Sam Ooghe

nothing like a disastrous war to make an american president realize the value of multilateralism

Het interessante interview dat ik in maanden mocht afnemen: Oud-VRT-journalist Dirk Tieleman over Iran: ‘Mijn Iraanse vrienden zien Trump als de grote bevrijder. Ze vragen zich af waar Europa blijft’ humo.be/nieuws/oud-vrt…

Verbluffend interessant #mustread interview van @OogheSam @Humo met historisch getuige Dirk Tielemans @vrtnws Over Iran en groot palet onderwerpen, met een opmerkelijk compliment voor @arnauddedecker 👏 En dus nu tijd voor mijn koersfiets 🤩❗️

The is the federal government telling news stations to provide favorable coverage of the war or their licenses will be pulled. A truly extraordinary moment. We aren't on the verge of a totalitarian takeover. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. Act like it.

Fascism doesn’t sneak up on you. It boasts in your face about war, attacking "internal enemies" and the free press, taking total power, and tells you that you must embrace it, not fight it. Consolidating and purging media into loyal hands is Putin's playbook.

#Iran War Update No. 15 (focus on Iranian strategic narrative): 🔹Iran has reportedly fired around 400 ballistic missiles toward Israel since the start of the war, according to Israeli sources. 🔹Negotiations over passage through the Strait of Hormuz are beginning to reshape the maritime landscape. After Iran allowed several Indian ships to pass, India released three Iranian oil tankers that had previously been seized under sanctions, suggesting bilateral bargaining between Tehran and countries seeking safe transit. 🔹This raises the possibility that other states may pursue similar arrangements with Iran. If multiple countries negotiate direct passage deals, it could amount to a de facto recognition of Iranian leverage over the Strait of Hormuz – something Donald Trump administration strongly opposes. 🔹Iran continues expanding its economic targeting list. The IRGC warned that industries across the region with American involvement or ownership stakes could become legitimate targets. This is effectively arguing that multinational companies linked to the United States constitute part of American interests and may be targeted in retaliation. 🔹Iranian analysts claim that U.S. operations are facing growing logistical constraints. According to these assessments, damage to regional bases has forced the United States to conduct more long-range bombing missions from Europe and rely heavily on aerial refueling, increasing operational costs – especially after losing at least seven refueling aircraft in the past few days. 🔹Hardline voices in Iran are already proposing more permanent forms of leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. Suggestions include imposing transit tariffs on ships, denying passage to U.S. and allied vessels, seizing Israeli-linked ships, or keeping the strait closed until U.S. forces withdraw and compensation is paid. 🔹Iran continues to rely heavily on cluster-warhead missiles in its strikes against Israel. Iranian analysts argue that these warheads disperse multiple submunitions, making it much harder for Israeli air defenses to intercept every projectile. 🔹The war is increasingly targeting logistical infrastructure. Iranian sources claim that more than 14 U.S. bases across the Persian Gulf have been struck in recent days, with attacks aimed at degrading logistical support networks for operations against Iran. 🔹Within Israel, Iranian sources claim strikes on logistical facilities near Haifa, while at sea there are reports that the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln may have suffered an accident affecting its operations, though details remain unclear. 🔹Iran has also intensified pressure on Gulf infrastructure. A drone strike reportedly hit the port of Fujairah in the UAE, a key facility that allows oil exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting Tehran’s effort to prevent alternative shipping routes from weakening its leverage. 🔹Iran has warned Gulf states that energy infrastructure could become targets if Iranian oil facilities are struck. Iranian media published a list of major energy terminals across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain that could serve as retaliatory targets, especially if Iran’s oil infrastructure in Kharg island is targeted by the U.S. 🔹Iran-backed Iraqi militias continue to expand the battlefield. A missile strike hit the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad’s Green Zone, reportedly damaging part of its air-defense system. 🔹There are growing indications that the Houthis may soon enter the conflict. A Houthi official stated on Iranian state TV that the decision to support Iran militarily has already been made, raising the possibility that shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could also come under pressure. 🔹If that occurs, the conflict would affect both major maritime chokepoints linking Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Simultaneous pressure on Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb would force the United States and its partners to divide their naval resources across multiple theaters. 🔹The war is also reshaping regional strategic thinking. Discussions within the GCC increasingly focus on reducing dependence on the United States and exploring new regional security arrangements involving countries such as Turkey or Pakistan. 🔹Diplomatic mediation efforts continue, but there are no signs of an imminent ceasefire. Both Tehran and Washington appear unwilling to halt the war under current conditions. 🔹From Tehran’s perspective, the conflict is no longer simply about immediate retaliation but about forcing a new strategic equation. Iranian officials increasingly argue that sanctions relief, compensation, and new security guarantees would be required before any lasting settlement becomes possible. 🔹Overall, the trajectory of the conflict suggests that both sides are moving further up the escalation ladder. With pressure building simultaneously on regional infrastructure, maritime chokepoints, and U.S. positions across the Middle East, the war is increasingly shifting from a primarily bilateral confrontation into a broader regional strategic contest.

Trump posted an image claiming he is “reshaping the media.”

#Iran War Update No. 13 (focus on Iranian strategic narrative): 🔹Day 13 of the war indicated continued escalation across maritime, energy, and regional fronts, while Iranian officials signaled that the war may be entering a new phase characterized by more asymmetric tactics. 🔹Commercial shipping and energy infrastructure remained central targets. Multiple vessels were struck across the Persian Gulf and near Iraqi export terminals, with at least two oil tankers catching fire near Umm Qasr and one crew member reported killed. 🔹These attacks are part of a broader pattern. Reports indicate that at least 19 ships have been damaged since the start of the war, most of them in the Persian Gulf and nearby waters. 🔹Iran is also reportedly expanding its use of asymmetric naval tools. Reports indicate the deployment of explosive sea drones and the planting of naval mines using small boats, signaling an effort to sustain long-term pressure on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. 🔹The disruption to global energy markets continues to deepen. Despite the coordinated release of roughly 400 million barrels from strategic reserves, oil prices have again risen above $100 per barrel amid fears that Gulf exports could remain constrained. 🔹The International Energy Agency now describes the situation as the largest oil supply disruption in the history of the global market, warning that restoring production and logistics could take weeks or months even if the war ends quickly. 🔹Iranian sources claim that recent missile strikes targeted key logistical and energy sites in the Gulf, including facilities in Fujairah and Sharjah in the UAE as well as a U.S. air base in Kuwait, signaling continued pressure on regional energy infrastructure. 🔹The targeting of civilian locations claimed to be linked to U.S. personnel has also continued. Iranian officials justify attacks on hotels and other facilities in Gulf countries by claiming they were being used to house American military personnel. 🔹Inside Iran, authorities again mobilized supporters in the streets after attacks on Basij checkpoints. Large pro-government gatherings were reported in Tehran as officials emphasized the need to prevent unrest during the war. 🔹At the same time, U.S. intelligence assessments cited by Reuters indicate that the Iranian government remains stable and in control despite nearly two weeks of sustained strikes and the killing of senior officials. 🔹Israeli strikes continued across Iran throughout the day, with explosions and air raids reported in Tehran, Ahvaz, Karaj, Shiraz, Kashan, and areas near Isfahan and Dezful. 🔹Iranian officials confirmed that another IRGC Aerospace Force commander, Esmail Dehqan, was assassinated together with his family in Arak two days earlier. 🔹Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued his first public message since assuming power. The statement reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to disrupting the Strait of Hormuz and warned that additional fronts could open in areas where the enemy is less prepared. 🔹The message also emphasized continued support for the “resistance front” and suggested that Iran could continue targeting enemy assets unless compensation is paid. 🔹Iranian leaders also warned that if the country’s electricity infrastructure were targeted, the entire region could be plunged into darkness “within half an hour,” underscoring Tehran’s strategy of broad retaliatory deterrence. 🔹Regional tensions are also rising in Iraq. U.S. strikes on Iran-aligned militias have killed several fighters, including members associated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), prompting condemnation from Iraqi political leaders. 🔹Attacks on Western personnel in Iraq are also becoming more sensitive. A drone strike on a joint French–Peshmerga base in Erbil injured six French soldiers, raising concerns that casualties among NATO personnel could widen the war. 🔹Some Iranian security sources claim the attack was intended as a warning to France following its decision to deploy the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the CENTCOM operational area, signaling that European forces could also become targets if they are perceived as supporting the U.S. military campaign. 🔹The conflict is beginning to affect major global infrastructure projects as well. Work on a major subsea internet cable project in the Persian Gulf has reportedly been suspended because the security environment has become too dangerous. 🔹Meanwhile, reports indicate that the United States has consumed extremely large quantities of advanced munitions during the war, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, raising concerns about the sustainability of current operational tempos. 🔹Overall, Day 13 suggests the war is evolving into a prolonged and structurally complex confrontation, with maritime disruption, attacks on energy infrastructure, and the potential opening of additional regional fronts increasingly shaping the trajectory of the conflict.

Iran is NIET uit het WK gestapt, ondanks berichten in de kranten. De minister van Sport bevestigt het standpunt van de voetbalbond: deelname is 'momenteel' onmogelijk. Teheran gebruikt dit dreigement als zoveelste politiek pressiemiddel om Trump te dwingen de strijd te staken.

Vincent Kompany for fucking president demorgen.be/snelnieuws/vin…

Raar hoe een hoop usual suspects absoluut niets te zeggen hebben over de Joodse praktijk vh bloed zuigen van baby penissen. We weten allemaal hoe deze usual suspects zouden reageren als dit een Islamitische traditie was, haha.

Heeft @MichaelFreilich eigenlijk nog wel een plaats binnen de N-VA? Een buitenlandse mogendheid vragen om de eigen regering, rechtsstaat en wetgeving onder druk te zetten. Mocht een oppositielid dit doen, de staatsveiligheid staat aan zijn deur.

(NL/FR) Elke suggestie dat België antisemitisch zou zijn, is onjuist, beledigend en onaanvaardbaar. België veroordeelt antisemitisme met de grootste vastberadenheid. De strijd tegen antisemitisme, en tegen alle vormen van haat en discriminatie, is een absolute prioriteit voor ons land. Iedereen moet zijn of haar geloof kunnen belijden zonder angst voor geweld, discriminatie of vervolging. Dat is een hoeksteen van onze rechtsstaat. Daar valt niet over te onderhandelen. De Belgische wet staat rituele besnijdenis toe wanneer die wordt uitgevoerd door een gekwalificeerde arts onder strikte gezondheids- en veiligheidsnormen. De specifieke zaak waarnaar verwezen wordt, maakt het voorwerp uit van een gerechtelijk onderzoek. Ik onthoud mij van commentaar op lopende procedures. België als antisemitisch bestempelen is niet alleen fout, het is gevaarlijke desinformatie die de echte strijd tegen haat ondermijnt. Wat betreft de uitspraken van de Amerikaanse ambassadeur @BillWhiteUSA: die zijn onaanvaardbaar. Een ambassadeur die in België is geaccrediteerd, heeft de verantwoordelijkheid onze instellingen, onze verkozen vertegenwoordigers en de onafhankelijkheid van onze rechterlijke macht te respecteren. Persoonlijke aanvallen op een Belgische minister en inmenging in gerechtelijke aangelegenheden schenden de basisnormen van de diplomatie. De ambassadeur is onmiddellijk ontboden voor een onderhoud deze dinsdag. België staat open voor dialoog met alle partners. Maar inmenging in onze democratische instellingen en ongefundeerde beschuldigingen overschrijden een grens die niet overschreden kan worden. Respect voor soevereiniteit werkt in twee richtingen. ________ Toute suggestion selon laquelle la Belgique serait antisémite est fausse, offensante et inacceptable. La Belgique condamne l’antisémitisme avec la plus grande fermeté. La lutte contre l’antisémitisme, ainsi que contre toutes les formes de haine et de discrimination, constitue une priorité absolue pour notre pays. Chacun doit pouvoir pratiquer sa foi sans crainte de violence, de discrimination ou de persécution. C’est un pilier fondamental de notre État de droit. Ce n’est pas négociable. La législation belge autorise la circoncision rituelle lorsqu'elle est pratiquée par un médecin qualifié dans le respect de normes strictes de santé et de sécurité. Le cas spécifique évoqué fait l'objet d'une enquête judiciaire. Je m'abstiens de commenter une procédure en cours. Qualifier la Belgique d’antisémite n’est pas seulement erroné, c’est une désinformation dangereuse qui affaiblit le véritable combat contre la haine. Concernant les déclarations de l’Ambassadeur des États-Unis @BillWhiteUSA : elles sont inacceptables. Un ambassadeur accrédité en Belgique a la responsabilité de respecter nos institutions, nos représentants élus et l’indépendance de notre système judiciaire. Les attaques personnelles contre un ministre belge et toute ingérence dans des affaires judiciaires constituent une violation des normes diplomatiques fondamentales. L’Ambassadeur a été immédiatement convoqué pour une réunion ce mardi. La Belgique est ouverte au dialogue avec tous ses partenaires. Mais toute ingérence dans nos institutions démocratiques et toute accusation infondée franchissent une ligne qui ne peut être franchie. Le respect de la souveraineté fonctionne dans les deux sens. @BelgiumMFA

The lead candidate to win Hungary's upcoming election, Peter Magyar, says tomorrow a sex tape of him with his then-girlfriend is going to be released, hinting at a Russian-style active measure by Viktor Orban's embattled government. "Yes, I am a 45-year-old man, I have a sex life. With an adult partner," Magyar writes. "I have three minor children, whom this vile 'family-friendly' regime obviously does not give a damn about...Dear frightened Fidesz supporters: go ahead, release everything you have, fabricate whatever you like. I will not yield to blackmail or threats."

Over the past three weeks, the "nightmare scenario" for November's midterms has grown more plausible vox.com/politics/47826…

@kaspergoossens @marijntriovrt Topdocu inderdaad 👍

Beklijvende documentaire van @marijntriovrt over Oekraïense veteranen na het front. Kijktip, niet in het minst voor de top van de Belgische Defensie en politiek. Bestaande doctrines inzake medische evacuaties moeten ook tegen het licht gehouden worden. vrt.be/vrtmax/a-z/oek…

@torfsrik Iets geschreven met AI en het niet willen toegeven aan haar

Welk berichtje bedoelt u precies?

As I wrote, if you think a massive US gulag is being built just for illegal immigrants, along with a federal paramilitary force as large as the Marines, you're a fool. Billions in unaccountable cash from Venezuelan oil, shock troops, and detention camps. This is not a drill.

Exact dit! Erken dat wij deel van het probleem zijn en zorg er mee voor dat de bagger niet meer passeert. Op sociale media, in de voetbalkantine, op café: spreek je als man uit tegen vrouwenonvriendelijke praat. Want dáár liggen de kiemen van catcalling en geweld tegen vrouwen.

Welke man kan zeggen dat hij nog nooit een vrouw heeft 'lastig gevallen'? Haar oncomfortabel doen voelen door een stomme grap? Andere mannen niet berispt toen ze vrouwonvriendelijke praat verkochten? Dat berichtje te veel gestuurd? Waarom is het zo moeilijk om dat te erkennen?