The days for me have grown tedious – waiting for the other shoe to fall. Not if, but when. Ever since the chaos of the 2020 election and the growing tyranny of the govt towards the citizenry, what will the next shock hit. I’ve stated concerns about the trajectory of events converging by last winter, that convergence is still coming and at this stage when it happens it will be even bigger than my earlier concerns. So many things can blow up now at a moment’s notice –
1. Economic disaster
2. War
3. Civil war / Govt alphabets go weapons hot
4. Natural disasters
Hate to be a gloomy Gus, but the reality is there is a storm coming and the earlier we can get a scope of it, the more we can do to be ready beyond a general readiness.
OBSERVATION – Support of aggressive LGBT tyranny is one of the pillars of the WEF – buried normally by all the talk of economic controls, wuhan-based tyranny and global ‘warming’. They don’t want peaceful coexistence, they want all to bow to their genders dysphoria and overall destruction of the nuclear family ( long established goal of communism). Canada is just a canary in the mine as to what is instore for the world.
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TIK brought this back up to me lately, so I’d thought I’d see what is the current status of the 15 minute city concept.
BARCELONA, Spain — In an effort to ease traffic congestion and curb greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change, municipalities from Barcelona to Brussels have embarked on what has been called a “transportation revolution.” Urban centers across the continent have adopted a host of innovative schemes designed to steer vehicles out of crowded downtowns, creating so-called 15-minute cities — where cars aren’t needed and services like banks, barbers, grocery stores and doctors are a short stroll or bike ride away.
But a fierce backlash has emerged in recent months against the restrictions and plans to all but rid cities of the bulk of their automobiles.
OBSERVATION – In Britain, street closure as part of the traffic control plan and 15 minute city effort has already cost lives as emergency personnel have been unable at times to reach the emergency due to unmovable barriers on streets. This is a forceable restructure of cities that are not even designed with the 15 minute concept to begin with. It is being pushed here in the even now in the US.
Economy –
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell delivers testimony today before the Senate Banking and Finance Committee. During his statements Powell says,
“The latest economic data have come in stronger than expected, which suggests that the ultimate level of interest rates is likely to be higher than previously anticipated.” Powell continued, “If the totality of the data were to indicate that faster tightening is warranted, we would be prepared to increase the pace of rate hikes.“… “We will continue to make our decisions meeting by meeting.” … “Although inflation has been moderating in recent months, the process of getting inflation back down to 2% has a long way to go and is likely to be bumpy.”
OBSERVATION – the intent to hit the accelerator hard again in raising the prime rates after months of indicating they would be dialing back hit Wall Street hard yesterday. Yet to see how reaction continues today. If followed through, the likelihood of a hard, deep recession will increase.
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Container shipping imports hitting the west coast for January and February have fallen back to 2018 levels. This could be a return to “normal” pre-pandemic shipping levels. (FO)
OBSERVATION – This is now an uncertain indictor given that a lot of shipping was diverted to east / gulf coast ports during the great constipation last year. This could also be a sign of the recession kicking into gear as there is less demand for products.
Invasion of Illegals –
According to the New York Times, the Biden administration is considering reviving the practice of detaining migrant families who cross the border illegally — the same policy the president shut down over the past two years because he wanted a more humane immigration system, officials familiar with the discussions said Monday.
“Although no final decision has been made, the move would be a stark reversal for President Biden, who came into office promising to adopt a more compassionate approach to the border after the harsh policies of his predecessor, former President Donald J. Trump.”
This isn’t just a minor change in handling. It’s an end to the catch-and-release policies that Donald Trump ended and Joe Biden reinstated two years ago.
OBSERVATION - Pundits are pointing to polls that indicate the uncontrolled illegal tsumani is drawing heavily on the democrat party as 2024 starts to become real. Biden has to show some movement to get things under control or the democrats could hemmorage significantly in the next election.
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During an interview with Christiane Amanpour on Tuesday broadcast on Tuesday’s edition of CNN International’s “Amanpour,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas refused to say the border is a crisis, argued that there are many issues facing the agency, such as the “extreme weather events” that he said are “triggering migration,” and stated that other nations have migration issues. Mayorkas cited Chile deploying its military to the border as an example of this.
OBSERVATION - This slug must have no conscience at all. He cannot even lie a respectable lie.
CW2/Domestic violence –
All but one of the Antifa terrorists arrested in the weekend attack on the construction site have been held WITHOUT bail. The hardened legal response is refreshing in contrast to the revolving door antifa is usually afforded.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Democrat and too many republican (RINO) heads are exploding all over the place with the initial release of J6 videos the kangaroo court and democrats sought to keep hiden. These videos blow up much of the left’s narrative of the events. Schumer has called for outright censorship and RINO McConnell said on Tuesday - “It was a mistake, in my view, for Fox News to depict this in a way that’s completely at variance with what our chief law enforcement official at the Capitol thinks.”
As I’ve stated before, this combined with the Twitter files and wuhan related documents forced out by FOIA lawsuits show a tyrannical govt not too far from going full stazi/KGB against the country. These videos should have been released under the Brady act – as they are exculpatory to the J6 political prisioners. We are seeing just who supports the rights of the citizens of this country with their responses.
One other note – a piece of data that has also come out is that the leftist Hollywood producer hired by the J6 tribunal to edit the footage released ADDED a sound track to the SILENT capitol CCTV video- creating fictional setting.
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Elon Musk has fired back after a blockbuster report exposed the efforts by Democrat President Joe Biden’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to harass the Twitter boss and his company.
The House Judiciary Committee blew the whistle on the FTC’s attempt to harass Musk in a new report. The Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government released an interim report titled, “The Weaponization of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): An Agency’s Overreach to Harass Elon Musk’s Twitter.”
The report details new, nonpublic information that shows how the federal government weaponized its authority against Twitter in the wake of Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company. The FTC sent over a dozen demand letters to Twitter that make more than 350 specific demands of Twitter. Some of which include –
- “Information relating to journalists’ work protected by the First Amendment, including their work to expose abuses by Big Tech and the federal government.
- “Every single internal communication ‘relating to Elon Musk,’ by any Twitter personnel—including communications sent or received by Musk—not limited by subject matter, since the day Musk bought the company;
- “Information about whether Twitter is ‘selling its office equipment’;
- “All of the reasons why Twitter terminated former Twitter employee and FBI official Jim Baker;
- “When Twitter ‘first conceived of the concept for Twitter Blue,’ Twitter’s new $8/month verified account subscription; and
- “Information disaggregated by ‘each department, division, and/or team,’ regardless of whether the work done by these units had anything to do with privacy or information security.”
OBSERVATION – biden and the Marxist tyranny from the swamp is deep and dark as the weaponization of the govt against the people continues. Musk has decried the actions as an attack on the First Amendment, and it is.
China –
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang warned Tuesday that Beijing and Washington are headed for “conflict and confrontation” if the U.S. doesn’t change course, striking a combative tone at a moment when relations between the rivals are at a historic low.
In his first news conference since taking office late last year, Qin’s harsh language appeared to defy predictions that China might abandon its aggressive “wolf warrior” diplomacy in favor of more moderate rhetoric as the two countries face off over trade and technology, Taiwan, human rights and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Washington’s China policy has “entirely deviated from the rational and sound track,” Qin told journalists on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China’s rubber-stamp legislature, when leaders lay out their economic and political priorities for the coming year.
If the United States does not hit the brake, but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there surely will be conflict and confrontation,” said Qin, whose new position is junior to the Communist Party’s senior foreign policy official, Wang Yi. “Such competition is a reckless gamble, with the stakes being the fundamental interests of the two peoples and even the future of humanity.”
OBSERVATION – China stating the obvious, with renewed vigor given the dumpster fire biden has created here and the deliberate destruction of our military and strategic capabilities.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - First Anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT
Russian forces have initiated an offensive who’s declared goals are to reach and secure the Luhansk and Donetsk oblast borders — an objective that Russian Chief of General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov had also outlined on December 22, 2022. Troop and equipment build up is being noted
This offensive action is focused on several fronts –
1) the Svatove-Kreminna front,
2) Bahkmut region,
3) Donetsk region and
4) Zaporizhizhia Oblast around the town of Vuhledar.
Russia is also capable of launching more cruise/ballistic missile attacks directed against Ukrainian infrastructure -primarily its power grid, but massively reduced inventories of such missiles means these barrages will be further apart.
While Russia has nuclear capability, the probability is low that any will be used in the near future.
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RUMINT-
There have been reports of a lot of fires/explosions at various industrial and governmental facilities/buildings over the past week across Russia. Hesitant to call these acts of sabotague as they may be artifacts of information/confirmation bias. However, definitely worth monitoring.
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Logistics –
- 1000 T-72s are confirmed lost by @oryxspioenkop , which was 1/2 of Russian’s pre-war active T-72 fleet and maybe more than 1/3.5 of its total T-72 fleet.
NOTE – Oryx and friends only record validated and georeferenced kills/losses. Thus this number may well be undercounted. The increased reactivation of mothballed T-62 series tanks for Russian units pretty well confirm the magnitude of the Russian losses.
Ukraine -
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures rising to the mid 30’s – lower 40s with rain/snow over most of the forecast period
RUMINT –
New intelligence reviewed by U.S. intelligence agencies reportedly indicates that a pro-Ukrainian group was behind the attacks on the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines last year.
Unnamed U.S. officials briefed on new intelligence said that it indicated that pro-Ukrainian actors, likely Ukrainian or Russian nationals, were behind the explosions, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
According to German investigators, a yacht rented in Germany by a Poland-based company owned by Ukrainian nationals was used by a team of six individuals of unknown nationality to plant explosives on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
OBSERVATION – This accusation is on the fringe, basically saying a boat and a few divers were able to operate a technically difficult deep water sabotage. Evidence is scant at best, and mostly conjecture at this stage.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Intense fighting continues to rage around Bahkmut, but some evidence suggests that the Russian attack has crested and some initiative switching back to Ukraine. Ukraine apparently has executed a tactical withdrawal from eastern Bahkmut, a move that places its forces on the otherside of two different rivers – located now in the northern and eastern flanks (the Bakhmutka River) of the pocket. Ukrainian counter attacks on the southern margin of the pocket have been showing increased success in pushing Russian forces back. Russia doesn’t appear to have the river crossing assets to pursue the attack – and Ukraine has all crossings destroyed and under intense covering fire should Russia attempt anything.
Poor coordination between Russian forces on the flanks of the pocket continues to be the bane of the effort. Each seems to be operating independently of each other – stifling the level of success.
Action continues in the Donetsk region with more attacks. Scattered attacks along the front northward of Kreminna by Russian small units were unsuccessful.
OUTLOOK –
Fighting will continue at Bahkmut, but growing increasingly evident that Russia is running out of steam. Independent assessments suggest that Russian forces additionally likely lack the mechanized forces necessary to advance beyond Bakhmut, and the tactical “assault detachments” used in assaults against Bakhmut are likely unable to conduct maneuver warfare.
Recent Russian advances within urban areas of Bakhmut demonstrate that Russian forces can secure limited tactical gains with infantry-led frontal assaults. They likely lack the mechanized forces necessary to exploit roads (which are likely highly fortified) west of Bakhmut. These gains have been across small sections of the front – too narrow for armor to exploit as well.
Further, Russia has committed some of its better units to the tip of the spear at Bahkmut - Wagner and VDV. These units are being heavily attritted and as a result, will likely be unavailable to blunt any Ukrainian offensive when the time comes.
Smaller attacks are expected at the standard locations along the LOC, but with the mud becoming increasingly mean, Russia’s window for a significant offensive is closing. This is giving Ukraine time to integrate the new weapons systems into battle groups in preparation for an offensive later in the spring when soil conditions improve.
Belarus -
Observations of Russian activity continue to confirm that Russian is using training facilities in the country for its forces and are running a rotational type schedule.
Protesters have clashed with police in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, after parliament backed a controversial draft law which critics say limits press freedom and suppresses civil society. Riot police used water cannon and pepper spray to disperse the crowds outside the parliament building.
There has been widespread international condemnation of the bill. It would require non-governmental and media organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to declare themselves as “foreign agents”, or face hefty fines and possible imprisonment.
The opposition says the Russian-style law marks a shift towards authoritarianism and would damage Georgia’s chances of joining the EU. Further protests outside parliament have been called for Wednesday.
US state department spokesman Ned Price said the draft legislation would be a tremendous setback and “would strike at some of the very rights that are central to the aspirations of the people of Georgia”.
The EU is currently considering Georgia’s application for candidate status and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned that the bill was “incompatible with EU values and standards”.
Background - Georgia was invaded by Russia in 2008: It came 17 years after it gained independence from the Soviet Union, an alliance of communist states that broke apart in 1991. Russian forces occupy two breakaway regions of Georgia: South Ossetia and Abkhazia make up about 20% of Georgian territory
OBSERVATION – The general public is highly supportive of efforts to join the EU and overwhelmingly against this “foreign agent” bill. The party that is ramming this bill through only managed to get into power because the leader of the opposition party lost favor with the people – plus likely voting influence by Russia. The actions of the Russian supporting politicians are duplicating actions instigated by Russia in other countries such as Ukraine and Moldova.
Mexico -
Four U.S. citizens kidnapped by armed gunmen in Matamoros, two now confirmed dead, the two others have been retrieved by Mexican law enforcement, one of the two with injuries of some sort. One bystander was killed – likely gave rise to the ¾ hostages being killed. Mexican authorities believe it was a case of ‘mistaken identity’, as cartel thought the Americans were part of a Haitian gang.
OBSERVATION – Most of Mexico is under a State Dept warning of one kind or another because of drug cartel activity.
RELATED – Some in congress calling for military operations against cartels in the border region – a lot of bravado but unlikely to happen.
Breaking
Russia has launched potentially the largest missile attack of the war. So far 7 waves of missiles have been launched. More on tomorrow’s TM
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“Find a place to make your stand and take it easy”. Eagles