Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war – Wikipedia
— Read on en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi-led_intervention_in_the_Yemeni_civil_war
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“Climate of Fear”: Inside UAE’s Use of U.S. Mercenaries to Carry Out Assassinations in Yemen | Democracy Now!
— Read on www.democracynow.org/2024/2/1/uae_mercenaries -
The United Arab Emirates has paid for the killing of its political enemies in Yemen, whistleblowers say.
— Read on www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67945137 -
(Blinken) said the executive order allows the US to impose financial sanctions against those it deems to have directed or particpated in acts of violence against civilians as well as those who have sought to displace them from their homes, destroyed property or engaged in “terrorist activity” in the West Bank.
“Today’s actions seek to promote peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” Sullivan said.
In December, the state department imposed a travel ban on some settlers.
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The path to a post-American regional order.
— Read on www.foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/fix-middle-east-united-states -
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Hungary had sent a compromise offer. The counter-proposal, which Orban considered to be the result of EU “blackmail,” would require the aid package to be reviewed on a yearly basis.
— Read on kyivindependent.com/orban-says-he-is-willing-to-compromise-on-ukraine-aid-package/ -
Haaretz.com – הארץ
— Read on www.haaretz.com/campaign-0000018d-5119-dfdc-a5ad-db7f4ee70002 -
Ukrainian Navy Commander Oleksii Neizhpapa told Sky News that the state of the war would have been very different if allies had not given restrictions to Kyiv on the use of Western weapons.
— Read on kyivindependent.com/sky-news-ukrainian-navy-commander-signals-faster-victory-if-given-permission-to-target-deep-inside-russia/ -
News Notes:
Congress and Aid to Ukraine and Israel
- It appears that the Republicans are going to hold up not only a deal on a border enforcement bill with changes they have been asking for, but funding to Ukraine and Israel.
- Trump has issued orders as a candidate, a candidate not an office holder, that any deal on the border would make Biden look good and therefore him look bad.
- The Republicans are dutifully killing the bill.
- People like David Ignatius are lamenting the lasting damage to American credibility (if there’s any of it left) involved in abandoning Ukraine. He is also talking about Ukraine “defending what it has,” i.e. settling for giving away something like a fifth of the country to the Russians.
- Ignatius is suggesting (on MSNBC) that Ukraine could build fortifications like those built by the Russians in Southeastern Ukraine to hold “what it has.” the slow, halting nature of the U.S. assistance was what allowed Russia to construct those formidable fortifications.
- We must not turn our backs on Ukraine. It would be like turning our backs on ourselves.
- Joe Scarborough is predicting a “Saigon-like collapse in Ukraine” if the Republicans scuttle this funding deal.
Israel
- Netanyahu is criticizing Qatar while Qatar tries to negotiate a hostage deal. The Qataris are furious. I am assuming that the hostage families are furious as well.
- The CIA Director trying to help arrange hostage release deal.
- (Note: Many people are saying that these hostages have probably been treated so brutally that it is not in Hamas’ interest to release them now.)
- In Gaza, famine, disease lack of medical services.
- The US has paused funding for the UN agency UNRAW, The United Nations Relief and works Agency for Palestine Refugees. There are allegations that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the 10/7 attack on Israel.
- The ICJ made a provisional ruling on Friday about Israel and the war in Gaza. While not telling Israel to implement a cease fire, it did instruct Israel to decrease the civilian casualties.
- By not telling Israel to implement a cease fire they indicated that they weren’t convinced at this point that the charge of genocide is founded.
- They did, however, issue a series of provisional orders requiring preventive actions by the Israelis. This means that they are to take steps to prevent conditions that may lead to genocide even if the “intent” is either not being proven or being deliberated.
- (Note: See Haartez, 1/26/24)
- “Netanyahu offers only a dark, cold void.” Scheindlin, D. (1/26/24) Haaretz.
- According to recent polling, 38% of Jews in Israel support Israel annexing all the territories with limited rights for Palestinians.
- “We don’t need polls. We need leadership.” Scheindlin, D. (1/26/24) Haaretz.
Iran
- Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. warned Iran about the potential of an Islamic State terrorist attack. The attack then killed scores of people at the memorial for Soleimani.
2024 Election
- A fake robocall was used by Republicans in New Hampshire to encourage people not to vote. The call sounded as if it were Biden talking.
- (Note: Republicans will do anything, ANYTHING to win in 2024. They cannot afford to lose. They will lie, steal and cheat to take this election and most people in power are in denial that this is happening.)
- Trump says he wants a depression, the economy to tank in this next year. (Note: Adult human beings are still voting for this man.)
On the Home Front
- Mike finally let the cats out. Pooper was tearing around the house in anticipation.
- Little Carmine (our newest outside feral) didn’t come for breakfast. Mike was disappointed. He’s been out in the middle of the night with a flashlight looking for the little guy. We are hopeless.
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News Notes
Wednesday 24 January 2024
Chronic Pain in the Courts
Recovery from knee replacement is not linear. I keep feeling like I’m getting well and overdoing it and going through set backs. Arghhhhhhhhhhh. But, I have cat therapists.
Chronic Pain
John Flannery (former prosecutor and frequent guest on MSNBC) argued a case before the D.C. Court of Appeals on behalf of chronic pain patients yesterday.
John Flannery (1/24/24)
Flannery has been doing legal work for patients who have had pain medication taken away because the DEA put their doctors out of business.
• Flannery talked in this podcast about the original 240 patients of a doctor in California whose license was suspended by the DEA.
“Every doctor that gives pain medication is suspect,” argued Flannery.
• The DEA does not accept the principle that people have to have a certain level of freedom from pain in order to function.
• When the DEA prevents a doctor from prescribing pain medication his patients are abandoned.
• The DEA thinks they should be allowed to conduct closed proceedings involving the ability of these patients to get medication.
• One of the patients and his caretaker committed suicide because they had been denied medication before (see story below).
• “We are all going to face pain in our lives.” Said Flannery
• The government is slowing an appeal of the case involving the former patients of the California doctor by claiming that there has been no decision in the case.
• “You cannot make illness a crime.”
• “There’s almost never a change…without a fight.”
• Flannery has written a book about chronic pain: “Pain in America – and How our Government Makes it Worse.” (2007) John Flannery
• Book Blurb: John P. Flannery, II, is a former federal prosecutor from New York City who prosecuted multimillion dollar heroin conspiracies. He believes, however, that our government is dead wrong to prosecute physicians for treating chronic pain patients. I am ashamed that the Justice Department is doing this, Flannery says. There are 75 million Americans who suffer long term excruciating pain and the government is making it worse . For many pain patients, neither surgery nor alternative procedures ease their pain. Congress authorized the use of controlled substances to treat their chronic pain. But the Justice Department, Flannery argues, opposes prescriptions of these controlled substances. It prosecutes the physicians who treat chronic pain patients. Flannery holds the government accountable for destroying the once sacrosanct relationship of physician and patient, for criminalizing chronic pain treatment, and for creating a public health crisis of under-treated patients. Flannery tells the tragic story of patients and physicians who are the victims in this war against pain medicine, explains the history of privacy and how the government is destroying that right, suggests how we may protect ourselves from the government, and issues a chilling warning to be vigilant in the face of this tyranny lest we lose our rights once and for all.
Sources:
Couple Commits Suicide
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/dea-fentanyl-opioid-crisis-suicide-b2236501.html
Law, Power, and Justice 