Law, Power, and Justice

Morning News Notes

Thursday 4 January 2024

Israel:

•      No one has taken credit for the two bomb blasts that accompanied the funeral of Soleimani in Iran.  The MO (one bomb blast and then another delayed to catch the people who came in to rescue the victims of the first) is not Israel’s, but who knows.

•      Two Hamas leaders were assassinated by Israel in Lebanon.  There were protests about this assassination in Gaza and elsewhere.

•      Hezbollah leaders were killed in Israeli strikes on Wednesday.

•      Regional conflict is feared because of the expansion with Hezbollah. 

•      Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah Leader, said in a speech that the Hezbollah leaders were “martyred”

•      There have been various actions in the US to support a ceasefire.

•      Houthi forces in Yemen are targeting shipping vessels in the Red Sea.  (Note: The alliance of countries put together by the US to protect shipping in the Red Sea is fracturing or failing to even come together.  Several of the countries said to be part of the effort have backtracked and announced that they would be patrolling the area independently, outside the alliance.)

•      “The Shadow Commander: Soleimani…” Book. (Note: Order)  “What Iranians Want.” By Arash Azizi, interviewed on Democracy Now about the significance of the two-bomb attack in Iran.

o     The most likely candidate is a regional group based in Afghanistan.  Because it was a mass civilian killing where they put the bombs in briefcases, and this makes them the most likely culprit.

o     This was the fourth anniversary of Soleimani’s killing, itself an extraordinary act by the Trump administration. 

o     The attack in Iran might have been planned long ago and not have anything directly related to the particular date.  One regional group in Afghanistan, an opponent of the Taliban, have tried to gain power.   

o     This group regards Soleimani as the leader of the Shia force they consider their enemy.  They haven’t claimed responsibility and they most likely would.

o     The double blast is more of a signature of Isis.

o     2020 Soleimani was killed on order of Trump.  Bush had avoided killing Soleimani, considered the most powerful military figure in Iran.   

o     The rationale of the Trump administration was that he had orchestrated attacks against US forces.  IRGC put on terror list as well. 

11:18 ISLAMIC STATE HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BOMBING.

Ukraine: Report by Democracy Now (1/4/24)

o     Prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia.

o     500 Russian missiles fired in five days according to Zelensky.

o     (Continued reports of Putin wanting to negotiate a ceasefire).

o     Nina Khrushcheva (In Putin’s Footsteps, book)

o     Khrushcheva wrote an article: The West Must face reality in Ukraine.

o     Increased attacks by Russia but the NYT is saying that Putin is signaling a ceasefire.  And, there was a large prisoner exchange.

o     But, this is not how Khrushcheva sees it (Putin asking for ceasefire).  Putin has been clear that Russia will achieve its goals in Ukraine.  He always gives these signals about negotiating.

o     Regular Russians are unhappy about the use of prisoners as soldiers because they return to Russia, free and cause problems.  But, these prisoners also mean les of a demand on the civilian population to join the troops. .

o     (Note: Frozen money)

o     There is a rural/urban divide in attitudes toward the war.  In cities people try to pretend the war isn’t happening.  In Siberian cities, rural areas, little villages, there are businesses popping up because of money families have received for sending somebody into the war.  It is improving their lives. 

o     Western sanctions are not visible except in prices and inflation.

o     The reality the West must face?  Khrushchevs argues that Russia has figured out how to withstand the war.  She doesn’t see how they can be defeated in this war. There has to be a scaling back of ambitions by the West and Ukraine.  End the war, but go on punishing Russia.

(Note: This line of reasoning always seems arrogant and morally corrupt to me.)

Georgia

(Note: Georgia election information)

There is a lawsuit starting in Georgia about voting machines and breaches of the voting machinery in the 2020 election.