Mediaboss Marketing

A new far-right group stepped out in the United States this fall and its driving pro-Trump right-wingers crazy. The groypers are potential successors to the alt-right, but their aim is not to bolster Trumpism so much as to replace it with an even more radical and openly anti-Semitic form of white nationalism.

Turning Point USA, a popular student group headed by Charlie Kirk that supports U.S. President Donald Trump, came under attack this fall as Kirks Culture War college tour was treated to a series of high-profile disruptions by the groypers.

Led by 21-year-old YouTuber Nicholas Fuentes, an associate of infamous white nationalist (and self-described racial identitarian) Richard Spencer, the groypers made national headlines this month for heckling Donald Trump Jr. at an event at UCLA. That resulted in Trump Jr. and former Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle leaving the stage after attempting to shout down the crowd.

Weeks before the event, the Zionist Organization of America called on Twitter to ban Fuentes for using the analogy of Cookie Monster baking batches of cookies to attempt to deny the horrific murder of 6 million innocent Jews during the Holocaust during a podcast he hosts.

Fuentes group, apparently named for a cartoon frog similar to alt-right symbol Pepe the Frog, has harassed pro-Trump speakers from popular conservative commentator and Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief Ben Shapiro to Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw to David Rubin, a host for the conservative pay television network BlazeTV.

At the events they disrupt, the groypers ask speakers leading questions about Israel, gay rights and immigration to force them to defend universal rights thereby revealing them as fake conservatives.

Kirk, like Crenshaw and other speakers targeted by the groypers, are staunch defenders of Trump and often push the same kind of rhetoric as the president. Crenshaw and Kirk both regularly attack the so-called deep state and the impeachment hoax, but denounce the overt racism of the groypers.

We've got more newsletters we think you'll find interesting.

Please try again later.

The email address you have provided is already registered.

Voxs Jane Coaston, one of the preeminent journalists covering the American right today, notes that thegroyper army is simply the alt-right of 2016 and 2017, warmed over, reenergized and using new terminology aimed at disassociating itself from the optics problem of the deadly August 2017 Charlottesville Unite the Right Rally which, not coincidentally, Fuentes attended.

The alt-right a far-right, white nationalist movement in the United States that grabbed attention early in Trumps presidency has lost steam in recent years as many of its leaders have been largely discredited and exiled from the American right wing. From Spencer to Milo Yiannopoulos to Gavin McInnes of the men-only, misogynist organization Proud Boys, the movements most vocal proponents are now rarely given media platforms.

The size and scope of the groyper army is not well documented, nor is its online reach. However, it has disrupted events from Tennessee to Los Angeles and appears to be gaining steam ahead of the 2020 presidential election campaign.

The groypers also ask questions using a variety of anti-Israel, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories to elicit reactions from the speakers they target. These questions include asking about Israeli domestic surveillance equipment at the White House and the dancing Israelis conspiracy theory, which claims that Israel was behind the 9/11 attacks as evidenced by five Israeli nationals dancing in celebration as the Twin Towers burned.

Another common question asked by group members is about the USS Liberty, a U.S. spy ship that Israel sank in the aftermath of the Six-Day War in 1967 after it misidentified it as an Egyptian vessel, killing 34 American sailors. The incident has become an anti-Semitic dog whistle used by the groypers to ask how support for Israel puts America First and to raise doubt over the U.S.-Israel alliance. When a groyper posed this question to Kirk when he was onstage with Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle at UCLA, Kirk denounced the conspiracy theory which alleges Israel deliberately targeted the U.S. vessel and ended up launching into a vehement defense of Israel.

VoxsCoaston quotes the neo-Nazi Daily Stormer websiteas urging the groypers: When you get pulled out [by security], yell GOOGLE THE USS LIBERTY or GOOGLE DANCING ISRAELIS or AMERICA FIRST NOT ISRAEL FIRST or just NICK FUENTES.

While still very much on the fringe of the American right, Fuentes has found some mainstream support in well-known conservative pundit Michelle Malkin.

Malkin spent a decade churning out New York Times best-sellers, had a nationally syndicated newspaper column and is a regular on cable news. Shewas fired from the Young America's Foundation last week for supporting the groyper leader.

Her former employer is a conservative youth group whose events were also targeted by the groypers.

After YAF issued a statement upon her termination, saying that There is no room in mainstream conservatism or at YAF for Holocaust deniers, white nationalists, street brawlers, or racists, Malkin who has praised Fuentes as a New Right leader doubled down on Twitter in response to YAF. The Keepers of the Gate have spoken. #AmericaFirst is not mainstream. My defense of unjustly prosecuted Proud Boys, patriotic young nationalists/groypers & demographic truth-tellers must not be tolerated. SPLC is cheering, she wrote, referring to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Malkins tweet echoes the groypers sentiment that they and not the mainstream are the true voice of Trumps America First agenda.

In mid-November, the groyper army targeted TPUSA events featuringrising GOP star Crenshaw at Arizona State and the University of Texas at Austin. The latter event saw groypers being escorted out of the auditorium after Crenshaw declared that he sections off any anger about anti-whiteness and was shouted down by an audience member who said: We are mad because Israel, its prime minister, said 9/11 was good for Israel.

Crenshaw has since slammed the groypers, repeatedly calling them the alt-right 2.0.

After conservative Daily Wire writer Matt Walsh tussled with a groyper at LA'S California State University in early November, Crenshaw came to his defense. The groyper had asked Walsh how he justified working for a non-Christian meaning Shapiro, the Daily Wires editor-in-chief. Wait, youre telling me that my Jewish boss doesnt believe that Jesus is the son of God? Walsh asked sarcastically. My god, Im scandalized by this! I had no idea.

In response to the incident, Crenshaw tweeted: Matt is correct. They use slogans like America first to get conservatives to sympathize with them. But after personally dealing with them, its pretty obvious they are vehement racists, anti-semites & ethnic-nationalists. Conservatives need to know the difference. Malkin then blocked Crenshaw on Twitter.

Walsh had responded to Malkin in a tweet, writing, Hi @michellemalkin. Fuentes called me a race traitor and f*ggot because I work for Jews. He also said that black people who complained about segregation needed to grow up. How do you feel about these statements? And in what way are they America First?

Many of the conservative speakers the groypers have targeted are Jewish including Shapiro, Rubin and Jonah Goldberg, a former editor for the National Review. Fuentes had previously personally targeted Rubin on his YouTube channel: You want to talk to Jewy Jewstein? Fuentes said. Im David Rubin and this is the gay Jewish show. Today weve got a Jew.

At a speech at Stanford University last week, Shapiro ripped into Fuentes, calling him a garbage human being and obviously white supremacist garbage.

Some call themselves America First to hijack President Trumps slogans to give themselves a patina of credibility youre seeing them adopt the beliefs of some of these other movements in order to find cover for their own vile belief system, Shapiro said.

While Shapiro has been a vocal critic of this new movement and of the alt-right, he has also given credence to many of the arguments that bolster the far right in the United States. Shapiro recently argued in response to an Atlantic cover story on how to avoid another American Civil War that Democrats are using demographic change to force an ideological change in the United States a notion similar to the white genocide conspiracy popular with the far right.

One thing the groypers and the alt-right movement have in common is that both have made Shapiro their worst enemy. A study by the Anti-Defamation League found that Shapiro was the number one target of the alt-right in 2016 and it seems he will be for the groypers in 2020.

More:
Trump, Israel and anti-Semitism: How white nationalists are rattling the American right - Haaretz

Afghanistan's Test journey may only be three matches old, but they've already secured two wins, including a big one against Bangladesh in their most recent game, and their spinners pose a very real threat to West Indies.

Overview

Afghanistan v West Indies, only TestEkana International Cricket Stadium, LucknowWednesday, 27 November; 10.00am local, 04.30am GMT

In their most recent Test, Afghanistan secured a handsome win over Bangladesh in their backyard. Rahmat Shah produced a marvellous first-innings hundred but it was captain Rashid Khan's bag of 11 wickets that was key to the 224-run win.

If Bangladesh, a team that is a lot more familiar with spin, were outsmarted by Afghanistan's tweakers, the West Indies batters will know that they will have to be at their best to avoid the same fate.

Afghanistan, of course, will be without Mohammad Nabi, who called it quits from the longest format after the game against Bangladesh, and his reliable off-spin will surely be missed. But, they still have a wealth of fantastic slower bowlers to choose from, including Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan and Amir Hamza. While left-arm spinner Hamza is yet to play a Test, he may get a look in after having picked up eight wickets against the West Indians in the practice game.

West Indies have good experience in the batting line-up. Kraigg Brathwaite and Roston Chase have scored centuries in Asia, but it will be just as crucial for younger talents such as Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer to do their part in countering Afghanistan.

The West Indies bowling attack led by Jason Holder, ranked No.1 on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings for all-rounders has been faring well recently. While it's their fast bowlers who have made the biggest impact, it will be crucial for their spinners Jomel Warrican and Rakheem Cornwall to do well at Lucknow as well.

Remember the last time

These two sides are yet to face each other in Test cricket. The limited-overs rivalry between them was reflected during the ODIs and T20Is earlier in the month. West Indies outclassed Afghanistan in each of the three fifty-over matches and won the first T20I as well, but Afghanistan bounced back to win the last two T20Is and claim the series.

Hope and Chase struck good form during the ODIs and will look to transfer those skills into the Test match. Chase was also among the wickets and his off-spin will have a big role to play. Worryingly for Afghanistan, Rashid wasn't quite at his potent best, but the skipper will hope to get back to his incisive ways.Fast bowler Karim Janat excelled in the second T20I, picking up 5/11 and it will be interesting to see whether Afghanistan are tempted to hand him his maiden Test cap on the back of that performance.

What they said

Jason Holder, West Indies captain: "Having started the year with a series win, it would be fitting to end the year with a series win. Afghanistan will be no pushovers especially in these conditions which they are familiar with. I expect they will play plenty of spinners. It will be up to our batsmen to negotiate their spinners and do it well."

Conditions

Weather is expected to be clear and sunny for the course of the match. The Ekana Stadium hasn't previously hosted a Test, but going by the limited-series played at the same venue, spin will have quite a big role to play. Batsmen will have to be cautious and work hard for the runs.

Link:
WI v Afg, only Test, preview West Indies wary of threat from formidable Afghanistan spin attack - International Cricket Council

After 19 years of war in Afghanistan, the U.S. is working on a plan to draw down its troops. There are currently 13,000 active troops stationed in Afghanistan filling various roles for the United Nations, including positions of military advisers. One of the main tasks that Americans have been helping with is preparing Afghan military air traffic controllers, otherwise known as ATACS, that can help coordinate airstrikes against Taliban fighters.

There are severe problems with this plan. A recent defense department Inspector General report states that only 2.5-7.5% percent of airstrikes from Afghan MD-530 helicopters and A-29 Super Tucano aircraft involve coordination from tactical Afghan air controllers, and not U.S. forces.

Those numbers present a problem because most of the military actionin Afghanistan are coordinated airstrikes. Since 2013 the United States has been working with the Afghan forces to train more than 80 ATACS, but that hasn't gone well. They've so far trained over 400 but as of writing of this article, there are only 24 active in the theater. A lot of this is because the country has been unable to initiate an acceptable training program to keep candidates trainedand prepared for their roles.

In this photo, a Brazilian soldier stands guard near a A-29 Super Tucano during the opening ceremony of the Santiago's Aviation Fair, known as FIDAE, at Chile's international airport, on March 27, 2006. Photo: REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

Another critical issue is that the Afghan Air Force has only grown to 183 aircraft for the entire branch of the service: the McDonnell Douglas MD 530 helicopters, which are the premier attack vehicle being shipped to Afghanistan by its manufacturers, and the A-29 Super Tucano of which the Afghan Air Force has 15. There is an additional contract for 200 more of the aircraft to be manufactured by Northstar aircraft in Florida and shipped to Afghanistan and the theater of action within the coming year.

Coalition forces once trained pilots at Moody Air Force Base in Florida to fly the aircraft and they also trained maintenance technicians to maintain the aircraft. After so many years of training, U.S. forces should not have to play that role now.

U.S. forces are working steadfastly to try and pull out of the country, but peace negotiations with the Taliban have been deadlocked. In an attempt to force the Taliban back to the negotiating table, the U.S. has been consistently hammering them with airstrikes. On a positive note, the Afghan Air Force has been able to coordinate its own aircraft but there have been continuous problems with the Afghan Air Force and the Afghan National Army communicating and working together for successful military operations.

It does not appear that the U.S. will be pulling out anytime soon. Despite what the politicians may say we may be locked in a forever air war in Afghanistan.

Read the rest here:
The US Air War In Afghanistan May Never End - International Business Times

TwoSenate Foreign Relations Committee lawmakers on Thursday introduced a bipartisan bill that would establish congressional oversight on any peace deal process to end the now 18-year war in Afghanistan.

The committees top ranking Democrat Sen.Bob MenendezRobert (Bob) MenendezSenate passes legislation supporting Hong Kong protesters Graham blocks resolution recognizing Armenian genocide after Erdoan meeting Trump encounters GOP resistance to investigating Hunter Biden MORE(N.J.) and his colleague Sen. Todd YoungTodd Christopher YoungThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump says he is fighting testimony to protect presidency The Hill's Morning Report Dems and Trump score separate court wins GOP braces for Democratic spending onslaught in battle for Senate MORE (R-Ind.),introduced theEnsuring a Durable Afghanistan Peace Act,which would require congressional oversight for U.S. diplomatic efforts to achieve a political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and any agreement that emerges from that process, according to a statement from the two.

Unfortunately, like other war powers discussions, Congress has taken a backseat in the debate over the future of our mission in Afghanistan while the conflict has descended towards a stalemate, Young said in the statement.

As we pursue negotiations with the Taliban and work to end our involvement, Congress must be a part of the process to ensure that our mission is brought to a responsible end.

The legislation comes after President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump at rally vows to supporters no name change for 'Thanksgiving' Trump says he will designate Mexican drug cartels as terror organizations State Dept. official describes frantic effort to save recalled Ukraineambassador MOREin September declared peace talks with the Taliban dead.

Until that point, theadministration had been negotiating with the Taliban for nearly a year in an effort to end Americas longest war. A draft agreement at the time would have pullednearly 5,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan within months in exchange for Taliban assurances that it would not allow terrorist groups to use the country as a jumping off point for attacks on the United States.

Butearlier this weekthe Taliban freedan American and Australian in exchange for three of its members. Administration officials hope this could jump start peace talks.

An issue that still needs to be resolved, however, was the Afghan governments limited involvement inU.S. negotiations with the Taliban.Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghanireportedly felt sidelined by the talks, and national security officials and lawmakers fear it will be a hard sell to get the Afghan government to hold up a deal they were largely not a part of in making.

The White House on Thursday said that Trump had spoken with Ghani to affirm the important role of the Afghan government in its countrys peace process.

Both sides agreed a reduction in violence is necessary to move the peace process forward and for any intra-Afghan negotiations regarding a political settlement to be successful, the statement said.

Lawmakers worry, though, that Trump may still pull U.S. troops from Afghanistan without gaining concessions from the Taliban in an effort to make good on his campaign promises to end forever wars, especially ahead of the 2020 election.

Menendez and Youngsbill, if enacted, would stipulate that any action to curtail or remove U.S. military forces from Afghanistan include regular consultation with Congress, and require that the administration allow lawmakers to review a final agreement with the Taliban, including a description of counterterrorism assurances, U.S. troop withdrawal, the status of direct Afghan negotiations and progress towards reaching a comprehensive ceasefire.

In addition, it requires an initial assessment report to be sent to Congress within 60 days after a finalized peace deal that lays out how the State Department can verify that the Taliban are complying with their side of the agreement and whether the group has broken ties with al-Qaeda. A similar, quarterly report would also be required.

Roughly 13,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan. The conflict has taken the lives of more than 2,300 Americans and cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

Excerpt from:
Bipartisan bill requires Congressional oversight of Afghanistan peace process | TheHill - The Hill

Photo for representation. Image- Reuters

After training men from the Afghan National Army (ANA) for years the Indian Army wants to make the training of women officers from strife hit Afghanistan a regular affair.

Twenty women officers from the Afghan army will be part of a special training module at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) Chennai for the next three weeks.

The training is scheduled to take place from November 25 to December 21.

This is the third consecutive year when women officers are part of such training at OTA, Chennai.

Even though this is not an annual training capsule but as part of military diplomacy between the two countries, its become a regular affair. Every year 20 officers have been part of the training. In time to come the numbers could even go up, said an army source.

The Officers Training Academy or OTA in Chennai gives military training to short service commission officers who have the option of being part of the permanent commission after serving for 10 years.

The permanent commission officers are trained in the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun.

Both IMA and OTA have been giving full training to men from the Afghan National Army in the past but the special capsule course for women officers is new, sources said.

OTA trains about 40 foreign men cadets every year and on average 12-15 are from Afghanistan.

The aim is to train these women officers in small arms weapon handling, tactical knowledge for military operations, administrative skills and also enhance their communication skills, said an army officer.

Other than women from Afghanistan, women from the Kyrgyzstan army were trained in OTA but that was only a group of 5-6 officers for a shorter duration.

The women officers after being trained in various military skills could either be part of several operations in war-torn Afghanistan, be used as trainers or even pass on the learning to instructors back in their country.

Also read: Army, Navy, IAF special forces deployed in Kashmir to hunt terrorists

ALSO | Watch: Sanjay Raut slams Ajit Pawar, BJP over Maharashtra power tussle | Exclusive

Excerpt from:
Women officers from war torn Afghanistan to be part of frequent military training by Indian Army - India Today