Tomorrow being Thanksgiving, don’t expect a post unless something really big happens. May you all have a blessed and peaceful day remembering to be thankful for all that God has done for you the past year.
Globalism / Great Reset –
The Biden administration is set to back a plan that would crush the coal industry at the upcoming United Nations (UN) climate summit, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The U.S. will reportedly support a French plan to get the countries of the world to ban private financing of coal-fired power plants during the upcoming UN conference, known as COP28, according to Reuters. The plan is likely to drive a rift between countries like the U.S. and France and those like China and India, which are reliant on coal to feed their economies cheap and reliable electricity.
The proposed plan would allow the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to set coal standards for private financing companies that would allow regulators, ratings agencies and non-governmental organizations to track coal financing, according to Reuters.
Beyond the reported plan to strangle private financing for coal plants, delegates are expected to discuss the shape and stipulations of a so-called “loss and damages” fund, a de facto international climate reparations program, at COP28. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry recently suggested that the U.S. will pay “millions” into the fund, a number that many activists and representatives of poorer countries find to be inadequate. China is unlikely to have any significant obligations to the fund because it is classified as a developing country, despite its status as the world’s top emitter and second-largest economy.
COP28 is scheduled to begin on Nov. 30 and run through Dec. 12.
OBSERVATION - Very significant move toward international controls superseding national laws and priorities. The ‘climate reparations’ just a rebranding of steeling from rich countries to fluff the pockets of tyrants so poor countries.
Economy –
Earlier this year, California passed regulations that would turn the trucking industry upside down. New mandates for zero emissions trucks would disrupt the industry, raise shipping costs, and put trucking companies out of business. A group including 19 states and several trucking organizations recently filed suit to block the California regulation.
California’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Regulation goes into effect on January 1, 2024. The ACF requires that truck operators buy only Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) trucks for medium-duty and heavy-duty trucking operations as early as January 2024. The ACF also requires that trucking companies transition their fleets to 100 percent ZEV trucks by 2035 to 2042, depending upon class of truck.
OBSERVATION - Cross reference with “Globalism / Great Reset” as well. Due to kalifornia’s skewed, oversized population and economic status, it has been able to dictate a lot of rules across the nation. Early on it was to push its air quality emission standards across the entire auto industry. Recently, pork and poultry producers were forced into changing their operations to meet Kalifornian demand for humane raising of these critters - giving them more room and other niceties. The lawsuit to reverse that failed - basically the courts said you have the freedom to sell to other markets. But the kalifornia market is the 800 lb gorilla in the room. This new scheme will hit trucking massively - as well as our pocket books as shipping rates will likely skyrocket and delivery networks less reliable.
Notably - this ties into the globalist scheme to use climate change laws to dictate life to us lesser beings, removing another factor of freedom.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
The military leadership at the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota recently sent a text message to service members warning them that their “continued service” could be jeopardized if they attended a local rally featuring a speaker from an organization that has historically supported former President Donald Trump.
The text message, acquired by Fox News, was sent to Minot Air Force Base staff and warned, “Leaders, please exercise caution if downtown this weekend.” The Air Force base’s commander cautioned service personnel in a text message that “participation with groups such as Turning Point Action could jeopardize their continued service in the United States military.”
OBSERVATION - Listed under CW2 because this action furthers the growing divide between red and blue being forced on the military. The airbase later issued a very lame mea culpa saying that the message was sent ‘outside official channels’ and was allegedly not properly vetted as a result. The USAF command has demonstrably been increasingly liberal in its leadership since the 0bama purges and this is just another example. I want to see who actually sent this piece of crap out and have them raked over the coals at the very least - since the pampered princes in the Pentagon won’t do jack about it.
***
(FO) In a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to release information on the Hemisphere phone surveillance program that allows federal, state, and local law enforcement to request searches of trillions of U.S. phone records without a warrant.
Wyden said he has “serious concerns about the legality of this program,” and materials Wyden already obtained from the DOJ contain “troubling information that would justifiably outrage many Americans” and other lawmakers.
OBSERVATION - Interesting that a democrat is leading the charge for accountability of another massive intel collection operation against the American citizenry absent due legal process / warrants.
***
Speaking of surveillance -
Sonya Labosco, Director of the Air Marshals National Council said Air Marshalls are quietly following Americans who flew into the DC area around January 6, 2021.
“We’re not flying right now. The only missions that we are doing are ‘Quiet Skies’ missions and those are missions that are following the January 2021 people,” Labosco said. “So we’re either on the border for illegal immigrants or we’re following folks from January 2021. We’re not doing our regular missions where we’re out there looking for the bad guys so for now most flights you’re not gonna have Air Marshalls.”
The Fox News host was stunned: “What do you mean that you’re following January 2021 people? What does that mean?
“That means our primary mission is a little group called ‘quiet skies’ – it’s a mission called quiet skies that we’re following people that flew into the national capital region in January 2021 and they did not have to go to the Capitol or the rally and you’ve been put on a specific list that TSA has now assigned Air Marshals to follow these people who have not had any type of criminal investigation – they haven’t committed a crime, but yet three years later we are following the same individuals day in and day out,” Labosco said.
“Well, they didn’t even have to be at the Capitol…they could have just flown into the capital region so anyone who was there for a job interview or to visit family. We even have a gentleman who was there for a funeral. They’ve been put on this domestic terrorist list just because of their geographic location to Washington DC,” Labosco said.
OBSERVATION - Increasing levels of covert govt surveillance of the population is not a good sign of a health republic. I would think that the deep state has developed such a broad and intrusive system that would make the KGB and Stasi blush.
Terrorism - Level is HIGH due to increased lone wolf threats.
As the war between Israel and Hamas rages on, experts at the New York State Intelligence Center have warned that the Empire state could be a potential target for Islamic terrorist attacks.
According to CBS News, the center noted in its threat assessment that evidence pointed to an “increasing terror threat to NYS.”
“The expansion of Israeli operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and increase in civilian casualties raises the likelihood that violent extremist threat actors will seek to conduct attacks against targets in the West, with New York State being a focus,” the report explained. “Terrorist messaging has placed focus on attacking ‘soft targets’ such as protests, group gatherings, and other public events.”
The report also noted that in recent weeks, both antisemitic and anti-Palestinian sentiments online have helped fuel an increase in hate crimes targeting Jews and Muslims alike.
OBSERVATION - the inclusion of “anti-palestinian” act is a sop to the pro-hamas islamic radicals.
IN RELATED - I would be on high alert tomorrow for the Macy’s parade with the aggressiveness the pro-Hamas elements (as well as the transtifas) have shown recently. I don’t have any direct intel, but these protestors have shown that they are willing to disrupt in a large way and the coverage of the parade would give them a platform to spread their so called message.
The most likely action would be to block/interrupt the parade. Worse case scenario, though at this stage less likely would be a violent attack under the cover/disruptions of a protest designed to cause casualties or deaths.
Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –
The US military will deploy new medium-range missile systems to the Pacific region next year for the purpose of “deterring” China from invading Taiwan, the commander of US Army Pacific Forces said on Saturday.
According to Defense One, Gen. Charles Flynn said the deployment will include a land-based version of the Tomahawk missile, which was previously banned under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a treaty with Russia the US withdrew from in 2019.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Legal pundits are noting that Musk/X has a really good case against Media Matters and have a high likelihood of prevailing.
Congress critters settling in on another break over thanksgiving.
Biden / Harris Watch –
Biden’s birthday pic with the massive flaming cake hasn’t helped his image of being physical capable of a second term.
Illegal Immigration –
Anger as illegals are getting preference in some blue sanctuary city/states in getting Thanksgiving food and the like over US citizen homeless and veterans.
China –
One of China’s Yuzhao-class Amphibious Transport Docks was filmed belching black smoke columns while underway yesterday. However, discussion from the OSINT community also suggested that this could be part of a smoke screen / deception test to either help obscure the vessel or make opponents think it has been disabled. China has yet to make any statement on it.
North/South Korea –
North Korea claims it has successfully put a military spy satellite into space, after two earlier attempts failed this year. South Korea says it has not confirmed yet if the satellite is operational. But it says it believes the North received help from Russia.
Following the launch, South Korea announced it would resume surveillance along its border with the North, thereby taking steps to suspend parts of a deal agreed by the two countries in 2018 aimed at lowering military tensions.
Japan –
With the launch of a NK spy satellite, the Japanese government briefly issued an emergency warning, telling residents in Okinawa to take shelter. North Korea had on Monday told Japan it intended to attempt its satellite launch again. It had tried twice this year and failed - in May and August.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Nov 12, 2023
Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Attacks to take Adviivka, located near occupied Donetsk has been their priority as well as further north. However, it is on a defensive footing across most of Ukraine.
The Russian army has lost a considerable amount of armor/tanks and personnel in the fight to take Adviivka, causing that offensive to stall considerably and resort to “meat” attacks.
With the arrival of the muddy season, significant offensive actions by Russia are unlikely.
Ukrainian action has forced Russia to move forces laterally to meet the Ukraine advance - thinning critical portions of the line and making them vulnerable to assault.
Russia’s strategic ballistic and cruise missiles continue to show evidence of massively reduced inventories. With the onset of winter, it is believed that Russian is shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones for an effort to take down the Ukraine power grid as it did last year. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. Ukraine’s recent attacks on ships in Crimean harbors has forced the majority of the fleet to redeploying out of Crimea and to Russian bases, about 600 Km further away from the front lines.
Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Much of eastern Ukraine will see their first accumulating snowfall of the season next week.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Ukrainian air defense shot down 14 of 14 Shahed drones overnight.
Russia continues to launch attacks in the Avdiyivka area, with little to no gain, but very heavy losses.
Kherson Axis -
Hold this latest report on Krynky at arms length as its source is Russian Milblogger WarGonzo’s early morning update “In the Kherson-Crimean direction, Ukrainian marines, supported by artillery, attacked from Krynky on the left bank of the Dnipro and entered the forest belt near this village. The goal is to reach the M-14 highway. If success is achieved, the RF Armed Forces will have serious problems.”
This adds up to other sources claiming Ukrainian troops are pushing forward through the forest and advanced already. Significant but not major action at this stage, but could be setting things up for a later, much larger push towards Crimea.
Outlook —-
Weather dominated lull in most of the fighting, but that isn’t really stopping all of it. However, nothing significant expected in the near term.
Big note that though there are some parallels between Avdiyivka and Bakhmut, this winter will be far worse for Russia. No Wagner shock troops to lead the assault and Ukraine has cluster munitions. This has made the Russian ‘meat’ attacks receive far more casualties than Bakkmut. Finally, as the winter wears on, the effects of the cold and wet will grind down Russian forces even more, further restricting the numbers of bodies available to assault the well prepared Ukrainian positions.
Europe / NATO General –
Tomorrow there is a general election in the Netherlands. The anti-immigration PVV party just surged into first place. This would put firebrand Geert Wilders on a potential path to become Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Wilders promises to make the Netherlands great again shutting down the border and leaving the EU.
OBSERVATION - This may also place the Netherlands on a further collision course with the EU regarding carbon reduction goals. I’ve noted that the current govt has been pushing to eliminate the vast majority of the farms in the country to meet EU climate change goals. Such a move would completely devastate the industry which supplies a considerable amount of food to EU countries. Combined with the growing pushback to the uncontrolled flood of ‘immigrants’ from N Africa and the Middle east and the ensuing chaos they are bringing could well be the catalyst for Wilder’s victory.
***
EU member states are discussing whether to restrict travel by Russian diplomats after the CzechRepublic complained that potential spies were evading monitoring thanks to the EU’s borderless zone. Czech Republic wants Russian diplomats to receive visas & residence permits that only allow travel within the host country, and not the rest of the Schengen area.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- The Israeli cabinet approves a hostage deal with Hamas, PM office says
- IDF continues to probe deeper into the bunker complex beneath the Shifa Hospital site.
GENERAL ——————————-
Israeli has agreed to a hostage / prisoner exchange and an operational pause. Agreement paves the way for the release of 50 hostages, mostly women and children. Israel will reportedly release 150 to 300 female and teenage Palestinians prisoners “with no blood on their hands.” Netanyahu also told the ministers during the cabinet meeting that as part of the agreement the Red Cross will visit hostages that will not be released and provide them with medicine, according to the Prime Minister’s office. The IDF, Shin Bet, and the Mossad “have made it completely clear in their professional assessment, that the security of our forces will be ensured during the pause and that the intelligence effort will be maintained in those days,” he continued. “They have made it clear that not only will the war effort not be harmed, it will enable the IDF to prepare for the continuation of the fighting.”
The first batch of hostages is expected to be released as early as Thursday, with Hamas reportedly having agreed to release 12 to 13 hostages each day of the four-day truce. “The release of every additional 10 hostages will result in one additional day in the pause,” the government added.
Israel’s Channel 12 News reported that the deal will see the release of 30 children, eight mothers and 12 women held by Hamas. The terror group claimed that it could not immediately locate 10 additional children taken from southern Israel on Oct. 7.
“After the hostage deal is implemented, we will continue dismantling Hamas while respecting humanitarian law on the ground,” wrote Jonathan Conricus, Israel Defense Forces spokesman, a little after 3 a.m. in Israel. “We will remain vigilant during the pause and use the time to prepare for future operations.”
Hamas previously released four hostages for what it said were “humanitarian reasons.” Judith Raanan, 59, and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, were freed on Oct. 20. Nurit Cooper, 79, and Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, were let go three days later.
Moreover, IDF special forces late last month rescued Pvt. Ori Megidish from Gaza.
Last week, Israel Defense Forces soldiers operating in the vicinity of Shifa Hospital in Gaza City recovered the bodies of Cpl. Noa Marciano, 19, and Yehudit Weiss, 65. Both women were murdered during their captivity, according to the military.
Islamic Jihad spokesperson, Abu Hamza, claims an Israeli hostage has died. The group did not say how the hostage passed away
The Israeli army says it has breached the blast door at the end of the tunnel discovered underneath Gaza’s Shifa Hospital. It publishes two images, one showing the open door and the other further inside the tunnel
GAZA FRONT ———————————-
IDF continued to strike targets in Gaza overnight.
Most current map of the situation on the ground -
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F_f5HXeWYAA5LZA?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Hezbollah issued a statement claiming responsibility for 12 separate attacks today along the Lebanon-Israel border
***
Hezbollah reportedly will adhere to the cease fire period along with Hamas.
***
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is warning the United Nations Security Council that failure to adopt the 1701 resolution calling for the disarmament of Hezbollah could lead to an expanded regional war.
“For the good of regional stability and to avoid further escalation, the next session of the UN Security Council must adopt a totally different approach in order to end the dangerous violations by Hezbollah and other terrorist groups on the border,” Cohen wrote.
According to the Times of Israel, “UN Security Council resolution 1701 brought to an end the Second Lebanon War in 2006, and called for the disarmament of all non-state armed forces in Lebanon, as well as for the region between the Israel-Lebanon border and the Litani River to be freed of all armed forces other than the Lebanese army and the UN’s peacekeeping mission UNIFIL.”
“These clauses of the resolution were never implemented, and Hezbollah has become a heavily armed terror militia,” the Israeli news organization explained.
The Foreign Minister’s comments come after Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday informed reporters that Hezbollah has fired over 1,000 munitions at Israel since the October 7th Hamas attack.
WEST BANK——————————-
IDF/police continue to seek out and arrest Hamas and affiliated terrorists.
“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
Pro-Iranian militias launched an attack on US forces at Shadadi military base in southern Hasakah, Syria
***
On the morning of November 22 in Iraq, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces conducted discrete, precision strikes against two facilities in Iraq. The strikes were in direct response to the attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces by Iran and Iran-backed groups, including the one in Iraq on November 21, which involved use of close-range ballistic missiles.
***
The GALAXY LEADER (9237307) is reportedly in the anchorage at Hodeidah, Yemen , having arrive there on Nov 20th.
INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
Police in Germany conducted raids and arrested more than a dozen individuals who were found to have publicly shown support for Hamas and antisemitism on social media platforms.
The raids, which took place in the German state of Bavaria, primarily focused on the city of Munich. A total of 17 individuals, ranging in age between 18 and 62, were arrested.
NOTE - I was stationed 5 years in Augsburg GE, just a little ways west of Munich. Sad to see that such Nazism still exists there as Bavaria was a stronghold of nazism in WW2.
FORECAST ————————-
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) - The impending hostage release and 4 day operational pause is on the cutting edge today. Hamas has in the past done what it could to sabotage releases and may well try to instigate an incident that it could blame on Israel. However, they also appear to be desperate to get some of the pressure off their forces. Early demands by Hamas was for 300+ prisoners to be released - that was dropped to around 150 and only those not convicted of murder or other acts that placed ‘blood on their hands’.
The exchange is expected to start on Thursday.
One other factor that has come out is that Hamas apparently has lost track of the hostages taken by PIJ and other affiliated terror groups along with those taken by Gazan ‘civilians’ themselves. This reportedly covers about 50 civilian hostages.
In some respects, this also allows Israel to discover and prepare to exploit any intelligence finds as they continue to penetrate into the Hamas command bunker beneath Shifa Hospital.
I expect that the IDF will resume combat operations at the end of the 4 day (or potentially longer) period in a very aggressive manner. Through the whole negotiations Israel made it clear that destruction of Hamas was the end goal.
I also expect that Iranian supported militias will continue attacks on US bases in Syria and Iraq as they are separated by distance from Israel and does not directly involve them.
The US OTOH appears to be becoming more aggressive in its airstrikes against these militias which in the long run is a good thing - strength is THE deterrent in the moslem world. Iran will be reluctant to do anything against the US in support of the militias.
Thanks. BUMP!
This sounds a lot like the "pre-crime, Thought Police" mentioned in dystopian literature and in many movies.
The fact that TSA has assigned air marshals to do this surveillance, and not their job to protect air flights, seems misguided a misapplication of Federal man power.
Also, the fact that reports are that this program has been going on for three years - on non-criminals is nothing less than intimidation of the general populace.
Furthermore, it appears to be a violation of Constitutional civil rights whereby people are presumed to be guilty, and now have to prove their innocence.
Little wonder why some people think that we are living in a 'Police State' which is managed like a 'Banana Republic'.
Though I didn’t post yesterday, I always screen my various information/intel feeds. I’ve included some key ones from yesterday and rolled into todays post.
Globalism / Great Reset –
The U.N. General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly for the organization to develop a global tax framework, despite last-minute attempts to derail the plan from wealthy countries including the United Kingdom, United States, and the entire European Union bloc.
In what advocates hailed as a “historic victory,” countries voted 125 to 48 to adopt a resolution tabled by Nigeria last month on behalf of African member states, calling for a U.N. tax convention that could drastically change how global tax rules are set.
Nine countries abstained from the vote, which was held in New York on Nov. 22.
The OECD (a group of 38 mostly high-income countries that includes the U.K. and the U.S. ) counts among its achievements the 2021 global tax deal between more than 130 countries, which included a minimum 15% corporate tax rate for multinational corporations. At the time, it was hailed by negotiators as a landmark step towards curbing corporate tax avoidance, but its implementation has been beset by delays.
OBSERVATION - Remember the motto “No taxation without representation”. This taxation scheme has been in the works for a while. What is interesting is that as with other globalist timelines, 2024 is being targeted for things to go into effect.
Economy –
Some reports that Black Friday is not generating the turnout businesses have hoped for. Last year saw a similar slow start that picked up later in the day and shopping season.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
Thursday, pro-Palestinian protestors took over the Macy parade route in New York and attempted to shut it down. Some even glued themselves to the pavement. They were joined by anti-oil activists as well.
The Seven Circles Alliance, reportedly organized the protest, and posted a video of their members being hauled off by the NYPD. They claimed that the protest was “In an urgent call to action, Seven Circles Alliance, a coalition of climate, social justice and political activists.
NYC PD quickly responded and removed the protestors. One source indicated that there were 10 arrested.
OBSERVATION - Quick response by the NYD indicates that they were ready for disruptions. No word on how the hands of the glued protestors are feeling today.
Terrorism - Level is HIGH due to increased lone wolf threats.
After initial alarms of terrorism, more data has come out to rule out the explosion of the car at the Rainbow Bridge US/Canadian border crossing being such. Investigators believe a New York man and his wife were the two people killed in a car that crashed and exploded at a US-Canada border crossing near Niagara Falls on Wednesday, law enforcement sources say, and the FBI sees no link to terrorism.
Investigators believe the man who died had plans to attend a KISS concert in Canada, but when it was canceled he went to a casino in the US instead. The crash occurred sometime after the couple left the casino, the sources said.
NOTE - this places the vehicle on the way BACK to Canada.
The car was clearly seen on CCTV traveling around 80-100 mph, hitting a curb while apparently going around the Customs gate, flying thru the air until impacting near a secondary inspection area. Still some discussion over just why the vehicle exploded in such a manner upon impact.
***
Palestinian protesters have targeted the home of a Jewish organization president in Brentwood, California during Thanksgiving. Masked activists threw smoke grenades at the Jewish man’s house, poured fake blood and placed fake baby body bags on his driveway and lawn.
The activists are from the ‘Peoples City Council’ activism group and tweeted that they were giving the Jewish organization president a ‘holiday wake up call.’
OBSERVATION - Growing trend of violence being directed towards jewish individuals and organizations.
Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –
On Nov. 21, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, began joint maritime and aerial patrols in the South China Sea.
The joint patrols aim to “enhance regional security and foster a seamless partnership with the United States in safeguarding our shared interests,” Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said.
OBSERVATION - Key question is will US vessels enter strongly disputed islands like the ones China is attempting to blockade Philippines naval supply vessels from.
Wuhan and other “new” Plandemics – HEIGHTENED ALERT STATUS
Scientists have raised concern over a mysterious “pneumonia like” illness that has left hospitals in China “overwhelmed with sick children”.
An alert was issued through ProMed – a large surveillance database which monitors disease outbreaks– warning of an epidemic of “undiagnosed pneumonia” in children.
Taiwanese news website FTV News said that children were presenting to hospitals in Beijing and Liaoning – 500 miles northeast – with symptoms including a high fever and inflammation of the lungs, but no cough.
A Beijing citizen told the outlet: “Many, many (children) are hospitalised. They don’t cough and have no symptoms. They just have a high temperature and many develop pulmonary nodules.”
He added: “Now you are not allowed to report to school. If you have any symptoms such as fever, cold, cough and then you are hospitalised, you can ask for leave.”
Local media reported that the lobby of Dalian Children’s Hospital in Liaoning province was also “full of sick children” receiving intravenous drips.
A staff member of the hospital said: “Patients have to wait in line for 2 hours, and we are all in the emergency department and there are no general outpatient clinics.”
The Covid-19 outbreak was initially flagged up to global scientists in late December 2019 via a ProMed alert in late December, which had similarly warned of a respiratory illness sweeping through the city of Wuhan.
An editor’s note posted by ProMed on Wednesday said that the FTV News report suggested a “widespread outbreak of an undiagnosed respiratory illness”.
OBSERVATION - This looks like a real thing. Let me remind you all that it was also ProMed in December of 2019 that first alerted the world to a virus outbreak in China that would later be called COVID. Key concern - wuhan was basically a non-player with children, in the vast, vast majority of the cases being as strong a a normal cold or flu. This bug seems to be trying to change that - targeting children.
This is so recent that other medical organizations have little to go on, so it isn’t a given that drugs like Ivermectin would be helpful. If this does explode in a pandemic manner, fully expect the wuhan protocols to be forced upon us once again.
Biden / Harris Watch –
For the first time ever, biden’s presidential proclamation for Thanksgiving makes absolutely no mention of God.
China –
On Nov. 21, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, began joint maritime and aerial patrols in the South China Sea.
The joint patrols aim to “enhance regional security and foster a seamless partnership with the United States in safeguarding our shared interests,” Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said.
The joint patrols are to be conducted on the sea and in the air in the West Philippine Sea, an area of the South China Sea that includes the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. However, China claims the area as its own, with recent maps showing a 10-dash line covering the entire South China Sea, as well as Taiwan. Aside from constructing artificial islands with military installations on them, Beijing has also repeatedly harassed Philippine fishermen and swarmed the area with its maritime militia. Within the last year, several provocative incidents have occurred between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea.
North/South Korea –
North Korea said it would send stronger armed forces and new weapons at its border with South Korea, state media reported, after Seoul suspended part of a 2018 military agreement between the two Koreas in protest of Pyongyang’s launch of a spy satellite.
In a statement carried by the KCNA news agency, North Korea’s defense ministry said it would restore all military measures it had halted under the deal aimed at de-escalating tension between the two Koreas.
The suspended North-South pact, known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement, was signed at a 2018 summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/north-korea/2023/11/22/id/1143329/
OBSERVATION - NK has released a photo of Guam that they say their satellite captured. The image showed the whole island, making it hard from a general sense to know what level of resolution the system has. Even modern, commercial satellites have developed pretty good resolution, so it would be safe to say that it has at least that level.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Nov 12, 2023
Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Attacks to take Adviivka, located near occupied Donetsk has been their priority as well as further north. However, it is on a defensive footing across most of Ukraine.
The Russian army has lost a considerable amount of armor/tanks and personnel in the fight to take Adviivka, causing that offensive to stall considerably and resort to “meat” attacks.
With the arrival of the muddy season, significant offensive actions by Russia are unlikely.
Ukrainian action has forced Russia to move forces laterally to meet the Ukraine advance - thinning critical portions of the line and making them vulnerable to assault.
Russia’s strategic ballistic and cruise missiles continue to show evidence of massively reduced inventories. With the onset of winter, it is believed that Russian is shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones for an effort to take down the Ukraine power grid as it did last year. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. Ukraine’s recent attacks on ships in Crimean harbors has forced the majority of the fleet to redeploying out of Crimea and to Russian bases, about 600 Km further away from the front lines.
Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.
Economic Impact –
Russia is having maintenance on passenger jets done in Iran and Russia, undocumented, without proper parts, without tracking, and without quality control. This is due principally to sanctions prohibiting authorized parts and services for Russia airliners.
This means that aircraft will lose certification to fly to MANY countries. so even after sanctions are lifted some day there is no way to get the aircraft ready to fly to the EU, US, or any other modern country with modern aircraft regulations. The situation is allegedly so that that some claim it would have to probably buy a entire new fleet.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temps in the 20 -40 degree range with rain and/or snow across the forecast period.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Ukraine launched one of the biggest drone attacks on the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula since the full-scale war that started with Russia’s invasion 21 months ago, Russian officials said Friday.
Avdiivka -
Ukraine estimates that as of a couple of weeks ago, Russia had assembled a force of 40,000 mostly reserves/call-ups for the fight to take Avdiivka. Fighting here has been the main source of Russian causalities being reported, with upwards of 1000/day being casualties. Do the math, that 40K force may well have been attritted down to 30k in the course of that two weeks - 25%. With the mud limiting armor/tanks, most of the current attacks are dismounted with little to no armor support - making them vulnerable to Ukraine artillery.
This recent wave of attacks on Avdiivka began on Oct. 10, using heavy bombardments and reportedly taking heavy losses.
Kherson Axis -
Ukrainian artillery hit and destroyed armored vehicles and assault groups of Russian forces south of Krynky as Ukraine forces continue to expand their beachhead.
Russian Territory –
Ukraine drone suspected of hitting a power substation near Moscow causing a large power outage
Outlook —-
While some of the action may appear to be spectacular, gains by both sides have been marginal. Muddy conditions are getting real bad, real fast. Russia is gambling that they can get away with shifting a lot of resources and manpower to the Adviivka region without Ukraine sensing weaknesses in Russian defenses elsewhere - being bogged down by the mud as well.
Much of the fighting over the next couple months will be focused on establishing tactical terrain advantage from which to kick off winter offensives on frozen ground, when cross country mobility is generally available again until spring.
Soon the deeper, war of attrition and civilian power grids will take higher priority.
Europe / NATO General –
Patience with the mobs of immigrants arriving from N Africa and the middle east has exploded in another European country - this time Ireland. Violent riots broke out after an N African migrant stabbed 5 at a school in Dublin. Within hours a massive crowd was rioting. Irish rioters set the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Dublin on fire. The government is using the hotel to house asylum seekers.
Irish police officials are blaming soccer hooligans “driven by far-right ideology” for the anti-migrant outburst. Supporters are demanding the Irish government curb their migration plan, which still aims to take in refugees and asylum seekers from the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.
OBSERVATION - Early prediction, given the strong anti-migrant sentiments that have been growing the past couple months in Europe, I expect that civil disturbances will be on the increase, with locals turning on these migrants and govts forced to either follow the will of the people and begin mass deportations or fight against its citizens.
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IN RELATED - The nationalist party PVV has just become the largest party in the Netherlands with 37 seats! Geert Wilders riding an anti-immigrant, anti-
WEF agenda is poised to become the new PM. In addition to the move to begin mass deportations, the attack on dutch farmers looks to be abated.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- Operational ‘pause’ sets in after a day delay.
- Hostages selected for release at 4 PM Israel time.
- Some gun battles persisted past the deadline, but so far is holding
- Rocket attack alert shortly after the deadline was a false alert.
GENERAL ——————————-
Israeli media reports that the release of the children will be delayed 24 hours because the agreement was not signed yet by Hamas and Qatar.
Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear on Wednesday that the ‘pause’ applies only to Gaza. Hamas leadership elsewhere, Netanyahu declared, are fair game at any time, and he has ordered the Mossad to go after the two Hamas leaders living high on the hog elsewhere.
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Western media mocked Israel when it said there are tunnels under Shifa hospital. Today they are eating crow as news crews were granted initial visits to the extensive bunker complex - and there are portions still being investigated and cleared.
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IDF found personal items in the Shifa Hospital bunker complex that are linked to the hostages.
GAZA FRONT ———————————-
An operational ‘pause’ in the fighting in Gaza took effect at 0700 local this morning. So far it has held. Netanyahu reiterates that once the hostages have been exchanged, the war will continue.
First group of hostages to be released at 4 PM Israel time.
In total, Israel will receive 50 female and children hostages held by Hamas. In exchange, Hamas is requiring that Israel releases 150 prisoners.
The majority of the prisoners being held by Israel are between 17 and 18-years-old. Many of these prisoners are being held in Israel on attempted murder charges.
IRC reports that Hamas refuses to allow representatives to physically visit the hostages as the agreement dictates. Officials told that the IRC would be told what their ‘condigtion’ is by Hamas representatives.
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Israel arrested the director of Shifa hospital. He stands accused of aid and abetting Hamas in using the hospital for terrorism.
LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Thursday, Hezbollah claims responsibility for firing 48 rockets at an Israeli army base near Safed. IDF reports that six were intercepted. It is estimated that this is the heaviest barrage from Lebanon since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.
Hezbollah has claimed 22 attacks against Israeli targets along the Lebanon-Israel border today.
Combat with Hezbollah is not covered under the Hamas Gaza ‘pause’.
SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
IAF airstrikes on probable Hezbollah/Iranian targets.
WEST BANK——————————-
IDF/police continue to seek out and arrest Hamas and affiliated terrorists. Action is not affected by the Hamas ‘pause’
Israeli Security forces storm the town of Kafr Qalil, south of Nablus.
Israeli army thwarted weapons smuggling near the Jordanian border. Arms smuggling has been a significant reason for the terrorist-led uprising in the West Bank over the last two and a half years
“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
Islamic Resistance in Iraq: We targeted the U.S. base in the Al-Omar oil field in Syria in response to the enemy’s crimes in Gaza
INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) shot down multiple one-way attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, U.S. Central Command announced on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday night.
This is the second time Thomas Hudner shot down drones launched from Yemen in two weeks. The guided-missile destroyer also shot down a drone in the Red Sea on Nov. 15, USNI News previously reported.
Thomas Hudner shot down the drone while on patrol in the Red Sea. No injuries or damage were reported. CENTCOM did not provide additional details.
Hudner is part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, but is operating separately from the strike group.
FORECAST ————————-
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) - A lot will depend on if Hamas can maintain their cease fire and promptly deliver the hostages. There is a clause of an exchange of an additional day of ‘pause’ for each 10 hostages released. I doubt Hamas will take up that part of the agreement - except to try to leverage more ‘pause’ without turning over more hostages. Netanyahu has made it clear, the fight is back on once the exchange is finished - and that would include ALL surviving hostages.
The fallout to world media nay sayers in regards to the Shifa and other bunkers grows, but those media sources are putting their best face forward. Some reports Netanyahu is looking at some sort of punitive actions against some for their false reporting.
False reporting source now appears to the Head of the Shifa hospital, who is in Israel custody. International groups that worked with him at Shifa are also under the crosshairs for conspiracy and abetting Hamas actions at Shifa as well as other sites.
Hezbollah increased its attacks on Israel and the momentum suggests that further escalation is possible.
While the ‘pause’ gives Hamas a chance to regroup and re-arm, it also gives Israel time to better process the intelligence it has collected form the captured command bunkers so far as well as to resupply and reposition its forces for resumption of operations.
There is also little doubt that Mossad is tapping into its array of sources to track where the hostages are coming from in Gaza to better focus IDF operations as necessary.
Syria -
IAF launched airstrikes in Damascus area overnight.