Finland Plans to Build a New Iron Curtain and block Russian Internet Traffic

Conservative Treehouse 

We have been warning for several years about the “new democratic norms” being established on a very totalitarian system of control; specifically, the control of information.

The need for control is a reaction to fear.

Finland is announcing that they will sever their international internet link that is connected to Russia, seemingly wanting to build a virtual wall between Russia and the ‘west’, or at least part of a virtual Iron Curtain they can control.

[SOURCE]

Four decades ago, the voice of freedom was heard saying, “tear down this wall.” Today, the modern version of European democracy is taking action akin to saying, “we must rebuild these walls.”

This is a very dangerous approach because a desire to stop discussion, a demand to stop the free flow of challenging ideas, an approach to silence – as opposed to winning the argument, is the exact opposite of freedom; it is the activity of totalitarian dictatorships.

We used to have Radio Free Europe in order to send ideas and information about the inherent value of freedom over the walls to what we called ‘oppressed’ people.  Now, the baseline of modern western values is to do exactly the opposite, to block information that may come from the other side of the curtain.

Reasonably intelligent people might ask, what exactly is it the Europeans fear?

It looks like both JD Vance and Marco Rubio were correct in 2025 when they warned Europe what lay at the end of this censorship slope they are chasing.  The era of ‘western values’ being understood by both Europeans and Americans has certainly come to an end.

I doubt very much that Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin is against the idea of having Europe sever the internet in an attempt to isolate the people of Russia.  Every dictatorial step the ‘west’ makes from covid passports to vaccine mandates, to quarantine camps and beyond, only makes the Russian Federation look more open and freer by comparison.

There is a reason why the Russian COVID-19 vaccine uptake was one of the lowest in the world, and that reason stands as a stark contrast to the claims of the ‘west’.  If Russia is such a control state, such a totalitarian state, then why didn’t the Russian people face forced masking or vaccination compliance?

Wait, that doesn’t make sense, right?….

Be careful comrades or you may find yourself asking the questions that all good compliant citizens are not supposed to ask.

US weighs delaying France's Washington ambassador pick over human rights spat

 

France's selection of a new ambassador to the US has been complicated after France's mission to the UN criticized the US for voting against a proposal to extend the mandate of the UN's Volker Turk.  

 

 

The United States is considering delaying, or even blocking, French President Emmanuel Macron's choice for France's next ambassador to Washington following public French criticism of the country's human rights record, according to four sources.

While the sources said no decision has yet been taken, two said France's criticism - delivered in a social media post by France's mission to the United Nations in Geneva - had sparked genuine anger among some senior officials in US President Donald Trump's administration. Two other sources said officials were hoping to de-escalate tensions with France.

 

 

"The United States is very disappointed in the irresponsible and disrespectful rhetoric from the French," a State Department official said. "We are responding appropriately to their comments."

A US move to delay or reject Macron's nominee would be highly unusual and could widen the fissure between the allies, who have recently clashed over tariffs and the Iran war. 

 

 Macron has filed the relevant paperwork for Aurelien Lechevallier, a former Elysee aide who is currently Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot's chief of staff, to become France's next ambassador to Washington. France had hoped to have him installed by September, one of the sources said. 

 

 

But the process has run into difficulties since a post on X/Twitter by France's mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

In the post on Saturday, the mission criticized Washington for joining Russia, North Korea and seven other countries in voting against a proposal to extend the mandate of Volker Turk, the UN human rights chief, for another four years. 

 

 

"The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore," the French mission wrote. "The world no longer listens to it."

One of the sources said the post had been reviewed and approved through official channels, dismissing suggestions that it was the work of a junior staffer acting independently.  

 

 

Tensions flared further on Monday when the US delegation walked out as France addressed a United Nations Security Council meeting on Ukraine, accusing its ally of "disingenuous grandstanding."

France's support for the renewal of Turk's mandate "does not preclude close dialogue with the United States," a French diplomatic official said.

"Differences of opinion regarding a vote do not call into question the quality of our relationship or our ability to work together," the official added. 

 

 

US-France relationship souring under Trump, Macron

France has been a longstanding US ally, but relations have soured during Trump's second term. While Trump and Macron speak regularly, that hasn't stopped the US president from targeting France with tariffs, accusing European governments of suppressing right-wing voices, and threatening NATO allies over defense spending and Greenland. 

 

 

Even before the latest spat, Washington had been riled by Barrot's public comments about the US government, one of the sources said.

Earlier this month, Barrot posted on X/Twitter about a State Department program that offered funding of up to $3 million to groups promoting "civilizational self-confidence" in Europe. 

 

 The funding was offered by the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), whose officials offered to support far-right leader Marine Le Pen last year during her embezzlement trial. 

 

 "France and the Europeans will not tolerate any attempt at foreign interference in their electoral processes, regardless of where it comes from," Barrot wrote. 

 

 French officials have also been irked by US Ambassador to Paris Charles Kushner, who is emblematic of a brash new breed of America-first diplomats causing consternation across Europe. Kushner, whose son Jared is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka, has twice failed to appear to summonses in Paris following diplomatic incidents. 

 

 

Critics allege Macron plans to install loyalists

The process of installing an ambassador in Washington is carefully prescribed. Before a foreign government can appoint its envoy, it must first secure the confidential consent of the US government. 

 

 

Washington rarely slow-walks or rejects nominees publicly, diplomatic sources said, with concerns typically resolved privately before a formal decision is made.

Critics allege that a wave of recent Macron nominations and appointments to key jobs is part of an effort to install loyalists who can ensure his legacy and hedge against a potential victory by the far-right in next year's election. 

 

 

Macron, whose approval ratings remain low, cannot run again in 2027.

In recent months, he has appointed his former chief of staff, Emmanuel Moulin, as head of France's central bank, while Richard Ferrand was chosen to lead the Constitutional Council and Amélie de Montchalin to head the Cour des Comptes, which certifies the public accounts. All are key Macron allies. 

 

 The Elysee had no immediate comment on that criticism. 

 

https://www.jpost.com/international/article-904039  

 

 

 

Senate Fan Girls for Zelenskyy then Advances Russian Sanction Bill 86-12

Conservative Treehouse 

The behavior of the U.S. senators clamoring to be with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reflects a certain level of disconnect that needs to be witnessed to be realized.

Senators, grown adults awaiting Zelenskyy’s arrival, clinging to every word, clamoring to be first in line for his reception, competing against each other for time standing next to him, the entire event was grotesque and creepy.  WATCH:

Shortly after the guided tour of the upper chamber, the Golden Child was carried on a gilded chariot into the viewing chamber while trumpets blared, senators took turns bringing forth their taxpayer funded indulgences, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen knelt down at his feet and peeled Zelenskyy’s grapes.  Yeah, that’s the vibe.

The “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026” was then advanced by the Senate in an 86 to 12 procedural vote teeing up the bill for final passage in the Senate later this week. However, I would challenge people to READ THE BILL, it’s only 61-pages.

Within the bill you will note almost everything within the law is left to the enforcement discretion of the President; which normally would not be of great concern, however, given the punishment for violations – things may get sketchy depending on who is in office.

A foreign person who “undermines the peace, security, political stability, or territorial integrity of Ukraine;” and/or “undermines the democratic processes of Ukraine,” will be in violation of the U.S. law and subject to fines, travel or visa restrictions. [Page 13, page 28]  As a consequence, any person who may be critical of Ukraine -undermining the democratic process via criticism- can be punished by the U.S. President.

Page 36 applies a 100% U.S. tariff against the import of any country’s goods into the USA if that country purchase energy products from Russia (with qualifiers).  The intent of that section is to stop China and/or India from purchasing Russian oil and gas.

As noted by Politico, ‘the revamped bill expands the number of Russian entities that would be subject to mandatory sanctions — including Russia’s shadow fleet of ships ferrying oil — but it also grants Trump broad waiver authority.’

The House is in summer recess, so things may stall even if the Senate (very pro-Ukraine) passes the bill.

US Launches More Airstrikes Against Iran As Pressure on Regime Steps Up, May Be Near 'Tipping Point'

RedState 

The U.S. is conducting more airstrikes on Iran, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). 

"The strikes are a powerful response to yesterday's attempted Iranian attacks on U.S. forces based in the Middle East," CENTCOM said. 

The strikes are ongoing and involve "a very broad target set," a U.S. official explained to Fox News.

President Donald Trump had said that the U.S. was going to beat the "f**king sh**" out of them for the surprise attack, so this is right in line with that promise. 

The strikes are just part of the pressure. 

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Wednesday sanctioned two Iranian companies that it said operate coercive maritime "insurance" schemes in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing them of extorting commercial vessels and using the proceeds to fund the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The Treasury Department also sanctioned eight companies that operate a "shadow fleet" of vessels used to transport Iranian oil as Washington seeks to weaken Tehran's control over the strategic waterway.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, "With its economy in freefall and inflation in the triple digits, the regime is desperate for cash." He said the U.S. would not allow Iran to hold up the Strait of Hormuz.

Vice Adm. Robert Harward, the former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, also spoke about that pressure. 

"You're seeing the pressure build on Iran on all fronts," Harward said on Fox News.

He said not only had Saudi Arabia participated in the attack, but that Lebanon was also trying to "undermine and get rid of Hezbollah" (one of Iran's terrorist proxies). 

"You're seeing the British willing to contribute ships to the blockade.

"You're seeing other countries willing to go after the Houthis. So the pressure is building tremendously in Iran, and you're starting to see some breaking points there in the executions in Isfahan yesterday.

"The people came out to protest, and they had to shoot them down to prevent them from overwhelming the execution team, so the pressure in Iran is building, and we could see a tipping point come here in the not too distant future," he added.

Now, that's a good assessment from someone who has cause to know.