NOTE:  This is the only entry for this date. Visitors may scroll down for previous entries on GAZA, WEST BANK, LEBANON, SYRIA, UKRAINE, CUBA, VENEZUELA, MEDIA, 9/11 TRUTH and other subjects, and go directly to other websites for related news and commentary. // Some items below were posted this morning later than desired, and a bit at a time, owing to rather extreme computer weirdness.

For today, links to ELEVEN items: reports from the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters; a Thursday afternoon discussion from Redacted w/ Clayton Morris via Rumble*; reports from National Public Radio, and the Cradle; and commentary from Middle East Eye. For other published material (including just headlines), click on their names or initials as highlighted. (Scroll down for IRAN 2-26-26.) — MCM

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U.S. advises embassy employees in Israel to leave now if they want, as risk of war hangs over Middle East, by Sam Mednick and Sam Metz | AP  TEL AVIV — The U.S. Embassy in Israel today told its staff that it could leave the country and urged anyone considering departure to do so immediately, as the threat of an American strike on Iran looms. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for a report from Middle East Eye.

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UN nuclear watchdog to hold ‘technical’ discussions on Iran’s programme. From AFP. The International Atomic Energy Agency today confirmed technical discussions to try to reach a deal between Iran and the U.S. will take place in Vienna next week, according to a confidential report. Click HERE and HERE for report in English and French, and HERE and HERE for later report from AFP in English and French. Click HERE soon for an even later report from Reuters (the presentation of which by Newsmax at one point included a video clip from President Trump’s remarks on Iran in State of the Union address and audio of applause at the Capitol).

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FROM FEB. 26  High Alert! Americans will die for Israel’s evil war with Iran. From Redacted w/ Clayton Morris. He and Natali Morris talk with former CIA officer John Kiriakou and retired U.S. Army Col. Douglas Macgregor about what appears to be a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran by early March. Click HERE for video.

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As U.S. and Iran wrap latest round of nuclear talks, Trump weighs his options. Reported by Franco Ordoñez and A Martínez | NPR  President Trump weighs his military options in Iran as his administration continues negotiating over Tehran’s nuclear program. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.  Click HERE for Feb. 26 report from the Cradle.

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Tehran urges Washington to drop ‘excessive demands’ as USS Ford approaches Israel. From the Cradle. “Success in this path requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoidance of any miscalculation and excessive demands,” Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said today in a call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty as the U.S. military buildup in the region continued. READ MORE . . .

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Iran continues crackdown on anti-government protesters despite Trump’s threat. Reported by Durrie Bouscaren | NPR  President Trump set a red line for Iran not to execute protesters, but dozens are being sentenced to death. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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How U.S. allies are bracing for Trump’s potential military action against Iran. Michel Martin of NPR asks former Ambassador and Middle East Special Envoy Dennis Ross about how U.S. allies are bracing for the possibility of U.S. military action against Iran. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM FEB. 26  What happens next with Iran? Reported by Mary Louise Kelly and Greg Myre | NPR  Indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran have wrapped, and a deal was not reached on Tehran’s nuclear program. NPR’s weekly national security podcast Sources & Methods explores what’s next. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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‘Trump logic,’ by Sean Mathews | Middle East Eye  The U.S. “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme in June, President Donald Trump boasted on Tuesday during his State of the Union address, just before adding that the Islamic Republic is now on the verge of starting it “all over again.” READ MORE . . .

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* Fast-forward to about 20 minutes in for intro and discussion.

Links to THREE items: an interactive map from the Moscow Times, the Associated Press and a documentary from KLA.TV; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 2-25-26, and up or down for today’s IRAN, CUBA and VENEZUELA so far.) — MCM

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Two killed in Ukrainian drone strikes on western Russia. From the Moscow Times. Ukrainian drone strikes killed two people and injured six others in the border regions of Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk over the past 24 hours, local authorities said. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 24  An interactive map of the war in Ukraine over four years, by Will Jarrett, Susie Blann and Illia Novikov | AP   On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, plunging the entire country into a conflict that began when Moscow illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. Click HERE for more of introduction, and for instructions to use map.

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FROM FEB. 24  Is Ukraine a key state to a new world order? From KLA.TV. On the fourth anniversary of Ukraine war, there is an increased coverage of the conflict in mainstream media. This war has inflicted untold suffering, casualties, death, displacement, and destruction. The essential point, however, is still being ignored by compulsory-fee paid media — and that is who are the real masterminds, shadow players, financial profiteers, and perpetrators? Click HERE for video and transcript.

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TO BE CONTINUED

Links to THREE reports: from the Associated Press and National Public Radio, and to an interview from KLA.TV; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for CUBA 2-25-26, and up or down for IRAN, UKRAINE and VENEZUELA.) — MCM

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NEWER  What to know about boat shooting in Cuban waters that killed 4, by Dánica Coto | AP  SAN JOSÉ  — A speedboat carrying 10 people approached Cuba’s north shore and opened fire on Cuban soldiers when they confronted the vessel, according to the Caribbean island’s government. Troops returned fire, killing four people and wounding six others who were detained Wednesday after the encounter. READ MORE . . .

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Cuba says four killed in speedboat shooting were attempting to infiltrate the country, by Andrea Rodríguez, Dánica Coto and Mattew Lee | AP  HAVANA  — Cuba’s government said late Wednesday that the 10 passengers on a boat that opened fire on its soldiers were armed Cubans living in the U.S. who were trying to infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism. The announcement came hours after Cuba said . . . READ MORE . . .

Cuban government says 4 killed on boat were trying to infiltrate the country. Reported by Eyder Peralta and Michel Martin | NPR  Cuba’s government says the 10 people on a Florida-registered boat that opened fire on its soldiers were terrorists trying to infiltrate the island. The country says its forces killed four people. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM FEB. 23  Venezuela, Greenland, Palestine, Iran: Geopolitical consolidation?An unnamed staffer  at KLA.TV talks with investigative researcher James Corbett of the Corbett Report about “which greater goal is being achieved” by Venezuelan President Nícolas Maduro’s arrest and U.S. economic warfare against Cuba, and what “agenda” may be behind U.S.-Israeli aggression against Iran and Palestine. Click HERE for video and transcript.

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A link to an interview from KLA.TV; other published material is accessible by clicking on its letters below. (Scroll down for VENEZUELA 2-18-26.  Scroll up for IRAN, UKRAINE and CUBA.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 23  Venezuela, Greenland, Palestine, Iran: Geopolitical consolidation?An unnamed staffer  at KLA.TV talks with investigative researcher James Corbett of the Corbett Report about “which greater goal is being achieved” by Venezuelan President Nícolas Maduro’s arrest and U.S. economic warfare against Cuba, and what “agenda” may be behind U.S.-Israeli aggression against Iran and Palestine. Click HERE for video and transcript.

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Links to THREE items: two reports from the Associated Press and BizTech Weekly and an article of commentary from Consortium News; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for MEDIA 2-23-26 and CUBA, IRAN and UKRAINE.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 24  Warner Bros gets a higher offer from Paramount in heated fight with Netflix, by Wyatte Grantham-Philips | AP  NEW YORK — Warner Bros. Discovery says Paramount has raised the price of its takeover offer to $31 per share. The offer by Skydance-owned Paramount had previously stood at $30 per share since December, when it launched its hostile bid to challenge a deal Warner had struck with Netflix for $27.75 per share. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.  Click HERE for report from BizTech Weekly.

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FROM FEB. 24  To whom are our liars lying & what Is the point of their lies? by Patrick Lawrence | Special to Consortium News  Last Oct. 25 I was reading the New York Post, as one must to keep one’s head clear in our complicated world — as well as Foreign Affairs, house organ of the Council on Foreign Relations.

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Links to TWO items: a report from the Associated Press and commentary from Jonathan-Cook-net; others are accessible by clicking on their highlighted addresses or initials below. (Scroll down for CUBA 2-23-26, and up or down for MEDIA, IRAN and UKRAINE.) — MCM

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Rubio is set for talks in St. Kitts with Caribbean leaders unsettled by Trump policies, by Matthew Lee and Dánica Coto | AP  BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is attending a summit of the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM — after President Donald Trump ordered a military operation in January to remove and arrest Venezuela’s then-leader, Nicolás Maduro, stepped up aggressive tactics to combat alleged drug smuggling and turned up pressure on Cuba. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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FROM FEB. 21  Rubio declared a return to brutal western colonialism — and Europe applauded, by Jonathan Cook | Jonathan-Cook.net  U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s speech at the Munich Security Conference this month was another troubling declaration of intent by the Trump administration. READ MORE . . .

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Links to THREE items: two reports from the Associated Press and commentary from Consortium News; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for IRAN 2-24-26, and up or down for MEDIA, CUBA and UKRAINE.) — MCM

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Iran pushes back against Trump ahead of Geneva talks in face of major U.S. military deployment, by Jon Gambrell | AP  DUBAI — Iran pushed back today against U.S. President Donald Trump’s pressure tactics ahead of critical talks in Geneva over Tehran’s nuclear program, alternating between calling his remarks “big lies” to saying negotiations may yield an agreement through “honorable diplomacy.” The United States has assembled its biggest deployment of aircraft and warships to the Middle East in decades as Iran struggles at home with growing dissent. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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FROM FEB. 24  Iranians worry over American military buildup as last-chance round of talks nears, by Jon Gambrell | AP  DUBAI— Iranians warily await the next round of talks with the U.S. in Geneva this week — negotiations that many see as a last chance for their ruling theocracy to strike a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 24  To whom are our liars lying & what Is the point of their lies? by Patrick Lawrence | Special to Consortium News  To make the case that those who purport to lead the Western post-democracies lie routinely about what they are doing and why they are doing it will not help you win friends and influence people. READ MORE . . .

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Links to FIVE items: three articles of commentary and analysis from Consortium News; a report from Declassified UK; and an interview from National Public Radio; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 2-24-26.  Scroll up for MEDIA, CUBA and IRAN.) — MCM

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MARCH 22, 2022  Why the U.S. needed the Russian invasion, by  Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  The U.S. got its war in Ukraine. Without it, Washington could not attempt to destroy Russia’s economy, orchestrate worldwide condemnation and lead a proxy war to bleed Russia, all as part of an attempt to bring down its government. Joe Biden has now left no doubt that it’s true. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 24  Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine reflects on 4th anniversary of war with Russia. Reported by Mary Louise Kelly, Justine Kenin and Henry Larson | NPR  Kelly talks with Bridget Brink, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine who’s now running for Congress, about the U.S.’s next moves in brokering peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM FEB. 24  The timeline that tells the tale, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  The way to prevent the Ukraine war from being understood is to suppress its history. A cartoon version has the conflict beginning on Feb. 24, 2022. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 23  UK aid still helping Ukraine join NATO, by Mark Curtis | Declassified UK  As the Ukraine war enters its fifth year, a British aid project worth up to £38m is meant to help Ukraine “make progress on conditions for membership of the EU and NATO” while “attracting international investors” and creating “an improved business environment.” READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 24  To whom are our liars lying & what Is the point of their lies? by Patrick Lawrence | Special to Consortium News  To make the case that those who purport to lead the Western post-democracies lie routinely about what they are doing and why they are doing it will not help you win friends and influence people. READ MORE . . .

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Links to two conversations from Judging Freedom Podcast, followed by links to EIGHT reports: from the Associated Press, Common Dreams, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (Scroll down for IRAN 2-23-26 and UKRAINE.) — MCM  

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Mearsheimer: Trump has no off-ramp. From Judging Freedom Podcast. Judge Napolitano talks today with Professor John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago on Trump administration Iran policy reflecting the heavy influence of the Israel lobby. He agrees with Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Dan Caine, who has advised against a war. Click HERE for video.

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FROM FEB. 23  McGovern, Napolitano discuss Russia-Ukraine war and whether war with Iran is to be avoided. From Judging Freedom Podcast / Consortium News. Judge Andrew Napolitano and retired CIA analyst Ray McGovern consider intelligence, narrative and history relating to the Ukraine-Russia war and prospects to avoid war with Iran. Click HERE for video.

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FROM FEB. 23  Students in Iran hold protests as U.S. forces gather in region for possible strikes, by Amir Hussein-Radjy and Kareem Chehayeb | AP  CAIRO — Students held anti-government protests at universities across Iran’s capital on Monday, according to witnesses and videos circulating online, in a new sign of unrest. READ MORE . . .

Iran’s deputy foreign minister on the country’s plan if the U.S. strikes. Reported by Steve Inskeep | NPR  Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi talks about the status of U.S.-Iran negotiations and what Iran is prepared to do in the event of a U.S. strike. Click HERE to listen and, later.

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FROM FEB. 23  Trump’s sanctions on Iran have dramatically effected its economy and led to protests. Reported by Jackie Northam | NPR  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admitted that Washington helped spark recent protests in Iran by creating a U.S. dollar shortage, leading to runaway inflation. Click HERE to listen and, later.

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FROM FEB. 20  Former U.S. Navy commander talks about the U.S. military buildup near Iran. Michel Martin of NPR asks retired Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan, a former Navy commander in the Middle East, about the U.S. military buildup near Iran. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM FEB. 20  Second U.S. carrier nears Middle East, as Trump pressures Iran to make a deal. Reported by Greg Myre and Leila Fadel | NPR  A second American aircraft carrier moved closer to the Middle East Thursday, as President Trump remains noncommittal about whether he’ll use force against Iran. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM FEB. 20  Iranian authorities crack down on mourners trying to honor people killed in protests. Reported by Jackie Northam | NPR  Iranian authorities are cracking down on mourners as they try to memorialize their loved ones who were killed in last month’s protests. Click HERE to listen and read.

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