The full text of the new Greenland-USA-Denmark deal has been released. It is worse than expected. There are some substantial differences versus previous agreements, and some clauses are particularly egregious in regards to Denmark and Greenland giving up sovereignty. Greenland is now a protectorate of the United States, and this is not hyperbole. I don't know how Danish and Greenlandic politicians can defend this when they said that sovereignty was maintained.

Clause VI, "United States military access, basing and overflight", is the most egregious of the agreement:

As regards United States access to the rest of the territory of Greenland (including the Territorial Waters), the following shall apply:

i. With a view to ensuring a secure and effective operation of the Defense Areas, the United States of America shall enjoy, for its public vessels and aircraft and its armed forces and vehicles, the right of free access to and movement between the Defense Areas through Greenland, including the Territorial Waters, by land, air and sea. This may also apply to unmanned military installations subject to agreement by the Parties on the modalities at the time of establishment;

ii. United States aircraft may fly over and land in any territory in Greenland, including the Territorial Waters, and United States public vessels may have undersea access to and movement within the Territorial Waters, without restriction except as mutually agreed upon by the Parties;

iii. United States public vessels shall be given such additional access to and movement within the Territorial Waters as is agreed to by the Parties at any given time to be required by the military situation for the defense of the North Atlantic Treaty area, Greenland, and the American continent, or for other purposes as may be agreed by the Parties.

The US gets unrestricted access to Greenlandic territory for all of it's military. That "except as agreed upon by the parties" (all three nations) talk means that the USA gets real veto power on any new agreement or limits regarding this, as all three nations have to agree. And I don't see the US giving up these newly acquired "rights". I can't even see what "additional access" the US military would want when they are free to operate on all of Greenland's territory, any additional access is a formality when the US military can now freely move between "defence areas" in Greenland by land, air and sea, as explicitly stated.

The US also gets real veto power with regards to non NATO military bases and non NATO and/or non EU investment in Greenland. The agreed upon by all parties talk again means an effective USA veto. Meaning the US makes the final decision, this particularly egregious with regards to foreign investment. If a non NATO and/or non EU nation wants to invest directly in Greenland, explicit US approval is a requirement.

IX. Establishment of manned or unmanned military installations by third states

No state that is not a member of NATO shall be allowed to establish its own manned or unmanned military installations in Greenland nor shall they be allowed a persistent presence of military forces in Greenland, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties.

X.Foreign direct investment and other activities

Given the threat to national security and public order posed by increased efforts by adversaries to expand influence and control in Greenland, the Parties agree that states or investors from a state that is not a member of NATO, a NATO partner, or an EU member state shall not be allowed to have (i) control, (ii) significant influence, or (iii) access to non-public information that may constitute a threat to national security or public order within Particularly Sensitive Sectors or Activities in the territory of Greenland (including the Territorial Waters), unless agreed between the Parties that the activities of such states or investors would not constitute a threat to national security or public order.

️UK to refuel Saudi aircraft amid Ansarallah attacks ~(~‎~archive~~)~ ::: spoiler expand British Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirms that the UK had agreed to Saudi Arabia’s request for ‘defensive’ air-to-air refueling support for a limited period, following intensified attacks by Ansarallah forces.

The UK will deploy one RAF Voyager aircraft in the coming days, with the agreement initially expected to last several weeks. Burnham said the support was intended to help keep regional transport and energy routes open, including through the Strait of Hormuz.

The move comes as Saudi-led coalition forces have killed at least six people, including women and children, in the last 24 hours. :::

️Rubio says US will honor military commitments to Saudi Arabia as Ansarallah attacks intensify ~(~‎~archive~~)~ ::: spoiler expand US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington will uphold its military commitments to Saudi Arabia as fighting intensifies between Riyadh and Ansarallah in Yemen.

“We have a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia. We intend to live up to our commitments on it. We will,” Rubio told Fox News, describing the situation as “a very dangerous and complicated conflict.”

The remarks come after Ansarallah launched missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes in Yemen that killed over 100 people in two days as Ansarallah advances along the Red Sea coast toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The escalation has prompted Riyadh to seek additional military assistance from several allies, according to AP. :::

Trump

The cowards and traitors would love to say the United States is low on munitions. It's not true. We have more munitions than we could ever possibly think of using, and are building them up now at levels we have never seen before. President DONALD J. TRUMP

2/10
He didn't say "billions and billions".

US to build two military bases in Greenland under new deal with Denmark https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dr74g32g8go

At a signing ceremony at the UN General Assembly in New York, US President Donald Trump said "we will immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence in the appropriate locations".

Danish PM Mette Frederiksen said the deal was "good for the US, Denmark and Greenland" and also for Europe and Nato, while Greenland's PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen said it was a "win-win-win".

'Cucks' really in the most appropriate term

The great European ally is deliberating about destroying Europe;

Trump calls for a diesel export ban -Axios

Bessent says examining diesel export ban, whether it's feasible

The Republican Senate leader already called for a diesel export ban a couple of days ago.

‘We Hacked the FBI:’ Hackers Say They Have Data on All FBI Employees: https://www.404media.co/we-hacked-the-fbi-hackers-say-they-have-data-on-all-fbi-employees/

https://archive.is/Iw7MK

Bolivian agricultural producers and transport workers have announced roadblocks and other measures to pressure the government to reverse its removal of diesel subsidies, demanding that President Rodrigo Paz reverse the measure.

Sugar cane and rice producers, residents of the Santa Cruz valleys, and transport workers have joined forces to oppose what they call the “dieselazo,” which ended the state subsidy and doubled diesel prices in the domestic market.

Residents and producers in the Santa Cruz valleys have already launched an indefinite roadblock after issuing a joint statement with the United Transport Bloc. They gave the government an ultimatum to reverse the measure, arguing that fuel shortages and higher prices are putting the regional economy under severe pressure.

“The dieselazo is the burial of all our productive sectors, which is why we have united to defend our livelihoods and our daily work. Today, there is not only a lack of diesel, but we are also being forced to buy it at twice the price,” sector leaders said.

The dispute has also affected public transport. Operators in cities including La Paz and Tarija have withdrawn their vehicles while they determine new fares. Drivers argue that removing the subsidy requires passenger fares to double.

• Twitter

Cuba Rejects Trump’s Statements at the UN General Assembly - Telesur English

::: spoiler Article

The Cuban delegation left the hall after listening to Trump, who called Cuba a “failed state.” On Tuesday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez rejected statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump during his speech at the UN General Assembly.

Rodriguez stated on X that Washington is “incapable of accepting” Cuba’s independence and sovereignty, calling Trump’s declarations false. The foreign minister later described the U.S. economic blockade as a form of “collective punishment” against the island. The Cuban delegation left the Assembly hall after listening to Trump, who called Cuba a “failed state” and asserted that “it will eventually fall.” The U.S. president maintained that his administration seeks a “fundamental change” in Cuba, led by his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Trump also accused the island of “coordinating” for decades with communist networks and leftist groups in the US, including the Communist Party, Antifa—which he designated as a terrorist organization—and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

For months, the Trump administration has pressured Cuba to comply with a series of demands, including liberalizing its economy, open itself to U.S. companies, buy U.S. oil, and expel Russian and Chinese authorities. However, Cuban leaders have stated on several occasions that the country is unwilling to make these concessions. Cuba is scheduled to speak at the General Assembly next Saturday, with a speech by Foreign Minister Rodriguez. During his speech, Trump also attacked Mexico, asserting that although he maintains a “very good relationship” with its government, the country is “the epicenter” of cartel violence. “It is unacceptable that the United States shares a 2,000-mile border with territory controlled by enemy cartels,” he said. :::

Spain has allowed the U.S. extradition case against pro-Palestine philanthropist Fergie Chambers to move forward instead of blocking it.

His lawyer, Baltasar Garzón, called the decision “a dangerous precedent for the defense of the Palestinian cause.”

https://nitter.perennialte.ch/aidachavez/status/2102373222448508945

*clarification from calla https://nitter.perennialte.ch/CallaWalsh/status/2102366399779721278

The Spanish Council of Ministers allowed the extradition request of Fergie Chambers to proceed to court. However, this step is purely procedural, not a judgement on the US allegations.

After litigation, the court's decision will return to the Council of Ministers for final approval or veto, and even after that, there are numerous avenues for appeal by Fergie's defense.

Nevertheless, Spain should have stopped this political persecution today and allowed Fergie to reunite with his wife and children, rather than continuing months of imprisonment and forced separation at the behest of Trump.

Turkish Airlines, Anadolujet, and Pegasus have suspended all flights to and from Iran, complying with U.S. sanctions

After U.S. pressure, Azerbaijan officially suspends Iran Air flights

This is going to cause major issues. Most Iranians living in Europe travel to Iran via Turkey. Turkey, UAE, Qatar, Azerbaijan, all major transit destinations have now banned flights to Iran.

• Middle East Spectator

UN Speeches Today:

::: spoiler Lula da Silva - Brazil

'Techno-oligarchs want neoliberalism without rules!'

In his opening speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday (22), President Lula (PT) spoke about Brazilian political issues that have been around during his election campaign, such as the ban on betting houses, the end of the 6×1 scale and the regulation of big tech companies.

“Companies that are aware of the risks of their products are transferring the impossible task of dealing with algorithms to families. The billion-dollar betting industry is turning addiction into profit. Its dizzying spread is indebting and destroying homes. Brazil will not tolerate this business model,” said the president.

The promise to regulate betting gained traction last week, when Lula became more emphatic in talking about banning betting houses, marking a shift in the Workers' Party candidate's campaign.

Another theme widely present in Lula's electoral campaign that he brought to the UN was the end of the 6x1 work schedule . Approved by the Senate's Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ), it is uncertain when the proposed constitutional amendment will go to the Chamber's plenary session. The government, however, is championing the issue and treats it as central to the electoral debate.

"Workers need time to rest, improve their skills, and spend time with their families," Lula said at the UN. "In Brazil, achieving this goal requires ending the so-called 6x1 work schedule to guarantee workers two days off per week."

“This change is fundamental to alleviating the domestic burden that still falls on women. We are building a Brazil where women don't need permission to occupy positions of power or enter the job market,” she stated, receiving a standing ovation afterward.

"It would be an unforgivable historical omission not to address the challenge of regulating big tech and artificial intelligence. A handful of techno-oligarchs want to resurrect a version of digital neoliberalism, without rules or transparency," Lula said in the United Nations plenary session.

Lula mentioned the regulation of artificial intelligence, something that would be cited by the president who followed him to the podium, the American Donald Trump, who advocated for less regulation of technologies .

“They are promoting a race without ethical checks and balances, disregarding the UN and the Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence,” said Lula. As Pope Leo XIV warned, “decisions about technology should never be separated from conscience and responsibility.”

In stark contrast to Washington, Lula was direct: "Brazil doesn't belong in anyone's backyard," said the Brazilian president, alluding to the current guidelines of US foreign policy. Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have already used the expression "this is our hemisphere" to conceptualize that Western countries must obey the US.

In his speech, Lula pointed to the "resurgence of hegemonic temptations." "We need partners with a positive agenda that fosters development. Ideological differences should not be an obstacle to greater integration between neighbors," said the Workers' Party member, stating that democracy "is once again in check."

He cited the case of Venezuela, stating that "the Venezuelan people deserve to define their own destiny." Regarding Cuba, Lula said that "the world watches in horror the punishment imposed by an illegal economic embargo and energy blockade."

“When governments capitulate to those who use tariffs as weapons of coercion and blackmail, the consequences are disastrous. We have the critical minerals and rare earth elements that the world needs for the energy transition. Our natural resources belong to the Brazilian people, and it is for their benefit that they will be exploited,” Lula emphasized.

By tradition, Brazil is the first country to speak at the organization's most important annual meeting. This ritual was established during the creation of the UN itself, at the end of World War II, and is related to the importance Brazil had in the process of establishing the United Nations. Diplomat Oswaldo Aranha presided over the first session of the UN General Assembly, having been one of the key figures in the process of creating the state of Israel.

In 2026, when Lula spoke for the tenth time at the event, the Workers' Party member said he was being driven by a feeling of "indignation." "The UN is failing in one of its highest missions: to rid humanity of the scourge of war. Its credibility has never been so low. We are all hostages to the inaction of a Security Council that is not fulfilling its role," he stated.

For years, the Brazilian government has been demanding a more robust reform of the Security Council, which reflects the world order immediately following the post-war period. In his speech, Lula said that "concessions to the law of the strongest have gone too far," in a direct message to the Trump administration.

In his speech in New York, the Brazilian president also warned of threats made against the International Criminal Court (ICC) at a time when Washington, according to US media reports, may impose sanctions on the main international court.

“Pursuing the International Criminal Court and its members is an incentive” for the continuation of crimes, Lula emphasized. “Threatening civilizations with extinction will not bring stability to the Middle East. Families around the world are paying for the increased prices of fuel, fertilizer, and food. There will be no winners on the battlefield,” the Brazilian stated, warning of the dangers of wars like those waged by the US and Israel against Iran, as well as between Russia and Ukraine.

During his address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Latin American countries are once again witnessing foreign interference in their electoral processes.

“Democracy is once again under threat. We will not allow internal and external enemies of democracy to undermine the popular will,” Lula said, referring to his country’s upcoming presidential elections.

Brazilians will have to choose “between democracy and denialism” and between “a future of greater opportunities and a past of exclusion,” Lula said, referring to his main rival, Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022).

Lula praised the transparency of Brazil’s electoral process, in which candidates enjoy “broad freedom of expression,” while cautioning that the challenges posed by disinformation networks “should not be underestimated.”

“Brazilian democracy belongs to Brazilians. Brazil will remain a sovereign country. No one, no one will take us away from that path,” he stressed. :::

Soruces:

• BDF 1 2

• Telesur

President Trump, at the UN General Assembly, once again threatened Iran with war crimes:

‘I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran? Or, do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly? Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness for generations?’

• Middle East Spectator

Danish PM Mette Frederiksen, Greenlandic PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and U.S. President Trump have now signed the Greenland security deal.

• Middle East Spectator

Source: Independent - USAF F-16 jet crashes near Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany

I wonder if this accident rate is the norm. I assume previous generations of jets had much higher accident rates.

Aparently "foreign actors" messed with a Colorado water plant.

They aren't saying how they know it is foreign or what foreign actor it is.

They are manufacturing consent against Iran based on vibes.

Rumors of another Saudi F15 getting hit.

Gas update (using AAA US national average)

Regular Current - 4.48

Regular Highest Recorded (6/15/22) - 5.02

Diesel Current - 6.52

Diesel Highest Recorded (today!) - 6.52

https://gasprices.aaa.com/

China-Africa cooperation in vocational education builds skills, opens opportunities

The skills that carried African competitors to skills competitions like the World Vocational College Skills Competition are among the everyday subjects in classrooms that China and Africa run together. For some, success in competition has opened the door to employment.

Young Africans across the continent are gaining practical skills as China-Africa cooperation in vocational education continues to grow. For many, mastering a skill is ultimately about finding a job, or even starting a business. The longer game is not training one class of students, but enabling African schools to train their own.

Ma is one of 20 Chinese teachers working at six vocational colleges across Ethiopia. "The students really cherish the opportunities to practice on training models, to the extent that some are willing to spend extra time in the laboratory after class," she said.

In Cameroon, the classroom has moved onto the construction site.

In early August, China First Highway Engineering Co., Ltd. teamed up with Cameroon's Ministry of Higher Education and the National Advanced School of Public Works to run the country's first certification course for surveyors.

Cameroon's Minister of Higher Education Jacques Fame Ndongo said the program turns construction sites into "open-air classrooms" and builds a direct bridge between universities and major projects.

This cooperation is not just about building roads; it is about training people, and about the future of Cameroon's workforce, the minister added.

According to an action plan released at the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China will continue vocational education with Africa, build with African countries schools of engineering technology, set up or upgrade 10 Luban Workshops, and offer 60,000 training opportunities aimed chiefly at African women and youth.

China has established 17 Luban Workshops in 15 African countries and trained tens of thousands of professionals.

We are this close to an Iranian politician depicting the US as the soyjak and Iran as the chad:
https://nitter.perennialte.ch/mb_ghalibaf/status/2101723742481293650

It’s Schrödinger: the empire is in the SOH cabinet with falling plates, projecting hegemony but fully exposed, trying to suffocate Iran without blowback (impossible).

This endgame cannot be modeled. It will be opened, and Iran's hand is already on the lever.

lula will be experiencing some democracy? (some pmc are searching for brazilian portuguese translator in october)

https://nitter.perennialte.ch/apagliar/status/2102134085820751919

President Trump gives remarks from the White House, but there is no audio because the press pool is boycotting him The Newsmax host notes this is an example of Trump’s attacks on the press ‘backfiring just a little bit’.

• Middle East Spectator

Araghchi at the UN HQ

After banning most major news outlets, the White House announces ‘Trump TV’, a state-run channel to cover all of President Trump’s statements & appearances

• Middle East Spectator

According to this poll of Dem voters, 70% of Dem primary voters have a favorable view of Kamala Harris, 81% of Dem primary voters have a favorable or neutral view of Kamala Harris.

According to the same poll, 38% of Dems who view Kamala Harris as either favorable or are neutral also want Kamala Harris in jail over the Gaza genocide. At least 27% of Dems who view Harris favorably also believe she should be in jail.

Dem primary voters are literal cattle.

https://x.com/StratPolitics/status/2102089028719853936

Anxiety around sleeper cells tends to resurface whenever tensions escalate between the U.S. and Iran. But one Canadian security expert says their deployment is not the modus operandi of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Canada.

"They don't use them," said Dan Stanton, director of the national security program at the University of Ottawa's Professional Development Institute.

Stanton, who worked with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) for more than 30 years, says the actual threat lies in Tehran's use of local criminal networks for targeted intimidation and violence.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/investigates/iran-war-sleeper-cells-risk-intelligence-experts-9.7138536

This is from March, but needs to be said.

Kaveh Shahrooz, a lawyer and human rights activist, was one of those asking for the IRGC to be designated as a terrorist entity, but they was [sic] “consistently given assurances that conscripts would not be included.”

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/hundreds-of-iranian-conscripts-deemed-inadmissible-to-canada-9.7346530

US prepares sweeping sanctions to 'dismantle' ICC: Report

The sanctions in the works could severely hinder the court’s operations and may cut it off from the global financial system.

US networks including Fox News halt Trump pool coverage over White House ban - Le Monde

In solidarity with CNN, major US broadcasters ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC announced the suspension of their TV pool coverage of President Donald Trump on Monday.

::: spoiler Article

Major American television networks on Monday, September 21, suspended their involvement in a rotation of broadcasters covering President Donald Trump, as three leading news outlets went to court over being banned from the White House.

Broadcasters CNN and MS NOW, along with news outlet Politico, filed suit after Trump last week ordered them to be barred from the presidential complex. "This ban could not be a more direct assault on the First Amendment nor a more blatant violation of our most fundamental constitutional principles," the organizations said in a court filing.

Shortly afterward, the five major US broadcasters said they were halting "pool" coverage of the White House in solidarity with CNN. The news outlet had been scheduled to serve Monday as the White House TV pool, a rotating assignment in which a broadcaster films on behalf of all television outlets for the day.

"The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting," ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC said in a statement.

The boycott means there will be no pooled coverage of Trump's travel to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday, where he is due to meet a series of world leaders.

Trump was unrepentant, with the 80-year-old Republican branding the media a "cancer" and a threat to national security. "The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish," Trump said on his Truth Social network. "It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America."

Trump announced the ban on Friday in a major escalation of his years-long assault on the US media, especially on outlets that report critically on him and his administration. Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied access to the White House grounds on Saturday and had their passes confiscated.

The outlets said the White House revoked their journalists' credentials "without notice or process" because it "objected to our reporting." "Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism free from government interference," they said in their joint statement.

Their lawsuit calls for the immediate overturning of the ban and a ruling that it violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which upholds the right to free speech.

Trump has not detailed what prompted the ban, but said in response to a question from an AFP reporter in the Oval Office on Friday that it was "really just cumulative stories over the last two years." "They want to try and diminish the Republicans and a Republican administration," Trump added.

Trump warned Friday that other outlets could face a similar fate, without saying which.

The billionaire former reality TV star has long attacked media outlets that have aired critical coverage of his campaigns and administrations, repeatedly blasting the press as the "enemy of the people."

Through both terms in office he has claimed journalists have failed to show sufficient appreciation for his accomplishments. Trump has also stood out in presidential history for routinely insulting journalists he doesn't like both in person and on social media. :::

Today the EU and Pakistan have signed three Financing Agreements worth €65 million to:

✅️ advance Global Gateway investments ✅️ enhance energy and environmental resilience ✅️ strengthen the rule of law and business environment

https://nitter.perennialte.ch/EUPakistan/status/2102023309361873161 no mentions of democracy lmayo

⚡️🇵🇰 NEW from @DropSiteNews: Pakistan Tells Hospitals To Clear Bed Space For "Mass Casualty Incident" Ahead of Major Protest

Imran Khan’s sisters, family members, and party leaders were dragged from their homes before a planned September 27 march.

https://nitter.perennialte.ch/DropSiteNews/status/2102106723120984573 wonder why?

We inform you that due to an urgent request from the American side, the Wednesday visit to the Pentagon by the Deputy Prime Minister, head of the MON, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, will take place at a different time. Arrangements for it are currently underway. Following signals from the American side, as well as the meeting of the chiefs of staff of NATO countries, it is now urgently necessary to undertake new actions concerning the security of the Alliance's [NATO] member states."

• Polish MoD on Twitter. No link cuz Twitter, but it's real.

Probably nothing, but it's weird that it's "urgent" enough to prevent officials from taking trips abroad.

Iraq has caved to U.S. pressure and will ban Iranian airlines from landing or taking off in Iraq, starting tomorrow – AFP

• Middle East Spectator

https://militarnyi.com/en/news/ireland-acquires-five-thales-radars/

Ireland acquires 5 Thales radars

Not that there's any NOT implicated in the genocide of Gaza, Thales is of particular interest considering their role in supplying drones to Israel for use against civilians:

https://disclose.ngo/en/article/arms-sales-to-israel-frances-thales-supplying-equipment-for-armed-drones-since-2018

Yet another W for the babby leftist's favourite (whitest) "anti imperialist" nation.

A US diesel export ban could bring this number down to zero.

https://archive.ph/81OeF

The Pentagon asked industry how fast it could make more weapons. The numbers remain private.

Twenty-six days after the Pentagon’s deadline for defense companies to propose faster weapons production, the Defense Department has not publicly disclosed how many companies responded or what production timelines they offered.

::: spoiler more

Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg gave industry leaders until Aug. 26 to submit plans for “significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities,” according to his Aug. 5 memo. Feinberg directed companies to identify ways to accelerate production and delivery, propose capital investments and facility expansions and explain how the Pentagon could enable higher production. The memo identified 16 critical programs under consideration for accelerated production or increased procurement. The responses were intended to inform the department’s fiscal 2028 budget request. The request came as the use of U.S. weapons during the Iran war put pressure on stocks of air-defense interceptors and other precision munitions. U.S. inventories of Patriot interceptors had fallen from about 2,330 before the war to between 759 and 827 by the end of July, according to a Center for Strategic and International Studies analysis. THAAD stocks had fallen from 452 to between 234 and 278. CSIS estimated production timelines of about 42 months for PAC-3 MSE interceptors and 53 months for THAAD interceptors.

The Pentagon did not respond to questions about how many companies responded to Feinberg’s request or whether the department had accepted or funded any of the proposals. General Dynamics also declined to discuss its communications with the department. “We are not able to comment on our communications with the Department of War,” a General Dynamics spokesman said. Lockheed Martin, a major supplier of U.S. missile-defense systems, did not provide a specific production timeline in response to questions from Military Times.

really cool how every MIC company is constantly like "dude, we're going to totally, like, quintuple production!", and then when you ask them "okay, when? within what timeframe?" they all go

“We continue to have dialogue with the U.S. government to deliver what the department is asking of us and our team is pushing to do even more, faster,” a Lockheed Martin spokesman said. “We’re making significant investments in our workforce, infrastructure and production capacity and working with key suppliers to accelerate delivery of the critical capabilities that strengthen America’s Arsenal of Freedom.” Lockheed separately announced Thursday that it had received its first PAC-3 MSE housing components from GM Defense, 22 days after the companies signed a production contract. The company said the components, which can traditionally take months or years to produce, were manufactured using GM’s casting and machining capabilities. Lockheed said it is investing $8 billion to $9 billion to expand munitions production, including new buildings, facility expansions and thousands of jobs at more than 20 U.S. sites. The company also said planned expansions will increase its munitions production and warehousing space by nearly 50%. The company did not say whether those investments were submitted as part of Feinberg’s Aug. 5 request.

New agreements

The Pentagon was already using framework agreements and contracts to accelerate production before Feinberg’s deadline. On July 27, the department announced seven-year framework agreements intended to boost production of propulsion components for PAC-3 MSE and THAAD interceptors. L3Harris said its PAC-3 agreement would nearly triple production of certain propulsion products, while its THAAD agreement was intended to quadruple production of key propulsion components. On Aug. 3, the defense department, in cooperation with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, announced two framework agreements to expand production capacity for critical PAC-3 and THAAD interceptor components. The agreements were intended to support the department’s goals of tripling PAC-3 production capacity and quadrupling THAAD production capacity. On Aug. 14, DoD announced two separate framework agreements with Boeing and RTX to increase production of components for SM-3 Block IB and SM-3 Block IIA interceptors. On Aug. 17, the Pentagon announced a $22.9 billion Navy contract with RTX to accelerate production of Tomahawk missiles. On Aug. 31, five days after the industry deadline, the Pentagon announced additional seven-year multiyear procurement agreements with Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics designed to increase production quantities and accelerate delivery schedules for critical missile subcomponents supporting PAC-3 MSE and THAAD.

The Pentagon separately identified production goals of tripling PAC-3 MSE production capacity and quadrupling THAAD production capacity, with funding subject to annual appropriations from Congress. The public announcements did not identify those agreements as resulting from companies’ responses to Feinberg’s Aug. 5 request. What remains unclear is whether the 21-day exercise changed what the Pentagon plans to buy, how quickly it expects industry to deliver it or what additional funding and infrastructure the department will seek in its fiscal 2028 budget request. :::

https://archive.ph/ZrXD1

Photos show extensive damage to US Middle East bases

An inspector general said hundreds of structures were damaged in the Iran war.

::: spoiler more

U.S. bases in the Middle East have suffered severe damage as a result of Iranian attacks, images and videos obtained by ABC News show, as the Pentagon surveys the costs of a war the U.S. began more than six months ago. The images, which were recently obtained by ABC News but capture moments in time across the conflict, show damage to buildings and an aircraft at three U.S. bases in Kuwait and a Saudi base that houses U.S. assets, some of which were evacuated amid the danger. CBS News reported earlier this week on widespread damage to U.S. bases in the region. The Pentagon has not provided public information explaining the extent of the damage done by Iranian attacks to U.S. bases in the region in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan, but satellite imagery has consistently captured the impact of strikes. The Defense Department also took preemptive measures to move personnel from bases vulnerable to Iranian attacks before the war.

A senior U.S. service member told ABC News that the damage to the facilities would take “decades” to repair. "I believe the American people are unaware of the extent of the damage that American bases are taking in [the Middle East] right now due to the conflict with Iran,” the service member, who was granted anonymity, told ABC News. "These bases have been irreparably damaged. And if we choose to rebuild them, it's going to be a decades long undertaking,” the service member said. “Like, this is not something that's going to be fixed in six months. We're talking about years and years of construction and rebuilding in order to reestablish what's been destroyed." The Pentagon declined to comment to ABC News. Since the war started on Feb. 28, 18 service members have been killed and 824 wounded, according to the Defense Department. A Pentagon inspector general report found that “hundreds of buildings and structures” had been damaged at American posts across the region. The internal government watchdog, which released its report Monday, estimated the cost of the war at $33 billion, though an assessment from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the cost at $38 billion.

The Pentagon has consistently downplayed Iran’s offensive ability in the war. The deadliest Iranian attack of the war came on its second day, when six U.S. soldiers were killed in Port Shuaiba in Kuwait. The soldiers, who had been moved from another location to Port Shuaiba to better protect them, were at a largely unfortified location, surrounded only by six-foot concrete walls. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that the U.S. makes force protection its top priority, but that Iran would be able to penetrate defenses at times. “Every once in a while you might have one, unfortunately we call it a ‘squirter,’ that makes its way through,” he said when asked about the Kuwait strike in March. “And in that particular case, it happened to hit a tactical operation center that was fortified, but these are powerful weapons.” Among the photos shared with ABC News is what appears to be an E-3 Sentry aircraft, damaged in late March, on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The E-3 is a surveillance aircraft that is deployed for early warning and is valued at $270 million.

Fighting between the U.S. and Iran has been intermittent since an April ceasefire ended full-scale conflict, which included Israeli forces. The U.S. and Iranian militaries have continued to trade strikes for days or weeks at a time, with the U.S. largely striking targets along the coastline of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran firing at U.S. bases primarily in Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, and Qatar. Three U.S. service members in Jordan, and one in Iraq, were killed in July by Iranian attacks. The service member who spoke to ABC News said the Pentagon is not being transparent about ongoing warfare. "It's being kept a secret, and we're acting like it's no big deal, but, you know, there are drone strikes and ballistic missile strikes actively landing on bases every day," the service member said.

This image independently obtained by ABC News shows damage to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from an Iranian attack.

This image independently obtained by ABC News shows damage to a U.S. aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, from an Iranian attack.

This image independently obtained by ABC News shows damage to at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, from an Iranian attack.

:::

https://archive.ph/MquIm

Pentagon weighs pulling nearly a third of U.S. forces from Europe

The potentially drastic drawdown of 25,000 or more U.S. troops comes amid warnings from NATO allies about a growing threat posed by Russia.

::: spoiler more

The Pentagon is weighing a drastic plan to pull planes, ships, weapons and tens of thousands of U.S. troops from Europe, despite warnings from NATO allies about the growing threat of Russian aggression, according to seven current and former U.S. and Western officials. The reduction could be roughly one-third of all U.S. troops in Europe, or about 25,000. A U.S. official and another person with knowledge of the deliberations say it could be even larger — as much as half, or up to 40,000 troops. If carried out, it would be the most significant scaling back of the 80,000-strong U.S. military presence in Europe since the aftermath of the Cold War in the 1990s. The prospect of such dramatic cuts has alarmed lawmakers from both parties and European governments concerned about emboldening Russia. Such a withdrawal could radically reshape America’s relationship with its major allies and force European countries to forge new partnerships at a volatile moment, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Countries affected would likely include Germany, Italy and Spain, according to three U.S. officials, a Western official and a former U.S. official with knowledge of the matter. The three nations host the bulk of U.S. troops in Europe, but leaders of all the countries have also clashed with President Donald Trump over the war with Iran. Since the beginning of his second term, Trump and his deputies have argued that Europe should take the lead in its own defense, backed by America’s nuclear arsenal, and that U.S. forces are needed to tackle more urgent threats from China, Iran and drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere. In recent months, Trump, who has long questioned the value of the NATO alliance, has lashed out at European partners over their refusal to join the United States in its war against Iran. The Pentagon announced a six-month review of the American military’s presence in Europe in June. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the supreme allied commander and the head of U.S. European Command, is expected to provide his analysis to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday, according to the U.S. and Western officials. The analysis by Grynkewich will likely outline four courses of action that could include cuts to American aviation, naval personnel and ground troops, or other capabilities, and possibly shifting some forces within Europe to countries on NATO’s eastern flank. Hegseth is due to receive a final recommendation on Nov. 6, which would then be presented to the president. Any withdrawals would happen after that.

No decisions have been made yet, according to a senior Defense Department official and two other officials. Hegseth directed the six-month review of forces in Europe to “ensure our posture aligns with President Trump’s commonsense, America First strategy,” a senior Defense Department official said in a statement. The State Department did not respond to a request for comment, and the White House referred questions to the Pentagon. During the NATO summit in Turkey in July, Trump said he “was very disappointed with NATO” and again criticized the alliance for not acknowledging American prowess. “Why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars, and they’re not there for us?” Trump said. “We’ve always been there for them.” A month earlier, during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump was asked what he wanted from allies and answered: “Just be loyal.” “I just want their loyalty. We don’t need their money. We don’t need anything. We have the most powerful military in the world by far, but I just want loyalty,” he said. Opponents of slashing U.S. forces in Europe say it will leave NATO allies vulnerable and invite Russian aggression, sow doubts among U.S. partners in other parts of the world and deprive the American military of logistical hubs that enable the United States to move its forces quickly to the Middle East or Africa.

European officials have asked Washington, both before and after the six-month review, for a more gradual drawdown that would give their governments enough time to build up sophisticated military capabilities that have long been filled solely by the United States, including long-range missiles, satellite surveillance and aerial refueling tankers. Germany, which for decades has been an anchor for the U.S. military in Europe, hosts multiple U.S. bases, with about 36,000 troops, the largest American deployment in the region. In May, the Pentagon announced plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany after the country’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: “An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards.” After the announcement, Trump said he would go “a lot further” than that, threatening to cut more troops. Italy is home to major U.S. air bases and about 12,000 troops. Spain hosts significant U.S. air and naval hubs at Spanish bases in the country’s south. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government in March refused to allow U.S. warplanes carrying out potential strikes on Iran to use a base in Sicily without parliamentary approval. And the Spanish government angered the White House early in the war when it denied access to military bases for U.S. air attacks on Iran. European leaders were upset they were not told in advance of the decision to attack, with some saying they do not want to escalate the conflict and expressing concern about the economic consequences.

The possible cuts have already generated deep concern not only among Democrats, but also among many senior Republicans. “A 25,000-troop cut is not acceptable in any way,” said one congressional Republican, citing the reduction of two rotational brigade combat teams from Germany last year amid concerns that Russian aggression in the region is only increasing. “You can’t do Russian deterrence on the cheap.” Withdrawing troops from Europe and rehousing them within the United States or elsewhere in the world could carry a significant price tag, which could give Congress leverage. Lawmakers could block or restrict major force changes in Europe by denying the Pentagon funds to pay for the redeployment of troops and weapons.

lol, given this administration's record they wouldn't exactly be bothered if they had to just dump the redeployed troops at some port and tell them to figure their housing situation out themselves. forage, that's what real manly masculine men do!

In legislation adopted in December, Congress prohibited the use of certain Defense Department funds if troop levels in Europe dip below 76,000, or if the U.S. divests from sites in the region or relinquishes the role of an American senior officer serving as the top allied commander. But defense insiders and former officials say there could be ways around the law, including by explaining troop withdrawals as temporary moves as part of rotational deployments.

Russian threat

The Trump administration’s troop review follows repeated warnings from European governments that Russia poses an acute threat to Europe and the world. European leaders say Russia has ramped up a campaign of sabotage, cyberattacks, assassinations and drone flights across the continent designed to undermine military aid to Ukraine and divide the NATO alliance. Germany this month blamed Russia for an attempted attack at an airport in Leipzig involving a drone armed with an explosive.

well, I guess that explains it - false flags to desperately get the US to reverse course on their drawdown?

And over the weekend, a drone struck a train near the Ukraine-Poland border, minutes after a diplomatic delegation including former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt rode through the same station. A second drone strike hit near a separate border crossing between Poland and Ukraine. European officials accused Russia of staging the drone attacks to intimidate governments providing military aid to Ukraine. Russia dismissed the accusations. Since June, NATO says aircraft patrolling the skies over the alliance’s eastern flank have downed multiple drones believed to have been launched by Russia. Italian fighter jets shot down drones over Lithuania and Latvia, a French warplane shot one down over Latvia, a Spanish fighter downed a drone in Romanian airspace, and a Romanian aircraft shot another down over Romania. The fallout from Russia’s full-blown invasion

at least it's a bit of variety, full-blown instead of full-scale for once

of Ukraine and Trump’s threats to pull defensive support have already pushed Germany and some other NATO allies to dramatically increase defense spending. Germany increased its military budget by 25% this year, and the country’s defense minister said during a visit to the Pentagon on Wednesday that NATO allies were ready to do more. “We Europeans want to take some of the burden off the U.S. and assume primary responsibility for conventional deterrence in Europe over time,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said as he stood alongside Hegseth, his American counterpart.

cont'd in response

:::

PSL produced a statement on the Justice Department press release announcing their intention to use FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) as a tool for repression once again.

https://liberationnews.org/psl-statement-doj-wants-to-criminalize-anti-war-activism-as-furthering-the-goals-of-foreign-powers/

Here's a statement from The People's Forum in NY as well:

https://peoplesforum.org/blog_post/trumps-war-on-free-speech-the-latest-attack-on-our-right-to-organize/

(happened last week but I didn't see it mentioned so I thought I'd post it here)

https://archive.ph/LAwbe

US Air Force has a $14 billion supply hole, service officials say

The U.S. Air Force has a $14 billion hole in supply for aircraft parts, affecting how the service acquires parts and looks at sustainment funding, service leaders said Wednesday.

::: spoiler more

As the force grapples with supply chain and maintenance issues as well as long aircraft service lives, sustainment funding is becoming increasingly necessary to bridge the gap, service officials said in a panel at the Air & Space Forces Association’s 2026 Air, Space & Cyber Conference. “If I can throw a number out there right now, we have a $14 billion hole in supply,” Commander of Air Force Materiel Command Lt. Gen. Linda Hurry said during a panel titled “Flying and Fixing to Fight and Win.” “Let that sink in for a minute,” she continued. “I know we’re not going to get it all at once, but when we get it, we’re going to have to execute. We’re going to have to execute smartly so we can move the needle.” Hurry said that the service is managing the fleet more globally through partnerships, looking at parts with the Defense Logistics Agency and individual pieces that the force can get from the depot back in the field. “From a supply perspective, our increase in the supply rate, or the number of aircraft that are down from a supply perspective, has increased 87% over the last seven years,” Hurry said.

On average, around 53% of the force’s fleet is over 30 years old, with 55% of the fleet over its “useful” service life, she said. Hurry added that the force is working to receive additional funding for spare parts through advocating for the budget request to pass. In the fiscal year 2027 budget, the Department of the Air Force requested a record $338.8 billion, with $4.2 billion allotted for the Consolidated Sustainment Activity Group, or CSAG, that manages spare parts and maintenance backlogs, according to budget documents. “But once we get even a penny, we have to be ready to execute it,” Hurry said. Hurry also said that the service is striving to improve its “forecasting accuracy” to better understand where the needs are and where to position those assets globally by using artificial intelligence models

I wish the US military a very "Swadian AI from Mount & Blade Warband" future, have fun starting WW3 and finding out your entire airforce was chilling back at home since that's what the AI system decided

and additive manufacturing. On top of those measures, the service is putting long-term contracts in place that build stability in the collective supply chain and multiple sources of supply. “Gone are the days of monopolies; we can’t just have one person producing the one critical part,” she said. “I need five [industry partners] producing them because if we get down to the crunch, we’re going to have to have a healthy shelf so that we can fight globally.”

okay, where are you going to find those five industry partners?

The officials touted the North Star Readiness Campaign, which is meant to increase the number of mission-capable B-52 Stratofortress and B-1 Lancer aircraft by accelerating the delivery of parts, engineering support and depot maintenance. The campaign has been the “number one driver” of improving readiness in the bomber fleet because of the supply increase the force has received, Gen. Stephen L. Davis, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command, said during the panel. Specifically, Davis said that the campaign has increased B-52 readiness by 40%. “As a commander, you don’t want everything to be a money problem to solve it, but this I think is a money problem,” he said. “We need more money for parts. It’s absolutely the case.” :::

real arsenal of democracy hours https://archive.ph/NTWvH

US Warns Allies of Missile Delivery Delays Due to Shortage

• The US has warned allies to expect delays in key weapons deliveries as it rebuilds its own depleted munitions stocks.
• Multiple European nations are expecting deliveries of key missile and air defense capabilities to be pushed back due to the US military exhausting its own arsenal in the Iran war.
• The US is prioritizing its own stockpiles, straining Ukraine's push for the US to send it more Patriot air defense interceptors ahead of a difficult winter.

::: spoiler more

The US has warned allies to expect delays of as much as five years in key weapons deliveries as it rebuilds its own depleted munitions stocks. Multiple European nations are expecting deliveries of key missile and air defense capabilities to be pushed back as a result of the US military exhausting its own arsenal in the Iran war, officials said. Germany has asked the US to speed up delivery of the long-range Tomahawk cruise missile and the ground-based Typhon launcher, but depleted US stocks of the powerful weapon means its manufacturer, RTX Corp.’s Raytheon, is unlikely to fulfill the order in the next five years. Two other officials said some Eastern European nations also reliant on US weapons systems have experienced delays since soon after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28. The Defense Department didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment. The Pentagon’s decision to prioritize its own stockpiles is also straining Ukraine’s push for the US to send it more Patriot air defense interceptors ahead of what is expected to be a difficult winter for the war-torn nation. The issue of Ukraine’s badly needed air defense will be a key topic at next week’s United Nations meetings in New York.

President Donald Trump earlier this week told reporters that he’s talking to Ukraine about either sending them a “far less sophisticated version” of the Patriot system, or granting licenses for Europeans to build the weapons. The US is estimated to have used more than half of its most advanced Patriot missile variants, a third of its Tomahawk missiles and almost half of its precision strike missiles and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, interceptors in Iran. The Congressional Budget Office said the US had probably used as much as two-thirds of its inventory of missile defense interceptors since June 2025. The military fired so many munitions at Iranian targets during the first few months of the war that it “has resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply,” Pentagon officials acknowledged to its inspector general. Officials are now working to stockpile critical components and selected munitions, as well as streamline production lead times, the watchdog office said in a report released this week.

Defense firms are ramping up production, with Lockheed Martin Corp working to increase annual capacity from around 600 to 2,000 of the most advanced PAC-3 MSE, or Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement. The stockpile shortages aren’t just impacting the US and Europe. In April the US told Japan its Tomahawk deliveries would be delayed by as much as two years. Saudi Arabia has also urged allies, including the US, to provide military support to help counter attacks from the Houthis in Yemen. Washington has not said if it will provide extra assistance. Still, the US continues to deliver weapons bought by European allies for Ukraine through NATO and European Union initiatives, the people said. Europe’s main concern is that the US continues to provide Ukraine with battlefield support. European leaders plan to lobby Trump on providing Ukraine with more Patriots next week as world leaders attend United Nations meetings. EU officials also hope to push the US to grant European nations licenses to build their own Patriots that could eventually be provided to Kyiv. :::

The Imperial core continues to fuck over people from the global south that think they're on the team. Canada is reviewing the immigration status of Iranian expats due to their service as conscripts.

From the article:

"If I can't get another work permit, I don't have money to pay my bills and I cannot go back to my country because I am afraid. I'm stuck. What shall I do?" said the 44-year-old who has participated in several protests against the Iranian regime while in Canada. Iran has since undertaken campaigns to identify and punish citizens demonstrating abroad.

Kinda sounds like Kkklanada is doing Iran's job for them preventing him from getting work & causing him these problems. With friends like that who needs Iran to cause you problems?

Gas update (using AAA US national average)

Regular Current - 4.48

Regular Highest Recorded (6/15/22) - 5.02

Diesel Current - 6.51

Diesel Highest Recorded (today!) - 6.51

https://gasprices.aaa.com/

Kill Israel

Paramount Skydance Corp. has reached a settlement with California and other states suing to block its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., according to a person familiar with the matter.

Settlement talks came to fruition over the weekend after four states that had opposed terms of a deal outlined with California conceded, said the person, who asked not to be named discussing confidential negotiations. The settlement, which is expected to be announced later today, paves the way for one of the largest mergers in Hollywood history.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-21/paramount-to-settle-lawsuits-paving-way-for-warner-bros-merger

another day, another dem banger

No way its a slow news day everywhere, cmon people, get posting!

I'm depressed at work and the only medicine is more depression

Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, one of my favorite places on this stupid planet, is real damn close to getting torched by wildfires https://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/otras-ciudades/reinician-vuelos-de-cuatro-helicopteros-para-combatir-grave-incendio-forestal-en-villa-de-leyva-videos-muestran-la-magnitud-de-la-emergencia-3587567

FT: Chinese rare earth shipments to US drop ahead of Trump-Xi summit

Paywalled, but the headline speaks for itself.

TASS: US, China fail to agree on extending trade truce — FT

According to the article, the disagreements primarily concern the length of the deal’s extension. The United States is pushing for a six-month extension, while Beijing wants the agreement extended for the remainder of Donald Trump’s term as US president.

Note that negotiations continue, and there is still time left to reach an agreement. Perhaps they want a shorter truce to keep the door open for the secondary sanctions on Russia (which will effectively be sanctions on China).

Reuters: China's Xi to visit the US from September 23-25

China's J-36 next-gen stealth fighter did another very public flight

Just before Xi visits the US. Likely a deliberate signal.

@Jabril@hexbear.net since the previous thread got locked right as I was about to post.

If she is as you say, "in an impossible material situation", why even bother defending her adherence to chavismo? Then, if she is forced upon an action which is dictated by US policy which is certainly not going to be very different to the actions which would be taken by the neoliberal opposition, it is completely immaterial whether she is some true socialist at heart or not. Why do you find it so revolting to simply say: "Delcy is not adhering to the principles of chavismo, but that's fine because if she did, she would bring to the people of Venezuela much more destruction in the form of guerrilla war with the US than if she didn't." It's not a crime to quite simply admit the point that chavismo, in this very moment, is dead in the water for all intents and purposes. Same applies to Cuba, I don't blame them, but I simply don't see the point supporting someone like Delcy who said the revolution would continue, yet when in power did absolutely nothing to that end, and even has reversed the revolution in a lot of aspects.

Also, for all the talk about reading and understanding theory, the very ideas of the communes as being financed by the state, which itself has clearly become bourgeois due to the influence of the US, was ridiculed by Marx in the "Critique of the Gotha Programme" when it was espoused by the followers of Lassalle.

EDIT: accidentally @ the wrong user

First and I'll delete all the other comments that were before me because that's just who I am today.

Anyway let's manifest some good news this week whatever that even looks like these days

Uhhh, i’d like to report tje first comment of the news mega, that’s newsworthy