bonginoreport--2020-12-05--Green Beret Was One of Two Men Found Dead at Fort Bragg This Week

One of the two men found dead in a training area of a North Carolina base this week had spent about a dozen of his 19 years in the service assigned to Special Forces and U.S. Army Special Operations Command .
Master Sgt .
William J. Lavigne II , 37 , with the command 's headquarters and headquarters company , was found dead Wednesday afternoon in the training area on Fort Bragg , along with a veteran previously assigned to the base , the military said in a statement .
`` The loss of a soldier is always tragic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of USASOC 's headquarters and headquarters company , said in a statement Friday .
Timothy Dumas , a 44-year-old Army veteran from Pinehurst , N.C. , was the other man whose body was found , Fort Bragg officials said in a separate statement .
The statement did not give further details about his service , and an Army Human Resources Command spokesman reached by phone said additional information was not immediately available .
Fort Bragg , located near Fayetteville , is home to USASOC , as well as the XVIII Airborne Corps , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Army Reserve Command .
More than 30 soldiers assigned to the base have died this year , about half by suicide .
No further information about the two deaths this week will be released while the Army Criminal Investigation Command investigates the incident , USASOC said .
The deaths were unrelated to official training , base officials said in an earlier statement .
`` Master Sgt .
Lavigne dedicated himself to the Army for 19 years and deployed multiple times in the defense of our nation , '' Duvall said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and graduate the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2007 , after which he was assigned to the 1st Special Forces Group ( Airborne ) , then to USASOC .
He deployed several times to Afghanistan and Iraq , the command said , though it did not provide an exact number .
A graduate of the Army Airborne and jump master courses , and the Military Free Fall Parachutist and jump master course , Lavigne had also completed the Special Forces Intelligence Course ; survival , evasion , resistance and escape school ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is spoken in the Philippines .
His awards and decorations include two Bronze Star medals , one with a `` V '' device for valor , the Meritorious Service Medal , Joint Service Commendation Medal , two Army Commendation medals , three Army Achievement medals , a Joint Service Achievement Medal and five Army Good Conduct medals .
He had also earned a Combat Infantry Badge and Combat Action Badge .
`` Our condolences go out to his family during this difficult time , '' Duvall said .

Air Force Pilots Have One Month to Extend Contracts for Up to $50,000 Per Year in Bonuses
The new bonus also comes as the Air Force, as a whole, struggles with its toughest recruiting environment in decades.


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--State Department Cancels Visas for Chinese Propaganda Agents

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is revoking visas for agents of China ’ s United Front Work Department , a Chinese Communist Party department that orchestrates foreign influence operations .
“ The Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) has long sought to spread Marxist-Leninist ideology and exert its influence all over the world , ” Pompeo said in a statement Friday .
“ The CCP ’ s United Front Work Department funds and supports overseas organizations to spread propaganda and coerces and bullies those who would oppose Beijing ’ s policies.
” The mass visa revocation marks an attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” machinations to harass even Chinese Americans in the United States , following years of complaints from lawmakers and intelligence officials about such operations .
Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping has called the United Front a “ magic weapon ” that is contributing to Beijing ’ s growing power , but controversies stemming from such efforts have deepened Western unease about China ’ s ambitions .
“ Its coercive tactics target individuals viewed as working against CCP interests , ” Pompeo said .
“ These malign activities are intended to co-opt and coerce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ academia , and other civil society groups both in the United States and other countries in furtherance of the CCP ’ s authoritarian narratives and policy preferences.
” The extent of those operations became more obvious to Western allies in 2017 , when an Australian senator ’ s acceptance of travel subsidies linked to the Chinese government snowballed into a scandal over his alleged decision to warn a Chinese Australian businessman that he was being scrutinized by Australian intelligence services .
Chinese government loyalists have cultivated influence in the U.S. , too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong organized by the vice chairman of a self-described “ patriotic united front organization , ” Neil Bush , the son of former President George H.W .
Bush , affirmed that democracy “ would not work for China , just like China ’ s system would not work for us.
” And Pompeo traveled to Wisconsin recently to warn that Chinese agents are targeting state officials and even local civic organizations .
“ Beijing ’ s infiltration of U.S. society has been deliberate and insidious as they use every instrument of influence available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s expense , ” acting Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Marco Rubio , a Florida Republican , said Friday morning in a joint statement with Virginia Sen. Mark Warner , the top Democrat on the panel .
“ Unfortunately , the United States ’ s challenge with China is not unique as Beijing seeks to infiltrate and subvert other nations around the world , including our allies.
” FBI officials also have uncovered a Beijing-run “ Operation Foxhunt , ” which Chinese Communist officials use to target Chinese nationals overseas , including in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the indictment of several Chinese military researchers who committed visa fraud spurred more than 1,000 other researchers to leave the country , according to the Justice Department .
“ I will continue to implement such visa restrictions to make clear that those responsible for actions that contravene the rules-based international order are not welcome in the United States , ” Pompeo said .
“ The United States calls on the [ People 's Republic of China ] to end its use of coercion and intimidation tactics to suppress freedom of expression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review its authorities to respond to these concerns .
”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is revoking visas for agents of China’s United Front Work Department, a Chinese Communist Party department that orchestrates foreign influence operations.
“The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long sought to spread Marxist-Leninist ideology and exert its influence all over the world,” Pompeo said in a statement Friday. “The CCP’s United Front Work Department funds and supports overseas organizations to spread propaganda and coerces and bullies those who would oppose Beijing’s policies.”
The mass visa revocation marks an attempt to slap away “China's long arm” machinations to harass even Chinese Americans in the United States, following years of complaints from lawmakers and intelligence officials about such operations. Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping has called the United Front a “magic weapon” that is contributing to Beijing’s growing power, but controversies stemming from such efforts have deepened Western unease about China’s ambitions.
“Its coercive tactics target individuals viewed as working against CCP interests,” Pompeo said. “These malign activities are intended to co-opt and coerce sub-national leaders, overseas Chinese communities, academia, and other civil society groups both in the United States and other countries in furtherance of the CCP’s authoritarian narratives and policy preferences.”
The extent of those operations became more obvious to Western allies in 2017, when an Australian senator’s acceptance of travel subsidies linked to the Chinese government snowballed into a scandal over his alleged decision to warn a Chinese Australian businessman that he was being scrutinized by Australian intelligence services.
Chinese government loyalists have cultivated influence in the U.S., too. At an event last year in Hong Kong organized by the vice chairman of a self-described “patriotic united front organization,” Neil Bush, the son of former President George H.W. Bush, affirmed that democracy “would not work for China, just like China’s system would not work for us.” And Pompeo traveled to Wisconsin recently to warn that Chinese agents are targeting state officials and even local civic organizations.
“Beijing’s infiltration of U.S. society has been deliberate and insidious as they use every instrument of influence available to accelerate their rise at America’s expense,” acting Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, said Friday morning in a joint statement with Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the panel. “Unfortunately, the United States’s challenge with China is not unique as Beijing seeks to infiltrate and subvert other nations around the world, including our allies.”
FBI officials also have uncovered a Beijing-run “Operation Foxhunt,” which Chinese Communist officials use to target Chinese nationals overseas, including in the U.S. That investigation led to five arrests, while the indictment of several Chinese military researchers who committed visa fraud spurred more than 1,000 other researchers to leave the country, according to the Justice Department.
“I will continue to implement such visa restrictions to make clear that those responsible for actions that contravene the rules-based international order are not welcome in the United States,” Pompeo said. “The United States calls on the [People's Republic of China] to end its use of coercion and intimidation tactics to suppress freedom of expression. The United States will continue to review its authorities to respond to these concerns.”


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--Gun-Carrying Citizens Protect Their Homes From Intruders in Separate Incidents in Detroit

Two gun-toting Detroit homeowners open fire on intruders in separate incidents .
One of the suspects is armed — and @ @ @ @

Once again we have another example of criminals not getting the picture that everyday folks in growing numbers are armed and ready for them.
And this time the tale concerns a pair of Detroit homeowners with concealed pistol licenses who successfully used their guns to protect themselves after intruders invaded their residences.
What are the details?
The first incident happened around 7 p.m Monday when police said a suspect armed with a long gun entered a home on Fenton, just west of Telegraph between McNichols and 7 Mile, WJBK-TV reported.
The suspect then confronted the homeowner, pointing his gun at him, police told the station.
But the homeowner was able to arm himself, too, and shot the 22-year-old intruder several times with a handgun, WJBK said, adding that the suspect died at the scene.
Officers recovered both guns, the station said, adding that the CPL-holding homeowner was detained for questioning.
The circumstances are still being investigated, WJBK reported.
The second incident took place Wednesday night at a home in the 16600 block of Fairmount Drive when police said the 39-year-old homeowner heard a strange noise above her, WDIV-TV reported.
When she went to investigate the noise, police told the station she discovered a 19-year-old male in her attic — and officials believe the suspect was hiding there as part of an attempt to burglarize the home.
After a brief standoff, the intruder reportedly made a sudden move -- and that's when the CPL-holding homeowner fired a shot at the suspect, WDIV reported.
Police arrived at the scene, and the suspect was taken to a hospital, the station said. He was in stable condition, WDIV reported — but police said once he's well enough he'll be taken into custody.
The homeowner is cooperating with police and their investigation, the station noted.


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--Are We in a Cold War With China?

Are We in a Cold War With China?

Joseph V. Micallef is a best-selling military history and world affairs author , and keynote speaker .
Follow him on Twitter @ JosephVMicallef .
One of the hallmarks of the Trump Administration 's foreign policy has been a sharply confrontational attitude toward the People 's Republic of China .
The result has been a marked deterioration in U.S.-Chinese relations over the last four years -- a deterioration that has often been described as the start of a new cold war between China and the U.S .
The Trump administration has moved aggressively to limit China 's access to U.S. technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most famously telecommunications equipment giant Huawei , from expanding globally .
At the same time , it has insisted that China increase its purchases of U.S. goods , especially agricultural commodities , to offset the perennial deficit that the U.S. had in its China trade .
As part of that strategy , Washington imposed a range of tariffs on Chinese goods entering the U.S .
It also moved aggressively to prosecute Chinese companies engaging in the theft of American intellectual property and to limit Chinese access to American capital markets .
The White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should consider disengaging from China 's economy .
Based on what it saw as a direct relationship between China 's growing economic clout and its increasing military power and diplomatic influence , the Trump Administration has adopted a strategy that could be described as `` Economically Containing China . ''
The concept harkens back to George Kennan 's 1947 memorandum in which he argued , in response to the deterioration of U.S.-Soviet relations , that the U.S. should respond to Stalin 's aggressive foreign and military policy by building a series of interlocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , backed by U.S. military power , to contain Soviet expansionism .
At stake is the same issue : who will determine the fundamental parameters of the world order ?
Is the Soviet-era concept of containment relevant to managing U.S.-China relations ?
Can the U.S. `` economically contain '' China ?
Is disengagement the answer ?
Are the U.S. and China in a Cold War ?
To be fair , the U.S.-China relationship had already begun to deteriorate under the Obama Administration when Beijing , starting in 2013 , moved to militarize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by creating a total of seven new islands , which it used to house military facilities , and became increasingly confrontational in its relationship with its neighbors .
As a candidate for the presidency in 2016 , Donald Trump had repeatedly claimed that the terms of U.S. -China trade were unfair to the U.S. ; that they had resulted in the loss of millions of high paying manufacturing jobs ; that both the Chinese government , its state-owned enterprises and private Chinese companies were routinely stealing American technology ; and that China had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Trump Administration , notwithstanding that many of its trade officials were notoriously `` China hawks , '' did show a willingness to continue the Sino-American economic relationship , albeit on radically reset terms .
The term `` Cold War '' was coined in 1947 by Bernard Baruch , a prominent financier and longtime advisor to the U.S. government , to describe the state of U.S. -Soviet relations and the challenges they posed to the U.S .
The term resonated with American media and was quickly adopted to describe what historians called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bloodshed , but a battle nonetheless . ''
The Cold War between Washington and Moscow lasted approximately 40 years .
It was fought mostly by proxies and in the shadows of covert intelligence operations .
To call it bloodless is a misnomer .
Bullets fired by proxies were just as lethal as those fired by the military forces that sponsored them ; a lesson driven home to both American and Soviet soldiers in conflicts ranging from Afghanistan to Vietnam .
It 's hard to see how the experience of the Soviet-American Cold War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sino-American relations .
The U.S. is not engaged in any military conflicts where its opponents are Chinese proxies .
There have been military clashes between the military forces of China and those of its neighbors .
Some , like the Philippines , are bound to the U.S. by defense treaties .
Others , like Vietnam or India , have no such agreements , much less any explicit U.S. guarantees of their security , but share a common interest with Washington in preventing Chinese encroachment on their sovereignty .
While those incidents had casualties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall far short of the proxy conflicts that characterized the Soviet-American Cold War .
The U.S. and China are involved in a wide-ranging economic competition , one that spills over into American bilateral relations with other countries , and also impacts the `` rules '' of an international system that has evolved , largely under American leadership , in the postwar period .
The U.S. competes economically with other countries , most notably Japan and the European Union , but this rivalry is different from the Sino-American one .
First , while countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU compete economically with the U.S. , and while they may seek to shape the `` rules '' of world trade and the international economic system to their advantage , they stop short of seeking a wholesale replacement of the U.S. dollar-centric global financial system .
Even the creation of the euro as the common currency of the EU , while it had the added advantage of being an alternative reserve currency to the U.S. dollar , was never envisioned to be a replacement for it .
Secondly , except for China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. competes economically are ones that are aligned with the U.S. militarily and , with some exceptions , diplomatically .
While economic growth and technological innovation may enhance a U.S. ally 's military capabilities , such enhancements do not have bearing on U.S. national security .
Indeed , in most cases , they enhance it by expanding alliance wide capabilities or diminishing the U.S. contribution to the common defense .
China is the exception to this rule .
The growth of the Chinese economy and its technological sophistication directly impact Beijing 's military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , enhancing its diplomatic power .
Chinese military and foreign policy has become increasingly , nationalistic , aggressive and combative , a style the Chinese media calls `` Wolf Warrior Diplomacy . ''
That means China 's economic growth has a direct bearing on America 's defense and diplomatic posture in East Asia , specifically and generally in the Indo-Pacific basin .
Not only does that posture increase American defense requirements in the region , it also raises the probability that aggressive Chinese actions , especially ones aimed at countries with which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to a confrontation or even a military clash with the U.S .
Currently , Beijing has territorial disputes with every one of its 14 neighbors .
In some of these disputes , it is unilaterally changing the `` facts on the ground . ''
Disengagement : Is the Economic Containment of China Feasible ?
The U.S.-China economic relationship is exceedingly complex .
It 's far more complicated than the military and diplomatic rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union .
In the latter case , the economic relationship was largely irrelevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never had an extensive trade relationship , even after Moscow became a major customer of American grain .
The level of direct investment between the two countries was insignificant .
Soviet gas exports to Europe were viewed as a national security concern by Washington , but , for the most part , the Soviet economy was largely self-contained and its function had little bearing on the global economy .
The existing U.S.-China economic relationship , on the other hand , is quite large .
In 2019 , the U.S. and China transacted $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of $ 163 billion of Chinese imports and $ 471.8 billion of Chinese exports to the U.S. , resulting in a trade deficit of $ 308.8 billion .
The overall numbers are probably understated as some trade , both imports and exports , flow through Hong Kong .
China 's overall trade account amounted to $ 4.6 trillion in bilateral trade .
The U.S. is China 's largest trade partner , although the EU and the ASEAN region , collectively , are larger .
Roughly 40 % of China 's trade activity is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In turn , China is America 's third-largest export market , after Canada and Mexico .
In addition , Chinese firms , some of which are state-owned enterprises , had invested $ 140.5 billion in the U.S. , while U.S. companies had invested $ 269.6 billion in China .
Chinese entities owned approximately $ 1.1 trillion of U.S. government debt , second only to Japan 's $ 1.3 trillion .
Most of that debt is with the Bank of China , the county 's central bank .
The Trump administration has urged U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply chains elsewhere , especially for goods that are considered essential like pharmaceuticals or medical equipment .
It has also stated that it does not want Chinese electronic components embedded in critical defense systems and hardware .
Additionally , there has been support in Congress for subsidies to help U.S. companies to underwrite the costs of repatriating supply chains for critical goods .
Overall value of U.S.-China trade dropped by 11 % from 2018 to 2019 , and is expected to drop again in 2020 .
It 's not clear to what extent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Trump administration 's imposition of tariffs on a wide range of Chinese goods , the economic impact of the pandemic or the repatriation of supply chains .
Some repatriation or shifting of supply chains has undoubtedly occurred , but , for the most part , most of the China-centered supply chains are still in place .
It 's not easy to shift supply chains , especially when they are based on joint ventures or American-owned Chinese factories .
Such a shift would presuppose a divestiture of those assets .
Not an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the divestiture , the demand the factory was filling would also get moved .
Moreover , the value attributed to the trade that flows across a supply chain can be tricky to estimate .
Apple imports billions of dollars ' worth of iPhones from China .
Most of the value in those phones , however , is represented by components that are imported from South Korea , Taiwan and the U.S. What occurs in China is just the assembly of those components into a working phone .
Less than 4 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is attributable to Chinese inputs .
Secondly , China represents a huge and rapidly growing consumer market in which Western brands are extremely popular .
From Nike-branded apparel to Jack Daniels to American sports entertainment and films , China represents a significant and lucrative market for Western goods .
Denying access to that market represents a significant loss to American firms , one that many will fight to reverse .
Moreover , Beijing has been masterful at making it clear to American and foreign companies that the price of continued access to China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's policies , or at the least tacit acceptance of them .
That 's why American companies that are quick to denounce the mistreatment of minorities in the U.S. and conspicuously silent about the same phenomenon in China .
The Australian government 's call for an international investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 virus brought swift retribution from China .
Beijing imposed punishing tariffs on many Australian exports .
There is a significant `` China lobby '' in the U.S. of companies and individuals who stand to profit from continued access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will resist any U.S. attempt to economically isolate China or reduce American participation in China 's economy .
Moreover , Chinese financial support of many universities , lucrative licensing deals with American media companies and a general propensity to buy goodwill with cold cash means that Beijing can exert a degree of influence on American decision-makers and elites that is beyond anything that the Soviets could have imagined during the Cold War .
Simply put , it has taken over three decades to join the U.S. and China economically , resulting in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investments .
Couple that with the enormous influence that China has cultivated in the US .
Unraveling those ties will not be easy , and will come with a significant economic cost to those affected .
In the short term , it will be almost impossible to change .
In maintaining those ties , the U.S. is also , for all practical purposes , enabling the rise of a near-peer competitor that makes it clear its ultimate purpose is to rewrite the rules of the international system to suit its needs and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that system .
That does not mean that China 's ascendency is preordained , or that it will ultimately prove successful in its long-term aims of replacing the U.S. China has plenty of challenges ahead : a rapidly aging population , a bloated and inefficient state business sector and ever-increasing levels of personal , corporate and governmental debt .
That 's all in addition to growing economic inequality between rich coastal cities and their rapidly growing middle class , and the poorer interior regions .
All these factors pose significant challenges that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolve .
Moreover , viewed against the long sweep of history , China 's rise is simply its return to its traditional role in East Asia and the Indo-Pacific basin .
Throughout its history , except in those periods of weakness and internal disunity , China has been the reigning power of the region .
It was always the largest country , with the largest economy and the largest population .
The most recent exception to that rule was the period from the Opium Wars in the mid-19th century until the Communist revolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by foreign powers .
That 's a period that Chinese historians still describe as `` the hundred years of national humiliation . ''
Mao 's disastrous economic policies slowed down China 's return to its historic role but , ultimately , did not prevent it .
That does not mean that China 's current policies are a throwback to its imperial past , although there are certainly parallels .
As in the past , Beijing has tried to draw its neighbors into a China-centric world system that reflects its political and economic power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18th century China 's world was limited to East and Central Asia and the Indo-Pacific basin .
Today , China 's worldview is global in scope .
Moreover , historically China 's economy was largely self-sufficient .
That is not true today .
China is dependent on foreign markets to drive the export-led economy -- on which its national prosperity , and by extension the legitimacy of the Beijing government , depends .
Likewise , China is equally dependent on its trading partners for the raw materials and the technology that it needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments long assumed that a prosperous , economically developed China that was better integrated into the global economic and world system would ultimately become more democratic and less hostile to Western norms and culture .
That has not turned out to be the case .
Indeed , an economically advanced and powerful China has been more willing and able to project its norms as an alternative to the present world system .
The Trump administration , among others , has singled out the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) for this seeming aberration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasing hostility to the West and its aggressiveness with its neighbors .
On the other hand , China 's ambitions to control its peripheral areas , especially the South and East China Seas ; its desire to secure the sea lanes on which its trade and ultimately its economic prosperity depend ; and to have sufficient military power to defend those sea lanes should a hostile power seek to interdict them , would be expected from any great power in China 's position .
The logic of geopolitics knows no ideology .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objectives with equal aggressiveness .
Consider that Russia 's desire to control its periphery was no less acute under Catherine the Great than it was under Joseph Stalin or Vladimir Putin .
The means and the tactics may have differed , but the objective remained the same .
Indeed , a non-communist China , freed from the economic inefficiencies that Communist party rule imposes , might well be a more formidable competitor , both economically and militarily , than the present regime .
The U.S.-China economic relationship did not make China a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's return to his historic status .
Dismantling that relationship , assuming that was even possible , and looking to contain China economically will not deprive it of that status , although it will likely slow down its rise .
The U.S. and its allies are right to demand a more level economic playing field with China , including an end to the wholesale theft of intellectual property by China 's government and its companies and Beijing 's mercantilist policies .
They should be equally steadfast in insisting that China adhere to international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship is neither a cold war nor a hot war .
It is a war , though -- one that will be fought more with advanced semiconductor chip designs and quantum computing protocols than it will be with planes and ships .
Regardless of how it is fought , however , the consequences on the international system and who will lead it will be the same .
-- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com .
Find more information on @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Joseph V. Micallef is a best-selling military history and world affairs author, and keynote speaker. Follow him on Twitter @JosephVMicallef.
One of the hallmarks of the Trump Administration's foreign policy has been a sharply confrontational attitude toward the People's Republic of China. The result has been a marked deterioration in U.S.-Chinese relations over the last four years -- a deterioration that has often been described as the start of a new cold war between China and the U.S.
The Trump administration has moved aggressively to limit China's access to U.S. technology and to block Chinese high-tech companies, most famously telecommunications equipment giant Huawei, from expanding globally. At the same time, it has insisted that China increase its purchases of U.S. goods, especially agricultural commodities, to offset the perennial deficit that the U.S. had in its China trade.
As part of that strategy, Washington imposed a range of tariffs on Chinese goods entering the U.S. It also moved aggressively to prosecute Chinese companies engaging in the theft of American intellectual property and to limit Chinese access to American capital markets. The White House has even suggested that the U.S. should consider disengaging from China's economy.
Based on what it saw as a direct relationship between China's growing economic clout and its increasing military power and diplomatic influence, the Trump Administration has adopted a strategy that could be described as "Economically Containing China."
The concept harkens back to George Kennan's 1947 memorandum in which he argued, in response to the deterioration of U.S.-Soviet relations, that the U.S. should respond to Stalin's aggressive foreign and military policy by building a series of interlocking alliances around the periphery of the USSR, backed by U.S. military power, to contain Soviet expansionism.
At stake is the same issue: who will determine the fundamental parameters of the world order?
Is the Soviet-era concept of containment relevant to managing U.S.-China relations? Can the U.S. "economically contain" China? Is disengagement the answer?
Are the U.S. and China in a Cold War?
To be fair, the U.S.-China relationship had already begun to deteriorate under the Obama Administration when Beijing, starting in 2013, moved to militarize the South China Sea. It did this by creating a total of seven new islands, which it used to house military facilities, and became increasingly confrontational in its relationship with its neighbors.
As a candidate for the presidency in 2016, Donald Trump had repeatedly claimed that the terms of U.S. -China trade were unfair to the U.S.; that they had resulted in the loss of millions of high paying manufacturing jobs; that both the Chinese government, its state-owned enterprises and private Chinese companies were routinely stealing American technology; and that China had taken advantage of the U.S.
Nonetheless, the Trump Administration, notwithstanding that many of its trade officials were notoriously "China hawks," did show a willingness to continue the Sino-American economic relationship, albeit on radically reset terms.
The term "Cold War" was coined in 1947 by Bernard Baruch, a prominent financier and longtime advisor to the U.S. government, to describe the state of U.S. -Soviet relations and the challenges they posed to the U.S. The term resonated with American media and was quickly adopted to describe what historians called, "a war without fighting or bloodshed, but a battle nonetheless."
The Cold War between Washington and Moscow lasted approximately 40 years. It was fought mostly by proxies and in the shadows of covert intelligence operations. To call it bloodless is a misnomer. Bullets fired by proxies were just as lethal as those fired by the military forces that sponsored them; a lesson driven home to both American and Soviet soldiers in conflicts ranging from Afghanistan to Vietnam.
It's hard to see how the experience of the Soviet-American Cold War is analogous to the current state of Sino-American relations. The U.S. is not engaged in any military conflicts where its opponents are Chinese proxies.
There have been military clashes between the military forces of China and those of its neighbors. Some, like the Philippines, are bound to the U.S. by defense treaties. Others, like Vietnam or India, have no such agreements, much less any explicit U.S. guarantees of their security, but share a common interest with Washington in preventing Chinese encroachment on their sovereignty. While those incidents had casualties, although none were American, they fall far short of the proxy conflicts that characterized the Soviet-American Cold War.
The U.S. and China are involved in a wide-ranging economic competition, one that spills over into American bilateral relations with other countries, and also impacts the "rules" of an international system that has evolved, largely under American leadership, in the postwar period. The U.S. competes economically with other countries, most notably Japan and the European Union, but this rivalry is different from the Sino-American one.
First, while countries like Japan or the members of the EU compete economically with the U.S., and while they may seek to shape the "rules" of world trade and the international economic system to their advantage, they stop short of seeking a wholesale replacement of the U.S. dollar-centric global financial system. Even the creation of the euro as the common currency of the EU, while it had the added advantage of being an alternative reserve currency to the U.S. dollar, was never envisioned to be a replacement for it.
Secondly, except for China, the other major countries with which the U.S. competes economically are ones that are aligned with the U.S. militarily and, with some exceptions, diplomatically. While economic growth and technological innovation may enhance a U.S. ally's military capabilities, such enhancements do not have bearing on U.S. national security. Indeed, in most cases, they enhance it by expanding alliance wide capabilities or diminishing the U.S. contribution to the common defense.
China is the exception to this rule. The growth of the Chinese economy and its technological sophistication directly impact Beijing's military capabilities while, at the same time, enhancing its diplomatic power. Chinese military and foreign policy has become increasingly, nationalistic, aggressive and combative, a style the Chinese media calls "Wolf Warrior Diplomacy." That means China's economic growth has a direct bearing on America's defense and diplomatic posture in East Asia, specifically and generally in the Indo-Pacific basin.
Not only does that posture increase American defense requirements in the region, it also raises the probability that aggressive Chinese actions, especially ones aimed at countries with which the U.S. has a defense agreement, will lead to a confrontation or even a military clash with the U.S. Currently, Beijing has territorial disputes with every one of its 14 neighbors. In some of these disputes, it is unilaterally changing the "facts on the ground."
Disengagement: Is the Economic Containment of China Feasible?
The U.S.-China economic relationship is exceedingly complex. It's far more complicated than the military and diplomatic rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. In the latter case, the economic relationship was largely irrelevant.
The U.S. and the Soviet Union never had an extensive trade relationship, even after Moscow became a major customer of American grain. The level of direct investment between the two countries was insignificant. Soviet gas exports to Europe were viewed as a national security concern by Washington, but, for the most part, the Soviet economy was largely self-contained and its function had little bearing on the global economy.
The existing U.S.-China economic relationship, on the other hand, is quite large. In 2019, the U.S. and China transacted $634.8 billion in direct trade, consisting of $163 billion of Chinese imports and $471.8 billion of Chinese exports to the U.S., resulting in a trade deficit of $308.8 billion. The overall numbers are probably understated as some trade, both imports and exports, flow through Hong Kong.
China's overall trade account amounted to $4.6 trillion in bilateral trade. The U.S. is China's largest trade partner, although the EU and the ASEAN region, collectively, are larger. Roughly 40% of China's trade activity is represented by foreign enterprises in China. In turn, China is America's third-largest export market, after Canada and Mexico.
In addition, Chinese firms, some of which are state-owned enterprises, had invested $140.5 billion in the U.S., while U.S. companies had invested $269.6 billion in China. Chinese entities owned approximately $1.1 trillion of U.S. government debt, second only to Japan's $1.3 trillion. Most of that debt is with the Bank of China, the county's central bank.
The Trump administration has urged U.S. companies to repatriate or shift their China-centered supply chains elsewhere, especially for goods that are considered essential like pharmaceuticals or medical equipment. It has also stated that it does not want Chinese electronic components embedded in critical defense systems and hardware. Additionally, there has been support in Congress for subsidies to help U.S. companies to underwrite the costs of repatriating supply chains for critical goods.
Overall value of U.S.-China trade dropped by 11% from 2018 to 2019, and is expected to drop again in 2020. It's not clear to what extent the drop in trade is a result of the Trump administration's imposition of tariffs on a wide range of Chinese goods, the economic impact of the pandemic or the repatriation of supply chains. Some repatriation or shifting of supply chains has undoubtedly occurred, but, for the most part, most of the China-centered supply chains are still in place.
It's not easy to shift supply chains, especially when they are based on joint ventures or American-owned Chinese factories. Such a shift would presuppose a divestiture of those assets. Not an easy thing to do, if as part of the divestiture, the demand the factory was filling would also get moved.
Moreover, the value attributed to the trade that flows across a supply chain can be tricky to estimate. Apple imports billions of dollars' worth of iPhones from China. Most of the value in those phones, however, is represented by components that are imported from South Korea, Taiwan and the U.S. What occurs in China is just the assembly of those components into a working phone. Less than 4% of the retail value of an iPhone is attributable to Chinese inputs.
Secondly, China represents a huge and rapidly growing consumer market in which Western brands are extremely popular. From Nike-branded apparel to Jack Daniels to American sports entertainment and films, China represents a significant and lucrative market for Western goods. Denying access to that market represents a significant loss to American firms, one that many will fight to reverse.
Moreover, Beijing has been masterful at making it clear to American and foreign companies that the price of continued access to China's internal market is support for Beijing's policies, or at the least tacit acceptance of them.
That's why American companies that are quick to denounce the mistreatment of minorities in the U.S. and conspicuously silent about the same phenomenon in China. The Australian government's call for an international investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 virus brought swift retribution from China. Beijing imposed punishing tariffs on many Australian exports.
There is a significant "China lobby" in the U.S. of companies and individuals who stand to profit from continued access to China's internal market, and who will resist any U.S. attempt to economically isolate China or reduce American participation in China's economy.
Moreover, Chinese financial support of many universities, lucrative licensing deals with American media companies and a general propensity to buy goodwill with cold cash means that Beijing can exert a degree of influence on American decision-makers and elites that is beyond anything that the Soviets could have imagined during the Cold War.
Simply put, it has taken over three decades to join the U.S. and China economically, resulting in a complex web of supply chains and direct investments. Couple that with the enormous influence that China has cultivated in the US. Unraveling those ties will not be easy, and will come with a significant economic cost to those affected. In the short term, it will be almost impossible to change.
In maintaining those ties, the U.S. is also, for all practical purposes, enabling the rise of a near-peer competitor that makes it clear its ultimate purpose is to rewrite the rules of the international system to suit its needs and to ultimately replace the U.S. as the head of that system.
That does not mean that China's ascendency is preordained, or that it will ultimately prove successful in its long-term aims of replacing the U.S. China has plenty of challenges ahead: a rapidly aging population, a bloated and inefficient state business sector and ever-increasing levels of personal, corporate and governmental debt. That's all in addition to growing economic inequality between rich coastal cities and their rapidly growing middle class, and the poorer interior regions. All these factors pose significant challenges that Beijing will have to manage and eventually resolve.
Moreover, viewed against the long sweep of history, China's rise is simply its return to its traditional role in East Asia and the Indo-Pacific basin. Throughout its history, except in those periods of weakness and internal disunity, China has been the reigning power of the region. It was always the largest country, with the largest economy and the largest population.
The most recent exception to that rule was the period from the Opium Wars in the mid-19th century until the Communist revolution in 1949, when China was dominated by foreign powers. That's a period that Chinese historians still describe as "the hundred years of national humiliation." Mao's disastrous economic policies slowed down China's return to its historic role but, ultimately, did not prevent it.
That does not mean that China's current policies are a throwback to its imperial past, although there are certainly parallels. As in the past, Beijing has tried to draw its neighbors into a China-centric world system that reflects its political and economic power.
The difference is that in the 18th century China's world was limited to East and Central Asia and the Indo-Pacific basin. Today, China's worldview is global in scope. Moreover, historically China's economy was largely self-sufficient. That is not true today. China is dependent on foreign markets to drive the export-led economy -- on which its national prosperity, and by extension the legitimacy of the Beijing government, depends. Likewise, China is equally dependent on its trading partners for the raw materials and the technology that it needs to drive its economy forward.
Western governments long assumed that a prosperous, economically developed China that was better integrated into the global economic and world system would ultimately become more democratic and less hostile to Western norms and culture. That has not turned out to be the case. Indeed, an economically advanced and powerful China has been more willing and able to project its norms as an alternative to the present world system.
The Trump administration, among others, has singled out the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for this seeming aberration and as the cause of China's increasing hostility to the West and its aggressiveness with its neighbors.
On the other hand, China's ambitions to control its peripheral areas, especially the South and East China Seas; its desire to secure the sea lanes on which its trade and ultimately its economic prosperity depend; and to have sufficient military power to defend those sea lanes should a hostile power seek to interdict them, would be expected from any great power in China's position.
The logic of geopolitics knows no ideology. A non-communist China might well pursue the same objectives with equal aggressiveness. Consider that Russia's desire to control its periphery was no less acute under Catherine the Great than it was under Joseph Stalin or Vladimir Putin. The means and the tactics may have differed, but the objective remained the same. Indeed, a non-communist China, freed from the economic inefficiencies that Communist party rule imposes, might well be a more formidable competitor, both economically and militarily, than the present regime.
The U.S.-China economic relationship did not make China a great power, but it did accelerate China's return to his historic status. Dismantling that relationship, assuming that was even possible, and looking to contain China economically will not deprive it of that status, although it will likely slow down its rise.
The U.S. and its allies are right to demand a more level economic playing field with China, including an end to the wholesale theft of intellectual property by China's government and its companies and Beijing's mercantilist policies. They should be equally steadfast in insisting that China adhere to international norms of state behavior.
The U.S.-China relationship is neither a cold war nor a hot war. It is a war, though -- one that will be fought more with advanced semiconductor chip designs and quantum computing protocols than it will be with planes and ships. Regardless of how it is fought, however, the consequences on the international system and who will lead it will be the same.
-- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. Find more information on how to submit your own commentary.


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--Navy Shuffles Fleet Assignments in Pacific and Indian Oceans

NEW YORK -- The U.S. Navy will divide the maritime area now covered by the Yokosuka , Japan-based 7th Fleet and create a new 1st Fleet to focus on the Indian Ocean , Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite has told Congress .
In a hearing of a Senate Armed Services subcommittee Wednesday , Braithwaite talked of the need to revive the 1st Fleet , currently not in service , to improve the American posture in the Indo-Pacific .
`` We will reconstitute the 1st Fleet , assigning it primary responsibility for the Indo and South Asian region as an expeditionary fleet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an agile , mobile , at-sea command . ''
`` This will reassure our allies and partners of our presence and commitment to this region , while ensuring any potential adversary knows we are committed to global presence to ensure rule of law and freedom of the seas , '' he added .
Braithwaite first floated the idea of reestablishing the 1st Fleet at a Naval Submarine League symposium in November .
He pushed the plan forward in Wednesday 's hearing , saying that `` the decision has been made '' to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 7th Fleet -- which now stretches from Hawaii to the India-Pakistan border , encompassing the maritime territories of 36 countries -- faces `` formidable challenges '' covering the entire region and indicated that its area will be divided in two .
`` It would n't necessarily take ships from the 7th Fleet or from the 3rd Fleet .
It would be a sharing , '' he said , after explaining that , like the 7th and 3rd fleets , the 1st Fleet would be under the Pacific Fleet headquartered in Hawaii .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an expeditionary fleet without a land-based headquarters , at least at first , Braithwaite replied : `` That is correct . ''
Braithwaite had suggested last month that Singapore could be a location from which the fleet would be run .
He offered no elaboration Wednesday on the location of a future base .
`` We are still determining where , from where that fleet would operate from , '' he said .
`` But its major focus would be on the Western Pacific and the Eastern Indian Ocean . ''
After the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ministry of Defense said it had not been consulted on basing a new fleet .
Pointing to a 2012 agreement to let the U.S. deploy up to four littoral combat ships to Singapore on a rotational basis , the ministry said : `` This remains the standing arrangement with no further requests from or discussions with the U.S. Department of Defense ( DOD ) on additional deployment of U.S. ships in Singapore . ''

NEW YORK -- The U.S. Navy will divide the maritime area now covered by the Yokosuka, Japan-based 7th Fleet and create a new 1st Fleet to focus on the Indian Ocean, Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite has told Congress.
In a hearing of a Senate Armed Services subcommittee Wednesday, Braithwaite talked of the need to revive the 1st Fleet, currently not in service, to improve the American posture in the Indo-Pacific.


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--Space Force May Use Their Own Ranking System Despite Calls to Adopt Naval Ranks

Lawmakers have ditched a provision that would require U.S. Space Force to use naval ranks for its service members , according to the conference report of the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act .
The House and Senate Armed Services committees on Thursday released their final version of the defense bill , which gives the U.S. military 's newest branch the authority to make their own call on ranks without much congressional oversight , according to the bill text .
Read Next : Robert Bales Among 8 Former Troops , Contractors Petitioning Trump for Pardons Because the Space Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service branches , lawmakers in the bill `` strongly encouraged '' service leaders to consider `` all the military services historic rank structures , '' before making a decision .
`` Once a decision by the Secretary of the Air Force has been made the Secretary will submit the findings and decision to the Committees on Armed Service of the Senate and the House of Representatives detailing the final rank structure of the officer and enlisted force of the Space Force at least 15 days prior to implementation , '' the text states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of the Air Force .
The Chief Master Sgt .
Roger Towberman , top enlisted leader of the service , revealed this summer that Space Force had been ready to move ahead with announcing a rank structure -- until lawmakers stepped in .
In July , Rep. Dan Crenshaw , R-Texas , proposed an amendment in the FY2021 NDAA requiring `` the same system and rank structure as is used in the Navy , '' for the Space Force , according to a House summary of the text .
As a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision .
`` We 've got to let that law , that legal system play out , and until it plays out , there 's really no point , right , moving forward , '' Towberman said during a Q & A segment during the Air Force Sergeants ' virtual symposium in August .
Experts have said a Navy rank system would make sense for Space Force .
Responding to the news on Twitter Thursday , some space enthusiasts noted that `` Space Admiral just sounds better . ''
`` A good reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force is to better distinguish [ Space Force ] personnel from Air Force personnel , kind of like [ the Marine Corps ] using different ranks than the Navy , '' Todd Harrison , director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic & International Studies , said in July following Crenshaw 's proposal .
Even William Shatner -- the actor who portrayed Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise in the original `` Star Trek '' series -- backed Crenshaw 's idea .
In an Op Ed titled , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Space Force ? ''
published in Military Times in August , Shatner said there is historical precedence -- in the entertainment industry , anyway -- for space commanding officers to take naval ranks .
Twitter users pointed Shatner to the NDAA 's removal of the language , asking his opinion .
`` I 'm actually fine with it , '' Shatner responded Thursday .
`` It was their decision to make .
Who am I to not accept their decision ? ''
-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk @ military.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oriana0214 .
Related : Space Force Was Set to Announce Its New Rank Structure .
Then , Congress Stepped In

Lawmakers have ditched a provision that would require U.S. Space Force to use naval ranks for its service members, according to the conference report of the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.
The House and Senate Armed Services committees on Thursday released their final version of the defense bill, which gives the U.S. military's newest branch the authority to make their own call on ranks without much congressional oversight, according to the bill text.
Read Next: Robert Bales Among 8 Former Troops, Contractors Petitioning Trump for Pardons
Because the Space Force will accept members from across the other service branches, lawmakers in the bill "strongly encouraged" service leaders to consider "all the military services historic rank structures," before making a decision.
"Once a decision by the Secretary of the Air Force has been made the Secretary will submit the findings and decision to the Committees on Armed Service of the Senate and the House of Representatives detailing the final rank structure of the officer and enlisted force of the Space Force at least 15 days prior to implementation," the text states. The Space Force falls under the Department of the Air Force.
The Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman, top enlisted leader of the service, revealed this summer that Space Force had been ready to move ahead with announcing a rank structure -- until lawmakers stepped in.
In July, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, proposed an amendment in the FY2021 NDAA requiring "the same system and rank structure as is used in the Navy," for the Space Force, according to a House summary of the text.
As a result, the Space Force halted announcing its decision.
"We've got to let that law, that legal system play out, and until it plays out, there's really no point, right, moving forward," Towberman said during a Q&A segment during the Air Force Sergeants' virtual symposium in August.
Experts have said a Navy rank system would make sense for Space Force. Responding to the news on Twitter Thursday, some space enthusiasts noted that "Space Admiral just sounds better."
"A good reason to use Navy ranks in the Space Force is to better distinguish [Space Force] personnel from Air Force personnel, kind of like [the Marine Corps] using different ranks than the Navy," Todd Harrison, director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, said in July following Crenshaw's proposal.
Even William Shatner -- the actor who portrayed Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise in the original "Star Trek" series -- backed Crenshaw's idea.
In an Op Ed titled, "What the heck is wrong with you, Space Force?" published in Military Times in August, Shatner said there is historical precedence -- in the entertainment industry, anyway -- for space commanding officers to take naval ranks.
Twitter users pointed Shatner to the NDAA's removal of the language, asking his opinion.
"I'm actually fine with it," Shatner responded Thursday.
"It was their decision to make. Who am I to not accept their decision?"
-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
Related: Space Force Was Set to Announce Its New Rank Structure. Then, Congress Stepped In


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--San Diego Schools Reportedly Hold ‘White Privilege’ Acknowledgment Training Sessions for Teachers

On Thursday , an exclusive report on leaked documents revealed that the San Diego Unified School District was holding training sessions where teachers were told of their “ white privilege , ” that they were racist , and they were part of an oppressive white power structure .
Not only are the teachers told that they must acknowledge their “ privilege ” and embrace “ antiracist ” ideas , they are instructed to “ teach others to see their privilege.
” Christopher Rufo of City Journal reported what he had discovered in the leaked documents .
“ SCOOP : San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to attend ‘ white privilege ’ training , in which teachers are told ‘ you are racist ’ and ‘ you are upholding racist ideas , structures , and policies.
’ The leaked documents from the training session will shock you , ” Rufo wrote in a series of posts .
“ The training begins with a ‘ land acknowledgement , ’ in which the teachers are asked to accept that they are colonizers living on stolen Native American land , ” he continued .
“ Then they are told they will experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ and ] closed-mindedness ’ because of their ‘ white fragility.
’ ” Under “ land acknowledgement , ” the training states , “ We acknowledge that we meet on stolen land , taken from indigenous peoples .
I am speaking to you from Kumeyaay land .
We must acknowledge the hidden history of violence against indigenous peoples in an effort to move towards justice.
” Under “ white fragility , ” the training quotes Robin DiAngelo : “ It is a more powerful means of white racial control and the protection of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreements , ” the training states , “ Expect to experience discomfort.
” Rufo noted , “ After watching clips of Robin DiAngelo and Ibram Kendi , the trainers tell the teachers : ‘ you are racist , ’ ‘ you are upholding racist ideas , structures , and policies , ’ and that they must commit to becoming ‘ antiracist ’ in the classroom .
They must submit to the new racial orthodoxy.
” Rufo added , “ The teachers are told that they are part of an oppressive white power structure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in America hold most of the [ power ] ’ and that white teachers have an ‘ ability to thrive ’ that is ‘ being preserved at every level of power.
’ ” Under “ white privilege and culture , ” the training states : “ Since white people hold most of the political , institutional , and economic power , they receive advantages that nonwhite groups do not .
White culture and white racialized identity refer to the way that white people , their customs , culture and beliefs operate as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are compared.
” Further , the training indicates that the teachers should acknowledge : “ My ability to THRIVE , not just survive , is being preserved at every level of power without me having to do anything at all .
I don ’ t even have to vote.
” The materials , Rufo wrote , demands that teachers become “ antiracist ” activists , who “ confront and examine [ their ] white privilege , ” “ acknowledge when [ they ] feel white fragility , ” and “ teach others to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Rufo , teachers are told that “ they must turn their schools into activist organizations.
” Rufo concluded by noting that just 47 % of San Diego Unified students reach proficiency in reading and math .
“ Teaching ‘ white fragility ’ will do nothing to help students improve their academic abilities — it will only serve activist teachers who want to shift the blame to ‘ systemic racism , ’ ” he said .
The Daily Wire is one of America ’ s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a member .

On Thursday, an exclusive report on leaked documents revealed that the San Diego Unified School District was holding training sessions where teachers were told of their “white privilege,” that they were racist, and they were part of an oppressive white power structure. Not only are the teachers told that they must acknowledge their “privilege” and embrace “antiracist” ideas, they are instructed to “teach others to see their privilege.”
Christopher Rufo of City Journal reported what he had discovered in the leaked documents. “SCOOP: San Diego Unified School District is forcing teachers to attend ‘white privilege’ training, in which teachers are told ‘you are racist’ and ‘you are upholding racist ideas, structures, and policies.’ The leaked documents from the training session will shock you,” Rufo wrote in a series of posts.
“The training begins with a ‘land acknowledgement,’ in which the teachers are asked to accept that they are colonizers living on stolen Native American land,” he continued. “Then they are told they will experience ‘guilt, anger, apathy, [and] closed-mindedness’ because of their ‘white fragility.’”
The training begins with a "land acknowledgement," in which the teachers are asked to accept that they are colonizers living on stolen Native American land. Then they are told they will experience "guilt, anger, apathy, [and] closed-mindedness" because of their "white fragility." pic.twitter.com/meUO3GiXNu — Christopher F. Rufo ⚔ (@realchrisrufo) December 3, 2020
Under “land acknowledgement,” the training states, “We acknowledge that we meet on stolen land, taken from indigenous peoples. I am speaking to you from Kumeyaay land. We must acknowledge the hidden history of violence against indigenous peoples in an effort to move towards justice.”
Under “white fragility,” the training quotes Robin DiAngelo: “It is a more powerful means of white racial control and the protection of white advantage.”
Under “norms and agreements,” the training states, “Expect to experience discomfort.”
Rufo noted, “After watching clips of Robin DiAngelo and Ibram Kendi, the trainers tell the teachers: ‘you are racist,’ ‘you are upholding racist ideas, structures, and policies,’ and that they must commit to becoming ‘antiracist’ in the classroom. They must submit to the new racial orthodoxy.”
After watching clips of Robin DiAngelo and Ibram Kendi, the trainers tell the teachers: "you are racist," "you are upholding racist ideas, structures, and policies," and that they must commit to becoming "antiracist" in the classroom. They must submit to the new racial orthodoxy. pic.twitter.com/EEFNc0H1em — Christopher F. Rufo ⚔ (@realchrisrufo) December 3, 2020
Rufo added, “The teachers are told that they are part of an oppressive white power structure. The trainers claim that ‘white people in America hold most of the [power]’ and that white teachers have an ‘ability to thrive’ that is ‘being preserved at every level of power.’”
Under “white privilege and culture,” the training states: “Since white people hold most of the political, institutional, and economic power, they receive advantages that nonwhite groups do not. White culture and white racialized identity refer to the way that white people, their customs, culture and beliefs operate as the standard by which all other groups are compared.”
Further, the training indicates that the teachers should acknowledge: “My ability to THRIVE, not just survive, is being preserved at every level of power without me having to do anything at all. I don’t even have to vote.”
The materials, Rufo wrote, demands that teachers become “antiracist” activists, who “confront and examine [their] white privilege,” “acknowledge when [they] feel white fragility,” and “teach others to see their privilege.” In other words, said Rufo, teachers are told that “they must turn their schools into activist organizations.”
Rufo concluded by noting that just 47% of San Diego Unified students reach proficiency in reading and math. “Teaching ‘white fragility’ will do nothing to help students improve their academic abilities — it will only serve activist teachers who want to shift the blame to ‘systemic racism,’” he said.
Finally, teachers are told they must become "antiracist" activists. They must "confront and examine [their] white privilege," "acknowledge when [they] feel white fragility," and "teach others to see their privilege." They must turn their schools into activist organizations. pic.twitter.com/1KaJobp5Km — Christopher F. Rufo ⚔ (@realchrisrufo) December 3, 2020


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--Florida Now Requires ‘Cycle Threshold’ Value to be Reported on Coronavirus Tests to Help Identify Fa

Florida Now Requires ‘Cycle Threshold’ Value to be Reported on Coronavirus Tests to Help Identify False Positives

The Florida Department of Health is requiring that all labs in the state report the critical “ cycle threshold ” @ @ @ @ @ they perform .
In a press release this week , the department said that , @ @ @ @ @ cycle threshold ( CT ) values and their reference ranges , as applicable , must @ @ @ @ @ FDOH via electronic laboratory reporting or by fax immediately.
” “ Cycle thresholds ” are @ @ @ @ @ used polymerase chain reaction test can detect a sample of the COVID-19 virus .
The @ @ @ @ @ , the lower the amount of viral load in the sample ; the lower the @ @ @ @ @ the virus was in the original sample .
Numerous epidemiological experts have argued that cycle @ @ @ @ @ by which patients and the public can make an informed decision about how infectious and/or @ @ @ @ @ positive COVID-19 test might be .
However , health departments across the country are failing @ @ @ @ @

The Florida Department of Health is requiring that all labs in the state report the critical “cycle threshold” level of every COVID-19 test they perform.
In a press release this week, the department said that, regarding COVID-19 tests, “cycle threshold (CT) values and their reference ranges, as applicable, must be reported by laboratories to FDOH via electronic laboratory reporting or by fax immediately.”
“Cycle thresholds” are the level at which widely used polymerase chain reaction test can detect a sample of the COVID-19 virus. The higher the number of cycles, the lower the amount of viral load in the sample; the lower the cycles, the more prevalent the virus was in the original sample.
Numerous epidemiological experts have argued that cycle thresholds are an important metric by which patients and the public can make an informed decision about how infectious and/or sick an individual with a positive COVID-19 test might be. However, health departments across the country are failing to collect that data.


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--California Restaurant Owner’s Emotional Video Over State’s Dining Ban Hypocrisy Goes Viral

Restaurant owner reduced to tears over Dem hypocrisy : Her business is shut down , but Hollywood gets pass The @ @ @ @ @ has gone mega viral

A Los Angeles-area restaurant owner is going viral after she exposed the cruel hypocrisy of coronavirus-related restrictions imposed by Democratic leaders.
The viral rant comes as California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti enact new restrictions as COVID cases continue to surge in the Golden State.
What did the restaurant owner say?
Los Angeles County officials banned outdoor dining last month, one of the few lifelines afforded to restaurants, which have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But according to Angela Marsden, owner of Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill in Sherman Oaks, local officials permitted a TV production to skirt the rules. Shockingly, the Hollywood crew had set up outdoor eating areas just feet from Marsden's restaurant.
In her blistering rant, Marsden blasted Garcetti and Newsom for prioritizing Hollywood over small businesses like hers.
"So this is my place, the Pineapple Hill Grill & Saloon. If you go to my page you can see all the work I did for outdoor dining, for tables being seven feet apart," Marsden said. "And I come in today because I'm organizing a protest and I came in to get stuff for that."
"And I walk into my parking lot — and obviously Mayor Garcetti has approved … this," she continued, pointing to the production setup, including tables for outdoor dining to be used by the production crew, "has approved this being set up for...this being set up for...for a movie company."
Marsden continued:
I'm losing everything. Everything I own is being taken away from me and they set up a movie company right next to my outdoor patio, which is right over here. And people wonder why I'm protesting and why I have had enough.
They have not given us money and they have shut us down. We cannot survive, my staff cannot survive. Look at this. Tell me that this is dangerous, but right next to me, as a slap in my face, that's safe. This is safe? Fifteen feet away?
This is dangerous. Mayor Garcetti and Gavin Newsom is [sic] responsible for every single person that doesn't have unemployment, that does not have a job, and all the businesses that are going under.
We need your help. We need somebody to do something about this.
According to KCAL-TV, Marsden spent about $80,000 to make her restaurant safe and compliant with the new COVID-related regulations. Yet, she remains shut down.
Unfortunately, Marsden told KCAL that the restaurant — which has existed for more than 40 years — will be shut permanently if leaders do not allow her to reopen by February.
"If I'm not open by February, I will no longer be here," Marsden said. "My restaurant can't open for to-go, what little money we have I have to try to hold on to for the hopes that we'll get to go to outdoor dining again, which is why I'm fighting so hard to get it open again."
Is there some good news?
L.A. County Superior Court Judge James Chalfant ordered Los Angeles County public health officials this week to present him with scientific evidence proving why a ban on outdoor dining is necessary.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Chalfant is skeptical that such extreme measures are necessary to slow the spread of COVID.
"You have to do a risk-benefit analysis for public health. You don't just talk about the risk of spreading disease. You have to talk about the benefit of keeping restaurants open," Chalfant said.


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--DeVos Suspends Federal Student Loan Repayments Through January

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced Friday that federal student loan payments will be suspended through the end of January .
The relief , which was set to expire Dec. 31 , has been extended another month for the roughly 41 million Americans who have benefited from the grace period .
Federal student loans will not accrue interest during the time period and borrowers are not expected to pay their monthly dues .
However , DeVos said it should be Congress , not the executive branch , to take action to deal with student loans .
“ The coronavirus pandemic has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and this temporary pause in payments will help those who have been impacted , ” DeVos said in a statement .
“ The added time also allows Congress to do its job and determine what measures it believes are necessary and appropriate .
The Congress , not the Executive Branch , is in charge of student loan policy.
” Last month , the American Council on Education and other higher education associations called on DeVos to extend the relief amidst a recent surge in coronavirus cases which could lead to more unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( RELATED : Betsy DeVos Reportedly Being Investigated For Possibly Violating Hatch Act In Fox Interview ) “ Bringing millions of Americans back intro repayment in the thick of this crisis will cause additional financial hardship and force borrowers to make difficult decisions about their limited resources , ” the group said in a letter .
DeVos set all federal student loan interest rates to zero in March after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency .
In August DeVos extended the relief through December .

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced Friday that federal student loan payments will be suspended through the end of January.
The relief, which was set to expire Dec. 31, has been extended another month for the roughly 41 million Americans who have benefited from the grace period. Federal student loans will not accrue interest during the time period and borrowers are not expected to pay their monthly dues.
However, DeVos said it should be Congress, not the executive branch, to take action to deal with student loans.
“The coronavirus pandemic has presented challenges for many students and borrowers, and this temporary pause in payments will help those who have been impacted,” DeVos said in a statement. “The added time also allows Congress to do its job and determine what measures it believes are necessary and appropriate. The Congress, not the Executive Branch, is in charge of student loan policy.”
Last month, the American Council on Education and other higher education associations called on DeVos to extend the relief amidst a recent surge in coronavirus cases which could lead to more unemployment, according to the Associated Press. (RELATED: Betsy DeVos Reportedly Being Investigated For Possibly Violating Hatch Act In Fox Interview)
“Bringing millions of Americans back intro repayment in the thick of this crisis will cause additional financial hardship and force borrowers to make difficult decisions about their limited resources,” the group said in a letter.
DeVos set all federal student loan interest rates to zero in March after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency. In August DeVos extended the relief through December.


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--Court Rules in Favor of Trump Admin’s Wall Funding

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that a lower court was wrong to bar the Trump administration from taking $ 3.6 billion from military construction projects for a border wall .
A panel of the 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals said that El Paso County and the nonprofit Border Network for Human Rights did not have the standing to challenge President Donald Trump ’ s redirecting funds from more than 100 military construction projects , including a $ 20 million road project at a base located in the city .
The appeals court found that neither the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly harmed by Trump ’ s move .
The court reversed a December 2019 ruling by U.S. District Judge David Briones .
Trump took roughly $ 6 billion from military funds under a national emergency he declared in early 2019 after Congress refused to fully finance his demands for the wall , leading to the longest government shutdown in history .
President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to end that national emergency , though the Trump administration has locked in construction contracts with the funding and already built many new stretches of wall across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ THE FOX NEWS APP The U.S. Supreme Court has already agreed to review a different ruling on the use of military construction funds .
The 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals previously agreed with a coalition of border states and environmental groups that contended the transfer of money was unlawful and that building the wall would pose environmental threats .
In its order Friday , the 5th Circuit said it disagreed with the 9th Circuit ’ s ruling and would “ decline to follow it .
”

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that a lower court was wrong to bar the Trump administration from taking $3.6 billion from military construction projects for a border wall.
JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STOP DEPORTING UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that El Paso County and the nonprofit Border Network for Human Rights did not have the standing to challenge President Donald Trump’s redirecting funds from more than 100 military construction projects, including a $20 million road project at a base located in the city.
The appeals court found that neither the county nor the Border Network proved it was directly harmed by Trump’s move. The court reversed a December 2019 ruling by U.S. District Judge David Briones.
Trump took roughly $6 billion from military funds under a national emergency he declared in early 2019 after Congress refused to fully finance his demands for the wall, leading to the longest government shutdown in history.
President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to end that national emergency, though the Trump administration has locked in construction contracts with the funding and already built many new stretches of wall across the southwest border.
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The U.S. Supreme Court has already agreed to review a different ruling on the use of military construction funds. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously agreed with a coalition of border states and environmental groups that contended the transfer of money was unlawful and that building the wall would pose environmental threats.
In its order Friday, the 5th Circuit said it disagreed with the 9th Circuit’s ruling and would “decline to follow it.”


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--Big Pharma Sues to Stop Trump’s New Rule Lowering Drug Prices

WASHINGTON -- Drug industry trade groups filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration on Friday challenging new U.S. rules to lower drug prices , potentially undermining one of President Donald Trump ’ s flagship efforts to take on high drug costs .
The suits are being filed by PhRMA , the pharmaceutical industry trade group , and a group of biotechnology industry trade organizations , including Biotechnology Innovation Organization , in Maryland and California , respectively .
The administration last month announced it has finalized a rule , which will take effect on Jan. 1 , that would tie payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a U.S. government insurance program , to the lowest price paid by certain other countries .
Since he lost the presidential election , Trump has been issuing and finalizing a host of rule changes in areas ranging from energy , healthcare to immigration in a bid to bolster key areas of his agenda prior to his departure from the White House in January .
The reimbursement rules will affect 50 drugs and be tied to the lowest price charged among a list of rich countries .
Administration officials said the move could save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven years .
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America ’ s lawsuit claims the rule change is illegal because it relies on laws allowing the administration to test new drug pricing models but is too far reaching to qualify as a pilot .
It requests that the court halt the rule before it can be implemented .
“ It ’ s not a test when it impacts the entire country and implicates 90 % of ( Medicare ’ s hospital drug ) spending with no control group , ” said Steve Ubl , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE Both suits claim , among other things , that the administration did not follow the appropriate process by failing to collect feedback from stakeholders before announcing the new rule .
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
Past efforts by the administration to curb drug prices , such as a proposed rule to force drugmakers to reveal list prices in advertisements , have been undermined by successful industry lawsuits in the past .
STAT news was first to report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

WASHINGTON -- Drug industry trade groups filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration on Friday challenging new U.S. rules to lower drug prices, potentially undermining one of President Donald Trump’s flagship efforts to take on high drug costs.
The suits are being filed by PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry trade group, and a group of biotechnology industry trade organizations, including Biotechnology Innovation Organization, in Maryland and California, respectively.
The administration last month announced it has finalized a rule, which will take effect on Jan. 1, that would tie payments for some drugs made by Medicare, a U.S. government insurance program, to the lowest price paid by certain other countries.
TRUMP TARGETS MEDICARE DRUG PRICES WITH COST-CUTTING MEASURES
Since he lost the presidential election, Trump has been issuing and finalizing a host of rule changes in areas ranging from energy, healthcare to immigration in a bid to bolster key areas of his agenda prior to his departure from the White House in January.
The reimbursement rules will affect 50 drugs and be tied to the lowest price charged among a list of rich countries. Administration officials said the move could save taxpayers and patients $85 billion over seven years.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America’s lawsuit claims the rule change is illegal because it relies on laws allowing the administration to test new drug pricing models but is too far reaching to qualify as a pilot. It requests that the court halt the rule before it can be implemented.
“It’s not a test when it impacts the entire country and implicates 90% of (Medicare’s hospital drug) spending with no control group,” said Steve Ubl, PhRMA’s chief executive officer.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Both suits claim, among other things, that the administration did not follow the appropriate process by failing to collect feedback from stakeholders before announcing the new rule.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Past efforts by the administration to curb drug prices, such as a proposed rule to force drugmakers to reveal list prices in advertisements, have been undermined by successful industry lawsuits in the past.
STAT news was first to report BIO’s lawsuit.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--Stevie Nicks Sells Her Song Rights for $100 Million

Stevie Nicks has parted ways with a majority of her music publishing rights .
The 72-year-old musical superstar — known for her solo work as well as her performances with Fleetwood Mac — sold the rights to Primary Wave Music , which announced the deal in a news release Friday .
Citing people familiar with the transaction , the Wall Street Journal reported the sale was made to the tune of $ 100 million , giving the company an 80 % stake in the rights .
Included in the deal are the rights to hits such as “ Edge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Stand Back , ” “ Rihannon ” and “ Dreams.
” The purchase also gives Primary Wave the rights to Nicks ’ name and likeness , and the singer will be allowed to sign new songwriters to a joint venture .
“ To say we ’ re excited to welcome the incredible Stevie Nicks to the Primary Wave family would be a dramatic understatement , ” CEO and founder Larry Mestel said .
“ If Primary Wave were starting our company today , Stevie Nicks would be one of the shining pillars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He added : “ She is a groundbreaking artist , and the longevity of her iconic career comes from writing songs , instantly recognizable and critically acclaimed , that stand the test of time.
” Nicks recently saw a surge in revived popularity alongside her Fleetwood Mac bandmates when “ Dreams ” reentered the Billboard charts following a viral TikTok video featuring a man skateboarding and lipsyncing to the tune .
Originally released in 1977 , “ Dreams ” was featured on the iconic album “ Rumours.
” The record as a whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top 10 chart this year , 43 years after its release .
Nicks is also the only woman to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice — once as a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1998 and again in 2019 as a solo artist .

Stevie Nicks has parted ways with a majority of her music publishing rights.
The 72-year-old musical superstar — known for her solo work as well as her performances with Fleetwood Mac — sold the rights to Primary Wave Music, which announced the deal in a news release Friday.
Citing people familiar with the transaction, the Wall Street Journal reported the sale was made to the tune of $100 million, giving the company an 80% stake in the rights.
Included in the deal are the rights to hits such as “Edge of Seventeen,” “Landslide,” “Stand Back,” “Rihannon” and “Dreams.”
The purchase also gives Primary Wave the rights to Nicks’ name and likeness, and the singer will be allowed to sign new songwriters to a joint venture.
“To say we’re excited to welcome the incredible Stevie Nicks to the Primary Wave family would be a dramatic understatement,” CEO and founder Larry Mestel said. “If Primary Wave were starting our company today, Stevie Nicks would be one of the shining pillars, a true legend among legends.”
He added: “She is a groundbreaking artist, and the longevity of her iconic career comes from writing songs, instantly recognizable and critically acclaimed, that stand the test of time.”
Nicks recently saw a surge in revived popularity alongside her Fleetwood Mac bandmates when “Dreams” reentered the Billboard charts following a viral TikTok video featuring a man skateboarding and lipsyncing to the tune.
Originally released in 1977, “Dreams” was featured on the iconic album “Rumours.” The record as a whole also rose in popularity and hit the top 10 chart this year, 43 years after its release.
Nicks is also the only woman to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice — once as a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1998 and again in 2019 as a solo artist.


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--Pence Rallies for Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in Georgia

SAVANNAH , Georgia — Vice President Mike Pence warned at a rally Friday for Republican Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler that Georgians who refrain from voting in the upcoming Senate runoff election would be handing a win to Democrats .
Pence said at the rally , “ I know we ’ ve all got our doubts about the last election , and I actually hear some people saying , ‘ Just don ’ t vote ’ ” — a comment that comes after attorneys Sidney Powell and Lin Wood told people this week not to vote in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud occurred in the presidential election .
“ My fellow Americans , if you don ’ t vote , they win , ” Pence said to the crowd of several hundred .
“ If you don ’ t vote , there could be nothing to stop Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi from cutting our military , raising taxes , passing the agenda to the radical left.
” If the Democrats win both Georgia seats and Joe Biden survives legal challenges from the Trump campaign , they would control the House and the presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala Harris would decide any votes in the Senate that end in a 50–50 tie .
Pence said a Senate majority “ could be the last line of defense ” for Republicans but reiterated comments he made at a rally last month that President Donald Trump is continuing to pursue lawsuits over the election results and that they would fight “ until every illegal vote is thrown out.
” As voices like those of Powell and Wood , who are not affiliated with Trump ’ s legal team , urge voters not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the alleged voter fraud , Trump and his team , by contrast , have repeatedly told Georgians to vote .
Pence said , “ Stay in the fight for integrity in our elections .
… We need you to vote , Georgia.
” The vice president called on voters to check their registrations and reminded them they could request an absentee ballot through December 31 .
He added , “ You request that absentee ballot , I want you to be confident about your vote.
” A record 1.3 million absentee votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast for the presidential election in Georgia , a state Biden appears to have won by about 12,000 , assuming Trump ’ s legal challenges do not succeed .
Georgia absentee ballots have faced particular scrutiny from the president and his legal team after a hand recount in the state did not include checking voter signatures on envelopes .
Fox 40 reported that as of Monday , more than 940,000 absentee ballots had been requested for the upcoming runoffs .
Pence assured the crowd , “ We ’ re on them this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re gon na secure our polls .
We ’ re gon na secure our drop boxes , so get an absentee ballot and vote , and vote today .
Don ’ t wait .
Fill it out and turn it in.
” The vice president then quipped to those who opt to vote in person , “ And remember , friends don ’ t let friends vote alone .
Bring a family member , bring a neighbor , and vote to send David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler back to Washington , DC @ @

SAVANNAH, Georgia — Vice President Mike Pence warned at a rally Friday for Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler that Georgians who refrain from voting in the upcoming Senate runoff election would be handing a win to Democrats.
Pence said at the rally, “I know we’ve all got our doubts about the last election, and I actually hear some people saying, ‘Just don’t vote’” — a comment that comes after attorneys Sidney Powell and Lin Wood told people this week not to vote in the upcoming runoffs because of allegations that voter fraud occurred in the presidential election.
“My fellow Americans, if you don’t vote, they win,” Pence said to the crowd of several hundred. “If you don’t vote, there could be nothing to stop Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi from cutting our military, raising taxes, passing the agenda to the radical left.”
If the Democrats win both Georgia seats and Joe Biden survives legal challenges from the Trump campaign, they would control the House and the presidency with the Senate deadlocked. Democrat Sen. Kamala Harris would decide any votes in the Senate that end in a 50–50 tie.
Pence said a Senate majority “could be the last line of defense” for Republicans but reiterated comments he made at a rally last month that President Donald Trump is continuing to pursue lawsuits over the election results and that they would fight “until every illegal vote is thrown out.”
As voices like those of Powell and Wood, who are not affiliated with Trump’s legal team, urge voters not to participate in the high-stakes runoff election because of the alleged voter fraud, Trump and his team, by contrast, have repeatedly told Georgians to vote.
Pence said, “Stay in the fight for integrity in our elections. … We need you to vote, Georgia.”
The vice president called on voters to check their registrations and reminded them they could request an absentee ballot through December 31. He added, “You request that absentee ballot, I want you to be confident about your vote.”
A record 1.3 million absentee votes out of five million votes total were cast for the presidential election in Georgia, a state Biden appears to have won by about 12,000, assuming Trump’s legal challenges do not succeed.
Georgia absentee ballots have faced particular scrutiny from the president and his legal team after a hand recount in the state did not include checking voter signatures on envelopes.
Fox 40 reported that as of Monday, more than 940,000 absentee ballots had been requested for the upcoming runoffs.
Pence assured the crowd, “We’re on them this time. We’re watching. We’re gonna secure our polls. We’re gonna secure our drop boxes, so get an absentee ballot and vote, and vote today. Don’t wait. Fill it out and turn it in.”
The vice president then quipped to those who opt to vote in person, “And remember, friends don’t let friends vote alone. Bring a family member, bring a neighbor, and vote to send David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler back to Washington, DC.”
Watch Pence’s full remarks here.
Write to Ashley Oliver at aoliver@breitbart.com.


bonginoreport--2020-12-05--U.S. Ends Five Exchange Programs With China, Calls Them “Propaganda Tools”

The U.S. State Department said on Friday it has ended five cultural exchange programs with China , calling them `` @ @ @ @ @ '' The Department said on its website it had `` terminated '' the Policymakers Educational @ @ @ @ @ U.S.-China Friendship Program , the U.S.-China Leadership Exchange Program , the U.S.-China Transpacific Exchange Program @ @ @ @ @ and Cultural Program .
It said that the programs had been set up under the @ @ @ @ @ and Cultural Exchange Act - a 1961 law signed by President John F. Kennedy and @ @ @ @ @ cultural exchanges with foreign countries .
`` While other programs funded under the auspices of @ @ @ @ @ , the five programs in question are fully funded and operated by the ( Chinese @ @ @ @ @ propaganda tools , '' the statement said .
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not @ @ @ @ @ comment on the move .
Attempts to reach representatives for the programs singled out by @ @ @ @ @ immediately successful .

The U.S. State Department said on Friday it has ended five cultural exchange programs with China, calling them "soft power propaganda tools."
The Department said on its website it had "terminated" the Policymakers Educational China Trip Program, the U.S.-China Friendship Program, the U.S.-China Leadership Exchange Program, the U.S.-China Transpacific Exchange Program and the Hong Kong Educational and Cultural Program.
It said that the programs had been set up under the auspices of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act - a 1961 law signed by President John F. Kennedy and aimed at boosting academic and cultural exchanges with foreign countries.
"While other programs funded under the auspices of the MECEA are mutually beneficial, the five programs in question are fully funded and operated by the (Chinese) government as soft power propaganda tools," the statement said.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the move. Attempts to reach representatives for the programs singled out by the State Department were not immediately successful.


bonginoreport--2020-12-06--Rudy Giuliani Tests Positive for Coronavirus

Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for the coronavirus , President Trump announced in a tweet on Sunday .
`` @ RudyGiuliani , by far the greatest mayor in the history of NYC , and who has been working tirelessly exposing the most corrupt election ( by far ! )
in the history of the USA , has tested positive for the China Virus , '' Trump wrote .
`` Get better soon Rudy , we will carry on !
!
! ''
The former New York City mayor and personal attorney to President Trump has been leading the Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 election results in several states .
Giuliani , 76 , is the latest official of Trump 's orbit to become infected with the coronavirus over the course of the pandemic .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , senior adviser Hope Hicks , and chief of staff Mark Meadows are among other senior staffers who have tested positive for the virus and since recovered .
The news of Giuliani 's diagnosis comes nearly two weeks after his son Andrew , also a White House staffer , tested positive for COVID-19 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
Andrew confirmed the diagnosis on Twitter Sunday night , writing that his father is `` resting , getting great care and feeling well . ''
An unnamed source who spoke with the New York Times said that Giuliani is reportedly undergoing treatment at the Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington , D.C. Giuliani appeared well in a `` Sunday Morning Futures '' interview where he joined host Maria Bartiromo via satellite to discuss the campaign 's legal strategy .
The president announced his positive diagnosis less than five hours later .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the `` Trump Legal Team will continue our important work to fight for election integrity ! ''
She wished Giuliani a fast recovery but vowed to `` press on '' with the president 's legal effort challenging the vote count in key states .
This is a developing story .
Check back for updates .

Rudy Giuliani said he is "getting great care and feeling good" Sunday night after President Trump announced that his personal attorney had tested positive for the coronavirus.
"Thank you to all my friends and followers for all the prayers and kind wishes," Giuliani wrote. "I’m getting great care and feeling good. Recovering quickly and keeping up with everything."
Trump tweeted on Sunday that Giuliani had tested positive for "the China Virus."
The former New York City mayor has been leading the Trump campaign’s legal battle to overturn the 2020 election results in several states.
TRUMP PLANS TO OUTSHINE BIDEN ON INAUGURATION DAY
Giuliani, 76, is the latest official of Trump's orbit to become infected with the coronavirus over the course of the pandemic. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, senior adviser Hope Hicks, and chief of staff Mark Meadows are among other senior staffers who have tested positive for the virus and since recovered.
The news of Giuliani's diagnosis comes nearly two weeks after his son Andrew, also a White House staffer, tested positive for COVID-19. The senior Giuliani reportedly tested negative at the time.
Andrew confirmed the diagnosis on Twitter Sunday night, writing that his father is "resting, getting great care and feeling well."
An unnamed source who spoke with the New York Times said that Giuliani is reportedly undergoing treatment at the Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Giuliani appeared well in a "Sunday Morning Futures" interview where he joined host Maria Bartiromo via satellite to discuss the campaign's legal strategy. The president announced his positive diagnosis less than five hours later.
Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis said Sunday that the "Trump Legal Team will continue our important work to fight for election integrity!" She wished Giuliani a fast recovery but vowed to "press on" with the president's legal effort challenging the vote count in key states.
News of Giuliani's diagnosis caused the two chambers of the Arizona state legislature to suspend their work for the upcoming week, The Hill reported. Giuliani spent hours testifying in front of Republican legislators last week as part of the Trump campaign's legal effort to overturn the state’s election results.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.