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Robin Monotti: Could attacks against Jews outside...

Could attacks against Jews outside of Israel be false flags? This Jewish Professor certainly claims so: 'Mossad carried out bombings to drive Jews out of Iraq and hasten their transfer to Israel' "British-Israeli historian Avi Shlaim has claimed in his new book to have uncovered "undeniable proof" of Israeli involvement in attacks on Jewish communities in Iraq in the early 1950s. Shlaim's autobiography, Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab-Jew, which details his childhood as an Iraqi Jew and subsequent exile to Israel, was published last week. According to a review of the memoir printed on Saturday in the Spectator magazine, Shlaim unveils in his book "undeniable proof of Zionist involvement in the terrorist attacks" which prompted a mass exodus of Jews from Iraq between 1950 and 1951"

Wolfgang Munchau: Why has the oil price been so...

Why has the oil price been so subdued during the crisis? We should not overthink this issue. Traders got fooled by Trump, who kept on insisting that the war would be short, and nobody wanted to bet against the president. Now that this fairy tale is getting harder to believe, markets are starting to adjust. Even in a market as efficient as this one, and contrary to what the efficient market hypothesis would suggest, markets do not take in all the available information. http://eurointelligence.com

Ben Judah: I am, like most British Jews, growing...

I am, like most British Jews, growing really frustrated with this vague talk about “division and unity and hate.” We have a very specific problem here. An IRGC cut out is recruiting disaffected Islamist-radicalised men, many long known to the police and negligently left ambling about, to a conduct a targeted intifada against the London Jewish community. And both our counter intelligence and counter terror forces are failing to intercept them. I don’t need a mass London rally of well wishers or cultural luminaires to post their wishes — nice as that is — I need an actual security strategy to clamp down on this so my community can go about our lives in peace as is our absolute minimum right. And I need politicians to call the problem for what it is — not good vibes.

Deborah Haynes: A coalition base in Iraq that...

NEW: A coalition base in Iraq that British forces are helping to defend was targeted by around 28 Iranian-linked drones and missiles a day as the US and Israel attacked Iran, it has emerged. Members of the RAF Regiment, using counter-drone missile systems, blasted more than 100 of the unmanned aircraft out of the sky during roughly six weeks of combat before a temporary ceasefire deal was agreed between Washington and Tehran in early April. It is the first time the intensity of the conflict for British troops deployed to the region on defensive operations has become clear. Sky News was given rare access to the base, which is a frontline for UK military personnel. ""I would argue this place would be a smouldering wreck if it wasn't for you guys,"" @AlistairCarns , the armed forces minister, said during a visit to the site last week along with Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, the head of the @RoyalAirForce Full story - including how gaming skills are useful for downing drones ⬇️

Franz-Stefan Gady: Beyond operational stagnation…

'Beyond operational stagnation, atomization has removed the military’s internal safety valves and heightened the risk of an unintended kinetic clash. The purge systematically replaced an entrenched old guard, who protected the status quo to preserve their patronage networks, with an echelon of terrified successors. This dynamic grants Xi greater latitude to order troops into combat. While these new commanders possess stronger technical credentials, they lack the political capital to act as a strategic braking mechanism. Stripped of the weight to stall or manage crises privately, this atomized officer corps no longer buffers political pressure or transmits honest assessments. Xi is left to make decisions in an information environment divorced from reality.'

Dale Vince: Well, class A delusional…

Well, class A delusional - who else ever thought he was a nice guy….:) Oh and Iran had signed a non nuclear deal, which Trump broke. And have repeatedly offered another - until the latest sneak attack during negotiations, by the US led by Israel. If they, Iran, end up with a nuke we’ll all have Trump to thank. If they end up running the straight or Hormuz like it’s the Panama Canal - we’ll all have Trump to thank. So much to thank him for, we’ll get tired of thanking him..:)

Deborah Haynes: NEW…

NEW: The UK is rallying a new force of navies from among northern allies to be ready to fight and defend their seas amid a growing threat from Russia, the head of the Royal Navy has said It will be like the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) and will complement NATO - but with the ability to react faster. General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said in a @RUSI_org lecture: “I aim to create a maritime force that trains, exercises and prepares together. A force designed to fight immediately if required, with real capabilities, real war plans, and real integration. “A force in which interchangeability – the ability to substitute, swap, or mix equipment, parts, ammunition, or personnel – is made possible because member nations would be operating common systems and platforms, shared digital networks, logistics and stockpiles. “A force that generates the maritime, air and amphibious strike capabilities that we all need. “This would be a visible and persistent conventional deterrent. A force that is stronger, collectively, than the sum of its parts…. “We are now looking at the creation of a family of allied fleets – something that has not happened in decades. Ultimately, we intend for them to be trained through our Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST), supported through UK doctrine and integration standards, and commanded if necessary from Northwood in our Maritime Operations Centre. “Last week I hosted naval chiefs from across Northern Europe to discuss how we can make this plan a reality. “And I am delighted to confirm to you today that during that meeting, we signed a statement of intent committing each of our nations to working up detailed proposals for our Northern Navies initiative. “We know we have no time to lose, which is why by the end of this year, I want us all to have signed a formal declaration, laying the foundations for what will be a vital and enduring partnership for many years to come.”

Ayesha Ijaz Khan: The mentality that doesn’t want more destruction…

The mentality that doesn’t want more destruction. More elementary schools hit. More power plants hit. More bridges hit. The mentality that wants to glean a peaceful outcome for the people beyond looking at egos. Sure, Iran can hit GCC but it can’t hit the US. Right there you have an asymmetrical situation. Even if Iran humiliates US (as Merz says, which I don’t disagree with), it comes at a huge cost to Iranian people - not much of a cost to Americans. Who are only paying more for gas, while Iranians lift coffins of little girls. When Pakistanis caution that Iran can be more flexible, that doesn’t mean they are siding with US or Israel—it’s established that those two are unreliable and often have bad intentions. Question is - why didn’t Iran just make a nuclear weapon and test it by now? If it hasn’t done that, then what’s the point in not compromising on its nuclear program if it’s leading to all this economic misery?

Bushra Shaikh: It's hard to ignore the sense of Iran's…

It's hard to ignore the sense of Iran's power on the Strait. Smart Control: the new system. The Strait is now under smart control by Iran's naval forces. Safe routes have been designated by the navy and ships must obtain security clearance to pass through. The strait is closed to hostile ships and those affiliated with them. Any ship whose origin or destination is a hostile country, regardless of its flag, is not allowed to pass. Ships that have remained here for a long time are waiting to receive clearance. Locals say that food and water are being sent to ships that cannot approach the docks.
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