Avner

Name: Barak Mofaz

State: Georgia

Party: Republican

DOB: December 20, 1959

POB: Atlanta, Georgia

POR: Savannah, Georgia

Religion: Jewish

Faction: Mainstreet Partnership

Avatar: Benny Gantz

Family:

Father: Michael Mofaz (b. December 19, 1922- d. April 7, 2014.)

Mother: Miriam Mofaz nee. Amsalem (March 19, 1926-?)

Sister: Adina Mofaz (m.Rabin) (b. July 4, 1950-?)

Brother: David Mofaz (b. December 20, 1959-)

Wife: Dr. Rebecca Shapiro b. 1960 m.1980

= Cpt. Aaron Mofaz b.1986, married, three children.

=Dr. Elizabeth Mofaz-Alberga b.1989, married, two children.

= Rabbi Benjamin Mofaz b.1990, married, four children.

Education:

B.A. in History from the University of Georgia (1978-1982)

M.A. in Arab Studies from Georgetown University (1983-1985)

National War College (1994-1996)

 Commendations:

=Bronze Star Medal

Occupation:

U.S. Army 1977-2013

= General 

U.S. Senator for Georgia (2016-)

Operations/Wars

Operation Just Cause

1st Gulf War

Operation Uphold Democracy

Iraq War

War in Afghanistan

Bio Facts:

-Strong supporter of the Second Amendment and opposes most gun control legislation, which he deems ineffective. Barak, however, does support banning those charged with domestic violence from gun ownership.

-Consistently has urged for bipartisan solutions in the Senate.

-Barak is strongly pro-union and supports $18 for American workers.

-Opposes total amnesty but supports a process to help illegal immigrants go through the process for citizenship without fear of deportation.

-Believes in climate change and argues that it poses a significant danger to America's national security & agriculture industry. 

-Opposes abortion but believes it's settled law.

-Strongly supports a voucher system for education in the U.S. to help low-income Americans send their children to better schools.

-Believes the United States should cut off aid to Pakistan.

-Barak has argued that capitalism is a better weapon to bring democracy to Cuba than an "ineffective, stupid embargo." 

-Extremely supportive of the American-Israeli alliance. 

-Extremely opinionated, blunt, chain-smoker, and open about his heavy drinking.

- His father's family is from Iran, and his mother's family is from Iraq. The Mofaz family is extremely wealthy, with an estimated fortune of $112 billion. The wealth comes from Mofaz Industries, primarily a pharmaceutical family that Barak's father, Michael, started. It also invests in real estate, agriculture, telemedicine, and cyberinfrastructure.

-The Mofaz family were physicians to the Shahs of Persia/Iran. They were later physicians and drug manufacturers before the Islamic Revolution stripped them of their resources in Iran. Michael Mofaz left Iran in 1949 for the United States. 

- His mother was born in the United States. 

-His twin brother David is the President & CEO of Mofaz Industries.

-Barak has immediate family still in Iran (father's family) and Israel (mother's family)

- Barak is an active sailor and has a pilot's license. His yacht is called S.S. General Sherman.

- Awarded the Bronze Star for his actions in the Gulf War when his unit was pinned down under sniper enemy fire and led a charge to destroy the sniper nest.

-His son, Aaron, is a captain in the 82nd Airborne Division.

-A profoundly religious Orthodox Jew attends daily services at the National Synagogue in Washington, D.C. 

-A rare book collector, Barak has one of the largest antique Jewish manuscript collections globally. 

-He owns a condo in Washington, a ranch in Macron, Georgia, a colonial mansion in Atlanta, and the family home in Savannah.

-Author: The Strategic Failures of the Sassanid Empire against the Caliphate (2012) & Mr. President Don't Recognize Israel: The Battle of David Ben-Gurion to Win American Recognition Against A Hostile U.S State Department (2014) 

-Speaks Hebrew, Arabic, French, and Farsi.

Points:

Male: 0

Jewish: 5

Mizrahi: 10

Straight, married with < 3 children: 0 Points

College Degree at a Public University: 0 points

Master's Degree: 10

Super-Rich (Top 1%): 5 points

General/Flag Officer (O-7+): 40 points

Published: 20

Military Award: 10

= 100

Ten Most Significant World Events in 2015

10. Saudis Intervene in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes in late March against its neighbour Yemen with the help of nine other, mainly Arab, countries. The move came after Houthi rebels captured Yemen's capital, Sana'a, and drove Yemeni President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile in Saudi Arabia. The Houthis, who belong to a minority Shiite sect, receive support from Iran, Saudi Arabia's mortal enemy. The Houthis also have the support of forces loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was ousted during the Arab Spring and who once had good relations with Riyadh.

The Saudi-led intervention put the United States in a bind. Washington feared that the intervention could become a quagmire and worried that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), an enemy of the Houthis as well as the United States, would benefit from the ensuing chaos. But the desire to prevent a rift with Riyadh prevailed, and Washington provided intelligence information, weapons, and aerial refuelling capabilities while urging the Saudi-led coalition to minimize civilian casualties.

The civilian toll in Yemen has nonetheless been substantial, as airstrikes and a maritime blockade have intensified Yemen's many existing problems. As predicted, AQAP has used the fighting to its advantage, as has ISIS. In a potentially positive development, a seven-day ceasefire went into effect today so that peace talks could begin.

9. China Builds Islands in the South China Sea.

China claims much of the South China Sea—the bulk of which lies far from the Chinese mainland—through its nine-dash line. Beijing is trying to give substance to its claims, which the five countries with coastlines on the sea vigorously dispute, by creating artificial islands around reefs and submerged rocks. It is, in turn, building airstrips and military installations on the newly formed islands. The United States takes no position on the merits of China's claims in the South China Sea. But it insists that China's claim that the twelve-mile zone around these new islands are its territorial waters has no basis in international law.

Washington—and most governments in Southeast Asia—worry that Beijing will eventually use the new islands to choke off freedom of navigation in the area. In October, after repeated official statements about how "the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows," a U.S. Navy destroyer sailed through waters China claims as its own in a freedom-of-naval-operations (FONOPS) mission. China protested the maneuver as "a grave provocation politically and militarily." The stakes in the dispute are enormous. More than $5 trillion in trade passes through the South China Sea each year, and its waters contain rich fisheries and potentially vast oil and mineral deposits. Then, there is the question of whether China will supplant the United States as the dominant power in the region.

8. China Devalues the Renminbi Amidst an Economic Slowdown. 

In August, Beijing sent shock waves through global financial markets when it devalued its currency, variously called the yuan or renminbi, against the dollar. Chinese officials said the move was intended to bring the yuan in line with its market value, something Western governments had been urging for years. Many investors took the devaluation as a sign that the Chinese economy was slowing down faster than reported and that Beijing was using its currency to reignite growth. The Shanghai stock market plunged in late August, further unsettling global markets and shaking confidence in China's handling of economic policy. In October, China reported that third-quarter growth hit 6.9 percent, higher than expected but well below the 10 percent growth China has averaged over the past three decades. And doubts exist about the accuracy of the numbers that Beijing reported. Despite the bad economic news coming out of China, the IMF designated the renminbi as a primary world currency in December, which opened the door to its greater use in global financial transactions. But investors and governments remain nervous that China's economy, which has been a significant driver of global growth in recent years, will continue to slow, and as a result, so will economic growth worldwide.

7. The World Strikes a Deal on Climate Change.

The world's climate is changing, in good part because of human activity. But governments worldwide have been slow to address the potentially catastrophic threat. The landmark 1992 Kyoto Treaty failed to deliver its promised emissions cuts, and not just because the U.S. Senate declined to provide its consent. The 2009 Copenhagen Climate Summit opened to much fanfare but was laced with anger and produced little. The 195 countries in Paris in late November for a new climate change summit avoided that fate. After two weeks of intense talks, they had the Paris Climate Accord, the first to commit nearly every country to reduce its emissions of heat-trapping gases. However, the thirty-one-page document hardly solves the climate change challenge, so some climate change activists criticized it for being too little or too late. To get the deal, negotiators left many details to be worked out later. Even if agreement is reached on those details, the success of the Paris Climate Accord ultimately depends on national governments taking and enforcing steps to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. Domestic politics could be a significant hurdle on that front.

6. Russia Intervenes in Syria.

The four-year-long Syrian civil war, which has killed more than 200,000 people and forced as many as nine million to flee their homes, took a turn in September when Russia, without warning, began conducting airstrikes from bases in Syria. Moscow insisted it intervened to join the fight against the self-proclaimed Islamic State. Still, in practice, its planes targeted Syrian rebel groups looking to topple Russia's long-time ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Russia's military operations were not coordinated with those the United States and its allies were conducting against the Islamic State, raising concerns about an unintended confrontation between the two sides. A version of those fears materialized in late November when Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian fighter jet, killing one of the pilots. Turkish officials insisted that the Russian plane had ignored repeated warnings not to enter Turkish airspace. Russian officials disputed those claims and accused Ankara of a "planned provocation." On the diplomatic side, Russia's intervention prompted an effort to find a negotiated settlement to the Syrian conflict. Despite significant fanfare and high-level participation on all sides, the talks stumbled over a core disagreement: Moscow wants Assad to stay, and Washington and its allies want him to go.

5. The Trans-Pacific Partnership Finally Gets Done.

After seven years of negotiations, the United States and eleven other countries finally agreed on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the world's largest regional trade deal, in October. The agreement, a critical part of the Obama administration's rebalance to Asia, would set trade rules governing roughly 40 percent of the global economy. The deal was made possible when the U.S. Congress voted in June to give President Barack Obama Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which restricts Congress to a simple up-down vote on trade deals. U.S. negotiating partners refused to make significant concessions in the TPP negotiations until they knew that Congress could not revise their agreement with the president. In a sign of how controversial trade deals can be on Capitol Hill, just forty-one Democrats voted for TPA. Now that Obama has TPP, he has to persuade Congress to pass the bill to put it into effect. Critics are already marshalling their arguments for why Congress should vote down the implementing legislation. A vote on TPP likely won't happen until after the 2016 elections, if it happens at all.

4. The EU Rebuffs Greece's Demand for Austerity Relief.

"I fought the law, and the law won." Alexis Tsipras learned the hard way what the Bobby Fuller Four only sang about. Tsipras became Greek prime minister in January 2015 by pledging to get Greece better repayment terms on its massive debt. Despite appealing to other debt-burdened European countries for solidarity and trying to isolate EU power Germany by dredging up memories of Nazi atrocities, the EU refused to give Tsipras what he wanted. He then tried to strengthen his hand by calling a July referendum in which 61 percent of Greeks voted against accepting the EU's offer. Nonetheless, the EU held firm, insisting that Greece would get help only if it agreed to significant and painful economic reforms. Tsipras blinked. A week after the no vote, and faced with the imminent collapse of the Greek economy, he accepted the EU's offer. Despite not delivering the promised relief, Tsipras and his Syriza Party won new elections in September. But Greece's economy remains troubled. It has shrunk by 25 percent over the past five years, official unemployment is nearly 25 percent, and doubts remain over whether Greece can repay its debts as long as it remains in the Eurozone. So "Grexit," and its possible shock to the global financial system, could soon be back in the news.

3. Negotiations on Iran's Nuclear Program Produce a Deal.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. That old saying could be the motto of the Iran nuclear negotiations. Conducted off and on since 2002, they finally produced a deal in July. Formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), it wasn't sealed until September when forty-two Democratic senators voted to block a resolution to stop it. Neither the P5+1 nor Iran got all it wanted in the JCPOA. Iran got sanctions relief, but it had to agree to give up 97 percent of its stockpile of enriched uranium, slash its number of centrifuges by two-thirds, and shut down a heavy water reactor. Iran also had to agree to on-site inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency. If Iran violates the JCPOA, sanctions can be re-imposed. To extract these concessions from Iran, the P5+1 agreed to let the deal's critical provisions expire after ten or fifteen years. The White House says the agreement will prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon for more than a decade and increase the "breakout time" should Tehran decide to acquire nuclear weapons. The deal's critics, and there are many, both at home and abroad, say the deal failed to deliver the only acceptable outcome: dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program.

2. ISIS Terrorists Strike on Three Continents.

When President Obama told an interviewer on November 12 that "we have contained" the Islamic State, he had in mind its geographical ambitions in the Middle East. A day later, the world discovered that the Islamic State was taking its fight beyond its home territory. Three teams of ISIS terrorists struck at four locations in Paris, killing 130 people. But ISIS's efforts to take the fight to its enemies had begun even earlier. In July, a suicide bomber loyal to the Islamic State killed thirty-three people in Suruc, Turkey, not far from the border with Syria. Three months later, two suicide bombers, one the brother of the Suruc bomber, killed 102 people at a peace rally in Ankara. On October 31, a bomb brought down a Russian passenger airliner over the Sinai, killing all 224 people on board. And then, on December 2, a husband and wife who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State's caliph, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, killed fourteen people in a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. The attacks prompted renewed Western airstrikes against the Islamic State, redirected domestic politics in France and the United States, and raised ominous questions about what 2016 might bring.

1. Refugee Crisis Roils Europe.

A decade ago, experts were writing books with titles like Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century. In 2015, Europe could hardly handle its problems, let alone run the world. Still struggling to emerge from a deep economic recession, it was hit by a wave of nearly a million refugees. Most were seeking to escape the horrors of the Syrian civil war or instability and violence elsewhere. Others, however, were economic migrants seeking better job opportunities. The influx of refugees provided heart-wrenching images of people desperate to reach Europe, sometimes failing with deadly consequences but more often succeeding. The influx exposed Europe's porous borders, highlighted differences within Europe over how to handle immigrants, and gave new life to Europe's many nationalist and anti-immigrant parties. The refugee crisis also created political problems across the Atlantic. The Obama administration announced in September that it would take in "at least 10,000" Syrian refugees in 2016. But in the aftermath of the Paris and San Bernardino attacks, compassion quickly swung to concern and federal, state, and local politicians moved to block Muslim refugees from entering the United States or relocating to their communities. As long as Syria's civil war persists and the European economy attracts job-seekers, the refugee and migrant pressure on Europe will continue.

Source

The North American trip is approved. Do you still want to go to the Middle East? @Ollie

The President, Vice President, Sec. of State, Director of the CIA, Sec. of Defense, National Security Advisor, and U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor are seated in the Situation Room. Four screens are in front of them; two are aerial shots from drones, and the other two are showing live camera feeds on 10-second delays from the body cameras of the Ranger/Delta team.

Richard Grenell, CIA Director: Mr. President, our lead person is Staff Sgt. Sussman, We have two teams of ten rangers and delta force operators. 50 Kenyan commandos will be aiding us in this operation. We have confirmation that Samantha Lewthwaite is at the safe house. Our teams are two minutes from getting into position, Mr. President.

NSA operatives monitor the situation as drones show live footage of the housing compound.

Voice of Drone operator: Director Grenell, we have a visual of the support base, awaiting confirmation to strike.

Richard Grenell, CIA Director: Confirmation is granted; strike the bastards.

A large blast is seen and heard on the tv screens

Voice of Drone operator: Target is confirmed hit, we see no suriviors. 

Richard Grenell, CIA Director: Good, Staff Sgt. Sussman begin the operation.

Staff Sgt. Sussman: The Kenyans have entered the compound alongside us.

Gunfire is immediately heard, along with yelling and screams in Somali.

Voice of Sussman: We are now coming under heavy fire. Two members of the Kenyanteam have been killed, ten bodyguards have also been killed. We will go locate Lewthwaite while the Kenyans secure the compound.

Video feed shows repeated gun flashes as the Kenyan team battles remaining bodyguards outside, also shows the rangers/delta team entering the main house  after using a flash grenade. Heavy tension fills the situation room as the video feed goes silent except for the breathing of the soldiers.

Gun fire and screams of “You motherfucker” are heard

Panicked Voice of Sussman: One of men is down, wounded but down. A woman we suspect to be Lewthwaite's daughter came out screaming while firing a gun, we fired and she went down. Going to confirm if there was anyone in the room.

Silence for over nine minutes. Director Grenell and other officials in the room grow alarmingly concerned.

Richard Grenell, CIA Director: Was there anyone else in the room!

Momentary silence before the audio of Sussman comes on.

Whispered voice of Sussman: We are checking from room to room, we don't know how many hostiles are still left.

Several minutes of go by as the camera shows US soldiers and now Kenyan commandos clearing each and every room. Eight minutes later, shouts in Somali translated into English, “Drop the fucking gun now.” Are heard in the video and audio feed.

A woman's voice in English screams out, In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful! Video feed shows two figures jump out and start firing on both teams, a heavy gun battle takes place, Sussman yells in pain and falls as the rest of the team returns fire.

Six minutes go by and silence enters the situation room.

Richard Grenell, CIA Director: What's going on? Is there an update? Staff Sgt?

Voice of American soldier: Sussman is dead sir, the two shooters and the woman are also dead.

Richard Grenell, CIA Director: Check for confirmation on who the woman who shouted the basmala was.

Video feed shows the soldiers walking carefully to the body who then remove the hijab.

Voice of American soldier: We have got definite confirmation this is Samantha Lewthwaite, we will transport the body to a CIA site sir. The other two dead are two more of her children. We will begin searching the compound for intelligence but I can confirm that Lewthwaite is dead.

Richard Grenell, CIA Director: Thank you.

@Ollie @Jack @Storm @Sovereign @Redacted

19 hours ago, Storm said:

In regards to Somalia, we can wait them out and hit them all at once, right?

Richard Grenell, CIA Director: Yes Mr. Vice President.

Meanwhile, sources have claimed that units of the Wagner Group have been deployed to aid the Somalian government against both.

Mogadishu, Somalia: Reports have confirmed that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Somalia and the al-Shabaab militant group have joined forces in an alliance aimed at establishing a joint Islamic state in Somalia. The collaboration between these two notorious extremist organizations has posed serious security concerns and the security of Somalia.

Intelligence sources suggest this strategic partnership is an attempt by both groups to consolidate their power and extend their influence in the Horn of Africa. The move comes amidst ongoing efforts by the Somali government and its international allies to combat terrorism and stabilize the country.

ISIS, known for its brutal tactics and attempts to establish a global caliphate, has faced setbacks in recent years, losing territorial control in Iraq and Syria. Meanwhile, al-Shabaab, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, has been active in Somalia for over a decade, attempting to impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law.

The collaboration between the two extremist organizations is seen as a response to each group's challenges. By pooling their resources and expertise, ISIS and al-Shabaab aim to strengthen their position and establish an Islamic state that adheres to their extremist ideologies.

According to Kenyan officials, the diplomatic overture was led by Abukar Ali Adan, deputy leader of al-Shabaab and Abdul Qadir Mumin, leader of ISIL in Somalia. Cooperation between the groups has led to an uptick in violence across the country; in a joint attack, one in the town of Xuddur and the other in the city of Beledweyne, over 400 people were beheaded in one of the worst terrorist attacks the country has seen recently.

Somali officials have indicated that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has struggled to transform the Somali armed forces into a well-trained and established military force capable of fighting both groups, even with the final removal of the arms embargo put in place in 1992.

14 hours ago, Jack said:

Are we ready to fire? If so, you have the go ahead to fire on enemy bases once our special forces get into position with the Kenyan forces. Once that is through, let’s apprehend ole girl and her children, capturing them alive. 

@Avner

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman: We are ready to go; our forces will be in position, and the Kenyans will begin their deployment; we'll be on standby until everything is in place and will start.

On 2/12/2024 at 3:23 PM, Jack said:

Provide me with satellite of the attack area and the ISIS bases, wherever they may be. We have to weaken them drastically. Damn, their resurgence happened under the worst president and now I'm stuck with the mess. 

Richard Grenell, CIA Director: Here you are Madam President, this is an updated map with a few targets that can be struck using drones. We hae intelligence that the heads of ISIL and al-Shabaab will be meeting soon, it's a top level meeting and we expect some of the most important names in both organizations to be there. They may have grown overconfident by the lack of American involvement so far, I believe we should keep up the charade, give them a false lull of safety as we continue to montior them.

@Ollie @Storm @Sovereign @Redacted

On 2/12/2024 at 3:23 PM, Jack said:

Who are the leaders of the protestors? If they are able and have a nice chance of winning, I think throwing our support behind them would be beneficial.

Richard Grenell, CIA Director: So far there are no leaders that have made themselves known, we can sum it up to general anger by some of the population that has boiled over due to lack of further goods due to the quarantine, they blame Maduro for that. So far the regime has been able to manage the protests well and crack down on them. Our embassy still has our CIA legion there and we can covertly aid the protesters, but I'd heavily advise against providing arms, the security forces are fully supportive of Maduro and will put down an attempted rebellion with cruetly, worse than what we've seen so far with peaceful protests. 

While the Ukrainian Army has seen devastating casualty rates, foreign aid has dramatically improved the Army's fighting capabilities.

Kyiv, Ukraine: Ukrainian soldiers remain holding Kherson this morning after nearly two weeks of heavy fighting in and around the city between the Russian Army and the Ukrainian Army. Ukrainian forces had inconsistent results in various battles against Russian formations. Some Ukrainian units fought well and held positions, but others broke under heavy armour and artillery barrages. Zaporizhia, south of Dnipro, was one of the first areas to come under concentrated Russian attack during the most recent offensive. Preceding the Russian advance on the town, heavy artillery and MLRS bombardment destroyed hundreds of buildings, and it is estimated that upwards of 300 civilians may have been killed in the barrage. 

However, CNN is unable to confirm those numbers independently. What we can guarantee is that the Ukrainian 21st Infantry destroyed the two main bridges leading into town and was able to force the Russians to build pontoon bridges across the river while under fire. Some Russian units, however, crossed using amphibious vehicles and were able to set up two beachheads until the bridges could be completed.

Fresh Russian troops pushed into Pavlohrad and Dnipro in the north, causing both towns to fight heavily. Once again, artillery, rockets, and aircraft played a significant role in pounding Ukrainian positions. While it had the desired effect, it also had disturbing results against local civilian populations.

However, the attacks were met with fierce Ukrainian resistance, pushing Russian forces back to the line of control near Donetsk. In total, the cost to civilian populations was terrible: over 1,200 being estimated killed in Zaporizhia, Pavlohrad, and Dnipro alone. The attempted taking of Kharkiv was much less costly to the civilians, with an entire Russian Army Group being forced to surrender by the brave but highly outnumbered 119th Motor Rifle Regiment after a fight lasting around four hours.

In the air, Russian warplanes continue to fly somewhat unopposed. However, sources on the ground have confirmed that American-made MANPAD systems have begun posing a significant threat to low-flying helicopters and attack aircraft. At least one Su-24 and two Mi-17s have been reported shot down by Ukrainian forces using FIM-92 Stinger missiles. Additionally, the 34th Separate Motorized Brigade reported the loss of three T-72B's to what they believed, after finding a launcher after a skirmish, were American-made Javelin missiles. 

But a lack of significant air defence systems has allowed Russian warplanes, notably Su-34 fighter-bombers, to launch long-range attacks against Kyiv.

An air raid warning sounded early last night as a flight of the Russian warplanes launched a series of guided munitions against the Ministry of Defense, Presidential offices and residences, and other military targets in the city. Ukraine claims that no important persons were killed in the attacks and that the General Staff and government had long since gone underground.

Ramallah, Palestinian Territories: Former Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan has announced the formation of a new unity government in Ramallah and the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority, comprising former Fatah members, technocrats, and members of his Palestinian Freedom Movement. Simultaneously, Dahlan's forces have reportedly taken control of the Gaza Strip from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), marking a significant shift in the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The announcement of the new unity government and the takeover of Gaza came during a press conference in Ramallah's presidential compound, where leaders from various factions joined Dahlan.

Dahlan, a controversial figure with a long history in Palestinian politics, framed the move as a necessary step towards unifying Palestinian factions and reclaiming control of Gaza from Israeli forces. "Today marks a new chapter in our struggle for freedom and independence," Dahlan proclaimed. "We have united in our commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace for our people."

The composition of the new unity government reflects Dahlan's efforts to build a broad-based coalition that includes voices from across the political spectrum.

The takeover of Gaza by Dahlan's forces reportedly occurred swiftly. Eyewitnesses in Gaza reported seeing Dahlan's supporters and Palestinian Freedom Movement fighters patrolling the streets, raising flags and banners in celebration of what they described as a "liberation" of the territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Miri Regev, while not congratulating Dahlan in her weekly press briefing, made it clear that the PFM was here to stay and would be a more vital partner "Than the Palestinian Authority ever was."

Dahlan himself remained silent concerning Israel but, as one of his first official acts, signed an order banning Hamas as a political entity and from running in the upcoming Palestinian parliamentary and presidential elections. 

Ellen Lord, Secretary of Defence:  For now, Madam President, we can continue to resupply the Ukrainians alongside our NATO allies, but I would recommend increasing work with our industry partners across the DIB to further step up to meet that mobilization by manufacturing the equipment and providing the capabilities needed to support U.S. commitments for Ukraine.

On 2/11/2024 at 5:15 PM, Jack said:

 

Will Kenya allow some uniformed Americans to assist, or lead the charge rather? 
Secretary Burke, Vice President McKnight, NSA Ackerman, weigh in on our options. 

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman: Kenya is willing to assist Madam President.

On 2/13/2024 at 1:00 AM, Storm said:

 

What is the distance between the Al Shabaab camps and the safe house. Can we order a drone strike on the camps and then follow up with a special force to engage at the safe house to apprehend Samantha? 

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman: Its about a 1km in distance Mr. Vice President, we can certainly do that.

While most of the military build-up has departed, the GDF claims there is still a Venezuelan presence on the border.

Caracas, Venezuela: In a surprising turn of events, Venezuela has announced the withdrawal of its soldiers from the Venezuelan-Guyanese border, igniting genuine calls for a referendum on the disputed Essequibo region. The decision comes amidst escalating tensions between the two neighbouring nations over the long-disputed territory.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declared the withdrawal in a televised address late last night, citing a desire for diplomatic dialogue with Guyana and a commitment to resolving territorial disputes peacefully. Yet the embattled president demanded a referendum on the status of the Essequibo region and threatened that he would again resort to military force.

The surprising move comes as reports indicate that the US-led coalition quarantine effectively prevented goods from leaving or entering the country by sea, particularly Venezuela's oil exports. Chinese President Xi Jinping supposedly intervened and demanded that Maduro either release the hostages or remove forces from the border for the time being. At the same time, Beijing has remained mum to all reports; unnamed Pentagon officials confirm that the Chinese government was growing concerned over Washington's increasing aggression towards Venezuela. 

Meanwhile, minor protests nationwide have broken out, and the government swiftly moved security forces to quell the demonstrations. Reports of clashes between protesters and security forces have emerged, with Chinese security advisors reportedly advising Venezuelan forces on crackdowns; ten protestors have died so far.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Guyana has reacted cautiously to Venezuela's withdrawal of troops, expressing hope for a peaceful resolution through diplomatic channels while reaffirming its sovereignty over the disputed territory. The news comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in the House of Commons today that a battalion of British troops would be deployed to Guyana to reassure and assist the Guyanese Defence Force (GDF) amid concerns that the violence from Venezuela could continue on the border. The news also comes after a successful visit to Guyana by the U.S. Secretary of State Abel Burke, where an American naval base was to be constructed, and U.S. military advisors were to be sent to Guyana.

Mr. Starmer said that the deployment came after consultations with the Guyanese government and would revolve around training and assisting the GDF in patrolling the country's border and ensuring that the country's territorial integrity would not be threatened. Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said in a press conference in response to Maduro that he would not allow a referendum on Essequibo and that any military force would be met with stiff GDF resistance. 

Former Pentagon official Col. William Peterson, in an interview with the New York Times, labelled the actions of the Ross administration a short-term success to the crisis,

"There is criticism that can be levelled at the president, launching airstrikes while giving advanced notice in a speech resulting in our two captured pilots, especially airstrikes in daylight. However, the quarantine succeeded in getting the desired effect: pressure China to act before the coalition used overwhelming military force. Yet there is no cause of celebration, Maduro doesn't seem to think this is a defeat or a retreat. It seems he is regrouping to act further on the issue, which means the current foreign aid bill must be passed to deter his continuing aggression."

In Stabroek News, one of Guyana's largest newspapers, an article titled "Why Doesn't Guyana's Territorial Integrity Count?" was published, where it hammered the slow response of the foreign aid bill to Guyana. "While American politicians rushed aid through to help Ukraine, Guyana, a nation of people of colour, aid was met with delays and questions, is our territorial integrity any different than Ukraine's?"

As tensions continue to simmer within Venezuela and between Venezuela and Guyana, the path to resolving the longstanding dispute over the Essequibo region remains uncertain. 

China

-200 Chinese security forces were killed in a series of terror attacks in the Xinjiang province. As a result, China has significantly ramped up censorship of the press.

-Uyghur nationalists have claimed responsibility, and a new organization has formed, declaring their core tenants for an independent Xinjiang and the removal of Chinese forces from the province.

Iran

-Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is reportedly dying of brain cancer, and no immediate successors have come forward to replace him eventually.

Gaza

-UN food aid has increased dramatically since the passing of the US-backed UNSC resolution, and malnutrition has decreased by 30%.

al-Shabaab

-al-Shabaab and ISIS have launched several attacks against villages controlled by the Somalian government; they have committed mass beheadings of civilians who resist them in the areas they have captured. 

Venezuela

-Maduro has begun to use brutal, violent tactics against protestors who are demanding he resign over his handling of the crisis with Guyana. China has guaranteed to send military advisors skilled in stamping out “urban disorder.”

@Ollie @Jack @Storm @Sovereign

On 1/30/2024 at 1:56 AM, Storm said:

Any idea what prompted this 180 from Maduro? I fear that the lifting of the blockade will allow him to gain access to Chines and Russian weaponry.

Richard Grenell, CIA Director: We believe China applied additional heavy pressure on Maduro to either release the hostages or pull back forces from the border; the quarantine was effective concerning China's demand for oil from Venezuela. 

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman: We now have satellite and drone evidence indicating that Venezuelan forces are withdrawing from the border.

Ellen Lord, Secretary of Defence: So far, the Ukranian's counteroffensive across the Dnepr has expanded, little by little. The new strategy led by General Zaluzhnyi has seen Ukranian forces grow in number, but gains still need to be made. As you all remember, the issue was the President ordering wave after wave of soldiers and equipment into this counteroffensive, and Ukraine lost significant manpower due to that. The new strategy includes mass conscription of all men ages 18 to 45, considerable training for recruits and conscripts, holding the line against Russian lines, and ending the wave attacks against the Russians until new equipment is obtained.

Ukrainian officials have emphasized a need for long-range rocket and artillery systems to counter Russia's quantitative advantages in long-range fire. This also includes armoured vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles), tanks (including Leopard, Challenger, and Abrams), and tactical-level fire support (e.g., mortars). Ukrainian officials also note the importance of continued ammunition supplies, especially as fighting remains dominated by artillery support. In addition, the UAF has identified needs in logistics (including training and improving processes), breaching equipment (such as mine clearing and bridging capabilities), medical evacuation and care, intelligence, and secure communications.

This is a current map of the ongoing situation in Ukraine.

@Jack @Ollie @Storm @Sovereign  

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman: Madam President, you have it confused. Samantha will be located at the abandoned farm; we believe that's where she resides when she crosses the border. The support base is an operations base for her, so members of her security and al-Shabaab support staff are believed to be there. Kenya will not allow Somalians to enter their country, so if you decide to raid the support base, it will have to be Kenyan armed forces.

You can announce this update to the press.

Guyana

-President Ali reaffirmed the US-Guyanese alliance and thanked the United States for all its efforts.

-Ali has asked 90 US service members to be deployed as military advisors to help train and reform the GDF. Guyana is looking to expand its military capabilities greatly by adding 4,000 members. Ali has asked for donations of armoured carriers and heavy military equipment, such as artillery, to be given to Guyana.

-Guyana wants the United States to invest $150 million annually in infrastructure, improved sanitation, electricity generation, clean and safe drinking water, and dispersed medical care for the initial ten years. After that, both nations will reassess the aid and assistance needed in cooperation.

-Guyana has large gold, metals, oil, and gas reserves. The US will offer contracts with Guyana for the US to help develop these resources. 

-Guyana also wants the US to build a military base, either land or naval, on Guyanese territory as a deterrent to Venezuelan aggression.

@Ollie

On 1/31/2024 at 5:47 PM, Sovereign said:

Monty Ackerman: "Mr. President, I've spoken with President Ross. We will agree to this deal. In exchange for the withdrawal of the blockade, we expect the release of the American hostages and the withdrawal of Venezuelan troops and military assets from the border. A return to the status quo, if you will. President Maduro must proceed with caution.

If the terms of this agreement are not met by Venezuela, we can and will resume this blockade in an instant, and there will be much less incentive for negotiation next time. However, if President Maduro continues his present course which has been proposed here, I'm optimistic there will be room for much more productive talks as we put this crisis behind us.""

@Avner

Luis Arce, President of Bolivia: Mr. Ackerman, we have your pilots in our custody; they are currently receiving medical care. The Venezuelans are now waiting for the embargo to be removed before they withdraw from the border.

On 1/22/2024 at 2:35 PM, Jack said:

 

What are the best routes we can take to eliminate the threat of ISIS in Africa once and for all? I want like 1 Samuel 15:3, except this isn't a request from God and not divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit just to be clear. 

Devin Nunes, Director of National Counterterrorism Center: You'll never destroy the ideology of ISIS in Africa, but we can weaken them significantly with drone strikes, targeting the areas of recruitment with development aid so potential recruits can avoid the pathway of terrorism, but elimination isn't on the cards here unless we deploy troops or get our allies in eastern Africa to launch an operation and physically destroy their bases of operations.

Richard Grenell, CIA Director: I don't speak for our military leaders, but I would oppose American forces being deployed. With al-Shabaab and ISIS repairing their damaged relations that took place in 2018 and 2019, they are in a stronger position than they were seven years ago. I'd suggest we get the African Union involved again and see if they would be willing to deploy a significant force to support the Somalian Army.

An update on the white widow: this is a map of where she will be in the coming week. Data imaging confirmed that al-Shabaab members regularly cross into Kenya on this part of the border covertly. 

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: According to Kenyan intelligence, Samantha Lewthwaite regularly travels through Kenya with her children, using that house as a safe house for a few days after crossing the border. There are two options: deploying special forces to engage and attempt to take her alive or using a drone strike on the location. There are consequences with both actions: 1. There is a risk to our men in the field as al-Shabaab has a significant presence on the Kenyan-Somalian border. We don't know if they'd dare cross the border and engage with Kenyan forces, but that is always a risk. 2. A drone strike would kill everyone in the safe house, including her children, and would destroy any valuable information about al-Shabaab and their working relationship with ISIS. 

Luis Arce, President of Bolivia: Mr. Ackerman, I have some good news to tell you about. Venezuela has agreed to withdraw from the Guyanese-Venezuelan border, so the naval quarantine must be removed. They are also willing to hand over your pilots to us if you agree to this deal. @Sovereign

Colombia

1. Colombia reaffirms its commitment to the coalition.

2. Colombia would like to strengthen the bilateral agreement it agreed to with the United States in 2018, which tackles the growing narco threat, education, human rights, more research and development funding, educational and cultural exchange, and increased trade to counter China. Colombia agrees that trade with the United States needs to be improved to make up for the shortfall with China.

3. Colombia also supports the Project Polaris.

Argentina agrees to all of this @Ollie