There's way too much going on right now for me to really focus on any one country this week. The aftermath of the fall of the Nepal government has, somewhat surprisingly, reverberated around the world, and not only in countries that are enemies to the West as you'd expect; for example, Morocco's government battle fiercely with Egypt's and Jordan's to be first in line to lick the dogshit off the boots of Zionists, and yet Morocco is currently embroiled in a large protest wave based primarily around a youth unemployment crisis (though their population is also remarkably pro-Palestinian, which generates additional friction). We're also seeing similar protests in Madagascar, Peru, and Paraguay, and perhaps more will come. I'm personally fairly doubtful in the potential for meaningful economic results from these protests (the current imperialist system seems too deeply embedded for a movement that isn't explicitly communist and anti-imperialist to alter conditions), but it is quite possible for new political results at least.
Outside of the developing world, it appears that the unpopularity of western leaders, such as in the UK, France, and Italy, is creating new levels of unrest. In Britain, the political system has become so utterly moribund that even the artificial democracy of a two-party system (more-or-less; the Lib Dems do exist I suppose) no longer suffices, with both Conservatives and Labour gradually sinking. The Reform party appears like it may become the new standard-bearer of the capitalists and petit-bourgeois - that is, the historical wellspring of fascism - and the Left Party (whatever name they eventually choose) may or may not rise to meet the occasion. In France, they're on their fifth Prime Minister in two years, after Lecornu lasted about a month, attempting the liberal classic: promising change, and then appointing the exact same people who have ruled for the last few decades. And pro-Palestinian protests and general strikes have erupted in Italy, in defiance of their rightwing government under Meloni.
While there's plenty of other events (e.g. continuing aggression against Venezuela that might soon erupt into a war) it would be remise of me not to mention the very much ongoing events vis-a-vis Palestine and a potential peace deal there, seemingly supported to some degree by Trump. It could be legitimate, and it could be some big act (very likely the latter, IMO). Both Trump and Netanyahu seem to believe that they're very talented political masterminds, producing manoeuvres and feints that would make Machiavelli blush. Nothing could be further from the truth, and I trust the militant organizations inside Palestine to outplay these American failsons. Hamas and similar groups are not nearly as gullible as the Iranian reformist faction - though few people are!
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The Zionist Entity's Genocide of Palestine
Sources on the fighting in Palestine against the temporary Zionist entity. In general, CW for footage of battles, explosions, dead people, and so on:
UNRWA reports on Israel's destruction and siege of Gaza and the West Bank.
English-language Palestinian Marxist-Leninist twitter account. Alt here.
English-language twitter account that collates news.
Arab-language twitter account with videos and images of fighting.
English-language (with some Arab retweets) Twitter account based in Lebanon. - Telegram is @IbnRiad.
English-language Palestinian Twitter account which reports on news from the Resistance Axis. - Telegram is @EyesOnSouth.
English-language Twitter account in the same group as the previous two. - Telegram here.
English-language PalestineResist telegram channel.
More telegram channels here for those interested.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Sources:
Defense Politics Asia's youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful.
Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.
Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don't want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it's just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
Simplicius, who publishes on Substack. Like others, his political analysis should be soundly ignored, but his knowledge of weaponry and military strategy is generally quite good.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists' side.
Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.
Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR's former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR's forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster's telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a 'propaganda tax', if you don't believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.
Pro-Ukraine Telegram Channels:
Almost every Western media outlet.
https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.
https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.
More Venezuela developments.
An AC-130J Ghostrider Close Air Support aircraft has arrived in Puerto Rico, armed with 8x AGM-114 Hellfire air to surface laser guided missiles, and the 30mm GAU-23 autocannon and 105mm M102 Howitzer visible. Small Diameter Bombs (SDB, GBU-39 and GBU-53) can also be fitted instead of Hellfires. The aircraft also has internal launch tubes for anti tank guided missiles and 60lb class glide bombs.
4x MH-6 Little Bird and 3x MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were also conducting military exercises on the coast of Trinidad and Tobago on October 8th, photographed. Commonly associated with US special operations forces in the Middle East. The MV Ocean Trader SOCOM ship in the Caribbean can be used to launch helicopters.
Venezuela have deployed Chinese YLC-18 3D low altitude S-band (2-4GHz) surveillance radars to pre prepared sites around the capital Caracas. Due to the topography in the area, such radars are important for detecting low flying cruise missiles or helicopters. It's not an "anti stealth" radar.
Radar frequency bands:
https://t.me/kalibrated/25337
I thought this was interesting, too. Venezuela is supposedly blocking their airstrips at night by parking planes on them.
I guess this is an attempt to prevent stealth infiltrations. Not sure how effective it would be, but it's good to see them taking proactive steps.
They're definitely not going to be caught unprepared.
Stupid question: Why do they park airplanes on the airstrips? Why not cars or trucks (I think that would be cheaper)?
These'll be some of the first things that'll be hit if this kicks off. All of it will be mapped out by satellite and flying ultra long range cameras from off the coast before operations begin.
I assume these can be detected by means other than visual too, like they're giving off some signature signal or something? Otherwise it would make sense to have like 100 decoy versions forcing the opponent to hit all of them to be sure you'd cleared them all out. Those signals must be something you can fake too surely?
After having to witness the complete inadequcy of the Iranian Leadership , its good to see that Maduro has no such Illusions.
He demonstrates the readiness to fight is exactly what is need to maybe avoid this fight. Sadly he seems to have no Backing from anyone ,as only evil has Allies .. If i where Xi i would at least fly an empty transportplane back and fort to venezuela (woulndt even have to be loaded).. But nope ,cant be bothered to even play act support.
China has such incredible Not-Protagonist energy...
Edit: replied under the wrong comment
Evil will always find many accomplices, while good does none.
Well yes to everything. Venezuela is being mapped by satellites and reconnaissance aircraft in both the visual spectrum and via SAR imagery. Any known radar sites would be the first targets. These YLC-18 sites were constructed in 2020, but the system is mobile, it can be deployed anywhere in theory. They can be tracked and targeted via their emissions too, and yes decoys (including those that can emit) do exist for radar systems. But high quality decoys (that can emit, rotate the array) are expensive to the point you might as well have more actual systems.
These are surveillance radars, they don't guide missiles. But they play an important role in low altitude coverage.
Yeah that'll do it I guess :/
I would go full Tito with decoys instead of bunkers if I could.
You can still get cheaper decoys, but effectiveness is questionable. Like these inflatable S-300 missiles on a real truck chassis from Iran:
Ultimately if there are no electromagnetic emissions and/or realistic movement, the decoys are easy to spot.
There are other forms of defensive aids that aim to confuse incoming anti radiation missiles and guided munitions, and deploy chaff, smoke, and electronic countermeasures. Effectiveness is again questionable. Link to those
Correct me if I am wrong: This kind of plane is only useful once air-power has been achieved with stealth fighters taking out Radar and air defense installations. Does this hint at a preparation for extended conflict, not just a targeted strike on Maduro/General Leadership?
AC-130J Ghostrider should be slow and have a huge radar cross section...
Yes that's true, but Venezuela don't have a lot of modern air defence. They have 1 S-300VM/SA-23 battalion (2 batteries), 1 Buk M2E/SA-17 brigade (4 battalions of 3 batteries each, for a total of 12 batteries), and that's it for modern missile based systems. Even if these systems perform very well, their low numbers will not be challenging for the US military to suppress or destroy. There are between 20-40+ S-125/SA-3 batteries in Venezuela, but these are really old systems from Soviet era stockpiles, despite modernisation (and despite one taking out an F-117 over Yugoslavia). In Ukraine, they only shoot down drones and the occasional cruise missile in Ukrainian service. Russia retired theirs decades ago (and sold it to countries like Venezuela).
The big worry for low and slow flying aircraft post the opening salvo of a hypothetical conflict would be man portable air defence systems. Apparently Venezuela has a lot of these. Igla MANPADs.
Aircraft like these can be used to provide close air support for special forces and Marines if they set landfall in Venezuela.