🇸🇾🇺🇸🇱🇧-The American envoy to Syria Tom Barrack:
Lebanon is in the existential threat, if it does not move and disarm Hezbollah, it will return to the Levant .
🇨🇦 - Ethnic Catholicism and how it impact Canadian politics at the level of the liberal party, despite claims of secularism.
Since Pierre Trudeau and up to Mark Carney, every Canadian prime ministers from the liberal party has been Catholic men, either from French-Canadian or Irish heritage. While this may seem surprising given how secular the liberal party seems to be, notably with leaders like Justin Trudeau who has little public faith, it is in fact totally compatible with what the catholic culture essentially is.
In Luke 23:42–43, Jesus essentially tells a criminal who is dying along him on the cross that he will be welcomed with him in heaven. This is essential to understand catholic religious culture: "ethnic catholics" (or, as it is officially called, "cultural catholics") are expected to, upon becoming 70, starting having strokes and nearing the end of their lives, to return to Jesus. Even amongst baby boomers, this tradition hasn't died down, and I think that multiple signs indicates that this tradition is still very strong.
This concept of "ethnic catholicism" detached from a practicing faith except late in life is inherited from judaism, and is key to understand why, say, Liberal party leaders like Justin Trudeau, despite being ostensibly secular, will be considered legitimate to be liberal party leaders, while any prots who happens to be liberal party leader will "surprisingly" happen to face calls about them "not being Canadian enough". Yes, I'm thinking about Michael Ignatieff.
Since Pierre Trudeau and up to Mark Carney, every Canadian prime ministers from the liberal party has been Catholic men, either from French-Canadian or Irish heritage. While this may seem surprising given how secular the liberal party seems to be, notably with leaders like Justin Trudeau who has little public faith, it is in fact totally compatible with what the catholic culture essentially is.
In Luke 23:42–43, Jesus essentially tells a criminal who is dying along him on the cross that he will be welcomed with him in heaven. This is essential to understand catholic religious culture: "ethnic catholics" (or, as it is officially called, "cultural catholics") are expected to, upon becoming 70, starting having strokes and nearing the end of their lives, to return to Jesus. Even amongst baby boomers, this tradition hasn't died down, and I think that multiple signs indicates that this tradition is still very strong.
This concept of "ethnic catholicism" detached from a practicing faith except late in life is inherited from judaism, and is key to understand why, say, Liberal party leaders like Justin Trudeau, despite being ostensibly secular, will be considered legitimate to be liberal party leaders, while any prots who happens to be liberal party leader will "surprisingly" happen to face calls about them "not being Canadian enough". Yes, I'm thinking about Michael Ignatieff.
🇸🇾 - The Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management announced that its teams have succeeded in stopping the spread of the fires along the Syrian coast on all fronts, describing the step as the most significant toward bringing them under control.
🇸🇾🇮🇱🇦🇿 - Syrian President "Ahmed Al-Sharaa" is attending at least one meeting with Israeli officials in Azerbaijan today, according to Israeli channel 24
"a Syrian source" close to President Al-Sharaa tells israeli channel 24 .
The Syrian source stated that this is a series of two or three meetings between the sides, with Syrian Foreign Minister "Asaad al-Shaibani" also in attendance, along with "Ahmed Al-Dalati", the Syrian government’s liaison for security meetings with Israel.
"a Syrian source" close to President Al-Sharaa tells israeli channel 24 .
The Syrian source stated that this is a series of two or three meetings between the sides, with Syrian Foreign Minister "Asaad al-Shaibani" also in attendance, along with "Ahmed Al-Dalati", the Syrian government’s liaison for security meetings with Israel.
🇨🇲 - Paul Biya is candidate for an 8th term to the presidency of Cameroon.
Global Intel Watch
🇨🇲 - Paul Biya is candidate for an 8th term to the presidency of Cameroon.
🇨🇲 - In countries with weak institutions, leaders often don't want to retire because they know that even if they agree to handover power, they will "fall out of a window" or "die of a heart attack" quickly after handing over power.
🇳🇨🇫🇷 - The New Caledonia thing was always very complex juridically due to a mix of indigenous policies, separatism, and international law that wasn't necessarily on Paris' side.
Now, a settlement has been found, and I think that its a good deal for the West, for France, and for the local Caldoche population in New Caledonia.
Now, a settlement has been found, and I think that its a good deal for the West, for France, and for the local Caldoche population in New Caledonia.
🇳🇨🇫🇷 - The "State of New Caledonia, within the republic" will likely be a sui generis international entity. But the fact there is a legally recognized New Caledonian nationality, possibility for recognition and formal international recognitions almost put New Caledonia in the category of a "strong French puppet state" than "Actual French territory per say".
"State of New Caledonia, within the republic" sounds like a HOI:IV game mixed with alcohol that went schizo.
"State of New Caledonia, within the republic" sounds like a HOI:IV game mixed with alcohol that went schizo.
🇸🇾🇮🇱 - The question is now which legal form do you give the Druze state. Do you pretend its just a Druze fiefdom "within Syria" while making it retain largely symbolic ties with Damascus, or do you tell it "declare independence outright" while knowing that even in the West, many unpredictable politicians will oppose recognition out of fear of alienating the Muslim popular base?
A US, British, French, Italian, German, Polish, Canadian recognition would be easy to get if Israel work seriously, those are all safe countries for Israel. From there, recognition from other countries would follow.
A US, British, French, Italian, German, Polish, Canadian recognition would be easy to get if Israel work seriously, those are all safe countries for Israel. From there, recognition from other countries would follow.
Forwarded from WarFront Witness (И)
⚡️🇮🇱🇸🇾 Amid rising tensions on the Syrian front, the Israeli government has authorized Minister Avi Dichter to serve as acting Defense Minister while Minister Katz is in the United States.
@wfwitness
@wfwitness
Forwarded from WarFront Witness (И)
⚡️🇮🇱🇸🇾 Al-Jazeera: Casualties reported among Syrian army forces after Israeli airstrikes near the city of Sweida.
@wfwitness
@wfwitness
Forwarded from WarFront Witness (SyrianInsurgent)
⚡️🇸🇾 SMC factions have started ambushing HTS troops on the Mhori (محوري) and National Stadium roundabout. (دوار ملعب البلدي) inside the city of Suweida.
@wfwitness
@wfwitness
Do you genuinely believe Erdogan is high enough in the real hierarchy that he can get Trump to cancel Israel's Druze separatism plan?
Anonymous Poll
18%
Yes
82%
No
Global Intel Watch
Do you genuinely believe Erdogan is high enough in the real hierarchy that he can get Trump to cancel Israel's Druze separatism plan?
Apart from a "Trump doesn't want to piss off Erdogan" fantasy, I don't see any serious reason why would the US genuinely block an Israeli-backed Druze separatism plan.
Not like there was oil in play, which obviously is sensitive for the US because of inflation.
And if Trump really did something along those lines to appease Erdogan I would resolutely oppose that.
Not like there was oil in play, which obviously is sensitive for the US because of inflation.
And if Trump really did something along those lines to appease Erdogan I would resolutely oppose that.
Boring, institutionnal opinion: Syrian army being in Suweida is potentially the Turkish army being nearby, and given Erdogan's out of control expansionism (which, in the West, we pretend not to see when in public, but that adults in the room knows very well), no one will take that risk. Yes you will say its "paranoia" but its still the Israeli sentiment.