Hopefully he never insulted Spain by mentioning the "Spanish" Flu. And more fun with "problematic" names (tip to Instapundit). Some people are simply morons. Or more likely people just rationally reacting to a system that rewards moronic statements. The latter is far more dangerous to the republic. And actually, given the Chinese (along with their Russian and Iranian vassals) effort to avoid responsibility by blaming America and given the left wing media's shameful shilling for China's efforts to deflect blame over the coronavirus by saying references to Wuhan are racist, I am now firmly committed to calling the COVID19 coronavirus "Wuhan Flu" from now on. Always.
According to the left, the darkness of ethnic hatred and mass expulsions is always about to descend on America, but always seems to fall elsewhere.
It's always good to know what the scum of the Earth think, in my opinion. The professor should move to Burma where his attitudes would be better appreciated by those in power (see previous data dump story). Tip to Instapundit.
You can see how the concept of a vengeful God destroying sinners with thunderbolts from the skies out of nowhere could have entered our collective memories. To be fair, Assad has a really good alibi and can't be accused of barrel bombing that village.
The Italians discover that the European Union isn't about helping member states: "EU countries have so far refused Italy's plea for help fighting coronavirus, as national capitals worry that they may need to stockpile face masks and other medical gear to help their own citizens, officials and diplomats said." It's all about strengthening the proto-imperial body until they can strip away the prefix. My guess is that the EU apparatchiki will use this Wuhan Flu crisis to gain some new powers. My hope is that the nation-states that are a part of it will head for the exits like Britain did before it is too late. The EU should be a free trade region and nothing more.
Why aren't these dangerous college crybullies already on double secret probation waiting to be expelled? If those dimwits don't want a college education, I don't know why they should be free to disrupt the students who do want an education. Hell, put it is their "permanent record" to follow them to whatever school they apply to. Admissions staff should know who wants to get their system. Tip to Instapundit.
What? You didn't already know that Iran and its little terror buddy Hezbollah have tentacles throughout Latin America? With an added ef you very much to Maduro of Venezuela for his role in this.
I know this oil price collapse is supposed to be a big crisis--and as a reflection of reduced economic activity globally that is depressing demand that is true enough and a real problem for the oil industry to ride out--but an oil price war will benefit those who use oil and spur economic activity that will increase the demand again in the long run, won't it? Isn't this an economic stimulus for anyone who buys petroleum products? And until then, Iran and Russia--already under various sanctions--are going to feel the pain of lower oil sale revenue as the Saudis drive the price down in retaliation for Russia's refusal to cooperate on sustaining prices. Iran especially will find its ability to finance its reign of terror across the Middle East and at home severely crimped. And let's not even think about how bad Venezuela will get. How they will deal with the Wuhan Flu is beyond me. Maduro will be fine as long as there is one more average person to squeeze for resources, of course.
Reasons for optimism about the Wuhan Flu (even as we should treat it seriously and prepare). Panic never helps solve a crisis. But prepare for the coverage that will make panic seem rational. The media will work overtime on this epidemic because Orange Man Bad, of course. Whether the problem is better or worse than the last epidemic. And regardless of whether our response is better or worse than the last epidemic. Just work the problem, as I say. This crisis will one day be in the rear view mirror. Hopefully sooner than we think. And recall that forty years ago HIV would kill us all and yet here we are now (tip to Instapundit): wow!
The Goddamned mothereffing Russians.
I wasn't misled by news of Biden supposedly "endorsing" Trump in his confusion. In part it seemed like he was merely explaining that he, Biden, couldn't be "reelected" because only Trump can be "reelected." This was in response to Biden's mis-statement of seeking reelection. I still think Biden is too addled to be president, but this wasn't evidence of that, I figured.
This is AWESOME:
Thanks Curiosity. Tip to Instapundit.
We lost two troops to enemy action in Iraq while accompanying Iraqi forces going after ISIL jihadis. We say we know who did it. So we should do less threatening and more killing. And as it turns out, that statement telegraphed our attack (which one early report I saw said we led, so it may have included the British) against weapons depots and command and control. I hate that we say it was "proportional" which I think is a stupid doctrine as commonly used rather than as the laws of war require. Or maybe we really do mean that it was proportional to achieving the objective rather than being proportional to the enemy attack that prompted our response. I hope our military means that actual definition rather than the leftist definition that is only intended to hobble our response to enemy attacks. I may just be overly sensitive on this issue.
Russia's high-profile advanced weapons are all smoke and mirrors. I believe I've noted that on many occasions. The Soviet Union was a Third World country with nukes and advanced weapons. Russia is a bit better than a Third World country with some nukes that work and prototypes of advanced weapons. Being lying bastards is one point of continuity between the two, of course.
I'm not seeing many signs of panic about the Wuhan Flu. My local store had no hand sanitizer or Ramen noodles but other than that there was plenty of stuff on Thursday and Friday. Although I admit I did not check the toilet paper shelves. And given the disconnect we've seen between the tiny Twitteratti segment of the population and actual voters, do we just have a Twitter panic? I mean, so far this doesn't rise to the levels of Black Friday shopping frenzies.
Ka-ching! Somebody got a promise payout from the future Sanders administration!
Drones are attacking American troops in Syria. While these troops could be protected with vehicle-mounted air defenses, for infantry in combat facing massed drones I think air-to-air drones that I advocated in Army magazine are the answer.
Ah, China for a day! Communists are evil even if they look like the old men from Sesame Street.
I watch The Walking Dead, but it is in part habit by now. I can't watch the spinoffs which are awful. And The Talking Dead no longer has any appeal. But even the original TWD threatens to lose me whenever they have a battle scene. One, I don't think that America would be out of usable guns and ammo in their time frame. And two, have they not independently discovered ditch and rampart systems--with a nice abatis if they have time--to fight even hordes of zombies? The Romans could throw those up in a day. Instead of the wasted effort on an electric fence that failed in less than a minute, why can't these classic defenses be built in the path of a horde--they are easy to direct, it seems--to inflict attrition from successive positions that are used and abandoned to fall back to the next one? Or just put ditches and obstacles in front of their settlement walls with fighting positions, using fire and crossbows to kill the zombies at a distance? Don't let the zombies approach the wall to shove it down with their weight. Nearly all of the people in the settlements should be able to man wall positions like that or just shuttle flammables and bolts to the wall defenders. The small trained militia with shields and spears (and use your shield walls as intended for God's sake! Hold the line and thrust!) should be for countering any penetrations of the walls or to sortie out and kill off particularly dangerous clumps or to finish off the remnant of the attackers. These battles are supposed to be the high point of the seasons but they just annoy me. Is it just me? Am I wrong to be that picky?
Heh.
I don't understand why people get all bent out of shape when Service A or Product X goes up in price by more than the rate of inflation. The rate of inflation is not the measure of what is proper or improper. Inflation rates are in theory (in practice it is defined by only certain stuff) the average price change for all things and services. So some go up more than the inflation rate and others go up my less--and some actually decline in price. Mind you, if the something is what you like, you are free to be upset. And of course, inflation doesn't consider changes in the quality of products. It's just one measuring stick so stop treating it like some marker of gouging.
Apparently ACK! isn't worried that the dictatorial Trump administration with the power of the federal government behind it could somehow find out if illegal immigrants who fill out a census form with their name and address are illegal immigrants and then deport them.
Chest thumping and flinging flu.
I don't know if Trump can win Michigan in 2020. Michigan has been blue between 1988 and 2016, and I don't know if the factors that led to the narrow 2016 win can be repeated this year. But I had no clue Michigan would go red in 2016, so what do I know? Either way, poli sci PhD students will have plenty of material to work with for years to come, eh?
The Navy don't need no stinkin' Chinese papers.
"For Trump, Coronavirus Proves to Be an Enemy He Can't Tweet Away" says the headline. For too many in the media and the loyal opposition, the enemy of their enemy is their friend. And you don't have to think Trump has made no errors in actions or words to see that. Honestly, I'm hard pressed to judge whether Trump is responding correctly or not. His Oval Office speech wasn't that good, but I fear for our country if we panic or fail to panic based on a speech. Not once have I ever needed the comfort of a presidential speech by any president. Failure in policy is not obvious to me, but this is out of my lane. Would I recognize it if I saw it? But I do know that I can't trust the judgment of (via Instapundit) the Democrats and their media allies who shift their story to suit their needs. The story of the boy who cried
Yeah, things seem fine until all of a sudden they aren't. Despite my confidence that we will get through the Wuhan Flu the first reports of confirmed coronavirus in Michigan reminds me of the beginnings of a disaster movie when the first hints of the coming disaster pop up while we are too busy with our lives to pay much attention.
Wow. Just twelve years ago Democrats said he was a homophobic, misogynistic, dog-abusing, one percenter who had a strange Cold War obsession with the Russians:
Sure they do, yes we can, and don't forget to count allies in the mix--which we have and China doesn't (not counting North Korea).
I fear for our species.
An Air Force gunship crew suppressed enemy forces for an hour which allowed three medivac missions to rescue wounded troops in Afghanistan. Medals all around, indeed.
Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to
Democrats say Trump isn't taking the Wuhan Flu seriously. Would this convince them?
Turkey attacks Europe with refugees and then accuses Greece of being Nazis for stopping the invasion.
Yes, despite my long history of despising the man, Trump's policies are something I like about his administration. Conservatives should like the policies, no? And so yeah, despite not voting for Trump in 2016, I prefer him to enduring 8 years of a man with crisp pants creases and policies I despised. Also, the insane Democratic turn-it-to-11 relentless attacks on Trump and especially his supporters--I grew up in Deplorableville--makes me very anti-anti-Trump. I'm funny that way.
I just don't see Russia coming out of the oil price war with Saudi Arabia in better shape. And Iran must be panicked. And while this could shut down frackers in the short run, in the short run lower energy prices are a considerable stimulus to the world psychologically reeling under the Wuhan Flu, isn't it?
After Bernie's come-from-behind-the-polls win over Hillary Clinton in 2016, Michigan has seemed like a Bernie Sanders bastion--notwithstanding the narrow Trump win over Hillary in the general election. This year Biden trounced Bernie here in Michigan without much effort. Which makes 2016 look like an anti-Hillary vote rather than a pro-Bernie vote. Which makes me ask, is 2020 a vote against Bernie rather than a pro-Biden vote? And what does that mean for November? As an aside, the commercials before our election made it seem like Obama was running against Obama--both Bernie and Biden ran clips of Obama speaking!
FBI files show that the Trump-Russia collusion notion was pretty much debunked early on. Yet the investigation continued for years. More here. My view has long been that the allegation was worth looking into (Trump was an unknown in the political world) but that the enthusiasm for continuing the investigation was partisan and quite likely criminal.
The MH17 trial in the Netherlands may finally expose Russia's lies about having nothing to do with shooting down that Malaysian airliner over the Donbas region. But Russia got away with it by denying it and making even the truth "old news." And Russia still controls Crimea and the eastern Donbas. I've long said that Russia's so-called hybrid warfare is simple: "Russia invades a country; Russia denies it has invaded a country; and the West goes along with Russian denials." Perhaps I should amend that description: "Russia invades a country; Russia denies it has invaded a country; and the West goes along with Russian denials long enough to let Russia get away with it."
Why would Bernie drop out of the race when one super embarrassing public performance by Biden soon enough could create a second reversal of momentum in favor of whoever is left in the primary race?
I hear that there is a divide politically between Republicans and Democrats over the Wuhan Flu. Namely that Republicans minimize the danger while Democrats inflate the danger. I suspect the difference is related to the near-hysteria of the media in describing the Wuhan Flu in contrast to their soothing words over past epidemics that didn't involve a Republican president. I worry. I'm not panicking. But I'm prepared. And I'm hoping for the best. And I recognize the political motives for the way the Wuhan Flu is covered. One thing that helps is that I watch few opinion shows these days. When you avoid most of the asininity over politics the bonus avoidance of epidemic asininity is nice.
I continue to hang on to what the stock market rebound will look like when that happens. 😣
There is so little actual racism in America that the demand continues to exceed supply. While the woman is a disgusting person for perpetrating the hoax, I draw comfort from the fact that haters like her find they must fabricate the hate they claim is everywhere.
Oh good grief. The federal government has responsibility for the borders. States and local governments can take the lead on community spread of the Wuhan Flu. Don Lemon makes Joe Biden sound like a very stable genius.
To be fair, Biden did make some good suggestions (even if they are already being done).
Does the Wuhan Flu mean we don't need to worry about climate change destroying us all? Or is that stupid to worry about given that the end of Net Neutrality already killed us?
Mines are an underappreciated weapon. Russia's new mine countermeasures vessels are the right call rather than super carriers--which to be fair are just periodic announcements with no chance of being built (darn it). And more to the point, Iran could try to mine the Strait of Hormuz and shut off oil exports, but they'd be hard pressed to overcome the opposition to that.
Is the Democratic contest over already? Is Biden assured of victory because the parallels to the 2016 Republican contest are invalid? To be fair, I suspect Bernie doesn't really want to win because it would taint his "movement" with the horrible need to compromise and govern. Which is actually similar to Trump because I honestly don't think he intended to win either the primary contest or the election, which came as a complete surprise to him (and me). Tip to Instapundit.
Buried Soviet equipment for spies and special forces from the Cold War still being discovered. This is something we need to do in the NATO Baltic states, just in case.
I could not find any blog posts on the 2009-2010 swine flu epidemic. Just an offhand remark or two. So my politics didn't get me to go all-in on panic or blame on the Obama administration then. And despite my worries about our response to an Ebola outbreak in Africa, I admitted the Obama administration did fine. But in bonus territory, worries in 2005 that we could not trust the Chinese Communist Party to deal with an epidemic before it spreads. So yeah, "Wuhan Flu" it is. To be fair to me, I never got the memo that the media got to put references to China down the memory hole. Screw those hectoring ninnies pretending to be morally superior. How long before the media calls the Wuhan Flu the "virus of peace?"
That's a novel use of fans by the Greeks in response to Turkish efforts to support the migrant invasion of Europe that Erdogan unleashed.
I'm not sure why a Biden blowout of Sanders in the Florida primary among Democratic primary voters could be a signal that Trump will have a problem in Florida in November.
Germany will send a frigate to the Indian Ocean in a 5-month cruise. Rather than support their global interests I'd be happier if the Germans could control the Baltic Sea.
The Ethiopians felt our suggested Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam agreement amounted to pressure on them and they say they won't be pushed in that way. We are observers to the talks between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt. I guess our suggestion wasn't welcome. The Ethiopians went so far as to threaten retaliation if (presumably) Egypt attacks the dam. Sudan says they'll mediate.
We need some social distancing from the cloth grocery bag-using plague carriers. For the children ... bring back safe hygienic plastic grocery bags! Tip to Instapundit.
India continues to have problems with their new carrier construction--but the F-18 Super Hornet might solve their persistent carrier plane problem.
WHO says Europe is now the epicenter of the Wuhan Flu pandemic. Cutting off travel from the continent seems prudent.
Well, maybe. But how do humans who do need to rest wage such a relentless war? And how do you sustain such a relentless war with logistics and replacement of losses, both human and machine? How do you keep up the pace when the network goes down even for a little bit from failure or enemy action? I don't know, but this idea that there will be "not timeout" in a future war just seems like a high-tech explanation for the latest iteration of why future war will be short and decisive.
An estimated 384,000 people have died in Syria since the first protests, civil war, and multi-war broke out 9 years ago. The price of winning with Wuhan Flu-wracked Iran's help that wrecked Syria's economy could be pretty high going forward if Syria is open to the coronavirus and can't fight it.
I'm not going to say (tip to Instapundit) that Rick Wilson and his evil hope represents many on the left. I don't believe many on either side are that evil and hate-filled. But he should be careful what he wishes for considering that densely populated blue cities--especially with policies like this (Seriously, are NYC schools open around the clock, because health workers aren't just needed during daytime school hours. And aren't health workers exposed even more if their children get it? I'm just a history major, to be sure. So maybe I'm missing something that the NYC brain trust has thought of. But that policy is the opposite of "social distancing," isn't it?)--will be more at risk for the Wuhan Flu epidemic than less densely populated red areas. There's a Chinese curse (purportedly/ maybe?) on that--if it isn't racist to say that.
Phase IX in Iraq continues as (I assume) Iranian proxies strike again at our troops with rockets. There is a definite military component. Ultimately the win has to be by non-military means. But the military means are not optional at this point.
I can hardly blame Mexico if they close their border with America out of fear of the Wuhan Flu. Tip to Instapundit.
Thank you to the people behind the "1776" initiative to counter the grossly inaccurate "1619 Project" anti-American propaganda that the New York Times spawned.
Back when disease was a constant companion. Are we worried too much now or did people in 1957 fail to do what they could to minimize the toll? Tip to Instapundit.
I assumed that charges that Trump disbanded a National Security Council pandemic unit were BS. And so it proves to be: "A senior administration official said Friday that the NSC's global health security directorate was absorbed into another division where similar responsibilities still exist, but under different titles. The work of coordinating policy and making sure that decisions made by Trump's coronavirus task force are implemented is still the job of the NSC." The pandemic people are all there. You have to get to paragraph 17 to find that out after the misleading headline. But because the people don't have their own letterhead they can't do their job? Do you wonder why I don't trust the news media? They have a lot of work to do just to get to a "trust but verify" level of respect.
There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships
No. The Mali army can't grow fast enough to defeat the Islamist terrorists in the north. Next question. And the eagerness of men to enlist in that extremely corrupt country's army should tell you that--they want to loot the money and equipment (to sell) that is intended to grow the army. And even if the recruits are motivated to fight, the civilians and officers above them will loot so much that nothing much will reach the soldiers.
This criticism on "strategy" grounds did not age well. Our killing of Soleimani did not unify Iranians around their mullah rulers. I count it a strategic success that when enemies practice "gray zone" deniable aggression that we might not go along with the fiction that the enemy is not committing aggression. And then enemies blow up. The man is getting his PhD in Echelon above Reality, I guess.
Well, that's an approach to the Wuhan Flu. As the saying goes:
Let's see if the British still have that famous stiff upper lip. Tip to Instapundit.
We're back to common sense on the F-15EX: "The Air Force’s planned purchase of the F-15EX to replace aging fighters is needed to maintain the homeland defense mission as aging F-15Cs continue to see reliability issues, the head of U.S. Northern Command told lawmakers." I was confused in an earlier data dump when I noted that the argument was that the F-15EX could be a missile truck for F-35s. Continental air defense to release F-35s for air combat against higher threats seemed like the mission that made the most sense to me. And I was confused that it wasn't mentioned in the earlier story that I had I noted.
ACK! really doesn't have more than a couple brain cells to rub together, does she? Tip to Instapundit.
If that man really needs his 8-month supply of food and a winter's worth of fuel I hope he has a 9-month supply of ammunition, because advertising his "prepper" stockpile is kind of dumb. This is something you should boast in the media about after the crisis is over, no? Just sayin'.
Hey, Inshallah you bearded hemorrhoid. Take your chances with God, by all means. Lick a door for all I care. Couldn't happen--if it does--to a nicer 3-time insurrectionist, if you ask me.
Man, I don't know what it is but people and countries were just really annoying me this last week. I thought I had several years before I got "cranky."
I don't blame them--and it isn't racist.
Sigh. Yeah.
I am still very quick to turn the channel off when Marie Harf appears on TV. I do not trust her as far as I could throw her.
