Explain to me how making it more difficult for law-abiding people to own guns has any effect on this killer and the people who did nothing to stop him? Tip to Instapundit.
Because I can I'll link my Downfall parody about Hitler discovering Pelosi won't impeach Trump.
Please, it is easy to explain why the IAEA found uranium traces at that secret nuclear warehouse that Israel revealed. The horrible Iran nuclear deal that allowed Iran to continue nuclear weapon work subcontracted enforcement to the IAEA which was only allowed to inspect places that Iran allowed to be inspected, in a manner that Iran approved of. The real question is why on Earth did Iran allow the IAEA in that warehouse? Somebody has some 'splaining to do to the nutball mullahs who run Iran.
The A-10 is getting upgrades to keep it flying and allow it to strike from stand-off ranges (tip to Instapundit). Like I've said, the Air Force has a point when it says that the 1970s-era A-10 has a whole new problem with modern low-level air defense systems. But the answer isn't to disband the only aircraft squadrons dedicated to close air support for ground troops, as the Air Force long wanted to do with its A-10 squadrons. The plane won't be stealthy, but it will be safer in a high-intensity battle while retaining the low-level capabilities that ground forces learned to love. Perhaps in an enemy breakthrough, in a friendly pursuit, or in a meeting engagement when enemy air defenses aren't set the plane can wreak havoc with the gun the plane is built around.
You know, there's a lot of time to choose between staying in Afghanistan "forever" and leaving soon. Further, "staying" even a long time doesn't mean the troops will always be fighting. See Japan, Germany, Italy, and South Korea. Silly me, I think it is our interests to prevent Afghanistan from being a sanctuary for jihadis to strike us at home--again. Of course, if you think (via Instapundit) we spent the 18 years since 9/11 creating the most effective security shield for our airports, by all means it is safe to leave Afghanistan and risk letting it return to a Taliban-run sanctuary for international jihadis.
All is not quiet on the Southern Front in Syria. Note too that Iran is on its way to replacing its Shia foreign legion and Hezbollah with local surrogates to entrench their presence in Syria. Assad can't be happy with that aspect of his victory.
China says America is to blame for the "tensions" over Iran's nuclear program. Well, China is right. We don't want Iran to have a nuclear weapon program, which Iran obviously has. China doesn't want tensions that get in the way of trade and knows they won't be on any mullah target list.
Saudi Arabia wants to enrich uranium for nuclear power purposes. Just like Iran. Hahahahahahahaha! Oh. I think I peed my pants laughing so hard. Hey, if Iran can pretend to have a peaceful nuclear program, we can expect Iran's enemies to pretend, too. Are we having fun yet? Do Obama's supporters still want to pretend that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is working any better than the 2013 Syria chemical weapons deal? Sorry, I'm all out of laughter. Have a super sparkly nuclear proliferation in the Middle East day.
I don't really have anything to say about this article on possible revised Russian military doctrine, but the idea that Russia is a "rising power" is laughable. Right now it is experiencing a "dead cat bounce." Russia will be a regional power in regard to strength, but with continents-spanning defense needs that far outstrip their ability to generate conventional power. Good luck with that while pointlessly painting NATO as a threat--which with Poland now a major anchor of NATO in the east means that Poland is still one of the three sources of Russian weakness.
Yes, once again, Prime Minister Johnson is trying to save democracy in Britain--not undermine it--by making the British government carry out the promise made to the people of Britain that it would faithfully carry out the wishes of the British people voting in the 2016 Brexit referendum.And if leaving the European Union is such a horrible mistake as the Remainers claim, surely the obviously bad results will lead the British people in not too many years to clamor for re-entry into the organization notwithstanding its proto-imperial nature. Are Remainers actually convinced leaving the EU will not harm Britain? Or that Europe will not want Britain back after the EU put obstacle after obstacle in the way of Britain leaving?
So Hong Kong police have adopted the practice of tossing a (tear gas) grenade into a
I just finished reading Andrew McCarthy's Ball of Collusion. If he is even partly right about the assault on rule of law and democracy that Democrats and their allies in the government carried out to investigate Trump, a lot of those Democrats and allies need to go to prison. And the media that peddled the fiction should be shunned by anyone that values journalism as a news profession rather than the stenographers for one party.
I have no idea why I got a lot of hits on this post. It is the top result for the title but why is anyone searching that? There's a not-funny meme that is very close, but are people really interested in that?
Dumb and Dumber To. Maddow's sequel to Russia collusion is stunning.
Okay, The Resistance has just reached the really sad stage. Via Instapundit.
I guess Mattis doesn't get invited on MSNBC again. Via Vodkapundit.
Remember, modern feminism has nothing to do with equality with men. Feminism is the women's auxiliary of the Democratic Party.
It's been quiet on the Venezuela front. Are we closer to getting Maduro out than it seems? Apparently his backers in Russia, China, and Turkey only care if their business interests survive--with or without Maduro.
I'd have preferred to keep Bolton in as National Security Advisor. What's up with his removal? I'm going to enjoy the sight of media types who were horrified that Bolton was appointed suddenly being horrified that he was removed. Kind of like Tillerson's sudden transformation. Is it really about getting a deal with the Iranian nutballs? Trump tried a few months of "maximum pressure" and wants to declare victory?
In many ways, our trade war isn't even really about reforming trade rules with China. It is more like our response to China's extremely broad intelligence assault on America intended to fuel China's rise to dominance.
Mattis says we should offer at least moral support to Hong Kong's protesters. Yes. America should not want China to win this struggle in defense of Hong Kong's remaining freedoms. We aren't going to go to war with China over Hong Kong. But we should offer help. China will accuse us if sponsoring the protests whether we do anything or not. So as long as Hong Kongers want our help, we should offer it. If the protesters lose, it is the end of Hong Kong as we know it.
North Korea's quest for an American "security guarantee" is kind of silly given that North Korea already guarantees we don't want to invade and take North Korea:
I keep waiting for the end of Net Neutrality to lead to the death of the Internet. That was something to hyperventilate about, remember?
Thailand has been an ally since the end of World War II. But I am not happy with the royalists who suppress democracy and rule of law. I just hope Thais resolve that without throwing the country into chaos to benefit China.
It's getting to be quite the competition for getting into space. This is more like the 21st century I hoped for as a child watching 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Is Putin's "star fading?" Popularity may be fading but will it affect his ability to rule? This suggests he'll do what he needs to stay in power. And would a replacement at this stage be better or worse? It would be nice if Russia came to its senses and stopped its pointless hostility toward NATO, which is no military threat. Right now I just want Russia to be weaker.
If I was Rachel Dolezal, I'd be massively pissed. The left was outraged that she pretended to be African American. But now their rules say: “Genitalia is not an indicator of gender and it can be harmful to assume so.” So someone with a penis can say they are a woman and the world has to salute and say "Yes ma'am!" You can--and should--have respect and sympathy for someone as an individual who is in that situation. But we shouldn't have to pretend nonsense is true. Tip to Instapundit.
I've said I have little faith in Trump's ability to get a good nuclear deal with North Korea. Despite growing discontent in Kim's kingdom, North Korea has no intention of giving up their nukes and is counting on a better partner in 2021. If Trump wins reelection, perhaps Kim will reconsider his ability to last four more years. North Korea is drawing down their war-reserve rice stocks. How long can that continue?
What is it with Democratic enthusiasm for funneling money to anti-American despots? With bonus mention of how Russia tried to get American troops killed, as I noted here.
An Army MLRS brigade has arrived in Europe.
If Erdogan doesn't want nukes, as the article authors says, why would Erdogan complain bitterly about the Non-Proliferation Treaty? What really bugs me is that America still has some nuclear weapons (gravity bombs) in Turkey. We should absolutely remove those bombs (or at least the warheads just to pretend we keep them there).
The United States approved the sale of up to 32 F-35As to Poland.
Bringing back the IFF cards. I remember those. I was good with those on NATO and Soviet armored vehicles. I always enjoyed, replying "That depends" when shown a picture of a French tank.
Pro-government intervention people say success after laws are approved proves government regulations make things better. My view is that a lot (not all) of legislation that passes is because society has reached the point of supporting the change and that the legislation merely puts a government stamp of approval on changes in practice that would happen with or without legislation.
If right-wingers were really the major terror threat to America, the left would be bleating about "why do they hate us?" as if we deserved the anger.
I've known that the fighters tasked with knocking down the hijacked planes on 9/11 were unarmed for a long time--since the beginning?--so I don't know why this "news" about 9/11 is a new "bombshell."
Jihadis are still moving from Syria to Iraq, and we bombed a way station on an Iraqi Tigris River island.
I don't know what to make of this description of the Chinese threat, but present it for your interest.
Since Blogger started showing me usage statistics in mid-2010, it shows I have surpassed one million page views. If that is accurate. I suspect it counts too much but I don't know. It certainly counts differently.
It seems like there is a vaping scare going on that isn't justified. Sure, ban flavors to avoid attracting kids because it is better to not vape than vape. I won't protest that. But vaping is far better than smoking tobacco. And I heard a story about deaths from vaping that added in deaths from causes that seemed completely unrelated to vaping (oh, like using illegal products). When that is done in any subject the reason is to pad the numbers because the basic thing you are against isn't bad enough (which is also why I always say check the "definitions" section). Why the unjustified hysteria? And why demonize a legal product because some people mis-use it and pay the price? Doesn't that set a bad precedent (coughgunscough)? On the bright side, Trump is for regulating them so expect liberals to take up vaping as a (good) constitutional right.
Michael Yon continues to report live from Hong Kong. Sometimes David beats Goliath (and maybe there is a way to help that unlikely outcome). But that's not the way to bet. My admiration is mixed with dread.
Oil wealth, corruption and tyranny, and modern communications and travel make the latest round of the Islamic civil war hard for the non-Moslem world to ignore (because we die in it too, as collateral damage). Very slowly, forces in the Islamic world gather to resist the appeal of extremism.
When there is a Jew to be blamed, why let facts interfere (tip to Instapundit)? I used to think the village idiot was the worst part of the duo. I was wrong--Plame is. How did the CIA hire both of these clowns?
Trump released military aid to Ukraine previously held up for no apparent reason. The Resistance had a reason that was nonsense. To me, the most likely reason was to pressure Ukraine to battle corruption, which subtracts from Ukraine's war effort against Russia more than our aid adds.
Remember that Ukraine traded actual Russian prisoners for Ukrainians held hostage by Russia on false charges. Hopefully Europeans don't use this as a reason to ease sanctions on Russia on the false premise that Russia is being "reasonable." And of course, Russia got back a man who could have testified on the shoot down of Flight MH-17 over the Donbas by a Russian-supplied missile.
If family members (plural) have to restrain a secretly sedated elderly woman to "assist" her "suicide," I think it is safe to say the elderly woman did not want to die. Is "first do no harm" not a universal doctor thing? Tip to Instapundit.
No, we did not lose the war in Afghanistan. We have several hundred thousand Afghan security forces fighting jihadis every day. Why would we walk away from helping them in their fight by "getting over that we lost" and then getting out--thus insuring we lose? And the idea that we should leave because the war is long is mind-bogglingly dumb. As Jonah writes, "Does it really matter how long the war in Afghanistan has gone on if it's still necessary to be there? If it's necessary, time is irrelevant. And if it's unnecessary, time is also irrelevant." I think we have an interest in keeping Afghanistan from being a jihadi launching pad (again). And I think the price we must pay to prevent that is small compared to what we paid to get us this far. And the price is small compared to what we'd have to pay to go back in and start over if the Taliban win after we leave. As I've said before, the fact that we face enemies determined to kill us despite the length of time we've been killing them does not suggest to me that it is safe to stop killing them, turn our backs, and come home with confidence that they won't come after us to keep killing us at home.
Bernie Sanders bristled that his form of socialism would be like Cuba's or Venezuela's, which have impoverished those countries. He wants successful socialism! Question: Did Cuba's and Venezuela's leaders intend to have socialism that would be an economic failure or an economic success? And didn't fans of socialism in the West claim both would create successful economies rather than failures? So I don't care what Bernie intends. I care about what always happens. To Hell with him, as I noted in this data dump: "Seriously, I really despise that communist-loving Sanders. I was literally (or almost, depending on the time difference) learning to throw hand grenades when Bernie was partying with Soviets, as I noted in this data dump: Bernie Sanders was having a drunken ball with his Soviet friends in the Soviet Union on June 13, 1988. By contrast, I was having a very bad day on 13 JUN 88--but at least I had grenades to look forward to the next day." Canada and Sweden will be surprised to hear they are socialist countries, as Bernie claims.
I'm beginning to think that age of majority should only be 18 years old only if you don't go to a 4-year college. If they want to be "really scared," those snowflakes might want to calculate how long they'll be paying for that beer and pizza consumed last weekend and paid for with a student loan. If you do go to a 4-year college, I think that you should get "adult" status when you pay off your student loans. Something has to be done about these frightened, over-sensitive rabbits preparing to claim their place in society. Tip to Instapundit.
Good Lord, people, Trump was simply making a threat to destroy enemies with all the tools of our non-nuclear arsenal. You just look like an idiot by acting as if he was actually hinting we have weapons more powerful than nukes. Note that we have a lot fewer tactical nukes because precision has given us the ability to destroy targets with high explosives when once small nukes were needed. Does that mean a small conventional bomb is more powerful than a small nuke? No it does not. But it does mean the target is still destroyed. Now, practically speaking we don't have the ammunition stockpiles nor the targets to do precision "carpet bombing" on the scale Trump suggests. But it is true that we have been restrained in our use of the firepower we could use. And as the president said, we have chosen not to fight the war on terror that way. So no, the president hasn't been hinting at a super weapon or misrepresenting facts. You guys are just overthinking a simple threat way too much.
I'm honestly horrified at the Democratic display at their latest
Did the Air Force essentially just build the Cylon pilots who will control the skies for Skynet? The post also discusses F-16 drone conversions. That seems relevant for Israel in relation to Iran.
That's not a totalitarian impulse on display at all!
Apparently we killed Hamza bin Laden, al Qaeda terrorist son of his father who we also killed, somewhere in the "Afghanistan-Pakistan region." More please.
The media is talking down a good economy to get a Democrat elected, just like they did in 1992. Honestly, they did the same in 1984. That's when I started losing trust in the news media. I kept hearing CBS talking about how bad things were when I could see that the statistics said the economy was good. In 1984, Reagan won big despite the media. That said, the finances worry me a lot. Budget deficits and rising debt will end this run eventually.
I'll say it again, I am dumbfounded that feminists aren't the most hard core death-to-all-jihadis warriors in the West. Tip to Instapundit.
I won't weigh in on where democracy dies, but journalism goes to die at the Washington Post. Again, it is funny how "mistakes" always paint Republicans badly.
I'm almost 100% sure that when Biden said that nobody convicted for a non-violent crime should be in prison he meant to say nobody convicted of a nonviolent drug crime should be in prison. I'm not defending that statement, but I bet he meant that. With an eye on Harris' record on drug crimes. But he misfired and left Harris untouched.
If global warmers won't act like global warming is a crisis, why should I? Seriously, if the world is doomed if we don't act NOW, why do almost all global warmers rule out nuclear energy? And why do they live such high carbon-production lifestyles? And no, buying carbon offsets doesn't give you freedom to generate carbon as much as you want. If we are doomed you should actually reduce your own production of carbon. If it is a crisis. It's almost as it they consider compelling the rest of us live more austere and primitive lives as their carbon offset to enable their own lavish lifestyles of jetting around and owning large (and multiple) homes to continue without disturbing their conscience.
Speaking of not reaching Peak Oil yet. Tip to Instapundit.
Things are heating up in Hong Kong. It is more than protest now. Watching Michael Yon film protesters pulling up paving bricks reminds me of a paving project in Lansing some years ago. The state wanted to put in brick sidewalks in the Capitol Building area. But the man in charge of the actual Capitol grounds refused to go along with that, knowing that protesters who get overly enthusiastic could pry them out of the ground and use them as weapons. So they just put in cement sidewalks around the Capitol Building. The bricks were farther out.
What fresh Hell is my new Blu Ray player? My old one--of 9 years--died. It is on a multi-HDMI splitter because I have just two HDMI slots on my TV. One is for the Roku for TV and the other had the Blu Ray plus an XBOX360 and an XBOX1. Anything on the multi-splitter worked if it was on and the others off. I thought I could just plug the new Blu Ray player into the multi-splitter and all would be well. Of course not. The new Blu Ray would not work on that. But it did work on the single slot. And now I'm trying to get the other stuff to work on the multi-splitter with difficulty. Oh, and the menu for the Blu Ray is in goddamn French with no apparent way to switch to English. How is it possible for later tech to be less user friendly?!
