“Everyone’s a Little Problematic in Ukraine’s International Legion”

by Lindsey Snell and Cory Popp

“Benjamin Velcro” is former US serviceman and volunteer with the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, the official unit of foreign volunteers under the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In early August, Russian media widely shared voice recordings in which Velcro recounted the torture and murder of a Russian prisoner of war.

“Everyone’s a Little Problematic in Ukraine’s International Legion”

Related:

An exit interview: Benjamin Velcro

I am quite good with languages, one could describe my Russian as a solid B1 (someone said B2 before but that was an ego stroke lol) I would rather understand the language of my enemy than Ukrainian. My convictions against the putin regime were largely solidified when I was part of a task force related to Georgia just prior to their invasion with the US Army. In 2014, maiden inspired me. In 2020, August, I thought the similar conditions could be met in Belarus. I travelled to Belarus. However things did not materialize.

Interesting how this “Benjamin Velcro” seems to be drawn to US-sponsored color revolutions. 👇

Read More »

Louisiana Woman Is Forced Carry Headless Fetus to Term or Travel to Florida for Legal Abortion

Louisiana Woman Is Forced Carry Headless Fetus to Term or Travel to Florida for Legal Abortion

The U.S. already leads wealthy nations in maternal mortality, particularly among people of color. I can’t imagine that doctors being forced to choose between prison and helping patients, or a Nebraska teen being charged with a felony for self-managing her abortion, will improve these conditions. But this is our post-Roe world, where Republicans are pushing to ban birth control and IVF, hospitals are denying rape victims emergency contraception, top anti-abortion activists are romanticizing the new reality of 13-year-old forced parents, and in Louisiana, the state can force you to carry a headless fetus. As horror stories of immeasurable suffering pour in on a near-daily basis, we can’t afford to become desensitized to any of it.

U.S. “Waited and Watched” as Cuba Fought Deadly Blaze

Aug 15, 2022 – When a catastrophic fire in Matanzas threatened Cuba’s fuel supply, other countries rushed to help. What did the world’s most powerful country offer Cuba? A phone call. The lack of U.S. support has sparked outrage. And its crushing sanctions have limited Cuba’s ability to respond.

Video via Belly of The Beast Cuba

Related:

While Cuba Deals with Blazing Fire, the U.S. Heartlessly Watches and Waits

House Dems Urge Biden to Provide Assistance to Cuba Amid Fire Disaster

At Least 1 Dead and 121 Injured in Fuel Storage Depot Fire in Matanzas, Cuba

The Cuban president stated in a tweet, “We express deep gratitude to the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, Nicaragua, Argentina and Chile, which have promptly offered solidarity and material aid in the face of this complex situation. Cuba also appreciates the offer of technical advice from the United States.”

DeSantis and Future Foreign Policy Disasters

With his refusal to go along with lockdowns and mask mandates during the pandemic, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emerged as a hero to many in libertarian circles. But as his name is now consistently put forward as a prospective or even likely 2024 Republican Presidential candidate, those who view him favorably should take a sober second look. On foreign policy in particular, DeSantis promises to continue the disastrous policies of his predecessors, which have made us uniformly less free, less safe, and much poorer.

DeSantis and Future Foreign Policy Disasters

For some in St. Petersburg’s Black communities, Uhuru raid ‘doesn’t smell good’

For some in St. Petersburg’s Black communities, Uhuru raid ‘doesn’t smell good’

Some tactics at play in the Uhuru ordeal are indeed “straight out of COINTELPRO,” or more formally, the Counterintelligence Program, said Michael German, a former FBI agent who is now a fellow at New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice.

The attention-grabbing raids, a meeting with select Black leaders before the indictment announcement, the implied involvement of the Uhurus despite the lack of arrests — all echo the FBI’s old playbook.

The aim then was to discourage Black groups from activity protected by the First Amendment, German said. Some of those tactics have re-emerged as “disruption strategies” since 9/11.

“It creates actual harm, because there’s no (legal) forum for these individuals to defend themselves against particular charges,” German said.

FBI Attack on the Uhuru Movement is a Warning

FBI Attack on the Uhuru Movement is a Warning

Congressional Black Caucus member Gregory Meeks can be thanked for continuing the notion that Black people should not be trusted to think for themselves. H.R. 7311, Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act, is not just directed at nations on the African continent. Should it be signed into law by the president it requires reporting on, “…African governments and their policies, as well as the public opinions and voting preferences of African populations and diaspora groups, including those in the United States…” CBC treachery is yet another factor which makes this era of state persecution even more perilous.

One need not be familiar with every aspect of the APSP program in order to defend them at this juncture. They are the first but they will not be the last. Every individual or organization which has publicly condemned U.S. policy, visited a nation which the U.S. doesn’t like, or communicated with individuals or groups in those places, is at risk of being awakened by flash bang grenades and having electronic devices confiscated like APSP members last week. The word solidarity must now take on a very serious meaning.

The connection seems to be Alexander Ionov,Yevgeny Prigozhin, Africa, and the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act, which in part targets Prigozhin. See my link, below, for more.

*In progress: Alexander Ionov case – Russiagate 2

FBI Raids Homes, Offices Of Activists In Black Uhuru Movement

FBI Raids Homes, Offices Of Activists In Black Uhuru Movement

One of the other “unindicted co-conspirators” in the indictment is Louis J. Marinelli, who was the founder of CalExit, a right-wing campaign in the style of Brexit that called for California to secede from the United States.

Marinelli, who is white, was previously linked to the Russian government in US news media reports, but the FBI did not raid Marinelli’s home or the homes of any individuals linked to the secession campaign.

Related:

YouTube: Omali Yeshitela & Gerald Horne discuss the FBI Raids of the Uhuru Movement’s offices and homes

YouTube: Gerald Horne on the FBI Raids of the Uhuru Movement’s offices and homes and the broader implications (short clip, of Dr. Gerald Horne, from above interview)

[2010] FBI Launching Mass Raids of Antiwar Activists’ Homes

*In progress: Alexander Ionov case – Russiagate 2?

‘Tools of Russia’: FBI Raid on Black Political Party Seen As Part of ‘Black Scare/Red Scare’ in United States

‘Tools of Russia’: FBI Raid on Black Political Party Seen As Part of ‘Black Scare/Red Scare’ in United States

Related:

*In progress: Alexander Ionov case – Russiagate 2?

FBI Raids St. Louis Black Liberation Group Alleging Russian Ties

Russian operative used U.S. activist groups to spread propaganda, feds say (Previously)

Yes California statement on Russian funding accusations (AGAIN) (US Political Group 3?) – Marcus Ruiz Evans* says that they were already cleared and that the FBI is only focusing on Louis J Marinellmore links in the video description.

Louis’ Response: No, Alexander Ionov never funded or “exercised direction or control” over me or the California independence campaign (archived)

Russian operative used U.S. activist groups to spread propaganda, feds say

A Russian operative backed by the Kremlin meddled in United States politics for seven years and recently tried to undermine American support for Ukraine by recruiting local activists to spread pro-Moscow propaganda, the Justice Department announced Friday.

Russian operative used U.S. activist groups to spread propaganda, feds say (archived)

The timing is suspicious, considering they knew about the alleged connections since before ‘Russiagate.Are they going after the Texit leader, next, or just going to ignore it (not saying that any of them should be gone after but it just adds to my suspicions)?! A message to the antiwar/anti-imperialist movement?!

Related:

Read More »