Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024
Canada is moving to link bank accounts to a new social awareness/status database, a step towards digital currency and control over what one spends money on.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
Progressive and socialist activists have started a Seattle Police complaint campaign that amounts to little more than harassment. They’re taking advantage of the anti-cop leader of the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) who vowed to investigate officers who commit traffic violations, even while responding to emergencies.
https://mynorthwest.com/3954882/rantz-activists-seattle-police-complaint-campaign-harass-cops/
OBSERVATION - Now using bogus ‘traffic violation’ claims to further harass police. All part of the extremist Antifa elements to tie the hands of police and allow them unfettered actions across the Seattle metro area.
***
MSNBC host Keith Olbermann has sparked fury after saying there’s ‘always the hope’ Donald Trump will be assassinated.
The ex-SportsCenter host, 65, was reacting to a video posted by a Biden-Harris campaign account where Trump spoke about how he was like former President Abraham Lincoln at an Ohio rally Saturday.
OBSERVATION - These liberal mouthpieces continue to encourage followers to endorse the assassination of Trump - conditioning the minds and wills of the extremists.
I really don’t think he realizes the holy hell that will break out if a leftist attempts to assassinate Trump (or any other important conservative, like Justice Thomas).
Terrorism -
Ramadan begins March 11th.
This warning UPDATED as of March 18, 2024
ELEVATED RISK - Potential military action against Iranian assets for the attack that killed US forces in Jordan could result in Iranian terror groups here in the US to activate and conduct terror ops here. These attacks can range from infrastructure destruction (water, power, communications, etc) to mass casualty events or attacks on political candidates - heavily leaning against current administration but also Trump as well. So far the govt hasn’t come out with any warnings but the risk has increased significantly the last 24 hours, based on common sense and stated goals of the Islamist movement/Iran.
RELATED - Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) maintaining travel warning for Ramadan, warning of the possibility of attacks on Israeli and Western targets around the world.
***
German police arrested 2 Islamists suspected of preparing a terrorist attack against the Swedish parliament
Economy-
Lawrence Summers, Treasury Secretary under Clinton and economic advisor to Obama, is likely getting himself into trouble once again with the Left.
He essentially is saying what consumers have been saying for the past several year - the numbers put out by the govt are lying to you.
Summers explains why: the way the numbers have been calculated has changed so much since the 1970s and 80s that they don’t capture the true misery that people are feeling anymore.
The difference? Rises in interest rates, which increase the cost of purchasing goods, if not the goods themselves, are no longer measured as part of inflation.
OBSERVATION - See link for greater details and discussion. The govt began to fudge the numbers all the way back in the clinton era and that move has accelerated over the more recent years. If anyone should know about the start of the number fudging, it should be Summers.
That is why pundits are mystified that the sheep don’t embrace bidenomics - because it is based on cherry picked numbers to make it look all shiny. This is also why I question some economists who ‘forecast’ happy days when standards of economic health used in the “Before Years” are ignored.
POLITICAL FRONT –
March 22, second funding deadline
July 15 RNC convention in Milwaukee, WI
August 19 DNC convention in Chicago, IL
***
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has instructed Special Counsel Jack Smith to hand over ALL classified materials to a jury for scrutiny or risk a Trump acquittal by refusing to do so.
OBSERVATION - Smith has strenuously fought against the jury seeing the alleged documents, likely because he believes they will be sufficient to vindicate Trump.
Illegal Immigration –
TX’s ability to enforce SB4 whiplashed back and forth overnight. Following an indefinite stay of the law, the USSC ruled 6-3 that TX can continue to enforce the law. That lasted a few hours until a three-judge panel at the Fifth Circuit voted to freeze the ruling as it hears the appeal.
Where this bouncing ball ends up is anyone’s guess. Some think the 6-3 vote indicates the court is inclined in favor of the law when it finally reached the court formally.
The Mexican foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday: “Mexico categorically rejects any measure that allows state or local authorities to exercise immigration control, and to arrest and return nationals or foreigners to Mexican territory.”
OBSERVATION - This puts things back to a fall back - TX can still arrest Illegals for trespassing - just not with the full force SB4 gives them.
North/South Korea –
There are some concerns that Kim’ s dangerous sister is threatening a chemical or biological attack on the South in her latest rantings.
Kim Yo Jong is now raising the threat level in revenge for North Korean defectors launching balloons that are wafting propaganda over the North. That’s how, she says, COVID-19 got into North Korea after the North had been denying a single case since closing its borders entirely in early 2020 after the pandemic was first reported in Wuhan, China.
“Our countermeasure must be a deadly retaliatory one,” she warned in a speech carried live on North Korean TV. “If the enemy persists in such dangerous deeds as fomenting the inroads of virus into our republic,” according to the English-language translation put out by Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency, “we will respond to it by not only exterminating the virus but also wiping out the South Korean authorities.”
In the Korean-language version, as translated by NK News, a website in Seoul, she resorted to foul language that’s still more intimidating. “If the enemies continue to conduct dangerous s***that might bring virus into DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea], we will answer that by exterminating not only those viruses but also South Korean authorities, those little b*****s,” NK News quotes her as saying. Worse still, “We are already reviewing various response measures. It has to be a very strong, retaliatory response.”
Kim Jong Un is no more likely to wage biological or chemical warfare against the South anymore than he’s going to order a nuclear strike. The North hasn’t staged an underground nuclear test since September 2017, and Kim evidently has delayed a seventh test. While waiting for whatever he might do next, however, one can’t ignore his sister’s words against what we know about the North’s biological and chemical programs.
OBSERVATION - She is one SCARY woman. Glacial ice cold blooded nut job who’d start a new war at the drop of a hat. So far Kim Jong Un has kept her reigned in, but one has to remember, she gets her que’s from her brother.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the third year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Feb 21, 2024.
Russia has taken advantage of Ukrainian ammo shortages, forcing them into primary defensive operations, and has seized the initiative following the fall of Avdiivka. Russia has reportedly concentrated 40,000 troops to sustain this offensive. The attacks associated with this offensive do not appear to be supportive of each other in a manner but are scattered along the front, concentrating on five axises of attack -
- Avdiivka,
- Maryinka,
- Robotyne,
- Kremenka and
- Bakhmut.
Russia has been able to gradually enlarge the number of soldiers in the theatre to the 400,000 range. Training and equipping of these forces is still rated very poor. Russia has drawn heavily upon ‘volunteers’ from penal colonies for their “Z” shock troops- the primary element of their meat attack (human wave) assaults against Ukraine defenses. It has been documented that ‘enforcement’ squads follow behind these ‘shock troops’ with orders to shoot any who attempt to retreat.
With the exception of Avdiivka, initial Russia attacks along the other axises have had poor results and exceptionally heavy losses. Russia continues to suffer heavy tank and APC losses. Old, cold war era tanks and APCs are becoming more and more common sights in battle fields. (formerly) Elite units like the Russian marines are routinely seen with T54/55 series tanks instead of the T72/80/90 series they were commonly equipped with. In some cases, over 70% of these newer tanks have been destroyed or captured by Ukraine.
In these other attacks, Russia continues to make poor use of fire and maneuver, preferring tank/armor ‘charges’ across open areas and down roads. This brings them into prepared kill zones where these forces are stopped and destroyed. However, as seen in Avdiivka, when Ukraine lacks the artillery, Russian forces are able to penetrate in mass and overwhelm the fewer Ukrainian defenders.
Russian organization and capabilities make it unlikely that they will be able to quickly take advantage of penetrations into Ukrainian defenses. Poor training and lack of leadership at all levels, combined with poor logistic trains, will prevent any major breakouts beyond initial penetration of lines.
Shortages of Ukraine artillery ammo has permitted Russia to regain some degree of local superiority on the battlefield. Some estimates give Russia a 3:1 advantage. This is down substantially from the start of the war where it had a 10:1 advantage. Russia is relying heavily on N Korean artillery rounds and Iranian drone/missiles.
Russian appears to be continuing to shepherd its stockpile of missiles/drones for a potential effort to take down the Ukraine power grid as they did winter 2022./23 This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage. Ammo shortages are starting to impact Ukraine ADA defenses as well.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. In the latest, large missile / drone attack, the Black Sea fleet was noticeably out of action. Ukraine continues to engage and destroy Russian naval vessels..
While the Russia air force has taken significant losses at the hands of Ukraine, early in this winter/spring offensive, Russian has more aggressively conducted CAS in support of ground troops, reflecting ADA shortages. As a result, Russia has been able to locally seize air superiority at key locations along the front - the first time in two years of fighting. This has been at a cost, with 7 Su-34/35 aircraft being lost in the last part of February alone.
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. putin is struggling to place his economy on wartime footing to accomplish this goal.
Unknowns at this time are how soon ammo supples will start hitting Ukrainian units. Long range ATACMS and German Taurus cruise missiles may be coming on line soon for Ukraine as well as F-16s (now reportedly due in late spring/early summer).
*****
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s election victory speech and Q&A with the press was full of familiar themes, but he used the occasion after capturing a record 87% of the vote to warn the US and Europe that a “full-scale World War III” is “possible” should any Western troops enter Ukraine.
***
Chief of Russian Foreign Intelligence service Naryshkin claims France is preparing 2000 soldiers as the first stage to deploy in Ukraine, claims many French were killed in Ukraine. Says French troops will be priority target for Russian stirkes
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures in the 30-50 range. Slight chance of snow/rain showers in extended forecast.
RUMINT –
A lot of talk about France moving combat troops into Ukraine. France would not be alone in the action as other NATO nations have been rumbling about the same.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Russia made gains in the Avdiivka sector. The “Legion” forces, though details are sketchy, apparently are having some degree of success in their push towards Belgorod.
Russian Territory –
Russia just announced 9000 ppl will be evacuated from Belgorod due to daily Ukrainian strikes.
In Engels, Russia, explosions rang out at night after the city was attacked by drones. A strategic aviation base is located in Engels, where Tu-160 and Tu-95MS bombers are located, which are used in mass missile attacks on Ukraine. Russian Ministry of defense claimed 4 drones were shot down in Saratov region.
Starting March 20, entry into the territory of Kozinka, Glotovo, Gora-Podol, Grayvoronovo, Novostroevka 1st and 2nd, Bezymeno will be limited, and roadblocks will be set up - Governor of the Belgorod Region Gladkov
Partial blackout in Kursk as a power substation was damaged
Russian air defense shot down 11 aerial objects over Belgorod region, - local authorities, S-200 missile over Kursk region
Outlook —
Fighting on the Avdiivka front will continue to be intense as it appears that Russia is trying to reinforce the successes of recent days.
“Legion” forces continue to create disruptions in the Belgorod region.
Ukraine has paused its deep attacks on Russian oil production/refinement. May be evaluating other targets as Russia tries to shuffle ADA assets to provide more protection.
I’m looking at how valid the claims of French forces moving into Ukraine are. This could be a dangerous event that would definitely expand the war into most of eastern Europe and involve NATO forces. Putin for his part hasn’t lessened the concerns of NATO nations with his latest pronouncements on how he is planning to carve up Ukraine after a Russian ‘victory’ and how his military ambitions are likely to continue westward.
ISRAEL –
Now the war is in its 5th month.
Dates to remember -
Ramadan March 11 - April 8
Key overnight developments -
- Operations in and around Shifa Hospital continue
——— GENERAL ——————————-
Lest we forget - there are still 105 being held hostage in Gaza.
***
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Ongoing search and destroy operations throughout Gaza.
IDF, Shin Bet killed 90 terrorists in Shifa Hospital area.
Israeli security forces have so far detained about 350 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists during the operation at Shifa Hospital, most of whom surrendered.
The IDF is using an entire corridor in the hospital to hold the terrorists, which is serving as a temporary detention facility for the military intelligence and Shin Bet for interrogating terrorists, to obtain intelligence from them as quickly as possible.
An IDF source told Army Radio that “we are sitting on a gold mine.”
Among the detainees were medium level Hamas commanders, including the Gaza Brigade Commander Izz a-Din al-Haddad.
One of the detainees, an Islamic Jihad terrorist, recently fired rockets at the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip. During his interrogation, he said, “We left Shifa – we fired at Sderot – and returned to Shifa, because we understood it was a safe area.”
Also, during the activity at the hospital, the forces seized Hamas military archives and binders stolen by Hamas from the Erez crossing on October 7, including sensitive COGAT unit information.
The IDF assesses that Hamas may have tried in recent months to re-excavate and rehabilitate the underground tunnel system under Shifa, but that the system, which was already destroyed during the war, does not enable terrorists to stay or escape.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/387048
***
In Gaza, it is reported that Mohammed Salah al-Darawish, the deputy president of Hxmas’s Supreme Court, has been eliminated.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Rockets were fired towards the Israeli Al-Samaqa site in the Kafr Shuba hills in southern Lebanon
———WEST BANK——————————-
Clashes broke out between youths and security forces in the Jabal Al-Tawil area in the city of Al-Bireh
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
Houthis, claim to have broken thru Israel’s missile defense shield. IDF has confirmed a cruise missile penetrated on Sunday night. It landed north of Eilat in an unoccupied area. Israeli ADA response standards don’t waste missiles on targets that are impacting on empty ground.
———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
Canada will stop sending arms to Israel, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says: Toronto Star.
——— FORECAST ————————-
Israel continues to isolate and eliminate remaining Hamas et al cells throughout Gaza.
The Shifa Hospital operation was a surprise to many - especially Hamas. It permitted Israel to corral a considerable number of terrorists in one fell swoop. But it also shows the tenacity of some Hamas fighters to regroup in areas previously cleared and why operations continue in Northern and central Gaza. The intelligence related materials captured are a gold mine and may assist in accelerating the destruction of remaining Hamas stronghold/hideouts.
US is continuing to pressure Israel not to enter Rafah, or if they do then they need to do it the way Washington wants them to. This is a very tone deaf non-starter.
Black Swans -
Ron Paul and Gen Flynn have recently warned about an impending Black Swan event(s) in this year. In social media, followers of these two claim that they’ve been fully accurate with their predictions in the past. I’ve put little into their past statements, finding little support from other sources.
However, by its definition a Black Swan is something that is unthinkable which occurs and their warning is causing me to monitor their claims much more closely. Who would have thought that our govt and medical professional community would lie to the extent they did during the wuhan plandemic. Who would have thought our law enforcement would so blatantly violate the law and behave like the Stazi. And there are many other ‘unthinkable’ things going on out there.
So, I’m looking closer at their so far generic claims. Yes, if you’ve followed my meanderings you’d note that many of the potential threats to our country and freedom are rooted in potential false flag (black swan) operations or the implosion of our society in general from the deliberate open borders, caustic economic policies, forced climate change standards, identifying half of America as ‘domestic terrorists’ , etc. So even before I listened to their warnings, I was pretty set on something bad happening - because I’ve searched and assessed other sources, conditions and trends.
There are many things that could be triggered for a Black Swan against us. And as the election approaches and it becomes evident that Trump will take down biden, the leftist may pull the trigger on one or more Black Swan style events in order to stay in power. Pretty pessimistic outlook, but IMHO one grounded in reality outside of normalcy bias.
Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024
Reports coming out that Oregon is in the process of shutting down small farms throughout the state.
There are two different laws that Oregon officials are using to conduct these shutdowns. One involves the state of Oregon’s broadly vague definition of a CAFO, which reads, in part, as follows:
“The State of Oregon defines CAFOs as the concentrated feeding or holding of animals or poultry, including but not limited to horse, cattle, sheep, or swine feeding areas, dairy confinement areas, and poultry and egg production facilities where the surface has been prepared with concrete, rock or fibrous material to support animals in wet weather.”
Based on this definition, a few-acre homestead with pasture and, say, two milking cows and some chickens qualifies as a CAFO if it has any area on the property where rock or gravel is used as a pathway to get to a small barn or coop. As such, they are mandated to comply with volumes of regulations and reporting, or face shutdown.
Another thing Oregon farmers are having to deal with is the state’s rules on water. The only water that farmers are legally allowed to collect in Oregon is rainwater. Everything else, including water from rivers and streams, and even groundwater on private property, is considered a public resource.
Because of this rule, Oregon farmers are not even allowed to use water from their own private wells to irrigate their crops and hydrate their animals without a permit. Coupled with the CAFO rule, this one concerning water use is being abused in such a way as to make it prohibitive, if not impossible, for farmers to run their farms.
“It has slowly rolled out to the point where market gardeners on a half-acre of land are now receiving cease-and-desist orders saying, ‘you can’t water your gardens; figure out another way.’”
https://foodfreedom.news/2024-03-20-oregon-suddenly-starts-shutting-down-small-farms.html
OBSERVATION - Remember, the WEF acolytes recently pronounced family gardening to be a major source of global warming gasses - yep - all in order to strip any degree of self reliance for food from the menu. Big farm are challenging the law, but the communistic Oregon govt wonks don’t care.
***
biden’s EPA has doubled down on the failing EV mandate, by releasing what it calls the “strongest-ever pollution standards for cars,” which it claims will “expand consumer choice in clean vehicles.”
The EPA expects plug-in electric vehicles to make up between 62% and 70% of the automotive market. But this unrealistic target ignores two key facts:
First, consumers are not lining up to purchase electric vehicles, which made up only 7.6% of 2023 vehicle sales despite heavy subsidies.
American drivers simply aren’t embracing EVs because they know these vehicles have shorter driving ranges and longer refueling times. Not to mention that they’re significantly more expensive.
The five-year cost to own an average electric vehicle is more than $92,000, according to the North American Auto Dealers Association.
https://nypost.com/2024/03/20/opinion/bidens-war-on-gas-cars-will-cost-americans-a-fortune/
OBSERVATION - The globalists have to reign in the auto industry and keep it under their thumb - because automobile ownership equals freedom of movement for the masses. It also has to force the 15-minute city concept, so if you can’t drive far in your EV before recharging (and the charging stations are few and far between) you will be contained in a tighter geographic region. And this isn’t even accounting for the drastically increased electrical demand to charge all those vehicles.
***
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its “State of the Global Climate 2023” report on March 19, 2024, confirming 2023 as the warmest year on record. The report is published ahead of the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial on March 21 and 22, where climate leaders and ministers from around the world will gather to push for accelerated climate action.
OBSERVATION - Components of this report are highly controversial, but that doesn’t stop the broad proclamation that mankind is heating up the planet. As stated, it will be used as a club to force more of the climate change agenda on reluctant countries and sectors.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
Chaos broke out at the University of Memphis after BLM protesters chased down TPUSA people who were leaving the Kyle Rittenhouse event. Police had to prevent the hostile crowd from physically attacking them.
The angry BLM crowd then tried to prevent TPUSA from leaving the parking garage at the University of Memphis. Campus and state police had to push the crowd back to allow the cars to leave.
OBSERVATION - This harkens back to the BLM/Antifa days. This should serve as a wake-up and warning call to those attending republican/conservative rallies this year. They are bringing back out the physical terror / threats playbook. Remember in those previous riots, they would also seek out and isolate small groups/individuals as they returned to their cars at near by parking - where they were assaulted.
U of Memphis is also complicit in the violence, changing rules and ticketing at the last minute in favor of the rioters. Expect more as the summer progresses.
***
(FO) The Workers World Party, a U.S.-based Marxist-Leninist political party, is proposing this year’s International Workers Day to center on action in solidarity with Palestine and be referred to as “Workers for Palestinian Resistance Day.”
A recent communique called on “the most radical and advanced sections of the movement” to “take the lead in the [Palestinian] struggle” and “bring about a political turning point.”
Terrorism -
Ramadan begins March 11th.
This warning UPDATED as of March 18, 2024
ELEVATED RISK - Potential military action against Iranian assets for the attack that killed US forces in Jordan could result in Iranian terror groups here in the US to activate and conduct terror ops here. These attacks can range from infrastructure destruction (water, power, communications, etc) to mass casualty events or attacks on political candidates - heavily leaning against current administration but also Trump as well. So far the govt hasn’t come out with any warnings but the risk has increased significantly the last 24 hours, based on common sense and stated goals of the Islamist movement/Iran.
Economy-
The Fed has held rates and not cut leaving interest rates unchanged. Still looks at three cuts later this year. Fed policymakers also updated their economic forecasts, sharply upgrading the US growth outlook for this year to 2.1 per cent, from 1.4 per cent in December.
“Inflation is still too high,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell told a news conference.
But despite the recent uptick, Powell said this year’s inflation data “haven’t really changed the overall story, which is that of inflation moving down gradually on a sometimes bumpy road toward two per cent”. But now, it predicts a 2024 median inflation rate of 2.6%.
OBSERVATION - The announcement made the stock market happy. My concern is how much politics is playing into all the Fed happy talk? There are a lot of boat anchors dragging on the economy and there is some thought that any growth will be due to excessive govt spending - skewing the economy - but not in sectors that effect the common person.
***
See “Globalism / Great Reset” above on how EPA is going to destroy the auto industry.
Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –
Naval Special Warfare Command commander Rear Adm. Keith Davids relived the commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group Eight Wednesday, citing a loss of confidence.
The Special Warfare Command release does not indicate where Capt. Richard Zaszewski, who took on the command in August 2021, according to his releasable biography, will go. Deputy Commodore Capt. Stig Sanness assumed the commodore duties.
“There is no impact to NSWG-8’s mission readiness,” reads the release.
There are no additional details about what led to the loss of confidence in Zaszewski’s ability to command.
Over his career, Zaszewski has been awarded a Silver Star, three Bronze Stars and a Legion of Merit, among other commendations.
https://news.usni.org/2024/03/20/navy-removes-special-warfare-group-8-commodore-from-command
OBSERVATION - Another ‘purge’ of a probable conservative commander? Special Ops have a history of being very pro-American and anti - progressive. They are commonly listed high on the regime’s list of potential/probable “domestic terrorists”. This commander probably didn’t jump high enough for the military’s LGBT and CRT agenda for the higher ups to tolerate.
***
The U.S. Air Force announced yesterday that it had tested an air-launched hypersonic missile south of Guam on Sunday as part of weapons familiarization training.
Wuhan and other “new” Plandemics –
Not aggressively reporting here, but peer reviewed scientific studies and associated papers keep coming out pointing to the dangers of the wuhan jab and in some instances indicating it should have never been administered to humans to begin with.
POLITICAL FRONT –
March 22, second funding deadline
July 15 RNC convention in Milwaukee, WI
August 19 DNC convention in Chicago, IL
***
With all the focus on presidential polling, attention is being shifted towards the congressional races.
Rasmussen Reports released their most recent generic Congressional preference numbers:
“With less than eight months to go before election day, Republicans have a six-point lead in their battle to maintain their narrow House majority.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that if the elections for Congress were held today, 47% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican candidate, while 41% would vote for the Democrat. Just four percent (4%) would vote for some other candidate, but another eight percent (8%) are not sure.”
The GOP’s advantage has narrowed slightly since January, when they led by nine points – 49% to 40% – over Democrats.
OBSERVATION - Control of congress will be critical. If biden steals the WH again and democrats take control of both houses, the flood of anti-american laws would be unstoppable. For this reason, even Elon Musk note that there has to be a red surge or America is toast. These early numbers are not a guarantee for Republican success but show that they are going to have to roll up their sleeves and get in there and fight.
***
Following the Friday decision by Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee regarding motions to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis and her lead prosecutor (and former love interest) from the case involving former President Donald Trump and multiple other defendants over purported interference in the 2020 election, Trump and his co-defendants filed a motion seeking to have the judge’s order certified so that they could appeal it immediately.
McAfee ruled that Willis could remain on the case but that in order to do so, she must fire Nathan Wade.
The defendants then moved for certification of McAfee’s order to allow for an interlocutory appeal. (Normally, appeals may only be taken after the trial of the case is completed. However, in certain instances, a judge’s ruling may be certified/deemed appealable so that the issue can be addressed on appeal before the case proceeds.)
On Wednesday, McAfee issued a “certificate of immediate review,” thus greenlighting the immediate appeal of his order.
OBSERVATION - Some noted early on that the ‘either / or’ nature of McAfee’s order was double edged. McAfee politically was tied very, very closely to Willis and likely feared that the clear ruling kicking both off the case and recommending criminal charges would be a career ender.
So thru his ruling and this follow-up his is in effect setting up conditions for a higher court to do his dirty work and covering his rear end. I think the depth of the charges and clear perjury by Willis will make it hard for the GA court of appeals to ignore the Trump appeal.
Biden / Harris Watch –
biden conducted a radio interview with a black radio host out of Milwaukee, Michelle Bryant, about a week ago and the audio of one of his comments on the show has now come out.
“For example, how many Black communities are in a situation where they come from a circumstance where they’re in difficult, where they have difficulty? Where the families are in real trouble? Where you have people who...even those families that are really poor don’t have any books in the house. Kids don’t hear a lot of conversation.”
What does he think goes on in a black home?
Cyber attacks/warfare – HEIGHTENED ALERT
The Biden administration is warning states to be on guard for cyberattacks against water systems, citing ongoing threats from hackers linked to the governments of Iran and China.
“Disabling cyberattacks are striking water and wastewater systems throughout the United States,” Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan wrote in a letter to governors made public Tuesday. “These attacks have the potential to disrupt the critical lifeline of clean and safe drinking water, as well as impose significant costs on affected communities.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-warns-cyberattacks-against-water-181349931.html
OBSERVATION - These attacks would have a short duration if responded to properly - which in the case of major metro areas would be a challenge. The hackers could adjust flow rates, change chemical additive rates, shut things down altogether. Here in my corner of the Redoubt, things are not very complex and the whole computer network can go down, with crews manually adjusting treatment. Metro areas may not have enough qualified individuals to assign to plants. In many instances, boil orders would be issued until the attack is turned or manual operations take control.
Similar relative short term effects if the cyber attack hits the electrical or natural gas systems. The electrical attack has the potential for being the most severe and longest lasting if the hacks manage to destroy some of the expensive and one of a kind mega transformers that support the grid. It would be unpleasant for a few days, but not world ending.
Illegal Immigration –
200K migrant deportation cases tossed because Biden administration didn’t file paperwork
OBSERVATION - This is not inept work - it was deliberate.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the third year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Mar 21, 2024.
Russia has taken advantage of Ukrainian ammo shortages, forcing them into primary defensive operations, and has seized the initiative following the fall of Avdiivka. Russia has reportedly concentrated 40,000 troops to sustain this offensive. The attacks are scattered along the front, concentrating on five axises of attack -
- Avdiivka,
- Maryinka,
- Robotyne,
- Kremenka and
- Bakhmut.
Russia has been able to gradually enlarge the number of soldiers in the theatre to the 400,000 range. Training and equipping of these forces is still rated very poor. Russia has drawn heavily upon ‘volunteers’ from penal colonies for their “Z” shock troops- the primary element of their meat attack (human wave) assaults against Ukraine defenses. It has been documented that ‘enforcement’ squads follow behind these ‘shock troops’ with orders to shoot any who attempt to retreat.
With the exception of Avdiivka, initial Russia attacks along the other axises have had poor results and exceptionally heavy losses. Russia continues to suffer heavy tank and APC losses. Old, cold war era tanks and APCs are becoming more and more common sights in battle fields. (formerly) Elite units like the Russian marines are routinely seen with T54/55 series tanks instead of the T72/80/90 series they were commonly equipped with. In some cases, over 70% of these newer tanks have been destroyed or captured by Ukraine.
In these other attacks, Russia continues to make poor use of fire and maneuver, preferring tank/armor ‘charges’ across open areas and down roads. This brings them into prepared kill zones where these forces are stopped and destroyed.
The most significant change in Russian tactics is on the Avdiivka front, where Russian is doing a much better job of launching what one could consider combined arms attacks.
When Ukraine lacks the artillery, Russian forces are able to penetrate in mass and overwhelm the fewer Ukrainian defenders.
Russian organization and capabilities make it unlikely that they will be able to quickly take advantage of penetrations into Ukrainian defenses. Poor training and lack of leadership at all levels, combined with poor logistic trains, will prevent any major breakouts beyond initial penetration of lines.
Shortages of Ukraine artillery ammo has permitted Russia to regain some degree of local superiority on the battlefield. Some estimates give Russia a 3:1 advantage. This is down substantially from the start of the war where it had a 10:1 advantage. Russia is relying heavily on N Korean artillery rounds and Iranian drone/missiles.
Russian appears to be continuing to shepherd its stockpile of missiles/drones for a potential effort to take down the Ukraine power grid as they did winter 2022./23 This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage. Ammo shortages are starting to impact Ukraine ADA defenses as well.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. In the latest, large missile / drone attack, the Black Sea fleet was noticeably out of action. Ukraine continues to engage and destroy Russian naval vessels..
While the Russia air force has taken significant losses at the hands of Ukraine, early in this winter/spring offensive, Russian has more aggressively conducted CAS in support of ground troops, reflecting ADA shortages. As a result, Russia has been able to locally seize air superiority at key locations along the front - the first time in two years of fighting. This has been at a cost, with a number Su-34/35 aircraft being lost in the last part of February alone as well as critical A50 AWAC systems.
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. putin is struggling to place his economy on wartime footing to accomplish this goal.
Unknowns at this time are how soon ammo supples will start hitting Ukrainian units. Long range ATACMS and German Taurus cruise missiles may be coming on line soon for Ukraine as well as F-16s (now reportedly due in late spring/early summer). But the most critical item is artillery ammo.
*****
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announcing the creation of 2 new ground armies, along with 16 new brigades and 14 new divisions. Very unclear where the new numbers will come from, though there are fears of a new, post-election mobilization.
***
Russia has accused the United States of using commercial satellite operators for its intelligence efforts — and is threatening to take military action in response.
The news comes days after Reuters released a report earlier this month, detailing a classified contract that SpaceX signed with a US intelligence agency to launch hundreds of spy satellites.
“We are aware of Washington’s efforts to attract the private sector to serve its military space ambitions,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters, as quoted by Reuters. These systems “become a legitimate target for retaliatory measures, including military ones.”
Insider sources told Reuters that SpaceX was working on a massive constellation of spy satellites under its military-focused business unit, called Starshield. The Elon Musk-led company signed a $1.8 billion contract with the National Reconnaissance Office in 2021, as the Wall Street Journal reported last month.
Logistics –
Hard limits are appearing on Russia’s ability to continue the Ukraine war. It has begun running out of tube artillery (as opposed to rocket artillery) and light armored fighting vehicles (AFVs). The artillery shortage is because tube artillery barrels are wearing out, while the light AFV shortage is because so many have been lost in combat.
Russia’s stocks of self-propelled tube artillery pieces were eliminated by combat losses in the Ukraine, worn-out barrels or exploded from firing with worn-out barrels, and were replaced by towed artillery from its reserve stocks. Now the Russians have lost, worn out or almost worn out everything but their oldest reserve tube artillery, 50+ year-old 122mm towed guns of which they allegedly had about 4,000 in 2021. These are Russia’s last artillery reserve, are being put into service now and, when those are worn out this year, Russia’s tube artillery park will be reduced to their current production of about 200 yearly tube artillery pieces. At that point Russia can no longer continue the war unless their 2024 production increases to at least 2000 a year.
The Russians began the war with about 27,000 light armored fighting vehicles in their active army and in reserve stocks. Half of those have been lost so far. New Russian production of those has been only several hundred a year. The number of Russian light AFV in the field is now plunging because they can no longer replace losses from reserve stocks. That is shown by increasing Russian use of imported Chinese farm tractor carts (which look like big golf carts) to transport troops on roads, off roads, and through mud and heavy snow.
https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/russia/articles/20240320.aspx
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures in the 30-50 range. Slight chance of snow/rain showers in extended forecast.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
At least 9 Tu-95MS bombers launched a salvo of missiles primarily directed at Kiev. Ukraine shot down all 31 Missiles.
In total, both Kinzhal Missiles were intercepted and all 29 X-101 Cruise Missiles were intercepted.
This was the first major Russian missile attack in 44 days.
This follows a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian airfield in Engels: according to satellite images available to Schemes, yesterday there were 11 aircraft on its territory, including 9 bombers, 6 Tu-95 and 3 Tu-160. Unconfirmed reports 2 were damaged. The bombers that participated in the missile strike flew out of Engles.
Kyiv suffered some damage from falling debris, setting off fires across the region.
Russian Ministry of Defense claims control over Tonenke village west to Avdiyivka and Alebastrova railway station near Kurdyumivka
Russian Territory –
Authorities in Grayvoron of Belgorod region asking citizens to evacuate to Yaroslavl region
Outlook —
Fighting on the Avdiivka front will continue to be intense as it appears that Russia is trying to reinforce the successes of recent days.
The overnight cruise missile attack by Russian did very little to Ukraine. Cruise missiles that are expected are easy to detect and take down - especially Russian ones. Russia did very little to saturate Ukrainian ADA assets, allowing them to focus on the missiles. They didn’t do a combined attack with drones and ballistic missiles at the same time. So they just threw away a lot of money and a scarce resource.
The targeting of Kyiv was an attempt at intimidation and retribution for the “Legion’s” actions in the Belgorod region as well as recent deep strikes on Russian petroleum facilities. The attack had no other strategically significant target.
It is increasingly possible that some NATO countries will soon be moving forces into Ukraine. One of the current stated objectives of the French appear to be to prevent crossing of the Dniper River - the major obstacle for Russian forces to press further west, should Ukraine defenses collapse completely . Other countries are stating that they are preparing to join France.
By positioning forces outside the disputed zones, back from the front may be an attempt to mitigate Russian threats of attack. The only systems Russia would have to hit these NATO units would be drones and missiles. These NATO forces would probably bring ADA with them, making Russia’s task harder.
Another escalation could be NATO warplanes flying CAP over these units - avoiding the combat areas and essentially creating a no - fly zone over the western half of the country.
The third worrisome issue would be whether or not Russia would risk direct strikes on participating countries. That would guarantee an Art 5 response and blow the whole region up into a much larger war.
Action/response cycle will be critical to monitor in the coming days.
Belarus -
The threat of missile strikes from Belarus against Ukraine remains until June 30, 2024.
Flight restriction zone for flights of all types of civil aircraft (including UAVs) at altitude from 0 to 19,800 meters in the south of Belarus is extended according to NOTAMN O0159/24 from 00:00 of April 1 until 23:59 of June 30, 2024.
The ban on flights over the southern part of Belarus was introduced on February 24, 2022, with the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Missiles were launched against the territory of Ukraine from the south of Belarus and those launched from Russia transited through this part of the country (including UAVs). Since the beginning of the war, at least 721 missiles have been launched from the territory of Belarus on Ukrainian cities. The last missile launch against Ukraine from Belarus’ airspace was recorded on October 6, 2022.
Europe / NATO General –
(FO) France is prepared to send 20,000 troops into Ukraine and could command up to 40,000 allied troops, according to their Chief of the Army, Pierre Schill.
Meanwhile, the Russian government claims 2,000 French troops are already in Ukraine.
ISRAEL –
Now the war is in its 5th month.
Dates to remember -
Ramadan March 11 - April 8
Key overnight developments -
- More results from the recent Shifa Hospital raid coming out.
——— GENERAL ——————————-
Lest we forget - there are still 105 being held hostage in Gaza.
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State Dept confirms that Sec Blinken will visit Israel on Friday, listing a whole host of issues he will cover, including the US pressing that a possible Rafah operation must protect civilians & not hinder humanitarian assistance, which will be covered in Washington meetings next week
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A new poll of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza shows that 71% still approve of the terror attack by Hamas on October 7 — a result that is almost unchanged since the same poll was taken late last year
The poll found that respondents were unaware of Hamas atrocities:
As we have found in the previous poll, almost all Palestinians think Israel is committing war crimes while almost all believe Hamas is not committing war crimes in the current war. Moreover, more than 90% believe that Hamas did not commit any atrocities against Israel civilians during its October the 7th offensive.
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Ongoing search and destroy operations throughout Gaza.
Just cleared for announcement by the IDF is that during the IDF’s operation this week at the Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud Kwasama, a senior Hamas official responsible for the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in 2014, was arrested.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
The Israeli Army: We bombed two Hezbollah military compounds in southern Lebanon
———WEST BANK——————————-
Heavy internal fighting going on between the Palestinians in Jenin tonight, as tensions boiled over after the earlier Israeli strike in Jenin today which killed 3 terrorists.
The Israeli army says it has wrapped up its brigade-level counter-terrorism operation in the West Bank’s Nur Shams refugee camp, close to Tulkarem.The raid was launched late last night, and began with a deadly airstrike on two Palestinians who were allegedly hurling explosive devices
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
CENTCOM - on March 20, a coalition aircraft successfully engaged and destroyed one unmanned aerial vehicle and United States Central Command successfully engaged and destroyed one unmanned surface vessel, both launched by Iranian-backed Houthi militants from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
——— FORECAST ————————-
Israel continues to isolate and eliminate remaining Hamas et al cells throughout Gaza.
The Shifa Hospital raid continues to make news with the arrest of Mahmoud Kwasama. It makes it very clear that Hamas will use hospitals and other facilities to shelter its forces and direct the battle. The surprise raid may have set Hamas back on its heels and further quicken the liquidation of assets and troops in the northern half of Gaza.
Israel continues to make preparations for its assault into Rafah. biden is clearly against it but Israel is set to go even if US munitions are not allowed.
Things have quieted down on the Lebanese border, but can explode in an instant.