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The Dissident reports on the Iranian missile strike on Dimona in Israel:

The War In Iran has seriously escalated in recent days with Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities, and a retaliatory Iranian strike on Dimona, the Israeli city housing its secret Nuclear Weapons development centre.

It's often forgotten by the general public that Israel is a nuclear power, even though this has been well-known for decades and was discussed in Seymour Hersh's 1991 book The Samson Option: Israel’s Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy.

Israeli military theorist Martin van Creveld, talking about the Samson option in 2003, said, “We possess several hundred atomic warheads and rockets and can launch them at targets in all directions, perhaps even at Rome. Most European capitals are targets for our air force” adding, “We have the capability to take the world down with us. And I can assure you that that will happen before Israel goes under.”

If you live in Europe just hope that Israel is not going under.

Coverage of the Iran war in the MSM has become downright weird.

The USA and Israel started an illegal war against Iran without any UN mandate.

They pummeled the country from the air, assassinated many Iranian leaders, sank a lot ships and killed plenty of civilians.

Some countries took a principled stand against the war - like Spain - and others like the UK and the EU hummed and haaed, seemingly changing their position every day.

The only reason they didn't all steam in with the USA this time is not becuase the war is illegal but mainly because they all hate Trump and would love to see him get caught out. That'll teach the old orange!

Then Iran began to retaliate.

According to the UN Charter - Article 51:

Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.

Now everyone is going on about the need to defend themselves from Iranian aggression in retaliation to being attacked by two countries at once, including the USA, a member of good-old 'defensive' NATO.

NATO should really drop all that defensive malarky and call it what it is: pre-emptive.

Israel is asking other nations to 'join in' their illegal war so they can get attacked with missiles like Israel is.

Europe and the west generally are only getting panicky because their energy supplies are threatened by Iran's action in the Strait of Hormuz and it's driving up the price of oil.

So their electorates might finally get a taste of kind of problems that western sanctions have been causing in Cuba, Iran, Russia and Venezuela (among others) for years.

A child could have foreseen this outcome but the geniuses who started the war ignored a sure thing, presumably thinking Iran would collapse in a few days, they would divert all the oil and impoverish the country even further and Trump would win the Nobel Peace prize.

But Iran is resisting - who would have thought it?

Aren't they just another bunch of towel-heads in flip-flops who need teaching a lesson? Like the Iraqis, Libyans, Syrians and Taliban?

If it wasn't for the fact that Iran is an ally of Russia and Iranians are being killed, Putin would be laughing his head off.

There's your international rules-based order in action. You western wankers!

But the MSM goes on treating this whole thing like it's a genuine war - like fighting Hitler - rather than something someone thought up on the back of an envelope after a few beers.

Wot we gonna call it? I know...Epic Fury! Awesome! High-fives all round as they dig in to the appetizers while watching the lap-dancers.

Unbelieevable!

The Spectator newsletter reports:

Talking of old struggles, Cyprus wants to have a ‘frank discussion’ about our military bases on the island, which have had attention drawn to them by the conflict in Iran. Cypriot protestors believe that the presence of our bases are turning them into targets for drone strikes and other attacks. Hardly the blitz spirit. The Cypriot president has also referred to the bases as ‘colonial’, which seems a bit hackneyed.

Well maybe.

Nobody would be sending drones/missiles to attack Cyprus if there were no UK bases there.

It's well-understood that the bases are not there to protect Cyprus - they did nothing about the Turkish invasion in 1974 - but as a power projection platform for NATO.

If the bases moved out at least two things would happen:

1. Cyprus would lose some useful revenue from all those Brits.
2. There would be a property development bonanza as the SBAs occupy prime Cyprus real-estate.

Maybe (2) is really what is in the mind of the Cypriot president?

MTG appeals for MAGA to return to what it stands for.

Click the source link button to view the 9 minute video on Youtube.

The Dissident reports:

Indeed, Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz may force Europe to end the proxy war in Ukraine and normalize relations with Russia to restore access to cheap energy.

This was stated by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in an interview with the newspaper L’Echo, where he called “on Europe to reach a deal with Russia to end the war in Ukraine,” adding that, “a negotiated settlement is also necessary to restore access to cheap energy.”

Sometimes it's useful to be a gas station masquerading as a country as Russophobe John McCain once put it.

Meanwhile Zelensky was in the UK pitching for mo' money, mo' money, mo' money.

He even gave King Charles an iPad (that will probably be the star prize in the Sandringham Christmas raffle).

A prolonged SMO in Iran could be it for Zelensky and Ukraine.

Expect more shadow fleet tankers to be pirated by Europe as they clearly need the oil.

FNN is no fan of the EU or Barmy Starmy but at least they seem to be getting that kow-towing to Trump is a zero-sum game.

Instead of all rushing to join-in on the special military operation (SMO) to destroy Iran, Kallas, Merz and Starmer are now joining those like the Spanish and Italians and others to exercise some caution.

After all, the EU/UK can't afford another Ukraine!

Trouble is, no-one has any idea what Trump will do next.

Of course Cuba and Greenland remain in the frame but maybe he'll start eyeing up Iceland or Spitsbergen - who the hell knows?

Sky News reports:

'Stinky' molten planet spotted by astronomers with surface not unlike vision of hell

The planet, named L 98-59 d, is covered with magma and ​enveloped by a noxious and fiercely hot, sulfur-rich atmosphere.

The elusive Norwegian head of the Davos-based Mysterons, Olav Hurtigruten, has explained why the planet has an atmosphere of around 10% hydrogen sulfide:

The Mysterons have used this planet for centuries to dump toxic waste in order to keep Mars clean.

All the waste is burned up immediately in its atmosphere ub it does mean the planet is a bit qhiffy!

Whoooohahahahahaha.

He then turned a pickled egg into a cheesburger with his power of matter transference.

Every time FNN reads another MSM story on Ukraine full of terms like Putin's 'barbarism', 'imperialism', 'KGB cunning' one wonders who is actually buying into all this nonsense.

Let's consider the Scotland scenario.

Despite some differences, Scotland and England are culturally close, there has been plenty of inter-marriaging between Scots and English and they happily participate together in UK sporting teams like the Rugby Lions.

But after centuries of close attachment to the United Kingdom's Union, Scotland - whether due to a referendum result or something else - decides to secede from the Union.

It is now an independent country that also chooses to be neutral and promises good relations with its closest neighbour that it shares a border with. So far so good.

But in reality, Scotland is highly dependent on its relationship with its bigger neighbour (England) - let's say for energy and a good deal of its import/export trade.

After about 20 years this cosy 'old-firm' relationship turns sour as Scottish nationalists start to become more aggressive in their demands for a full and free Scotland.

Demands that include banning the use of the English language in Scotland (making Gaelic the national language), kicking out the Royals and cracking down on the rights of any English living in Scotland.

Then there is a foreign-backed coup (China, Russia?) resulting from a nationalist demonstration in Edinburgh that disposes of the relatively moderate Scottish government and replaces it with another that is committed to 'a free Scotland for Scots'.

Then it becomes clear that this 'free' Scotland wants to join the BRICS and a new global military alliance called CATO (The China-Atlantic Treaty Organization).

Now there's a real possibility that China could build military bases in Scotland and a lot of Scotland/England trade move elsewhere.

Then the Scottish nationalist army 'Braveheart' division with its distinctive blue war-paint, aided by foreign mercenaries, begins to hunt and kill English sympathizers in Scotland.

What do you think the UK i.e. England would do with all this happening right on its borders?

Sit back and do nothing or take action?

England would take action.

Just as they did during the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland, England would send in the Army and then a full-scale media information war would begin.

The Scottish nationalist press would be full of claims about the English Prime Minister's 'barbarism', 'imperialism', 'MI6 cunning'.

And then the false-flag atrocity stories would start - 'Culloden 2' in an Inverness district, the 'Highland Clearances 2' when crofters are killed by drone strikes - as the Scottish MSM whipped up anti-English sentiment into a frenzy.

The EU might step in after deciding that 'Brexit' England needs to humbled with sanctions and asset-freezes and grants Scotland money for weapons.

The USA might threaten England with airstrikes from bases in Europe, now that the 'special relationship' has soured, and grants Scotland money for weapons.

The UN supports Scotland in its fight for 'freedom and democracy' against English aggression and their 'full-scale' invasion of Scotland.

Doubtless you are thinking 'but that could never happen'.

But it did. In Ukraine.

The Daily Mail reports:

Controversial 'Queen of Woke' is in line to be Britain's first female Cabinet Secretary

Another triumph for the UK's vetting system - no it's not Jacina Ardern or the Wild Finn - but Dame Antonio Romeo.

No she's not a call sign - Broadsword calling Danny Boy - but the proposed new Cabinet secretary (Head of the Civil Service).

So time to get your pronouns in order.

The Sun reports:

AND THEY'RE OFF! Moment brawl erupts in ladies’ toilets at Cheltenham with woman yanked to floor by her hair & punched repeatedly.

As Wellington may have remarked if he were there:

I don't know what effect these (wo)men will have upon the enemy, but by God, they frighten me.

So be careful, enemies of the UK, attack the UK and you will will need to deal with the likes of these Cheltenham ladies.

FNN assumes that this incident will be investigated as a hate crime as the main victim appears to have been a 'ginger'.

BTW this is not the kind of etiquette taught at the famous Cheltenham Ladies College.

Caitlin Johnstone reports:

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt gave a bizarre appearance on CNN in response to an attempted car bombing of a Michigan synagogue by a man whose Lebanese family members were killed by Israeli forces.

“We are seeing Jewish people, the Jewish state, blamed for the war in the Middle East,” Greenblatt said. “That is wrong. It is wrong to scapegoat, it is wrong to hold Jewish people accountable for something you don’t like on the other side of the planet. And we really need leaders on all sides in politics, running for office, podcasters, to stop with the conspiracies, to stop with the accusations, and then tell us ‘but we oppose antisemitism’. You don’t get to say you’re opposed to hate if you’re trafficking in hateful conspiracy theories.”

Bizarre indeed.

Apparently it's OK to conflate all Russian people with the Russian state over Ukraine but it's not alright to do the same with Jewish people - whose athletes and artists are not subject to global bans - and the state of Israel over Iran, Lebanon and Palestine.

This is hypocrisy of the highest order.

Yes it is wrong to scapegoat, we can all agree about that.

So how about mentioning that other people are subject to similar 'hateful conspiracy theories' and it is not only Jews especially who are subject to this kind of hatred.

The Dissident reports:

Al Jazeera reported , “Thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets of the capital Tehran for a mass protest in support of Palestinians, as the death toll from United States and Israeli attacks on the country continues to mount,” adding,:

Reporting from the demonstration in Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi said Iranians hoped to both show their support for Palestinians and express “defiance and resilience” amid the US-Israeli attacks.

“They think that by killing us, we will be afraid, that by dropping bombs on our heads, we will be afraid. No, we stand by our country,” a female demonstrator told Al Jazeera.

The Blitz spirit is alive and well in Iran.

Once again 'torpedo' Hegseth's grasp of history is lacking.

He seems to have forgotten that during WW2, Britons responded to Luftwaffe bombing with a 'bltz spirit'.

And even German civilians, subject to the most devastating carpet-bombing of its cities in history, were not broken by 'Bomber' Harris and his American allies round-the-clock bombing.

The myth that Iranians will rise up against a hateful regime in response to US/Israeli attacks is just that - a myth - as history proves.

The Spectator newsletter reports:

A driver accused of ramming his truck into a Michigan synagogue yesterday has been named as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a 41-year-old naturalised US citizen who was born in Lebanon. The suspect drove through the doors of Temple Israel synagogue in a Detroit suburb and down a hallway before his vehicle caught fire. Officials said the suspect was killed during the incident – although it is not known if he was shot dead by security guards or wounded by the fire.

The FBI said it was treating the case as a ‘targeted act of violence against the Jewish community’.

Well that's one way of putting it.

Another is the someone got rather angry about children being killed, as Caitlin Johnstone points out:

Drop Site’s Ryan Grim reports, “The man who rammed his explosives-laden truck into a Michigan synagogue today was named Ayman Ghazaleh, according to a source familiar with the situation. Ghazaleh posted photos overnight of his family members, including young children, who were killed in a recent Israeli attack on the town of Mashghara, Lebanon.”

You know the drill by now.

Step 1: Help Israel murder children in genocides and wars of aggression.

Step 2: Wait for blowback in the form of extremist attacks in the west.

Step 3: Use the blowback to justify authoritarian domestic policies in the name of fighting terrorism.

Step 4: Repeat from Step 1.

News that the UK may deploy a Royal Marines unti to help protect Cyprus against Iran has been met with joy by Greek Cypriots.

They remember the last time the UK protected Cyprus from foreign interference - when Turkey invaded and partitioned the island in 1974.

This looks like a bit of a boondoggle for the Marines given that Cyprus is a bit warmer than Lympstone.

Expect a few more punch-ups in Ayia Napa.

The BBC reports:

German cross-country skiers turned their backs on the Russian gold medallists on the Winter Paralympics podium in protest against the nation's inclusion at the Games.

Hmmm.

I don't remember Soviet Union athletes turning their backs on Germans after WW2 when the Nazis were responsible for the deaths of millions of people in the Soviet Union.

This gesture is about as useful as 'taking the knee' was during the time of Black Lives Matter.

Even German athletes in the 1936 Berlin Olympics did not turn their back on so-called 'inferior races' and some of those athletes were Nazis!

The 1936 Berlin Olympics banned Jewish athletes simply because they were Jewish. Now Germans want to ban Russians because they are Russian.

Does no-one get the similarity here?

And why is this behaviour appropriate in today's world?

Why does sport have to be politicized in this way and participants show disrespect for the International Paralympic Committee's decision to lift its suspension of Russia in September?

If you feel that strongly about it, don't participate in the games.

It's also interesting to remember that black athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos did not turn their back on 'oppressive' white athletes at the 1968 Olympics.

Their protest was a protest against racial injustice, not a rejection of individual white athletes who happened to be white.

Instead of turning their backs, they turned to face the U.S. flag while raising their fists, symbolizing solidarity with oppressed Black people.

AI finds this post 'inflammatory', which is of course a perspective.

Sky News reports:

Iran war creates biggest supply crisis 'in history of global oil market', IEA says

A day after agreeing to release a record amount of stockpiled oil over the war in the Middle East, the International Energy Agency is sounding the alarm for supplies in the months ahead.

In its monthly market report, it says: "The war in the Middle East is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market."

One of the original attractions of Trump was that he would be a disruptor, it's just that no-one expected that he would disrupt global oil supplies like he has, something that impacts practically every country on earth.

As the song says:

Oh, yes, I'm the great pretender

Adrift in a world of my own

I play the game but to my real shame

You've left me to dream all alone

Unfortunately the game he plays is not a dream and he's not in a world of his own.

The Spectator reports:

The European Union now has its very own honours list, grandly named the European Order of Merit – with gongs dished out to Bono and Angela Merkel. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, and Lech Walesa, Poland’s first president after communism, also made the cut in the inaugural honours roll call.

The new Eurogong Awards Show could be hosted by that great Europhile Antoine de Caune or better still it would be a great gig for Ricky Gervais to rip into the EU great and good.

But who wants to go to a show in Brussels?

You can tell when an insititution is heading for irrelevancy when it is reduced to handing out awards for being 'one of us'.

Sky News reports:

No one will be surprised to believe that Putin's hidden hand is behind some of the Iranian tactics, potentially some of their capabilities as well," Mr Healey said, speaking to reporters during a trip to the UK's Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) at Northwood, the main base overseeing military operations overseas.

Well no we guess not since the UK's hidden hands are all over the war in Ukraine, along with lots of other 'hidden hands'.

In fact hidden hands - whether it's China, Israel, Russia, Israel, the UK or the USA - seem to guiding pretty much everything these days.

How is one supposed to respond to Healey's revelation - with surprise?

The Spectator newsletter reports:

Nigel Farage also seems to have cooled off on the war, having said last night: ‘I, as leader, am saying to you, if we can’t even defend Cyprus, let’s not get ourselves involved in another foreign war.’

This is all nonsense of course.

The UK could not defend Cyprus in 1974 when fellow-NATO member Turkey invaded and partitioned the country.

Since then the UK has been involved in various foreign wars so the previous 'full-scale' invasion of Cyprus did nothing to stop UK warmongers so why should a few Iranian (?) drones stop them.

Greek Cypriots have not forgotten but evidently UK politicians have.