patrickgoodenough
scribbling on the state of the planet
Monday, May 01, 2023
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Top UN Official Hopes Upcoming Envoys’ Meeting Could Lead to ‘Pathway to Recognition’ of the Taliban
The U.N. plans to host a meeting of Afghanistan envoys from around the
world at the beginning of May, and the U.N.’s deputy secretary-general
says she hopes it will put the international community on the path
towards “principled recognition” of the Taliban. Read
Afghanistan IG: I Can’t Assure US Taxpayers That They Aren’t Funding the Taliban
The United States has dedicated more than $8 billion to Afghanistan
since the U.S. withdrawal, and the special inspector general for
Afghanistan reconstruction (SIGAR) told lawmakers on Wednesday that he
could not give an assurance that U.S. taxpayer dollars were not going to
the Taliban. Read
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Former DNI: Lab Leak ‘Is the Only Explanation’ for COVID Supported by Intelligence, Science, and Common Sense
A leak from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, “is the only explanation” for
the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic that is supported by U.S.
intelligence, science, and common sense, former Director of National
Intelligence John Ratcliffe told lawmakers in Tuesday. Read
UN ‘Officially’ Expresses Concern Over Alleged U.S. Spying on U.N. Secretary-General
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesman confirmed on Tuesday
that the world body has “officially” voiced its concern to the U.S.
government about reports indicating that the U.S. has been intercepting
the communications of Guterres and other U.N. leaders. Read
Iran’s President Threatens to Destroy Israeli Cities, Urges US to Leave Region
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi marked the regime’s annual “Army Day”
on Tuesday by warning Israel that any hostile move against Iran would
lead to the destruction of major population centers and calling on the
United States to withdraw its troops from the region. Read
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
WH: ‘Brazil is Parroting Russian and Chinese Propaganda’ About Ukraine
The White House said on Monday Brazil was “parroting Russian and Chinese
propaganda” about the role of the West in the conflict in Ukraine,
unusually sharp criticism for a country which the Biden administration
routinely describes as a key “partner.” Read
Twitter Labels Canadian Broadcaster ‘69% Government-Funded Media’
A widening controversy over Twitter’s decision to label media outlets
that receive government funding took a new twist Monday night when the
platform changed its label for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to
“69% Government-funded Media.” Read
Monday, April 17, 2023
China’s US-Sanctioned Defense Minister Visits Moscow, Hails a ‘New Era’ in Relations
China’s new defense minister, visiting Moscow on his first visit abroad
since his appointment, says China-Russia relations have “entered a new
era” and “surpass any military-political alliances of the Cold War.” Read
Son of Shah Visits Israel to Promote ‘Ancient Bond’ Between Iranians and Jews, as Regime Stokes Terror
The son of the late Shah of Iran is due to arrive in Israel on Monday
for a visit rich in symbolism at a time when the clerical regime that
deposed his father is stepping up its support for Palestinian terrorist
groups in their shared campaign against the Jewish state. Read
Int’l Community Urges Sudan’s Warring Generals to Stop Fighting As Death Toll Nears 100
The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday in
response to the outbreak of fierce fighting in Sudan that has killed
almost 100 people, including U.N. humanitarian workers, in Africa’s
third-largest country. Read
Friday, April 14, 2023
Biden Fumbles While Recounting Rugby Yarn in Ireland
The “All Blacks” is the nickname for New Zealand’s national rugby union team, one of the world’s best. Read
Macron’s ‘Strategic Autonomy’ Push Is Like Europe ‘Shooting Into Our Own Knee,' Polish PM Says
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Thursday that European
“strategic autonomy” – the concept being championed by French President
Emmanuel Macron – amounts to Europe “shooting into our own knee,”
pivoting towards China and away from the United States. Read
In China, Brazil’s President Calls for Alternative to US Dollar in International Trade
Brazil’s leftist president began a visit to China on Thursday by taking a
swipe at the U.S. dollar and asking why the group of leading emerging
economies known as BRICS could not use a currency other than the
greenback to trade with each other. Read
Thursday, April 13, 2023
ICC’s Arrest Warrant for Putin Poses Headache for South Africa Ahead of Summit Putin’s Due to Attend
The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Russian President
Vladimir Putin on suspicion of war crimes in Ukraine is posing a
challenge for South Africa as it prepares to host a meeting this year
that Putin is scheduled to attend. Read
After Macron’s Divisive Comments, Lithuania Urges Europe to Foster Transatlantic Unity, Back Taiwan
The foreign minister of Lithuania, one of Europe’s leading critics of
the autocratic regimes in Beijing and Moscow, warned fellow European
countries on Wednesday not to repeat past mistakes made in relation to
Russia, in their dealings with China. Read
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Trump: ‘The Biggest Problem We Have in the Whole World’ Is ‘Nuclear Warming,’ Not Global Warming
“Nuclear warming” is a far greater threat to the world than global
warming, “and all it takes is one madman and you’re going to have a
problem the likes of which the world has never seen,” former President
Trump said in an interview aired on Tuesday. Read
Biggest-Ever US-Philippines Drills Begin; U.S. Reaffirms Mutual Defense Pledge in South China Sea
The United States and the Philippines began their largest-ever joint
military drills on Tuesday, one day after China ended military exercises
around Taiwan that included mock strikes against the self-governing
island which it seeks to bring under its control. Read
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
DoD: Leaked Documents ‘Present a Very Serious Risk to National Security’; US Trying to ‘Reassure’ Allies
As investigations continue into the source of a leak of classified
Defense Department documents, a Pentagon official said Monday the U.S.
is engaging with allies to “reassure them of our commitment to
safeguarding intelligence and fidelity to our security partnerships.” Read
Netanyahu Vows to Restore Security ‘On All Fronts’ After Terror Attacks, Rocket Fire
Israel’s embattled prime minister pledged on Monday evening to restore
security after a turbulent few days saw violent clashes on Jerusalem’s
Temple Mount, deadly acts of terrorism, and cross-border rocket fire
including the biggest barrage from Lebanon since the 2006
Israel-Hezbollah war. Read
Monday, April 10, 2023
Lindsey Graham Says He Worries China Is ‘Setting the Stage’ For Blockade of Taiwan
As China’s People’s Liberation Army continued war games near Taiwan
including simulated attacks against the island, Sen. Lindsey Graham
(R-S.C.) voiced concern on Sunday that Beijing may be “setting the
stage” for a possible blockade of Taiwan. Read
Macron: Europe Shouldn’t Take Sides on Taiwan; Rubio: ‘Does Macron Speak For All of Europe?’
French President Emmanuel Macron ended a high-profile visit to China
telling reporters that Europeans should look to their own interests and
not become “followers” when it comes to Taiwan. Read
Friday, April 07, 2023
Congressional Delegation Visiting Taiwan Dismisses Chinese ‘Intimidation’ Attempts
House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and
members of a bipartisan delegation visiting Taiwan shrugged off
attempted “intimidation” by the Chinese Communist Party, saying they
would not be deterred from demonstrating their support for the island
democracy. Read
Taiwan Braces for Chinese ‘Countermeasures,’ Monitors PLA Navy Movements
After Beijing’s warning of “countermeasures” in response to Speaker
Kevin McCarthy’s meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in
California, Taiwan’s military is closely watching Chinese military
movements in waters around the island which China claims as its own. Read
Pompeo: Biden Ditched Our ‘Conditions-Based’ Approach to Afghanistan Exit; ‘Trying to Pass the Buck’
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday President Biden’s
decision to ditch his predecessor’s “conditions-based” plan on
withdrawing from Afghanistan had led to the “collapse” in the summer of
2021. Read
Thursday, April 06, 2023
Russia Denies ‘Widely-Circulated Myths’ About Deporting Ukrainian Children; Western Diplomats Walk Out
Russia on Wednesday rejected allegations that it has deported thousands
of Ukrainian children from Ukrainian territory occupied by Russian
forces during its invasion, characterizing their transfer as a
humanitarian “evacuation” effort. Read
UN Official Criticizes Fireworks Inside Islam’s Third-Holiest Mosque, Upsetting Palestinian Envoy
Amid skirmishes between Israeli security forces and Muslim young men who
reportedly barricaded themselves inside Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, the
Palestinian representative at the U.N. expressed dissatisfaction after a
senior U.N. official included the Palestinians in his criticism, rather
than directing it solely at Israel. Read
Wednesday, April 05, 2023
‘A Reaction Will Follow,’ Moscow Warns, After Finland Joins NATO
With a handover of documents in Brussels on Tuesday, the border between
NATO and Russia more than doubled in length, a further consequence of
President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Read
Iran’s Ayatollah Sees a Succession of Increasingly Weaker US Presidents; Israel's Demise
Iran’s supreme leader launched a vitriolic attack Tuesday on the United
States and Israel, charging that a fast-declining U.S. has had a
succession of presidents, each weaker than the one before, and that
Israel’s internal divisions are hastening its anticipated demise. Read
Tuesday, April 04, 2023
In Setback for the West, UN Rights Council Passes Measure Opposing Economic Sanctions by Largest-Ever Margin
The U.N. Human Rights Council on Monday adopted a resolution opposing
economic sanctions such as those used by the United States and its
Western allies in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the
Chinese government’s atrocities in Xinjiang. Read
Philippines Opens Four More Bases to Rotating US Forces; Biggest Ever Joint Drills Set to Begin
In an expansion of the U.S. military presence in a longstanding Asian
ally on China's doorstep, the Philippines has approved the use of four more military bases
for rotational U.S. forces to operate, train, and exercise with their
local counterparts. Read
Ambassador: Russia Won’t Follow UN Rule on Vacating Security Council Chair When Ukraine is Discussed
Launching Russia’s month-long presidency of the U.N. Security Council,
Moscow’s U.N. ambassador said on Monday he would not relinquish the
chair when Ukraine is on the agenda, arguing that other countries that
are “directly involved” in the conflict have not done so when they held
the rotating presidency. Read
Monday, April 03, 2023
Saudi Arabia, Egypt Signal an Approaching End to 11-Year Isolation of Syria’s Bashar Assad
The two most influential countries in the Arab world have signaled their
readiness to move towards rehabilitating Syrian President Bashar Assad,
in a further setback to U.S. interests in the region. Read
Saudi Arabia, Six Other OPEC+ Members Announce Surprise New Oil Production Cuts
Saudi Arabia and half a dozen other members of OPEC+ announced on Sunday
that they plan to cut up to a combined 1.15 million barrels of oil a
day from May until the end of 2023, calling the decision a
“precautionary measure” aimed at ensuring market stability. Read
Friday, March 31, 2023
‘Bad Joke’: Russia Assumes Presidency of UN Security Council on April Fool’s Day
At a time when its relations with the West are undergoing significant
strains, Russia assumes the presidency of the U.N. Security Council on
April 1, a development that Ukraine’s foreign minister called a “bad
joke.” Read
DeSantis Calls Trump Indictment ‘Un-American’; Says Florida Won’t Assist in an Extradition Request
Florida will not cooperate in any extradition request for former
President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Thursday
evening, calling his indictment on criminal charges “un-American.” Read
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Senate Votes to Repeal Iraq AUMF, Ending ‘Blank Check’ for Presidents to Bypass Congressional War Declarations
The U.S. Senate voted 66-30 Wednesday to repeal two Iraq-related war
authorizations, with Republicans divided on the question amid
stepped-up attacks on U.S. troops by Iranian proxies in the region. Read
Unlike Russia and China, US is Not Developing New Nuclear Weapons, Top Strategic Officers Confirm
A Republican lawmaker raised concerns on Capitol Hill this week about
the fact Russia and China are developing sophisticated new nuclear
weapons, and asked military officers overseeing the U.S. nuclear
deterrent whether the U.S. was doing the same. The answer he received
was no. Read
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
IOC Still Grappling With Thorny Issue of Russian, Belarusian Participation in 2024 Paris Olympics
Less than 500 days before the Summer Olympics opens in Paris, the
question of whether Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials will
be allowed to take part remains unresolved, and the host nation says its
leaving the decision to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Read
In New ‘Violation’ of Arms Control Treaty, Russia Won’t Provide Nuclear Warhead Numbers
A month after Russia informed the U.S. that it is suspending
participation in the last remaining nuclear pact between the two
countries, a senior Pentagon official said on Tuesday that Moscow is now
refusing to hand over data on its nuclear warheads, due at the end of
this week. Read
Biden Urged to Take Firmer Line in Opposing Normalized Relations With Syria's Assad
A group of former senior U.S. officials and Mideast specialists is
urging the Biden administration to take a firmer stance against the
normalization of relations with the Assad regime, arguing that it needs
to do more than just verbally voice its opposition. Read
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
‘Is China Running the UN?’: Taiwanese Barred From UN HQ Because Their Country Is Not a Member-State
Only holders of IDs issued by member-states of the United Nations may
enter the U.N. headquarters in New York City, a spokesman for
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday when asked why
Taiwanese citizens were unable to do so. Read
China and Brazil Back Russian Request for International Probe Into Pipeline Sabotage, But Effort Fails
A Russia-led request for a U.N.-mandated international investigation
into the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines last September fell
flat on Monday, when its resolution on the issue won just three votes in
the U.N. Security Council. Read
Kerry on Climate Cooperation: We Have Issues With China ‘But We Can’t Get Bogged Down by That’
China and Russia pose significant challenges to the United States, but
the U.S. cannot focus on those issues to the exclusion of cooperating
with them on climate change, according to U.S. presidential envoy for
climate John Kerry. Read
Monday, March 27, 2023
Ukraine Seeks Urgent UNSC Meeting Over Putin’s Plans to Deploy Tactical Nuclear Weapons Next Door
Ukraine has called for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting in
response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s weekend announcement of
plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a close Russian
ally that borders both Ukraine and NATO territory. Read
Kirby: Biden Has Responded ‘Boldly’ to Attack by Iranian Proxies; McCaul: 'Our Deterrence Against Iran Is Broken'
President Biden is “absolutely” committed to keeping the 900 U.S. troops
in Syria, and the U.S. “will always act decisively to protect our
people,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Sunday. Read
Friday, March 24, 2023
US-Funded UN Agency Condemned by Terror Groups After Suspending Palestinian Teacher for Incitement
A cash-strapped U.N. agency that suspended a Palestinian teacher in
Lebanon for inciting terrorism on social media is now facing significant
unrest, as Palestinian terrorist organizations condemn the decision. Read
McCaul Wields Subpoena; Americans Deserve to See Documents After ‘That Dreadful August’ in Kabul
House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) on
Thursday gave Secretary of State Antony Blinken until Monday to produce
key documents on the Afghanistan withdrawal in the summer of 2021,
saying the American people had the right to see them “after what
happened in that dreadful August.” Read
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Putin: Russia Favors Using Chinese Yuan in Its Trade With Asia, Africa, and Latin America
During their talks at the Kremlin this week, President Vladimir Putin
told his Chinese counterpart that Russia supports using China’s yuan as a
settlement currency for transactions between Russia and third
countries, the latest move in a decade-long campaign by Moscow and
Beijing to reduce their shared dependence on the U.S. dollar. Read
Senate Rejects Rand Paul’s Amendment to Repeal 2001 ‘War on Terror’ Authorization
As Congress considers repealing a pair of Iraq war authorizations, the
U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted down an attempt by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)
to abolish another authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) –
the one put in place to respond to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Read
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Putin Misleadingly Claims UK Is Sending ‘Weapons With a Nuclear Component’ to Ukraine
Britain’s ministry of defense accused Russian President Vladimir Putin
of deliberately spreading disinformation on Tuesday after he insinuated
that the U.K. was planning to provide Ukraine with “weapons with
a nuclear component.” Read
Putin Welcomes Xi’s Ukraine Peace Plan; Says Russia and China’s Views ‘Are Identical Or Very Close’
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that a Chinese “peace
plan” for Ukraine aligns in many respects with Russia’s views, and could
form the basis for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, “when the West
and Kyiv are ready for it.” Read
Kirby: No Need For China to Overreact to Visit by Taiwan’s President; Meeting With McCarthy Planned
There is no need for China to overreact – or indeed to react at all – to
a planned stopover in the United States of Taiwan’s president, National
Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby
said on Wednesday, characterizing the visit as an unofficial and private
affair. Read
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Kirby: ‘We’d All Like to See The Fighting Stop'; But Russia Must Withdraw From Ukraine
The Biden administration is doubling down on warnings that any
China-instigated push for a ceasefire in Ukraine that freezes in place
the Russian occupation of its territory would be unacceptable. Read
Russia, China Again Work Together to Block Condemnation of N. Korea Missile Provocations
While Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping
were meeting in Moscow on Monday, their representatives at the U.N. were
working together to stymie a U.S.-led effort to have the Security
Council condemn yet another North Korean missile test – a violation of a
series of council resolutions. Read
Monday, March 20, 2023
Putin Hosts Xi: Russia-China Strategic Partnership ‘On the Brink of a New Era’
Declaring that Russia-China strategic cooperation is “standing
on the brink of a new era,” Russian President Vladimir Putin prepared to
host Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday. Read
Defiant Putin Makes Surprise Visit to Ukrainian Territory ‘As Befits a Thief’ (and Indicted War Criminal)
A day after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his
arrest on suspicion of war crimes, Russian President Vladimir Putin
traveled at the weekend to one of Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine
where the cited offenses – specifically, the deportation of Ukrainian
children – allegedly took place. Read
Friday, March 17, 2023
Video Footage Appears to Contradict Russian Claims That Jet Did Not Collide With US Drone
Declassified video footage released by U.S. European Command shows an
incident over the Black Sea on Tuesday, when a U.S. Air Force drone was
downed after being intercepted by two Russian fighter jets, one of which
evidently collided with it, damaging its propeller. Read
Senate Gears Up for Debate and Vote on Repealing Iraq War Authorizations
With Republicans divided on the issue, the Senate voted on Thursday to
advance legislation to repeal Iraq war authorizations put in place in
1991 and 2002, in what would be the first action of its kind by Congress
in more than half a century. Read
Thursday, March 16, 2023
WHO Scientist: We Must Probe Lab-Leak and Natural COVID Origin Hypotheses ‘Until We Have an Answer’
The World Health Organization must and will pursue investigations into
the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak “until we have an answer,” a
leading WHO scientist on Wednesday, adding that the agency continues to
seek “better collaboration” from China. Read
Downed U.S. Drone Deep Below Surface of Black Sea, But Russia Will Try to Retrieve It
The U.S. military drone downed after a collision with a Russian fighter
jet over the Black Sea probably broke into pieces and is likely about
4,000-5,000 feet below the surface, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff Gen. Mark Milley said on Wednesday. Read
Russian Ambassador Slams ‘Notorious Lawmaker’ Lindsey Graham Over Shootdown Warning
Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov late Wednesday condemned
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for saying that the U.S. should warn Russia
it would shoot down its warplanes if they approach U.S. assets in
international airspace. Read
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
US Drone Downed After Collision With 'Unprofessional' Russian Fighter Over Black Sea; Moscow Disputes US Account
Russia is disputing the Pentagon’s account of how a large U.S. military
drone was downed over the Black Sea on Tuesday, denying the U.S.
assertion that a Russian fighter jet being flown in a “reckless and
unprofessional” manner clipped the unmanned aerial vehicle. Read
Putin: Nord Stream Sabotage Was Committed by State Actor; ‘Theoretically,’ US Had Much to Gain
Claims that a “pro-Ukrainian group” was behind the sabotage of the Nord
Stream undersea gas pipelines last fall were “utter nonsense,” Russian
President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, adding that only a state actor
would be capable of carrying out such an attack. Read
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
US-UK-Australia Submarine Plans Move Ahead; China Says it Reveals ‘Cold War Mentality’
The U.S., Britain, and Australia have unveiled a multi-decade plan
designed to boost Western security in the Asia Pacific at a time of
growing Chinese power, by enabling Australia to buy nuclear-powered
submarines from the U.S., and eventually build its own. Read
UN’s First ‘International Day to Combat Islamophobia’ Largely Ignores Plight of Uyghur Muslims
The United Nations on Wednesday marks the first International Day to
Combat Islamophobia, but at an event at the U.N. General Assembly in the
lead-up to the commemoration, arguably the worst manifestation of
anti-Muslim persecution in the world today received scant attention. Read
Monday, March 13, 2023
House Intel Committee Chair Calls Iran-Saudi Deal, Brokered by China, ‘Very Troubling’
The Biden administration has cautiously welcomed a China-mediated
agreement to restore ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, but House
Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said Sunday it
was a “very troubling” development that does not reflect well on the
administration’s approach to the region. Read
China’s New Defense Minister Is Under US Sanctions for Buying Weapons From Russia
China has appointed as its next defense minister a People’s Liberation
Army (PLA) general sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018 for his role in buying
weapons from Russia. Read