Posted on 01/01/2024 5:05:22 AM PST by Godzilla
Welcome to Threat Matrix 2024
For historical reference TM2023 link is
https://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/4120141/posts?page=1#1
Established in 2001, after the 9/11 attack on America and now in its 23nd year, this thread is designed to identify threats to America, both internal and external, and evaluate the probability of those threats occurring and the extent of potential damage. Discussions may stray into ‘tinfoil’ territory, but the goal is to peel back and confirm information so we can make informed decisions and actions. Incredible as it seems, “tinfoil” conspiracy theories have fast become realities so they can no longer be ignored outright, but must be evaluated and compared to current events.
2023 has been “historic”: Continued inflation Record illegal immigration Record crime Record housing prices and Unprecedented prime lending rate increases. Push to globalize the economy, food production and energy
I expect 2024 to be even worse as we are facing, among many things -
- 2024 is a political year with all the deep divisions and turmoils that brings. - Political assassinations - The potential for a serious and deep recession - CBDC stripping Americans of their free use of money - Race and other ethnic wars in the US as illegals mark out territory - Continued massive increase in crime - Further movement towards implementing the goals of the WEF via its “global reset” - - Continued combat in Ukraine that could spill out into other parts of Europe - Potential Chinese move on Taiwan – breaking analysis - Israel and Hezbollah/Iran finally directly going at it. - Other political turmoil growing globally over a wide range of issues. - Potential for a wide variety of Black Swan events to create even greater problems. . And this is just a short list.
It has been my pleasure to continue this thread over the past few years. This thread hopefully is continuing the goals of when it started.
For those who care, my posts reflect my scanning of the interwebs to provide me with early warning concerning factors that can endanger my life and family. Yes, I’m what many would call a “prepper”, and proudly accept that characterization.
How can something happening half way around the world affect me personally? Wuhan virus, my friend is but one recent example. I noted it in TM Dec 2019 and was prepared when chaos hit in 2020.
Other events have secondary and tertiary affects that reach us via shortages and inflation – fossil fuel prices are the most common, as well as economic impacts. I simply share news items and often my opinions that shape my actions and preparations.
My posts are broken down into specific topics and regions. I highlight and evaluative opensource reports in those areas in regard to how it will affect the US. Sometimes it feels like trying to drink from a fire hose and I don’t expect this to let up, only increase as the year progresses.
Will we even make it to the 2024 elections without things flying apart? Will the democrats / leftist manage a way to steal the election? Will the US find itself in the early stages of a civil war / national split up? The year promises to be very bumpy, so buckle up and prepare yourselves for what is to come.
They won't even have to walk-away. Good luck evicting them.
Very interesting Godzilla. Thanks.
In order for the government to buy their loans, they have to do a certain amount of low income loans.
All the more reason to invest now and this summer in camping supplies,food, energy, and water purification systems.
Outdoor camping supplies provides an opportunity to make and life-saving essential, and comfort purchases.
Supplies can be made through commercial vendors, yard sales, garage sales, moving sales, and estate sales at reduced prices.
And since my backyard ends at a saltwater stream that connects two bays - this could be a rough hurricane season for me. I'm hoping I'm wrong...
Words escape me this morning following yesteday’s verdict. I mentally knew that such was very likely given how the court was stacked against Trump, by my normalcy bias kept hoping that true American justice would win out. The impact was visceral, this is clearly no longer the nation I grew up in.
With yesterday’s kangaroo court ruling, this country has entered the most dangerous uncharted waters ever in its history. In their desperation, democrats have burned the justice system to the ground, the gates are open and the rest of the nation may soon feel the wrath of the regime’s maniacal quest to remain in power.
This is far from over folks. But America has crossed a Rubicon of sorts. May 30, 2024 will be remembered in history books (should things last that long) as being as fateful as Pearl Harbor, 9/11 and Ft Sumter. It all depends on how Americans respond to this outrage. So far the blowback appears to be large. Will that energy be maintained through to Nov? Time will tell.
To the democrats - a warning that the bell can never be unrung. Will this turn to violence? If so, its on the democrats. Further, this now opens democrats up to similar treatment in the future.
Keep your powder dry, hold your fire for now. They want an excuse to crack down on you - to usher in their full blown, military backed totalitarian state. We are entering a very dangerous period. Prepare now.
Globalism / Great Reset –
Speaking at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit earlier this month, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen suggested the audience think of information manipulation as a virus and then said it’s better to vaccinate than treat the infection.
At the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, von der Leyen pontificated that “research has shown that pre-bunking is more successful than de-bunking. Pre-bunking is the opposite of de-bunking. In short, prevention is preferable to cure.”
Pre-bunking is an approach based on the psychological theory of “inoculation,” which suggests that exposing people to weakened doses of misinformation can help them develop “mental antibodies” against false news.
https://expose-news.com/2024/05/30/people-should-be-vaccinated-against-wrongthink/
OBSERVATION - Information control and censorship of ‘mis-information’ are still big on the globalist agenda. Here we have a heaping dose of propaganda to set the desired thoughts of people’s minds along the desired course and to write off contrary thoughts and opinions.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
Several Students for Justice in Palestine chapters are set to travel to Washington D.C. to “surround the White House” just days after Hamas and other Palestinian organizations issued a call for students to “besiege” President Biden’s residence.
Students for Justice in Palestine at both North Carolina State University and Duke University have posted a graphic for the June 8 protest, which reads “Biden, we are your red line. Stop the genocide. Surround the White House!”
”Biden can’t draw the line, but we have. On June 8, we’ll come together from across the country and surround the White House. Wearing red, and raising our demands high, we’ll show the world that we are the red line,” the groups wrote in the Instagram post.
The ANSWER Coalition and Peoples Forum NYC posted on Instagram that buses are being made available for transportation to the event from all over the country, including Dearborn, Michigan; Des Moines, Iowa; Portland, Maine; and more.
The announcement of the protest comes just one day after a group of Palestinian organizations, including terror organizations Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, released a message to college students through the “Student Frameworks Secretariat” that called on them to “besiege the White House.”
OBSERVATION - This would continue a trend by the socialist leftists of protesting democrats in control of the govt. Unusual in that it reflects a continued battle within the party over israel, one that these far leftists are willing to go to the mat over.
Note also the link to terrorists organizations apparently calling the shots to some degree. Potential for violent actions associate with this ‘protest’ are high.
***
More and more news reports of assaults by individuals (often illegals) using machetes (or other large knives) appearing. These events are all over Europe as well as in the US - primarily in urban centers. Historically, prior to the ongoing great replacement, machete wars were common in Africa and some locations in central/south America. Easy to get in the US, use in gun control frenzied cities like NY is on the rise IMHO. This is an aspect to keep in mind. Illegal gangsters will still find a way to get guns, but for the rank and file criminal illegals, machetes seem to be the current weapon of choice.
Maintain your situational awareness now more than ever.
Terrorism - Heightened THREAT as of May 6, 2024
Commentator Wayne Allyn Root is claiming he has insider information from within the CIA that there are impending waves of “Red Dawn” terror attacks coming soon to the USA. This is based on the following assumptions -
- (Tens of ) Thousands of terrorist who’ve entered the country illegally over the past three plus years.
- Simple. Inexpensive. All our enemies would need to do is the following: Coordinate 50 groups of terrorists to walk into supermarkets, department stores, train stations, airport terminals, hotel lobbies, restaurants, nightclubs, theatres and schools. 50 groups at the exact same time, in 50 cities across the country. And start killing.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/05/wayne-root-my-cia-sources-say-biden-administration/
OBSERVATION - This scenario has been postulated for literally decades here on FR and Threat Matrix, so this isn’t anything new. I question the validity of his sources, who also claim such an attack in imminent. On the face, the potential is very much there - especially from the radical islamic sector - as it matched its modus operandi from other global attacks closely. Given the progress of the Gaza war and degrading relations with Iran, such an attack is well within possibility.
So I won’t dismiss his claims out right, but we need a little back up apart from unnamed sources in the CIA.
Economy-
Pending home sales plunge to lowest level in four years as buyers steer clear of 7% mortgage rates
***
The U.S. economy grew less than previously thought in the first three months of the year, expanding at an annual pace of just 1.3 percent, revised government data showed Thursday.
The downward revision was primarily driven by data showing that consumer spending grew by significantly less than previously estimated.
This was the smallest expansion in gross domestic product in almost two years. The prior estimate had the economy growing at a 1.6 percent pace in the first quarter.
OBSERVATION - Watch the MSM bury this down grade with other news. The economy is in poor shape and not thriving as the regime claims
***
A poultry farm in southern Illinois housing 1.2 million chickens caught fire on Wednesday night. Farm is home to one of the largest egg production facilities.
Another had to kill some 4 million due to avian flu
OBSERVATION - Poultry prices will continue to be high for the near term.
POLITICAL FRONT –
July 15 RNC convention in Milwaukee, WI
August 19 DNC convention in Chicago, IL
***
The guilty verdicts against trump caused his online donation site to melt down for a period of time from all the donors trying to make contributions.
***
Merchan set July 11 for sentencing - just 4 days before the RNC convention. Analysts note that this is unlikely to occur as appeals will be well underway, haunting any sentencing - at least when the justice system used to work.
***
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled today that New York officials violated the First Amendment by coercing insurance and banking companies to no longer do business with the National Rifle Association as punishment for the group’s gun views.
***
The bold faced hypocrisy of the democrats is in full bloom - on one hand demanding that the ‘decision’ of the NY kangaroo court be honored as proper justice while going into full attack mode against the USSC.
***
Noted attorney Alan Dershowitz said on Thursday that he doubts a New York appellate court will overturn former President Donald Trump’s conviction in his Manhattan trial because judges are ‘terrified’ to appear to help Trump.
“I don’t know whether the case will be reversed on appeal. I don’t think it would be reversed by the appellate division,” Dershowitz continued. “These are judges who are terrified of being perceived of as helping Trump in any way. Don’t know whether or not the New York Court of Appeals in Albany will have the ability to not consider the impact it will have on individuals as judges. Surely the Supreme Court wouldn’t, but that’s a way off and there wouldn’t be a decision by the Supreme Court, probably before the election.”
Biden / Harris Watch –
biden didn’t give his victory dance address to the nation following the jury verdict. Did some one figure out the optics of that would be hideous.
***
Biden reportedly approved a policy change that will permit Ukraine to use US-provided weapons, including GMLRS rockets — but not longer-range ATACMS missiles — to strike within Russian territory near the border with Kharkiv Oblast.
***
The developing ‘virtual’ nomination of biden for the presidency in order to meet the Ohio filing deadline may turn around and bite democrats. There is a lot of political time between this nomination and the convention - a lot of things can happen. The biggest being some sort of event that forces biden to drop out - such as medical conditions or other legal issues. Locking him in now in the face of apparently crashing poll numbers - well, limits their options greatly.
North/South Korea –
North Korea said on Friday it had fired 18 short-range ballistic missiles during a drill as a demonstration of its willingness to launch a pre-emptive strike against South Korea’s “gangsters’ regime” if necessary to counter an attack.
KCNA said artillery troops successfully hit the target of an island about 365 km (230 miles) away as Kim Jong Un oversaw the demonstration at the launch site. It did not identify the island.
Photos published by state media showed 18 missiles, identified by experts as KN-25s, rising into the air from mobile launchers.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/norht-korea-missile-salvo-south-korea/2024/05/31/id/1166923/
OBSERVATION - Follow up on yesterday’s report. It is believed that NK is supplying these missiles to Russia as debris from recent rocket attacks in Kharkiv attest to.
Russia -
NUCLEAR THREATS –
Russia’s Medvedev says Moscow “is not bluffing” when it talks about the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons.
***
Moscow will perceive the sending of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine as a deliberate signal from NATO in the nuclear field. Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with RIA Novosti
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures highs in the 80’s and fair.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Ukrainian air defense shot down 4 Shahed drones and Iskander-K missile overnight.
In Kharkiv, a Russian missile strike targeted a five-story residential building, resulting in the tragic loss of 4 lives and leaving 25 people injured. Further missile strikes in the vicinity followed the initial attack, with a total of five hits recorded in the Novobavarskyi District.
Fragments of a NK rocket have been identified in Kharkiv.
General Staff of Armed forces of Ukraine confirms missile strikes with Neptun missiles at the ferry and oil terminal in Kavkaz port in Krasnodar Krai of Russia
During the night, air defense systems destroyed and intercepted five anti-ship missiles and 29 drones over the Krasnodar Krai, - the Russian Ministry of Defense reports. UAVs was also destroyed over the territory of the Voronezh, Belgorod and Tambov regions.
Sweden will transfer to Ukraine an ASC 890 radar reconnaissance and control aircraft. There is currently no such equipment in Ukraine.
Biden reportedly approved a policy change that will permit Ukraine to use US-provided weapons, including GMLRS rockets — but not longer-range ATACMS missiles — to strike within Russian territory near the border with Kharkiv Oblast.
Kharkiv Front -
Russia is building up forces near the northern part of Ukraine’s Kharkiv region where it launched an offensive this month, but it still lacks the troop numbers to stage a major push in the area, Ukraine’s top commander said Thursday.
Ukraine says it has stabilized the front in the northeastern Kharkiv region where Russian forces launched a cross-border assault on May 10 that opened a new front in the 27-month-old war and stretched Kyiv’s outnumbered troops.
https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/ukraine-russia-war/2024/05/30/id/1166743/
Outlook —
Ukraine made two strikes on harbor and related facilities around the Kersch bridge in the past couple days. Lack of sufficient Russian ADA interdiction suggests that Ukraine has seriously degraded the capabilities of the Russians in Crimea.
Another big ticket item is the announcement of the delivery of ASC 890 radar reconnaissance and control aircraft to Ukraine. These are similar in function to the US AWAC systems - providing air control to combat aircraft as well as early warning of enemy activity such as cruise missiles or other airframes. Such a platform will greatly enhance Ukraine’s utilization of their F-16s as well as their other combat aircraft, giving them a potentially significant advantage over Russia.
With the US along with European allies increasingly willingness to allow Ukraine to utilize their given systems to target Russian sites, things may get interesting fast. It is a target rich environment on the Russian side of the border and effective attacks by Ukraine will force Russian planners to greatly alter operations. No longer will they be considered ‘safe’ and allow operations as normal.
Ground fighting will continue to be locally fierce and grueling. Russia’s current minor gains are coming at an increasingly high cost. Suggestions that Russia is moving more forces as reserve in the Kharkiv front (and likely going to potential operations opposite of Sumy) are a concern, but don’t appear to be sufficient enough at this time to do much as Russia has lost the element of surprise in these regions.
The overall enormity of Russia’s manpower surge in the region is interesting. The original invasion utilized around 290,000 troops. Currently it is estimated Russia has about 400,000 - 500,000 troops in theater. Since the start of the war Russia has suffered over 500,000 kia/wia losses.
Russia has placed its economy on war time mode, but with sanctions, replacement of key battlefield systems such as modern tanks and aircraft are severely limited, forcing Russia to dig even deeper into mothballed equipment stored from the end of the cold war. I’ve noted previous that OSINT analysis of open source imagery suggests that these stored tanks and armor are quickly running out - less than a years worth at current burn rates.
Ukraine is facing similar long term shortages. The combined European/US support has drained stockpiles and are exceeding production rates for key items like artillery and air defense rockets. Ukraine has also suffered severe losses in personnel and are facing shortfalls in replacements.
My forecast continues to be Russia forcing the fight to try to maintain the initiative and gain as much as they can before Ukraine’s rearming and new weapons systems come on line. More and more meat grinder actions will continue to be the norm.
Europe / NATO General –
Prime Minister of Hungary - Europe is entering the stage of preparation for war with Russia
***
Ukraine is allowed to fire on Russian territory with military equipment supplied from Germany. According to SPIEGEL information, the government now wants to allow this. Other Western partners also allow this
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- Hamas rejects more negotiations without an unconditional ceasefire by Israel.
——— GENERAL ——————————-
Lest we forget - there are still hostages being held in Gaza.
***
The Israeli army has fully removed the US-military built pier from the coast of Gaza, Press Sec Sabrina Singh says. The pier sections have been relocated to Ashdod for repair and rebuilding.
***
Hamas announces that it will not agree to negotiate a hostage deal as long as fighting continues: “told the negotiators we will be willing to negotiate when the fighting stops”
***
Netanyahu’s Likud responds to the decision by Gantz’s party to advance a bill to dissolve the Knesset: “In the midst of a war, Israel needs unity, not division. The dissolution of the unity government is a reward for Sinwar, a surrender to international pressures and a fatal blow to the efforts to free our hostages “
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Israeli military says it has completed operations in Jabaliya, Gaza for now.
Hamas fired a missile from a United Nations-run school in Rafah, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported Thursday, in the latest of its social media updates on the war against the Palestinian terrorist group in Gaza.
“An anti-tank missile was fired from an UNRWA school toward our troops. IDF forces operated in a medical clinic nearby, when an explosive in a booby-trapped tunnel shaft detonated and killed 3 soldiers. During later scans in the school, we found large quantities of weapons.”
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
According to a Senior Israeli Defense official, the order has now been given to the IDF Northern Command and other forces in northern Israel to expand military operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
***
The Israeli Army: We monitored the fall of missiles launched from Lebanon towards Zarit in the Western Galilee, without causing any casualties
———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
Speaker of the Slovenian Parliament: We will approve recognition of the State of Palestine on Tuesday
Swedish security service: Iran has directed security-threatening activity against representatives of other states perceived as enemies of the government, it may be about damaging Israeli and Jewish interests, goals and activities in Sweden - Reuters News
——— FORECAST ————————-
The statement that IDF is going to expand military operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon is interesting. From what Israeli leadership has stated since October 2023, Gaza will be dealt with first before turning north. This announcement seems to be moving the timetable up several notches. The scope of ‘expanded operations’ is also vague, but there is a hint of a degree of ground operations associated given that the IAF has been running some very extensive operations against Hezbollah.
Gaza fighting continues to be locally fierce. Israel is systematically clearing zones of Hamas and locating tunnels. It will be more than a month before the first phase of the Rafah operation ends and it switches to the baiting of Hamas forces that have gone to ground to come back out to be hit again, the tactic being used in the central and northern portions of Gaza.
We’re next.
”Biden can’t draw the line, but we have. On June 8, we’ll come together from across the country and surround the White House. Wearing red, and raising our demands high, we’ll show the world that we are the red line,” the groups wrote in the Instagram post.
It will be instructive to see how they are treated compared to US citizens who walked peacefully into the capitol building they were let into on Jan 6.
It looks like the remainder of this year is going to be very *interesting*.
I’m beginning to hate “interesting “
I hear you.
I just need to top off some prep supplies and I’ll be as ready as possible.
Certainly not survivalist grade, but good for a while.
Hopefully long enough to weather this year.
I think we still have a bit of a buffer, a grace period as it were, to get ready.
Buckle up sister!
I think we’re on the cusp of major earth shattering happenings.
Luke 21:26
Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
And today’s BibleGateway verse of the day is this.......
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
It's going to get ugly... democrats are showing their true colors...
Same here. Reviewing preps. Need to get firewood in before summer. Now just trying to figure out which way it’s gonna go
When Iran attacked Israel, we got our fuel oil tanks filled and the propane tank filled.
We have a good supply of wood at the moment but can always use more to season for the winter after next.
Time to look at beef and watch for sales to pressure can for soups and stews.
I had a good potato crop last year and we didn’t use them all so I pressure canned the rest since they were just showing signs of wanting to sprout.
I got some organic carrots cheap from Sam’s and did those as well.
I hate most pressure canned veggies but some do well. Carrots are ones, and the potatoes can just be used for mashed potatoes.
Get a dehydrator for the spuds and other vegetables. Last several years
I can actually do that in my oven.
We have a great new oven, a Bosch Duel Fuel. The oven is electric and can be set as low as 100F!
Great convection too. Of the three convection ovens we have bought, which mr. mm always assured me were so great, this one is the ONLY one where the convect feature works properly. The others were terrible to the point where I simply refused to even try it any more, even though he kept nagging me about it.
What do you use them for when you rehydrate them?
What other veggies do you dehydrate?
I did garlic once and still have sliced garlic chips in storage that I could grind up for powder. Problem is, it burned our eyes out for the first day or so. That was in NY where we had a door for the kitchen. This house is an *open concept* which I don’t like but we could not pass up the great deal we got on it. The Lord saved it for us and we knew that was it when we viewed it.
OTOH, it has some of the best water we’ve had in NH.
I do potato slices - soups and au gratin potatoes. Once dried I also grind them down to make my own instant potatoes.
Carrots, onions, garlic, celery, tomatoes, you name it. Even dehydrated dill pickles - ground up to make a pickle powder.
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