June 28, 2006
By Claire Bigg
When Lira Goldman (click here) heard about the repatriation scheme, she was thrilled. For the first time, they've thought about their citizens, even former citizens, because Russia has never cared for people." -- Lira
Lira, a 29-year-old Russian Jew, left Russia in 1999 for Jerusalem, where she now works in a jewelry shop. She is happy in Israel and has no intention of returning to Russia, but she says she would nonetheless like to keep this option open -- that's why she welcomes the repatriation plan.
"Actually, it's a beautiful step. For the first time, they've thought about their citizens, even former citizens, because Russia has never cared for people," she says....
Sunday, March 17, 2019
I think I found Jarad Kushner's Middle East Peace Plan.
There is no plan. There is the financing of Jarad's debt through the Arab World, but, there is on Middle East Peace Plan. Recently, there were exchanges of violence along the Gaza border without any admission by Israel they took it too far.
It is easy to speculate the "Deal of the Century" (click here) has been signed off first by Russia.
July 17, 2018
By Angela Charleton and Dmitry Kozlov
It is easy to speculate the "Deal of the Century" (click here) has been signed off first by Russia.
July 17, 2018
By Angela Charleton and Dmitry Kozlov
Moscow — While Donald Trump (click here) came home to criticism from left and right after his first summit with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president came home to universal praise.
Instead of being portrayed as a duel on the world stage, the summit was viewed in Russia as a meeting of two mighty men who discussed global problems — and then had to face down a crowd of pesky journalists.
Back in Moscow, Russian authorities quickly jumped to act on Putin’s overtures.
The Russian military offered Tuesday to boost military cooperation with the U.S. in Syria after Putin claimed the two leaders found common ground in solutions for a post-war Syria.
And Russian prosecutors pushed to question U.S. intelligence agents and a former ambassador to Moscow in their investigation of an influential Putin foe.
Yet most Russians aren’t saying Putin vanquished Trump. Instead they’re sympathizing with a U.S. president on whom they’ve pinned hopes for improved relations, portraying him as a victim of irrational domestic critics and aggressive journalists.
With U.S.-Russia tensions exceptionally high, the Kremlin set low expectations for the summit.
“Nobody in Moscow who is realistic had any illusions that this one meeting can produce any breakthroughs,” said Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Moscow Center. “The hope was at least we can start talking to each other.”
And in that, Putin got what he went for. Gabuev said Putin ably won over his domestic audiences, notably by pushing back at accusations of Russian election meddling with his own accusations against the U.S....
Trump is really screwing up.
There are Russian nuclear capable bombers in Venezuela. We didn't tolerate nuclear missiles in Cuba, why are we tolerating nuclear capable planes in Venezuela?
December 20, 2019
By Frita `Ghitis
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, greets Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Dec. 5, 2018
Last week, (click here) the Maiquetia airport outside Caracas was the site of a remarkable event. On Monday, one after another, a series of Russian military aircraft landed in Venezuela. Most notably, the flock included two nuclear-capable, supersonic Tu-160 “White Swan” bombers, along with a passenger plane reportedly bringing about 100 Russian military personnel, and a large cargo plane possibly delivering military equipment.
Just a few days earlier, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and received promises of a $6 billion aid package. Now, Putin was using Venezuela to send a powerful message to Washington. For Maduro, concerned with his regime’s survival, that message was just as useful.
Some three decades after the Cold War faded away, the engines of a new Cold War could be heard roaring back into Latin America....
By Frita `Ghitis
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, greets Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Dec. 5, 2018
Last week, (click here) the Maiquetia airport outside Caracas was the site of a remarkable event. On Monday, one after another, a series of Russian military aircraft landed in Venezuela. Most notably, the flock included two nuclear-capable, supersonic Tu-160 “White Swan” bombers, along with a passenger plane reportedly bringing about 100 Russian military personnel, and a large cargo plane possibly delivering military equipment.
Just a few days earlier, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and received promises of a $6 billion aid package. Now, Putin was using Venezuela to send a powerful message to Washington. For Maduro, concerned with his regime’s survival, that message was just as useful.
Some three decades after the Cold War faded away, the engines of a new Cold War could be heard roaring back into Latin America....
Why hasn't President Trump denounced the brutality of the Duterte regime?
One of the initiatives President Obama spoke of was ridding the world of extremism. Extremism is where intolerance lives. It is the place where a dictator can hold onto power without question by the people if they are invested in that extremism.
The Philippines used to be a great ally to the USA.
December 28, 1998
By David E. Sanger
The Philippines (click here) told the United States today that it must withdraw from the Subic Bay naval base by the end of 1992, ending a vast American military presence that began with the capture of the islands from Spain in 1898.
The decision, which resulted from an impasse in negotiations, follows a year of intense talks between the countries on the fate of American bases in the Philippines. The announcement also comes just three days before President Bush begins a 12-day Asian tour.
The shutdown of the sprawling Subic Bay base, together with the closing of Clark Air Base after a volcanic eruption this year, amounts to the biggest reduction to date in the United States military presence in the western Pacific. The 60,000-acre Subic base is the Navy's principal supply and ship-repair installation in the region. U.S. to Look for New Sites....
Twenty years is considered a generation of time. It has been just over 20 years from the time the USA left the Phillipines. There are many Phillipine people that immigrated to the USA and have their families here. They are American citizens now.
At this time when Russia is seeking to replace the USA's military in the Phillipines, Trump should be reminding the people of the Phillipines the productive nature the two countries had before a dictator took over and is now killing those that oppose him. But, instead, Trump embraces Duterte and evidently the growing Russia presence in the west Pacific.
January 18, 2018
New York - Phillipine President Rodrigo Duterte's (click here) murderous drug war entered its second year in 2017, resulting in the killing of more than 12,000 drug suspects, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2018. Duterte has responded to increased criticism of his anti-drug campaign by impugning, harassing, and threatening critics of the government and human rights defenders.
Since the “drug war” began on June 30, 2016, Duterte and his officials have publicly reviled, humiliated and, in one instance, jailed human rights advocates. Senator Leila de Lima, the president’s chief critic, has been detained since February 2017 on politically motivated drug charges in apparent retaliation for leading a Senate inquiry into the drug war killings and, early on, opening an investigation of the Davao Death Squad in Davao City, where Duterte was mayor for more than 20 years.
“President Duterte has not only resisted calls to end his brutal ‘drug war,’ but has used populist rhetoric to disparage the brave activists who have been investigating and denouncing his cruel campaign,” said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director. “Since Duterte will never undertake a serious investigation into the ‘war on drugs,’ it’s up to the United Nations to support an international investigation and bring the mass killings to a stop.”...
January 8, 2019
By Prashanth Parameswaran
This week, (click here) Russian vessels paid another scheduled goodwill visit to the Philippines. The interaction between the two sides, the first of its kind in 2019, spotlighted the continued activity within the development of Russia-Philippine defense ties under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s perceived “pivot” to Russia as part of his wider independent foreign policy.
As I have noted before in these pages and elsewhere, one of the consequences of Duterte’s so-called independent foreign policy, which seeks to boost the country’s outreach with countries like China and Russia, has been the slow but sure development of Russia-Philippine defense relations, despite the challenges that still exist.
That includes the maritime realm, where interactions have included visits by Russian vessels to the Philippines and talk about Moscow providing some maritime-related equipment and expertise. 2018 had continued to see some inroads on this front, with a case in point being the first-ever port visit of Philippine naval vessels to Vladivostok in Russia in October....
The Philippines used to be a great ally to the USA.
By David E. Sanger
The Philippines (click here) told the United States today that it must withdraw from the Subic Bay naval base by the end of 1992, ending a vast American military presence that began with the capture of the islands from Spain in 1898.
The decision, which resulted from an impasse in negotiations, follows a year of intense talks between the countries on the fate of American bases in the Philippines. The announcement also comes just three days before President Bush begins a 12-day Asian tour.
The shutdown of the sprawling Subic Bay base, together with the closing of Clark Air Base after a volcanic eruption this year, amounts to the biggest reduction to date in the United States military presence in the western Pacific. The 60,000-acre Subic base is the Navy's principal supply and ship-repair installation in the region. U.S. to Look for New Sites....
Twenty years is considered a generation of time. It has been just over 20 years from the time the USA left the Phillipines. There are many Phillipine people that immigrated to the USA and have their families here. They are American citizens now.
At this time when Russia is seeking to replace the USA's military in the Phillipines, Trump should be reminding the people of the Phillipines the productive nature the two countries had before a dictator took over and is now killing those that oppose him. But, instead, Trump embraces Duterte and evidently the growing Russia presence in the west Pacific.
January 18, 2018
New York - Phillipine President Rodrigo Duterte's (click here) murderous drug war entered its second year in 2017, resulting in the killing of more than 12,000 drug suspects, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2018. Duterte has responded to increased criticism of his anti-drug campaign by impugning, harassing, and threatening critics of the government and human rights defenders.
Since the “drug war” began on June 30, 2016, Duterte and his officials have publicly reviled, humiliated and, in one instance, jailed human rights advocates. Senator Leila de Lima, the president’s chief critic, has been detained since February 2017 on politically motivated drug charges in apparent retaliation for leading a Senate inquiry into the drug war killings and, early on, opening an investigation of the Davao Death Squad in Davao City, where Duterte was mayor for more than 20 years.
“President Duterte has not only resisted calls to end his brutal ‘drug war,’ but has used populist rhetoric to disparage the brave activists who have been investigating and denouncing his cruel campaign,” said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director. “Since Duterte will never undertake a serious investigation into the ‘war on drugs,’ it’s up to the United Nations to support an international investigation and bring the mass killings to a stop.”...
January 8, 2019
By Prashanth Parameswaran
This week, (click here) Russian vessels paid another scheduled goodwill visit to the Philippines. The interaction between the two sides, the first of its kind in 2019, spotlighted the continued activity within the development of Russia-Philippine defense ties under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s perceived “pivot” to Russia as part of his wider independent foreign policy.
As I have noted before in these pages and elsewhere, one of the consequences of Duterte’s so-called independent foreign policy, which seeks to boost the country’s outreach with countries like China and Russia, has been the slow but sure development of Russia-Philippine defense relations, despite the challenges that still exist.
That includes the maritime realm, where interactions have included visits by Russian vessels to the Philippines and talk about Moscow providing some maritime-related equipment and expertise. 2018 had continued to see some inroads on this front, with a case in point being the first-ever port visit of Philippine naval vessels to Vladivostok in Russia in October....
Vladimir Putin: Syria air strikes were an “act of aggression” - BBC News (Putin stated Trump's USA was an aggressor)
Russia, at one time, was Assad's ally. Assad never accepted The West as a friend, regardless, of the obvious alliance between Saudia Arabia and the USA. However, the Russians left Syria during the Iraq war. My only guess is that it didn't like the proximity to potential war between the two powers.
The reason for the civil war in Syria was the climate. We know that for a fact. But, never once during the destabilizing events in Syria did Russia seek to prevent it. It is only recently that Russia again resumed it's place with Syria's Assad. It resumed it's a presence in a very interesting way, with interceptor missiles. This is to end the occasional exchange between Israel and Hezbollah. But, Assad has control of those interceptors and Syria's munitions.
I believe the interceptor missiles are leveraging power against Israel. Why? Why would a country that is one of the Permanent Nuclear Members of the UN Security Council place interceptor missiles in one of the tinderboxes of the world? Israel has had skirmishes in the past, except for Hezbollah it never entered into a direct confrontation with Syria.
Hezbollah is a destabilizing force in the area, but, today it is autonomous. It became autonomous during the rise of Daesh. Why allow that continued power after all is settled? I find it curious.
February 18, 2019
Hundreds of Russian mercenaries (click title for news article - thank you) were reportedly killed by U.S. forces in a failed attack on a U.S.-held military base and refinery last week. Citing U.S. and Russian sources, Bloomberg News reported more than 200 contract killers—mostly Russian citizens fighting for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad—died in what is believed to be the deadliest incident between Russian and U.S. citizens since the Cold War. Russia’s military has disowned any responsibility for the attack in the Deir al-Zour region and a U.S. military spokesperson appeared to accept that claim in a statement. No U.S. coalition casualties have been reported from the attack, but the death toll from the mercenary side is still rising, with soldiers being treated in hospitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Defense Secretary James Mattis is reported to have called the incident “perplexing.” The reported death toll would be far greater than all of the Russian casualties the Kremlin has acknowledged during its Syrian incursion.
The reason for the civil war in Syria was the climate. We know that for a fact. But, never once during the destabilizing events in Syria did Russia seek to prevent it. It is only recently that Russia again resumed it's place with Syria's Assad. It resumed it's a presence in a very interesting way, with interceptor missiles. This is to end the occasional exchange between Israel and Hezbollah. But, Assad has control of those interceptors and Syria's munitions.
I believe the interceptor missiles are leveraging power against Israel. Why? Why would a country that is one of the Permanent Nuclear Members of the UN Security Council place interceptor missiles in one of the tinderboxes of the world? Israel has had skirmishes in the past, except for Hezbollah it never entered into a direct confrontation with Syria.
Hezbollah is a destabilizing force in the area, but, today it is autonomous. It became autonomous during the rise of Daesh. Why allow that continued power after all is settled? I find it curious.
February 18, 2019
Hundreds of Russian mercenaries (click title for news article - thank you) were reportedly killed by U.S. forces in a failed attack on a U.S.-held military base and refinery last week. Citing U.S. and Russian sources, Bloomberg News reported more than 200 contract killers—mostly Russian citizens fighting for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad—died in what is believed to be the deadliest incident between Russian and U.S. citizens since the Cold War. Russia’s military has disowned any responsibility for the attack in the Deir al-Zour region and a U.S. military spokesperson appeared to accept that claim in a statement. No U.S. coalition casualties have been reported from the attack, but the death toll from the mercenary side is still rising, with soldiers being treated in hospitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Defense Secretary James Mattis is reported to have called the incident “perplexing.” The reported death toll would be far greater than all of the Russian casualties the Kremlin has acknowledged during its Syrian incursion.
In several instances, President Obama called on the world for unity. There was unity called for to defeat the charismatic movement of Daesh. There was a call of unity for defeating the climate crisis. He also asked the world to think about selectively moving toward a clear understanding of the quality of life through the measure of health.
The world trusted President Obama for the most part. Putin came to hate The West in a greater measure than anyone evens understands today. Obama did not hold Putin's hand while advancing against a Ukraine that was free to live without fear of war. Instead, President Obama along with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel took a hard line against the tentacles of Russian oligarchs and removing Russia from the G8. It was a huge price to pay, but, instead, Putin grew nationalism within Russia, closed it's borders to internet traffic and pulled up the welcome mat to any investment from the West.
Realize now, that Trump and his family were in dialogue with Russia during the time sanctions were imposed. The sanctions worked. It worked so well that Putin decided to invade the USA a different way. Putin set the path forward to place a president in the Oval Office friendly to Russia and relief would be provided from the sanctions. I believe that is true more than any other explanation for Russia's involvement in the 2016 elections. Trump has proven to be the person Russia used to invade the USA.
The world trusted President Obama for the most part. Putin came to hate The West in a greater measure than anyone evens understands today. Obama did not hold Putin's hand while advancing against a Ukraine that was free to live without fear of war. Instead, President Obama along with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel took a hard line against the tentacles of Russian oligarchs and removing Russia from the G8. It was a huge price to pay, but, instead, Putin grew nationalism within Russia, closed it's borders to internet traffic and pulled up the welcome mat to any investment from the West.
Realize now, that Trump and his family were in dialogue with Russia during the time sanctions were imposed. The sanctions worked. It worked so well that Putin decided to invade the USA a different way. Putin set the path forward to place a president in the Oval Office friendly to Russia and relief would be provided from the sanctions. I believe that is true more than any other explanation for Russia's involvement in the 2016 elections. Trump has proven to be the person Russia used to invade the USA.
President Obama when he spoke to the United Nations spoke from the strength of democracy. He did not see democracy as a weakness, but, a strength. It has been that strength that the USA has grown from it's beginning with promises to better lives to their children.
In the 2014 Obama speech mentioned the aggressive stance, Russia is taking in actions against Ukraine.
I fully expect anyone reading this blog to have listened to the words of President Obama and his reflection on "simple truths" that must be defended. President Obama may have made one of the most defining speeches in recent history that hallmark the place of the USA in the world order.
In that speech, it is alarming to reflect on today and realize in just a few short years the USA is facing a very different reality. Everyone needs to understand there are greater forces at work in the USA that wants to wither democracy to kill it.
In the 2014 Obama speech mentioned the aggressive stance, Russia is taking in actions against Ukraine.
I fully expect anyone reading this blog to have listened to the words of President Obama and his reflection on "simple truths" that must be defended. President Obama may have made one of the most defining speeches in recent history that hallmark the place of the USA in the world order.
In that speech, it is alarming to reflect on today and realize in just a few short years the USA is facing a very different reality. Everyone needs to understand there are greater forces at work in the USA that wants to wither democracy to kill it.
The organic reality was the charismatic movement spewed by Bagdadi. It caught fire and it was obvious the world was facing peril.
Young hearts and minds are always looking to the future, especially when children are involved. Al Bagdadi took those hearts and minds and contorted them in a way that can only be explained as charismatic.
President Obama came forward to lead an initiative to end the charismatic movement within Daesh as well as a military front to end the advancing forces of al Bagdadi.
Sometimes a truth spoken resonates so organically (click here) that it prompts a collective sigh of relief from its listeners—relief that someone has emerged from the crowd to suggest a path forward, allowing us all to shift our footing from collective outrage to collective action. That is the essence of the story behind U.S. leadership of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.
During the first six months of 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) made a dramatic debut on the world stage by capturing a wide swath of Syria and Iraq. It rolled seemingly without resistance through Fallujah, Raqqa, Tikrit and Mosul, even threatening the gates of Baghdad, before announcing the establishment of a caliphate (Islamic state) and declaring Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as caliph—the successor to the Prophet Mohammed.
The speed of the advance, the confidence portrayed through their polished media arm, and the stories that emerged about the horrors of life under ISIS and the persecution of innocents shocked and horrified the world. In August 2014, President Barack Obama ordered air strikes to prevent the fall of the Kurdish city of Erbil and to break the group’s siege on Mount Sinjar, where thousands of ethnic Yazidis had fled after being threatened with genocide. Between Aug. 19 and Sept. 2 of that year, the world witnessed the brutal beheading of U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff at the hands of “Jihadi John”—executions that were as carefully captured on film by ISIS media as the take of a Hollywood movie.
On Sept. 10, 2014, President Obama addressed the nation to declare that the fight against ISIS was our fight, but “not our fight alone.” American power could make a difference, he noted, but Iraq and our other partners in the region would need to be front and center in the effort. He then announced “that America will lead a broad coalition to roll back” ISIS.
The campaign would seek to “degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy.” This would include airstrikes and other support for forces on the ground in Iraq and Syria. The campaign would go after ISIS funding, interrupt the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq and Syria, and discredit the militants’ ideology. It would also intensify our intelligence gathering against the terrorist group and supply humanitarian assistance to those displaced by ISIS.
Concluding his address, President Obama said, “This is American leadership at its best: We stand with people who fight for their own freedom, and we rally other nations on behalf of our common security and common humanity.”...
"The Guardian" has chronicled some of the deepest understandings of Daesh, including the young people that became devoted to a caliphate.
Citizens of the affected countries formed militias to protect from the impending death that would be Daesh. Those groups facilitated response to Bagdadi and pushed him and his band of land thieves out of the land they once called home. Those groups are called enemies by President Assad who was unable to end Daesh by himself. He remains in power because he was able to use the successes of these groups to build on his own barrel bombs. He would come to all these people Daesh when in fact they were only interested in saving their own lives that Assad could not.
21 October 2017
By Jason Burke
Syrian Democratic Forces fighters stand guard in Raqqa on 20 October after retaking the city from Isis militants.
...Yet when we recall Isis at the height of its powers, (click here) the scale of its decline is impressive. By mid-2014 the group controlled a taxable population of some seven or eight million, oilfields and refineries, vast grain stores, lucrative smuggling routes and vast stockpiles of arms and ammunition, as well as entire parks of powerful modern military hardware. Its economic capital was Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city. Isis was the most powerful, wealthiest, best-equipped jihadi force ever seen.
Its success sent shockwaves throughout the Islamic world. What al-Qaida, founded by Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 1988, had talked about doing decades or centuries in the future, an upstart breakaway faction had done in months. Its blitzkrieg campaign and the refounding of an Islamic caliphate – announced from the pulpit of a 950-year-old mosque in Mosul in a speech by its leader, Ibrahim Awwad, the 46-year-old former Islamic law student better known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – easily eclipsed the 9/11 attacks as Islamist extremists’ most spectacular achievement.
In 2014 and 2015, I interviewed young men, and some women, who had found the call of Isis irresistible. They came from Belgium and the Maldives, both thousands of miles from the Levant. A few returned to their homelands to proselytise or, in Europe, to carry out some of the most infamous terrorist attacks ever. Isis inspired others who had not travelled to execute their own attacks, too. From Bangladesh to Florida, hundreds died in a new wave of terrorist acts. A dozen or so Isis “provinces” were established, from West Africa to eastern Asia....
21 October 2017By Jason Burke
Syrian Democratic Forces fighters stand guard in Raqqa on 20 October after retaking the city from Isis militants.
...Yet when we recall Isis at the height of its powers, (click here) the scale of its decline is impressive. By mid-2014 the group controlled a taxable population of some seven or eight million, oilfields and refineries, vast grain stores, lucrative smuggling routes and vast stockpiles of arms and ammunition, as well as entire parks of powerful modern military hardware. Its economic capital was Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city. Isis was the most powerful, wealthiest, best-equipped jihadi force ever seen.
Its success sent shockwaves throughout the Islamic world. What al-Qaida, founded by Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 1988, had talked about doing decades or centuries in the future, an upstart breakaway faction had done in months. Its blitzkrieg campaign and the refounding of an Islamic caliphate – announced from the pulpit of a 950-year-old mosque in Mosul in a speech by its leader, Ibrahim Awwad, the 46-year-old former Islamic law student better known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – easily eclipsed the 9/11 attacks as Islamist extremists’ most spectacular achievement.
In 2014 and 2015, I interviewed young men, and some women, who had found the call of Isis irresistible. They came from Belgium and the Maldives, both thousands of miles from the Levant. A few returned to their homelands to proselytise or, in Europe, to carry out some of the most infamous terrorist attacks ever. Isis inspired others who had not travelled to execute their own attacks, too. From Bangladesh to Florida, hundreds died in a new wave of terrorist acts. A dozen or so Isis “provinces” were established, from West Africa to eastern Asia....
I do not believe Daesh formed as a splinter group from al Qaeda. I believe al Bagdadi was in control all along.
The map to the left is from an article about the mass graves found in Daesh territory. The report that accompanies these maps are from IR Society of NYU.
Over 200 mass graves (click here) left by the Islamic State (ISIS) have been discovered in Iraq, according to a joint report released Tuesday by the United Nations and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is estimated that 6,000-12,000 victims are buried at the sites, including women, children, people with disabilities, the elderly, foreign workers, and members of the Iraqi security forces....
It is a stark reminder that the world was in a terrible state from the years 2014 to 2018 when Daesh is considered to be vanquished. The remnants of this tyranny are holding out, but, what other chance to they have. The women and children, as I understand it, are being used as human shields.
The events of this past week have simply been breathtaking and I want review the modern day history of how we got here.
It starts with Daesh and moves forward in an astounding challenge to democracies because of Putin last attempt to end democratic challenges to his power.
I believe there is an underlying dialogue to international engagements that is not being told so I will take this opportunity to review a few things.
It starts with Daesh and moves forward in an astounding challenge to democracies because of Putin last attempt to end democratic challenges to his power.
I believe there is an underlying dialogue to international engagements that is not being told so I will take this opportunity to review a few things.
Inequality has gone to far to the right.
The Trifecta of Inequality; it is no longer allowed to believe "...but, they can't do anything about it." The Trifecta of Inequality is larger than life in the hands of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
March 16, 2019
By Max Zahn and Andy Serwer
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., left, looks over her notes during testimony by Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. Sitting next to Ocasio-Cortez is Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass.,
Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (click here) is right about the negative effects of inequality but wrong when she says a society with billionaires is an immoral one, said Allianz’s chief economic adviser, Mohamed El-Erian.
“If you create Facebook in your dorm, of course, you should be a billionaire,” El-Erian said, adding that wealth inequality is “a good thing — you incentivize.”
But El-Erian said he agrees with New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about how the gap between rich and poor unfairly narrows economic opportunity for many Americans.
“We're going to risk a major alienation and marginalization of part of our country, which is a real problem,” he said....
By Max Zahn and Andy Serwer
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., left, looks over her notes during testimony by Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. Sitting next to Ocasio-Cortez is Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass.,
Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (click here) is right about the negative effects of inequality but wrong when she says a society with billionaires is an immoral one, said Allianz’s chief economic adviser, Mohamed El-Erian.
“If you create Facebook in your dorm, of course, you should be a billionaire,” El-Erian said, adding that wealth inequality is “a good thing — you incentivize.”
But El-Erian said he agrees with New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about how the gap between rich and poor unfairly narrows economic opportunity for many Americans.
“We're going to risk a major alienation and marginalization of part of our country, which is a real problem,” he said....
Maybe Mulvaney has his head in the country's budget too much, but, when a terrorist comes forward and states the president of the USA serves his ideology it is a reason to look at the way Trump talks to the American people that carries global concerns.
Since Trump is scared of losing his base if he curbs the hate speech, then Trump is a White Supremacist.
Trump is inspiring terrorists with renewed hope of White Supremacy. Hello?
Since Trump is scared of losing his base if he curbs the hate speech, then Trump is a White Supremacist.
Trump is inspiring terrorists with renewed hope of White Supremacy. Hello?
Saturday, March 16, 2019
That is quite enough.
Chelsea Clinton is an exceptionally wonderful woman with a Jewish American family. She does not deserve to be harassed and openly blamed for a mass shooting.
The killing at Christchurch, New Zealand was a horrible act of violence against a community of people. It was carried out because the gunman hated other people. Specifically, he hated Muslims.
His manifesto, while interesting for many reasons, was a conglomerate of ideas that simply make no sense. His act was an act of power, not because he lacked power. He had plenty of power in the weapons that were readily available to him. He carried out the killings because he felt empowered by a rise in hate speech that benefited his ideas and reached halfway around the globe. Those responsible for the hate speech know who they are.
HE DID NOT ACT AGAINST WORDS CRITICIZING ANTI-SEMITISM. HE ACTED. LIKE MOST OTHER MASS KILLERS, BECAUSE HE EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH IT AND INSPIRE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
Chelsea Clinton should be proud of her work and the strong stand she takes against anti-semitism. Those young people involved in this exhibit of hate against a completely innocent woman need to apologize and mean it.
March 16, 2019
Washington – Video of Chelsea Clinton (click here) being confronted by several students who claimed her "rhetoric" had "stoked" the New Zealand mosque attacks went viral Saturday — and allowed for an unexpected bipartisan moment as Republicans came to her defense.
The video was taken Friday at a vigil in New York for the 50 victims of the shootings, which targeted two mosques in Christchurch. Students confronted Clinton, who is pregnant with her third child, over statements she'd made denouncing anti-Semitism.
"This right here is the result of a massacre stoked by people like you and the words that you put out into the world," one student said in the video. "I want you to know that and I want you to feel that deep inside. The 49 people died because of the rhetoric you put out there."
Other students who circled around started snapping in support, a show of solidarity instead of clapping....
The killing at Christchurch, New Zealand was a horrible act of violence against a community of people. It was carried out because the gunman hated other people. Specifically, he hated Muslims.
His manifesto, while interesting for many reasons, was a conglomerate of ideas that simply make no sense. His act was an act of power, not because he lacked power. He had plenty of power in the weapons that were readily available to him. He carried out the killings because he felt empowered by a rise in hate speech that benefited his ideas and reached halfway around the globe. Those responsible for the hate speech know who they are.
HE DID NOT ACT AGAINST WORDS CRITICIZING ANTI-SEMITISM. HE ACTED. LIKE MOST OTHER MASS KILLERS, BECAUSE HE EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH IT AND INSPIRE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
Chelsea Clinton should be proud of her work and the strong stand she takes against anti-semitism. Those young people involved in this exhibit of hate against a completely innocent woman need to apologize and mean it.
March 16, 2019
Washington – Video of Chelsea Clinton (click here) being confronted by several students who claimed her "rhetoric" had "stoked" the New Zealand mosque attacks went viral Saturday — and allowed for an unexpected bipartisan moment as Republicans came to her defense.
The video was taken Friday at a vigil in New York for the 50 victims of the shootings, which targeted two mosques in Christchurch. Students confronted Clinton, who is pregnant with her third child, over statements she'd made denouncing anti-Semitism.
"This right here is the result of a massacre stoked by people like you and the words that you put out into the world," one student said in the video. "I want you to know that and I want you to feel that deep inside. The 49 people died because of the rhetoric you put out there."
Other students who circled around started snapping in support, a show of solidarity instead of clapping....
Friday, March 15, 2019
You ready for this? The "Great Lakes Water Authority," the one created by Snyder, wants to allow higher lead levels in the water.
This is the biggest joke I think I have ever seen in my life. The Great Lakes Water Authority was created following the occupation of Flint, Michigan by Snyders' Emergency Manager. The creation of the GLWA is the reason Snyder didn't respond to Flint's lead levels until the entire country became aware of it.
March 14, 2019
By Ron Fonger
The authority (click here) that sells water to the city of Flint sued the state to block stricter lead in water rules but says it’s interested in resolving the matter out of court.
“All parties have expressed an interest in finding common ground to resolve the pending lawsuit without court intervention,” the Great Lakes Water Authority said in a statement to MLive-The Flint Journal.
"GLWA believes that further out-of-court discussions of the Lead and Copper Rules between the parties will ensure the continued protection of public health and safety of all Michigan residents and will establish better coordination of infrastructure repair and renewal throughout the state.”...
As if Governor Whitmer doesn't have enough to deal with after Rick Snyder was in office for two terms, this needs to be investigated. There was a lot of slight of hand with the development of the new water authority. No one wanted it, but, with both Flint and Detroit having financial issues, they were given no other choice.
Febraury 2, 2016
It was a last-chance meeting, (click here) an attempt to help two financially ailing cities reach a mutually beneficial water deal.
But the April 19, 2013, gathering of state, Flint and Detroit officials produced no new agreement and left Flint on a course toward disconnection from Michigan’s largest water system. It would eventually lead to a public health crisis whose effects are expected to be felt for years, if not decades.
On April 17, 2013, Detroit’s Water and Sewerage Department sent Flint a notice of termination indicating the flow of water would stop in one year. It came on the heels of Flint officials announcing they had agreed to join a new regional authority based in Genesee County that would be completed in a few years.
Detroit water officials battled to keep Flint and Genesee County from breaking off, charging that the proposed regional body, the Karegnondi Water Authority, was flawed and too expensive. Flint area officials were convinced that Detroit’s estimates about building a new pipeline to Lake Huron and operating the regional authority were inflated....
Detroit was sort of bribed in the end when the new authority came on line. It was promised monies from the water sales that would go into a separate fund to improve the water infrastructure in Detroit. The city had no way of carrying out such improvements, so it conceded.
There have been a lot of strange events that occurred after the Flint Water Crisis. This for instance absolutely astounded people.
There probably needs to be a Blue Ribbon Panel to review what occurred in Flint, including with it's new water provider, and the events affiliated with it that either would not have happened or should not have happened after the Flint Crisis.
The Snyder administration used the emergency manager law to take advantage of African American communities. One of the abuses was the sale of a public park in Benton Harbor. It sold for $102,000. That is not a great deal of money and it was a poor reason to take away a public park from the people in Benton Harbor. Today, a dialysis center was build there and it brings in a lot more than $102,000 every year.
The abuses of power by Snyder are numerous and Governor Whitmer has many issues to address. The Governor could take executive action for a panel to look into abuses by Snyder. The state legislature is Republcan and proving to be too worried about their actions under Snyder they are continually obstructing measures by the Governor to improve quality of life of Michiganders.
2016
By Denis Huxtabook
While much of the public scrutiny (click here) focuses on Governor Rick Snyder for his mishandling of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, his subordinates share some, if not most, of the blame. The origins of the water crisis date back to April 16, 2013, when both Flint and Detroit were under emergency management appointed by Governor Rick Snyder. When Ed Kurtz, Flint's Emergency Manager at the time, authorized creating a new water district that would reroute Flint's water supply from the expensive Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) to Lake Huron, Detroit's Emergency Manager Kevin Orr informed him that they had to give a one-year notice to terminate the 50-year contract. This would have resulted in even higher costs since the project wouldn't be completed by April, 2014. Detroit's attempt to exploit Flint's financial crisis, while it was in the midst of a financial crisis itself, should have been reason enough for Governor Snyder to reassess his managerial approach to his states' issues, but alas it was not. Fast forward to February of 2014, DWSD director Sue McCormick offered Flint an opportunity to continue using their water supply until their pipeline was complete; enter newly appointed Emergency Manager Darnell Earley and this letter he sent to McCormick that inflamed the crisis.
As if Governor Whitmer doesn't have enough to deal with after Rick Snyder was in office for two terms, this needs to be investigated. There was a lot of slight of hand with the development of the new water authority. No one wanted it, but, with both Flint and Detroit having financial issues, they were given no other choice.
Febraury 2, 2016
It was a last-chance meeting, (click here) an attempt to help two financially ailing cities reach a mutually beneficial water deal.
But the April 19, 2013, gathering of state, Flint and Detroit officials produced no new agreement and left Flint on a course toward disconnection from Michigan’s largest water system. It would eventually lead to a public health crisis whose effects are expected to be felt for years, if not decades.
On April 17, 2013, Detroit’s Water and Sewerage Department sent Flint a notice of termination indicating the flow of water would stop in one year. It came on the heels of Flint officials announcing they had agreed to join a new regional authority based in Genesee County that would be completed in a few years.
Detroit water officials battled to keep Flint and Genesee County from breaking off, charging that the proposed regional body, the Karegnondi Water Authority, was flawed and too expensive. Flint area officials were convinced that Detroit’s estimates about building a new pipeline to Lake Huron and operating the regional authority were inflated....
Detroit was sort of bribed in the end when the new authority came on line. It was promised monies from the water sales that would go into a separate fund to improve the water infrastructure in Detroit. The city had no way of carrying out such improvements, so it conceded.
There have been a lot of strange events that occurred after the Flint Water Crisis. This for instance absolutely astounded people.
There probably needs to be a Blue Ribbon Panel to review what occurred in Flint, including with it's new water provider, and the events affiliated with it that either would not have happened or should not have happened after the Flint Crisis.
The Snyder administration used the emergency manager law to take advantage of African American communities. One of the abuses was the sale of a public park in Benton Harbor. It sold for $102,000. That is not a great deal of money and it was a poor reason to take away a public park from the people in Benton Harbor. Today, a dialysis center was build there and it brings in a lot more than $102,000 every year.
The abuses of power by Snyder are numerous and Governor Whitmer has many issues to address. The Governor could take executive action for a panel to look into abuses by Snyder. The state legislature is Republcan and proving to be too worried about their actions under Snyder they are continually obstructing measures by the Governor to improve quality of life of Michiganders.
2016
By Denis Huxtabook
While much of the public scrutiny (click here) focuses on Governor Rick Snyder for his mishandling of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, his subordinates share some, if not most, of the blame. The origins of the water crisis date back to April 16, 2013, when both Flint and Detroit were under emergency management appointed by Governor Rick Snyder. When Ed Kurtz, Flint's Emergency Manager at the time, authorized creating a new water district that would reroute Flint's water supply from the expensive Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) to Lake Huron, Detroit's Emergency Manager Kevin Orr informed him that they had to give a one-year notice to terminate the 50-year contract. This would have resulted in even higher costs since the project wouldn't be completed by April, 2014. Detroit's attempt to exploit Flint's financial crisis, while it was in the midst of a financial crisis itself, should have been reason enough for Governor Snyder to reassess his managerial approach to his states' issues, but alas it was not. Fast forward to February of 2014, DWSD director Sue McCormick offered Flint an opportunity to continue using their water supply until their pipeline was complete; enter newly appointed Emergency Manager Darnell Earley and this letter he sent to McCormick that inflamed the crisis.
It is reminescent of September 11, 2001 attacks.
The 911 murderers were in the USA for some time. They studied within the USA and learned to fly the jets they would use to murder. It is difficult to detect such people within a country's borders. The infrastructure has to be addressed for the ones that slip through security cracks.
Places of worship are very vulnerable. In the way the killer carried out the task it reminded me of the attacks on the Jewish synagogue in Philadelphia. A single madman with hatred so thick he could not see people, but, only the purpose.
March 15, 2019
By Mike Eckel
...In all, 49, (click here) people were killed and more than 20 wounded in the March 15 attack on two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. An Australian man who claimed responsibility for the shootings said in a manifesto that he came to New Zealand only to plan and prepare for the attack....
Unfortunately, this is New Zealand's first attack and it should be it's last. There needs to be legislature passed with funding attached to mandate security at places of worship. I know worshipers like the idea of leaving their security in God's hands, but, obviously when it comes to the evil that lives in the world God does not necessarily see it and protect from it.
In modern days it appears one hate filled man can slip through many cracks, including those God sends to protect the devoted worshipers of the faith.
Places of worship must take measures to protect those that come to carry out their devotions to God under a single roof with people they know and love. This was a massacre. It needs to end with worship that is secure.
Places of worship are very vulnerable. In the way the killer carried out the task it reminded me of the attacks on the Jewish synagogue in Philadelphia. A single madman with hatred so thick he could not see people, but, only the purpose.
March 15, 2019
By Mike Eckel
...In all, 49, (click here) people were killed and more than 20 wounded in the March 15 attack on two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. An Australian man who claimed responsibility for the shootings said in a manifesto that he came to New Zealand only to plan and prepare for the attack....
Unfortunately, this is New Zealand's first attack and it should be it's last. There needs to be legislature passed with funding attached to mandate security at places of worship. I know worshipers like the idea of leaving their security in God's hands, but, obviously when it comes to the evil that lives in the world God does not necessarily see it and protect from it.
In modern days it appears one hate filled man can slip through many cracks, including those God sends to protect the devoted worshipers of the faith.
Places of worship must take measures to protect those that come to carry out their devotions to God under a single roof with people they know and love. This was a massacre. It needs to end with worship that is secure.
The USA FBI needs to go to New Zealand. This wonderful country doesn’t know what it is up against. Australian intelligence should respond as well.
Christchurch has had more than it’s fair share of tragedy in recent years. This is unheard of in that country. They understand terrorist attacks through allies, but, this is the first such tragedy for them and securing the country to end the hatred and violence is new. I am certain New Zealanders are horrified be this act.
My sincerest sympathies to the families, friends and the community of Christchurch and all of New Zealand. This is an unbelievable tragedy for such a wonderful country. In many ways this happened to all of us.
Christchurch has had more than it’s fair share of tragedy in recent years. This is unheard of in that country. They understand terrorist attacks through allies, but, this is the first such tragedy for them and securing the country to end the hatred and violence is new. I am certain New Zealanders are horrified be this act.
My sincerest sympathies to the families, friends and the community of Christchurch and all of New Zealand. This is an unbelievable tragedy for such a wonderful country. In many ways this happened to all of us.
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