THE GRIM BUSINESS OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE: MAKING PROFITS ON HUMAN DESPAIR by Gennady Shkliarevsky‚ who is Ukrainian‚ is Professor Emeritus of History at Bard College   The war in Ukraine has entered its third year on a sour note. The Ukrainian military has suffered several major setbacks. The most important is the loss […] The post The Grim Business of the War in Ukraine: Making Profits on Human Despair appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

This is a portion of a speech delivered by Michael Knowles at CPAC on Thursday‚ February 22‚ 2024. America is experiencing an identity crisis. I think everyone can agree‚ we no longer know who we are. Lots of little errors have led to our present identity crisis — the most obvious being that we no longer have functional borders. Just as a house without walls is not a house‚ a nation without borders is not a nation. Over the past three years‚ Joe Biden has invited almost six million foreigners into our country illegally. At least three-and-a-half million were apprehended and intentionally released into the country. Another two million or more “gotaways” were never even apprehended. They all crossed our southern border with the help of criminal cartels. This Democrat-led invasion is the largest human trafficking operation in history. The vast majority of Americans know this is wrong. The vast majority of Americans want it to come to an end. But we are told we must tolerate the destruction of our borders and the invasion of our country because we are “a nation of immigrants.” That slogan reminds me of President Reagan’s famous observation that “the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant; it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.” As a matter of history‚ we are not in fact a “nation of immigrants.” Neither that phrase nor that sentiment appears anywhere in our founding documents; the phrase appears virtually nowhere at all until the mid-1960s — coincidentally‚ at precisely the moment that Democrats first imposed on us a policy of mass migration because they believed‚ as they believe today‚ that doing so would give them a permanent electoral majority. Even so‚ we are told‚ we must tolerate this cynical political trick because “diversity is our strength.” Once again‚ historically speaking‚ that claim is rather strange. It doesn’t come from the Founding era. It didn’t even crop up in the 1960s. That particular phrase was not coined until 1992‚ when Vice President Dan Quayle told it to a reporter in Japan. Now‚ I like Dan Quayle as much as the next guy. But we’re not talking about Washington or Lincoln here. The idle musings of George H. W. Bush’s vice president are not quite Moses delivering the law from Mount Sinai. Wise statesmen and philosophers — anyone with a modicum of common sense‚ really — have always understood that strength lies not in diversity but in unity. We are not the Divided States of America. At least we’re not supposed to be. We’re the United States of America. When an enemy attacks us‚ we don’t endeavor to stand divided. We stand united. “E pluribus unum.” As Ben Franklin warned all the way back in 1754‚ we must put aside our divisions and come together as one‚ or else we will die. For most of our history‚ America kept immigration in check. We placed strict limits on it. Not because we don’t like immigrants — we like them very much. Some of our best friends and ancestors have been immigrants. But we had always understood‚ as all wise statesmen have understood‚ that a country with an unlimited influx of unassimilated foreign people becomes unstable and risks losing its very identity‚ without which no nation can be any good to anyone. In America’s earliest days‚ Governor John Winthrop called on us to be‚ not a boarding house but “a city upon a hill” — a “model of Christian charity” for all the other nations of the earth to learn from and emulate. This gets to the very heart of our national identity crisis. America was founded to be “a model of Christian charity.” From the moment that our earliest ancestors boarded the Mayflower — which‚ by the way‚ is the name of an excellent new cigar company‚ Mayflower Cigars‚ highly recommended — before the Pilgrims ever stepped foot onto Plymouth Rock‚ America was founded to be a nation with its eyes on Heaven. Francis Scott Key put it perfectly in the fourth verse of our national anthem: O! thus be it ever‚ when freemen shall stand ⁠Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation! Blest with vict’ry and peace may the Heav’n rescued land‚ ⁠Praise the Power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation! Then conquer we must‚ when our cause it is just‚ And this be our motto — “In God is our trust.” Every American with a penny to his name knows that phrase. It’s inscribed on our currency. All of our great statesmen have believed it. Yet today the liberals want us to believe that America was founded as a secular nation. An atheist nation. They tell us America was founded on a firm separation of church and state. Once again‚ the problem is not so much ignorance as liberals knowing so much that isn’t so. There is no such thing as a total separation of church and state. There never has been‚ and there never can be. Because states make laws‚ and laws come from morals‚ and morals come from religion. Religion is simply unavoidable — for all states at all times. That fact has been especially clear in America‚ where we have long been the most religious of any Western nation. Ask the liberals to identify the “separation of church and state” in our law. You’ll wait a long time — because they won’t find it. If they really look closely‚ they’ll find that that phrase appears once in a private letter‚ contradicted not only by the public statements of most of our Founding Fathers but also by the Federalist Papers‚ which cite God by name; by the Constitution‚ which protected the churches established by the states; and by the Declaration of Independence‚ which grounds our whole country on the fact that “we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.” President John Adams credited our very national independence to “the general principles of Christianity.” This is why Adams famously declared that “our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” His observation should give us pause because it isn’t just some happy slogan‚ as some people today treat it. Quite the opposite‚ actually. It’s a warning. If our Constitution is made only for a moral and religious people‚ then when the people cease to be religious‚ the Constitution will cease to function. That fact we see all around us today. The decline in religiosity lies at the heart of our national identity crisis — not because of what men have said but because of who God is. When Moses at the Burning Bush asked God what he should call him‚ God responded‚ “I AM THAT I AM.” God is Being. A people that grounds its identity in God will know who and what it is; a people that rejects God‚ a wise priest once observed‚ will only be left with the pathetic question‚ “Who am I?”

A Seattle comedy club abruptly canceled four comedians’ shows‚ citing the neighborhood’s “progressive values.” Capitol Hill Comedy Bar dropped shows from April to October for comedians Dave Smith‚ Luis Gomez‚ Jim Florentine‚ and Kurt Metzger. Two of the comedians‚ Florentine and Metzger‚ shared the email they said they received from the comedy club informing them their shows were canceled. The club called it a “challenging situation” and said it considered the matter with investors‚ local comedians‚ and neighborhood advocacy groups. I guess I need to clean up my act. My comedy shows in Seattle are cancelled along with @luisjgomez @ComicDaveSmith and @kurtmetzger. After careful consideration and discussions with our team‚ investors‚ local comedians‚ and neighborhood advocacy groups‚ we've encountered a… — Jim Florentine (@Mrjimflorentine) February 23‚ 2024 I’m sorry‚ but this is too funny not to immediately put on blast! Also‚ am I mistaken that this club is in Seattle’s historic “CHAZ” district? (Kurt looks up toward heaven.)THANK U GEORGE FLOYD! For the fun Im about to have with this on Twitter after I take a quick shit! BRB! pic.twitter.com/K4gGSGoPkW — Kurt Metzger (@kurtmetzger) February 23‚ 2024 “Capitol Hill is known for its progressive values‚ and we’ve received significant feedback expressing concerns about the alignment of these upcoming shows with the neighborhood’s ethos. This feedback includes concerns from local advocacy groups that are deeply embedded in our community and work towards upholding its values‚” the comedy club wrote in the email. “This decision was not made lightly‚ and we want to ensure it does not reflect on your talent and the quality of your work but is instead a reflection of our commitment to our community’s values.” The club added that it would refund people’s tickets for these events and promised that “we truly value the art of comedy and the diverse perspectives it brings.” “I guess I need to clean up my act‚” Florentine posted Friday on X. Metzger expressed how hilarious he found the decision. “I’m sorry‚ but this is too funny not to immediately put on blast!” Metzger posted Thursday on X. “Also‚ am I mistaken that this club is in Seattle’s historic “CHAZ” district? (Kurt looks up toward heaven.) THANK U GEORGE FLOYD! For the fun Im about to have with this on Twitter…‚” the comedian added. The comedy club is located in the former Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) area of Seattle‚ the six-block area leftist anti-police protesters barricaded and declared “autonomous” after George Floyd died in police custody in 2020. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Gomez commented on his podcast that it is “the right of any business” not to book him but called the comedy club “super woke.” “Are they idiots for booking us and then unbooking us? Yes‚ it’s a dumb move. Is my former agent an idiot for booking me at a super woke progressive venue that like the entire lineup is like f***ing blue-haired f***ing freaks?” Gomez said. He added that another factor could be “young‚ jealous” local comics. “This is what happens when comics don’t have anything going on. They just look for drama‚” Gomez said.

A judge in California threw out charges against two far-right political agitators‚ saying the federal government engaged in “selective prosecution” by charging right-wing rioters but not the far-left agitators they fought against‚ and who did the exact same thing. Robert Rundo and Robert Boman attended a pro-Donald Trump “free speech” rally in Berkeley on April 15‚ 2017‚ as members of Rise Against Movement (RAM)‚ a “far-right‚ white nationalist” group that engaged in violence against left-wing groups like Antifa. One of those groups was By Any Means Necessary (BAMN)‚ which would descend upon right-wing events to shut them down and start fights. “Antifa and related far-left groups decided they needed to ‘shut this down.’ … They came prepared for violence‚ bringing weapons including pepper spray‚ fireworks‚ knives‚ and homemade bombs‚” Judge Cormac J. Carney of the US District Court for the Central District of California wrote on February 21. “And they used those weapons‚ as well as their bodies‚ against Trump supporters and law enforcement.” But after prosecutors filed an emergency motion to appeal‚ the Ninth Circuit had one of the right-wingers arrested the next day‚ February 22. Robert Rundo “is to remain in custody pending resolution of appellant’s motion to stay release pending appeal. No lower court may order his release absent further order of this Court‚” the appeals court wrote. Judge Carney objected to the fact that federal prosecutors charged only right-wing participants‚ even though left-wing agitators performed identical conduct or worse at the same event—which prosecutors’ own evidence acknowledged. “No individuals associated with the left‚ who engaged in anti-far-right speech and violently suppressed the protected speech of Trump supporters‚ were charged with a federal crime for their part in starting riots at political events. That is textbook viewpoint discrimination‚” he wrote. “Most telling in this case is the government’s silence as to why it never pursued a case against a single member of Antifa or related far-left groups with respect to their violent conduct at pro-Trump events.” “Defendants have established selective prosecution. There is no doubt that the government did not prosecute similarly situated individuals. Antifa and related far-left groups attended the same Trump rallies as Defendants with the expressly stated intent of shutting down‚ through violence if necessary‚ protected political speech. At the same Trump rallies that form the basis for Defendants’ prosecution‚ members of Antifa and related far-left groups engaged in organized violence to stifle protected speech‚” he continued. “Of the 20 people arrested at the April 2017 Berkeley rally‚ the government charged only Defendants and other members of RAM under the Anti-Riot Act. The government charged no members of Antifa‚ BAMN‚ or other far-left groups under the Anti-Riot Act for their use of violence to shut down the rally‚” the judge wrote. “To put it simply‚ RAM and Antifa‚ which both appear to use violence to silence protected speech‚ are identical in material respects—the only difference is their speech and beliefs‚” the judge wrote. “By many accounts‚ members of Antifa and related far-left groups engaged in worse conduct and in fact instigated much of the violence that broke out at these otherwise constitutionally protected rallies to silence the protected speech of the supporters of President Trump. That is constitutionally impermissible. The government cannot prosecute RAM members such as Defendants while ignoring the violence of members of Antifa and related far-left groups because RAM engaged in what the government and many believe is more offensive speech‚” he wrote. The judge’s order included photographs of Antifa engaging in violence at the same protest for which the defendants were charged. Evidence showed that left-wing protesters had descended upon the pro-Trump rally to start a fight‚ and did so. “One man punched a Trump supporter‚ threw him onto a park bench to continue the beating‚ and was in the process of striking him until law enforcement intervened… A young woman used pepper spray and hit Trump supporters‚ explaining that she felt ‘like fighting a white bitch today.’ Police detained one Antifa member who had an improvised explosive device‚” the judge wrote‚ citing reports from local police. Rundo and Boman said that more than 10 Antifa agitators were pummeling a black man wearing a red hat‚ and they sought to protect him. In October 2018‚ Nick Hanna‚ the US Attorney for the Central District of California‚ boasted that “four local members of white supremacy groups face federal charges in attacks at political rallies.” The case was being handled by the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section of the DOJ’s National Security Division. The government charged the men under a rarely-used law called the Anti-Riot Act. The judge said that the law has often been criticized as dubious‚ and was created in the 1960s by partisans who had the intent of imprisoning communists and black agitators. The law makes it a federal offense when interstate commerce or communication‚ including telephones‚ is used to plan what later becomes a riot. In 2019‚ the court dismissed the charges‚ finding that the Anti-Riot Act violated the First Amendment. But in March 2021‚ the appeals court overturned the ruling. In August 2023‚ Rundo was extradited from Romania. On February 21‚ Carney again dismissed the charges based on their second argument‚ of selective prosecution. Rundo was released from jail‚ but prosecutors immediately filed an emergency appeal to the Ninth Circuit‚ asking for Rundo to be arrested and held without bail‚ and saying they thought he might flee through the southern border if he was not. On Feb. 23‚ appeals judges wrote that “Defendant-Appellee Robert Rundo has been arrested” and that lower courts were prohibited from releasing him as the government’s appeal proceeds.

After months of ducking more serious interview spaces and public press conferences‚ President Joe Biden made time on Monday for a sit-down interview with NBC’s late-night comedy host Seth Meyers — and he used the platform to lecture Israel about the ongoing war against Hamas terrorists. During the interview‚ while Biden reinforced his support for Israel in its mission to wipe out the terror group — which was responsible for the unprovoked attack on Israel on October 7 — he also said that continued attacks on Gaza put Israel at risk of losing “support from around the world.” WATCH: Seth Meyers mildly asks Biden about the horrible images out of Gaza and the hostage negotiations for a ceasefire pic.twitter.com/vXPHSd25K4 — HalalFlow (@halalflow) February 27‚ 2024 Meyers began by asking Biden about the likelihood that a two-state solution was even possible‚ given the current climate — and Biden agreed that the road forward would not be an easy one. “There is a path forward‚ with difficulty. Here’s the path forward. Look‚ first of all‚ there are– the hostages being held must be released and if we’ve got at least in principle an agreement‚ there will be a ceasefire while that takes place‚” Biden said. “Ramadan’s coming up and there’s been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well in order to give us time to get all the hostages out.” Biden went on to say that he firmly believed there had to be an Israel for any Jew anywhere in the world to be safe‚ but warned that continued attacks in Gaza would lead to other nations stepping away from supporting Israel. “Look‚ Israel has had the overwhelming support of the vast majority of nations. If it keeps this up without – with this incredibly conservative government they have‚ and Ben-Gvir and others – I’ve known every major foreign policy leader in Israel since Golda Meir – they’re gonna lose support from around the world‚ and that is not in Israel’s interest‚” Biden said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP In the months since the October 7 attacks‚ while several nations have voiced support for Israel‚ they have also repeatedly attempted to pressure Israel into dialing back the offensive in Gaza – which is aimed at rooting out and destroying Hamas. Despite claiming to support Israel — and claiming to act out of concern over the number of civilian casualties — many are basing their calls for a ceasefire on casualty counts that come directly from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.

President Joe Biden took a few questions during a brief ice cream break with NBC late-night host and comedian Seth Meyers‚ telling reporters he hoped the United States could help facilitate a ceasefire in Gaza by Monday. Biden‚ between bites of his ice cream cone‚ said that his advisors were telling him that they were “close” to an agreement that could bring about at least a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas‚ the terror group that controls Gaza and is responsible for the unprovoked attacks on Israel on October 7 of last year. WATCH: President Biden and @sethmeyers get ice cream.pic.twitter.com/LZ7fNSQkvE — CSPAN (@cspan) February 27‚ 2024 Meyers and Biden walked into the ice cream shop‚ and after some banter with others inside‚ the president decided on mint chocolate chip ice cream‚ “And how about a sugar cone?” “I was worried you were going to be that guy who asks for all the samples‚” Meyers joked‚ getting laughs from the president and several others. Once Biden got his ice cream‚ he offered to buy ice cream for anyone else who wanted some. “The last of the big spenders‚” he joked‚ asking the cameraman and others if they wanted some ice cream. “It’s not a bribe.” Reporters started shouting questions then‚ asking about his planned trip to the southern border on Thursday. Biden explained that he had been planning the trip for a while but had not realized that his likely 2024 opponent — former President Donald Trump — was planning to be there that same day. When asked whether he planned to meet with migrants‚ Biden demurred and said that the Secret Service didn’t like it when he told people his plans. “Can you give us a sense of when you think a ceasefire will start?” another reporter asked‚ changing the subject to the Israel-Hamas war. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Biden‚ who said on Meyers’ show that he was working to facilitate at least a temporary ceasefire in an effort to get any remaining hostages released‚ predicted something “by the end of the weekend.” “Well‚ I hope by the end of the weekend‚” he said between bites. “At least my — my National Security Advisor tells me that we’re close. We’re close‚ we’re not done yet. My hope is by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire.”

House Republicans are demanding that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas provide information on the illegal immigrant charged with murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity‚ Security‚ and Enforcement Chairman Tom McClintock (R-CA) sent a letter to Mayorkas on Tuesday as the secretary faces the prospect of a Senate trial after the GOP-led House impeached him over the handling of the border crisis. “Criminal aliens exploit vulnerabilities in our nation’s immigration system to the detriment of those in the United States‚” the lawmakers wrote. “The Biden Administration’s border and immigration policies only increase the likelihood that criminal aliens will successfully enter and remain in the U.S.” Authorities detained Ibarra after Riley‚ a 22-year-old student at Augusta University‚ was found dead last week at the University of Georgia in Athens with signs of blunt force trauma. Police suspect it was a “crime of opportunity” as the two did not appear to know each other. Ibarra now faces charges for murder‚ assault‚ and more in connection to the killing. He has been denied bond. Jordan and McClintock referred to a statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that said Ibarra was arrested by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in September 2022 after an illegal crossing near El Paso‚ Texas‚ and was paroled and released “for further processing.” ICE said Ibarra was then arrested by New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers in September 2023 and charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation. ICE said Ibarra was released by the NYPD before a detainer could be issued. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The statement from ICE concluded by saying its field office in Atlanta “encountered Ibarra pursuant to his arrest” by the University of Georgia Police Department and being charged with murder and other crimes. It added that the Atlanta field office lodged a detainer. Jordan and McClintock said they want case history information on Ibarra‚ details on all of Ibarra’s entries into the United States‚ information about Ibarra’s processing by CBP officials‚ and whether ICE lodged an immigration detainer against him. They set a deadline of 5 p.m. on March 12.

In a startling revelation that has sent shockwaves through the media and geopolitical landscapes‚ a Russian website has reported an attempted assassination on American journalist Tucker Carlson. The incident‚ which purportedly took place in Moscow‚ has unveiled the precarious position journalists occupy at the intersection of international intrigue and espionage. According to reports‚ Vasiliev Pyotr Alexeieovich‚ a 35-year-old man‚ was arrested in connection with the plot that aimed to target Carlson during his visit to Russia for an interview with President Vladimir Putin. Alexeieovich’s alleged confession‚ which surfaced in a video‚ claimed he was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence to plant an explosive device on Carlson’s vehicle‚ a task for which he would be compensated $4‚000. BREAKING NEWS: Tucker Carlson Assassination Attempt "VIDEO RELEASED" Russian military personnel detained an individual who was under the direction of Ukrainian Intelligence to assassinate Tucker Carlson. The plot was to be… pic.twitter.com/tF53E4q5nD — Audit The States (@Audit_TheStates) February 27‚ 2024 The details of this thwarted assassination attempt are as chilling as they are controversial. Alexeieovich‚ who is said to have been detained during the planning stages of the plot‚ was reportedly acting under orders from the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukraine Ministry of Defense. This accusation‚ if proven true‚ could have severe implications for the already strained relations between Russia and Ukraine‚ potentially escalating tensions further. The legitimacy of Alexeieovich’s confession video has been called into question‚ with skeptics pointing out the possibility of coercion or fabrication. However‚ the mere suggestion that a journalist like Tucker Carlson could be targeted in such a manner is alarming and raises serious concerns about the safety of media personnel operating in politically volatile regions. A man has been arrested by security services here in Moscow for plotting an assassination attempt on Tucker Carlson The man is from Podolsk and says he was acting on instructions from Ukraines SBU. He claims he was promised $4‚000 for "successfully completing the task" (bombing… pic.twitter.com/SCDSKGgeHS — Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) February 26‚ 2024 This incident underscores the increasingly dangerous environment in which journalists find themselves‚ particularly when their work intersects with the interests of powerful state actors. The role of the media as the fourth estate is crucial in maintaining transparency and accountability‚ but this episode serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in pursuing truth and justice. Furthermore‚ the alleged involvement of Ukrainian intelligence in this plot adds another layer of complexity to the already intricate web of geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine. If substantiated‚ these claims could serve as a pretext for further aggression‚ complicating efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region. As the story unfolds‚ it is imperative that a thorough and unbiased investigation is conducted to ascertain the veracity of these claims. The international community must stand in solidarity with journalists worldwide‚ advocating for their protection and the unfettered pursuit of their profession. The attempted assassination of Tucker Carlson‚ whether proven true or not‚ is a grim reminder of the perils faced by those who dare to expose the machinations of power. In conclusion‚ this incident not only highlights the dangers journalists face in today’s fraught geopolitical climate but also serves as a call to action for the global community to reaffirm its commitment to press freedom and the protection of media personnel. As we navigate these turbulent times‚ let us not forget the vital role that journalists play in safeguarding democracy and holding the powerful to account. The post Foiled Plot Against Tucker Carlson Exposes the Dark Underbelly of Geopolitical Tensions appeared first on The Conservative Brief.