OT subject but worth a main-stream read- OT News Feeds...

Botch

lousubcap said:

"The Trump administration has asked Congress to approve new transfers of roughly $1 billion worth of bombs and other military hardware to Israel, according to U.S. officials. Jared Malsin and Nancy A. Youssef report for the Wall Street Journal.

The United States continues to buy boxes of bread, blankets and Bandaids for Gaza, while simultaneously bankrolling buttloads of bombs and bullets for israel.  Too bad our government didn't have an independent department of financial watchdogs to put an end to this self-sustaining waste of money.   

lousubcap

Wednesday Middle East update:

"President Trump yesterday declared that the United States should “take over” Gaza and turn it into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” Speaking at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump also reiterated his call for “all of” Palestinians from Gaza to be displaced to countries like Egypt and Jordan. Michael D. Shear, Peter Baker, and Isabel Kershner report for the New York Times; Kevin Liptak reports for CNN.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday appeared to endorse Trump’s plan for the United States’ takeover of Gaza, stating that “the United States stands ready to lead and Make Gaza Beautiful Again” in a post on X. Kanishka Singh reports for Reuters.

Several Democratic lawmakers expressed shock over Trump’s Gaza remarks.Sen. Chris Van Hollen (MD) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI) both described the idea as “ethnic cleansing.” Frances Vinall reports for the Washington Post.

Some Republican lawmakers appeared skeptical of Trump’s plan, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC) saying it “might be problematic” and Sen. Josh Hoeven (ND) doubting whether “it's the best use” of U.S. resources. Aamer Madhani, Tia Goldenberg, and Zeke Miller report for AP News; Jordain Carney and Mia McCarthy report for POLITICO.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and senior Hamas officials issued statements rebuking the suggestion that Palestinians should be expelled from Gaza. Reuters reports.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry reaffirmed its support for an independent Palestinian state in a statement issued today, adding that the normalization of its ties with Israel would depend on the creation of such a state. Qasim Nauman reports for the New York Times.

China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Spain, Turkey, and Australia all expressed disapproval of Trump’s Gaza proposals. Reutersreports."

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Kyiv’s military said it shot down 37 of 65 Russian drones launched at Ukraine overnight. The attack resulted in damage to businesses, a railway depot and houses.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that his team was in contact with Washington’s top Ukraine official Keith Kellogg and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz to work on dates for a US delegation to visit Kyiv. He also said Ukraine was open to investments by US companies to supply rare earths to the US in exchange for aid.

Zelenskyy also demanded nuclear weapons as an alternative to Ukraine’s admission as a member nation of NATO.

Zelenskyy said he would be willing to sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin if it was the only way to “bring peace to Ukraine and not lose people”. However, he said Europe would need to be present at the table."