NOTE: No one reads this blog. But . . .

For now, links to reports from the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, to a commentary via the Moscow Times, and to three interviews — the first and third interviews are from the Glenn Diesen Show, the earlier one via ScheerPost; in between is one from Redacted; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up for today’s GAZA and LEBANON so far, and down for UKRAINE 6-28-26.) — MCM

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FROM JUNE 28  Putin admits Ukrainian strikes driving fuel shortages. From AFP. President Vladimir Putin acknowledged Sunday that Russia is facing a “certain shortage” of fuel following a wave of repeated Ukrainian strikes targeting oil refineries and domestic supply lines. READ MORE . . .

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The world shouldn’t be confused when Russians shrug off a crisis,  by an anonymous writer in Russia | The Moscow Times  The BBC’s Steve Rosenberg does a superb job. If the reader doesn’t follow his work, they really should. He doesn’t just get Russia; he likes it, which is refreshing in the current information climate. More refreshing was how he  . . .READ MORE . . . 

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FROM JUNE 28  Kremlin hawks demand escalation against Ukraine and retaliation against Europe. Glenn Diesen, a University of South-Eastern Norway political scientist, talks with Brussels-based historian, businessman and “Russia-watcher” Gilbert Doctorow.* The latter has seen changes the Russian goverment’s approach to the war with Ukraine, along with the effectiveness of Western European governments’ involvement. Click HERE for video of interview.

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FROM c. JUNE 28  Is Putin about to END the war? Natali Morris  of Redacted talks with historian and “Russia watcher” Gilbert Doctorow.Among other things, Doctorow asserts that his views on the progression of the Russia-Ukraine war are roughly opposite of those expressed by former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence analyst Scott Ritter, a onetime regular on Consortium News’s The World This Week. Click HERE for video of interview.

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FROM JUNE 27  Ex-CIA analyst says NATO escalation could trigger direct conflict with Russia. Glenn Diesen talks with former CIA analyst Larry Johnson. Both see Moscow increasingly regarding NATO as a direct participant in the Russia-Ukraine war rather than a distant backer of Ukraine. Click HERE for video of interview and a print summary by Joshua Scheer of ScheerPost.

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TO BE CONTINUED

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* The titles of Doctorow’s books — all but one in kindle editions only — are HERE. An October 2022 interview with him in La Tribune Diplomatque Internationale, a Belgian periodical, is HERE.

NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to reports from the Cradle and the Associated Press, and to an analysis from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll down for SYRIA, LEBANON, IRAN, UKRAINE and ALL OF IT.) — MCM

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Iraqi forces storm Green Zone, arrest politicians in ‘anti-corruption’ crackdown: report. From the Cradle. Iraqi security forces deployed in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone at dawn today, using heavy vehicles and tanks to carry out a series of raids targeting “several politicians” accused of corruption. READ MORE . . .

 Click HERE for report from AP (added on June 29).

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The banker of Baghdad: How Tom Barrack plans to starve Iran’s militia machine, by Jasim Al-Azzawi | Middle East Monitor  In April, the U.S. Treasury blocked a cargo-plane delivery of nearly $500 million in U.S. banknotes — proceeds from Iraqi oil sales — and simultaneously suspended security cooperation programs with the Iraqi military. READ MORE . . .

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NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here is a link to a report from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll up or down for IRAQ, LEBANON, IRAN, UKRAINE and ALL OF IT; click HERE for SYRIA 5-4-26.) — MCM

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Israeli army kills 2 people in southern Syria. From Middle East Monitor. The Israeli army said its forces had killed two people in southern Syria today, in the latest violation of the Arab country’s sovereignty, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

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NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here is a link to a report from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll up or down today’s IRAQ, SYRIA, IRAN, UKRAINE and ALL OF IT so far, and down for LEBANON 6-27-26.) — MCM

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Israeli officer killed, soldier injured in southern Lebanon, military says. From Middle East Monitor. The Israeli military said Sunday that one officer was killed and a soldier injured in a “clash” in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

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NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to five reports and anlyses: from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, the Cradle, Middle East Monitor, and Consortium News; other published material is  accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s IRAQ, SYRIA, LEBANON. UKRAINE and ALL OF IT so far, and for IRAN 6-27-26.) — MCM

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Iran attacks Bahrain and Kuwait following U.S. strikes and threatens to halt talks to end the war, by Jon Gambrell and Melanie Lidman | AP  DUBAI — Iran launched drone and missile attacks today targeting Bahrain and Kuwait in response to U.S. airstrikes that hit the Islamic Republic, and threatened a “complete halt” in negotiations to end the war if Washington continues its attacks. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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Araghchi warns against ‘interference’ in Hormuz after IRGC responds to new U.S. violations. From the Cradle. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Washington on 28 June against “interference” in Tehran’s management of the Strait of Hormuz, hours after Iran carried out its latest retaliatory strikes in response to new US attacks on the Islamic Republic.  READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 27  New strikes test the Iran ceasefire. Reported by Daniel Ofman, Sarah Robbins, Don Gonyea and Zephyr Weinreich | NPR  The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is being tested after new attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Mideast expert Paul Salem explains what’s happened and whether the deal can still hold. Click HERE to listen and read.

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The banker of Baghdad: How Tom Barrack plans to starve Iran’s militia machine, by Jasim Al-Azzawi | Middle East Monitor  In April, the U.S. Treasury blocked a cargo-plane delivery of nearly $500 million in U.S. banknotes — proceeds from Iraqi oil sales — and simultaneously suspended security cooperation programs with the Iraqi military. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 27  The World This Week: ‘Europe and Russia stare at war.’ Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of Consortium News, hosts former CIA analyst Ray McGovern* and historian Peter Kuznick** of American University. The last 25 minutes or so concern the latest breakdown in the U.S.-Iran ceasefire and where NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s victories point to “a new direction” for the Democratic Party in the United States. Click HERE for video of Saturday.evening’s discussion.

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* Much of McGovern’s focus as a CIA analyst was the Soviet Union and, later, the Russian Federation.

** Kuznick is director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University and co-author with Oliver Stone of The Untold History of the United States (2012).

NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio, and to a discussion from Consortium News; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for IRAQ, SYRIA, LEBANON, IRAN and ALL OF IT, and down for UKRAINE 6-27-26.) — MCM

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Ukraine’s drone assault ignites major oil refinery in Russia. From AP. KYIV — Ukraine kept up its heavy drone assault on Russia, setting fire to a major oil refinery in the south and killing at least two people, Russian authorities said today. Ukraine has markedly stepped up its long-range attacks on . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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FROM JUNE 27  A historian analyzes whether Ukraine has a localized advantage in modern combat power. Scott Simon of NPR talks with strategic studies professor Phillips O’Brien of St Andrew’s University in Scotland about whether Ukraine has gained the upper hand in the fight against Russia. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM JUNE 27  The World This Week: ‘Europe and Russia stare at war.’ Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of Consortium News, hosts former CIA analyst Ray McGovern* and historian Peter Kuznick** of American University. From CN intro: “Europe trash talks war. Putin says Russia is ready. The U.S.-Iran ceasefire breaks down again. And do NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s victories really signal a new direction for Democrats?” Click HERE for video of Saturday.evening’s discussion.

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* Much of McGovern’s focus as a CIA analyst was the Soviet Union and, later, the Russian Federation.

** Kuznick is director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University and co-author with Oliver Stone of The Untold History of the United States (2012).

NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here is a link to a commentary from People’s World via ScheerPost; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up for IRAQ, SYRIA, LEBANON, IRAN and UKRAINE, and down for ALL OF IT 6-27-26.) — MCM

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FROM JUNE 24  Time to get AIPAC and all dirty money out of politics, by Dahj Voytek | People’s World / ScheerPost  In 2026, with the rising costs of food, rent, and healthcare in the United States, one might ask: Where are our tax dollars going? READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same People’s World article in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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ADVISORY  Watch: The World This Week: ‘Europe and Russia stare at war,’ at 8 p.m. EDT. Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of Consortium News, will speak with former CIA analyst Ray McGovern and historian Peter Kuznick of American University. From CN intro: “Europe trash talks war. Putin says Russia is ready. The U.S.-Iran ceasefire breaks down again. And do NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s victories really signal a new direction for Democrats?” Click HERE around 8 tonight EDT to livestream, and later for video of discussion.

Here is a link to a report from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll down for LEBANON, GAZA, IRAN and ALL OF IT, and for UKRAINE 6-26-26.) — MCM

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Ukraine strikes industrial facility in Russia’s Volgograd as Russian drone attack kills 1. From AP. Ukraine struck a major industrial facility in the Russian city of Volgograd, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today, while a Russian drone attack killed a man in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region overnight. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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Links to SIX reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, the Cradle, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their name or initials. (Scroll up or down for UKRAINE, GAZA, IRAN and ALL OF IT, and down for LEBANON 6-26-26.) — MCM

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Hezbollah rejects Israel-Lebanon security deal. From Reuters. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem today rejected a U.S.-brokered security agreement between Lebanon and Israel, a day after it was signed, describing it as a surrender to Israel. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from AP, the Cradle, and Middle East Monitor.

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Lebanon orders security crackdown on protests against ‘seditious’ Israel deal. From the Cradle. Lebanese judicial authorities today ordered state security to take forceful measures to suppress public “rioting” after protests erupted opposing the government’s signing of a “trilateral framework agreement” legitimizing Israel’s occupation of south Lebanon. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 26  Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with U.S. in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says, by Ben Finley, Abby Sewell and Melanie Lidman | AP  WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined Israel and Lebanon’s ambassadors to the U.S. Friday to announce a framework agreement that was described as a first step toward peace following months of conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. READ MORE . . .

Links to a report from the Cradle and to a commentary from Informed Comment via ScheerPost; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up or down for to UKRAINE, LEBANON, IRAN and ALL OF IT, and down for GAZA 6-26-26.) — MCM

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Trump’s Board of Peace claims right to confiscate Palestinian land in Gaza, immunity from prosecution: report. From the Cradle. The Board of Peace for Gaza is planning to grant itself sweeping legal immunity for its actions in the devastated Palestinian enclave, The Guardian reported today. READ MORE . . .

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Obliterating Gaza’s children, by Dan Steinbock | Informed Comment / ScheerPost  When I was working on The Fall of Israel (2024) and particularly The Obliteration Doctrine (2025), what I found most repulsive was the targeting of children in the Gaza Strip. READ MORE . . .

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