Trump's pathology is very troubling.

In his rally, Trump stated the fittest children should be the country's soldiers. The USA is now interested in the "breed" of a person. What makes them fit for service where other Americans do not? What are these "fit children/persons" going to be named, the American Aryans? And the USA renamed into the United States of American Aryan Nation?

26 February 2018

The exchange happened during a congress of Mr Erdogan's AK Party

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (click here) has been criticised after telling a girl in military uniform that she would be honoured if killed while fighting.

"If she's martyred, they'll lay a flag on her," he told the sobbing girl at a televised congress of his AK Party.

His supporters cheered "Chief! Take us to Afrin!", in reference to Turkey's operations against Kurdish fighters in Syria's northern Afrin region.

The speech has been described as "child abuse" and a glorification of death.

In the event, broadcast live on state television, the young girl dressed as a soldier seems to catch the attention of Mr Erdogan, who then invites her to the stage....

Donald Trump enjoys the idea of having the power that can cause death. He does not care about the lives of Americans or anyone else for that matter. In case the Trump speechwriters haven't noticed there is a global spike in cases because the USA is setting such a lousy example and calling the World Health Organization "Fake News."

From the beginning of the global pandemic, Trump's agenda was to eliminate the influence of medical professionals. These tactics have existed throughout this administration in most agencies of the federal government. Trump needs to admit his strategy to reclaim the USA from the clutches of SARS-CoV-2 to date has not worked and opening the country will only prove more bad decision making.

22.06.20

The World Health Organization (click here) has reported its highest single-day rise in new cases, as global testing efforts are ramped up. In Germany, the R-rate has spiked 60% to 2.88. Follow DW for the latest....

The R-rate is also known as "R naught" and has yet to enter the dialogue of COVID-19 in the USA.

...Three possibilities (click here) exist for the potential transmission or decline of a disease, depending on its R0 value:

- If R0 is less than 1, each existing infection causes less than one new infection. In this case, the disease will decline and eventually die out.

- If R0 equals 1, each existing infection causes one new infection. The disease will stay alive and stable, but there won’t be an outbreak or an epidemic.

- If R0 is more than 1, each existing infection causes more than one new infection. The disease will be transmitted between people, and there may be an outbreak or epidemic....

While the WHO is alarmed at the one day increase globally, it is not happening globally so much as "certain" countries and the USA tops that list. Spain has made the leap of faith to open it's borders again after their daily cases are nearing single digits.

Graph (click here)

Below are USA daily cases (click here for graph):

Trump's pathology has denied the very poor performance of the administration since the early cases of COVID-19 were exposed. Trump put a false face on this from the beginning in hoping to hide this virus in the statistics of the flu and only focusing on the jet from China as the only known case of Americans. Trump's "strategy of denial" has failed.

If this was a sincere war, the US Congress would be asking for his resignation and begin hearings to the lack of an exit strategy to end the war. Instead of having rock-solid reasons to open the USA, Trump demands the testing to end because that is the only reason there is a growing number of cases reported as if all the new cases were benign and absent of symptoms.

Trump is wrong and the possibility of opening schools is nearly upon us. Children must be protected. Children do not have magical immunity to the virus.

19 June 2020

...Swiss health officials (click here) have insisted that young kids are not vectors of infection or transmission.

“Based on the current knowledge, few children get infected with the Covid-19 virus”, Daniel Koch, former head of the infectious diseases unit at the Federal Office of Public Health said in April.

But there have been cases in Switzerland and elsewhere of children dying of Covid-19.

At the end of May, an infant died in a Zurich hospital, after contracting the virus while in Macedonia.

Also in May, a nine-year-old boy, with an underlying health condition, died in France from the Kawasaki-like disease believed to be linked to coronavirus....

June 20, 2020

In a shocking admission (click here) during his Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally on Saturday night, President Donald Trump said he had told officials in his administration to slow down coronavirus testing because of the rising number of cases in America, and used a racist term to describe the coronavirus.

“You know testing is a double-edged sword,” Trump said while complaining about media coverage of his handling of the virus. He said that the US has now tested some 25 million people. “Here’s the bad part… when you do testing to that extent, you’re going to find more people; you’re going to find more cases. So I said to my people, slow the testing down please.”

At another point during the rally, he said Covid-19 has more names than any other disease: “I can name Kung Flu,” he said using the racist term, “I can name 19 different versions of them.”...

Racism and blaming the media when he should be blaming himself for the failure of his strategy. Everything he says is propaganda and endangers American quality of life and life itself. If that is not pathological, don't ask me what is?

Happy Father’s Day

An especially good one to Vice President Biden who bravely faces this day with loss as well as joy.

Children need their Dad’s more than ever to keep them safe. Safe to live an education at home with caring teaches in virtual classrooms. Safe to grow up happy and healthy. And safe in the love that shines a path to happiness and security the rest of their days.

Attorney General Barr needs to go on a reformation weekend with his peers from all walks of life.

Attorney General Barr needs to be open to peer review which lacks in his decisions. That peer review may be a scolding from the Speaker of the House. Some of his priorities are based on an agenda rendered by politics and not the facts or good legal practice. It seems as though some of his focus is as if in a bubble and not an open understanding of the facts and best legal practices.

I think he is going to have the most difficult initiative trying to get the private sector of Wall Street to bring strong loyalty to the USA and stem the loose company policies with China. He states at one time the NATIONAL SECURITY of the country AND the security of their own companies in relation to the long view into the future was highly important. Barr believes that PRIORITY is gone in Wall Street companies, instead of security issues there exists a threat to the future of the USA, in exchange for profits. Why, difficult? A former USA Secretary of the Treasury has made huge investments in China. I don't believe for a minute there is ANY security along that nexus to protect Goldman-Sachs (click here) or the USA from Chinese exploitation. Barr should remember when a major investor in China is from the West there is always the threat of communists willing to shut it all down and imprison Americans for their lack of cooperation with the communist government in China and/or Russia for that matter. 

If the Bolton book reveals so-called National Security issues it is because the national security council is incompetent which Barr never entertained before he took Bolton to court. The NSC asked Barr to take Bolton to court. That sounds like a direct order from Trump, but, realize the Bolton book has been in review by the NSC for a long time. It is easy to say the NSC was postponing the publication of the book until after the election which is pure unadulterated corruption. When the USA government entertains impacting freedom of speech for political interests it has gone into the depths of corruption itself.

The deaths of Black Americans were not really addressed because they were ongoing, but, he did say nearly 9 mins of a knee on the neck when the man was already restrained is wrong. 

Barr brought up an idea that needs research and that is; how often are legal diversion programs (sentences other than jail or prison) offered to African American citizens? He believes there could be inequality within those programs and ethnic opportunities to seek them.

Barr was all too willing to criticize social media programs as "selective" in what they were removing as content, but, he is not willing to state how inflammatory FOX NEWS commentators can be in regard to falsehoods and other propaganda. He is prioritizing an agenda that is not clear to his focus.

I think anti-trust is tricky when dealing with freedom of speech and how governance will occur after anti-trust breaks up the social media companies. If social media companies are sliced up there is always a chance someone like Russia could purchase those entities. Here again is the question that plagues Barr, who is loyal to the USA and even their own companies when dealing with profit? I think the profits of social media can be stemmed and to some degree are stemmed by promoting benevolent causes and making financial donations though PROVEN TRUSTWORTHY non-profit organizations.

I think social media networks have to be regarded as no different than AI (artificial intelligence) and national security. There are enormous numbers of people and businesses using these networks (probably everyone except infants) and to believe if they were divided and made to change their current STABILITY and GOVERNANCE would be for the best, is false. I think it is far more complicated than that. I believe the operation of these networks falls to the FBI and finding terrorists and foreign agents seeking to adversely effect the USA democracy. I think social media networks can stay intact, BUT, comply with national security demands by the USA government through legislation. NO CORRUPTION PLEASE. The legislation has to PURPOSELY ignore special interests in writing that legislation which should contain regulation of AI. When are the American people going to be valued for the incredibly wonderful people they are?

A good source of the concern with national security is SpaceX's Musk. He has experience with his space technology and national security all the time. He has made public comments on AI and it is interesting.

On the other hand, are social media companies like Facebook that also have platforms in China. There is an argument these companies are COMPROMISED by the simple fact they have interests in China's economy. Facebook is also compromised by it's interest in China and the communist government. So, realize when seeking actions against social media these are international companies COMPROMISED by their foreign interests. China would love to own Facebook and all its other interests.

I think AG Barr needs to reflect on the Trump culture he is willing to support at the expense of our democracy. I think he is pandering to the president in many instances. He appears at times that Barr is more Trump's puppet rather than him clearly overseeing the venue that is traditionally that of the Attorney General.

Barr doesn't recognize the frailty of the human being in some ways. I believe the death of Mr. Brooks DEFINITELY defines the profound fear of African American men when having interactions with police. I believe Mr. Brooks was aware of his frailty and the proximity of death with the two officers. I strongly believe when the cop tried to place handcuffs on his wrists, the deep-seated fear took over and he fought for his life. I strongly believe Mr. Brooks was balancing his life against every interaction with the police. When Mr. Brooks wasn't explained that the breathalyzer test was not legally binding and he would have to go to the police station and/or a hospital ER for a legal analysis of his alcohol content they lost his loyalty to a final end to their interaction. The officer never stated Mr. Brooks would have to be handcuffed to travel to the police station as a matter of practice for safety to all parties. He never told him exactly what he was being arrested for and the entire interaction went off the rails because Brook's fear for his life took over. 

I believe there is a huge cultural issue between police and African American men and women that tragically plays out in their deaths. Sandra Bland. It was the same exact dynamic as what occurred with Mr. Brooks. SAME THING. There is an "air of fear" within the African American culture that brings behaviors that ultimately interact with police standards, policies, and practices resulting in their deaths. I am tired of it and it seems no matter how much dialogue takes place there is no end to it. Barr can justify it by saying 8000 African American deaths (click here for 2005 statistics) occurs every year and those by police are a small number. AG Barr needs to apologize for that statement. The American people will NEVER forgive it because these deaths are heinous in that they are racist AND of unarmed Americans.

I might point out that "Black Lives Matter" is not an extremist group. These are also families of those that were killed at the power of the police. These could not be more ORDINARY Americans. They are not stone-cold crazy.

There are eons of difference between the current laws of the USA and a just Judicial System that recognizes the frailty of life and racial differences. The police have huge problems with these differences and cause the deaths of people because of them.

We have a long way to go and that is something Barr does not realize. Included in changes are the economic income and wealth inequalities. As the American people demand legislative measures to bring about a more equitable America, the deaths of unarmed African American people at the power of the police are off-limits. The African American community cannot be burdened by these deaths EVER AGAIN. Police MUST admit the person in front of them is unable to kill them and is probably full of fear for their life. This is directly a problem for the police and it has to be taken seriously. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR POLICE TO FEAR GEORGE FLOYD.

Good luck to you, Mr. Bolton. Sorry, all this mess was part of your book venture.

June 20, 2020
By Sonam Sheth and Connor Perrett

A federal judge on Saturday (click here) struck down the Trump administration's last-ditch effort to stop former national security adviser John Bolton from publishing his explosive book.

The Justice Department sued Bolton on Tuesday to block the release, alleging that Bolton breached his contract and that the book could compromise national security because it contains classified information.

"While Bolton's unilateral conduct raises grave national security concerns, the government has not established that an injunction is an appropriate remedy," US District Judge Royce Lamberth said in his ruling Saturday....

The country's police need to stop whining. It is racism.

There is so much propaganda that exists in the bloated egos of police in this country it is ridiculous. The African American communities are protesting to protect their rights and their lives, we should all be on board with it. Anyone that is complaining is a racist.

Officer #1 states, "I am 6 feet 2 inches and a strong man. It would be next to impossible to me down without tools like a taser."

No one is interested in taking away tasers. They are a good non-lethal tool for officers faced with a violent individual, rather than a gun. The issue with Rayshard Brooks is an overreach and poor police work. If other officers can't get on board to properly peer-review other officers that place danger in the path of justice, then they need to look for another job.

The issue with all the deaths of African American men is a "takedown" that took their lives. Officers across this country better get used to the idea that no one dies if they are unarmed at the time of their crime. Any officer that kills anyone when that person is not armed should not be in the force. The interface of the police and citizens MUST RESPECT the lives of all involved. We are talking about people that are unarmed but have broken the law in some way. THEY BETTER NOT DIE. The apprehension of an unarmed human being does not mean the interaction escalates to gunfire or any method of asphyxiation. Police that escalate circumstances facing a Father or Husband or young man needs to leave the force.

The deaths of these African American men are heinous. They should never have happened. Killing minorities in the line of duty when they are no danger to the public or police is racism.

STOP THE WHINING AND GO BACK TO WORK. This isn't about the officers that are whining about protesters unless they make it so.

My family is large and we have people in all walks of life and we have cops in our family and NOT ONE OF THEM HAVE KILLED ANYONE!

They have ranged in all forms of police work, local cops in white towns and local cops in minority neighborhoods, State Police, Detectives, and working in Medicare Fraud. All those jobs over their lifetimes are the scope I have in understanding police work. My family police officers are both men and women. They carry weapons and ride in cop cars. They have been involved with riots dating back in time to the early Detroit riots. They killed no one and are alive to tell the tale.

As a matter of fact, an uncle was befriended by men he put in jail and prison. There was once a safecracker named Leroy that called my uncle the day he was released from prison where he was for five years. He said, "You told me that when I get out you would help me find a job." My uncle did exactly that. Not only did he find Leroy a job, but he would OCCASIONALLY hear from Leroy if he was struggling. You could say they had a casual bother relationship. Leroy never met the family, it was about Leroy's functioning in the world. Leroy never went back to crime.

I could not believe my ears when someone stated President Obama was born in Kenya. Like, what? The person stated there was a woman by the name of Loretta Fuddy (click here). According to this brainwashed man, Ms. Fuddy was the only one that died in a plane because she released President Obama's birth certificate from Kenya. That story is so perverted and wrong it should be a crime. A conspiracy theory that places Ms. Fuddy at a place where she died because she told the truth about President Obama being born in Kenya. She died because of a cover up. That is completely demented and totally wrong. 

Mr. Fuddy was Health Director in Hawaii, not Kenya. She lived and worked in Hawaii all her life and never had authority in Kenya to manufacture a birth certificate. Ms. Fuddy was the Health Director that APPROVED the release of President Obama's HAWAIIAN birth certificate. She had absolutely nothing to do with Kenya. She died in a plane crash with others in the "Hawaiian Flying Taxi" often used to ferry between islands. It is unfortunate, but, it was not a conspiracy against Ms. Fuddy. Those planes sometimes crash and unfortunately, she was on one the day something went wrong.

Mr. Fuddy was a professional with the Hawaiian Health Department with the authority to release President Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate. Enough of this mess.

Conspiracy theories about President Obama is racism.

Police Officer #2 is a woman. She was touting all her gratification in her work including birthing babies. Fine. I am very happy she finds her work rewarding. But, that doesn't give her the right to kill unarmed black men. It does not give her the right to complain about protesters demanding the end of the death of unarmed black men. He does give her the right to explore the issues at hand and come to conclusions to be aware of the RIGHT of an unarmed person to live through their apprehension and arrest.

There are statements by men officers about how they weren't going to enter the fray of a gunfight ensuing in their town. That is work for a SWAT team and not police officers. Officers facing these direly dangerous times need to call in SWAT to end the gun barrage. It is not the responsibility of officers that birth babies to also end gun wars for whatever reason they exist.

If cops want to express their politics it should be done on their own time and out of uniform. Very simple. Any discussion of politics is confrontational and should be eliminated in the work environment. Officers that care about politics need to begin a movement to end gun violence and protect police lives. There are far too many guns on the street and it needs to stop. Police lives are at danger because of the gun population in this country. Guns that have military capacity DO NOT belong on the streets of the USA.

The nine mm semi-automatic pistol was introduced to the police in 1995. Before that, they had their six-shooter and not much else. Look where we are today. The streets are more dangerous and police officers are all in danger because of it. The politics that placed military-style weapons on the streets of the USA need to be rolled back and police need to demand a safe workspace not provided in their work today.

NO MORE DEAD UNARMED AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN.

NO MORE RACIST RANTS.

NO MORE HIDEOUS CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT DEFAMES OUR FORMER AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT. The right complains about the "talk about Trump," then they need to look in the mirror and end the slanderous and fictitious talk they produce.

The police are overreacting to JUSTICE being leveled at some officers for the death of African American citizens.

Crime happens in the USA for many reasons, but, it frequently revolves around the overvaluation of wealth without valuing each other through humanitarian values we all share in this country.

The Trump tax cases are before the Supreme Court.

Two of the aggrieved are US House Committees, but, the third is Cyrus Vance, Jr. (click here for the brief). I thought for a minute that was SDNY, but, it isn't. It is the District Attorney of the County of New York.

Trump is panicked because decisions handed down recently were not according to the loyalty/corruption he was counting on to help carry his campaign.

The SDNY appointment is the same "Musical Chairs" and loading offices for adverse outcomes to democracy as in the US Post Office.

Why not a former chair of the SEC to completely corrupt SDNY. After all the election depends on a Wall Street full of wealth. Barr now has a compliant leader of a US Attorney office in New York City.

It is uncertain if every appointment by Clayton will be from the Wharton School of Business (click here).

Trump's Deep State plagues the country. Clayton finished his corruption of the SEC, so now the loyalty to Trump/Barr moves to SDNY.

Washington D.C., May 11, 2020 —

US Attorney General Bill Barr (L) and SEC chairman Jay Clayton arrive to speak at the Securities and Exchange Commission's Criminal Coordination Conference in Washington, DC, on October 3, 2019.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (click here) today released an updated roster of the executive staff of Chairman Jay Clayton, including several individuals who have recently joined the office.

Chairman Clayton's executive staff is responsible for advising the Chairman on all matters before the Commission, working closely with agency staff, and helping the Chairman perform all day-to-day operations needed to fulfill the SEC's mission.

"The women and men in the Chairman’s office have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing the SEC’s mission, particularly during these challenging times,” said Chairman Jay Clayton. “Their diverse backgrounds, wide ranges of experience, and dedication, together with that of my fellow Commissioners and our 4,500 talented colleagues, have allowed the agency to continue our important work on behalf of Main Street investors.”

Below is a full list of Chairman Jay Clayton’s executive staff as of May 2020....

The dismantling of the VOA is to serve Steve Bannon's wealthy march through Europe to dismember the European governments. The VOA is serving the purposes of Vladimir Putin.

The VOA no longer is a reliable place for news.

February 17, 2017
By Marissa Melton

VOA jazz broadcaster Willis Conover interviews the legendary Louis Armstrong.

But the Soviet government fought back. In April 1947, just over two months after the broadcasts started, the Soviets began jamming the radio signal electronically.

"Hello, this is New York calling." (click here) The words, in Russian, hit Russian airwaves on Feb. 17, 1947 — the first Russian broadcast of the Voice of America.

The broadcasts were an integral part of the United States' propaganda campaign against the Soviet Union, which was seen as the new threat once World War II was over in 1945.

VOA, which began during the war as a way to convey American news and policies to occupied areas, told its Russian listeners it was meant to "give listeners in the USSR a picture of life in America." Like its other services, VOA's Russian service meant to give its audience the "pure and unadulterated truth" about life beyond Soviet borders....

There is a CRITICALLY IMPORTANT JOB OPENING in Michigan for a Civil Rights Director.

The minorities in Michigan need leadership willing to bring about revolutionary change. This is pathetic. Snyder keeps pushing his own agenda even out of power.

June 17, 2020

The remaining candidate for Michigan civil rights director (click here) has been rejected after concerns were raised about his connection to the Flint water crisis.

Harvey Hollins was turned down in a 4-4 vote Monday by the Civil Rights Commission, MLive.com reported.

Hollins was urban affairs adviser under Gov. Rick Snyder. He was among senior members of Snyder's team who knew in 2015 about a spike in Legionnaires' disease in the Flint area. Experts linked it to bacteria in the water.

Snyder didn't speak publicly about Legionnaires' until early 2016."

Our 2017 report on the Flint water crisis specifically found that racism was a key factor in the crisis," Commissioner Zenna Faraj Elhasan said. "And I think hiring a candidate who was involved in that crisis goes directly against everything that department must prevent and that the commission is meant to protect against."

Commissioner Portia Roberson said concerns about Hollins emerged in a survey of employees.

Commissioner Jeffrey Sakwa, who was in favor of hiring Hollins, said he's "being penalized for something he's not responsible for."

Flint used the Flint River for 18 months without treating the water to reduce corrosion. The corrosive water allowed lead to leach from old pipes....

U of M students on the Dearborn and Flint campuses are feeling the pain of the loss of their education.

Shifting to online classes (click here) can be difficult for students who never took them before.

June 16, 2020
By Steve Carmody

The COVID-19 pandemic (click here) is raising concerns among some University of Michigan students in Dearborn and Flint about whether they are getting the same financial help that students on the Ann Arbor campus receive.

Alysia Trevino is with the group One University.

Trevino says the pandemic is adding to the burden of students with fewer financial resources.

“The Dearborn and Flint campuses were in a state of crisis pre-covid. But now students in the state of Michigan are going to be in even greater financial need,” says Trevino.

In particular, the group wants the university to expand its Go Blue Guarantee, which provides tuition assistance, but only to students pursuing undergraduate studies in Ann Arbor....

June 21, 2019

Flint - The Board of Regents at University(click here) of Michigan Flint has voted on a new budget that includes a five percent tuition increase for in-state undergraduate students.

The change makes the yearly cost of attendance about $12,000 per student.

Some faculty believe this could result in a drop in enrollment.

School leaders say the school is working to make sure the cost of those losses are not passed onto students.

Do your part to slow the spread of the virus. (White House)

AVOID SOCIAL GATHERINGS in groups of more 10 people (click here).

Trump breaks his own rules and exposes Americans to virus danger. I don't care what anyone thinks, that is a deliberate gathering to spread the virus, causing illness, handicaps, and death.

It is not up to the attendees of any gathering including a Trump rally to "decide for themselves" if they are wearing masks and social distancing.

IT IS NOT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL TO END THIS VIRUS!

NO ONE IS TO BREAK THE RULES!

There is a Kodiak Bear on the loose in Trump rallies and it looks like this!

The plaintiff has no standing. We are engaged in a global pandemic and any losses are directly related to it.

Additionally, anyone ever defamed, ridiculed and lied about by Donald John Trump and any of his so-called friends should file a lawsuit as well. Maybe even a class action.

I don't think I got to that part in my reading.

June 17, 2020
By Colin Kalmbacher 

Former special counsel Robert Mueller (click here) is being sued for defamation by a businessman who claims that his “good name and favorable business reputation were shattered” after he was falsely identified as a “Russian businessman” in a footnote to the Mueller Report....

...“During that conversation, the friend told plaintiff that he had recently attended a dinner party in Moscow at which he overheard a person at the next table—whom he did not know—bragging about some tapes related to a trip by Mr. [Donald] Trump to Moscow. The friend said he was passing along the information because he knew plaintiff had an ongoing business relationship with the Trump Organization about building a Trump Tower in Georgia. This telephone conversation was the sole basis for an exchange of texts between plaintiff and Mr. Cohen on October 30, 2016.”...

Michael Cohen. It is called evidence. End of discussion.

More Chinese aggression. Hostilities broke out while diplomacy was ongoing.

June 19, 2020
By Shirhir Gupta

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, second right, with Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, right, India Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, left, and the chief of Indian Naval staff Admiral Karambir Singh.

The commanding officer of the PLA battalion (click here) deployed in eastern Ladakh and his second-in-command died in the violent faceoff between Chinese and Indian soldiers in the Galwan area of eastern Ladakh on Monday, people familiar with the developments said on Friday. China has confirmed that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) suffered casualties but has dodged repeated questions from international media about details of the clash.

Twenty Indian soldiers including a colonel-ranked officer were killed in the violent scrap, the first Indian casualties in a clash with the PLA in 45 years.

“This was the first clash of its kind on the Line of Actual Control because India has the capability and the will to stand up to an aggressive China,” a top military commander told Hindustan Times.

Chinese troops, which had mobilised soldiers along the Line of Actual Control and set up a stand-off with India for nearly six weeks, refused to back down in line with the understanding reached between top commanders of the two armies on June 6. What started off as an argument between local commanders of the two sides on June 15 evening after the PLA attempted to build a structure on the Indian side during the de-escalation process soon spiralled into a full-blown fisticuffs....

India China stand-off: (click here) The point marked ‘Br’ is the location of the Bailey bridge built by the India, 3 km east of the confluence. Patrolling Point 14 is 2 km from the bridge.


19 June 2020

The engineers of the Indian Army (click here) have completed the construction of a 60-metre bridge over the Galwan river in eastern Ladakh that would strengthen India’s control of the region by enabling the Indian troops to move across the river and provide a shield to the 255 KM strategic road from Darbuk to Daulat Beg Oldie, the final post south of the Karakoram Pass, the Hindustan Times reported....

Chart (click here)

May 26

New Delhi - Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting on Tuesday with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat besides other senior officials on a day the stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops continued in the Galwan valley of eastern Ladakh.

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh RK Mathur, (click here) who was in Delhi, also called on the Prime Minister, said official sources.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was also briefed by the CDS and three service chiefs on Tuesday as he reviewed the ground situation in Ladakh.

Singh is learnt to have heard them out, discussing troop numbers and risk to infrastructure. Earlier, the Indian Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army held several meetings to resolve the LAC situation in eastern Ladakh.

Defence sources said India, for now, had decided that road construction along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh must continue and Indian fortifications and troop deployment must match those of the Chinese. The Indian Army has been asked to hold ground while talks to defuse the situation would continue.

Meanwhile, reports said China continued to add to its military strength across eastern Ladakh as tensions festered in the Galwan valley and north of the Pangong Tso, a 135-km glacial lake....

It is a delicate part of the world where considerable instability can be taken advantage for a larger country such as China.

June 19. 2020
By Aurangzeb Naqshbandi

Congress president Sonia Gandhi (click here) on Friday sought an assurance from the government that status quo will be restored on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Galwan Valley in Ladakh area and that China will revert to its original position.

In her address at the all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the border stand-off with China, Gandhi asked pointed questions on whether there was an intelligence failure on the massive build-up of Chinese forces along the LAC.

“In fact, even at this late stage, we are still in the dark about many crucial aspects of the crisis,” Gandhi said.
'
The meeting was attended by leaders of 20 political parties. Defence minister Rajnath Singh and external affairs minister S Jaishankar too were present....

This provides an understanding of where J&K is and a brief history of the area. These are the most populous countries. If they ever decided to launch into a war it is possible both countries could gather a formidable military. It is my opinion China has a more sophisticated military, but, India would then be looking to the USA to match China's power.


May 31, 2020

China and India - the world’s two most populous countries (click here) which had fought a full-fledged war in 1962 — are now facing a stern test once again as their militaries are in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation at a few places along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh region....

When such powers decide to engage in conflict, diplomacy is very difficult because of the dense cultural issues. Soldiers would be serving for their own reasons, which may vary, within a single military unit. This type of dynamic, while motivating, can remove "facts and reason" within the conflict.

The geography dictates the Line of Actual Control (LAC). I dare anyone to do better.

September 13, 2016
By Sudha Ramachandran

In July, China reportedly crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC), (click here) the de facto border between India and China, at Barahoti in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand on at least two separate occasions. In addition to Chinese aircraft carrying out reconnaissance sorties in the area, 20–25 soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly crossed into the demilitarized zone at Barahoti (Cankaoxiaoxi, August 2; Times of India, July 31). These incidents again highlighted India’s poor overland connectivity near the 3,488-km-long disputed border with China. The border post at Barahoti, for instance, is dependent on a single road that stops 20 km short of the LAC. Beyond that road, human porters and pack animals must carry supplies to the border post (India Strategic, September 2013)....

...1. The LAC is divided into three sectors: the “western sector” between Ladakh and the Aksai Chin, the “central sector” between Uttarakhand and Tibet, and the “eastern sector” that divides Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh from Tibet. India lays claim to 38,000 sq km of territory in Aksai Chin that is under Chinese control and China claims 90,000 sq km of land that roughly approximates Arunachal Pradesh. The central sector in which Barahoti falls is the least contentious sector....

Other than people dying, there isn't much to discuss. There is no real purpose to the conflict. Land use is very limited. This is about expansion by China.

To make it plain, China can enter India to cause a shift in authority in the country of India in this region. Kashmir is the focus. This can cause a major war.

Conclusion

The Himalayan region places tough logistic burdens on militaries operating there, making improvement of roads and rails a priority for China and India. While framing their infrastructure projects in economic terms, China’s progress has real strategic implications. Though the Indian government has often promised to prioritize its own building programs, these have yet to pan out.

India is building its roads for the first time to achieve what has normally been viewed as a "balance of power." After long-standing agreements, China does not like the balance of power. If China decides to carry out war with India the USA would have serious issues facing it.

This could be as simple as a Chinese general that believed it was his duty to continue the imbalance of power. But, it could actually be a real move by China for greater expansion.

Prime Minister Modi is stating China did not enter India, however, there are 20 dead soldiers including top commanders. India has the moral right to make the terms of any agreement or aggression now.

It is a very delicate area. There is no reason to give terrorists the upper hand.

June 19, 2020

Eight terrorists (click here) have been gunned down in the two encounters in these two days. On Thursday, two terrorists were killed in each district.

Six more terrorists were killed on Friday in two ongoing gun battles in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian districts, eight since Thursday, police and defence officials said.Rajesh Kalia, the Indian Army spokesperson, said five terrorists have been gunned down killed in Shopian and three in Pulwama in the two encounters in the last 24 hours.

Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation at Meej in Pampore area of Pulwama in south Kashmir on Thursday morning after receiving specific information about the presence of terrorists in the area, a police official said.

The official said the search operation turned into an encounter after terrorists fired upon a search party of the forces, who retaliated....

This is the region at the center of the issues between India and China. The Himalayas. Peace is paramount to this region. This entire mess is ridiculous. The lack of sincere reasons for this conflict makes me think this is aggression by China for more than just the Line of Actual Control. It doesn't make sense.

The resolution (click here) of the India-China stand-off at patrolling point 14 (Galwan), patrolling point 15 (Kongka La) and patrolling point 17 (hot springs) may take weeks of intensive deliberations. The stand-off at Pangong Tso will take even more time.

end

There is no guarantee to herd immunity.

June 17, 2020
By Andrew Joseph

The U.S. is now confronting what public health experts (click here) have been warning about but many in the public had not absorbed: the coronavirus pandemic will be with us for many months, and lapses in vigilance will lead to more sickness and death.

The country as a whole is tacking on about 20,000 new Covid-19 cases to its 2.1 million infection tally each day, a clip that’s been steady for weeks, according to STAT’s Covid-19 Tracker. But cases are surging in about half of states, some of which dodged major outbreaks in the spring as the Northeast and other pockets like New Orleans became inundated. The local outbreaks are leading to increasing hospitalizations in Arizona, Texas, Alabama, and the Carolinas — raising concerns about capacity when the original rallying cry of “flatten the curve” was meant to prevent overwhelming health care systems.

Experts had envisioned localized ups and downs as the U.S. epidemic dragged on. But the new bursts of cases have not galvanized a commitment to rein in the spread and steer those rises into downturns. Instead, there is fading attention in Washington, and many Americans seem inured by the steady stream of 800 daily Covid-19 deaths and desperate to return to work and daily life....

Beaumont has been struggling. I don't consider any of this good news for American health care.

Capitalism "models" whereby hospitals are downsized to create a profit paradigm is the worst model possible for American healthcare.

April 17, 2020

By John Commins

Beaumont Hospital, Wayne "temporarily paused" (click here) this week in anticipation of a "second surge" of COVID-19 patients that the health system said could occur if social distancing restrictions are eased.

"Beaumont Hospital, Wayne is important to Beaumont Health and is not permanently closing. Rumors to that effect are false," the Royal Oak, Michigan-based health system said.

Wayne's "few remaining patients" were either discharged or transferred from the 185-bed, acute-care hospital this week, and staff were redeployed to other Beaumont hospitals or temporarily laid off....

Fifteen people are going to decide health care policy for the majority of populations of three states. That is ridiculous. The hospitals will lose the pulse of the local communities. Back in the day when the Hill-Burton Grant Act built hospitals all over the country, they were local hospitals to serve the underserved as well as those that had health insurance. Anyone who believes there won't be hospital closures in time is kidding themselves.

June 17, 2020
by JC Reindl

Beaumont Health (click here) announced Wednesday that it is considering a merger with a large out-of-state hospital system, a deal that Beaumont says isn't expected to result in layoffs and will give it the safety of bigger size amid uncertainties in the health care business.

Beaumont said it has signed a nonbinding letter of intent with Advocate Aurora Health, a 28-hospital system in Illinois and Wisconsin that was formed by a 2018 merger of suburban Chicago-based Advocate Health Care and Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care.

Combined, the organizations would form a massive $17-billion nonprofit hospital system with dominant presences in three states.

The deal is not a sale, but rather an asset merger of the hospital systems under the control of a single, 15-member board of directors that would have equal representation from the legacy Beaumont, Advocate and Aurora systems.

Beaumont would keep its brand name and a regional headquarters in Michigan. The new parent organization would have its own name — still to be determined....             

"Winning is everything"Trump's motto. It is a corrupt motivation for a presidential campaign.

When conducting a campaign against Donald J. Trump realize there is a great deal of corruption at work, in that, his message is not about policy he will pursue, but, based on populous opinion. He is a liar. Everyone knows that. He is at ease with lying to voters and he seeks information from them in order to lie well.

One of the techniques the Trump campaign relies on is opinion surveys. In Michigan, in 2016 the campaign MAILED surveys to voter rolls. He won Michigan by about 2 votes per district. The way he eeked out that 2 votes per district was to receive surveys back from every district and then CUSTOMIZING his message to them according to the survey results. It is ruthless and cruel to the voters, not in seeking their opinion, but, to lie them based on the survey results.

The Michigan opinion survey looked like a ballot. It is on this blog. There were columns whereby Hillary's picture was at the top to the right of Trump's picture. Then the voter filling out the survey was told the positions of the two candidates in a column on the left margin. The voter was to check off the candidate they liked best for all the issues presented in that left column. I don't recall any "asks" for a donation, so the voter when mailing back their survey was left to wonder what candidate asked for their opinion.

Trump's campaign is very manipulative. "Fake News" was actually a statement made by Clinton. It served Trump's best interest in creating his own communication network and he adapted it to his campaign. He is a "Trickier Dick" then Richard Nixon.

One of Trump's many MODIFICATION surveys: (click here) 

"Dreamers" future is highly ethical.

On its face it is wrong to remove people from the only home they have ever known.

Former President Obama is a legal scholar. Questions?