UPDATE II: As is often the case, a "cartoon" (hate to use that term when referring to what could become a humanitarian tragedy) says it all: UPDATE I: In announcing on Thursday that the military mission in Afghanistan will end Aug. 31, President Biden also briefly addressed the plight of Afghan interpreters and other Afghans who aided U.S. troops at great peril … [Read more...] about Urgency to Evacuate Afghan Allies Grows (UPDATES)
LOST IN AFGHAN TRANSLATION
The United States is finally pulling out of Afghanistan. I don’t care who’s saying it’s too soon to leave Afghanistan and we’re allowing the Taliban to take it back because 20 years is more than enough time to spend on that nation. How much more is the United States supposed to sacrifice for that nation? We were in Iraq and Vietnam too long, and never should have stepped one … [Read more...] about LOST IN AFGHAN TRANSLATION
RUPERT MURDOCH IS LAUNCHING FOX WEATHER. WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE…
This is for real: Rupert Murdoch will soon launch a new platform, Fox Weather. Wrap your head around that one. Brian Wieser, a prominent media analyst, said it best the other day: “How do you address the fact that weather changes are caused to some degree by humans when you have a media property with a history of challenging that fact?” Hmmm. “…And for the latest Big … [Read more...] about RUPERT MURDOCH IS LAUNCHING FOX WEATHER. WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE…
Before Shark Week and ‘Jaws,’ World War II spawned America’s shark obsession
A painting for the U.S. Army’s Stars and Stripes newspaper shows a downed pilot fending off sharks with a knife. Ed Vebell/Getty Images Janet M. Davis, The University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts Every summer on the Discovery Channel, “Shark Week” inundates its eager audiences with spectacular documentary footage of sharks hunting, … [Read more...] about Before Shark Week and ‘Jaws,’ World War II spawned America’s shark obsession
Why were Colombian ex-soldiers in Haiti? Experts say they are popular mercenaries
Published by ReutersBy Luis Jaime Acosta and Julia Symmes Cobb BOGOTA (Reuters) - Highly-trained Colombian soldiers left at a loose end after retirement have frequently been tempted by opportunities to ply their trade abroad as private military contractors from Iraq to Yemen, military officials and experts said on Friday. At least 17 ex-members of Colombia's military are among … [Read more...] about Why were Colombian ex-soldiers in Haiti? Experts say they are popular mercenaries
Did You Know?
UH-60. CH-47. AH-64. UH-72. OH-58. MH-47 Most readers will recognize these as designations for military helicopters. The names corresponding to these designations are: Black Hawk, Chinook, Apache, Lakota, Kiowa, Chinook. Of course, these are names of Native American Nations, tribes, and leaders. While most readers will immediately recognize the trend, it took a … [Read more...] about Did You Know?
Rewriting History
Rewriting history is a key dictatorial control mechanism used in George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984. In the novel three dictatorships vie to rule the world, and they are constantly shifting between war and peace with each other. Every time there is a shift in who is the enemy and who is not, history is rewritten to indicate that the new enemy was always the enemy. All … [Read more...] about Rewriting History
2 South Florida men, 26 Colombians involved in Moïse assassination, Haiti police say
Published by Miami HeraldPORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Two South Florida men have been arrested in connection with the assassination of Haiti President Jovenel Moïse, along with 15 Colombian nationals, Haiti police said Thursday night. James Solages, 35, of Fort Lauderdale, was identified as one of the assailants by Mathias Pierre, a minister in charge of Haitian elections. Solages, … [Read more...] about 2 South Florida men, 26 Colombians involved in Moïse assassination, Haiti police say
Biden says Afghans must decide own future; U.S. to leave on Aug. 31
Published by ReutersBy Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Thursday strongly defended his decision to pull U.S. military forces out of Afghanistan, saying the Afghan people must decide their own future and that he would not consign another generation of Americans to the 20-year war. Speaking in the White House East Room, Biden said the Afghan military … [Read more...] about Biden says Afghans must decide own future; U.S. to leave on Aug. 31
Nice gig: Trump charged Secret Service almost $10,200 in May for agents’ rooms
There's an old song "Nice Work If You Can Get It." It should be retitled "Nice Gig If You Can Get It." It turns out that former President Donald Trump charged the Secret service almost $10,200 in May for agents rooms at one of his golf resorts. Not a bad arrangement for Trump: the Secret Service has to protect him until the day he has left the earth (and not Jeff Bezos … [Read more...] about Nice gig: Trump charged Secret Service almost $10,200 in May for agents’ rooms
Haiti may slip deeper into lawlessness after president’s killing
Published by Reuters(Reuters) - Haitian President Jovenel Moise was shot dead overnight on Wednesday, stoking fears of deepening chaos in an impoverished Caribbean nation already reeling from rampant gang violence and facing a constitutional crisis. Here is what you need to know about what happened and what comes next: MOISE LED A COUNTRY MIRED IN UNREST Jovenel Moise, 53, took … [Read more...] about Haiti may slip deeper into lawlessness after president’s killing
White Privilege
The belief in white supremacy provides justification for the nation’s racial conflicts and is the basis for white racial privilege. Currently, the major racial problems for America are the inequality between Blacks and whites and the continued obstruction of Black rights and attempts at advancement. But difficulties also exist between whites and Asians and whites and indigenous … [Read more...] about White Privilege
New Book: Trump said “Well, Hitler did a lot of good things” (a statement often made by anti-semites)
Embed from Getty Images It's a comment Jews sometimes hear from people who are anti-semitic when Adolf Hitler's name comes up: "Hitler did a lot of good things," often said by folks who downplay or with unpure motives "balance" the fact of the Holocaust. There are a slew of new books coming out with revelations about the Trump administration -- and an upcoming one quotes … [Read more...] about New Book: Trump said “Well, Hitler did a lot of good things” (a statement often made by anti-semites)
Haitian president assassinated at home, sparking fears of widespread turmoil
Published by ReutersBy Andre Paultre PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) -Haitian President Jovenel Moise was shot dead by unidentified attackers in his private residence overnight in a "barbaric act", the government said on Wednesday, stirring fears of escalating turmoil in the impoverished Caribbean nation. The assassination coincided with a wave of gang violence in Port-au-Prince as … [Read more...] about Haitian president assassinated at home, sparking fears of widespread turmoil
Biden seeks to turn debacle in Afghanistan to victory at home
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - The US pullout from the Pentagon's once mighty Bagram Air Base in the dead of night, while Taliban fighters pour across the country, looks a lot like a military defeat. Back home, President Joe Biden sees a political win. The US government calls its Afghan exit a "drawdown," not a retreat. And it insists it will continue to support the … [Read more...] about Biden seeks to turn debacle in Afghanistan to victory at home
Timeline: US intervention in Afghanistan
Published by AFPKabul (AFP) - The United States descended on Afghanistan and its Taliban government in 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 attacks by Al-Qaeda, which had sought sanctuary in the country. With American and NATO troops having all but departed Afghanistan after 20 years of war, here is a timeline of key events: 'War on terror'On October 7, 2001 -- less than a month after … [Read more...] about Timeline: US intervention in Afghanistan
Satire: Highlights from Donald Trump’s Second Term
By Laurie Baron, Ph.D Donald Trump reemerged this past weekend to reiterate that he remains president because he never lost the election. Although the lame stream media has refused to cover him, he has been governing the country from Mar-a-Lago since January. Here are some highpoints of his second term. At his pay per view inauguration, he deputized members of the Oath … [Read more...] about Satire: Highlights from Donald Trump’s Second Term
Watchdog groups warn Patriot Front’s march through Philly reflects increasing recruitment, activity in the region
Published by The Philadelphia InquirerPHILADELPHIA — Armed with shields, smoke bombs and banners touting “Reclaim America,” a white supremacist group marched through Center City late Saturday into early Sunday, clashing with a few counterprotesters before leaving as abruptly as they arrived. A Philadelphia police spokesperson said Sunday there were no arrests or reports of … [Read more...] about Watchdog groups warn Patriot Front’s march through Philly reflects increasing recruitment, activity in the region
ARE YOU CRAVING A BUFFET REBIRTH?
Tyrades! by Danny Tyree “Buffets Are Back – With New Policies and Gloves,” blared the headline recent on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. That was welcome news for my pandemic-weary family. I was afraid such wide-open dining would go the way of the dinosaur. (“Look out! The asteroid is headed for the chocolate fountain!” “Mmm…chocolate-covered asteroid…”) I’m … [Read more...] about ARE YOU CRAVING A BUFFET REBIRTH?
Sharing Fireworks Under the Night Sky
When I think of the Fourth of July and my childhood, I think of fireworks. My maternal grandparents lived on the first floor of an apartment building high on a hill overlooking New York Bay on Staten Island. My mother’s youngest sister, Nadine, is only twenty months older than I am. I remember visiting one July when I was eight. We liked to play with the older children who … [Read more...] about Sharing Fireworks Under the Night Sky