German parliament extends army mission in Iraq, 20 OCT
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The German parliament on Wednesday extended the mandate of its army for operations in Iraq.
“I convey my gratitude to the government and parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany for extending the mandate of their troops in Iraq,” Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan Region, said in a post on the social media platform, formerly known as X.
“We still face a common threat, and together, we will ensure the lasting defeat of ISIS.”
Safeen Dizayee, the head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), also welcomed the extension on the social media platform X.
In mid-September, the German government said that up to 500 soldiers will be deployed until Oct. 31, 2024.
However, a formal authorization requires German parliament approval, which occurred today.
Last year, Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani thanked Germany for its support in the fight against terrorism.
"Germany's support in 2014 helped our Peshmerga turn the tide against the terror group,” he said. “ISIS is still a serious shared threat, and I urge the Bundestag (the German parliament) to renew the mandate."
During Germany’s National Day on Oct. 5, Klaus Streicher, the German Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, underlined that “Daesh (ISIS) is still a threat to international peace and security; continued collective efforts are still required to counter and eradicate its cells.”
“We are therefore proud that German troops take part in the Operation Inherent Resolve and in the NATO Training Mission,” Streicher added.
Currency Sellers have been advised they were no longer able to sell currencies after 11:59 pm Fri. night 20 Oct. Central Daylight time.
Once the Currency Sellers stopped being able to sell, Tier4b (us, the Internet Group) would go. The optimal time we could be notified was Sat. morning 21 Oct.
What we got in report today was all the rates are extremely good. And we know that the dinar came back up on the Forex yesterday and came back up on the streets for trading on forex and on the bank screen today. The rates are very good.
...our hope is that we get notified - we set our appointments - and at least start Thursday.
That's what I'm hoping that we'll see if that's what manifests... you know guys, we've been awfully close before, or at least we thought it was that case. And now we're at that same point of could it happen? ...So we hope that this is it...
Echoes of Conflict: The Human and Geopolitical Cost of the Israel-Hamas Crisis, 20 oct
From Hula, a southern Lebanese border village, to Gaza City, the conflict between Israel and its adversaries has intensified. The reverberations of an Israeli artillery attack in Hula, which injured a teenage girl, can be felt across the region, as tensions and violence escalate.
The Human Face of Conflict
Behind the headlines, the human cost of the conflict is heart-wrenching. Among the victims is Sameh Murad, a Gaza-based freelance photographer, who lost his wife, Dina Taher, in an Israeli airstrike. Dina, fleeing the escalating violence in Gaza City with their two young daughters, was caught in the crossfire. The pain etched on Sameh’s face as he recounts the day he lost the love of his life, mirrors the agony of thousands, torn apart by the relentless conflict.
A Battle of Narratives
As the conflict rages, so too does a battle of narratives. The explosion at the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza City is a case in point. Palestinian officials attribute the blast, which they claim killed hundreds, to Israeli military action. Conversely, U.S. and Israeli officials point to a misfired rocket by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group as the culprit. The truth, like the hospital, lies in ruins.
The Regional Chessboard
The Israel-Hamas conflict extends beyond their borders, forming part of a larger regional dynamic involving Iran. Tehran supports Hamas and other militant factions through its “axis of resistance,” an alliance that spans Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and beyond. The escalating conflict serves Iran’s strategic interests, allowing it to sow chaos in adversary territories while maintaining plausible deniability.
Long-term Implications
The long-term implications of the conflict are formidable. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns of a protracted engagement, underscoring the need for sustained international support. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged assistance for Israel, even as he calls for restraint.
Intel from yesterday before tonight's call and it's very good - this is what was great - those who have been at this for a while remember that once the currency sellers stop selling, then it's our turn. So what I believe is that we have three confirmations from three sellers that they can no longer sell the top three or four that we have and they have been told that they will no longer be able to sell them after 11:59 p.m. m. tomorrow night central time. It's one minute to midnight and then all sales will close and that's very important to us.
And tie that in with an RC that says the optimal time would be early Saturday morning. And the other piece of brief information tonight and there is a major CC between the leaders of the Treasury and Wells Fargo of every RC in the US and HSBC around the world, and we know several of them and that between 1 and 3 p.m. m. morning and one thing
Do you want to discuss if RC is willing to come and staff RC on Sunday? I think the answer is yes, if the answer is yes, and that will be conveyed to those who are leading this call and we hope that we will receive our notifications on Saturday morning and schedule an appointment and get started on Saturday afternoon or evening, but If Sunday is not an option, then we would receive the notifications on Monday and from Monday onwards, but since the RC staff wants this as much as we do, I think they will work on Sunday for the next 12 days. So it may come down to that question and a few other things too: things are trading higher with the currencies, the dinar and the dong, and the Zim is trading above face value and it's good to see that these things happen.
I think that's the biggest reveal, now we've been close before, and I'm telling you exactly what I'm getting and if it's True and it holds up and we know you want this done before the end of the month. And we also know that the Brunson case, we heard about it a while ago and it's coming out a week before the end of the month, so we're waiting for that; what we see in Congress is not what is actually happening so let that go and there are things about USDC tokens, that is DS and it is not real; don't buy it and if you have backed assets and the new USN from the exchange and we don't need any token or anything else, we have the real one and we will have the QSF account and the quantum card that can be linked to three other banks;
Bruce is starting with Wells to see what they are like. There is also a lot of cleanup 1 – 13 - a lot of arrests that are escalating and I don't want to get into the details of that - and these things need to happen and they are part of the reason we are waiting. and this clearing seems to be as if it is already ready to launch, so all the currency sellers on Ebay etc. have been given exactly that amount of time to stop selling; no more sales and that is great news for us.
And that's really all I wanted to say tonight and it depends on this video call tomorrow for all the important players. I think we're in a great place to start this party and I think this will come to fruition and now we'll move on. Bruce now thanks the entire team: Sue, Bob, GCK, Pastor Scott, Jeannie, Larry and all those faithful listeners around the world. And of course, without a doubt, Bruce will pray tonight for the call.
This really sounds like great information for us, and I just ask that we pray and continue to pray like we never have before: We need this and the whole world needs this NOW.
If we all ask our Father and Heaven, I feel in my heart that this time our prayer WILL BE HEARD.
I love you ALL, gem.
TRANSLATION IN SPANISH:
BRUCE 19/10/23
SÓLO INTELIGENCIA
DÓNDE ESTAMOS AHORA
Intel de ayer antes de la llamada de esta noche y es muy bueno - esto es lo que estuvo genial - aquellos que han estado en esto por un tiempo recuerdan que una vez que los vendedores de divisas dejaron de vender, entonces es nuestro turno. Entonces, lo que creo es que tenemos tres confirmaciones de tres vendedores de que ya no pueden vender los tres o cuatro principales que tenemos y les han dicho que ya no podrán venderlos después de las 11:59 p. m. mañana por la noche, hora central. Falta un minuto para la medianoche y luego se cerrarán todas las ventas y eso es muy importante para nosotros.
Y vincule eso con un RC que dice que el momento óptimo sería el sábado por la mañana temprano. Y la otra parte de información breve esta noche y hay una CC importante entre los líderes del Tesoro y Wells Fargo de cada RC en los EE. UU. y HSBC en todo el mundo, y conocemos a varios de ellos y que entre la 1 y las 3 p. m. de mañana y una cosa
¿Quieres discutir si RC está dispuesto a venir y dotar de personal al RC el domingo? Creo que la respuesta es sí, si la respuesta es sí, y eso se transmitirá a quienes dirigen esta llamada y esperamos que recibamos nuestras notificaciones el sábado por la mañana y programemos una cita y comencemos el sábado por la tarde o por la noche, pero si el domingo no es una opción, entonces recibiríamos las notificaciones el lunes y a partir del lunes, pero como el personal de RC quiere esto tanto como nosotros, creo que trabajarán el domingo durante los próximos 12 días. Así que puede que todo se reduzca a esa pregunta y a algunas otras cosas también: las cosas se están negociando al alza con las monedas, el dinar y el dong, y el Zim se está negociando por encima de su valor nominal y es bueno ver que estas cosas suceden.
Creo que esa es la mayor revelación, ahora hemos estado cerca antes, y les estoy diciendo exactamente lo que estoy obteniendo y si es Verdadero y se mantiene y sabemos que quieren que esto se haga antes de fin de mes. Y también sabemos que el caso Brunson, lo escuchamos hace un tiempo y saldrá una semana antes de fin de mes, por lo que estamos esperando eso; lo que vemos en el Congreso no es lo que realmente está sucediendo, así que dejemos que eso va y hay cosas sobre los tokens USDC, eso es DS y no es real; no lo compre y si tiene activos respaldados y el nuevo USN del intercambio y no necesitamos ningún token ni nada más, tenemos el real y tendremos la cuenta QSF y la tarjeta cuántica que se podrá vincular a otros tres bancos;
Bruce está comenzando con Wells para ver cómo son. También hay mucha limpieza 1 – 13 - muchos arrestos que se están intensificando y no quiero entrar en detalles al respecto - y estas cosas deben llevarse a cabo y son parte de la razón por la que estamos esperando. y esta limpieza parece ser como si ya estuviera lista para lanzarse, por lo que a todos los vendedores de divisas de Ebay, etc., se les ha dado exactamente ese tiempo para dejar de vender; no más ventas y eso es una gran noticia para nosotros.
Y eso es realmente todo lo que quería decir esta noche y depende de esta videollamada de mañana para todos los actores importantes. Creo que estamos en un gran lugar para comenzar esta fiesta y creo que esto se concretará y ahora seguiremos adelante. Bruce ahora agradece a todo el equipo: Sue, Bob, GCK, el pastor Scott, Jeannie, Larry y todos esos fieles oyentes de todo el mundo. Y, por supuesto, sin lugar a dudas, Bruce rezará esta noche por el llamado.
Esto realmente suena como una gran información para nosotros, y solo pido que oremos y sigamos orando como nunca antes lo hemos hecho: Necesitamos esto y el mundo entero lo necesita AHORA.
Si todos le pedimos a nuestro Padre y al Cielo, siento en mi corazón que esta vez nuestra oración SERÁ ESCUCHADA.
In a recent interview, I had the opportunity to speak with renowned activist, journalist, and author, Robert Fantina. Our discussion centered on the current situation in Israel and Palestine, with a focus on the ongoing strife, the role of the U.S. government, the intricate geopolitical dynamics at play, and the potential measures necessary to attain a sustainable peace in the region. Fantina’s insights provide valuable perspectives on the historical, political, and social intricacies that have perpetuated this enduring conflict. Excerpts:
What are your perspectives on the recent events in Israel and Palestine, particularly regarding the targeting of hospitals like Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, and Israel’s denial of involvement in these attacks?
For many decades, the Israeli regime has brutally oppressed the people of Palestine, and that oppression has been extreme in the Gaza Strip since 2006. Israel has bombed hospitals, residences, mosques, press buildings and United Nations refugee centers with complete impunity. The apartheid, Zionist regime has no regard for international law or human rights. And the United States has not only enabled, but actually financed all its crimes for decades. This makes the U.S. complicit in each violation of international law and all crimes against humanity committed by Israel.
How do you interpret the conflicting narratives about the incidents, and what evidence or sources do you find most credible in understanding what transpired?
The one source that definitely cannot be trusted is Israel. We should not forget the assassination of journalist Shireen Abu Akheh just last year. She was covering an Israeli raid on a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank when she was shot and killed. One might think that the helmet and bulletproof vest she was wearing would have protected her, but she was shot beneath her ear. Israel first said that Palestinians had actually shot her, claiming that there was a firefight ongoing in the area at the time. Videos from the scene along with eye-witness accounts proved that to be a lie, and finally, Israel took responsibility, saying it would ‘investigate’. This is the story any time that Israel is accused of crimes against humanity or any violations of international law. It says it will conduct its own investigation, and then exonerates itself.
There are conflicting reports about the bombing of the Al Hali hospital, but if one is seeking facts about it, one should disregard any propaganda coming from Israel or the U.S. Media outlets are now investigating this horrific bombing, and the Israeli narrative is beginning to fall apart.
From a historical and political context, do you believe the recent escalation of violence was inevitable? What underlying factors or events might have triggered these intense hostilities?
A violently and brutally oppressed people will only tolerate that victimization for so long. Israel had had decades to provide the people of Palestine with equal rights; it has had generations to abide by international law. It has refused to do so. Instead, it has worked to make the occupation even more repressive: destroying more Palestinian homes and olive trees; holding more and more Palestinians – men, women and children – in Israel jails; expanding the illegal occupation through settlement construction; preventing much needed supplies from entering Gaza, and killing men, women and children with impunity.
And now, the most racist government in a history of racist governments is accelerating its ongoing genocidal actions against the Palestinians. Israel and the United States are responsible for the current ‘conflict’, and the blood of the thousands of victims is on their hands.
Is it possible that the “war on terror” is being exploited as a pretext to carry out mass atrocities with impunity in the current situation, and what impact does this have on the situation in Gaza and the wider region?
The United States launched its so-called ‘war on terror’ after the attacks on the U.S. of September 11, 2001. But for the U.S., combating ‘terror’ meant unleashing unspeakable terror on innocent victims around the world.
The Israeli government is calling Hamas’s actions of October 7 as ‘terrorism’. So, it is now mirroring the U.S.; in response to the events of October 7, Israel has unleashed unimaginable terror on innocent victims. It is simply an excuse to continue its genocide of the Palestinians.
What are your thoughts on the accusations of collective punishment, mass displacement, and extensive destruction against Israel? How do these actions affect the prospects for peace and reconciliation in the region?
Collective punishment, which is exactly what Israel is doing, is a blatant violation of international law. Mass displacement of the population is a violation of international law. The shocking destruction of medical facilities, homes, schools, houses of worship, press vehicles and buildings, the murder of journalists, are all serious violations of international law. Unless and until Israel is made to adhere to the standards of behavior that have been codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and many other international documents, there will be no peace in the region. Peace could come today: all that’s required is for Israel to adhere to international law.
Considering recent warnings from Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, what are the potential implications of a coordinated attack by Hezbollah and Iran in the conflict? How might this reshape the dynamics of the region?
The possibility of such an attack should not be dismissed. The people and governments of Lebanon and Iran have long sympathized with the Palestinians and recognize the brutality of the occupying, apartheid regime. Such an attack would require Israel to fight its war on multiple fronts, and would definitely bring in the U.S. Presently, U.S. military officials have stated that that country cannot sustain multiple wars on multiple fronts. So, the U.S. would have to hope that China didn’t decide to retake Taiwan while it is busy killing Palestinians.
China’s and Russia’s response to U.S. involvement in the Middle East must also be considered. Saudi Arabia is one nation that has moved closer to China recently; earlier this year, the Chinese government brokered an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, ending hostilities between those two countries.
And while Russia, China, Lebanon and Iran can be seen as major players, one must not forget some smaller nations. Syria and Yemen, both of which have developed increased military capability in the last several years due to U.S. aggression, may also join this ‘conflict’. The potential for a deadly, planet-wide destructive war exists.
These actions would reshape the power dynamics throughout the Middle East. U.S. influence is already waning, and that is certainly beneficial. Iran would continue to be a major player, and it and Saudi Arabia would probably be the leading nations in the Middle East.
How will Iran’s active involvement influence the regional dynamics of this conflict and potentially shift the balance of power?
The Iranian government will carefully calculate the level of its involvement. A direct attack on Israel would bring down the wrath of the United States and cause untold destruction in Iran. However, that destruction would not be one-sided. There would be heavy U.S. and Israeli losses, not just from Iran, but from other Middle Eastern nations that would certainly join Iran in its defense of the people of Palestine. Other Western nations, already hesitant to follow the U.S. on some of its more foolish and deadly forays, may step back, not wanting to sacrifice their citizens for Israel. The defeat of Israel would leave a void, and Iran is the most logical nation to fill it.
What factors and considerations have prevented Israel from launching a ground invasion into Gaza during this conflict?
Israel’s IDF terrorist are very familiar with dropping bombs, either from manned planes or drones. They are not, however, familiar with urban warfare. They are ill-prepared to face the resistance fighters on their own turf, which is why Israel is carpet-bombing Gaza, and has ordered the evacuation of half the population. The Israeli government wants to assure a small population is left, that it can better defeat. However, it will be impossible to kill the resistance, as it has been impossible for seventy-five years.
How much does religion play a role in this conflict, and to what extent is it accurate to label it as a religious war? What are the root causes and motivations driving the conflict beyond religious aspects?
Religion has no real role in this conflict. There are some Zionists and evangelical Christians who twist words in the Bible to indicate that God somehow promised this land to the Jewish people. But that is not the crux of the matter; nations today are not, or should not be, governed by religious texts. Those documents are for the personal use of the people who believe in them.
The reason for the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel is simple: one nation is violently and illegally occupying another and is committing genocide. If people want to attach religion to his, perhaps they should look at one admonishment that is common to all the major religions of the world: ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’. Zionists and their criminal cohorts are very selective when referring to religious texts.
How does the involvement and stance of the United States impact the situation on the ground and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Israel could not have continued its genocidal policies all these decades without the support and financing of the United States. A free and independent Palestine, living side-by-side with Israel, could have been established decades ago without U.S. interference (this does not address that fact that the United Nations was completely wrong in establishing a nation called Israel on Palestinian land). Israel has been emboldened to act in contradiction of international law and human decency only with U.S. support.
In what capacity is Hezbollah involved in the ongoing conflict?
At the present time, Hezbollah isn’t a key player, but it has the potential to be. Since the outbreak of this most recent genocidal action by apartheid Israel, there have been skirmishes between Lebanon and Israel. Should Hezbollah decide to launch a major attack on Israel, it would force the Zionist entity to fight battles on two fronts: a genocidal onslaught on Gaza, and a defensive battle against a powerful force on the north. This would, in all likelihood, draw in the United States, at which point the entire area would explode in humanitarian and ecological disaster.
Considering the complexity of the conflict, is the term “conflict” an appropriate characterization, or should we use a different term to accurately depict the multifaceted nature of the situation?
What is happening in Gaza now is not a conflict; it is genocide, and no other term accurately or adequately describes it. Israel is preventing food, water and fuel from entering Gaza; it is bombing hospitals, residential buildings, mosques and schools; it is killing journalists reporting on its atrocities. It should not be termed a ‘conflict between Israel and Hamas’. It should be termed what it is: the genocide of the Palestinian people by Israel.
How is the unresolved status of settlements contributing to the recurring violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, especially in light of Israel’s unilateral actions considered illegal and irreversible under international law?
Israel is a brutal settler-colonial nation. According to the Israeli government, the settlements are permanent. According to international law they are not. Under international law, and occupying power cannot move its residents onto the occupied land, except for short periods of time to maintain order. The Palestinian people are not willing to stand idly by and watch their nation stolen from them, piece by piece. The settlements are one component, albeit a major one, of the recurring violence. Another major component is the desire of the Israel government to eradicate all of Palestine: its land, people and culture.
Could you provide an overview of the current status and details of the aid package being discussed in Congress, specifically focusing on emergency military aid for Israel, and how does this align with broader US foreign policy goals and priorities?
The United States is proposing $14 billion in additional aid to Israel for its military. This, of course, will do nothing to reign in Israel’s blood-thirsty, murderous actions, thus helping to keep the Middle East unstable. This serves the interests of the U.S. government, partly because it keeps the military industry in the U.S. happy, thus ensuring continued political donations to candidates.
Also, Iran is considered by Israel to be its arch-enemy. The Iranian people have never been forgiven by the U.S. government for peacefully overthrowing the brutal, U.S. imposed dictator, and establishing a government more to their own liking. The U.S. was caught off-guard, and quite displeased, when Saudi Arabia and Iran reestablished diplomatic ties. More money for the apartheid military will ensure that Israel continues to assassinate Iran’s nuclear scientists and keep the hostility between the two countries strong.
Does Israel have a clear endgame or long-term strategy concerning Gaza, and how might it evolve as the conflict persists and develops?
Israel would like nothing better than to drive the Palestinian population out of Gaza, if it fails in its real quest to kill every man, woman and child there. Its long-term strategy is to annex it as it is slowly annexing the West Bank. That the international community is allowing it to do so is beyond shocking. There have been few instances in history where the global community remained at the sidelines while genocide was occurring. Since one of those times was during the Holocaust, it is appalling to see Israelis doing to the Palestinians exactly what was done to them. The Israeli cry of ‘Never Again’ apparently only pertains to them; genocide is fine as long as it is happening to someone else, and as long as Israel is the perpetrator.
Considering the complex geopolitical landscape, do you believe Israel is adequately prepared to handle a potential multi-front battle, and what measures or strategies do you think they have in place to address such a scenario?
Israel’s strategy is to rely on the United States to provide with everything it needs – weaponry and troops – to handle a multi-front battle, should that occur. The U.S. will do so, but at great expense to U.S. citizens, the military and the U.S.’s reputation around the world.
In your opinion, what key steps or measures need to be taken by all parties involved to achieve a lasting and meaningful peace, taking into account the historical, political, and social complexities of the region?
The establishment of Israel in 1948 by the United Nation is one of the most unjust events to have occurred in centuries. Some people are now proposing one nation, encompassing all of what was formerly Palestine. This, they say, would ensure equal rights for everyone. However, this is a fantasy; Israel will never allow Arabs, or any non-Jews, to have equal rights.
So, the most reasonable, workable solution is for Israel to be forced to adhere to international law. This would mean removing all the illegal settlers from Palestinian territory; dismantling all checkpoints in the West Bank; ending the blockade of Gaza; returning to the pre-1967 borders (as unjust as they are, but this is the political reality); provide equal rights for all the residents of Israel.
This could happen almost immediately if the United States ceased to support Israel financially with nearly $4 billion annually, and diplomatically with its veto power on the United Nations Security Council.
We must look at progress in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and Iran have re-established diplomatic relations in a deal brokered party by Iraq but mainly by China. There is a cease-fire in the long and brutal war against Yemen, and the reproachment between Iran and Saudi Arabia has the potential to make that permanent. Syria has made tremendous progress in ridding itself of U.S.-backed terrorists.
This is not to imply that there remain no challenges in the Middle East. But as we see U.S. influence there waning, we see conflict diminishing.
In the current genocidal event, the U.S. government has warned Iran and Syria not to ‘interfere’, yet the U.S. itself is interfering. And whenever that happens, peace, human right and international law become a thing of the past.
As other nations, currently China and Iran, become more powerful – Iran as a force present in the Middle East and China due to its influence there – the chance for peace in the region increases. It is long past time for that to happen, since U.S. interference has kept the entire area unsettled for far too long.
Iraq's ambitious plan to increase Siba Gas Field production, 20 OCT
Shafaq News / The Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil, Hayyan Abdul Ghani, announced on Friday the ministry's plans to increase the production from the Siba Gas Field in Basra governorate to 100 million standard cubic feet per day.
During his inspection visit to the Siba Gas Field, Abdul Ghani stated that "this field is one of the significant gas fields receiving the ministry's attention." He explained that the current production is between 50 to 60 million cubic feet, and they plan to increase it to 100 million standard cubic feet per day.
He also mentioned that the field produces approximately 1200 tons of liquefied gas and 1000 barrels of condensates. Additionally, he noted that the field relies on self-generation of electricity to power its facilities and all field installations.
Abdul Ghani highlighted the field's utilization of advanced technology and horizontal drilling to increase the exploited gas quantities from the border field.
It is noteworthy that this inspection visit is part of our ongoing monitoring of gas investment projects, which aim to add new quantities to Iraq's production. The Minister said, "We have directed the intensification of efforts to achieve this in the near future."
On the other hand, Basim Abdul Kareem, the General Manager of Basra Oil Company, stated that the central processing station of the Siba Gas Field consists of two sides, each with a capacity of 55 million cubic feet, with a total production rate of 100 million cubic feet.
He mentioned that ten wells have been drilled in the field, and they aim to increase their number to reach the available production capacities. He added that the Siba Gas Field is one of the gas fields included in the third licensing round.
