Over the weekend, Xi Jinping of China secured a third term as the general secretary of the Communist Party, strengthening his grip on China and shifting the country away from the shared power system it had moved toward over the past decades. Other strongmen, including North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and Russian president Vladimir Putin, were among the first to congratulate him.
No surprise re" Xi. Glad to see Garland and DOJ publically take a stand against those who would try to undermine the USA. At the same time, I have full faith that Biden will try to "negotiate" with Putin re: Ukraine. That "negotiation should be no less than every Russian soldier leaving Ukraine AND Crimea, war crimes charges filed and pursued, and financial reparations paid by Russia to rebuild what Putin has tried to destroy.
That letter from Congressional members is pure unadulterated pathetic trash! I lost some respect for all who signed it. If it is a political stunt to appeal to voters, a 'on the one hand and on the other' without saying anything', MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. But why not 'grow a pair' and stand for something instead of misleading voters by hinting you are for something that you may or may not be. If it truly is just about the money, it's even more pathetic. Total US aid to Ukraine totals $54B. Total GDP is is $23T! It is 0.234% of our GDP. We spent $2.3T in Afghanistan and over $2T in Iraq without a whimper about cost form these people that I remember. OK not good to waste money. How about we close a little tax loophole for the rich, just a little one, and fund the preservation of democracy in Europe and NATO for a generation?
I always appreciate a hard look at current foreign affairs. I love the move against the Chinese. I also read that Americans working in China for the semiconductor industry had to resign or lose their citizenship. I have seen this only one place and haven't verified it. As for Ukraine, I am glad we are resolute and I do worry what Rs might do if they prevail. The egos of a few people ruining life for millions really makes me angry. And yes, as a history person, I know this is nothing new. I could go on a rant, but it's getting late and I want to dip into my book on the British Empire which will cause me to shake my head sadly. Sigh. So grateful for Heather and this group.
The House "progressives" made the mistake when they described their "support for Ukraine" of not defining it specifically as "Ukraine restored to its borders of May 2014, with all Russian forces removed from stolen territory." The fact they had to go out and explain themselves left them looking like Chardonnay-swilling Volvo drivers.
Thank you for bringing us up to date on the machinations of China’s leadership and spy organization. I’m afraid that, with so much attention on Ukraine, the Mar-a-lago classified documents, Senator Lindsay Graham (Clarence Thomas) and anti-semitism, this flew under the radar.
But please help me with the WaPo's story yesterday about many in the large Ukrainian community of Parma, OH, voting for the first time against the GQP, because of the potential threat of losing American support if Congress is further defiled at the midterms.
"We voted for Trump in 2016 and the GOP for decades because we didn't care about the human rights violations of immigrants and asylum seekers to this country, or the rule of law, or debasing women, the poor, or (insert hundreds of other valid reasons), but now we won't vote for the GOP, because, Ukraine."
I hope this is an isolated, worst-case view of Ukrainian immigrants, but these Parma, OH, folks have clearly made the complete transition to becoming Americans -- completely self-absorbed, ignorant tools. And for now we're glad they finally found a reason not to vote Republican, or more likely as with a third of Americans in 2020, not at all.
May everyone have their Niemöller Moment before it's too late.
Thank you for more details and your assessment of the letter from 30 progressive member of Congress regarding negotiating to end the war in Ukraine. Throughout the day I saw snippets and, like many others, thought the progressives might be undermining Biden's brilliant handling of this complex crisis. I feel much better.
How can there be any substantive negotiations when the Russians lie as much as they slaughter civilians? When they seek to win by making civilians suffer? When they forcibly relocate thousands of Ukrainians to Russia, including children put up for adoption? And threaten nuclear attack?
I wonder how many Putin-loving MAGA types have any idea how much more secure America is because Biden has used the war to strengthen NATO? Of course as much as they think of themselves as patriots, I doubt they care that Biden has led the charge to keep the flame of democracy from being snuffed out in Ukraine.
What remains unspoken is that Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014 not only met no resistance from the Obama administration, but expected none. Russians understood that, when Obama did nothing to enforce his "red line" comment to Syria's use of chemical weapons, he would not take action against Russia's seizure of Ukrainian territory.
The lessons are that deeds must be prepared to match words and that the right must be defended or else it will be compromised.
Russia with eleven time zones, 6.6 million square miles of land, 1/8 the the earth's land mass, can't manage itself. So it wants to grab more land and swallow Ukraine, even if it has to use dirty nuclear. The government is run by a dictator and criminal thugs, called oligarchs. We live in dangerous times.
It is clearly time to hunt up Patton in whatever reincarnation he is currently occupying and task him with an all out attack on Putin and let him finally finish the task he so ardently wanted to pursue as WW II concluded. Also clearly such psychotic killers as are also big shot politicians, like Putin, must be brought to heel by the entire world. We let this human garbage go out of fear and fear alone. At some point in time we must impose our will and do the unavoidable. As with Bin Laden he must be hunted and fed to the sharks.
Great clear information as always.afraid I couldn’t help my self when reading Merrick Garlands comment I found myself rethinking the wording to put a certain ex presidents name in it. I can hope!
Per the DOJ Office of Public Affairs posting remarks by Merrick Garland & Lisa Monaco, the DOJ has actually filed three (3) Lawsuits against PRC operatives: (1) US vs Quanzhong, et al. See, the unsealed 8 Count indictment against 7 PRC nationals; (2) US vs Guochum He and Jackie He, Case No: 1:22-mj-01137-RER et al which has been sealed by Court Order. & (3) US vs Wang Lin et al. which is an indictment against 4 persons 3 of which are alleged to be intelligence officers of the Ministry of State Security (MSS) of China.
The allegations against Huwaei & a couple of its subsidiaries have been expanded in a 2021 superseding indictment which I have not reviewed yet.The PRC's use of fraudulent fronts is a common tactic: false academic, technical & other facades. In one case the foreign undercover activity was tracked over a ten (10) year period, 2008-2018. Advanced countermeasures were successful.
No surprise re" Xi. Glad to see Garland and DOJ publically take a stand against those who would try to undermine the USA. At the same time, I have full faith that Biden will try to "negotiate" with Putin re: Ukraine. That "negotiation should be no less than every Russian soldier leaving Ukraine AND Crimea, war crimes charges filed and pursued, and financial reparations paid by Russia to rebuild what Putin has tried to destroy.
You cleared a path through a tangled web. Thank you.
That letter from Congressional members is pure unadulterated pathetic trash! I lost some respect for all who signed it. If it is a political stunt to appeal to voters, a 'on the one hand and on the other' without saying anything', MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. But why not 'grow a pair' and stand for something instead of misleading voters by hinting you are for something that you may or may not be. If it truly is just about the money, it's even more pathetic. Total US aid to Ukraine totals $54B. Total GDP is is $23T! It is 0.234% of our GDP. We spent $2.3T in Afghanistan and over $2T in Iraq without a whimper about cost form these people that I remember. OK not good to waste money. How about we close a little tax loophole for the rich, just a little one, and fund the preservation of democracy in Europe and NATO for a generation?
Thank you so much for this valuable information. I learn something from every letter but especially from this one.
I always appreciate a hard look at current foreign affairs. I love the move against the Chinese. I also read that Americans working in China for the semiconductor industry had to resign or lose their citizenship. I have seen this only one place and haven't verified it. As for Ukraine, I am glad we are resolute and I do worry what Rs might do if they prevail. The egos of a few people ruining life for millions really makes me angry. And yes, as a history person, I know this is nothing new. I could go on a rant, but it's getting late and I want to dip into my book on the British Empire which will cause me to shake my head sadly. Sigh. So grateful for Heather and this group.
thank you for a clear, thoughtful discussion of these confusing (to me) events - I am ending my day feeling hopeful, thanks to you.
The House "progressives" made the mistake when they described their "support for Ukraine" of not defining it specifically as "Ukraine restored to its borders of May 2014, with all Russian forces removed from stolen territory." The fact they had to go out and explain themselves left them looking like Chardonnay-swilling Volvo drivers.
"When you're explaining yourself, you're losing."
Thank you for bringing us up to date on the machinations of China’s leadership and spy organization. I’m afraid that, with so much attention on Ukraine, the Mar-a-lago classified documents, Senator Lindsay Graham (Clarence Thomas) and anti-semitism, this flew under the radar.
Share this everywhere. It is Poltics Girl responding to the deniers of all that Biden has done.
https://twitter.com/IAmPoliticsGirl/status/1582175918411304961?s=20&t=xJkLqiZ5gFhBu6bX2t-1tg
But please help me with the WaPo's story yesterday about many in the large Ukrainian community of Parma, OH, voting for the first time against the GQP, because of the potential threat of losing American support if Congress is further defiled at the midterms.
"We voted for Trump in 2016 and the GOP for decades because we didn't care about the human rights violations of immigrants and asylum seekers to this country, or the rule of law, or debasing women, the poor, or (insert hundreds of other valid reasons), but now we won't vote for the GOP, because, Ukraine."
I hope this is an isolated, worst-case view of Ukrainian immigrants, but these Parma, OH, folks have clearly made the complete transition to becoming Americans -- completely self-absorbed, ignorant tools. And for now we're glad they finally found a reason not to vote Republican, or more likely as with a third of Americans in 2020, not at all.
May everyone have their Niemöller Moment before it's too late.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/23/vance-ukraine-war-ohio-senate/
Thank you for more details and your assessment of the letter from 30 progressive member of Congress regarding negotiating to end the war in Ukraine. Throughout the day I saw snippets and, like many others, thought the progressives might be undermining Biden's brilliant handling of this complex crisis. I feel much better.
How can there be any substantive negotiations when the Russians lie as much as they slaughter civilians? When they seek to win by making civilians suffer? When they forcibly relocate thousands of Ukrainians to Russia, including children put up for adoption? And threaten nuclear attack?
I wonder how many Putin-loving MAGA types have any idea how much more secure America is because Biden has used the war to strengthen NATO? Of course as much as they think of themselves as patriots, I doubt they care that Biden has led the charge to keep the flame of democracy from being snuffed out in Ukraine.
What remains unspoken is that Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014 not only met no resistance from the Obama administration, but expected none. Russians understood that, when Obama did nothing to enforce his "red line" comment to Syria's use of chemical weapons, he would not take action against Russia's seizure of Ukrainian territory.
The lessons are that deeds must be prepared to match words and that the right must be defended or else it will be compromised.
Russia with eleven time zones, 6.6 million square miles of land, 1/8 the the earth's land mass, can't manage itself. So it wants to grab more land and swallow Ukraine, even if it has to use dirty nuclear. The government is run by a dictator and criminal thugs, called oligarchs. We live in dangerous times.
It is clearly time to hunt up Patton in whatever reincarnation he is currently occupying and task him with an all out attack on Putin and let him finally finish the task he so ardently wanted to pursue as WW II concluded. Also clearly such psychotic killers as are also big shot politicians, like Putin, must be brought to heel by the entire world. We let this human garbage go out of fear and fear alone. At some point in time we must impose our will and do the unavoidable. As with Bin Laden he must be hunted and fed to the sharks.
Great clear information as always.afraid I couldn’t help my self when reading Merrick Garlands comment I found myself rethinking the wording to put a certain ex presidents name in it. I can hope!
Per the DOJ Office of Public Affairs posting remarks by Merrick Garland & Lisa Monaco, the DOJ has actually filed three (3) Lawsuits against PRC operatives: (1) US vs Quanzhong, et al. See, the unsealed 8 Count indictment against 7 PRC nationals; (2) US vs Guochum He and Jackie He, Case No: 1:22-mj-01137-RER et al which has been sealed by Court Order. & (3) US vs Wang Lin et al. which is an indictment against 4 persons 3 of which are alleged to be intelligence officers of the Ministry of State Security (MSS) of China.
The allegations against Huwaei & a couple of its subsidiaries have been expanded in a 2021 superseding indictment which I have not reviewed yet.The PRC's use of fraudulent fronts is a common tactic: false academic, technical & other facades. In one case the foreign undercover activity was tracked over a ten (10) year period, 2008-2018. Advanced countermeasures were successful.