Weekend Data Dump

The Saudi coalition in Yemen continues to kill and capture international jihadi terrorists hiding in Yemen.

Actual brave Resistance to tyranny. American feminists, please take note of women removing their hijabs in mullah-run Iran, and tear down your wall that stops intersectionality from applying there and getting you to give a damn.

The United States and Europeans promised more help for the latest Ebola crisis in Congo. It's a scary world out there.

Even if Trump had tactical reasons for telling, via tweets, four far-left fanatical morons in Congress to go back to their home countries (all are American and only one was naturalized), it was still wrong. I don't think the comment in context was racist. It simply reflects that he is a nativist--which at some level isn't a problem if it doesn't include hatred of non-natives, because shouldn't we prioritize people already here legally, whether citizen or not? And Trump is kind of an equal opportunity jerk. I'd be willing to condemn the tweets if the reaction wasn't so overblown and if the media ever called the left on their outrages. Antifa? Hollywood and media sexual abuse? Nation of Islam? Epstein? Excuses for jihadi barbarism? And more people see the outrage theater as politically motivated charges. Remember that the far-left is so far gone that Pelosi is considered a fellow traveler of Trump on the "squad" issue. So in addition to the comment being wrong, it was stupid to interfere with the circular firing squad taking place in Democratic ranks. And you have to consider that part of this kerfuffle is the assumption that opposing anybody of a different race or ethnicity must be solely based on their race or ethnicity. You should consider the possibility that people oppose far-left fanatical morons because they are far-left fanatical morons. Remember too that it is absolutely normal to be repulsed by Omar's politics and incomprehensible ingratitude for the opportunities America gave her. She's free to stay here and speak up (as the live press conference broadcast shows, she and the rest are hardly "silenced") and I am free to think she (and the other members of the "squad"--although one is a late addition out of nowhere, and I'm not familiar with her) is an odious person proposing horrible policies.

Sure, our European allies support the Iran nuclear deal. They want trade with Iran and understand they are way down the list for who Iran might target with nukes. So their support is no reason to question our rejection of the awful deal that shields Iran's drive for nukes rather than stop it. Remember, our foes China and Russia also support the deal.

Gosh, I wonder why I stayed in Ann Arbor after I left Detroit to go to school here?  For about forty years I've heard about how this time for sure Detroit is "back" and recovering. One day that will be true, but for now I have little interest in visiting--let alone living in--the city of my childhood.

Stratfor discussion of Iran's nuclear path and related issues.

Options on the use of private military contractors (mercenaries) for American foreign policy objectives. Well, you could see my collection of posts on this subject for only 99 cents for some background discussion of the topic. It was supposed to be the first of a series but that didn't work out. Or you could  just buy a copy to support The Dignified Rant, I suppose.

I still don't know how it is constitutional for a state government to grant people of other states to decide their presidential votes. If that is legal, why couldn't a state grant their vote to whatever their governor wants? Or whoever Brad (or Susan) in some think tank wants? Or who the French want?

This makes me wonder if California tilts nearly as left as its voting record indicates.

And yeah, while Trump is kind of a jerk, if Democrats make me choose between socialism and Trump, there is no choice: four more years.

Brown people protesting corrupt and inept American executive tear gassed. Alert AOC.

We asked the Dutch to help escort shipping in the Persian Gulf.

I'm sorry, but if we give up the Diego Garcia base because of a "morally compelling resolution" by the UN General Assembly, neither America nor Britain deserve to pretend to be powers with global reach. Spare me the "if we don't abide by rules others won't" BS. Others violate rules all the time and nobody seems to care. India had best re-think its position under the circumstances. And seriously, how does a non-binding resolution include an "ultimatum" with a deadline? Somebody is seriously unclear about definitions. Honestly, I think all this is about Mauritius angling for a larger payment. Which is fine.

I have only a light familiarity with Jordan Peterson--who seems fine, by the way, notwithstanding the odd demonization of him by the left. But I knew enough to know that a prominent columnist completely misrepresented Peterson's position on gender pronouns. The columnist recently said that Peterson would not use a requested pronoun when referring to someone. That is not accurate. Peterson has said he would not allow the state to compel him to use a certain pronoun. That's way different.

Israel, the Palestinians, and Iran.

San Antonio-class amphibious warfare ships will get upgrades to operate in a higher threat environment.

The Army's M109A7 will get longer reach with a longer gun and rocket-assisted projectiles. Against smaller and less capable enemies, we could rely on air power to deliver the strikes. We can't assume that in a world of great power competition and so artillery is more important for providing timely fire support.

Democrats should ask for people's votes but shouldn't share with those people what the Democrats would do with the power those votes will give Democrats? Huh.

I hope Turkey really likes their S-400 missiles purchased from Russia; because the price Turkey will pay for buying those air defense missiles goes way beyond the purchase price. Good. We can't trust Erdogan one bit. I hope we have back-up sites for Incirlik air base already warmed up. Although as we drop the hammer on the F-35 sale and production role, Trump tries to play the "good cop" role.

Can we use "sails" to drag space debris down so it burns up in the atmosphere (tip to Instapundit)?  Given the high cost of putting mass in orbit, I'd rather figure out how to gather it and re-use it, somehow melting it down and reusing the raw materials. But clearing out orbital space is probably important enough to do it however we can.

Domestic terrorism. The hysterical incitement needs to stop. It is possible to argue against policies you don't like even if the policy actually isn't Nazi-like. Really. You can.

This is obviously in error. I've been assure that the Iraq War has caused Islamist hatred of the West.

Jesus effing Christ, our budget deficit will hit $1 trillion this fiscal year. We are so screwed at the next recession. This is the time we should be cutting the deficit. But no. Complete bi-partisan governmental failure. The only bipartisanship is in spending.

Oh, and despite claims that the big Trump tax cut is causing our deficits, federal revenue has continued to climb. Spending is the problem.

It is insane to treat e-cigarettes the same as cigarettes given that the latter is far worse than the former alternative to smoking. So people will be pushed away from e-cigarettes and to cigarettes? How does this make sense at all?

Ground-based American defenses against drone swarms. While that may work to defend bases, I think eventually we'll need air superiority drones to defeat attacking drone swarms over our forward troops, as I wrote about in Army magazine.

I wouldn't laugh at this development so much if those who did it (and do it) didn't cop an air of moral superiority over those who don't worship the curbside bins.

The Hope and Change makes everything okay! Do you think I'm kidding about that magical transformative power? Here's the evidence (tip to Instapundit).

If Algerian protesters can achieve democracy in a country that soured on jihadis from a bloody insurgency in the 1990s, the Arab Spring gets added life.

A last comment on "the tweets." Why didn't Speaker Pelosi introduce the condemning resolution as a general condemnation of bigotry without naming Trump--exactly the way Democrats amended a resolution condemning Omar for antisemitism into a bland condemnation of all forms of bigotry without naming Omar. Still, I do wish Trump would stop making it harder to support him. He doesn't lose my support given the state of the turn-it-to-11 opposition (they have a 40-year record of unfairly calling any Republican a racist or whatever) and given how Trump's opponents unfairly tag Trump supporters as deplorable people. But Lord, Trump does make my life more difficult. Although to be fair, he's just bouncing the rubble.

Racist xenophobes!

This writer doesn't think a no-deal Brexit would be Armageddon. And even if there are serious problems to overcome, rule of law requires a no-deal Brexit rather than allowing the EU and Remainers to gut democracy by delaying it until it fades away contrary to the referendum that was sold as settling the question for all time. Just look at how far Europe is willing to go to preserve trade with Iran. Do you really think the continent won't ultimately work harder to preserve trade with the far more important Britain?

Tim Horton's (pbuth) new shakes are revolting and unworthy of the name "shake." I think they are just iced cappuccinos without coffee. Shame on them. And my local Tim's doesn't have poutine!

Iran has seized a UAE tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, ending the question of whether the Iranians had rescued or taken the ship. Iran claims the ship was "smuggling" oil. If the ship was doing that, Iran would approve.

While there is a lot of speculation that I have no position on, I would like a final conclusion on what happened in the Imran Awan House of Representatives IT scandal. Tip to Instapundit.

Musical chairs in Thailand. I'm not thrilled with the generals there.

American sanctions and pressure are weakening Iran. Here's an indication. So questions of whether sanctions and the "maximum pressure" policy are "working" require you to discount that objective as a success in favor of assuming only bigger objectives are worth a policy that rejects making Iran stronger. That said, sure, we don't yet know if the Trump policy is a failure or success.

A Canadian senator accidentally revealed the locations of 150 American B61 nuclear bombs in Europe. That's unfortunate, but I doubt the Russians were unaware of their location. I think the important thing revealed is that America still has nuclear bombs at the Incirlik air base in Turkey!  Given Erdogan's growing hostility and especially since we just expelled Turkey from the F-35 program (or initiated expulsion, I guess), why would we leave nukes within reach of Erdogan who might seize them (even if he can't use them in the short run) in retaliation and go fully rogue? I know I have mentioned many times during the F-35/S-400 crisis that I hope we have pulled our nukes out of Turkey. Apparently that has not happened.

I'm rather shocked that an article exposing myths of the greatness of the Iran nuclear deal made it into The Atlantic.

Yes, I've mentioned more than a couple times that Russian theater nuclear weapons are really needed to face the Chinese threat--both nuclear and conventional.

Actual concentration camps for Moslems that separate parents from children. But I'm sure that Google's economic ties to China have nothing to do with the surveillance state built there. I'm sure the sainted international community will spring into action. Any moment now. Yep.

Huh. Apparently it's a British thing and not about us.

The House of Representatives continues to side with Iran by voting to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which is battling Iran in Yemen. I eagerly await the collusion reporting.

Let's hope Americans list Colorado State University as a place to avoid. Tip to Instapundit.

We say that Boxer shot down an Iranian drone that got to close to the ship while Iran denies losing any drone. Somebody lost a drone.

So tyranny is acceptable if it provides the illusion of diversity? Of course, free America ultimately did far better without the tyranny part. Sometimes I think the diversity crowd just wants the tyranny part--as long as they are in charge.

Don't be silly dahling, it is better to look good than to feel good. I think California should be free to be a a laboratory of democracy and enjoy the results--good and hard.

North Korea is evolving and it doesn't look very good for North Korea's regime. But that has been true for three decades now, without threatening the regime (or state itself).

Precision 40mm grenades show how precision is going down the food chain to the grunts. This trend will have a revolutionary effect on infantry combat, as I wrote about on the USNI Blog.

China tested their anti-ship ballistic missiles. Which can threaten American warships in the western Pacific. As well as those of our allies. Less obvious, they are threats to India's navy and to Russia's Pacific warships (assuming they can go to sea, of course).  Reviewing my old post on breaking the DF-21 kill chain might be helpful.

I don't think much of Russia's blue water capabilities, but given our inability to escort merchant ships across the Atlantic in case of war in Europe, restoring Iceland's ability to shield the trans-Altantic sea lines of communication is important.

Why the Russian S-400 is a threat to the F-35 if Turkey has both. While in theory we might be able to solve that problem by isolating the plane from the missile, that narrow technical solution would ignore the fact that we have an Erdogan crisis and not an S-400 crisis.

The Taliban killed 25 Afghan commandos in a recent ambush. That does not speak well of the effort to double Afghan special forces without diluting the quality, as I worried about. Generally only poor quality troops or troops just under poor commanders get killed in large numbers like that without exacting a far higher toll on the enemy.

Huh.  Tip to Instapundit.

And Iran seized a British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.

Boeing has some serious quality control problems that affect our military, too.

Perhaps a review of Israeli attack options to deal with Iran's nuclear infrastructure is in order. The Arab world is more aligned against Iran now, as is America.

A hostile militia has free rein in Portland. Imagine the problems Iraq has with Iranian-controlled militias.

Chinese and Vietnamese coast guard vessels are in a standoff in the South China Sea over Chinese oil exploration in disputed waters.

Well that's a fascinating way to pick statistics to prove global warming heat wave intensification, isn't it? Again, weather is climate when it is hot out today; but weather is still weather when it is cold out today. Tip to Instapundit.

The United States is reestablishing an air base in Saudi Arabia at Prince Sultan Air Base. There will be Patriot air defense missiles and a small number of fighter aircraft. It seems a small deployment--just 500 personnel--with more significance as a place for rapid reinforcement in a crisis.

I'd like to say there is no way he can get away with this. But it is Chicago, after all.

Prosperity, FUD, secrecy, corruption, and terror.

How corruption is harming Africans.

Ukrainians are sick of corruption. Their votes will reflect this. Will those they vote for act on it? This is critical if Ukraine is to defeat Russia.

If the hack is real, I'd expect to hear nothing but silence coming out of the Russian government. But the Russians would know that, right? So shouldn't there be loud denials to throw us off the truth? But one can hope. Tip to Instapundit.