Peloni:  Is it not criminal to openly support terrorists in the US?  Again, where is Pam Bondi on this?

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Amb. (ret.) Yoram Ettinger | The Epoch Times | April 20, 2025

Synopsis:

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by Gerald A. Honigman

The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Clifford D. May penned a thought provoking editorial for the Washington Times dealing with the possible attempt by the Trump administration to do the opposite of what Secretary of State Kissinger orchestrated President Nixon to do in the early 1970s:  attempt to lure Russia away from Communist China.

Back then, China was the weaker of the Communist pair—today, their positions have reversed.

Mr. May argues, correctly, I believe, that this would be a sorry mistake—one that would leave democracies like Ukraine, Moldova, and Taiwan at the mercy of the new Russian/Soviet empire-building czar wannabe, Vladimir Putin, and the immensely powerful expansionist, equally ruthless Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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Peloni:  The threat posed by Iran is of an existensial order, and it is faced towards the entire West, Israel and the Sunni Arab states as well.  The pretense that negotiations will do anything more than provide the Mullahs with yet one more opportunity to evade their well deserved destruction is a hazardous game of chicken which should have been avoided altogether with the use of military force.  Recall that the Mullahs are responsible for the October 7 slaughter, including the death and torture of American citizens, the attempted murder of Pres. Trump and various other US officials, and the deep oppression over the Iranian people.  The only point of negotiation which should be conducted with the Mullahs should be hour in which their regime will finally meet with its already too long awaited end.

Reuel Marc Gerecht & Ray Takeyh | April 19, 2025

Across the political spectrum in Tehran — from surly Revolutionary Guards to the regime’s more moderate diplomats and technocrats — the first round of nuclear talks in Oman between the United States and the Islamic Republic has been greeted with a measure of optimism. Iran’s savvy and smug foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, professed himself satisfied. The supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has blessed a second meeting with President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, scheduled in Rome this weekend.

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Peloni:  Mike Doran and renowned Saudi expert, Bernard Haykel discuss the nationalist revolution taking form under MBS in Saudi Arabia as well as MBS’ vision of modernization and diversification of his nation’s society as he anticipates the Saudi Kingdom becoming the linking hub of the region with Asia, Africa, Europe and America while carefully navigating the dilemmas of doing so.  They also discuss MBS’ preference to deal with the US while dealing with the political swings of internal US polarization.  Additionally, they discuss the Saudi desire for the US dealing with the threat from Iran but only to the point that Iran won’t carry out any response on Saudi interests.

Once you realize how intimately connected the insubordinate head of Shin Bet is to the wild anti-Netanyahu protest, you begin to understand why Shin Bet has been so negligent re threats against Netanyahu's life.

This is Micha Kobi, former senior Shin Bet official, on Daniel… pic.twitter.com/OePpk3viVi

— Gadi Taub ???? ?? (@GadiTaub1) April 16, 2025

Chinese Satellites and Arms Support the Houthis and target American and Allied Military Ships (including aircraft carriers)

Stephen Bryen | Weapons & Strategy | Apr 19, 2025

Media reports indicate a Chinese satellite company is supplying the Houthis with imagery to target vessels in the Red Sea, here's an image overlaying the company's satellite imagery coverage in the area along with reported incidents since Dec 2023 (*not synced by date) pic.twitter.com/zw76RunSmH

— Damien Symon (@detresfa_) April 17, 2025

The US State Department has now confirmed that Chinese satellites are being used to target “commercial shipping” for the Houthis. But that is only part of China’s egregious behavior. Is there an answer to China giving help to the Houthis?

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by Majid Rafizadeh  •  Gatestone Institute •  April 19, 2025

The Trump administration must not lose sight of the Iranian regime’s history and intentions. Iran has mastered the art of prolonging negotiations: appearing cooperative while covertly advancing its strategic interests, especially developing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. The mullahs see their nuclear program as the key to their survival.  Pictured: Secretary Kerry Listens as Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif Addresses Reporters (Photo by U.S. Department of State from United States –  Public Domain)

• The Iranian regime’s primary objective remains preserving its power. The mullahs see their nuclear program as the key to their survival.

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Peloni:  Not a good sign.

By Janatan Sayeh | April 19, 2025

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Saudi Arabia Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud participate in a bilateral exchange at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 24, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

In an unprecedented move, Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, visited Tehran on April 17 for high-level talks with senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces and a senior member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

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Peloni:  Has Trump surrendered his position demanding Iran have no nuclear program after having just reiterated it via statements from the State Dept, his Press Secretary, and a reversal by his own Mideast Envoy?  It seems highly unlikely.

FDD | April 19, 2025

Latest Developments

• Second Round Held: A second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran over the future of Tehran’s nuclear program took place in Rome on April 19. A four-hour long discussion was held between delegations led by President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Once again, Oman served as the mediator, this time hosting talks at its ambassador’s residence in the Italian capital. The deliberations unfolded amid international debate over whether diplomacy or military action is the most effective way to deter Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

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Peloni:  Netanyahu announces resolve to defeat Hamas, eliminate Iran’s nuclear program and return the hostages.

Janet Levy : Francisco Gil-White explains how Qatar, a defenseless country with the third largest gas reserves in the world (13th in oil) where 94% of the work force are slaves, is completely dependent on the U.S.

If the U.S. demanded the return of the hostages and the cessation of terrorist funding, Qatar would comply in a heartbeat rather than risk the loss of their national security that is guaranteed by the U.S. presence.

A sobering interview that brings home the reality of U.S. policy and explains the close ties of Trump administration officials to this jihad-mongering emirate.

This is the time for Meta to start labeling Al Jazeera and AJ+, so it will be a little harder for anyone to get away with quoting them and saying “Facebook says it’s true.”

By GIL HOFFMAN | APRIL 19, 2025

In a classic episode of the long-running cartoon show South Park, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is confronted with lies and denies them until his adversaries use the damning line “Facebook says it’s true!”

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Jabotinsky’s Betar worldwide is the growing link in the chain begun by Jabotinsky and continued by Menachem Begin.

Ronn Torossian  |  Apr 18, 2025

Zeev Jabotinsky memorial (Photo by Avi1111 dr. avishai teicher – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

As Pro-Hamas media, the UN and craven world leaders attack us, we owe our enemies nothing. The great Zionist Revisionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky said it all when he timelessly wrote in an essay entitled “Go To Hell” in 1920:

“We constantly and very loudly apologize… Instead of turning our backs to the accusers, as there is nothing to apologize for, and nobody to apologize to, we swear again and again that it is not our fault… Isn’t it long overdue to respond to all these and all future accusations, reproaches, suspicions, slanders and denunciations by simply folding our arms and loudly, clearly, coldly and calmly answer with the only argument that is understandable and accessible to this public: ‘Go to Hell!’?

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by Rafael Medoff

Wesleyan University – College Row (Photo by Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0)

The president of Wesleyan University claimed, in a recent New York Times op-ed, that the Trump administration and the Republican Party are teeming with secret or aspiring Nazis. But how did the Wesleyan administration relate to the actual Nazis and Nazi supporters on its Connecticut campus in the 1930s?

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Peloni:  In a nation where elections are not free, fair and transparent, the republic for which the elections have been held has already fallen.  Indeed, election integrity is the key construct upon which the concept of the Consent of the Governed is based, making this investigation, and any reform emanating from its findings, the foundation upon which the liberties and freedoms of the American people will be secured for future generations.  Hence, the outcome of this investigation will in large measure define the future of the American experiment, and the extent to which it will be defined by the will of the people vs the will of the elites.

By Jerome R. Corsi, Michael J. Flynn (US Army, Lt. Gen., Retired) | Am Thinker | April 16, 2025