Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #PT
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93% of his records withheld from the American people
43 witnesses barred from corroborating Ford's account & proving he perjured himself
2,400+ law professors oppose his confirmation, citing his partisan, conspiratorial rant which betrayed a clear "lack of judicial temperament"
43 witnesses barred from corroborating Ford's account & proving he perjured himself
2,400+ law professors oppose his confirmation, citing his partisan, conspiratorial rant which betrayed a clear "lack of judicial temperament"
Any one of these would be disqualifying for a Supreme Court nominee.
Taken together, they are evidence that Kavanaugh is unfit to serve on ANY bench.
Taken together, they are evidence that Kavanaugh is unfit to serve on ANY bench.
American Bar Association reopens evaluation of #Kavanaugh's "well-qualified" rating, based on his unhinged performance during a Senate hearing last week pbs.org/newshour/polit…
.@nycsouthpaw: When career prosecutor Rachel Mitchell asked #Kavanaugh about his drinking & the July 1 party where Judge and Smyth were in attendance – a key date that aligns with Ford's account – Republican senators then came to his rescue and benched her yahoo.com/news/kavanaugh…
Even Dersh smells a cover-up. #KavanaughHearings
American Bar Association: delay #Kavanaugh confirmation vote until an FBI investigation is completed into the sexual assault allegations against him #KavanaughHearings cnn.com/2018/09/27/pol…
My goodness: here's a prime example of policy advocacy on #Syria based either on ignorance, or [hopefully not] malign intent.
This is *riddled* with inaccuracy & misinformation.
@steelejourno says the West should force an opposition surrender in #Syria:
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
This is *riddled* with inaccuracy & misinformation.
@steelejourno says the West should force an opposition surrender in #Syria:
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
@steelejourno #pt: @steelejourno says the US, UK & #France are “less honorable” in seeking to delay #Syria & #Russia’s “success” in regaining territory.
- They seek to enable a meaningful political process, in which there’s an opposition entity to sit at the table. I’d say that is honorable.
- They seek to enable a meaningful political process, in which there’s an opposition entity to sit at the table. I’d say that is honorable.
@steelejourno #pt: Here, @steelejourno says UK, US, France & "Gulf Arab monarchies” want ceasefires to protect rebels, not civilians.
In #Idlib, nothing could be further from the truth. None of those countries have *any* ties to rebel groups in #Idlib, who only equal ~0.5% of the population.
In #Idlib, nothing could be further from the truth. None of those countries have *any* ties to rebel groups in #Idlib, who only equal ~0.5% of the population.
A U.S. diplomat met three times with military officers in #Venezuela plotting a coup against Nicolas Maduro; he refused to give the officers even an indication of support, let alone the communications devices they needed to bring off their conspiracy. nyti.ms/2QfP2G2
Some saw #Venezuela's military as a means of stabilizing the situation, allowing practical things like aid deliveries. Others "saw considerable risk in building bridges with leaders of a military that...ha[ve] become a pillar of the cocaine trade and human rights abuses." #pt
There's nothing to complain about in the U.S. gathering intelligence by establishing communications with mutinous officers in #Venezuela. The question is whether Maduro is considered a threat: if he is, then do what's necessary to bring him down. If not, leave it for Venezuelans.
More details on the schism between the Hazimis and lesser-extremists in #IS: Abu Anisa al-Dagestani, an Azeri commanded and Hazimi, blames the caliph's insufficiently stern position on takfir for the loss of land and men last year. chechensinsyria.com/?p=26129
According to Abu Anisa al-Dagestani, the caliph reversed the May 2017 expansion by the Delegated Committee of the takfir ruling after his wife had a dream in which Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, and Abu Muhammad al-Furqan came to his house and ignored him. #pt
The caliph reversed the May 2017 takfir ruling by a deft institutional manoeuvre: he invited its author, Ismail al-Ithawi (Abu Zayd al-Iraqi), to a meeting in August 2017 and threatened to kill him if he didn't reverse himself. #pt
think “Foreigner B” may be Serhiy Lyovochkin whose Feb2017 oped sounds like 1 in indictment usnews.com/topics/author/… assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4806…
Indictment says Patten tried to set up meetings for Foreigners A (Kilimnik) and B (Lyovochkin?) with members of Congress and staff
Indictment not by Mueller office but federal prosecutrs in DC assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4806…
Fascinating work by @HaidHaid22 - looking at initiatives (or a lack, thereof) by the #SDF & the #FSA to reconcile/rehabilitate/reintegrate #ISIS detainees in northern #Syria.
Really important backgrounder:
icsr.info/2018/08/20/rei…
Really important backgrounder:
icsr.info/2018/08/20/rei…
@HaidHaid22 #pt: According to @HaidHaid22’s work for @ICSR_Centre, one’s decision to join #ISIS in #Syria was driven primarily by x4 factors:
1. Financial benefits
2. Protection
3. Military capacity
4. Ideology
Less than 20% of recruits joined for ideological reasons.
1. Financial benefits
2. Protection
3. Military capacity
4. Ideology
Less than 20% of recruits joined for ideological reasons.
@HaidHaid22 @ICSR_Centre #pt: @HaidHaid22 raises a number of important questions for @CJTFOIR & its #SDF partner:
- Surging strains on the #SDF's makeshift prison network holding 1,000s of #ISIS prisoners, raises risks of eventual #ISIS attacks, aimed at replicating #Iraq’s 2012-3 “Breaking the Walls.”
- Surging strains on the #SDF's makeshift prison network holding 1,000s of #ISIS prisoners, raises risks of eventual #ISIS attacks, aimed at replicating #Iraq’s 2012-3 “Breaking the Walls.”
Here, a @UKLabour MP praises a notorious conspiracist who says meeting Bashar al-#Assad was her "proudest" moment.
She's justified incendiary weapons & barrel bombs on civilian targets; suggested 9/11 was a false flag; Zionists rule #France & the #CharlieHebdo attack was fake.
She's justified incendiary weapons & barrel bombs on civilian targets; suggested 9/11 was a false flag; Zionists rule #France & the #CharlieHebdo attack was fake.
@UKLabour Extraordinary.
@UU_University invited notorious conspiracist Vanessa Beeley to lecture on “War Reporting.”
Her claims were so outlandish, the students walked out & boycotted the course, calling it “a propaganda camp.”
news.postimees.ee/4511277/top-un…
(PS - Look at the pictured slide)
@UU_University invited notorious conspiracist Vanessa Beeley to lecture on “War Reporting.”
Her claims were so outlandish, the students walked out & boycotted the course, calling it “a propaganda camp.”
news.postimees.ee/4511277/top-un…
(PS - Look at the pictured slide)
@UKLabour @UU_University #pt: Among Beeley’s claims at @UU_University:
- @hrw is run by a secret “Jewish organization called the #Washington elite.”
- #Russia only promotes international peace
- #Syria’s opposition "tear pregnant women in half, betw'n cats”
- All media (e.g. @guardian) are govt tools
- @hrw is run by a secret “Jewish organization called the #Washington elite.”
- #Russia only promotes international peace
- #Syria’s opposition "tear pregnant women in half, betw'n cats”
- All media (e.g. @guardian) are govt tools
Excellent appointment by @SecPompeo, hoisting up @WashInstitute's Amb. Jim Jeffrey as the new Special Representative for #Syria Engagement.
Key times ahead, vis-a-vis #Turkey, #Idlib, #Manbij, and potentially a renewed political process.
Key times ahead, vis-a-vis #Turkey, #Idlib, #Manbij, and potentially a renewed political process.
@SecPompeo @WashInstitute #pt: As #JimJeffrey is sworn in today, the U.S. is 48-72hrs away from initiating training of #Turkey’s armed forces in order to begin joint patrols around #Manbij.
American weapons & equipment already in #Turkey.
voanews.com/a/us-turkish-f…
American weapons & equipment already in #Turkey.
voanews.com/a/us-turkish-f…
@SecPompeo @WashInstitute BIG - The U.S. looks to be staying in #Syria - thanks to $300m of funding from other @coalition partners, including #Saudi, which will offset #Trump’s $200m cut from stabilization.
Recent DIA/DOD estimates on #ISIS also indicate a military intent to sustain a necessary mission.
Recent DIA/DOD estimates on #ISIS also indicate a military intent to sustain a necessary mission.
Just now getting around to reading the @UN’s report on AQ & #ISIS.
Some “analysis” of its content on the AQ in #Syria issue has been skewed, to say the least - with some aspects aggrandized & others underplayed.
Report: undocs.org/S/2018/705
Some “analysis” of its content on the AQ in #Syria issue has been skewed, to say the least - with some aspects aggrandized & others underplayed.
Report: undocs.org/S/2018/705
Fascinating & damning deep-dive into the mess that followed #Assad’s Sarin attack in E. #Ghouta in August '13.
@BarackObama’s “cold feet” & distance, #Putin’s political “games” & @Ed_Miliband being “actively unhelpful.”
= Delays guaranteed no action.
thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/s…
@BarackObama’s “cold feet” & distance, #Putin’s political “games” & @Ed_Miliband being “actively unhelpful.”
= Delays guaranteed no action.
thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/s…
@BarackObama @Ed_Miliband #pt: Exasperated at how distant #Obama had seemed & how difficult it was to connect with him by phone, the UK’s PM #Cameron said:
- "The next time I ask to talk to the president about chemical weapons attacks, tell me to turn over on my sun lounger and go to sleep.” #Syria
- "The next time I ask to talk to the president about chemical weapons attacks, tell me to turn over on my sun lounger and go to sleep.” #Syria
@BarackObama @Ed_Miliband #pt: After briefly expressing support for UK military action in #Syria, @Ed_Miliband's turn to party politics to slow/prevent action left PM #Cameron’s office furious, to say the least:
- “No 10 & the Foreign Office think Ed Miliband is a f****** c*** & a copper-bottomed s***.”
- “No 10 & the Foreign Office think Ed Miliband is a f****** c*** & a copper-bottomed s***.”
Preparations appear to be underway for a pro-#Assad offensive on #Idlib.
12hrs of on/off air & artillery strikes vs. southeastern & western #Idlib & northern #Hama - see marks on map (original by @ETANA_Syria + my additions).
+ multiple large pro-regime convoys moving north.
12hrs of on/off air & artillery strikes vs. southeastern & western #Idlib & northern #Hama - see marks on map (original by @ETANA_Syria + my additions).
+ multiple large pro-regime convoys moving north.
@ETANA_Syria #pt: If/when any major military campaign gets underway, expect the #Assad regime (+ #Russia & #Iran-backed militias) to focus on these 2 fronts:
1) West #Idlib (Jisr al-Shughour)
2) N. #Hama/#SE #Idlib (Latamineh, Khan Sheikhoun, Kafrazita)
-> a gradual push ‘inland’ & north.
1) West #Idlib (Jisr al-Shughour)
2) N. #Hama/#SE #Idlib (Latamineh, Khan Sheikhoun, Kafrazita)
-> a gradual push ‘inland’ & north.
@ETANA_Syria Very good by @theIRC’s @DMiliband:
- The West must “re-assert” itself & protect civilians in NW #Syria & as a backstop, safe-routes should be opened for civilians to flee into #Turkey.
- UNSC must demand full access to S #Syria; for aid, monitoring etc.
washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-w…
- The West must “re-assert” itself & protect civilians in NW #Syria & as a backstop, safe-routes should be opened for civilians to flee into #Turkey.
- UNSC must demand full access to S #Syria; for aid, monitoring etc.
washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-w…
• 2018 federal budget deficit (CBO): $800 billion
• US will collect $40bil in tariffs in 2018, inc $35bil already taken in over past 2 years
• Additional amount as a result of Trump tariffs: $5 billion (1/80th of what he needs to begin retiring debt)
• US will collect $40bil in tariffs in 2018, inc $35bil already taken in over past 2 years
• Additional amount as a result of Trump tariffs: $5 billion (1/80th of what he needs to begin retiring debt)
35.4% of Trump counties have shed jobs in the past year, vs. just 19.2% of Clinton counties.
Job growth is still concentrated in the same places as it was toward the end of Obama's presidency, when ~58.7% of average annual job gains were in Dem counties cnbc.com/amp/2018/08/06…
Job growth is still concentrated in the same places as it was toward the end of Obama's presidency, when ~58.7% of average annual job gains were in Dem counties cnbc.com/amp/2018/08/06…
#pt The job growth/loss trend under Trump mirrors patterns of economic growth: counties that voted for Clinton produced 64% of US GDP.
brookings.edu/blog/the-avenu…
brookings.edu/blog/the-avenu…
#Saudi Arabia says #Canada's statement on the arrest of activists in the Kingdom is an unacceptable interference in its internal affairs, expels the Canadian ambassador and freezes all future trade. bbc.in/2vs6crl
"In her first public response to Saudi Arabia's actions, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Monday: 'Let me be very clear ... Canada will always stand up for human rights in Canada and around the world, and women's rights are human rights'." aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/s…
Direct investment was already down in #Saudi Arabia after some of the recent disturbances; this spat with #Canada is unlikely to help. on.wsj.com/2OgITYl
Fascinating, in-depth reporting by @AP on the #Saudi-#UAE coalition’s complex dealing with #AQAP in #Yemen.
- Key thought: this is the challenge #AQAP (& Nusra/#HTS in #Syria) poses, by embedding into & reflecting broader local dynamics.
apnews.com/f38788a561d74c…
- Key thought: this is the challenge #AQAP (& Nusra/#HTS in #Syria) poses, by embedding into & reflecting broader local dynamics.
apnews.com/f38788a561d74c…
@AP #pt: Just like #HTS in #Syria, #AQAP in #Yemen is not a wholly contiguous organization of committed global jihadis - it's strengthened itself by embracing local drivers & structures.
=> That provides opportunities for counter-actors, but they require [some] engagement to do so.
=> That provides opportunities for counter-actors, but they require [some] engagement to do so.
@AP #pts: Another parallel to #Syria is seen in how the extent of localism embraced by #AQAP may in fact have weakened its long-term durability; by leaving large swathes of fighters vulnerable to cooptation by adversaries/rivals.
For more, see @Dr_E_Kendall:
For more, see @Dr_E_Kendall:
US never said this. Not trump, not pompeo. they have always left room there could be a deal with this regime.
@AlirezaNader #pt if an unlikely deal. but truly, do not think there is any commitment in trump admin to regime change. from the top
@AlirezaNader Trump has never shown concern or interest in the internal governance of another country. He truly does not care
What is happening to some parts of #America? I mean seriously…
An online conspiracy theory known as “QAnon”, which is pushing dangerous disinformation on internet messaging boards, is gripping #Trump supporters.
These people are worse than clueless.
washingtonpost.com/news/morning-m…
An online conspiracy theory known as “QAnon”, which is pushing dangerous disinformation on internet messaging boards, is gripping #Trump supporters.
These people are worse than clueless.
washingtonpost.com/news/morning-m…
#pt: Read this explainer on the @washingtonpost - it’s truly bizarre.
And people are believing this -- swallowing it hook, line & sinker.
And people are believing this -- swallowing it hook, line & sinker.
@washingtonpost #QAnon followers think there are Illuminati around the world seeking to assassinate the President & that [for example] a paraglider who died near #Trump’s golf course in #Scotland was in fact an undercover Secret Service officer “shot” with “a heart attack gun.”
No kidding.
No kidding.
Trump got asked 2 part question about Iran and his answer was he is ready to meet anytime they want, no preconditions.
Did not hesr him criticize any aspect of Iran behavior. swiped at paper JCPOA written on as meaningless
#pt *hear
This, ladies & gentlemen, is what happens when one writes about something one knows literally nothing about.
Complete nonsense, interspersed with lies & conspiracy theories made popular by far-left #Assad supporters & #Russia.
How utterly shameful.
Complete nonsense, interspersed with lies & conspiracy theories made popular by far-left #Assad supporters & #Russia.
How utterly shameful.
#Syria Civil Defense = volunteer rescue service, whose members also provide medical care, de-mining, infrastructure repair & children’s safety education.
They've operated anywhere they can in opposition areas - to save lives & keep people safe.
= 114,000+ people saved till now.
They've operated anywhere they can in opposition areas - to save lives & keep people safe.
= 114,000+ people saved till now.
.@ClarkeMicah says @SyriaCivilDefe are “closely associated with… al-Qaeda or… even worse” - based on what exactly?
An organization that works w. the U.S., UK et al., who espouse pro-democratic views & get evacuated by #Israel (etc. etc.) are somehow global jihadists?
Please.
An organization that works w. the U.S., UK et al., who espouse pro-democratic views & get evacuated by #Israel (etc. etc.) are somehow global jihadists?
Please.
In Dec. 1950, U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur requested that the authority for the use of tactical nuclear weapons be handed to him as battlefield commander. All indicators are he planned to use them in areas of North Korea and Red China. Truman refused and fired him in April 1951.
(It's not entirely clear what MacArthur proposed to hit with nuclear weapons in Korea and China: he did at some point publicly deny he ever intended their use. Other documents suggest he wanted to create a line of nuclear fallout to sever the Korean Peninsula from China.)
What MacArthur had got right, strategically, which Truman and the State Department had not, was that Communist China was not simply a satellite of the Soviet Union but its own entity, and an American attack on the Peking regime was not akin to an attack on the Soviets.
Robert Fisk’s latest “EXCLUSIVE” reveals just how little he knows about #Syria's opposition, its foreign relations & support networks.
Gloss over inaccuracies & he’s “revealed” what we've known for yrs - #Saudi backed the multilateral MOC, arming #FSA.
independent.co.uk/voices/syria-w…
Gloss over inaccuracies & he’s “revealed” what we've known for yrs - #Saudi backed the multilateral MOC, arming #FSA.
independent.co.uk/voices/syria-w…
Extraordinary.
Acc. to @BarakRavid sources, #Russia has told #Israel that it'll seek to force #Iran 100km away from #Israeli-held 1974 #Golan line.
That means all territory west of the red line on map (L).
= A truly wild fantasy.
Look where #Iran is now (R); per @ETANA_Syria:
Acc. to @BarakRavid sources, #Russia has told #Israel that it'll seek to force #Iran 100km away from #Israeli-held 1974 #Golan line.
That means all territory west of the red line on map (L).
= A truly wild fantasy.
Look where #Iran is now (R); per @ETANA_Syria:
@BarakRavid @ETANA_Syria #Israel has shot down an #Assad regime Sukhoi fighter jet, which took off from T4 Airbase & flew 2km into Israeli airspace.
x2 Patriot SAM missiles were used & multiple messages sent in multiple languages prior to shoot-down.
Another example of #Russia’s value in de-escalation.
x2 Patriot SAM missiles were used & multiple messages sent in multiple languages prior to shoot-down.
Another example of #Russia’s value in de-escalation.
@BarakRavid @ETANA_Syria #pt: Just 36hrs ago was #Israel's first operational use of the "David’s Sling" SAM system, used to down #Assad ballistic missiles.
Yesterday, #Russia’s MFA & MOD visited #Jerusalem to firm-up their security arrangements with #Israel.
I wrote that #Moscow is incapable - clearly.
Yesterday, #Russia’s MFA & MOD visited #Jerusalem to firm-up their security arrangements with #Israel.
I wrote that #Moscow is incapable - clearly.
Butina’s closest tie to US is US Person 1..”but she appears to treat that relationship as simply a necessary aspect of her activities.”
Govt filing: “Butina Appears to Have Ties to the Russian Intelligence Services” assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4609…
Govt filing portrays Butina using Erickson for cover/connections. says they went to u-haul to rent moving truck day after 12 GRU indicted
17 July 1965: Pham Ngoc Thao was killed in prison in South Vietnam.
From 1962, Thao oversaw the Strategic Hamlet Program, designed to counter the Communists at the level it mattered: the local villages.
Problem: he was an agent of North Vietnam, so he sabotaged the program.
From 1962, Thao oversaw the Strategic Hamlet Program, designed to counter the Communists at the level it mattered: the local villages.
Problem: he was an agent of North Vietnam, so he sabotaged the program.
With the Strategic Hamlet Program, a classic COIN concept, Pham Ngoc Thao was supposed to separate the rural population of RVN from the Communist guerrillas. But Thao, a DRV agent, implemented it in a way that maximally alienated the population, opening space for the Communists.
The failure of South Vietnam's Strategic Hamlet Program (COIN) b/c of the Communist spy Pham Ngoc Thao helped set in motion downfall of Ngo Dinh Diem [one of the worst mistakes of the war] and the turn to more conventional tactics using ever-increasing numbers of US troops. #pt
