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Politics & Religion / Why not use existing structure of NATO?
« on: March 30, 2025, 06:06:11 PM »
Why not just use the existing NATO structure to re-establish the many bases we used to have there?!?
4
Politics & Religion / Finn prez says Trump preparing sanctions on Russia
« on: March 30, 2025, 06:01:48 PM »6
Politics & Religion / Brownstone: How Performative Activism Enabled Mass Persecution
« on: March 30, 2025, 08:24:37 AM »
Posting here this outstanding find by BBG:
https://brownstone.org/articles/how-performative-activism-enabled-mass-persecution/
https://brownstone.org/articles/how-performative-activism-enabled-mass-persecution/
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Science, Culture, & Humanities / Josh Waitzkin
« on: March 30, 2025, 08:14:10 AM »
JW was the subject of the wonderful movie "Searching for Bobby Fisher".
Here he is winning the Tai Chi push hands competition:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyeSvBleUyI
His book, "The Art of Learning" is well worth the time.
He also is a BJJ BB.
Here he is winning the Tai Chi push hands competition:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyeSvBleUyI
His book, "The Art of Learning" is well worth the time.
He also is a BJJ BB.
10
Politics & Religion / One million views on Political Economics!
« on: March 30, 2025, 07:13:55 AM »14
Politics & Religion / Re: Political Economics
« on: March 30, 2025, 05:02:13 AM »
Gold also responds to geopolitical risks. (e.g. are we getting ready to hit Iran?)
China and India can influence the demand for gold.
China and India can influence the demand for gold.
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Politics & Religion / TDA trained by Maduro
« on: March 30, 2025, 03:53:15 AM »
Sounds to me like what the Illegal Aliens Act calls a "predatory incursion".
Apologies no link.
============================
Former CIA officer Gary Berntsen, one of the most highly decorated intelligence veterans in recent U.S. history, has come forward to confirm that the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) has been deliberately deployed into the United States by the Venezuelan regime, with the express intent of destabilizing the country through sabotage and violence.
According to Berntsen, Tren de Aragua is no longer just a violent street gang. While they may wear the face of criminality, their core leadership and operational cells have undergone paramilitary training under the guidance of Venezuelan intelligence and military officials, aided in part by Cuban intelligence operatives and narco-terrorist networks throughout Latin America.
Quoting Berntsen, Miami Herald journalist Antonio Delgado wrote:
“The Venezuelan regime has assumed operational control of these guys [Tren de Aragua] and has trained 300 of them; they have given them paramilitary training, training them to fire weapons and how to conduct sabotage. They have given them all like a four- to six-week course. They put these 300 guys through that course, and then they were deploying them into the United States to 20 separate states.”
Berntsen explained that sabotage includes acts such as arson, and that recent patterns of mysterious industrial fires, wildfires, and urban blazes—notably in Los Angeles and other key areas—could plausibly be linked to these foreign-trained operatives.
“Many of these wildfires, industrial fires, the Los Angeles fires, taking advantage of wind and the local conditions, were started by arsonists. How many of them were paid or coerced by TdA or their surrogates?” Berntsen asked.
Even more disturbing than the operation itself is the claim that elements within the CIA have deliberately ignored or buried this intelligence. Berntsen revealed that two current CIA officials recently leaked false information to The New York Times, claiming there is no intelligence connecting Tren de Aragua to the Venezuelan government.
But Berntsen says otherwise—and he has proof.
“The CIA doesn’t have the information because they refused to look at it,” Berntsen said. “We tried to brief them about this three years ago, but they were directed by the Biden Administration to ignore it. And now those officials are trying to undermine President Trump.”
According to Berntsen, he has already shared intelligence and source material with “elements of the U.S. government,” showing deep and sustained relationships between Tren de Aragua, Venezuelan and Cuban intelligence services, and high-level narcoterrorist operations.
Apologies no link.
============================
Former CIA officer Gary Berntsen, one of the most highly decorated intelligence veterans in recent U.S. history, has come forward to confirm that the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) has been deliberately deployed into the United States by the Venezuelan regime, with the express intent of destabilizing the country through sabotage and violence.
According to Berntsen, Tren de Aragua is no longer just a violent street gang. While they may wear the face of criminality, their core leadership and operational cells have undergone paramilitary training under the guidance of Venezuelan intelligence and military officials, aided in part by Cuban intelligence operatives and narco-terrorist networks throughout Latin America.
Quoting Berntsen, Miami Herald journalist Antonio Delgado wrote:
“The Venezuelan regime has assumed operational control of these guys [Tren de Aragua] and has trained 300 of them; they have given them paramilitary training, training them to fire weapons and how to conduct sabotage. They have given them all like a four- to six-week course. They put these 300 guys through that course, and then they were deploying them into the United States to 20 separate states.”
Berntsen explained that sabotage includes acts such as arson, and that recent patterns of mysterious industrial fires, wildfires, and urban blazes—notably in Los Angeles and other key areas—could plausibly be linked to these foreign-trained operatives.
“Many of these wildfires, industrial fires, the Los Angeles fires, taking advantage of wind and the local conditions, were started by arsonists. How many of them were paid or coerced by TdA or their surrogates?” Berntsen asked.
Even more disturbing than the operation itself is the claim that elements within the CIA have deliberately ignored or buried this intelligence. Berntsen revealed that two current CIA officials recently leaked false information to The New York Times, claiming there is no intelligence connecting Tren de Aragua to the Venezuelan government.
But Berntsen says otherwise—and he has proof.
“The CIA doesn’t have the information because they refused to look at it,” Berntsen said. “We tried to brief them about this three years ago, but they were directed by the Biden Administration to ignore it. And now those officials are trying to undermine President Trump.”
According to Berntsen, he has already shared intelligence and source material with “elements of the U.S. government,” showing deep and sustained relationships between Tren de Aragua, Venezuelan and Cuban intelligence services, and high-level narcoterrorist operations.
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Politics & Religion / Re: Trade, Tariffs, Globalization, Strategic Mercantilismm and Globalism itself
« on: March 29, 2025, 12:59:11 PM »
Yes, that is the economic argument.
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Politics & Religion / Michael Yon on The United Nations and invasive migration, Panama
« on: March 29, 2025, 06:45:10 AM »21
Politics & Religion / This is what Trump's bully mouth can produce.
« on: March 28, 2025, 07:37:42 PM »22
Politics & Religion / Crypto down, Gold up
« on: March 28, 2025, 01:27:48 PM »
BTC drops to 83 and Gold now above $3100.
In that core argument for each is hard money, how can that be?
In that core argument for each is hard money, how can that be?
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Politics & Religion / Re: Trade, Tariffs, Globalization, Strategic Mercantilismm and Globalism itself
« on: March 28, 2025, 10:32:56 AM »
Strategic tariffs and reciprocal tariffs and punititve tariffs are distinct and different criteria apply to each.
Yes there are serious balancing challenges for each of these categories, but is continuing what we have now acceptable? What would you have us do?
Yes there are serious balancing challenges for each of these categories, but is continuing what we have now acceptable? What would you have us do?
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Science, Culture, & Humanities / MY: Pocket Spies
« on: March 28, 2025, 09:41:48 AM »Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more
Pocket Spies
Mar 27
READ IN APP
27 March 2025
Panama City, Panama
Electronic security is increasingly on the Global Mind. Masako asked yesterday about phone security. There is none. Zero. Masako found my old dispatch POCKET SPIES published on November 17, 2011.
Below is POCKET SPIES, verbatim. Notice Texas and border reference.
—begin—
My Facebook has more than 48,000 readers. They come from just about any country imaginable, and many walks of life. A few days ago, I was browsing through the menus trying to learn more about Facebook, which amounts to a passive intelligence agency of sorts. This is especially true if you have Facebook (or other similar services) on your smartphone.
And so, with my iPhone4s using a Facebook app, I touched the tab called “Nearby.” An incredible amount of “actionable intelligence” scrolled on. One friend was at the Sheraton at the Pentagon. Another was at the Pentagon. I emailed to her and she confirmed. Another was at the VA Hospital in Long Beach. Ruby Tuesday. iHop. Starbucks Fort Polk. Times Square. Pacific Grill. Home sweet home. Octapharma Plasma. China Café. FBI Academy. Tahlequah Dialysis Unit. Columbus State University. AJ’s Pizza. Farelli’s Pizza. Palladium Theatre. Home. Crossroads Christian Church. 24 Hour Fitness – Mission Valley California. The Exchange Hotel.
And on and on. With my iPhone, I could track their smartphones in real time.
Some people were also typing entries (just got on the train) and they were being tracked. One young Thai woman was typing entries and finally posted she was home at her condo in Bangkok. At the same time, another was 12 time zones away at X-treme Rockclimbing Gym in Miami, Florida.
Touch one button and GoogleMaps instantly appears showing the precise location. Touch one more button and there is a choice: “Open in Maps,” “Get Directions,” “Cancel.”
I scrolled down the list. Numerous people said they were home. Their locators pinpointed their locations. I touched the buttons and saw their locations on Google Earth. And there was one Afghan friend. I could see exactly where he was in Kabul. He is an avowed enemy of the Taliban. They have threatened to kill him. I emailed at once saying to turn that thing off. I know where you are. If he did not email back very quickly, I was going to call. He emailed back, confirmed his location and turned it off.
It’s not enough that we are careful ourselves. If we are tooling around Afghanistan together, and only one of us has not turned off the location service, we are both trackable by anyone. No special gear or warrant is needed. If someone’s child has this option switched on, the whole family is trackable, not to mention that the child is easily trackable in real time everywhere he or she goes.
Enough said.
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Politics & Religion / Walz and Goldberg sitting in a tree , , ,
« on: March 28, 2025, 09:06:28 AM »28
Politics & Religion / Re: Trade, Tariffs, Globalization, Strategic Mercantilismm and Globalism itself
« on: March 28, 2025, 08:47:14 AM »
How would you apply your last sentence to China threatening to shut down its British steel operations?
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Politics & Religion / GPF: Japan slow moving security independence from US
« on: March 28, 2025, 08:45:18 AM »
second
March 28, 2025
View On Website
Open as PDF
Japan’s Slow-Moving Security Independence From the US
Autonomy isn’t impossible, but the U.S. isn’t leaving the region anytime soon.
By: Victoria Herczegh
Tokyo is reportedly considering the deployment of long-range missiles on Kyushu, the southwesternmost of Japan’s main islands, by early 2026. Because the island faces the East China Sea to the west and the Korean Peninsula to the northwest, missiles there would give Japan enhanced counterstrike capability against China and North Korea.
In one sense, the deployment is nothing new; Japan has undertaken several measures over the years to strengthen its deterrence capabilities against its regional adversaries, including participating in exercises in the South China Sea, approving a massive defense budget for 2025 and releasing white papers underscoring the threats China and North Korea pose. In another sense, the deployment marks a shift toward an offensive rather than a defensive military posture. This shift is evidenced by the recent procurement of certain weapons systems, efforts to boost security cooperation with countries such as the Philippines, India, Australia and the United Kingdom, and a very rare military exchange with China.
Japan’s behavior suggests Tokyo wants to diversify its alliances and become a leading security partner in the Asia-Pacific. Much more important, however, it suggests Japan wants to achieve a higher degree of military autonomy than it currently enjoys. But because this will necessarily require Tokyo to lessen its dependence on the U.S., this will be a long and difficult process.
Indeed, some of the weapons Japan has recently purchased attest to a more offensive-oriented posture. In December 2022, the government revised its defense policy so that it could strike enemy bases. This “counterstrike capability” allows Japan to directly attack adversary territories in emergency situations. According to the revision, Japan can invoke this capability if it is attacked or if an attack on an ally threatens its survival; if there are no adequate means to repel an attack; or if there is no other way to ensure the minimization of force.
By 2024, the government began to develop and acquire weapons that comport with this capability. Domestically, it has extended the operational range of its Type-12 surface-to-ship missile from 200 kilometers (124 miles) to 900 kilometers (with plans to extend it further to 1,500 kilometers), giving Japan a much larger area in which it can preempt or respond to attacks. It also converted Izumo-class destroyers into aircraft carriers capable of deploying F-35B stealth fighters, greatly expanding the military’s operational radius beyond its territorial waters. Tokyo has signed a deal with Washington to receive 105 F-35A and 42 F-35B fighter aircraft, and has ordered some 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles. And it has developed its hypersonic glide vehicle, which is explicitly intended to strike distant land or maritime targets at high speeds.
Crucially, all of this took place with Washington’s express support or involvement. In contrast, the plan to deploy long-range missiles on Kyushu does not involve the U.S. in any way. This is almost certainly because Japan has had some conflicts of interest with the U.S. of late – namely, the Trump administration’s request calls for Tokyo to spend 3 percent of its gross domestic product on defense “as soon as possible.” Japan had already independently decided to increase defense spending to 2 percent of GDP, but Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his Cabinet have been hesitant to go any further than that. Partly that’s due to economic reasons: food-driven inflation, lingering deflationary pressures and external economic risks. But partly it’s due to Ishiba's desire to achieve self-reliance on Japan’s own terms and at its own pace. President Donald Trump has since questioned the terms of the U.S.-Japan alliance, raising doubts about the extent to which Washington would protect Tokyo in a conflict with China or North Korea.
Japan's Annual Military Spending
(click to enlarge)
Even so, Ishiba had begun to take Japan in a different security direction before Trump took office again. Trump aside, there is uncertainty in Tokyo about the long-term reliance on the U.S. and the opportunity cost of excluding itself from a leadership role in an Indo-Pacific security pact. Since last year, Ishiba has taken a more measured approach in boosting Japan’s regional alliances. Instead of focusing on collective defense, he seems to now prefer separate bilateral meetings, finding success in elevating high-level strategic cooperation with the Philippines, organizing more frequent joint drills with India and upgrading interoperability with the U.K.
Though these efforts signify a more intense, more planned pursuit of Tokyo’s security needs, especially considering the cracks that have emerged in the U.S. alliance, Japan continues to be heavily dependent on Washington in terms of military technology, personnel, training, logistics and strategy. Moreover, Washington is unlikely to decrease its military presence in the Indo-Pacific anytime soon – if anything, it has been reinforcing its defense capabilities in the region as it continues to invest in defense infrastructure. So for Japan, significantly reducing its security dependence on the U.S. and establishing a fully autonomous defense capability is a longer-term effort. That’s not to say it's unattainable; it’s just to say it will be a gradual process rather than a dramatic one.
March 28, 2025
View On Website
Open as PDF
Japan’s Slow-Moving Security Independence From the US
Autonomy isn’t impossible, but the U.S. isn’t leaving the region anytime soon.
By: Victoria Herczegh
Tokyo is reportedly considering the deployment of long-range missiles on Kyushu, the southwesternmost of Japan’s main islands, by early 2026. Because the island faces the East China Sea to the west and the Korean Peninsula to the northwest, missiles there would give Japan enhanced counterstrike capability against China and North Korea.
In one sense, the deployment is nothing new; Japan has undertaken several measures over the years to strengthen its deterrence capabilities against its regional adversaries, including participating in exercises in the South China Sea, approving a massive defense budget for 2025 and releasing white papers underscoring the threats China and North Korea pose. In another sense, the deployment marks a shift toward an offensive rather than a defensive military posture. This shift is evidenced by the recent procurement of certain weapons systems, efforts to boost security cooperation with countries such as the Philippines, India, Australia and the United Kingdom, and a very rare military exchange with China.
Japan’s behavior suggests Tokyo wants to diversify its alliances and become a leading security partner in the Asia-Pacific. Much more important, however, it suggests Japan wants to achieve a higher degree of military autonomy than it currently enjoys. But because this will necessarily require Tokyo to lessen its dependence on the U.S., this will be a long and difficult process.
Indeed, some of the weapons Japan has recently purchased attest to a more offensive-oriented posture. In December 2022, the government revised its defense policy so that it could strike enemy bases. This “counterstrike capability” allows Japan to directly attack adversary territories in emergency situations. According to the revision, Japan can invoke this capability if it is attacked or if an attack on an ally threatens its survival; if there are no adequate means to repel an attack; or if there is no other way to ensure the minimization of force.
By 2024, the government began to develop and acquire weapons that comport with this capability. Domestically, it has extended the operational range of its Type-12 surface-to-ship missile from 200 kilometers (124 miles) to 900 kilometers (with plans to extend it further to 1,500 kilometers), giving Japan a much larger area in which it can preempt or respond to attacks. It also converted Izumo-class destroyers into aircraft carriers capable of deploying F-35B stealth fighters, greatly expanding the military’s operational radius beyond its territorial waters. Tokyo has signed a deal with Washington to receive 105 F-35A and 42 F-35B fighter aircraft, and has ordered some 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles. And it has developed its hypersonic glide vehicle, which is explicitly intended to strike distant land or maritime targets at high speeds.
Crucially, all of this took place with Washington’s express support or involvement. In contrast, the plan to deploy long-range missiles on Kyushu does not involve the U.S. in any way. This is almost certainly because Japan has had some conflicts of interest with the U.S. of late – namely, the Trump administration’s request calls for Tokyo to spend 3 percent of its gross domestic product on defense “as soon as possible.” Japan had already independently decided to increase defense spending to 2 percent of GDP, but Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his Cabinet have been hesitant to go any further than that. Partly that’s due to economic reasons: food-driven inflation, lingering deflationary pressures and external economic risks. But partly it’s due to Ishiba's desire to achieve self-reliance on Japan’s own terms and at its own pace. President Donald Trump has since questioned the terms of the U.S.-Japan alliance, raising doubts about the extent to which Washington would protect Tokyo in a conflict with China or North Korea.
Japan's Annual Military Spending
(click to enlarge)
Even so, Ishiba had begun to take Japan in a different security direction before Trump took office again. Trump aside, there is uncertainty in Tokyo about the long-term reliance on the U.S. and the opportunity cost of excluding itself from a leadership role in an Indo-Pacific security pact. Since last year, Ishiba has taken a more measured approach in boosting Japan’s regional alliances. Instead of focusing on collective defense, he seems to now prefer separate bilateral meetings, finding success in elevating high-level strategic cooperation with the Philippines, organizing more frequent joint drills with India and upgrading interoperability with the U.K.
Though these efforts signify a more intense, more planned pursuit of Tokyo’s security needs, especially considering the cracks that have emerged in the U.S. alliance, Japan continues to be heavily dependent on Washington in terms of military technology, personnel, training, logistics and strategy. Moreover, Washington is unlikely to decrease its military presence in the Indo-Pacific anytime soon – if anything, it has been reinforcing its defense capabilities in the region as it continues to invest in defense infrastructure. So for Japan, significantly reducing its security dependence on the U.S. and establishing a fully autonomous defense capability is a longer-term effort. That’s not to say it's unattainable; it’s just to say it will be a gradual process rather than a dramatic one.
31
Politics & Religion / FO: Chinese fukkery with Black Rock port deal
« on: March 28, 2025, 08:39:37 AM »
(12) CHINA DELAYS TRANSFER OF PANAMA PORTS: CK Hutchison announced this morning that it would not sign over the Panama ports to BlackRock on 02 April because that is not the “real deadline” but just the earliest possible signing date. They elaborated that the deal is not canceled but delayed due to “complexity.” Former U.S. diplomat Dan Kritenbrink warned Chinese media that the Chinese government was risking “further complicating” the U.S.-China relationship by intervening in the deal
32
Politics & Religion / FO: Japan- evacuation plan
« on: March 28, 2025, 08:38:04 AM »(11) JAPAN RELEASES SOUTHWESTERN EVACUATION PLAN: Japan will begin running drills in April 2026 to evacuate the entirety of its southwestern island population in six days for an unspecified emergency. (The Japanese will likely use the new joint amphibious command to conduct the evacuation. - J.V.)
33
Politics & Religion / FO: Philippines- US prepositioning
« on: March 28, 2025, 08:37:26 AM »(10) U.S. TO DEPLOY ADDITIONAL WEAPONS TO PHILIPPINES: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced at a joint conference with his Philippine counterpart that the U.S. would deploy the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and unmanned surface vessels (USV) for Balikatan this year.
Why It Matters: The Marine Corps publicized a Pacific prepositioning plan over a year ago and is likely to leave the NMESIS in the Philippines following Balikatan. This will significantly enhance the U.S.’ forward-deployed presence and threaten Chinese surface combatants within 100nm of the Philippines. - J.V.
34
Science, Culture, & Humanities / FO: Grid at risk
« on: March 28, 2025, 08:35:56 AM »(
ASCE SAYS U.S. GRID INFRASTRUCTURE DEGRADING, AT RISK: The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) said its energy sector Infrastructure Report Card was downgraded to D+ from C-. The ASCE said the downgrade on their Infrastructure Report Card is due to a shortage of distribution transformers and lack of electricity transmission capacity which threatens an aging and fragile grid. The ASCE said the energy sector is facing a $578 billion investment gap by 2033, and if legislation funding grid resilience is not renewed in 2026 the investment gap will grow to $702 billion.
35
Politics & Religion / FO: CA resistance to deportation increases
« on: March 28, 2025, 08:34:47 AM »(6) CA SANCTUARY CITIES PLANNING RESURGENCE: The Los Angeles, CA City Council voted Wednesday to provide money and resources to help safeguard illegal immigrants against ICE raids, and asked state law makers to increase state funds for deportation defense.
The LA City Council also launched an initiative to monitor and track ICE activities in the city, and a “Know Your Rights” information campaign to inform immigrants about legal protections.
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is expected to return to a Democrat majority after a special election next month, and implement further sanctuary city policies.
Why It Matters: Local and some state level Democrats are resisting the national level Democratic sentiment to move the Democratic Party toward the center. Local and state Democrats renewing a push for sanctuary policies are likely emboldened by low level federal courts delaying the Trump administration with temporary restraining orders and injunctions, expecting the courts will also side with local and state officials in any legal action taken by the Trump Department of Justice. - R.C.
36
Politics & Religion / FO: Reps continue to dawdle
« on: March 28, 2025, 08:32:22 AM »(4) SCALISE SAYS RECONCILIATION BILL UNLIKELY BEFORE EASTER: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) said he will not commit to finishing the blueprint for the GOP’s reconciliation budget bill finished before Congress goes on a two-week Easter recess. Scalise said any Senate changes to the bill, which includes permanent tax cuts and will raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion, will delay the process
37
Politics & Religion / FO: Trump goes after another law firm, fed employee union contracts
« on: March 28, 2025, 08:31:27 AM »(2) TRUMP SIGNS EO TARGETING MORE LAW FIRMS: President Donald Trump issued an executive order yesterday directing the federal government to cancel contracts with law firm WilmerHale, revoke the firm’s security clearances, and bar the law firm from federal buildings due to WilmerHale’s participation in the Mueller investigation. WilmerHale is the fifth law firm targeted by the Trump administration in the last month. Trump rescinded an EO against law firm Paul, Weiss after the firm agreed to commit $40 million in free legal services to support Trump.
, , ,
(5) TRUMP SUES TO VOID GOVERNMENT UNION CONTRACTS: The Trump administration filed a lawsuit in a Texas federal court to invalidate federal employee union contracts with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union. The Department of Justice (DOJ) said the union contracts are impeding government reform efforts and threaten national security. The lawsuit was filed after President Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to cease all collective bargaining with federal employee unions.
38
Politics & Religion / Re: Trade, Tariffs, Globalization, Strategic Mercantilismm and Globalism itself
« on: March 28, 2025, 08:14:54 AM »
The anti-tariff argument is one of economic efficiency.
It ignores supply chain fragility (including from instability elsewhere) and missing link criteria (if something goes unsupplied who else gets fuct?) and strategic considerations (e.g. depending on the Chinese for anti-biotics, REEs, etc)
There is also the matter of tax policy-- moving from internal revenue to external revenue.
Witness today from FO:
(13) CHINA CONSIDERS SHUTTING BRITISH STEEL: Chinese investment group Jingye is considering shutting down its subsidiary British Steel as early as June 2025. Jingye cites tariffs, challenging market conditions, and environmental costs to produce high-carbon steel. According to UK Steel, the largest British Steel furnace produces about 21% of the U.K.’s total steel production and 16% of the U.K.’s total needs. (By blaming tariffs, China is effectively telling the world that if you allow them to control your industry and they disagree with your policies, they will shut off your manufacturing. This will drive nations away from China. - J.V.)
It ignores supply chain fragility (including from instability elsewhere) and missing link criteria (if something goes unsupplied who else gets fuct?) and strategic considerations (e.g. depending on the Chinese for anti-biotics, REEs, etc)
There is also the matter of tax policy-- moving from internal revenue to external revenue.
Witness today from FO:
(13) CHINA CONSIDERS SHUTTING BRITISH STEEL: Chinese investment group Jingye is considering shutting down its subsidiary British Steel as early as June 2025. Jingye cites tariffs, challenging market conditions, and environmental costs to produce high-carbon steel. According to UK Steel, the largest British Steel furnace produces about 21% of the U.K.’s total steel production and 16% of the U.K.’s total needs. (By blaming tariffs, China is effectively telling the world that if you allow them to control your industry and they disagree with your policies, they will shut off your manufacturing. This will drive nations away from China. - J.V.)
39
Politics & Religion / 2014 US repeals domestic propaganda ban
« on: March 28, 2025, 08:10:46 AM »40
Politics & Religion / FO
« on: March 28, 2025, 07:41:08 AM »(1) TRUMP WITHDRAWS STEFANIK NOMINATION FOR U.N. AMB: President Donald Trump said he will withdraw Rep. Elise Stefanik’s (R-NY) nomination for U.N. Ambassador to protect the Republican House majority.
Why It Matters: Democrats are attempting to signal a political comeback after being locked out of power. Two of the current four vacant House seats were previously held by Democrats, so flipping Stefanik’s seat and the two Florida districts would not allow the Democrats to flip the House. Behind the scenes, Republicans are concerned that Democrats could flip Stefanik’s New York seat and narrow the GOP majority in the House after a string of Democrat special election wins. Republicans are likely to win two Florida House special elections next week. However, Democrats are pouring significant resources into the race and could still outperform in districts Trump won in 2024. - R.C.
44
Politics & Religion / Diego Garcia
« on: March 28, 2025, 05:32:04 AM »
US has issued a NOTAM (notice to Airmen of potentially hazardous conditions) for the Diego Garcia airbase in Indian Ocean closing it until May 1, 2025 indicating a sustained deployment of significant air assets over the next two months.
United States is setting the stage for something big. They are preparing for something in that theater which covers much of the Middle East, including Iran and Yemen.
United States is setting the stage for something big. They are preparing for something in that theater which covers much of the Middle East, including Iran and Yemen.
45
Politics & Religion / FO: Taiwan Food Reserves
« on: March 27, 2025, 07:38:27 PM »
(14) TAIWAN’S FOOD RESERVES TO LAST ONE YEAR: Taiwan’s Agriculture Minister told his legislature that Taiwan’s state-run food reserves normally last eight to twelve months. He also said there are five and a half months worth of grains still in store and that none of these calculations include the private sector reserves. (This significantly extends the operational burden on China and would likely result in the anti-China coalition successfully running the blockade to extend Taiwan’s resistance. - J.V.)
46
Politics & Religion / FO: Opposition warns of civil war
« on: March 27, 2025, 07:35:50 PM »(12) ISRAELI MINISTERS WARN OF CIVIL WAR: Israeli opposition leader MK Yair Lapid warned last week that the Netanyahu government is “doing everything it can to ignite a civil war.” On Wednesday during a radio interview, a ruling party minister called for a civil war to drive out the opposition parties because they “don’t accept the legitimacy of the Likud government.”
47
Politics & Religion / FO: Canada to build its own auto industry
« on: March 27, 2025, 07:34:03 PM »(11) CANADA TO BUILD INDEPENDENT AUTO SECTOR: Canada’s Prime Minister announced a 1.4 billion USD automotive sector investment plan yesterday. The Prime Minister intends to make all vehicle parts entirely in Canada with no U.S. input to avoid tariff fallout on Canadians. (This is a first step in decoupling Canada’s automotive industry from the United States. - J.V.)
50
Politics & Religion / US Space Force contracts for Orbital Carrier
« on: March 27, 2025, 06:25:47 PM »
I like the sound of this!
=================
(10) SPACE FORCE CONTRACTS FOR AN ORBITAL CARRIER: The U.S. Space Force contracted Gravitics to build an “Orbital Carrier” for $60 million. The Carrier is supposed to carry multiple maneuverable satellites to rapidly respond to spaceborne threats.
Why It Matters: The Space Force is moving forward with a maneuverable rapid threat response capability after years of discussing it. The proposed project also appears to build off of existing Space Station Module technology from Gravitics, which, when combined with the relatively low price tag, suggests the Orbital Carrier could be rapidly developed and deployed. This would maintain the U.S.’ significant advantage in Space Warfare over China and Russia. - J.V.
=================
(10) SPACE FORCE CONTRACTS FOR AN ORBITAL CARRIER: The U.S. Space Force contracted Gravitics to build an “Orbital Carrier” for $60 million. The Carrier is supposed to carry multiple maneuverable satellites to rapidly respond to spaceborne threats.
Why It Matters: The Space Force is moving forward with a maneuverable rapid threat response capability after years of discussing it. The proposed project also appears to build off of existing Space Station Module technology from Gravitics, which, when combined with the relatively low price tag, suggests the Orbital Carrier could be rapidly developed and deployed. This would maintain the U.S.’ significant advantage in Space Warfare over China and Russia. - J.V.