[Blaze] According to a source close to the president, Biden is consumed by worries about Hunter.
A report from NBC claims that some of Biden’s most senior aides have attempted to give the president advice on how to deal with the issues that involve his son — but Biden isn’t having any of it.
His responses have ranged from "defensive to outright angry," sources say.
"It does seem to be unraveling all around him, very quickly," Sara Gonzales of "The News & Why It Matters" comments, as more and more suspect information on the Biden family continues to become public.
#4
A good plan could start with not using him as a bagman.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/05/2023 12:26 Comments ||
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#5
Is he worried about what will happen to his son or about what happens investigations into Hunter's criminal activities lead to the Oval Office?
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
07/05/2023 12:29 Comments ||
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#6
CarsonValleyColonel
July 5, 2023 1:20 am
Every inch of the WH is under surveillance 24/7 except the residence. The latest report moves the discovery to a cubby proximate to the Oval and West Wing Staff offices that used to store cellphones when on-site. My guess, is Hunter stashed it in the cubby he was familiar with, since he was about to get on Marine One and fly to Camp David with Daddy where the risk of discovery and unfamiliarity made it too risky to take along. He probably thought he would be able to get it from the hiding place before the beginning of the Monday work week and likely discovery by staff.
Alternatively, this may actually a drop-off for someone in the West Wing, although that seems far less likely. This is the sloppy act of an arrogant addict with little sense of responsibility or respect for the place he infests.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/05/2023 13:09 Comments ||
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#8
Here is how the Biden Admin is dealing with the cocaine discovery, from Politico 3 hrs ago:
Law enforcement officials confirmed on Wednesday that cocaine was found at the White House over the weekend.
But one official familiar with the investigation cautioned that the source of the drug was unlikely to be determined given that it was discovered in a highly trafficked area of the West Wing.
Law enforcement officials confirmed on Wednesday that cocaine was found at the White House over the weekend.
But one official familiar with the investigation cautioned that the source of the drug was unlikely to be determined given that it was discovered in a highly trafficked area of the West Wing.
[TAC] On July 4, people all across these United States of America shoot off fireworks, grill meat and march in patriotic parades to celebrate the "birth of a nation." But that’s not at all what happened on July 4, 1776. A singular "nation" in the modern sense was not born. In fact, that date marked the birth of 13 sovereign independent nations, as the Declaration of Independence makes clear.
Most Americans are familiar with the Declaration of Independence — or at least the first few paragraphs. Students learn many of the opening lines in school.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
In the first several paragraphs of the Declaration, Thomas Jefferson laid out important foundational principles. After establishing the source of our rights, he asserted that governments derive their "just powers from the consent of the governed."
He also declared that "whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
Indeed, the Declaration of Independence is a secession document.
Most people don’t read past these fundamental principles. They set the document aside once they get to the list of grievances against England. But by failing to read to the end, they miss the key truth of the Declaration. It’s a little like eating your side-dish and leaving the main course.
Because while the principles Jefferson articulated create a philosophical foundation for Independence, they didn’t actually do anything. You don’t get to the operative and binding section of the declaration until the final paragraph.
It is here that we find the colonists had no intention of birthing "a nation." The Declaration birthed 13 "free and independent" states.
"We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do." [Emphasis added]
Note that it doesn’t read free and independent "state" — singular. Jefferson wrote "states" — plural.
The colonies declared their independence from Great Britain as individual sovereign political societies, each with the power to do all things "which independent States may of right do." Each existed as a separate nation — think France, Great Britain, Virginia, New York. Great Britain affirmed this at the end of the war, recognizing the 13 sovereign states in the Treaty of Paris and naming them each individually.
And while the states were united in their act of declaring independence they never relinquished their sovereign individuality. It wasn’t until the states ratified the Articles of Confederation that they were formally united, and even then, the Articles specifically affirmed the sovereignty of the states.
"Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled."
The idea that July 4, 1776, birthed a nation makes up part of a broader narrative asserting that the United States is "one nation." The Pledge of Allegiance encapsulates this view — "One nation...indivisible."
But this narrative is a myth. The colonies declared independence as sovereign states. They ratified the Articles of Confederation as sovereign states. And they ratified the Constitution as sovereign states. They never ceded their sovereignty. To this day, the United States are a union of sovereign political societies.
#2
Too many fail to grasp the fundamental of the name - United States of America.
There is a reason that immediately upon the session of the first Congress under the Constitution, 10 amendments were passed and ratified by the 13 states. The 10th is specific -
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people
[Modern War Institute] During Iraq and Afghanistan wars, American service members grappled with not merely an elusive adversary but also a terrifyingly rudimentary yet lethal innovation—the improvised explosive device (IED). Accounting for a staggering 48 percent (2,640) of known cause-of-death operations for US soldiers, these makeshift weapons underscored a bitter paradox of modern warfare: technological preeminence does not necessarily confer battlefield supremacy.
For decades [see WarGames, 1983]
, the US Department of Defense has committed prodigious resources to preserve a technological advantage in military engagements, an undertaking that has catalyzed groundbreaking innovation yet has also been mired in instances of profligate expenditure and, distressingly, adoption of inferior technological solutions. This long-standing approach is now set to be applied to artificial intelligence. As the AI revolution introduces a new dimension of complexity to warfare, senior policymakers are captivated by the potential to integrate this transformative technology into the DoD operational ecosystem seamlessly.
Yet, the US military’s experience with the IED—a weapon as cost-effective as it was devastating—should serve as a cautionary tale. As the world ventures into AI integration, DoD must remain cognizant of the lessons gleaned from the post-9/11 wars and the inefficacious efforts of the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). It is insufficient to simply procure the most advanced technology; understanding its intricate workings, fostering transparency in its acquisition, and nurturing synergies between the government and defense contractors are essential to circumventing past pitfalls. As we stand on the brink of the AI epoch, the DoD approach must be one of both eager anticipation and judicious caution.
Fiscal Mismanagement and Strategic Missteps in the Counter-IED Effort
"States should design and engineer military AI capabilities so that they possess the ability to detect and avoid unintended consequences and the ability to disengage or deactivate deployed systems that demonstrate unintended behavior"
When attempting to stop the bleeding at the pointy end of the spear, POM impacts and cost are seldom a factor. I can assure you, the JIEDDO efforts were laudable. Lives were saved.
#4
Palantir was or is a good tool that the soldiers and Marine analysts loved. DCGS-A is a costly proprietary nocturnal emission, which the analysts hated.
JIEDDO and it's sub-elements were never on board with DCGS-A. They did train and encourage the use of Palantir.
If the author (MAJ Dockery) was referring to DCGS-A, he's right on the money.
#5
There were three cases where training simulation software almost brought us to nuclear war: October 1962, November 1979 and September 1983. Conversely, the Allied force lost three cruisers in the course of about two hours at Savo Island because the group commander secured use of radar at nighttime because they weren’t sure whether Japanese forces could detect it.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/05/2023 12:24 Comments ||
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[New American] Over 5 million illegal immigrants have poured across the "deliberately" wide-open U.S.-Mexico border including Communist Chinese military operatives and Islamic terrorists, posing an enormous threat to national security, warned former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) chief and Border 911 founder Thomas Homan in this interview on Conversations That Matter with The New American magazine’s Alex Newman. The Biden administration’s claim that illegal border crossings are down are based on a fraud, he added before explaining the details. Democrats hope to obtain political benefits including turning the migrants into voters and counting them in the Census to over-represent Democrat states in Congress. Still, there is a lot Congress and the American people can do to get the dangerous situation under control.
#4
The solution seems to be to buy more hay and oats.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/05/2023 13:06 Comments ||
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#5
Green flags fly from Java to Dover
As sheep-shaggers swagger through clover
And lamb at the Pole
On the Eskimos' dole.
Sure it's spring for Mohammed... all over.
#3
Supposedly the Russians have 150,000 men in the Bakhmut-Kreminna-Svatove-Kupyansk front. 50,000 in Bakhmut alone. The speculation was that the Russians would launch an offensive from Luhansk toward Kharkiv once the Ukrainians committed their 10 or so brigades to the offensive.
#6
McGregor makes the old Soviet claim of combat losses amounting to 20 million (plus 19 million civilian deaths), when, after the fall, the newly minted Russian ministry of defense said their losses from all causes amounted to 11 million.
Former Soviet officers likely are feeding him his information.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Gevorg Mirzayan
[REGNUM] “We are alarmed by the scale of the air and ground operations being carried out in Jenin in the occupied West Bank and the airstrikes against a densely populated refugee camp,” Vanessa Huguenin , a spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said in a June 4 statement to TASS .
The poor darling. How dreadful for her.
So she commented on the course of the operation of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which is already being called the largest action of Israeli troops in the West Bank over the past 20 years.
Hugenin cites data from the Arab side: the Ministry of Health of the Palestinian Authority reports the death of ten people,
...by this morning it was thirteen. It’s one of those FAFO thingies...
including three children. "At least 100 people were injured, 20 of them are reported to be in critical condition," [What were the numbers for Chicago?]
the spokeswoman for the United Nations Humanitarian Office said.
The Israeli side emphasizes that the targets of the counter-terrorist operation in Jenin were exclusively objects of Islamist groups. The city in the north of the West Bank "has become a place where terrorists feel safe," Maria Mikhelson, head of the IDF's European press service, told RIA Novosti . “All roads lead to Jenin. Money from Iran and Gaza to finance terrorism flows into Jenin, Mikhelson said. “Stolen weapons, including M16 rifles and Kalashnikovs, are also being diverted to Jenin .” According to the Israeli side, about fifty attacks were planned from Jenin over the past year.
"Restoration of Israeli containment" - as the army operation in Jenin was officially designated - began on the night of July 3. In total, the Israeli military designated several dozen targets, some of which were hit by drones, and some were attacked by ground forces.
“In recent months, Jenin has become a real safe haven for terrorists. And there should not be such shelters, ” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking on the territory of the US Embassy.
At this time, the Palestinian side reported ten dead civilians, hundreds of wounded and thousands of those who were forced to flee their homes, fearing the arrival of the Israeli military. The Red Crescent Organization announced the evacuation of hundreds of families from the refugee camp. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has cut off all contact with Israel, the Wafa news agency reported.
The head of the autonomy, Mahmoud Abbas,
...it’s not an autonomy, merely an authority...
in a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on July 3, spoke about the resumption of the format of the "Middle East Quartet" (Russia-UN-US-EU) in connection with the actions of the Israeli army. Abbas's previous call to Moscow, we note, took place quite recently - on July 1, the Palestinian leader fully supported the actions of the Russian authorities to suppress the military rebellion.
I can’t imagine Israel is interested in wasting time again on something that failed so thoroughly the first time.
Now the Palestinian leader is more concerned about the situation "at home". Abbas ordered to convene an emergency meeting the other day with the participation of all Palestinian groups to counter Israel, Abdel Hafiz Nofal, the Palestinian ambassador in Moscow, said on July 4.
From Israel's point of view, now "the operation is close to achieving its goals," the head of the country's National Security Council, Tzachi Khanegbi , announced on July 4 . The IDF has about ten targets left in the Palestinian refugee camp adjacent to Jenin, which the military intends to search in the coming hours, the press service of the Israeli army said.
“The resistance of the armed militants tonight was low, they were running away from the targets we were getting to,” TASS quoted Daniel Hagari, head of the army press center, as saying . At the same time, at the same time, Minister of Defense Yoav Galant, at a meeting with the generals, said: it is necessary to ensure the freedom of action of the troops on the ground.
FROM "WALL" TO "HOUSE"
The current IDF operation, dubbed "Operation Frontage House," has two important differences from the military operations that accompanied the now-familiar reports that "the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has escalated again."
Firstly, the Israeli army launched an operation not against Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip (which is controlled by the Hamas group, which does not recognize Israel's right to exist), but against the West Bank, where the Fatah group, led by Abbas, rules, sort of like leading with Tel Aviv dialogue.
True, except that the Palestinian Authority (which we are supposed to pretend is not just Fatah) has no control over Jenin and its “refugee camp” neighbourhood.
Secondly, this is not just some kind of raid, but a large-scale military operation involving parts of the ground forces, aviation, and special services.
Small scale military op, I’d think. Especially compared to the Russian conquest of the Ukraine...
Therefore, the current events are compared with the “Defensive Wall” operation twenty years ago - the IDF led it in the West Bank against Fatah (which was then led by Yasser Arafat ).
Yasser Arafat was known for his red binder and an unhealthy fondness for his personal guards. Nobody knows what happened to the former, but the latter may have accidentally been the cause of his death.
However, Israel's then tough response to a series of terrorist attacks at the height of the second Palestinian intifada was both longer and bloodier - the operation went on for a month and a half and claimed the lives of almost 500 Palestinians.
Really, then, the current excursion is nothing to fuss about. Particularly not for 1740 words.
The main question now is why Israel decided to hold. After all, the Fatah regime, headed by Mahmoud Abbas, did not cause Israel particularly big problems. Moreover, the Israeli authorities did not try to create problems for him either - in their opinion, the strong conciliatory Fatah was a necessary counterbalance for the Hamas radicals, who were also supported by hostile Iranians. Why now attack and break off relations (which was quite predictably stated from the PNA office in Ramallah)? Experts and analysts identify four reasons.
MOTIVES AND NEEDS
The first reason is that in recent years the situation in the Jenin area has really deteriorated. About 3 million Palestinians and just under 0.5 million Israeli settlers live in the West Bank
If the settlements are actually supported by the Israeli state, then the Palestinian cities, not to mention the camps inhabited by refugees (which include up to a third of the Arab population of the West Bank), are supported by a much less effective Palestinian authorities.
During the pandemic, socio-economic problems worsened even more, which resulted in regular attacks on Jewish settlers or even on the settlements themselves in the West Bank, especially in the Jenin region (where approximately 20% of all attacks occur).
For socio-economic reasons?? The writer is drunk on Marx!
And these attacks are supported by a number of Palestinian groups in the region.
“Besides Fatah Abbas, there are other, more radical and active groups. The same Hamas, the Islamic Jihad organization (recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia) , etc. They do not accept the conciliatory approach of Mahmoud Abbas towards Israel. Therefore, Israel decided to strike in order to neutralize them, ” explains Professor of the Diplomatic Academy, Doctor of Historical Sciences Alexander Vavilov to IA Regnum .
The second reason is the internal problems of the country. “In Israel, the situation is not easy - there are too many contradictions and disagreements. For decades, protests have been going on in the country against Netanyahu's desire to carry out legal reform, ” Vavilov notes.
He means months. As I recall, it is now Week 26.
The purpose of the reform is to give the parliament (Knesset) the right to circumvent the decisions of the constitutional court, as well as generally undermine the independence of the judiciary.
“Netanyahu tried to neutralize the protest - he postponed the reform, made concessions, but he could not overcome the resistance from the opposition. Well, in order to divert the attention of the population from these contradictions, it was decided to carry out the operation, ” continues Vavilov.
The method, in general, is not new. The left-wing forces in Israel support peaceful solutions to problems, but even they cannot ignore a series of attacks on Israelis and their settlements in the Jenin area. Therefore, now the left-wing media, commenting on the operation, are trying to follow a very thin line: on the one hand, not to support hostilities, and on the other, not to particularly criticize the authorities for protecting Israeli citizens.
The third reason is the specifics of the new Israeli government. “ The military believes that a strong PNA plays a key role in maintaining the security of Israel and controlling the activities of the Palestinians. But since the far-right government came to power, there has been a marked shift in Israel's policy towards the West Bank.
Netanyahu's far-right government - according to Alexander Vavilov, one of the most right-wing in the country's history
One of? In other words, Israel has survived worse without long term problems...
- was formed in December 2022, and since then a number of its members have advocated the toughest approach to the Palestinian Authority. For the rejection of meaningless negotiations and the transition to power politics.
“We must start a military operation. Destroy Palestinian homes, destroy terrorists, not one or two, but dozens, hundreds and, if necessary, thousands. This is the only way we can take control of this territory, strengthen our positions and ensure the safety of local residents, ” said Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir at the end of June .
As Vavilov points out, "they need to show strength and even show that they do not listen to the words of American patrons who oppose the operation."
Finally, the fourth reason is external factors. Moreover, we are talking about both the conflict in Ukraine (which diverts a significant share of the attention of European governments, which traditionally criticize Israel for military actions), and the Iranian-Saudi normalization of relations achieved with the support of the Chinese .
CHINA RESTORED RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA. UKRAINE IS NEXT
If Tehran and Riyadh manage to resolve regional differences,
...how gullible are you feeling, dear pundit?
then the pro-Iranian and pro-Saudi forces competing with each other in Palestine can join forces in the fight against Israel.
An interesting concept. What are the odds?
Thus, dealing a serious blow to the long-standing Israeli "divide and survive." Therefore, Tel Aviv is trying to play ahead of the curve.
But just how effective will this game be? According to experts, it will not be very good if Tel Aviv Jerusalem conducts it according to the principle by which it conducts operations in the Gaza Strip. That is, "attacked, eliminated the terrorists, left." After the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the Palestinians will quickly restore capacity.
“Most importantly, if you predict its course, then in fact it will give little. There are quite a few factors that reinforce the radical wing in the Palestinian resistance movement. Both Iran and internal forces, ” says Alexander Vavilov. “ In addition, the operation will give the radicals important propaganda trump cards . ” The situation can only be saved by the dismantling of the Palestinian autonomy and a return to the full occupation of the West Bank, but Israel, with all the ultra-right nature of power, is not ready to take such a step. Too much internal and external resistance, as well as responsibility.
#3
There are certain regional social beliefs that rule above all others. In the far east, 'face', or personal dignity is highest. In the middle east, payback is supreme.
They don't care if they burn their own house down, if they get to burn down their hated neighbor's house.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
07/05/2023 12:13 Comments ||
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#4
With regard to Iran and the Saudis joining forces against Israel, this popped up on the Times of Isrqel site just now:
Riyadh’s official press agency says Dorra field, known to Iranians as Arash, is under joint ownership of Saudis and Kuwaitis; declaration comes after Tehran said preparing to drill
Turkey stands accused of committing large-scale systematic violations against the Syrian people for more than five years. This began with the invasion of Afrin in 2018 and continued with Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tel Abyad in 2019. Turkey brought the Turkish-backed opposition factions, also known as the Syrian National Army (SNA), into these regions. As a result, the populations’ human rights were violated, starting with their right to life. Turkey bears responsibility for the violations committed by its forces in Syria, including killings, arrests, and assaults on asylum seekers at the Syrian-Turkish border. Additionally, Turkey is responsible for the illegal bombardment of north Syria and for the violations committed by the SNA factions. As the supporter and funder of these factions and having control over the region, Turkey must be held accountable for its actions.
Turkish authorities have consistently claimed that they are fighting “terrorism” in Syria, using this justification to carry out unlawful shelling on civilians and infrastructure, invasions, displacement of original inhabitants, and demographic engineering in Afrin, Sere Kaniye, and Tel Abyad. Additionally, they have conducted arbitrary and discriminatory arrests of locals based on their political, national, religious, and ethnic affiliations. Turkey has also unlawfully transferred detainees in SNA prisons to Turkish territories without revealing anything about their fate and has neglected to address the human rights violations committed by these factions, thereby facilitating impunity.
The civil, cultural, social, political, and economic rights of the original people of Afrin, Sere Kaniye, and Tel Abyad have been clearly and blatantly violated over the past five years amid inaction and absence of accountability from the international community, particularly in emergency situations, such as the Feb. 6 earthquake.
This semi-annual report, issued by the Monitoring and Documentation Department of North Press, is based on its databases that record and document violations committed by Turkish forces against Syrians on Syrian territory. The report also uses information received directly from field correspondents, as well as news articles and reports released by the agency, testimonies from victims and their relatives, and security and human rights sources.
This report presents Turkish violations committed within Syrian territory, including extrajudicial and willful killings, direct attacks on asylum seekers, arbitrary arrests, and the transfer of detainees to Turkish territories. Furthermore, the report documents the illegal bombardment of northern Syria and the systematic violations of the cultural, social, and economic rights of Syrians, such as settlement construction and cutting off water.
Details are laid out at the link under the following section headings:
Excess use of force against asylum seekers
Illegal shelling
Arrests
Cutting off water
Building settlements
Posted by: trailing wife ||
07/05/2023 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[18 views]
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#1
Solution- condemn Israel.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/05/2023 12:29 Comments ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[TAC] On July 4, people all across these United States of America shoot off fireworks, grill meat and march in patriotic parades to celebrate the "birth of a nation." But that’s not at all what happened on July 4, 1776. A singular "nation" in the modern sense was not born. In fact, that date marked the birth of 13 sovereign independent nations, as the Declaration of Independence makes clear. 
