Biden ordered the U.S. military to strike two facilities in eastern Syria

National and international media news & headlines compiled by CLG

Gaza suffers near-total information blackout | 28 Oct 2023 | Internet and cell phone services stopped working in Gaza on Friday night, after Israel “expanded” its military operation against Hamas militants in the Palestinian enclave. The largest telecommunications provider in Gaza, Paltel, has announced “a complete severance of all communications and Internet services” due to intensified Israeli strikes. “The intense bombing in the last hour caused the destruction of all remaining international routes linking Gaza to the outside world,” the company said.

Israel Strikes the Outskirts of Gaza City During a Second Ground Raid in as Many Days | 28 Oct 2023 | Israeli forces backed by fighter jets and drones carried out a second ground raid into Gaza in as many days and struck targets on the outskirts of Gaza City, the military said Friday, as it prepares for a widely expected ground invasion of the Hamas-ruled territory. U.S. warplanes, meanwhile, struck targets in eastern Syria that the Pentagon said were linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard after a string of attacks on American forces, and two mysterious objects hit towns in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, adding to the already high tensions fueled by the three-week-old Gaza war. The Palestinian death toll has soared past 7,000 as Israel has carried out waves of devastating airstrikes in response to a bloody Hamas incursion into southern Israel on Oct. 7. The Health Ministry in Gaza, which tracks the toll, released a detailed list of names and identification numbers on Thursday.

Türkiye to introduce Israel to world as a war criminal – Turkish President Erdogan –“I am asking West, do you want to create another Crusader War atmosphere?” – Erdogan –Those shedding crocodile tears for civilians killed in Ukraine-Russia war silently watching killing of children in Gaza, says Turkish president | 29 Oct 2023 | Türkiye will introduce Israel to the world as a war criminal, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday. Speaking at “Great Palestine Meeting,” a pro-Palestine rally in Istanbul, Erdogan said: “Israel, we will also declare you as a war criminal to the world, we are preparing for it, and we will introduce Israel to the world as a war criminal.” Erdogan stressed that the Western world mobilized its politicians, and media to legitimize the massacre of the innocent people in Gaza, adding: “Israel is committing war crimes.” He said Israel is an “occupier,” adding, “West owes you, but Türkiye does not owe you.” Those shedding crocodile tears for civilians killed in the Ukraine-Russia war are silently watching the deaths of thousands of innocent children in Gaza, said the Turkish president. “I am asking West, do you want to create another Crusader War atmosphere?” he asked, adding: “The main culprit behind the massacre unfolding in Gaza is the West.”

5,000 US troops involved in Gaza offensive – Iranian media –The report by Tasnim News Agency comes as the Pentagon has moved additional military assets into the Middle East | 28 Oc 2023 | Several thousand U.S. troops have taken part in Israel’s ground operation in Gaza, the Iran-based Tasnim News Agency reported on Saturday. The Pentagon has recently announced plans to significantly reinforce its military presence in the Middle East amid the Israel-Hamas conflict and tensions with Iran. According to the agency’s security sources, Israel’s assault on Gaza involved three divisions and several brigades and was also underpinned by 5,000 U.S. military personnel. The outlet, however, did not provide any details about which troops took part in the offensive or what functions they performed.

IDF: 311 soldiers killed since October 7; 230 civilians and soldiers kidnapped to Gaza | 28 Oct 2023 | At least 311 Israeli soldiers have been killed since October 7 and 230 people – civilians and soldiers – have been kidnapped to the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari. Hagari responded to statements by Hamas and its leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahia Sinwar, who expressed readiness for an immediate prisoner exchange deal, calling these statements “psychological terrorism.”

October 7 testimonies reveal Israel’s military ‘shelling’ Israeli citizens with tanks, missiles | 27 Oct 2023 | Israel’s military received orders to shell Israeli homes and even their own bases as they were overwhelmed by Hamas militants on October 7. How many Israeli citizens said to have been “burned alive” were actually killed by friendly fire? Several new testimonies by Israeli witnesses to the October 7 Hamas surprise attack on southern Israel adds to growing evidence that the Israeli military killed its own citizens as they fought to neutralize Palestinian gunmen. Tuval Escapa, a member of the security team for Kibbutz Be’eri, set up a hotline to coordinate between kibbutz residents and the Israeli army. He told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that as desperation began to set in, “The commanders in the field made difficult decisions – including shelling houses on their occupants in order to eliminate the terrorists along with the hostages.”

U.S. strikes Syria in ‘self-defense’ – Pentagon –Biden ordered the U.S. military to strike two facilities in eastern Syria | 27 Oct 2023 | US forces have launched multiple airstrikes on unspecified military installations in Syria, the Pentagon said on Thursday, claiming the operation was a response to recent attacks against illegal American outposts by armed groups allegedly “affiliated” with Iran. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the “self-defense” strikes, ordered by Joe Biden, hit “two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)” and related groups, but stressed that they were not related to ongoing fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants. “These narrowly tailored strikes in self-defense were intended solely to protect and defend US personnel in Iraq and Syria,” he claimed in a statement, adding that the mission was “separate and distinct” from the hostilities in Gaza.

Dozens of Ukrainian drones target Crimea – Russian military –At least 36 UAVs were intercepted over the Black Sea overnight, according to the Defense Ministry | 28 Oct 223 | Several dozen Ukrainian drones have been spotted and destroyed over the Black Sea and north-western part of the Crimean Peninsula, the Russian military said early Sunday morning. Russian air defenses have prevented yet another “attempted terrorist attack by the Kiev regime” with some 36 plane-type drones intercepted en route to Crimea, the military said in a brief statement shortly before 2am local time, without providing any further details… Russian officials have repeatedly accused Kiev of plotting acts of sabotage targeting the country’s major infrastructure sites, including nuclear power plants. Earlier this week, a Ukrainian attack involving multiple drones was stopped in the Russian city of Kurchatov, home to the Kursk nuclear power plant, but one of the UAVs reportedly damaged a nuclear waste storage building at the site.

EU planning Nazi Germany-inspired documents for Russians – Moscow –The European bloc seeks to aid Russian dissidents seeking a “change of power” in Moscow | 26 Oct 2023 | Moscow has accused the European Union of taking pointers from Nazi Germany, as the regional body mulls plans to issue special “democracy passports” to Russian opposition activists working toward regime change. Commenting on a recent draft report put under consideration by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs this week, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the bloc hoped to use Russian citizens as its “little helpers,” drawing comparisons to the policies of the Third Reich. “It is known that during the years of Nazi occupation, persons wishing to cooperate with the German administration were offered to sign the so-called ‘Volkslist,’ a special document that played the role of [passport],” she said, adding that the EU had similarly proposed “passports for good Russians.” The draft report, penned by Lithuanian MEP Andrius Kubilius, calls on the bloc to adopt a new sweeping strategy to pursue a “change of power in Russia,” saying it would work with “democratic forces” in and outside the country to topple the current leadership and establish a “transitional government.”

U.S. fighter jets scrambled after aircraft violates restricted airspace near Biden’s Delaware home –The Secret Service and FAA are investigating the incident | 28 Oct 2023 | A civilian aircraft that violated restricted airspace in Delaware Saturday afternoon prompted fighter jets to scramble because the president was at his home in Wilmington, Anthony Guglielmi, Chief of Communications for the United States Secret Service, said. “Shortly after 2 p.m., a civilian aircraft violated restricted airspace north of Wilmington, Delaware,” Guglielmi said. He said the fighter jets were scrambled “as a precaution” and the civilian aircraft landed safely at a nearby airport.

Curiouser and curiouser: Maine Police Were Alerted Weeks Ago About Shooter’s Threats | 28 Oct 2023 | Police across Maine were alerted just last month to “veiled threats” by the U.S. Army reservist who would go on to carry out the worst mass shooting in the state’s history, one of a string of missed red flags that preceded the massacre. Two local law enforcement chiefs told The Associated Press that a statewide awareness alert was sent in mid-September to be on the lookout for Robert Card after the firearms instructor made threats against his base and fellow soldiers. But after stepped-up patrols of the base and a visit to Card’s home – neither of which turned up any sign of him – they moved on. “We added extra patrols, we did that for about two weeks. …The guy never showed up,” said Jack Clements, the police chief in Saco, home to the U.S. Army Reserve base where Card trained.

Maine mass shooting suspect Robert Card dead of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after two-day manhunt | 27 Oct 2023 | Robert Card, the Maine gunman who [allegedly] killed 18 people and injured dozens of others in the deadliest US mass shooting this year, was found dead Friday night from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The discovery of Card’s body put an end to a two-day manhunt that began when he carried out the bloody attack at a bowling alley and bar in the city of Lewiston on Wednesday night. Card’s body was located around 7:45 p.m. near a river in Lisbon, Maine, which law-enforcement sources said is near his former workplace, Maine ­Recycling, from which he was recently fired.

Mike Pence suspends 2024 presidential campaign | 28 Oct 2023 | Former Vice President [and traitor] Mike Pence on Saturday announced that he is suspending his 2024 Republican presidential campaign. “I came here to say it’s become clear to me this is not my time,” Pence said in his surprise announcement at the annual Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) convention…The former vice president launched his 2024 campaign in early June. While he spent plenty of time over the summer and into the autumn on the campaign trail in the crucial early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, his White House bid never took off. .. As of  Saturday, he still remained short of hitting the criteria to make the stage at next month’s third Republican presidential nomination debate.

Prosecutor says Biden bribery claim was credible enough for further investigation, but FBI resisted –Former U.S. Attorney Scott Brady told the House Judiciary Committee the FBI kept even the mere existence of the Hunter Biden laptop from his probe. | 25 Oct 2023 | In bombshell testimony, the federal prosecutor who initially probed the Biden family’s dealings in Ukraine told Congress his team had corroborated enough of an FBI informant’s claim of an alleged bribery scheme involving Joe Biden to merit further investigation but he encountered unprecedented foot-dragging and “reluctance” inside both the FBI and the Delaware U.S. Attorney’s office that took over the case, Just the News has learned. Former Pittsburgh U.S. Attorney Scott Brady revealed to the House Judiciary Committee that his team found enough credible evidence in its initial review of Hunter Biden’s dealings with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings and possible corruption by Joe Biden to refer criminal matters to three separate U.S. Attorney’s offices in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Delaware for further investigation. But almost immediately after he was assigned by the Justice Department in 2020 to review Biden family matters in Ukraine, Brady said he encountered resistance at both the FBI and the Delaware U.S. Attorney’s office that at times required him to escalate to his bosses in the deputy attorney general’s office.

DOJ Asks DC Judge to Reinstate Trump Gag Order | 26 Oct 2023 | The Justice Department (DOJ) has asked Judge Tanya Chutkan to reinstate her gag order on former President Donald Trump, arguing that it doesn’t violate his constitutional right to free speech. Judge Chutkan issued a stay on Oct. 20 pending appeal. The initial order prompted criticism from many, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), for placing overbroad restrictions on President Trump’s speech. Both the ACLU and President Trump’s attorneys argued that the order, which states that President Trump isn’t allowed to “target” people involved in the case, was also unconstitutionally vague. DOJ attorney Molly Gaston, who is part of special counsel Jack Smith’s team, disputed both of these points in her Oct. 25 response and echoed Judge Chutkan in asserting that criminal defendants don’t enjoy unrestricted First Amendment rights.

Repeat COVID vax worsens immune response, could ‘enhance’ dengue, international research suggests | 25 Oct 2023 | With regulators worldwide on the defensive for approving mRNA COVID-19 vaccines associated with seizures and heart inflammation in low-risk groups, and confirmed to be contaminated with DNA in large-scale batch production, more science is filling in the gaps left by governments. Dutch government-funded researchers confirmed the peer-reviewed work of two sets of German counterparts who found repeat vaccination spurs a “class switch” to inferior antibodies that moderate rather than neutralize SARS-CoV-2 infection, in a much larger study awaiting peer review. A new Indian preprint finds that COVID antibodies “enhance” a much worse disease, dengue, raising serious questions about the safety of boosting in dengue hotspots. Previous peer-reviewed research has already found “cross-reactivity” between the two viruses and their antibodies.

Biden Admin Climate Regulations Add $9,100 to Typical American Household – Consumer Watchdog | 28 Oct 2023 | A consumer watchdog has calculated that the Biden administration’s war on appliances such as gas stoves, in the name of climate change, would cost the average American household over 9,100. In an infographic titled “Biden’s Dream Home,” the nonprofit Alliance for Consumers puts price tags on the Biden administration’s various proposals for new energy standards for all kinds of appliances found in homes, including air conditioners, washing machines, and gas stoves. This year, the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of Transportation (DOT) have announced a range of proposed rules that will make household appliances more expensive and, as some experts contend, are designed to force Americans to give up their current appliances.

ESG Corporatists Champion Ultra-Processed Foods –The hottest new trends on Wall Street involve promoting foods that make Americans sick. | 25 Oct 2023 | The hottest new trends on Wall Street are promoting foods that make Americans sick. A Massachusetts-based public relations firm that specializes in promoting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards released its annual list of “100 Best Corporate Citizens” on Wednesday. The list ranks 1,000 of the largest U.S. public companies on their compliance and transparency efforts to “align with the Sustainable Development Goals and rebuild an equitable economy post-pandemic.” …Seven major American food processors made it on the list, five of which landed in the top 50. Corporations include PepsiCo at 6, Hershey at 10, Mondelez at 45, Kellogg at 40, and General Mills at 49. These corporate food giants, however, are some of the worst offenders for environmental and public health.