Links to reports from Public and Racket News about “Russiagate.” NOTE: Many readers may find their contents abstruse, harder to follow than the other three entries for this date, GAZA, UKRAINE, and HERSH. ALSO: The first item linked below is accessible beyond opening paragraphs only to paid subscribers. Other reports from the two Substack accounts are accessible by clicking on their names below. — MCM 

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CIA ‘cooked the intelligence’ to hide that Russia favored Clinton, not Trump, in 2016, sources say, by Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger and Alex Gutentag | Public  It was all a lie. The Trump-Russia scandal made its formal launch on Jan. 6, 2017, when the office of the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper published what’s called an “Intelligence Community Assessment.” Its release dominated headlines, fixed Donald Trump in the minds of millions of Americans as a Manchurian candidate controlled by Vladamir Putin, and upended his in-coming administration. READ MORE . . .

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Many reporters paid for covering the Russiagate story, by Matt Taibbi | Racket News  Three years ago, on Feb. 25, 2021, Aaron Maté at RealClearInvestigations ran “In Final Days, Trump Gave Up on Forcing Release of Russiagate Files, Nunes Prober Says.” Extensively quoting former Principal Deputy to the Acting Director of National Intelligence Kash Patel, Aaron wrote a section on “Assessing the ‘Intelligence Community Assessment,” detailing . . . READ MORE . . .

A link to a report from a Substack account; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date and a TAIBBI ET AL entry are HERE, HERE, and HERE.) — MCM

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The SEALs and the dhow, by Seymour M. Hersh | seymourherch.substack.com  This is a painful story for the families of three Navy SEALs. Two of the SEALs were lost at sea and a third was critically injured on a mission on Jan. 11 in the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and Somalia. It was a mission that . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from National Public Radio, Reuters, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and TAIBBI ET AL and HERSH entries are HERE, HERE, and HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli forces take over southern Gaza’s largest hospital. Reported by Michel Martin and Eleanor Beardsley | NPR  And despite international pressure, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows Israeli forces will go into the southern town of Rafah, where at least a million Palestinians are sheltering. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Egypt setting up area at Gaza border which could be used to shelter Palestinians, sources say. From Reuters. Egypt is preparing an area at the Gaza border which could accommodate Palestinians in case an Israeli offensive into Rafah prompts an exodus across the frontier, four sources said, in what they described as a contingency move by Cairo. Egypt has denied making any such . . . READ MORE . . .

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Wars in Israel, Ukraine to dominate global security summit in Munich, by Sarah Marsh and Humeyra Pamuk | Reuters  BERLIN / MUNICH — Leading politicians, military officers and diplomats from around the world gather in Munich on Friday for a security conference that will be dominated by the wars in Israel and Ukraine as well as fears over the U.S. commitment to defending its allies. The Munich Security Conference is an annual global gathering focused on defence and diplomacy. READ MORE. . .

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Intra-Palestinian meeting to be held in Moscow Feb. 29 to March 1-2 — envoy. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia has invited up to 14 organizations to an intra-Palestinian meeting in Moscow, including representatives of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Russia’s special presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said. “We invited all Palestinian representatives — all . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia concerned about Rafah, maintains contact with all parties — envoy. From Tass. MOSCOW — The current situation around Rafah is of concern to Moscow, and Russia is maintaining ties with all parties involved, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov said.”We are [in] communication both with Hamas representatives and with our Israeli colleagues.” READ MORE . . .

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Why sending more aid to Ukraine has become a divisive issue within the GOP. A Martínez of NPR speaks with American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Danielle Pletka about why some Republicans strongly oppose sending more aid to Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

 

For today, links to reports from the Kyiv Post, Tass, the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, and the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date and TAIBBI ET AL and HERSH entries are  HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Ukraine withdraws from position south of embattled Avdiivka as Kremlin infantry advances, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  Ukraine said today it was pulling back from a position on the southern outskirts of the city of Avdiivka, where heavy battles were raging with Russian forces. “After many months . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s strikes hammer Ukrainian military-industrial sites over past week. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces delivered 30 combined strikes by precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles against Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises and deployment sites of enemy troops over the past week in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today. “Over the period of Feb. 11-16 . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s Zelenskyy signing security agreements with Germany, France as Kyiv shores up support, by Geir Moulson | AP  BERLIN — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a bilateral security agreement with Germany and planned to sign another with France toFriday, securing a strong signal of long-term backing as Kyiv . . . READ MORE . . .

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Wars in Israel, Ukraine to dominate global security summit in Munich, by Sarah Marsh and Humeyra Pamuk | Reuters  BERLIN / MUNICH — Leading politicians, military officers and diplomats from around the world gather in Munich on Friday for a security conference that will be dominated by the wars in Israel and Ukraine as well as fears over the U.S. commitment to defending its allies. The Munich Security Conference is an annual global gathering focused on defence and diplomacy. READ MORE. . .

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FROM FEB. 15  Ukranians in Sumy are still living under attacks from Russia. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  NATO is promising a delivery of a million drones to Ukraine, even as future U.S. support seems uncertain. Ukrainians in Sumy, a region in northeastern Ukraine, live under Russian shelling and deadly mortar attacks. CLICK HERE listen and, later, read.

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Ukraine pins hopes on home-made drones to counter Russia, by Kateryna Hodunova | The Kyiv Independent  Throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has been a drone tactics pioneer, from applying purpose-built military UAVs to weaponizing civilian models.  On Feb. 7 President Volodymyr Zelensky announced . . . READ MORE . . .

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Why sending more aid to Ukraine has become a divisive issue within the GOP. A Martínez of NPR speaks with American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Danielle Pletka about why some Republicans strongly oppose sending more aid to Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Reuters, and Common Dreams, and to commentary via Consortium News from Medium; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli forces storm the main hospital in southern Gaza, saying hostages were likely held there, by Wafaa Shurafa and Bassem Mroue | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli forces stormed the main hospital in southern Gaza today, hours after Israeli fire killed a patient and wounded six others inside the complex. The Israeli army said it was a limited operation seeking the remains of hostages taken by Hamas. The raid . . . READ MORE . . .

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Conditions are deteriorating for displaced Palestinians forced to flee to Rafah. Michel Martin of NPR speaks with Scott Anderson, deputy director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, about the humanitarian situation in Rafah, and the allegations against the relief agency. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Hezbollah says Israel will ‘pay price’ after deadly day. From Reuters. BEIRUT — Senior Hezbollah official and member of parliament Hassan Fadlallah said today that Israel would face reprisal after two sets of strikes on southern Lebanon the previous day killed 10 civilians, half of them children. “The enemy [Israel] will pay the price for these . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 14  The U.S. is investigating Israel’s use of American weapons. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR  The Biden administration is looking into several of the deadliest airstrikes to see if Israel is misusing U.S. weapons. But the administration has been reluctant to use its military aid as leverage. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM FEB. 13  Josep Borrell to world leaders: ‘Cut off arms to Israel,’ by Jake Johnson | Common Dreams / Popular Resistance  The European Union’s top foreign policy official said Monday that the Biden administration and other governments professing concern about the grisly death toll in the Gaza Strip should . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 13  The killing fields of Gaza, by John Wight | Medium / Consortium News  Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed tirelessly to be acting in the name of the Jewish victims of the Nazi Holocaust with Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. In truth, the actions of his regime and military these past few months has placed them much closer to the guards than the inmates at Hitler’s death . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, the Moscow Times, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Post, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Russia launches missile attacks on Kyiv, other Ukrainian cities, by Olena Harmash | Reuters  KYIV — Russia launched new missile attacks on Ukraine today, hitting infrastructure, damaging residential and commercial buildings, and injuring at least 11 people in different parts of the country, officials said. It was the second series of Russian missile attacks so far this month and . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  At least 11 injured, homes, infrastructure damaged in morning Russian missile attack on Ukraine, by Dinara Khalilova | The Kyiv Independent  Russia launched another mass missile attack against multiple Ukrainian regions early today, injuring at least 11 people as well as damaging homes and civilian infrastructure, regional officials reported. Russian forces launched 26 missiles of various types at Ukraine, 13 of which . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  At least 6 killed in strike on Russia’s Belgorod – Heath Ministry. From the Moscow Times. At least six people, including one child, have been killed in missile strikes on the city of Belgorod in southwestern Russia, the country’s Health Ministry said today. The Defense Ministry said it had intercepted 14 Ukrainian RM-70 multiple rocket launcher shells. . . READ MORE . . .

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Attack on Russia’s Belgorod kills five, governor says. From AFP. An air attack on the Russian city of Belgorod killed at least five people and wounded 18 others today, the region’s governor said. Belgorod, which lies about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the border with Ukraine, has been . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine drone attack leaves Russia oil depot in flames – Official. From AFP. A nighttime Ukrainian drone attack set ablaze a Russian oil depot in the Kursk region near the frontier between the two countries, Russian authorities said today. Regional governor Roman Starovoit said there were no casualties, appealing to the local population to . . .  READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s HUR claims responsibility for striking oil depot in Russia’s Kursk, by Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post  A nighttime Ukrainian drone attack ignited a Russian oil depot in the Kursk region near the border between the two countries, Russian authorities reported today, with sources from Ukraine’s Military Intelligence . . . READ MORE . . .

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The war in Ukraine is the top issue for the NATO defense ministers’ meeting. Reported by Teri Schultz | NPR  NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels for the first time since former President Donald Trump’s incendiary remarks about the alliance. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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UK to supply thousands of drones to Ukraine. From Reuters. LONDON — Britain said today it would supply thousands of more drones to Ukraine as part of its 200 million pound ($251 million) drone package, in an international effort it is co-leading with Latvia. “Together, [the UK and Latvia] will give Ukraine the capabilities it needs . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelenksy to visit Germany, France on Friday. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Germany and France on Friday for meetings with leaders Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron, his office announced. The visits . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, and to commentary from Scheer Post and from facebook.com/selfiesforpalestine; other links are accessible by clicking on their names or initialsbelow. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Displaced Palestinians leave one of Gaza’s main hospitals after weeks of being isolated by fighting, by Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Melanie Lidman | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinians have begun evacuating the main hospital in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, according to videos shared by medics today. Weeks of heavy fighting had. . . READ MORE . . .

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No breakthrough in Gaza talks dents hopes of Palestinians in Rafah, by Nidal al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Palestinians jammed into their last refuge in Gaza voiced growing fear today that Israel will soon launch a planned assault on the southern city of Rafah after truce talks in Cairo ended inconclusively. The talks in the Egyptian capital . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 12  The crisis at the New York Times, by Patrick Lawrence | Scheer Post / Consortium News  It has been evident to many of us since the genocide in Gaza began Oct. 7 that Israel risked asking too much of those inclined to take its side. The Zionist state would ask what many people cannot give: It would ask them to surrender their consciences, their idea of moral order, altogether their native decency as . . . READ MORE . . .

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Selfies for Palestine. From Facebook. This is an example of the images. Click HERE for others.

For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, Tass, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Putin’s suggestion of Ukraine ceasefire rejected by United States, sources say, by Guy Faulconbridge and Darya Korsunskaya | Reuters  MOSCOW / LONDON — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion of a ceasefire in Ukraine to freeze the war was rejected by the United States after contacts between intermediaries, according to three Russian sources with knowledge of the discussions. The failure of Putin’s approach ushers in . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian military says it sank a Russian landing ship in the Black Sea, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s military said today it used naval drones to sink a Russian landing ship in the Black Sea, a report that has not been confirmed by Russian authorities. The Caesar Kunikov amphibious ship sank near . . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kiev to get four times more munitions compared to 2023 — German top brass. From Tass. BRUSSELS — Ukraine will get three to four times more munitions during this year compared to 2023, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in Brussels upon arrival at the regular meeting of the contact group on military assistance to Kiev (Ramstein format). “I can say . . . READ MORE . . .

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FEB. 13  The Senate passed a bill with Ukraine aid. Biden urges the House to do the same. Reported by Kai McNamee, Justine Kenin and Mary Louise Kelly | NPR  Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut talks about the prospect of U.S. military aid for Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Russian imperialism, by Joe Lauria | Consortium News  Amongst the condemnations that were hurled at Tucker Carlson and Vladimir Putin even before their interview was aired, was this gem from an unnamed European foreign affairs spokesman to The Guardian: “A spokesperson for the European Commission said it anticipated that . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, National Public Radio, and the Associated Press, and to commentary from the Institute for Arts and Ideas; other reports and commentary are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Al Jazeera condemns Israel ‘targeting’ Gaza journalists. From AFP. Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera today condemned Israel for “targeting” and severely wounding two of its Gaza journalists in a strike. Reporter Ismail Abu Omar’s life is at risk and cameraman Ahmad Matar was severely wounded when the pair were hit in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah. The network said . . . READ MORE . . .

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A new effort begins in Egypt to work out a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Reported by Steve Inskeep and Greg Myre | NPR  Discussions are expected to focus on a cease-fire of up to 45 days — as well as another exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Israel and Hamas are making progress in cease-fire and hostage release talks, officials say, by Amy Magdy, Najib Jobain and Tia Goldenberg | AP  CAIRO — Talks continued today in Egypt, with Israel threatening to expand its offensive to Gaza’s southern edge, where some 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Israeli forces Monday rescued two captives held in the packed southern city of Rafah in a raid that killed at least 74 Palestinians, according to . . . READ MORE . . .

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France sanctions 28 ‘extremist’ Israeli settlers. From AFP. France has banned 28 Israelis from entering the European country, accusing them of attacking Arabs in Judea and Samaria, its foreign ministry said today. One day earlier, the UK announced similar measures. The statement did not name the 28 individuals who . . . READ MORE . . .

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Italy says Israeli response to Hamas ‘disproportionate.’ From AFP. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says Israel’s bombing of Gaza, where civilian deaths are rising, is “disproportionate.” While strongly condemning the Hamas attack . . . READ MORE . . .

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UNWRA funding freezes risk ‘aiding’ deaths in Gaza: Saudi official. From AFP. Freezing funds to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees risks “aiding” the deaths of civilians in Gaza, the head of Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian agency said today. Several countries – including the United States, Britain, Germany and Japan – have suspended . . . READ MORE . . .

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What’s inside the Senate’s $95 billion bill to aid Ukraine and Israel and counter China, by Kevin Freking | AP  WASHINGTON — The Senate early today passed an emergency spending package that would provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel; replenish U.S. weapons systems; and provide food, water, and other humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. The Senate jettisoned from the package a . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 11  American allies worry the U.S. is growing less dependable, whether Trump or Biden wins, by Jill Lawlesss | AP  LONDON — As chances rise of a Joe Biden-Donald Trump rematch in the U.S. presidential election race, America’s allies are bracing for a bumpy ride. Many worry that a second term for Trump would be an earthquake, but tremors already . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 12  Biden says ‘key elements’ of a Gaza deal are on the table as he meets with Jordan’s King Abdullah, by Colleen Long and Zeke Miller | AP   WASHINGTON — Declaring that “every innocent life lost in Gaza is a tragedy,” President Joe Biden welcomed Jordan’s King Abdullah II to the White House Monday for talks on how to end the months-long war and plan for what comes afterward. The meeting . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM EARLY FEB. 12  Biden to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah who’s pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza. Leila Fadel of NPR talks with Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen of the U.S. Institute of Peace before Monday’s visit to the White House by King Abdullah of Jordan visits the White House. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM FEB. 12  Could a Rafah offensive be a breaking point in Biden’s support of Israel? Reported by Connor Donevan, Brianna Scott, Mary Louise Kelly and Courtney Dorning | NPR  Kelly talks with ex-Middle East envoy Dennis Ross, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, about the deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and Israel. Click HERE to listen and, later, read

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FROM FEB. 12   Palestinians in Rafah describe the airstrikes of Sunday night. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi | NPR  The Israeli military said it rescued two hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 from a house in Rafah. It used air strikes as a diversion, killing more than 60 Palestinians, according to health officials. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM FEB. 12  6-year-old Gaza girl was found dead days after pleading for rescue from Israeli fire. Reported by Aya Batrawy | NPR  A girl in Gaza’s pleas for help were heard around the world, but over the weekend the Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed the child was killed along with an ambulance crew that tried to rescue her. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM LATE JANUARY  The death of ideology. Alexis Papazoglou of IAI talks with political theorist John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago on Russia, Israel, China, and Washington’s interactions with them, among other topics. Click HERE for 22-minute YouTube video and comments.

 

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Tass, and to commentary from the Kyiv Post and the Institute for Art and Ideas; other offerings are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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What’s inside the Senate’s $95 billion bill to aid Ukraine and Israel and counter China, by Kevin Freking | AP  WASHINGTON — The Senate early today passed an emergency spending package that would provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel; replenish U.S. weapons systems; and provide food, water, and other humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. The Senate jettisoned from the package a . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky ‘grateful’ to U.S. Senate for backing more aid. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked US senators for passing $60 billion in aid for Kyiv on Tuesday, even as the bill looked likely to face resistance from House Republicans. Zelensky said on social media he was grateful to “every US Senator who has . . .  READ MORE . . .

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Russian army inflicts losses on Ukrainian manpower, materiel in 114 areas — Defense Ministry. From Tass. MOSCOW — “Tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and artillery have destroyed an ammunition depot of Ukraine’s 126th brigade and inflicted losses on Ukrainian manpower and materiel in 114 areas,” the ministry said in a briefing. The Russian army . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 11  American allies worry the U.S. is growing less dependable, whether Trump or Biden wins, by Jill Lawlesss | AP  LONDON — As chances rise of a Joe Biden-Donald Trump rematch in the U.S. presidential election race, America’s allies are bracing for a bumpy ride. Many worry that a second term for Trump would be an earthquake, but tremors already . . . READ MORE . . .

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No matter what Senate does, U.S. Ukraine aid is ‘hanging by a very thin thread,’ by Jason Jay Smart | Kyiv Post The U.S. Senate, after five months of delay, appears to be on the verge of deciding on future aid for Ukraine. Though a step in the right direction, experts caution that the outcome is still far from clear. On Sunday night, Senators cleared . . . READ MORE . . .

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Is multilateral support for Ukraine about to falter? by Nicolas Agostini | Kyiv Post  It’s not an overstatement that the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and their aftermath, the war in Gaza, are reshaping the global political landscape. This is a reason for concern as Europe’s financial support to Kyiv remains unable to assuage uncertainty about. . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM LATE JANUARY  The death of ideology. Alexis Papazoglou of IAI talks with political theorist John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago on Russia, Israel, China, and Washington’s interactions with them, among other topics. Click HERE for 22-minute YouTube video and comments.