According to the Jerusalem Post, Israel ran a mission into Syria to end a transfer of very lethal weapons to Hezbollah. It is believed the Russian jet was shot down by Syrian friendly fire killing st least 15 people. The Israeli mission was conducted at a military facility. 

Israel has a right to defend itself and this is an ongoing operation to prevent munitions from reaching Hezbollah. So, for as sad an outcome that this is for Russia, these types of strikes against Hezbollah is not unusual.

Why isn’t President Trump taking care of business and standing up for Israel’s right to defend itself. I am sure if Israel had it’s way there would be no casualties, but only destroyed weapons to prevent any escalation of the war by Hezbollah.

I am very disappointed that Trump hasn’t testified before the Grand Jury.

SEE!

Trump is pushing the US Senate for a Monday VIEWING of Dr. Ford. He is going to say “give me a break,” with a face and body like that how could anyone entertain any kind of assault. Trump backs pediphiles, there is no reason to trust his judgement about anything yet alone the future of American women’s right to there bodies.

Dr. Ford is the victim. The FBI needs to complete their investigation before 
Dr. Ford testifies. There is a chance the FBI findings may bring enough information to the Senate Committee to bring about a new reality about Kavanaugh and Dr. Fords’ public testimony won’t be necessary. I am sure this is stressful for her and her family.

This is the reality in the USA. The deaths are currently at 32 Americans.

Wilmington is surrounded by water and it's electricity is out. That is very dangerous. Sanitation becomes difficult for people and potable water will be in demand to bring high prices. These are not peaceful conditions. If people become desperate they will seek to solve their problems. The idea of boat flotillas should be entertained to bring back food and water and water filters if this isn't resolving. The waters have to recede. Electricity could be out for several weeks.

In western North Carolina, there were mudslides. I have never heard of such things in North Carolina before. A state can't address these problems alone. These are enormous, but, remember if the USA had addressed the climate crisis as it should have, it would not be happening year after year. The country can no longer postpone a movement to address it's greenhouse gas emissions. The price of ignoring it is too high.

September 17, 2018
By John Bacon and Jorge L. Ortez

Storm-weary residents of North Carolina (click here) struggled Monday to loosen the grip of Florence, the lingering killer that has closed more than 100 roads, cut off power to almost 500,000 homes and businesses and essentially cut off the city of Wilmington from the world.

At least 32 people in the Carolinas have died in the storm's wreckage, including a 1-year-old boy ripped from his mother's arms by the raging waters of a flooded creek. Two dozen of the deaths were in North Carolina, according to state officials and emergency workers.

"This is an epic storm that is still continuing," Gov. Roy Cooper said. "The rivers are still rising. This is a monumental disaster for North Carolina."

Wilmington, a coastal city of 120,000, has been deluged by 2 feet of rain since Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Most traffic lights were out and homes dark. Flooding could get worse – the Cape Fear River was forecast to crest Tuesday....

Kim Jung Un needs to speak before the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council.

Before I address Un's focus; Israel knows everything that occurs near their borders. If Israel states their jets were back in Israeli airspace when the Russian jet was shot down, then Israel's jets were back in their own airspace. I am sure Israel has proof of that.

If Israeli jets were in Syrian airspace for some reason, the missile might have been intended for them and instead met with a Russian jet.

The fact of the matter is Syria's war has gone on for so long the militaries within that country don't even remember what the mission is, especially with a migration of militias in the area. Assad needs to end the killing. This has to stop in some manner, otherwise, it will go on forever. Currently, Syria is a failed state.

The countries in the region came together to end Daesh, I suggest they can do the same to end the continued tragedy that is Syria. The countries including Israel and Iran need to plan a summit to bring an end to the killing in Syria and imagine a plan that can provide for Syria's people to return to farm and sell their merchandise and begin lives dedicated to peace.

Kindly remember when George W. Bush wanted to rebuild Iraq there were many that came forward for that purpose as well. Syria, if peace among all it's people is it's goal, should receive no less a plan to secure the country for peace and prosperity for the Syrian people.

But, as to the ambitions of Kim Jung Un; he would like what most every other country would like and that is disarmament of all nuclear powers, including that of the five permanent members of the United Nations' Security Council.

Having the Supreme Leader of North Korea travel to the United Nations and speak to the General Assembly and Security Council to begin enforcement of the Non-Proliferation Treaty could begin a solid commitment to do so. The Treaty was supposed to ultimately end the existence of nuclear weapons in the world. In addition, there is another document calling for exactly that.

July 7, 2017
By Rick Gladstone

A photograph released by the North Korean state news agency in May is said to show the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, in a white shirt, watching a weapons test at an undisclosed location. Mr. Kim is threatening a nuclear-tipped missile strike on American soil.

For the first time in the seven-decade effort to avert a nuclear war, (click here) a global treaty has been negotiated that proponents say would, if successful, lead to the destruction of all nuclear weapons and forever prohibit their use.

Negotiators representing two-thirds of the 192-member United Nations finalized the 10-page treaty this week after months of talks.

The document, called the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, was formally adopted on Friday at United Nations headquarters in New York during the final session of the negotiation conference.

It will be open for signature by any member state starting on Sept. 20 during the annual General Assembly and would enter into legal force 90 days after being ratified by 50 countries....

I do not doubt the Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un will disarm from nuclear weapons, but, with reservations until the rest of the nuclear missiles in the world are destroyed. His greatest hurdle is going to be the five permanent nuclear nations. The ones that will be most belligerent are China and especially Russia.

See, Russia's conventional forces are not up to the capacity of the USA. One can say it is laziness by its leaders in that the country because it relies on nuclear brinkmanship to even protect its sovereignty.

China is a new player in the world. I believe China prides itself on the five-year plans for the country and sees the future as an economic boom for the Chinese people. China is an honorable country that has even made remarkable plans to end the greenhouse gas emissions. But, would China disarm from it's current nuclear capacity? Perhaps, but, not until it also felt confident it's conventional weapons were more than sufficient to end any western aggression. If China were comfortable with it's ability for a national defense, perhaps Russia would as well. Russia and China are steadfast allies.

Kim Jong Un is a young leader. He has many hopes for his children and I am sure one is to end the threat of nuclear weapons in the world. I do not believe he wants war of any kind, but, the smaller nuclear nations will be reluctant as well. They see the five permanent nuclear countries as a threat that cannot be ignored. Dr. Khan did not do the world any favors by exporting Pakistani nuclear technology. 

On the other hand, France was contemplating the end of their nuclear weapons until this past year when it reversed it's course and kept their program alive. I would suggest Kim Jong Un may have a strong partner in pursuing the end to nuclear weapons in the world by building a strong friendship with France in that pursuit. I believe France's commitment along with North Korea's commitment would bring about a new day in nuclear non-proliferation. The majority of the world would like to see it happen; it is about time it did.

As to the US. It needs to include non-proliferation in it's politics. The politics of the USA is far to violent and it is not based in fact or reality. The politics of the USA has to return to domestic peace, ending gun violence, educating its children to be highly ranked in the world and ending the threat of the Climate Crisis. The southeast USA where Republicans have strongholds just received a strong storm that devastated those states. If the Climate Crisis is not evident between last year and this year, then the politics are too toxic to serve the people and the people need to change their ways. If the rest of the world is talking peace and non-proliferation; the USA's politics are not at all based in fact and the people need to finally come to terms with it's violent culture.

September 19, 2018

- Kim Jung Un (click here) promises to visit Seoul and dismantle nuclear facility 'if the U.S. takes similar steps': North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in signed a joint declaration which includes a promise to permanently dismantle North Korea nuclear missile plants. The United States, Kim Jong Un demanded, has to agree to end hostilities. 

The FBI needs to continue to address the allegations by Christine Blasey Ford.

I don't want to hear about "the timing." Senator Feinstein received the letter or at least her office did and the letter specifically states Ms. Ford was no to be involved in coming forward. What is a US Senator suppose to do, except, ask the FBI to validate the allegations? The timing has nothing to do with it.

Additionally, Senator Cornyn is demeaning Dr. Ford by saying her allegations are baseless in that there are no specifics. Well, she hasn't testified yet and there hasn't been a complete investigation by the FBI.

The hearing for Ms. Ford should take place after the FBI has investigated the FACTS. If that doesn't happen there will be a circus of all kinds of people coming forward on televisions across the country. People that know Dr. Ford and know the circumstances regarding the assault. They will be speaking to the public to support Dr. Ford's testimony and making fools of the US Senate Judicial Committee. That won't help the tone of the country very much. Do the Republicans actually want that backlash. It sure didn't help Mr. Moore. Ah, but, the voters don't matter to the Republicans until the actual election, so they can railroad the hearing and vote through.

What's the hurry? Scared this might be true and Dr. Ford has facts about Judge Kavanaugh that need to be swept under the carpet?

In all sincerity, it is only Donald Trump that wants Kavanaugh railroaded to confirmation. I don't believe any US Senator on the committee actually wants this to go wrong. I think they want it to go right and have the FACTS before them while testimony is given. 

No one knows what the FBI will turn up and the country needs to be protected from any rush to judgment.

I am impressed Dr. Ford has attorneys. I don't recall if Dr. Hill did during the nomination of Clarence Thomas. I believe she represented herself. Dr. Ford obviously is taking this very seriously and everyone should be grateful she is willing to bring about an understanding about Mr. Kavanaugh.

September 18, 2018

By Louie Villalobus

Christine Blasey Ford, (click here) who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, is asking for an FBI investigation before she will agree to testify at a Senate hearing, according to a letter her attorneys sent Tuesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Ford's two attorneys sent a letter to Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, saying that Ford has been targeted by "vicious harassment and even death threats" since coming forward with the allegations over the weekend.

"While Dr. Ford’s life was being turned upside down, you and your staff scheduled a public hearing for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen U.S. senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident," attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks wrote.

"The hearing was scheduled for six short days from today and would include interrogation by senators who appear to have made up their minds that she is 'mistaken' and 'mixed up.' While no sexual assault survivor should be subjected to such an ordeal, Dr. Ford wants to cooperate with the committee and with law enforcement officials."

Ford's attorneys said an FBI investigation "should be the first step in addressing her allegations."...

"A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions," the letter says....