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Zarif's intervention was extremely forceful. He stressed how Iran "complied with every agreement and it got nothing;" how "our people believe we have not gained from being part of" the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action; how inflation is out of control; how the value of the rial dropped 70% "because of 'coercive measures' – not sanctions because they are illegal."
He spoke without notes, exhibiting absolute mastery of the inextricable swamp that is US-Iran relations. It turned out, in the end, to be a bombshell. Here are highlights.
So far, he added, the country has manufactured three destroyers, including Damavand, a new-generation vessel, which boasts higher speed and is less radar detectable due to its special design, Sahand, which joined the Navy last year and is being prepared for oceanic missions, and Dena.
The Iranian government is shortening its nuclear breakout time -- the amount of time required to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for a single nuclear weapon. Tehran has accomplished this through several steps in the last few months.
It has been claimed that Iran is within months of building a nuclear weapon ... for almost 30 years now.
What should the United States do about Iran? The question is easily asked, but for nearly 30 years, Washington has had difficulty coming up with a good answer. The Islamic Republic presents a particularly confounding series of challenges for the United States. Many Iranian leaders regard the United States as their greatest enemy for ideological, nationalistic, and/or security reasons, while a great many average Iranians evince the most pro-American feelings of any in the Muslim world. Unlike other states that may also fear or loathe the United States, Iran's leaders have consistently acted on these beliefs, working assiduously to undermine American interests and influence throughout the Middle East, albeit with greater or lesser degrees of success at different times.
All external foes will be defeated if they make moves against Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander warned at a massive pro-government rally amid protests over fuel price hikes.
Major General Hossein Salami addressed people in downtown Tehran on Monday. He said that the country's rivals are "no longer capable of anything" in their attacks against the nation.
We have shown patience towards the hostile moves of America, the Zionist regime [Israel] and Saudi Arabia against the Islamic Republic of Iran... but we will destroy them if they cross our red lines.
Thousands have marched on the streets of the country's capital and gathered on the Enqelan Square (Revolution Square). Calling themselves the 'Supporters of the Leadership', the demonstrators waved national flags, carried placards and chanted slogans in support for the Supreme Leader Ali Khanemei and the current government. Some were also seen burning American flags.
Which nearly assures of of a cooked up false flag, over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Israel is set to expel a Human Rights Watch employee, its executive director Ken Roth said on Sunday, denouncing the forthcoming deportation of one of his staffers.
US citizen Omar Shakir, the New York-based rights group's director for Israel and the Palestinian territories, is to be deported from Israel on Monday over his alleged support of a boycott of the country, AFP said.
Israel accuses him of being a supporter of the banned Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which calls for a broad-ranging boycott to pressure Israel to end its rights abuses against Palestinians.
The expulsion, upheld by Israel's supreme court, would make Shakir the first HRW official to be expelled from the country under a controversial 2017 law allowing the deportation of foreigners who support the boycott, according to authorities.
Israel's supreme court orders expulsion of Human Rights Watch campaigner
Roth is terribly mistaken by characterizing Israel as a "democracy"; at best, it has devolved into a wickedly apartheid, self-proclaimed theocracy, with nuclear weapons.
It seems more than coincidence that as the legal noose tightens around Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu, Israeli military have suddenly stepped up air strikes on Iranian forces based in Syria.
Playing the strongman role on national security and winning another term as prime minister would stave off prosecution over pending corruption charges.
If Netanyahu is ousted from office he will be immediately subjected to trial. A subsequent conviction on all charges could result in him facing up to 13 years in jail. A lot is at stake for Israel's elder statesmen. At 70 years old, he is the longest-serving prime minister in the history of the Israeli state, having been elected four times already.
Therefore the longer he can hang on as premier, the longer he can postpone his day in court, as the leadership position affords a certain immunity while in office.
Sixteen years ago, the George W. Bush administration manipulated intelligence to scare the public into backing an aggressive war against Iraq.
Now the Trump administration appears to be following the same well-worn path. The president has fixated on Iran, tearing up the nuclear accord with Tehran and declaring economic war on it—as well as anyone dealing with Iran. He is pushing America toward war even as he insists that he wants peace. How stupid does he believe we are?
Thousands of dead Americans, tens of thousands of wounded and maimed U.S. personnel, hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis, and millions of Iraqis displaced. There was the sectarian conflict, destruction of the historic Christian community, the creation of Al Qaeda in Iraq—which morphed into the far deadlier Islamic State—and the enhanced influence of Iran. The prime question was how could so many supposedly smart people be so stupid?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Twitter Wednesday that he was meeting with Arab leaders to further the "common interest of war with Iran" — but then quickly deleted the bellicose statement.
"I am going to a meeting with 60 foreign ministers and envoys of countries from around the world against Iran," Netanyahu wrote on Twitter from Warsaw, Poland, where a two-day, U.S.-led summit began Wednesday. The "Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East" was meant to center on what the administration considers the biggest roadblock to such a future: Iran. But under pressure from European allies, the United States broadened the focus to the entire Middle East.
Israel obviously did not get the memo.
The impeachment of Trump didn't get serious until he refused to attack Iran over the drone shootdown.
What a War Whore this individual is. An attack on Iran will be the beginning of the end for the US,military wise and economically. The dollar will be the first casualty. Oil prices will skyrocket and a worldwide depression and world war will ensue.
Months upon months of US military buildups in the Middle East, all around Iran, combined with near-constant threats to attack Iran outright have sure been raising regional tensions, but according to US Centcom commander Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, it is not believed to be deterring Iran.
Following the international outcry against the Islamic regime's authorities blocking the internet to Iranians nationwide and the sanctioning of Mohammad-Javad Azari-Jahromi, Tehran's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Internet in Iran has been restored.
The threat from Tehran continues to increase despite U.S. military buildup, U.S. Central Command's Gen. Kenneth McKenzie says.
MANAMA, Bahrain—Since May, the Pentagon has dispatched 14,000 additional U.S. troops, an aircraft carrier, and tens of thousands of pounds of military equipment to the Middle East to respond to what it says are alarming new threats from Iran. But despite the stepped-up U.S. military posture, the top U.S. general in the region believes the Iranian threat continues to rise—and Tehran is likely to continue lashing out.
"I think the strike on Saudi Aramco in September is pretty indicative of a nation that is behaving irresponsibly," said Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, in a Friday interview, referring to the Sept. 14 Iran-sponsored attack on Saudi facilities that took half of Riyadh's oil production offline.
Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, a quick question, sir; did the Houthis, against whose country, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the US are attempting to bomb back to the stone age, not accept responsibility for this attack, which Iran denied?!?
2019 Abqaiq–Khurais attack
The timing of your claim is of great concern, sir; we have Netanyahu, doing the "Just Got Indicted, who can I hit with a False Flag?" mambo to change the narrative in Tel Aviv and beyond; the US has deployed another 3,000 troops to Saudi Arabia, allegedly to "counter Iranian aggression.", and Iran doing a huge defense drill in their northern territories.
I note that the date of your statement, 23 November, is 6 days away from that most iconic of American holidays, Thanksgiving, this year falling on Thursday, 28 November.
One has to wonder if, perhaps, this statement is supposed to "groom" the American public to expect Iran to do something horrific this next holiday weekend, when they totally denied the attack on the Aramco facility in Saudi Arabia, and for which the Houthis claimed responsibility?!?
Sir, forgive me, but just how completely stupid do you think the American people are, to believe this codswallop?!?
The Iranian leadership may be many things, but foolish, is not one of them; they would not DARE do something this stupid, as they know that the US/Israeli reaction would be to turn Tehran into a puddle of radioactive glass.
It was totally clear in his remarks Thursday: The embattled prime minister aims to accuse the legal system of launching a coup against him – and wait for the masses to follow his lead.
Not a smidgen of humility or regret did we hear from defendant Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday night. Israel's first sitting prime minister to be charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust neither bowed his head in shame nor gave any other indication of soul-searching.
Like any garden-variety criminal, he assailed the police investigators, the prosecutors and the attorney general in crude language and with boundless chutzpah. With his back to the wall, both figuratively and literally, and facing trial, maybe even prison, he gave shape to what has been written on the wall for three years now: He has no intention of going quietly and cutting his losses.
I very much agree with Vertner's assessment here, and have found some very interesting, and reasoned, reporting at Haaretz, to which I have linked before.
But it is obvious to anyone with more than two brain cells to rub together, that the Middle East is headed for more military conflict, largely because of the US's unrelenting aid and abetting of Israel's criminal behaviour against its neighbors in the region. This is, of course, illegal, per the Symington Amendment Symington Amendment, but the US government only picks and chooses what it wants to observe, and what it wants to ignore, when it comes to US foreign policy and Israel, unfortunately.
There are three separate items, coming together this week, that gravely concern me;
1. The timing of the announcement of the charges against Netanyahu, and his potential "mad-dog reaction" to them; AG announces Netanyahu to stand trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust
2. The US government has deployed another 3,000 military personnel to Saudi Arabia US continues building troop presence in Saudi Arabia (to allegedly counter Iranian Aggression)
3. Massive Iranian defense drills are being held now. IRAN HOLDS MAJOR AIR WAR GAMES AS U.S. MILITARY MOVES THROUGH TOP OIL ROUTE
This article goes on to state: "Iran has begun wide scale air defense drills, simulating a potential aerial invasion amid regional unrest and a powerful U.S. Navy warship sailed near its shores.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 98-Guardians of Velayat Sky joint exercises, Iranian Army Air Defense Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard said Thursday that the maneuvers were being held across an area of some 416,000 square kilometers—roughly the size of the U.S. state of California—mostly in the northern province of Semnan. He said his forces "will practice the toughest and most realistic combat conditions," simulating a conflict in the Persian Gulf, especially the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil chokepoint."
Right now, as Americans start to gather for one of the most iconically American celebrations, Thanksgiving, I would not at all be surprised if Netanyahu's minions in the IDF, and/or Shin Beit, have decided to "cook up" a false flag, engineered to kill as many Americans as possible (as happened in the USS Liberty Affair, trying to trick the US into believing that Egypt was the culprit), or against American assets, blame it on Iran, and off we go, into a war against.... Iran, Syria, and ... Russia.
President Trump looks at both Netanyahu, the Butcher of Gaza, and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the Butcher of Yemen as his "BFFs" in the region; particularly in the case of Netanyahu, and the laying out of these charges, nothing could be further from the truth.
Will Netanyahu exploit Trump's belief that he is a true friend, by ordering a false flag?!?
The short answer here is, Hell yes, if Netanyahu believes, even for a second, that such an horrific act is the only thing which will "save his bacon" on these corruption charges.
Please remember what a high ranking Russian official told a delegation from Iran last June: Iran 'Won't Be Alone' If U.S. Attacks, Russian Official Says
Didn't read that in an American paper or blog at the time, did you?!? Of course not!! This is why people who want a real handle on the news read the foreign press in English, to get at least a clue, as to what is happening globally. Don't just trust us; get out there and decide for yourself.
But this coming week looks potentially very ugly, particularly if you live anywhere in the Middle East.
Source: Moon Over Alabama
The Attorney General of Israel just indicted Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu in three cases. The announcement comes at a time of political stalemate. It might help to resolve it.
Israel had two parliament elections this year which both ended in a political stalemate. Neither Prime Minister Netanyahu of the Likud Party nor Blue and White coalition leader Benny Gantz managed to form a government. Both were unable to find enough additional votes to form a coalition and to gain a majority.
Now the parliament has 21 days to find a majority. It will likely fail and a third election seems inevitable.
I think Moon over Alabama, has been bang spot-on with their analysis; nothing is more dangerous than a wounded animal; the same can be said for a geopolitically wounded politician, as Netanyahu is right now.
We are coming toward one of the most iconic of American celebrations next week, which is Thanksgiving Day; while most Americans are in their turkey/tryptophan-induced coma, and watching lost of sports for the long weekend, one has to wonder if the IDF and/or Shin Beit, are "cooking up" some kind of false flag, to be blamed against Iran and Syria, and off we go.....
I hope to heaven that I am absolutely wrong on this; but with Iran running defensive military drills, the US deploying 3,000 more troops to Saudi Arabia, coupled with the announcement about Netanyahu's indictments... this next week could be a very, thoroughly rough one for the world, particularly for those living anywhere in the Middle East right now.
The Iranian armed forces today launched a major air defence drill codenamed "Guardians of Velayat's Sky-98" in the northeastern province of Semnan, local media reported.
Air Defence Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard said yesterday that the manoeuvres were being held across an area of some 416,000 square kilometres and will simulate a conflict in the Gulf, especially over the Strait of Hormuz.
"If the enemy intends to invade, attack or even infringe on our country's skyline, which is one of our red lines, we can deal with it," he said.
The manoeuvres come as tensions between Iran and the United States and Saudi Arabia persist in the Gulf region.
Looking at the overt hostility against the Iranian government, and Syria, can one blame the Iranian government for doing these defensive drills?!/
The short answer is, "HELL, no!!"
Allegedly Iranian targets in Syria have been hit by Israel, right outside of Damascus last Tuesday:
Israel carries out 'wide-scale strikes' on Iranian forces in Syria
The Iranian leadership may be many things, but one of them is NOT stupid; they believe they know what is coming, and they are probably correct in that assessment. The question is, when.
I am also deeply concerned about the timing of the deployment of 3,000 more US troops to Saudi Arabia.
One of the most uniquely iconic American holiday is coming up next week, and that is our Thanksgiving celebration; I would't put it past Israel's IDF and/or Shin Beit, to be "cooking up" a little false flag, where Americans or American assets are hit intensely, and then off the US military goes, creating more "hot war " in Syria, and against Iran.
Russia has already been assisting Syria in battling US trained, funded, and armed Jihadis who have attempted to regime-change Syria; and please remember what the Russian government has told the Iranian government earlier this year; Iran won't be alone, if the US attacks
When a Russian official makes that kind of promise, diplomatically, you can absolutely bet that such a promise is iron-clad, in terms of Russia following through on it.
And to those who eyeball this site for all the Alphabet Soup agencies out there; (and you know who you are!! :-)); the Pentagon; State Department; and the White House, I would politely, but strongly caution this government, that an attempted decap strike against either Tehran or Damascus, would be the most ham-fistedly, pig-headedly stupid thing this country could do right now, and primarily because of Russia's war capacities we do cannot match at the moment.
We do not conscript (Russia does; Conscription in Russia)); they unfortunately have some absolutely kick-ass weapons (to which our weapons designers are frantically attempting to catch up; we don't have the manufacturing; and at a Federal Deficit of approximately $ 1 trillion dollars, and rising Explainer: What you should know about federal deficits, a war with Iran and Syria will almost inextricably mean war with Russia.
The Iranians get it! They call the New World Order,Organized Psychopathy!
By Walt Peretto
US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo are now employing the use of sanctions against Iran to foment dissent of its citizenry against their government.
Just as the Bush administration paraded Iraqi-Americans on TV in 2002 begging the US to bomb Iraq, Secretary Mike Pompeo will use his event in California on Sunday with the Iranian-American community to give the impression that Iranian-Americans back Trump's policy of destabilizing Iran.
It's a classic page out of the Iraq-war playbook.
And if there was any doubt about the Trump administration's intentions, the coziness of members of his team with the MEK terror cult is instructive of the administration's end game. In fact, at least one member of the MEK has been invited to Pompeo's speech.
I have noticed postings here on this subject using a group calling itself MEK. MEK is a CIA funded terrorist group.
Since its liberating 1979 revolution, ending a generation of US imposed fascist tyranny, both right wings of the US war party targeted Iran for regime change.
Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh earlier documented hostile US covert actions against Iran, citing unnamed "current and former military, intelligence, and congressional sources."
CIA dirty hands have been involved, hundreds of millions of dollars spent for subversive activities, aiming to undermine Iran's development, regime change the objective.
Syrian air defenses have thwarted multiple hostile targets in the Syrian capital of Damascus early Wednesday morning, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
Several powerful explosions were heard in Damascus as air defenses engaged several hostile targets in the city's southern region around 1:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Approximately 20 blasts occurred in seconds-long intervals that shortened as time passed.
Social media footage from the region shows fires that resulted from the the strikes. Unconfirmed reports say the missiles originated from the Israeli Air Force (IAF).
When the unconfirmed reports become confirmed, I have to ask myself just how long Russia's Putin is going to put up with Israel's insolence, before making further strikes of this nature so miserable for Tel Aviv, that it will stop.
So much for drawing down in the Middle East. President Trump notified Congress on Tuesday that more American troops are en route to Saudi Arabia, which will bring their overall numbers to about 3,000 in the kingdom.
"These personnel will remain deployed as long as their presence is required to fulfill the missions described above," the president said in a letter.
The official White House notification of Congressional members described the American military presence there as essential in countering Iran's influence in the region.
"En Route" means, having been formally deployed, and on the way.
The only question left is, how soon they will arrive, or how many of these 3,000 troops have already reported for duty?
But to be honest, the timing of this increase in the US military presence in Saudi Arabia concerns me greatly.
Very few celebrations are more iconically American than is Thanksgiving, happening next week, with Americans chowing down on the traditional Thanksgiving meal, and watching football in rapt attention.
One has to wonder if the IDF doesn't have a "false flag" scheduled for right around this holiday, to be blamed, of course, on Iran and Syria, and off we go.....
I hope I am completely wrong on this but, when it comes to geopolitical ploys, timing...is everything.
All sovereign independent countries not subservient to US interests are on its target list for regime change — by preemptive wars, color revolutions, old-fashioned coups, targeted assassinations, economic terrorism, and/or other hostile actions.
Color revolutions are a US specialty. So-called spontaneous uprisings are well-planned in advance by the CIA, the undemocratic National Endowment for Democracy, and other US agencies.
A color revolution was first used to oust Serbia's Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. Opposition elements were recruited and trained by the US for what played out.
The Russian-made S-400 air defense system – the one that triggers US threats of sanctions for nations if they decide to buy it – can actually help an American soldier to win a battle... in a card game.
The S-400 [or SA-21 Growler in NATO nomenclature] is a joker in a new line of card decks for the US army, an all-mighty card of many faces capable of incinerating an enemy.
The second joker in the Russia-themed deck is the Iskander tactical missile system [SS-26 Stone in NATO nomenclature] with its 9M729 missile that was used by Washington as a pretext for quitting the INF Treaty, despite Russia's assurances that it did not violate the agreement.
This...does not bode well for peace in this world.
Iran's military capability 2019 Part 2: 10 Minutes Before - O poderio militar do Irã 2019
Iran Army
Iran Navy
Iran Air force
Submarines, ships, drones, speed boats, Shahab-3, Khorramshahr, Fateh-110, Fateh-313, 285, S-300 - Sayyad 2, 2K12 Kub, Mersad, Raad, Ya Zahra, Herz-9, 3rd Khordad Air Defense System (Khordad-3rd), Raad Air Defense System and Bavar 373.
If the U.S. cared, it "would not have threatened with military intervention democratically elected governments as it has done with #Venezuela," the Bolivian president continued in his denunciation of American violations of #InternationalLaw. "The United States could not care less about human rights nor justice. If this were the case, it would have signed the international conventions and treaties for the have protection of human rights."
President #Trump wore a small earpiece to hear the English translation while others wear larger ones at the UN Security Council meeting.
"In no way is the United States interested in upholding democracy. If such were the case it would not have financed coups d'etat and supported dictators," said Evo Morales, President of Bolivia.
"Morales was in a position to make the statements because Bolivia is one of the nonpermanent slots on the council. " - The Hill, Justin Wise - 09/26/18
In a move that almost certainly will have a major impact on Iraq's future, the nation's top religious leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani has publicly endorsed the protesters and is demanding that the ruling elite give in to real reforms.
Sistani rarely interjects in Iraqi politics, which tends to make his rare comments highly influential. After weeks of criticizing violence against the protesters, he is now accusing the government of being "delusional" and thinking they can stall to avoid real reform.
Sistani went on to declare that what comes after the protests "will not be the same as before," and that the government should recognize that fact. He also praised the protesters for the honorable way they'd sought reform.
Iran muffed it here, and there will be a lot of blowback for its having supported a corrupt, non-functional government.
A pair of Israeli airstrikes targeted senior Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza and Syria early Tuesday, escalating Israel's confrontation with Iran across the region and threatening to unleash another devastating round of cross-border violence with Palestinian militants.
In eastern Gaza, the Israeli strike killed Bahaa Abu el-Atta and his wife, setting off a furious barrage of Gaza-fired rockets that reached as far as the Tel Aviv heartland as Islamic Jihad vowed further revenge. The military said Abu el-Atta was the mastermind of recent attacks against Israel and the militant group's top commander in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Syrian officials said an Israeli airstrike in the capital, Damascus, targeted another Islamic Jihad commander, Akram al-Ajouri, who was not harmed.
Israel has become a regional master at provocation, assassinations, and is obviously readying for a complete, utter, and total war against Gaza.
I would like to strongly, but politely, caution Tel Aviv to be very, very careful about what it wishes for, as the outcome to such a conflict.
Throughout weeks of recent anti-government protests in Iraq the US wasn't immediately clear on their position. It was only following weekend reports of Iran trying to save the current government and forestall early elections that the US declared itself firmly on the side of early elections.
The White House demanded that the Iraqi government immediately fulfill talk of reforms and early elections by President Salih, further demanding an immediate halt on violence against Iraqi protesters.
These are somewhat uncharacteristic positions for the US to take on Iraq, as generally they, like Iran, prefer to prolong the survival of governments at any cost, and they've rarely presented anything like opposition to crackdowns on public protests before.
I love the delicious smell of irony and hypocrisy in the morning!!
And it is only because Iran is desperately attempting to preserve the Iraqi government, that the US government is backing snap elections here.
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:45 P.M.) – In an interview with Russia Today's UK channel, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad discussed a number of topics regarding his country.
In a speech aired on state TV, Rouhani said the country's economy had stabilised despite punishing US measures against its senior leaders, banking and finance sectors.
The vast field in the southwestern province of Khuzestan holds an estimated 53 billion barrels of crude, he said.
Iraqi security forces continued to crack down on protests Friday, with security forces killing at least 10 people in Basra, where the protesters have been keeping the country's main Gulf port closed for days.
Live gunfire and killing protesters hasn't worked in the past, nor is there any sign it's going to work here. The biggest issue is likely to be Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani's sermon, which is now saying the government must immediately meet demands of protesters.
The top religious leader in Iraq, Sistani has long warned against using force against the protesters, and now says it is time to just meet the demands of the protesters immediately. His aide Sheikh Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalaie, added that their position is that the Iraqi government can not "procrastinate on this issue because of the great risks facing the country."
To Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, I have three words for you, and they are BLESS YOU SIR!!
Speaking out against corruption in government is not an easy task (and trust me, sir, as an American, I do know just a tiny bit about this); I understand that this took a lot of moral courage on your part, but you absolutely did the right thing here.
Because if policy makers in Baghdad do not listen to you, we may well be looking at a bloody revolution in Iraq, with a government permanently aligned with other than American interests, and that influence would most likely coming from...Iran.
Unfortunately, the Iranian-born Shiite Cleric, Muktada Al Sadr, whose party created a significant coalition in the last Parliamentary elections, is now seen as part of the problem, because his influence really did nothing to create a cure for Iraq's corruption, even though he has railed against it frequently.
Moments ago, local Iranian news outlets confirmed the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have shot down a drone from a "foreign country."
The unidentified drone was downed near the port of Bandar-e-Mahshahr on the Gulf coast, ISNA and Tasnim, reported.
Iran Front Page's Reza Khaasteh said, "Mahshahr is home to Iran's Petrochemical Special Economic Zone (Petzone), where a major part of the country's petchem plants are located."
Reza Khaasteh
Mahshahr is home to Iran's Petrochemical Special Economic Zone (Petzone), where a major part of the country's petchem plants are located.
At this particular time, I would not bet against either Israel, or the US, as being the origin of this drone.
Iran restarted enrichment at the underground Fordow site overnight on Wednesday, and on Thursday US officials were accusing Iran of preparing a "nuclear breakout" situation the international community must unite against.
The concept of the "nuclear breakout" has always been ill-defined, but rests on the notion that at some point Iran would have such a substantial civilian nuclear program that it would be tantamount to an irreversible military program. Though it's not clear that's even theoretically possible, as nations like Canada and Japan have never been accused of approaching a "breakout" despite huge nuclear programs, attaching the label to Iran has been popular with US hawks and Israel.
The breakout idea is meant to push a narrative in which action, presumably a war, needs to be launched quickly. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took the lead in urging other world powers to do something to force Iran back into compliance with the P5+1 deal.
(Sigh)Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike; please who rescinded their agreement to the PO5 +1 agreement, initially?!? Are you having a hard time remembering this, and would you like something approximating rational logic with which you can examine Iran's reasons for doing what it is doing?!?, as you look at this situation?
Well, sir, perhaps not, given your recent penchant for hubristic tirades about everything, but let me brake it down for you, if you are having a problem.
On May 8th, 2018, President Trump rescinded US support for the P5 + 1 agreement, and dropped out of the agreement.
It's official: President Trump is pulling the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal.
This was, of course, premised on statements made by then-Israeli Premier, who , of course, charged, Iran with "having lied" about its nuclear program (as if Netanyahu was not always lying, or, equivocating on Israel's nuclear program; I smell some very choice A, bovine excrement about to hit the ventilation shaft, but let's see what Netanyahu had to say back in April 2018 on this): Netanyahu/Israel says IOran lied on nuclear arms, and pressures the US to scrap the deal
The article goes on to state: " Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled on Monday what he said was evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons program that could step up pressure on the United States to pull out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran."
"U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the information showed that Iran's leaders lied to their people about a nuclear weapons program known as "Project Amad". But Pompeo declined to say whether the documents provided evidence of a violation of the nuclear deal."
Intelligence experts and diplomats said Netanyahu's presentation, in a prime-time television presentation, did not seem to have a "smoking gun" showing a violation by Iran but it could strengthen the hand of advisers to U.S. President Donald Trump who want to scrap the nuclear agreement.
Which was why this j'accuse/dossier was created in the first place.
Most of the purported evidence Netanyahu presented dated to the period before the 2015 accord was signed, although he said Iran had also kept important files on nuclear technology since then, and continued adding to its "nuclear weapons knowledge".
None of the foregoing was strong enough actually be considered "real evidence"; we are looking at hearsay; half-truths; and material allegedly documenting some of Iran's nuclear programs which were developed way before the 2015 Agreement.
So Secretary of State Pompeo, I have (shudder, sir, here it comes) a logical question; if the US has rescinded its support for the P5 +1 deal, why should Iran abide by it?!? Forgive me, Secretary, but where is the logic, the quid pro quo in this threat against Iran?!?
The short answer, sir, is that there is no logic in the US's position that Iran should observe the treaty, while the US has withdrawn from it; sorry, but it makes absolutely zero sense to thinking people.
And Secretary Pompeo, I would respectfully suggest, that if the US government is thinking about a war against Iran, including a decap-strike against Tehran, that perhaps they should just suck it up, and not do it.
The reason I am making this statement, is the reality that one of Russia's top officials, last June, which made the observation that if Iran is attacked by the US, that Russia would come to its aid.
Iran won't be a lone if the US Attacks, Russian Official Says. This promise was made to Iran by Zamir Kabulov, the Foreign Ministry's special envoy for Asian countries including Iran, said at a Russian-Iranian policy forum in Moscow.
And trust me, Sec Def Pompeo; this man hardly inhales air, before Putin tells him it is OK to exhale.
Iran's air defense force has shot down a 'foreign' drone in the country's southwest, the official IRNA news agency reported today.
The agency claimed the drone was shot out of the sky early Friday at the port city of Mahshahr, which is in the oil-rich Khuzestan province and lies on the Persian Gulf.
Provincial governor Gholamreza Shariati told IRNA that the drone belonged to a 'foreign' country and that parts of the drone had been recovered in a nearby lagoon.
A US Defense official told the MailOnline: 'There are no reports of a U.S. drone being shot down.'
"As it is protocol, all of the IAEA inspectors' belongings are closely inspected and scanned before they enter any of the country's nuclear facilities," read the AEOI statement.
"Upon this lady inspector's entry, the security control machines sounded the alarm and denied her entry," it said, adding then that Iran had reported the issue to the IAEA.
Iran also told the international agency in a report that the inspector's previous admissions at various sites were all scrapped and as a result, she decided to abort her mission and go back to the Austrian capital of Vienna.
Legal questions. That's hilarious.
I just want to remember the good old days, when they felt the need to dazzle us with yellow cake uranium fraud before they stole the oil.
Via: Military Times – AP:
President Donald Trump has approved an expanded military mission to secure an expanse of oil fields across eastern Syria, raising a number of difficult legal questions about whether U.S. troops can launch strikes against Syrian, Russian or other forces if they threaten the oil, U.S. officials said.
I don't know how many international treaties, to which the US is also a signatory, the US government has breached by taking this position, that they have every full, and legal right to control and sell Syria's oil, but I am betting that the number is potentially staggering.
My near-bet would be on Israel staging an horrendous false flag, causing many US service members to be killed or maimed for life, to be blamed on both Russia and Syria.
At that point, Trump will have his alleged "justification" for a war against both Syria and Russia; but Mr. President, if you allow yourself to be cornered into taking this action, it will be one of the most ham-fistedly, pig-headedly idiotic things you could possibly do at this time.
I would like to suggest a scenario which has probably been war-gamed to death by the IDF, but let us look at the following; if Russia, the US, Iran, and Saudi Arabia are in hot conflicts around the world, and become broken by the conflicts, militarily and monetarily, who potentially gets control of the Mid-eastern oil, and I mean, all of it, once the dust settles?!?
Mr. President, please do not consider Bibi Netanyahu your friend; at best, he, and Tel Aviv, are more like Frenemies.
According to the conditions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, the country can't enrich Uranium above 3.67%. But Tehran started to roll back its commitments this year due to the US sanctions against its oil and banking spheres.
Head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation Ali Akbar Salehi has announced that the country will start enriching uranium up to 5% at the Fordow nuclear site on 6 November. The official added that the process of injecting gas into the centrifuges, enriching uranium, will be monitored by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Salehi further noted that if necessary, Iran is capable of enriching uranium up to 20% at the Fordow plant. The official added that currently, the country has enough 20% enriched uranium stockpiled.
he senior ministers of the Israeli government met twice last week to discuss the possibility of open war with Iran. They were mindful of the Iranian plan for a drone attack from Syria in August, aborted at the last minute by an Israeli air strike, as well as Iran's need to deflect attention from the mass protests against Hezbollah's rule in Lebanon. The ministers also reviewed the recent attack by Iranian drones and cruise missiles on two Saudi oil installations, reportedly concluding that a similar assault could be mounted against Israel from Iraq.
There is a certain irony in President Donald Trump's frequently expressed desire to withdraw from the endless wars that have characterized the so-called "global war on terror" initiated by George W. Bush in 2001. The problem is that Trump has expressed such sentiments both when he was running for office and also as recently as last week without actually doing anything to bring about change. In fact, the greatly ballyhooed "withdrawal" from Syria turned out to be more like a relocation of existing military assets, with soldiers moving from Syria's northern border to take up new positions to continue control of the Iraqi oil fields in the country's southeast. Indeed, the number of American soldiers in Syria may have actually been increased with armor units being transferred from their base in Iraq.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz yesterday expressed his support for anti-government protests in Iraq; slammed Iran's alleged intervention in the crackdown on demonstrators.
On Twitter, Katz wrote: "We sympathise with the Iraqi people's protest for freedom & dignity. We condemn their repression and murder led by Qassem Suleimani & Iranian Revolutionary Guards."
"The Iraqi people have a long & glorious history. Many Israelis from Iraq fondly remember years of living together."
Compare US pillaging with Russia-Iran-Turkey's active involvement in a political solution to normalize Syria..
What happened in Geneva this Wednesday, in terms of finally bringing peace to Syria, could not be more significant: the first session of the Syrian Constitutional Committee.
The Syrian Constitutional Committee sprang out of a resolution passed in January 2018 in Sochi, Russia, by a body called the Syrian National Dialogue Congress.
The 150-strong committee breaks down as 50 members of the Syrian opposition, 50 representing the government in Damascus and 50 representatives of civil society. Each group named 15 experts for the meetings in Geneva, held behind closed doors.
This development is a direct consequence of the laborious Astana process – articulated by Russia, Iran and Turkey. Essential initial input came from former UN Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura. Now UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen is working as a sort of mediator.
This development has been conveniently left out of nearly all accounts in the West of what is going on in Syria, and yet, is one of the most significant developments of the last year.
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
US involvement in Syria has nothing to do with regional peace, stability and security, nothing to do with combating ISIS.
It's all about killing a nation, destroying its sovereignty, partitioning it for easier control, removing its legitimate leadership, installing puppet rule, plundering it, exploiting its people, eliminating an Israeli rival, isolating Iran, and enriching the US military, industrial, security complex from endless aggression.
As governments in Iraq and Lebanon stagger and stumble under huge waves of popular protest, powerful factions loyal to Iran are pushing to quash political upheaval which challenges Tehran's entrenched influence in both countries.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri has resigned and the government of Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has been pushed to the brink of collapse.
Both governments have enjoyed backing from the West. But they have also relied on the support of political parties affiliated with powerful Iran-backed Shi'ite armed groups, keeping allies of Tehran in key posts.
That reflects the relentless rise of Iranian influence among Shi'ite communities across the Middle East, since Tehran formed the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon in 1982 and after Saddam Hussein was toppled in Iraq in 2003.
One has to legitimately ask; to what extent is the US involved with this unrest, leading, it is hoped by the anti-Iran forces, to destabilization in Iraq; Lebanon; and ultimately, Tehran?!?
A major incident has unfolded along Lebanon's southern border with Israel on Thursday involving an Israeli drone. Hours ago Lebanese media reported that Hezbollah operatives shot down an Israeli aircraft, identified as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), likely with an anti aircraft missile, specifically a MANPAD (or man-portable air-defense system).
Remember when I commented last week that nature abhors a vacuum, particularly where geopolitics are involved, and made the observation that with Harriri retiring, Israel might just hawl off and attack Lebanon?!?
This could have been a real incident, but my gut tells me that this stinks of a false flag, to be blamed on Hezbollah, as the "justification" for Israel starting a military attack against Lebanon.
McKenzie said the US was under no illusions it had destroyed Isis, and warned the group would try to take revenge.
"They will be dangerous. We suspect they will try some form of retribution attack," he said. "We don't see a bloodless future because unfortunately this ideology is going to be out there."
However McKenzie predicted that the campaign against Baghdadi would grind down Isis capabilities.
... And if ISIS doesn't provide a "retribution attack", one can be reasonably certain that the Unhinged, Surveilled State of Amerika has something to cobble together to make it appear that ISIS has done a "retribution attack" against US forces in Syria, causing the US, of course, to have to bring in "yet more "troops and equipment" with which to "guard" (translation: steal) Syria's oil.
And were I a betting woman, I would suggest that such an attack may well happen sooner, rather than later, before the American public, with their intense, collective, and raging case of ADHD, forgets that it was US forces who finally "felled Al-Baghdadi" in Syria.
And would someone, still in their right mind, from this madness, explain to me what the hell we are still doing in Syria?!?
Were we invited by the Syrian Government?!? Uh....no.
Were we invited in by the Russian Government, assisting the Al Assad Presidency in fighting the US trained and equipped jihadis, who were desperately trying to take out his government?!? Uh.....no.
So folks, here is the butt-ugly truth of this situation; the Trump Regime has ordered our military to invade a sovereign country, with which the US government is not at all, technically, in any degree of war against, and it has decided that stealing, and selling, Syrian oil is the highest of all possible actions we can take here, while also protecting Israel's "divine right" to squash any alleged "Iranian forces" it imagines/believes are in the country, as they see fit.
What's wrong with this picture?!? Why, absolutely nothing, if putting US troops into harm's way for no lawful, legal purpose, and wanting to engender unending war in the region are this government's goals, there is absolutely nothing wrong here; nothing to see; just don't pay attention.
But I just have to wonder how long Russia's Putin will allow this nonsense to fester, before making it crystal clear that US troops will have to vacate Syria, and permanently.
And please remember; just because a scenario is the most ham-fistedly, pig-headedly stupid thing President Trump could do right now, like ordering our troops to attempt to clobber Russia in Syria for its oil, is utterly no guarantee that he will not do it; God only knows, he needs some distraction from the "Impeachment Frenzy", which culminated yesterday (Halloween) in the passage of the the Dementocrat's ginned-up rules for presenting evidence in this process.
Mr. President, I must strongly caution you; please don't do this, as in sending our troops to fight both Russian and Syrian troops for Syria's oil; this would be a really bad choice, sir, one one that would permanently, even further, stain the reputation of this country as a force for good, and for peace.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has warned that the United States and Western spy services, funded by certain reactionary countries of the region, have been fomenting turmoil and insecurity in other regional states, calling for vigilance against such enemy plots.
Ayatollah Khamenei described insecurity as "the biggest damage" a country could suffer, warning against plots being pursued by the enemies to rob regional countries of security.
The elements instigating such "dangerous hostilities" are known, said the Leader, adding that "the US and the Western intelligence services, financed by certain reactionary countries of the region, are behind such incidents."
According to Friedman, "(t)he job of the (US) president is to…oppose any foe to ensure the survival of freedom with the fact that US interests and values still require us to remain engaged around the world in a sustainable way."
Translation: Preemptive wars on targeted nations threatening no one are OK as long as waged by Pentagon and allied forces, the rule of law a nonissue.Fact: The so-called global war on terrorism is a colossal hoax. It's war OF terrorism on humanity at home and abroad, not on it.
Fact: ISIS and likeminded terrorist groups are used as US imperial foot soldiers in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, and virtually anywhere else where the Pentagon and CIA want them deployed.
The notion of involvement by US forces in combatting ISIS is one of the biggest Big Lies about US wars of aggression.
Embattled Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has submitted his resignation as people remain on the streets across Lebanon for the thirteenth day of anti-government demonstrations against the country's economic crisis.
"I have reached a dead end today. I will head to the Baabda Palace to submit the government's resignation to President Michel Aoun," Hariri said as he addressed the Lebanese nation in a televised speech on Tuesday evening.
"Posts are not important; what's important is the country's dignity and safety," he added, calling upon people from all strata of the Lebanese society to preserve the stability and security of the country.
Hariri highlighted that he wants to make a "positive shock," saying, "No one is bigger than his country."
He also told Lebanese political parties that "It is our responsibility to protect Lebanon.
Under the constitution, Hariri's cabinet would stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed.
Given the timing of this resignation, I would not bet against Israel using this Lebanese crisis as "the moment" for an attempted decap strike against Beirut, claiming that Hezbollah has triumphed in this resignation, and must now be put down.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced Monday new sanctions to continue punishing Iran for its nuclear program.
Speaking in Jerusalem next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mnuchin said U.S. sanctions have put maximum pressure on Iran's economy, basically cutting off their oil revenue.
"We will continue to ramp up more, more, more … I just came from a very productive working lunch with your team," Mnuchin told Netanyahu. "They gave us a bunch of very specific ideas that we will be following up."
Netanyahu praised the United States for killing Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi but also warned that "the struggle continues, even against Shiites in Iran."
As anti-government unrest in Iraq continues, authorities have ordered a counter-terrorism force to help restore security in Baghdad. The turmoil is the latest political crisis to hit Iraq after the US-led invasion in 2003.
"Counter-Terrorism Service forces have been deployed in some areas of Baghdad to protect state buildings from undisciplined elements taking advantage of security forces being busy with protecting protests and protesters," the unit said in a statement.
Two sources who spoke to Reuters said the elite troops had been instructed to "use all necessary measures" to end ongoing protests against Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's government.
As many as 67 Iraqis have been killed in two days of protests, according to reports. The anti-government demonstrations, which began in early October, are believed to have already killed more than 100 people.
Cui Bono?!?
Who benefits from this unrest?!?
As these demonstrations attest, someone is hell-bent to remove any last facade as to how non brilliantly the US "Pacification" of Iraq has gone, with the country's people experiencing daily slides into more poverty, corruption, and more skirmishes with government officials.
But even these alleged "Elite Units" of the Iraqi Military security forces, are having trouble, holding their own, as witnessed by this article, published barely 24 hours ago:
Anti-Government Protestors Defy Bloody Crackdown in Iraq
And what if these Iraqi forces are unable to put down the unrest, what does the US government's military say to Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's government?!?
It will most probably say, that in light of the fact that Iraq still cannot protect itself from protestors, US troops will remain in Iraq on a (semi) permanent basis.
Judicial Watch has – for many years – obtained sensitive U.S. government documents through freedom of information requests and lawsuits.
The government just produced documents to Judicial Watch in response to a freedom of information suit which show that the West has long supported ISIS. The documents were written by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency on August 12, 2012 … years before ISIS burst onto the world stage.
Here are screenshots from the documents. We have highlighted the relevant parts in yellow:
A cursory look at Putin's Middle East maneuvers shows up the man as the cleverest player among the big powers competing for influence in the region.
While Russia's direct military intervention in Syria and its success in providing a lifeline to the crumbling Assad regime is much talked about, because of the loss of face it incurred for the US, its other moves are equally interesting, particularly its ability to win the trust of both Iran and its arch rivals in the region.
A surge in violent clashes with police marked another deadly week of protests in Iraq, after two weeks ago over 150 were killed and over 6,000 wounded nationwide when the large-scale demonstrations began.
On Friday over 40 protesters were killed in clashes with police, and according to security sources cited in Reuters, an "Iranian-backed militia opened fire to try to quell renewed demonstrations."
Baghdad's central diplomatic compound area which hosts the heavily fortified American Embassy among others has remained on security lock-down throughout much of the month.
How in the world would Reuters know that the killings were done by "an Iranian-backed militia"?!?
The short answer is, they don't; Iran was simply a convenient country to blame for this escalation in violence.
Were I a betting woman, I would almost be willing to bet that those militia members doing the shooting and killing, were either American or Israeli military; this would be "the justification" for stopping the American withdrawal from the country, as its leadership is currently demanding.
Could it have been some of Muktada Al Sadr's people, former members of his Mahdi Army, which gave the US and Debathified Sunni militias such grief after the fall of Saddam Hussein?!? Possibly.
But again, why would Al Sadr's people give the US its excuse for staying in-country?!?
The guy may be many things, but stupid is absolutely not one of them; the fact that he is still breathing air, readily testifies to his mental acuity.
US troops withdrawing from northeastern Syria to Iraq are "transiting" and will leave the country within four weeks, Iraq's defense minister said Wednesday.
Najah al-Shammari made the remarks to the Associated Press following a meeting in Baghdad with visiting US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who arrived as Iraqi leaders chafed over reports the US may want to increase the number of troops based in Iraq, at least temporarily.
Iraq's military said Tuesday that American troops leaving northeastern Syria don't have permission to stay in Iraq in a statement that appeared to contradict Esper, who has said all US troops leaving Syria would continue to conduct operations against the Islamic State group from Iraq to prevent its resurgence in the region.
He later added that the troops would be there temporarily until they are able to go home, but no time period has been set.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, a word, please; the gentleman with whom you should be negotiating, and right the heck now, is Muktada Al Sadr, the Iranian cleric who gave the US the ultimatum that they had to leave the moment the Original SOFA with Iraq said they should, otherwise, they would all be "fair targets" for his Mahdi Army.
Without his word on any kind of promise regarding how long US service members can actually stay in Iraq, you are just ...wasting time, and the US taxpayer's money.
I would politely like to remind you that Al Sadr is one of the most powerful men in Iraq with utterly no title or governmental job whatsoever, but it is his coalition which rules Iraq at this time.
Please remember that, in your coming negotiations, this is the only guy whose opinion really counts in Iraq.
The Border crossing between Iraq and Syria is now open. In due time the US base at Al Tanf will be closed and evacuated and we will be out of Syria.
Russia,Iraq and Iran will have access to the Med. China will build railroad and highway links and pipelines through Syria to the Med and another part of the Silk Road will be completed.
US President Donald Trump says he'll lift sanctions on Turkey, unless he's "not happy" with its actions in northern Syria, as he took complete credit for "saving" of Kurds, claiming the outcome was created by "no other nation."
Trump said Turkey had confirmed that it would make an earlier five-day ceasefire permanent and that it was holding "very well" so far.
He said the US would welcome the help of other countries in dealing with the conflict, adding that a "small number" of US troops would remain in the area "where they have the oil."
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, President Trump bragged about his efforts to try to get the US "out of wars," then warned that "we may have to get in wars, too. OK?"
Trump continued on talking about how ready the US is for a war with Iran, and how Iran will get hit "like they've never been hit before." The implication is clear that Trump is nominally ending wars, but that America's hawks will get fresh, new wars to replace them.
That's likely a rather cynical political ploy, given how much political heat the administration is under for appearing to almost end the Syrian War. That war may not be ending, but offering to trade it for a much bigger Iran War would probably placate many critics.
It's likely also related to Trump's interest in portraying himself as generally tough and the best at war. That, and his fondness for threatening Iran with unprecedented horrors seem destined to keep threatening an Iran War forever a possibility.
(sigh) Mr. President, a word, please; you appear to be ready to bring this war-weary, and war-skeptical country into yet more and more geopolitical confrontations, for which you have absolutely zero actionable evidence .
The issue of Iran is, indeed, a very complicated issue; but attempting to "just do it", i.e., go to war against it, to appease your biggest supporters, the Israeli Government; Bibi Netanyahu; the US Deep State, and Sheldon Adelson,many well have far more, potentially devastating consequences for this country than you can possibly imagine at this point in time.
I see you surrounding yourself with "yes people", when what you need is a dedicated Department of Peace, to give you alternative possible actions from which you can choose to get what the the US government wants to see happen.
As Putin did with Syria, should the US government attack Iran, you may well see Russian Troops and equipment, available to Iranian troops, as a supplement; Iran and Russia conscript, and lately, Russian defensive systems have been proven to very possibly eclipse whatever the US, at this point in its weaponry development, can do (if not light-years ahead of us, but I digress).
Mr. President, I would like to politely but firmly suggest that you pay maximum attention to the following, and because this is serious business, and affects everyone who lives here.
New Flood Dangers in South/
central US Face Slow Grind of Recovery
Midwestern US Floods
Grain Supplies Likely hit if Farmers Turn to Payouts
The Hidden Catastrophe of the Midwest's Floods
Persistent Wet Weather interferes with Midwest Farmers' Planting
Bad Weather and Trade Wars Complicate Planting for Midwest Farmers
The Bottom Line here, Mr. President; we may have problems with food insecurity right here in this country, and the prices are going to rise substantially because of this, for whatever food is available.
This will not interfere with the lifestyles of your very rich friends; but we have a huge number of people who are already marginalized, and this is going to be one lousy winter.
So the question is, rather than try to kill off a governmental system in the Middle East, perhaps now is the time to mobilize the USDA, social media, and teach people with very small resources how to slow cook, and make the best of their resources by teaching them how to preserve food.
Please remember; a population which is having difficulty feeding their families, are not going to vote for the people who were in charge of that economy which failed them with a basic human need, that... of sustenance.
Iran Prepares For War With Israel
By Yossef Bodansky - Oct 21, 2019, 1:00 PM CDT
Iran Prepares For War With Israel
Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke on October 10, 2019, at the memorial for the fatalities of the October 1973 War, and focused on the rising Iranian threats to Israel.
He strongly hinted at the possibility of both an Israeli preemptive military strike against Iran and the specter of a major protracted regional war.
Iran Prepares For War With Israel (Part 2)
All of the recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East have not been lost in Jerusalem.
Even as Israel remained immersed in a major political crisis in the aftermath of two inconclusive parliamentary elections, the security cabinet and the defense establishment are focused on the looming Iranian threat and the specter of a major war.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says he is ready to visit Saudi Arabia to help reduce tensions between Riyadh and Tehran if suitable conditions existed.
Iran's top diplomat made the remarks while answering a question posed by Yemen's Arabic-language al-Masirah news agency on the sidelines of a conference held in Tehran on Monday themed "Unilateralism and International Law."
"If suitable conditions are provided, I would be ready to travel to Riyadh to settle differences" between the two countries, Zarif was quoted by ISNA as saying.
"Tehran welcomes any initiative that aims to ease tensions in the region and will cooperate [with other parties] to end Yemen's war," he added.
OH! Please Donald! STFU while you are still ahead! ZIP IT!!!
President Donald Trump on Monday offered a confusing description of his foreign policy priorities as commander in chief — insisting that he is working to bring home American soldiers, while warning the U.S. may soon enter into new military conflicts.
"I'm trying to get out of wars. We may have to get in wars, too. OK? We may have to get in wars," Trump told reporters at the White House.
"We're better prepared than we've ever been," he continued. "If Iran does something, they'll be hit like they've never been hit before!
Very interesting article. Maybe Trump and Putin should share The Nobel Peace Prize.
by Thierry Meyssan
While the international community publicly fears the brutality of the Turkish intervention in northern Syria, it unofficially welcomes this intervention as the one and only solution to bring peace to the region. The war against Syria ends with one more crime. The fate of Idleb's foreign mercenaries, the rabid jihadists during eight years of a particularly savage and cruel war, has yet to be determined.
The international press, which has not followed the events on the ground and has been satisfied with the contradictory official statements of recent months, is astounded. All states in unison denounce the Turkish operation, including the United States, Russia, Israel, Iran and Syria, although they have all negotiated and validated it.
In the Levant, the US has dramatically failed to reach its objectives, but it has succeeded in waking Russia from its long hibernation, to challenge the US unilateral hegemony of the world and to develop new forms of alliance. Iran has also challenged the US hegemony incrementally since the 1979 "Islamic Revolution". Iran has planned meticulously, and patiently built a chain of allies connecting different parts of the Middle East. Now, after 37 years, Iran can boast a necklace of robust allies in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan- who are all ready, if necessary, to take up arms to defend Iran. Iran, in fact, has greatly benefited from US mistakes.
If The Nobel Peace Prize Committee wants to restore it's credibility,The Nobel Peace Prize should go to President Vladimir Putin of The Russian Federation!
Peace in the Middle East is coming at us fast and we're going to have Russian President Vladimir Putin to thank for it.
From the moment Putin began his intervention into Syria the U.S.'s punditocracy said he would get bogged down in a quagmire. That he couldn't afford the coming war with entrenched ISIS fighters.
Within days of Russian air operations beginning the Syrian Arab Army began taking large chunks of territory from U.S. and Turkish-backed rebels and from ISIS.
The efficiency of the Russian air crews was off the charts and the results on the ground spoke for themselves........
Russia imposed the Astana process instead of Geneva for peace talks, it offered countries to use their local currencies for commerce rather than the dollar, and it is dealing pragmatically with Iran and Saudi Arabia, and with Assad and Erdogan. The Americans, by their recklessness, showed themselves incapable of diplomacy.
Moscow mediated between the Syrian Kurds and the central government in Damascus even when these had been under US control for years. Putin behaved wisely with Israel even when he accused Tel Aviv of provoking the killing of his officers, and stayed relatively neutral in relation to the Iran-Israel struggle.
On the other hand, Tel Aviv never thought Syria would be reunited. Today Damascus has armed drones, precision and cruise missiles from Iran, supersonic anti-ship Russian missiles- and has survived the destruction of its infrastructure and so many years of war.
Via AlmasdarNews.com,
The U.S. Armed Forces are not withdrawing from the eastern Euphrates River Valley region of Deir Ezzor or its plethora of oil fields, a military source in Damascus told Al-Masdar News.
According to the source, the U.S. Armed Forces won't withdraw from these areas because of Iran's presence in eastern Syria and the reality that Damascus would again have access to Deir Ezzor's vital oil fields.
He would add the United States' two largest military bases in Syria are in the east near some of the country's largest oil fields like Al-Omar.
Damascus has wanted the Al-Omar and Conoco oil fields to be returned to their government; however, with the U.S.' large military presence in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, they have found themselves blocked from these critical petrol supplies.
So, the US government and military believes they are going to occupy Syria's oil fields forever?!?
How many have actually been withdrawn, or will withdraw from Syria, ahead of a major Turkish onslaught ?!? Were I a betting person, I would say, darned few.
Ever since the new round of 'tanker wars' began in Strait of Hormuz in mid-June with a mysterious mine attack on multiple tankers, one involving a Japanese-owned ship, Tokyo has reportedly mulled sending a Japanese defense force to the area to help protect vital shipping lanes.
In a rare move, the pacifist nation appears ready to pull the trigger, as FT reports, citing chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, who indicated that "the government was planning to deploy forces in a region where a Japanese tanker, the Kokuka Courageous, was recently attacked with a limpet mine."
IF the Japanese government does move forward with this action, that moment in time may, most probably, just barely be in front of "excrement hitting the ventilator" at warp speed, in terms of some kind of hot altercation between the US government; Israel; and Iran.
The most important historic milestone was not the heavy damage to the Saudi oil installations during the attacks on them on September 14, 2019.
Rather, it was a quiet Ashura ceremony held in the Imam Khomenei Hussainia in Tehran on September 11, 2019. Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamene'i led the mourning ceremony for the Martyrs of the Tragedy of Karbala on the Day of Ashura1. To Khamene'i's left, sitting on cushions on the ground, were, in order of proximity to Khamene'i, Hojjat al-Islam Sayyed Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shi'ite-Iraqi leader known as "nationalist" and far from being Tehran's protégé, and then, Qods Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Maj.-Gen. Hossein Salami.
US special envoy on Iran Brian Hook told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday that the administration does not consider the withdrawal from Syria to in any way impact US hostility toward Iran.
Hook said the administration remains "very comfortable" with its Iran strategy, and that the "maximum pressure" campaign will continue. He added troops in northern Syria never had an Iran mission set.
Some Senators were eager to make Syria all about Iran, however, with Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) claiming Iran was "smiling from ear to ear as Turkey rushed into Syria." Romney also claimed Turkey's invasion made Assad stronger.
US officials have told Reuters that in response to the attacks on a pair of Saudi oil refineries in mid-September, the US carried out a cyber attack against Iran, damaging physical hardware in the process.
Such an attack has been alleged before, and these officials are only confirming on condition of anonymity, and even then are refusing to provide any details on what was actually attacked.
The Pentagon said they don't discuss any of their cyber attacks, and so they are neither going to confirm or deny if they did it. Iran denied that they were attacked, suggesting the officials "must have dreamt it."
Chinese companies continuing oil purchases from Iran despite US sanctions are seriously worrying the White House which is warning them to stop the trade, senior administration officials say.
Last month, the US announced sanctions on five Chinese nationals and six entities, including two Cosco Shipping Corporation subsidiaries, saying they had shipped Iranian crude oil in violation of the sanctions.
The coercive measures were similar to US sanctions imposed in July on energy company Zhuhai Zhenrong, one of China's largest state-backed oil companies for transporting Iranian crude oil.
China has dismissed the sanctions, saying they amount to "bullying" and has defended its trade with Iran as legitimate and legal.
To ramp up pressure on Beijing, the US administration is now accusing Chinese shipping companies of turning off their transponders to conceal the location of their cargoes.
So, what is the US government actually order their military to do in this situation?!?
Are they going to be setting up "interdictions" of Chinese ships, to check for Iranian oil, in acts which are tantamount of a declaration of war against China?!?
I would strongly and politely suggest to this government to cool its jets regarding Iran; there is no public sentiment or support for an attack against it, and thinking Americans have had enough of the obviously false flags which brought us to war in Iraq, Yemen, and Afghanistan.
What should President Trump do?!? He should support a US return to the P5+1 Agreement with Iran, and robustly insure that our "great good friend" in the Middle East, Israel, just keeps is military hands in its pockets for the rest of President Trump's first term in Office.
That would be one hell of a decent start toward insuring a racheting down of tensions in the middle east and elsewhere.
Previously, a source in the Russian Defence Ministry expressed an opinion that American Patriot systems, which were protecting the oil refineries, failed to do their job due to their low efficiency against drone swarm attacks.
Former Director of the Israel Missile Defence Organisation Uzi Rubin has revealed in an interview with the Defence News media outlet that Saudi air defences, namely Patriot systems, failed to repel the combined drone and missile attack on the country's oil facilities in September due to the aerial assailants flying below the horizon. According to him, the defences were not prepared to detect such targets.
"When it comes to missiles, missile defence sensors will aim above the horizon because the missile is above it and you don't want clutter. So when it comes to guarding, the issue is things that can sneak in near the ground", he said.
(Sigh) And this... is the best American weaponry designers can come up with?!?!? Why did they never consider the possibility that they may need to hit targets below the horizon?!?
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has said there is video footage of an Iranian tanker being hit by at least two rockets in the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
"It wasn't an act by terrorists, by an individual, a group. It was done by a government," Rouhani said. "It was a hostile and treacherous act."
Relations between Iran and the US have hit bottom after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew his country from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, slapping Tehran with a series of tough banking and energy sanctions.
Tehran will soon use new-generation IR-9 gas centrifuges in its nuclear activity, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Monday.
"IR-9 centrifuges will soon be introduced and used," Rouhani said during a press conference broadcast by Iranian television.
An Iranian-owned oil tanker was struck, probably by missiles, in the Red Sea off Saudi Arabia's coast on Friday, Iranian media said, an incident that if confirmed will stoke tension in a region rattled by attacks on tankers and oil sites since May.
IRAN's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that Tehran were ready for talks with Saudi Arabia after the Saudi oil attack in September saw the two come to blows and tensions in the Middle East fizzle out of control.
Now, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is in Tehran having offered to mediate between the two countries to help bring about peace talks, despite the fact Islamabad has its own conflict with India over the Kashmir region. Pakistan will do its utmost to enable talks between arch regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, Khan said on Sunday, adding he will travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The real Axis of Evil consists of Washington-led NATO and its allies. The magnitude of the human and environmental catastrophe is unimaginable in scope. Western governments and their agencies send strong delusion to North Americans, who remain largely ignorant to the reality of the catastrophe being committed in their names.
The Western War Of Terror, to which our governments remain committed, loots public treasuries to commit and sustain an overseas holocaust, wherein the West and its agencies support, command and control the very same terrorism that they proclaim to be fighting.
Iran is a modern society with an ancient history. Together with China it is one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations. For centuries it was the center of an ancient and vibrant culture, that can trace its origins back at least 7000 years before the Christian era.
A knowledge of and understanding of this proud and lengthy history is central to an appreciation of the stance taken by modern Iranian leaders to the imperialist ambitions of the United States whose post World War II presence in the West Asian region (the 'middle east' is an entirely European construct and his little geographical significance or meaning).
The United States has spent nearly $6 trillion on wars that directly contributed to the deaths of around 500,000 peoplesince the 9/11 attacks of 2001.
Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs published its annual "Costs of War" report Wednesday.
The final count revealed, "The United States has appropriated and is obligated to spend an estimated $5.9 trillion (in current dollars) on the war on terror through Fiscal Year 2019, including direct war and war-related spending and obligations for future spending on post 9/11 war veterans."
It's difficult to determine with precision how many Kurds are in Syria, but it's clear that the ethnic group comprises only a small percentage of the Syrian population (less than 10 percent according to the CIA, and 8.5 percent according to an estimate cited by Nikolaos Van Dam in his book The Struggle for Power in Syria.
While the estimates are rough, it's clear that Kurds make up a fairly small proportion of the Syrian population and that the number of the group's members living in Syria as a proportion of the Kurd community as a whole is very small.
This frantic coup to impeach Trump on phony nebulous charges didn't materialize until after Trump refused to attack Iran over the drone shootdown. This is payback from the same people who gave us 911....Israel!!!
The people squawking the loudest about the President's recent policy decisions in the Middle East are the ones most likely behind this.
The most likely candidate is the one actor who has consistently overstepped its bounds in attacking neighbors it considers hostile for any reason. Israel.
If the neocons and Israeli Firsters in Congress (and formerly in his cabinet) have turned on Trump to the point of starting impeachment proceedings against him for not going to war with Iran, then Trump is free to finally just blow it all wide open.
Which is exactly what he is doing. The Kurds were simply mercenaries to help us defeat ISIS. Job's done, your beef with Turkey is your problem.
Tehran has confirmed that an Iranian-owned oil tanker, the Sinopa, was attacked in the Red Sea, and that the mysterious strike caused an oil spill. The vessel was reportedly hit by two missiles.
Iran's Foreign Ministry on Friday said that the tanker was "struck twice in half an hour from the eastern side of the Red Sea," but did not elaborate on the type of missile or munition used in the attack. The incident reportedly occurred 60 miles from the Saudi port of Jeddah.
"All the responsibility for the act, including the extensive environmental pollution in the region, fall on those behind the dangerous adventure," said a spokesman for Iran's foreign minister.
All nations the US doesn't control are on its target list for regime change, especially challengers to its hegemonic aims like China and Russia, along with oil rich ones like Iran and Venezuela.
That's what US hostility toward these countries is all about, not because of a national security threat they pose — other than supporting multi-world polarity, conflicting with US hegemonic unipolar aims, a notion whose time has passed.
Iran can't match US military power, but its capabilities can hit back hard against aggressors anywhere in the region.
Iran is readying to sue the United States in the International Court of Justice over President Donald Trump's decision to abandon the landmark nuclear deal and reapply tough new sanctions on Tehran, according to officials in Iran's judiciary.
Laya Joneidi, Iran's vice president for legal affairs, announced on Monday that Iran will bring charges against the United States and seek an undisclosed amount of monetary damages as a result of America's "breach of the nuclear deal," according to the country's state-controlled press.
With Iran's economy on the ropes as a result of the Trump administration's sanctions, Tehran is seeking multiple avenues to recoup lost revenue.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said the country is capable of developing and building nuclear weapons, but will never do so because using such a weapon is absolutely contrary to the teachings of Islam.
"Though we were able to take such a step, based on the decree of the dear Islam we declared it completely haram (religiously banned), therefore there is no reason to incur cost for production and stockpiling of a weapon that its use is absolutely haram," Khamenei said at a meeting with young scientists on Wednesday, according to Iranian media.
In a video demonstration, the rovers are either single-use mines or armed with machine guns. They are shown being used as combined arms with flying multirotor scouts. Whatever the guts of the new rolling rovers, the ability to guide them remotely to targets spotted by drone adds to the range of threats small robots can pose to armored vehicles.
Whatever lay behind the indecisive Trump administration response to the alleged Sept. 14 Iranian missile and drone strike on Saudi oil facilities, one thing is clear. The United States' ability to project power into the Persian Gulf region via carrier strike groups, the go-to U.S. option in such situations for decades, is not what it used to be, nor what it might have been.
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These exquisite long-drop earrings feature two strands of black Swarovski beads, both polished and matte, in a pleasing combination of shapes. Fastened with sterling silver hooks.
Size & Fit : Earring drop: 10cm/4in; Earring width (approx): 1.5cm/0.6in
Materials : Black Swarovski beads, metal wire, sterling silver hooks
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They will divinely match a black outfit, or contrast with a white or coloured outfit, and can be used to perfectly match your other black accessories.
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subset: commoncrawl


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if you don't know where you want to go, then it doesn't matter which path you take
So Sunday has become McDonalds and a movie night in my room. This episode was the movie "What's Your Number" (good pick Felix) and it was a good evening had by all.
The next night, Jasmin, Ivenise and I made the box of angel food cake I had sitting around for forever, and we got a little creative with food coloring.
They are such weirdos, but I lurve them. We also learned that a special guest had come to HKDL without anyone even knowing, but that was probably a good thing cause all the girls would have stalked him in the park...John Stamos everybody!
One big adventure I went on before I left was to Chang Cheu Island. It is about an hour by ferry and it is very well known for its' food (so naturally I had to visit).
|statue of what I am eating in the picture below
|it was starting to rain, but this was the best potato on a stick thing ever!
Finally, the night before I left, I finished my last shows and packed up my bags. Jasmin, Kathleen, and I had a movie night and watched "13 going on 30" and ate pancakes (naturally in the shape of Mickey Mouse).
I had to wake up to go to the airport by 4am, but I had the worlds coolest taxi driver (named Tank!) and he chatted my ear off keeping me awake. When I got to the airport I was suppose to meet up with Guodong who was also at the airport early that morning for breakfast, but sadly he was running a bit late and we didn't get the chance. As I was rushing to my gate I ran into a girl who went to Spring Arbor University and we ended up being on the same flight to Tokyo (SMALL WORLD!). The flight was long and boring and I watched a million movies. I also took secret missions from my secret agent sisters that included taking a selfie with the person next to me, disco-ing up and down the aisle, and writing a poem about my trip. The stop in Tokyo was kind of cool just to be able to see a small culture difference but there was not much to see there.
Total flight time was 22 hours and I flew Hong Kong to Tokyo, Tokyo to Atlanta, and Atlanta to Orlando. When I landed in Atlanta, I had a bit of culture shock to say the least. I was a bit confused when everyone around me was white and speaking English. It sounds silly but it was so true. Luckily the flight to Orlando was only an hour cause I was getting anxious to just be there. When I finallyyyyy arrived in Orlando, I ran to my mom at the gate where we both got a little misty eyed. We grabbed my first fast food craving, chick fil a, and had to wait for my lost luggage. We also watched one of the woman from "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" stop and take pictures with a bunch of people while her children almost were carried off by the luggage conveyer belt....but that is a whole 'nother story.
After chick fil a we headed to my sisters to see my family and my nieces. It was a very happy reunion that included some tears but mostly because I was so excited to have American food again.
I actually fell asleep very easily this night, but had to wake up pretty early the next day to go to Universal. I was so excited I got to see so many familiar faces.
|Bob in the top left and Kristen in the bottom left
|a little taste of HK in Orlando
|Mardi Gra Parade, more HK
|Watching the Mardi Gra parade (where they literally chuck beads at your face!) and eating beignets
|resisting the urge to say "Wai?" on the phone in Canada
|Ate lunch in France
|also saw a familiar face...
|Japan had a lot of familiar snacks which was the best of both worlds
|hey look! everyone came and visited me in china!
I also taught etta a chinese phrase which she said the ENTIRE time I was home (chi sin la, meaning you crazy)
|it started pouring outside so we retreated indoors to Etta's fav ride of the day in Mexico
I was soo tired by the end of the day, and still very jet lagged but luckily I was not alone.
These two littles got to have a sleep over on Sunday night before we went and picked up my grandmother from the airport.It was really good to see her again, and Etta kept telling us how she came down the alligator (escalator). We celebrated by going to taco bell! (another fast food on my list I needed).
The rest of the family came over where we went swimming and had Skyline chili.
The next day was Tuesday and we had some errands to run but luckily they included Target and Jeremiah's ice cream!
The rest of the day was homework with Mike because I had a lot to catch up on. I honestly can not remember what even happened on Wednesday, and I didn't take any pictures, so I am guessing it was more of just hanging out time. Thursday was a busier day where I had my first real driving experience. I went to work with my mom at like 6 am and dropped her off at Universal. I then drove the car to my Disney audition where I literally had to stop for a minute because I couldn't remember which side of the road to drive on. I got to the face call for Disney World and had a pretty swell time. I can't say much about it other than I was the last person to leave at the end of the day and I got to test out two new friends. One really enjoys swimming and the other sledding. After a very long morning, I headed back to Universal to pick up my mom and got to hang out with a few friends again while waiting on her. After, we drove out to the wedding venue for the wedding rehearsal.
during this time etta came running down the aisle asking if she got a treat. it was hilarious
|me and my favorite little bridesmaid
|giant glowsticks when it got darker+merry go round= best time ever
|hilary and bridge are in Africa and couldn't join us, but we had their photo to carry around
With a heavy heart, I said bye to Mike and Orlando, and climbed aboard the airplane, where I headed to Detroit, MI.
It was really strange being in Detroit since that is where I grew up and it all was very familiar to me. I was only in Detroit about an hour where I then left for the 12 hour Tokyo flight. Five movies, twelve hours, and a whole lot of airplane food later, I landed in Tokyo. I had about two hours till my flight to Hong Kong so I explored the airport a bit.
|that creepy waving cat has a candy too?!
|cinderella made out of origami
|santas workshop origami
It is now Tuesday evening in Hong Kong, and I am not adjusting well. I go back to work tomorrow, and today I woke up at 3pm. I am so exhausted and feel really confused. Hopefully this will become normal again, but for now my heart is missing home.


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Setbacks put affluent Moraga in fiscal straits
Million-dollar homes line the streets of Moraga — yet the town struggles to pay its mounting expenses.
The affluent community declared a fiscal emergency June 28 because a crumbling bridge and a 15-foot-deep sinkhole strained Moraga's limited budget for repairs. Together they cost $5 million to fix.
The two minor disasters in the last 16 months have turned the town of 17,000 people into a symbol of the legacy of Proposition 13, the voter-approved state law that limits property taxes — and town revenue.
The problem is clearly seen at the busy intersection of Rheem Boulevard and Center Street in downtown Moraga: A sign advertising service for Porsches, Mercedeses and BMWs rests on the edge of a swimming-pool-size sinkhole that opened up during heavy rains in March 2016.
Although the town's median family income is $169,000 a year — about $90,000 higher than the rest of Contra Costa County — the huge crater remained untouched until July, when federal funds arrived and Moraga could afford to start repairs.
"There's a difference between the residents being wealthy and the town receiving funding at a level that would be considered wealthy," said Amy Cunningham, Moraga's director of administrative services.
What happened in Moraga could happen to any community in the state — a string of mishaps that all but drains a town's reserve fund. But its occurrence in Moraga shows how seemingly wealthy California towns struggle to fund local governments under the state's property tax laws.
Moraga's troubles started with the sinkhole 16 months ago. Within a week of the roadway collapse, the town applied for federal funding to help make the $3 million repair. As they waited more than a year to learn how much federal help it they would get, officials used some of their $6.5 million reserve fund to reopen part of Rheem Boulevard.
Then, in April, a landslide destabilized the Canyon Road Bridge that connects Moraga with the unincorporated community of Valle Vista. The town closed the bridge and shelled out $2 million from its reserves to fix it. With $3 million set aside for sinkhole repair, Moraga's reserve fund dwindled to $1.5 million. Work on both projects has begun, but the federal assistance for the sinkhole — just $1.3 million — won't materialize until 2019.
Now, as Moraga looks for ways to raise revenue, it has limited options because of Prop. 13.
California voters approved the measure in 1978 to protect homeowners from skyrocketing tax rates. The law sets property taxes at 1 percent of a home's value at the time of purchase. Each year afterward, the home's property tax rises by 2 percent or by the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.
After Prop. 13 passed, property tax revenue dropped 60 percent statewide, costing cities and towns $10 billion in the first year, according to an analysis by the state Legislature in 2016.
Nearly 40 years later, the system is still in place — and its effect is playing out in Moraga.
In town, a few feet from the closure signs for the Canyon Road Bridge, sits a five-bedroom house with an estimated value of $1.3 million. The juxtaposition of the pricey property and the delayed public works project — the bridge won't reopen until November — suggests how the tax law affects such towns.
The homeowners paid $2,953 in property taxes last year, a total based on an early assessment of the home's value: $139,747, not its current value of 10 times that amount. Moraga earned just $150 from this property in 2016. The rest went to Contra Costa County. If the house were purchased this year, the property tax would rise to at least $13,000, and Moraga would get about $600.
Prop. 13 protects homeowners and business owners financially. But it also prevents local governments from raising property taxes, even for emergencies.
"A small increase in (Moraga's) property tax rate would get them out of trouble, but they can't do it," said Michael Coleman, fiscal policy adviser for the League of California Cities.
Increasing sales tax or imposing a parcel tax is also difficult because, under Prop. 13, they require two-thirds voter approval.
San Pablo, less than 20 miles from Moraga, has a relatively wealthy local government despite the low wealth of its residents — the opposite of Moraga's situation. Households earn a median income of just $46,287, and the median home value is $414,600. But the city budget amounts to $1,100 per capita, compared with Moraga's $500 per capita.
Sixty percent of San Pablo's revenue comes from a single, booming business: the San Pablo Lytton Casino, which opened in 1994. It keeps the town flush by paying the city at least $18 million a year for its business license.
Lafayette, also in Contra Costa County, is more similar to Moraga — and its officials say they worry about how their city would survive multiple expensive emergencies.
Lafayette keeps its reserve fund at about $9 million, enough to handle two simultaneous disasters like Moraga's, said Steven Falk, Lafayette's city manager. But three could tip it into a state of financial emergency.
"This is what keeps city managers up at night," Falk said.
Officials say they see little appetite among voters to change Prop. 13. In towns like Moraga, the law benefits its citizens immensely by keeping property taxes so low — despite its stranglehold on local revenue. That's why Prop. 13 has long been called the "third rail" of California politics, referring to the electrified train rail that can't be touched.
Moraga passed a balanced budget this year, as it usually has done. Until now, it also maintained a sizable reserve fund.
Despite declaring a fiscal emergency, however, Moraga is far from bankrupt, said Cunningham, the administrative services director. But the declaration allows Moraga to hold a special election if the town council decides to ask voters to approve a sales tax or parcel tax measure.
Before making that decision, Cunningham said, officials would hold public meetings to get feedback from residents.
"It's perfectly reasonable for them to declare this" an emergency, said Coleman of the League of California Cities. "They're just trying to provide themselves some flexibility."
Alison Graham is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: email@example.com Twitter: @alisonkgraham