Tuesday, May 15, 2018

The diplomatic MISSION for the USA on the Korean Peninsula is to assist President Moon with his negotiations. This is NOT the USA negotiations. The ultimate goals of this mission is a nuclear free peninsula. 

Kim Jong Un will never give up his nukes if he believes there will be an invasion of North Korea by The West. North Korea does not have a sufficient conventional military. If North Korea or Pakistan or India (click here) had a great conventional weapons option they wouldn't have nukes. Nukes are the only way these small countries can equate the USA threat.

The Trump Administration is a threat to North Korea and the world. Why believe peace anywhere will come soon, including with Israel and the Palestinians.

Kushner.

To realize he was standing in Jerusalem with language to blame Hamas for violence while he was collecting $500,000 ($500 billion) from China that will no doubt cost the USA jobs. This is more than a disconnect, this is criminal.

Jared Kushner has a $600 million incentive (click here) to use his White House position to make money. In May, Kushner’s family company apologized for using Kushner in pitches to foreign investors, after being caught playing up his connection to the president in China. This brazen conflict of interest was an early example of what many feared about Trump’s presidency: that Trump, his family, and those around him would use the presidency to enrich themselves....

So, North Korea is getting cold feet.

I don't blame him. The USA has become bizarre. There is no way of seeing a sane and consistent path forward.

There are war games off the Korean coast. That is crazy. I am sure war games is necessary for the allies to maintain their competency, but, there should have been a more diplomatic location for those exercises.

Who in their right mind states the USA Embassy in Jerusalem "...is an election promise?" That is crazy. It is self-centered and crude.

Trump didn't certify the IAEA assessment for Iran. These are important issues. The boring truth is a far better outcome than escalation for the benefit of Trump politics. Add to that the US Congress does nothing.

There is no reason for Kim Jong Un to proceed with any talks when one of the partners is erratic. Treating these issues as if they are frivolous and simply another Sole Stone in Trump's ring to own the universe is idiocy. There is absolutely no humility in Trump's heart or mind. Being humble with global leaders, including Kim Jong Un, goes very far when seeking common ground to move as a partner to a better end and peace.

Trump thinks he can simply bully Kim again. The warmongering will start again now that Kim Jong Un has changed his posture. He believes the fear of nuclear war is why Un came to the peace table. Not. He came to a peace process with South Korea at an invitation to bring North Korean athletes to the Olympics with their Southern counterparts.

I am quite sure Trump will NEVER reflect on his actions in any part of the world to realize he might have been a real reason for Un to back away from the peace talks. Trump will never accept his responsibility for these failed talks.

I feel terrible for the Korean people. The elected a President that was to lead to a peaceful resolution with North Korea. He was doing exactly that. Trump disrupted it all.

May 15, 2018
By Ellen Mitchell

President Trump (click here) ordered top national security officials to prepare to evacuate U.S. military families living in South Korea ahead of the Winter Olympics earlier this year, CNN reported Tuesday.

CNN, citing four current and former administration officials, reported that Trump issued the directive earlier this year to then-national security adviser H.R. McMaster during a daily intelligence briefing.

McMaster reportedly directed National Security Council staff to prepare a presidential memorandum ordering the nearly 8,000 military dependents in South Korea to leave the country. The memo was then sent to White house chief of staff John Kelly.

“It was an order. It wasn't, ‘I'm thinking about it,'” one senior administration official told CNN, referring to the directive. “We saw it as a done deal.”...

NORTH KOREA IS NOT LIBYA! 

THERE IS NO THREAT TO AMERICANS!

THIS IS CRAZY!

Israel;s EXCUSE for killing, maiming and wounding Palestinians are always the same, "There were extremists killed." That is what jail is for. It is called Due Process.


A relative (click here) of Palestinian Ahmed al-Rantisi, who was killed during a protest at the Israel-Gaza border, is consoled at a hospital in the northern Gaza Strip May 14, 2018.

Turkey is posturing for war. If Turkey begins an assault against Syria and ultimately (when the soldiers get there) Israel. Turkey will be joined by Russia. The Kurds will be the real target by Turkey.

Israel's aggressive stance is getting out of control. The current political leadership is making the same rhetorical language a standard for confrontation. There is no reason for the Israeli military to be at the border with Gaza. The protesters are unarmed and need recognition by the Knesset to bring about talks to end the discontent in Palestine.

I don't care if there are Hamas members among them; they know nothing else. There are at least two generations that have been born and grown up under Hamas leadership. And change is going to require diplomacy, humanitarian aid and real changes in Israel's occupation. Israel will seek to move borders into Gaza, if it hasn't happened already. I mean there is a reason Palestinians in Gaza are protesting. I am quite confident Netanyahu is attempting to reverse the Sharon measures with Gaza.

Haley's words are empty of proof. The USA isn't worthy of talks, unless, it can end the violence at the Gaza border by the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers. The USA has to prove it actually has a real and substantive relationship with Israel that brings about movement toward peace.

Hamas is not the only people at the border of Gaza and Israel. So, they get closer to the security fence. It is a sensitive area and the occupation by Israel has to end. So, they mention Hitler. The words of Haley are simplistic, rhetorical and prove no real measure to end the violence or occupation.

Israel exists because of the human rights demanded by the global community. Now, Israel needs to return land to the Palestinians and end all violence.

Hamas conveyed (click here) indirect messages to Israel on Monday night that it might change tack in the Gaza border protests Tuesday, but Israel isn't certain whether the group really aims to rein in the violent demonstrations which claimed the lives of 60 Palestinians by live Israeli gunfire Monday.

Funerals of Monday's casualties are expected to take place in Gaza on Tuesday, with the question remaining whether Hamas will call the masses to the fence as it did Monday, or keep the rallies as a spontaneous initiative of the people. Rallies are expected in the large West Bank cities, as well as a general strike....

Protesters chants slogans as they hold Palestinian and Turkish flags outside the residence of the Israeli Ambassador in Ankara on May 14, 2018 during a demonstration against US President Donald Trump’s decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem


The world, especially the region, do not consent to the relocation of the USA embassy. The USA should not give up it's old location. This is typical of the Trump administration; they do not negotiate. They work in a bubble they have created.

King Abdullah has been a long standing ally of the USA. It has done it's part with Iraq and with refugees. Jordan can be assessed at 'the breaking point' with it's support of refugees. Jordan has also experienced terrorist attacks. This country has been a leader in peace in the Middle East. Today, the King of Jordan is speaking out against a highly explosive move of the USA embassy. The Trump administration should take the King's statements serious and should have conferred with the King before this began. Election promises in the USA are meaningless in the Middle East. King Abdullah better not receive retribution for his statements.

I stated yesterday the change in alliance was occurring as I wrote my opinion. It is continuing. The USA is being abandoned under the Trump White House. 

The USA Congress needs to censure President Trump. (click here)

May 15, 2018
Amman — His Majesty King Abdullah (click here) on Monday stressed that Jordan rejects and condemns the blatant acts of aggression and violence perpetrated by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. 
The King emphasised that moving the US embassy to Jerusalem would have serious repercussions on security and stability in the Middle East and will inflame the feelings of Muslims and Christians.
King Abdullah made the remarks during a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, during which they discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian arena, particularly the Israeli escalation in Gaza, in addition to the repercussions of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, a Royal Court statement said....
Sports betting? Will it cause greater corruption? I didn't think the NFL could be more corrupt?

Roger Goodell should be in prison right now for massive fraud.

How does that happen? The NFL looks the other way to minimize the outrage and financial impact. But, the government? No one is acting to end this widespread fraud in the NFL? Citizens were ripped off. They spent a lot of money for tickets, travel and merchandise, yet the fraud was allowed to exist. Why aren't the people boycotting? Why aren't they demanding action against the NFL and Goodell? 

Now, there is going to be sports betting and the odds are never going to be accurate. The games are fixed.

Within the States Rights legislature needs to be a strong structure against corruption, otherwise, the fascination of the better will be short lived due to corruption.

May 14, 2018
By Richard Wolf

Washington – New Jersey won a landmark ruling (click here) from the Supreme Court on Monday that could lead many states to legalize betting on college and professional sports.

The justices declared unconstitutional a law passed by Congress a quarter century ago that forced states to keep sports gambling bans on the books. The 6-3 decision clears the way for other states to join Nevada in allowing bets to be placed on individual games.

Justice Samuel Alito, a New Jersey native, wrote the court's opinion in the case. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented, and Justice Stephen Breyer dissented in part.

"Congress can regulate sports gambling directly, but if it elects not to do so, each state is free to act on its own," Alito said. "Our job is to interpret the law Congress has enacted and decide whether it is consistent with the Constitution."

New Jersey wanted to increase GDP, economic engagement and increased jobs. Where are the jobs coming from? If this betting is online, that does nothing to increase jobs. Therefore, is the betting only at the casinos? If that is the case will it actually increase tourism and attract people who want to wager on games or intergame betting?

The GDP will go up somewhat, but, the people involved in the betting is already known. After the initial novelty, the economic impact is already known. What happens to increase that? Will casinos actually benefit? There should be no illusion about the GDP opportunity. That effects the spending the government and taxes. New Jersey already has several horse racetracks, both Thoroughbred and Standardbreds. The state's GDP is already fixed. If the game betting is exclusively online, there will be little change because of the hacking and intrusion of cybercrime. The state will spend more on cybercrime rather than receiving an uptick in GDP, it will become a burden. I think states need to think this through. Game betting should be an economic enhancement to the people and not another burden.