Video - Syria Song 2013

ꕤ Syria Syria Song 2013 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Listening to this at the moment.   No idea what it means, but it sounds good. So far, my favourite is the patriotic 'Good Morning, Syria' by Ali Deek. ꕤ

Yemen - Blackwater / Academi Mercenary Personnel Killed in Saudi Assault on Yemen's Shia Houthis

ꕤ Article SOURCE http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2015/12/10/441071/Yemen-Blacwater-UAE-Saudi-Arabia-Taizz-Hadi-Sudan PressTV 15 Blackwater mercs, including commander, killed in Yemen since Tuesday Thu Dec 10, 2015 12:24AM The chief of Blackwater mercenaries in Yemen has been killed in clashes with Houthi Ansarullah fighters and allied forces in the country’s southwest, reports say. Yemen’s Arabic-language al-Masirah news website reported that the commander-in-chief of the private security firm in the country, a Mexican national, was slain in the al-Omari district of Ta'izz Province early on Wednesday. According to the report, the recent fatality has brought to 15 the number of foreign forces with the Blackwater killed in clashes in Yemen since Tuesday. Some Australian, British, and French advisors and commanders -- plus half a dozen Colombian soldiers -- were among the dead. The mercenaries are part of the UAE forces that help Saudi Arabia in its war against the impoverished country. A US security services training company, Blackwater Worldwide, which is now known as Academi, is one the most notorious private security firms in the world and is responsible for killing of scores of civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen. Yemen has been under military attacks by Saudi Arabia since March 26. The Saudi military strikes were launched with the aim of undermining Ansarullah and bringing fugitive former president of Yemen, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, back to power. More than 7,500 people have been killed and over 14,000 others injured since the Saudi aerial aggression began. The Saudi war has also taken a heavy toll on Yemen’s facilities and infrastructure. http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2015/12/10/441071/Yemen-Blacwater-UAE-Saudi-Arabia-Taizz-Hadi-Sudan In Summary Saudi Arabia attack on Yemen: -- aerial bombing - commenced: 26 March 2015 -- ground war also: see mercenaries, UAE -- over 7,500 dead -- 14,000 injured -- infrastructure destroyed Houthi Ansarullah (Yemen defenders) Houthi Ansarullah Ansar Allah Arabic for "Helpers/Supporters of God" = Houthis - Zaidi Shia group from Sa'dah of northern Yemen Followers of: Zayd ibn ʻAlī {great-grandson of: Husayn ibn ʻAlī} Zaydi Shi'a - est. 35-40% of Muslims in Yemen Zayd ibn Ali 695–740 great-grandson of Imam Ali -- born in Medina -- son of Imam ‘Alī ibn Husayn "Zayn al-Abidīn" -- one of wives of 4th Shia Imam -- was mother of Zayd ibn Ali -- respected & revered member of Ahl ul Bayt -- ie   Ahl ul Bayt - family of founder of religion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zayd_ibn_Ali * Follow-up required. Action: al-Omari district, Ta'izz province (Wed) -- defeat of mercenaries  of United Arab Emirates (UAE) -- Mexican-born Blackwater / Academi mercenary chief killed -- 14 others killed -- killed mercenaries incl: Australian, British, French advisers / commanders Saudi Arabia, UAE & mercenary aim: -- restore Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi as president -- Hadi fled ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- UPDATE:  130 US MERCENARIES DEAD - YEMEN COMMENT Exciting report.  Like reading about mercenaries. Houthis sound like tough opponents. Taking out mercenaries (esp. chief & commanders) seems like a big win for the Houthis -- but their infrastructure has been destroyed, thousands are injured and foreign aggressors have killed over 7,500. Houthis are paying a high price for any gains they're making. ꕤ

Export Controls for Conventional Arms & Dual-Use Goods & Tech

ꕤ info SOURCE as marked CoCom *not* treaty & therefore *not* legally binding CoCom Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls -- est. by Western bloc powers -- w/in 5 years of end WWII -- to put an arms embargo on COMECON countries -- 1994 ceased to function -- control list of embargoed goods retained -- until successor WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT established *Note: different from 'Wassenaar Agreement' (US) Arms Export Control Act (AECA) (US) International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) {still in effect} Violations -- Japan (Toshiba Machine Company) -- Norway (Kongsberg Group) -- supply computer guided propeller milling machines to Soviets -- enabled greater Soviet submarine detection evasion US Congress sanctioned Toshiba / barred imports to US CoCom CoCom member states: USA Britain Australia Canada Japan Germany France Belgium Luxembourg Netherlands Denmark Norway Italy Spain Portugal Greece Turkey [where's NZ?  ... it's only 4-Eyes] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CoCom COMECON States COMECON (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance) 1949 to 1991 -- Soviet-led org, comprising Eastern Bloc -- & other communist -- term applied to multilateral (& extended to bilateral) activities -- purpose / intent: -- prevention of Soviet sphere of influence countries moving towards -- influence of Americans or South-East Asia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comecon COMECON States [data from:  Wikipedia] Successor to CoCom *not* treaty & therefore *not* legally binding Wassenaar Arrangement (re Export Controls for Conventional Arms & Dual-Use Goods & Tech) -- multilateral export control regime (MECR) -- 41 participating states -- incl. many former COMECON (Warsaw Pact) countries Aim prevent: -- destabilizing accumulations -- development or enhancement of military capabilities -- successor to COCOM -- 1996 - est. Wassenaar, Netherlands -- less strict than COCOM -- focus on transparency -- no individual veto power over org. decisions -- Vienna, Austria, admin. of agreement location -- like COCOM, it is *not* treaty & therefore *not* legally binding -- exchange of info re conventional arms deliveries, 6-mthly battle tanks armoured combat vehicles (ACVs) large-calibre artillery military aircraft military helicopters warships missiles missile systems small arms light weapons Included on controls list: electronics computers telecommunications information security {among others} 2013 Amendments -- amended to incl: internet-based surveillance systems "intrusion software" (designed to defeat protective measures/ to extract data/info) IP network surveillance systems Aim of amendment re tech: -- prevent sales to abusers of human rights Problem: -- restrictions weaken internet security of participant nations -- controls too broad -- tech security personnel limited in ability to:     identify     correct -- security vulnerabilities -- Google & Facebook critical -- b/c probs. penetration testing, sharing threats info & bug bounty programs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassenaar_Arrangement ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Don't know why anyone's complaining re the 'limits' of the Wassenaar Arrangement if it's not binding and can be ignored ... but I guess that's at govt/national level rather than internet provider and other tech level? Don't get the bit about there being no individual veto re decisions of Wassenaar Arrangement.  So it's 'binding' ... but NOT binding.  That's stupid. All of the above is available at the source ... so it's a bit of a pointless info arranging exercise.  Especially, when I probably won't remember or need to know this -- ever.  lol --- ** I'm guessing the US would probably enforce the 'unenforceable' through trade sanctions such as that imposed on Toyota? ꕤ

GIF - Religāre

ꕤ 00000000000000000 0 000000000000000000000 0000000  0000000000000000 000000000 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Borrowed base image (Game of Madness) from 1860s (printed 1930s) + other (Pierre-Louis Pierson, French photographer, died 1913.  Long collaboration with subject:  Countess of Castiglione - here) ꕤ

Libya - Benghazi Assault & Murder & Mumbi Attack

ꕤ Article SOURCE as marked Article Title:  "Ambassador Stevens Was Raped Before His Murder, Reports Claim" Author:  Wolff Bachner re:  Ambassador to Libya -- J. Christopher Stevens Other: EXTRACT - Mumbai Attack "Pakistani Muslim terrorists attacked the Chabad Jewish center during the devastating terror attacks in Mumbai, India, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka, were both tortured and raped, and their bodies were desecrated.  According to the Mumbai Police, the Rabbi was castrated while still alive. “Even the Rabbi and his wife at Nariman House were sexually assaulted and their genitalia mutilated,” said a senior officer of the investigating team." http://www.inquisitr.com/330504/ambassador-stevens-was-raped-before-his-murder-reports-claim/ Note:  the woman victim was 6 months pregnant [source:  DailyMail - here] Article Benghazi: Obama's Actions Amount To A Shameful Dereliction Of Duty Peter Ferrara Oct 25, 2012 @ 09:19 AM "...  Benghazi murders of Libyan Ambassador Chris Stevens and 3 others, including two Marines ..." "The Obama Administration received requests for additional security from the Embassy and the Ambassador himself as early as February.  An embassy cable on June 25 expressed fear of rising Islamic extremism in eastern Libya around Benghazi, and noted that the black flag of Al-Qaeda “has been spotted several times flying over government buildings and training facilities.” "On August 2, Ambassador Stevens sent a cable requesting 11 additional body guards, noting “Host nation security support is lacking and cannot be depended on to provide a safe and secure environment for the diplomatic mission of outreach.” "But these requests for additional security were repeatedly denied ..." "Obama and his allies did not want a show of American force in the country that would offend Muslim sensibilities.  They wanted to rely instead on the host country’s security that the embassy was telling them was inadequate and could not be depended upon." "... the day of the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, September 11, the White House situation room starts receiving emails at about 1 pm that the mission is under hostile surveillance.  The only response was that the Pentagon sends a drone armed with a video camera so that everyone in Washington can see what transpires in real time, as it happens, at the White House, at the State Department, at the Pentagon, at the CIA." "The drone documents no crowds protesting any video.  But at 4 pm Washington receives an email from the Benghazi mission that it is under military style attack." "The attack was then fed to all of them, the White House, the Pentagon, the State Dept., the CIA, through live video feed.  A later email that day reported, “Ansar al-Sharia Claims Responsibility for Benghazi Attack.”  The feed showed no protest of any supposedly offensive You Tube video." "Just one hour flight time away were U.S. Air Force bases that could have been rousted in minutes to send fighter planes and attack helicopters that could have routed the attackers in minutes of fighting." Obama & Hillary Clinton: "...  likely knew [correction: they surely knew] the attack on our Benghazi consulate the day before was organized by terrorists.  They knew because they were privy to a flurry of emails among administration officials discussing the attack in real time.  Yet they said nothing about what they knew and, worse, had done nothing to mount a rescue despite American forces being less than an hour away during the seven hour blitz." " The United States Ambassador to Libya, the personal representative of President Barack Obama, had been tortured, sodomized, dragged bloody through the streets of Benghazi, and murdered.  Chris Stevens, along with the two Marines and another who were murdered along with him, had volunteered to serve his country.  But under the leadership of Barack Obama, that is how his service ended." "The Truth-Challenged President But the saga did not end there for the American people.  The rest of us had to endure the President, Secretary of State Clinton, and UN Ambassador “explaining” to us that what really happened was that those irascible Muslims were all incited out of their minds by a previously unseen, unheard of You Tube video trailer by an unknown American immigrant, a movie that was never made outside the trailer advertising it, in Fool on the Hill style.  Their protest had just got out of hand, you see. Except they all knew when they were saying these very words that they were untrue.  They were precisely calculated to deceive and to mislead.  Yet there was our President Obama telling this mendacious fairy tale to the entire world at the U.N.  And there was U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice telling the American people the same concocted fairy tale.  Typical Progressives, they were so certain that they could easily buffalo a majority of their countrymen, no smarter than the representative Homer Simpson." http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2012/10/25/benghazi-obamas-actions-amount-to-a-shameful-dereliction-of-duty/ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT A photo of a guy I suspected had been tortured was going around, but I wasn't sure that's what I was looking at, and I didn't know who it was. It was only after the photo was passed around with a message that it was the US Ambassador being tortured, that it did really look like it was a torture victim.  It also looked like someone may have been holding a cattle prod or something like that (which I didn't spot on initial viewing, when I wasn't entirely sure what I was looking at). Once I had an idea of who it might be, I Googled for information. Some site on the internet denies it was him, but when I keyed in about torture the Forbes article and others came up. I wasn't aware that the people in the Mumbai attacks were sexually assaulted and tortured (that's come just by chance within one of the Benghazi articles). I also wasn't aware that the US Ambassador was sexually assaulted and tortured, and  I think I'd remember having seen something about this in the (admittedly few) Benghazi articles I may have looked at.  I'm shocked and sort of freaked out by that.  It's very disturbing.   Probably moreso because I'd spent some of today looking at Islamic history and getting into listening to associated music. Islamic history isn't as appealing after reading these couple of articles.  I still feel sick.  It's a numb and sick feeling, but I'm not sure why I find it as disturbing as I do.  I think it might be the sexual assault savagery combined with torture savagery and helplessness of the victims that does my head in.  It's both disgusting and incomprehensibly cruel. It's unbelievable that they denied the embassy additional security, when more security was sought.  And it's beyond comprehension that they watched this man get tortured and dragged around Benghazi without doing anything to help. This was in 2012, so they'd already taken down Gaddafi in 2011 and Libya was presumably in a state of civil war. Why would you even have an embassy in the country under those circumstances? Regarding both stories, Daily Mail has left out the gruesome parts, although I think the public ought to know exactly what's happened.   I know I'd rather know, even if it is horrible and disturbing. ꕤ

US-backed 'Moderates' Officials - Call for Extermination of Syria Alawites

ꕤ Article SOURCE http://www.globalresearch.ca/official-of-u-s-backed-syrian-moderates-calls-for-exterminating-alawite/5494217 Official of U.S.-Backed Syrian ‘Moderates’ Calls for ‘Exterminating’ Alawites By Eric Zuesse Global Research, December 07, 2015 Yemen’s independent Al Masdar News  headlines on Monday December 7th, “U.S. Backed Syrian Opposition Official Calls for the Extermination of Alawites,” and Leith Fadel reports that:     “A prominent official from the U.S. backed Syrian Opposition has called for the extermination of Alawite Muslim villages after a series of defeats at the hands of the religiously diverse “Syrian Arab Army” (SAA) in the month of November     “Abdullah Al-‘Ali – a former Aleppo-based attorney who has since moved to Turkey, where he works alongside the President of the Syrian National Council, Khaled Khoja, […]  advises followers and friends in the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to carry out deliberate sectarian attacks against Syria’s large Alawite Muslim population, which is also contrary to the message the Syrian National Council has attempted to spread to the western world about its secular nature.     “Exterminating Nusayri (derogatory term that is directed towards Alawites) villages is more important than liberating the Syrian capital,” says Abdullah Al-‘Ali. […] Al-‘Ali’s sectarian post seems to be tolerated by his counterparts in the Syrian National Council as several members liked his message.” Al Masdar News  had previously been in the news itself during the 2011 Arab Spring demonstrations in Yemen against the Shiite President Ali Abdullah Saleh, when the newspaper’s photographer was killed by Saleh’s troops. The newspaper is strictly nonpartisan and opposed to all sectarianism. A sectarian, pro-Sunni, newspaper owned by Sunni Qatar, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, bannered on December 2nd, “Syrian activists: Destroying Assad means destroying Islamic State group,” and reported that, “Many Syrian activists are frustrated by the UK debate on bombing the Islamic State group in Syria and feel that the cause of the problem, Assad, is being ignored completely.” Qatar’s royal family, the Thanis, have been major donors to jihadist groups, all of which are Sunni. The newspaper quoted a Sunni group saying that the West needs to concentrate upon destroying “the roots of the problem that allows IS to flourish: Assad and his atrocities.” On November 18th, a U.S. Defense Department press briefing in Baghdad proudly announced the first U.S. bombing of ISIS oil tank trucks carrying Iraqi and Syrian oil stolen by ISIS, for sale in other countries, and announced that:     “this is our first strike against tanker trucks, and to minimize risks to civilians, we conducted a leaflet drop prior to the strike. … It says, “Get out of your trucks now, and run away from them. … Warning: airstrikes are coming. Oil trucks will be destroyed. Get away from your oil trucks immediately. Do not risk your life.” Russia had already bombed, during the prior month and a half, thousands of such ISIS black-market oil trucks, and didn’t warn the people who were driving them. ISIS is one of the many Sunni jihadist groups that are fighting in Syria to oust from power the secular Shiite Bashar al-Assad. On November 24th, Michael Morell, Obama’s CIA Director during 2011-2013, explained on the PBS Charlie Rose show, “We didn’t go after oil wells, actually hitting oil wells that ISIS controls, because we didn’t want to do environmental damage, and we didn’t want to destroy that infrastructure.” By contrast, the U.S. bombings in Syria have been directed against Syria’s infrastructure, including power stations that are in the territory still held by Bashar al-Assad’s forces. No one who was bombed in those anti-Shiite attacks was warned in advance. Shiites in Iraq are considering whether Iraq should kick the U.S. out because the U.S. is supporting Sunni jihadists, such as ISIS. Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of  They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010, and of  CHRIST’S VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity. http://www.globalresearch.ca/official-of-u-s-backed-syrian-moderates-calls-for-exterminating-alawite/5494217 "Eric Zuesse is a cultural anthropologist, general systems theorist, economist, and investigative journalist. He has published articles in numerous periodicals." Alawites / Alawis Shia sect / Twelver school Revere Ali (Ali ibn Abi Talib) Sect founded by:  Ibn Nusayr in 9thC. Shia belief in only descended imams (I think) {A'immah} have the right to be Caliphs / all other = usurpers  Imām = stands or walks 'in front' [in Sunni - leader of prayer] Shia - only applies to Ahl al-Bayt {house of religion founder} - descendants of founder (I think).  It is a spiritual leader. As I understand, Alawites / Alawis are followers of Ali ibn Abi Talib,  ruler Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661. In Shia Islam, Ali (cousin & son-in-law of religion founder) is considered the first Imam / Caliph. Sunnis believe otherwise:  x3 other Imams / Caliphs ahead of Ali (although Ali recognised as fourth Imam).  Sunni Sufis also follow Ali, I believe. The difference between Shia and Sunni lies in the interpretation regarding succession, following death of founder.  Likewise, re the difference between Shia sects. Difference in interpretation of 'Mawla'. Shia = 'Lord & Master' Sunni = 'beloved' or 'revered' ie. the question of transfer of title to Ali, going back to: 632 AD Ghadiri Khum Oasis { Hadith (report of quote of founder) - Pond of Khumm } near city of al-Juhfah (now) Saudi Arabia Shia: Ali ibn Abi Talib successor Pond of Khumm (Ghadiri Khum Oasis) account: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadith_of_the_pond_of_Khumm   al-Juhfah became 'Rabigh' in early 17thC. Red Sea coast town in now Saudi Arabia Wadi Rabigh  = Hadith of the pond of Khumm al-Juhfah wadi (wadi = valley, riverbed) --> on Incense Route --> between Syria & Yemen --> travellers could replenish water Note:  there are other differences and fundamentalist Salafi Sunni scholars argue that Aliwites are not Muslim.  But they are recognised as Muslim by other authorities. Western scholars believe: Alawites descended from ancient Middle Eastern ppl   --  eg  Canaanites, Hittites, Mardaites + 13thC. Sinjar settlers At time of sect formation, (now) Syria region --> was under Byzantine Empire control. Many Alawites killed when Crusaders enter 1097. Ottoman Empire reign of Selim I --> Alawites experience significant persecution --> Ottoman attempt to convert Shia to Sunni Post WWI = fall of Ottoman Empire = Syria & Lebanon --> League of Nations:       French Mandate period [Source - all info from Wikipedia] Ḍū al-Fiqār / Zulfikur / Zulfiqar -- double-edged sword -- two-blade or bifurcated sword -- depiction of Ali's sword -- depicted as scissor-like sword on flags -- is symbolism associated with Twelver Shia -- who believe religion's founder handed sword -- in Battle of Uhud -- to appointed successor, Ali ibn Abi Talib -- symbol also associated with Sunnis -- eg. early 1800s Ottoman Zulifqar flag -- of Janissaries (Ottoman Sultan's elite infantry troops & bodyguards) -- Janissaries began as elite corps of (young Christian boy) slaves  [wikipedia] Indian Sufi Tribute to Ali Ali ibn Abu Talib ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Well, fancy that. US gives warnings to the jihadist oil thieves that fund terrorism by sale of stolen Syrian oil, before the US (reportedly) bombs them ... for the first time in OVER A YEAR of US-led coalition bombing. However, the legitimate, secular, multi-religious Syrian government troops are having their infrastructure destroyed by US-led bombing, without warning ... and Syrian troops were bombed and killed by the the US-led operation (here), which has advantaged jihadists in Syrian Deir ez Zor province (which has been a major source of oil for them). Meanwhile the sectarian, jihadist 'opposition' that wants to commit genocide is branded in the West as 'moderate rebels'. ------- ꕤ ------- Really enjoyed check out a little history.  The Indian Sufi musical tribute is beautiful (although this is different / unrelated to Alawites that are being discussed in the above article). Anyway, it's cool to get more of a handle on what 'Alawites' is -- ie. followers of Ali, as I understand. ꕤ

Video - Silver Chain

ꕤ Video SOURCE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTNsAl0PHrI ❤ ❤  Silver Chain Rowland S. Howard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTNsAl0PHrI ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- This is so beautiful. Almost religious. | here Middle English religioun, from Old French religion, from Latin religiō, religiōn-, perhaps from religāre, to tie fast; see rely. Latin religāre, to bind fast  ꕤ