Update from the
Heartland
No.810
3.7.17 – 9.7.17
Blog version: http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/
To
all,
The follow-up news items:
-- The DPRK [198,
239, 252, 293, 342, 356, 383, 389, 395, 436, 467, 523, 580, 679, 734] successfully
test-launched another missile on Independence Day. The Defense Department calculated the latest missile to be an
intercontinental capable ballistic missile and is a major advance in the DPRK’s
attempt to threaten the U.S. with a nuclear weapon. The vehicle does not solve the equation for them, however, it
is a significant variable resolved.
The bracket number list above is quite reflective of the consistency of
the DPRK problem; I felt the urge to display just the major events in just the
Update forum – certainly not an exhaustive listing.
I note in passing the public announcement by United States Office
of Government Ethics Director Walter Michael Shaub Jr. of his intention to
resign on the 19th of this month, six months before his present
tenure concluded. This situation
has presented less than favorable optics to the administration, however I doubt
highly anyone in the administration cares a twit. He has been the director since 9.January.2013, and has had frequent
tangles with the Trump administration since before the inauguration. I wonder why?
Well, I must say, all of the public images and statements
from President Trump’s European trip to Poland and the G-20 Summit in Hamburg,
Germany, are far better than his last trip.
Lest
we forget, the ugly-American personified:
I hope and trust he is learning to be presidential fast
enough. We shall see.
To
the President’s credit, they gained an agreement with Russia to impose a
cease-fire in southwest Syria. Even fractional steps count. The southwest of Syria is Assad’s part, so hardly beneficial
to the pro-democracy, anti-Assad factions in the northeast supported by the
United States, Europe and the Sunni Arab nation-states. In addition, Chancellor Merkel reached
out to Daughter Ivanka Trump to influence the President in agreeing to an
international women’s entrepreneurial initiative that is a positive step
forward on a long journey to equal rights for all human beings. They also reached agreement on
compromises to deploy defensive measures in pursuit of balanced trade. Leaders
from the Group of 20 countries vowed to fight protectionism and secure fair
trade. I must also say I agree
with Trump’s insistence that other members of NATO pay their fair share for the
mutual defense; however, I strongly reject his method of doing so.
President
Trump had an extended meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin with
dramatically conflicting public statements regarding the content and outcomes. This leaves us with little substantive information
to stand on. We cannot believe
Putin and unfortunately we cannot believe Trump either. So, I reluctantly concluded, who
cares. What Trump is going to do
with Putin will depend upon outcomes; thus, the jury will remain out until we
begin to see results.
Lastly,
I truly want to believe Trump is doing what is best for the United States. As many have chided me, I will give him
the benefit of the doubt and wish him complete success. This latest trip offered the most
positives since he became president.
But, frankly, the negatives still exceed the positive . . . yet,
progress is a good sign. We shall
see on this one, as well.
Comments and contributions from Update no.809:
Comment to the Blog:
“With respect to the Muslim travel ban, here’s a question. If the ban intends to block ‘terrorists,’
why does it not include Saudi Arabia, the home of most of the 9-11 attackers?
Could that be a matter of Trump’s corporate activities? The same might apply to the laptop ban
on air flights. The first
exception to that is Abu Dhabi, the home of a Trump resort.
“Not that I have any sympathy for him, but Mitch McConnell
is trapped. Having illuminated the advantages of ‘Obamacare’ (PPACA), his party
leadership now faces internal rebellion in trying to replace it. It matters that the rebellion arises
both from the more moderate and the more radical. He cannot unite all three Republican sides. The GOP will get no help from
progressives, who seek a single-payer system similar to those of advanced
nations. Clinton Democrats respond
to corporate interests, so they might be McConnell’s best hope. However, if they play along with the
GOP, they will lose even more of what was once their base. Strange days.
“Your other correspondent’s discussion of Trump’s
intelligence and mental health status amuses me. I will note that few people
indeed have taken ‘numerous intelligence tests,’ simply because those are
diagnostic in nature. Mass
administration of intelligence tests is only used for standardizing. Once diagnosed, the patient needs only
very occasional testing. As far as
sanity, that is a functional rather than diagnostic issue in this case. Whether or not Trump has a label, he
does insane things.
“I’m going to point out something uncomfortable. The most serious attacks on our country
are Internet based and otherwise non-military. When the Democrats and Republicans get past their blame game,
if that ever happens, the enormity of another nation controlling our political
process may sink in. That has a
far greater effect on the fate of the USA than some ragtag radicals thousands
of miles away. If Putin or the
Chinese (or any other nation) controls our elections, they conquer us without
ever firing a shot.
“So much of U.S. discussion centers on the budget, deficits,
etc. We could maintain the largest
military budget in the world (by far) and still resolve all our budget issues
by applying half the military budget to infrastructure and social spending. We’d come out ahead in the long run by
having a sound structure and healthier, less desperate people.”
My response to the
Blog:
Re:
Muslim. “why does it not include
Saudi Arabia, the home of most of the 9-11 attackers?” Not just that factoid, but the Saudi
government tacitly allowed, if not supported, Wahhabi fundamentalism and
extremism in the kingdom and beyond.
In fact, the argument can easily be made that Wahhabism was the fertile
genesis movement for al-Qa’ida and ISIL.
There are plenty of reasons to be more aggressive with Saudi Arabia, but
that is not likely to happen.
“Could that be a matter of Trump’s corporate activities?” I cannot discount that potential, but I
suspect it has far more to do with oil.
Re:
“laptop ban.” No. I think the laptop ban has far more to
do with, if not solely a function of, the detection equipment and security
procedures in place to detect new techniques being utilized by the terrorist
bomb-makers to mask and hide their explosive devices. I cannot imagine traveling without my laptop and iPad. The potential of having those devices
confiscated just to get home is even more unacceptable.
Strange
days indeed. We are living in
interesting times, to paraphrase the Chinese curse.
Re:
“he does insane things.” Yes, he
does things that leave little other explanation than insanity. However, to those who avidly support
his behavior, he is doing precisely what feeds their loyalty. He could care less about the rest of
us. He is staking everything on
the solidity of his supporters AND the fundamental political survival fears of
his Republican enablers. Time will
always tell the tale.
Re:
cyber-attacks. “If Putin or the
Chinese (or any other nation) controls our elections, they conquer us without
ever firing a shot.” Spot on! Josef Stalin so succinctly and
accurately stated, “"It's not the people who vote that count, it's the
people who count the votes.” If
foreign actors are allowed to fictitiously influence voters, is the result any
different from altering the voting machines? I think not.
Re:
“U.S. budget.” There is validity
to that argument.
Another contribution:
“I tell you what mate as long as you have Trump at your No. 10 you
will not be diminished in material for your blog. There must be other
matters needing our trepidations on this blue planet of ours. Well we both know
there are.”
My reply:
Oh
my, yes, he offers so much material it is actually overwhelming. I want to debate other issues, but I am
finding it difficult to focus on other topics. There are many other matters that deserve our attention and
vigorous public debate.
My
very best wishes to all. Take care
of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap :-)
2 comments:
North Korea has created difficulty for the entire world by its unpredictability. The State Department needs to focus a great deal of attention on them, but instead has to deal with Trump’s antics that befoul our entire international policy and image. Ditto Defense.
Mr. Shaub, the exiting ethics director under Trump, will leave behind a job that cannot be done. I wish him well.
The recent G20 meetings brought the USA marginally less embarrassment because the other 19 nations have recognized that US leaders are crooked, incompetent, or both. They have begun to ignore those bozos, as well they might.
The Syrian cease-fire represents another attempt to control the uncontrollable in the Middle East. The Donald cannot be blamed for that quagmire, but most likely he will not resolve it either. The US is fighting for at least two sides of this multi-part conflict (Defense versus CIA) and cannot possibly achieve any real, lasting victory.
Putin has denied manipulating the US elections, of course. The investigations continue.
Calvin,
Re: unpredictability. It is good in combat, but not so good in foreign policy and international relations. “Antics” is putting his conduct rather mildly, I must say.
Re: “government ethics.” He has indeed thumbed his nose at ethics since he entered politics, and what’s worse, many of his supporters could care less. I wonder if they would be quite so tolerant or forgiving if Barack or Hillary had done a mere fraction of what he is continuing to do. We can only hope he chokes on all the slack rope he has been given.
I don’t think ignoring “those bozos” is a wise course of action.
Re: “[two sides of this multi-part conflict (Defense versus CIA)].” I’m not sure what you are suggesting with this reference.
Re: “blamed for that quagmire.” Quite correct. I think that distinction must go to Bush 43 and ‘Rummie’ Rumsfeld for attempting to fight a war on the cheap, and thus inadequately managing the aftermath of the Hussein regime’s demise. The Donald may not resolve it, but we need to give his a chance.
Re: “Putin.” Yes, of course, the dictator would deny any involvement; that’s what dictators do. After all, dictators are accountable to no one. The only thing that matters is his grip on power. The investigation is likely going to take a very long time.
“That’s just my opinion, but I could be wrong.”
Cheers,
Cap
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