Worth Knowing, Probably Not Quite Threadworthy 4/23

[SVPete]

Pope condemns killing of protesters in Iran, reaffirms stance against war

https://srnnews.com/pope-condemns-killing-of-protesters-in-iran-reaffirms-stance-against-war/

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT, April 23 (Reuters) – Pope Leo on Thursday firmly condemned the killing of protesters in Iran, after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the Catholic leader last week for not doing so while speaking out against the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

Leo, the first U.S. pope, also decried the deaths of “so many” civilians in the war and lamented the collapse of U.S.-Iran peace talks in comments aboard his return flight to Rome after a four-nation Africa tour.

“I condemn all actions that are unjust. I condemn the taking of people’s lives,” the pope said in response to a question in a press conference about reports that Iran has killed thousands of protesters.

“When a regime, when a country takes decisions which takes away the lives of other people unjustly, then obviously that is something that should be condemned,” he said.

Well, this is just 4 months overdue, if Prevost want to comment on geopolitics instead of church matters.

[SVPete]

Trump admin settles Carter Page lawsuit for $1.25 million

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/trump-admin-settles-carter-page-lawsuit-125-million

The Trump administration reached a settlement Wednesday with President Donald Trump's former campaign aide Carter Page that amounts to $1.25 million.

Page sued the FBI, Justice Department and eight people over allegations they improperly surveilled him under a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant during the FBI's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in a filing to the Supreme Court that the Trump administration and Page had "agreed to settle" his claims against the federal government. But his complaints against individual defendants remained.

While Page still needs to prove the individual defendents' participation in what happened, the DoJ's settlement makes it difficult for the defendents to claim that what was done to Page was perfectly legal.

[SVPete]

Pentagon boosts medals for Marines who defended Abbey Gate in Afghanistan

https://justthenews.com/government/security/pentagon-boosts-medals-marines-who-defended-abbey-gate-afghanistan

The Pentagon said Wednesday that it has upgraded the awards for multiple United States Marines who were stationed at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan during the 2021 withdrawal.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel to review the awards, which were given to service members who helped evacuate Americans and Afghans from the country. A suicide bomber detonated an explosive during the withdrawal, which killed 13 service members.

“After reviewing the original awards and determining that several had been inappropriately downgraded, these awards have now been upgraded to levels that more accurately reflect the extreme risk these Marines knowingly accepted and the lives they saved under direct enemy fire,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

Geeeeee, I wonder why the awards were downgraded during LIEden's MalAdministration ... OK, no, I don't wonder.