The End of Employment

For John, BLUF:  While Israel was helping residents of Gaza to prosper, the Haamas Government was working to make that all go away.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The betrayal by and of the Palestinian workers

From The New Neo, by The Hidden New Neo, 22 June 2024.

Here is the lede plus one:

There are so many aspects of the October 7 attacks that were horrific – but one element that can get lost in the focus on the more barbaric events involves the Palestinian workers who, prior to 10/7, were gainfully employed in Israel.  Many of them (we don’t know how many, but a substantial number) acted as spies for Hamas while they were pretending to be friendly to the Israelis they would be helping to torture, murder, and rape.

The program was meant not only to help Palestinians economically, but to show goodwill and most of all to lay the groundwork for better relations between Israel and the Palestinians.  The Palestinians’ betrayal of all this goodwill was profound; one can hardly imagine a worse one.  The resulting destruction of all trust the Israelis might have still retained up to 10/7 in the word of Palestinians and the potential goodwill of the ordinary Palestinian “man in the street” meant that it would be difficult or actually impossible for any such program or any such rapprochement again.

This is commentary on an 18 June 2024 Gatestone Institute article by Middle East Scholar Bassam Tawil, Israel Gave Work Permits, While Palestinians Planned Oct. 7 Massacre.

It turns out that by the eve of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, Israel had issued 18,500 work permits to Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.  After the attack, these work permits were revoked, resulting in a loss of roughtly USD $24 million per month.

Hamas, the Government of Gaza, must think that this will all be made up and more (almost USD $216 million to date) when they push out all the Israelis.  But, there will be a price to be paid.  I don't see the Citizens of Israel going quietly, unless it is to come to the United States.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Fabulist

For John, BLUF:  President Joesph Biden seems to be a congentital pathological liar.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Biden says he doesn't debate as well as he used to but knows "how to tell the truth"

From CBS News, by Reporters Kathryn Watson and Aaron Navarro, 28 June 2024, 2:32 PM EDT.

Here is the lede plus five:

President Biden bluntly addressed his lackluster debate performance during an campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, Friday, speaking with notably more energy and vigor than he had hours before.

Some Democrats expressed concern after the president, in a raspy voice, struggled to correct former president Donald Trump's falsehoods as he faced a national audience on prime-time television Thursday night. The president's at times gaping facial expressions and rambling answers to key questions didn't help either, at a time when many Americans believe Mr. Biden, now 81, may be too old for the job and too old to relate to them.

"I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious," the president said. "Well, I know." He addressed a supportive Democratic crowd Friday, one that welcomed him with chants of "Four more years!"

"Folks, I don't walk as easy as I used to," he continued. "I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know — I know how to tell the truth ... I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. And I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back up."

The president also sought to assure his audience that he wouldn't be running again if he didn't think he was up to the job.

"Folks, I give you my word as a Biden — I would not be running again if I didn't believe with all my heart and soul, I can do this job," he said. "The stakes are too high. The stakes are too high."

His word as a Biden?  Really?  There is a phrase I haven't trusted since I first heard it.  Are the Bidens some form of nobility?  I am doubtful.

President Biden is a story teller.  He takes a piece of information and elaborates on it.  His Uncle was shot down during World War II and it becomes his Uncle having been eaten by cannibals.  He hears Neil Kinnock's speech about Kinnock's own past in Wales and takes it as his own as an elaboration of his familty story out of Scranton, Pennsylvania.  He is aided in this by fellow Democrats.

My favorite came up again duirng the debate, in which President Biden talks about Republicans rejecting a bi-partisan Southern Border Bill.  The idea is thst President Trump has ordered Republicans in Congress to not support a bill to solve the border crisis.  The problem is there is more to the story.

This accusation by President Biden ignores the fact that the Republican House had already forwarded a Border Bill to the Senate, which has been sitting on Senate Majority Leader Schumer's desk for months.  In fact, the House, for a long time, held up legislation on aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in an effort to force a vote on their bill.  Ignored by the President and Senate Maajority Leader Schumer, nothing happened.

Then there is the so-called bi-partisaan border bill in the Senate.  It is bi-partisan to the extent that one Republican Senator had signed on to it.  And, what does it do for border security?  Restrictions are triggered only after the flow of illegal immigrants exceeds 1.8+ million illegal immigrants a year.  That seems like almost no action at all.  In essence, the story is a lie.

Perhaps worse, President Biden has maintained, after cancelling the border rules of President Trump, that he lacks the authority to fix the border by Executive Orders.  Then he does just that.  But only enough to provide him with some cover.  Not enough to actually fix the problem.  In essence, he is lying to us about the Southern Border, so gather votes, without making a major change in Administration illegal immigration policy.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Debate

For John, BLUF:  Who pushed this early Presidential Debate, and what was their motive?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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They Knew

Here is the sub-headline:

Biden is no longer fit to be president. Last night’s debate exposed the lies we’ve been told.

From The Free Press, by Editor Bari Weiss, 28 June 2024.

Here is the lede plus one:

Rarely are so many lies dispelled in a single moment.  Rarely are so many people exposed as liars and sycophants.  Last night’s debate was a watershed on both counts.

The debate was not just a catastrophe for President Biden.  And boy—oy—was it ever.

But it was more than that.  It was a catastrophe for an entire class of experts, journalists, and pundits, who have, since 2020, insisted that Biden was sharp as a tack, on top of his game, basically doing handstands while peppering his staff with tough questions about care for migrant children and aid to Ukraine.

Anyone who committed the sin of using their own eyes on the 46th president was accused, variously, of being Trumpers; MAGA cult members who don’t want American democracy to survive; ageists; or just dummies easily duped by “disinformation,” “misinformation,” “fake news,” and, most recently, “cheapfakes.”

Were we shocked by the outcome?  I anticipted the outcome and wanted to skip the show, since I don't like watching people embarrass themselves in public.  However, my Wife said we should watch.  So we watched.  My response was not that of New York Times Columnist Thomas Friedman, but I understand:

"I watched the Biden-Trump debate alone in a Lisbon hotel room, and it made me weep," writes Thomas L. Friedman.  "I cannot remember a more heartbreaking moment in American presidential campaign politics in my lifetime."

But, back to Ms Weiss, I think she is correct in saying that people have been covering for President Biden and his decline.  For those of us who live long enough, decline will come.  My Mother passed from Cancer in her late 60s.  I visited her days before she died and she was sharp.  My Father lived to be 89, but it was agreed, at the end, by the three Sons, to take away the car keys.  Families have a role to play in how we deal with older people who have lost a step.

The question is the path forward.  There is time for the Democrats to replace President Biden on the 2024 ticket.  However, there is a stumbling blocks in the way.  One might think it should fall naturally to the Vice President, Kamala Harris.  However, she is not popular with the public, although more popular than some of the alternatives.  My Wife and I are thinking the Democrats will, after clearing away Ms Harris, settle on former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has been popping up in the news recently, after having gone to ground since he stepped down from the Governorship in August 2021.♠

As a note, I was pleased with the professional job done by the two CNN moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  It is ironic that President Biden was one of those who called for Governor Cuomo to step down after the release of a report on his personal conduct by New York AG Letitia James.

The Attack

For John, BLUF:  The possibility of a future terroist attack in these United States, sponsored by a foreign regime.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Attack

Author:  Kurt Schlichter
Kindle Version:  353 Pages
Publisher:  Kurt Schlichter
Language:  English
ASIN:  B0CR1N7R8T
Publication Date:  January 8, 2024

Mr Kurt Schlichter has combined current events, such as our open border and terrorist attacks in places like Russia, stirred with his imagination and produced a very believeable story about a terrorist attack on the United States in the not-too-distant future (27-29 August 2024).

I liked the author's approach to the book, writing what are 40 short stories, from interviews with different observers of the various terrorist attacks.  Each one smoothly fits into a believeable collection that gives the reader an overview of what could be in our future.

The book actually takes a positive view of a terrible situation, showing how the resilience of the American People help to keep the situation from being worse than it is.  The book also paints a positive view as to the political response on the part of the Government.

Set at a point several years in the future, the book gives its interviewees time to settle down and absorb the events of August 2024, and to draw informed conclusions,  It is for the reader to also draw informed conclusions and to reach out to elected leaders, and those they appoint, to take actions now so this does not happen in the future.  We all remember the attacks on 9/11.  We would not wish to see a repeat of that event, but with many more casualties and much more damage to our infrastructure.

This book is exciting to read, but should be read most importantly because it raises questions about what could happen to us in the future and which we might be able to prevent by actions today.

Yes, this is a self-published book.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Price of Oil and Votes

For John, BLUF:  The Current Administration is holding back ono foreign policy goals to lure voters in November.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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You'll Never Believe Who Biden Is Using Now to Buy Votes in November

Here is the referenced article from The Wall Street Journal:

U.S. Talks Tough on Russia and Iran—So Long as It Doesn’t Raise Gas Prices

From PJ Media, by Blogger Stephen Green, 26 June 2024, 2:30 PM.

Here is the lede plus five:

There's tension inside the Biden Cabal between White House officials who want to soft-pedal oil sanctions on nasty foreign producers like Putinist Russia and Islamist Iran and Treasury Department staffers who have a soul.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Biden "wants to keep gas prices stable ahead of the election by encouraging oil to flow into global markets," and if that means imposing "softer-than-expected sanctions on major oil producers" like two to nasties mentioned above, then so be it.

Oh, and also Venezuela. What's the big deal in appeasing a socialist basket case like Nicolás Maduro when you're already servicing Vladimir Putin and whoever is in charge of Iran since President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash last month.

(Two cheers for gravity!)

An unnamed senior administration official told the WSJ, "The president has wanted to do everything that he could to make sure that American consumers have the lowest price possible at the pump, as it affects families’ daily lives."

Every dollar of oil revenue that goes into Caracas, Moscow, and Tehran's coffers is another dollar that can be spent propping up the socialist Maduro regime, prolonging the Russo-Ukraine War, or providing the missiles, guns, and ammo that Hamas uses to murder Jews.

So, we are allowing the opponents of peace and democracy to flourish so that the price of gas at the service station can be low in early November, for the election.  I am with Mr Green:

I don't mind paying a little extra for each gallon when it supports producers in this country, or producers in countries that aren't endstage socialist hellholes, warmongering neoimperialists, or Islamic terror states. I do mind paying a little extra when it's American producers getting shut down by overregulation.

There is more to be read.

Regards  —  Cliff

Give us Justice

For John, BLUF:  The couorts, and prosecutors, need to have an even hand for all crime, or they will destory our democracy.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Politically selective prosecution

From Tilting At Windmills, by Blogger Tom Knighton, 25 June 2024.

Here is the lede plus six:

The way things are supposed to work in our country, people shouldn’t be punished selectively. Their politics should be largely irrelevant to their prosecution nor should who they are or what they stand for prevent it if prosecution is warranted.

That’s the ideal situation, at least.

In reality, prosecutors use all kinds of criteria to determine who gets prosecuted and who doesn’t. Sometimes, that’s informed by the DA’s politics. A conservative “tough on crime” type might prosecute someone that a more liberal DA would let walk, for example.

But again, as long as the defendant’s politics don’t play into things, I don’t have an issue with that. District attorneys are voted on, after all, and people deserve what they vote for.

In Manhattan, however, DA Alvin Bragg isn’t trying to be subtle. He’s blatantly allowing his politics to expressly determine who gets prosecuted and who doesn’t.

For example, we all know about Trump’s prosecution for a crime that makes absolutely no sense. Bragg distorted the law and likely only got a conviction because of an equally biased judge. The idea that an internal accounting error, at worst, is fraud was stupid beyond belief.

Then there’s the flip side, where now people feel betrayed by Bragg over who he didn’t prosecute.

Law professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds says:  "When the law isn’t evenhanded, people will take the law into their own hands.".

Mob justice isn't very just.  A lot of factors can be quickly paaaed over as the mob and its leaders seek swift justice.  We need real justice, with real courts and real prosecutors and defense attorneys.  The George Soros backed attornies are depriving us of that justice, and it will turn around and bite them.

A thought for criminals and law abiding citizens both:  The police do not exist to protect the law abiding citizens from the criminals, but to protect the criminals from those citizens.  Remember what our Founding Fsthers wrote back in 1776:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed

The courts should be how we secure those rights and DA Alvin Bragg, and others, are standing in the way.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Who is Saying This?

For John, BLUF:  We need to be careful of the sources of ideas.  The idea is the thing, but we should also judge the source.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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We have run federal agencies. Here’s what the civil service needs.

Here is the sub-headline:

Career civil servants must be able to speak truth to power.  But they must also be held accountable.

From The Washington Post, by Mike Hayden, James Loy, J. Michael “Mike” McConnell, John Negroponte and Sean O’Keefe, 18 June 2024 at 6:15 a.m. EDT.

Here is the quick background on the Opinion Piece Authors:

Mike Hayden was director of the CIA from 2006 to 2009 and of the National Security Agency from 1999 to 2005. James Loy was deputy secretary of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2005 and commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard from 1998 to 2002. J. Michael “Mike” McConnell was director of national intelligence from 2007 to 2009 and of the NSA from 1992 to 1996. John Negroponte was deputy secretary of state from 2007 to 2009 and director of national intelligence from 2005 to 2007. Sean O’Keefe was NASA administrator from 2001 to 2005 and secretary of the Navy from 1992 to 1993.

Here is the lede plus three:

Frustrated by what he saw as an entrenched bureaucracy resistant to his policies, Donald Trump as president attempted to remove most of the protections afforded federal civil servants so he could replace them with policy proponents and loyalists. Although his efforts were promptly rescinded by newly elected President Biden, Trump has announced that he would try again if reelected.

We think there is some merit in both points of view. However, as members of a bipartisan group of former national and homeland security, diplomatic, intelligence and law enforcement officials who have served both Democratic and Republican presidents, we think there is a “third way” that preserves all that is right with our civil service but also addresses what almost everyone agrees is wrong with it.

Our experience has shown us that career civil servants are a priceless resource who must be preserved and protected from partisan political influence. Their ability to “speak truth to power” (including to officials like us) without fear of losing their jobs was and is critical — so using political ideology as a litmus test in their appointment or retention, no matter how well-intentioned that might be, presents a dangerous risk to our national security.

However, these employees must also be held accountable for doing their jobs well. As a practical matter, the few bad actors among them are overprotected under the existing system. It is just too hard to ensure that they can be terminated when they fail to meet reasonable standards of performance or conduct — for example, for refusing a direct, lawful order.

Did anyone notice the name at the head of the author list?  Mike Hayden.  There was a time, in the 80s, when I thought he was the epitome of the competent professional.♠  In fact, when my wife and I took a short story writing class at UMass Lowell from Author David Daniels, I used young Mike Hayden as the model for the hero of one of my stories.  Then he became one of the infamous 51, who, at the urging of now Secretary of State Antony Blinken, signed a letter that shaded the truth to influence the 2020 Election.  [DA Alvin Bragg, where are you, or are you just another political hack?]♥ 

In full disclosure, my Father, my two Brothers and my three Children have all been part of the Civill Service.  I am proud of the work each of them has done.  On the other hand, I know who Ms Darleen Druyun is.  Sharp as a tack, bossy and corrupt.  She is the bad side of the Civil Service.  Most are not like that.  Most are people trying to do their job and do it well.  So, we should read the article and consider the points made, but we should keep in mind that at least one of the authors acted to subvert a Presidental Election in 2020.♦ 

We should also keep in mind that one of Former President Trump's complaints against the Permanent Civil Service was the willingness of senior appointees to use their positons and powers to frustrate the reforms he was trying to implement.♣  It should be part of the Civil Service ethos tthat the President was elected by the People to bring, in some cases, change to government.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  He worked for Brigadier General Leonard H. Perroots, a consumate profession, then serving as the Chief of Intelligence for US Air Forces in Europe.
♥  Whispers to readers, "Political Hack."
♦  The Laptop from Hell.
♣  This is someties known as the Deep State.  The Deep State is believed to have epic powers.  British Prime Minister Liz Truss believes she was forced from office by the British Deep State.  I saw the Turkish Deep State approve a new Prime Minister, when the Chief of the Turkish General Staff payed a courtsey call on Ms Tansu Çiller, giving a nod of approval for her appontment as Prime Minister.