Shulamit Lahat
@shulamitlahat.bsky.social
Freelance Writer/ Journalist; Political Analyst; International Conflict Resolution; Peace Activist
Einstein: "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world
Einstein: "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world
Pinned
Shulamit Lahat
@shulamitlahat.bsky.social
· Aug 22
It's overly optimistic to expect Democracy to survive another year - considering the onslaught on all of its guardrails and the havoc already wreaked in 7 months; planning to sabotage the election itself. This is not just ONE iceberg we're facing - it's calving new icebergs all around us - daily
"Zelensky Rejects Ceding Land as U.S. Seeks ‘Compromise’ on Russian Demand. After meeting with European leaders who vowed continued support in the war, Zelensky said Ukraine’s position on territory had not changed"
European leaders know that they must defeat Putin.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/w...
European leaders know that they must defeat Putin.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/w...
Zelensky Rejects Ceding Land as U.S. Seeks ‘Compromise’ on Russian Demand
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:02 AM
"Zelensky Rejects Ceding Land as U.S. Seeks ‘Compromise’ on Russian Demand. After meeting with European leaders who vowed continued support in the war, Zelensky said Ukraine’s position on territory had not changed"
European leaders know that they must defeat Putin.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/w...
European leaders know that they must defeat Putin.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/w...
"Ukraine is fighting for its survival, yet many Ukrainians want to have a govt. that’s accountable to the public. Meanwhile, American and Russian kleptocrats are looking for ways to make deals that benefit themselves"
Trump is now unabashedly displaying his agenda
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
Trump is now unabashedly displaying his agenda
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
Trumpian Corruption Is Worse Than Ukrainian Corruption
The people of Ukraine want an honest government, even as American and Russian kleptocrats circle their country.
www.theatlantic.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:49 PM
"Ukraine is fighting for its survival, yet many Ukrainians want to have a govt. that’s accountable to the public. Meanwhile, American and Russian kleptocrats are looking for ways to make deals that benefit themselves"
Trump is now unabashedly displaying his agenda
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
Trump is now unabashedly displaying his agenda
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
"Federal Judge Paul Engelmayer Grants DOJ's Request to Unseal Grand Jury Records in Maxwell Case.
The ruling cited a law signed last month by Trump requiring the Justice Dept. to release its files on Epstein and his longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/n...
The ruling cited a law signed last month by Trump requiring the Justice Dept. to release its files on Epstein and his longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/n...
Judge Grants Request to Unseal Grand Jury Records in Maxwell Case
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:19 PM
"Federal Judge Paul Engelmayer Grants DOJ's Request to Unseal Grand Jury Records in Maxwell Case.
The ruling cited a law signed last month by Trump requiring the Justice Dept. to release its files on Epstein and his longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/n...
The ruling cited a law signed last month by Trump requiring the Justice Dept. to release its files on Epstein and his longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/n...
Alina Habba, a Trump Loyalist, Resigns as New Jersey’s Top Prosecutor. Ms. Habba resigned Monday, after a federal appeals court last week found she had been serving as U.S. attorney unlawfully."
Another legal slap-down for Trump - and they keep coming...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/n...
Another legal slap-down for Trump - and they keep coming...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/n...
Alina Habba, a Trump Loyalist, Resigns as New Jersey’s Top Prosecutor
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Alina Habba, a Trump Loyalist, Resigns as New Jersey’s Top Prosecutor. Ms. Habba resigned Monday, after a federal appeals court last week found she had been serving as U.S. attorney unlawfully."
Another legal slap-down for Trump - and they keep coming...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/n...
Another legal slap-down for Trump - and they keep coming...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/n...
The UK, Scotland, Wales and Ireland effected by ferocious storm
"Storm Bram batters the UK, with flights cancelled and roads closed. Dozens of flights were also cancelled at Dublin airport and Scotland's rail service placed speed restrictions on several train lines"
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
"Storm Bram batters the UK, with flights cancelled and roads closed. Dozens of flights were also cancelled at Dublin airport and Scotland's rail service placed speed restrictions on several train lines"
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
December 9, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The UK, Scotland, Wales and Ireland effected by ferocious storm
"Storm Bram batters the UK, with flights cancelled and roads closed. Dozens of flights were also cancelled at Dublin airport and Scotland's rail service placed speed restrictions on several train lines"
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
"Storm Bram batters the UK, with flights cancelled and roads closed. Dozens of flights were also cancelled at Dublin airport and Scotland's rail service placed speed restrictions on several train lines"
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
"German Chancellor Merz hits back at ‘unacceptable’ US security strategy and rejects the notion that Europe’s democracies are under threat from their own political elites 'We don’t need Trump to save our democracy' ".
You tell him, Merz - and Putin, by extension!
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
You tell him, Merz - and Putin, by extension!
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
We don’t need Trump to save our democracy, says German chancellor
Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, rejected the notion that Europe’s democracies were under threat from their own political elites
www.thetimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:11 PM
"German Chancellor Merz hits back at ‘unacceptable’ US security strategy and rejects the notion that Europe’s democracies are under threat from their own political elites 'We don’t need Trump to save our democracy' ".
You tell him, Merz - and Putin, by extension!
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
You tell him, Merz - and Putin, by extension!
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
"PM Starmer believes the release of £100 billion in frozen Russian funds is imminent as negotiations reach a ‘critical stage’. He said that a deal to release the frozen assets could be just days away, as negotiations to end the war had reached a “critical stage”
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
December 9, 2025 at 8:01 PM
"PM Starmer believes the release of £100 billion in frozen Russian funds is imminent as negotiations reach a ‘critical stage’. He said that a deal to release the frozen assets could be just days away, as negotiations to end the war had reached a “critical stage”
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
What a lovely exchange of smiles! And worlds apart from the derogatory, vituperative demeanor Trump has displayed towards Zelensky!
It's not surprising Trump hasn't met Pope Leo yet...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
It's not surprising Trump hasn't met Pope Leo yet...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Ukraine prepares to present new peace plan for Trump after London talks
Sir Keir Starmer believes the release of £100 billion in frozen Russian funds is imminent as negotiations reach a ‘critical stage’
www.thetimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:35 PM
What a lovely exchange of smiles! And worlds apart from the derogatory, vituperative demeanor Trump has displayed towards Zelensky!
It's not surprising Trump hasn't met Pope Leo yet...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
It's not surprising Trump hasn't met Pope Leo yet...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
"NATO chief Mark Rutte urges allies to send message to Putin by buying more US arms for Ukraine. One way to make Russia pay for acts of sabotage in Europe is to intensify military support for Ukraine, Rutte said Wed., following a meeting of top alliance diplomats"
www.stripes.com/theaters/eur...
www.stripes.com/theaters/eur...
NATO chief urges allies to send message to Putin by buying more US arms for Ukraine
NATO’s secretary general referenced the recent explosion on a Polish train route used by allies for delivering weapons to Ukraine.
www.stripes.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:22 AM
"NATO chief Mark Rutte urges allies to send message to Putin by buying more US arms for Ukraine. One way to make Russia pay for acts of sabotage in Europe is to intensify military support for Ukraine, Rutte said Wed., following a meeting of top alliance diplomats"
www.stripes.com/theaters/eur...
www.stripes.com/theaters/eur...
"Frozen Russian assets key to fund Ukraine: Dutch FM Van Weel. The European Commission has proposed using Moscow's frozen assets as collateral for loans to support Ukraine. Under the plan, Kyiv would repay the advance with potential post-war reparations from Russia"
p.dw.com/p/54i3W
cont'd below 👇
p.dw.com/p/54i3W
cont'd below 👇
Frozen Russian assets key to fund Ukraine: Dutch FM Van Weel – DW – 12/03/2025
DW asked David van Weel, the Dutch foreign minister and former NATO assistant secretary general, about the European Commission's plan to use frozen Russian assets as collateral for loans to support Uk...
p.dw.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:04 AM
"Frozen Russian assets key to fund Ukraine: Dutch FM Van Weel. The European Commission has proposed using Moscow's frozen assets as collateral for loans to support Ukraine. Under the plan, Kyiv would repay the advance with potential post-war reparations from Russia"
p.dw.com/p/54i3W
cont'd below 👇
p.dw.com/p/54i3W
cont'd below 👇
"Aharon Barak's Changing Views on Presidential Pardons. The former Pres. of Israel's Supreme Court once warned: a pardon before conviction is an unwarranted intrusion. Now he supports granting Netanyahu a pardon to 'bring about calm'."
Shame on you, Aharon Barak!
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Shame on you, Aharon Barak!
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Forgive and forget: Aharon Barak's changing views on presidential pardons
The Former President of Israel's Supreme Court Once Warned: A Pardon Before Conviction Is an 'Unwarranted Intrusion.' Recently Said He Supports Granting Netanyahu a Pardon 'To Bring About Calm'
www.haaretz.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:23 PM
"Aharon Barak's Changing Views on Presidential Pardons. The former Pres. of Israel's Supreme Court once warned: a pardon before conviction is an unwarranted intrusion. Now he supports granting Netanyahu a pardon to 'bring about calm'."
Shame on you, Aharon Barak!
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Shame on you, Aharon Barak!
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
"Ukrainian president Zelensky was given a standing ovation while addressing a joint meeting of both chambers of the Irish Parliament, in which he thanked Ireland for the assistance it has given his country and people since it was invaded by Russia almost 4 years ago."
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
'Real chance' for peace in Ukraine, Zelensky tells Dáil
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was given a standing ovation while addressing a joint meeting of the Dáil and Seanad, in which he thanked Ireland for the assistance it has given his country and...
www.rte.ie
December 3, 2025 at 4:43 AM
"Ukrainian president Zelensky was given a standing ovation while addressing a joint meeting of both chambers of the Irish Parliament, in which he thanked Ireland for the assistance it has given his country and people since it was invaded by Russia almost 4 years ago."
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
"Missing Yossi Sarid's Integrity: Are There Any Politicians Like Him Today?"
Missing Shulamit Aloni, too!
A new generation must take up the baton and dedicate their energy and talents to steer Israel away from the abyss and onto a path of peace and equality for All.
www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...
Missing Shulamit Aloni, too!
A new generation must take up the baton and dedicate their energy and talents to steer Israel away from the abyss and onto a path of peace and equality for All.
www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...
Missing Yossi Sarid's integrity: Are there any politicians like him today? | Opinion
***
www.haaretz.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:08 PM
"Missing Yossi Sarid's Integrity: Are There Any Politicians Like Him Today?"
Missing Shulamit Aloni, too!
A new generation must take up the baton and dedicate their energy and talents to steer Israel away from the abyss and onto a path of peace and equality for All.
www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...
Missing Shulamit Aloni, too!
A new generation must take up the baton and dedicate their energy and talents to steer Israel away from the abyss and onto a path of peace and equality for All.
www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...
"Pope Leo urges against US incursion of Venezuela as he warns Western countries to be ‘less fearful’ of immigrants."
Trump did not attend Pope Leo's inaugural mass. When the Pope was still Cardinal Prevost he had frequently criticized Trump's policies on social media.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/a...
Trump did not attend Pope Leo's inaugural mass. When the Pope was still Cardinal Prevost he had frequently criticized Trump's policies on social media.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/a...
Pope Leo urges against US incursion of Venezuela as he warns Western countries to be ‘less fearful’ of immigrants | CNN
Pope Leo has said he believes the United States needs to find “another way” in handling the situation in Venezuela, warning against any military incursion and saying it would be better to pursue dialo...
www.cnn.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:56 PM
"Pope Leo urges against US incursion of Venezuela as he warns Western countries to be ‘less fearful’ of immigrants."
Trump did not attend Pope Leo's inaugural mass. When the Pope was still Cardinal Prevost he had frequently criticized Trump's policies on social media.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/a...
Trump did not attend Pope Leo's inaugural mass. When the Pope was still Cardinal Prevost he had frequently criticized Trump's policies on social media.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/a...
"Trump is running out of personal lawyers to elevate to the DOJ. An appeals court’s dismissal of Alina Habba’s appointment highlights the DOJ’s depleted bench of MAGA lawyers"
www.ms.now/opinion/trum...
Cont'd below 👇
www.ms.now/opinion/trum...
Cont'd below 👇
Opinion | Trump is running out of personal lawyers to elevate to the DOJ
Trump lawyers Alina Habba and Lindsey Halligan were disqualified from their US attorney positions, a blow to the MAGA takeover of the DOJ.
www.ms.now
December 2, 2025 at 4:02 PM
"Trump is running out of personal lawyers to elevate to the DOJ. An appeals court’s dismissal of Alina Habba’s appointment highlights the DOJ’s depleted bench of MAGA lawyers"
www.ms.now/opinion/trum...
Cont'd below 👇
www.ms.now/opinion/trum...
Cont'd below 👇
And those ratings will continue to drop!
December 2, 2025 at 7:14 AM
And those ratings will continue to drop!
"Zelensky to address Oireachtas [Parliament] as part of his 1st official visit to Ireland. Zelensky and wife were greeted on the runway by Taoiseach [PM], Micheál Martin: 'Our support for the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and democracy remains unwavering"
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
Zelensky to address Oireachtas as part of official visit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the first lady Olena Zelenska have arrived in Ireland for their first official visit.
www.rte.ie
December 2, 2025 at 5:46 AM
"Zelensky to address Oireachtas [Parliament] as part of his 1st official visit to Ireland. Zelensky and wife were greeted on the runway by Taoiseach [PM], Micheál Martin: 'Our support for the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and democracy remains unwavering"
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
"Zelensky Turns to Europe After Talks With U.S., as Trump’s special envoy Witkoff travels to Russia"
Trump's allegiance to Putin is glaringly obvious, while Europe's support for Ukraine remains unwavering, since Putin represents an existential threat to them as well
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/w...
Trump's allegiance to Putin is glaringly obvious, while Europe's support for Ukraine remains unwavering, since Putin represents an existential threat to them as well
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/w...
Zelensky Turns to Europe After Talks With U.S. Officials
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:16 AM
"Zelensky Turns to Europe After Talks With U.S., as Trump’s special envoy Witkoff travels to Russia"
Trump's allegiance to Putin is glaringly obvious, while Europe's support for Ukraine remains unwavering, since Putin represents an existential threat to them as well
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/w...
Trump's allegiance to Putin is glaringly obvious, while Europe's support for Ukraine remains unwavering, since Putin represents an existential threat to them as well
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/w...
UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) Article 92 and Article 90 both establish strict obligations for military personnel to comply with LAWFUL orders and there are recognized exceptions or defenses that can apply in specific circumstances. MILITARY PERSONNEL ARE ONLY OBLIGED TO OBEY LAWFUL ORDERS
Department of Defense Law of War Manual, Sec. 18.3.2.1 states the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders.
What’s its key example? Wait for it . . . It’s "orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
What’s its key example? Wait for it . . . It’s "orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
December 1, 2025 at 9:57 PM
UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) Article 92 and Article 90 both establish strict obligations for military personnel to comply with LAWFUL orders and there are recognized exceptions or defenses that can apply in specific circumstances. MILITARY PERSONNEL ARE ONLY OBLIGED TO OBEY LAWFUL ORDERS
"4 in 5 US troops surveyed understand duty to disobey illegal orders, as outlined by the UCMJ.
By deploying Natl. Guard troops Trump edged U.S. troops closer to the kind of military-civilian confrontations that can cross ethical and legal lines"
cont'd below 👇
www.militarytimes.com/opinion/comm...
By deploying Natl. Guard troops Trump edged U.S. troops closer to the kind of military-civilian confrontations that can cross ethical and legal lines"
cont'd below 👇
www.militarytimes.com/opinion/comm...
4 in 5 US troops surveyed understand duty to disobey illegal orders
As National Guard troops head to DC, a new survey reveals service members’ understanding of the distinction between legal and illegal orders.
www.militarytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:13 PM
"4 in 5 US troops surveyed understand duty to disobey illegal orders, as outlined by the UCMJ.
By deploying Natl. Guard troops Trump edged U.S. troops closer to the kind of military-civilian confrontations that can cross ethical and legal lines"
cont'd below 👇
www.militarytimes.com/opinion/comm...
By deploying Natl. Guard troops Trump edged U.S. troops closer to the kind of military-civilian confrontations that can cross ethical and legal lines"
cont'd below 👇
www.militarytimes.com/opinion/comm...
There are more critical questions to be answered by Trump and the CIA re: the DC shooter:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/u...
"Suspected Shooter Was in a ‘Zero Unit’ in Afghanistan.
The units were backed by the C.I.A. and trained to conduct missions in Afghanistan during the U.S. war in the country"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/u...
"Suspected Shooter Was in a ‘Zero Unit’ in Afghanistan.
The units were backed by the C.I.A. and trained to conduct missions in Afghanistan during the U.S. war in the country"
November 28, 2025 at 6:53 AM
There are more critical questions to be answered by Trump and the CIA re: the DC shooter:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/u...
"Suspected Shooter Was in a ‘Zero Unit’ in Afghanistan.
The units were backed by the C.I.A. and trained to conduct missions in Afghanistan during the U.S. war in the country"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/u...
"Suspected Shooter Was in a ‘Zero Unit’ in Afghanistan.
The units were backed by the C.I.A. and trained to conduct missions in Afghanistan during the U.S. war in the country"
Reposted by Shulamit Lahat
Trump refuses to directly admit his administration granted the DC shooter asylum and then wraps up the press availability
November 28, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Trump refuses to directly admit his administration granted the DC shooter asylum and then wraps up the press availability
"Why Does Steve Witkoff Keep Taking Russia’s Side?
Trump’s envoy isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin."
Simple answer: Witkoff is Trump's flunky and "emissary"; he's "just following orders"....
Where have we heard that before....
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump’s envoy isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin."
Simple answer: Witkoff is Trump's flunky and "emissary"; he's "just following orders"....
Where have we heard that before....
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Does Steve Witkoff Keep Taking Russia’s Side?
Trump’s envoy isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin.
www.theatlantic.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:41 AM
"Why Does Steve Witkoff Keep Taking Russia’s Side?
Trump’s envoy isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin."
Simple answer: Witkoff is Trump's flunky and "emissary"; he's "just following orders"....
Where have we heard that before....
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump’s envoy isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin."
Simple answer: Witkoff is Trump's flunky and "emissary"; he's "just following orders"....
Where have we heard that before....
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
"Lawrence O’Donnell on the photo that captures the ‘decline and fall’ of Trump. The MS NOW host said Trump's Oval Office photo-op with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani was a “pure, pathetic, losing political calculation”
O'Donnell defines the essence of the moment
www.ms.now/news/zohran-...
O'Donnell defines the essence of the moment
www.ms.now/news/zohran-...
Lawrence O’Donnell on the photo that captures the ‘decline and fall’ of Trump
Lawrence O'Donnell says Trump's Oval Office photo-op with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani showed the president's "decline and fall."
www.ms.now
November 27, 2025 at 3:33 AM
"Lawrence O’Donnell on the photo that captures the ‘decline and fall’ of Trump. The MS NOW host said Trump's Oval Office photo-op with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani was a “pure, pathetic, losing political calculation”
O'Donnell defines the essence of the moment
www.ms.now/news/zohran-...
O'Donnell defines the essence of the moment
www.ms.now/news/zohran-...
"The Hayli Gubbi Volcano in Ethiopia Erupts after Lying Dormant for 12,000 Years, Sending Scientists Scrambling as it sent ash 9 miles into the sky in an eruption on Sunday"
Nature is in constant flux and climate-change impacts and accelerates its mutations
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hayl...
Nature is in constant flux and climate-change impacts and accelerates its mutations
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hayl...
Volcano Erupts after Lying Dormant for 12,000 Years, Sending Scientists Scrambling
The Hayli Gubbi volcano, long thought to be dormant, sent ash nine miles into the sky in an eruption on Sunday
www.scientificamerican.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:11 AM
"The Hayli Gubbi Volcano in Ethiopia Erupts after Lying Dormant for 12,000 Years, Sending Scientists Scrambling as it sent ash 9 miles into the sky in an eruption on Sunday"
Nature is in constant flux and climate-change impacts and accelerates its mutations
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hayl...
Nature is in constant flux and climate-change impacts and accelerates its mutations
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hayl...