It is Sunday Night

I will give the stream a benefit of a doubt, but, it looks a little murky to me.

The air in the distance looks a little white rather than clear.

I am somewhat concerned most of the time about the youngest generation of Americans. Will live under a shifting baseline. Will they understand what a healthy Earth even looks like? Clean air, clean water and an intact natural world?

The word and the idea of tree has been included in song and poetry since the beginning of time. People are attached to the natural world even though it is not a daily admiration or dedication to it. Iconic natural areas are somewhat curious to me, like Central Park or the White House Rose Garden. People like the natural world and like spending time with it.

How many children climb a tree? Or swing from a homemade seat on rope and there is always the "tire swing." The experience with the natural world provides incredible opportunities for personal growth.

"Last Child in the Woods" (click here) was written to examine the effect of a modern day world that distances children from nature. It was written in 2008 and is still a reality check on children and the lack of the natural world in their lives. The outcomes reflect poorer achievement in schools. It is not to say the children sheltered from the natural world do not achieve, but, they are less engaged in discovery and inventive thinking.

Nature, like a singel tree, can challenge a child in a way nothing else can. Why do birds nest in a tree? It can't be replaced. The simple reality that a bird, a living thing, can find use of a tree to make a home for it's offspring is an incredible wonder to a child.

Justin Rizzo - Tree/Found Faithful (Onething 2013) (click here for official website - thank you)

"Tree"  by Justin Rizzo

I want to be unmovable and unshakable
So let my roots go down deep
Unmovable and unshakable in You
I want to be unmovable and unshakable
So let my roots go down deepUnmovable and unshakable in You!

I want to be unmovable and unshakable
So let my roots go down deep
Unmovable and unshakable in You
I want to be unmovable and unshakable
So let my roots go down deep
Unmovable and unshakable in You!

And I, I want to be like a tree
Planted by the streams of living water
And I, I want to be like a tree
Planted by the streams of living water
And I, I want to be like a tree
Planted by the streams of living water
And I, I want to be like a tree
Planted by the streams of living water

This will be my song, God

This will be my prayer
'Til the end, 'til the end
This will be my song, God
This will be my prayer
'Til the end, 'til the end

In the midst of the coming storm

In the midst of the coming blessing
That my life would be built upon the rock
That I would not be moved
Not be shaken

"Good Night, Moon"

The Waning Gibbous

21.0 days old moon

62.3 percent lit

This is the moon seen through clouds and haze in the sky. It will probably be the color of the moon with a dimmed glow when it is mined.

June 14, 2019
By Sophie Lewis

NASA's (click here) Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has spotted an unusual symbol on the surface of Mars — the iconic "Star Trek" Starfleet logo. The MRO captured a series of strange chevron symbols on a Martian sand dune in the southeast Hellas Planitia region.

The MRO HiRISE (High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera team at the University of Arizona highlighted the discovery Wednesday, though the image was acquired by the team April 22.

"Enterprising viewers will make the discovery that these features look conspicuously like a famous logo," the camera team behind the MRO HiRise image said...

There have been very radical steps to oppress the Palestinians under this administration, where are the Palestinians in all this?

Where are the signatures on a two state solution peace plan? The idea of expanding Gaza into Egypt has been denied by Jason Greenblatt, the US Envoy to the Middle East. My understanding is that Israel will not be in attendance of this meeting. 

It sounds wonderful, but, the groundwork has not been conducted. One of Jordan's biggest problems right now are refugees from the continuing civil war in Syria. The economic stimulus for Jordan will be absorbed in it's handling of refugees unless there is a firm contract with the USA to channel monies to projects that will provide economic development. It isn't as though Jordan would not agree to that or use the monies for that purpose, but, where are all the agreements. Providing relief to Jordan can be autonomous from any other agreement.

19 June 2019

...In a statement quoted by the PA’s official Wafa news agency, (click here) Abu Rudeineh said that the Palestinian national stand, the international consensus and the insistence on the independent decision have once again thwarted all “conspiracies” against the Palestinian cause and preserved Jerusalem, its holy places and the Palestinian identity.

“Any meeting, whether in Bahrain or elsewhere and without the legitimate Palestinian endorsement, proves that Washington cannot and will not succeed on its own in achieving anything,” he said, according to Wafa.

Abu Rudeineh further claimed that “the position of the President and the Palestinian leadership from the constants, particularly Jerusalem, the prisoners and the Palestinian identity, will foil any plot, or workshop or meeting.”
He was referring to the upcoming economic workshop in Bahrain, during which the Trump administration is planning to release the economic component of its Middle East peace plan....

Israel has to agree to this and I don't see it. Israel is moving into the West Bank as I write this. $28 billion as an investment in ending poverty, hatred, and war is a magnificent beginning, but, there have been no meetings between all the parties, including Egypt and Jordan to ensure the prosperity that is laid out in this proposal. This proposal sounds like the end of a long negotiation that resulted in a two-state solution. This is the beginning when it looks like the end.

At this point it is an interesting vision, but, not much else. When the USA invaded Iraq there was an economic forum to provide pledges of help including debt relief. The effort was contained within one country. What followed was years of war.

Afghanistan is no different. The post 911 wars are estimated to have cost $5.9 trillion US and 500,000 lives. The crime of all this is that economic development has always been a focus whenever the USA is involved, but, the result is not a better quality of life and simply more war because of religious and cultural differences. 

22 June 2019

Senior White House (click here) adviser Jared Kushner on Saturday revealed the long-awaited details of the economic aspect of the US peace plan, saying it would inject $50 billion into struggling economies in the Middle East over the next ten years.

In an interview with the Reuters news agency three days ahead of the Washington-led economic workshop in Bahrain, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law said that over half of the funds ($28 billion) would go toward the West Bank and Gaza Strip while $7.5 billion would go to Jordan, $9 billion to Egypt and $6 billion to Lebanon.

“If you can also get that whole region starting to lift, and if you can get a quicker flow of goods and people in all the different areas that are necessary in industry instead of bullets and munitions and war, then I think that will really lead to a big increase in investment in the area and more jobs and better quality of life and hopefully more peace along with it,” Kushner said....

If every country involved agrees to end the hatred and killing which accomplishes nothing and moves to economic development for the purpose of peace and a better quality of life for the people, then it will work. I just don't see that groundwork or that level of commitment. At least Jordan and Egypt have sovereign governments. Jordan would be dedicated without question. Egypt has to commit to government reforms to maintain peace and increase the quality of life for all its citizens. The Palestinian Authority has little control of what occurs in Gaza and we know what kind of turbulence there is in Gaza.

I already know Israel won't commit to a Gaza that carries out free trade. Israel has locked down the waters from fishing as of about a week ago. Israel will not allow the free flow of goods into or out of Gaza. 

All this has to be on paper with details that reassure the success of economic development. There is a lot of work to be done before such efforts will take hold and secure the region from further upheaval. This doesn't even address the impact the Syrian civil war has on these plans. 

It sounds great, but, in application, as of now, it will most likely fail.

E. Jean Carroll

"Trump attacked me in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman." (click here)

The plight of beautiful women.

I admire her courage, today, as well as 23 years ago. I find her story commonplace. She was and still is a powerful woman with a magnificent career. When she talks about respect, I find that a defense to prevent an opinion that could hurt her. She is a public figure. She was compromised before it even began and I think her assailant knew that.

She stated she was leaving Bergdorf Goodman while he was entering. Did she ever wonder if he was entering because she was there?

Women do blame themselves for these attacks. Especially women that are used to taking care of themselves and are resilient to life's ups and downs. Women like to be in control and blame themselves as not being smart enough when something like this happens. I don't read minds, I doubt she does either. How could any woman ever blame herself for being attractive and enjoying attention afforded her because she is who she is?

The climate of tolerance of sexual assault is different because of women that came forward that said, "No more." I find her reflection of the women at the border being raped and facing issues of abortion and homelessness in a country that they are not familiar with admirable. She has made a life of worrying about others. I am confident those women would appreciate her focus on them.

Today, E. Jean Carroll came forward about a rape she never spoke of before except for her strictest of confidants. That is a personal accomplishment and I applaud her. We know a lot more about Donald J. Trump we didn't before and it all adds up, doesn't it?

She is a good person, this was not her fault, she had no defense against it and today she is free. I thank her for her honesty. I want her to be free of this burden of all these years and realize a beautiful woman is allowed to receive the attention she considered lighthearted without assault or without the threat of defaming herself by coming forward to report it.

She did the right thing for herself 23 years ago, no different than other women have done the right thing for themselves. The burden is on society, not the women. Rape is serious and women are not stupid for having it occur.

She is as much a great woman today as she was 23 years ago. I hope her life is enjoyable and lighthearted and as graciously social for the rest of her life. I thank her for joining the "Me Too" movement. It is a great moment for all of us, too.

June 21, 2019
By Madeline Ciak

Fadwa Hammoud was sworn in on February 14, 2019 (click here)

Flint - According to a news release, (click here) Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy will be coming to Flint.

They are scheduled to visit the city on June 28.

They want to have a community conversation with the resident of Flint following the dismissal of pending criminal cases related to the Flint Water Crisis.

Kim Worthy in her 2010 campaign for office. (click here)

I think this is necessary. I am sure these great women have considerable information and evidence from the previous administration, however, they are reopening the investigation because of new evidence. It is only correct to retrace the steps of so many years ago and look under every rock and turn every page to be sure there isn't more undiscovered evidence. Flint and Michigan should be proud of their efforts to unearth the truth.

There is an ongoing problem with McLaren Hospital. It never removed the threat of Legionella from the hospital environment. Just a couple of things, did this hospital ever have problems with Legionella before the Flint water crisis and if so what is the exact history in the way of numbers of victims and the dates at which they were diagnosed along with their outcomes.

Also, there is no excuse for a hospital showing any traces of Legionella bacteria. They need to consider closing the hospital until the State of Michigan determines it is in compliance.

To note McClaren is near the Flint River. 

There are other options. Hurley Medical Center and Hurley's Children Clinic may be able to pick up the patients from McLaren. The State may want to take over McLaren and possibly replace the entire management staff with help from the University of Michigan. I am quite sure there are administrators within the UM hospital system that can do a far better job of determining the fate of the McLaren hospital than the current administration for that hospital. I think the state needs to move immediately to dissolve the credentializing of the hospital until it is determined to be safe. There is no excuse for this. People have to be safe first and foremost.

McLaren-Flint will have to be quarantined until further notice.

June 21, 2019
By Ron Fonger

Flint - McLaren-Flint (click here) says it’s finding low levels of Legionella bacteria in hospital water not because of internal issues but because it’s working so hard to identify and fix problems coming from the city’s water distribution system.

In a brief filed with the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules this week, McLaren says it has spent more than $2 million to safeguard its water system in less than three years -- only to be punished by the state Department of Health and Human Services because its intensive testing has “occasionally” found “very low levels” of Legionella....

One Congressperson does not even make a quorum.

...But at least one member of Congress (click here) appears to believe the warnings from Trump's top Iran hawks, National Security Adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and it's former Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). In a classified briefing Wednesday, Cheney "argued that the intelligence warranted an escalation against Iran," the Post reports, citing a person with knowledge of the briefing. "In response, Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton (Mass.) (click here) accused her of exaggerating the threat in what the person described as a 'very heated exchange.'"...

I might point out that Congressman Seth Moulton was a soldier. He understands war. He even has his health care needs attended to by the Veterans' Administration. I believe him to be trustworthy. He does not want to plunge the USA into an unnecessary war causing thousands and thousands of deaths. I know who I can trust with the military of this country and it is not a person willing to believe the worst without balancing the costs of human tragedy.

Congresswoman Cheney is looking toward becoming a US Senator in 2020. I don't think she will make it if she is unwilling to think before she acts. 

On the first day of Summer, Amazon is announcing growth into Texas.

This will bring new jobs, competition for wage labor, health care benefits and a chance for advancement. I wish everyone good luck in this new venture.

June 21, 2019
By Maria Halkias

Amazon is planning to open (click here) one of its new 4-Star stores in the Dallas area.

4-Star stores are designed to bring Amazon's online experience into a physical space with employees who can answer questions and displays that feature products that are top sellers in local markets.

Amazon hasn't yet disclosed the Dallas-Fort Worth location, but it has started hiring and posted a job for a store manager on its website. The ad's job details included Frisco....

Iran and the USA need to return to peace talks and the Iran Nuclear Agreement before it is too late.

I sincerely appreciate the fact President Trump did not take the next step in escalating tensions. That is a sign of hope and he should build on it.

I understand Iran has the drone.

June 21, 2019
By Ivana Kottosova

The aborted US strikes against Iran on Thursday (click here) were meant to target a limited set of Iranian radars and missile batteries, according to a US official with direct knowledge of the matter.

The strikes were set to begin on Thursday night when the White House called them off, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.

No US weapons had been launched when the decision was made to call the strikes off, the official said.

The decision to call off the strikes was first reported by the New York Times....

The Navy Seals played their hand well.

June 20, 2019
By Vanessa Romo

The war crimes trial of Navy SEAL Chief Edward Gallagher (click here) took a dramatic turn Thursday when a lead prosecution witness — another SEAL who has been granted immunity to testify — confessed that he was the actual killer of a 17-year-old ISIS prisoner.

Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Corey Scott stunned prosecutors as he described a previously unheard version of events, saying he asphyxiated the teenage Islamic fighter as an act of mercy.

Among other charges related to his 2017 military service in Iraq, Gallagher is accused of killing the insurgent.

Scott began his witness testimony as prosecutors had expected, KPBS reporter Steve Walsh told NPR. Like several other witnesses who have taken the stand earlier this week, Scott first said Gallagher plunged a knife into the neck of the wounded ISIS captive as they were providing him with medical care....

How does it feel to be an American today? Safe?

All this is because Trump carried through with a campaign promise to leave the Iran Nuclear Deal, which is an act of war.

Trump needs to apologize to Iran, reverse course and return to the peace table and the Iran Nuclear Deal.

Trump never attempted in any way renegotiations. Germany attempted to seek renegotiations, but, Trump never did and there was not one meeting with Iranian officials to register a complaint about the Iran Nuclear Deal. It is an act of war.

June 21, 2019
By Jon Gambrell 

Dubai – Major airlines from around the world (click here) on Friday began rerouting their flights to avoid areas around the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s shooting down of a U.S. military surveillance drone there, as America warned commercial airliners could be mistakenly attacked.

Australia’s Qantas, British Airways, Dutch carrier KLM and Germany’s Lufthansa said soon afterward that they will avoid the region as well.

The FAA previously warned of a risk in the region, but Friday’s warning threw into stark relief a danger both it and analysts warned was real after the shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines flight over Ukraine in 2014. That could further imperil the bottom lines of Gulf long-haul carriers, which already have faced challenges under the Trump administration....

"...keep your foot on the gas..." Said differently, escalation, escalation and more escalation.

The Trump peace plan is war.

20/06/2019

US National Security Advisor John Bolton (click here) will travel to Israel at the weekend for "regional security talks" with top Russian and Israeli officials, the White House said Thursday amid spiking tensions with Iran.

Bolton will meet Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, followed by talks with his Israeli and Russian counterparts, Meir Ben-Shabbat and Nikolai Patrushev, NSC spokesman Garrett Marquis said...

The crisis with Iran is directly Donald Trump's fault. When will he accept responsibility? The Trump Cabal is the equivalent of premeditated international murder.

The USA military was conceived to protect the country and not for the use of private dreams of billionaires.

Not one terrorist, not one, of September 11, 2001, was a Shi'ite. Not one. They were Saudis.

The people of the USA need to begin now in writing their House and Senate representatives to end hostilities with Iran and return to the peace tables and reinstate the Iran Agreement.

Lindsay Graham is a warmonger and attempting to inflame the tensions.

Let's get something straight. Iran never went looking for a drone, it was delivered them. The drone was an unknown capacity to Iran. Iran did not expect this. The Iranians had a right to defend their country and they did.

And get rid of the idea of al Qaeda in Iran. That is such a joke. Iran is Shi'ite and al Qaeda are Sunnis. It ain't gonna happen.

Where is the drone?

We know for a fact the Trump White House has been lying about Iran. They want war with that country.

IF THE DRONE WENT DOWN IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS, WHERE IS IT?

Iran is not Syria.

If he actually takes action like he shouldn't the evidence to the FACTS will eventually come out. He also better not kill anyone. NO ONE. This was an unmanned drone and there was nothing that occurred here except Trump's embarrassment.

I don't believe him. I believe he instructed the USA SECRETARY OF STATE TO GET EVIDENCE ON IRAN and they lost their drone over Iran and/or territorial waters. Pompeo was just at Centcom (click here). This is the result of Pompeo's visit.

US drones are known to be very successful in killing human beings, including teens. There was no reason for Iran to believe differently.

Iran had every right to defend its people. There are some drones that are huge and have the capacity of jet fighters. Iran did what Iran had to do.

The drone went down in Iranian waters or very, very close to it. This is what happens when very expensive and sophisticated military equipment is in the hands of warmongers.

The USA should apologize and get over it. The fact of the matter is the Iranians now have the drone and will dissect it to mimic the technology. Trump's White House was WRONG to use this drone for a mission to FIND EVIDENCE to make a case against Iran. There is no case against Iran. There are international inspectors in and out of that country all the time. There is no reason to escalate tensions with Iran.

Trump needs to make concessions to Iran and get back to the peace tables.

Page 20 of Volume i of the Special Counsel report, page 28 of the PDF.

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 33

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 34

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Bottom of page 

Footnote 33 -  Harm of Ongoing Matter   See SM-2230634, Serial 205

Footnote 34 - See SM-2230634, Serial 204 Harm of Ongoing Matter

There isn't anything to discuss on this page. The SM articles in the footnotes are in the evidence that accompanies the report. If the evidence is not released to the public, there is no real way to assess the information.

Page 21

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 35

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 36

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 37

IRA (Internet Research Agency) employees also traveled to the United States on intelligence-gathering missions. In June 2014, four IRA employees applied to the U.S. Department of State to enter the United States, while lying about the purpose of their trip and claiming to be four friends who had met at a party.38 Ultimately, two IRA employees-Anna Bogacheva and Aleksandra Krylova-received visas and entered the United States on June 4, 2014.

Some of the information in the report will also be found in the indictment I read yesterday. So this is not new to this reading of the report.

Prior to traveling, Krylova and Bogacheva compiled itineraries and instructions for the trip.

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 39

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Bottom of page

Footnote 35 Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 36 Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 37 Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 38 - See SM2230634, serials 150 & 172 Harm of Ongoing Matter

Same thing here. The SM numbers and serials are EVIDENCE FILE numbers.

Footnote 39 Harm of Ongoing Matter

Page 22

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 40

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 41

2. U.S. Operations Through IRA-Controlled Social Media Accounts

Dozens of IRA employees were responsible for operating accounts and personas on different U.S. social media platforms. The IRA referred to employees assigned to operate the social media accounts as "specialists."42 Starting as early as 2014, the IRA' s U.S. operations included social media specialists focusing on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.43 The IRA later added specialists who operated on Tumblr and Instagram accounts.44

Initially, the IRA created social media accounts that pretended to be the personal accounts of U.S. persons. 45 By early 2015, the IRA began to create larger social media groups or public social media pages that claimed (falsely) to be affiliated with U.S. political and grassroots organizations. In certain cases, the IRA created accounts that mimicked real U.S. organizations. For example, one IRA-controlled Twitter account, @TEN_ GOP, purported to be connected to the Tennessee Republican Party. 46 More commonly, the IRA created accounts in the names of fictitious U.S. organizations and grassroots groups and used these accounts to pose as antiimmigration groups, Tea Party activists, Black Lives Matter protestors, and other U.S. social and political activists. 

This is information already covered when the indictment was read on this blog. 

The IRA closely monitored the activity of its social media accounts.

 Harm of Ongoing Matter

I would like to point out that the knowledge in the indictment is only a part of the information in the report. How do we know this, because, it is easy to point to the indictment information, HOWEVER, there is more information in the redacted parts of the report. So, this reading is not seeing the additional information of the report in the redacted sections OR the evidence file.

End of page

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 40  Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 41 Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 42 Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 43 Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 44 See SM-2230634, serial 179 Harm of Ongoing Matter

Let me just add that the footnotes with "Harm of Ongoing Matter" next to them are probably other numbers in the evidence file. These redactions took place over actual words typed on the page of the report. So the length of the redaction reflects what might be out of sight. As I stated before, there is nothing wrong with trying to understand the text beyond what is readable.

Footnote 45 See, e.g., Facebook ID 100011390466802 (Alex Anderson); Facebook ID 100009626173204 (Andrea Hansen); Facebook ID 100009728618427 (Gary Williams); Facebook ID 100013640043337 (Lakisha Richardson).

In this footnote, the Special Counsel has linked the Facebook ID to the name using the ID and not just the number.

Footnote 46 The account claimed to be the "Unofficial Twitter of Tennessee Republicans" and made posts that appeared to be endorsements of the state political party. See, e.g., @TEN_GOP, 4/3/16 Tweet ("Tennessee GOP backs @rea!DonaldTrump period #makeAmericagreatagain #tngop #tennessee #gop").

This footnote is important for obvious reasons. In this case, the Russians actually adopted a false name BUT ALSO THE AUTHORITY of a state GOP identity. That is huge. In the state of Tennessee, the Russians found it necessary to force an authority to impose a value system on the electorate. That is Russia's first step to larger aspirations. They want to control not just a statewide political organization, but, also the entire country. This is not ego, this is a strategy. A covert strategy to displace the USA's democracy, hence the freedom of citizens. That is huge. That shows the true intent of the Russian attack on the USA's sovereign elections of 2016. Realize the Russians had no apprehension or cause for a pause in taking such authority away from Americans. The Tennessee GOP are real Americans. Their political identity was robbed from them so Putin could obtain a goal of control over these Americans.

This report is not a benign piece of work. It clearly documents the evidence in files to back up all the facts stated here. Russia under the Putin leadership wants to overthrow the USA Constitution. It is obvious. This is not just ONE ELECTION SO WHO CARES. This is a strategy implemented by a sovereign Russia to overthrow the USA Constitution.

The Russians are not afraid of their power and they like making fools of Americans.

Their intent is not wholesome. They would like to place their own people in power no different than witnessed in Ukraine. Their plan would be completed in the children's classroom.

Page 23

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 47

Harm of Ongoing Matter

Footnote 48

Harm of Ongoing Matter

By February 2016, internal IRA documents referred to support for the Trump Campaign and opposition to candidate Clinton. 49  HOM             directions to IRA operators. Harm of Ongoing Matter "Main idea: Use any opportunity to criticize Hillary [Clinton] and rest (except Sanders and Trump - we support them.)" 50

Why would Russia support Bernie Sanders? Socialism? No. He was the opposition to Hillary. Putin knows Hillary. He knows Bill and Barak. Throw "W" in there, too, along with McCain. He knows what he wants to continue his intrusion into the USA and he does not want Hillary. He even threatened the USA electorate with nuclear war if Hillary was elected president. Putin wanted this bad. He has wanted this for most of this KGB career right into his presidency.

See from my point of view there was a reason Paul Manafort was at the Trump Campaign. He accomplished Putin's goals in Ukraine. Why would he not be able to do the same in the USA?

Putin was investing heavily in the 2016 elections, why risk the campaign of Trump from going badly wrong?

Harm of Ongoing Matter

The focus on the U.S. presidential campaign continued throughout 2016. In  HOM 2016 internal HOM            reviewing the IRA-controlled Facebook group "Secured Borders," the author criticized the "lower number of posts dedicated to criticizing Hillary Clinton" and reminded the Facebook specialist " it is imperative to intensify criticizing Hillary Clinton."51

End of text

Footnote 47 Harm to Ongoing Matter 

Footnote 48 See, e.g., SM-2230634 serial 131 HOM

Footnote 49 The IRA posted content about the Clinton candidacy before Clinton officially announced her presidential campaign. IRA-controlled social media accounts criticized Clinton's record as Secretary of State and promoted various critiques of her candidacy. The IRA also used other techniques. Harm to Ongoing Matter   See SM-2230634, serial 70.

They started their campaign long before she did. They started in 2013. This is one of the reasons Trump and FOX need to stop using Hillary Clinton as their wiping boy. This is a tried and true strategy adopted by Putin and it is toxic to the democracy of the USA.

Footnote 50 Harm to Ongoing Matter 

Footnote 51 Harm to Ongoing Matter 

End of Page

Page 24

IRA employees also acknowledged that their work focused on influencing the U.S. presidential election. Harm to Ongoing Matter 
Harm to Ongoing Matter 

Footnote 53

I will return to reading later and I will start here on page 24.

3. U.S. Operations Through Facebook 

continued in later entry

New Zealand is conducting a national gun buy back program. I think it is a great idea.

Unfortunately, it would not work in the USA. The money obtained from the guns handed in can be used to purchase more of the same only newer. New Zealand banned military style weapons AND the add ons that change an average gun into a deadly weapon to enable mass murders.

These programs can work in the USA to reduce the number of deadly guns, but, there has to be legislation that provides for the safety of the citizen over the gun lobby. If that happens, these measures would work just as well in the USA. I am not sure it would cost anymore either. Let's see, New Zealand is a country of 5 million people and 1.5 million guns. Of those guns 1.5 million guns about 14,300 would be eligible for the buy back. There are many more guns than that in the USA and many more military style weapons.

New Zealand gun ownership is about 3 citizens to 1 gun, in the USA I think it is a 1 to 1 ratio.

September 22, 2018
By Alex Yablon

...The National Firearms Act of 1934 (click here) required owners of fully automatic guns to register the weapons with the federal government. Since 1986, Congress has forbidden gunmakers from producing fully automatic weapons for the civilian market, leaving machine gun aficionados to collect older models, and then register them. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, there are roughly 638,000 machine guns in circulation in the United States, a number that includes both assault rifles like the M16 and more novel products, like the Uzi submachine gun....

It is interesting. New Zealand is a far smaller country and has about 2 percent of the number of military style guns compared to the USA. It would be more expensive, about 50 times more expensive if the USA ran a SUCCESSFUL program to remove these deadly weapons from the streets. There is a real incentive to conduct such a program, it saves police lives. If laws were passed to eliminate these weapons the incentive to buy back could be done incrementally over a few years to absorb the cost.

It would mean a major commitment to bring the number of guns on the street down significantly. It would be a good commitment.

Graph (click here) 

June 19, 2019
By Charlotte Greenfield

Wellington - New Zealand’s government (click here) on Thursday launched a multimillion-dollar, six-month “buy-back” scheme to compensate owners of powerful but newly banned semi-automatic weapons prohibited in the wake of deadly attacks on two mosques in the Southern city of Christchurch.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Minister of Police Stuart Nash said in a joint emailed statement that NZ$208 million ($135.97 million) had been set aside to compensate owners of the banned semi-automatic firearms up to 95% of the original cost.

They would have until Dec. 20 to hand in their weapons.

“Police have detailed plans in place for the next step, which is the collection of firearms from the community. It will be a huge logistical exercise and is expected to get under way in mid-July,” Nash said.

Parliament passed the gun reform law - the first substantial changes to the country’s gun laws in decades - by a vote of 119 to 1 in April....

It has to stop somewhere.

I am sorry to hear this was a Democratic staffer, but, this is really terrible. I am so sorry these Senators were victims to this level of attempted coercion. It is notable the charge of obstruction of justice was actually upheld. It matters.

June 19, 2019
By Matt Naham

U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan said that “We have … a society that has become very vicious,” adding that it was “very concerning to the court and unfortunate” that Jackson Cosko “played into that.”

The defendant has pleaded guilty (click here) to carrying out a months-long series of burglaries and sophisticated data theft offenses directed at the office of United States Senator Maggie Hassan; to a separate set of “doxxing” offenses through which he maliciously released personal information of Senators Lindsay Graham, Orrin Hatch, Mike Lee, Rand Paul, and Mitch McConnell; and to obstruction of justice, because he attempted to silence a witness by threatening to release the private health information of a Senator’s children, because he corrupted another person and persuaded her to attempt to “wipe down” the scene of his burglaries, and because he attempted to destroy evidence in his own apartment. The defendant ultimately pleaded guilty to five felony counts.