January 25, 2020
By Victoria Bekiempis
Veterans of Foreign Wars, (click here) a prominent organization advocating for US military veterans, has called for Donald Trump to apologize for remarks downplaying brain injuries recently suffered by nearly three dozen American service members in Iraq.
The group was joined by several other US veterans’ organizations, criticizing Trump’s remarks and saying they showed a lack of understanding of injuries and what US troops face in overseas conflicts.
The VFW’s statement stems from Trump’s remarks on injuries resulting from a 8 January Iranian missile strike on a US base in Iraq. Thirty-four US soldiers suffered from concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) after the strike, which was a reprisal for the US drone strike assassination of the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani. Donald Trump had previously said that the US “suffered no casualties” from the attack.
“Veterans of Foreign Wars cannot stand idle on this matter,” William “Doc” Schmitz, VFW’s National Commander, said in a statement. “TBI is a serious injury and one that cannot be taken lightly. TBI is known to cause depression, memory loss, severe headaches, dizziness and fatigue – all injuries that come with both short- and long-term effects.”...
January 14, 2020
By Aaron Rupar
During an interview (click here) on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News show Friday night, President Donald Trump made a stunning announcement: Saudi Arabia was paying the US $1 billion to send US troops to defend it from Iran.
“We’re sending more [troops] to Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia is paying us for it,” Trump said. “I said, ‘Listen, you’re a very rich country. You want more troops? I’m going to send them to you, but you have to pay us.’ They’re paying us. They’ve already deposited $1 billion in the bank.”...
So, while Saudi Arabia is paying for the presence of the USA military, France is pleading for USA assistance.
January 25, 2020
By Dan DeLuce
Washington - France is appealing to President Donald Trump (click here) not to cut off U.S. military support to French forces fighting Islamist militants in Africa, warning that it could undermine efforts to counter a growing terrorist threat in the Sahel region.
Trump administration officials, however, are skeptical of the French counterterrorism mission's value and have refused so far to promise continued logistical and intelligence support that French forces rely on in their fight against al Qaeda and ISIS-linked groups, according to one current and one former U.S. official.
"We're spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a French force that has not been able to turn the tide," said a senior administration official, who was not authorized to speak on the record....
It would appear as though France and Iraq haven't paid enough to the bank as Saudi Arabia did in order to secure USA troops to assist in dire circumstances.
January 25, 2020
Beirut - Four Christian aid workers (click here) reportedly disappeared while driving to a meeting inside the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Wednesday, the organization SOS Chretiens d’Orient announced on Friday.
“Monday, January 20, four of our collaborators disappeared in Baghdad. They had to drive to a meeting in the late afternoon. After several unsuccessful contact attempts throughout Tuesday, we noted their disappearance on Wednesday and therefore immediately alerted the French authorities. Today, the French and Iraqi authorities are coordinating to investigate and trace them,” the organization’s statement read.
According to SOS Chretiens d’Orient, three French and one Iraqi employee disappeared in Baghdad, but their identities were withheld for safety reasons.
SOS Chretiens d’Orient has been one of the most active aid organizations in the Middle East. The organization has provided aid to communities in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt.
It would seem as thought Eric Prince is too busy circumventing sanctions on Venezuela to be the real mercenary force from the USA.
January 16, 2020
By Stephanie Baker and Ben Bartenstein
When Erik Prince, (click here) a major Trump donor and private security mogul, traveled to Caracas in November for secret talks with Venezuela’s vice president, he was not, it turns out, the central figure orchestrating the meetings.
That person was a controversial British deal-maker by the name of Ian Hannam, according to people familiar with the situation. Hannam, a former JPMorgan banker, arranged the trip as part of his yearlong scouting effort for possible gold investments in the crisis-battered nation, the people said. Prince’s meeting with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been reported; Hannam’s role hasn’t.
The discussion of mining ventures with Rodriguez raises fresh questions about whether Prince, a Michigan native and brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, violated U.S. law against doing business with sanctioned officials. Hannam is British and not subject to the same restrictions.
The trip is part of an intense behind-the-scenes scrimmage for Venezuela’s wealth and resources as it grapples with political gridlock, international sanctions and a humanitarian crisis. Juan Guaido, the opposition leader who’s recognized as interim head of state by the U.S. and more than 50 countries, is wrestling for control of the legislature with a lawmaker backed by President Nicolas Maduro and Russia....
Beirut - Four Christian aid workers (click here) reportedly disappeared while driving to a meeting inside the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Wednesday, the organization SOS Chretiens d’Orient announced on Friday.
“Monday, January 20, four of our collaborators disappeared in Baghdad. They had to drive to a meeting in the late afternoon. After several unsuccessful contact attempts throughout Tuesday, we noted their disappearance on Wednesday and therefore immediately alerted the French authorities. Today, the French and Iraqi authorities are coordinating to investigate and trace them,” the organization’s statement read.
According to SOS Chretiens d’Orient, three French and one Iraqi employee disappeared in Baghdad, but their identities were withheld for safety reasons.
SOS Chretiens d’Orient has been one of the most active aid organizations in the Middle East. The organization has provided aid to communities in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt.
It would seem as thought Eric Prince is too busy circumventing sanctions on Venezuela to be the real mercenary force from the USA.
January 16, 2020
By Stephanie Baker and Ben Bartenstein
When Erik Prince, (click here) a major Trump donor and private security mogul, traveled to Caracas in November for secret talks with Venezuela’s vice president, he was not, it turns out, the central figure orchestrating the meetings.
That person was a controversial British deal-maker by the name of Ian Hannam, according to people familiar with the situation. Hannam, a former JPMorgan banker, arranged the trip as part of his yearlong scouting effort for possible gold investments in the crisis-battered nation, the people said. Prince’s meeting with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been reported; Hannam’s role hasn’t.
The discussion of mining ventures with Rodriguez raises fresh questions about whether Prince, a Michigan native and brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, violated U.S. law against doing business with sanctioned officials. Hannam is British and not subject to the same restrictions.
The trip is part of an intense behind-the-scenes scrimmage for Venezuela’s wealth and resources as it grapples with political gridlock, international sanctions and a humanitarian crisis. Juan Guaido, the opposition leader who’s recognized as interim head of state by the U.S. and more than 50 countries, is wrestling for control of the legislature with a lawmaker backed by President Nicolas Maduro and Russia....
