Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Threat Matrix 2022
1/1/2022 | Godzilla

Posted on 01/01/2022 3:01:14 PM PST by Godzilla

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 941-957 next last
To: null and void; aragorn; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; Beautiful_Gracious_Skies; BusterDog; bgill; bitt; ...

Late today - expect tomorrow to be late as well. Sorry, but grandkids come first.

Updated write up concerning Russia and Ukraine
________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

Following in the footsteps of England, Ireland, and the Netherlands, Denmark has announced that it will soon be dramatically pulling back on COVID restrictions within the country. However, unlike these three European nations which are keeping some measures in place while pulling others back, Denmark is planning on scrapping all of its domestic restrictions from February 1.
OBSERVATION - These restrictions are keyed into control plans of the GGR, but the utility of the wuhan feardemic is failing with over use and countries are noting that the restrictions are no longer working.

The Canadian Truck convoy has sent shockwaves into the ruling tyrants in Ottawa. They have had to resort to calling the protestors terrorists, and controlled by Russia. The protests have sparked similar protests across the globe - See posts upstream of this post.
OBSERVATION - Big response, but will this be all show and no go? Pressure will need to be maintained on Ottawa to gain return of rights and freedoms.
_____________________________

Economy -

The Biden administration is preparing to release an executive action that will task federal agencies with regulating digital assets such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a matter of national security, a person familiar with the White House’s plan tells Barron’s.
The national security memorandum, expected to come in the next few weeks, would task parts of the government with analyzing digital assets and assembling a regulatory framework that covers cryptos, stablecoins, and NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, this person.

OBSERVATION - Crypto currency is a realm that the govt wants to control. One is for tax purposes, but the second is to control this economic activity with the final goal of setting up a federal digital currency and outright outlawing of crypto. Such currency would be a key component in a social credit score plan control like China has started to institute.
______________________________

Invasion of Illegals -

More documentation of DHS bussing/flying illegals throughout the country and dropping them off in the middle of the night.
______________________________

Biden watch -

Biden’s Russia/Ukraine response is bordering on another Afghanistan fiasco.
___________________________

CANCEL CULTURE FRONT -

Google temporarily suspended conservative talk show host Dan Bongino’s website, Bongino.com, from its ads service. This follows youtube permanently banniong Bongino and deleting his YouTube accounts from its platform Wednesday.
__________________________________

POLITICAL FRONT -

More rats jumping ship. The chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has reportedly considered an early exit as fears of a Republican rout in the midterms leave him vulnerable amid plummeting approval ratings for President Biden. According to Fox, a report citing current and former DNC officials revealed a strained relationship between Harrison and the White House and uncertainty that he will remain in his role ahead of the midterms, which political pundits have forecast to spell disaster for Democrats.
_____________________________________

Domestic Terror -

The FBI on Friday took custody of a former Kansas teacher named Allison Elizabeth Fluke-Ekren who federal prosecutors allege led an all-female military battalion under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), according to a now-unsealed 2019 criminal complaint, which charged her with providing and conspiring to provide material support to the foreign terrorist organization. She allegedly planned attacks to be carried out on U.S. soil; trained women and children in Syria on how to use AK-47 assault rifles, grenades and suicide belts; and was the leader of an all-female ISIS military battalion, the Department of Justice said in a statement.

OBSERVATION - Reading further, witnesses say she was highly radicalized like on the order of 11 out of 10. Had many plans for attacks that didn’t happen.
_____________________________________

Strategic Activity / Deployments -

8500 soldiers are still on close hold for potential deployment to Europe.
_________________________________

China -

A Chinese satellite equipped with a robotic arm and suspected to be a ‘satellite crusher’ has been observed grappling and pulling another satellite out of its orbit and putting it into a new orbit. This week an analytics firm stated that they had observed China’s Shijian-21 satellite, also called SJ-21 disappear for a while from its normal position in space.
The Shijian-21 satellite then made a ‘large maneuver’ in order to move closer to the dead BeiDou navigation system satellite, grapple onto the BeiDou satellite and then pull it out of its orbit, putting it into a new ‘graveyard orbit’ where it is less likely to crash into other satellites.
China had said that their purpose for the Shijian-21 satellite was to “test and verify space debris mitigation technologies” but this maneuver demonstrates its ability to potentially grapple and possibly disable satellites from other countries such as the United States.
OBSERVATION - When launched in Oct 2021, this ASAT capability was noted.
____________________________________

North Korea -

Another day, another missile launch. Today it was a Hwasong-12 medium-range ballistic missile. The rocket reportedly reached an altitude of 1,200 miles and traveled 500 miles before landing in sea off Japan.
If they keep it up, they could exceed the launches in 2019. For the month of January, they’ve launched more than the entire 2021. Some observers think this could be a precursor to restarting nuclear tests as well.
__________________________________

Russia -

INCREASED WARNING ONGOING -
OSINT and other analysts are noting the continued build up of military assets that go far beyond those necessary for a military ‘exercise’. Putin has seriously deployed for combat and can execute several options at any moment.

Russia has deployed elements of 10 army groups and an army corps near Ukraine (probably 70+ BTGs). Of those, only 3 CAAs are permanently stationed to cover Russia’s south-western borders. Total estimated force of approximately 160K to 170K. The increase is therefore substantial in terms of size and capabilities, but also broad in terms of the territory covered.

Russian deployments indicate the capability to launch an offensive against Ukraine along 7 fronts: from the Union State of Russia and Belarus, from the Russian Federation, from Russian-occupied Donbas, from the Sea of Azov, from Russian-occupied Crimea, from the Black Sea, from Russian-occupied Moldova.

********

(Daily Mail) Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to hold talks with Germany, France and Ukraine. It is a blow to NATO and exclusion of America in negotiation talks on the Russian-Ukraine crisis came after Putin accused the U.S. and NATO of ignoring the Kremlin’s ‘fundamental concerns’ over NATO’s growth during a call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday. Rather than meet with NATO, Putin has agreed to discuss the issue with the European-led Normandy Format, a grouping that includes France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia. Their meetings center on the cease-fire agreement that the countries brokered in eastern Ukraine in 2015, and it also offers a path to a broader settlement.
Putin said he had ‘no offensive plans’ in eastern Ukraine, according to Macron, who said the nations’ talks would focus on ‘de-escalation’ along the Ukraine-Russian border, the New York Times reported.
The Normandy Format will meet in Berlin in two weeks, after Russia has already amassed over 100,000 troops at the Ukraine border.

*******UPDATED OBSERVATION ******* - This splitting NATO and in particular the US out of the process may well be one of the major goals of Putin, seizing upon the weakness biden. If Putin holds to the negotiation timeline, no invasion should be expected for at least two weeks plus extra time for negotiations. It is these Normandy Format meetings that have also place the Ukraine and US president at odds. Putin may be able to obtain many of its goals in having a more Russian friendly Ukraine government while his military forces maintain a big stick approach towards the NATO members that were formerly members of the Soviet Union.

OBSERVATIONS ON CURRENT RUSSIAN DEPLOYMENTS - Most of Russia’s forces are focused on the southeastern and eastern portions of Ukraine. Though the press still uses the 100,000 number, updated estimates of the Russian forces now closer to 160,000-170,000.
These areas are currently being fought over by ‘separatists’ forces supported by Russia. Other forces along Ukraine’s north east and northern border into Belarus appear to serve two purposes - split Ukraine forces and have the capability to strike southward on the western side of the Dnieper River to cut off the bulk of Ukraine’s forces and pressure capture of Kyiv (Kiev).

UPDATED STRATEGY -
Russia maintains full capability to launch a full scale invasion of Ukraine at any time. If this worst case scenario is executed Russia will likely attempt to blitzkrieg success before resistance can form and logistics problems dig in. However, in light of the support of the ‘Nomandy Front’ negotiations that invasion date may be blunted. Full scale invasion using a force this large may also be very problematic because Russian forces have not been maneuvered on a scale like this since WW2. Further, forces spread out as they are will cause logistics problems.

If Russia does attack, at current, the most probable scheme would be into separatist held territory to expand it into a more strategically held position. Very possibly advancing to the east bank of the Dnieper River, carving out the eastern third of the country for Russian control. This part of Ukraine also has the highest percentage o ‘ethnic’ Russian - who;’s protection Russian claimed was necessary when invading Crimea. Along with this action would be to create a land bridge southward to Crimea, capturing the control of a water supply canal that has been shut off since Russia took control in 2014 and a potential amphibious attack to secure Odessa.

If any attack is delayed by negotiations, the capability to conduct large scale maneuvers is threatened by milder weather and softer/muddier ground that will restrict forces. This would tend to support the limited operation thru separatist controlled territory, allowing road use to maximized before engaging Ukraine forces directly.

Absent of any attack, retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe noted. “He’s going to continue doing what he’s doing right now, continuing to apply maximum pressure on Ukraine and to try to destabilize the government to alarm people,”

Other notes - Russia will also use cut off of natural gas for leverage as well as launch cyber attacks against NATO and US targets.
____________________________________

Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Temperatures forecast thru Feb 9 show milder temperatures and snow with rain towards the end of the reporting period.

Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand says all Canadian military trainers in Ukraine have been moved west of the Dnieper River “to keep our Canadian armed forces safe and secure” amid Russian invasion threat. Canada also withdrew ‘non-essential’ personnel from embassy in Ukraine
___________________________________

Europe / NATO General -

Biden warns he will deploy troops WITHOUT NATO’s backing: President says he will move troops to Eastern Europe ‘in the near term’ but not as part of NATO force. NATO has failed to come up with a common position on deploying troops to the region with many of its 30-strong members against military action.
OBSERVATION - This comment by biden clearly shows the US has lost the leadership role in NATO and the weakness of the US in general.

Britain is considering making a major NATO deployment as part of a plan to strengthen Europe’s borders in response to Russia massing troops on the border with Ukraine, the government said on Saturday.
Britain has said that any Russian incursion into Ukraine would be met with swift sanctions and would be devastating for both sides.
Johnson is considering the biggest possible offer to members of the NATO defence pact in the Nordics and Baltics, which would double troop numbers and send defensive weapons to Estonia, his office said.
____________________________________


61 posted on 01/30/2022 5:02:13 PM PST by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: null and void; aragorn; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; Beautiful_Gracious_Skies; BusterDog; bgill; bitt; ...

i’ll be posting more in the afternoon / evening as grandkids are taking up my mornings for the foreseeable future.
________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

As masses of truck drivers and other protesters demonstrate in Canada’s capital this weekend, rally organizers say they will stay until their demands are met.
“Now it’s a waiting game, and patience is a virtue,” said Freedom Convoy organizer Benjamin Dichter at a press conference in Ottawa on Jan. 30. “We’re in this for the long haul.”
Meanwhile, Ottawa was doubling down on vaccination passports, moving forward on an inter-provence passport requirement.
OBSERVATION - in spite of attacks from the Canadian MSM, the trucker protests are gaining widespread support among Canadians. Calls are increasing for a vote of no confidence for PM Trudeau who holds power through a weak coalition of parties.
_____________________________

Wuhan virus -

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in letters to seven governors, is reaffirming the need for members of their states’ Army and Air National Guards to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine or lose their Guard status. The letters come amid several state challenges to the policy, and as the military begins to ramp up the number of active-duty troops being discharged for refusing the vaccine.

The Son of Omicron sub variant is still raising eyebrows among the medical community as they speculate about its potential impacts. Omicron infections are noted to be on the decline around the world, but Phizer/Moderna are coming out with a modified jab to address it that is close to the approval for emergency use.
_____________________________

Economy -

(Reuters) – Oil prices rose on Monday to end January with their biggest monthly gain in a year, boosted by a supply shortage and political tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
The most-active Brent contract, for April delivery, traded 74 cents higher, or 0.8%, to settle at $89.26 per barrel. The front-month contract, for March delivery, which expired at the end of the session, rose $1.18, or 1.3%, to finish at $91.21.
______________________________

Invasion of Illegals -

Border patrol has put out today that they are expecting a massive increase in illegal crossings as spring comes, upwards of 50% increase.
More reports of the growing influence that Mexican drug cartels are having on illegal immigration. The combination of drug and human smuggling has grown significantly profitable over the past year and the Mexican govt is not able / willing to take control of border regions under cartel control. This cartel control is already resulting in some attacks on US border control personnel and will likely increase over the course of this next year.
______________________________

POLITICAL FRONT -

Continued ruckus as democrats try to regroup to get their policies back on line.
_____________________________________

Strategic Activity / Deployments -

Still confusion on personnel deployments to Europe.
_________________________________

China -

Wuhan is threatening to force China to lock down more cities in response to new infections here in the time leading up to the winter olympics.

More threats from China concerning any commentary by athletes to the games regarding human rights violations.
____________________________________

North Korea -

As a reminder, North Korea’s Hwasong-12 ballistic missile that was launched yesterday has the range to reach Guam.
__________________________________

Japan -

Japanese and American airborne troops participating in a joint exercise.
____________________________________

Russia -

INCREASED WARNING ONGOING - OSINT and other analysts are noting the continued build up of military assets that go far beyond those necessary for a military ‘exercise’. Putin has seriously deployed for combat and can execute several options at any moment.
Russia has deployed elements of 10 army groups and an army corps near Ukraine (probably 70+ BTGs). Of those, only 3 CAAs are permanently stationed to cover Russia’s south-western borders. Total estimated force of approximately 160K to 170K. The increase is therefore substantial in terms of size and capabilities, but also broad in terms of the territory covered.

Russian deployments indicate the capability to launch an offensive against Ukraine along 7 fronts: from the Union State of Russia and Belarus, from the Russian Federation, from Russian-occupied Donbas, from the Sea of Azov, from Russian-occupied Crimea, from the Black Sea, from Russian-occupied Moldova.

Most likely course of action - Limited invasion via territory held by separatists to firm up their positions and attempt to create a land bridge to Crimea while securing water source for Crimea cut off by Ukraine in 2014. Such a limited attack will enable Russia to continue to pressure Ukraine toward a more favorable government and push more NATO splits.

********

Spanish navy spots six Russian warships from the Northern Fleet entering the Mediterranean Sea today and possibly “heading towards the Black Sea the vessels are carrying 60 tanks and over 1,500 soldiers
OBSERVATION - Likely all six Russian amphibious warships tracked out of the Baltic and North sea area that created the stir with Sweden, based on the description of carrying troops and equipment.

US Senate is in the process of completing a bill to severely sanction Russia and associates of Putin. Part of it is to address the current build up, with follow on in the event of a military action.

Russian naval exercises that were scheduled to be near Ireland were moved following complaints by Ireland and a threat that fishing vessels would deploy into the exercise area. The previous exercise area was in international waters but in Ireland’s economic zone.

UNCONFIRMED - Some sources indicate that the equipment that has been moved into the region doesn’t have the accompanying combat troops. The troops that have deployed have the task of unloading the trains and moving the vehicles to staging areas. If the troops aren’t with the equipment, then large numbers of passenger trains bringing troops to the region and combat vehicles deploying out of the holding areas would be a big indicator of an impending attack. As I said, I’m looking for confirmation.
____________________________________

Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Temperatures forecast thru Feb 9 show milder temperatures and snow with rain towards the end of the reporting period.

U.S. sources say that Russia is continuing to move in additional ground forces “even over the course of the weekend” along the the Ukrainian border. “These are combined arms capable forces. so it’s not just infantry, for instance - it’s artillery, it’s air defense”

Al-Monitor reports that Ukraine is on a buying spree purchasing fleets of the Turkish Bayraktar TBT 2 drones at a discounted price for a possible war against Russia. This move suggests a growing support by Turkey for Ukraine.
OBSERVATION - These drones have been the bane of Russian armor in Libya, Syria, and Armenia. However, those engagements were lower intensity than what occurred in those countries and any tactical advantage may be short lived. A Ukrainian TBT 2 drone struck an illegally placed and operating separatist artillery unit - shortly thereafter Russia started its military build up.

Ukrainians are coping with a wave of fake bomb threats as Moscow mounts a hybrid war to sow panic among the public, according to Ukrainian security services.
Nationwide, Ukrainian police had to check more than 3,000 sites for bombs in the first three weeks of 2022 alone. All were false alerts.
Ukrainian authorities blame Russia for what they call a hybrid war.
“This is an element of the hybrid war. To create chaos, uncertainty about tomorrow, and a constant state of stress. So that schools have to switch to distance learning, and businesses close,” explained Zhytomyr Mayor Serhiy Sukhomlyn.(FRANCE 24)
___________________________________

Belarus -

US Ambassador to the UN said today that the US has “seen evidence that Russia intends to expand that presence to more than 30,000 troops near the Belarus-Ukraine border less than two hours north of Kyiv, by early February.” A US official says this figure is from declassified US intel.
OBSERVATION - These forces likely those coming in from the Far East Military District.

The Belarusian MoD is reportedly calling-up reservists with dates coinciding with the Allied Resolve exercise. This is reported to be a joint exercise with Russia and is scheduled to be completed in a couple of week, about the same time Russia is suppose to be resuming Normandy talks with France, Germany and Ukraine.
_______________________________________

Poland -

Poland has started transferring some ammunition and supplies to Ukraine for defensive purposes.
______________________________________

Europe / NATO General -

Addressing Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s complaints the west is hyping the potential for a Russian invasion, NATO Sec Gen Stoltenberg counters, “There is no sign this military buildup is slowing down. It continues. That’s a fact; that’s reality”
OBSERVATION - The split between Ukraine and NATO continues to apparently grow. However, in the period before an invasion considerable misinformation and discord spreading is very common. This all works to Putin’s advantage.

President Joe Biden on Friday said he would send troops to eastern Europe “in the near term.” Pentagon says that deployment wouldn’t have to wait for NATO to call in the NATO Response Force but declined to address a possible timeline
____________________________________

Israel -

The Russian army is reportedly disrupting GPS signals with electromagnetic waves in Latakia as well as Ben Gurion Airport, the main airport in Israel according to KAAN news. KAAN news says that in the last few weeks airline pilots have been dealing with a phenomenon that has reoccurred after a ‘3 year hiatus’ where severe GPS disruptions are occurring in aircraft that are preparing to land at the Ben Gurion airport.
____________________________________

Syria -

Israeli airstrikes hit Hezbollah warehouses in the outskirts of Damascus overnight.

Other action in Syria related to he civil war - relatively quiet except for Turkish shelling/bombing in the northern regions of the country.
__________________________________

Turkey -
See drone sales to Ukraine
______________________________________


62 posted on 01/31/2022 6:41:11 PM PST by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: null and void; aragorn; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; Beautiful_Gracious_Skies; BusterDog; bgill; bitt; ...

________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

TOPIC NOTE- These protests and national responses to the wuhan disease are evidence that it is not about the disease but control. The WEF has openly stated that they want to us this to usher in the ‘great reset’ ( a desire echoed by biden as well). However, as long as the population refuses to succumb to these lockdowns and restrictions, the WEF will find its goals delayed. Hence I’m tracking them here rather than wuhan. If action in the US starts to turn violent, I’ll track under CW2//Domestic Violence.

Trucker’s protest continues to lock up Ottawa while another action at the Montana/Alberta Coutts border crossing is increasing in attention. A group of truckers parked have been given a police SWAT team ultimatum to move. They just voted to refuse. A group of farmers managed to push their way through the RCMP positions to bring food and supplies to the truckers. RCMP/police have attempted to contract tow truck companies to come and support attempted to pull truckers out of the way. Word is these towing companies are refusing to come to the assistance of the govt.
FYI - Coutts Alberta border crossing is where Interstate 15 enters Canada from Montana.
Trudeau poked his head up on Twitter and attacked the protests saying -
“Today in the House, Members of Parliament unanimously condemned the antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, homophobia, and transphobia that we’ve seen on display in Ottawa over the past number of days. “

OBSERVATION - Govt propaganda echoed by Canadian MSM is trying to paint this protest as terrorism, racism, etc. However, the protest seem to be gathering more support across the country. So far, the protests have been peaceful, with very few arrests. Govt/RCMP responses are increasingly taking on a potentially violent effort to break the protests.
BTW, - Great vid of farmers pushing around a RCMP barricade on a supply run to truckers blocking the border point
https://notthebee.com/article/watch-as-a-phalanx-of-canadian-farmers-breaks-through-a-police-barricade-in-support-of-truckers-protesting-the-vax-mandate

Calls for a similar movement have been echoing around the world, and on Jan. 31, a crowd organized under a “Convoy to Canberra” campaign gathered in front of the Australia’s national legislature, ‘Australia has issued increasingly tyrannical rules, forcibly ‘quarantining’ in many instances the unjabbed.

US Truckers are in the planning stage for a similar Kalifornia to DC convoy.

Austria’s lockdown of unjabbed individuals ends today. However the country is moving forward with mandated national jabs. According to a report by Kronen Zeitung, unvaccinated individuals will be allowed to exercise outdoors “without good reason” from today, as well as visit friends without fear of legal repercussions. However, with the maintenance of the nation’s strict “2G” vaccine pass rules, unjabbed individuals will still be refused service in bars and restaurants, while also remaining barred from entering non-essential retail.
The unjabbed — who make up roughly 17 per cent of Austria’s population according to Kronen Zeitung — are also reportedly still banned from attending events in the country.

On Tuesday, Denmark lifted nearly all the restrictions authorities had imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19, despite a high incidence rate in the country. Danes will no longer be required to wear face masks or present COVID-19 health passes indicating proof of vaccination, recovery or a recent negative test result.
When Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the easing of restrictions on February 1, she said, “We are ready to step out of the shadow of the coronavirus. We say ‘goodbye’ to restrictions and ‘welcome’ to the life we knew before.”
Joining the growing trend, the government in Norway also said it will remove most COVID restrictions.

OBSERVATION - The growing push back (trucker protests) and nation’s removing restrictions are growing evidence of the GGR losing grip of the narrative as fear is failing to control the masses

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in letters to seven governors, is reaffirming the need for members of their states’ Army and Air National Guards to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine or lose their Guard status.
In nearly identical letters signed late last week, Austin tells the governors that the virus “takes our service members out of the fight, temporarily or permanently, and jeopardizes our ability to meet mission requirements,” according to copies obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

OBSERVATION - Austin is triple jabbed and still came down with wuhan, reinforcing the fact that the jab doesn’t prevent infection and that the jab may well be inflicting other ills on our military.

India’s finance minister has said the country will launch a digital version of the rupee as early as this year.
In her annual budget speech, Nirmala Sitharaman also outlined plans for a 30% tax on income from digital assets.
It would put profits from trading or transferring cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens in the country’s highest tax band.
OBSERVATION - Control the currency, control the people.
_____________________________

Wuhan virus -

The Son of Omicron - BA.2 form of the omicron coronavirus variant does not seem to be any more severe than the original BA.1 form, an official of the World Health Organization said on Tuesday. The subvariant is already becoming dominant in the Philippines, Nepal, Qatar, India and Denmark.

Japanese trading and pharmaceuticals company Kowa Co Ltd on Monday said that anti-parasite drug ivermectin showed an “antiviral effect” against omicron and other coronavirus variants in joint non-clinical research.

The use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 is currently being investigated in a UK trial run by the University of Oxford. The researchers said on Monday that it was still under way and they did not want to comment further until they have results to report.

A Johns Hopkins University literature review and meta-analysis of the effects of lockdowns on mortality stemming from the Chinese coronavirus found that “lockdowns have had little to no public health effects,” and have “imposed enormous economic and social costs where they have been adopted.” “While this meta-analysis concludes that lockdowns have had little to no public health effects, they have imposed enormous economic and social costs where they have been adopted,” the authors of the Johns Hopkins University review wrote. “In consequence, lockdown policies are ill-founded and should be rejected as a pandemic policy instrument,” they added.
https://sites.krieger.jhu.edu/iae/files/2022/01/A-Literature-Review-and-Meta-Analysis-of-the-Effects-of-Lockdowns-on-COVID-19-Mortality.pdf
_____________________________

Economy -

The govt is facing a February 18th deadline to get a budget for FY 2022 passed, or face a continuing resolution as a stop gap. Part of the urgency is biden’s / democrats’ desire to structure funding before the midterms. However, observers suggest that the omnibus bill support is slipping quickly.

US national debt has broken through the 30 Trillion dollar window.

Companies cut jobs in January for the first time in more than a year as the spread of the Covid omicron variant appeared to hit hiring, payroll processing firm ADP reported Wednesday. Private payrolls fell by 301,000 for the month, well below the Dow Jones estimate for growth of 200,000 and a marked plunge from the downwardly revised 776,000 gain in December. It was the first time ADP reported negative job growth since December 2020.
______________________________

Invasion of Illegals -

Reverberations from border patrol members meeting with the DHS chief are still ringing around the internet. This is nothing short of deliberate ignoring of immigration laws by biden administration.
Texas is enforcing its anti-trespassing law against illegals in a much larger way. Democrats are screaming to the DOJ to take action to stop the policy and enforcement.
______________________________

CW2/Domestic violence -

Biden administration has compiled the records of nearly one billion gun purchases in the United States, the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) admitted in a letter reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon and first reported on Monday. In the letter to Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX), the ATF revealed that it has a database of 920,664,765 firearm purchase records. The letter was dated Dec. 21, 2021 and was not leaked until this week. “A federal firearm registry is explicitly banned by law. Yet, the Biden administration is again circumventing Congress and enabling the notably corrupt ATF to manage a database of nearly a billion gun transfer records,”
OBSERVATION - This is an end around of the prohibition of establishing a national database. But as been noted many times, biden has no concerns about ignoring laws they don’t agree with.

Another day, another memorial service for a killed police officer. Police have been increasingly targeted - both on and off duty - for assassination style attacks. Ground zero of late has been NYC, as a liberal mayor with questionable pro-law enforcement credentials and a soros-DA take ‘charge’.
OBSERVATION - On a deeper level, gangs have been emboldened to attack police in a classic insurgent manner. Most likely encouraged by deep BLM/Antifa leadership elements as an additional method to destabilize major cities and law enforcement.
_________________________________

CANCEL CULTURE FRONT -

Jeff Zucker has resigned as president of CNN.
__________________________________

Strategic Activity / Deployments -

The Pentagon ordered 3000 US troops to deploy to locations in Europe including approx 2,000 US troops to Poland and additional few thousand to southeastern NATO countries, including Romania. These forces are in addition to the 8500 presently on standby for deployment.

In a phone call on Tuesday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Abu bin Zayed Al Nahyan the Pentagon would send the “guided-missile destroyer USS Cole to partner with the UAE Navy before making a port call in Abu Dhabi”. Austin also told the crown prince that Washington would deploy fifth-generation fighter aircraft – a classification that includes US-made F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lighting II combat jets – to the UAE to “assist against the current threat”.
OBSERVATION - Houthis have increased rocket and drone attacks on UAE as they have been supporting Saudi efforts to quell the Iranian supported terror group.
_________________________________

China -

In China, Olympics organizers reported a total of 24 more new cases of COVID-19 being detected within what they are calling a “closed loop” bubble of Olympics event personnel and athletes.
Huang Chun, deputy director general of China’s Olympics Pandemic Prevention and Control Office said the new case numbers were within the “expected controllable range.”
“As more people are entering China the imported COVID-19 cases are increasing,” Huang said. The 2022 Winter Olympics start on February 4 and run until February 20.
____________________________________

Russia -

INCREASED WARNING ONGOING - OSINT and other analysts are noting the continued build up of military assets that go far beyond those necessary for a military ‘exercise’. Putin has seriously deployed for combat and can execute several options at any moment.
Russia has deployed elements of 10 army groups and an army corps near Ukraine (probably 70+ BTGs). Of those, only 3 CAAs are permanently stationed to cover Russia’s south-western borders. Total estimated force of approximately 160K to 170K. The increase is therefore substantial in terms of size and capabilities, but also broad in terms of the territory covered.

Russian deployments indicate the capability to launch an offensive against Ukraine along 7 fronts: from the Union State of Russia and Belarus, from the Russian Federation, from Russian-occupied Donbas, from the Sea of Azov, from Russian-occupied Crimea, from the Black Sea, from Russian-occupied Moldova.

Most likely course of action - Limited invasion via territory held by separatists to firm up their positions and attempt to create a land bridge to Crimea while securing water source for Crimea cut off by Ukraine in 2014. Such a limited attack will enable Russia to continue to pressure Ukraine toward a more favorable government and push more NATO splits.

Russian activity in Syria has significantly decreased over the past few days. Possibly redirection or conservation of supplies for diversion to the Ukraine operational requirements.

********

New satellite photos taken by Maxar show an increased level of unspecified activity by Russian troops surrounding the Ukrainian border in Belarus, Crimea and Western Russia.

Thousands of Russians, including intellectuals and activists are reportedly urging the Kremlin to avoid an ‘immoral, irresponsible, and criminal’ war with Ukraine.

TACTICAL OBSERVATION - Some pundits are dismissing the importance of solid (frozen) terrain will have on Russia’s ability to launch an offensive. Their argument is that they train for all seasons and ‘mud’ won’t deter them. This is only correction part. Offensive operations can be conduced in poor soil conditions, but tracked vehicles are not immune to being bogged down in the mud. Poor soil conditions will also channelize forces along better routes in an effort to maintain operational tempo. Channelization helps the defense to concentrate firepower.
Another key area is logistics. Most supplies necessary for Russian combat operations are carried on wheeled vehicles. Anyone who’s seen how armor tears up soft soils will recognize that logistics will be forced to stay to established roads or risk being stuck in the mud. /The spread of Russian forces along the Ukraine border (look it up, Ukraine is almost as large as Western Europe) will strain logistics as is. Russia will be hard pressed to maintain a blitzkrieg style of an operation if it can get fuel and ammo.
____________________________________

Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Temperatures forecast thru Feb 9 show milder temperatures and snow with rain towards the end of the reporting period.

A new email alert that has been issued by the US embassy in Ukraine has advised Americans to contact the U.S. Embassy if they need financial assistance to purchase an airplane ticket out of the country.

The Foreign Ministers of Germany, France, Austria, Czech Republic And Slovakia are set to visit Ukraine next week according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko.
___________________________________

Belarus -

Units of the Belarusian and Russian armies began combat coordination at the Brestsky training ground
_______________________________________

Syria -

Turkish forces expanded their offensive in Tel Abyad and Ain Issa areas, northern Syria. Russian activity has dropped off significantly.
__________________________________


63 posted on 02/02/2022 9:01:51 AM PST by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: null and void; aragorn; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; Beautiful_Gracious_Skies; BusterDog; bgill; bitt; ...

________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

TOPIC NOTE- These protests and national responses to the wuhan disease are evidence that it is not about the disease but control. The WEF has openly stated that they want to us this to usher in the ‘great reset’ ( a desire echoed by biden as well). However, as long as the population refuses to succumb to these lockdowns and restrictions, the WEF will find its goals delayed. Hence I’m tracking them here rather than wuhan. If action in the US starts to turn violent, I’ll track under CW2//Domestic Violence.

Trucker protest continues in Ottawa and at the Coutts border crossing.
At Coutts, truckers have made a gesture in good faith by opening one lane of traffic thru the check point.
Possibly related - Quebec Premier François Legault has scrapped his proposed tax on the unvaccinated, sources tell CBC and Radio-Canada. As first reported by La Presse, the premier is set to make the announcement at a press conference this afternoon, at 1 p.m.
The tax, which was announced in January by the premier, would have imposed a monetary penalty on Quebecers who did not get their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
A poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute found that 54 per cent of Canadians agree “it’s time to end restrictions,” with the “strongly agree” category of answer rising by 11 points in just a fortnight.
The survey also revealed that a majority of people in every area apart from Atlantic Canada “feel the time is now to open things up.”
The shift in sentiment has been attributed to the success of the Freedom Convoy, who despite their vilification by the media and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have seen support for their demonstration grow.
OBSERVATION - trudeau is losing the narrative and propaganda effort. Truckers are holding to non-violence and principles. Major concern continues to be an attempt to violently break up the protests by police/RCMP/Military. Politicians OTOH are reading the tea leaves and recognizing the growing popular support the protests are gaining.

Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin has announced that the country will be lifting all Wuhan coronavirus restrictions by mid-February as the country starts easing some restrictions this week.
_____________________________

CW2/Domestic violence -

The Army said Wednesday it will immediately begin discharging soldiers who have refused to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine, putting more than 3,300 service members at risk of being thrown out soon.
The Army’s announcement makes it the final military service to lay out its discharge policy for vaccine refusers. The Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy have already discharged active-duty troops or entry-level personnel at boot camps for refusing the shots. So far, the Army has not discharged any.

Navy allegedly defying court order, punishing SEALs seeking religious exemptions to vax mandate. Violations include Naval officials prohibiting one Seal from getting medial treatment, another “is required to get special permission from the Commanding Officer to leave the base for any reason, even to get groceries or fill his car with gas,”
The federal court ruled in January that the Navy “merely rubber stamps each denial” of COVID vaccine Religious Accommodation Requests, which the judge said was unconstitutional.

OBSERVATION - The biden govt continues it purge of our military under the guise of vaccine mandates and as the case of the Navy Seals, they will violate court orders and law to accomplish that goal. A demoralized / gutted military makes us more susceptible to foreign threats as well as confusing response to any internal crisis.
_________________________________

CYBER/CANCEL CULTURE FRONT -

American truckers are following Canada’s lead and organizing a protest against vaccine mandates. The U.S. group’s Facebook page, however, was removed early Wednesday in a move that the organizer called “censorship at its finest.”
The group, titled “Convoy to D.C. 2022,” acted as a place for truckers to plan and coordinate their trek from California to Washington, D.C.
OBSERVATION - GoFundMe is also playing games with funding for the Canadian, Australian and US trucker protests.
___________________________________

Strategic Activity / Deployments -

Pentagon Press Sec Kirby announced that 1,000 American troops will be repositioned from Germany to Romania, while another 2,000 are set to be deployed to Europe from the U.S. in the coming days.

Pentagon officials say US on high alert awaiting Putin’s next step.
_________________________________

China -

The Beijing Winter Olympics drew a frosty reception in India on Wednesday after a Chinese soldier involved in a deadly Himalayan skirmish took part in the traditional torch relay. Qi Fabao, a regiment commander for the People’s Liberation Army, was tasked with overseeing troops involved in a high-altitude clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Galwan Valley, which is disputed between the world’s two most populous nations.

China is trying to get to the F35 crash site to retrieve the fighter before the US. It would be technological boon to Xi to get their hands on it.
____________________________________

Russia -

INCREASED WARNING ONGOING - OSINT and other analysts are noting the continued build up of military assets that go far beyond those necessary for a military ‘exercise’. Putin has seriously deployed for combat and can execute several options at any moment.
Russia has deployed elements of 10 army groups and an army corps near Ukraine (probably 70+ BTGs). Of those, only 3 CAAs are permanently stationed to cover Russia’s south-western borders. Total estimated force of approximately 160K to 170K. The increase is therefore substantial in terms of size and capabilities, but also broad in terms of the territory covered.

Russian deployments indicate the capability to launch an offensive against Ukraine along 7 fronts: from the Union State of Russia and Belarus, from the Russian Federation, from Russian-occupied Donbas, from the Sea of Azov, from Russian-occupied Crimea, from the Black Sea, from Russian-occupied Moldova.

Most likely course of action - Limited invasion via territory held by separatists to firm up their positions and attempt to create a land bridge to Crimea while securing water source for Crimea cut off by Ukraine in 2014. Such a limited attack will enable Russia to continue to pressure Ukraine toward a more favorable government and push more NATO splits.

Russian activity in Syria has significantly decreased over the past few days. Possibly redirection or conservation of supplies for diversion to the Ukraine operational requirements.

********

Satellite photos taken by Maxar noted yesterday allegedly created a stir, boosting US and NATO readiness levels. Note - these are commercial/private sources and I can clearly state that US/NATO have far better imagery and intelligence platforms to base any concerns / reaction on.

The United States could be willing to enter into an agreement with Russia to ease tensions over missile deployments in Europe if Moscow steps back from the brink in Ukraine, according to a leaked document published in a Spanish newspaper on Wednesday.
The U.S. document, marked as a confidential “non-paper,” said that the United States would be willing to discuss in consultation with its NATO partners “a transparency mechanism to confirm the absences of Tomahawk cruise missiles at Aegis Ashore sites in Romania and Poland.” That would happen on condition that Russia “offers reciprocal transparency measures on two ground-launched missiles bases of our choosing in Russia.”

Russian vessels headed to the relocated Ireland protected exercise reported consist of -
- RKR / CG Marshal Ustinov
- BPK / DD Vice-Admiral Kulakov
- FR / FFG Admiral Kasatonov
- Seagoing Rescue Tug SB-406
- Medium seagoing tanker Vyazma and Kama
____________________________________

Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Temperatures forecast thru Feb 12 show milder temperatures and snow with rain towards the end of the reporting period.

___________________________________

Belarus -

Belarus claims to have shot down a Ukrainian drone that entered its airspace . Ukraine has denied it

Estonia introduced additional sanctions on the transit of oil products from Belarus. “We decided to introduce additional sanctions from Estonia, which will put goods under the code 2707 under sanctions,”

NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the deployment of ~30,000 Russian troops to Belarus for the joint Union Resolve exercise on 10-20 February was the biggest such deployment in 30 years
_______________________________________

Europe / NATO General -

NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomes US troops deployments to eastern Europe amid heightened tensions with Russia about Mocow’s military build-up on Ukraine’s borders

The French Navy’s Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group left today for its Clemenceau 22 deployment, which will last until April and take the CSG to the Mediterranean.
Task Force 473 is built around aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91) and includes European Union, NATO and French partner nations during the deployment. French Navy ships in the task group along with Charles de Gaulle are destroyer FS Forbin (D620), frigates FS Alsace (D656) and FS Normandie (D651), replenishment ship FS Marne (A630) and a nuclear attack submarine. Partner ships integrated into the group are U.S. Navy destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71), Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Juan de Borbon (F102), Hellenic Navy frigate HS Adrias (F459) and Royal Moroccan Navy corvette Sultan Moulay Ismail (614). A Hellenic Navy submarine will join the task force on Feb. 7.

____________________________________

Israel -

On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced that Israel will be fast-tracking the development of a laser defense system that will be used to defend against attacks from Gaza and Hezbollah. The lasers, using an autonomous detection and tracking system, will superheat drones and rockets which the developers claim will catch on fire within a few seconds. The system will supplement the Iron Dome that operates against short-range projectiles with the lasers concentrating on smaller projectiles.
The new laser-based system will drastically reduce the cost of defending against the frequent rocket attacks that target Israeli cities. The Iron Dome systems deployed around Israel to protect its cities cost $50 million per battery and $100,000–150,000 per interception. Hamas fires low-tech missiles that are inexpensive and inaccurate.
OBSERVATION - Israel continues to plan to fight the next war and an effective operational laser system would be a game changer.. Hamas/Hezebollah/Iranian rocket /missile threats are huge on their radar screen . A successful laser system would greatly augment Iron Dome.
____________________________________

Syria -

The leader of the Islamic State (IS) group has been killed in an overnight US special forces raid in north-western Syria, senior US officials say. “Thanks to the skill and bravery of our armed forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi,”. He is the successor to al-Baghdadi, who US forces took out in October 2019. Biden said. Qurayshi detonated a bomb that killed him and members of his own family, administration officials told US media.
OBSERVATION - ISIS has returned under biden in a larger way, expanding controlled territory in Syria and Iraq.

The Turkish army is escalating tensions around Derîk, a region which has largely escaped the war in Syria, for unknown reasons. Shelling targeted Qasruk, Kasan, Jam Sharaf, and Nuala Kura in NE Syria
__________________________________

Turkey -

See Syria.
______________________________________


64 posted on 02/03/2022 7:55:55 AM PST by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Godzilla
"The leader of the Islamic State (IS) group has been killed in an overnight US special forces raid in north-western Syria, senior US officials say. “Thanks to the skill and bravery of our armed forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi,”. He is the successor to al-Baghdadi, who US forces took out in October 2019. Biden said.
IMHO- this is a way to improve Biden's image as a forceful leader.
65 posted on 02/03/2022 7:54:44 PM PST by Redcitizen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: null and void; aragorn; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; Beautiful_Gracious_Skies; BusterDog; bgill; bitt; ...

Amazing how quickly things move on a daily basis. Can’t stand down for a day.

Threat Trending Code Color Key -

BLACK - An area worth noting, but not immediately impacting on US safety
BLUE - Incidents increasing and needing further monitoring, low threat to the US
YELLOW - This is the moderate concern level. Definitely becoming a threat but in the longer term.
ORANGE - A definite threat in both short term and long term. Some active events occurring
RED - Active and ongoing. Examples of this would be 2020 rioting, etc.

_____________________________

Globalism / Great Reset - YELLOW trending upward *unchanged*
DISCUSSION - The Canadian Trucker protests are poising a significant threat to GGR power via Trudeau

Ottawa authorities are trying to swing the narrative by claiming that the protests are generated by Americans and that they have showed up armed and ready for violence. Ottawa mayor looking into getting the military involved in breaking up the protest.
An expansion of the Ottawa protest is expected this week end as more supporters are coming to join the truckers. Polls show increasing support for the Truckers and support to remove oppressive mandates.
Protest gaining results as another Provience responds. Premier Scott Moe, the governor of Saskatchewan, a Canadian province that borders the US, announces an end to all COVID regulations — including passports — in his province: “It’s time to look at ending all remaining Covid measures and restrictions.”
OBSERVATIONS - Concerns about a ‘false flag’ operation to justify forceful response to break up the protest. However, protestors have been overt in maintaining the peaceful nature of the protest as well as policing their own. Smearing by govt and Canadian MSM is not gaining any traction.
________________________________

Wuhan virus - YELLOW *last updated 12-10-21*
DISCUSSION - OMICRON fear porn continues to dominate the MSM. Now there is a Son of Omicron to fear.

Israel has one of the highest jab rates in the world, however, infections are skyrocketing with as much as 80% being ‘fully vaccinated’ with at least one booster. Ten days ago an “expert panel” in Israel recommended a fourth dose of the COVID vaccine to protect the people from wuhan.
Israel now has the highest COVID number of COVID deaths per one million people in the world.
OBSERVATION - Just more proof that the jabs don’t work.
_____________________________

Economy - ORANGE trending upward *unchanged*
DISCUSSION - Maintaining color code pending first Fed rate increase. Increasing threat of deep recession / depression as the Fed tries to control inflation.

467K jobs were added in January 2022.

New orders for U.S.-made goods fell twice as much as expected in January–and by even more than that in inflation-adjusted terms.
The Commerce Department said on Thursday that factory orders dropped 0.4 percent in December, the largest month-to-month drop since the pandemic lockdown crash of April 2020. Economists had forecast orders tumbling just 0.2 percent.
Factory orders are measured in nominal dollars, meaning they do not take into account inflation. When prices are rising rapidly, as they did for most of last year, even a rise in orders can actually be a contraction of output because factories may be putting out fewer goods that have higher prices.
______________________________

Invasion of Illegals - ORANGE trending upward *unchanged*

DISCUSSION - Illegals continue to push across the border with record numbers
______________________________

Biden watch - ORANGE trending upward *unchanged*
DISCUSSION - Mental facilities continue to degrade

Pelosi reportedly plans a much smaller State of the Union crowd - 25 select persons. Observers suggesting that it is biden’s diminished mental facilities / dementia and that a larger crowd could trigger some serious breakdowns.

A fifth staffer from Harris’ office has left. More rumors of discontent and abuse. Hardly an endorsement of the potential president.
___________________________

CW2/Domestic violence - YELLOW trending neutral to down *updated 01/21/22*
DISCUSSION - Generally quiet activity on the BLM/Antifa front. Rampant crime continues

A Minneapolis police officer fatally shot a man in a downtown apartment complex Wednesday, triggering BLM calls for arrest and prosecution for murder. Potential for restart of violence in the Twin Cities.
_________________________________

POLITICAL FRONT - YELLOW and increasing *updated 01-28-22*
DISCUSSION - Between democrats trying to regroup after failing to pass HR1, BBB, economic crash and plunging poll numbers, now a supreme court nominee to process.

Democrats dealing with the dumpster fire carried over from BBB and HR1 , now with a new USSC pick and a looming budget timeline.
_____________________________________

Strategic Activity / Deployments - ORANGE (UPDATED 01/21/2022) *status raised*

3,000 U.S. Army soldiers from the 82d ABN Div and 18th Airborne Corps were deployed to Europe on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022 from Fort Bragg, N.C. President Biden is ordering 2,000 U.S. troops to Poland and Germany . 8,500 are still on standby for deployment.
_________________________________

China - ORANGE trending neutral to upward

Olympics began today, and China has already arrested/detained a Dutch journalist as he was preparing to report live on camera.
____________________________________

Russia - ORANGE and increasing *last updated 121021*
DISCUSSION - INCREASED WARNING ONGOING - OSINT and other analysts are noting the continued build up of military assets that go far beyond those necessary for a military ‘exercise’. Putin has seriously deployed for combat and can execute several options at any moment. Current indicators are that Russia is more inclined to launch a full scale attack against the Ukraine with the purpose of overthrowing the government.
Russian deployments indicate the capability to launch an offensive against Ukraine along 7 fronts: from the Union State of Russia and Belarus, from the Russian Federation, from Russian-occupied Donbas, from the Sea of Azov, from Russian-occupied Crimea, from the Black Sea, from Russian-occupied Moldova. Upwards of 170,000 troops estimated to be in place.

WEATHER - Temperatures are warming above freezing thru mid Feb, increasing likelyhood of muddy field conditions.

*********

Russia planned to release a fake video to build support for invading Ukraine, senior Biden administration officials and others told The New York Times. U.S. intelligence learned of Moscow’s plans to stage and film a fabricated attack by the Ukrainian military either on Russian territory or against Russian-speaking people in eastern Ukraine. Russia intended to use the video to accuse Ukraine of “genocide” against Russian-speaking people and justify an attack or have separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine invite a Russian intervention.
Russia denies the allegation.
OBSERVATION - Russia has used the justification of protecting Russian speaking people from genocide for their other invasions into eastern Europe. That plays well to the Russian public who’s support is necessary as a distraction to the current economic woes.

Kremlin publishes a statement saying Russia and China are calling for halt to NATO expansion. They are concerned about the military alliance of America, Britain and Australia in the Pacific and Indian regions.
Russia and China signed an agreement on cooperation of GLONASS and BeiDou. Systems will complement each other.

OBSERVATION - Russia and China have cooperated in the past and in the face of a weak US the cooperation has increased. However, I think there is still some mutual suspicion between them because they are competitors as well as joining to oppose a common enemy - the US.

Russia stated on Thursday that it would be “absolutely justified” in responding to the Pentagon’s deployment of 3,000 troops to Poland, Romania and Germany. Meanwhile the leader of Belarus stated “I will do everything so that Ukraine becomes ours. She is our Ukraine”.
____________________________________

Ukraine - ORANGE trending upward *updated 121021*
Increased potential of an attack by Russia.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed his country’s alliance with Turkey on Thursday following a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Kyiv regarding the Russia standoff.
____________________________________

Belarus - YELLOW *updated 121021*
DISCUSSION -

Observers note that approximately 30,000 Russian troops are in country participating in military maneuvers with the Belarusian military over the course of the next couple weeks.
________________________________________

Poland - YELLOW trending upward *updated 121021*

Poland continuing to ship ammo and other munitions to Ukraine. Country to receive about 2000 US soldiers being deployed from the 82d ABN.
________________________________________

Europe General - YELLOW TRENDING UPWARD *updated 121021*
DISCUSSION - Increasing potential that NATO will become involved in an Ukraine invasion as Poland, Romania and the Baltic Nations respond.

British Prime Minister’s spokesman: Johnson is confident that Russia is looking to create a pretext to invade Ukraine.
____________________________________

Israel - ORANGE trending neutral to upward *unchanged*
DISCUSSION - Ongoing threat from Hezbollah and Iran continues.
____________________________________

Iran - ORANGE *unchanged*

Biden administration officials expect terms of a new nuclear agreement are likely to leave Iran in a position to amass fuel for a bomb in less than a year, The Wall Street Journal is reporting.
The newspaper, attributing the information to officials familiar with the matter, said the administration reached the conclusion in late 2021. They maintain Iran’s nuclear program had progressed too far to mandate the 12-month so-called breakout period that was in the 2015 agreement.
US officials believe a breakout period shorter than six months wouldn’t give the US enough time to respond if Iran decided to ramp up its nuclear program.

OBSERVATION - Iran’s nuclear capability is the biggest red line in the world right now. Under biden, they’ve been able to proceed unhindered and treaty talks have just served to allow Iran to set the agenda. Israel will strike - period.
_________________________________

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan - YELLOW

Afghanistan’s opium production skyrocketed in 2021, potentially providing the Taliban government a source of revenue between $1.8 billion and $2.7 billion, according to a new report from the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR).
The war-torn nation’s illegal opiate production in 2021 ranked as the third-highest recorded since the United Nations began reporting it in 1994. It comprised between 9 and 14 percent of Afghanistan’s gross domestic product and exceeded the value of all of the country’s officially recorded legal exports in 2020.
___________________________________

Venezuela - BLUE

Venezuela is moving troops to the border with Colombia with technical assistance from Russia and Iran, Colombia’s defense minister Diego Molano said on Thursday, calling the possible deployment “foreign interference.” Molano, citing intelligence sources, said troop movements were registered in Venezuela opposite Colombia’s Arauca province, the scene of fierce fighting between guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and FARC dissidents for control of the drugs trade.
Fighting between the groups over control of drug trafficking and other illicit economies began in Venezuela’s Apure state, and spread to Colombia, Molano said.
______________________________________

Colombia - BLUE

See Venezuela
______________________________________


66 posted on 02/04/2022 2:26:31 PM PST by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: null and void; aragorn; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; Beautiful_Gracious_Skies; BusterDog; bgill; bitt; ...

________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

TOPIC NOTE- These protests and national responses to the wuhan disease are evidence that it is not about the disease but control. The WEF has openly stated that they want to us this to usher in the ‘great reset’ ( a desire echoed by biden as well). However, as long as the population refuses to succumb to these lockdowns and restrictions, the WEF will find its goals delayed. Hence I’m tracking them here rather than wuhan. If action in the US starts to turn violent, I’ll track under CW2//Domestic Violence.

The Czech Health Ministry has announced a plan for relaxing pandemic-related restrictions, such as vaccine passports, in light of recent data. Starting February 9, it will no longer be necessary to prove COVID-19 vaccination or recent recovery from the virus to enter sports, cultural and other events or to access other services in the country.

Canadian Trucker protest may be entering a new stage this weekend. Ottawa police are preparing for up to 1,000 counter-demonstrators to take to the streets Saturday. Organizer Mackenzie Demers described the event as an anti-hate protest designed to show Ottawa residents do not accept “the terrorists occupying our city centre.”.
An influx of Trucker supporters are also expected in Ottawa this weekend as well. Have to monitor to see just what level of violence is instigated the counterprotestors.
OBSERVATION - Information indicates that these are not the common citizen of Ottawa, but actually Antifa agitators.

Meanwhile, the Ottawa police have increased their infiltration efforts working with Canadian national intelligence units to gather key information on protestors. The outlined measures include deploying an additional 150 municipal police officers and undercover federal agents to infiltrate the protest and gather intelligence useful for the purpose of eliminating their effort. Chief Sloly outlined that federal intelligence authorities will be “collecting financial, digital, vehicle registration, driver identification, insurance status and other related evidence that will be used in prosecution.” The police chief also initially called for the us of the military to clear the protestors, but the military rebuffed the idea.
OBSERVATION - Canadian MSM has been running trumped up police charges of violence by the protestors, with little traction being gained with the public.

GoFundMe locked the account raised for the protest, initially saying it will divert all funds to verified “charities” of its own choosing. Rumors have it that Trudeau has been leaning heavily on the company to block support. Contributors to the fund appear to have launched a successful effort to have donors dispute the charges with their credit card companies. Such disputes could cause GoFundMe to pay an additional $10-15 dispute fee per challenge on top of the donated amount. NOTE - There are over 120,000 contributors at a $15 fee this had the potential to hit GFM with a $1.6 million in fees. This has caused GoFundMen to preemptively move to refund all donations.
Fund raising has shifted to GiveSendGo. However, that site has suddenly been hit by heavy DDOS and bot attacks. In spite of the effort to shut down the site, protest supporters note that GSG campaign has already raised over 1.1mil in just over 12 hours. Apparently the blowback from GoFundMe has increased support for the truckers.
OBSERVATION - The desperate attempts to defund the protest indicate how severe the threat of peaceful protests have struck fear into the proto-GGR rule envisioned for Canada. Trudeau is a GGF/WEF acolyte and is desperate to hold control.

_____________________________

Wuhan virus -

Britain’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released data indicating that children who received the COVID-19 jabs have suffered a death rate 54 times greater than that of their un-jabbed counterparts.
In December, the ONS published age-standardized data on the mortality rates of individuals in 5-year age sets in Britain, grouped by their “vaccination” status for the COVID-19 shots. The data accounts for the period from January 1 to October 31, 2021.
_____________________________

Economy -

More pain in the pocket book as food prices continued to rise in January. The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) Food Price Index (FFPI), a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities, averaged 135.7 points last month, up 1.5 points (1.1%) higher than in December. FFPI nears the 2011’s all-time high and could hit soon hit a record high
Rome-based FAO said the meat index had the most significant monthly jump, up 17.3%. Next was a 4.2% increase in the vegetable oils index (marking an all-time high), the dairy index rose 2.4%, cereals were flat, and sugar was down 3.1%.

Gas prices rose to the highest level in more than seven years Friday, on the heels of the U.S. oil benchmark topping $90 per barrel for the first time since 2014. The national average for a gallon of gas stood at $3.423 on Friday, according to AAA, slightly surpassing the prior high-water mark of $3.422 from Nov. 8. Friday’s price means consumers are now paying the most at the pump since Sept. 10, 2014, AAA data shows. The national average stood at $2.44 a year ago.
______________________________

CW2/Domestic violence -

A group of lawmakers led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have re-introduced the EARN IT Act, an incredibly unpopular bill from 2020 that was dropped in the face of overwhelming opposition. Let’s be clear: the new EARN IT Act would pave the way for a massive new surveillance system, run by private companies, that would roll back some of the most important privacy and security features in technology used by people around the globe.
It’s a framework for private actors to scan every message sent online and report violations to law enforcement. And it might not stop there.
The goal is to get states to pass laws that will punish companies when they deploy end-to-end encryption, or offer other encrypted services. This includes messaging services like WhatsApp, Signal, and iMessage, as well as web hosts like Amazon Web Services. The EARN IT Act could ensure that anything hosted online—backups, websites, cloud photos, and more—is scanned.
OBSERVATION - Govt abuse is ripe in this proposed bill, and as the country drifts into a hotter CW2 scenario, privacy would be difficult.
_________________________________

CYBER/CANCEL CULTURE FRONT -

Joe Rogan is back on Spotify after new episodes were halted for a week, but the streaming giant also removed 70 older episodes without explanation. Many of the podcasts that were yanked involved far-right commentators - or outright conspiracy theorists - and included Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos, Owen Benjamin and Canadian writer Gavin Miles McInnes.
OBSERVATION - Spotify is between a rock and a hard place. Hard core leftists demanding Rogan be censored for not toeing the party line, but Rogan is not a conservative. The infighting could damage Spotify’s bottom line and credibility on both sides of the spectrum.
___________________________________

Strategic Activity / Deployments -

Deployment of US military to Eastern Europe is underway.
_________________________________

China -

FOLLOW UP - “A Dutch reporter covering the Beijing Winter Olympics was captured being dragged away by Chinese security live on air, before the opening ceremony could even finish.
“Sjoerd den Daas, a correspondent for NOS Journaal, was covering the long-awaited opening of games in China when a man wearing a red armband entered the frame and grabbed the journalist by the shoulders.
“Mr den Daas attempted to continue his broadcast but was pulled away, in an example of one of China’s latest tactics at intimidating foreign reporters.”
“Our correspondent @sjoerddendaas was pulled away from the camera live in the NOS Journaal at 12.00 pm by security guards. Unfortunately, this is increasingly becoming a daily reality for journalists in China. He is fine and was able to finish his story a few minutes later”
OBSERVATION - a shot across the bow to keep journalists under their thumb and not get any ideas.
____________________________________

North Korea -

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rides white horse in latest propaganda video. “White horse is a symbol of the Kim family’s dynastic rule in North Korea. The video of Kim participating in outdoor activities comes amid rising speculation over his health”
__________________________________

Russia -

INCREASED WARNING ONGOING - OSINT and other analysts are noting the continued build up of military assets that go far beyond those necessary for a military ‘exercise’. Putin has seriously deployed for combat and can execute several options at any moment.

****Update ****
Russia has deployed elements of 10 army groups and an army corps near Ukraine. Current count of BTGs (battalion tactical groups) has increased from about 70 to 83 with at least 14 more in transit, making a total potential force of 97 BTGs. To keep in perspective, TASS reported last year that Russia has 170 active BTGs, SO AT PRESENT over half of their ground forces are in the Ukraine theatre. Total estimated force of approximately 160K to 170K. The increase is therefore substantial in terms of size and capabilities, but also broad in terms of the territory covered. National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin has reported that Putin has in place 70% of necessary forces needed for an Ukraine invasion.

A battalion tactical group (BTG) is a temporary operationally flexible formation set up on the basis of a battalion and attached artillery, air defense, engineering and logistics support units for combat operations as part of motor rifle and tank brigades. Aviation groups, special operations forces and other units can also be attached to a battalion tactical group to accomplish assigned missions.

Russian deployments indicate the capability to launch an offensive against Ukraine along 7 fronts: from the Union State of Russia and Belarus, from the Russian Federation, from Russian-occupied Donbas, from the Sea of Azov, from Russian-occupied Crimea, from the Black Sea, from Russian-occupied Moldova.

Most likely course of action - Limited invasion via territory held by separatists to firm up their positions and attempt to create a land bridge to Crimea while securing water source for Crimea cut off by Ukraine in 2014. Such a limited attack will enable Russia to continue to pressure Ukraine toward a more favorable government and push more NATO splits.

Current indicators -
- Ukrainian military officials to NYT have said that several Russian units in Crimea have been placed on high alert including marine forces. They also observed an enhanced readiness at other deployment locations. Ukraine has also observed the deployment of Russian NG troops.
- OSINT IMINT suggests deployment out of staging areas has started.

********

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS - The size of this deployment goes far beyond a bluff. It is increasingly unlikely that Putin will not execute any kind of an invasion. Too much is invested into the current situation just to walkways. Right now I think Putin may be doing the final cost benefit analysis of taking the whole country versus a partial invasion. NATO and Biden’s responses show weakness and weakness emboldens enemies. Two critical timing factors to keep in mind.
- Even without the inbound 14 BTGs, Putin has enough forces in place to theoretically obtain his objectives.
- Invasion during the olympics would reflect negatively towards Russia, but Putin doesn’t really care. However, it could amplify economic push back and increase severity of sanctions.
- Spring is coming and with that conditions switching to impede maneuverability. Weather forecasts show warming trends.
- More delays will enable Ukraine to be better prepared. Ukraine is generally better trained and equipped than 2014 when Russia last moved on it. Though smaller militarily, it has the home field advantage.
- NATO is ill poised to muster a response. It has already negated prepositioning forces in Ukraine, essentially telling them they are on their own. They do not have very many forces in adjacent NATO countries (Poland, Baltics, Romania etc) and would take weeks to deploy there, meaning if Putin really goes hog wild, those countries would be on their own for a substantial period as well.
-
Will Putin get the concessions from the Normandy negotiations? They set another time trigger of another week before they start again. Unless Putin is just using his support for these negotiation as a ruse, questionable if he’ll order the attack early.

Last of note - the nuclear option. Many raising the specter of a Russian preemptive nuclear strike on the US or a NATO ally. I see this as a near zero probability. His mouthpieces have threatened nuclear annihilation but in the context of a counter strike. My bigger concern is that biden (his handlers) may conduct a tactical nuke strike that escalates to an intercontinental exchange. It scares me that we have a biden in office facing this situation.
Cyber attacks are very likely to be launched by Russia against US and NATO allies to disrupt their response to any Russian attack.

My current assessment is transitioning from a limited attack to a complete invasion of Ukraine, likely very closely after the olympics end.
____________________________________

Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Temperatures forecast thru Feb 12 show milder temperatures and snow with rain towards the end of the reporting period.

___________________________________

Belarus -

Exercises with Russia ongoing.
_______________________________________

Poland -

The first U.S. soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division landed at the Jasionka airport near Rzeszów
______________________________________

Israel -

US lifting of sanctions may push Israel’s timetable to preemptively strike Iran’s nuclear program.
____________________________________

Iran -

Biden admin has waived US sanctions on Iran’s “civil nuclear program.”
Iran’s security chief Shamkhani has dismissed the US restoration of sanctions waivers as “a show”, saying that unless Tehran “reaps real economic benefits”, the move will “not be considered constructive”
__________________________________


67 posted on 02/05/2022 9:29:15 AM PST by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Godzilla; Mark17

Is it true, then that the US lifted sanctions against Iran?

Also, the despots in Canada and the WEF have learned nothing from history. The more they crack down, the more they are going to turn people against them and galvanize the resistance.


68 posted on 02/05/2022 11:06:06 AM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: metmom

Just the “civil nuclear “ program which everyone knows gets diverted to the military program.


69 posted on 02/05/2022 12:04:18 PM PST by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: null and void; aragorn; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; Beautiful_Gracious_Skies; BusterDog; bgill; bitt; ...

________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

TOPIC NOTE- These protests and national responses to the wuhan disease are evidence that it is not about the disease but control. The WEF has openly stated that they want to us this to usher in the ‘great reset’ ( a desire echoed by biden as well). However, as long as the population refuses to succumb to these lockdowns and restrictions, the WEF will find its goals delayed. Hence I’m tracking them here rather than wuhan. If action in the US starts to turn violent, I’ll track under CW2//Domestic Violence.

Canadian Truck protest update -
- Ottawa mayor declares state of emergency
- Police began last night to confiscate fuel and food from the protestors.
- A liberal drove a SUV into a crowd of protestors in Winnipeg, injuring 4. Driver was arrested.
- Left wing/Antfa counter protest fizzled out, with only a small turnout.
- Protests spreading to the other major Canadian cities, including Toronto, Quebec, Edmonton, Winnipeg, among others.
OBSERVATION - With Ottowa police confiscating food and fuel, I wonder if the protestors are willing to increase the pressure by calling for and getting a food/fuel blockade of Ottawa by truckers - even as far as a general strike.

The Freedom convoy is stimulation smiler actions around the globe. Great interest in the one developing here in the US.

In Perth, Australia police entered a /Catholic church “demanding correct mask behavior and checking exemptions.” Police interrupted the service and stopped the priest midway through his homily, before ensuring that the congregants were wearing masks, in accordance with the state’s pandemic policies.
Also in Australia, Trucker protest inspired protests have Australians from all walks of life descending into Canberra to protest for medical freedom. They have been met with heavy police presence, but so far limited violence.

School boards in Blue areas are doubling down in many instances against parental push back on mask and other wuhan mandates. Is many instances they are abusing the children. One fo the most egregious I’ve seen, a school in Oakdale CA confined unmasked students in a gym and lowered the temperature. Exits were blocked with tables in gross violation of fire codes. Other districts are threating arrest of parents and reporting them to social services.
_____________________________

Wuhan virus -

Increasing evidence that the military branches are using an analysis tool that reaches blanket predetermination that the vaccine is the “least restrictive means” by which to further the service’s “compelling government interest.” This is the reason that, by my count , only two individuals out of the thousands who applied received a religious waver to the jab.
_____________________________

Economy -

Semiconductor chips shortages is prompting Ford Motor to temporarily halt or scale back auto production at eight plants in North America, the company said Friday. Plants expected to see work suspended by Ford’s decision include those in Michigan, Chicago and Cuautitlan, Mexico, according to Reuters.
______________________________

Biden watch -

According to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, President Joe Biden’s approval rating has fallen to a new low. 41% of respondents approved of President Biden, while 56% disapproved. That is the lowest approval and highest disapproval in the regular Reuters/Ipsos poll since Biden’s inauguration.
Associated - biden’s chief of staff is reportedly on the chopping block as a scapegoat for biden’s poor ratings.
___________________________

CW2/Domestic violence -

Widespread looting/shoplifting continues to impact major Blue cities across the nation.
_________________________________

CANCEL CULTURE FRONT -

GoFundMe shot themselves in the foot on the Canadian Trucker fiasco, now facing conservative cancelation.
__________________________________

POLITICAL FRONT -

Last week, Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) suffered a stroke and underwent brain surgery. He is currently hospitalized in Albuquerque. He is expected to return to the U.S. Senate in four to six weeks, assuming there are no further medical complications. However, during his absence, Democrats no longer have a majority in the Senate—Republicans have a 50-49 majority.
OBSERVATION - This will put the brakes on Schumer’s agenda, however, it will force concessions especially with the annual budget impending this month.
_____________________________________

Strategic Activity / Deployments -

Deployment of elements of the 18th ABN Corp and 82d ABN Div continue to Europe.

Exercise Noble Fusion began on Thursday in the Philippine Sea with the JMSDF and elements of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force, the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade said in a news release. Taking place in the Luzon and Miyako Straits, Noble Fusion is a joint and combined naval expeditionary exercise that includes the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, the America Amphibious Ready Group with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked and the Essex Amphibious Ready Group with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked.
OBSERVATION - Navy maintaining a very strong deterrent presence against a Taiwanese invasion that some speculate could occur at the same time as a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
_________________________________

Russia -

INCREASED WARNING ONGOING - OSINT and other analysts are noting the continued build up of military assets that go far beyond those necessary for a military ‘exercise’. Putin has seriously deployed for combat and can execute several options at any moment.

****Update ****
Russia has deployed elements of 10 army groups and an army corps near Ukraine. Current count of BTGs (battalion tactical groups) has increased from about 70 to 83 with at least 14 more in transit, making a total potential force of 97 BTGs. To keep in perspective, TASS reported last year that Russia has 170 active BTGs, SO AT PRESENT over half of their ground forces are in the Ukraine theatre. Total estimated force of approximately 160K to 170K. The increase is therefore substantial in terms of size and capabilities, but also broad in terms of the territory covered. National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin has reported that Putin has in place 70% of necessary forces needed for an Ukraine invasion.

A battalion tactical group (BTG) is a temporary operationally flexible formation set up on the basis of a battalion and attached artillery, air defense, engineering and logistics support units for combat operations as part of motor rifle and tank brigades. Aviation groups, special operations forces and other units can also be attached to a battalion tactical group to accomplish assigned missions.

Russian deployments indicate the capability to launch an offensive against Ukraine along 7 fronts: from the Union State of Russia and Belarus, from the Russian Federation, from Russian-occupied Donbas, from the Sea of Azov, from Russian-occupied Crimea, from the Black Sea, from Russian-occupied Moldova.

Most likely course of action - Limited invasion via territory held by separatists to firm up their positions and attempt to create a land bridge to Crimea while securing water source for Crimea cut off by Ukraine in 2014. Such a limited attack will enable Russia to continue to pressure Ukraine toward a more favorable government and push more NATO splits. However, the force being assembles is capable of a full invasion of Ukraine.

Current indicators -
- According to some sources, the Russian government held a series of meetings on the readiness of certain sectors of the economy for possible sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine

********

Gen Milley, et al briefed Congress on the Russian / Ukraine situation. They laid out the worst case scenario that Kyiv (Keiv) could fall within “72 hours”. Within that assessment was over 50,000 casualties. That assessment was the most dangerous but not the most likely Russian course of action.
US intelligence assessment is that Putin will have his final BTGs in theater and ready for action by February 15th.
OBSERVATION - Kyiv is a city of 3 million. I’ve noted in previous that Russia hasn’t had experience in maneuvering a force this large since WW2. Definitely haven’t had experience trying to tackle a city this large against a tenacious defense.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said he thinks a deal to avoid full scale war in Ukraine is possible and that it is legitimate for Russia to raise its own security concerns. Before talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, he called for a “new balance” to protect European states and appease Russia. He restated that the sovereignty of Ukraine was not up for discussion.
Macron said he hoped his dialogue with the Russian president would be enough to prevent military conflict, and that he believed Mr Putin would be open to discussing wider issues.
OBSERVATION - More talks by Europe leaders bypassing US and NATO in put.
____________________________________

Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Temperatures forecast thru Feb 12 show milder temperatures and snow with rain towards the end of the reporting period.
___________________________________

Belarus -

US warned Belarus not to get involved in any Russian invasion of Ukraine.
_______________________________________

Poland -

Ministry of National Defense of Poland reported that on Monday morning, another group of American soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division landed in Rzeszów.
______________________________________

Europe / NATO General -

Greece is reportedly ready to supply gas to Bulgaria “for basic needs”, in case Russia disrupts deliveries, Greek media report.

NATO battlegroup in Estonia wrapped up largest winter exercise. Around 1,400 NATO troops took part in exercise Winter Camp, testing their infantry and armor capabilities against harsh winter conditions.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, signaled on Sunday he was open to deploying more troops to Lithuania to bolster NATO’s eastern flank.
____________________________________

Middle East / N. Africa General -

The State Department late last week approved a series of potential arms deals for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE will receive upgrades to their missile defense systems as the Houthis in Yemen have been stepping up attacks in response to the brutal war the two Gulf countries have been waging on Yemen.
According to the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Saudi deal is worth about $23.7 million and includes 31 communication and navigation terminals and related equipment to upgrade missile defense.
The UAE has been approved to buy $65 million in spare parts for its missile defense, which includes Hawk, Patriot, and THAAD systems. For Jordan, the State Department approved a massive $4.21 billion deal for the purchase of 16 F-16 fighter jets and related equipment, including hundreds of various Joint Direct Attack Munition tail kits to upgrade munitions.
Jordan joined the initial intervention in Yemen in 2015 and is technically a member of the Saudi-led coalition but is not nearly as involved in the war as Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
OBSERVATION - These countries are sided opposite of Iran and not only will these arms bolster them against direct aggression but in the case of SA an UAE, defense against Iranian supported Houthis.
___________________________________

Israel -

Israel currently has six Dolphin-class submarines and the three older ones, which entered service in 1999 and 2000, are being replaced by three new Dakar-class subs Israel is buying from the German firm that built the Dolphins. The second three Dolphins were much more capable than the older three and the Dakars are improvements on the second three that entered service between 2014 and 2021. The first Dakar is to enter service by 2027. The three Dakars cost $3.5 billion and that is the most Israel, or anyone else, has ever paid for diesel-electric subs.
Few details of the Dakars have been revealed but, as with the Dolphins, they tend to be improved versions of the latest model the builder is offering.
https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/articles/20220207.aspx

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is shoring up the standing of his confidantes, head of the General Intelligence Service Majid Faraj, and Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh, but on the ground, his rivals Hamas, Mohammed Dahlan, and Marwan Barghouti are showing signs of joining forces against him.
OBSERVATION - As the West Bank staggers to long delayed elections, political instability in the ruling Abbas govt is creating an opportunity for Hamas to take control. This will give them a second base of operations to attack Israel from . However, it could could also spawn a civil war, as many arabs in the west bank have done well with relatively good jobs and access to Israeli economy because Abbas has been able to keep radicals confined and relations relatively stable with Israel. Hamas has been targeting refugee camps, generally considered outcast by west bankers, as sources for power - increasing the chance of civil war. Current phrase circulating is “ PA president will not be chosen by the PA institutions, by Abbas or by Israel, but by the Kalashnikov”.
____________________________________

Iran -

Social discontent in Iran has risen by 300 percent in the past year according to an IRGC document obtained from Edalat-e Ali. Document was uncovered by hackers so it should be greeted with a degree of skepticism. However, numerous protests have shaken large portions of the country in recent years as its economy has crashed and sanctions have bitten deep, meanwhile the govt continued its support to regional terrorism/conflicts and its expensive military and nuclear programs. Most recent major protests were over increased in gasoline prices.
_________________________________

Central / South America General-

Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s team is “working ... to prevent” Russia from establishing military bases in Latin America “. “We, as a hemisphere, do not accept provocations,” State Department Assistant Secretary Brian Nichols, Blinken’s top lieutenant for the Western Hemisphere, told the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “And those types of prodding by forces from outside our hemisphere are unacceptable.”
______________________________________


70 posted on 02/07/2022 7:17:30 AM PST by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: Whenifhow; null and void; aragorn; EnigmaticAnomaly; kalee; Kale; azishot; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; ..

P


71 posted on 02/07/2022 9:29:54 AM PST by bitt ( <img src=' 'width=50%>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: null and void; aragorn; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; Beautiful_Gracious_Skies; BusterDog; bgill; bitt; ...

________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

TOPIC NOTE- These protests and national responses to the wuhan disease are evidence that it is not about the disease but control. The WEF has openly stated that they want to us this to usher in the ‘great reset’ ( a desire echoed by biden as well). However, as long as the population refuses to succumb to these lockdowns and restrictions, the WEF will find its goals delayed. Hence I’m tracking them here rather than wuhan. If action in the US starts to turn violent, I’ll track under CW2//Domestic Violence.

Canadian Truck protest bullets. Recommend FR threads for up to date info -
- Judge outlaws honking - to truckers and supporters honk anyway. .
- Justin Trudeau demands an end .
- Sympathetic convoys are rolling through the Netherlands and New Zealand.

The IRS announced Monday it will “transition away” from using third-party facial recognition technology after bipartisan backlash on the issue. The IRS faced controversy in recent weeks over the use of facial identification for new online accounts. The agency said the measure was an effort to increase security but has now backed down.
OBSERVATION - Biometrics like facial recognition is ripe for abuse and once the data base is set up, can be used for other controlling measures. China is in a massive test phase of facial recognition to track its citizens.
_____________________________

Wuhan virus -

Many states are removing mask and other mandates, to varying degrees. There is still a vaxxed/unvaxxed split being maintained by blue states - such as Kalifornia’s move to remove indoor mask mandates for the jabbed, but not the unjabbed.

“Myocarditis” association to wuhan jabs used to be relegated to conspiracy theory by branch covidians. That has now changed as the CDC is considering increasing the gap between shots to mitigate the damage being done to the hearts of tens of millions of Americans. The CDC told a panel of outside advisers on Friday these proposed changes would apply to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.
_____________________________

Economy -

Tyson foods increased prices on its products - beef prices jumped by 32% in the quarter, with chicken up ~20% and pork 13%. Tyson’s operating margin grew to 11.3%, up from 6.7%, a year earlier.

Experts are convinced that the U.S. housing market will continue to get more expensive, despite efforts by the Federal Reserve to rein in inflation, Axios reported on Sunday.
“We still think demand will eclipse housing supply,” wrote Goldman Sachs analysts recently. “And we continue to expect year-over-year [home price appreciation] of 10.1% for full-year 2022.”
The major reason for this is that there were only 790,000 existing single-family homes available for sale nationwide in December, which set a record for the lowest level ever.

Economists expressing concerns about increasing gasoline prices and the rippling impacts it will have across the economy by contributing to inflation.
______________________________

Invasion of Illegals -

Border Patrol agents are so busy processing large groups of illegal aliens that, in one Arizona area, only four agents are available to patrol a 150-mile section of the border.
“Now that 150 miles of border normally takes about 75 to 90 agents—we had four agents out there,” said Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council.
Judd testified at an unofficial House hearing at FreedomWorks in Washington on Feb. 1.
“Cartels control the border right now,” he said. “They dictate to us what our operations are going to be. That should never happen.”
The amount of drugs being seized at the border has correspondingly plummeted, according to Customs and Border Protection statistics.
“If we seize even 5 percent of what’s coming across the border, we’re lucky,” Judd said, referring to a question about fentanyl pills.
More at - https://www.theepochtimes.com/border-patrol-union-lucky-if-we-seize-5-percent-of-fentanyl-pills-coming-across-border_4259981.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=TheLibertyDaily

In related - AZ AG declares that there is an invasion (by constitution definition) on the border and that grants the state rights to defend itself.
OBSERVATIONS - fentanyl, meth and other drugs are seriously impacting the country. AZ has finally gotten it right, now do they have the courage to pony up and do something.
______________________________

Biden watch -

Biden says ‘I promise’ Nord Stream 2 pipeline will shut if Russia invades Ukraine.
___________________________

CW2/Domestic violence -

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is facing the potential loss of 4,000 employees who have yet to comply with COVID-19 vaccination rules. Over 3,000 of the 4,000 department employees who face termination are sworn deputies, a reality the Sheriff’s department said “would be detrimental to the safety of residents of Los Angeles County.”
OBSERVATION - There are shortages of police across the nation, and it is particularly critical in blue run city hell holes like LA. These county commissioners want a total breakdown of society. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors better be careful what they wish (vote) for.

San Francisco has imploded. Its free and protected drug shoot up policy has resulted in more drug overdose deaths than wuhan. Organized Retail Crime (ORC) rings have been given virtually free rein in the city, forcing some local retail stores out of business. These criminal elements are moving into rich neighborhood resulting in increased home robberies. Of course, don’t forget the famous ‘poop’ maps and associated homeless encampments.
OBSERVATION - Besides fleeing, residents have little else to do beside bunker down. SF mayor and DA show no signs of attempting to reverse the trend but rather show every evidence of facilitation of it. In the event of a kinetic CW2 - these dark blue urban areas will come quickly under the control of gangs who will attempt to quickly gain control of suburbs. The Red rural areas will look to the suburbs as the front lines to contain gangs.

Ground zero of School tyranny against parents, Loudon county schools are raising the stakes. In one instance, Assistant Principal Janet Davidson of Creighton’s Corner Elementary School in Ashburn, Va., is threatening to imprison any student who dares to show up at school without a face mask. Loudon County Public School’s spokesman Wayde Byard told the Caller that students will be suspended for up to 10 days or “until they comply with the LCPS Covid-19 mitigation practices.” Lawsuits are on track to hit Loudon County school board over these and other policies that are running contrary to parent demands.
___________________________________

China -

Olympic athletes who test positive for wuhan are forced to reside in a quarantine ‘hotel”. They are complaining about conditions there and are inferring that China is using this to take them out of competition.
____________________________________

Russia -

INCREASED WARNING ONGOING - OSINT and other analysts are noting the continued build up of military assets that go far beyond those necessary for a military ‘exercise’. Putin has seriously deployed for combat and can execute several options at any moment.

****Update ****
Russia has deployed elements of 10 army groups and an army corps near Ukraine. Current count of BTGs (battalion tactical groups) has increased from about 70 to 83 with at least 14 more in transit, making a total potential force of 97 BTGs. To keep in perspective, TASS reported last year that Russia has 170 active BTGs, SO AT PRESENT over half of their ground forces are in the Ukraine theatre. Total estimated force of approximately 160K to 170K. The increase is therefore substantial in terms of size and capabilities, but also broad in terms of the territory covered. National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin has reported that Putin has in place 70% of necessary forces needed for an Ukraine invasion.

A battalion tactical group (BTG) is a temporary operationally flexible formation set up on the basis of a battalion and attached artillery, air defense, engineering and logistics support units for combat operations as part of motor rifle and tank brigades. Aviation groups, special operations forces and other units can also be attached to a battalion tactical group to accomplish assigned missions.

Russian deployments indicate the capability to launch an offensive against Ukraine along 7 fronts: from the Union State of Russia and Belarus, from the Russian Federation, from Russian-occupied Donbas, from the Sea of Azov, from Russian-occupied Crimea, from the Black Sea, from Russian-occupied Moldova.

Most likely course of action - Limited invasion via territory held by separatists to firm up their positions and attempt to create a land bridge to Crimea while securing water source for Crimea cut off by Ukraine in 2014. Such a limited attack will enable Russia to continue to pressure Ukraine toward a more favorable government and push more NATO splits. However, the force being assembles is capable of a full invasion of Ukraine.

Current indicators -
- According to some sources, the Russian government held a series of meetings on the readiness of certain sectors of the economy for possible sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine

********

Russian Defense Ministry confirms that 6 large landing ships of the Baltic and Northern Fleets have entered the Black Sea to participate in ‘exercises’ there.
OBSERVATION - these are the ships that caused the ruckus in the Baltic Sea last month. Movement into the Black Sea makes the potential for an amphibious assault targeting Odessya a real threat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin left a meeting on Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron indicating some proposals had a “basis for further steps” of possible compromise amid rising tensions between Moscow and the West.
“A number of his ideas, proposals ... are possible as a basis for further steps,” Putin said at a press conference following his five-hour meeting with Macron in Moscow, according to France 24.
“We will do everything to find compromises that suit everyone,” he added, noting that he still blamed the West for escalating tensions in Ukraine.
Putin did not provide further details but said he and Macron would speak again following the French president’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv scheduled for Tuesday, France 24 reported.
“President Putin assured me of his readiness to engage,” Macron said after the meeting, according to the outlet. “There is no security for the Europeans if there is no security for Russia.”
https://thehill.com/policy/international/593218-putin-says-proposals-made-in-macron-talks-are-possible-as-basis-for-further-steps?rl=1
____________________________________

Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Temperatures forecast thru Feb 12 show milder temperatures and snow with rain towards the end of the reporting period (Feb 17).
This forecast shows that soil conditions are shifting from frozen much softer, with temperature in the mid-30s to mid 40s
___________________________________

Belarus -

_______________________________________

Poland -

Polish President Duda says he fears the Kremlin will not withdraw troops from Belarus after upcoming military joint exercises, “adding another [Russian] military district” which would “significantly change the security architecture of Europe”
______________________________________

Europe / NATO General -

French president Emmanuel Macron says: “I was particularly concerned about Belarusian President Lukashenka’s references to nuclear weapons of mass destruction, but today President Putin calmed me down”. Macron and Putin agreed that Russia will withdraw its forces from Belarus after the exercises.
France’s Emmanuel Macron is in Kyiv for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, seeking a breakthrough in the East-West deadlock over Ukraine. The meeting on Tuesday comes a day after Macron met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for discussions that lasted more than five hours, marking the highest-profile intervention yet by a Western leader.

OBSERVATION - Macron has replaced biden as the lead spokesman for Europe and in a fashion NATO. Whether or not Putin is sincere in these negotiations will be seen by how he handles his military.

NATO is “considering the deployment of additional battlegroups to the south-eastern part of the Alliance,” says Jens Stoltenberg. He warns that Russia has deployed +100,000 troops at Ukraine’s borders & 30,000 are headed to Belarus
____________________________________


72 posted on 02/08/2022 5:56:53 AM PST by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: Godzilla

https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-february-07-2022


73 posted on 02/08/2022 3:02:27 PM PST by Brown Deer (America First!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: null and void; aragorn; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; Beautiful_Gracious_Skies; BusterDog; bgill; bitt; ...

________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

TOPIC NOTE- These protests and national responses to the wuhan disease are evidence that it is not about the disease but control. The WEF has openly stated that they want to us this to usher in the ‘great reset’ ( a desire echoed by biden as well). However, as long as the population refuses to succumb to these lockdowns and restrictions, the WEF will find its goals delayed. Hence I’m tracking them here rather than wuhan. If action in the US starts to turn violent, I’ll track under CW2//Domestic Violence.

Canadian Truck protest bullets. Recommend FR threads for up to date info -
- Cracks appearing in Truedau’s party, now some members of parliament are speaking out against his policies.
- Judge orders Ottawa Police to return the confiscated fuel back to the truckers. I believe it also includes return of food and other supplies as well.
- Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has announced that they would be moving to end restrictions, starting with dropping the restriction exemption program (Alberta’s vaccine passport).
- Freedom convoy elements shut down traffic on the Ambassador Bridge on Monday. Located between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, the bridge is part of the busiest border crossing between Canada and the United States.

Vehicles blocked streets around New Zealand’s Parliament on Tuesday, in a protest mirroring others building around the world demanding an end to coronavirus restrictions and vaccine mandates.

IRS is continuing to try to gain control and oversight of crypto currency. The attempt is currently focusing on leaning on various brokerage agencies and the mandates $10,000 transaction ceiling. The excuse is to stop criminal activity.
OBSERVATION - As noted many times before, the WEF/GGR demands that all crypto currencies come under govt control and eventually extinguished by a global digital currency.

_____________________________

Wuhan virus -

Seeing sinking poll numbers, blue state govts are increasingly dropping wuhan mandates such as masks and passports. However, he Biden administration refuses to join a growing number of Democrat governors relaxing mask mandates in their states.

Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 is the top-selling pharmaceutical product ever in a single year, after the company reported it made $36.8 billion in 2021 on the vaccine. Pfizer expects $32 billion of vaccine sales in 2022 and $22 billion in revenue from the company’s COVID pill “Paxlovid,” Axios reports.
OBSERVATION - Wonder why drugs like Ivermectin are being demonized? Cui Bono

A federal judge in Tampa has issued a temporary restraining order against the U.S. military, saying the Department of Defense is unlawfully discriminating against service members by denying religious exemptions for COVID-19 shots.
U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday issued the restraining order for two service members pending a hearing as a result of Liberty Counsel’s request for an emergency injunction in Navy SEAL 1 v. Biden.
The filings received by the court as of January 21, 2022, show that out of 22,951 religious exemption requests received, only three were granted, and those were questionable since at least two of those service members were already scheduled to leave the military.
However, 3,449 medical exemptions have been granted.
_____________________________

Biden watch -

Biden’s Health and Human Services department (HHS) is finalizing funding to dole out crack pipes to drug addicts as part of its ‘Harm Reduction Plan.’ The $30 million grant program, which accepted applications until Monday and will begin doling out money in May, intends to provide funds to nonprofits and local governments to make drug use safer, to advance ‘racial equity.’
OBSERVATION - Like the safe shoot up sites in urban west coast cities has worked so well along with needle exchange (which end up strewn all over parks - endangering children from pokes)
___________________________

CW2/Domestic violence -

(Federalist) The inspector general for the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) has opened a formal investigation into whether the law enforcement agency tasked with securing the Capitol has been inappropriately surveilling elected members of Congress, their staff, and visitors to their offices, The Federalist has learned. The opening of the investigation follows news reports and accusations from lawmakers that USCP has overstepped its bounds as it tries to recover from the January 6 riots that tarnished both the Capitol and the reputation of the law enforcement agency that was supposed to keep it safe.

In related - Pelosi’s Capitol Police are alleged to have illegally entered the office of Congressman Troy Nehls (R-TX), photographing confidential legislative products and grilling staff, according to reports. The police – now under formal investigation – stand accused of dressing up as construction workers and attempting another entry just two days later. Reports suggest Capitol Police have built intelligence dossiers on those illegally investigated.

OBSERVATION - Pelosi has converted the Capitol police into her how personal stazi. The incidents are egregious. Should the democrats lose the house in November, the incoming republicans should clean house an have heads roll (figuratively). This is another step taking govt agencies and targeting protected activity of citizens and their representatives.

In related, Representative Louie Gohmert has accused the DoJ of intercepting mail from his constituents and illegally holding it. In one case, mail was withheld from the Congressman for over four months. “It is gravely concerning that since Congressional mail is constitutionally protected under the Speech and Debate Clause of the Constitution, it could be routed, intentionally or not, through the highly partisan DOJ. This is felonious behavior.”

OVERALL OBSERVATIONS - These Capitol police and DOJ actions point to a more aggressive move by the biden/leftist govt against US citizens. If a CW2 scenario goes hot, the likelihood of active involvement by govt agencies skyrocket. It ceases to be a more culture conflict between Red and Blue, but Fed Govt vs Red citizens/states.

___________________________________

CANCEL CULTURE FRONT -

Microsoft has added a feature to its Word subscription program that will screen for unwoke phrases and word usage and recommend more ‘correct’ phraseology.
__________________________________

Domestic Terror -

Biden DHS declared a heightened terrorism threat due to “several factors, including an online environment filled with false or misleading narratives and conspiracy theories, and other forms of mis- dis- and mal-information (MDM) introduced and/or amplified by foreign and domestic threat actors.”
OBSERVATION - The key point of this threat warning is that constitutionally protecter speech against the leftist narrative is not considered terrorism. It could be used as a spring board to commence further crackdowns on ‘citizens.
Forget the threat from illegals, China, BLM/Antifa, etc. Follow at -
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/4036523/posts
Full document -
https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-february-07-2022

_____________________________________

Strategic Activity / Deployments -

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) integrated with the French carrier Charles de Gaulle’s (R 91) Task Force 473 and Italian carrier Cavour (C-550) strike groups during operations in the Med Sea as part of Neptune Strike 22.

Still tracking the missing US naval units that deployed out of port last month and are still not accounted for.
_________________________________

China -

The United States has agreed a $100 million “military sales” deal with Taiwan, allowing them access to gain “PATRIOT air and missile defense systems” to help provide their airspace with the necessary security in light of growing Chinese threats.
China has reacted furiously to the news of the contract, with China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian saying on Tuesday the deal “seriously undermines” China’s “sovereignty and security interests”, and “seriously” damages “China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”.

Olympics have become a PR headache for China as poor conditions for athletes, combined with poor viewership and over pressure to deny any anti govt comments are leading global headlines.
____________________________________

North Korea -

North Korean hackers are distributing a popular software tool to spy on users and steal information, a cybersecurity firm alleges. The AhnLabs report states that the DPRK-linked group Kimsuky has begun using a new variant of Gold Dragon malware.
OBSERVATION - NK has funded much of its nuclear program through cyber hacking and ransomware attacks.
__________________________________

Russia -

INCREASED WARNING ONGOING - OSINT and other analysts are noting the continued build up of military assets that go far beyond those necessary for a military ‘exercise’. Putin has seriously deployed for combat and can execute several options at any moment.

****Update ****
Russia has deployed elements of 10 army groups and an army corps near Ukraine. Current count of BTGs (battalion tactical groups) has increased from about 70 to 83 with at least 14 more in transit, making a total potential force of 97 BTGs. To keep in perspective, TASS reported last year that Russia has 170 active BTGs, SO AT PRESENT over half of their ground forces are in the Ukraine theatre. Total estimated force of approximately 160K to 170K. The increase is therefore substantial in terms of size and capabilities, but also broad in terms of the territory covered. National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin has reported that Putin has in place 70% of necessary forces needed for an Ukraine invasion.

A battalion tactical group (BTG) is a temporary operationally flexible formation set up on the basis of a battalion and attached artillery, air defense, engineering and logistics support units for combat operations as part of motor rifle and tank brigades. Aviation groups, special operations forces and other units can also be attached to a battalion tactical group to accomplish assigned missions.

Russian deployments indicate the capability to launch an offensive against Ukraine along 7 fronts: from the Union State of Russia and Belarus, from the Russian Federation, from Russian-occupied Donbas, from the Sea of Azov, from Russian-occupied Crimea, from the Black Sea, from Russian-occupied Moldova.

Most likely course of action - Limited invasion via territory held by separatists to firm up their positions and attempt to create a land bridge to Crimea while securing water source for Crimea cut off by Ukraine in 2014. Such a limited attack will enable Russia to continue to pressure Ukraine toward a more favorable government and push more NATO splits. However, the force being assembles is capable of a full invasion of Ukraine.

Current indicators -
- Continued reports of movement out of assembly areas.

********

More discussions around the six amphibious assault ships that transited from the Baltic Sea last month and now are in the Black Sea. These ships represent the remnants of a once larger fleet of amphibious assault ships and represent about 3/4ths of Russian assets today.
The ships are needed to reinforce Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, which has only four operational landing ships. That possibility exists because it is reported that three of the Black Sea Fleet’s ships are undergoing repairs.
A large-scale Russian amphibious assault is unlikely, according to Bryan Clark, a fellow and senior director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology.
A small, strategic approach, with an estimated six ships and 1,000 troops, likely would be to land away from Ukrainian force concentrations along the coast between Crimea and the Ukrainian city of Odessa, he said.
“Russian troops could seize roads and prevent Ukrainian reinforcements from moving toward Mariupol and the Sea of Azov, which would be one of the first Russian targets in the south,” Clark said. “The amphibious troops could then join up with advancing Russian forces and threaten Odessa.”

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2022-02-08/russian-ships-in-black-sea-could-portend-its-resolve-in-ukrainian-invasion-4827113.html

Three of the ships are Ropucha-class tank landing ships – RFS Minsk (127), RFS Korolev (130) and RFS Kaliningrad (102) are each capable of landing 10 main battle tanks and about 350 troops ashore. The other ships in the Black Sea group include Ropcha-class amphibs RTS Georgy Pobedonosets (016) and RTS Olenegorsky Gornyak (012) and the 6,600-ton Ivan Gren-class RTS Pyotr Morgunov. Pyotr Morgunov is capable of landing 13 main battle tanks and 300 troops as well as field two attack helicopters.

Other Russian naval deployments to the Black Sea region include two 11,500-ton guided-missile Slava-class cruisers and escorts to the Mediterranean. On Feb. 2, the Pacific Fleet-based Slava-class RFS Varyag (011), Udaloy-class destroyer RTS Admiral Tributs (564) and fleet oiler Boris Butoma entered the Eastern Mediterranean from the Suez Canal.
The Northern Fleet flag ship, the Slava-class cruiser RTS Marshal Ustinov (055), had been operating off the Irish coast last week. Ship spotters reported it had entered the Mediterranean Sea on Monday via the Automatic Identification System (AIS).

OBSERVATION - Russia maintains an amphibious threat to the Odessa area, likely to pin Ukraine forces from the main assault. See the Stripes link for better discussion on the tactic.

____________________________________

Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Temperatures forecast thru Feb 12 show milder temperatures and snow with rain towards the end of the reporting period (Feb 17).
This forecast shows that soil conditions are shifting from frozen much softer, with temperature in the mid-30s to mid 40s
___________________________________

Poland -

(WS): the WH approved a plan to deploy troops in Poland along the border with Ukraine to help evacuate Americans if Putin invades. Reportedly this is in hopes of avoiding another Afghanistan

Polish Ministry of Defense: US soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division and equipment continue to arrive at the Rzeszów-Jasionka airport.
______________________________________

Europe / NATO General -

European Central Bank braces banks for possible Russian-sponsored cyberattack as tensions with Ukraine mount and region braces for financial fallout from any conflict

Britain is to supply anti-ship weaponry to Ukraine to counter the Russian Navy in the Black and Azov Seas, according to Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadim Prystaiko
____________________________________

Israel -

Syrian state media says at 00:56 and 01:10 Israel launched airstrikes from over near Beirut, and surface-surface missiles from the Golan, targeting an area near Damascus respectively. The report claims air defenses shot down some of the missiles, damage unclear.
Israel Defense Forces:Sirens sounded a short while ago in Umm Al-Fahm and the area of Samaria after an anti-aircraft missile was launched from Syria and exploded mid-air. No interception was performed.
According to Palestinian media reports, shrapnel from the Syrian air-defense missile also landed near a home in the town of Jaba’, in the northern West Bank. This isn’t the first time Syrian air defense has fired wildly and their missiles have threatened Israel. On April 21, 2021 another Syrian air defense missile flew deep into Israel and landed near Dimona.
____________________________________

Iran -

Iran’s IRGC this morning have revealed their new ballistic missile dubbed the Khiabr-Shekan, with a reported range of 1450km
__________________________________

Syria -

See Israeli airstrike above.

Turkish operations in N Syria continue to ramp up against Kurdish forces.
__________________________________

Turkey -

See Syria
______________________________________

Venezuela -

Russia has promised that military equipment given to Venezuela will not be used to attack Colombia, destabilize Latin America or end up in the hands of illegal armed groups, Colombia’s Foreign Minister and Vice President Marta Lucia Ramirez said.
“We need there not to be even the smallest risk that military cooperation which exists between Russia and Venezuela, and has for a long time, could eventually, because of carelessness or whatever reason, lead to any Russian military equipment being in the hands of illegal armed groups which are present on the border,” Ramirez told journalists Monday night after a meeting with Russian ambassador Nikolay Tavdumadze and other officials.
“The Russian ambassador has expressed to us that no military cooperation of Russia with Venezuela will ever be used for any military action against Colombia, nor any country in Latin America, nor to affect the stability of the region,” she added.
The Colombian government accuses Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of sheltering FARC dissidents who reject a 2016 peace deal as well as the ELN, something he has repeatedly denied.
OBSERVATION - Colombia is considered to be an ally of the US and is receiving support in its war against the drug cartels.
______________________________________


74 posted on 02/09/2022 7:32:10 AM PST by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: Godzilla
These protests and national responses to the wuhan disease are evidence that it is not about the disease but control. The WEF has openly stated that they want to us this to usher in the ‘great reset’


75 posted on 02/09/2022 7:51:42 AM PST by null and void (TV shows and ads, you think they call it ‘programming’ by accident?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: Godzilla
Pardon me if I'm missing something, but is the title of the thread really supposed to be "Thread Matrix"?
76 posted on 02/09/2022 9:20:15 AM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change with out notice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: grey_whiskers

Already pointed out last month.


77 posted on 02/09/2022 9:46:02 AM PST by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: Godzilla

Mr. Up-To-The-Minute, that’s me!


78 posted on 02/09/2022 9:47:24 AM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change with out notice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: Whenifhow; null and void; aragorn; EnigmaticAnomaly; kalee; Kale; azishot; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; ..

p


79 posted on 02/09/2022 12:00:35 PM PST by bitt ( <img src=' 'width=50%>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: null and void; aragorn; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; Beautiful_Gracious_Skies; BusterDog; bgill; bitt; ...

Unlikely to get Friday and Saturday reports out as I’ll be on the road those days.

________________________________

Globalism / Great Reset -

TOPIC NOTE- These protests and national responses to the wuhan disease are evidence that it is not about the disease but control. The WEF has openly stated that they want to us this to usher in the ‘great reset’ ( a desire echoed by biden as well). However, as long as the population refuses to succumb to these lockdowns and restrictions, the WEF will find its goals delayed. Hence I’m tracking them here rather than wuhan. If action in the US starts to turn violent, I’ll track under CW2//Domestic Violence.

Canadian Truck protest bullets. Recommend FR threads for up to date info -
- Trudeau walks out of parliament as discussion switches to the protests and nation wide wuhan mandates and sanctions.

Canadian inspired - The Paris authorities on Thursday issued an order prohibiting Canada-style ‘Freedom Convoy’ demonstrations over the weekend. The ban will run from February 11 to 14.
The edict came as thousands of motorists took to the road on Wednesday and headed in the direction of Paris to demonstrate against government’s Covid policies – in particular the vaccination pass.

_____________________________

Wuhan virus -

The first Spanish study on how the Omicron variant of COVID-19 infects, incubates, and transmits was recently concluded by the Public Health Observatory of Cantabria. The findings, which have not yet been peer-reviewed, show that the highly infectious variant accounted for nearly half of the infections recorded during the whole pandemic.
“Vaccinated cases seem to have the same transmission capacity as unvaccinated people,” researchers concluded, according to EITB Radio Televisión Pública Vasca (the Basque Autonomous Community’s public broadcast service).

More of Israel’s experience with wuhan. Professor Yaakov Jerris of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center – Ichilov Hospital, the country’s second-biggest hospital, said that between 70 and 80 percent of the serious cases they are currently seeing are among vaccinated individuals. Israel is an interesting place to study this type of data because it has one of the greatest rates of vaccination in the world at around 90%.
“So, the vaccine has no significance regarding severe illness, which is why just 20 to 25 percent of our patients are unvaccinated,” said Jerris, the hospital’s coronavirus ward director. Last month, the preliminary results of a major study in Israel found that getting a fourth booster of the Pfizer vaccine is only partially effective when it comes to protecting against the omicron variant. This is consistent with a report from the German government, which revealed that more than 95 percent of omicron cases in that country were among vaccinated individuals.

OBSERVATIONS - Just more evidence that the jab has been overhyped and not working.

The World Health Organization says coronavirus case counts fell 17% worldwide over the last week compared to the previous week, including a 50% drop in the United States, while deaths globally declined 7%.
The weekly epidemiological report from the U.N. health agency, released late Tuesday, shows that the omicron variant is increasingly dominant — making up nearly 97% of all cases tallied by the international virus-tracking platform known as GISAID. Just over 3% were of the delta variant.

OBSERVATION - The wuhan fear porn balloon is deflating and the GGR is losing traction to control the masses. Let us not forget just how easily the sheeple were brought under subjection for a disease with a 99.7% survival rate.
_____________________________

Economy -

Consumer prices rose 7.5 percent annually by the end of January, according to data released Thursday by the Labor Department, the fastest rate since February 1982. Price hikes for food, electricity, and shelter contributed the most to January’s inflation jump, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday. Food prices rose 0.9 percent in January, nearly twice December’s gain of 0.5 percent, and energy prices also rose 0.9 percent as higher electricity rates offset declines in gasoline and natural gas prices.

OBSERVATION - All the more pressure on the Fed to jack up rates in the March timeframe. Time to tie down the lawn furniture.

The US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) found that during December, disposable personal income (DPI) increased 0.2%, and real DPI, which measures DPI with inflation, decreased 0.2%. This means that Americans had less disposable income to end 2021, despite an ‘increase’ in disposable income.

Some suggest that the backlog of ships waiting unloading at US ports is deceasing. The decrease may be due to simple variations in the data set along with reduced shipments from China due to its covid-zero policy of shutting down cities/industries for wuhan containment. Time will tell us better.

The benchmark oil prices rose over $93 last week, marking a stunning 65% move higher in a year and the highest prices since 2014. Oil industry analysts are noting that the rise in prices has stimulated activity in the more expensive, but abundant oil shale plays.
______________________________

Invasion of Illegals -

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has a new mission statement. Under Biden, USCIS removed mention of “lawful immigration,” “protecting Americans,” or “securing the homeland” and now simply “...upholds America’s promise as a nation of welcome...”
OBSERVATION - Entrenching open borders and a flood of illegals into the country.
______________________________

Biden watch -

Epic faceplant coming. Kamala Harris is going to Germany for the Munich Security Conference. The White House announced today that she is going to Europe next week to help “deter Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
___________________________

CANCEL CULTURE FRONT -

Major technology companies and social media platforms have removed, suppressed or flagged the accounts of over 800 prominent individuals and organizations, including medical doctors, for COVID-19 misinformation, according to a new study from the Media Research Center (MRC).
MRC’s Free Speech America CensorTrack, an initiative that monitors acts of censorship across online platforms, identified over 41 instances between March 2020 and February 2022 in which doctors, scientists and medical organizations were censored, according to the results of a study shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The study focused on acts of censorship on major social media platforms and online services, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Ads and TikTok.
Instances of censorship included Facebook’s decision to flag the British Medical Journal with a “fact check” and “missing context” label, reducing the visibility of a post, for a study delving into data integrity issues with a Pfizer vaccine clinical trial. More -
https://alphanews.org/study-big-tech-censored-dozens-of-doctors-800-accounts-for-covid-misinformation/
__________________________________

Domestic Terror -

DHS is issuing warnings that a Freedom Convoy action is targeting the Super Bowl. This warning follows yesterday’s threat warning that any - any thoughts/discussion contrary to the gov’t wuhan policy, voting rights/integrity, etc is domestic terrrorism.
_____________________________________

Strategic Activity / Deployments -

4 B-52s have been deployed to the UK in part for an upcoming exercise.
_________________________________

China -

China has not only been violating Taiwan airspace, but Japan’s as well.
____________________________________

North Korea -

In a report published Monday, a team of analysts at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said they had located an underground, regiment-size military base used for housing North Korean ICBMs just 15 miles from the border with China.
The location, Hoejung-ni, the analysts say, was chosen to deter pre-emptive strikes from the United States against North Korea’s most important weapons as the country to continues to expand and modernize its arsenal.
“As best as can be determined from satellite imagery, informed sources, and what little data is available, the base is ready to receive an operational ICBM unit ,” said the report.
It is unclear if the newly discovered and undisclosed Hoejung-ni base is fully operational. It is the second ICBM base the CSIC researchers have identified in North Korea — Yusang-ni base was discovered in 2019 roughly 40 miles northeast of Pyongyang.

The defense chiefs of South Korea, the US, and Japan commit to “closely cooperate” against North Korean missile threats and hold an in-person ministerial meeting during a trilateral phone call. The phone call intends to “send a coordinated message”

North Korea has announced that it now has a missile (Hwasong-15) that can reach mainland United States and “shake the world” after having had carried out numerous missile tests in January. Pyongyang created the Hwasong-15 in 2017
OBSERVATION - NK has launched a satellite several years ago, so mainland US has been in reach for quite some time. The big megaton question is has NK been able to miniaturize their nuclear weapons so that those rockets can carry them that far.
__________________________________

Japan -

See China above, air violations.
____________________________________

Russia -

INCREASED WARNING ONGOING - OSINT and other analysts are noting the continued build up of military assets that go far beyond those necessary for a military ‘exercise’. Putin has seriously deployed for combat and can execute several options at any moment.

****Update ****
Russia has deployed elements of 10 army groups and an army corps near Ukraine. Current count of BTGs (battalion tactical groups) has increased from about 70 to 83 with at least 14 more in transit, making a total potential force of 97 BTGs. To keep in perspective, TASS reported last year that Russia has 170 active BTGs, SO AT PRESENT over half of their ground forces are in the Ukraine theatre. Total estimated force of approximately 160K to 170K. The increase is therefore substantial in terms of size and capabilities, but also broad in terms of the territory covered. National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin has reported that Putin has in place 70% of necessary forces needed for an Ukraine invasion.

A battalion tactical group (BTG) is a temporary operationally flexible formation set up on the basis of a battalion and attached artillery, air defense, engineering and logistics support units for combat operations as part of motor rifle and tank brigades. Aviation groups, special operations forces and other units can also be attached to a battalion tactical group to accomplish assigned missions.

Russian deployments indicate the capability to launch an offensive against Ukraine along 7 fronts: from the Union State of Russia and Belarus, from the Russian Federation, from Russian-occupied Donbas, from the Sea of Azov, from Russian-occupied Crimea, from the Black Sea, from Russian-occupied Moldova.

Most likely course of action - Limited invasion via territory held by separatists to firm up their positions and attempt to create a land bridge to Crimea while securing water source for Crimea cut off by Ukraine in 2014. Such a limited attack will enable Russia to continue to pressure Ukraine toward a more favorable government and push more NATO splits. However, the force being assembles is capable of a full invasion of Ukraine.

Current indicators -
- The Pentagon says it has seen Russia sending additional capabilities along its border with Ukraine and into Belarus in the last 24 hours

********
Continued rhetoric against NATO expansion. Major naval exercise in the Black Sea that essentially blockades Ukraine ports.
See Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Europe/NATO general for other related.
____________________________________

Ukraine -

WEATHER FORECAST - Temperatures forecast thru Feb 12 show milder temperatures and snow with rain towards the end of the reporting period (Feb 17).
This forecast shows that soil conditions are shifting from frozen much softer, with temperature in the mid-30s to mid 40s

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry: We strongly protest Russia’s decision to block parts of the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait under the pretext of naval drills. The unprecedentedly large area of exercises essentially disables international navigation in both seas. Minister of Defense of Ukraine appealed to international community to close ports for Russian vessels as response to Russian blockade of Azov Sea & Black Sea
___________________________________

Belarus -

Joint Russian-Belarusian exercises “Allied Resolve - 2022” began at training grounds in Belarus - Russian Ministry of Defense.
Ukraine’s president denounces Russian-Belarusian military exercises as a means of psychological pressure
_______________________________________

Poland -

Polish Defense Minister: Today, American F15 fighters have arrived at the air base in Łask, which will support the eastern flank as part of the NATO Air Policing mission.

The White House has signed off on a Defense Department plan for US troops stationed in Poland to help American citizens flee Ukraine if Russia invades — as the Biden administration tries to avoid a repeat of the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle, according to a new report Wednesday.
Some of the approximately 1,700 paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne who arrived in Poland last week will soon set up tent camps, checkpoints and other facilities to house Americans inside Polish territory, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The US troops will not enter Ukraine, but will provide logistics support and help coordinate the departure of Americans from Kiev and other cities — most likely by land without military support, the report said.
There are currently about 30,000 Americans inside Ukraine. (NYP)
______________________________________

Europe / NATO General -

Russian media reports that a meeting in Normandy Format on the level of advisors has started in Berlin

Today Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia activated the OSCE Vienna document risk reduction mechanism vis a vis Belarus for the military build up seen in the country. Minsk now has 48 hours to respond.

Dutch parliament votes in favor of motion calling on the government to freeze the assets of Putin and his oligarchs to stop an invasion in Ukraine.

Slovakia’s parliament and president on Wednesday approved a defense military treaty with the United States. The Defense Cooperation Agreement passed 79-60 in the 150-seat legislature in a vote split between lawmakers from the four-party ruling coalition and the opposition.
The treaty allows the U.S. military to use two Slovak air force bases — Malacky-Kuchyna and Sliac — for 10 years while Slovakia — a NATO member like the U.S. — will receive $100 million from the U.S. to modernize them.

____________________________________


80 posted on 02/10/2022 7:57:10 AM PST by Godzilla (Never give up, never surrender . . . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 941-957 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson