U.S. losing troops, fighter jets, choppers and MQ drones to Iran

• A 3rd MQ-9 drone that Iran shot down, in Dehloran, Ilam province. Within the last 48 hours, three MQ-9 drones have been shot down in Asaluyeh, Ahvaz, and Dehloran. Two were shot down on July 18th, and one on July 17th. 

• Iranian MP, Ali Reza Salimi: If Iran can’t export oil and petroleum derivatives, then the other countries in the region will not be able to do so either. Either the Strait of Hormuz is safe for everyone, or it is safe for no one. If the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran are threatened, all countries must realize that the interests of others will also be at risk.
• Iranian missile slams US soldier’s barracks at the Muwaffaq al Salti AB, Jordan. [Jordan was supposed to be the safe place for US troops. Trump's 'Department of Endless War' is still claiming that only 16 US troops have been killed since US-Israel launched these attacks on Iran, with over 400 wounded. Now how can that be? Why are the corporate media keeping the lid on this important story?] 

• An official at the American oil company HKN: The company has decided to halt all its operations in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region due to the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran.
• A senior US official speaking to Wall Street Journal on the condition on anonymity, revealed that Iranian strikes on Jordan destroyed an F-15 Strike Eagle and damaged several other fighter jets and unmanned aircraft.

• Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam: Trump has already destroyed two major achievements in the history of contemporary diplomacy and is still talking about peace. Trump blew up the Iranian nuclear deal in 2018 and has now already blown up the Islamabad memorandum of understanding in less than 20 days since its signing.      

• According to The New York Times, citing US officials, Iranian missile strikes damaged a significant number of US Black Hawk helicopters stationed at US military bases in eastern Jordan. 

• The US struck the entrance & exit of the Shahid Mirzaei Tunnel, which is located on the important route in southern Iran. [Some experts are suggesting that the US is hitting bridges near Hormuz and various Iranian islands in the waterway in preparation for a US and Gulf monarch allies land invasion. By taking out bridges it would be more difficult for Iranian forces to rush troops to these locations.] 

• Sources in Gaza hospitals: 8 martyrs, including 3 children, in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City since dawn yesterday.
• The House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected an amendment by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) that would have cut $3.3 billion in military aid to Israel, with the measure failing 314-104. Massie was the only Republican to vote yes, joined by 103 Democrats, while 98 Democrats voted against the cut and 10 voted present. The same day, 50 Republican senators voted to advance an NDAA provision that would integrate US and Israeli military intelligence, weapons development, and cybersecurity operations, falling short of the 60 votes needed to proceed. 

• RT: Israel has reportedly reclassified Nile crocodiles as “tended” animals, potentially clearing the way for their use as part of prison security. The controversial proposal to surround prisons with crocodile-filled moats was reportedly floated by far-right National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, who argued the reptiles would strengthen security and deter escape attempts. According to Israeli media reports, Ben-Gvir wants to first introduce the reptiles to Ketziot Prison, a penitentiary in southern Israel that holds primarily Palestinian prisoners. 

• Kiev: Protests supporting former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mikhail Fedorov and against the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander Srysky continue. Fevorov has become popular with the people as he 'seemingly' tried to reform Ukrainian corruption in the military where billions have been stolen by Zelensky and his pirate crew.  Fedorov, 35, was Ukraine’s youngest-ever defense minister and only assumed the role in January. He deepened Ukraine’s ties with Palantir, a controversial US data-mining and military technology company, but failed to reform his corruption-prone ministry in accordance with 'NATO standards,' as Fedorov himself admitted while confirming his departure.     

• Ukraine has deployed military personnel to several African countries in an attempt to open a “second front” against Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko has said. In an interview with TASS the Russian diplomat named Mali, Libya, and Sudan as countries where Ukrainian personnel have supported armed terrorists that are backed by France and the US. Russia has sent troops to support the Africans.

• Lvov, Bandera heartlands: The military body snatchers found a new method to “encourage” an unwilling “Ukrainian patriot” to die for Zelensky. Throw him to the ground and kick him. With such “freedom” and “democracy” what more is needed?

• Trump’s social network Truth Social will start selling investors early access to posts from prominent accounts, most likely including his own, the holding company has announced. Critics argue that the move could create an unprecedented new way for the president to profit from his office, given his family controls Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the platform’s publicly traded corporate parent. The move was announced on Thursday, when TMTG unveiled Truth API, a business-to-business data feed providing “real-time access to posts from the highest-ranking Truth Social accounts.”
• CNN: The US may pave the way for Saudi Arabia to acquire nuclear weapons. The Trump administration has given Saudi Arabia preliminary approval to enrich uranium, but without the strict international restrictions that typically prevent countries from acquiring nuclear weapons. This refers to the so-called “123 Agreement,” which has not even reached the US Congress for consideration yet. [Now ain't this total hypocrisy.]
• Argentine attacks President (Javier Milei) because of Israel: "Do not believe our damned president who was inaugurated with Israeli money and there is no real Argentine who supports them. Long live free Palestine; we must unite against this scoundrel!"  

Sunday song

Outraged Mainers march thru Portland opposing ICE killings

MB and I went to an anti-ICE demonstration in Portland, Maine today attended by over 500 people. As we arrived the Ideal Band was warming up the crowd and then a series of excellent speakers addressed the people about the murder of a young Colombian father Johan Guerrero by a masked ICE operative in front of Johan's three year old daughter in Biddeford, Maine just days ago.

Since this murder Maine has been flooded with major protests up and down the state. (It's important to know that Maine's entire population is only 1.4 million so turnouts like this today are big for our state.) There was a similar large protest in Bangor a couple hours drive north. And there were smaller events held in many towns as well across Maine.

On the very same day as this rally and march happened on the streets of Portland, Democrats in every county of the state were meeting to select delegates to attend a statewide convention in Bangor on July 25 to pick who will be the party candidate against incumbent right-wing Senator Susan Collins who has repeatedly voted to fund ICE in the Congress. 

The very popular Democrat Graham Platner (who won the statewide primary election with 72% of the vote) recently dropped out of the race after rape charges were alleged against him.

Many of the chants, as we marched thru the tourist district of the Old Port of Portland, were opposing the re-election of Republican Susan Collins next November.

Even though the rally and march were held in the rain the largely younger crowd remained steady. Many tourists and local shop workers popped their heads outside waving at us and taking photos as we marched.

In this part of Portland there are many restaurants and bars so I walked along the sidewalk with my sign so I could hold it up to the windows enabling the diners and those inside the bars could see my message. Lots of them waved, clapped and gave peace signs of approval.

The entire event lasted about 2 1/2 hours. On our way back to our car it was fun to see how many local businesses in the city had put 'No Ice' flyers on their doors.

We had so much fun today being there. It's about a 45 minute ride to Portland from our home but well worth it. Even though much of it was in the rain we were so encouraged by the many young activists who organized and participated in this well-run protest event that was sponsored by several key socialist organizations.  

People across Maine are so over Trump and his fascist pirate band of thieves and war mongers. We are tired of the war$ (US-NATO proxy war on Russia, Palestine, Lebanon and Iran) and the regime changes (Venezuela) and the threats to other nations (Cuba and Greenland).

Several speakers in the rally made the important point that this energy must be sustained as we face this expanding fascism. One hit demos won't do the trick. 

We have to build a movement across the nation to take power away from these genocidal Epstein class pedophiles who have long ago lost their souls.

Keep paddling.

Bruce  

~ Photos and video by MB Sullivan

Next Monthly peace vigil in Bangor July 25

As we move closer to the November mid-term congressional elections it makes sense that our movements for peace, justice and environmental sanity escalate our current level of activity.

Lots of people who aspire to higher office (on behalf of the public and our Constitutional rights to free speech, freedom to assemble and a free press) will be taking the temperature of the great unwashed. Thus it's the perfect time to raise our voices.

We must loudly proclaim our collective demands and only stop in order to take a breath before demanding them again.

Asheville, North Carolina

Corporate media generally doesn't cover our protests these days. But the American people (of all classes) are driving or walking by us while we are on the streets. 

Join us on July 25 and help us project these demands to the public and to the aspiring politicians in Maine and beyond.

Our demands:

•     End U.S. aid to racist apartheid Israel
•     Stop US-Israeli wars for 'Greater Israel' on Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, & Syria        
•     U.S. hands off Latin America & Caribbean (Cuba, Venezuela, Columbia, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Haiti)     
•     Peace in Ukraine - No weapons, no money for the Ukraine War         
•     Abolish NATO/No expansion into Asia Pacific         
•     Fund people’s needs, not the war machine         
•     Stop Pentagon climate crimes         
•     Fight racism & bigotry not war - Abolish ICE        
•     End AFRICOM         
•     No new arms race in outer space

Co-sponsors: 

Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, Maine Natural Guard, PeaceWorks of Greater Brunswick, Communist Party of Maine, Maine Green Independent Party, Citizens Opposing Active Sonar Threats (COAST), Party for Socialism & Liberation Maine, Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine, Veterans for Peace - National, United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC), Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights (MVPR), and Diaspora Pa’lante Collective.

Next up:

• Saturday, August 1 in Lubec (next to the Canadian border) at 1:30 pm 

'Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth.' 

~ Henry David Thoreau

'It's sad that so many people are blinded by the green frog skin.' 

~ Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions 

the funnies

War heats up as Trump targets civilian sites

• The US has begun its desperate escalation attacks on mostly civilian targets inside Iran. A total of 5-6 bridges in Hormozgan province were targeted; The Griveh bridge, connecting Bandar Abbas, Khmeir, and Lar; The bridge after the village of Latidan (Kalmatli), on the return route from Bandar Abbas, Khmeir, and Lar.; 2 bridges on the route to Kahorstan, Lar; The unfinished bridge, connecting Bandar Khmeir, Keshvar, and Bandar Abbas; The bridge in the village of Maro, in the Khmeir county; Chabahar maritime tower was targeted (again) and destroyed by the US; A railway station, west of Bandar Abbas; Civilian airport in Iranshahr, southeastern Iran.

• The US refueling tankers and other support aircraft are now unable to land in Qatar's Al Udeid and Jordan's Mwafaq al-Salti due to the Iranian ballistic missile strikes.
• Footage shows how the US Patriot system failed to intercept the Iranian missiles, which caused them to strike intended targets inside King Faisal AB in Jordan, hitting US forces accommodation places. [Notice when the Patriot interceptors fail they fall back to the ground and hit other facilities on/near the US military base.] 

• The IRGC launched a heavy and surprising attack on the US Al-Udeid Air Base, in Qatar. As a result, one long-range radar system and several US strategic refueling aircrafts were completely destroyed, while several others sustained significant damage.
• Iranian missiles/drones struck: A US oilfield service company, Halliburton, logistics warehouse in Kuwait’s Mina Abdullah industrial zone was completely destroyed. A munitions storage warehouse complex at the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar was also hit.
• Sputnik: Iran is freely targeting US barracks, logistics bases and Air Force facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain using Arash heavy drones. Lack of effective resistance on the US’ part signals that whatever efforts the Pentagon took to restore regional capabilities (like transferring THAAD from South Korea) proved insufficient. Relentless Iranian attacks on US-operated bases in the region generally complicate US operations against Iran that rely on them, and force the US to expend significant forces and resources to protect them. Some of the bases nearest to Iran are now causing more problems for the US than they're worth. For example, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar was the largest US airbase in the region, but now the US has been forced to evacuate most of its aircraft because it's too dangerous to keep them there.

• Fishermen fished out an intercepted LUCAS drone, a US-copy of the Iranian Shahed-136 drone. 

• Brent prices jump 2 percent to more than $85 per barrel amid continued US-Iran escalation.
• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: Full control of the Strait of Hormuz remains in the hands of our fighters, and as long as the US attacks continue, not a drop of oil or gas will be exported from this region.
• Iran targeted the King Fahd Causeway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. This is in retaliation for US hitting numerous Iranian bridges that lead to its oil producing/storage islands.

• The UK has made it illegal with prison up to 14 years if you support the official military body of Iran. But you’re still free to support the broadly recognised genocidal army responsible for generation killing, the IDF.
• One clown replaces another: Andy Burnham has been announced as the new leader of the Labour Party and will take office as Prime Minister of the UK on Monday, July 20.
• The Israeli Knesset has voted to dissolve parliament overnight, sending Israel into early elections amid deepening internal political divisions and growing pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. The move ends the current parliamentary term and sets the stage for elections scheduled for October 27, with Netanyahu facing mounting scrutiny over his government’s handling of the war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, as well as his long-running corruption trials.

• El Mayadeen English: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim: “If we find any Israeli national, we will deport them immediately because we do not recognise Israel.”
• BBC’s Vitali Shevchenko: Explains how “Ukrainian patriotism” is nothing but a myth. The problem is that Ukrainians do not want to die in the war.  

• Forum Geopolitica by Peter Hanseler: The NATO summit sent a message that no one wants to hear. Europe is openly declaring war on Russia – and it’s doing so with Trump’s full support. Almost all of the weapons used by Ukraine in this war are supplied by Europe and the US. However, many of them cannot be deployed without NATO personnel in Ukraine or at one of NATO’s bases, and cannot find their targets in Russia without satellite support from the US. It is therefore misleading to speak of a conflict between Ukraine and Russia here: Europe, with the active support of the US, is waging war against Russia. While this took place covertly until recently, the aggressors are now proudly flaunting their direct involvement. Russia “will no longer believe the West that it wants negotiated solutions” because “this reserve of goodwill and hope has been exhausted entirely”, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, 9th July, 2026.  

• Trump stated that a number of countries allegedly have the ability to interfere with the American electoral system. Among the "adversaries of the US," he named Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, as well as stated risks to election infrastructure. [He is preparing to create the fear and 'justification' to toy with the election computers in the coming November national congressional elections because he fears the Republicans will be thrown out of power. He has no respect for 'democracy'.] China stated “China has never interfered and will never interfere in the elections in the US,” via embassy spokesman. Russia as well denied any interference as did Iran. Note in this video Trump says these nations have the 'capability'.  Word games. 

• Reuters: Pakistan is in negotiations with Kuwait regarding a broad defense agreement in exchange for cooperation in the fields of energy and investment. Any defense agreement with Kuwait, which has been subjected to attacks from Iran this year, would raise questions about Pakistan's role in future mediation between the US and Iran. Many of the US attacks on Iran come from its bases in Kuwait.

USA freaking out over rise of other nations

America helped China integrate into the global economy, opened its markets, shared technology and allowed Western investment to pour into Chinese industry. Decades later, Washington increasingly believes it helped create its greatest strategic rival.

Now India is rising.

Recent comments from Vice President JD Vance and senior US officials reveal a striking change in American thinking. Washington appears determined not to repeat what it now calls the “China mistake” — raising a difficult question for New Delhi: does America genuinely want a powerful India, or does it only want India strong enough to help balance China?

In this GVS Deep Dive, Najma Minhas examines the profound shift taking place in American foreign policy. From manufacturing and semiconductor controls to AI, defence technology, trade and supply chains, economic growth is increasingly being treated as a national security issue.

The US still needs India in the Indo-Pacific. But an India that becomes a major manufacturing, technological and economic power could eventually emerge as an independent centre of global power.

So can Washington encourage India’s rise while simultaneously trying to manage it?

And has America’s fear of China fundamentally changed how it views every future rising power?  

China calls U.S. war-crazed & source of global chaos

• The United States informs Israel that it will expand military operations in Iran, and scenarios for Israeli involvement are being discussed.
• Iranian media: 7 people injured in a US attack targeting a residential area in Bandar Abbas.
• The US did it again: Last night US bombed dangerously close to a cancer hospital causing disruptions to chemotherapy treatments forcing 211 children to evacuate, Baghaei Hospital in Ahvaz.

• Israeli Channel 14: Bridges, railways, airports, and camps in southern Iran are being bombed with the aim of controlling the region. The US forces will soon enter Iran.
• According to additional reports, it looks like Iran struck American HIMARS systems in Kuwait. The same missile systems that were used to attack Iran. There’s large widespread fire, indicating a relatively large attack. 

• Hebrew Channel 12 Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Saudi Al-Arabiya channel: "My dream is to see peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia. I have great respect for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and what we want most in Israel is to see rapprochement between the two peoples."
• War monger Pete Hegseth announced that he is rolling out a new screening program for "testosterone deficiency" among troops, calling it necessary to allow them to operate at their "absolute best." The screenings will be conducted annually as part of service members' required medical screenings for those 30 and older, he said. Troops under 30 can volunteer to be tested. [Reminds one of WW2 Nazi scientists doing experiments to create the perfect blonde-haired Aryan soldier.]

• The Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs: The Iranian narrative that there are US military bases in Jordan is incorrect. There are no American bases in Jordan but rather American soldiers operating within the framework of military cooperation between us and Washington.
• White House spokeswoman after massacre of thousands of women and children in Palestine, Lebanon and Iran: Trump knows that our military never targets civilians or children. Iran is well known for killing women, children, and innocent people. 

• The chief engineer of the Russian Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant was killed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. A Ukrainian drone attacked an official vehicle, killing Alexander Yakovlev. Yakovlev’s driver was also killed reported Alexey Likhachev, Rosatom General Director.

• Another exchange of bodies of the fallen took place today. Russia and Ukraine conducted an exchange of the bodies of deceased military personnel. Russia received 31 bodies of Russian servicemen, while Ukraine received 501 bodies.
• Amidst the harsh heat in Gaza, a father created a makeshift pool for his children using simple materials, trying to give them moments of joy and alleviate the burden of the difficult circumstances. 

• NATO has launched more than 30 military interventions over the past 25 years. Military-industrial corporations have skillfully pulled the EU into NATO’s sphere of influence. NATO and the EU are using international terrorist methods. Kiev’s neo-Nazism was fostered by the intelligence services of the UK, France, and the US. The West has adopted a course of outright terrorism against Russia. Ukrainian long-range drone and missile strikes are only possible with Western support.

• NBC News: The ‘Donroe Doctrine’ continues in Latin America. The US will impose a 25% tariff on most Brazilian imports from July 22, citing unfair trade practices. Brazil called the move unjustified and plans to challenge it through the WTO – which is another organization laid lame by the current hegemonic powers. A separate US investigation could raise total tariffs on some Brazilian goods to 37.5%. The reason here is not trade but the Brazilian election upcoming in early October. The US meddling has been ongoing with open support for the Bolsonaro family. In Brazil, a change in policy and rightist government has an added benefit of attempting to force China out of the region as trade partner.
• Mike Prysner Executive Director of the Center on Conscience and War: 'Unfavorable views of Israel surged from 41% to 60% between 2022 and 2026, driven in large part by attitudes of young (enlistment-age) Americans. Service members were part of that demographic. Then Trump started a new war with a single ally: Israel. They began that war with two clear US war crimes: the bombing of the Minab girls school, and the sinking of the defenseless IRIS Dena. Compared with previous generations, those age 17-29 are markedly more skeptical of military intervention, less committed to maintaining US military dominance, less willing to serve in the armed forces, and more likely to question traditional foreign policy assumptions.' 

• Chris Hedges: 'China has launched a blistering [verbal] attack on the US, describing Washington as "war-crazed" and accusing it of becoming a major source of global chaos. The message reflects Beijing's growing anger over America's military interventions, expanding alliances, sanctions, and involvement in conflicts across different regions of the world. Chinese officials appear to be arguing that the US presents itself as a defender of peace while repeatedly using military force, political pressure, and economic punishment to control events beyond its borders. Critics of American foreign policy argue that decades of wars, occupations, and regime-change operations have created instability rather than lasting peace. This is more than another diplomatic insult. It is part of a widening struggle between the world's two most powerful countries over who gets to define global order, security, and justice. America calls itself the guardian of stability. China is now openly calling it the engine of chaos.' 

• Mondoweiss, which credits The Electronic Intifada, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Intercept, and unnamed Palestinian writers for the research, exposes more than 20 senior editors, correspondents, columnists, and reporters “who have ties to the Zionist state.” One stunning but exemplary case is Natan Odenheimer, who served in an I.O.F. commando unit and then as a correspondent in The Times’s Jerusalem bureau—embedding with and covering his former colleagues. “How can we ever expect someone to report on the occupation correctly when he wore the occupier’s uniform for four years?” 
• The Cradle: Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi said on 13 July that the most dangerous threats in the region come not from Iran but from Israel, while lambasting the “myth” of the policy of “containment” that has for years targeted the Islamic Republic. “The gravest threats to Gulf security do not originate within the region itself. Rather, they stem from decisions taken outside it – above all, in Tel Aviv. That conclusion is now difficult to dispute,” the foreign minister wrote in an opinion piece released by Le Monde. Al-Busaidi added that Tehran “did not constitute an existential threat.” He criticized the expansion of the US military presence across the region, saying it did not provide protection or benefit the countries of the Gulf.

• Zelensky's decision to dismiss Defence Minister Mikhail Fedorov caused a wave of dissatisfaction among Ukrainian politicians, military personnel, and parts of society. Ukrainian dictator Zelensky states, "You know, during the war we cannot have elections due to, first and foremost, security considerations. You know this very well." Zelensky also made clear that all regime functionaries, except himself, can be replaced at his discretion. “It is very important for us to preserve the unity of our state. We have been working together for a long time. And sometimes there are conflicts. The law allows the government to be rebooted.” 

A really good day at Brunswick vigil

Five of us did our hour-long weekly Thursday vigil in Brunswick, Maine today. 

The public response was great - MB calculated it was 30 positives to every one negative.

One could say that the public is over these endless war$. In recent polls over 70% oppose the war on Iran. People are done with the US-Israel being joined at the hip.

MB was on the opposite side of the street with her sign that read 'Stop War$ abroad and fascism at home'. It's interesting to me how many people now don't flinch when they see the word fascism. It has become a regular part of the political dialogue these days when we are talking about the US of A.

This intersection where we are standing is one of the busiest in the state. Traffic from I-295 and US 1. It is a primary intersection for those heading north and south.

Lots of out-of-state license plates were noticed today.

Rich, poor, middle class, working class, truck drivers - they all saw us.

Bruce 

~ Photo by Steve Musica (click on photo for best view)

Fleeing Israhell