Good morning. Here’s your Daily Situational Awareness for Wednesday, 20 April 2022. You can receive this daily briefing by signing up at https://forwardobserver.com/daily-sa
TODAY’S BRIEFING:
- Russian media blames NATO in Moskva sinking
- Podesta registers as a foreign agent
- China responds to U.S. Congressional visit to Taipei
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- Early Warning Intelligence Summary
- Far Left Activity Rollup & Outlook
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
RUSSIAN MEDIA BLAMES NATO IN MOSKVA SINKING: International Russian media personalities are blaming NATO for the sinking of their Moskva missile cruiser. Speaking functionally on behalf of the Kremlin, RT’s editor in chief said, “from an entirely technical, military point of view we are fighting with NATO!” (AC: Ukraine likely received targeting information or other intelligence from the West to hit the Russian vessel. Notably, the Moskva lacked modernized defensive systems, likely leading to its destruction. Moscow is attempting to shape public perception of NATO’s direct involvement in the war to justify increasing atrocities in Ukraine. Worth pointing out, Moscow originally blamed an onboard fire and not Ukraine for sinking the vessel. – D.M.)
PODESTA REGISTERS AS A FOREIGN AGENT: Longtime Democrat operative Tony Podesta registered as a foreign agent, working on behalf of Libya, through a Dubai-based contractor. Podesta’s previous K Street lobbying enterprise closed during the Mueller Special Counsel, but his rebranding to Podesta.com included $1 million contracts with Huawei to influence the White House. (AC: Several of Podesta’s recent lobbying efforts above $500,000 showed $5,000 or less in billable work, indicating his organization continues to funnel money from foreign interests to U.S. politicians and unelected officials. His long-time association with the Clinton family may indicate a power struggle for influence on the Far Left as election season draws near. – D.M.)
CHINA RESPONDS TO U.S. CONGRESSIONAL VISIT TO TAIPEI: China responded to six U.S. lawmakers’ visit to Taipei by holding military exercises in the Taiwan Straits. According to Chinese state-backed media, the exercises were designed to reinforce its threat to use force to bring Taiwan under its control. The lawmakers, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday morning and afterward with the island’s defense minister. (AC: China views official U.S. delegations meeting with Taiwan officials as meddling in its internal affairs. The snap exercises were meant to send a message to both Taiwan and the U.S. that China would, in the words of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, “continue to take strong measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” – M.M.)
This week’s High Side briefings:
Wednesday: Domestic Extremism Study
Thursday: Economic Early Warning
Friday: Early Warning Roundtable
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