New Zealand's first assembly on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism sees a mass Muslim walkout & chants of "Free Palestine" after Jewish Council spokesperson Juliet Moses called for consistency in condemning terrorism, including Hamas and Hezbollah. nzherald.co.nz/nz/mass-walkou…
The Islamic community of New Zealand descends into a snowflake orgy of antisemitic butthurt after a Jew was allowed to attend a counterterrorism conference and then said all terrorism is bad, including that of Hezbollah and Hamas. stuff.co.nz/national/12544…
The "divisive" issue that sparked the walkout and chants of "Free Palestine"? Saying that genocidal, viciously antisemitic jihadi groups are also bad.
Foundation against Islamophobia and Racism: "[We're] "not going to sit there with dignity and listen to her say that."
State Department upset with the characterization of the lack of urgency on Special Immigrant Visas for the 1000s of Afghan interpreters, though for some reason they're refusing to ask DOD to help evacuate them before withdrawal is complete.
Not reassuring at all, as usual.
.@humeyra_pamuk: "you think you’re going to be able to process these visas past September 11th as well?"
State Department: "that is certainly our intention."
Amazing. Take your time, guys! Not like there's a deadline, literally, for these people.
Thread: The substantial (but incremental) expansion of NATO’s training mission in Iraq announced today [~500 to ~4000] is just continuity of the Trump Administration’s policy of withdrawal from #Syria / #Iraq backfilled by #NATO in order to pivot to Asia
1. DEC. 2019- JAN 2020: US desperate to withdraw from Syria/Iraq and have NATO backfill troops so US CENTCOM assets/commitments would be reduced “and then shifted either to increase readiness of the force in the continental U.S. or shifted into Indo-Pacom."
2. JAN-FEB 2020: Trump, Milley, Esper, Pompeo all start pushing for an expansion of the #NATO mission in Syria/Iraq.
NATO agrees.
Unfortunately, Soleimani assassination/subsequent tensions with Iran and COVID-19 put all these plans on hold. Everyone bunkers down or withdraws.
"Secretary Austin reiterated recent changes in U.S. policy toward the Saudi-led Coalition in Yemen, discussed the importance of ending the war, and thanked the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a political settlement."
SECDEF Austin "underscored Saudi Arabia’s role as a pillar of the regional security architecture in the Middle East and the importance of sharing the responsibility of regional security and stability."
Pompeo: "We, the Americans, look to #Greece as a true pillar for stability and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean, and we are incredibly proud to support its leadership. Our security cooperation has grown tremendously – indeed, by leaps and bounds" state.gov/secretary-mich…
This is an amazing press conference:
#Greece's Prime Minister only mentions Turkey and how amazing it is that the US military support of Greece against Turkey is growing
#Pompeo focuses solely on Russia and China, and other things the PM doesn't mention.
US/#NATO expanding/building several new facilities in #Greece, including the expansion of #Souda Bay
Deputy FM Vershinin meets with #Iran's ambassador to discuss #Syria and #Russia's upcoming presidency of the #UNSC
Lavrov spoke with #Yemen's Foreign Minister about "fully restoring diverse #Russian-Yemeni bilateral ties" and "doing everything possible for the return of long-awaited peace and stability in Yemen, and to use contacts with all involved and interested parties...for this purpose."