#Libya updates

[weepingfireflies]

People & countries mentioned in the thread:

DR Congo - M23, Cobalt

Darfur, Sudan - International Criminal Court, CNN, BBC (Overview); Twitter Explanation on Sudan

Tigray - Human Rights Watch (Ethnic Cleansing Report)

the Sámi people - IWGIA, Euronews

Hawai'i - IWGIA

Syria - Amnesty International

Kashmir- Amnesty Summary (PDF), Wikipedia (Jammu and Kashmir), Human Rights Watch (2022)

Iran - Human Rights Watch, Morality Police (Mahsa/Jina Amini - Al Jazeera, Wikipedia)

Uyghurs - Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) Q&A, Wikipedia, Al Jazeera, UN Report

Tibetans - SaveTibet.org, United Nations

Yazidi people - Wikipedia, United Nations

West Papua - Free West Papua, Genocide Watch

Yemen - Human Rights Watch (Saudi border guards kill migrants), Carrd

Sri Lanka (Tamils) - Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch

Afghans in Pakistan - Al Jazeera, NPR

Ongoing Edits: more from the notes / me

Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh/Azerbaijan (Artsakh) - Global Conflict Tracker ("Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict"), Council on Foreign Relations, Human Rights Watch (Azerbaijan overview), Armenian Food Bank

Baháʼís in Iran - Bahá'í International Community, Amnesty, Wikipedia, Minority Rights Group International

Kafala System in the Middle East - Council on Foreign Relations, Migrant Rights

Rohingya - Human Rights Watch, UNHCR, Al Jazeera, UNICEF

Montagnards (Vietnam Highlands) - World Without Genocide, Montagnard Human Rights Organization (MHRO), VOA News

Ukraine - Human Rights Watch (April 2022), Support Ukraine Now (SUN), Ukraine Website, Schools & Education (HRW), Dnieper River advancement (Nov. 15, 2023 - Ap News)

Reblogs with Links / From Others

Indigenous Ppl of Canada, Cambodia, Mexico, Colombia

Libya

Armenia Reblog 1, Armenia Reblog 2

Armenia, Ukraine, Central African Republic, Indigenous Americans, Black ppl (US)

Rohingya (Myanmar)

More Hawai'i Links from @sageisnazty - Ka Lahui Hawaii, Nation of Hawai'i on Soverignty, Rejected Apology Resolution

From @rodeodeparis: Assyrian Policy Institute, Free Yezidi

From @is-this-a-cool-url: North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA)

From @dougielombax & compiled by @azhdakha: Assyrians & Yazidis

West Sahara conflict

Last Updated: Feb. 19th, 2024 (If I missed smth before this, feel free to @ me to add it)

[saywhat-politics]

Libya’s provisional government denied in a post on social media that any coordination of deportations with the U.S. had taken place.

May 7, 2025, 10:10 AM MST / Updated May 7, 2025, 10:24 AM MST

By Kimmy Yam, Courtney Kube and Laura Strickler

The U.S. is planning to send a group of undocumented immigrants to Libya as early as this week, two U.S. officials with knowledge of the flight said.

A U.S. military aircraft is expected to transport the migrants. A State Department spokesperson said that the agency does not discuss the “details of our diplomatic communications with other governments.” The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on anything related to Libyan deportations.

[homeofthelonelywriter]

I got you | Pt. 3

(A/N) Had a long break from Tumblr, sorry about that but Uni kicked my ass. Still, I hope you enjoy this!

Pairing: Simon x Reader (no Y/N)

Warning: lots of angst, death of a loved one, PTSD, civil war, flashbacks, injuries, description of death

Synopsis: You are back in Libya and realize that someone you thought you'd never see again is your enemy.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

“We’ll be landing in five minutes, get ready.”

The voice is covered in static as it reaches your ears through the headset all of you are wearing. Your eyes quickly find Ghost’s, pure anxiety clear on your face. He nods reassuringly and you take a deep breath as the helicopter slowly starts to descent.

You close your eyes and try to focus on the people around you. Your team. Your best friends. Your family. They are all here with you, you are safe. With another exhale, you open your eyes and notice that Ghost is still looking at you. He opens his mouth to say something but is stopped as the voice of the pilot rings out in your headset again.

“Landing in thirty seconds. Hold on, guys.”

Everyone in the cabin instinctually grabs onto something as the helicopter starts to shake before it comes to a stop on the ground. Sand and dust are whirled around while the blades keep spinning above your heads as you jump out and follow your captain toward the base. Another soldier is already waiting and shakes Price’s hand before walking alongside him. You can’t make out what they’re talking about, but you see their lips moving. Probably just more details and updates about the mission.

You suddenly feel a strong wind against your back and turn around just to watch the helicopter lift back up and leave. Now there is no going back.

A lump forms in your throat as you watch your last source of escape leave. Suddenly your feet feel heavy and you can’t move. You can only stand there and watch. Stand and watch.

“C’mon love.”

Ghost places a warm hand on your shoulder, gently pulling you towards the tents, where the rest of your team is already waiting. You nod and turn to look at him.

“Thanks for waiting for me.”

You can’t see his face, but you get the sense he’s smiling at you.

“Always.”

Together, the two of you walk to the table, where the rest of your team is already being briefed. You tune it out to the best of your abilities, Ghost would fill you in on it in the car, but when a certain name falls, your head shoots up, eyes wide.

“What?”

Everyone stares at you. Well, not everyone. Ghost is actually looking at the soldier who had greeted Price earlier, the soldier who had been talking until you interrupted him. Wait, no. Ghost isn’t looking at him. He is glaring at him. Yet no one is answering you.

“That name…say it again.”

Now everyone in your team is glaring at the soldier. He quickly looks at Price, who just nods with a sigh. And then he says that name again. The same name that you had called out with a giggle whenever that man would come to visit, always with an ‘uncle’ before the actual name. The same name that your father had cursed after an argument. The same name that your mother had pleaded with to spare your family. The same name you never wanted to hear again.

You stumble back from the table as all these memories come rushing back to you. Ghost immediately reaches out and pulls you to his chest. Price says something and after a moment, only Ghost and you are left there. One of his arms is tightly wrapped around your waist, keeping you close and upright, while the other slowly strokes your head.

Images keep coming and you don’t know how to stop them. Your happy childhood. Evenings spent together as one big family. Your fourth birthday when your uncle got you the dollhouse you’ve been wanting for weeks now. The first argument between your father and his brother and how it slowly escalated from there. The evening when everything changed and your uncle led a small group of armed men to your house. The moment he shot your father and brother.

You keep spiraling until you hear your name and your head snaps up. There is Ghost, his brown eyes looking at you, filled with concern.

“Are you okay?”

You nod, lowering your gaze again, focusing on a loose thread on Ghost’s uniform. Without thinking, you reach up and start playing with it. A deep chuckle rings through Ghost’s chest as he watches you.

“What are you thinking about?”

Your fingers stop in their movement and you hesitate before you look up at Ghost.

“He was…is my uncle.”

Ghost nods. He already knows that.

“He killed my father and brother. Maybe even my mother and sister.”

He nods again. More information he is already aware of.

“I’m going to kill him.”

That gets his attention. But where you thought you’d find shock or maybe even disgust, you only find adoration and respect.

“We’ll make sure you do, don’t worry.”

You look at him confused and he quickly explains that the briefing contained an update. Your uncle, who was supposed to arrive within the next few days would arrive about 20 minutes before you would.

“Your chance for revenge.”

A smile starts to play on your lips as you gaze up at Ghost, the crinkling around his eyes, betraying his own, small smile.

“Let’s go find the others.”

You nod as Ghost lets you go, before taking your hand and leading you towards the big tent.

By the time the two of you reach the tent, the team has finished the briefing and all of you started to prepare to leave. Everyone starts going through their gear, making sure that everything is in order and they have enough ammunition for the mission. By the time you were done, it was time to go.

You all file into the truck, yourself squeezed in between Ghost and Gaz. Thankfully the journey wouldn’t take too long and before you knew it, it was time to walk.

You leave the truck hidden behind a large rock and begin the track to the base. While walking, you grow more anxious. Anxious about seeing the man who is responsible for all of your trauma. But also anxious to finally see him dead.

Suddenly, Price raises his hand, making all of you stop in your tracks. You reached the outskirts of the base. With well-practiced hand signs, he tells Ghost and you to head west and start clearing from that direction. Soap, Gaz, and Price would do the same on the other side.

With practiced stealth, Ghost and you manage to infiltrate the base, killing anyone who’s in your way. Once inside, Ghost lets the other three know before you continue toward the office where the document should be located.

The base itself is surprisingly deserted, not a guard in sight as you slowly stalk through the hallways. The sinking feeling in your stomach starts to grow as you stop Ghost.

“Something’s not right.”

He nods, agreeing with you. But still, you have your mission and you have to complete it.

You continue on your way until you catch the sound of voices coming from an office in front of you. You signal to Ghost and he nods in acknowledgment, quickly moving to one side of the door. You press against the wall on the other side and carefully peek inside. And there he is.

He is fatter than he was all those years ago, and he definitely lost a lot of hair, but you would recognize his face everywhere. Ghost catches your attention with a gesture, implying that he will start the countdown for a breach. You nod, watching his fingers with your gun in your hand. As soon as the last finger lowered, you pushed open the door and stormed inside, yelling for everyone to get to the ground.

And then…a shot rings out.

@pagesfalling

Next Part

Please consider reblogging and following me! It helps a lot!

Call of Duty - Masterlist

Master-Masterlist

[asterleil]

hullo so um you might not be hearing from me for a while. Civil War kinda broke out for the first time since 2017. It's libya, what do you expect?

Update: I'm good.

[gazanarchive]

At least 5,000 people have died and 10,000 are believed missing after Storm Daniel dumped so much rain on Libya’s northeast that two dams collapsed sending water flowing into already inundated areas. Communities face multiple challenges with 20,000 internally displaced.  It is reported that the eastern city of Derna, which has seen the worst of the devastation, as many as 6,000 people are missing and whole neighborhoods are believed to have been washed away in the city, according to authorities. Hospitals in Derna are no longer operable and the morgues are full.

[girlactionfigure]

🚨IDF BEGINS STRONG & DESTRUCTIVE ATTACKS ON BEIRUT - Updates from Israel  

ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

Moadim l’Simcha from Israel - wishes for a happy Succot intermediate holy days.

( VIDEO - demolition of Hezbollah buildings near the northern border adjacent to Israeli towns. )

❗️IDF WARNING TO LEBANON - All Lebanese residents who live near Hezbollah's economic assets - evacuate immediately. We will attack tonight and tomorrow economic assets that have helped Hezbollah.  In the next few hours we will attack in Beirut and throughout Lebanon.  “Buildings will fall in Beirut.”

.. IDF spokesman in Arabic addresses the people of Lebanon and informs them that the IDF is expected to soon attack the infrastructure of the "Good Loan Association" (Al-Karch Al-Hassan), which is a recognized financial institution of Hezbollah, through which Hezbollah finances terrorist activities.

.. ATTACKS HAVE BEGUN.

.. IDF spokesman publishes in Arabic in the last 10 minutes at least 14 evacuation notices in Dahiya and the Al-Baqaa area.

▪️STRONG GPS JAMMING.. reported in parts of Israel.  Mapping apps may not work, set ALERT apps to a location instead of “where I’m at”.

▪️TERROR PREVENTED - GERMANY.. an attack on the Israeli embassy in Germany was prevented: an illegal resident from Libya, a 28-year-old ISIS supporter.

▪️A HERO COMMANDER HAS FALLEN.. in battle in Gaza: Ahsan Daxa, 41, from Daliyat al-Karmel.  May the fallen receive mercy, and may the family be honored.

▪️A NOVA SURVIVOR HAS FALLEN.. to the trauma / PTSD, ending her life on her 22nd birthday.  Nova survivor, Shiral Golan, at 22.  Her family requested the info be shared.  May her family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may G-d avenge her blood!

🔸ANXIETY / MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINES: experiencing issues? Help is available..

.. in English : Tikva Helpline by KeepOlim, call if you are struggling!  dial 074-775-1433.

.. in Hebrew & other languages (and English): Eran Emotional Support Line - dial 1201 or chat via eran.org.il  

.. Get Help Israel is offering 3 free sessions for war-related issues through vetted clinicians -  https://gethelpisrael.com/webpage/?title=israel-crisis-support-center

▪️HARRIS TO BAN?  Senator Bernie Sanders to CNN estimates that Harris will be open to accepting his proposal for a total arms embargo on Israel due to the war in Gaza.  (Although US Senator Sanders has no connection to the Harris campaign nor speaks for her.)

♦️LEBANON - IDF: Golani fighters killed about 60 terrorists in southern Lebanon, terrorist infrastructure were destroyed.

♦️LEBANON - IDF fighters continue their activity in the area of ​​southern Lebanon: many weapons and launchers were destroyed, including the launcher from which the launches towards the north of the country were detected earlier today.

🔹LEBANESE SPEAKER SAYS.. Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Navia Berri: I am authorized to speak on behalf of Hezbollah and it agrees to abide by UN Resolution 1701.

🔹THAAD.. The American THAAD system for intercepting ballistic missiles became operational today in Israel.

🔹SYRIAN PRESIDENT SAYS.. Syrian President Assad conveyed messages to Iran and Hezbollah not to embroil him in a war with Israel and warned that offensive actions from Syria towards Israel could endanger his rule.

▪️THOSE WHO WOULD GIVE UP.. Hundreds of academics signed a petition calling for sanctions to be imposed on Israel in order to save Israel from the Israelis who are interested in continuing the "Gaza massacre". The petition was also signed by MK Ofer Kasif, activists of the organization B'Tselem and Peace Now.

✡️A word of Torah: Crying is very bad; one must serve G‑d with joy.  The only exception is when you cry from joy and bonding with G‑d. Then it is very good. —Tzava’at Harivash 45.

♦️BEIRUT EVAC, HEZBOLLAH THREATENS, HOUTHIS (possibly) LAUNCH - Updates from Israel  

ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

Moadim l’Simcha from Israel - wishes for a happy Succot intermediate holy days.

▪️FAKE VISUALS.. within a few minutes of the IDF spokesperson threats, videos of explosions were already appearing on various channels.  THE VIDEOS WERE from 6 days ago - so FAKE NEWS.  We’re sure Beirut videos will be shared, but the real ones are not out yet.

.. Videos of Beirut traffic jams as people evacuate - those appear to be real and semi-live.  

▪️GUNFIRE MODI’IN.. Following inquiries from residents about the sounds of gunshots heard throughout the city, the issue was investigated, and it is training being carried out at the military facility near the city.

♦️LEBANON - Enemy report: a massive movement of people fleeing Beirut has begun - following the IDF's threats to attack al-Qard al-Hassan facilities used by Hezbollah.

.. Hezbollah's "Good Loan" association has 31 branches throughout Lebanon, of which 14 are in Beirut, 10 in southern Lebanon and 6 in the Beqaa area.

♦️LEBANON - The government hospital in Baalbak began to evacuate after the IDF spokesman's announcement in Arabic.

♦️LEBANON - Six more sites have been added to the IDF's evacuation orders, 24 at the moment.

♦️GAZA - A strong attack is also reported in the north of the Gaza Strip.

🔹HEZBOLLAH COUNTER-THREATENS.. Hezbollah threatens through American intermediaries: "Israel will make the mistake of attacking our economic assets, we will be forced to escalate and launch precision missiles at the banks in the center of the entity”.

🔹UNIFIL ALERT.. Sirens sounding at UNFIL Naquora - Lebanon, Level (3): Extreme Danger.

⭕MULTIPLE ROUNDS of SUICIDE DRONE attacks on NAHARIYA from HEZBOLLAH.  No casualties reported.

❗️(unconfirmed) Reports of LAUNCHES by the HOUTHIS - YEMEN.  If ballistic missiles, we’ll know within 15 minutes as alerts come in.  If cruise missiles, in a hour.  Drones much longer (2-6 hours).  The ballistic missiles are low volume but high flying, so result in a very wide alert area due to possible falling debris from interception.

🇺🇸The Jerusalem Post: "The Biden government leaked to the Iranian government Israel's plan to attack Iran and gave the exact date it would be carried out and the targets of the attack."

Part 2

⚠️ ESCALATING ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES AND PREPARATIONS FOR A MAJOR ATTACK ON IRAN AMID INCREASING THREATS FROM HEZBOLLAH AND IRAN-BACKED FORCES

🚨 US Army convoy, including THAAD systems, is moving around Be'er Sheva, Central Israel. The convoy also includes fuel tankers and generators.

💥 Intense Israeli airstrikes target the southern suburbs of Beirut, including a strike on the main entrance of Al-Manar TV headquarters, affiliated with Hezbollah.

🔴 Israeli military spokesman Hagari stated, "We have drawn up attack plans targeting every place in the Middle East that poses a threat to us."

🔴 An Israeli security official revealed to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority that Israel is preparing for a major attack on Iran and is ready to repel any subsequent Iranian responses.

💩 Iranian military sources to "Tasnim" News Agency warned, "Our finger is on the trigger, and the biggest surprise awaits the Israelis." They added that if Israel attacks military or nuclear sites, Iran's response would be "certain and beyond Israeli expectations," potentially leading Iran to reconsider its nuclear policies.

❗️ Donald Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, regarding a strike on Iran, "You do what you have to do."

⭕ The IDF confirmed that a drone launched from Iraq towards Israel was shot down over Syria before entering Israeli airspace. The drone was intercepted without any sirens being sounded. The Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the drone attack on a target in the Golan Heights.

Source: t.me

[milkboydotnet]

Primer: Support the NDFP’s Program for Independent Foreign Policy! Resist US imperialist war and US-NATO!

This primer explains the growing threat of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in the Asia Pacific region and how it puts the Filipino people at further risk in the context of the US pivot to Asia. As FFPS, we uphold the Philippine revolution as a just and viable answer to imperialist war. 

NATO: A Tool of US War and Expansion 

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a US-led military alliance of 32 member states. While its name would suggest that all member countries share at least one coast with the North Atlantic Ocean, NATO has spread further beyond Europe, and into other continents.  

NATO has always functioned as a tool of US military dominance and expansion. It has facilitated US-led interventions and regime change operations far beyond the “North Atlantic” from the former Yugoslavia, to Libya. By continuously expanding eastward after the end of the Cold War, despite promises to the contrary, NATO has heightened tensions contributing to conflicts like the one in Ukraine. This pattern reveals how NATO primarily serves the US’ strategic interests.

Despite recent threats and criticisms made by the Trump regime toward NATO and allied states, the alliance remains a strategic tool of US war-mongering and secured an increase in military spending on the part of European members.

US Pivots to Asia and so does NATO

In 2011, the US, under President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, announced the US “pivot to Asia.” The pivot, which has only intensified under subsequent US regimes, signaled the US intention to expand economic and military control in the resource rich region full of key trade routs, and especially to contain the rise of China as a competing imperialist power. The proclaimed pivot has resulted in US militarism in the Asia Pacific region and in the Philippines, where US military bases and troop presence has multiplied dramatically. 

In 2022 NATO followed the US lead and updated their Strategic Concept, naming the Indo Pacific region as “important for NATO,” claiming that “developments in that region can directly affect Euro-Atlantic security.” NATO laid out the “challenges” posed by China and their efforts to “subvert the rules-based international order”. 2 years earlier, NATO released “NATO 2030: United for a New Era”, claiming that China poses “Grave risks” and is “best understood as a full-spectrum systemic rival”.

Results of US Pivot to Asia in Philippines

In 2014, the US and the Philippines signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, or EDCA, which allowed the re-establishment of US military bases in the Philippines, with no control or oversight over the activities of US soldiers or what kind of war materiel will be stored on Philippine soil. It also allows the US to use any road, airport, seaport, or civilian facilities anywhere in the Philippines. 

The current President of the Philippines, Marcos Jr., acts as the current comprador of US interests and has maintained and expanded military agreements with the US government. This includes reaffirming the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, expanding the number of US military bases under the EDCA to nine confirmed sites, increased joint military exercises and “security collaboration,” as well as the secret deployment of US Typhon missile systems and boosting of military aid—an additional $500 million in 2024 and a proposed $2.5 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF). 

Marcos has further played a key role in allowing US allies, including members and partners of NATO, to sign military agreements and join military exercises with the Philippines. 

US Military Build Up and NATO Pivot Endangers Filipino People 

In the midst of the increase of US militarism in the Asia-Pacific and in the Philippines, the US has also pushed its allies, including NATO member states, to intensify their presence in the region. 

While the US has the Visiting Forces Agreement with the Philippines to allow unrestrained movement and presence of US troops, other countries have signed similar agreements, notably NATO members and “global partners” like Canada, Australia and Japan. Other NATO member states like the UK, France, Spain, and Italy all engage in various forms of intelligence sharing, military training or joint exercises with the Philippines. Germany recently signing an arrangement on increased defense cooperation with the Philippines on May 14, 2025. This came in the heels of Balikatan 2025, the biggest joint military exercise of the U.S. and Filipino troops featuring “full battle test” scenarios.

The 2025 Balikatan exercises included more than 9,000 US troops as well as participants from 19 countries, including for the first time troops from NATO allies Canada and Britain, as well as NATO member France for the 2nd year in a row and from NATO “Global Partners” South Korea, Japan, and Australia. These exercises are used to investigate and test the terrain and topography of the country, showcase and deploy US weaponry as well as a cover to participate in “counterinsurgency” operations on the ground.

US military presence, in addition to the presence of NATO members and partners, denies the right of the Filipino people to an independent foreign policy. 

Next to this, each military exercise and training brings with it economic impacts on the basic masses, as farmer’s access to their farmlands are hindered, or as fisherfolk are denied access to the sea. This denial of the people’s right to livelihood is a brazen violation, and one that will worsen with the presence of more troops from more NATO countries. Each new base, whether declared or “secret” brings with it environmental destruction, disruptions to people’s livelihood, as well as increased violence against the people. 

As pointed out in the 2024 International People’s Tribunal, the NDFP’s anti-imperialist struggle threatens US geopolitical and economic interests in the Asia-Pacific. The tribunal also found the US-Duterte and US-Marcos regimes guilty of war crimes committed in the context of “counterinsurgency.” For the US, maintaining a controlled regime in the Philippines and suppressing efforts by the Filipino people to assert their right of self-determination is essential to preserve its dominance and to counter any emerging power like China. Therefore, the US will continue to support and direct the GRP’s “counterinsurgency” and base more troops in the Philippines. 

As the US is on a desperate drive to maintain control over key trade routes in the Asia Pacific region and maintain dominance over resources as China grows as an economic power, the threat of inter-imperialist war grows and the Philippines is dragged into the crosshairs with the Filipino people put at great risk. 

The Philippine revolution – the just and necessary answer to imperialist war  

The revolutionary movement provides clear alternatives to endless war and the economic, environmental, and social impacts of foreign aggression. Through the armed struggle, the building of revolutionary bases, and the agrarian revolution, the revolutionary forces are building, step-by-step, an alternative to the current rotten US-puppet state. 

The NDFP’s vision for foreign policy, laid out in the 12th point of their 12-point program is: 

“After the nationwide seizure of political power by the revolutionary movement, the people’s democratic government shall pursue an active, independent, and peaceful foreign policy. The new government shall reject, and vigorously defend itself against all forms of foreign intervention and interference in the country’s internal affairs from all other states.” 

This is in distinct contradiction to the current puppet state, which allows US and NATO-allied troops to engage in their provocations against China, placing the Filipino people directly in the crosshairs of any potential conflict. 

Conclusion

As people outside of the Philippines, we must be deeply concerned for the potential threat of inter-imperialist war, US militarism in the Philippines and war crimes faced by the Filipino people as the US pivots to Asia. The eyes of NATO on the Asia-Pacific and the Philippines only puts the people at further risk. The Philippine revolution, and the Filipino people’s militant struggle for national liberation, however, gives hope and remains the pathway to establish peace and thwart imperialist war. The greatest form of solidarity and the best prospect for peace is to support the NDFP in their struggle and assertion of their right to national sovereignty. 

[stele3]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-fires-missile-off-east-coast-south-korea-says-2025-05-07/

[have-you-been-here]

April 14th update

Nothing new in the USA, but three new countries worldwide

On the statistics by number (which I send you on Google), America is third place again with 42% countries visited

Thanks for the stats!

Countries we're missing as of today (from what I can see) under the cut:

Americas

Belize

El Salvador

French Guiana

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

Nicaragua

Paraguay

Suriname

Uruguay

Venezuela

Africa

Benin

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Côte d'Ivoire

Djibouti

DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Gabon

Ghana

Guinea-Bissau

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Malawi

Mauritania

Mozambique

Niger

Nigeria

Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Somalia

South Sudan*

Sudan*

The Gambia

Togo

Western Sahara

Zambia

Zimbabwe

*These appear to be one country on the stats map?

Eurasia

Afghanistan

Azerbaijan

Bangladesh

Belarus

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Brunei

Iraq

Iran

Israel

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Nepal

North Macedonia

Oman

Qatar

Syria

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Oceania

Papua New Guinea

Various islands that are too small to tell

[dcthreepainter]

An Aluminum Ending.

The Douglas C-47A with MSN 12741 was delivered to the U.S. Air Forces in 1944 and identified as 42-92890. She served in the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces mostly transporting troops. She returned to the U.S. in 1945 and was sold as surplus in 1947 to the Sperry Gyroscope company of Great Neck, New York, registered as NC60777. In 1962 she moved on to Mobil Oil of Canada, being re-registered as N2614. 12741 was transferred to Mobil Oil of Libya in 1966, and on to Mobil Oil Canada just a year later. She was assigned the Canadian registration of CF-MOC. By 1967 Bradley Air Services of Ottawa, Ontario had acquired her and updated her registration to C-FMOC in 1979. Bradley rebranded to First Air in 1980, but 12741 was soon sidelined and became a parts source. She was sold in 1988 to St. Felicien Air Services, who did little with her until her final sale to Buffalo Airways in 2001. She was presumably stripped for remaining parts of value and broken up for scrap in 2002.

[mariacallous]

The message Europeans hear among Turkish officials these days is surprise that anyone would be shocked at U.S. President Donald Trump’s revisionist foreign policy. For Turkey, the United States has never been a reliable friend. But there is also little trace of schadenfreude. The prospect of Trump’s America gifting Ukraine to Russian President Vladimir Putin and wrecking NATO is as troubling for Turkey as it is for the European Union and the United Kingdom.

But Turkish policymakers also see the ongoing crisis as an opportunity to reset ties with Europe. Turkey has been openly flexing its muscles in the Middle East, where the fall of the Assad regime in Syria has enhanced its influence. But it is also quietly becoming more aware of itself as a key stakeholder in European security, too.

There are early signs of a deepening security conversation between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s team and its European counterparts. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended the emergency summit on Ukraine convened by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on March 2, two days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky clashed with Trump and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House. Turkey has become part of the “coalition of the willing” headed by Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

After a summit on March 6 hosted by the EU, Erdogan signaled that Turkish troops could eventually be deployed in Ukraine. Last week, military chiefs from more than 30 countries held talks in Paris to discuss Ukraine’s security and the possibility of an international peacekeeping force—an idea championed by France and the U.K. Erdogan is nurturing ties with other key countries, too. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was in Ankara on March 12 to discuss Ukraine and European security.

To be sure, it is still early, and the shape and mission of a European-led force remains shrouded in uncertainty. Much hinges on Trump’s ongoing effort to convince Putin to agree to a cease-fire. However, if some sort of deal is cut, Turkey could play a major part in making it stick. Having extended steadfast support to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, but also having kept ties to Russia and even having led mediation efforts, Turkey’s military presence would likely be acceptable to both parties. While Moscow has lashed out at the idea of European peacekeepers, it has been silent on Turkey.

Can Turkey perform the job of peacekeeper? There’s reason to think so. The past decade has seen Ankara send troops to various other countries, such as Syria, Libya, and Azerbaijan. In the first two cases, it has even come to blows with Russia—either the regular military or proxy forces like the Wagner Group. In Syria, Turkish forces ended up running joint patrols with the Russian military, too, in order to police a fragile peace around Idlib. In other words, Turkey has accumulated significant experience in managing conflicts with Russia. Erdogan and Putin, along with their top brass, have exchanged punches but have also sat at the negotiation table to craft solutions.

Turkey now hopes that security cooperation with Europe in Ukraine could spill into the EU-Turkey relationship. This could involve a wider security partnership based on containing Russia and underwriting stability in Europe. But Turks are also keen to negotiate an update of their 1995 Customs Union. Like Europe’s other trading partners, Turkey has been adapting to the European Commission’s Green Deal and adopting legislation in line with EU environmental standards to ensure unfettered access to the single market. But it would ultimately like an expansion of the trading benefits it currently enjoys.

The current Customs Union arrangement covers industrial goods and has been beneficial for the growth of trade and investment ties between the EU and Turkey. It continues to drive export-led growth at a time when the Turkish economy is experiencing difficulties. However, for Turkey to develop further and make the transition to a knowledge-based model, avoiding the proverbial middle-income trap, the service sector should also be included.

Defense industries are part of the puzzle, too. While Europe is gearing to ramp up military spending, Turkish companies such as Aselsan or Baykar, which manufactures the Bayraktar drone, would like to profit. Baykar and Leonardo, a leading Italian firm, recently set up a joint venture focused on artificial intelligence and unmanned platforms. The Turkish defense sector will be keen to tap into defense funds raised jointly by the EU on bond markets, a proposal that is still a matter of fervent debate in Brussels. Whether the money should be directed only to EU manufacturers, a stance favored by Paris, or open to third countries is of critical importance to Turkey, too.

Finally, Turkish officials would also like to move forward on visa liberalization, a sore spot in the overall EU-Turkey relationship. The 2016 refugee deal—under whose terms Turkey receives billion of euros in exchange to hosting close to 4 million Syrians—was originally linked to a promise to make it easier for Turkish nationals to obtain Schengen visas. Yet little progress has been made since then. Right now, millions of Turks who held special civil servant passports travel visa-free. But all others need to wait on long lines and provide volumes of paperwork to travel to the EU. At the same time, all other EU candidate countries—such as Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo—can enter the EU without restriction.

Ankara would much prefer that reengagement with Europe be a package deal, not a one-off simply involving Ukraine. To make progress, Erdogan should do away with an old shibboleth: that membership in the EU is an objective. The accession talks have stalled for over 15 years now. Turkey’s authoritarian drift—with the arrest this week of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu offers the latest evidence—and the fears of migration in Europe have long killed the process. Privately, Turkish politicians accept this reality and are ready to move on as their past acrimony wears off.

Instead, some form of the privileged partnership that Europe’s Christian Democrats envisaged for Turkey years ago as an alternative to accession is now in the works. Access to a deepened European Customs Union could be one pillar. Security collaboration, in Ukraine but also on issues such as defense procurement or rebuilding Syria, could be another.

Turning from a candidate to a partner won’t necessarily amount to a loss of face either. With the U.K., another strategically important country that’s also outside the EU, Turkey need not feel like a second-rate member of the club. Whatever the weather, Ankara is a top player in NATO as well as the European Political Community that is due to hold its annual summit in Albania on May 16.

Moving beyond the enlargement paradigm is not cost-free. The EU won’t be empowered to hold Turkey accountable for failure to uphold the rule of law and democratic norms. That includes complying with the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling on the landmark case of philanthropist Osman Kavala.

Yet, realistically, the EU has long lost its leverage over domestic politics in Turkey. A return to full-fledged democracy depends on citizens and elites, not conditionality. But amid the doom and gloom, there are some glimmers of hope: Erdogan’s loss in Turkey’s 2024 local elections and, more recently, the prospective end to the conflict in the country’s Kurdish-populated southeastern provinces.

Confronted by Putin and Trump, Europe is being reconfigured. This is a chance for Turkey to become a full member of Europe’s club under a new set of rules. It should not let the opportunity go to waste.

[besinger]

F*ck every "leftist" who continues to support Israel in their bombings of Gaza. What happened on October 7th at the hands of Hamas was cruel and cannot be justified. Still, there is no justification for the genocide against the Palestinians that is taking place either. Moreover, given the heavy security measures and patrols at the Gaza border, there is no possibility that this would have happened without the IDF knowing and actively enabling it. Given the large-scale protests against Netanyahu in the previous weeks, this probably is no random occurrence but rather a welcome distraction. So f*ck Netanyahu.

F*ck all the "leftists" who frame criticising what is happening as antisemitic. I can only speak from my experience with the left in Germany, but too many "leftists" are not able to think for themselves but just react to specific phrases or keywords as if they were Pavlovian dogs. Conditioned by Jungle World, konkret and all those other shit magazines. Also, f*ck the Green party, which is home to most of these dogs, and f*ck Jutte Dithfurth. You cannot call yourself anti-fascist while you support Netanyahu. F*ck their stupid narrative that Germans criticising Israel just want to distract from what their people did during the Shoa. F*ck their understanding of critical theory.

F*ck the German media. The double standards in reporting about what happens to the Palestinians and what happens to the Ukrainians are entirely disgusting. It is utterly disturbing that even, out of all places, TikTok provides better insights into and updates on the situation than official media. Just reminds you how much agenda-setting there is.

And, in general: f*ck the NATO and their narratives. NATO is not the good guy. They committed war crimes in Jugoslavia. They bombed Libya, the most developed country in northern Africa, back into the Stone Age. They killed thousands of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. They backstabbed the Kurds in Syria. And people who do not recognize this are utterly naive.

[saturniandevil]

October 2023 Important Dates

AKA my notes on The Astrology Podcast's October forecast, hosted by Chris Brennan, Austin Coppock, and Nicholas Polimenakos. Notice how the charts look different? Today Chris is using AstroGold for Mac OS instead of his usual SolarFire for PC (same developers). Working title for the month is "the wobbly scales."

September recap: the Venus & Mercury stations have corresponded with new celebrity birth data, including an update for Dua Lipa's birth time and a time for Elon Musk. The WGA strike, which began under Mercury retrograde in Gemini, has come to a tentative resolution just as the Mercury rx in Virgo ended.

Jupiter's transit into Taurus has put him in contact with Uranus, and we've seen an explosive change in laws and rules with other organized labor strikes, such as UAW, airline workers, and fast food/service employees. We've got 7 more months of Jupiter in Taurus copresent Uranus, enabling changes in contrast to Saturn's negating influence from Aquarius & Capricorn over the past few years. Think "delayed revolts." Nicholas predicts labor will be an important factor in this year's election, based off configurations of previous labor actions.

The Full Moon in Pisces conjunct Saturn corresponded to flooding at California's Burning Man festival (symbolically negating the fire for which it is named), and disastrous floods in Europe and Libya.

Auspicious Elections for October: October 1 at 11:25 AM with Sagittarius rising (has passed by time of posting; apologies) October 2 at 12:20 AM with Cancer rising

Around 12:30AM local time you'll have Cancer rising and the Moon exalted in Taurus in the 11th house (whole signs), just after a conjunction with Jupiter and applying to a square with Venus in the 2nd house of finance. This is a good chart for friends, groups, alliances with the Ascendant ruler Moon in the 11th house with Jupiter, and the ruler of the 11th house in the 2nd tying friend groups and finances together. Saturn in the 9th house makes this chart not recommended for foreign travel, education, and publishing.

October will be pretty intense, with the two eclipses and heavy Pluto involvement. Keywords include power plays, transformation, and concealed movements.

October 4th - Mercury enters Libra Mercury, Venus, and Mars all change signs before the middle of the month, giving us a theme of major beginnings and major endings. When Venus moves into Virgo in a few days, she'll be in mutual reception with Mercury. Previously the two planets were on separate journeys, both retrograde but not communicating, so we'll have cerebral and social functions in harmony again. (A/N: Venus is fall in Virgo, but this Mercury contact significantly mitigates that lack of dignity.)

October 8th - Venus enters Virgo, Mars square Retrograde Pluto We've been moving back and forth over the summer, and will now settle into how things are going to be. Early October contains the the tail end of the Venus retrograde, as she finally passes the degree where she stationed & exits her post-rx shadow, as well as the sign overall, where she's spent an inordinate amount of time (she entered Leo on June 5th). We may see events from as far back as 5 months finally reaching a resolution.

Venus also opposes Saturn right after her ingress (Oct. 8th-10th), and in fact both benefics oppose one of the malefics this month (Mars will oppose Jupiter around the time of our 2nd eclipse). Saturn in Pisces has been weighty, highlighting big, sad things we may not be able to change but must bear nonetheless. Virgo Venus, in an awkward but manageable position for practical help, confronts Pisces Saturn's burdens to our souls. Austin compares Venus's recent transits to exothermic reactions in chemistry, which give off heat, but in Virgo she'll be much more endothermic, drawing heat in.

At the same time, Mars reaches 27° of Libra, putting him in a square to Pluto at 27 Capricorn. Mars is conjunct the South Node, and his ruler Venus is opposite Saturn. The solar eclipse a week later will also occur in the third decan of Libra. This may combine to feel like we're trying to juggle too many balls. Even if you're good at spinning plates, you can only keep track of so many. Inner conflicts, intensifying relationships, and a need for caution are all in order. It would do well to put down in one of the plates, as Mars is in no position to power through all of this (detriment in Libra, South Node encouraging release).

If there's an opportunity to use Mars-Pluto constructively, it comes after an honest assessment of the facts. Chris brings the image of not knowing your own strength or needing to exercise restraint, like a gorilla holding a kitten. We need to know the power dynamic--what we can and cannot do--but the square aspect makes it hard to see directly what's going on (A/N: symbolically it's cross-purposes or seeing events in your periphery). We need to know what the scale of conflict is. Austin uses the example of holding a rope around a rampaging elephant: maybe it's best to let go.

With Pluto relating to money and the US (Sibly) chart having Sagittarius rising, our hosts also predict some kind of "market correction" (trouble) in the US economy, and/or a government shutdown over budget. Mars conjunct South Node in Libra has corresponded to economic trouble of varying intensities (every 19 years with some skips), namely the crash in 1987--which was also on this Libra-Aries eclipse axis.

October 10th - Pluto stations Direct The US Pluto return is still happening since the planet regressed into Capricorn, posing questions of whether a certain impeached ex-president will see some success in the 2024 election. We're also raring for Pluto's (second) ingress into Aquarius in January. Our hosts think the AI story is related to the new Pluto sign, and Google is starting to release hints about a major system to compete with or outclass ChatGPT (text, image, and more).

October 12th - Mars enters Scorpio This is one of his home signs, and he'll immediately trine Saturn over at the beginning of Pisces. Mars working with Saturn gives us drive and determination, the union of impulse and staying power. More generally, Mars in Scorpio connotes precision strikes and the patient, persistent hunter. We can identify the point of weakness and direct all our force at that exact spot.

There's also a brooding quality to Mars in Scorpio. Things brew under the surface. The intensity cultivated here can easily turn inward rather than outward. Any planet in its own sign has high standards, so be careful not to take them out on yourself. Famous Mars in Scorpio natives include Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, and Taylor Swift--think raw emotions (literally in the vocal style of the former two).

October 14th - Annular Solar Eclipse at 21 Libra

As soon as Moon conjoins the Sun & South Node, her next aspect is a square to Pluto, bringing Plutonic significations into the eclipse. You've only got two hands; are you holding onto something that's past its life cycle?

In general eclipses signify the end of a major chapter, and with it the start of a new thing. When we let things go they don't just disappear--in fact, they may assume a more natural, harmonious state. Instead of holding onto something that takes a lot of energy, let things fall as they may. Whatever we're concerned about, it won't go away, as in 6 months another eclipse will respond to this call. Don't let the sunk-cost fallacy get you: you've put in a lot of time and effort, but it's time to step back and let things assume their natural shape.

October 20th - Sun conjunct Mercury At 27 Libra, they're also squaring Pluto. Generally Mercury-Pluto contacts correspond to major disclosures. Expect investigative journalists to reveal new evidence around this time, and in light of transits earlier this year Austin says specifically this will be the third part to an ongoing story. Think "deep state," as in, actors behind the scenes or in the foundation of events rather than what we see on the surface.

October 22nd - Mercury enters Scorpio At this time, Venus also trines Jupiter from 12° of Virgo to 12° of Taurus. Jupiter being in Venus's sign strengthens this helpful aspect even more, and the Moon even goes into Capricorn soon after to give us a grand trine in the earth signs. We'll get a brief reprieve from some of the more intense configurations this month. Enjoy the simple pleasures: a nice stew, a hot bath, some tea from the garden.

October 23rd - Sun enters Scorpio

October 28th - Umbral Lunar Eclipse in Taurus

This is our last eclipse in Taurus for the next couple decades. The Scorpio-Taurus axis eclipses (beginning in 2021) have corresponded to major celebrity scandals, as well as the skyrocketing prices of food worldwide. Bitcoin, FTX, and other finance crashes have occurred to the Taurus eclipses, a sign which indicates money and food. The increase in labor activities during Jupiter in Taurus will likely also see developments from this eclipse. Between the eclipses, Uranus, and Saturn, fixed sign people (suns and angles especially) have been getting a beating the last few years, and Nicholas says "congrats, you've made it!" (Though Saturn will retrograde into Aquarius soon, and then Pluto will transit that sign for the next 20 years or so).

Mars conjoins Mercury and opposes Jupiter during this eclipse, bringing even more tension. Mercury-Mars indicates arguments and destroyed or corrupted roads and communications, or on the positive side, incisive remarks we needed to hear. Mercury in Scorpio also loves investigating a good mystery and cracking the code. We can get major investigative journalism, or obsession and seeing connections that aren't there.

This is a Full Moon and a North Node eclipse, making it easy to lose your head in all the excitement. Austin advises trying to keep your head cool. Don't go with the flow, because the flow is crazy! This eclipse is the end of a year-and-a-half long saga in Taurus and Scorpio, bringing the last installment of that arc in our lives. Chris has an episode called "eclipses as transits in astrology" where he goes through people's charts and talks about the two-year sagas that are enacted with the nodes in a particular pair of signs.

October 29th - Mercury conjunct Mars (exact) (not pictured)

October 31st - Venus trines Uranus (not pictured) From 21 Virgo to 21 Taurus. Think "I'm here for a good time, not a long time!" for Halloween. We ended September with Venus squaring Uranus, and now they're finally trining. After all this month's tension, we deserve to let loose a little. Nicholas says there are hidden pleasures inside oft-orderly Venus in Virgo, whereas Austin compares it to ordering a different item off the menu at your favorite restaurant. Mars in Scorpio is great for Halloween, scary movie viewings, and seeing beauty in the dark side of things.

[mikucountries]

Updated list of Mikus! Thank you again to all of the amazing artists around the world.

Europe

Turkey

Netherlands

Romani

Hungary

Iceland

Moldova

Germany

Finland

Greece

France

Denmark

Poland

Romania

Ukraine

Hungary

Lithuania

Ireland

Wales

Belarus

Scotland

Slovakia

Italy

United Kingdom

Norway

Portugal

Kosovo

Latvia

Russia

Estonia

Slovenia

Serbia

Spain

Austria

San Marino

Mari

Czechia

Bosnia

Catalán

Croatia

Switzerland

Vatican City

Montenegro

Malta

Sweden

Belgium

Cyprus

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Albania

Asia

Jordan

Syria

Armenia

Ingush

China

Palestine

Taiwan

Tajikistan

India

Bhutan

Malaysia

Philippines

Pakistan

Thailand

Burma

Indonesia

Bangladesh

Vietnam

Nepal

Korea

Kazakhstan

Turkmenistan

Afghanistan

Kurdistan

Uzbekistan

Iran

Iraq

Laos

Georgia

North Korea

South Korea

Cambodia

Azerbaijan

Kerala

Mongolia

Sri Lanka

Kyrgyzstan

Japan

Yemen

Tibet

Indonesia

UAE

Bahrain

Singapore

Brunei

Maldives

Oceania/Pacific Islands

Samoa

Fiji

Tuvalu

Maori

Aboriginal Australian

Papua New Guinea

New Zealand

Tonga

Africa

South Sudan

Sudan

Togo

Nigeria

South Africa

Algeria

Djibouti

Egypt

Ethiopia

Namibia

Ghana

Cameroon

Tunisia

Kenya

Morocco

Mozambique

Angola

Madagascar

Congo

Kamba

Ivory Coast

Mauritius

Benin

Tanzania

The Gambia

Burkina Faso

Senegal

Gabon

Botswana

Mauritania

Zimbabwe

Uganda

Oromo

Habesha

Equatorial Guinea

Sierra Leone

Seychelles

Chad

Libya

North America

Cherokee

Guatemala

Panama

El Salvador

Mexico

Cuba

Honduras

Chumash

Chicana

Trinidad and Tobago

Anishinaabe

Canada

Muskogee

Belize

African American

Barbados

Yupik

Bahamas

Mi’kmaw

St. Kitts and Nevis

Jamaica

Costa Rica

Métis

Navajo

Potowatomi

Dominica

Apache

Nicaragua

St. Lucia

Lakota

Inuk

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Antigua and Barbuda

Creole

Haiti

Dominican Republic

South America

Ecuador

Peru

Argentina

Chile

Venezuela

Brazil

Colombia

Suriname

Guyana

Bolivia

Mapuche

Paraguay

Uruguay

Grenada

Antarctica

[thatscarletflycatcher]

This is one of the most smirk worthy moments of the first volume of Charles de Gaulle's war memoirs:

"... on October 7th [1941] I addressed a note to Mr. Churchill to update him on our wishes and means [to have the Free French engaged in the North African front]... At the same time, I wrote to general Auchinleck, commander in chief of the east, to remind him of how much we wanted our troops to fight in Libya... On October 9th I visited Mr. Margesson, War minister of Great Britain, and I begged him to intervene. Finally, on October 30th, I instructed general Catroux on the conditions in which it was convenient that our forces were employed, that is, in big units.

I did not receive any British response until November 27th. It was addressed by general Ismay and Mr. Churchill. Their letter was the equivalent to a rotund rejection, as polite as it was sharp. To explain their refusal, our allies appealed to "the dispersion of the French units across different spots in Syria", the fact that "they were not trained to act as divisions or brigades", and finally, "the insufficiency of their equipment". They expressed, however, the wish that, sometime in the future, the question could be re-evaluated.

The English command was evidently planning on achieving the conquest of Libya and ending Rommel without the French. It is true that they had there considerable land and air forces, and that they believed admiral Andrew Cunningham -magnificent chief and sailor- to be in a position to do more than miracles, by intercepting the communications between Italy and Tripolitania.

It is to be easily imagined the disappointment that the English answer produced in me. I could not allow our troops to remain inactive for time indefinite, while the fate of the world was being sorted in battle. I would rather risk a change of direction. And so, then, I called Mr. Bogomolov and I asked him to make his government know that the National Comittee wished for some French forces to participate directly in the allied operations on the Eastern Front, in case the North African theater was closed to them. I, naturally, made no secret in London of my negotiation.

Even before I received an answer from Moscow, the British intentions had already changed. On December 7th, Mr. Churchill wrote to me a warm letter to tell me that "he had just learned how much general Auchinleck wished to employ a Free French brigade in the Cirenaic operations". "I know", the Prime Minister added, "that this intention matches your own wishes. I am also aware the eagerness your men have of meeting the German face to face."...

At Cairo, Catroux arranged then, with general Auchinleck, the departure towards Libya of the first light division, while Koenig, in charge of negotiating the details, obtained from our allies, a useful bonus in anti-tank materials, anti-aerial guns, and means of transport...

But, if the first light division got an opportunity, nothing was being done for the second one, which languished in the East. And I was determined to see that one taking part as well in the operations. Precisely, on December 10th, Mr. Bogomolov had come to tell me that my project of sending French troops to Russia had been warmly received by his government, and that it was willing to facilitate to our forces on the spot all the necessary material. I began, then, to consider the expedition East, of not only the aviation group Normandie [which, according to De Gaulle, was the only element of the Western allies that fought on the Eastern Front], but of the second light division as well. This one, departing from Syria through Baghdad, would cross Persia in trucks and then, from Tabriz, would be transported by train to the Caucasus... On December 29th I wrote to general Ismay communicating to him my intentions, while at the same time giving the necessary instructions to general Catroux. The second light division was to depart on March 15th towards the Caucasus, unless it was admitted before that to Libya.

The British command opposed this project of moving this unit to Russia with all the possible objections. But in Moscow, on the contrary, the Soviets made a deal of it. Molotov speaking to Garreau, and Panfilov to Petit, asked us to put it in practice. Mr. Eden, once acquainted with this, entered the fray and wrote to me to support the point of view of the English military authorities. I could do nothing but defend my own, and it was the one that in the end was adopted by the end of February by the allied command. Ismay communicated it to me. Auchinleck asked Catroux to put at his disposition the second light division. This one left Syria and arrived at Libya the last days of March.

De Gaulle: you are sorry you think my divisions aren't good enough? That that is the reason why you cannot include them? No problem, I'm gonna ask Stalin if they are too poor for him as well. Well, well, well, would you look at that, apparently the Russians would be delighted and can provide what we are lacking. Oh, now they are good enough for the desert campaign all of a sudden? That's what I thought.

Iconic.