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post-leffert · 1 year

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CHICAGO ABOLITIONISTS SHUT DOWN BANK OF AMERICA BY GLUING ATMS IN RETALIATION FOR THE MURDER OF TORTUGUITA

20th January, Chicago USA.

via: Scenes

“CHICAGO, IL — Friday night, January 20th, Chicago abolitionists in solidarity with the movement to Stop Cop City and Defend the Atlanta Forest glued shut the card reader and keyhole at a Bank of America ATM and “Virtual Banking” facility in Chicago’s affluent Lincoln Park neighborhood (2428 N Lincoln Ave). They also left messages, including STOP COP CITY, DEFEND THE ATLANTA FOREST, and ACAB on the ATM windows and door. The incident was in response to the murder of a forest defender by police in Atlanta on January 18th, 2023.

Bank of America is a top funder of police foundations across the US, in particular the Atlanta Police Foundation, which is funding the destruction of Weelaunee Forest in “Atlanta” to build “Cop City.” The intended facility would be a militarized police training compound, including a mock city for cops to practice urban warfare on Atlanta’s residents, particularly the Black and Brown and poor communities adjacent to the forest. In 2020, BOA gave at least $50,000 to the foundation; tax data from 2021-22 is not yet available.

Bank of America also bankrolls the Chicago Police Foundation, with BoA Senior Vice President Patricia Provenzano sitting on its board.

On January 18th, police in Atlanta murdered a forest defender, Manuel “Tortuguita” Teran, as they attempted to force people out of the forest to allow the destruction to proceed. This violence is further proof that police only serve and protect the interests of the wealthy and powerful – bankers and capitalists who will happily have people murdered and ecosystems destroyed to continue hoarding wealth.

From @defendtheatlantaforest @stopcopcity on Instagram, friends said: “Tortuguita was a kind, passionate, loving person cherished by their community. They spent their time between Atlanta, defending the forests from destruction and coordinating mutual aid, and Florida where they helped build housing in low income communities hit hardest by the hurricane. They were a medic, a loving partner, a dear friend, a brave soul, and so much more.”

Chicago activists echo the calls of Atlanta forest defenders to immediately stop the attacks on the forest and abandon plans to build Cop City.”

#smash the banks #Chicago #anarchy #anarchism #direct action #stop cop city

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gwengifterror · 5 months

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I stand as firmly against Genocide as I do Antisemitism and Islamophobia. I understand the desire for a safe place for Jewish people to exist in this world. …But I, for the life of me, can't see the justification of the IDF and the state of Israel's actions against the indigenous Palestinian people for the last 75+ years. Humanity has seen apartheid states born of settler colonialism before, and Israel is just such a state. I am a citizen of a county that was founded with labor born from the horrors of chattel slavery on land stolen from the indigenous people who lived here for centuries. The city in which I live has a shameful history with lynching black people. I do not take for granted the history of the land and people who existed here before me. It informs how I view all the aspects of injustice.

There are a lot of calls for condemnation of the actions of Hamas on October 7, 2023. I can understand the immediate response. What I wonder is, given the context of those acts, however despicable or violent, they may be in the narrative of this time. How will Hamas be viewed in 50 to 100 years from now? I can't help but think about all the same condemnations for people like Nat Turner, Gabriel Prosser, Denmark Vesey, Toussaint Louverture and others like them who all lead sometimes violent rebellions of resistance during their times of oppression. While they were condemned by society at large, especially by those in power, there were certainly a minority of people of that time period that were empathetic to the motivations for said violent actions.

In a more recent time, I think of Nelson Mandela, who was the leader of the ANC and at one point abandoned his nonviolent philosophy to resistance and embraced the ideas of violent resistance. He even spent time training in guerrilla warfare tactics. He is another more modern example of someone once condemned, specifically by US president Ronald Reagan and British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who both considered Mandela and the ANC a terrorist organization. Yet today, he is widely considered a “hero of liberation” and was awarded over 260 awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002.

The violence of humans isn't an easy thing to face, which makes it very hard to understand. I don't know exactly how history will look back on this time period and the actions of Hamas or the oppressive state power in which they are resisting, but considering how other similar acts once considered terrorism are now hailed as heroic, I think it's worth thinking about.

I want my grandchildren to know that today December 11, 2023, I do not think violence should ever be the first course of action but that I understand that acts of violence are often considered justified after time has passed and power structures have evolved. I want them to know that I participated, to the best of my ability, in the global strike, calling for a ceasefire in Palestine. I want them to know that my heart feels broken for the extreme loss of innocent Palestinian lives, over 18,000, many of which were children, which has taken place in the last several weeks. I want them to know I support the freedom of Palestine and safety for people of the Jewish faith to exist in all societies. I do not believe the two are mutually exclusive. The Jewish people are not the government of Israel anymore than I am the government of the United States, which is complicit and financially supportive of the Genocide taking place in Palestine.

Christmas is canceled in Bethlehem’s churches this year because of the ongoing Genocide. While I am not a practicing Christian, I was raised in the faith and maintain a cultural connection to the holiday. Celebration feels hollow, so this Christmas, I will be grieving.

#free palestine #free gaza

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usafphantom2 · 8 months

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United Kingdom, Japan and Italy will proceed with the conceptual phase of sixth-generation combat aircraft

GCAP industry partners agreed on the next steps in collaboration.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 09/12/2023 - 12:00 in Military

Defense industry leaders in the United Kingdom, Japan and Italy agreed on a trilateral Collaboration Agreement to meet the requirements of the conceptual phase of a next-generation combat aircraft for the Global Air Combat Program (GCAP).

GCAP is a strategically important partnership between the United Kingdom, Japan and Italy, which brings together the three nations and their respective industries to collaborate on shared military and industrial objectives in the delivery of a truly next generation combat aircraft in 2035.

The agreement between BAE Systems (United Kingdom), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) and Leonardo SpA (Italy) reflects a positive impulse and strong trilateral cooperation, and will involve industry partners in the maturation of integration, collaboration and information sharing for the next phase of GCAP.

The Collaboration Agreement supports ongoing discussions to establish long-term work agreements and the maturity of the concept and capacity requirements for next-generation combat aircraft.

Herman Claesen, General Manager, Future Combat Air Systems of BAE Systems, said: “We have maintained a fast pace of engagement with our industrial and government partners in Italy and Japan since the launch of GCAP. The Collaboration Agreement signals the strong alignment between all three nations to meet common goals and objectives in the program to deliver a truly international next-generation combat aircraft."

Guglielmo Maviglia, Director of Leonardo SpA's GCAP Program, said: “This trilateral collaboration in the program, for the development of a next-generation system, represents the flagship of the distinctive capabilities and disruptive technologies that partners from the three nations will share, in an innovative way, for the success of the program. Participation in DSEI London fits perfectly into our progress of collaboration and consolidates more than ever the strong ties created between partner companies from Italy, the United Kingdom and Japan. In this context, we are particularly proud to be able to contribute to the future and prosperity of future generations, with significant implications for security and technological development, as well as in the field of research and innovation in the aerospace and defense sectors."

Hitoshi Shiraishi, senior member of GCAP at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, said: “We are really honored to be part of GCAP and will bring to the table all our considerable knowledge accumulated in previous programs. The Collaboration Agreement is one of the key steps to ensure our mutual success. We have already begun to cooperate closely with our partners in the United Kingdom and Italy and we believe that our mix of diverse cultures and perspectives will contribute to the success of this program."

The GCAP combat aircraft, scheduled for deployment in 2035, considers radar and sensors a crucial component, worth up to 30% of the total value. The sensor technology teams of Leonardo UK, Leonardo Italy, the ELT Group of Italy and Mitsubishi Electric of Japan intend to reach important milestones by 2025, aligning themselves with the fuselage and propulsion teams.

The GCAP sensor package combines radar, electronic warfare and electro-optics through a multifunctional processor (MFP). Unlike previous generations, MFP quickly processes data from various sensors, improving situational awareness.

The Integrated System of Detection and Non-kinetic Effects and Integrated Communications (ISANKE & ICS) includes a high-performance radar called Multifunctional Radio Frequency System. Improves data scanning and offers design flexibility.

After the definition of the hardware in 2025, work will continue on the sensor software.

GCAP is an extremely significant program for the security, political and economic prosperity of each nation and, through an effective transfer of knowledge and technology, will help evolve and provide an important sovereign combat air capability in each nation for generations to come.

Tags: Military AviationBAE SystemsGCAP - Global Combat Air ProgramLeonardo CompanyMitsubishi Heavy Industries

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Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work throughout the world of aviation.

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padfootagain · 1 year

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Masterlist - Requests are still open! - The Tag list is open!

Hello lovelies! Here is my posting schedule for the next couple of weeks! I've tried to balance out one-shots and series, I hope you like my new stories!

For now, we're keeping the same posting rhythm with a new fic posted every two days!

Also, a new character has been added to my masterlist! You can now send in requests for The Darkling! His first fic will be posted at the end of this week, I hope you'll like it!

I'm also very excited about the next Sirius fic that I'll post tomorrow (June 2nd). I'm hesitating to turn this into a series, so I will probably ask for your opinions on the matter!

Hope you enjoy my stories!

02/06/2023 - Come Back to Me : Sirius Black x reader, angst, Azkaban Sirius, requested, one-shot (for now?)

04/06/2023 - Running : The Darkling x reader, hurt-comfort, comfort, mentions of violence and warfare, requested, one-shot

06/06/2023 - Celebrity Crush : Ben Barnes x reader, fluff, tooth-rotting fluff, domestic love, lots of teasing, requested, one-shot

08/06/2023 - Chapter 3 for Isle of Dogs : Wolfstar, fluff, angst, slow-burn, modern AU, bookshop owner x tattoo artist AU, on-going series

10/06/2023 - Complicated : Ben Barnes x reader, fluff, shy reader, a little bit of jealousy, mutual pining, requested, one-shot

12/06/2023 - Chapter 2 for You and the King : Caspian x reader, fluff, angst, Sequel to The King and You, on-going series

14/06/2023 - Chapter 4 for Because We Are Made of Dreams : Sirius Black x Original Female Character + Jily, rewriting of my first fic ever (because my English was terrible then and I wasn't very good at telling stories...), Slow Burn, Mature (graphic depiction of violence, mention of child abuse, graphic depiction of torture, mature themes), on-going series

16/06/2023 - Stars in the Evening : Obi-Wan Kenobi x reader, hurt-comfort, mentions of warfare, one-shot

18/06/2023 - Chapter 8 for Something Good : Ben Barnes x Reader, Professor AU!, angst, fluff, slow-burn, enemies to lovers, on-going series

#posting schedule #posting schedule may 2023

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pannaginip · 2 months

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Philippine Star (Opinion): 'Not war with China; don’t rely only on US’ – Marcos Jr.

Reacting to recent reports on China’s pugnacious maneuvers and verbal statements, Marcos Jr. said, “We must do a more robust defense of our territorial rights as recognized by the international community and international law.”

But he quickly added that war with China is “precisely what we want to avoid.”

Regarding the United States’ repeated assurance of defense support, Marcos Jr. claimed that the US was” very supportive” of the Philippines and was “very seriously” taking the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Note that the treaty has never been invoked in any instance, or threat, of armed conflict by either party since its signing in 1951. Essentially it provides that in the event of an armed attack against one of the parties, the other party is obligated to come to its defense.

Marcos Jr. said that he was doing everything to avoid invoking the MDT over the increasing number of incidents involving dangerous maneuvers by Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels within Philippine waters. They have been harassing small boats delivering food supplies and other necessities to Philippine Marines manning an old naval ship, purposely grounded in the Ayungin Shoal to serve as maritime post in our territory.

Most significant to note was that he seemed wary about relying exclusively on America’s support.

Marcos Jr. also responded to warnings by critics of dangerous implications of his having added, in April 2023, four more of the country’s military bases as sites for the US to install military “facilities” and stockpile war materiel exclusively for their use, as allowed by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA.

He assured the public that these bases, along with the first five bases strategically located across the country previously approved by his predecessor, would not be used to launch offensive actions against China.

The EDCA is not a treaty. It is an executive agreement, initiated by the US, between the Philippine and US governments, signed in 2014 under the Benigno Aquino III administration. The US military facilities installed within the selected Philippine bases are absolutely controlled by the American military and are off-limits to Filipinos, military or civilian. (Top Philippine defense and military leaders, however, may be allowed inside.)

Because the EDCA sites are practically US military bases within Philippine bases, they could indeed be targets of attacks by enemies of the US – especially now that missile warfare is increasingly being utilized by belligerent parties.

2024 Mar. 23

#junk edca #philippines #maritime conflicts #afp-pnp #politicians

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advoirsmovies · 1 year

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I wasn’t expecting much from the sequel, let alone a social commentary touching on so many topics, like bigotry, white supremacy, colonialism, protest, police brutality, Mutually Assured Destruction, psychological warfare, and church complicity with war propaganda! Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) expands the scope of the writers' critiques while maintaining continuity with the original story. I'm impressed! I wasn't expecting to love these movies.

2023 05 26

#film #movies #sci fi #beneath the planet of the apes

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gemini--witch · 5 months

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Social media activism is important, actually

Background: I'm a 30-year-old mother attending university. So, I'm a nontraditional student. The vast majority of my fellow students are traditional students, meaning they went right into college straight out of high school, and are consequently no older than 22. Which means they're all on the younger end of Gen Z. Overall, I love Gen Z. Y'all are some of the funniest people on the planet, you're radical and intelligent AF, and I really feel for you having to grow up in the hellscape that is climate catastrophe and late-stage capitalism, so I really am against any kind of class warfare bullshit.

With that being said.

In my last class of fall term (incidentally a short story genre class, but the fun part of university is getting to apply fiction to real life in order to deepen our understanding of it), our class got into a spirited debate about the merits of social media in terms of being exposed to the nitty gritty of world events, such as what's happening in Gaza. Many of my fellow students held the opinion that all the videos of Gaza genocide (and other atrocities against humanity) are just trauma porn and people should stop scrolling and actually do something about it if they care that much because social media doesn't actually help anything at all.

In part, I agree. Doomscrolling in itself is not helpful to anything. They're not wrong there. And for a hot minute -- because I care about other people's opinions and when there are that many people disagreeing with me, I take the time to think through everything for a few weeks afterwards to see if I was really wrong -- I questioned my instincts. I know that sometimes I'm awful at communicating my ideas out loud and in person. I'm so much better at writing things out. But after really sitting on this topic almost constantly for a solid three weeks, I've finally formulated a strong opinion.

Social media activism is fucking important.

Does doomscrolling help anything? No. But the entire reason why the world actually CARES about the Palestinian's plight right now is because of social media! Because of people on the ground filming what's happening and blasting it for the world to see!

One fellow student said that people shouldn't have to view trauma porn in order to care about others. That's the sort of idyllic view that I would have had at 18. It would be WONDERFUL if people could see genocide and corruption and evil where it exists and automatically take a stance against it and have a huge, collective outcry. But even before social media existed, that sort of thing simply did not happen on a big, collective level without activists first getting the dirty, awful imagery and information disseminated to the mass populace. I mean, by 1970 most of the general population of the world didn't even remember Palestinians resided in Israel. The propaganda machine was (and is) loud.

In 2023, most of the earth's residents are too consumed with simply getting by in the dystopia of their own countries to think about atrocities without them being blasted in their face on their preferred social media. Even people in the middle class are too stressed to think a lot of the time. So many of us are experiencing a mass feeling of helplessness, and social media activism gets us out of our own heads and helps us care about someone else for a change.

Yes, we can't stop at doomscrolling. I of all people understand how doomscrolling and posting on social media can make the brain feel like it actually did something big and it's so easy to just stop there. Yes, we have to move on from the screen to signing petitions and carrying signs and sending angry emails and phone calls to our representatives and donating money to mutual aid if we have the privilege to do so.

But the first step to being part of the solution is first being aware of the problem. And as hard as it may be to see, "trauma porn" is often the first door into awareness for a lot of people, especially white people. I totally get people who are directly affected by the atrocities not wanting to see the videos and pictures of it on social media (for example, one student in my class has family in Gaza). But for people not directly affected, they need reminders that it's still happening, in order to keep the momentum. It's too easy to be swept up in the tide of distraction and hardship and survival in everyday life, and forget that we have values of freedom and mutual compassion on a global scale. Social media activism helps us remember.

tl;dr social media activism is an important doorway for people into IRL activism

#personal opinion #social media activism

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neodoodles24 · 4 months

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2023 MUTUAL WARFARE, ROUND 2.5, THE QUALIFIER ROUND!

@otsu09, @pear-island, @melesmee, @bread-pat, @spacebitch68

DOODLES' PROPAGANDA:

otsu09:

Partner of Doodles

Probably one of the coolest people in this tournament tbh

Was the originator of this idea. He did his OWN mutual tournament

Makes very cool art (tag is otsu.art....)

Making his own vn dating sim!

pear-island:

My buddy, pal and bro Perry

Makes very very cool art which can be found at @/perryisle and @/evilbiomes

Funnyman

melesmee:

Likely a bigger CKC fan than me

Seriously it's not even funny

Like she bought me season 2 she has a library of commissioned art she has a folder full of pre-built sprites which i constantly use and she made a whole ass CKC discord server that I have since joined and im having a great fucking time

bread-pat:

Does a lot of things actually. Art as well as music. Only music guy in this tournament!

Probably one of my top ask-senders

spacebitch89:

scrunkalicious art that i wish i could eat

COMMUNITY PROPAGANDA:

otsu09:

"guys if i don’t win The Hitman is going to get me. you wouldnt want that would you"

"vote otsu and I will open requests"

pear-island:

IM IN THIS!!!! vote for me PLEEEAAASEEEEEE

PERRY SWEEP FOREVER!!!!!!!

for every time i win my sinuses get clearer. vote for me baby

melesmee:

"VOTE FOR MEEEEEEE im the coolest specialest girl in the world and i deserve it. anyway if i win you guys can see some of the cool kid cody art"

"if i win the mutual tournament ill buy [Doodles] cool kid cody season three"

bread-pat:

"Vote for me cuz I'm neato"

#geotxt #2023 mutual warfare #2023mw poll

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dybdahlsvisitportugalspainfrance · 8 months

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The map says we are in Spain, but..

September 17, 2023

Kaixo!

We are in Bilbao and according to the map - we are in northern Spain - but it doesn't feel like Spain, it doesn't sound like Spain and it doesn't taste like Spain. We are actually in the land of the Basque people: Basque Country or “Euzkadi" in the Basque language.

We have a new trip leader, Fran (Francisco José Valle de Tarazaga Montero, PhD). He is a Basque and passionate about his country. He is also gregarious, funny and extremely knowledgeable - but that is just part of the trip leader requirement, it seems. He is an archeologist when he is not helping people to understand his country.

The Basques are NOT Spanish. PERIOD!!!

Basque Country (Euskadi) is an autonomous community in northern Spain and south western France with strong cultural traditions, a celebrated cuisine and a distinct language that pre-dates the Romance languages. The vibrant riverside city of Bilbao is a hub of architecture and design, where gritty factories and shipyards give way to cutting-edge landmarks such as the titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum along a revitalized waterfront. It is a beautiful place - but this is NOT Spain. Do NOT make that mistake!

This is not the first time we have encountered this. The Faroe Islands is an autonomous community that is working with Denmark to become completely independent. I don't think Sciliy is working to be independent but DO NOT call them Italian.

The Basque people hate the Spaniards. HATE THEM! And for good reason. Here is just one reason: One of the main cities of Basque Country is Guernica - long considered the spiritual capital of the Basques.

During the Spanish Civil War the Basque people fought against the Franco troops. During Market Day, April 26, 1938, Guernica was bombed. The attack gained controversy because it involved the bombing of civilians by a military air force. Even more controversial was who did the bombing - The Nazi Luftwaffe. Franco and Hitler and Mussolini were buddies and members of the dictator mutual admiration society. Plans were in the works for a new type of warfare - but Hitler and Mussolini needed a practice run. Franco gave it to them and they destroyed Guernica killing civilians - a new type of warfare, terror from the sky.

The Basque language is alive and well although during the Franco years it was illegal to speak it. Now it is the language of Basque people with everything written in Basque and Spanish. Public schools and universities are taught in Basque - although there are some private schools that teach in Spanish - or English. Spanish and English are taught as foreign languages. The origins of Basque language are unknow - BUT they are not like any other European language - for sure. Linguistically, Basque is a language isolate.

The first day - our travel day from Madrid to Bilbao - was an easy day. We took a little ride around the city then did a little walking tour around the old city. Our hotel is very conveniently located and the city is indeed walkable. Fran explained how this autonomous region - thing works and many of the rules that exist that keep this place clean, debt-free, and keep the traffic manageable.

They do pay high taxes but they received great services for taxes paid. School from pre-school through post graduate degrees are free. All medical, dental, eye and hearing services are free. The Basque Country is filled with community education opportunities including sport courts, areas, fields, etc. They are serious about recycling and their are massive opportunities every few blocks. We were able to open the top of a container and put in our glass bottle - but as a resident you scan your card and then deposit. The weight of what you deposit is recorded and you get a discount on your trash bill. One of the bins in composting and I watched a restaurant staff member transferring all the returned food into a giant bin. I loved it.

To illustrate the traffic management we did a travel morning in which we walked, road a funicular, a bus, a boat, a passenger transporter and a subway as we explored the city. it make NO sense to have a car in this city - and most people do not. So even at rush hours, cars are are few. The streets are filled with busses and trams - mass transit at its finest.

We began the day taking a funicular to the upper city. Beautiful views:

Then we took a bus to the transporter.

Then a boat and finally a subway that brought us back to the Old Town.

And finally a subway that brought us back to the Old Town.

And here is the deal...because Fran is a resident and we are over 65 the cost for all this was between 16 cents and 32 cents per ride. Sometimes we seniors were free.

Food: Pintxos. (Pinchos)

Pintxos are NOT Tapas. They are open face sandwiches containing all kinds of stuff - and I mean all kinds of stuff.

You get in line - point to what you want - pick at least 3, order your drink and then wait until they are given to you. Being gluten free is a bummer here - but they fixed me us and I was find. This is a big deal here and there are pintxos places everywhere. The stuff I had was delicious and I didn't see any empty plates - so I'm guessing we were all happy.

I really love eating like a local.

Bilbao is beatuiful. The River Nervión flows through the town and is crossed many times by foot bridges. The bridge below was designed by the same guy that designed the Vasco da Gama Bridge that we took out of Lisboa - just a couple of weeks ago - but it feels like months! This bridge has a glass floor and while that is cool - it rains most days in Bilbao making that impractiable. The city opted to carpet it. - which the artist did not like. He sued the city and won but his award was one Euro. We crossed the carpeted bridge more than once.

This is not something I usually do but when it works - it works. Watch this video from Rick Steves. We have done almost everything in the first 19 minutes of the video - although we went to Bilbao first and St. Sebastian second. AWESOME!!!

youtube

Our trip to the Guggenheim was amazing but I have to say that the building itself it the "thing." I couldn't tell you much about the contents of that building - but the building OMG!!!

Here is another thing one of us liked: Public bathrooms and urinals.

Bottom line - we are loving exploring Basque Country!

Stay tuned.

#Youtube

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xtruss · 8 months

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US ‘New Cold War’ Against China Is Self-Destructive

— By Jan Oberg | September 05, 2023

Illustration:Xia Qing/Global Times

Editor's Note:

The China-US bilateral relationship is one of the most important in the world. The trajectory of this relationship has attracted international attention. Still, the US is stepping up its efforts to suppress China on various fronts such as politics and diplomacy, economy, trade, technology, and military security, showing the true meaning of a cold war. The Global Times invites Chinese and foreign experts to expose the US' manipulation of the "new cold war" and reveal the damage it may potentially cause to the world.

A couple of years ago, The Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research, TFF, in Sweden, of which I am the director, published "Behind The Smokescreen. An Analysis of the West's Destructive China Cold War Agenda And Why It Must Stop."

Among several perspectives of the US/Western accusation industry, we looked into the medialized stories about genocide in Xinjiang, forced labor and Taiwan, and nine mainstream media manipulation methods that aim to manufacture a systematically negative image of China in the Western mind.

We found that a cold war occurs by influencing the "free" press - also the Western state press - through three main mechanisms: a) Fake or fabricated stories, b) Omission - for instance, of every positive aspect of China's developments, and c) Source Ignorance: using the same few sources spreading disinformation, from the US rippling through and being repeated ad nauseam and never checking the root empirical evidence or validity of the assertions, in short, FOSI.

Ultimately, this causes a decay of the crucial and critical role of mainstream media and their conversion toward tabloid banalizing black-and-white worldviews - "we good, them evil" - that promote confrontation and warfare, all operated by the Military-Industrial-Media-Academic Complex, MIMAC.

Tragically for democracy, mainstream media have become the leaders in promoting militarism, armament and legitimizing the empire and its wars. What are the elements of the cold war in all this?

First and foremost, the cold war is a psycho-political phenomenon. It dichotomizes our incredibly complex world into two: good versus evil. It seeks to preserve our superiority and keep others submissive and weaker. It promises war if its deterrence fails. And it precludes a world of equals, cooperation and mutual learning. If you are No. 1 in a system, you do not learn and listen; you teach, bribe and issue orders.

Cold wars may go well for the cold warrior when in ascendancy. In the "old" Cold War in Europe, two fundamentally Western systems - one based on Karl Marx, the other on Adam Smith, to put it crudely - competed while the US/NATO ascended after 1945. On all power scales, it was superior to the Soviet Union and its system. We know how it ended.

The winner then - foolishly - took it all: The US/NATO world did what it pleased within its exceptionalist "international rules-based order," not the UN Charter and other parts of international law. Catchwords: out-of-NATO-area military actions in violation of NATO's own Treaty - Yugoslavia - and regime change/resource/anti-terrorism wars on an assembly line basis; NATO's expansion against all promises given to the Soviet Union.

It all went so well and seemed so easy. Why listen to or empathize with others? Why focus on the changing world when "we" are the change-makers, God's own country par excellence? If we can get away with it, we do it. However, prudence, statesmanship and long-range thinking would have compelled global impact analyses instead of narcissist imperial self-aggrandizement.

The US Unilaterally Initiates New Cold War Against China! Illustration: Liu Xidan/Global Times

It went so well that the West overlooked the Rest: China's impressive socio-economic development based on an eclectic combination of Chinese concepts - that the West still doesn't understand - and imported Western elements; the establishment and maturation of organizations like BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and African and other regional organizations.

The West also did not sense the actual price that would be paid for its militarism: It's huge and growing burden on all civilian sectors, including technology and economy, and - in the wake of the history of colonialism and imperialism - the Rest becoming more and more nationally and collectively self-reliant - a concept developed about 50 years ago and ridiculed by the West.

And what was the result? Well, this is written the day after BRICS expanded with essential countries in Africa, the Middle East and South America - a huge step toward a multipolar and cooperative Rest saying: We can do without you, America and Europe! If you want to cooperate on new, reasonable terms, we are ready, but the days of your Western hegemony and universalization of Western values are coming to an end.

Such is global macro history: Empires have come and gone, and that of the US/NATO is the last: Nobody is so naive as to believe that it has a God-given right to be the ruler of the whole world and force others to accept its values.

The enormous world order changing before our very eyes is as predictable as it is inexorable. Only the ignorance - blinding intoxication - of power overlooks it. The West has run its race and become over-extended, insensitive to other cultures and ways of thinking, and unable to adapt to system changes but insisted on steering unilaterally. It's losing legitimacy in the eyes of others, relative economic and political strength and the creative ability to outline a better future world that the Rest feels attracted to: Classical decline indicators!

What I have said here is pure Gandhian thinking: You may harm others by using violence - physical, economic, military, structural, cultural and environmental - but, sooner rather than later, your violence boomerangs: It corrupts, debases, brutalizes and makes you more loathed than loved. A critical mass will develop.

In a deeper socio-cultural sense, the Christian Occident has never appropriately problematized those many types of violence upon which it built its relations with the Rest.

The West's cold war on China is about so much more than the issues that dominate daily news - chips, trade, Taiwan and the topics of the permanent accusation industry. It's about profound tectonic changes in humanity's way of developing - and about whether or not the West will join and contribute or become a de-developed periphery in the new world. And whether its empire will go down with a whimper or a bang, or adapt to macro history's unavoidable changes.

We know very little about humanity's future in the next 100 or so years. The safest philosophy will be for the Rest to, despite all, extend compassion and cooperation to the good forces of the West and abstain from tit-for-tat against its evil ones.

—The Author is the Director of the Sweden-based Think Tank Transnational Foundation for Peace & Future Research.

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thxnews · 1 year

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Skilled Landing on Moving PH Navy Anti-Sub Frigate

The Philippine Navy's (PN) missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) achieved another milestone as an AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) AW-159 "Wildcat" anti-submarine helicopter successfully landed on its flight deck while the ship was underway off Corregidor Island. "On the morning of 27 April 2023, the Philippine Navy achieved another significant milestone in its development of anti-submarine warfare capability as the PN AW-159 Mk220 'Wildcat' helicopter, with tail number NH-441, successfully conducted its first deck landing aboard BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), an ASW (anti-submarine warfare) guided missile frigate, while underway at vicinity 30 nautical miles southwest of Corregidor Island," a post on the BRP Antonio Luna's Facebook page said Thursday night.

Simbad-RC on BRP Antonio Luna. Photo by Rhk111. Wikimedia. This achievement demonstrates the growing capability and readiness of the Navy's crews and platforms as a team for ASW operations. "Both the JRCFs (Jose Rizal Class Frigates) and the PN Wildcats were products of the 1st Horizon Projects under the Revised AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Modernization Program, which were delivered and commissioned into the service in 2020/2021 and 2019, respectively. The JRCFs were built by Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea while the PN ‘Wildcats’ was built by Leonardo Helicopter Limited UK (LHUK)," the post further said. The PN's "Wildcat" aircrew are still undergoing the contracted in-country training with Leonardo Helicopter Limited UK while the JRCFs are being used in the various operational areas of the country. The AW-159s, which the Philippine Navy has two, were acquired to increase the ASW capabilities of the JRCFs. "The PN through the Naval Air Wing and Offshore Combat Force are taking steps to complete the integration of these game-changer assets in order to be deployed together in securing our maritime domain," the BRP Antonio Luna said. It added that these initiatives are a great contribution to fulfilling the Navy’s vision of becoming a modern, multi-capable naval force responsive to our maritime nation's defense and development. The BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and its sister ship BRP Antonio Luna are modern warships capable of surface, sub-surface, air and electronic warfare using state-of-the-art electronic sensors, long-range missiles, acoustic guided torpedoes and embarked anti-submarine helicopters. The BRP Jose Rizal was delivered to the Philippines in May 2020 and commissioned in July that year while the BRP Antonio Luna was commissioned on March 19, 2021. The contract for the two ships was placed at PHP16 billion with another PHP2 billion for weapon systems and munitions.

Philippine sailors aboard BRP Ramon Alcaraz. Photo by U.S. Navy. Flickr.

PH Navy officers attend 13th IMEX Asia in Singapore

As this developed, Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. and other ranking Navy officers attended the opening ceremony of the 13th International Maritime Defense Exposition (IMDEX) Asia at the Changi Exhibition Center in Singapore on May 3. A total of 47 delegations were in attendance at the opening ceremony, including 22 Navy chiefs, directors general of Coast Guards, and heads of maritime law enforcement agencies of 38 countries. Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen presided over the opening rites and highlighted the importance of strengthening mutual understanding and fostering consensus in a globally interlinked world. After the ceremony, Adaci and Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo Macaraig visited various defense technology and shipbuilding exhibition booths at the center. These opportunities provide the Philippine Navy with an avenue to strengthen its connections and practical cooperation with other Navies and maritime agencies and be updated on contemporary maritime defense trends. Sources: THX News & Philippine News Agency. Read the full article

#AntonioLuna #BRPAntonioLuna #OffshoreCombatForce #PHHelicopter #PHNavy #PHNavyAnti-SubFrigate #PhilippineNavy

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amitapaul · 1 year

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1519 -105

29/23

#23GloPoWriMo

Year 2023 Month April Day 23

Prompt Dated 23/4/23

Response No : 1

Poem No : 29

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Featured Poem :

Our featured participant for the day is Moment of November, which inverts Emily Dickinson’s “My Nosegays are for Captives” into a lovely verse that takes roses as its starting point.

My Roses are for Seekers

Napowrimo Day 22: Pick an Emily Dickinson poem and make it your own.

I chose “My Nosegays Are For Captives”

The original:

“My Nosegays Are For Captives”

My nosegays are for captives;

Dim, long-expectant eyes,

Fingers denied the plucking,

Patient till paradise,

To such, if they should whisper

Of morning and the moor,

They bear no other errand,

And I, no other prayer.

My poem:

My Roses are for Seekers

My roses are

For seekers, world-weary;

Eyes bloodshot and blurred,

Souls impatient and ready.

To such, if they

Would only shout out loud

Of expectant constellations

And refuse to cease the sound,

They would have no farther

To go.

I’d give of mine, with plenty

Left to show.

Poetry Resource :

Our daily resource is African Poems, a website devoted to presenting poetry from Africa, with an emphasis on making oral poetry available to a wide audience through recordings.

The city of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ is located within Oyo State, south-western Nigeria. It is close to a forest region that was an area of indigenous iron mining and smelting. The towns in this region are home to the largest concentration of Ògún festivals in Yorubaland, Ògún being the Yorùbá god of iron, blacksmithing, tool making, hunting and warfare. More poetry about Ògún can be found here.

The village was founded in the 17th century by hunters who formed a mutual assistance community, Egbe Alongo (Alongo Society), that also served as a military pact to defend against slave raiders. The village grew as refugees fleeing slavers, and later the Fulani Jihad in the 19th century, were offered shelter in Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́. The town established a reputation as a birthplace of warriors that continued through the 20th century when soldiers from the region became famous during the Nigerian–Biafran War.

One of the indigenous genres of music that originates in Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ is Ìjálá Ọdẹ, a style of oral poetry mythically and ritually associated with the worship of Ògún. Ìjálá poetry was historically composed by hunters to describe the characteristics of the animals they hunt and to eulogise hunters and warriors at their funerals.

The poet Ògundáre Fóyánmu was born in Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ in 1932 and died on the 13th October, 2012 at the age of 80. Introduced to oral poetry through his father, an Egúngún chanter, Fóyánmu became instrumental in the evolution of Ìjálá Ọdẹ in Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́.

This rendition by Ògundáre Fóyánmu was recorded on Saturday the 25th August 1978 and performed before the traditional ruler of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́, Ọba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi, who is here referred to as Akano Oladunni.

Here, the poet lists the lineage of kings who ruled Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ since its founding by the hunter Olabanjo Ogunlola Ogundiran and his wife Esuu in 1659. We hear Fóyánmu praising the successful battles of the early leaders, before moving on to celebrate the traders, musicians, farmers, soldiers and other indigenes of contemporary Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́.

The performance ends with Fóyánmu encouraging the citizens of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ to join the cooperative society, reflecting the mutual assistance pact made by the founders of the city in the 17th century.

My thanks to Adéjọkẹ́ Yéwándé Olúwájọbí for the translation that follows.

Ogbomosho

Akano Oladunni, (1)

always remember your progenitors in all your endeavours.

The king of Ogbomosho!

Because paying homage is important.

As the spirits of predecessors will on this note support the successors.

Ogunlola bears the name of the first king. (2)

Truly!

Soun Keeetan, the spirit of Laberinjo,

the greatly feathered peacock,

the highly-armoured warrior.

All these greetings belong to the First Soun!

The one who brings elephant to town.

The one who fights with all bravery.

The one who strikes in the battle like thunder.

The powerful one who is always daring.

The one who has armoury all over him.

The one for whom drums made from brass were massively beaten.

May you get home safely!

He will always support you as a father supports his child.

And Jogi Oro Apati who does not fear war at anytime. (3)

He challenges both the oracle and the idols.

Welcome!

He who does as he wishes.

All hail the king!

He will also support you.

And Ikumoyede Ajao, (4)

the one who possesses royal semen,

the endowed king of Bambi.

Welcome!

The king who had five wives,

each of them had one child for him,

and every of the child became king.

Oh Foyanmu, you are versed in history!

Ikumoyede was the husband of Agbo-in,

the daughter of Alaafin of the Old Oyo empire.

And she bore Toyeje, the fiery general. (5)

Ikumoyede was the husband of Balusoke Adubo.

Adubo was a native of Ajase-ipo town.

She was the mother of Oluwusi Aremu, (6)

the one who was slim and possessed long plaited beads.

Welcome!

Ikumoyede was the husband of Aina.

Truly!

She was the mother of Lawyer Gbadewuwon,

the envy of all royal men.

Ikumoyede was the husband of Asande,

a native of Irawo town.

Welcome!

Asande ogun was the mother of Idowu Ibolanta (7)

Welcome!

Ikumoyede was the husband of Ogunrun.

Ogunrun was a native of Agun town.

Bravo!

She was the mother of Akintunde,

the one who enjoyed eating snakes.

Ibikunle of Ibadan did not let us mourn.

As he always emerged with valour.

He was indeed a pride of the ancestors.

Oh Foyanmu, may the spirit of the king support you!

May he support you as a father supports the child.

Amen!

ETC

Prompt :

Finally, here’s our optional prompt for the day! Start off by reading Arvind Krishna Mehrotra’s “Lockdown Garden.”

*******

Lockdown Garden

BY ARVIND KRISHNA MEHROTRA

Close to each other,

socially undistanced,

the mulberry leaves,

uniformly green,

shall turn brown together.

It’s like a herd dying.

Firm to begin with,

the mud clod

could’ve injured you.

It crumbles in your hand.

In the heap of dead

leaves crinkly as

brown skins, those

breathing things

foraging around

the bamboo stand

are jungle babblers.

It was planted

all wrong, too

close to a wall,

under the mango

trees. There was

nowhere for it

to go except up

like a mast and

that’s where

it went, taking

its leaves with it—

long, tapering.

I never saw them

fall. It never

flowered, which

would’ve helped

me look it up in a

book of flowering

Indian trees. Now

I’ll never know

its name nor of

the bird singing

at evening

in the shrubbery.

She stood outside

the gate, a woman

my age, head covered

with flowery print,

a sickle in her hand.

Could she come

inside and cut

grass for her goats?

It was ankle high.

Her face was inches

from mine and I felt

her breath on my skin.

It’s after I’d turned

the corner that I heard

what she’d said.

The shingles unwalked on,

the doors bolted,

the squirrels back in their nests.

Under the moon a bird floats

and settles on a branch.

The sky is pale.

The leaves of the ironwood

when new every spring

are a deep pink.

The evening goes out like a flame.

We’ve seen different things.

It’s always been so.

Tell me, love, what you saw today.

*****

Source : Poetry 2020

*****

Now, try to write a poem of your own that has multiple numbered sections.

Attempt to have each section be in dialogue with the others, like a song where a different person sings each verse, giving a different point of view.

Set the poem in a specific place that you used to spend a lot of time in, but don’t spend time in anymore.

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Poem Title : THE CHAIR

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The chair, the desk,

the large rooms,

the cubicled sections

the long corridors

the colonnaded porticos

and the lawns

with formal borders

a crooked fir tree

graceful frangipani

bougainvillea and quisqualis

and the bridal creeper

trailing over

the boundary walls

I never really knew

how much the gardens

meant to me

and the vases of flowers

on the tables.

Teatime was always the best of times

and of course it was always teatime

Well, after eleven o’clock, definitely

Bearers in white with red cummerbunds

and ornate turbans of red and white

with gold piping seen here and there

between the folds, and a stiff hoopoe’s crest

of starched white mulmul topping the confection

could be seen soundlessly floating up and down

the gleaming corridors of power with polished door of teak and mahogany opening on both sides

amidst the potted palms and aspidistras

bearing silver trays with silver teapots

( later steel ) and milkpots and sugarpots

spoons and strainers and starched damask napkins

with Brittania Marie Wafer Biscuits and trail mixes

of spicy salted vermicelli and roasted gram and pulses

at the very least ; at best piping hot samosas

plump with mashed spiced peas and potatoes

served with a dash of Kissan’s tomato sauce

which is in fact mostly made of pumpkin

and ice- cold rosogullas in their own syrup

or sugar- bombs of soft sticky hot gulabjamuns

served with fresh hot Darjeeling tea

O the tinkling of those spoons in those teacups

and the tiny clouds of steam rising like mini dragons

from each fine porcelain or bone-china tea-cup when tea was poured from the hot teapot pot

into each translucent cup, table brewed -

a soupçon of milk, and one sugar, please .

The gossip was always hotter and spicier

than the snacks and the tea, especially

in the rooms of the departments of personnel

finance and cabinet coordination, especially

on Tuesday afternoons, when the Cabinet

usually met, and transfers and postings were decided :

you could see hacks from over a dozen newspapers

eager for slivers of news that even a passing peon

could drop, before the big feast of the post- cabinet

Press Conference, with pakoras and pineapple pastries

and ready- mixed tea from aluminium tea kettles

for official spokespersons, assistants, clerks,

and media persons. Four thirty to five , in the Secretariat Conference Hall

under the pink Clock Tower in the Old Secretariat.

To sit for hours

in colour- blocked

salwar - kameez-

dupatta- jacket

poring over petitions

and yellowed pages

of the law books

and “ reporters “

of High Court

and Supreme Court

Judgements with

titles and years

etched on their

covers and spines

in gold on red black

or brown leather

sparring with lawyers

in their black coats

and gowns and stiff

starched white collars

bow ties and recording

evidence and citing

precedents and dictating

judgements in tones

sonorous to drowsy

stenographers…..

Upstairs in the record room with the port- hole windows

records from a hundred fifty years ago were slowly

falling apart among the district gazetteers, and the clerks

and record- keepers wheezed and coughed

with asthma and tuberculosis, driving up the costs

of medical reimbursement.

One day the marigold garlands and rose bouquets

came out in cartloads and speeches were delivered

framed and presented to a jolly good “ fellow”

and a farewell ride given on a car pulled by colleagues.

That night, a buffet dinner at a posh hotel.

Then silence, more or less.

Cholai, the principal under- gardner,

brought home a bunch of handpicked flowers

on my birthday .

We had some tea and biscuits

and a pleasant chat in the verandah.

Birds sang to us - I , relaxed on my rattan recliner,

He , very proper, on a polished shisham chair.

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Poet : Amita Sarjit Ahluwalia

Poem 29/23 rd Day

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courtneytincher · 4 years

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U.S., Czech Republic agree to sale of H-1 helicopters

The U.S. Department of Defense announced that Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper and Czech Defense Minister Lubomir Metnar met at the Pentagon to finalize the sale of H-1 helicopters.

The defense leaders took part in a ceremonial signing of the agreement today following a meeting in which they discussed their long-standing defense relationship as well as mutual security concerns, according to a defense official.

“We are privileged to support the Czech people and applaud the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of the Czech Republic for selecting AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters.” said Vince Tobin, Executive Vice President of Bell’s Military Business.

The H-1 mixed fleet shares 85-percent commonality between parts, reducing the logistics, maintenance, and training costs of the AH-1Z and UY-1Y helicopters while offering a lethal combination of integrated weapons systems to counter ground, air, and maritime targets effectively. The AH-1Z is the only helicopter in production equipped with the AIM-9 Sidewinder providing the most advanced air-to-air combat capabilities.

“This mix allows the Czech Republic to accomplish a diverse mission set, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to close air support and air-to-air warfare,” said Joel Best, Director of Military Sales and Strategy, Europe. “The advanced capabilities of the H-1 program help ensure the safety and security of Czech sons and daughters for years to come.”

The purchase of four AH-1Z and eight UH-1Y military helicopters represents the first foreign military sale of a mixed H-1 fleet. Bell anticipates the delivery of the first H-1 aircraft to the Czech Republic will begin in 2023 and complete delivery by 2024.

The sale, which Esper said was a “historic moment,” totals about $650 million and is the Czech Republic’s largest military purchase from the U.S. The defense secretary said it is a step forward in the Czech Republic’s replacement of Russian helicopters with NATO interoperable equipment.

This procurement supports the National Defense Strategy objectives of strengthening alliances as well as countering Russian influence, highlights consolidated gains made over the past 30 years as the Czech Republic modernizes its armed forces and demonstrates the strength of the U.S.-Czech Republic defense relationship, a defense official said.

Both leaders said the U.S. and the Czech Republic share many security interests.

“We continue to stand united as NATO allies to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia. We will also continue to work together to address the threats and challenges posed by China, especially with regard to 5G technology,” Esper said. He noted the department’s appreciation for the Czech Republic’s leadership in calling attention to the security of 5G networks in Europe.

Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper greets Czech Republic Defense Minister Lubomír Metnar at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Dec. 12, 2019. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James K. Lee)

from Defence Blog

The U.S. Department of Defense announced that Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper and Czech Defense Minister Lubomir Metnar met at the Pentagon to finalize the sale of H-1 helicopters.

Both leaders said the U.S. and the Czech Republic share many security interests.

Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper greets Czech Republic Defense Minister Lubomír Metnar at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Dec. 12, 2019. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James K. Lee)

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#Defence Blog

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