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Category Archives: World
New Year’s Predictions for 2021
1. Kamala Harris’ vice-president will be a woman.
2. There will be a limited nuclear war in Asia.
3. The Democrats in Congress will be unable to pass a federal bailout for blue state debt.
4. At least two blue state governors will be removed from office by recall, impeachment, or politically-forced resignation.
5. The Cubs won’t win the World Series, and Vanderbilt won’t win the SEC Football Championship.
No guarantees. Void where prohibited. Your mileage may vary.
Flyover Australia
During the recent Australian election, the Labour Party ran on a very “progressive” platform of higher taxes, more public handouts, and a steep reduction in the nation’s carbon footprint. The polls said they had the election in the bag. And then, Conservative prime minister Scott Morrison led his party to victory. Now, the talking heads and scribblers can’t decide if the Australian voters are evil or stupid or both.
Climate change did work as an issue for the Left in some urban constituencies. A former Conservative prime minister lost his seat in the suburbs of Sydney to an independent candidate who campaigned on that issue. However, many deplorables, (for example, coal miners in rural Queensland) who had supported Labour switched sides when jobs were on the line.
The pundits are calling the Australian voters “dumb, mean-spirited, and greedy” “moron” who “rejected the big picture.” At least, they haven’t started claiming that the result was caused by Russian interference.
Brexit. Trump. Australia. The European Parliament election in the UK this week should be quite interesting.
Walking Away
The AP reports that the Trump/Kim summit in Hanoi has broken up early because of a failure to reach a deal.
Trump, in a news conference after the summit abruptly shut down early, blamed the breakdown on North Korea’s insistence that all punishing sanctions that the U.S. has imposed on Pyongyang be lifted without the country committing to eliminate its nuclear arsenal.
“Sometimes you have to walk,” Trump explained, adding that he had a proposed agreement that was “ready to be signed.”
“I’d much rather do it right than do it fast,” the president said. “We’re in position to do something very special.”
Part of the art of the deal is the ability to patiently get up from the table and walk away until the other side is able to give you what you need. Trump, like Reagan with Gorbachev in 1987, seems willing to use that negotiating option. I wish him luck.
The AP couldn’t resist inserting this into the middle of their story—
The breakdown denied Trump a much-needed victory amid growing domestic turmoil back home, including congressional testimony this week by his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who called Trump a “racist” and “conman” and claimed prior knowledge of foreign powers’ efforts to help Trump win in 2016.
If the imagined fallout for Cohen’s testimony was part of the calculus for either side in the negotiation, Trump’s apparent non-concern for it should work to his advantage by demonstrating a resolve not to let domestic U.S. issues adversely affect a nuclear deal.
The Water’s Edge
It used to be said that America’s domestic politics stopped at the water’s edge. That doesn’t seem to be true today. Angelo M. Codevilla has a post over at America Greatness examining that failure in the context of the recent Helsinki summit and the event’s press conference.
This led to the final flourish. The Associated Press reporter demanded that Trump state whether he believes the opinions of U.S. intelligence leaders or those of Putin. It would be healthy for America were it to digest Trump’s answer: The truth about the charge that Russia stole the contents of the Democratic National Committee’s computer server is not to be found in the opinions of any persons whatever. The truth can be discovered only by examining the server in question—assuming it has not been tampered with since the alleged event. But, said Trump emphatically, those making the accusations against Russia have refused to let the server be examined by U.S. intelligence or by any independent experts. What is the point of accusations coupled with refusal of access to the facts of the matter?
The classic texts of diplomatic practice teach that diplomacy advances the cause of peace and order only to the extent that its practitioners avoid contentious opinions and stick to demonstrable facts.
The AP reporter, who should be ashamed, is beyond shame. Then again, so are the ruling class representatives who have redoubled their animus against Trump. Cheap partisanship is not all that harmful. It is the transfer of domestic partisan animus to international affairs, however, that has the potential to start wars.
Not so long ago, American school kids had to read George Washington’s farewell address, which warned in the most emphatic terms at his command to avoid that sort of thing for the sake of peace with other nations as well as among ourselves.
What that ignorant “journalist” was demanding of Trump—precisely what the credentialed experts should know better than to have demanded—was that the president of the United States scream at the president of Russia for all his evils. Competitive “virtue signaling” has become the way of political life in America. To the extent that it bleeds into America’s foreign policy, we are all in big trouble.
The post also has an interesting analysis of what the two leaders may have actually accomplished. Read the whole thing.
On Declaring War
One of the great weaknesses of totalitarian governments (and government wannabes such as ISIS) is their tendency to think that free societies are run as theirs are.
One of the Nork’s diplomats has gone on record saying that President Trump has declared war on them. While Rocket Man has the authority to declare war, the President of the United States does not. According to Art. I, Sec. 8, Cl. 11 of the Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war.
The President hasn’t and can’t declare war or North Korea. However, he does have the general authority to order our forces to act in self-defense. Further, if presented with a violation of the 1953 Korean armistice agreement, he probably has the authority to carry forward the UN police action prosecuted by Presidents Truman and (briefly) Eisenhower.
OPSEC
Huma Abedin used her unsecured private email account to make and discuss travel arrangements for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Washington Examiner reports that emails obtained by Judicial Watch show that
Abedin emailed colleagues that she was “on a packed train” but offered to discuss the details of a trip to Russia on a call.
Another email shows Abedin used her private account to select a hotel for Clinton on an upcoming trip to Hanoi.
Now, who would be interested in the travel plans of a U. S. cabinet officer?
Moral Outrage of the Month
Netanyahu Wins
Campaign Promises
… I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick … (X)
… and good jobs to the jobless; (X)
… this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; ( √ )
… this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation … (X)
… and restored our image as the last, best hope on earth. (X)
Hmmmmmm.
So far, we’ve manage one goal in spite of him.
What Difference, At This Point, Do the Facts Make?
Stacy McCain has a post up analyzing the Democrats “How Dare You?” defense of the Benghazi fiasco.
It seems to me that the Democrats’ positions is best summed up by the remark made by Rep. Simpson (D-Springfield)—
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that’s even remotely true.
UPDATE—Roger L. Simon reflects on Hillary de Medici.
Cinco de Mayo
The Battle of Puebla took place on 5 May, 1862, near the city of Puebla during the French intervention in Mexico. The date is observed in the state of Puebla to commemorate the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces.
Although Mexican citizens feel very proud of the meaning of Cinco de Mayo, it is not a national holiday in Mexico, but it is an official holiday in the State of Puebla where the battle took place and in the neighboring State of Vera Cruz. However, all public schools are closed nation-wide in Mexico on 5 May.
Norks on Alert
The Daily Caller report that North Korea has its missile forces on alert and aimed at US targets.
I believe VodkaPundit has properly analyzed the situation:
UPDATE—The Telegraph reports that the Nork’s target list includes Washington, DC; Hawaii; Los Angeles; and Austin, Texas.
The first three targets make sense, but Austin? Someone should tell them, “Don’t mess with Texas.”
Está Muerto, Diego
Generalissimo Francisco Franco reports the Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez is still dead.
Hugo Chávez Ha Muerto
Finally.
Generalissimo Francisco Franco was unavailable for comment.
UPDATE—Rumor has it that Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez was greeted with the words, “Pleased to meet you. Hope you’ve guess my name.”
Pre-Obit Sin Aliento
The Puffington Host says that because he is still breathing, albeit with difficulty, Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez is still not dead.
Pre-Obit Las Mentes Inquisitivas Quieren Saber
Protestors in Venezuela want to know whether or not Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez is still not dead.
Pre-Obit Rumores de Quimioterapia
The LA Times reports that because he is on drugs Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez is still not dead.
Pre-Obit
Reuters reports that Venezuelan officials claim that Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez is still not dead.
Pre-Obit La Vista Desde Arabia
Aljazeera says that Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez is still not dead.
Pre-Obit CNNChile Expresa Sus Dudas
CNNChile expresses doubt that Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez is still not dead.
Pre-Obit Mirando Hacia el Futuro
The Washington Times notes that no change in government has occurred in Venezuela because Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez is still not dead.
Pre-Obit
The Guardian reports that Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez is still not dead.
Pre-Obit Comprobación de Estado
In spite of crowds questioning his status, the Venezuelan government insists that Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez is still not dead.
Pre-Obit Luz de las Velas
Fox News reports that Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez is still not dead.