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Moscow has dismissed claims that Kiev’s war sponsors somehow restrict it from using donated weapons as “tricks." NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has argued that members of the US-led military bloc should let Ukraine freely use their weapons to launch strikes deeper into Russian territory. “The time has come for allies to consider whether they should lift some of the restrictions they have put on the use of weapons they have donated to Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said on Friday in an interview with The Economist. NATO secretaries-general do not normally attack the policies of America, the alliance’s biggest and most important member country. But in an interview with The Economist, Jens Stoltenberg has done just that: https://t.co/ZjP8iCu0dFPhoto: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/p2d9r1x7iM— The Economist (@TheEconomist) May 25, 2024 “Especially now when a lot of the fighting is going on in Kharkov, close to the border, to deny Ukraine the possibility of using these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it very hard for them to defend themselves.” Stoltenberg noted that some NATO members have already lifted restrictions on using their weapons to attack targets in Russian territory. Asked whether he was referring to the US as the one major holdout, he said, “I think what we see now demonstrates the need to reconsider those restrictions, not least because we have fighting going on along the border between Russia and Ukraine.”Save 40% on Ultimate Fish Oil today and improve your supplement routine & experience the world-renowned powerhouse formula! However, according to Moscow, the rhetoric about restrictions on the use of US munitions are false and designed to maintain the illusion that the West is not part of the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that US weapons, such as ATACMS missiles armed with cluster warheads, have already been used on attacks inside Russia, including strikes against civilian targets. “We proceed from the fact that American and other Western weaponry strikes targets on the territory of Russia, primarily civilian infrastructure and residential areas,” he told reporters on Friday. The NATO chief’s comments come at a time when Western leaders are making increasingly bold statements about attacks on Russian territory. US President Joe Biden held back on sending long-range weapons to Ukraine in the early days of the conflict with Russia, citing concern over the possibility of triggering a wider conflict. When more advanced weaponry was later approved, it came with strings attached, including a prohibition on hitting Russian territory. However, as the New York Times reported on Thursday, views on those restrictions have shifted as Russian forces make battlefield gains. After making a “sobering” visit to Ukraine earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly began urging the administration to let Kiev’s forces use American weapons as it sees fit. A group of US lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin earlier this week, pressing him to give the Ukrainians the permissions they have requested. Stoltenberg said he believes NATO members can thread the geopolitical needle by supporting Ukraine’s defense without becoming direct parties to the conflict. “We provide training, we provide weapons, ammunition to Ukraine, but we will not be directly involved from NATO territory in combat operations over or in Ukraine,” he said. “So, that’s a different thing.”

by George McClellan, America Outloud: This cognitive declining sack of incoherent bones masquerading as a US President, Joe Biden, after three years of fundamentally changing America in the manner Barack Obama started, has proven beyond any doubt that the Democrat party, effectively the new Communist Party USA, is committed to continuing its socialist agenda interrupted […]

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  The Empire’s call for help fell on attentive ears. Pope Urban II saw this as an opportunity to increase the papacy’s prestige, strengthen the Church in Italy, and regain control of the Holy Land. The Holy Land fell during Islam’s first great expansion and remained so. Adding fire to this was the Muslims threatening local Christians and stopping pilgrimages to Jerusalem. So now the call fired up Western religious fervor as nobles, knights, peasants, and all in between wanted to do their part. To entice more to enroll, Pope Urban granted a full absolution of sins of any who took the oath to become Crusaders, even murder. The First Crusade would change the Holy Land for two centuries.   The Leaders  Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont, from Livre des Passages d’Outre-mer, 1474. Source: Gallica National Library   The First Crusade’s leaders, primarily French nobles, became leaders dependent on their abilities, wealth, and army size. Names like Raymond IV of Toulouse, Godfrey of Bouillion, and Bohemond of Taranto signed on. These nobles also saw the chance to carve out kingdoms in the Holy Land to rule beholden only to themselves. The Pope added Bishop Adhemar of Le Puy to represent the Papacy. Adhemar prayed and fought, fighting in two later important battles. The fighting bishop would pass away just short of Jerusalem. The leaders did function well despite numerous rivalries and disagreements.   Onto Constantinople and Beyond: 1096 Constantinople, as it would have looked around the 10th century, rendering by Antoine Helbert. Source: Vivid Maps   The Crusaders arrived in Constantinople between December 1096 and April 1097, and most traveled on foot; estimates for this first Crusade number about 100,000. The Crusaders crossed into Asia in May, defeating the local Seljuk Turk sultan and capturing the important city of Nicaea. The army moved south and pillaged supplies if needed. One cunning Crusader, Baldwin of Boulogne, went east into Cilicia and Armenia. Through diplomacy, force, and bribery, he became Count of Edessa, securing the Crusader’s supply route. The Turks wouldn’t retake the city until 1144.   Midway at Antioch: 1097 Siege of Antioch, by Jean Colombe, from Les Passages d’Outremer by Sébastien Mamerot, 1474. Source: Bibliotheque Nationale de France   The Crusaders besieged Antioch on October 21, 1097. The Turks and Crusaders realized the city’s critical position halfway between Constantinople and Jerusalem. The Turkish leader, Yaghi-Siyan, requested reinforcements to attack the Crusaders and raise the siege. The siege lasted until June 1098, only the city’s citadel holding out. But the requested Seljuk soldiers arrived to encircle the former attackers! The Crusaders came out of Antioch and defeated the reinforcements, so badly the citadel surrendered.   Crusaders Reach Jerusalem (First Crusade), designed by Domenico Paradisi, 1689-93 (woven 1732-39), Source: The MET, New York In what became a morale boost during the battles, a camp follower, Peter Bartholomew, claimed to have discovered the Holy Lance, used by Roman legionnaires to impale Jesus as he hung from the cross. The Crusader leaders kept silent with their doubts. Like wildfire, the discovery ignited the Crusaders’ religious passion as they sortied to defeat the Turkish army a second time. Antioch fell to Bohemond of Taranto to rule their newly acquired territory, one of the Crusade leaders. At Antioch, the Pope’s representative, Adhemar, died from typhus. While a blow, the Crusaders kept going.   Onwards to Jerusalem: 1099 Taking of Jerusalem by the Crusaders, 15th July 1099 by Émile Signol, 1847. Source: History Extra Inspired again and with strong bases behind them, the Crusaders continued south along the Holy Land’s coast, fighting several battles. Fatimid representatives from Egypt appeared as they marched, asking the Crusaders to stop. The Fatimids had taken Jerusalem from the Seljuk Turks and promised Christian access to the city. The Crusaders refused, which caused the Fatimids to expel many Christians. Despite an arduous march, the Christian army arrived at Jerusalem on June 7, 1099-the siege was on.    The Great Siege of 1099 The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem, by David Roberts, 1627. Source: Creazilla   The Crusaders wasted no time, starting to build three siege towers. Jerusalem would be no pushover with miles of walls, nine feet thick and nearly fifty feet high. The besiegers also needed to deal with ravines, moats, and two huge towers – the Tower of David and the Quadrangular Tower. The siege didn’t take shape until July 14, when the towers were ready. On July 15, the Crusaders assaulted the defenses, gaining a foothold on the northern walls. On the southwest walls, the Crusaders got over the walls and beyond. All defenses quickly collapsed.   Finale and Aftermath Kingdom of Jerusalem Coat of Arms Source: Wikimedia   The Crusaders poured in, showing little mercy. They massacred thousands of Muslims and Jews, looted much of the city, and converted any holy sites to Christian ones. They defeated an Egyptian army two weeks later. The Crusaders established the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which lasted for two centuries. The First Crusade exposed medieval Europe to a more sophisticated world influencing commerce, politics, and culture. The subsequent Crusades also exposed Europe to a wider world through contact and returning soldiers.

In honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Continue reading…

This is how you honor those who gave all. Continue reading…