Thursday, February 06, 2020

6 February - Blogs I'm Following - 5 of 5

10 pm MST



Midnight Meme Of The Day!

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 21 hours ago
*by Noah* Yes. Careful Monica. Good thing you hung up. Now that Alan "I kept my underwear on" Dershowitz and Trump's $enate pals say nothing is impeachable, we can expect America's number one misogynist to forgo making payoffs to his lady friends by just using them for Russian language snuff films. He'll even show them at his rallies to his cheering MAGA hat-wearing brainwashed cult who will knock each other over to buy copies at the Trump 2020 merch booth. You think that couldn't or wouldn't happen? Think again. Think about what you didn't think was possible 3 years ago, two year... more »

"Inflationary Stimulus Won’t Solve the World’s Problems"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 21 hours ago
*"Inflationary Stimulus Won’t Solve the World’s Problems"* By Bill Bonner BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – “China Plans Stimulus,” says the lead headline at Bloomberg this morning. And let’s turn to our colleagues at Stansberry Research for a quick look at yesterday’s market action: "Chinese stimulus continues to rally markets. Asian markets gained overnight.The People’s Bank of China injected an additional $57 billion worth of liquidity into the financial system via reverse repurchase operations. This was the central bank’s second straight day of making large liquidity injections into the Ch... more »

America's F-35 Is Already Powerful And It's Only Getting Better

Loren B. Thompson at The National Interest - 21 hours ago
*Loren B. Thompson* *Security, * Time will tell how impressive it becomes. *Key point: *Critics fail to grasp that F-35 is one of the greatest technological achievements of this generation. This week's performance by the F-35 fighter at the Paris Air Show is a turning point for the world's most advanced multi-role fighter, demonstrating that even when fully loaded with combat gear, it can out-perform the tactical aircraft of every other country. Although prime contractor Lockheed Martin has always professed confidence F-35 would prove itself, a dwindling collection of critics co... more »

Could The Eurofighter Typhoon Be A Viable Alternative To America's F-35?

Robert Farley at The National Interest - 21 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *Security, * The Eurofighter has performed well in service. *Key point: *The development of the Typhoon did not clear the field of European fighter contenders. The Eurofighter Typhoon has joined the Dassault Rafale, the Saab Gripen, and the Sukhoi “Flanker” in pursuit of a growing niche in the international fighter market. These aircraft offer capabilities beyond the Generation 4 platforms developed in the 1970s, but don’t carry the costs and complications of stealth. While the Eurofighter has enjoyed outstanding technical success thus far, the market niche may n... more »

America Should Thank Russia For The F-35 Stealth Fighter

Brad Howard at The National Interest - 21 hours ago
*Brad Howard* *Security, * Jets are only as good as their engines. *Key point: *The Yak-141 Freestyle may not technically count as a predecessor to the F-35, but the JSF does seem to have at least some Russian DNA floating around its engine design... For all the yelling and shouting over the Department of Defense’s much-maligned F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, there’s an unusual, often overlooked footnote in the trillion-dollar project’s history: its origins as an experimental Soviet fighter that only fell into Lockheed Martin’s lap because a desperate Russian aerospace compa... more »

Iowa's Winners Emerge: Sanders and Buttigieg (Trump, Be Worried?)

Adrian Beaumont at The National Interest - 21 hours ago
*Adrian Beaumont* *Politics, Americas* [image: Supporters of Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) wait at their caucus site in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., February 3, 2020. Picture taken February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Brian Snyder] The 2020 race begins! Owing to a results reporting fiasco, virtually no results had been posted in Iowa on Tuesday AEDT, although the caucuses began at 12pm AEDT. The caucuses are managed by the state’s Democratic party, not by an electoral authority. This fiasco will mean more criticism of the caucus system, and f... more »

Iran And The U.S. Navy Have Something In Common: Both Love The F-14 Tomcat

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 21 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * For different reasons. *Key point:* It is clear that the Iranian Tomcats scored at a minimum dozens of aerial victories and far outclassed their opponents. Let’s just get this out of the way: Maverick. Iceman. Charlie. Are you done swooning yet? For many, the 1988 film *Top Gun* caused the F-14 to embody everything cool about fighter jets and the pilots that flew them. And the Tomcat *was *cool—entering service in 1975, it was arguably the first operational fourth-generation jet fighter that successfully combined the characteristics of high speed,... more »

We Should Be Thankful Iowa Used Paper Ballots

Herbert Lin at The National Interest - 21 hours ago
*Herbert Lin* *Politics, Americas* [image: An Iowa Caucus precinct worker counts Iowa Democratic Caucus paper ballots as caucus votes are tallied after a Democratic presidential caucus at West Des Moines Christian Church in West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., February 3, 2020.] Imagine the chaos without a backup. As the confusion that was the Iowa caucuses unfolds, there will be a lot of questions about what happened and how to avoid it in the future. But the results, ultimately, will be clear and undisputed because, amid everything they did wrong, the Iowa Democratic Party did one thin... more »

Iraq Is on the Brink of an Energy Crisis

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 21 hours ago
A case study of the struggle for influence in Iraq.

"Just A Little Sloppy Record-Keeping? The Pentagon's $35 Trillion 'Accounting Black Hole'"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 21 hours ago
*"Just A Little Sloppy Record-Keeping? * *The Pentagon's $35 Trillion 'Accounting Black Hole'"* by Tyler Durden "Nemesis, the goddess of retribution and vengeance, the punisher of pride and hubris, waits impatiently for her meeting with us." - Chalmers Johnson "Over the past two weeks of coronavirus headlines and heightened global anxiety, along with impeachment coverage and after over the Super Bowl weekend Americans huddled in living rooms in blissful oblivion, a story which in more normal times would be front and center has gone largely unnoticed. To be sure, the Pentagon couldn'... more »

Nationalism And The Yugoslavs

Vladislav B. SOTIROVIĆ at OrientalReview.org - 21 hours ago
“Ethnic affiliation has never been forgotten in the territories of the former Yugoslavia. It did play a certain role, and it did influence decisions even during the Tito’s era of strict ‘Brotherhood and Unity’”. Várady T., “Minorities, Majorities, Law and Ethnicity: Reflections of the Yugoslav Case”, Human Rights Quarterly, Vol. […]

Syrian Air Defenses Engage Israeli Missiles Over Damascus (VIDEOS)

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 22 hours ago
Syrian Air Defenses Engage Israeli Missiles Over Damascus (VIDEOS) by https://www.rt.com/ Syria’s air defenses have intercepted a number of enemy projectiles over the capital of Damascus, according to Syrian state media. There are so far no reports of damage or injuries, and the nature of the targets remains unclear. – A series of blasts were …

HRW: ‘Unlawful’ Israel Strikes Killed 11 Palestinian Civilians

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 22 hours ago
HRW: ‘Unlawful’ Israel Strikes Killed 11 Palestinian Civilians by https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/ Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip last November killed “at least 11 civilians”, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported today, “in apparent violations of the laws of war”. The two Israeli attacks investigated by HRW “struck civilian objects with little or no evidence that the …

IDF Pounds Gaza for 2nd Night in Retaliation for Rocket & Mortar Fire

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 22 hours ago
IDF Pounds Gaza for 2nd Night in Retaliation for Rocket & Mortar Fire by https://www.rt.com/ The Israeli Defense Forces have launched a counter-attack on Gaza after a pair of mortars were fired into Israel, the second night in a row of tit-for-tat strikes. – Though the mortar attack late on Wednesday triggered no emergency sirens …

Netanyahu Said to Warn a Gaza War is Possible Before March 2 Elections

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 22 hours ago
More Zionist ‘666’ war propaganda! Netanyahu Said to Warn a Gaza War is Possible Before March 2 Elections by https://www.timesofisrael.com/ In sit-down with municipal leaders in south, PM says he won’t hesitate to act if rockets and airborne bombs persist; local officials said livid he only met with Likud members – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu …

Mississippi offers second free hepatitis A clinic this week due to infected restaurant workers

News Desk at Food Safety News - 22 hours ago
The Mississippi State Department of Health is this week investigating a second case of hepatitis A involving a restaurant worker. The latest incident involves a Jones County restaurant employee who may have exposed customers at the Huddle House, 1304 Chantilly Street in Laurel. The Huddle House employee has been diagnosed with a hepatitis A infection.... Continue Reading

K-State, Purdue scientists push the pathogen testing envelope

News Desk at Food Safety News - 22 hours ago
Researchers at two universities have made advancements in E. coli testing technology, with one of them having received a patent. At Kansas State University a new digital approach to a tried and true testing method has become a reality. At Perdue University scientists are using bioluminescence to speed confirmation testing. KSU improves on the gold... Continue Reading

Slovakia sees large rise in Campylobacter and Salmonella infections

Joe Whitworth at Food Safety News - 22 hours ago
Campylobacter and Salmonella infections increased by almost 20 percent in 2018 in Slovakia, according to the country’s annual report on foodborne diseases. Data was compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic. In 2018, 29,080 human diseases caused by pathogens were reported, of which almost a third were campylobacteriosis and... Continue Reading

Letter to the Editor: Egg farmers weigh in on Coronavirus

Guest Contributor at Food Safety News - 22 hours ago
Opinion Dear Editor, I enjoy reading Food Safety News daily and have responded in the past to adjust a view point on egg farmers. Here’s another occasion for an adjustment. The Jan. 30 edition of the morning news from Food Safety News reported the The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is offering face masks... Continue Reading

Experts focus on food safety risks associated with consumer trends

News Desk at Food Safety News - 22 hours ago
Belgian experts have highlighted the importance of assessing food safety when looking at the changing dietary habits of consumers. The Scientific Committee provides advice on risk assessment and management in the food chain for the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) in Belgium. Experts said there are shifts toward more plant-based... Continue Reading

New Zealand lab reveals DNA errors were found in Claremont forensic evidence

Andrea Mayes at Just In - 22 hours ago
A New Zealand forensic biologist casts doubt on the way key exhibits in the Claremont serial killings case were handled by WA pathology laboratory PathWest.

Witness recalls couple beaten before being left to die in submerged toolbox

Ashleigh Stevenson at Just In - 22 hours ago
The Supreme Court in Brisbane hears shocking details of how two people were beaten and slashed with a knife before being forced into a metal toolbox and left to die in a dam at Logan.

NT Police arrest 21-year-old in connection with Rapid Creek sex assault

Lauren Roberts at Just In - 22 hours ago
A 21-year-old man will face court tomorrow after allegedly pulling a 35-year-old woman off her bike at knifepoint and sexually assaulting her.

Man charged with 17 historical child sex abuse counts found not guilty

Rachel McGhee at Just In - 22 hours ago
Eighty-year-old Kevin Baker, accused of historical child sexual abuse offences at Catholic orphanages near Rockhampton in the 1960s, has been found not guilty.

South African court rejects 'sick note', issues arrest warrant for former president Jacob Zuma

Just In - 22 hours ago
The lawyer of former South African president Jacob Zuma says his client is too sick to come to court and he even has a sick note. But it wasn't enough for the judge.

Nicola Gobbo says the stress of being a double agent pushed her to the edge

Danny Tran at Just In - 22 hours ago
During her third day giving evidence, the woman who managed to bring Victoria's justice system to its knees said the need to be "validated" by criminals like Tony Mokbel almost broke her.

Christina Koch touches down on Earth after record-breaking 328 days in space

Just In - 22 hours ago
The astronaut's 328 days aboard the International Space Station breaks the record for the longest continuous stay in space by a woman.

Ever wondered why the US is involved in Iran? Let us explain

Jacqueline Howard at Just In - 22 hours ago
The relationship between the US and Iran is significant enough for Donald Trump to mention it in his State of the Union address. And for a while there in January, we were sweating over the prospect of a war. Let us explain what's going on.

Is China suppressing information about the coronavirus?

Bill Birtles at Just In - 22 hours ago
Doctors reprimanded for "spreading rumours". An army of state media workers being sent to the epicentre to help "guide" public opinion about the coronavirus outbreak. These are the signs fuelling concerns that China's Government is engaging in a cover-up, writes Bill Birtles.

Health experts warn Aussie drinking culture is causing hidden epidemic in children

Amy Sheehan at Just In - 22 hours ago
Fetal alcohol specialists say the syndrome has become a hidden epidemic, with the number of children affected now believed to outnumber those diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy.

Loggers return from fighting fires to find they have no jobs

Richard Willingham at Just In - 22 hours ago
About 10 contracts to harvest timber in East Gippsland are voided by the Government — leaving 90 workers who fought the latest summer fires without short-term jobs.

Fraudster Bernie Madoff seeks release from his 150-year jail sentence, says he has 18 months to live

Just In - 22 hours ago
Convicted American fraudster Bernie Madoff has requested a compassionate release from his 150-year prison sentence, saying he has terminal kidney failure and fewer than 18 months to live.

Recycling crisis prompts scramble for solution to prevent 'scandalous' dump of waste in landfill

Just In - 22 hours ago
WA's Environment Minister says he has stepped in and "put some money on the table" after the collapse of a deal between two recycling processors aimed at preventing material from ending up in landfill.

Scott McLaughlin to get IndyCar Series drive for Team Penske

Just In - 22 hours ago
Scott McLaughlin will make his IndyCar Series debut at the Indianapolis GP on May 9 following the Supercar champion's successful trial in Florida last month.

'He smiled and nodded, then he was gone': Witness saw driver just before fatal cafe explosion

Kristy Sexton-McGrath at Just In - 22 hours ago
An inquest into the 2015 Ravenshoe cafe explosion that killed two people hears from witnesses who saw Brian Scutt in his ute moments before he crashed into gas cylinders, sparking the blast.

Court told racist Instagram comment sparked alleged bashing of 13yo

Claire Campbell at Just In - 22 hours ago
A 15-year-old girl accused of knocking a classmate's front teeth out in an "unprovoked attack" at a McDonald's store in suburban Adelaide has been denied bail.

'Not lawful debts': Robodebt legal warning came on same day scheme was suspended

Matthew Doran at Just In - 22 hours ago
Government lawyers warned the tax commissioner the controversial robodebt program could be illegal on the same day the Federal Government suspended the scheme.

After years battling red tape, drone operator given green light to spray weeds

Eden Hynninen at Just In - 22 hours ago
A Tasmanian businessman attains the state's first drone spraying licence and is using the technology to carry out high-risk work at high speed.

Phone tracking used to follow movements of coronavirus couple in Adelaide

Malcolm Sutton at Just In - 22 hours ago
A phone-tracking system used to better understand where two people infected with coronavirus roamed in Adelaide is the same system harnessed by SAPOL for criminal investigations, the state's Police Commissioner says.

'Don't tell anyone, love': Secret recordings of William Tyrrell suspect revealed in court

Jamie McKinnell at Just In - 22 hours ago
A Sydney court hears how police planted listening devices in the home of retiree Paul Savage after it was suggested he tried to cover up the accidental death of William Tyrrell and heard the suspect talking to his dead wife.

Student stabbed at Rosewood State High School

Anna Hartley at Just In - 22 hours ago
A 12-year-old student is taken to hospital in a serious condition with abdominal injuries after a stabbing incident at Rosewood State High School, west of Brisbane.

Probe into alleged use of forged documents by Energy Minister dropped

Matthew Doran at Just In - 22 hours ago
The Australian Federal Police will not pursue an investigation into Angus Taylor and his office, after the Minister used an allegedly forged document in an extraordinary political attack against Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

Tweets For Today

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 22 hours ago
#UPDATE China scrambles to find bed space for thousands of newly infected patients, as the toll from the #coronavirus jumps again. More than 28,000 people are now known to be infected nationwide in an outbreak that has killed 563 https://t.co/rTgcIMNx5E pic.twitter.com/M0pDEnP3iv — AFP news agency (@AFP) February 6, 2020 Coronavirus: Does China have enough face masks to meet its needs? https://t.co/PbaNJMt8Gr — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 6, 2020 Speaker Pelosi apparently began to tear Trump's #SOTU2020 speech before completely ripping it at the end of the address ht... more »

Picture Of The Day

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 22 hours ago
A medical worker in protective suit adjusts a drip bag for a patient at a hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, February 3. China Daily via REUTERS *WNU Editor:* The above picture is from this photo-gallery .... *China battles deadly coronavirus outbreak* (Reuters).

Wuhan Coronavirus Updates -- February 5 - 6, 2020

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 22 hours ago
*Reuters*:* China virus death toll jumps past 500, more cases on cruise ship off Japan* SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) - Ten more people on a quarantined cruise liner in a Japanese port have tested positive for coronavirus, officials said on Thursday, as the virus death toll in mainland China hit 563, with almost 3,000 new cases reported. About 3,700 people on Carnival’s Diamond Princess are facing at least two weeks quarantine on the ship, which has 20 virus cases and testing is continuing. Japan now has 40 virus cases. “We are hopeful that the U.S. government will be sending trans... more »

U.S. Senate Acquits President Trump On The Two Articles Of Impeachment Against Him

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 23 hours ago
*Daily Mail:* *Trump celebrates double acquittal with cocky meme, despite Mitt Romney denying President bragging rights for perfect GOP support after crossing party lines at the 11th hour* * Donald Trump was acquitted on the two articles of impeachment against him * That outcome was expected in the Republican-controlled Senate * Still the vote brings the four-month long impeachment process to an end * Trump responded to impeachment vote by tweeting a 'Trump 4Eva' video * He also said he would make a statement on Thursday at noon at White House * There were some surprises leading up ... more »

House Speaker Pelosi Did Have A Plan To Tear Up Trump's State Of The Union Speech All Along

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 23 hours ago
A canny observer caught Nancy Pelosi practicing tearing Trump's speech under the table and posted a clip showing the sneaky move *Daily Mail: **Nancy Pelosi was caught on camera PRACTICING 'the rip heard round the world' even though her office denied allegation that she planned to tear up Trump's State of the Union all along* * Mike Pence accused Nancy Pelosi of planning all along to rip up the president's State of the Union speech * 'It felt like it,' the Vice President said, but Pelosi spokesperson told DailyMail.com it was not pre-planned * But a canny observer caught the speake... more »

February 6th – 2020 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day #1113

sundance at The Last Refuge - 23 hours ago
In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and … Continue reading →

Thursday February 6th – Open Thread

sundance at The Last Refuge - 23 hours ago
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those … Continue reading →

Japan Planning to Release Over a Million Tons of Radioactive Water into Sea from Fukushima Power Plant

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 23 hours ago
The Japanese government is campaigning to win support for a plan to pump more than a million tons of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. Although the government has not formally announced the plan, it has become increasingly clear that it intends to go ahead with a step that […] The post Japan Planning to Release Over a Million Tons of Radioactive Water into Sea from Fukushima Power Plant appeared first on Health Nut News.

Cooling the Past: Made Easy for Paul Barry

jennifer at Jennifer Marohasy - 23 hours ago
It is not disputed that Blair Trewin under the supervision of David Jones (both working at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology) remodel all the historical temperature data generating trends and statistics that look quite different from the actual measurements. The remodelled series are then passed on to university and CSIRO climate scientists who base much [...] The post Cooling the Past: Made Easy for Paul Barry appeared first on Jennifer Marohasy.

Hollywood Acting Legend Kirk Douglas Passed Away Today At Aged 103

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 23 hours ago
*Daily Mail:* *Kirk Douglas dies aged 103: Spartacus star's heartbroken son Michael pays tribute to his father saying 'I love you and am so proud to be your son' as grandson Cameron leaves the Hollywood legend's home and the coroner arrives* * Hollywood acting legend Kirk Douglas died on Wednesday aged 103 * The Spartacus star is survived by his wife of 65 years Anne Buydens and his three sons Michael, Joel, and Peter. A fourth child, Eric, died of a drug overdose in his 40s, in 2004 * His son Michael Douglas, an acting icon in his own right, revealed the news of his father's de... more »

Quote of the Day

vonMesser at 'Nox & Friends - 23 hours ago

Breaking: Syrian Army is on the verge of capturing Saraqib

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 23 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:40 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is on the verge of capturing the strategic city of Saraqib after nearly encircling the entire area. READ ALSO: New map of Idlib battle after Syrian Army reaches strategic highway According to a field source, the Syrian Army has captured the last few areas around […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Large number of Turkish commanders head to Idlib amid Syrian Army advances

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 23 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:30 P.M.) – The Turkish Army deployed a large number of reinforcements against the background of the killing of five Turkish soldiers in clashes with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the Idlib countryside. READ ALSO: Syrian Army gives jihadists last chance to lay down arms in Idlib According to the Anatolia News […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Australian Daily Wind Power Generation Data – Wednesday 5th February 2020

TonyfromOz at PA Pundits – International - 23 hours ago
By Anton Lang ~ This Post details the daily wind power generation data for the AEMO coverage area in Australia. For the background information, refer to the Introductory Post at this link. Each image is shown here at a smaller size to fit on the page alongside the data for that day. If you click […]

Impeachment Dies In Desperation

PA Pundits - International at PA Pundits – International - 23 hours ago
By Brent Bozell and Tim Graham ~ As the Trump impeachment effort inevitably burns out on the ash heap of history, Democrats are left to argue that if this president is left unchecked, if he’s not removed from office, he’ll “do it again.” He’ll pressure foreign governments to investigate the business dealings of the Bidens, […]

Stop Using Inadequate Climate Models For Policy Making

PA Pundits - International at PA Pundits – International - 23 hours ago
By David Wojick, Ph.D. ~ The CLINTEL “There is no Climate Emergency” Manifesto puts it this way: “Stop with the Misleading Computer Models” and I agree completely. It is clear by now that these models predict temperatures that appear much too high. No policies should be based on them and the ones that are should […]

Trump’s State Of The Union Address Affirms Americanism As Nation’s Guiding Ethos

PA Pundits - International at PA Pundits – International - 23 hours ago
By Jarrett Stepman ~ Patriotism was one of the most important themes of President Donald Trump’s third State of the Union address on Tuesday night. It was a night of high emotion and more than a few theatrics that began with Trump refusing to shake House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s hand and ending with Pelosi tearing […]

Concerned Sue and Sad Lisa have BS all sewn up

nonnie9999 at HYSTERICAL RAISINS - 1 day ago
From Dahlia Lithwick at SLATE: Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski Think Donald Trump Is No Longer a Danger On Wednesday, the Senate [voted] to acquit President Donald Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress following a marathon few days … Continue reading →

Trump Wants Revenge

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 day ago
*Oh, girl!* Unless Trump gives it the go ahead-- tantamount to chopping off a finger-- Joe Manchin's fatuous proposal to censure Trump instead of impeaching him tomorrow, is DOA. The only good thing is that he would just need 51 votes to pass it-- all 48 Democrats + 3 Republicans. But there aren't 3 Republicans with the guts to go up against Trump. On the Senate floor yesterday, Manchin he sees "no path to the 67 votes required to impeach" Trump but that said he believes "a bipartisan majority of this body would vote to censure President Trump for his action in this matter. Censure ... more »

The Tu-22 Bomber Shows Why Concerns About Russian Arms Control Are Just Beginning

Mark Episkopos at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * The Tu-22 is being reclassified as a heavy, nuclear-capable strategic bomber. *Key point: *The Kremlin, for their part, stridently denies that either the M3 or its upcoming M3M successor have run afoul of any current arms control agreements. The official reclassification of the Tu-22’s updated models from tactical bombers to heavy, nuclear-capable strategic bomber could lead to a new round of accusations concerning Russia’s potential non-compliance. In what is the latest sighting of Russia’s most prolific strategic bomber, the Russian Defense Minis... more »

Iowa Doesn't Matter—Democrats Shouldn't Allow It To Divide Them

Dennis Altman at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*Dennis Altman* *Politics, Americas* [image: A woman takes the wrinkles from a flag before Pete Buttigieg, Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Indiana mayor attends a watch party on Caucus Day in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Eric Thayer] Seriously. The apparent technical glitches that held up results from the Iowa caucuses for hours unleashed a stream of conspiracy theories online. Most common were allegations that the Democratic machine was quashing votes for Bernie Sanders. There is no evidence for this, but the comments recall the bit... more »

Great Britain Has Plans To Build A World-Class Military: F-35, Aircraft Carriers and Much More

David Axe at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*David Axe* *Security, * But do they have the money to do it? *Key point:* Setting priorities is difficult. The British military is struggling to reorganize for a new cold war in Europe. A modest spending boost in 2018 could give planners some hope that budgetary shortfalls -- a perennial problem for the U.K. armed forces -- might not doom the effort. "After almost three decades of relative international stability, the world has now re-entered a period of persistent and intense state competition," the U.K. Defense Ministry stated in its December 2018 review *"Mobilizing, Moder... more »

The Middle East Proves Why The A-10 Warthog Isn't Going Anywhere

Kris Osborn at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*Kris Osborn* *Security, Americas* If it ain't broke, don't fix it. *Key point: *The A-10’s performance in the Middle East is creating an operational demand for the durable aircraft. Known for an ability to keep flying after taking multiple rounds of enemy machine gun fire, land and operate in rugged terrain, destroy groups of enemy fighters with a 30-millimeter cannon and unleash a wide arsenal of attack weapons, the A-10 is described by pilots as a “flying tank” in the sky — able to hover over ground war and provide life-saving close air support in high-threat combat environme... more »

Taiwan Is Running Out Of Time Before China's Invasion (What?)

J. Michael Cole at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*J. Michael Cole* *Security, Asia* It will happen one day. *Key point: *Absent a U.S. and Japanese commitment to intervene in the early stages of an attempted PLA invasion of Taiwan, there is only a slim likelihood that the Taiwanese military would be able to “defeat” its opponent in the conventional sense of the term. A consensus seems to have developed among a large number of defense analysts in recent years arguing that despite the balance of power having shifted in China’s favor, Beijing has no intention to use its military to *invade Taiwan* and thus resolve the Taiwan “que... more »

Russia's Huge Kirov-Class Battlecruisers Are The Russian Navy's Deadly Swiss Army Knife

Robert Farley at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*Robert Farley* *Security, Europe* The battlecruisers also served an important strategic purpose: power projection. *Key point: *The large surface ship model that went out of style at the end of World War II can nevertheless result in a formidable collection of weapons. In the 1970s, the Soviet Union embarked on a project to do what no navy had done for decades—build a surface warfare vessel comparable in size to the battleships of World War I and World War II. The U.S. Navy—and every other navy in the world—had given up on ships of this size due to expense and vulnerability. W... more »

US Senator Romney: Oath Before God & the US Constitution are More Important than the Party Line

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 1 day ago
Most Republicans are acting like members of a true Marxist-Leninist party in that no dissent is apparently allowed from the … Continue reading →

Trump VP Mike Pence Linked To Russian Oligarch Deripaska Via Cummins-GAZ, Along With Russian Gov Via Cummins-KAMAZ

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 1 day ago
Originally posted on Mining Awareness + : Cummins is located in Trump VP Mike Pence’s hometown, and Cummins workers-Cummins PAC were the second…

Triumph The Insult Comic Dog Goes To Washington To Cover Trump’s Impeachment Trial

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 1 day ago
The best summary in only 9 minutes… “Triumph The Insult Comic Dog Goes To Washington To Cover Trump’s Impeachment Trial” … Continue reading →

Rep. Jim Jordan Discusses Impeachment Acquittal and Director Wray Testimony…

sundance at The Last Refuge - 1 day ago
A member of President Trump’s legislative defense team, Jim Jordan, appears with Lou Dobbs to discuss the Senate impeachment acquittal and other DC business. Additionally, Mr. Jordan also had the opportunity to question FBI Director Chris Wray earlier today, and … Continue reading →

Pelosi Lied: Speaker Caught on Camera PREPARING to Tear Up SOTU Speech

Selwyn Duke at rss - 1 day ago
[image: pelosi-lied-speaker-caught-on-camera-preparing-to-tear-up-sotu-speech] With President Trump acquitted and the Democrats outwitted, House Speak Nancy Pelosi drowned her tears with a tear Tuesday night, destroying a copy of the State of the Union Address on camera as the president concluded his speech. Unfortunately for the California representative, while her office claimed it was a spontaneous act, a camera caught her preparing for her big moment in a manner previously reserved for her money-making deals: under the table.

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