea -

NUKE WATCH on going.

China’s Foreign Ministry demanded that South Korea not participate in the U.S.-Led Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, referred to as the Quad. The statement by Beijing was in response to a recent remark by South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, when he said the administration of new South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol might withdraw from the previous administration’s policies on China.

OBSERVATION - China appears to be worried about a key component of the Quad - the deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile systems in Korea.

__________________________________

Russia -
WAR WATCH - The Battle for Donbas is on - now entering its sixth month of the war since starting on Feb 24th.

CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Russia now essentially controls Luhansk Oblast, Russian forces are now focusing on pushing toward the towns of Siversk, Feroivka and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region

ALSO - there is a lot of propaganda out there. I’m doing my best to filter that out or put into context. When In doubt I’ve been trying to identify questionable information.

********

Logistics -
- Increased use of S300 missiles in a ground attack mode continues to raise eyebrows and speculation on the potential lack of Russian precision guided systems.

Russian Personnel Issues -
- Russia is still trying to scrape up volunteer battalions to throw into the war. The program has had limited success. However, any impact to fighting is expected to be limited due to training time (at least one month) and the overall quality of the soldiers once they reach the front line.
- Officer corps is struggling to rebuild itself with all the losses of officers at all levels.

Economic Impact -
- Observers are noting that Russia’s economic status has improved since the start of the war as Moscow has creatively found ways around the sanctions and has leveraged its strangle hold on Europe over natural gas supplies. However, the reported ‘good’ economic news by Russian is actually not there and sanctions are catastrophically crippling the Russian economy. It has become a battle of propagandas.
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Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Hot with scattered thunderstorms over parts of the 10 day forecast period

24 HOUR ROUND UP -
An explosion(s) killed and wounded scores of Ukrainian POWs in Russian-occupied Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast, on July 28. Ukraine and Russia are blaming each other for the attack and available visual evidence appears to support the Ukrainian claim more than the Russian. Int’l Red Cross is demanding access to the site.

The Ukrainian military today said it had killed scores of Russian soldiers and destroyed two ammunition dumps in fighting in the Kherson region, the focus of Kyiv’s counter-offensive in the south and a key link in Moscow’s supply lines. Claim has not yet been confirmed.

Kyiv front ——
NSR

Northern (Chernihv region ) and North Eastern (Konotop - Sumy salient) Fronts - ——
Russian army shelled border areas of Chernihiv and Sumy regions with howitzers and MLRS.

Eastern (Kharkiv) front -
Russian forces also continued to shell settlements near the Kharkiv-Donetsk Oblast border and struck Dolyna, Bohorodychne, Kurulka, Virnopillya, and Mazanivka.

Ground fighting has developed north of Kharkiv City with no major control of terrain changes. Attempts to recon an axis of attack from the Izyum was stopped by Ukrainan forces.

Kharkiv Oblast Head Oleg Synegubov stated that Russian forces struck Kharkiv City with S-300 missiles and targeted food production infrastructure in Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv Oblast

Combat south of Izyum at Brazhkivka and Dmytrivka. Elsewhere along the Izyum axis, Ukraine appears to have taken back control of Bohorodychne as there has been fighting to its north, close to Pasika. Russian forward areas south of Izyum have been reportedly pushed back. These areas roughly correspond to recent Russian artillery attacks.

Donetsk Oblast ——
Russian limited artillery fire hit all around the margins of the Slovyansk-Siversk-Bakhmut salient.

Russian forces continued ground attacks to the northeast and southeast of Bakhmut, and judging from the artillery fire in the salient, has received the priority for fire.

Russian forces escalated ground attacks on the northwestern outskirts of Donetsk City on July 29. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces are conducting ground assaults near Avdiivka, Kamyanka, Krasnohorivka, Vodyane, and Pisky, all north and northwest of Donetsk City.

Crimean Front -
Scattered artillery fire along the Kherson - Mykolaiv LOC.

Unconfirmed reports that Ukraine forces have had major success in the fight for Kherson. See 24 hour above.

Western / Central Ukraine ——
NSR

Russian Territory - ——
NSR

Partisan Resistance ——
Railway damaged as result of explosion at Kamysh-Zarya station in Zaporizhzhia region

Ammunition / logistical sites hit ——-
Russian ammunition dump reportedly hit in Kamyanka-Dniprovska, Zaporizhzhia Oblast
Southern outskirts of Nova Kakhovka, Russian ammo depot.
A Russian ammunition warehouse in Brylivka, approximately 64km southeast of Kherson City, and two Russian ammunition depots in Khersonskiy district were reportedly struck by Ukrainian forces.
Big fire reported in Alchevsk - suspect ammo/fuel dump
Big fire near Bohdanivka village near Kherson - suspect ammo/fuel dump
Fire at Krasnyi Partyzan near Yasinuvata, northeast of Donetsk - suspect ammo/fuel dump

OUTLOOK ——
No change from previous outlooks. Russia appears to be stuck in the east while a cloud of no information continues to cover the Kherson offensive.

Watching to see evidence of increased Ukranian action in the west and changes to Russian strategy in the east.

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Europe / NATO General -

Gazprom stopped gas supplies to Latvia as part of the July bid “due to violation of gas withdrawal conditions”
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Iran -

Analysts are evaluating the potential for Iran to switch to a first strike policy. Currently, Iran is postured for a retaliatory strike, utilizing Hezbollah and its own regional missiles. Iranian progress towards nuclear weapons and the clear threat by Israel to strike related facilities may be driving Iran to a first strike option. Iran would press Hezbollah to switch to preemption once it becomes convinced Israel is about to go on the offensive. Iran would want Hezbollah to degrade the IDF’s ability to launch an effective preemptive attack, so as to make an Israeli strike impractical.

OBSERVATION - Iranian firs strike may also cause Israel to strike with its nuclear arsenal instead of conventional weapons IMHO. The region would become very dangerous quickly.

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Iraq -

Protesters supporting Sadr’s political party have storm offices of Al Da’wa party and Al Hikmah movement in Baghdad’s Za’faraniyah neighborhood. More protests near the Green Zone in Baghdad with reports that it has been breached again.
Reports of a number of wounded in clashes with the Iraqi police in central Baghdad. Security forces have reportedly pulled back. There are increasing concerns of direct fighting between Sadr’s forces and those supporter of the Iranian back PM and militias

OBSERVATION - Conditions are ripe for direct conflict between Iran backed militias/parties and Sadr. Iran may have overplayed its hand in this policy tussle, but as of yet there appears to be no solution to the protests.
High risk of open civil warfare between opposing factions.

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Happy weekend, have you stocked up your pantry lately?

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Globalism / Great Reset -

Don’t remember if I posted this event or not. On July 19, 2022, UN Sec.-Gen. Guterres and WEF founder Klaus Schwab witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a strategic partnership and to accelerate the “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

OBSERVATION - We are seeing the initial surge in this agenda in Sri Lanka, Canada and now incrementally in the US. An overt attack on farming and ranching. Read more below

A new study claims that air emissions from farms kill 17,000 Americans per year. It’s the first shot in a second try by the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency to control American farms through junk science-fueled air pollution regulations.
The study is funded by a $10 million grant awarded by the Obama administration’s EPA, and pretends to examine fine dust and soot emissions (called “PM2.5”) from all farm operations — including machinery, tilling, fertilizer use, field burning, livestock movement, waste management and more.
It’s a silly study. For example, it estimates that total air emissions associated with U.S. apple production kill about 3.8 people per year somewhere in the general population.

OBSERVATION - The environmental nazis are pushing as quickly as possible to force GGR global warming ‘goals’ in the US. This is designed to mangle the farm and ranch components of our economy and push us toward a Dutch/Canadian style of forced cut back in food production.

MORE OBSERVATIONS - The attack on US farms and ranches is closely tied to the United Nations “Agenda 2030” Sustainable Development Goals and the U.N.’s partners at the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Indeed, several of the U.N.’s 17 “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) are directly implicated in policies that are squeezing farmers, ranchers, and food supplies around the world. Implementation of these policies will not only reduce food production but destroy a large swath of the economy too boot. BTW, remember the UN’s bleat for countries facing food shortages now - it will get worse under their very own policies. The only way they will address it is to take from countries with food and give to the needy - good old communism at its worst.

As Germany’s natural gas supply runs dry, major corporations that use it such as chemical giant BASF are having to pay more for what they can get while also drastically cutting production.

OBSERVATION - BASF produces a bunch of ammonia, which requires large amounts of gas in order to produce. Much of this ammonia is used in fertilizers. Less fertilizer, higher costs and lower yields.

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Wuhan virus -

see biden getting wuhan a second time this month.

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Economy -

Things still shaky following last weeks economic news.
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Biden / Harris watch -

Biden tests positive for Wuhan again. His physician has deemed a case of post-Paxlovid “‘rebound’ positivity”

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CW2/Domestic violence -

NYC drug store puts $3.99 tins of SPAM and $3.49 tins of HAM in theft-proof cases as crime wave grips Big Apple.

OBSERVATION - Kalifornia stores have long been locking up pilfierable and high demand items in security cabinets for several years now, following feel good crime measures which basically allowed open season on stores by shoplifters. But Spam???

biden’s war against the military continues as his proxies continue to ignore court mandates. While federal courts have ordered the Navy and Air Force not to take any adverse actions against military members seeking religious exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the Coast Guard is seeking to discharge service members refusing the vaccine without allowing them to appear before administrative separation boards to defend their cases.

OBSERVATION - The purge of the military continues as the left tries to shape the military into a force that will due its bidding by eliminating as may as they can harbing conservative principles. . biden has weaponed the vaccination order to cull more out of the military through blanket denials of religious exemptions as well as continuation of the forcing of wuhan vaccines that are still experimental and cannot be lawfully ordered since the military has not made fully FDA-approved versions of the vaccines available to its members.

Reports last week of a man in Delaware who answered his door to find law enforcement–both state police and the ATF–checking on whether he still owned the guns he recently purchased are still reverberating through the 2d amendment community.

OBSERVATION - Take the following in consideration - I’m not a lawyer, but this is guidance put out by pro-2d amendment organizations and their lawyers.
First - The ATF doesn’t have the authority to just demand to see what you own. They’re not even supposed to Second - ATF cannot just show up and demand to inspect your property without a warrant. They can, however, ask. Without probable cause or a warrant you’re not required to show them anything.

Suffice it to say ATF and other govt agencies most likely have a covert data base of gun owners - in violation of federal law. Should things go sideways consider this as they may cease asking to see and just bust down down the door.

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POLITICAL FRONT -

A producer working for the Congressional January 6th Committee, Dan Przygoda, posted violent threats towards President Trump supporters on Twitter as recently as President Trump’s inauguration, on January 20th, 2017.

OBSERVATION - Shocked, shocked I tell you. . . . . .
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Strategic Activity / Deployments -

Disposition/location of the USS Reagan carrier task force other than located in the south china sea is under close hold. No doubt it is positioning to provide protection to pelosi.
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China -

China held a rare live-fire exercise off the coast of Fujian province in the Taiwan Strait on July 30. Exercise designed to intimidate pelosi et al.

Pelosi reportedly departed on her Asia trip No word on if she will go to Taiwan. Her itinerary currently lists visits to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

OBSERVATION - She’ll likely make an unannounced visit to try to keep China guessing and get out before China does anything stupid. She is a stubborn old goat and won’t let the prospect of displaying her self as the brave world leader get stripped away.

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North/South Korea -

NUKE WATCH on going.

North Korea reports no new cases for first time since COVID outbreak. Observers are skeptical.
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Russia -
WAR WATCH - The Battle for Donbas is on - now entering its sixth month of the war since starting on Feb 24th.

CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Russia now essentially controls Luhansk Oblast, Russian forces are now focusing on pushing toward the towns of Siversk, Feroivka and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region

ALSO - there is a lot of propaganda out there. I’m doing my best to filter that out or put into context. When In doubt I’ve been trying to identify questionable information.

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Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Hot with scattered thunderstorms over parts of the 10 day forecast period

24 HOUR ROUND UP -
Zelensky orders mandatory evacuations in Ukraine’s Donetsk region as fighting intensifies. Zelensky also said the hundreds of thousands of people still in combat zones in the Donbas region needed to leave. ‘The more people leave (the) Donetsk region now, the fewer people the Russian army will have time to kill,’ Zelensky said.

Russia appears to have focused its attacks in the east on Bakhmut with secondary axis north east of Donetsk.

Kyiv front ——
NSR

Northern (Chernihv region ) and North Eastern (Konotop - Sumy salient) Fronts - ——
Scattered Russian artillery fire

Eastern (Kharkiv) front -
Russian forces continued to shell settlements near the Kharkiv-Donetsk Oblast border …..

Kharkiv was just hit hard by four large strikes

Russian scout group attempted to recon Ukrainian positions at Nova Husarivka-Husarivka, located about half way between Kharkiv and Izyum.

Donetsk Oblast ——
Russian limited artillery fire hit all around the margins of the Slovyansk-Siversk-Bakhmut salient.

Russian attacks again focused on avenues north and south of Bakhmut. Russian forces had been “partially successful” in establishing control over the settlement of Semyhirya

No ground action noted in the Sieversk area to the north.

Russian artillery and airstrikes have concentrated in the of towns/villages Novokalynove, Tonenke, Opytne, Vodiane, Pisky and Nevelske northwest of Donetsk. Believed Russian attempt to shape the battlefield for an attempt to break through towards the M-04 road network and push Ukrainan artillery out of range of Donetsk

Crimean Front -
Rail traffic to Kherson over the Dnipro River had been cut, the military’s southern command said, potentially further isolating Russian forces west of the river from supplies in occupied Crimea and the east.

Russian forces continued heavy artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure in Mykolaiv City and Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on July 28-29. Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command reported that Russian forces used 12 S-300 missiles to strike Mykolaiv City from the Hola Prystan direction (just southwest of Kherson City).

Scattered artillery fire along the Kherson - Mykolaiv LOC.

Western / Central Ukraine ——
NSR

Russian Territory - ——
NSR

Partisan Resistance ——

( TASS) “Celebrations in honor of the Navy Day in Sevastopol have been canceled. Residents are asked to stay at home. The headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol was attacked by the Ukrainian side, presumably using a drone. Five people were injured. Drone attack at Black Sea Fleet HQ was carried out from inside Sevastopol, according to occupation authorities.

Ammunition / logistical sites hit ——-
There was an explosion at the airfield in Melitopol
Big fire at suspected logistics site Kyivsky district of Donetsk

OUTLOOK ——
Not much change, tempo of ground action down except for the potential change in objectives by Russia (see Donetsk Oblast above). It appears that Russian efforts are not very organized with the exemption of the push on Bakhmut and outward from Donetsk. There are hints that Russia is considering offensive operations against Kharkiv and westward out of Izyum but these may be feints to divert resources from the growing Ukraninan offensive towards Kherson.
The Ukraninan govt expects an uptick in the fighting in the east and is calling for more civilian evacuations. However, Russian just doesn’t seem to be getting its act together as of late, nor expected in the near future.

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Iraq -

Volunteers shuttled back and forth in fleets of pickups to Iraq’s normally secure Green Zone Saturday as protesters who occupied parliament earlier in the day settled in for the long haul.

Sadr has resorted to using his large grass-roots following as a pressure tactic against his rivals, after his party was not able to form a government despite having won the largest number of seats in the federal elections held last October. With neither side willing to concede, and al-Sadr intent on derailing government formation efforts lead by his rivals.

OBSERVATION - It has been 10 months since the election and no govt has been able to be formed. Part of this crisis was caused by Sadr’s party exiting government formation talks in June. Potential for civil war still very high.

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Lebanon -

Next week marks the second anniversary of the Beirut port explosion. In the two years since the disaster in the heart of Lebanon’s capital city, the investigation into the blast has stalled and the Lebanese people still have not received a full accounting of nor justice for what happened. And they are still suffering the consequences of the deadly blast.

OBSERVATION - Many are still blaming Hezebollah for the blast along with the deteriorating economic situation. For those old enough to remember, Lebanon and Beirut were a garden spot tourist destination with a thriving economy in the late 60’s and early 70’s. The rise of radical islam following the ouster of the Shah of Iran spread into the country inciting civil war that ruined the country.
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