(2019-07-22). Elizabeth Warren issues statement opposing Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary. nationofchange.org After recently voting 'no' during an executive session to consider Mark Esper's nomination to be Secretary of Defense, Sen. Elizabeth Warren issued a statement opposing his nomination due to a potential conflict of interest with the major defense contractor, Raytheon. As an ex-vice president at Raytheon from 2010 to 2017, Esper directly refused last week to recuse himself from any financial decisions involving his former employer. | As the Senate prepares to confirm Esper as Defense Secretary, Warren issued a statement Thursday noting that if confirmed, Esper would become the fourth current Trump Administratio…
(2019-07-22). The War on Yemen Just Went from Bad to Worse for Saudi Arabia. globalresearch.ca The UAE's large-scale military drawdown in Yemen is extremely disadvantageous to the Saudis' strategic objectives in the conflict and will likely lead to the Kingdom scrambling for a "face-saving" exit of its own. | *** | Nobody's won the War on Yemen …
(2019-07-19). Venezuela: Guaido's bodyguards arrested as Barbados talks resume. greenleft.org.au 
Three men linked to self-declared "Interim President" Juan Guaido were arrested on July 12, while allegedly selling weapons stolen during the failed April 30 putsch. | According to Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez, Guaido's personal bodyguards Erick Sanchez and Jason Parisi, as well as Sanchez's cousin Eduardo Garcia, were detained while reportedly trying to sell five AK-103 rifles and ten ammunition packs for US$35,000. | The rifles' serial numbers allegedly matched those stolen from the Bolivarian National Guard post in Caracas' Federal Legislative Palace, where the National Assembly sits. | The governme…
(2019-07-18). Headlines for July 18, 2019. democracynow.org House Lawmakers Vote to Table Trump Impeachment Resolution, Trump Renews Racist Attacks on Four Progressive Congresswomen, Rep. Ilhan Omar Introduces Bill Affirming the Right to Boycott, House Votes to Bar Trump's Planned Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE, U.S. to Deploy 500 Troops to Saudi Air Base, Sudan's Military Rulers Agree to Share Power with Civilian Protesters, United Nations Declares Global Health Emergency as Ebola Spreads, Puerto Ricans Demand Resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló over Hateful Messages, AG Barr & Commerce Secretary Ross Held in Contempt of Congress, Sen. Rand Paul Blocks Vote on S…
(2019-07-16). How Israeli-Designed Drones Became Russia's Eyes in the Sky for Defending Bashar al-Assad. theintercept.com 
Last summer, Israel shot down yet another military drone near the line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from the rest of Syria. The confrontation would have been business as usual, if not for a twist: Images of the destroyed drone showed Cyrillic tail markings and other identifiable components of a Forpost belonging to Russia. The findings presented an awkward geopolitical moment: Syria and Russia are allies, and Syria and Israel are bitter enemies — but the Russ…