I have a number of thoughts swirling in my head on a number of subjects, but crystallizing and articulating them must be done carefully.
Perhaps the place to start is presenting some of those subjects for consideration, in list form, so that the sum total of their impact on the moment can be discerned.
A gathering on the lawn of a public building in Durham, North Carolina ties a rope around a Confederate-soldier statue and pulls it off its pedestal. I don't want to dwell too much on the parallel to ISIS and Palmyra, because other layers are operative in this, but it's an undeniable layer.
Iranian president Rouhani is none too pleased about the latest post-American sanctions on his country, imposed due to Iran's missile tests and human-rights abuses. In a speech, he says Iran could have its nuclear program on the same footing it was prior to the JCPOA. Quick quiz: This tone of belligerence sounds like what other country that's been in the news lately?
And in case his speech didn't drive home Iran's stance sufficiently, there's this:
Ben Howe at Red State and David French at NRO both make compelling cases for the canning of Steve Bannon.Iran is preparing to send a flotilla of warships to the Atlantic Ocean following the announcement of a massive $500 million investment in war spending, according to Iranian leaders, who say the military moves are in response to recent efforts by the United States to impose a package of new economic sanctions on Tehran.The military investment and buildup comes following weeks of tense interactions between Iran and the United States in regional waters, where Iranian military ships have carried out a series of dangerous maneuvers near U.S. vessels. The interactions have roiled U.S. military leaders and prompted tough talk from the Trump administration, which is currently examining potential ways to leave the landmark nuclear deal.Iran's increasingly hostile behavior also follows a little-noticed United Nations report disclosing that Iran has repeatedly violated international accords banning ballistic missile work. Lawmakers in the U.S. Congress and some policy experts also believe that Iran has been violating some provisions in the nuclear agreement governing nuclear-related materials.
Latest indication that post-American culture is out of gas: the movie industry is experiencing its lowest box office in a quarter century.
They want to tear down the statue of Old Joe on the courthouse square in Gainesville and rid Jacksonville of all reminders of the War Between the States. Jacksonville is where union troops sacked and burned a Catholic church and then marched around town wearing sacred vestments and blowing notes through organ pipes pulled from the church. Those who do not learn from history are.....?
ReplyDeleteWell, let's hope "they" don't want to take the matter into their own hands, that they petition for a referendum. The obvious point of the Durham situation is the mob justice that was on full display. Basic societal order is breaking down fast.
ReplyDeleteAll matched by the tone set by the Boor from New York Shitty, ooh wah ooh wah, cool cool kitty...
ReplyDeleteIf the sage would guide the people, he must serve with humility.
ReplyDeleteIf he would lead them, he must follow behind.
In this way when the sage rules, the people will not feel oppressed;
When he stands before them, they will not be harmed.
The whole world will support him and will not tire of him.
Because he does not compete,
He does not meet competition.
More calls from the bloggie's ilk for more law & orde. Which leads to a little ditty by Jeffie J Sessions (the young Republican for Nixon), doin' his best John Mitchell:
The Department of Justice has requested information on visitors to a website used to organize protests against President Trump, the Los Angeles-based Dreamhost said in a blog post published on Monday.
Dreamhost, a web hosting provider, said that it has been working with the Department of Justice for several months on the request, which believes goes too far under the Constitution.
As an aside, more than 200 people were indicted on felony rioting charges in connection with the protests in Washington on Jan. 20.
http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/346544-dreamhost-claims-doj-requesting-info-on-visitors-to-anti-trump-website
Protests against Squirrel-Hair tend to get violent. And the rhetoric from the speakers tends to be pretty incendiary.
ReplyDeleteIncendiary, seems to definitely define things today.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should wait for the next incendiary tweet. Appeasement; Winston Churchill- embalm bury, cremate, take no chances. "Reference to Neville Chamberlain"
BTW, there were 1.2 Million, count 'em, visitors to that web site Jeffie J wants to subpoena the IPLs of. Trump has clearly set the tone for all this. How could anyone not have known all this would happen. The only thing that blows my mind is how quickly it is all disintegrating.
ReplyDelete500 million for bolstering Iranian flotilla would not seem to buy a great deal, certainly not a "flotilla"
ReplyDeleteMaybe a missile launching destroyer with a lot of luck. I think we would be better selling them the destroyer, it certainly will not effect anything but a bottom line. With the nuclear deterrent at our level what do we care?:
Maybe and most importantly science is not sitting still and crude Tokomak research at Iter, Boeing and many others are going to make nuclear power insignificant. At that point we definitely need oversight for our safety.
ReplyDelete