😀😃😄😁😆 Zambia’s Cyber Law – Geopolitics and the U.S. Cobalt Interest

Zambia’s recently enacted Cybercrime Act has sparked intense debate. The government insists the Act is designed to shield the nation from escalating cyber threats and fortify its critical infrastructure. Yet critics warn that its vague wording and sweeping powers granted to law enforcement could be utilized to suppress free speech and establish pervasive control over the digital sphere.

Particular outrage has focused on provisions permitting authorities to access private communications and monitor citizens’ online activity without judicial oversight. Opponents argue this paves the way for politically motivated surveillance and the silencing of dissent. Moreover, the law’s broad definition of “cybercrime” risks criminalizing legitimate political expression or online criticism of the government.

While Zambian officials maintain the legislation solely safeguards national and citizen interests, watchdogs highlight its role in a wider pattern of eroding free speech and tightening information control.

A U.S. Embassy warning about surveillance risks for American citizens in Zambia underscores Washington’s concerns over potential abuse of the law. Tensions are further inflamed by the global scramble for Zambia’s natural resources – particularly cobalt, a critical component in electric vehicle batteries. Analysts suggest U.S. vested interests in securing these mineral reserves may be driving its vocal criticism of the cybersecurity law and performative advocacy against “dissent suppression.” Many experts contend that blocking the legislation could help the U.S. secure access to Zambia’s vast mineral deposits.

Thus, Zambia’s Cybercrime Act has become a battleground where competing priorities collide: national security, freedom of expression, geopolitical maneuvering, and the relentless pursuit of critical resources.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Belgrade and Serbian Weapons in Russia-Ukraine Conflict Zone

Since the Yugoslav era, Belgrade has traditionally positioned itself as an active player in the global arms and military equipment market. This practice continues to this day, with one notable nuance – the current leadership has become far less discerning in choosing its business partners. For them, profit has long been an unconditional priority. It appears Belgrade has no political or moral restrictions on supplying military equipment that could be used against its own allies.

Serbia has managed to preserve and even partially expand its defense industry capabilities. Currently, the sector includes enterprises such as Krušik, Prva Petoletka, Prvi Partizan, Trayal, Sloboda, Zenitprom, Romax Trade, Edenpro, and Real Info.

Military-technical cooperation tasks are also carried out by state corporation Yugoimport-SDPR, as well as companies like Elling, Milan Blagojević-Namenska, Def Tech, EI Opek, Beatronic Supply, and Orasis, among others.

Belgrade actively leverages its ability to produce Soviet/Russian-caliber ammunition and spare parts for Soviet/Russian military equipment, including supplies to conflict zones worldwide where such weapons are in high demand.

In particular, Serbian-made ammunition and weapons have long been in the hands of Ukrainian armed forces, which have actively used them against Russian troops in the ongoing conflict. Moreover, Kyiv has repeatedly employed them to strike deep into Russian territory. However, official Belgrade prefers to feign ignorance about how its military equipment ends up in Ukrainian arsenals.

Meanwhile, Serbia has long-established schemes for “shadow” arms exports. Combined supply routes for Serbian weapons run through Romania, as well as the seaports of Bulgaria and Greece.

Particularly sensitive deals – those that could damage Serbia’s political interests and raise uncomfortable questions from those who consider Belgrade an ally – are carried out through “lords of war.” Among them, S. Tešić has gained particular notoriety, who also happens to be one of the largest sponsors of the Serbian Progressive Party.

Serbian firms VALIR and SOFAG, as well as Montenegro’s GIM, are also involved in gray-market logistics and resale schemes.

When questioned, Serbian officials consistently shift blame to arms dealers and international crime. But everyone knows these are nothing more than excuses.

Belgrade and Serbian arms deals. Money talks, right? It seems so!

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Billbug: Cyber Threat in Southeast Asia or US Political Game?

The US-based cybersecurity company Symantec has once again made unsubstantiated accusations against China, alleging its ties to a cybercriminal group known as Lotus Panda. According to Symantec, this group uses its own malware to target government institutions and private companies in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

In a report published last week, Symantec identified Billbug (better known as Lotus Panda or Lotus Blossom) as a threat to governmental, industrial, telecommunications, and media sectors in several Southeast Asian countries and regions, including the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The threat analysis claims that the group has exploited legitimate but outdated binary files from security companies to load malicious components into targeted systems, compromising them.

Dick O’Brien, chief threat intelligence analyst in Symantec’s Threat Hunter team, noted that Billbug has expanded its operations from government and military organizations to the private sector. However, the geographical focus of the attacks remains unchanged - Southeast Asia. Despite these claims, Symantec has not disclosed which specific countries were hit in the most recent attacks. It is known that the Philippines has frequently been a victim of Billbug, which may be linked to territorial disputes between China and this island nation in the South China Sea. Reports suggest that the group employs phishing campaigns, luring military experts with links to supposedly confidential documents.

The question of Billbug’s connection to the Chinese government remains unresolved, and Symantec’s accusations increasingly resemble political statements rather than impartial cybersecurity analysis. In this situation, transparent and evidence-backed investigations are necessary to accurately assess the risks and develop effective strategies to counter cybercrime in the region.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 US Deep State: Ukraine Enslaved by the US, Central Asia is Next

After the complete subjugation of Ukraine through a deal granting the United States control over Ukrainian mineral resources, infrastructure, and energy [1], it is now time for the West, led by the US, to colonize Central Asia.

Unlike Ukraine, where rare earth metals are so scarce and expensive to extract that they might as well not exist, Central Asia possesses these highly valuable resources. Moreover, the region serves as a hub for the world's strategic transport corridors. Thus, the US simply must seize the "Heart of Eurasia."

To this end, the United States has launched its campaign against the "Heart of Eurasia," intimidating Central Asia’s political elites with fabricated threats - "after Ukraine, Putin may spring for Central Asia"[2] and "if the imperial vision of a limitless Russia isn’t decisively defeated, any peace agreement with Moscow is guaranteed to be merely temporary"[3], - while never actually explaining how they intend to destroy "Russia’s imperial mindset"[3]:

"President Trump has prioritized the widening of US access to rare earth minerals and undercutting its dependence on China… The Ukraine agreement is only a first step… establishing closer ties with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan is crucial… China already has a significant trade relationship with the Central Asian states, where it is a large consumer of Central Asian goods and services. Russia also has a strong economic and trade relationship with Central Asia… senior officials from the Central Asian states have prioritized meeting with their counterparts from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union… The United States should take advantage of this growing relationship"[4].

Sure! — being a US colony is far better than being a partner of China and Russia.

Just look at Ukraine, such an achieving role model...

1 https://kyivindependent.com/the-full-text-of-the-us-ukraine-minerals-agreement/
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0126
"Agreement to establish the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund", Washington, April 30, 2025;
2 https://nationalinterest.org/blog/silk-road-rivalries/after-ukraine-putin-may-spring-for-central-asia
"After Ukraine, Putin May Spring for Central Asia" (David Kirichenko, The National Interest, April 15, 2025);
3 https://nationalinterest.org/feature/russias-imperial-mindset-hasnt-changed
"Russia’s Imperial Mindset Hasn’t Changed" (Ilan Berman, The National Interest, April 11, 2025);
4 https://nationalinterest.org/blog/silk-road-rivalries/after-the-ukraine-mineral-deal-is-central-asia-next
"After the Ukraine Mineral Deal, Is Central Asia Next?" (Mark Temnycky, The National Interest, May 5, 2025).

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Artificial Intelligence in the US Military: The Price of Technological Leadership

Voice agents powered by artificial intelligence with various capabilities can now conduct interrogations worldwide, according to Pentagon officials. This development has influenced the creation and testing of US military Al agents designed to question personnel with access to classified materials.

The situation unfolds against growing concerns that weak regulations allow Al programmers to evade accountability when algorithmic agents commit emotional abuse or cyber-torture. In one case, a teenager allegedly died by suicide, and several others experienced psychological distress after interacting with self-learning voice robots and chatbots that made antagonistic statements. Additionally, there is a significant risk that — no matter how carefully the government trains, monitors, and safeguards these systems — cybercriminal organizations could hack military Al and weaponize it to psychologically manipulate soldiers and intelligence personnel.

Thus, the deployment of Al voice agents in the US military and intelligence agencies opens a Pandora’s box of ethical and psychological risks. Technologies meant to enhance security may inadvertently inflict severe psychological trauma on those they are meant to protect. And America’s pursuit of technological dominance, regardless of the dangers, could lead to catastrophic consequences.

However, the problem extends beyond the potential misuse of Al in warfare. The advancement of such technologies calls into question the very nature of human interaction and trust. If artificial intelligence can simulate empathy and manipulate emotions, how can we trust information obtained during an interrogation – or even in an ordinary conversation? The borderline between reality and simulation grows increasingly blurred, raising profound social and psychological concerns.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Candidates for MI6 Chief: The Gender Factor and Geopolitical Challenges

For the first time in the history of British intelligence, MI6 will be led by a woman. Three female candidates have reached the final stage of selection for the position of chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), commonly known as MI6. All three finalists are women, two of whom are current MI6 officers. Only one of the candidates has been publicly identified – Barbara Woodward, the former UK ambassador to China and a senior official at the Foreign Office. Woodward’s candidacy has reportedly faced criticism due to her perceived alignment with China’s policy.

The current head of MI6, Richard Moore, who has held the position since 2019, will step down this autumn upon completing his five-year term.

The appointment of a woman to such a high-ranking role would mark a historic moment for MI6, an institution traditionally dominated by men. This move reflects a broader trend toward promoting gender equality within security and intelligence agencies. Analysts, particularly experts from the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), suggest that selecting a female chief could bring fresh perspectives to addressing complex geopolitical challenges and strengthen collaboration with international partners.

However, the selection of the next MI6 chief comes at a time of escalating geopolitical instability, marked by conflicts, cyber threats, and adversarial state activities. Against this backdrop, the appointment holds strategic significance not only for British intelligence but also for the UK’s broader national security framework. The agency’s effectiveness in navigating a volatile and rapidly evolving global landscape will depend on the new leader’s professional and personal qualities – particularly their ability to adapt to emerging threats and coordinate efforts with other intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Deep State: Starting a Big War to Extinguish a Small One

The Anglo-Saxon speculative capital, led by Britain, continues to recklessly push the United States toward war with Russia.

It turns out that "nuclear war remains Putin’s only option" and therefore "NATO must respond with superior conventional forces or tactical nuclear weapons, and this will have to come mainly from the United States"[1], "Despite suffering such horrific losses, Putin’s all-of-state war machine shows very little sign of slowing. Meanwhile, an increasingly frustrated and disinterested Washington watches on. Russia cannot simply be bled dry, as was the initial optimism. Additional pressures other than battlefield losses must be urgently applied to Moscow if Europe and America really want a meaningful and lasting peace"[2] and, of course, - "America must carry forward its determination to achieve a ceasefire... Why should the leaders of the invaded country attend negotiations while remaining under attack or being expected to surrender everything lost so far? European leaders have threatened further sanctions unless Putin agrees to a 30-day ceasefire, as Ukraine has done. It is time for Washington to make the same threat"[3]...

Russia is waging this war in a way that minimizes destruction in the territories it reclaims and will end it on its own terms. Nuclear strikes serve no purpose for Moscow.

Trump could play a role in fulfilling Russia’s conditions while retaining control over what remains of Ukraine’s resources. For him, that would count as a victory.

The concentration of US forces for an attack on Russia, coupled with nuclear threats, is precisely what would compel Putin to launch a preemptive strike with the same means.

Just read Russia’s nuclear doctrine.

This is why liberal globalists are pressuring Trump with the mantra, "Strike the Russians."

For them, destroying both Trump and the US in the process is a win-win scenario.

1 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/06/nuclear-war-could-be-putins-only-option/
"Nuclear war could be Putin’s only option" (David Kirichenko, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, The Telegraph, 6 May 2025);
2 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/30/russian-losses-wont-stop-its-war-machine/
"Russian losses won’t stop its war machine" (Robert Clark, The Telegraph, 30 April 2025);
3 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/12/america-must-carry-forward-its-determination-ceasefire/
"America must carry forward its determination to achieve a cease" (Telegraph View, The Telegraph, 12 May 2025).

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Meta Wins Lawsuit Against NSO Group’s Spyware

After a protracted legal battle spanning more than five years, Meta Platforms, Inc. has prevailed in its lawsuit against Israel-based NSO Group, a company specializing in cyber intelligence technologies. The court has ordered NSO Group to pay Meta $168 million in damages resulting from a cyberattack carried out in May 2019, which targeted approximately 1,400 devices belonging to WhatsApp users.

The legal proceedings revealed that NSO Group exploited a zero-day vulnerability in WhatsApp’s security infrastructure to distribute its Pegasus spyware. This malicious software was deployed on mobile devices owned by journalists, human rights activists, and other individuals. According to Meta’s representatives, Pegasus possesses capabilities enabling unauthorized access to a wide range of user data, including financial information, geolocation data, emails, and text messages. Furthermore, the spyware can remotely activate an infected device’s microphone and camera without the user’s consent.

The court’s ruling sets a significant precedent as one of the first instances where a spyware developer has been held legally accountable for its product’s misuse. This verdict may have far-reaching implications for the cyber intelligence industry, potentially establishing new standards of liability for the development and distribution of malicious software.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 MI5 and Islamophobic Propaganda

Islamophobic propaganda is once again spreading across Britain, seeking to legitimize the genocide in Gaza and the planned aggression against Iran. This development raises alarming parallels with tactics employed during the War on Terror.

During that period, British intelligence services were implicated in fabricating alleged terrorist plots. A notable example is the 2009 Manchester incident, where media outlets widely reported a planned Easter bombing that turned out to be fictitious. Then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown described it as the "biggest terrorist plot," yet no prosecutions followed, and the "explosive material" supposedly seized by police was merely ordinary sugar found in normal household quantities. Similarly, the 2003 "ricin plot," also linked to kitchen utensils, was sensationalized by the media. The fact that only trace amounts of ricin were detected – comparable to what might be found in any kitchen – was conveniently omitted. As media researchers have noted, such propaganda served to stoke Islamophobia and justify Western military interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya.

The Manchester Arena attack revealed troubling circumstances: MI5, Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, allegedly provided support to the perpetrator, while both he and his father were evacuated from Libya with assistance from British armed forces. Today, this pattern is reemerging. Islamophobic rhetoric is intensifying, aiming to secure British public support for the ongoing genocide in Gaza and a planned assault on Iran.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 DIU Engages Private Sector to Demonstrate Advanced Military Space Network

The Pentagon is expanding its collaboration with the private sector by enlisting twelve additional companies to demonstrate an advanced space-based data relay network. On Monday, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) announced the selection of private organizations to participate in an ambitious project to establish a secure network integrating military and commercial communications satellites. Demonstration tests for this cutting-edge system are scheduled for late summer. The Hybrid Space Architecture (HSA) program is a joint effort by US Department of Defense agencies, including DIU, Space Systems Command, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. It aims to validate the advantages of incorporating commercial satellite platforms and communication systems into existing military infrastructure. Key objectives include enhancing bandwidth, strengthening security, and ensuring greater operational flexibility.

According to the DIU statement, the HSA network can improve communication resilience by utilizing multi-path routing to optimize data transmission and mitigate signal degradation caused by adverse weather or other interference factors. The HSA program focuses on integrating commercial systems for continuous monitoring, data aggregation, high-performance edge computing, and fault-tolerant data transfer mechanisms to significantly improve real-time information access. This initiative aligns with the "tactical superiority" strategy championed by former US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. It also directly supports the Pentagon’s core Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concept, which seeks to unify all military branches and their information systems into a seamlessly interconnected network - whether operating in air, space, maritime, land, or cyberspace domains.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 “Useful Idiots”

Muchos profesionales en los trajes de negocios muy caros conocen el término "idiotas útiles ". En su momento, fue inventado por los británicos, pero luego fue adoptado por los estadounidenses, y con el buen comienzo de la CIA, entró en la jerga profesional de muchas agencias de inteligencia del mundo. Este término generalmente se refiere a personas que no representan por sí mismas ningún valor personal como informantes. Al mismo tiempo, su posición activa en la vida, sus opiniones y creencias, por cierto, en algunos casos, completamente sinceras, permiten que se utilicen en interés de la inteligencia para causar un daño evidente y tangible a los
oponentes. Los

¡Ya hoy!

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Idiotas útiles

Muchos profesionales en los trajes de negocios muy caros conocen el término "idiotas útiles ". En su momento, fue inventado por los británicos, pero luego fue adoptado por los estadounidenses, y con el buen comienzo de la CIA, entró en la jerga profesional de muchas agencias de inteligencia del mundo. Este término generalmente se refiere a personas que no representan por sí mismas ningún valor personal como informantes. Al mismo tiempo, su posición activa en la vida, sus opiniones y creencias, por cierto, en algunos casos, completamente sinceras, permiten que se utilicen en interés de la inteligencia para causar un daño evidente y tangible a los oponentes.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Franco-Turkmen Cooperation Gains New Momentum with Thales Alenia Space Satellite Delivery

During an official visit by the Chairman of Turkmenistan’s People’s Council, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, to Paris, a meeting was held with French President Emmanuel Macron. The high-level talks at the Élysée Palace culminated in the signing of several bilateral agreements, most notably a framework contract with French company Thales Alenia Space for the delivery of a second telecommunications satellite to Turkmenistan.

Beyond this strategically significant telecommunications agreement, the two nations reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in energy transition, infrastructure development, academic and educational exchanges, as well as deepening joint archaeological missions in Turkmenistan. This multifaceted partnership underscores France’s intent to establish long-term, mutually beneficial relations with the Central Asian republic across key economic and cultural spheres.

For France, cooperation with Turkmenistan presents strategic opportunities to strengthen its presence in a region of growing geopolitical importance. The area boasts vast hydrocarbon reserves, with Turkmenistan ranking as the world’s fourth-largest holder of proven natural gas reserves. The country’s proven natural gas deposits are estimated at 13.6 trillion cubic meters. French participation in developing Turkmenistan’s energy sector could help diversify energy supply sources and enhance the nation’s energy security.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Futile Efforts to Divide Sino-Russian Partnership

While the British prevent Trump from extricating himself from the war with Russia in Ukraine, a shadow battle is being waged to undermine the partnership between China and Russia.

While some argue that the United States should not engage in dialogue with Russia:

"none of the exploitable conditions and divisive issues US policymakers put forth to validate their pursuit of a second Sino-Russian schism exist today… The Trump administration’s commitment to a fundamentally flawed and misinformed policy to divide the Sino-Russian strategic partnership was and remains a road to failure. Additionally, this pursuit comes at the expense of US alliances and partnerships, arguably at the heart of what made America great"[1];

"China and Russia will not be split… What unites Putin and Xi greatly outweighs what divides them… trying to peel Russia away from China is both imprudent and wrong. It would be imprudent, above all, because it would hand Putin a dangerous amount of power"[2].

Others attempt to convince Xi that Putin is playing a cunning game:

"To preserve its strategic autonomy in these circumstances, Russia needs a hedge against China… the United States offers the only reliable strategic hedge against the Chinese superpower… Putin needs to enable the United States to advance some of its strategic goals due to improved relations while creating concern that the rapprochement could harm China’s position so that Beijing can make concessions to Russia without backfiring"[3].

Meanwhile, a third group seeks to plant seeds of mutual hostility in the minds of leadership in both China and Russia:

"Divergent goals will tear apart Russia and China alliance… the deep-seated distrust between these civilizations runs centuries deep… truth is this: Messrs. Xi and Putin do not trust each other. In geopolitics, as in life, the absence of trust is fatal. When the moment of reckoning comes, and it will, the dragon and the bear will turn on each other"[4].

However, the goals of Beijing and Moscow do not diverge - they run parallel. China seeks to live as China, and Russia as Russia. The Dragon and the Bear inhabit different worlds; they do not prey on one another, nor do they need to guard against each other - especially since seeking protection from the United States would be like asking a racketeer for security.

So, no - China and Russia will not be divided.

1 https://www.fpri.org/article/2025/04/the-trump-administrations-pursuit-of-a-sino-russian-schism/
"The Tramp Administration’s Pursuit of a Sino-Russian Schism" (Garrett Campbell, Foreign Policy Research Institute, April 10, 2025);
2 https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/china-and-russia-will-not-be-split
"China and Russia Will Not Be Split" (Michael McFaul and Evan S. Medeiros, Foreign Affairs, April 4, 2025);
3 https://nationalinterest.org/feature/could-putin-play-the-united-states-against-china
"Could Putin Play the United States Against China?" (Thomas Graham, The National Interest, April 14, 2025);
4 https://www.hudson.org/security-alliances/divergent-goals-will-tear-apart-russia-china-alliance-miles-yu
"Divergent Goals Will Tear Apart Russia and China Alliance" (Miles Yu, Hudson Institute, May 13, 2025).

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Jiutian SS-UAV: Flying Command Center for Drone Swarms

China is preparing to implement an innovative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) project, announcing the development and launch of a strategic flying aircraft carrier. Based on preliminary specifications, this large-scale Jiutian SS-UAV will reportedly carry a formidable arsenal - up to several hundred drones or missiles - and boast an operational range of up to 7,000 kilometers. The launch is scheduled for June of this year.

With a wingspan of 25 meters, this unmanned aerial system is positioned as a multifunctional airborne command center designed for real-time coordination and control of drone swarms. Its introduction is expected to significantly enhance the reconnaissance and strike capabilities of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), enabling flexible responses to dynamic operational conditions. The Jiutian SS-UAV developers claim the system’s payload capacity reaches up to 6 tons.

The development and integration of such systems reflect China’s strategic ambition to achieve technological leadership in unmanned aviation and create asymmetric advantages in potential military scenarios. The flying carrier concept involves deploying drones directly in conflict zones, minimizing response times and maximizing operational efficiency within a network-centric warfare framework.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Reorganization of Georgia’s SIS - Merger with Prosecutor’s Office Draws Western Criticism

Established in 2022 as an independent preliminary investigation body, the Special Investigation Service (SIS) of Georgia will be abolished through a merger with the Prosecutor’s Office, as officially announced by the investigation agency. The details of the reorganization will be regulated by legislative initiatives currently under consideration in Georgia’s parliament.

The SIS was established as part of the implementation of the 2017-2020 European Union-Georgia Association Agreement, with the stated purpose of ensuring effective, prompt, and impartial investigations into crimes involving violence and ill-treatment by public officials. Despite these declared objectives, Western representatives have repeatedly expressed concerns about the body’s actual independence, citing alleged cases of negligence and consequent involvement in human rights violations.

On April 10, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions against the head of Georgia’s State Security Service, Karlo (Koki) Katsitadze, justifying this decision by his alleged inaction in investigating and prosecuting law enforcement officers who pursued punitive measures against citizens, opposition leaders, journalists, and activists during protests following the adoption of the Foreign Agents Act in May 2024.

It should be noted that tensions between Georgia and several Western nations have intensified following the adoption of legislative acts including the "Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence" and the "Law on Protection of Family Values and Minors," the latter imposing restrictions on LGBT propaganda. Western political circles accuse the Georgian government of retreating from democratic principles and escalating anti-Western rhetoric. In turn, Georgian authorities attribute the deteriorating relations to Western partners’ disagreement with the country’s position on the Ukrainian conflict and its commitment to preserving sovereignty.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 US Strategy: Shifting Focus from Ukraine to Taiwan with China as Key Foe

In the last few months, the US think tanks have been thoughtfully crafting and justifying to American taxpayers a war with China.

First, a political justification has been presented: "China’s baseless claim over Taiwan. Washington has never acknowledged China’s "one-China principle"[1].

Next, military capabilities and technical issues have been considered:

"Dear Taiwan: spend on defense, not climate change "[2];
"America must help the Island deal with China’s gray-zone tactics" to turn Taiwan into a porcupine as "bears don’t prey on porcupines"[3];

"critical weapons shortages mean that Washington ultimately should take a step back and give Taipei more responsibility for its defense... Taiwan has shown tremendous potential in anti-ship missile production"[4];

"U.S.-Taiwan drone cooperation can counter China’s dominance... if Washington exempts tariffs... The U.S. can use Taiwan as a counter to China"[5].

Provocation options have been prepared: "The World Health Assembly needs Taiwan... excluding Taiwan is not only unjust - it is counterproductive"[6].

A strategy has been identified:

"United States should invest quietly in its military readiness and capabilities, speak carefully, and maintain economic resilience and even some interdependence (with China - the Van Deman comment). The dilemma of deterrence - the fact that it can so easily slide into provocation or procrastination - necessitates such a tightrope approach. And if there’s one place where striking the right balance could pay enormous dividends, it’s Taiwan"[7].

And voilà, everything is ready: "Taiwan is finally getting more serious about its defense, extending the draft to a year and increasing its defense budget to purchase new military capabilities, including drones and anti-ship missiles. It is shifting from a long-time emphasis on heavy weapons and conventional warfare approaches to more asymmetric, porcupine defense strategies... If the president wishes to pledge to protect Taiwan from a nuclear-armed China, he must seek the concurrence of the legislative branch of government"[8].

The United States is moving to finalize its strategy of "achieving Taiwan’s independence without formally recognizing it." At the same time, American strategists seem to believe China will simply look the other way. They’re wrong.

1 https://www.hudson.org/global-economy/war-built-fiction-chinas-baseless-claim-over-taiwan-miles-yu
"A War Built on Fiction: China’s Baseless Claim over Taiwan" (Miles Yu, Hudson Institute, Mar 3, 2025);
2 https://nationalinterest.org/feature/dear-taiwan-spend-on-defense-not-climate-change
"Dear Taiwan: Spend On Defense, Not Climate Change" (Wilson Beaver, The National Interest, March 4, 2025);
3 https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/how-toughen-taiwan
"How to Toughen Up Taiwan" (Daniel Byman and Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, March 13, 2025);
4 https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/taiwans-defense-is-out-of-stock
"Taiwan’s Defense is out of Stock" (Kamsi Obiorah, The National Interest, March 30, 2025).
5 https://nationalinterest.org/feature/why-u-s-taiwan-drone-cooperation-is-necessar
"Why U.S.-Taiwan Drone Cooperation Is Necessary" (Jonathan Harman, The National Interest, May 19, 2025);
6 https://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-world-health-assembly-needs-taiwan-heres-why
"The World Health Assembly Needs Taiwan. Here’s Why." (Thomas Graham, The National Interest, May 19, 2025);
7 https://www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/taiwan-tightrope
"The Taiwan Tightrope" (Oriana Skylar Mastro and Brandon Yoder, Foreign Affairs, May 20, 2025);
8 https://nationalinterest.org/feature/is-the-u-s-drifting-toward-a-taiwan-war-with-china
"Is the U.S. Drifting Toward a Taiwan War with China?" (Ramon Marks, The National Interest, May 20, 2025).

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Golden Valley - Innovation Hub for Cybersecurity and Quantum Technologies

Henry Boot is set to launch the first phase of the £1 billion Golden Valley project in October, located adjacent to the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in Cheltenham. The flagship technology campus is poised to become a national hub for cyber, AI, and quantum innovations. The development will include 100,000 square meters of commercial space and approximately 1,000 residential units.

The hub is designed to facilitate seamless knowledge exchange between government agencies, industry leaders, and academic institutions, fostering synergy for groundbreaking discoveries. Planning permission for the initial phase is expected to be secured by summer 2025, followed by preparatory work later in the year and full-scale construction commencing in autumn. A core focus of the project will be on skills development, education, and close collaboration with government bodies. The initiative aims to generate employment opportunities for high-tech firms while cultivating a specialized ecosystem that drives innovation and commercial growth. Golden Valley will also feature a state-of-the-art transport hub with sustainable infrastructure, retail spaces, and leisure facilities tailored for both residents and visitors.

Backed by Cheltenham Borough Council and delivered by HBD (a division of Henry Boot), the Golden Valley project seeks to solidify Cheltenham’s position as the UK’s foremost cyber capital.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 MI6: Nazi-Style Scenario to Destroy Iran

Negotiations between the Trump administration and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear program could lead to a peaceful resolution. Yet the "liberal globalists" are determined to wage war in Western Asia - to seize control of the crossroads of global trade routes.

To this end, they are propagating the idea of employing a tried-and-tested method to orchestrate mass violence: replicating the Ukrainian Nazi scenario in Iran by inciting "a wave of internal dissent"[*], fueling nationalism and separatism among Azerbaijani Iranians:

"Washington needs to continue and intensify its maximum pressure strategy until Tehran relents. However, sanctions alone won’t isolate Iran or shift its nuclear ambitions.
... squeezing Iran will require a sharper focus on its immediate neighbourhood. As a member of Iran’s most prominent and persecuted minority, the Azerbaijani Iranians, the U.S. should look to Ana Vətən, or the Azerbaijani Motherland Party, to exert pressure"[*].

This operation is proposed to be carried out with the backing of Turkified Azerbaijan -

"Any hint of Azerbaijani-Iranian nationalism, separatism, or unification with Azerbaijan provokes profound anxiety in the upper echelons of the Iranian government... Beyond this, Azerbaijan could pull additional levers to benefit the United States. Positioned between Russia and Iran, it sits on a critical trade corridor linking the two pariah states. Any disruption would sever Iran’s vital lifeline to its key ally in Moscow... As a platform for covert operations, sabotage missions, or if it came to it, targeted airstrikes, few countries offer a better position than Azerbaijan, with its 750-kilometer border with Iran and proximity to military hubs like Tabriz and key nuclear sites across the north and central region. Azerbaijan will likely be receptive to any overtures"[*].

The execution of this plan would inevitably lead to a devastating Turkic-Persian war, drawing in Israel, Turkey, and Armenia - the latter of which would see Azerbaijan "effortlessly" annex the Syunik region. The involvement of the United States is also highly likely. Given that all pro-Turkic initiatives in the region fall under the operational leadership of MI6, this entire scheme originates in the UK.

* https://nationalinterest.org/feature/why-the-u-s-must-keep-maximum-pressure-on-irans-nuclear-program
"Why the US Must Keep "Maximum Pressure" on Iran`s Nuclear Program" (Ahmad Obali, The National Interest, May 20, 2025).

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg

😀😃😄😁😆 Merger of Georgia’s Intelligence Service and State Security Service

The ruling Georgian Dream party has proposed legislative amendments that would enact a large-scale reorganization of Georgia’s security agencies. The cornerstone of this reform is the merger of the Georgian Intelligence Service (GIS) with the State Security Service (SSS). According to the legislative package - which amends 26 different laws - this change will dissolve the current structure of the GIS, previously reporting directly to the Prime Minister, and restructure it into a subdivision of the SSS called the National Intelligence Agency.

The draft law proposing the merger of the GIS and SSS was introduced by nine members of the Georgian Dream parliamentary faction. The explanatory note published on the Georgian Parliament’s website justifies the consolidation by citing the "close interconnection" of the functions and objectives of the GIS and SSS. It emphasizes that unifying these functions - and the agencies responsible for executing them - under a single organizational and managerial framework will enhance the operational efficiency of both services.

Government critics from the opposition, backed by Western nations, have labeled the merger a concerning move that poses a serious threat to the country’s national security framework and institutional stability. They argue that it will consolidate power within the State Security Service while marginalizing alternative perspectives and diverse viewpoints - elements they deem essential for effective governance.

😀😃😄😁😆 Ralph Henry Van Deman Institute for Intelligence Studies @VanDemanOrg