Toroid
Founding Member
This looks like a repeat of the Iraq & Kuwait scenario.
Venezuela starts military exercises as 150,000 troops amass along Colombian border | Daily Mail Online
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvqp-uixqUs
Venezuela starts military exercises as 150,000 troops amass along Colombian border | Daily Mail Online
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvqp-uixqUs
nivek
As Above So Below
Iran-backed militants admit drone swarm strike on world's largest oil processing plant in Saudi and at second nearby facility sparking huge fires as tensions reach boiling point following tanker attacks
Drones attacked two major oil facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia, run by state-owned oil giant Aramco, at 4.00am local time. The fires at Abqaiq in Buqyaq, which contains the world's largest oil processing plant, and Khurais, which contains the country's second largest oilfield, have now been brought under control since the strikes.
Nine hours after the pre-dawn attacks, Aramco has issued no statement and the authorities have not reported on casualties. The strikes will likely heighten hostilities further across the wider Persian Gulf amid a confrontation between the U.S. and Iran over its unraveling nuclear deal with world powers.
The region has seen tensions rising in recent months, after attacks in June and July on oil tankers in Gulf waters that Riyadh and Washington blamed on Iran (timeline bottom right). Pictured left, center and top right: Smoke is seen following a fire at an Aramco factory in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia. Inset top: A satellite image shows fires following the attacks on two major oil installations.
Drones attacked two major oil facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia, run by state-owned oil giant Aramco, at 4.00am local time. The fires at Abqaiq in Buqyaq, which contains the world's largest oil processing plant, and Khurais, which contains the country's second largest oilfield, have now been brought under control since the strikes.
Nine hours after the pre-dawn attacks, Aramco has issued no statement and the authorities have not reported on casualties. The strikes will likely heighten hostilities further across the wider Persian Gulf amid a confrontation between the U.S. and Iran over its unraveling nuclear deal with world powers.
The region has seen tensions rising in recent months, after attacks in June and July on oil tankers in Gulf waters that Riyadh and Washington blamed on Iran (timeline bottom right). Pictured left, center and top right: Smoke is seen following a fire at an Aramco factory in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia. Inset top: A satellite image shows fires following the attacks on two major oil installations.
nivek
As Above So Below
Hundreds of shackled, blindfolded prisoners in China purportedly seen in online videos: report
Videos purportedly showing hundreds of prisoners in China with their heads shaved, their hands bound behind their back and blindfolds over their faces that were posted online earlier this week appears to be authentic.
The videos, posted anonymously on Twitter and YouTube Tuesday, appears to show hundreds of prisoners believed to be from China’s minority Uighur Muslims, Sky News reported.
The footage shows the men sitting in lines on the floor or being moved by guards at a station in the city of Korla in Xinjian, northwest China.
(More on the link)
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nivek
As Above So Below
Could Iran crisis lead to World War Three? Fears Tehran may hit back with cyber or terror attacks on US forces or Israel and force Trump to retaliate in tit for tat that could drag in Russia, China and Turkey
Iran has vowed to exact a 'crushing revenge' on American forces in retaliation for the killing of Quds commander Qassem Soleimani - leaving the Middle East on the brink of a conflict that could quickly spiral into World War 3. The Iranian National Security Council is currently meeting in Tehran - chaired by Ayatollah Khamenei himself for the first time ever - to consider its response. At their disposal is the world's 13th most powerful military, a host of militia groups spread across the Middle East, proxy-forces such as Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthi rebels, and allies like Syria's Bashar al-Assad.
Targets in their crosshairs are likely to include US troops and military bases in Iraq and Syria, Israeli forces in the Golan Heights, tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure. While initial strikes are likely to be limited, they could herald a tit-for-tat series of events - drawing in Russian forces stationed in Syria defending a key Iranian ally in Bashar al-Assad, and Turkish forces fighting in the country's north. China also has ships stationed in the Gulf of Oman and recently carried out joint naval drill with both Iran and Russia, raising the prospect that they could also become involved.
The US, China, Russia and Israel all have nuclear weapons - with at least three of those possessing next-generation hypersonic missiles capable of breaching all defense systems.
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Iran has vowed to exact a 'crushing revenge' on American forces in retaliation for the killing of Quds commander Qassem Soleimani - leaving the Middle East on the brink of a conflict that could quickly spiral into World War 3. The Iranian National Security Council is currently meeting in Tehran - chaired by Ayatollah Khamenei himself for the first time ever - to consider its response. At their disposal is the world's 13th most powerful military, a host of militia groups spread across the Middle East, proxy-forces such as Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthi rebels, and allies like Syria's Bashar al-Assad.
Targets in their crosshairs are likely to include US troops and military bases in Iraq and Syria, Israeli forces in the Golan Heights, tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure. While initial strikes are likely to be limited, they could herald a tit-for-tat series of events - drawing in Russian forces stationed in Syria defending a key Iranian ally in Bashar al-Assad, and Turkish forces fighting in the country's north. China also has ships stationed in the Gulf of Oman and recently carried out joint naval drill with both Iran and Russia, raising the prospect that they could also become involved.
The US, China, Russia and Israel all have nuclear weapons - with at least three of those possessing next-generation hypersonic missiles capable of breaching all defense systems.
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nivek
As Above So Below
pigfarmer
tall, thin, irritable
Too much caffeine - nobody's going to touch something like that off, at least at this point.
Russia and Iran aren't allies, they can sometimes be mutually cooperative. In a nutshell they think the Iranian leaders are nuts too.
'Napoleon’s (reputed) advice to “never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake” gives Russia plenty of reason for circumspection at this stage'
How Will Russia React to the Killing of Soleimani?
Wade
Stare..... They are always staring
I thought both Russia and China's responses were very subdued in that respect. You would at least think they would both enjoy rubbing the USAs face in it although I'm not really sure what the geo-political ramifications of it are for the big three
nivek
As Above So Below
Mysterious Russian spacecraft has maneuvered into orbit right behind a $4 billion US spy satellite - and the Pentagon is worried it could be preparing for an attack
Cosmos 2542 (left) is a Russian 'space apparatus inspector' designed to monitor other satellites in space. After it launched in November 2019, it was bypassing a US spy satellite, USA 245, every 11 or 12 days. However, between January 20-23, Cosmos 2542 made several maneuvers to end up in the same orbit as the US satellite (right). It is now closely following USA 245, which experts say could mean it is taking photos or preparing to attack. The US government has warned that it can use cameras and sensors to gather information about other satellites or even use high-power microwaves and lasers to launch an attack.
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Cosmos 2542 (left) is a Russian 'space apparatus inspector' designed to monitor other satellites in space. After it launched in November 2019, it was bypassing a US spy satellite, USA 245, every 11 or 12 days. However, between January 20-23, Cosmos 2542 made several maneuvers to end up in the same orbit as the US satellite (right). It is now closely following USA 245, which experts say could mean it is taking photos or preparing to attack. The US government has warned that it can use cameras and sensors to gather information about other satellites or even use high-power microwaves and lasers to launch an attack.
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nivek
As Above So Below
President Trump says he's instructed Navy to 'destroy' any Iranian gunboats harassing US ships
President Trump said Wednesday that he's instructed the U.S. Navy to "shoot down and destroy" any Iranian gunboats harassing American ships, in the wake of a tense encounter in the Persian Gulf.
"I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea," Trump tweeted.
The encounter happened last week. Six U.S. Navy warships were conducting drills with US Army Apache attack helicopters in international waters off Iran last Wednesday when they were repeatedly harassed by 11 Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Navy vessels, the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet reported.
The Iranian ships repeatedly crossed in front and behind the U.S. vessels at extremely close range and high speeds, including multiple crossings of one ship, the Puller, with a 50-yard closest point of approach and within 10 yards of another ship, the Maui's, bow, a 5th Fleet statement said.
The Navy also reported that the USS Paul Hamilton, USS Firebolt, USS Sirocco and USCGC Wrangell, as well as the Puller and Maui, were involved in the exercises.
The U.S. crews responded by issuing multiple warnings via radio -- including five short blasts from the ships’ horns and long-range acoustic noise maker devices, but received no response from the IRGCN, the Navy’s 5th Fleet said in a statement.
After approximately an hour, the Iranian vessels responded to the radio queries, before maneuvering away from the U.S. ships and increasing the distance between them, according to the Navy.
The Navy said that the Iranian’s dangerous and provocative actions “increased the risk of miscalculation and collision” and were in violation of international maritime “rules of the road.” The Navy also said they were not in accordance with international law to act safely with other vessels in the area.
The incident last week came one day after Iranian gunmen stormed a Hong Kong-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz before quickly leaving when they learned the vessel was from China.
(more on the link)
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President Trump said Wednesday that he's instructed the U.S. Navy to "shoot down and destroy" any Iranian gunboats harassing American ships, in the wake of a tense encounter in the Persian Gulf.
"I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea," Trump tweeted.
The encounter happened last week. Six U.S. Navy warships were conducting drills with US Army Apache attack helicopters in international waters off Iran last Wednesday when they were repeatedly harassed by 11 Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Navy vessels, the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet reported.
The Iranian ships repeatedly crossed in front and behind the U.S. vessels at extremely close range and high speeds, including multiple crossings of one ship, the Puller, with a 50-yard closest point of approach and within 10 yards of another ship, the Maui's, bow, a 5th Fleet statement said.
The Navy also reported that the USS Paul Hamilton, USS Firebolt, USS Sirocco and USCGC Wrangell, as well as the Puller and Maui, were involved in the exercises.
The U.S. crews responded by issuing multiple warnings via radio -- including five short blasts from the ships’ horns and long-range acoustic noise maker devices, but received no response from the IRGCN, the Navy’s 5th Fleet said in a statement.
After approximately an hour, the Iranian vessels responded to the radio queries, before maneuvering away from the U.S. ships and increasing the distance between them, according to the Navy.
The Navy said that the Iranian’s dangerous and provocative actions “increased the risk of miscalculation and collision” and were in violation of international maritime “rules of the road.” The Navy also said they were not in accordance with international law to act safely with other vessels in the area.
The incident last week came one day after Iranian gunmen stormed a Hong Kong-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz before quickly leaving when they learned the vessel was from China.
(more on the link)
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nivek
As Above So Below
It could be war: Classified Chinese report warns Beijing it faces Tiananmen-like global backlash over coronavirus that could lead to 'armed confrontation' with the US
Beijing could face a rising wave of hostility in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that could tip relations with the United States into 'armed confrontation', an internal Chinese report has warned.
The report, presented early last month by the Ministry of State Security to top Beijing leaders including President Xi Jinping, concluded that global anti-China sentiment is at its highest since the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, the sources said.
As a result, Beijing faces a wave of anti-China sentiment led by the United States in the aftermath of the pandemic and needs to be prepared in a worst-case scenario for armed confrontation between the two global powers, according to people familiar with the report's content, who declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.
The report was drawn up by the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), a think tank affiliated with the Ministry of State Security, China's top intelligence body.
Beijing could face a rising wave of hostility in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that could tip relations with the United States into 'armed confrontation', an internal Chinese report has warned.
The report, presented early last month by the Ministry of State Security to top Beijing leaders including President Xi Jinping, concluded that global anti-China sentiment is at its highest since the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, the sources said.
As a result, Beijing faces a wave of anti-China sentiment led by the United States in the aftermath of the pandemic and needs to be prepared in a worst-case scenario for armed confrontation between the two global powers, according to people familiar with the report's content, who declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.
The report was drawn up by the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), a think tank affiliated with the Ministry of State Security, China's top intelligence body.
nivek
As Above So Below
'You will feel more pain': China's chilling new threat to devastate Australia's economy if it supports America in a 'new Cold War'
Chinese state media has threatened Australia with new economic sanctions if it supports the United States as tensions with Beijing escalate. The US said on Friday it would ban trade with 33 Chinese companies in a move that could signal the start of a 'new cold war', according to Chinese media.
An article in the state-controlled Global Times said that Australia should keep quiet like India and stay out of the spat to avoid becoming collateral damage. The article said that China will punish Australia more harshly than the US because it is less economically dependent on Australia.
The US is China's number one export market whereas Australia is 14th.
The article said: 'China will enjoy more room to fight back against Australia with countermeasures if Canberra supports Washington in a possible "new Cold War". 'It means Australia may feel more pain than the US.'
The editorial said President Trump was targeting China to distract from his handling of the coronavirus pandemic which has killed 97,000 Americans. 'The Trump administration is fomenting trouble to deflect its woes over its mishandling of the coronavirus onto China,' it said. 'There is no need for other countries, such as Australia, to involve themselves in this ridiculous political play.'
The Global Times believes Australia is merely a 'lap dog' being used to further American interests and last week claimed the US coerced Canberra into calling for an inquiry into the origins and spread of coronavirus. Last month Beijing became infuriated by Australia's calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of the virus, believing that it was a 'malicious' attempt to blame and 'stigmatize' China.
(more on the link)
Chinese state media has threatened Australia with new economic sanctions if it supports the United States as tensions with Beijing escalate. The US said on Friday it would ban trade with 33 Chinese companies in a move that could signal the start of a 'new cold war', according to Chinese media.
An article in the state-controlled Global Times said that Australia should keep quiet like India and stay out of the spat to avoid becoming collateral damage. The article said that China will punish Australia more harshly than the US because it is less economically dependent on Australia.
The US is China's number one export market whereas Australia is 14th.
The article said: 'China will enjoy more room to fight back against Australia with countermeasures if Canberra supports Washington in a possible "new Cold War". 'It means Australia may feel more pain than the US.'
The editorial said President Trump was targeting China to distract from his handling of the coronavirus pandemic which has killed 97,000 Americans. 'The Trump administration is fomenting trouble to deflect its woes over its mishandling of the coronavirus onto China,' it said. 'There is no need for other countries, such as Australia, to involve themselves in this ridiculous political play.'
The Global Times believes Australia is merely a 'lap dog' being used to further American interests and last week claimed the US coerced Canberra into calling for an inquiry into the origins and spread of coronavirus. Last month Beijing became infuriated by Australia's calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of the virus, believing that it was a 'malicious' attempt to blame and 'stigmatize' China.
(more on the link)