St. Petersburg as a choice in closing any US consulate, is a strategic issue.

I am really curious as to the opinion Ambassador Huntsman has regarding many topics concerning Russia.

March 29, 2018
By Matthew Bodner

Moscow - Russia will close the American consulate in St. Petersburg (click here) and kick out 60 U.S. diplomats in response to Monday’s coordinated expulsion of Russian diplomats from the United States and a number of other countries, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.

The move continues an ongoing escalation of tit-for-tat between Moscow and the West that began in early March with the alleged poisoning of a former Russian double agent on British soil with a Soviet-designed nerve agent.

U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman was summoned to the Foreign Ministry Thursday night where Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov informed him of Russia’s response.

According to a Foreign Ministry statement, 58 American diplomats from the Moscow embassy and two from the consulate in Yekaterinburg have been declared persona non grata. The United States expelled 60 Russians on Monday....

St. Petersburg is very near Europe. It is also exposure for any strategic position. By closing St. Petersburg consulate, Russia is ready to create a front should a war break out without worrying about diplomats or spies.

Those are train routes from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Moscow is not that far from Europe either.

Russia has ports on those waterways. Should there be a war they would fall vulnerable to attack by The West.

I doubt the Polish airport is still considered to be a Russian territory. But, the northern border of Russia is vast and hardest to defend. See, Russia has a innate vulnerability and that is it's size compared to it's military. It is one of the reasons Russia has a nuclear arsenal. It is difficult for Russia to deploy forces throughout it's mainland and still protect Moscow. It much rather fight battles at sea where missiles are unable to reach into it's interior. It is why Russia enjoys reminding the USA it has an ally in Cuba when it's spy ships make port there.

It used to be that Russia had to worry about ice breakers in order to reach it's northern ports, but, what makes the Russian venture into the north passage across the Arctic Ocean so interesting is the anxious need to believe it has far easier access to those northern ports.

Russia has vulnerabilities to exploit and I would not think the USA's first focus would be NATO so much as the vulnerable areas of Russia to express the danger it is entering if it truly desires war. If I were a US General I would not hesitate to kick Putin in the ass, so to speak, to let him know there is more to war than nuclear brinkmanship. NATO might even sleep through what I would consider the real diplomatic relations of the USA military.

Governor Snyder is playing games with Michigan's economy.

March 26, 2018 

State officials have given Enbridge Inc. (click here) permission to install 22 more 
anchor supports along twin pipelines at the bottom of the waterway linking 
Lakes Michigan and Huron.

The disgraced and derelict Michigan Department of Environmental Quality issued
a permit last week allowing the supports of Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac....

After Flint and the unwillingnes to stand up to the Governor's regulation czar,
there aren't many in Michigan that believe the MDEQ is actually worth the salaires
they are paid.

The supports Enbridge is using add pressure to the pipeline which is old and 
deteriorated.  Pipeline 5 needs to be shut down. A spill will cause a great deal of 
damage to the state's and Canada's economies, not different than the damage 
along the Gulf Coast as seen with the Deepwater Horizon spill.

The real tragedy in a Great Lakes spill is the loss of service of fresh water lakes. It'
has taken decades of dedicated investment to clean up the Great Lakes and even
today much needs to be done. A simple "Oops" by Enbridge and the Great Lakes
will no longer be great, or swimmable or fishable or even photographable.

Line 5 was built in 1953. Questions?

The population of Michigan in 1953 is two-thirds what it is today at 6.8 million 
people and may of those 6.8 million people were working for the auto industry 
and not fishing for a living.

May 9, 1979, there was a ruling against Michigan in allowing fishing rights to
Native Americans in the northwest region of the state.

US v. Michigan (click here)

I sincerely believe the Native Americans of northern Michigan are giving up their hard earned authority to protect the fishing rights of those fresh water lakes. Why?

There is danger for all at the Gaza Border Demonstrations. In the USA, we march and protest, but, are not lethal except politically as an example to the people as to why justice is fleeting.

There should be no naive people at the border. The leadership to the young people should reflect there is inherent dangers at the Gaza-Israel border. This is no faux face of Hamas, these are their young people that have survived long enough for mercy to their lives that want to live in a home they know and value.

There are many young men and women in the IDF. That is not only respectable, but, shows a well trained and ready force. They will be present along the border and there have been two arrests of Palestinians stated to be armed. I expect the soldiers of the IDF to respect freedom of speech and the right to protest to relay a message to Israel, the West Bank and the world.

There is to be no escalation of tensions. I doubt that is possible anyway. There will be no faux accusations and the media should have full view of the protest, protesters and compassion for their message. They are not sending Katusha rockets, they are sending their pleadings to the world and to President Abbas. Their lives are not going well and it is their souls they are interested in as well.

The protesters are to be recognized for their willingness to protest. They should be recognized for their struggle. They should have spokespersons that may be able to speak in all necessary languages or not. The best spokespeson is the one with a message of peace and prosperity and hope for a peaceful Middle East for their children and the generations to follow.

I think the world wants to hear what they have to say.

March 28, 2018
By Nir Gontarz

...Gontarz. (click here) Can you tell me a little bit about Hamas' plans for this holiday season in Israel?

What do you mean, holiday season in Israel?

To the best of my knowledge, there’s supposed to be a march to the fence [on the Gaza-Israel border] during the Passover holiday in Israel, and after that on Independence Day, your Nakba Day.

Aha.

Is Hamas moving from military action to civil action?

Actually, Mr. Nir, it is not Hamas who made the decision, but the youth. The main idea was thought up by the youth. There are people who think there is no hope, no future, and that we have to do something – ya'ani, to remind the whole world that we as Palestinians are still suffering, we are still living in the diaspora or in refugee camps, and there's a certain decision by the United Nations, [Resolution] UN 194, that we are trying to implement, ya'ani, and to send a message to the world community that our problem is not solved and we’re still suffering, and continue to see our land being abused by the occupation, or Israelis trying to squeeze us to the corner, punishing the Palestinians, and this is something that this generation of Palestinians is not going to accept. And so they’re doing their own civil march, they don’t intend to do anything belligerent, and I think this is the message they would like to carry to the whole world, about the situation and the suffering in Gaza....

The only reason to wear a mask is to hide recognition. The youth of Gaza need to be open to peace and hiding only raises suspicion as to why anonymity is necessary. The youth of Gaza need to be welcoming to ideas for peace and not the latest in fear mongering. They should show their faces of peace in their protest.

March 28, 2018
By Uri Dromi

When Hamas took over Gaza in 2006, (click here) I wrote in The International Herald Tribune that, perhaps, it was a blessing in disguise: “Things might now become much clearer. There will be no whitewashing, no Arafat-style double-talk or endless Abbas impotence. It’s better to deal with a pure enemy: Fight him ruthlessly while he is your enemy, and sit down and talk to him when he is genuinely willing to cut a deal.

“History has seen such things happen.”

Indeed, in the 12 years since, Hamas rotated between being Israel’s enemy and a de facto partner. Three times Israel fought Hamas, trying to stop the harassment of its south with rockets. In 2008-09, it was Operation Cast Lead; in 2012, it was Operation Pillar of Defense; and in 2014 — Operation Defensive Edge.

In between, Israel found itself forced to deal with Hamas, because it was the true ruler of Gaza. Israel and the rest of the world declared Hamas to be a terror organization and therefore didn’t have any formal relations with it. However, huge sums of money poured into Gaza during the years. They were funneled through the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, but eventually landed in the hands of Hamas, which practically governs Gaza. This masked ball helped alleviate the living conditions of the poor Gazans, while officially not recognizing Hamas....

Another political appointee for Trump's populist followers.

"I am pleased to announce that I intend to nominate highly respected Admiral Ronny L. Jackson, MD, as the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs...."

Rear Admiral Jackson (click here) may be a very fine physician, but, can he handle administrative duties?

The reason Trump chose Admiral Jackson is that he wants the message to the voting public, "...what is good enough for the President, is good enough for the VA."

This is what populism looks like. All politics, greed and no policies.

March 29, 2018
By Amada Macias

David Shulkin, (click here) whom President Donald Trump fired as Veterans Affairs secretary, offered a parting shot in an op-ed for The New York Times – warning that privatizing the VA Department could hurt veterans.

"Privatization leading to the dismantling of the department's extensive health care system is a terrible idea," Shulkin wrote. "The department's understanding of service-related health problems, its groundbreaking research and its special ability to work with military veterans cannot be easily replicated in the private sector."

Trump fired Shulkin Wednesday, making the announcement over Twitter. The president picked the White House physician, Admiral Ronny Jackson, to run the department....

March 28, 2018
By UN Children Fund

...Botten (click here) is all emotion as he describes the loss and hardship of those living in quake zone....


Port Moresby – One month (click here) after a series of earthquakes of magnitude 5-7.5 hit four Highlands provinces of Papua New Guinea, children are still in shock and suffering significant trauma and stress which could have negative consequences to their long-term well-being, UNICEF said today.

“Children are still being confronted by fear, loss, confusion, family separation, deteriorated living conditions and disruption of social and school activities,” said Karen Allen, UNICEF Representative for PNG. “Psychological damage among children should not be overlooked. It can have a negative impact on children’s brain development, mental health and overall wellbeing in the long-run.”

Children who have suffered from trauma have an increased risk of delayed development, mental health disorders, depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide, she added.

Before the earthquakes, children in PNG were already at high risk of violence and abuse. Available data indicate that girls and boys in PNG experience some of the highest rates of violence in Asia-Pacific region. About 75 per cent of children report experiences of physical abuse and about 80 per cent experience emotional abuse during their lifetime. A recent Médecins Sans Frontières report showed that 12,000 cases of family and sexual violence are treated each year in Tari Family Support Centre located in Hela Province, where the worst earthquake damage occurred....

Continued from link above at picture:

...The first big quake killed at least 145 people and more fatalities are expected as first responders make their way to villages still left isolated by roads cut off by a combination of landslips and rock falls. Subsequent shocks are reported to have killed a further 36 people.

Botten said that nearly 30,000 people continue to rely on emergency aid and that the majority of that will be carried "the last mile" by Oil Search helicopters flying out of the company's Southern Highland's logistics hub at Moro.

Those Oil Search helicopters have so far made 125 supply drops to villages, moving 150 tonnes of food and medical supplies. Those same copters are ferrying the injured back to medical centres....

The "Shake Map" doesn't show the entire picture. The "Felt Map" is widespread impact (click here).

This part of the world has been having a rough summer season with severe storms. Now this.

"This is a very big deal." Congratulations. China has stated they were interested in peace in the region. It is taking shape.

It took over 50 years to solve a rape crime in New Zealand.

28 March 2018

A 71-year-old man (click here) has been found guilty of historical rape charges from the 60s.

One of his victims said they were able to move on with their lives "at long last" now that Raymond Bradley had been found guilty on a number of rapes and indecent assaults against two Porirua girls 50-60 years ago.

A jury of seven men and four women deliberated for about 13 hours over two days in the Wellington District Court on the charges.

Victims and family members took deep breaths and shed tears in the public gallery as the verdicts were read out just before 8 o'clock tonight....

There is progress made with Mexico by the USA for a more peaceful border.

March 26, 2018
By Kate Schneider

Mexico City - Mexico and the United States (click here) have signed three accords to improve bilateral customs procedures and expedite the flow of agricultural produce across their almost 2,000-mile (3,220-km)border, the two governments said on Monday.

In a joint news conference with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Mexico’s Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said the first agreement aimed to promote joint cooperation to stop illegal merchandise crossing the border.......

...Border security needs to be ramped up to halt the illicit flow of arms, Mexico’s Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete said in a subsequent joint news conference with Nielsen.

“There needs to be much more caution taken... to reduce gradually but conclusively the high levels of violence when arms enter Mexico illegally,” Navarrete added.

The neighboring nations also need to share the responsibility of attending to refugee and asylum cases, he said....

It is good to see high level talks with Mexico by the USA. Last year the deaths to crossings ratio was exceptionally high. If the deaths are related to drug cartel crossings which might be consistent year after year, the increase may be understandable. But, if these deaths are due to immigrants crossing, it is alarming.

5 August 2017

At least four people died trying to cross the River Grande in July.

More people have died crossing the border from Mexico to the US (click here) in the first seven months of 2017 compared to the year before, even though significantly fewer people seem to be attempting the journey, according to the United Nation’s migration agency.

The number of migrant deaths tallied at the border jumped 17% from 204 in the first seven months of 2016 to 232 migrant fatalities in 2017, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

Meanwhile, the US Border Patrol has reported that about half as many migrants were apprehended during border crossings in the first six months of 2016 compared to the first six months of 2017 – down from 267,746 people to 140,024 people.

Adam Isacson, senior associate for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America, said the increase was shocking because of the drop in apprehensions, which indicate fewer people migrating overall. “The ratio to people dying to people trying has to be way higher than 17%,” Isacson told the Guardian....

The problems experienced in Mexico have to be solved. Crime rates are up and the tourist industry, which sustained Mexico for decades or more no longer is an attractive answer for many.

Recently, there was an American family of four found dead in their rental vacation home by what authorities believe was a gas leak. (click here)

But, the increased violence in Mexico due to organized crime accompanied by sincere poverty needs to be as much a concern for the USA as the Mexican leaders. If nothing is done to stem violence and the spread of crime, it will visit the US soon.

March 13, 2018
                        
..."We've been told (click here) that local politicians here have put the press under pressure not to report violence in this area, because if the tourists are scared away from here, it will be an economic disaster not only for Cancun, but for Mexico."

Even when a well-known police commander, his wife and baby nephew were shot dead, in a separate incident during Dateline's visit, nobody was arrested.

'THE PROBLEM IS SPREADING'

There are fears that Cancun is on the brink of ruin and could face a similar demise as that of Acapulco, which was once one of the world's most glamorous locations but is now Mexico's murder capital.

Guru-Murthy also visited Acapulco, and just five minutes after landing was notified of a nearby crime scene with four bodies — including children.

Another night during his stay, he heard gunshots; a taxi driver had been murdered on the street outside.

Investigators in Acapulco are totally overwhelmed, often visiting 10 murder scenes a day.

Troops patrol the city's streets and beaches, extortion and murder are rife and many businesses have been forced to close. There are no foreign tourists in sight, it's simply too dangerous here....           

Even after the predicted heavy rain and floods, the drought areas will continue.

March 27, 2018
By Renee Duff


A slow-moving system (click here) will unleash flooding downpours and locally severe thunderstorms across the southern United States into Thursday.

The system will tap into plenty of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico as it crawls south and east through midweek.

Downpours that will first deliver a thorough soaking from St. Louis to Dallas into Tuesday night will expand into the corridor from Nashville to Houston by Thursday....

The map to the right is December 26, 2017. Below is the latest US Drought map for March 20, 2018. For many the rain will bring much needed water, however, erosion may be an issue.


March 27, 2018

It may be spring, (click here) but the winter weather is lingering on... and if it continues... it could be a real headache for farmers.

This extra–long winter might delay spring planting.  The later a farmer has to wait, the less yield they will get from their crops, especially corn.

Kent Thiesse, a farm analyst, said:  "According to some of the official measurements by the University of Minnesota out by Lamberton, there's still 2 to 3 feet of frost in the ground and bare soil, so until you get that frost out of the ground it takes a while to warm that ground up."

Thiesse thinks the weather is not a major concern yet, but if the snow continues into April, it definitely will have an impact on the growing season.

"We need an extended period of above normal temperatures, at least normal, but above normal and probably a little drier conditions.", he said.

The University of Minnesota recommends planting corn between April 30th and May 5th for the best yield....

It makes no sense to plant ? conventional corn ? vs Non-GMO corn. Why would anyone want treated seeds? At any rate the farmers planting non-GMO corn will receive higher prices for their crop, especially if there is a decrease in production.

March 27, 2018
By Mary Kennedy

As the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) (click here) March 31 Prospective Planting report nears, speculation abounds over what farmers intend to plant this spring.

The annual report is based on a survey the USDA conducts with farmers around the country as to what crops they intend to plant, and how many acres of each crop they will plant. In anticipation of the upcoming report, I reached out to farmers and elevator managers and asked them what their intentions are and what changes would be made compared to 2017 planting.

An elevator manager in eastern North Dakota told me that spring wheat planting will be up 15%, soybeans beans will be up 10% and corn down 8%. Keith Brandt, general manager of Plains Grain and Agronomy, LLC, Enderlin, North Dakota, said he sees a similar pattern in his area.

“There will be a 10% decrease in corn acres, a 3%-to-5% increase in soybeans and an 8%-to-10% increase in spring wheat,” said Brandt. “I don’t see much field work until later in April. If some of that wheat seeding goes into May, we will lose wheat acres and increase bean acres. Also, there will be more dicamba-resistant beans planted this year in order to avoid vapor drift issues.

“We will see more conventional (non-GMO) corn planted this year because of seed cost. The savings on seed cost is about $60-to-$70 per bag, which equates to about $20-to-$25 per acre. Farmers have to be careful, because additional chemical cost for corn borer or some other insect, plus chemical cost for weed control, could push that back up to the same or more as GMO seed. If they have insect issues and field loss of corn, they won’t save anything,” Brandt said....

March 27, 2018

Kiev - UkrAgroConsult (click here) on Tuesday cut its forecast for Ukraine's 2018/19 barley harvest and exports citing a smaller sowing area caused by late spring.

At the same time, the consultancy raised its outlook for Ukraine's maize harvest and exports.

Ukraine is likely to harvest 25.7 million tonnes of maize and 8.2 million tonnes of barley this year, while exports would total 20 million and 4.6 million tonnes, respectively, UkrAgroConsult said.

"The dates of planting early spring crops in Ukraine are going to get shifted, or even narrowed. In case of a sharp temperature rise, farmers may find themselves short of time to sow early spring cereals and pulses in full," the consultancy said in a report.

It said almost the entire country was still covered with up to 25 cm of snow and planting was already delayed by a couple weeks compared to last year....

"World Agricultural Supply and Demand" (click here) - March 8, 2018 edition

People do not have to participate with the census. They do it for representation. If there is an offensive questions people won't answer it. I suppose a good number of Americans will boycott the question.

March 26, 2018

Today, (click here) the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that a question on citizenship status will be reinstated to the 2020 decennial census questionnaire to help enforce the Voting Rights Act (VRA). Secretary Ross’s decision follows a request by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to add a question on citizenship status to the 2020 decennial census.

The citizenship question will be the same as the one that is asked on the yearly American Community Survey (ACS).  Citizenship questions have also been included on prior decennial censuses.  Between 1820 and 1950, almost every decennial census asked a question on citizenship in some form.  Today, surveys of sample populations, such as the Current Population Survey and the ACS, continue to ask a question on citizenship.

On December 12, 2017, DOJ requested that the Census Bureau reinstate a citizenship question on the decennial census to provide census block level citizenship voting age population (CVAP) data that is not currently available from government surveys. DOJ and the courts use CVAP data for the enforcement of Section 2 of the VRA, which protects minority voting rights....

March 26, 2018

Tornadoes and hail (click here) have damaged several vehicle fleets in Alabama, increasing demand for rental vehicles, according to Decatur Daily.

Baseball-sized hail struck areas in several Alabama counties, affecting over 400 vehicles in Nissan and Chevrolet dealerships, as well as Walmart employee vehicles.

A Hertz agency in Decatur has rented out its entire fleet of 50 vehicles, with a growing waiting list. Some Hertz employees have returned company vehicles to meet the demand for replacement cars.

One Enterprise location in Decatur had no available rental vehicles, but the company announced plans to meet the rental demand with 500 additional vehicles.

Thank you, Senator McConnell. This is an excellent start.

March 26, 2018
By Morgan Gstalter

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) (click here) announced a new bill on Monday that would legalize hemp as an agricultural product.

The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 would legalize hemp, removing it from the federal list of controlled substances and allowing it to be sold as an agricultural commodity, according to WKYT.

"Hemp has played a foundational role in Kentucky's agriculture heritage, and I believe that it can be an important part of our future," McConnell said in a statement....

Civil rights vs. Gun rights; those most effected say there is a difference.

50 More Miles (click here)

"March for our Lives, 50 More Miles" blog (click here)

Press Release:

Madison, WI – Standing in solidarity (click here) with the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and taking inspiration from the 54 mile Selma to Montgomery march for civil rights, students in Wisconsin will be embarking on a four day, 50 mile March for Our Lives event. March for Our Lives: 50 Miles More will begin in Madison where participants of five separate Wisconsin March for Our Lives events (Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, West Dallas, and Appleton) will meet on March 24th. Students from across the state will then embark on the 50 mile trek to Speaker Paul Ryan’s hometown, Janesville, WI. Students are urging Paul Ryan, as Speaker of the House of Representatives, to lead Congress in taking immediate action to save lives by enacting sensible gun reform....

March 26, 2018

By Hayley Miller

Dozens of Wisconsin (click here) high school students are spending their spring breaks this week walking more than 50 miles to House Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) hometown of Janesville to deliver a message: Pass meaningful gun reform legislation now.

A group of students from Shorewood High School, roughly four miles north of Milwaukee, organized the march to call out Ryan for blocking gun legislation reform and to demand lawmakers take immediate action to curb gun violence.

“We started 50 Miles More to keep the national demand for gun reform going after the March 24th March for Our Lives events are over,” according to the movement’s website. “Our generation has grown up watching school shootings destroy lives and then get swept out of the spotlight. We refuse to let this happen again.”...

Ms. Clifford deserved an apology from the President and his attorney. I expect the man who confronted and threatened her to be found.

March 26, 2018
By Michael D. Shear and Maggie Haberman

Washington — After 61 weeks in the White House, (click here) President Trump has found two people he won’t attack on Twitter: Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal.

The verbose commander in chief has posted more than 2,900 times on Twitter since taking office, using the term “FAKE NEWS” to describe everything from the Russia inquiry and allegations of chaos in the White House to harassment accusations, the size of his inaugural crowds and heated arguments with world leaders.

But he has been uncharacteristically silent in recent days — to the relief of his advisers — as a pornographic film star and a Playboy model described intimate details of sexual encounters with Mr. Trump. Stephanie Clifford, known in pornographic films as Stormy Daniels, said Sunday night on CBS’s “60 Minutes” that she once spanked the president with a copy of Forbes magazine bearing his face on the cover.

The fact that the president has not given oxygen to the headlines, however, does not mean that he is content....

Ms. Brown went on to continue her father's work as a speaker and educational consultant.

March 26, 2018
By Emanuella Grinberg and Amir Vera

Governor Jeff Colyer (click here)
64 years ago a young girl from Topeka brought a case that ended segregation in public schools in America. Linda Brown's life reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely people can have an incredible impact and that by serving our community we can truly change the world.

...By the time of the ruling, (click here) Linda Brown was in junior high, a grade level that had been integrated before the 1954 court ruling. The family moved to Springfield, Missouri, in 1959. Oliver Brown died two years later, and his widow moved the girls back to Topeka. Linda Brown went on to attend Washburn and Kansas State universities and had a family....She also worked on the speaker circuit and as an educational consultant.

From the Topeka Capital-Journal:

...Brown’s sister, (click here) Cheryl Brown Henderson, founding president of The Brown Foundation, confirmed the death. She said the family would not comment on her sister’s death. Peaceful Rest Funeral Chapel of Topeka will handle arrangements.

Linda Brown’s father, Oliver Brown, became the lead plaintiff in the Brown v. Board case after attempting to enroll her in 1951 in the all-white Sumner Elementary School near the family’s home in Topeka....

Why is it beginning to feel like war?

The brave people that work to remove danger from the lives of people are sincere heroes for their willingness and dedication. They didn't know exactly what they were walking into, but, they went anyway. They would not know what they walked into for at least 48 hours later.

March 26, 2018
Julian Borger, Patrick Wintour and Heather Stewart

More than 20 western allies (click here) have ordered the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack in the UK, in a show of solidarity that represents the biggest concerted blow to Russian intelligence networks in the west since the cold war.

Over 100 Russian diplomats alleged to be spies in western countries are being told to return to Moscow, in a coordinated response to the use of a chemical weapon in the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence official, and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury on 4 March.

In a sombre statement in the House of Commons, Theresa May welcomed what she said was “the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history”....   

Like I said, there is no such thing as a secure internet.

How are those talks coming on the Korean Peninsula, Vladimir? Trying to guarantee Kim there are ways of dismantling the USA missile defense system? You know, ever since that appearance on Larry King Live when he was with CNN and there was no lag between questions and answers I had a suspicion you had access into at least commercial airwaves. Now, it is military, huh? Well, given Stuxnet was successful, I bet there was a digital signature captured with it, huh? 

The Houthis have ballistic missiles and who hacked the Saudi missile defense system?

The Patriot Missile System is not new to Saudi Arabia. They have had these missiles since the Iraq invasion. So, what happened here?

My first guess is Russia. If Russia can prove the US missile system is inferior in some way, that means countries will turn to Russian arms. But, who sold ballistic missiles to the Houthis?

Airports were the targets (click here).

...The coalition has launched thousands of airstrikes on the Iran-aligned Shiite Houthis, in attempts to roll back rebel gains and reinstate Hadi in the capital Sanaa.
Houthis have launched hundreds of ballistic missiles toward Saudi cities, with most of them intercepted by Saudi air defense forces.
The war has so far killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, and pushed the Arab country to the brink of mass famine.

Whoever is helping with the delivery of Houthi missiles are now hacking into Saudi defenses. Why are the launchpads still intact in Yemen? Anti-aircraft? I would think the Saudis can 'track back' the ballistic missile launches and remove the launch site. Maybe that is just too much guesswork. If I were the Saudis I'd start guessing.

I bet real money the Israeli misfire wasn't a misfire at all.

March 26, 2018

The accidental firing (click here) of Israel's missile defense system reflects the growing tensions surrounding Gaza. The system may have been calibrated to a higher-than-usual level of sensitivity.

So much for an Iron Dome. I could simply have missed it, but, it seems to me there are fewer incursions into Gaza by Israel since the Iron Dome was instituted. Playing with Israel's air defense is really a bad idea.

I don't believe in coincidence.

March 26, 2018

Saudi air defenses (click here) shot down seven ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi militia on Sunday, with debris killing a man in what was the first death in the capital during the Saudi-led coalition's three-year military campaign in Yemen.

Saudi forces destroyed three missiles over northeastern Riyadh shortly before midnight, as well as others fired at the southern cities of Najran, Jizan and Khamis Mushait, the coalition said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA.

Two videos from Saudi Arabia published overnight seem to indicate a serious malfunction in the Patriot missiles that were supposed to intercept the incoming ballistic missiles fired by Yemeni rebels at the capital Riyadh....

Spring Break

I also want to show steadfast support for Ms. Clifford with her 60 minutes interview, Sunday Night.

Mr. Trump is no different than other producers who have used women they employed or wanted to employ. Why is it other producers suffer a greater fate than Trump? We know Trump at the least took his feeling of entitlement into beauty pageants’ dressing rooms, including teens. He has committed the same sexually assaultive acts as others. Ms. Daniels graciously stated it was business decision rather than assault. She was used to making such business decisions. Her business was adult entertainment. Where does Trump have license to take advantage of a young mother trying to break into a more mainstream identity. Women in adult entertainment are excellent business women. “Celebrity Apprentice” would have been perfect to pivot to a different career and identity. I guess Trump is right, he can grab a woman wherever and whenever he wants and this is more proof of the same. Trump took advantage of Ms. Clifford’s hopes.

The threats against her are outrageous, dangerous and foolish. Who did it!?! They knew what they were doing. She was alone with her infant daughter in a public parking lot and completely helpless. He was a professional and followed her previous to his approach of her.

Someone knows who it was. He used Trump’s name. Who was it a gambler with a debt or a client of a criminal attorney? Who was it! It was no mistake and someone knows who did this!

....................

The next country of “Sunday Might” is actually a group of countries that called themselves "European Community" when 1998. So I will continue to explore the advances by other countries while the USA has done dearly little to advance the retreat of the Climate Crisis.

Until later.