;
I seriously doubt whether Valerie wrote this in such an open matter and posted in her college yearbook. Second, why has it become public so closely after the Barr episode? Third, having said that, I am willing to accept the fact that she has radical leanings in the direction of her heritage because this is what the far left , Soros, etc. have been doing for years. Using our freedoms to destroy them.
Meanwhile, the vulgar attacks on various female members of the Trump family continue from liberal media folk. I was reminded of what Krauthammer said about how liberals see themselves and conservatives. Liberals see themselves as decent and compassionate people so when you have a dispute with them you are engaged sinful behaviour and are due to be attacked yourself. Since liberals consider most conservatives to be nasty, bible thumpers, gun carrying bigots attacking them is actually virtuous and righteous behavior.
Many of my liberal friends consider me to the right of Atilla The Hun whereas I simply believe they are misguided and lack an appropriate understanding of the connection between economics and social policy and socialism's failures. They attack me as a person and I attack their ideas or lack thereof.
Just some personal thinking.
There is no family that has been in the political limelight for as long, and for as many negative feats, as the Clintons.
Once Bill did all he could to disgrace the integrity of the Oval Office, his wife stepped in to take over the notorious blunders in politics.
Then, after all that, one of the most prestigious universities in the world is giving Hillary Clinton a medal for all her accomplishments. Click Here to Read More.
Jennifer Roberts,Editor
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Perhaps Russia working with Israel will eventually result in a positive effect. (See 1 below.)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rhodes who admitted lying for Obama is distraught over Clinton's loss and Trump's victory. (See 2 below.)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A Stratfor Report on America's challenges. (See 3 below.)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dick
++++++++++++++++++
1) Report: Iranian forces, Hezbollah prepare to leave southern Syria
The report comes after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Monday that the Syrian army should be the only force on the southern border of the country.
Iran-backed forces, including Hezbollah, are preparing to withdraw from southern Syria against the backdrop of regional and international negotiations currently underway between the United States, Russia and Jordan over the war-torn country's future, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Thursday.
Specifically, the London-based organization reported, Iran and Hezbollah are planning to withdraw forces from the Dara and Kuneitra areas near Israel's northern border.
The report comes after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Monday that the Syrian army should be the only force on the southern border of the country.
"All the forces that are not Syrian should withdraw, and there must be a situation in which only the forces of the Syrian army will be stationed on the Syrian side of the border with Israel," Lavrov said.
Earlier Thursday, the Syrian opposition newspaper Zaman al-Wassul reported that a Syrian army commander had decided in recent days to prevent the use of aircraft hangars, which until now had been used to store ammunition by Iranian militias. According to the report, "the decision followed the recent Israeli attacks."
The Syrian commander's decision indicates the regime's decision to demand that Iran close shop on the southern border is a first step in a broader policy of booting Iranian forces completely from Syria, according to the source in the Syrian army.
Specifically, the London-based organization reported, Iran and Hezbollah are planning to withdraw forces from the Dara and Kuneitra areas near Israel's northern border.
The report comes after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Monday that the Syrian army should be the only force on the southern border of the country.
"All the forces that are not Syrian should withdraw, and there must be a situation in which only the forces of the Syrian army will be stationed on the Syrian side of the border with Israel," Lavrov said.
Earlier Thursday, the Syrian opposition newspaper Zaman al-Wassul reported that a Syrian army commander had decided in recent days to prevent the use of aircraft hangars, which until now had been used to store ammunition by Iranian militias. According to the report, "the decision followed the recent Israeli attacks."
The Syrian commander's decision indicates the regime's decision to demand that Iran close shop on the southern border is a first step in a broader policy of booting Iranian forces completely from Syria, according to the source in the Syrian army.
1a) Knesset Speaker: Attacks on Israel 'Will Not End Favorably for Our Neighbors'
While “Israel is currently fighting on two fronts,” any aggression by its neighbors, including Iran which is entrenched in Syria, “will not end favorably for them,” Edelstein stated.
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein stated that Israel is facing hostile threats on its northern and southern borders, but attacks on Israel “will not end favorably” for those who carry them out.
Edelstein made the remarks on Tuesday while hosting the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament of Ukraine) Andriy Parubiy and other members of the Ukrainian parliament.
Throughout Tuesday and the following night, the Gaza-based Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups relentlessly fired more than 100 rockets and mortars at Israeli communities surrounding the Strip, one of which exploded in a kindergarten, in the worst bombardment by Palestinian terror groups on Israel since Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014.
Following the welcome ceremony at the Knesset plaza, Edelstein told his counterpart that “Israel is currently fighting on two fronts: in the south and north of the country. The attempts of our neighbors, also the new ones, who are trying to change the order in the region, will not end favorably for them,” he stated, in a veiled reference to Iran’s military presence on Israel’s border with Syria.
Israel has launched extensive operations to erase Iran’s fingerprint in Syria, which Israel perceives as a new and looming threat. Referring to the mortar shell that exploded in a kindergarten in Ein Hashloshah, Edelstein called it “a miracle” that the explosion did not hurt anyone. “I know that Ukraine thoroughly understands the need for uncompromising protection of citizens who are under fire,” he added.
Ukraine in recent years has been under constant attack by Russian and pro-Russian forces operating in the country.
Edelstein thanked Parubiy for Ukraine’s support of Israel in international forums. He also noted Ukraine’s firm stance against anti-Semitism, and the cooperation between the Israeli and Ukrainian legislatures in various fields. Parubiy lauded the his country ties with Israel, which he said will greatly benefit both sides. “Both countries are dealing with similar security challenges; we are dealing with the attempts of the Russian army to push us out,” Parubiy said.
1b) Palestinian Terrorists Fired Rockets At Israel, But Instead Destroyed Critical Civilian Infrastructure That Provides Power To Gaza
Palestinian terrorists bombing Israeli civilian targets on Tuesday missed their target and instead hit a power station relaying power to the southern Strip.
The bombing destroyed infrastructure and rendered the plant inoperable, worsening Gaza residents’ already dire power situation. The Hamas-controlled territory has suffered from chronic power outages for years. The plant is situated in Israeli territory and is maintained by Israel.
An initial assessment of the damage indicates that it will takes several days to repair, Israel’s Electric Company (IEC) stated Tuesday evening.
Israeli Minister if Energy Yuval Steinitz ordered the IEC not to risk Israeli workers’welfare in an attempt to repair the damage and to wait until the hostilities cease. “The terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip are not only targeting Israeli civilians, but are harming Gazans as well,” the IDF’s Coordination Unit for Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) stated.
“How come the terrorist organizations in Gaza cut the electricity supply to hundreds of thousands of Gazans? Indiscriminate barrages of rockets fired today from Gaza by Islamic Jihad under the auspices of Hamas have hit infrastructure in Israel that supplies Gaza with electricity,” tweeted COGAT, the IDF unit responsible for implementing government policy in Judea and Samaria and vis-à-vis the Gaza Strip.
“It is time to wake up and understand that Hamas and Islamic Jihad are using you as hostages in their attempts to escalate the situation at your expense, when you are the ones who are harmed first and foremost,” COGAT commander Kamil Abu Rokon wrote in Arabic on his Facebook page.
Israel is, in fact, the only country that has been fighting to keep Gaza linked up to electricity. Egyptian power lines can deliver 30 megawatts, but have been shut down by Egyptian authorities for the past four months. The Palestinians have a sad history of harming themselves while attempting to harm Israel.
Palestinian terrorists acted in a similarly self-destructive way during Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014 when they mistakenly bombed an Israeli power plant feeding Gaza. More recently, Hamas-led Palestinian mobs in the last month twice assaulted and ransacked the Kerem Shalom Crossing and its fuel terminal , the only entry point for fuel to Gaza and the only lifeline that supplies basic goods to civilians in Gaza.
Israel has been working around the clock to keep the crossing open and functional, despite Hamas’ own attacks on it.
Thanks to these efforts, diesel fuel and gas tankers have recently resumed the transfer of critical energy supplies to the Gaza Strip, averting a certain fuel crisis. “The most important thing to know is that these people who came to Kerem Shalom and demolished the crossing point did not go there by themselves. We know that Hamas sent them,” a senior Israeli security source told JNS, speaking earlier this month.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2) http://www.powerlineblog.com/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3)A Distracted U.S. Struggles To Shift Its Global Focus
By Omar Lamrani Senior Military Analayst, Stratfor
Changing times call for changing measures. In the face of an intensifying great power competition with Russia and China, the United States is expanding its efforts to refocus its global strategy, force deployments and resources to better position itself in a new struggle. But recalibrate as it might, the United States' enduring commitments, along with global flashpoints, will continue to sap the country's attention and resources as it wages a new global battle for influence.
Finding a New Focus:
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the advent of the so-called global "war on terrorism" in 2001 ushered in a change in the United States' strategic defense posture, which shifted from a primary focus on defeating a great Eurasian power toward a more diffuse, enduring and amorphous effort against violent non-state actors and "rogue" states. As part of this transformation, the United States significantly bolstered its force presence in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, altered its training structure and prioritized different sets of military capabilities. At the same time, the United States greatly reduced its presence in Europe, decreased its capabilities in the Pacific and shuttered a large number of headquarters primed for a potential war with Russia.
But after years of unceasing conflict in the Middle East and South Asia, the United States has come to recognize the profound shift in the global strategic balance. Observing China's growing strength and efforts to modernize its military, the Obama administration attempted to rebalance toward Asia with the "Pacific Pivot" in 2011. Russia's military intervention in Ukraine in 2014 also completely altered the United States' direction in Europe, as Washington rushed additional forces to the Continent as part of increased rotational deployments under the European Reassurance Initiativeafter it had begun to withdraw forces from the region.
But this year's National Defense Strategy, which identifies great power
competition as the "central challenge to U.S. prosperity and security,"
leaves no room for doubt as to the strategic direction the United States
wishes to pursue in its security outlook. Reinforcing the new defense
strategy is a robust defense budget that seeks to repair some of the
readiness shortfalls stemming from years of sequestration (automatic
spending reductions).
competition as the "central challenge to U.S. prosperity and security,"
leaves no room for doubt as to the strategic direction the United States
wishes to pursue in its security outlook. Reinforcing the new defense
strategy is a robust defense budget that seeks to repair some of the
readiness shortfalls stemming from years of sequestration (automatic
spending reductions).
In line with its strategic direction, the United States will make significant
changes in terms of the regional deployment of strategic forces and,
in the same vein, the geographic areas it wishes to prioritize. The
North Atlantic has emerged as a central battleground in the competition
with Russia, prompting U.S. military officials to announce plans to
reactivate the U.S. 2nd Fleet in July after deactivating it in 2011. The
2nd Fleet's central mission will be to ensure U.S. naval dominance in
the body of water amid increased forays by Russian submarines into
that particular ocean. At the northern edge of the area, Iceland, which
is strategically positioned as a base from which to detect and intercept
such submarine activity, is accordingly receiving increased attention
from the United States after its significance waned following the end of
the Cold War.
changes in terms of the regional deployment of strategic forces and,
in the same vein, the geographic areas it wishes to prioritize. The
North Atlantic has emerged as a central battleground in the competition
with Russia, prompting U.S. military officials to announce plans to
reactivate the U.S. 2nd Fleet in July after deactivating it in 2011. The
2nd Fleet's central mission will be to ensure U.S. naval dominance in
the body of water amid increased forays by Russian submarines into
that particular ocean. At the northern edge of the area, Iceland, which
is strategically positioned as a base from which to detect and intercept
such submarine activity, is accordingly receiving increased attention
from the United States after its significance waned following the end of
the Cold War.
At the other end of Europe, Ankara's balancing effort between the United States and Russia will gain added importance as Moscow seeks to break the containment role that Turkey, home of the strategic Bosporus, has played on its flank and the U.S. efforts to maintain it. Elsewhere on the Continent, the Baltic nations — Poland, Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia — have assumed an increasingly important role as battleground states between the United States and Russia. In the north, Scandinavia in general and Norway in particular are witnessing increased attention from the United States as well, mainly because of the area's strategic proximity to the Arctic theater. Furthermore, the U.S. Navy has raised the number of deployments made by the 6th Fleet to the European theater amid expectations of more patrols in the Baltic and Black seas.
In the Pacific, China's growing arsenal of ballistic and cruise missiles and the United States' lack of air bases relative to other theaters complicates the latter's strategic military posture in the competition with Beijing. As a result, the United States must place special emphasis on its relationship with Japan and Singapore. At the same time, the Pentagon is simultaneously searching for alternative bases in places such as northern Australia, the Philippines and the Northern Mariana Islands. The United States already maintains a considerable military presence in South Korea, but these forces are largely oriented toward a potential conflict with North Korea and could even constitute a strategic liability to the United States because they would be within striking range of China's much larger land forces in the event of open hostilities.
The United States is the world's dominant naval power, but China has ambitions to closing the gap.
Beyond military issues, however, Washington also aims to strengthen
its relationship with a number of non-allied Asia-Pacific countries as a
hedge against China's ascendancy. India, Vietnam, Malaysia and
Indonesia, in particular, are all likely to witness increased attention
from the United States in the years ahead. Together, these countries
form a solid anchor on the southern rim of the first island chain — an
area that encircles the Yellow, East China and South China seas —
from which the U.S. Navy could choke off China's sea lines of
communication to Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Naturally, China
is unlikely to remain passive on this front, and will work hard to
enhance its relationship with Southeast Asian countries in response.
Beyond military issues, however, Washington also aims to strengthen
its relationship with a number of non-allied Asia-Pacific countries as a
hedge against China's ascendancy. India, Vietnam, Malaysia and
Indonesia, in particular, are all likely to witness increased attention
from the United States in the years ahead. Together, these countries
form a solid anchor on the southern rim of the first island chain — an
area that encircles the Yellow, East China and South China seas —
from which the U.S. Navy could choke off China's sea lines of
communication to Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Naturally, China
is unlikely to remain passive on this front, and will work hard to
enhance its relationship with Southeast Asian countries in response.
Unsurprisingly, Taiwan remains a serious bone of contention. The
United States appears increasingly willing to provoke China's ire
against the island through the sale of sensitive military equipment and
enhanced diplomatic and military engagement with Taipei. Accordingly,
Taiwan is the issue that is most likely to push the strategic competition
between Washington and Beijing into an active conflict, especially as
China's military options expand with its naval development.
United States appears increasingly willing to provoke China's ire
against the island through the sale of sensitive military equipment and
enhanced diplomatic and military engagement with Taipei. Accordingly,
Taiwan is the issue that is most likely to push the strategic competition
between Washington and Beijing into an active conflict, especially as
China's military options expand with its naval development.
Finally, the United States is considering major changes in how it
deploys its main naval forces on a global basis. Over the last three
decades, U.S. aircraft carrier task forces have maintained a virtually
constant presence in the waters around the Middle East. Now,
however,the country is working toward shifting its deployments to
focus more onthe European and Pacific theaters and to be less
predictable and routine in its naval forays.
deploys its main naval forces on a global basis. Over the last three
decades, U.S. aircraft carrier task forces have maintained a virtually
constant presence in the waters around the Middle East. Now,
however,the country is working toward shifting its deployments to
focus more onthe European and Pacific theaters and to be less
predictable and routine in its naval forays.
The Fly in the Ointment
Although Washington has recognized the emergence of this new great
power competition and begun acting accordingly, several flash
points could distract the United States and tie up its resources and
focus. Of these, the most prominent is the global "war on terrorism,"
which continues to this day, even as its focus has shifted considerably
since beginning 17 years ago. Globally, but especially in the Middle
East and North Africa, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the United
States has devoted considerable attention and resources to this fight.
In turn, this has placed significant strain on the United States' special
operations forces and hurt the readiness of U.S. air forces, both from
the Air Force and the Navy. Almost two decades of consistent
deployments and rotations to front lines and bases have left little time
for recuperation. This fatigue, coupled with the recent effects of
sequestration, has led to maintenance problems, the widespread
cannibalization of airframes and a recent spike in accidents.
power competition and begun acting accordingly, several flash
points could distract the United States and tie up its resources and
focus. Of these, the most prominent is the global "war on terrorism,"
which continues to this day, even as its focus has shifted considerably
since beginning 17 years ago. Globally, but especially in the Middle
East and North Africa, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the United
States has devoted considerable attention and resources to this fight.
In turn, this has placed significant strain on the United States' special
operations forces and hurt the readiness of U.S. air forces, both from
the Air Force and the Navy. Almost two decades of consistent
deployments and rotations to front lines and bases have left little time
for recuperation. This fatigue, coupled with the recent effects of
sequestration, has led to maintenance problems, the widespread
cannibalization of airframes and a recent spike in accidents.
Adding to this ongoing strain is the potential for significant conflicts that
could distract the United States from its preparations to confront China
and Russia. Immediately, this could emerge in the form of a possible
war with either Iran or North Korea — or both. The U.S. withdrawal
from the Iranian nuclear deal and the adoption of an increasingly hard-
line stance on Iran's activities in the Middle East could ignite a conflict
between the two, especially if Tehran chooses to restart its nuclear
program in response to Washington's actions. As for North Korea, the
initial optimism regarding a summit between Washington and
Pyongyang could rapidly give way to preparations for war in the
absence of any breakthrough in negotiations.
could distract the United States from its preparations to confront China
and Russia. Immediately, this could emerge in the form of a possible
war with either Iran or North Korea — or both. The U.S. withdrawal
from the Iranian nuclear deal and the adoption of an increasingly hard-
line stance on Iran's activities in the Middle East could ignite a conflict
between the two, especially if Tehran chooses to restart its nuclear
program in response to Washington's actions. As for North Korea, the
initial optimism regarding a summit between Washington and
Pyongyang could rapidly give way to preparations for war in the
absence of any breakthrough in negotiations.
A war with either Iran or North Korea would undoubtedly require the
commitment of large numbers of forces and funds, but even a
containment strategy against both could entail long and significant
deployments in and around the Persian Gulf and the Korean peninsula.
The United States could rapidly reverse its decision to curtail its
permanent carrier presence around the Middle East, the theater of
operations for the 5th Fleet, if tensions with Iran rise significantly as a
result of Washington's increasingly confrontational approach toward
the country. The return of more forces to the Middle East, however,
would hamper the United States' struggle against Russia and China,
since the region is far removed from the areas of activity central to the
emerging great power competition. Force dispositions around North
Korea, on the other hand, offer more flexibility because the U.S. military
could redirect troops and materiel in northeast Asia, especially those in
Japan — if not those in South Korea that are locked on North Korea
and remain vulnerable to Chinese action — to face China more easily.
commitment of large numbers of forces and funds, but even a
containment strategy against both could entail long and significant
deployments in and around the Persian Gulf and the Korean peninsula.
The United States could rapidly reverse its decision to curtail its
permanent carrier presence around the Middle East, the theater of
operations for the 5th Fleet, if tensions with Iran rise significantly as a
result of Washington's increasingly confrontational approach toward
the country. The return of more forces to the Middle East, however,
would hamper the United States' struggle against Russia and China,
since the region is far removed from the areas of activity central to the
emerging great power competition. Force dispositions around North
Korea, on the other hand, offer more flexibility because the U.S. military
could redirect troops and materiel in northeast Asia, especially those in
Japan — if not those in South Korea that are locked on North Korea
and remain vulnerable to Chinese action — to face China more easily.
These costly distractions to U.S. power are unlikely to escape the
attention of China or Russia. As the great powers engage in
increasingly adversarial competition, the planet might witness a
geopolitical climate unseen since the days of the Cold War. The
hallmarks of such competition would include concerted support for
insurgencies and proxy forces around the globe that could tie down an
adversary in protracted and expensive campaigns. Russia, in fact, has
already begun pursuing some facets of this new fight by reportedly
supporting certain factions of the Taliban in Afghanistan, while the
United States has previously backed certain anti-Russian factions in
Syria. In this context, if the adversarial relationship between the United
States and Iran reaches a more bellicose level, Moscow and Beijing
could provide direct aid to Tehran to improve its capabilities.
attention of China or Russia. As the great powers engage in
increasingly adversarial competition, the planet might witness a
geopolitical climate unseen since the days of the Cold War. The
hallmarks of such competition would include concerted support for
insurgencies and proxy forces around the globe that could tie down an
adversary in protracted and expensive campaigns. Russia, in fact, has
already begun pursuing some facets of this new fight by reportedly
supporting certain factions of the Taliban in Afghanistan, while the
United States has previously backed certain anti-Russian factions in
Syria. In this context, if the adversarial relationship between the United
States and Iran reaches a more bellicose level, Moscow and Beijing
could provide direct aid to Tehran to improve its capabilities.
The United States has moved to define the great power competition
with Russia and China as its greatest priority, necessitating a
restructuring of the country's global military footprint, reallocation of
resources and shift in strategic focus. The Pentagon has already begun
implementing measures in this regard, but it is by no means a
straightforward process. Continued distractions abound, specifically the
crises with Iran and North Korea, though more generally the enduring
U.S. commitment to the global "war on terrorism." In the end, the United
States will undoubtedly intensify its focus on great power competition,
but overcoming these distractions will be no easy task — especially as
China and Russia are unlikely to make the United States' attempts to
disentangle itself any easier.
with Russia and China as its greatest priority, necessitating a
restructuring of the country's global military footprint, reallocation of
resources and shift in strategic focus. The Pentagon has already begun
implementing measures in this regard, but it is by no means a
straightforward process. Continued distractions abound, specifically the
crises with Iran and North Korea, though more generally the enduring
U.S. commitment to the global "war on terrorism." In the end, the United
States will undoubtedly intensify its focus on great power competition,
but overcoming these distractions will be no easy task — especially as
China and Russia are unlikely to make the United States' attempts to
disentangle itself any easier.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A Distracted U.S. Strggles To Shift Its Global Focus
By Omar Lamrani
+
A Distracted U.S. Struggles To
Senior Military Analyst
No comments:
Post a Comment