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Today: 40 articles and 94 comments as of 4:56.
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Area: WoT Operations    WoT Background    Non-WoT    Local News    Politix   
Police charge 3rd suspect in 2024 Melbourne synagogue arson allegedly directed by Iran
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 4: Opinion
1 10:59 Grom the Reflective [1781] 
10 23:41 James [1811] 
7 11:45 Abu Uluque [1778] 
Page 1: WoT Operations
6 19:11 Frank G [1833]
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1 14:05 trailing wife [1856]
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1 12:41 Grom the Reflective [1784]
Page 2: WoT Background
1 12:43 Grom the Reflective [1783]
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2 12:27 Grom the Reflective [1808]
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7 16:26 NoMoreBS [1850]
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2 18:40 Grom the Reflective [1800]
12 18:49 Difar Dave [1810]
3 20:06 Airandee [1827]
1 11:31 Grom the Reflective [1767]
Page 3: Non-WoT
2 11:03 Abu Uluque [1767]
3 10:21 swksvolFF [1767]
10 16:07 Procopiu2k [1830]
1 03:52 NN2N1 [1766]
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4 21:01 Woodrow [1807]
4 19:45 Knuckles Grundy [1814]
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1 01:02 Besoeker [1804]
Page 5: Russia-Former Soviet Union
4 23:36 Frank G [1812]
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1 10:29 Matt [1765]
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Page 6: Politix
9 23:42 Silentbrick [1812]
4 11:35 SteveS [1806]
International-UN-NGOs
Sanctions Against Anti-Israel UN Official Go Into Effect
[TH] Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit handed down a significant victory for the rule of law, American sovereignty, and the president’s constitutional authority to defend our allies — and the ACLJ was right in the middle of it.

In Cali v. Trump, the D.C. Circuit granted the government’s emergency motion for a stay pending appeal, dissolving a lower court injunction that had blocked the Trump Administration from enforcing IEEPA-based sanctions against Francesca Albanese — the United Nations Special Rapporteur who repeatedly urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate, arrest, and prosecute Israeli officials and American citizens. The court specifically accepted the ACLJ’s amicus brief and considered our arguments in reaching this decision.

President Trump issued Executive Order 14203 to impose sanctions on foreign nationals who actively assisted the ICC’s illegitimate campaign to prosecute our close ally Israel — including sitting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Albanese, an Italian citizen living in Tunisia, filed amicus briefs with the ICC itself, urging it to issue arrest warrants against Israeli officials, and submitted U.N. reports calling for the prosecution of American companies and executives. The Secretary of State designated her under the Executive Order. A D.C. district court then blocked those sanctions, holding that the First Amendment likely protected Albanese’s conduct.
She also lies about being an attorney
That ruling was wrong, and the D.C. Circuit has now said so.

In a powerful concurrence, Circuit Judge Katsas — joined by Circuit Judge Henderson — laid out the constitutional analysis with clarity: The First Amendment simply does not apply to the speech of non-resident aliens conducted abroad. As Judge Katsas explained, it is "long settled" that "foreign citizens outside U.S. territory do not possess rights under the U.S. Constitution." An Italian citizen living in Tunisia, filing briefs in The Hague, cannot invoke the First Amendment to shield herself from lawful economic sanctions imposed by the president of the United States.

Judge Katsas also correctly recognized the profound national security and foreign policy stakes on the other side of the balance. The president was acting pursuant to both Congress’ express authorization under IEEPA and his independent Article II authority. Blocking that action inflicts irreparable harm on the government and the American people.

We did not sit on the sidelines. As we explained when we filed our brief — a federal district judge had overstepped badly, and the president’s constitutional authority to protect Israel and defend American citizens from ICC overreach was on the line. The D.C. Circuit agreed, ordering that "the motion to participate as amicus curiae be granted" and directing the Clerk to file "the lodged amicus brief submitted by the American Center for Law and Justice." The court considered our arguments — and then stayed the injunction.

This fight is not over — the merits appeal lies ahead — but today’s ruling is a major step in the right direction. The ACLJ will continue standing with Israel, defending presidential authority, and fighting back against every attempt to weaponize international bodies against America and our allies.
Posted by: Frank G || 06/20/2026 10:29 || Comments || Link || [1781 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  A bullet would've been much quicker and efficient.
Posted by: Grom the Reflective || 06/20/2026 10:59 Comments || Top||


Science & Technology
What RFK Jr. Missed (causes of autism)
[Amer. Thinker] The HHS secretary promised to look into the causes of autism. There’s a long and disturbing evidence trail (not to mention vaccines!) that he should have paid more attention to.

At 72, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is an impressively educated environmental lawyer, author, aggressive activist on vaccines, critic of the pharmaceutical and food industries, and a lifetime political activist, many of whose credentials — particularly his creative thinking — appealed to President Trump, who nominated him to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Of course, lifetime Democrats went crazy, as did a good number of his still prominent relatives, as well as Big Pharma and also 75 Nobel laureates who urged the U.S. Senate to oppose Kennedy’s nomination. But RFK Jr. was ultimately confirmed and sworn in by Supreme Court justice Neil Gorsuch in the Oval Office on February 13, 2025....

PUTTING THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE ON THE BACK BURNER
Clearly, there is a vast human tragedy — a true man-made disaster — taking place before our eyes.

For whatever reasons — follow the money? — the mountain of evidence that points to a causal relationship between prenatal ultrasound exams and an escalating pandemic of autism is being systematically ignored.

Could it have anything to do with the huge investments doctors and scientists have made in ultrasound technology, which, according to Jennifer Margulis, "adds more than $1 billion to the cost of caring for pregnant women in America each year"?

Could it have anything to do with the revenue now pouring like an avalanche into the coffers of diagnostic and treatment centers?

Could it have anything to do with modern journalism’s almost complete abandonment of hard-nosed reporting and life-saving exposés about this subject?

As researcher Caroline Rodgers has said, there is an elephant in the room when it comes to the subject of autism. That elephant is the worldwide blitzkrieg of ultrasound exams on pregnant women — exams that have bombarded the babies they’re carrying with sound waves and heat that could have effects that last every second of their lives.

YOO-HOO, RFK JR.
I sent my article via X to the entire Trump Cabinet, with RFK Jr. being the first on the list. Then I sent my article to RFK Jr. via X and email. Then I sent it one more time.

The response was silence — not even a "thank you," not even an acknowledgment of receipt.

But much, much worse! A complete refusal on RFK Jr.’s part to look into the compelling and quite convincing evidence that the overuse of prenatal sonograms is directly associated with the frightening, terrifying, catastrophic rise in autism.

It’s way past time to give the billion-dollar industry of pregnancy sonograms the same attention and warnings RFK Jr. gave so confidently to Tylenol.
Posted by: DooDahMan || 06/20/2026 07:28 || Comments || Link || [1811 views] Top|| File under:

#1  OTOH- autism is massively over-diagnosed.
Posted by: Mercutio || 06/20/2026 9:03 Comments || Top||

#2  Quite possible as big pharma would love nothing better than to sell drugs. I remember some years ago when Ritalin was (still is?) the big drug to hand out like candy for pupils with alleged ADHD.
Posted by: DooDahMan || 06/20/2026 10:29 Comments || Top||

#3  #1 Now google ADHD.
Posted by: Grom the Reflective || 06/20/2026 10:37 Comments || Top||

#4  Now google ADHD

Here, got it for you.

ADHD

**ADHD** (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent symptoms of **inattention**, **hyperactivity**, and **impulsivity** that interfere with functioning or development. It typically has its **onset before age 12** and is primarily **genetic** (70–80% heritability), though environmental factors like prenatal exposure to biohazards can contribute.

Symptoms are categorized into three presentations: **predominantly inattentive**, **predominantly hyperactive-impulsive**, and **combined**. In adults, hyperactivity often manifests as **restlessness** rather than overt physical movement, while inattention can lead to significant challenges with **time management**, **task organization**, and **emotional dysregulation**.

Effective management typically involves a combination of **medication** (such as stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamines, and non-stimulants like atomoxetine) and **psychotherapy**. Lifestyle adjustments, including **exercise**, **structured routines**, and **reasonable workplace accommodations**, are also critical for improving quality of life and daily functioning.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/20/2026 11:57 Comments || Top||

#5  There are no drugs, as yet, for autism, as far as I am aware. For the anxiety and depression that often follows, as the child becomes aware that he poorly predicts how others will respond, yes, there are drugs for that, and for some of possible the co-morbidities like narcolepsy and schizophrenia.

But with regard to ultrasounds, trailing daughter #1 had just a single one, as she was born in America. Td#2 was born in Germany, and was scanned monthly from the 16th week, yet it is her elder sister who is autistic, suggesting that at best sonograms may contribute but are not a primary trigger.

Science! ;-)
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/20/2026 12:08 Comments || Top||

#6  #4 False diagnosis. In Israel, for example, a school teacher decides whether to send a pupil for examination. And shrinks usually confirm - there is a whole butch of them for whom it's a principal source of income.

Posted by: Grom the Reflective || 06/20/2026 12:32 Comments || Top||

#7  On the other hand, there are the high functioning Aspergerians.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/20/2026 16:50 Comments || Top||

#8  There are, Skidmark, as well as low functioning ones. But they’ve been swept into the general autism spectrum category, because it’s not egalitarian to have a label characterized by a brilliant-to-genius IQ range, no matter how functional or nonfunctional the person is otherwise. As your Wikipedia article notes, they stopped counting Aspies as a separate group in the 2010s. We’d only just got accustomed to td#1’s diagnosis when her label went away.
Posted by: Mad Eye Thase1699 || 06/20/2026 18:03 Comments || Top||

#9  Whoops! Mad Eye Thase1699 was briefly me.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/20/2026 18:04 Comments || Top||

#10  Genetics is a factor too. The vaccine/mercury connection seems not to have panned out.
Posted by: James || 06/20/2026 23:41 Comments || Top||


AI is making huge changes in how wars are fought. We aren't ready for what comes next
[FoxNews] Military decisions now run faster than human cognition, compressing the time they take from hours to seconds

There is a new golden rule of combat: The side that controls the data pipeline controls the war.

Picture a soldier on the battlefield. They spot an enemy target, analyze. Think through a plan, and its ramifications. Then, they react. Those crucial few minutes of human cognitive process — the power over life and death — are being dramatically reduced from hours to seconds, day by day. When that cycle runs faster than a human adversary can think, we stop making decisions. Combat on autopilot.

We see that cycle with Iran, and what has been happening in Ukraine for the past four years. We are watching a fundamental restructuring of how military power works, and most of the institutions responsible for governing it are still thinking in the previous century. And this is all due to how AI is rapidly changing warfare.

For decades, military strategists have understood war through a succinct lens: observe, orient, decide, act. This routine was elegant and ruthless. The side that moves through that cycle faster forces its adversary into a permanent reactive posture. For most of the 20th century, the bottleneck in that cycle was human cognition. How fast could analysts process intelligence? How quickly could commanders coordinate a response? Those limits defined the pace of conflict.

AI has removed that bottleneck entirely. What’s left is a speed advantage that no human institution, legal framework or command structure was designed to handle.

Ukraine was the first large-scale example. It built its own data advantage from the ground up. One Ukrainian nonprofit collected over 2 million hours of battlefield drone footage since 2022, storing five to six terabytes of new data daily from active fighting.

That data was used to retrain AI targeting models on real-world conditions. By March 2026, drones accounted for 96% of Russia's battlefield casualties in a single month, with Ukrainian drones killing or seriously injuring more than 240,000 Russian soldiers in 2025 alone.

This is what the defense community calls decision dominance: the ability to analyze and act on vast, messy sensor streams faster and more reliably than an adversary can. The side that achieves it fights better, of course, but, moreover, it also sets the terms of the fight entirely.

Data pipelines are the real competition, the real arms race of our time. Platforms are visible. Training datasets are not. Who has collected more real-world conflict data? Who has labeled it correctly? Who has continuously retrained models on evolving battlefield conditions? These questions are the ones that will determine military outcomes in the next decade.

China understands this. Russia has been learning it the hard way in Ukraine. The United States has institutional advantages in AI infrastructure but faces a structural problem: its data acquisition and model development cycles still largely operate within procurement timelines designed for hardware rather than software. That mismatch will compound in the years to come.

Speed, however, is not comparable to wisdom. This is a crucial distinction. When decision cycles compress to machine speed, the legal and moral architecture of warfare faces a structural stress it was never designed to absorb. A system optimized to compress time will, under operational stress, compress human judgment along with it.

What’s more concerning too, is that the international community knows what it's watching. It just doesn’t yet know what to do about it. That ambivalence is dangerous. The absence of clear governance means accountability collapses under pressure. Whether any specific account is verified or not is beside the point. The underlying structural risk is real, and it is going to recur in every future conflict where these systems are deployed at scale.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/20/2026 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1778 views] Top|| File under:


#2  One of Paul Anderson books: "An idiot with a neural computer hookup that gives him an IQ of 1000 is still an idiot."
Posted by: Grom the Reflective || 06/20/2026 1:15 Comments || Top||

#3  AI has removed that bottleneck entirely. What’s left is a speed advantage that no human institution, legal framework or command structure was designed to handle.

California machine voting being the obvious exception.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/20/2026 1:26 Comments || Top||

#4  Nothing can beat Badanov war gaming!
Posted by: Seeking Cure For Ignorance || 06/20/2026 7:02 Comments || Top||

#5  Anybody notice on TV how "they" are trying to put a human face in AI advertisments?
Posted by: DooDahMan || 06/20/2026 7:26 Comments || Top||

#6 
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/20/2026 8:43 Comments || Top||

#7  AI has removed that bottleneck entirely. What’s left is a speed advantage that no human institution, legal framework or command structure was designed to handle.

No worries. Collateral damage has always been a feature in war.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 06/20/2026 11:45 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
21[untagged]
4Govt of Iran
3Islamic State
3Migrants/Illegal Immigrants
2Hezbollah
2Govt of Iran Proxies
1[untagged]
1Commies
1Govt of Saudi Arabia
1Hamas
1Palestinian Authority

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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
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Two weeks of WOT
Sat 2026-06-20
  Police charge 3rd suspect in 2024 Melbourne synagogue arson allegedly directed by Iran
Fri 2026-06-19
  Child recruitment persists despite SDF-Damascus integration agreement
Thu 2026-06-18
  Colombian military neutralizes five terrorists accused in bus bombing that killed 20, injured 45 civilians
Wed 2026-06-17
  Cartel Networks are Establishing a Greater Foothold in Africa
Tue 2026-06-16
  Somali Elite Forces Kill 14 Al-Shabaab Fighters in Southern Operation
Mon 2026-06-15
  Trump confirmed the date June 19 for signing the US-Iran agreement
Sun 2026-06-14
  US says it downs Iranian drones targeting ships in Strait of Hormuz, redirected 139 ships and disabled 9 in enforcing blockade
Sat 2026-06-13
  United States🇺🇸 intensifies its anti-terrorist operations and security partnerships with other West African countries
Fri 2026-06-12
  Claim: IRGC ballistic missile strike at Muwaffaq Al-Salti Air Base in Jordan damaged or destroyed 3 F-16AM/BM fighters; Jordan says shot down all 20 missiles fired from Iran
Thu 2026-06-11
  Homeland Security Task Force Operation Results in Charges for 26 Gang Members in Massachusetts with RICO Violations Related to Five Murders, Drug Trafficking, and Firearm Offenses
Wed 2026-06-10
  Surface-to-air missiles intercepted suspected one-way attack drones launched by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen over Eilat
Tue 2026-06-09
  Iran Fired 24 Missiles, All Either Shot Down Or Hit Open Areas, Idf Says
Mon 2026-06-08
  Iran fires missiles at Israel for first time in two months; Trump tells Netanyahu not to retaliate UPDATE: Israel hits back
Sun 2026-06-07
  Democrat Senator has been funding left-wing group behind anti-ICE protests, mass unrest strategy
Sat 2026-06-06
  IDF kills Hezbollah chief engineer; 3 troops hurt in Lebanon clashes


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