Category Archives: Viva!

Egypt’s New Terrorist Groups

Is there a way out, a way forward?

Nervana

I was planning to write something completely different this weekend, but the events in Egypt have dictated my choice.

adel-rajae

An Egyptian policeman gestures from an observation in the Sinai peninsula, February 10, 2016, and an undated photograph of Brig. Gen. Adel Rajaei.Amir Cohen, Reuters
via -Haaretz

Cairo—Brig. Gen. Adel Ragai, commander of the Egyptian Army’s Ninth Armored Division, was assassinated in broad daylight in Cairo. Brig. Gen. Adel Rajaei, 52, had commanded Egypt’s counterterrorism operations in Sinai, his brigade was also working to destroy smuggling tunnels that have been built under the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip. This assassination came after last week’s murder of 12 Egyptian conscripts in an ISIS attack on security checkpoint in central Sinai, and three  Egyptian soldiers were killed this week.

A little known terrorist group Liwaa al-Thawra has claimed responsibility, highlighting an evolution of new terror groups, well trained and capable of…

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www.german-foreign-policy.com – World War Four?

End of NATO’s Lone PresenceThe German government is increasing pressure on Moscow at a time, when Russia is reinforcing its military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Since 2013, – following nearly two decades of absence – Russian naval vessels are again regularly cruising in the Mediterranean. Last year, they held their first joint maneuver with the Chinese Navy. Previously – in February 2015 – Moscow had reached an accord with Cyprus for Russian naval vessels to use Cypriot ports. Ten Russian ships are currently underway in the vicinity of Syria’s coast. They have fired cruise missiles in the course of the Syrian conflict – also to demonstrate their capabilities. Just a few days ago, the Russian aircraft carrier, “Admiral Kuznetsov” set sail from the Arctic Sea headed for the Eastern Mediterranean, where it is also expected to take up position off the Syrian coast. It can carry more than 50 aircraft, has heavy weapons systems and is being escorted by seven naval vessels. The aircraft carrier planes and on-board weapons may also “be used for strikes against terrorists,” according to the Russian media. But it is simply a question of supplementing Russia’s current naval presence in the Middle East with an additional air component.[8] The aircraft carrier group will be deployed soon after the Russian S-300 air defense missiles are in place in Syria. They are regarded as state-of-the-art missiles. Even in the USA, opinions range from reservations to skepticism about whether the US Air Force can vanquish these weapons without major difficulties.Danger of ConflictWith its military measures in the Eastern Mediterranean, Russia is gradually reaching equilibrium with the western powers, to whose regional military presence, Germany is contributing to a growing extent. For the past ten years, the German Navy has been involved in UN operations off the coast of Lebanon. It has a regular presence in the Eastern Mediterranean in the framework of maneuvers and transit. Recently it dispatched the frigate “Augsburg” to participate in the escort protection of the French aircraft carrier, “Charles de Gaulle.” The jetfighters taking off from the “Charles de Gaulle,” are flying sorties against the “Islamic State,” while Russian bombers from the “Admiral Kuznetsov” are taking off into the war against other jihadi militia in Syria. The number of Russian and NATO jets using Syrian airspace to attack their respective targets is increasing. In addition the Bundestag will soon take the decision to deploy German military personnel in NATO’s AWACS machines, which will have the Syrian airspace under surveillance. This new flight density enhances – similar to the Baltic region – the danger of an escalation, not only due to an accidental collision, but also through the risk of a direct armed confrontation between NATO countries and Russia, should western powers expand their aggressions, declare a no-fly zone over Syria, or even launch a direct attack on the armed forces of that country.Ready to EscalateNone of these can be ruled out. Leading politicians of Germany’s Green Party have now surged ahead with the demand of declaring a no-fly zone. After the Chair of the Greens parliamentary group, Katrin Göring-Eckardt, made a plea for a no-fly zone, the Party’s Chair, Cem Özdemir, has now seconded with a call for at least “a comprehensive international threat to declare a no-fly zone.” In response to whether “the Europeans should take over, should the Americans remain passive,” Özdemir replied that he agrees with France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, “that doing nothing can be just as bad as making a wrong intervention.”[9] Both in Berlin and Washington – with an eye on the upcoming presidential elections – demands to intensify the military course in the Syrian conflict are growing louder.

Source: www.german-foreign-policy.com

Marginalized , excluded and secluded : Khalayleh neighborhood as one model

نادية حرحش

Marginalized….excluded and secluded

These are the three words that jump to my head, the moment I spot a neighborhood such as, Nabi Samuel, Khalayleh; and going to the other extreme of geography; Jahaleen Bedouin clans.

Of course, to most, these names do not mean anything, and actually they never meant anything to me…and sadly speaking there must be tens if not hundreds of such neighborhoods around the country.

The three locations I mentioned are in Jerusalem if Maaleh Adomim and its Gush were part of Jerusalem so would be the Jahaleen. In addition, if Modiin, Givat Zeev, Giv’on are in Jerusalem then Khalayleh and Nabi Samuel are.

As usual between what is and what is there, is a line of shrewd vicious reality that even geographical separation does not necessarily show.

I would rest my case on this occasion on al Khalayleh, since Nabi Samuel, which is very close, might…

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The Killing of Keith Lamont Scott

The whole world is watching – you cannot hide from eventual arrest for malfeasance!

We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident

Subtitled; How CharlotteMecklenburg Chief of Police Kerr Putney Has Messed Up.

The citizens of Charlotte, North Carolina, have no trust in Putney’s inconsistent representations.

There are times when it’s best to be quiet rather than exert one-side of a story to the public. Putney has shown that he accepts whatever his officers say and therefore, cannot be any part of an impartial investigation.

keith-scottKeith Lamont Scott

Keith Lamont Scott was killed on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  There are so many conflicting points of view and reports that they make the head spin.

On September 22, 2016, Keith’s family was shown dash cam video.  The attorney for the family stated that the video shows that Keith was walking with both arms at his side, and no gun present.   Police Chief Kerr Putney refused to release the dash cam video to the public.

Keith’s wife took…

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Adult Performer: Trump Offered Me $10K, Use Of Private Jet If I Joined Him In His Room: LAist

“I realize that in this situation I may be but a tiny grain of sand, but clearly, this is an enormous beach.”

Source: Adult Performer: Trump Offered Me $10K, Use Of Private Jet If I Joined Him In His Room: LAist

At the end of the press conference, Drake, and her attorney Gloria Allred, held up a photo of Drake standing with Trump, taken at the golf tournament.

View image on TwitterView image on Twitter

Gloria Allred shows a photo of Trump standing with the 11th victim, Jessica Drake.

Trump: “I never met her, believe me.”

Today’s press conference came a few hours after Trump vowed at a campaign event in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania that he would sue all of the women that have come forward with accusations of inappropriate sexual conduct.

Allred, one of the leaders in the charge against Trump’s sexual misconduct, basically said, “Bring it on.”

Women will not be intimidated into silence by Donald Trump….If he files a lawsuit for defamation, he will have to prove that the allegations are not true. Any accuser will have a right to file a cross-complaint against Trump for defamation, because he called them liars. Be careful what you wish for Mr. Trump. The lawyers will have the opportunity to depose you. You will be required to testify under oath and we will welcome the opportunity to question you under oath.

Allred also said that “many women who have not yet come forward yet publicly may decide to do so.” A couple of weeks ago, Allred said that she had been contacted by multiple women who alleged inappropriate contact from Trump.

And then she hit him with this zinger:

Mr. Trump, this morning you spoke at Gettysburg where many brave patriots fought and died. You have dishonored their sacrifice by threatening wives, mothers and daughters. They may not have your wealth or your power or your fame, but they have demonstrated enormous courage and i believe the public will support them. The threat is an admission of the hopelessness of your cause. It is nothing more than a transparent promise of revenge. It’s a new low even for you. Your threat is below the dignity of the office you are seeking. I say to the women of this country, we shall overcome.

A massive cyberattack blocked your favorite websites; FBI and Homeland Security are investigating

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tn-dyn-attack-20161021-snap-story.html What in the environment has changed to give a relative of polio a cause to grow and threaten outbreaks of deja vu polio? Disease is a response by nature to what it perceives as an imbalance in need of a correction. Did we ever figure out what drove the polio outbreaks in late 1940s and 50s in NYC and LA? Time to think beyond vaccination as the only way to deal with outbreaks?