The implosion of Assad’s army, told by those who dropped their weapons and ran

Radio silence from their generals, mysterious voices giving instructions on their walkie-talkies, terrifying rumours spreading through the ranks — and then headlong flight.

Soldiers and officers who served Bashar al-Assad’s regime have provided the first detailed glimpse into how Syria’s armed forces, despite years of training and reorganisation by Russia, collapsed in just 12 days.

Angry and fearful for their future, and accusing their superiors of betraying them, they told of a complete breakdown in the chain of command, a collapse in morale and then chaos as rebel forces advanced at lightning pace towards Damascus.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inSyria

‘Freeland’s resignation letter didn’t mention gender, but Trudeau accused of phoney feminism anyway’ … That’s because it’s true CBC

The day he took office for his “sunny” first term, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared in front of Ottawa’s Rideau Hall to present the first gender-balanced cabinet in Canadian history. He gave his succinct “because it’s 2015” explanation — a remark that became integral to his then-favourable political brand.

Standing in the front row, just behind his right shoulder, was freshly minted Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada's Corrupt Liberal Government

“Depressed” Biden Bureaucrats Can’t Find New Jobs

Politico is reporting that Biden Administration bureaucrats are depressed because they can’t find new jobs, and members of Biden’s “national security team” are “frantically” scrambling to find new careers before Trump dismantles the deep state.

“Our side is just battling depression while we update our resumes,” one White House official stated, while another staffer declared that “Everyone is willing to take a demotion because there aren’t enough jobs.”

Boo hoo. Cry harder.

h/t DS

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inWTF?

More than 40% of young voters say UnitedHealthcare CEO killing was ‘acceptable’: poll

A shocking number of young people support UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer, with 41 percent saying Luigi Mangione’s alleged actions are “acceptable,” an Emerson College poll has found.

Twenty-four percent of US voters ages 18 to 29 answered that Mangione’s alleged brazen execution was somewhat acceptable, and 17 percent said it was completely acceptable.

A) Young people like to make outrageous statements

B) Income disparity, the affordability crisis, mass immigration etc all lead to Jack being a wee bit radical

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inWTF?

John Robson: Stop congratulating Freeland for being fired

The big news in Ottawa is that Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has resigned on principle and Justin Trudeau is now definitely doomed unless he’s not. Wow. But did she jump, or was she pushed?

Pushed. So the first really weird thing about this story is that plethora of news stories, including three separate pieces on the front page of a certain newspaper Monday, all using “resignation” or “quit,” (the fourth waited until page two). But we actually know she was fired.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada's Corrupt Liberal Government

U.S. officials worry about ISIS jailbreak in Syria: ‘Ticking time bomb’

Lightly armed Kurdish forces are guarding more than 9,000 Islamic State terrorists in Syria.

American officials are scrambling to head off a new nightmare scenario in Syria: a major terrorist jailbreak.

Thousands of Islamic State group fighters and their families remain in makeshift prisons, watched over by U.S.-backed Kurdish forces with limited weapons. The prisons were supposed to be temporary, but their home countries don’t want the fighters back.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"Islamophobia", Syria

What Might a Post-Trudeau Liberal Party Look Like?

Justin Trudeau took the Liberals from third-party status to a majority government in 2015 with his personal brand. Nine years later, his popularity and that of his party has faded, the latest blows being the resignation of senior cabinet ministers and calls from caucus members for Trudeau’s resignation.

Rebuilding the party from the bottom up, doing a broad review of core policies, and repositioning the party are some of the suggestions made by disenchanted insiders. They do not see the current approach, which has resulted in the Conservatives forging an over 20-point lead in the polls, as boding well for the future.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government

Feeling at home? New app lets US homebuyers see neighbors’ politics

America’s political divide is likely to get even wider thanks to a new real-estate platform that lets potential buyers see the political affiliations of their future neighbors, as well as other social data and local demographics.

Oyssey, a tech startup launching this month in south Florida and New York City, allows buyers access neighborhood political affiliations based on election results and campaign contributions.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inWTF?

Two Weeks Before The Mast!

Faithful hands all!

So it’s two weeks since Bell’s Palsy hit and I am grateful to say that it appears my episode has been mild in comparison to others.

I have regained some control of the afflicted left eye, it’s only to perhaps 40% of normal but it is significant.

The eye has ceased watering and now that the eyelid can be closed I have less need for drops.

The left side mouth droop has also lessened but some numbness/paralysis remains on the left side of the face.

New downside? I must have been grinding my teeth in my sleep and began chawing on my numbed cheeks. Hurts yes.

Eating and drinking are much less ugly however so there’s that.

Xavier refused to pose for today’s pic. He is disappointed at having discovered the very mortal wizard who controls the Red Dot.

Thanks and I hope these updates will benefit someone you know who encounters Bell’s.

Your kindness and concern have stood me well.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inOur World

Zelensky admits Ukraine cannot retake Crimea and Donbas

President Zelensky has admitted that Ukraine’s armed forces are unable to drive out Russian troops from Crimea and other occupied territories in Ukraine.

Although he said that Ukraine would never recognise Russian rule, Zelensky said that only diplomatic pressure could force Moscow to withdraw its occupying army.

“We cannot give up our territories. The Ukrainian constitution forbids us to do so. De facto, these territories are now controlled by the Russians. We do not have the strength to recover them,” he told the French newspaper Le Parisien.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"Ukraine - Russia"

How Trump divided Trudeau and Freeland

OTTAWA — President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff wars have claimed their first casualty: Canada’s Chrystia Freeland.

“The Great State of Canada is stunned as the Finance Minister resigns, or was fired, from her position by Governor Justin Trudeau,” Trump shared on Truth Social late Monday night. “Her behavior was totally toxic and not at all conducive to making deals which are good for the very unhappy citizens of Canada. She will not be missed!!!!”

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada's Corrupt Liberal Government