She is magnificent. She is speaking out on behalf of both Muslims and Isreal because of their common enemy. An enemy that attacks their civil rights and the very lives the USA values the most over any difference that brings these two peoples together in her advocacy.
She makes me proud of my country. From a 2-year-old refugee to the US House of Representative manifesting in insight that brings two Abrahamic religions to a common ground to end hate. She is amazing.
On the "All In with Chris Hayes," her smile is bigger, her eyes gentle and happy and her voice with her message amazingly calm and diplomatic. I am grateful for our USA programs of compassion and elevation of those least able to protect their very lives. Her life is a verification that the USA has incredible compassion for the least in the world. She is a small miracle of the USA democracy.
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Page 8 of the report. Also page 16 of the 448 pdf of the report.
THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S CHARGING DECISIONS
In reaching the charging decisions described in Volume 1 of the report, the Office determined whether the conduct it found amounted to a violation of federal criminal law chargeable under the Principles of Federal Prosecution. See Justice Manual § 9-27.000 et seq. (2018). The standard set forth in the Justice Manual is whether the conduct constitutes a crime; if so, whether admissible evidence would probably be sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction;
Justice Manual § 9-27.000 et seq. (2018) (click here)
That manual was recently revised. It is a huge conflict of interest for this administration to bring about a new decision making manual when it was facing an inquiry into Russian influence in the 2016 election. The manual should have been applied by the following administration once it was reviewed. It is like raises for Congress and the president. They are voted by one administration and begun with the signature of the next.
This is even more reason for the US House to have the complete document of the Special Counsel Report and supporting documents. I would like to know what the Former Directors' Comey and Mueller think of the new manual. I would expect Congress to open up inquiries to that effect as well; ie: did US Attorneys drop investigations and prosecutions because of the new manual?
"The Revised Manual for Federal Prosecutors" (click here)
A Pragmatic Approach to Being Tough on Crime – Including White Collar Crime
Barry M. Hartman, Michael D. McKay, Megan N. Moore, David I. Kelch
In reaching the charging decisions described in Volume 1 of the report, the Office determined whether the conduct it found amounted to a violation of federal criminal law chargeable under the Principles of Federal Prosecution. See Justice Manual § 9-27.000 et seq. (2018). The standard set forth in the Justice Manual is whether the conduct constitutes a crime; if so, whether admissible evidence would probably be sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction;
Justice Manual § 9-27.000 et seq. (2018) (click here)
That manual was recently revised. It is a huge conflict of interest for this administration to bring about a new decision making manual when it was facing an inquiry into Russian influence in the 2016 election. The manual should have been applied by the following administration once it was reviewed. It is like raises for Congress and the president. They are voted by one administration and begun with the signature of the next.
This is even more reason for the US House to have the complete document of the Special Counsel Report and supporting documents. I would like to know what the Former Directors' Comey and Mueller think of the new manual. I would expect Congress to open up inquiries to that effect as well; ie: did US Attorneys drop investigations and prosecutions because of the new manual?
"The Revised Manual for Federal Prosecutors" (click here)
A Pragmatic Approach to Being Tough on Crime – Including White Collar Crime
Barry M. Hartman, Michael D. McKay, Megan N. Moore, David I. Kelch
18 December 2018
The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) recently released a comprehensive update and review of the United States Attorneys’ Manual, now called the Justice Manual (the “Manual”). [1] The last substantial overhaul of the Manual was in 1997. [2] The Manual is a Department-wide document applicable to the entire DOJ, not just the U.S. Attorneys. It compiles DOJ policy, procedure, and guidance in one publicly accessible location. The Manual, while not binding, [3] is regularly consulted by DOJ officials when making charging decisions, determining enforcement priorities, and conducting other day-to-day functions. Because the DOJ—with its 93 offices and main office—does not operate as a monolith, the Manual is designed to strike the appropriate balance between global consistency and respecting prosecutorial discretion. In the updated Manual, the DOJ incorporated significant internal policy memoranda not previously included in the United States Attorneys’ Manual, eliminated redundancies, clarified some policies, and updated policies to reflect current law and practice. For instance, the Manual incorporates former Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s 2017 memorandum urging prosecutors to “charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense.” [4].
This is called corruption. There should be no Executive Branch aspirations for the DOJ. The DOJ is supposed to operate independently from the Oval Office. The idea Trump imposed political directives on the DOJ is outrageous.
Here again, Trump has overreached and deregulated from the Oval Office. These are legislative decisions. Questions need to be asked of the US Attorneys to find out if this new manual exonerated or relieved any Trump properties of regulation. I know they cause a lot of problems in Chicago with water quality.
The update also reflects two Trump Administration priorities for the DOJ: (1) reducing the extent to which prosecutorial decisions are perceived to be over-regulation and over- criminalization of traditional regulatory offenses and (2) deterring crime through the implementation of “tough on crime” policies. The DOJ’s fiscal year 2019 budget request reflects these two goals, emphasizing measures to reduce violent drug crime and the Trump Administration’s commitment “to establishing a smaller, leaner federal government that reduces, both, bureaucracy and costs to the American taxpayer.” [5] This Alert analyzes notable updates to the Manual and considers how these may impact the DOJ’s enforcement priorities. [6]
The Manual Recommends More Business-Friendly Enforcement Policies
The Trump Administration has made deregulation and the reduction of federal bureaucracy a top priority, [7] which is reflected in two important changes to the Manual. First, the Manual incorporates many of the principles found in the so-called Granston Memorandum. [8] Additionally, the Manual now explicitly discourages “piling on” of fines, penalties, and forfeitures and encourages a consideration of the interests of other enforcement entities when making prosecutorial decisions. In November 2018, the DOJ also incorporated important limitations to the Yates Memorandum. [9] Together, these changes—which are analyzed further below—demonstrate a distinct preference for business-friendly prosecutorial policies that could reduce some of the burden on businesses related to federal enforcement. [10]
I would think any entity negatively effected by this new manual, since it is non-binding, should pursue relief in court taking into consideration the new decision tree. I am confident there are problems occurring in expectations, including that of US Attorneys.
The entire idea this is now a political document rather than a legal one is reason to throw it in the nearest dumpster.
Incorporation of the Granston Memorandum....
The inclusion of this memorandum is new. It is more addition of corruption.
May 2018
By Gerald L. Aben, Dykema, Ann Arbor, MI and Lea Courington, Dykema, Dallas, Texas
A recent memorandum (Memo) (click here) issued by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to attorneys in the Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Fraud Section suggests that the DOJ may be adopting a more assertive attitude with regards to dismissal of False Claims Act (FCA) qui tam cases.1 The Memo, authored by Michael Granston, Director of the Civil Fraud Section and issued on January 10, 2018, addresses the DOJ’s authority to dismiss a FCA qui tam case under 31 U.S.C. § 3730(c)(2)(A) and outlines a number of factors that DOJ attorneys should use to determine whether the DOJ should seek dismissal when it has otherwise declined to intervene....
This memo alone creates a lot of problems for the rights of Americans. First, it creates a judge and jury out of a prosecutor. Now, prosecutors have to take viable claims of lawlessness on the merits. This memo allows prosecutors to dismiss an entire lawsuit if it appears to be something they don't want to prosecute or litigate. It is more of a political paradigm written in fancy language to cause it to sound as though it has brevity to average Americans. Lawyers in practice need to critic this entire mess that Sessions installed into the DOJ.
I think this politicizing of the DOJ decision manual should be brought up regularly in litigation to invoke an inert status to it's priorities.
There is a law that has been in existence for a long time that addresses these issues and manifested from legislation, not a Trump wish list.
The False Claims Act: A Primer (click here)
The False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 - 3733 was enacted in 1863 by a Congress concerned that suppliers of goods to the Union Army during the Civil War were defrauding the Army. The FCA provided that any person who knowingly submitted false claims to the government was liable for double the government’s damages plus a penalty of $2,000 for each false claim. Since then, the FCA has been amended several times. In 1986, there were significant changes to the FCA, including increasing damages from double damages to treble damages and raising the penalties from $2,000 to a range of $5,000 to $10,000. The FCA has been amended three times since 1986. Over the life of the statute it has been interpreted on hundreds of occasions by federal courts (which sometimes issue conflicting interpretations of the statute). The purpose of this primer is not to explain how the FCA evolved over the decades or to discuss judicial interpretations of its provisions. Rather, in this primer we simply explain the most significant elements of the FCA to give one new to the statute an introductory understanding of the FCA and how it works. The complete text of the False Claims Act is provided at the end of this primer....
Bill Barr is chasing down the myth of a federal investigation that never should have been conducted because it will negate all the work AND CONVICTIONS of the investigation. In that is the reality that Manafort will walk without Trump signing a pardon.
continued in next entry
The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) recently released a comprehensive update and review of the United States Attorneys’ Manual, now called the Justice Manual (the “Manual”). [1] The last substantial overhaul of the Manual was in 1997. [2] The Manual is a Department-wide document applicable to the entire DOJ, not just the U.S. Attorneys. It compiles DOJ policy, procedure, and guidance in one publicly accessible location. The Manual, while not binding, [3] is regularly consulted by DOJ officials when making charging decisions, determining enforcement priorities, and conducting other day-to-day functions. Because the DOJ—with its 93 offices and main office—does not operate as a monolith, the Manual is designed to strike the appropriate balance between global consistency and respecting prosecutorial discretion. In the updated Manual, the DOJ incorporated significant internal policy memoranda not previously included in the United States Attorneys’ Manual, eliminated redundancies, clarified some policies, and updated policies to reflect current law and practice. For instance, the Manual incorporates former Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s 2017 memorandum urging prosecutors to “charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense.” [4].
This is called corruption. There should be no Executive Branch aspirations for the DOJ. The DOJ is supposed to operate independently from the Oval Office. The idea Trump imposed political directives on the DOJ is outrageous.
Here again, Trump has overreached and deregulated from the Oval Office. These are legislative decisions. Questions need to be asked of the US Attorneys to find out if this new manual exonerated or relieved any Trump properties of regulation. I know they cause a lot of problems in Chicago with water quality.
The update also reflects two Trump Administration priorities for the DOJ: (1) reducing the extent to which prosecutorial decisions are perceived to be over-regulation and over- criminalization of traditional regulatory offenses and (2) deterring crime through the implementation of “tough on crime” policies. The DOJ’s fiscal year 2019 budget request reflects these two goals, emphasizing measures to reduce violent drug crime and the Trump Administration’s commitment “to establishing a smaller, leaner federal government that reduces, both, bureaucracy and costs to the American taxpayer.” [5] This Alert analyzes notable updates to the Manual and considers how these may impact the DOJ’s enforcement priorities. [6]
The Manual Recommends More Business-Friendly Enforcement Policies
The Trump Administration has made deregulation and the reduction of federal bureaucracy a top priority, [7] which is reflected in two important changes to the Manual. First, the Manual incorporates many of the principles found in the so-called Granston Memorandum. [8] Additionally, the Manual now explicitly discourages “piling on” of fines, penalties, and forfeitures and encourages a consideration of the interests of other enforcement entities when making prosecutorial decisions. In November 2018, the DOJ also incorporated important limitations to the Yates Memorandum. [9] Together, these changes—which are analyzed further below—demonstrate a distinct preference for business-friendly prosecutorial policies that could reduce some of the burden on businesses related to federal enforcement. [10]
I would think any entity negatively effected by this new manual, since it is non-binding, should pursue relief in court taking into consideration the new decision tree. I am confident there are problems occurring in expectations, including that of US Attorneys.
The entire idea this is now a political document rather than a legal one is reason to throw it in the nearest dumpster.
Incorporation of the Granston Memorandum....
The inclusion of this memorandum is new. It is more addition of corruption.
May 2018
By Gerald L. Aben, Dykema, Ann Arbor, MI and Lea Courington, Dykema, Dallas, Texas
A recent memorandum (Memo) (click here) issued by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to attorneys in the Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Fraud Section suggests that the DOJ may be adopting a more assertive attitude with regards to dismissal of False Claims Act (FCA) qui tam cases.1 The Memo, authored by Michael Granston, Director of the Civil Fraud Section and issued on January 10, 2018, addresses the DOJ’s authority to dismiss a FCA qui tam case under 31 U.S.C. § 3730(c)(2)(A) and outlines a number of factors that DOJ attorneys should use to determine whether the DOJ should seek dismissal when it has otherwise declined to intervene....
This memo alone creates a lot of problems for the rights of Americans. First, it creates a judge and jury out of a prosecutor. Now, prosecutors have to take viable claims of lawlessness on the merits. This memo allows prosecutors to dismiss an entire lawsuit if it appears to be something they don't want to prosecute or litigate. It is more of a political paradigm written in fancy language to cause it to sound as though it has brevity to average Americans. Lawyers in practice need to critic this entire mess that Sessions installed into the DOJ.
I think this politicizing of the DOJ decision manual should be brought up regularly in litigation to invoke an inert status to it's priorities.
There is a law that has been in existence for a long time that addresses these issues and manifested from legislation, not a Trump wish list.
The False Claims Act: A Primer (click here)
The False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 - 3733 was enacted in 1863 by a Congress concerned that suppliers of goods to the Union Army during the Civil War were defrauding the Army. The FCA provided that any person who knowingly submitted false claims to the government was liable for double the government’s damages plus a penalty of $2,000 for each false claim. Since then, the FCA has been amended several times. In 1986, there were significant changes to the FCA, including increasing damages from double damages to treble damages and raising the penalties from $2,000 to a range of $5,000 to $10,000. The FCA has been amended three times since 1986. Over the life of the statute it has been interpreted on hundreds of occasions by federal courts (which sometimes issue conflicting interpretations of the statute). The purpose of this primer is not to explain how the FCA evolved over the decades or to discuss judicial interpretations of its provisions. Rather, in this primer we simply explain the most significant elements of the FCA to give one new to the statute an introductory understanding of the FCA and how it works. The complete text of the False Claims Act is provided at the end of this primer....
Bill Barr is chasing down the myth of a federal investigation that never should have been conducted because it will negate all the work AND CONVICTIONS of the investigation. In that is the reality that Manafort will walk without Trump signing a pardon.
continued in next entry
How many NRA Lifetime Memberships does it take to cloth a NRA president?
It could have been money from Maria Butina, too. What does it take to impress a young Russian spy? Probably less than LePierre thought.
May 13, 2019
By Lily Puckett
Leaked documents appear to reveal the lavish spending (click here) of the National Rifle Association's chief executive Wayne LaPierre, who received luxury clothing and travel expenses paid for by the lobby group's longtime advertising firm Ackerman McQueen.
A memo from the firm claims it spent $542,000 (£415,000) of the NRA's money, which largely comes from contributions and membership fees, on expenses for Mr LaPierre over a 13-year period.
The documents also show that the pro-gun organisation amassed more than $24m in legal fees to an outside counsel, Bill Brewer, over the last year alone, in what former president Oliver North described as an "existential threat to the financial stability of the NRA"....
By Lily Puckett
Leaked documents appear to reveal the lavish spending (click here) of the National Rifle Association's chief executive Wayne LaPierre, who received luxury clothing and travel expenses paid for by the lobby group's longtime advertising firm Ackerman McQueen.
A memo from the firm claims it spent $542,000 (£415,000) of the NRA's money, which largely comes from contributions and membership fees, on expenses for Mr LaPierre over a 13-year period.
The documents also show that the pro-gun organisation amassed more than $24m in legal fees to an outside counsel, Bill Brewer, over the last year alone, in what former president Oliver North described as an "existential threat to the financial stability of the NRA"....
How many people in the down ballot were elected by Russians?
Russian hacking was a known fact in 2016. That how dense the Russian influence was in 2016. No one could hear it and when they did, it was used against the candidate.
May 6, 2019
By Steven Lemongello
When U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (click here) was castigated by his Republican challenger, Gov. Rick Scott, last year for saying Russian hackers had broken into Florida voting systems, Nelson’s colleague, Marco Rubio, was aware of the breach.
But Rubio couldn’t defend Nelson because a spokesman for the senator said he wasn’t allowed to divulge classified information.
Rubio, R-Miami, declined to be interviewed for this story.
Nelson, D-Orlando, warned last year about successful hacking attempts in 2016 but said he could not identify which county or counties had been penetrated, saying the information was classified.
No other senator backed him up, and Scott and fellow Republicans attacked Nelson for what GOP campaign emails called his “alarming claims” and “extremely reckless behavior.”...
May 6, 2019
By Steven Lemongello
When U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (click here) was castigated by his Republican challenger, Gov. Rick Scott, last year for saying Russian hackers had broken into Florida voting systems, Nelson’s colleague, Marco Rubio, was aware of the breach.
But Rubio couldn’t defend Nelson because a spokesman for the senator said he wasn’t allowed to divulge classified information.
Rubio, R-Miami, declined to be interviewed for this story.
Nelson, D-Orlando, warned last year about successful hacking attempts in 2016 but said he could not identify which county or counties had been penetrated, saying the information was classified.
No other senator backed him up, and Scott and fellow Republicans attacked Nelson for what GOP campaign emails called his “alarming claims” and “extremely reckless behavior.”...
An 11 year old child is permanently scarred by the State of Ohio.
Besides the obvious abuse of an 11-year-old, the State of Ohio is compounding her trauma. Someone needs to get the governor on the record regarding such abuse of women and girls.
We have been through this before. We know children should not be giving birth to children. No fetus is viable because there is a heartbeat circulating blood, nutrients and poop. Well, waste, the poop stays in the fetus gut until birth, called meconium. The fetus carries it's cellular waste to the umbilical cord for the mother to accept it into her circulating blood to eliminate it.
May 13, 2019
By Kate Smith
An 11-year-old girl in Ohio (click here) was allegedly raped by a 26-year-old multiple times, leaving her pregnant, according to police reports. A state law passed in April, but not yet in effect, says that victims like her won't have a choice to have an abortion — they would have to carry and deliver their rapist's child.
The law prohibits women from obtaining an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, about five or six weeks into a pregnancy, before most women even know that they're pregnant
The law provides no exceptions for rape or incest....
Republicans do not care about children. They care about the way their parents will vote. Prime example.
A Republican Texas state lawmaker (click here) responded to a top vaccine scientist's tweets about vaccination exemptions by accusing him of "sorcery" on Tuesday.
Peter Hotez, professor and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, tweeted a link to a report showing that Texas recorded a 14 percent rise in parents opting out of the state's vaccination requirements for children.
State Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R) fired back, accusing Hotez of being bought off.
“You are bought and paid for by the biggest special interest in politics,” the Fort Worth lawmaker wrote. “Do our state a favor and mind your own business. Parental rights mean more to us than your self enriching ‘science.’...
The less Republicans read or have the ability to read, the more Republican lawmakers love it. If adults in a household can't read, WILL THEY HAVE BOOKS IN THAT HOUSE FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO READ?
July 2018
By Holly Haber
Twenty percent of adults in North Texas (click here) can't read this sentence, according to Literacy Instruction for Texas, better known as LIFT.
Without some serious intervention, the problem will get worse. The agency estimates that in 12 years, 30 percent of Dallas County's projected population of 3.5 million could be illiterate.
That's more than 1 million people who can't help their kids with homework or even figure out a bus map.
LIFT aims to thwart this dystopian future by educating adults in reading, English and high school equivalency....
Parents are the biggest influence on early childhood development, that includes reading. Research also shows that children should have read 1000 books before they enter school. Considering most children's books in that age group is no more than 30 pages long, that is not an overestimate of any American child's ability.
"Hello" by Highlights (click here) This is an incredible subscription for children 9 to 2 years old. A wonderful book that is very durable and well illustrated comes every month. It provides the youngest reader an idea of how to handle books. There are rave reviews about this subscription. It also brings parents and children together for "us" time.
Research shows (click here) that children learn about reading before they enter school. In fact, they learn in the best manner-through observation. Young children, for example, see people around them reading newspapers, books, maps, and signs.
We have been through this before. We know children should not be giving birth to children. No fetus is viable because there is a heartbeat circulating blood, nutrients and poop. Well, waste, the poop stays in the fetus gut until birth, called meconium. The fetus carries it's cellular waste to the umbilical cord for the mother to accept it into her circulating blood to eliminate it.
May 13, 2019
By Kate Smith
An 11-year-old girl in Ohio (click here) was allegedly raped by a 26-year-old multiple times, leaving her pregnant, according to police reports. A state law passed in April, but not yet in effect, says that victims like her won't have a choice to have an abortion — they would have to carry and deliver their rapist's child.
The law prohibits women from obtaining an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, about five or six weeks into a pregnancy, before most women even know that they're pregnant
The law provides no exceptions for rape or incest....
Republicans do not care about children. They care about the way their parents will vote. Prime example.
A Republican Texas state lawmaker (click here) responded to a top vaccine scientist's tweets about vaccination exemptions by accusing him of "sorcery" on Tuesday.
Peter Hotez, professor and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, tweeted a link to a report showing that Texas recorded a 14 percent rise in parents opting out of the state's vaccination requirements for children.
State Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R) fired back, accusing Hotez of being bought off.
“You are bought and paid for by the biggest special interest in politics,” the Fort Worth lawmaker wrote. “Do our state a favor and mind your own business. Parental rights mean more to us than your self enriching ‘science.’...
The less Republicans read or have the ability to read, the more Republican lawmakers love it. If adults in a household can't read, WILL THEY HAVE BOOKS IN THAT HOUSE FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO READ?
July 2018
By Holly Haber
Twenty percent of adults in North Texas (click here) can't read this sentence, according to Literacy Instruction for Texas, better known as LIFT.
Without some serious intervention, the problem will get worse. The agency estimates that in 12 years, 30 percent of Dallas County's projected population of 3.5 million could be illiterate.
That's more than 1 million people who can't help their kids with homework or even figure out a bus map.
LIFT aims to thwart this dystopian future by educating adults in reading, English and high school equivalency....
Parents are the biggest influence on early childhood development, that includes reading. Research also shows that children should have read 1000 books before they enter school. Considering most children's books in that age group is no more than 30 pages long, that is not an overestimate of any American child's ability.
Research shows (click here) that children learn about reading before they enter school. In fact, they learn in the best manner-through observation. Young children, for example, see people around them reading newspapers, books, maps, and signs.
Parents can do a lot to foster an understanding of print by talking with their preschoolers about signs in their environment and by letting their children know they enjoy reading themselves.
When reading to your preschooler, you should run your index finger under the line of print. This procedure is simple and helps children begin to notice words and that words have meaning. They also gain an awareness of the conventions of reading (e.g., one reads from left to right and from the top of the page to the bottom; sentences are made up of words; and some sentences extend beyond a single line of print)....
They are all communists, including Trump. Get over the idea Trump is an American capitalist. Got it wrong from that perspective. Banks in US don't embrace Trump.
Trump is always hungry for money. Hello? Trump is the best decoy Putin has ever had. By every measure Orban should be rejecting Moscow, but, he doesn't. His idea of fun is for Hungary to have relationships with Europe and Russia. Hungary has turned away from democracy and freedom and embraces strong man tactics as mentored by communist regimes. Does anyone believe Orban will ever have an economy that reflects the values of Europe?
...Viktor Orbán (click here) expected that his favorite candidate, Donald Trump, would conduct a pro-Russian foreign policy and would keep his nose out of the affairs of other countries. Also, he would no longer demand adherence to democratic norms. Consequently, Orbán renewed his attack on non-governmental organizations operating in Hungary, especially those that receive money from George Soros’s Open Society Foundation. After all, Orbán figured, Trump dislikes the billionaire financier because he generously supported Hillary Clinton. As for diplomatic matters, Orbán was certain that he would receive Trump’s support for an even closer relationship with Putin’s Russia.
So, how did Orbán prepare for this new era of international relations? He decided to have a trial run ahead of the scheduled visit of Vladimir Putin, sending Péter Szijjártó to Moscow with a message that indicated a more openly supportive Hungarian policy toward Russia.
The many reports that appeared in both Hungarian and foreign papers on the meeting in Budapest between Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán all agree that the much touted “summit” ended with a fairly meaningless press conference dealing mostly with trade relations and including a few announcements about the Russian gas supply and the financing of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant’s extension. To learn more about what most likely transpired between Putin and Orbán behind closed doors, we should focus on the Moscow trip of the much more talkative Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on January 23 and 24. He was equally chatty after his negotiations with members of the Russian delegation in Budapest....
Orban is anti-NATO. He should not be in the White House. Why not bring back Lavrov and his gang for lunch. It is the same thing. They might consider the fast food King's idea of lunch a real treat.
“If the EU and Russia cannot agree on the conditions of a pragmatic and close cooperation, then the Union will seriously lag behind in the international economic and political competition.”
The many reports that appeared in both Hungarian and foreign papers on the meeting in Budapest between Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán all agree that the much touted “summit” ended with a fairly meaningless press conference dealing mostly with trade relations and including a few announcements about the Russian gas supply and the financing of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant’s extension. To learn more about what most likely transpired between Putin and Orbán behind closed doors, we should focus on the Moscow trip of the much more talkative Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on January 23 and 24. He was equally chatty after his negotiations with members of the Russian delegation in Budapest....
Orban is anti-NATO. He should not be in the White House. Why not bring back Lavrov and his gang for lunch. It is the same thing. They might consider the fast food King's idea of lunch a real treat.
“If the EU and Russia cannot agree on the conditions of a pragmatic and close cooperation, then the Union will seriously lag behind in the international economic and political competition.”
Trump is absolutely disgusting for his embrace of human rights violators.
The Hungarian government fails (click here) to respect the rule of law and human rights. Government representatives are increasingly hostile to journalists and critics and engage in anti-migrant, anti-Muslim and xenophobic rhetoric including through publicly funded campaigns. Authorities have introduced legislation targeting civil society organizations and universities receiving funding from abroad. Asylum seekers are detained indefinitely in substandard border camps without a possibility to challenge their detention. They face violence during operations to force them back to the border, and limitations on meaningful access to asylum.
May 14, 2019
By Richard Gonzalez
President Trump hosted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (click here) at the White House on Monday, a gesture the past two U.S. presidents avoided granting to the hard-right European leader.
Try substituting FEAR for respect and the image of Trump clears up quite nicely. Trump's form of respect, isn't respect at all. It defines any civilized definition of the word.
"People have a lot of respect for this Prime Minister," Trump said in a photo-op in the Oval Office before their meeting. Trump went on to warmly praise the Hungarian leader: "He's a respected man. And I know he's a tough man, but he's a respected man. And he's done the right thing, according to many people, on immigration."
Orban is on record calling Syrian refugees "Muslim invaders," and many human rights activists are concerned about the signals Trump is sending with this meeting, as NPR's Michele Kelemen reports:
The abuse of women in Hungary only reflects the same disregard Trump has for women in the USA. They are nothing but sex objects that need to know their place. Hungarian men get respect
...Survivors of domestic violence, (click here) women’s rights organizations, lawyers, shelter staff, and police officers interviewed for this report described brutal violence inflicted on women in Hungary, with often severe and long-lasting impacts on physical and psychological health. They described women stabbed and chopped at with knives, axes, and swords; kicked and punched in the abdomen while pregnant; raped; beaten with sticks, prams, iron rods, and thick cables to the point of broken bones and skull fractures; locked in sheds without clothes in winter; thrown off balconies; dumped in remote areas in the middle of the night; and subjected to severe psychological violence....
May 14, 2019
By Richard Gonzalez
President Trump hosted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (click here) at the White House on Monday, a gesture the past two U.S. presidents avoided granting to the hard-right European leader.
Try substituting FEAR for respect and the image of Trump clears up quite nicely. Trump's form of respect, isn't respect at all. It defines any civilized definition of the word.
"People have a lot of respect for this Prime Minister," Trump said in a photo-op in the Oval Office before their meeting. Trump went on to warmly praise the Hungarian leader: "He's a respected man. And I know he's a tough man, but he's a respected man. And he's done the right thing, according to many people, on immigration."
Orban is on record calling Syrian refugees "Muslim invaders," and many human rights activists are concerned about the signals Trump is sending with this meeting, as NPR's Michele Kelemen reports:
The abuse of women in Hungary only reflects the same disregard Trump has for women in the USA. They are nothing but sex objects that need to know their place. Hungarian men get respect
...Survivors of domestic violence, (click here) women’s rights organizations, lawyers, shelter staff, and police officers interviewed for this report described brutal violence inflicted on women in Hungary, with often severe and long-lasting impacts on physical and psychological health. They described women stabbed and chopped at with knives, axes, and swords; kicked and punched in the abdomen while pregnant; raped; beaten with sticks, prams, iron rods, and thick cables to the point of broken bones and skull fractures; locked in sheds without clothes in winter; thrown off balconies; dumped in remote areas in the middle of the night; and subjected to severe psychological violence....
Straits of Hormuz has always needed regular USA patrols.
"US Interests" needs to be defined and to the extent, US Assets are deployed. The oil tankers appear to have received mischief that has caused a variety of damage. None of the ships are sunk. Actually, it reminds me of the attack on the USS Cole only less so. These are not attacks by any country. There are issues, but, not with Iran. I believe they are more or less terrorist attacks.
I remind the USA is EXPORTING petroleum products. THEREFORE, the "USA Interest" can be reassessed to realize the exports can be used best at home.
The fact the UAE doesn't see any involvement by a country is correct. There are some entities at work and that is not yet known. This is not an attack by Iran. I would expect something along the lines of Houthis or their sympathizers. The possibility Daesh has an interest in such mischief has to be considered as well.
The attacks on Saudi tankers may be somewhat new, but, Saudi Arabia needs to examine why those attacks are taking place. This does not require B52 bombers. Trump is not using the USA military prudently.
The UAE is stating they don't know who is carrying out attacks on Saudi tankers. The USA has no reason to openly blame Iran if there is evidence otherwise. The two countries of Iran and Saudi Arabia do need a peace table. They are locked in conflict with opposing world powers supporting them and it is a proxy war more than anything that settles an argument between the two countries of faith.
May 13, 2019
By Anthony Dipaola and Abbas Al Lawati
Saudi Arabia (click here) said two of its oil tankers were attacked while sailing toward the Persian Gulf, adding to regional tensions as the U.S. increases pressure on Iran.
The Saudi tankers were damaged in “a sabotage attack” off the United Arab Emirates coast on Sunday, state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. The vessels were approaching the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important chokepoint for oil shipments. The U.A.E. foreign ministry on Sunday reported an attack on four commercial ships near its territorial waters. No one has claimed responsibility....
This is a war that has no purpose. The Trump Middle East peace plan doesn't seem to be accomplishing anything, except, higher tensions and escalation in violence.
This is from Aljazeera. Armed drones are not terrorist groups. It might be Hezbollah with it's new drug finances, but, those drones are not produced by Hezbollah. They would have to be purchased from a major power. There were some drones Israel shot down a while ago that were operated by Hamas. But, then again, they weren't produced by Hamas. They might be USA drones that were shot down and rehabbed. But, these drone attacks are more or less proxy wars between major powers.
Iran and Saudi Arabia need to sit down at peace talks and end this mess.
I believe the UN has a small arms convention that needs to come into force with a peace talk initiative.
May 14, 2019
Saudi Arabia has said armed drones (click here) struck two oil pumping stations that belong to the country's state-run oil giant Aramco while other assaults targeted energy infrastructure elsewhere in the kingdom.
The attack on the pumping stations took place early on Tuesday, causing minor damage to one of the stations supplying a pipeline running from its oil-rich Eastern Province to the Yanbu Port on the Red Sea, Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The fire that broke out was later brought under control but Aramco stopped pumping oil through the pipeline....
I remind the USA is EXPORTING petroleum products. THEREFORE, the "USA Interest" can be reassessed to realize the exports can be used best at home.
The fact the UAE doesn't see any involvement by a country is correct. There are some entities at work and that is not yet known. This is not an attack by Iran. I would expect something along the lines of Houthis or their sympathizers. The possibility Daesh has an interest in such mischief has to be considered as well.
The attacks on Saudi tankers may be somewhat new, but, Saudi Arabia needs to examine why those attacks are taking place. This does not require B52 bombers. Trump is not using the USA military prudently.
The UAE is stating they don't know who is carrying out attacks on Saudi tankers. The USA has no reason to openly blame Iran if there is evidence otherwise. The two countries of Iran and Saudi Arabia do need a peace table. They are locked in conflict with opposing world powers supporting them and it is a proxy war more than anything that settles an argument between the two countries of faith.
May 13, 2019
By Anthony Dipaola and Abbas Al Lawati
Saudi Arabia (click here) said two of its oil tankers were attacked while sailing toward the Persian Gulf, adding to regional tensions as the U.S. increases pressure on Iran.
The Saudi tankers were damaged in “a sabotage attack” off the United Arab Emirates coast on Sunday, state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. The vessels were approaching the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important chokepoint for oil shipments. The U.A.E. foreign ministry on Sunday reported an attack on four commercial ships near its territorial waters. No one has claimed responsibility....
This is a war that has no purpose. The Trump Middle East peace plan doesn't seem to be accomplishing anything, except, higher tensions and escalation in violence.
This is from Aljazeera. Armed drones are not terrorist groups. It might be Hezbollah with it's new drug finances, but, those drones are not produced by Hezbollah. They would have to be purchased from a major power. There were some drones Israel shot down a while ago that were operated by Hamas. But, then again, they weren't produced by Hamas. They might be USA drones that were shot down and rehabbed. But, these drone attacks are more or less proxy wars between major powers.
Iran and Saudi Arabia need to sit down at peace talks and end this mess.
I believe the UN has a small arms convention that needs to come into force with a peace talk initiative.
May 14, 2019
Saudi Arabia has said armed drones (click here) struck two oil pumping stations that belong to the country's state-run oil giant Aramco while other assaults targeted energy infrastructure elsewhere in the kingdom.
The attack on the pumping stations took place early on Tuesday, causing minor damage to one of the stations supplying a pipeline running from its oil-rich Eastern Province to the Yanbu Port on the Red Sea, Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The fire that broke out was later brought under control but Aramco stopped pumping oil through the pipeline....
War has become a profit margin to Russia.
Realize also in Russia, the people are having their pensions cut to accommodate an expansionism Putin. The idea Russia is an emerging country within the structure of the G20 is not viable. Russia should be growing it's domestic economy and not sacrificing it for the case of a war mongering strategy.
Russia's war strategy at the price of human rights globally is irresponsible and provides not real viable path forward for these countries.
October 12, 2018
By Samuel Ramani
In September 7, Russian Ambassador to Yemen Vladimir Dedushkin(click here) told reporters that southern Yemen was an important region of the country that must be adequately represented in an eventual peace settlement. Dedushkin’s comments were positively received by members of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist movement that had been excluded from the UN-led Yemen negotiations. The degree of attention that Russia affords southern Yemen reflects Moscow’s geopolitical objectives, historical interest in the region, and aspirations of expanding its influence in the Middle East. Russia views stability in southern Yemen as an essential precondition for its goal of developing a sphere of influence in the Red Sea....
...Russia’s mediation offer was a direct response to a military assault from pro-Hadi forces against the STC’s occupation of Aden, the capital of Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Since September 2017, the Russian government has also maintained a contract with the Hadi government to print and safely transfer bank notes from Moscow to Aden....
Russia's war strategy at the price of human rights globally is irresponsible and provides not real viable path forward for these countries.
October 12, 2018
By Samuel Ramani
In September 7, Russian Ambassador to Yemen Vladimir Dedushkin(click here) told reporters that southern Yemen was an important region of the country that must be adequately represented in an eventual peace settlement. Dedushkin’s comments were positively received by members of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist movement that had been excluded from the UN-led Yemen negotiations. The degree of attention that Russia affords southern Yemen reflects Moscow’s geopolitical objectives, historical interest in the region, and aspirations of expanding its influence in the Middle East. Russia views stability in southern Yemen as an essential precondition for its goal of developing a sphere of influence in the Red Sea....
...Russia’s mediation offer was a direct response to a military assault from pro-Hadi forces against the STC’s occupation of Aden, the capital of Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Since September 2017, the Russian government has also maintained a contract with the Hadi government to print and safely transfer bank notes from Moscow to Aden....
Leave the Shi'ites alone.
American policy over the past half-century has brought Iran to where it is today. It is time to step back and realize Iran has to become a post-petroleum economy no differently than Saudi Arabia.
It is nearly impossible for countries that are third world and oil based to move into a future that will bring their people out of poverty. It American foreign policy continues to be confrontational the monies these countries are spending on their military is robbing their people of developing a better quality of life.
May 7, 2019
Four B-52 bombers (click here) are being deployed to the Middle East in response to what administration officials said earlier this week are threats of a possible attack by Iran or allied fighters on American troops in the region. Two of the bombers are expected to leave Tuesday from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, arriving at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Wednesday, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports....
This is absolutely ridiculous. There aren't enough long runways in the Middle East to even accommodate four B-52 bombers without interfering in international borders. This is stupid.
bomber task force and the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. Central Command region
Give me a break. Now, if Bolton wants to remove Russian influence from the region, this threat makes sense, but, Iran? This is silly for providing a threat to Iran. Iran has its hands full to maintain order within its religious population when it comes to ending real threats like Daesh.
But, Russia is a different issue. I still don't see four B-52s sitting anywhere on a tarmac in the Middle East. Those facilities can't handle them. They are high altitude and long distance bombers. Four of those bombers in the Middle East is a threat to Afghanistan IF the facilities can provide enough runway and air space.
In an attack where the B-52s actually can make an impact, the runways first have to be able to accommodate jet fights to protect the B-52s. This entire idea is unworkable. The B-52s will interfere with their own bomb deployments. I am really surprised the Department of Defense is actually willing to carry out these idiotic orders.
All one has to do is look at the Middle East, the number of countries and the idea of deploying the capacity of a B-52. This is not rocket science.
The only reason to do this is to intimidate an out of control Russia and the hardship Russia is causing in the Middle East. Look at Venezuela. Every place Russia appears with any kind of military deployment, there is a disaster. People are dying in large numbers when realizing all the areas where Russia is instigating war.
Syria
Venezuela
Ukraine
These are all areas of the world dominated by Russian hostilities and there are incredible human tragedy, deaths and rights abuses.
There is Russian influence in the Philippines. The people are killing each other at will in pointing fingers that they are drug dealers.
Everywhere there is a strong man dictator, there is Russia and horrible conditions.
Putin is a problem. A very big problem for it's sprawl across the world under Trump.
Trump will end USA influence, just to save money. That is all Trump is, money. Where the USA is pulling back from programs and support to other countries it is because of money. Trump doesn't want to pay for it as a million-billionaire. His statements at a much younger age about Iran isn't about global security, it is about oil. Forget about Trump being a humanitarian in any way, he wants his money before considering the influence of the USA to maintain any type of global order.
The best thing that happened with Iran was the Iran Nuclear Deal. Even Israel believed the Iran Nuclear Deal was a huge accomplishment. Iran needs an economy that is worth keeping.
An improved economy and global acceptance of their people as visitors for education and tourism will transform Iran.
President Obama promised every person in the USA military they would understand why they were deployed and would understand their mission. Parking USA assets in the Middle East to this extent makes no sense. Europe has Northern Africa in their sites all the time. So, the Mediterranean is going to be crowded with USA assets that make no sense. NATO needs to chime in on this.
Realizing how Trump allows USA vulnerability in the age of Russian expansionism, the US Congress needs to invoke the War Powers Act in ending thisese bizarre actions by Trump.
Look at that picture of the Revolutionary Guard. They have never been so numerous or focused. Why? Why would the men of Iran find deep reasons to grow a competent and focused military? Deash. Iran today has a military that it has never had before. The idea of distributing these men into a war with the USA is complete moronity. They have plenty to do and they need to be respected for what they did in Iraq and Iran for defeating Daesh. Such terrorism is never going to be a problem again.
6 May 2019
By Simon Tisdall
Members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. The IRGC The IRGC supports Shia militia forces loyal to the Assad regime in Syria.
John Bolton’s sudden, (click here) unexplained threat to use “unrelenting force” against Tehran has raised US-Iran tensions to a new high. But its impact is not confined to these two countries. Like a lethal poison, their mutual enmity is seeping through the veins of an already unstable region that has experienced dangerously high levels of volatility in recent days.
No clear reason was given by Donald Trump’s national security adviser for his decision to advertise the pre-arranged deployment of military reinforcements to the Middle East. But Bolton singled out Iran, and specifically Iran’s non-state allies and proxy forces, as causes for concern. These groups are deeply involved in several conflict zones including Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Gaza, where fighting with Israeli forces re-erupted last week....
It is nearly impossible for countries that are third world and oil based to move into a future that will bring their people out of poverty. It American foreign policy continues to be confrontational the monies these countries are spending on their military is robbing their people of developing a better quality of life.
May 7, 2019
Four B-52 bombers (click here) are being deployed to the Middle East in response to what administration officials said earlier this week are threats of a possible attack by Iran or allied fighters on American troops in the region. Two of the bombers are expected to leave Tuesday from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, arriving at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Wednesday, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports....
This is absolutely ridiculous. There aren't enough long runways in the Middle East to even accommodate four B-52 bombers without interfering in international borders. This is stupid.
bomber task force and the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. Central Command region
Give me a break. Now, if Bolton wants to remove Russian influence from the region, this threat makes sense, but, Iran? This is silly for providing a threat to Iran. Iran has its hands full to maintain order within its religious population when it comes to ending real threats like Daesh.
But, Russia is a different issue. I still don't see four B-52s sitting anywhere on a tarmac in the Middle East. Those facilities can't handle them. They are high altitude and long distance bombers. Four of those bombers in the Middle East is a threat to Afghanistan IF the facilities can provide enough runway and air space.
In an attack where the B-52s actually can make an impact, the runways first have to be able to accommodate jet fights to protect the B-52s. This entire idea is unworkable. The B-52s will interfere with their own bomb deployments. I am really surprised the Department of Defense is actually willing to carry out these idiotic orders.
All one has to do is look at the Middle East, the number of countries and the idea of deploying the capacity of a B-52. This is not rocket science.
The only reason to do this is to intimidate an out of control Russia and the hardship Russia is causing in the Middle East. Look at Venezuela. Every place Russia appears with any kind of military deployment, there is a disaster. People are dying in large numbers when realizing all the areas where Russia is instigating war.
Syria
Venezuela
Ukraine
These are all areas of the world dominated by Russian hostilities and there are incredible human tragedy, deaths and rights abuses.
There is Russian influence in the Philippines. The people are killing each other at will in pointing fingers that they are drug dealers.
Everywhere there is a strong man dictator, there is Russia and horrible conditions.
Putin is a problem. A very big problem for it's sprawl across the world under Trump.
Trump will end USA influence, just to save money. That is all Trump is, money. Where the USA is pulling back from programs and support to other countries it is because of money. Trump doesn't want to pay for it as a million-billionaire. His statements at a much younger age about Iran isn't about global security, it is about oil. Forget about Trump being a humanitarian in any way, he wants his money before considering the influence of the USA to maintain any type of global order.
The best thing that happened with Iran was the Iran Nuclear Deal. Even Israel believed the Iran Nuclear Deal was a huge accomplishment. Iran needs an economy that is worth keeping.
An improved economy and global acceptance of their people as visitors for education and tourism will transform Iran.
President Obama promised every person in the USA military they would understand why they were deployed and would understand their mission. Parking USA assets in the Middle East to this extent makes no sense. Europe has Northern Africa in their sites all the time. So, the Mediterranean is going to be crowded with USA assets that make no sense. NATO needs to chime in on this.
Realizing how Trump allows USA vulnerability in the age of Russian expansionism, the US Congress needs to invoke the War Powers Act in ending thisese bizarre actions by Trump.
Look at that picture of the Revolutionary Guard. They have never been so numerous or focused. Why? Why would the men of Iran find deep reasons to grow a competent and focused military? Deash. Iran today has a military that it has never had before. The idea of distributing these men into a war with the USA is complete moronity. They have plenty to do and they need to be respected for what they did in Iraq and Iran for defeating Daesh. Such terrorism is never going to be a problem again.
By Simon Tisdall
Members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. The IRGC The IRGC supports Shia militia forces loyal to the Assad regime in Syria.
John Bolton’s sudden, (click here) unexplained threat to use “unrelenting force” against Tehran has raised US-Iran tensions to a new high. But its impact is not confined to these two countries. Like a lethal poison, their mutual enmity is seeping through the veins of an already unstable region that has experienced dangerously high levels of volatility in recent days.
No clear reason was given by Donald Trump’s national security adviser for his decision to advertise the pre-arranged deployment of military reinforcements to the Middle East. But Bolton singled out Iran, and specifically Iran’s non-state allies and proxy forces, as causes for concern. These groups are deeply involved in several conflict zones including Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Gaza, where fighting with Israeli forces re-erupted last week....
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