(2021-10-22). The US Empire: Coercion and Consent. counterpunch.org The U.S. military has nearly 800 military bases scattered over 70 countries. China, its most recent competitor, has one. Spending for the U.S. military is about three times the amount Chinese government spends, and is more than the military budgets of Russia, India, the U.K., Saudi Arabia, France, Japan, Germany and China combined. "The U.S.
(2021-10-22). Do You Want a New Cold War? The AUKUS Alliance Takes the World to the Brink. counterpunch.org Before it's too late, we need to ask ourselves a crucial question: Do we really — I mean truly — want a new Cold War with China? Because that's just where the Biden administration is clearly taking us. If you need proof, check out last month's announcement of an "AUKUS" (Australia, United Kingdom, U.S.) military
(2021-10-22). Kidnapped Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab speaks in court. workers.org 
Saab made the following statement in U.S. Federal Court in Miami on Oct. 16. The statement is lightly edited. My name is Alex Nain Saab Moran, with Venezuelan diplomatic passport number 045778720. I am a special envoy with diplomatic immunity to the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran . . . |
(2021-10-22). NATO, Not Russia, Perpetuates Cold War Logic… It is a Relic Best Ignored. strategic-culture.org NATO is a relic of Cold War hostility that belongs in a war museum not in a modern forum for diplomacy. | It was the end of an era this week when Russia announced that it was severing diplomatic links with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. For the past 30 years since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation has engaged with the US-led military bloc in a bid to establish partnership and secure peace. | The incipient detente culminated in the NATO-Russia Founding Act in 1997 which demarcated certain boundaries for peaceful coexistence. Those boundaries were subsequently flouted as NATO dou…
(2021-10-22). Iran Begins "Nationwide" Air Force Military Drills. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | It's military exercise season in Iran, as the country's air force began nationwide drills on October 21st. | These come after Naval drills in the Caspian Sea, combined drills along the Azerbaijan border, as well as air and missile defense exercises all in the past weeks. | Iranian Army's Air Force has showcased its capabilities during a large-scale aerial exercise, which included hitting targets with homegrown Yasin-90 standoff missile and domestically-produced rockets. | The Islamic Republ…
(2021-10-22). "Fifth wave" of COVID-19 underway in France. wsws.org COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising as the winter surge begins in France threatening to lead to tens of thousands more deaths.
(2021-10-22). Spain's fascistic Vox party, Latin American right launch anti-communist "Madrid Forum" wsws.org The Forum is a loose association of far-right figures pledging to "confront the threat posed by the growth of communism on both sides of the Atlantic."
(2021-10-22). Macedonian Ramble: To the Albanian-North Macedonian Border. counterpunch.org This is the third part in a series about a journey across what used to be called Macedonia, which is now divided among Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, and Turkey. Much more than I thought I might, I enjoyed my walk around Tirana. I stopped at an excellent bookshop and admired several shelves devoted to Albanian
(2021-10-22). The Doctrine Of The "Blue Homeland" And Turkey's Possibilities For Its Implementation. southfront.org 
Illustrative Image | Turkey in the 21st century began to rethink its place in the international system. Turkey is not satisfied with the role of a junior partner of western countries; it is aimed at the status of a regional and even world power. If Turkey first acted in an economic and cultural spheres, now Ankara is conducting an aggressive and offensive foreign policy. Now it is not afraid to openly declare its interests and dictate its own rules of the game. Leaving aside the doctrines of "Zero problems with neighbors" and "Strategic depth", Ankara has begun to implement the "Blue Homeland" doctrine. | The doc…
(2021-10-22). Erdogan Warns Turkey Could Use Heavy Weapons Against Syria Army. southfront.org 
Image: aa.com.tr | The Turkish military will use heavy weapons against the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib if necessary, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on October 21."Operations are going on in very sensitive locations in our region. We will not back down. We continue the process in Syria," Sputnik quoted Erdogan as saying. "I do now know what steps the Syrian regime will take but we will do whatever is needed in Idlib,…
(2021-10-22). EU Threatens Poland With Retaliations For Its "Direct Challenges" Against The Bloc's Unity. southfront.org 
Illustrative ImagePolish PM Morawiecki says he will not be "intimidated" by the EU | Written by Paul Antonopoulos, independent geopolitical analyst | Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki was repeatedly criticised on Tuesday during a tense session in the European Parliament in Brussels, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warning Warsaw that its "direct challenges" against the unity of the bloc would not go unpunished. | "Your arguments are not getting better. You're just escaping the debate," von der Leyen said after four hours of frustrating debate with Morawiecki. She added that a ruling…
(2021-10-22). Court of Justice of the EU allows prohibition of religious symbols in the workplace. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) sparked controversy with its recent judgment passed down in IX v Wabe eV and MH Màºller Handels GmbH v MJ. This case required the CJEU to again consider the right to freedom of religion. It ruled that employers can ban workers from observing religious symbols, including …
(2021-10-22). Putin Speaks Of Taliban, Ukraine, Values And Energy At The Valdai Club. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On October 21st, Russian President Vladimir Putin held discussions with members of the Valdai club, after giving an address. | Notably, Putin said that the world was moving towards recognizing the Taliban movement and that Washington and Moscow were on the right track following the Geneva summit. | He also thanked Europe for the sanctions."A thank you goes to the Europeans for sanctions in the field of agriculture." They triggered retaliatory steps and encouraged investment in import subst…
(2021-10-22). Trump supporter denounces socialism at Junge Union's Germany Conference. wsws.org Loughery called on delegates to "protect democracy and freedom" and stand together "in the fight against socialism."
(2021-10-22). Russian Foreign Ministry forced to acknowledge massive NATO military, including strategic, buildup on Russia's borders. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Moscow aware of NATO deploying weapons near Russian borders, diplomat says Moscow is aware of the ongoing process of the deployment of armaments by NATO countries near Russia's borders, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Alexander Grushko said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV Channel on Friday. *** NATO has decided to expel eight Russian …
(2021-10-22). From Russia, with (Taliban) Love. globalresearch.ca
(2021-10-22). NATO Agrees On "New Master Plan" To Deter And Defend Against Russian Attacks. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On October 21st, NATO's defense ministers reportedly agreed on "a new master plan" to deter and defend against any potential Russian attack on multiple fronts. | This, again, reinforces the idea that the entire bloc is formed against Russia, despite any threats that China allegedly poses. | The confidential strategy aims to prepare for any simultaneous attack in the Baltic and Black Sea regions that could include nuclear weapons, hacking of computer networks and assaults from space…
(2021-10-22). At Least 16 Killed In Fire At Explosive Factory In Russia. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On October 22, a fire broke out in the workshop of the company "Razryad", which produces explosives n Russian region of Ryazan. According to the preliminary data, 16 people were killed as a result of the incident. | According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, an explosion took place in the workshop where gunpowder was stored, in the village of Lesnoye. It was localized on an area of 160 sq. m. The workshop buildings have been completely destroyed. | There were 17 people in the workshop at the time of the incident. According to the Ministry of Health, 16 people were killed. Th…
(2021-10-22). Lingering Topics: Ukraine and Russiagate. strategic-culture.org The West should move closer to Russia. Russia has repeatedly sought better relations with the West — only to be met with arrogant, ignorant and hypocritical responses. | RT columnist and University of Ottawa Professor A loose analogy considers the wait and see approach concerning cancer. In a nu…
(2021-10-22). China Rejects US And EU Meddling In Taiwan Issue. telesurenglish.net On Friday, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called on the United States to act and speak out cautiously when addressing the issue of the Chinese province of Taiwan. | RELATED: | The Chinese diplomat's remarks came in response to the words of President Joe Biden who said on Thursday that the United States would intervene if China invaded Taiwan. He also dared to affirm that China, Russia and the rest of the w…
(2021-10-22). Slovenian left slams rising police repression under right-wing government. peoplesdispatch.org The Left in Slovenia, Levica, demanded the immediate resignation of interior minister Ales Hojs, who is being held directly responsible for police violence and excessive use of force against anti-government protesters in capital Ljubljana…
(2021-10-21). Facebook 'whistleblower' Frances Haugen represented by US intelligence insiders. thegrayzone.com The background of Frances Haugen's Whistleblower Aid legal team indicates she was cultivated to complete Facebook's transformation into a vehicle for the US national security state. A former employee of Facebook named Frances Haugen earned national renown after appearing before Congress on October 5, 2021 to accuse the company where she once worked of everything from poisoning the minds of young American women to aiding and abetting global evildoers. While Haugen has presented herself as a "whistleblower" who risked it all …
(2021-10-21). Facebook 'whistleblower' Frances Haugen represented by a coterie of US intelligence insiders. thegrayzone.com The background of Haugen's Whistleblower Aid legal team indicates she was cultivated to complete Facebook's transformation into a vehicle for the US national security state A former employee of Facebook named Frances Haugen earned national renown after appearing before Congress on October 5, 2021 to accuse the company where she once worked of everything from poisoning the minds of young American women to aiding and abetting global evildoers. While Haugen has presented herself as a "whistleblower" who risked it all to …
(2021-10-21). Russia Tells NATO to Shove Abusive Relationship. strategic-culture.org Russia is right to end the illusion of dialogue and partnership when the reality is the other party is cynically offering to shake hands while trying to piss down your leg. | Russia told the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization to shove its faux diplomacy, thus ending about 30 years of post-Cold War talks and delegations which have achieved little to nothing in terms of normalizing relations. | Moscow may have slammed the door, but it's not locked. Russia said that from now on it is up to NATO to take the first step in improving relations, thereby implying that sometime in the future Moscow would be open…
(2021-10-21). Do You Want a New Cold War? tomdispatch.com Before it's too late, we need to ask ourselves a crucial question: Do we really — I mean truly — want a new Cold War with China? Because that's just where the Biden administration is clearly taking us. If you need proof, check out last month's announcement of an "AUKUS" (Australia, United Kingdom, U.S.) military alliance in Asia. Believe me, it's far scarier (and more racist) than the nuclear-powered submarine deal and the French diplomatic kerfuffle that dominated the media coverage of it. By focusing on the dramatically angry French reaction to losing their own agreement to sell non-nuclear subs to…
(2021-10-21). President of Azerbaijan reviews combat-hardened new military unit on Armenian, Iranian borders. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com All necessary conditions have been created for the personnel of the military unit complex of the State Border Service in Zangilan region On October 20, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva got acquainted with the conditions created at the military unit complex of the State Border Service in …
(2021-10-21). Iran-Azerbaijan: Baku releases Iranian truck drivers as tensions thaw with Tehran. middleeasteye.net 
Iran-Azerbaijan: Baku releases Iranian truck drivers as tensions thaw with Tehran | Baku's customs department said the decision was guided by 'humanitarianism, mutual respect and good neighbourliness'
| Thu, 10/21/2021 – 17: 38 | In the past, Iranian hauliers had used a road connecting Armenia and Iran to reach Russia and West Asia without restrictions (AFP/File photo) | Azerbaijan rel…
(2021-10-21). Azerbaijan conference on Karabakh war backed by military academies of Turkey, Pakistan, Ukraine, several NATO members. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com The Azerbaijan Armed Forces Military Academy hosts an international conference "The Second Karabakh War — a War of a New Generation" The organization of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense at the Military Academy of the Armed Forces started an international scientific-practical conference on "second Karabakh war — the war of the new generation" in the …
(2021-10-21). Africa Condemns the Continuing Imperialist Legacy of France. globalresearch.ca
(2021-10-21). NATO, French Air/Space Force provide preview of what war in Eastern Europe will look like. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Exercise Volfa 21 Concludes in France Exercise Volfa 21, a major annual combat readiness exercise conducted by the French Air and Space Force, wrapped up in the southwest of France on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. More than 50 aircraft from eight Allied nations participated covering the entire spectrum of flight operations with high preparation intensity: …
(2021-10-21). High-end scenarios across spectrum of conflict: NATO naval strike group, U.S. carrier strike group train together. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com STRIKFORNATO Participates in U.S. Carrier Exercise Scenario Oeiras, Portugal — STRIKFORNATO participated as NATO Headquarters in the USS HARRY S TRUMAN Strike Group's Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) from 16-18 October. The STRIKFORNATO Staff added to the exercise by representing the NATO headquarters in preparation for their upcoming deployment. The Strike Group Units trained on …
(2021-10-21). Algerian-Moroccan Tensions Escalating, And This Could Badly Impact Europe. southfront.org 
Illustrative ImageThe "forgotten war" of Western Sahara is deteriorating and risks spilling over into the whole Sahara-Sahel region. | Written by Uriel Araujo, researcher with a focus on international and ethnic conflicts. | North Africa has been a boiling kettle lately. Algeria has threatened to cut off gas supplies to its neighbor Morocco this month, not renewing a pipeline agreement. This could have an impact abroad on Spain's gas supplies at a time when prices are rising in Europe and the winter is coming. Algeria's Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab however told Spanish ambassador Fernando Moran that Algiers is r…
(2021-10-21). Tram and subway workers strike in Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city. wsws.org Amid a sharp upsurge in the class struggle, 627 subway and tram workers in Izmir are preparing to go on strike on Friday.
(2021-10-21). Pentagon chief, Turkish counterpart and Biden, Erdogan to discuss adding, upgrading 120 F-16s for Ankara. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Turkey stakes its claim over F-35 payment: Erdogan Turkey was excluded from the F-35 joint fighter program in mid-2019 after it deployed the Russian S-400 air defense systems. The U.S. seized five F-35s Turkey had paid for and did not reimburse $1.4 billion. Recently, Turkey asked for the purchase of 40 F-16 fighters and 80 …
(2021-10-21). Turkey: Erdogan threatens to expel 10 Western ambassadors over Osman Kavala row. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey: Erdogan threatens to expel 10 Western ambassadors over Osman Kavala row | The president denounces the envoys over their calls for the release of Turkish entrepreneur and philanthropist | Thu, 10/21/2021 – 13: 36 | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during the parliamentary group meeting in Ankara, on 6 October 2021 (AFP) | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thurs…
(2021-10-21). Turkey's Central Bank stuns markets with strong rate cut amid soaring inflation. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey's Central Bank stuns markets with strong rate cut amid soaring inflation | Under President Erdogan's pressure, the bank decreased its policy rate by 200 points, exacerbating the country's ongoing currency crisis | Thu, 10/21/2021 – 12: 39 | A currency exchange office worker counts Turkish lira notes at an exchange office in Istanbul, on 6 August 2020 (AFP) | Turkey's Central Bank shocked investors on Th…
(2021-10-21). Prelude to war in the Black Sea: U.S. leads air combat exercise from Bulgarian, Romanian bases. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com F-15E Strike Eagles Forge Towards Romania and Bulgaria in Multinational Exercise (title as is) U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft from the 336th Fighter Squadron taking part in Ex Castle Forge have arrived at Borcea Air Base, Romania, and Graf Ignatievo AB, Bulgaria in the next phase of the multinational training event. The Strike Eagles will …
(2021-10-21). Latvia: NATO secures "fully developed military airfield" in third Baltic nation. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com LielvƒÅrde Military Airfield Will Enhance NATO's Air Mobility in the Baltics "Whenever ≈ iauliai in Lithuania or àÑmari in Estonia are unavailable for NATO aircraft, they will be diverted to LielvƒÅrde. F-16 pilots of the Royal Danish Air Force have already notified their interest to test the strip and will soon visit LielvƒÅrde airfield." NATO's Allied …
(2021-10-21). Citing "spectre of armed conflict" in Europe, Polish president calls for strengthening NATO. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Spectre of armed conflict returns to haunt region: Polish president Polish President Andrzej Duda on Wednesday addressed the Lithuanian National Security Conference in the capital Vilnius, and said that the spectre of armed conflict had returned to the region in the wake of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Speaking at a security conference …
(2021-10-21). U.S. nuclear-capable bombers "integrate" with NATO allies' warplanes in Black Sea. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Bomber Task Force Europe: B-1s thunder through Black Sea for maritime mission Two B-1B Lancer aircraft from the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron…executed a counter maritime mission in the Black Sea region today alongside European allies and partners. The B-1B strategic bomber is a versatile conventional [sic] weapons platform, which provides U.S. European Command and NATO …
(2021-10-21). First female NATO chief? German DM pushes European subservience to NATO/Pentagon, NATO "dealing" with China. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com From an interview in Politico German defense minister warns Europeans: Don't detach from NATO NATO will have to focus increasingly on China, she said. "The big task now is also to recognize that the question of how to deal with China is much more than the question of national interests," Kramp-Karrenbauer said. "In the big …
(2021-10-21). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Danish nurses continue one-hour wildcat strikes over pay and understaffing in defiance of unions and fines; French public transport workers' strikes among bus drivers, coach drivers and rail workers over pay, conditions and privatisation; South African metal workers national pay strike in third week threatened as union moves towards company offer; Sunday stoppages by ScotRail workers, Scotland begun March continue to demand equal overtime rates with drivers…
(2021-10-21). NATO conducts nuclear strike exercise from bases hosting B-61 nuclear bombs. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com From the Aviationist. NATO's Annual Nuclear Strike Exercise Underway In Southern Europe NATO's yearly "deterrence" exercise, codenamed "Steadfast Noon", kicked off on Oct. 18, 2021. Dozens of aircraft from across the alliance are currently deployed to Italy and will carry out joint training during the 1-week drills. [T]his year's Steadfast Noon takes place alongside another …
(2021-10-21). Reflections on Libya After the Murder of Qadaffi. libya360.wordpress.com Obi Egbuna This trip down memory lane begins with a baby boy making his entrance on October 8th, 1969, one month after the triumph of the Libyan Revolution, that overthrew a puppet regime posing as a monarchy obedient and submissive to Italian colonialists. Because indigenous Africans were captured, dehumanized, and displaced by Arabs before Europeans,…
(2021-10-21). 'Russia Is Not Responsible For Europe's Energy Crisis': Putin. telesurenglish.net On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin denied that Russia's Gazprom Company had any have liability with the ongoing European energy crisis, which has seen gas prices soar to US$1,500 per thousand cubic meters. | RELATED: | "The Gazprom Company impeccably fulfills its contracts with European partners. Amid the crisis, it increased gas supplies by 15 percent and liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries by 13 percent this year," Putin insisted, a…
(2021-10-21). John Deere workers in Mannheim, Germany, support striking workers in US. wsws.org Workers at Deere's largest tractor factory in Germany expressed support for their striking brothers and sisters in the United States, saying they faced the same fight against eroding wages and economic insecurity.
(2021-10-21). Nicaragua Is The Exception: Letter To A Cynic. popularresistance.org "That's unbelievable," my father-in-law wrote me from Ireland after watching me give a statistic-heavy webinar on the advances for the poor in Nicaragua since 2007. | "I know, right?" I replied. | "No, I mean it's actually unbelievable," he wrote back. "For cynical people like me, our faith in humanity has been undermined. The story of a government really looking after ordinary people is too good to be true." | I understand what he means. If I hadn't been living in Nicaragua for the last 20 years and hadn't seen with my own eyes the changes since the Sandinista government came back in to power with a pro poor str…
(2021-10-21). Boris' Bridge Between Scotland And Northern Ireland Cancelled Before It Began. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size imageAn attempt to unify Great Britain post-Brexit has been scuppered by the devolved administrations, who want no part in it… | Written by Johanna Ross, journalist based in Edinburgh, Scotland. | It was decried as yet another one of Boris Johnson's hairbrained schemes: a bridge connecting Scotland with Northern Ireland, therefore mainland Britain with the island of Ireland. 'The world's most stupid tunnel' said Dominic Cummings; 'nothing more than a vanity project' scoffed the SNP Transport Minister. | Critics needn't have worried: the Johnson government plans were shelved almost before…
(2021-10-21). Poland Threw Down the Gauntlet to the EU. globalresearch.ca
(2021-10-21). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Continuing progress in battle against COVID-19. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org "October is going to be a very exciting month in the U.S., regarding COVID-19 vaccines," says Dr. Gregory Poland, head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "On Oct. 14 the Federal Drug Administration is going to look at COVID-19 boosters for Moderna. On Oct. 15, (the FDA will review) boosters for Johnson & Johnsons' COVID-19 vaccine. And on Oct. 29, the FDA will look at extending emergency use for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children down to…