@xkcd

@xkcd

Cory Doctorow @pluralistic@mamot.fr Red Team Blues

@doctorow

If you've followed me a long time, you've seen my transition from a "#linkblogger" (5-15 short hits/day) to an "essay-#blogger" (5-7 articles/week). I'm loving the new mode but returning to linkblogging is also intensely, unexpectedly gratifying:

pluralistic.net/2023/05/02/wun…

1/

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

pluralistic.net/2023/05/13/fou…

2/

My last #linkblogging foray was so great - and my link-backlog is so large - that I'm doing another one.

Link the first: "Siphon," @xkcd's delightful, whimsical "#physics-how-the-fuck-does-it-work" one-shot (visit the link, the tooltip is great):

xkcd.com/2775/

3/

Read 125 tweets

BhikuMhatre

@MumbaichaDon

Thread:

On 20 April 2023, Army vehicles convoy was targeted by Terr0rists btwn Bhimbar Gali & Poonch in Jammu region. One truck was struck with grenades & small arms ki££ing 5 jawans of Rashtriya Rifles in line of duty.

Why this sudden aggression by #Pakistan ? My Take!

1/15

We all know that #Pakistani economy is in turmoil. Choked from all sides. Inflation is sky high. Lot of civil unrest. It's Jokers called #PakistanArmy taking beatings from all sides from TTP & Baloch Rebels.

Then how could Pakistan dare to carry this small Terr0r Attack?

2/15

So when I sat to think on this, I could think of some reasons.

1. PAKISTAN GOVT WANTS TO POSTPONE GENERAL ELECTIONS!

It may sound stupid, but it's not! Due to reasons mentioned before, Pakistan's Present Govt is sure to lose upcoming General Elections.

3/15

Read 16 tweets

Dr Andreas Krieg

@andreas_krieg

Looking at the networks that support #Hemedti in #Sudan, an interesting carousel emerges with the #UAE in the middle

Network-centric statecraft at its best, involving #Libya, #Wagner and the War in #Yemen

2) starting with the #UAE's direct networks to #Sudan & the #RSF, Abu Dhabi has set up a well-oiled network of companies and financial institutions to support #Hemedti to bring gold to market and manage personal finances
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…

3) The #UAE have provided arms to #Hemedti's #RSF in #Sudan since 2019 - recent evidence suggest as late as 2021
msn.com/en-gb/news/wor…

Read 13 tweets

The Wayward Rabbler

@WaywardRabbler

The Continuing Regional Rapprochement of #Syria and #Assad

A thread 🪡

1/25

In January I wrote about how, after over 10 years of brutal war pushed and funded by outside powers, the #MiddleEast was accepting that the #Syrian Arab Republic, led by #Assad would stay in power.

thewaywardrabbler.substack.com/p/the-state-wh…

2/25

The #USA and #NATO countries have been unhappy about things turning out this way, especially as #Syria is a close ally of #Russia. However, the Muslim states of the region are seeing that the future is cooperation, and that the SAR has won the war.

3/25

Read 26 tweets

HAMID BAHRAMI 🤔

@HaBahrami

@EpochTimes

#China’s #Iran-#Saudi Deal a Tool to Avoid Any Wave of Democratic Regime Change:

I was quoted
@EpochTimes @venusupadhayaya

Thread

I highlighted: Saudi MBS Vision 2030, requires
“De-escalation with Turkey, Qatar, Syria, resumption of relations

theepochtimes.com/chinas-iran-sa…

⬇️1

with #Iran and de-facto relations with Israel are all linked to his 2030 vision,”. Bahrami said that although these deals are being defined between China and Iran, they are still waiting for US to revive #JCPOA.
“As long as international sanctions and banking sanctions

2⬇️

against Iran exist, such deals with China remain on paper. #Iran was also blacklisted by the #FATF. China is not in a position to take the risk of U.S. sanctions for dealing with Iran,” Bahrami said. Regarding China-Iran military deal, Bahrami said: China is seeking to

3⬇️

Read 12 tweets

Filomena Rocha

@Filomen03258997

#Iranian, #Saudi foreign ministers discuss arrangements for joint meeting in phone conversation
sana.sy/en/?p=304593

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian discussed with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan, during a phone call on Monday, the latest developments in the agreement on restoring bilateral relations and holding a meeting between them soon.
sana.sy/en/?p=304593

"The two sides discussed in this phone conversation the joint bilateral meeting scheduled to be held during the month of Ramadan & exchanged views on it,” Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, sana.sy/en/?p=304593

Read 5 tweets

Joseph Bahout باحوط

@jobahout

Notable flare-up of strikes & counter-strikes at #Syria/#Iraq border; between #US & #Iran proxies.

(? Timing ?
in the wake of #Saudi-Iranian rapprochement; & few days after serious steps of Saudi-#Assad normalization). theguardian.com/world/2023/mar…

#US airstrikes on facilities used by #Iran’s proxies came in retaliation to a drone strike in north-east #Syria that killed a US contractor & injured five American troops.
Strikes killed six fighters at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighbourhood in the city of #Deir_Ezzor.

Interesting:

“Diplomacy to de-escalate the crisis appeared immediately around the strikes. #Qatar reported a call between its foreign minister & Jake Sullivan, the #US national security adviser. Qatar’s foreign minister then spoke with the #Iranian FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.”

Read 4 tweets

American Jewish Congress

@AJCongress

@JackRosenNYC

It remains to be seen whether #Iran will temper its behavior after the deal with #SaudiArabia or if it will embarrass the guarantor #China and relapse into its old ways, says @JackRosenNYC, President @AJCongress.

Full statement🧵⤵️: /1

@JackRosenNYC

The agreement between #SaudiArabia -#Iran to restore diplomatic ties renews debate about the future of peace between #Israel and Arab states, Iran’s malign influence in the region, and #America’s role in the Middle East and ties with traditional regional allies-- @JackRosenNYC /2

#AmericanJewishCongress recognizes 🇸🇦 rationale in severing diplomatic ties with #Iran in Jan 2016. Extremists linked to #IRGC+#Basij stormed & burned #Saudi missions, in violation of intl law & as an attempt to exacerbate tensions to advance 🇮🇷’s extreme ideological agenda. /3

Read 10 tweets

Bin Ghalib (backup account)

@bgh2_ac3b

@army21ye

#URGENTE
#Yemen-#Sanaa: In a press conference, the Yemeni Armed Forces revealed a terrifying statistic regarding the harvest of eight years of steadfastness in the face of aggression.

The official spokesman for the Sana'a forces @army21ye , Brigadier General Yahya Saree,
1/2

revealed,on Sunday, the harvest of 8 years of confronting the coalition war on #Yemen
"The number of raids launched by the aggression through its warplanes is more than 274,302 raids, including 59 raids during the last year," Brigadier Saree said in a statement.
#WarOnYemen
1/3

The statement added, "During the battle to confront the brutal aggression, our forces carried out more than 13,229 military operations, including 6,702 offensive operations and 6,527 response operations, thwarting offensive attempts and enemy advances."
#WaronYemen
1/4

Read 14 tweets

Filomena Rocha

@Filomen03258997

#UAE preparing to negotiate with #Ansarallah: #Yemeni official

The official also confidently claimed that the war ‘has ended,’ and echoed earlier reports that a ceasefire extension will be announced soon thecradle.co/article-view/2…

Minister of State in 🇾🇪 National Salvation Government (NSG) in Sanaa, Abdulaziz al-Bakeer, announced in a statement via Twitter that the UAE is preparing a delegation in order to launch direct negotiations with the NSG, which is affiliated with the Ansarallah resistance movement.

“The #UAE is preparing its delegation for direct dialogue with #Sanaa in order to finally establish the peace and regional shift that has been brought about by the steadfastness of the #Yemeni people [and its resistance],” Bakeer said.
thecradle.co/article-view/2…

Read 4 tweets

Bill Figueroa

@IranChinaGuy

@WSJ

We are now starting to get some of the details of the #Iran-#Saudi normalisation deal, thanks to this excellent report from @WSJ. Some important take-aways:

(A brief analytical thread 🧵)

#china #IranAndSaudiArabia

wsj.com/articles/china…

1.The report confirms that much of this was the culmination of a regional peace process: years of negotiations and both sides agreeing it was in their best interests. China entered late, as the train was pulling out, but…

2.Chinese diplomacy did play a larger role than it has in previous attempts to get involved in regional politics. Significantly, China agreed to allow Iran to access some frozen funds. This was less likely incentive and more likely the price Iran asked to hand China this win.

Read 9 tweets

Robert Satloff

@robsatloff

The resumption of #Saudi-#Iran relations has triggered what I believe to be exaggerated reaction about #China’s emergence as a #MiddleEast powerbroker and a strategic shift of #Riyadh away from its traditional partners. 1/17

Some context: in an October meeting in #Jeddah, a #Saudi leader at the highest level explained his strategy was to defeat #Iran through growth. The fact that KSA is the fastest growing G-20 country, w/trillions invested in everything from tourism to mining, supports this. 2/17

But growth takes time - and growth can be sidetracked through insecurity, whether from #Houthi missiles or the threat of nuclear blackmail. To protect the long-term strategy, he said, KSA needs security. 3/17

Read 17 tweets

Filomena Rocha

@Filomen03258997

#UAE: Restoring #Saudi-#Iranian relations is an important step for stability of the region
sana.sy/en/?p=303195

Sheikh Abdallah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign & International Cooperation Minister of the #UAE described the development of the relations between #SaudiArabia and #Iran as “an important step”.
sana.sy/en/?p=303195

"The restoring the relations between #SaudiArabia and #Iran is an important step for the region towards stability and prosperity," Sheikh Bin Zayed twitted on Saturday.
sana.sy/en/?p=303195

Read 5 tweets

Joyce Karam

@Joyce_Karam

UPDATE: #Saudi - #Iran resume relations

• Deal announced today
• Brokered by China
• Re-Opening of embassies
• Al-Aiban, Shamkhani, Wang Yi
• White House: Good for Yemen
• Iraq, Oman roles al-monitor.com/originals/2023…

@AlMonitor

Hard to understate significance of this, coming on heels of China's improved roles w Saudi &Iran.

US official told @AlMonitor it "welcomes any efforts to help end the war in Yemen & de-escalate tensions in the Middle East region."

Talks between Saudi & Houthis are advancing.

But the crux of this is China: its biggest diplomatic breakthrough in GCC region. Chinese negotiator Wang Yi brokered the deal.

Can China offer guarantees? Will this hold? Time will tell.

Read 4 tweets

David B Roberts

@thegulfblog

@ColumbiaUP

1/ My new book 📖 😊

"SECURITY POLITICS IN THE GULF MONARCHIES: CONTINUITY AMID CHANGE”

Published by the super people at @ColumbiaUP

cup.columbia.edu/book/security-…

Discount code at the bottom of the 🧵 😉

2/ If you need one book 📙 to understand the contemporary Gulf monarchies, this book aspires to be it. It takes you from the foundations of the modern monarchies through to today.

3/ It is the fruits of *many* years work. It bucks the recent trend of single country or single issue studies & looks across the six monarchies
#Kuwait 🇰🇼, #Saudi 🇸🇦, #Bahrain 🇧🇭, #Qatar 🇶🇦, #UAE 🇦🇪, #Oman 🇴🇲

Read 16 tweets

Joey Shea

@joey_shea

@HRW

🚩NEW: In our report released today, @HRW finds that #SaudiArabia’s 1st codified personal status law formally enshrines male guardianship over women & contains discriminatory provisions against women on marriage, divorce & children⬇️ #IWD23

hrw.org/news/2023/03/0…

While #MBS and other #Saudi government officials have touted the law as “progressive" and “comprehensive,” the law instead codifies discriminatory practices & includes provisions that facilitate domestic violence & sexual abuse in marriage.

The law also uses vague language that gives judges wide discretion when adjudicating cases, increasing the likelihood of inconsistent interpretations.

Read 6 tweets

CN Wire

@Sino_Market

JUST IN:
Saudi Arabia, UAE Clash Over Oil, Yemen Amid Growing Rift: WSJ Sources
#OOTT

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Skipped Abu Dhabi Summit in January to Snub Emiratis: WSJ Sources
#OOTT #OPEC

Now, said Emirati officials say, the U.A.E. is having an internal debate about leaving OPEC, a decision that would shake the cartel and undermine its power in global oil markets.
#OOTT #OPEC #Saudi #UAE
wsj.com/articles/saudi…

Read 4 tweets

Filomena Rocha

@Filomen03258997

Saudi-led coalition targets Yemeni fishermen, destroys their livelihood: Report

Since the start of the #Saudi-led war, over 2,000 #Yemeni fishermen have been kidnapped by coalition-backed mercenaries thecradle.co/article-view/2…

A 16 February investigative report by Yemen’s Insan Organization for Rights & Freedoms revealed alarming statistics detailing the Saudi-led coalition’s systematic targeting of Yemeni fishermen in the Red Sea since the start of the war.
thecradle.co/article-view/2…

According to the report titled “Unseen Tragedies in the Red Sea,” the Insan Organization’s investigation team has “monitored heinous crimes against fishermen at the hands of the coalition and the entities funded by it.”
thecradle.co/article-view/2…

Read 5 tweets

Filomena Rocha

@Filomen03258997

🚨🚨 ALERT WORLD 🚨🚨
Ex-#UN envoy to #Yemen tied to #Saudi, #UAE energy companies: Declassified

Martin #Griffiths has had several clients who have played major roles in bombing attacks on Yemen.
en.mdn.tv/72Ot

The current UN humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, cofounded a consultancy firm with the vice president of a major energy firm that has developed multi-million dollar projects in the US directly after the beginning of the war in Yemen.
en.mdn.tv/72Ot

According to Declassified UK, The former UN special envoy to Yemen has shown close links to private energy groups that showed significant financial interests in the oil sectors in KSA and the UAE.
english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/…

Read 4 tweets

Charles Lister

@Charles_Lister

#Assad's regime, its supporters & a plethora of uninformed commentators are driving a call for punitive sanctions on the regime to be removed to facilitate aid delivery to #Syria.

This is absolute nonsense.

It has no basis in facts.

It's nothing but a regime talking point.

Let’s start with some facts:

- 90% of the multi-billion dollar aid effort that goes through #Damascus comes from the U.S, U.K, E.U. & #Canada -- who also happen to be the x4 sanctioning entities.

In all cases, humanitarian waivers are in place to ensure the free flow of aid.

The West has consistently funded & backed the free-flow of aid across all of #Syria & its *our* money that's paid for it.

It’s #Assad's regime that has systematically weaponized aid since 2011 -- diverting it away from opposition communities as part of its siege & starve agenda.

Read 10 tweets

Charles Lister

@Charles_Lister

@UN

The admin of Bab al-Hawa crossing -- the sole route open for UN aid to NW #Syria -- confirms that 3 days in, zero aid has arrived from the international community.

#Assad's regime is getting aid from the @UN + #Russia, #Egypt, #Algeria, #UAE, #Saudi, #Tunisia, #Iraq & #Iran.

@UN

@UN In NW #Syria, financial donations are coming in from abroad, but nothing in terms of real-world assistance.

They need manpower, fuel, equipment, food, shelter etc.

#Egypt managed to get a team of rescue specialists in to aid @SyriaCivilDefe, but it's unclear how they got there.

@UN

@UN @SyriaCivilDefe The earthquake + @UN inaction/risk aversion has achieved what #Assad's regime never managed:

-- NW #Syria is now fully under siege; from the south (regime areas) & the north (via disaster-hit #Turkey).

Only concerted international action will see this siege ended.

Read 4 tweets

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