Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Midterms hacking, Syria talks, John Kelly, Bannon Britain

Whoever targeted the Midterm elections with cyber-hacking should be sanctioned significantly. The threat to U.S. deterrent posture is now very real.

The latest Syria talks are a total waste of time. They reflect Russia's desire to see Bashar Assad coronated and a U.S. withdrawal form Syria effected.

It's good news that Chief of Staff John Kelly will stay on at the White House. Kelly is a patriot of intellect who can guide Trump successfully.

Brits trying to ban Steve Bannon are proving Bannon right. The anti-establishment firebrand deserves the right to spread his message without fear of censorship.

Monday, July 30, 2018

Trump-Iran meeting, Mike Pompeo on Indo-Pacific economic strategy, Russia's institutional brutality, Spain taxis

Trump is right to offer to meet President Hassan Rouhani of Iran without preconditions. To do so would be to exploit divisions in the Iranian regime and offer prospect of diplomatic progress.

Mike Pompeo articulates a U.S. economic strategy for the Indo-Pacific. Countering Chinese influence is the key thread.

Why Russia won't confront its institutional brutality. The Russian state is built on brutal structures of violence and the Russian people accept it as such.

Spain must not back down to the taxi unions who want to see Uber destroyed. This showdown is a struggle between opportunity and stagnation.

Friday, July 27, 2018

ISIS Beatles, BRICS BS

Trump needs to stop playing around with the ISIS beatles. The need here is simple: ensure the ISIS fanatics are transported to US custody in short order.

The BRICS aren't going to reshape international order in their favor. Why? Because they are corrupt, inefficient, and disunited.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Special Report

Qassem Soleimani, Imran Khan, Trump Turkey

Iran just threatened the U.S. in very specific terms. The messenger deserves attention and immediate push back. Qassem Soleimani is not playing around.

What Imran Khan's election victory means for the U.S. Likely relative stability in relations due to the influence of Saudi Arabia, and the Pakistani Army.

Trump is right to push back against Turkey. President Erdogan's latest antics are truly idiotic, and his economy is vulnerable to targeted pressure.

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Joy Behar socialism, Trump-Putin part deux, Qatar jets

Joy Behar is wrong about socialism and Meghan McCain is right. The issue is that socialism has not worked and does not work in Scandinavia.

The Trump-Putin follow up summit will illuminate Trump's stance on Russia. By moving that summit until after the new year, Trump will know about new Russian aggression - which is coming - and will have to decide about how to go forwards.

The very political reason that Qatar is buying fighter jets from Britain, France, and the U.S. Hint: It's not about military capability.


Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Russia vs. Scandinavia, The Final Year, Bannon-Kassam EU, McGlockton shooting Florida

Russia's biggest worry may now be Scandinavian alignment with NATO. The northern states are upsetting the Kremlin. Here's how and why.

5 things "The Final Year" teaches us about the Obama administration's statecraft. Primarily, that they didn't really understand statecraft nor did they read sufficient Clausewitizian texts.

Stop freaking out about the Bannon-Kassam EU group. The two figures are undercutting E.U. group think, but the E.U. has a chance to respond constructively

The McGlockton shooting is a tragedy but not one that reflects systemic racism. Another gas station incident proves as much.

Monday, July 23, 2018

US-Iran tensions, Putin tactics-strategy, Israel rescue operation

A storm is brewing between the US and Iran. The leaders of each nation are moving further apart and the possibilities for diplomatic compromise ever more distant.

How Vladimir Putin works and how to stop him: an interview with Molly McKew on the tactics and strategies Putin employs to achieve his objectives.

Israel just saved 422 Muslims from Syria. Bashar Assad and his allies are very upset.

Friday, July 20, 2018

Putin the realist, Jim Reese DNI, Florida probation-deal, Michael Cohen audio, visit Lostwithiel now!

Putin is a Russian realist not a neoconservative. The concern here is not escalation that leads to war, but escalating in recognition of Putin's measure of interests and means.

If DNI director Dan Coats resigns, President Trump should replace him with Jim Reese. The former Delta officer can lead IC reforms and mission energization.

Florida prosecutors should offer a probation-plea deal to the store owner who shot a thief. The young store doesn't deserve a prison sentence.

Michael Cohen's audio tape is not a major problem for Trump yet. The recording doesn't indicate illegal conduct on Trump's behalf. That's the key to any story here.

If you want an English visit of hope and glory, try Lostwithiel. The Cornish town is a citadel of fun and kindness.

Thursday, July 19, 2018

McFaul controversy, Israel-China, Facebook Holocaust

Giving Vladimir Putin access to Michael McFaul would be a terrible mistake. The Russians are playing games and Trump should have no part in it.

Trump must warn Israel on China. The Israeli government is allowing high-value intellectual property and high-grade software to enter Chinese government hands. That's a threat to the U.S.

Mark Zuckerberg is right to stand up for free speech on Facebook. Even and especially for Holocaust deniers.

Monday, July 16, 2018

Trump-Putin summit, San Francisco poop, Russia US relations, Trump European Union

Trump nuked U.S. interests and got played by Putin in Helsinki. The truth is that Trump delivered the worse day of his presidency.

San Francisco's local government is a very dirty joke. It spends tens of millions on cleaning but allows disgusting practices to infect its streets.

Russia is responsible for poor U.S. relations. Trump is wrong to suggest otherwise.

Why it's insane for Trump to call the European Union a foe. The Europeans are annoying allies but allies nonetheless.

Friday, July 13, 2018

Trump-May presser takeaways, Sadiq Khan's immense hypocrisy on free speech, Jeremy Corbyn's Iran policy, Brexit curve balls, UK protests

Meeting May, Trump puts the special back in the relationship. The president made the effort to consolidate May's position and support US-UK relations. Here are four takeaways.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is the ultimate hypocrite on free speech. He thinks that offensive speech should be protected unless it affects him.

No one should listen to Jeremy Corbyn when it comes to Iran. The Labour party leader is a deferential creature of the Iranian hardliners.

Trump's Brexit curve ball might actually help Theresa May. The president may get the EU to give May a concession.

Why get aggravated by the UK protests against Trump? They represent free speech which is the sign of a healthy democracy.

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Trump NATO, 1815 history, Tom Steyer

Trump is right to call for a 4 percent NATO defense spending target. That measure of investment would deter Russia and degrade its combat threat capability.

England, Moscow 1812, Belgium 1815, and why the final should be France vs. England. It's poetic.

The tedious travels of Tom Steyer. The left wing billionaire is on an idiotic nationwide tour.

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

RAF 100, Donald Tusk, Brett Kavanaugh, NATO HQ

Saluting 100 years of the RAF in London. The British air force has a long and powerful history, but also a rather special note of relevance for me.

Donald Tusk is strategically illiterate on NATO and the U.S. role in it. The European Commission president thinks that member states are supporting the alliance sufficiently. They are not.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh won't sway the Supreme Court out of Chief Justice Roberts' balancing reach. The new justice-to-be will complement a conservative diversity on the nation's highest court.

NATO should relocate its headquarters out of Belgium and into Britain. The latter nation takes the alliance seriously and the former takes it for a free ride.

Monday, July 9, 2018

Qatar lobbying, UK Brexit, Hamas Israel, North Korea

Qatar is throwing a lot of money at U.S. lobbyists but it's unlikely to carve out a more sympathetic U.S. policy. Qatar is just too friendly with Iran and too unwilling to modernize its political agenda.

Two top U.K. ministers just resigned from Theresa May's Conservative government. Here's what it means for Brexit and for the Prime Minister's future.

Here's why conflict between Israel and Hamas seems set to erupt again. The major issue is Hamas' kites against Israel and Israel's response at border crossings.

Trump needs a new realist strategy to deal with North Korea. The president's current approach fails to balance Kim Jong Un's interests with his vulnerabilities.

Friday, July 6, 2018

Novichok part deux, Strait of Hormuz, Sweden vs. England history, Marquette lawsuit

Poisoning more Britons, the Skripal assassination team have jeopardized Putin. Here's what's going on and how it affects the Russian president.

Iran is threatening to mine/close the Strait of Hormuz. It's a bad idea for Iran.

Wisconsin's Supreme Court was right to defend the free-speech rights of a professor. He was unjustly fired for articulating his concerns about teaching.

England versus Sweden and the story of a rather odd war 208 years ago. The soccer world cup is just one side note to Sweden-Britain history.

Monday, July 2, 2018

Special Report

Trump-North Korea, FBI vs UK-counter terrorism, Obrador, Thai soccer

Trump should give the North Koreans two weeks to stop playing him. The North Korean missile and nuclear development programs cannot co-exist with a constructive negotiating process.

The FBI arrest of a suspected terrorist in Cleveland offers three key differences in U.S. and U.K. counter-terrorism investigative strategy. It's about resources, sentencing and network pictures.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's policy plans suggest he will be a failure as Mexican president. A populist with little regard for fiscal realities, Obrador poses problems to Mexico's future.

Invite the Thai soccer boys and their rescuers to the World Cup final! After 9 days in pitch black darkness with death lurking, a soccer adventure would be poetic justice.