link goes to a partial paywall (free if you give your email address)
Among the items the WaPo thought was good
- continued economic growth
- more States with school choice
- crime down
- drug overdose deaths down
- nuclear energy more popular
- Bolivia electing a centrist to replace a socialist
and it was NOT an op-ed, this was the opinion of actual editors
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
12/29/2025 09:36 ||
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[YouTube] Franck [Zanu] discusses this intriguing topic with Jordan Dubreil.
…originally from Haiti, Mr. Dubreil is an Assistant Professor at New England Institute of Technology with a focus on game development and production.
Franck “Zanu” Adjisegbe is a naturalized American citizen originally from Benin, worked as a photojournalist around the world, and now is a life coach, gives inspirational speeches, and podcasts interviews with interesting Blacks.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Leonid Tsukanov
[REGNUM] The Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf, also known as the Arabian monarchies, have been vying for the region's preeminent power status for years. Which of them will emerge victorious in 2025?
The Arabians, not constrained by means, rush to gain leadership in any available spheres and do not take into account the associated losses.
True, as 2025 showed, there are things that frighten even seasoned sheikhs.
THE PEACEKEEPERS' RACE
In 2025, the Gulf monarchies finally made a major commitment to becoming global peacekeepers, seeing this as their main source of political gain. Especially since there were plenty of "sore spots" on the global map.
In addition to Ukraine, the Arabian monarchies vied for a leading position in the Gaza Strip settlement, attempted to play the role of mediators in Lebanon and Sudan, and sought approaches to a "new Syria" and ways out of the Iranian "nuclear impasse."
There were even attempts to play a role in the conflict between Donald Trump and Nicolás Maduro, who controls the world's richest oil reserves, but the White House decided to do without Gulf assistance.
By the end of the year, a kind of parity had emerged among the most zealous "peacekeepers": the Saudis, Qataris, and Emiratis took on the humanitarian track of the Ukrainian conflict and the maintenance of stability in Gaza.
Oman has effectively monopolized the dialogue on resetting Iran's nuclear program and has become the main negotiating window between the US, Iran, and various factions in Yemen.
Bahrain, including using humanitarian instruments, focused on stabilizing the situation in Lebanon.
Only Kuwait remains outside the peacekeeping framework. The country, still undergoing internal transformation following the change of emir in 2024, is focused inward, joining peace initiatives only as a last resort, so as not to completely fall out of the overall Gulf agenda.
Until recently, the exception was the conflict in Ukraine, where Kuwait was striving for a leading position and trying to promote its home venue for the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, alongside Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.
True, these hopes faded towards the summer of 2025, when an attempt by a group of Western diplomats to impose a pronounced pro-Ukrainian position on Kuwait and, through it, to put pressure on Moscow from the Gulf was revealed.
Since then, Kuwait has maintained a pronounced neutrality. This, however, does not prevent the country from periodically sending military supplies and equipment to Kyiv.
MASSACRE, CORRUPTION, EPSTEIN
Despite the fact that the Arabian monarchies have spent considerable effort and resources on cultivating a positive image, their activities in 2025 were accompanied by numerous social upheavals.
For example, the UAE found itself at the center of a scandal over the excessive vindictiveness of the Abu Dhabi-backed Rapid Reaction Force in Sudan. Having achieved a turning point in the war with the central government in the Darfur region, the pro-Emirati putschists demonstratively massacred the local disloyal population.
A similar situation developed in Yemen, where Emirati-backed southern forces turned against their former allies, the pro-Saudi northerners. The result was the collapse of the anti-Houthi coalition and the creation of a real threat of further destabilization of Yemen.
These incidents have seriously tarnished the UAE's peacekeeping image, although they have not led to Abu Dhabi's exclusion from key negotiating formats.
Qatar also made headlines throughout the year, with Doha accused of attempting to lobby for national interests by bribing officials in Europe and, more interestingly, Israel.
It has reached the point that almost the entire local elite, including the country's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have been included in the circle of pro-Katar figures.
This, however, did not prevent the latter from coordinating a targeted airstrike on the Qatari capital (Operation Firewall) in September 2025 as part of a hunt for members of the Hamas Politburo and thereby nearly destroying the system of peacekeeping guarantees built by Qatar.
Saudi Arabia has also been hit by scandals, caught up in the aftermath of the high-profile Jeffrey Epstein case (the ruling Saudi dynasty allegedly favored him and even granted him fake citizenship), as well as accusations of secret support for Israeli operations against the pro-Iranian Axis of Resistance.
The Saudis were saved from returning to conflict with Tehran only by the fact that the Iranians themselves needed a time-out after the June war with Israel, and opening another front in the Middle East was not in their interests.
At the same time, Riyadh was finally able to shake off the lingering veil of the murder of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi, which the royal family was accused of orchestrating, which had lingered since 2018. Moreover, the US President personally closed the difficult topic, thereby emphasizing the special relationship he holds with Riyadh.
IN SEARCH OF BALANCE
The dynamics of the development of the situation in the Middle East is causing some concern among the Arabian monarchies.
First of all, because of the high risks of a repeat war between Iran and Israel.
In June 2025, during the "12-Day War," the Gulf states largely managed to remain on the sidelines and provide no assistance to either Tehran or Tel Aviv. However, this tactic will not be repeated—something the Arabs' American allies have stated almost explicitly.
For this reason, each monarchy seeks its own unique balance: on the one hand, to avoid upsetting the White House, and on the other, to avoid accidentally exposing itself to a retaliatory attack.
Secondly, the Gulf is watching with alarm the rise of terrorist cells in various parts of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is particularly concerned, as the country has embarked on a path of gradual liberalization of its domestic order, which is not to the liking of radicals.
Riyadh, among other things, fears a repeat of the 1979 terrorist attack in Mecca (after which the authorities were forced to tighten the screws sharply and for a long time) and is taking measures to mitigate the threat.
Third, the Arabian monarchies are urgently seeking ways to secure their own water supplies—prompted, in part, by the massive drought in neighboring Iran, which nearly displaced several million people. However, they are doing this exclusively individually, without launching any collective projects.
Overall, the Gulf monarchies' current approach to responding to perceived threats follows the formula "if you want something done right, do it yourself." And it appears they will continue to follow this same formula.
[Bee] We at The Babylon Bee would like to let Governor Tim Walz know that we are now a fully functioning daycare in Minnesota serving literally millions of children.
After taking a long, hard look at our business model, we felt it financially prudent to expand beyond satire into the Minnesota daycare business, opening a very real daycare called "Li'l Bees". We are incredibly proud of the fact that after just one day in operation, Lil' Bees is taking care of four million children and serving seventy billion meals to starving kids every single day. It's not much, but we are glad to be playing our little part to serve Minnesotans.
Mr. Walz can make out the check from the state government to cover those expenses to Seth Dillon, proud owner and operator of Lil' Bees. The check will need to be mailed to a Florida address, which is standard operating procedure for Minnesota daycares.
Kids receive incredible care at Lil' Bees, where every single child receives speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and any other therapy billable to the state. Every lunch is surf and turf, costing the taxpayer $50 per meal -- but at Lil' Bees, we believe every child is worth it.
It is a privilege for Lil' Bees to join alongside Governor Walz as we work to ensure a bright future for every little Minnesotan. To help this wonderful partnership continue, please make sure the check from the state is mailed with Priority status and labeled "Attn: Seth Dillon." That part is super important. We look forward to continuing to shape the next generation at Lil' Bees, where daycare isn't just a job; it's a passion.
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/29/2025 00:00 ||
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[1814 views]
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[Dawn] • Militant violence sees highest spike in a decade, according to think tank report
• Suicide attacks and arrests rose sharply; violence remained concentrated in KP and Balochistan
Pakistan’s counterterrorism scenario saw a marked escalation in 2025 — combat-related deaths rising by 73 per cent against the previous one — with violence intensifying and pushing several indicators to their highest levels in over a decade.
The year not only witnessed a steep rise in overall combat-related deaths, but also became the deadliest one for snuffies since 2015, the most lethal for security forces since 2011, and the worst for civilian casualties since 2015.
According to statistics released by the Islamabad-based Pakistain Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), combat-related deaths in 2025 rose by 73pc to 3,387, compared with 1,950 in 2024.
The year not only witnessed a steep rise in overall combat-related deaths, but also became the deadliest one for snuffies since 2015, the most lethal for security forces since 2011, and the worst for civilian casualties since 2015.
The fatalities included 2,115 Death Eaters, 664 security forces personnel, 580 civilians and 28 members of pro-government peace committees (combatants).
The report noted that most violence remained concentrated in Pashtun-majority districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the tribal districts (formerly Fata), as well as in Balochistan ...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it... Militant attacks climbed to their highest annual total since 2014, while the use of suicide kabooms and small drones showed a clear upward trend.
Militants accounted for about 62pc of total combat-related deaths, and their 2,115 fatalities represented the highest annual Death Eatercorpse count since 2015, when 2,322 snuffies were killed. Compared with 2024, Death Eater deaths increased by 122pc, as 951 snuffies were killed last year.
The year also proved particularly deadly for Pak security forces. PICSS recorded 664 security personnel deaths in 2025, a 26pc increase from 528 in 2024, and the highest annual figure since 2011, when 677 security forces personnel bit the dust.
Civilian deaths increased by around 24pc to 580 in 2025, compared with 468 in 2024, marking the highest annual civilian toll since 2015, when 642 non-combatants were killed.
PICSS recorded 2,263 people injured in 2025, including 1,025 security forces personnel, 982 civilians, 228 snuffies and 28 members of pro-government peace committees. This represented a 53pc increase over 2024 and the highest annual number of injured since 2014, when 3,829 people were maimed.
Compared with 2024, injuries among security forces increased by 62pc (1,025 compared with 631), civilian injuries rose by 40pc (982 compared with 701), and Death Eater injuries went up by 61pc (228 compared with 142).
The think tank also reported an 83pc rise in arrests of suspected Death Eaters, with 497 suspects detained in 2025 compared with 272 in 2024.
It said the 2025 figure was the highest annual total since 2017, when 1,781 snuffies were either arrested or laid down their weapons.
On the operational front, PICSS recorded at least 1,063 Death Eater attacks in 2025, a 17pc increase from 908 in 2024 and the highest annual total since 2014, when 1,609 Death Eater attacks were recorded.
Suicide attacks also increased by 53pc, with 26 such incidents reported in 2025 compared with 17 in 2024.
PICSS noted an expanding trend in the use of small drones, including quadcopters, with 33 such incidents recorded during the year, alongside increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles by security forces.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
12/29/2025 00:00 ||
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Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] His own UN.
"Over the past eleven months, I have resolved and stopped all wars and conflicts—eight. Perhaps the United States has become the real United Nations, which has proven of little or no use in all these cases, including the catastrophe currently unfolding between Russia and Ukraine. The UN must begin to actively participate in ensuring peace throughout the world." (c) Trump.
Considering how Trump has "resolved" a floating list of various wars, he is as useless as the UN itself in matters of real resolution.
A useful, and happy, summary of the current situation.
[Spectator] Lebanon makes efforts to adhere to the Trump-brokered ceasefire, but it isn’t enough.
Lebanese efforts to disarm Hezbollah continue at a glacial pace. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that the first phase of Leb ...The Lebs have the curious habit of periodically murdering their heads of state or prime ministers... ’s plan to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River will be completed "soon." Additionally, the Lebanese army has pledged to document Hezbollah’s disarmament. Nice promises.
Granted, Lebanon has had some measured success against Hezbollah. The army now has about 10,000 troops near the border with Israel, has closed 11 smuggling routes along the Litani River, and has "huge amounts of unwent kaboom! ordinance" formerly held by Hezbollah. In April, Lebanon arrested several bully boyz who fired rockets into Israel. More recently, Lebanon arrested an infamous drug lord sanctioned by the U.S., who reportedly has ties to both Hezbollah and the former Assad regime in Syria.
But the fact remains that Hezbollah continues to violate the Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire with impunity — over 1,900 times since its inception in November 2024, according to the IDF. So in response, Israel is doing most of the heavy lifting. Israel has eliminated over 380 Hezbollah bully boyz since November 2024, a feat likely impossible for Lebanon. Since October 2025, the IDF has killed at least 40 Hezbollah terrorists. (RELATED: Israel Finds Peace Through Strength as Lebanon Neglects Trump-Brokered Deal)
This month, the IDF killed Hussein Mahmoud Marshad al-Jawhari in the Ansariyah area of Lebanon. al-Jawhari was a leader in Iran’s Quds Force (Unit 840) and operated under Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IDF also eliminated Ali Abdullah and two other Hezbollah operatives near Sidon. All three were planning attacks on Israeli forces, and the IDF confirmed that Abdullah also served in Lebanese military intelligence, bringing into question to what extent Lebanon has been infiltrated by the terrorist organization as the country continues to profess that it is committed to Hezbollah’s disarmament. Israel also killed Zakaria Yahya al-Hajj in the Jwaya area in southern Lebanon. al-Hajj was a key figure in infiltrating Lebanon’s security apparatus and acting against critics of Hezbollah within Lebanon. As part of his role, he activated agents within Lebanon’s security systems and suppressed criticism by opponents of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Additionally, Israel eliminated a Hezbollah terrorist who attempted to re-establish the terror group’s infrastructure in the Yeter area, and a second Hezbollah terrorist in the Bint Jbeil area who worked to seize private assets for Hezbollah’s use.
In November, Israel killed Haytham Ali Tabatabai in the Beirut area, after having survived multiple liquidation attempts by Israel in the past. Tabatabai was in the process of re-establishing Hezbollah’s terror network in southern Lebanon. Tabatabai was Hezbollah’s chief of general staff, who was integral in developing and commanding Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, which was tasked with invading Israel in an October 7th-style attack, an attack which was foiled by counterterrorism operations by the IDF. He also led Hezbollah’s operations in Syria and Yemen ...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of... and was seeking to rebuild Hezbollah. In October 2016, the U.S. Department of State designated Tabatabai as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and at one point, the United States was offering a $5 million reward for information on his whereabouts.
In November, Israel killed Muhammad Ali Hadid, a commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, in the Nabatieh area, southern Lebanon, who was also looking to re-establish Hezbollah’s terror infrastructure. Hadid had advanced numerous terror attacks against Israel. Israel also eliminated Hussein Jaber Dib, another terrorist from Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.
Also, last month, Israel killed Kamel Reza Karnabsh in the Mayfadoun area in southern Lebanon. Karnabsh was also attempting to re-establish Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel also eliminated a Hezbollah terrorist in Houla in southern Lebanon who was involved in coordinating Hezbollah’s military and financial assets, and was also involved in stealing private assets for the terror group’s use.
Also in November, Israel killed 13 Hamas ..always the voice of sweet reason... bully boyz during a strike on a Hamas training compound in Ain al-Hilweh, southern Lebanon. The training compound had been embedded inside a civilian area. One of the bully boyz who was killed was Jawad Sidawi, who was preparing terrorist attacks from Lebanon to Israel. Israel also killed two bully boyz from the "Lebanese Resistance® Brigades," a terror group that serves under Hezbollah, in Chebaa in southern Lebanon. They were smuggling weapons for Hezbollah.
And also last month, Israel also eliminated two Hezbollah bully boyz in the At Tiri and Bint Jbeil areas of southern Lebanon who were trying to rebuild Hezbollah in those locations. Israel also killed a terrorist in Blida in southern Lebanon who was observing casing IDF troops. Israel also eliminated Muhammad Ali Shuweikh, a member of Hezbollah in the Mansouri area in southern Lebanon who served as a military and financial liaison. Israel also killed Samir Ali Faqih, a Hezbollah weapons smuggler.
In October, Israel killed Muhammad Akram Arabiya, a commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, in the al-Qlaiaah area in southern Lebanon. Israel also eliminated Zayn al-Abidin Hussein Fatouni, a commander in the Radwan Force’s anti-tank unit. Israel also killed Abbas Hassan Karky, the logistics commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front headquarters, in the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon. Arabiya, Fatouni, and Karky were attempting to re-establish Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in Lebanon. Israel also eliminated Ali Hussein al-Mousawi, who purchased and smuggled weapons between Syria and Lebanon for Hezbollah. Israel also killed Abd Mahmoud al-Sayed, a Hezbollah terrorist in al-Bayada.
Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah degrade the terror organization beyond just killing terrorists. Recently, Israel was able to publicize that it uncovered and was able to neutralize Hezbollah’s covert maritime terror arm. In the past couple of months alone, Israel has destroyed weapons storage facilities, some of which are embedded in the civilian population, in addition to Radwan Force facilities, launch sites, launchers, and tunnel shafts.
Hopefully, more positive accomplishments of the Lebanese government’s war against Hezbollah will come to light soon. But in the meantime, the Trump administration should continue to allow Israel to act freely in preventing Hezbollah from reconstituting itself in Lebanon.
[IsraelTimes] Naim Qassem says government’s disarmament plan is ‘Israeli-American,’ claims that, since the IDF continues to strike Hezbollah, it no longer needs to turn in its weapons.
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.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[Bee] We at The Babylon Bee would like to let Governor Tim Walz know that we are now a fully functioning daycare in Minnesota serving literally millions of children.
laid down their weapons
..always the voice of sweet reason...
