bonginoreport--2020-07-21--What the Mexican Cartel’s Armored Paramilitary Unit Video Teaches Us

Breitbart Texas obtained video on Friday showing what appears to be a battalion-sized unit of specialized gunmen in heavily armored vehicles with the Cartel Jalisco New Generation ( CJNG ) .
The footage presents the group as an elite special forces unit .
A two-minute video shows approximately 100 gunmen in military-style uniforms next to a long line of factory-made armored trucks and SUVs , Breitbart reported .
The video also reveals a large contingent of the gunmen armed with specialized military-grade weapons including some belt-fed .50 caliber machine guns .
In many ways , this heavy-company sized unit is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s own security forces .
This publicly raises concerns that many in the U.S. intelligence community ( IC ) and the Department of Defense ( DOD ) have been closely monitoring for years .
For more than a decade prior to both of us retiring , I worked closely with Texas Air National Guard Colonel Daniel Steiner ( USAF-TXANG Ret ) .
The colonel and I worked to help secure the Texas border during the Los Zetas and Gulf Cartel war as far back as 2009 .
Steiner has a vast knowledge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closely with then-Texas Governor Rick Perry ( R ) to integrate the Texas National Guard and Texas State Guard forces to support border security operations .
Col. Steiner is a 32-year veteran of the United States military with an extensive background in tactical and strategic threats .
His work with civilian authorities on events and issues in Mexico and Central and South America is recognized by federal , state , and local law enforcement communities .
I asked the colonel to analyze the cartel video and describe what should be gleaned from these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ style review but also , what does it indicate strategically for Mexico and for the security of the United States .
This following interview was edited for clarity and length .
Colonel Steiner ( Steiner ) – Yes .
It was made to show rival cartels , and the Mexican government the capabilities of the terrorist cartels .
It is also a strong recruiting tool , which is something CJNG is having no problem doing .
JJ — Does it indicate this cartel ’ s evolving capabilities ?
Steiner — Yes , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand just how dangerous the capabilities are becoming .
JJ — Do the “ troops ” or elite group of CJNG seem disciplined to you ?
Steiner — Their body movement and shouting would typically be construed as “ undisciplined ” to the professional military observer .
Here is the problem : as the U.S. learned in Afghanistan and Iraq , the lack of proper “ discipline ” is not an indicator of capability .
The desire to fight–and fight violently– can not be misconstrued here .
Bottom line : they may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just be having a good time , but their ability to be violent and focused is battle-proven .
JJ .
– What about the weapons and the standardization we see in the video ?
Steiner — All the talk about the standardization of weapons is misleading .
Yes , they have military-grade weapons , but there is no real standardization of armaments among these four-person teams — other than each has long gun capabilities .
Most do seem to have standardization of short gun/handgun .
It should also be noted , the tactical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the weapons in this video is not depicted in the video .
For example , “ long gun to short gun transition ” is a skill that would have to be taught and trained against in order for these members to understand when that transition should be made .
This is military-level training that is even lacking in the basic SEDENA ( Mexican Army ) programs .
I believe only Mexico ’ s special operations units have training on this topic — and even then , it is most likely limited .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ include sniper rifles , anti-materiel rifles , machine guns , automatic grenade launchers , mortars , anti-tank guns , anti-aircraft guns , recoil-less rifles , shoulder-launched missile weapons , and static anti-tank/anti-aircraft missiles .
What do you see in regards to the crew-served weapons ?
Steiner — They seem to be unsupported .
This is most likely a valid indicator of low-level training .
As an example , the M60 , I believe that is the weapon being fired , is designed to be supported with an “ A and B Gunner.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by riflemen on both of its position .
The fact the weapon is mounted keeps me from seeing either of these issues [ as ] being proven and it ’ s clear a mounted weapon is stand alone .
Nonetheless , the weapons themselves are designed to be supported and the teams at each vehicle do not seem to be equipped for such a task .
My impression would be , these weapons are not capable of being properly employed , at least not yet .
Their main goal is most likely ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – Do you believe that they can still be effective considering the level of engagements we see the cartels employing daily against Mexican forces and rival cartels ?
Steiner — Yes .
The mere sound of crew-served guns has a huge impact on those at the receiving end of the fire .
So , yes , these weapons are extremely effective against the Mexican authorities .
Steiner — The 40mm launchers seen with several of these members are effective indirect-fire weapons , but it is unclear how the members are actually trained to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deployed countless times in cartel-on-cartel battles or against Mexican military forces .
It appears to be their only indirect-weapon system .
I believe these 40mm weapons are leveraged for vehicle denial .
Overall , I would agree the level of weaponry seen in this video is important , based on one issue .
The team ’ s concept that seems to coincide with each vehicle .
Fire team configuration and engagement is a real concern as this cartel grows in its capabilities and confidence .
Something else is missing from these unit member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optical-enhanced equipment such as an off the shelf scope , most of these weapons have iron sites .
In an age of highly enhanced sighting devices for the military , it seems odd these paramilitary members have such antiquated sight support .
This impacts night fighting and seeing only the enemy ’ s [ muzzle ] flash .
They do not–yet–have true , “ night-fighting ” capabilities .
JJ – We see uniformity in uniforms , boots , helmets , and tactical gear .
Including clearly identifiable patches .
What do you see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — This is not the first video you and I have reviewed that indicated standardization of uniforms .
What is noteworthy is the apparent lack of body armor .
In an effort to appear as militaristic as possible , they lack of effective protective gear .
I would predict this gap will rapidly close .
On a side note regarding unit patches , several of these members seem to have a unit patch on their right shoulder .
This is something you and I have seen and talked about in the past .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steiner — Patches show unity .
Patches show pride and commitment–much like gang tattoos .
The fact these patches are on the right shoulder–like a U.S. Army indication of a unit deployment in a combat environment — is something we must continue to track .
This cartel ’ s ability to build a much higher level of commitment is a trend that is vital to understanding where their actions may lead .
JJ – In 2009 , the Los Zetas created their first armored vehicles — referred to as the “ monsters.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we continue to see a new generation of armor emerge one after the next .
What are your thoughts on the level of capability of the lighter weight and more maneuverable armored vehicles used today in day-to-day battles ?
Steiner — What is noteworthy is the growing complexity of these cartel combat vehicles .
By the way , I have never supported the nickname of “ narco tank.
” These vehicles have a common link to armored cars or even light-skinned troop transports , but they have no characteristic of a tank .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the increased attention to detail .
Those who are making these vehicles have time and equipment to produce a level of vehicle the cartels have not had in their historic inventory .
These vehicles are professionally made and not some product of a drunk uncle at a welding shop .
This level of advancement is unmatched .
No such capability exists with any known terrorist organization in the world , and that fact must not be overlooked .
JJ – I know we can ’ t go into depth here for national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cartel ’ s communications in combat and their utilization effectively ?
Steiner — It appears the utilization of handheld radios continues to be the primary “ maneuver ” communication network .
This issue continues to be a major concern .
How can Mexico ’ s military not own the spectrum — spectrum that is based on low capability/handheld communication devices ?
Most in the CJNG level are encrypted .
Here is why I know Mexico is not attacking this issue of command-and-control .
I ’ ve seen no indication of the cartels responding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yes , they do purchase new , more capable comm gear , but it seems their ability to communicate and maneuver is not truly impacted .
How else could they have managed to assemble such a large force ?
JJ – How effectively are some of these armored vehicles used by CJNG ?
Steiner — It appears these vehicles have not yet been utilized in any real combat operations .
They may have been cleaned or even repainted for this video , but the overall appearance of them would make the typical observer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
Show Pony ?
Most likely , but the ability to execute command and control to the level of declaring the assembly and then moving the vehicles to the assembly point simply amazes me .
JJ – What does this all mean Colonel , where are we headed strategically with the cartel ’ s constant un-metered advancements in tradecraft ?
Steiner — Every time you and I review these videos — especially the combat ones — it gives me a clear picture of where this is all heading .
I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officially and unofficially for over 15 years and this video confirms my greatest fear .
The progression of the cartel ’ s capabilities , CJNG to be precise , is an issue the U.S. can not afford to overlook any longer .
The CJNG is missing only a few critical parts that will lead it to being a “ force on force ” threat to the Mexican military .
Imagine the CJNG laying siege to a target .
With a small increase in combat arms training , such as weapon ’ s support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will attack targets of increasing value in Mexico .
Think in terms of the siege that took place in 1985 at the Palace of Justice in Columbia .
That is where CJNG ’ s capabilities are heading .
If they desire to execute such an event , they will most likely be successful in at least taking the target , if not holding it .
Thus forcing the Mexican government to respond in a way that would make global news .
Our nation ’ s number one trade partner has a siege event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repercussions .
JJ – Where does this end up if the U.S. government continues the policy of avoiding directly targeting the cartels as we have seen ?
Steiner — If U.S. leadership blows off what is indicated in this video , then the consequences will fall on D.C .
If Mexico ’ s leadership and intelligence community is so compromised , then preventing a major event is impossible .
What then becomes possible is such an event taking place on U.S. soil .
Jaeson Jones is a retired captain from the Texas Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Counterterrorism Division and a Breitbart Texas contributor .
While on duty , he managed daily operations for the Texas Rangers Border Security Operations Center .

Breitbart Texas obtained video on Friday showing what appears to be a battalion-sized unit of specialized gunmen in heavily armored vehicles with the Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG). The footage presents the group as an elite special forces unit.
A two-minute video shows approximately 100 gunmen in military-style uniforms next to a long line of factory-made armored trucks and SUVs, Breitbart reported. The video also reveals a large contingent of the gunmen armed with specialized military-grade weapons including some belt-fed .50 caliber machine guns. In many ways, this heavy-company sized unit is better armed and equipped than Mexico’s own security forces.
TRIPWIRES & TRIGGERS-VIDEO-This is the ELITE GROUP of CJNG cartel. We have warned for years of the tradecraft and capabilities of these cartels. Our nation must take action, WE MUST DESIGNATE THE MEXICAN CARTELS AS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS (FTO)… https://t.co/j6JaLHIGuB pic.twitter.com/SQJQNB4S7u — Jaeson Jones (@jaeson_jones) July 18, 2020
This publicly raises concerns that many in the U.S. intelligence community (IC) and the Department of Defense (DOD) have been closely monitoring for years.
For more than a decade prior to both of us retiring, I worked closely with Texas Air National Guard Colonel Daniel Steiner (USAF-TXANG Ret). The colonel and I worked to help secure the Texas border during the Los Zetas and Gulf Cartel war as far back as 2009. Steiner has a vast knowledge of Mexican military tactics and capabilities and worked closely with then-Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) to integrate the Texas National Guard and Texas State Guard forces to support border security operations.
Col. Steiner is a 32-year veteran of the United States military with an extensive background in tactical and strategic threats. His work with civilian authorities on events and issues in Mexico and Central and South America is recognized by federal, state, and local law enforcement communities.
I asked the colonel to analyze the cartel video and describe what should be gleaned from these capabilities not only as a military after-action style review but also, what does it indicate strategically for Mexico and for the security of the United States.
This following interview was edited for clarity and length.
Jaeson Jones (JJ) — Is this video a “show-pony” event?
Colonel Steiner (Steiner) – Yes. It was made to show rival cartels, and the Mexican government the capabilities of the terrorist cartels. It is also a strong recruiting tool, which is something CJNG is having no problem doing.
JJ — Does it indicate this cartel’s evolving capabilities?
Steiner — Yes, and it’s important, vital, to understand just how dangerous the capabilities are becoming.
JJ — Do the “troops” or elite group of CJNG seem disciplined to you?
Steiner — Their body movement and shouting would typically be construed as “undisciplined” to the professional military observer. Here is the problem: as the U.S. learned in Afghanistan and Iraq, the lack of proper “discipline” is not an indicator of capability. The desire to fight–and fight violently–cannot be misconstrued here. Bottom line: they may seem “undisciplined” and appear to just be having a good time, but their ability to be violent and focused is battle-proven.
JJ. – What about the weapons and the standardization we see in the video?
Steiner — All the talk about the standardization of weapons is misleading. Yes, they have military-grade weapons, but there is no real standardization of armaments among these four-person teams — other than each has long gun capabilities.
Most do seem to have standardization of short gun/handgun. It should also be noted, the tactical level of training for proper utilization of all the weapons in this video is not depicted in the video.
For example, “long gun to short gun transition” is a skill that would have to be taught and trained against in order for these members to understand when that transition should be made. This is military-level training that is even lacking in the basic SEDENA (Mexican Army) programs. I believe only Mexico’s special operations units have training on this topic — and even then, it is most likely limited.
JJ – Crew-served weapons operated by infantry include sniper rifles, anti-materiel rifles, machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, mortars, anti-tank guns, anti-aircraft guns, recoil-less rifles, shoulder-launched missile weapons, and static anti-tank/anti-aircraft missiles. What do you see in regards to the crew-served weapons?
Steiner — They seem to be unsupported. This is most likely a valid indicator of low-level training. As an example, the M60, I believe that is the weapon being fired, is designed to be supported with an “A and B Gunner.” It is also designed to be supported by riflemen on both of its position. The fact the weapon is mounted keeps me from seeing either of these issues [as] being proven and it’s clear a mounted weapon is stand alone.
Nonetheless, the weapons themselves are designed to be supported and the teams at each vehicle do not seem to be equipped for such a task. My impression would be, these weapons are not capable of being properly employed, at least not yet. Their main goal is most likely (to be) suppressive fire.
JJ – Do you believe that they can still be effective considering the level of engagements we see the cartels employing daily against Mexican forces and rival cartels?
Steiner — Yes. The mere sound of crew-served guns has a huge impact on those at the receiving end of the fire. So, yes, these weapons are extremely effective against the Mexican authorities.
JJ – What is missing?
Steiner — The 40mm launchers seen with several of these members are effective indirect-fire weapons, but it is unclear how the members are actually trained to utilize them. We have seen them deployed countless times in cartel-on-cartel battles or against Mexican military forces. It appears to be their only indirect-weapon system. I believe these 40mm weapons are leveraged for vehicle denial.
Overall, I would agree the level of weaponry seen in this video is important, based on one issue. The team’s concept that seems to coincide with each vehicle. Fire team configuration and engagement is a real concern as this cartel grows in its capabilities and confidence.
Something else is missing from these unit member’s weapons. Other than simple optical-enhanced equipment such as an off the shelf scope, most of these weapons have iron sites. In an age of highly enhanced sighting devices for the military, it seems odd these paramilitary members have such antiquated sight support. This impacts night fighting and seeing only the enemy’s [muzzle] flash. They do not–yet–have true, “night-fighting” capabilities.
JJ – We see uniformity in uniforms, boots, helmets, and tactical gear. Including clearly identifiable patches. What do you see in that level of uniformity?
Steiner — This is not the first video you and I have reviewed that indicated standardization of uniforms. What is noteworthy is the apparent lack of body armor. In an effort to appear as militaristic as possible, they lack of effective protective gear. I would predict this gap will rapidly close.
On a side note regarding unit patches, several of these members seem to have a unit patch on their right shoulder. This is something you and I have seen and talked about in the past.
JJ — Why is that significant?
Steiner — Patches show unity. Patches show pride and commitment–much like gang tattoos. The fact these patches are on the right shoulder–like a U.S. Army indication of a unit deployment in a combat environment — is something we must continue to track. This cartel’s ability to build a much higher level of commitment is a trend that is vital to understanding where their actions may lead.
JJ – In 2009, the Los Zetas created their first armored vehicles — referred to as the “monsters.” They were first-generation. Since then, we continue to see a new generation of armor emerge one after the next. What are your thoughts on the level of capability of the lighter weight and more maneuverable armored vehicles used today in day-to-day battles?
Steiner — What is noteworthy is the growing complexity of these cartel combat vehicles. By the way, I have never supported the nickname of “narco tank.” These vehicles have a common link to armored cars or even light-skinned troop transports, but they have no characteristic of a tank. What this video does show us, is the increased attention to detail.
Those who are making these vehicles have time and equipment to produce a level of vehicle the cartels have not had in their historic inventory. These vehicles are professionally made and not some product of a drunk uncle at a welding shop. This level of advancement is unmatched. No such capability exists with any known terrorist organization in the world, and that fact must not be overlooked.
JJ – I know we can’t go into depth here for national security reasons, but what about the cartel’s communications in combat and their utilization effectively?
Steiner — It appears the utilization of handheld radios continues to be the primary “maneuver” communication network. This issue continues to be a major concern. How can Mexico’s military not own the spectrum — spectrum that is based on low capability/handheld communication devices? Most in the CJNG level are encrypted.
Here is why I know Mexico is not attacking this issue of command-and-control. I’ve seen no indication of the cartels responding to a compromised network or networks. Yes, they do purchase new, more capable comm gear, but it seems their ability to communicate and maneuver is not truly impacted. How else could they have managed to assemble such a large force?
JJ – How effectively are some of these armored vehicles used by CJNG?
Steiner — It appears these vehicles have not yet been utilized in any real combat operations. They may have been cleaned or even repainted for this video, but the overall appearance of them would make the typical observer believe they were part of the information campaign.
Show Pony? Most likely, but the ability to execute command and control to the level of declaring the assembly and then moving the vehicles to the assembly point simply amazes me.
JJ – What does this all mean Colonel, where are we headed strategically with the cartel’s constant un-metered advancements in tradecraft?
Steiner — Every time you and I review these videos — especially the combat ones — it gives me a clear picture of where this is all heading. I’ve been observing the events in Mexico both officially and unofficially for over 15 years and this video confirms my greatest fear. The progression of the cartel’s capabilities, CJNG to be precise, is an issue the U.S. cannot afford to overlook any longer.
The CJNG is missing only a few critical parts that will lead it to being a “force on force” threat to the Mexican military.
Imagine the CJNG laying siege to a target. With a small increase in combat arms training, such as weapon’s support and maneuver, this group could and will attack targets of increasing value in Mexico. Think in terms of the siege that took place in 1985 at the Palace of Justice in Columbia.
That is where CJNG’s capabilities are heading. If they desire to execute such an event, they will most likely be successful in at least taking the target, if not holding it. Thus forcing the Mexican government to respond in a way that would make global news. Our nation’s number one trade partner has a siege event live on TV? Think about the repercussions.
JJ – Where does this end up if the U.S. government continues the policy of avoiding directly targeting the cartels as we have seen?
Steiner — If U.S. leadership blows off what is indicated in this video, then the consequences will fall on D.C. If Mexico’s leadership and intelligence community is so compromised, then preventing a major event is impossible. What then becomes possible is such an event taking place on U.S. soil.
Jaeson Jones is a retired captain from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division and a Breitbart Texas contributor. While on duty, he managed daily operations for the Texas Rangers Border Security Operations Center.


bonginoreport--2020-07-21--As Moscow Puts Their Regional Forces On Alert, NATO Black Sea Exercise Kicks Off

The U.S. warship Porter entered the Black Sea on Sunday to take part in an annual NATO exercise , days after Russia placed its Black Sea forces on alert .
Sea Breeze 2020 is cohosted by the United States and Ukraine and involves more than 2,000 personnel from Bulgaria , Georgia , Norway , Romania , Spain and Turkey .
It will run through July 26 and focus on warfare areas such as air defense , anti-sub warfare , damage control and search and rescue , according to a Navy release .
A Navy P-8A Poseidon sub hunter aircraft is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place exclusively at sea to help mitigate COVID-19 , according to the release .
Porter ’ s arrival comes after Russia ’ s Black Sea Fleet and units elsewhere conducted a “ snap combat readiness check , ” Russia ’ s state-run news agency TASS reported Friday .
For Moscow ’ s Black Sea-based forces , that check involved warships , combat aircraft and more than 3,000 personnel , according to TASS .
“ During the exercise , the ships ’ crew made their urgent preparation for a battle and practiced withdrawing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s strike , ” the fleet ’ s press office told TASS .
This will be the third trip into the Black Sea this year for Porter , which is based in Rota , Spain , according to the Navy .
Sea Breeze 2020 comes as conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists continues in the country ’ s east in a war that has killed more than 14,000 people , according to the Associated Press .
Russian jets have also intercepted U.S. aircraft over the Black Sea and across the region in @ @ @

The U.S. warship Porter entered the Black Sea on Sunday to take part in an annual NATO exercise, days after Russia placed its Black Sea forces on alert.
Sea Breeze 2020 is cohosted by the United States and Ukraine and involves more than 2,000 personnel from Bulgaria, Georgia, Norway, Romania, Spain and Turkey.
It will run through July 26 and focus on warfare areas such as air defense, anti-sub warfare, damage control and search and rescue, according to a Navy release.
A Navy P-8A Poseidon sub hunter aircraft is also participating.
The exercise will take place exclusively at sea to help mitigate COVID-19, according to the release.
RELATED
Porter’s arrival comes after Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and units elsewhere conducted a “snap combat readiness check,” Russia’s state-run news agency TASS reported Friday.
For Moscow’s Black Sea-based forces, that check involved warships, combat aircraft and more than 3,000 personnel, according to TASS.
“During the exercise, the ships’ crew made their urgent preparation for a battle and practiced withdrawing the main forces from a notional enemy’s strike,” the fleet’s press office told TASS.
The U.S. warship Porter, shown here in an undated photo, steamed into the Black Sea Sunday, July 19, 2020. (Navy)
This will be the third trip into the Black Sea this year for Porter, which is based in Rota, Spain, according to the Navy.
Sea Breeze 2020 comes as conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists continues in the country’s east in a war that has killed more than 14,000 people, according to the Associated Press.
Russian jets have also intercepted U.S. aircraft over the Black Sea and across the region in recent years.
Geoff is a senior staff reporter for Military Times, focusing on the Navy. He covered Iraq and Afghanistan extensively and was most recently a reporter at the Chicago Tribune. He welcomes any and all kinds of tips at geoffz@militarytimes.com.


bonginoreport--2020-07-21--France Confirms They Received Black Boxes of Downed Ukrainian Jet From Iran

Officials in France confirmed Monday that they had received and were salvaging data from the black boxes of Ukrainian International Airlines ( UIA ) Flight 752 , which the government of Iran shot down in January .
Iran refused to hand over the black boxes for months , first claiming its officials were working on extracting information on the flight ’ s last moments , then insisting the black boxes had been damaged when the plane crashed , and finally admitting that Tehran did not have the technological capacity to handle the boxes .
Black boxes document what occurs on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help investigators figure out how the flight failed to conclude a safe journey .
Iran ’ s military shot the plane down shortly after it took flight from Tehran on January 8 , apparently mistaking it for an American missile .
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had ordered a missile attack on American targets in Iraq that day in retaliation for President Donald Trump ordering an airstrike against Major General Qasem Soleimani , the dead of the Quds Ford of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ) .
The IRGC is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force is its international cell , responsible for hundreds of American casualties in Iraq and Syria under Soleimani .
Despite being entirely culpable for striking down the commercial airliner , killing 176 civilians — many among them Ukrainians and Canadians , whose governments were not involved in conflicts with Soleimani — Iran refused to hand over the black boxes for months .
Finally , in late June , Foreign Ministry Mohammad Javad Zarif told his Canadian counterpart François-Philippe Champagne that Tehran would ship the black boxes to France to have its data extracted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BEA , a French accident investigation bureau , confirmed on Monday that the black boxes had arrived in France and that technical work had begun with them .
According to the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN , Canadian , American , Swedish , and British investigators will “ observe ” the process by which the boxes ’ information is extracted .
Tehran had vehemently rejected any American involvement in the process of investigating the attack on the UIA flight for months .
It is unclear how much more information the black boxes could provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of those aboard the flight .
Iran admitted that it had shot down the plane in June .
The nation ’ s Civil Aviation Authority — which had declared in January , “ what is obvious … is that no missile has hit the plane ” — admitted that a missile hit the plane last month .
The government agency blamed “ human error ” in the form of what state propaganda outlet PressTV called “ the mismanagement of an air defense unit ’ s radar system ” for an Iranian soldier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The “ mismanagement ” resulted in the system targeting the plane .
Prior to the official admission of guilt , the Iranian government insisted that the likely reason for the plane ’ s explosion was either a failure of the mechanical system or human error on the part of the plane ’ s crew , both of which UIA immediately dismissed as unlikely .
Both possibilities , Iranian officials affirmed , were the fault of the American government , which has no ties to UIA .
According to UIA , the plane was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their crew highly experienced ; the airline noted it has never had a crash on its record .
The Iranian government engaged in other suspicious behavior in the immediate aftermath of the plane crash , most conspicuously its order to bulldoze the crash site to destroy all evidence that could suggest the IRGC shot it down .
Tehran blocked journalists and independent investigators from the site until it had managed to bulldoze much of the significant evidence .
About a week after the flight , the Civil Aviation Authority , which declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot down the flight , admitted to just that .
The Iranian Parliament ignored the lie and celebrated the admission as “ heartwarming , ” giving the IRGC the credit .
By April — long after global attention had left the plane crash , Iranian lawmakers were celebrating the killing of 176 civilians because , according to lawmaker Hassan Rorouzi , the plane had “ come under America ’ s control , ” a claim he did not corroborate with evidence .
Iran has zealously guarded the black boxes since , initially insisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over because Iran ’ s engineers had the ability to decode them without help .
“ Generally speaking , Iran has the potential and know-how to decode the black box .
Everybody knows that , ” Iranian Civil Aviation Authority chief Ali Abedzadeh asserted in early January , shortly before claiming that the delay in extracting the black box data was due to “ damage ” from the crash .
“ The black box of this very Ukrainian Boeing 737 is damaged , ” Abedzadeh .
Boeing , which manufactured the plane , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company .
By the end of January , the Civil Aviation Authority admitted that it had requested help from Washington to decode the boxes , but it still spent months refusing the hand them over .
The night Iran shot down UIA Flight 752 , the IRGC had launched a missile attack on Iraqi airbases housing American troops in response to the elimination of Qasem Soleimani from the battlefield .
Soleimani , American officials insisted , was planning an “ imminent ” attack on American troops .
As head of the Quds Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s international outreach to terrorist groups around the world with sympathy toward Iran , including groups like the Venezuelan narco-regime and the Popular Mobilization Forces ( PMF ) , a coalition of pro-Iran militias in Iraq .
The strike that eliminated Soleimani also targeted Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis , the founder of Iraq ’ s Hezbollah Brigades , a PMF coalition member .

Officials in France confirmed Monday that they had received and were salvaging data from the black boxes of Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA) Flight 752, which the government of Iran shot down in January.
Iran refused to hand over the black boxes for months, first claiming its officials were working on extracting information on the flight’s last moments, then insisting the black boxes had been damaged when the plane crashed, and finally admitting that Tehran did not have the technological capacity to handle the boxes. Black boxes document what occurs on flights in the event of a crash to help investigators figure out how the flight failed to conclude a safe journey.
Iran’s military shot the plane down shortly after it took flight from Tehran on January 8, apparently mistaking it for an American missile. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had ordered a missile attack on American targets in Iraq that day in retaliation for President Donald Trump ordering an airstrike against Major General Qasem Soleimani, the dead of the Quds Ford of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization; the Quds Force is its international cell, responsible for hundreds of American casualties in Iraq and Syria under Soleimani.
Despite being entirely culpable for striking down the commercial airliner, killing 176 civilians — many among them Ukrainians and Canadians, whose governments were not involved in conflicts with Soleimani — Iran refused to hand over the black boxes for months. Finally, in late June, Foreign Ministry Mohammad Javad Zarif told his Canadian counterpart François-Philippe Champagne that Tehran would ship the black boxes to France to have its data extracted “within the next few days.”
BEA, a French accident investigation bureau, confirmed on Monday that the black boxes had arrived in France and that technical work had begun with them. According to the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN, Canadian, American, Swedish, and British investigators will “observe” the process by which the boxes’ information is extracted. Tehran had vehemently rejected any American involvement in the process of investigating the attack on the UIA flight for months.
It is unclear how much more information the black boxes could provide to clarify the circumstances of the mass killing of those aboard the flight. Iran admitted that it had shot down the plane in June. The nation’s Civil Aviation Authority — which had declared in January, “what is obvious … is that no missile has hit the plane” — admitted that a missile hit the plane last month. The government agency blamed “human error” in the form of what state propaganda outlet PressTV called “the mismanagement of an air defense unit’s radar system” for an Iranian soldier deciding to shoot down the plane. The “mismanagement” resulted in the system targeting the plane.
Prior to the official admission of guilt, the Iranian government insisted that the likely reason for the plane’s explosion was either a failure of the mechanical system or human error on the part of the plane’s crew, both of which UIA immediately dismissed as unlikely. Both possibilities, Iranian officials affirmed, were the fault of the American government, which has no ties to UIA. According to UIA, the plane was one of the best in their fleet and their crew highly experienced; the airline noted it has never had a crash on its record.
The Iranian government engaged in other suspicious behavior in the immediate aftermath of the plane crash, most conspicuously its order to bulldoze the crash site to destroy all evidence that could suggest the IRGC shot it down. Tehran blocked journalists and independent investigators from the site until it had managed to bulldoze much of the significant evidence.
About a week after the flight, the Civil Aviation Authority, which declared it “obvious” Iran had not shot down the flight, admitted to just that. The Iranian Parliament ignored the lie and celebrated the admission as “heartwarming,” giving the IRGC the credit. By April — long after global attention had left the plane crash, Iranian lawmakers were celebrating the killing of 176 civilians because, according to lawmaker Hassan Rorouzi, the plane had “come under America’s control,” a claim he did not corroborate with evidence.
Iran has zealously guarded the black boxes since, initially insisting it did not have to hand them over because Iran’s engineers had the ability to decode them without help.
“Generally speaking, Iran has the potential and know-how to decode the black box. Everybody knows that,” Iranian Civil Aviation Authority chief Ali Abedzadeh asserted in early January, shortly before claiming that the delay in extracting the black box data was due to “damage” from the crash.
“The black box of this very Ukrainian Boeing 737 is damaged,” Abedzadeh. Boeing, which manufactured the plane, is an American, not Ukrainian, company.
By the end of January, the Civil Aviation Authority admitted that it had requested help from Washington to decode the boxes, but it still spent months refusing the hand them over.
The night Iran shot down UIA Flight 752, the IRGC had launched a missile attack on Iraqi airbases housing American troops in response to the elimination of Qasem Soleimani from the battlefield. Soleimani, American officials insisted, was planning an “imminent” attack on American troops. As head of the Quds Force, Soleimani was responsible for the IRGC’s international outreach to terrorist groups around the world with sympathy toward Iran, including groups like the Venezuelan narco-regime and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of pro-Iran militias in Iraq. The strike that eliminated Soleimani also targeted Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the founder of Iraq’s Hezbollah Brigades, a PMF coalition member.


bonginoreport--2020-07-21--Jarrett Stepman: In America, the System Trends Toward Justice

“ The arc of the moral universe is long , but it bends toward justice.
” This oft-repeated and commonly misused quote—which stems from a 19th-century sermon—was cited by Martin Luther King Jr. and , more recently , President Barack Obama .
Many take it to mean simply that there is an inevitability to world events and that we should seek to be on the right side of history , so to speak .
In these days , when seemingly all of American and Western history has come into question , it ’ s easy to focus on the individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole .
Perhaps we can reach our perfect future if only we purge the ugliness of the past and dispense with all the dissenters who stand in the way , this line of thinking goes .
One of the great problems with our current “ war on history ” is how much of America and its Western civilizational origins now are defined as uniquely bad in comparison to the rest of the world .
Taking what other people have is essentially the norm through almost all of human history .
Most , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualms about taking from others if they were strong enough .
Recently , Sen. Tim Kaine , D-Va. , actually said on the Senate floor that America “ created ” slavery , a ridiculous and utterly false contention .
Such gibes and attacks on America are becoming tediously common .
In a sense , our view of history is skewed by our own success .
So many Americans have enjoyed such enormous prosperity that when we find flaws and failures , especially in a past that often seems so alien to our world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as fundamentally rotten , the people irredeemable .
Many Americans now have distorted notions of what should and shouldn ’ t be , and how the world generally has operated .
In America , we lurch toward justice because we have a just system , or at least a system that allows for justice and the truth to succeed in a sea of uncertainty , falsehoods , and injustice .
For that we should be thankful because this development certainly was not inevitable .
Just look , for instance , at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New World to declare independence , after the United States .
Haiti , like the U.S. , was born in revolution .
In 1791 , a slave uprising toppled French authorities in Saint-Domingue—later renamed Haiti—and brought an end to colonial rule .
It was one of history ’ s rare cases of a slave uprising succeeding .
The rebellion was led by Toussaint L ’ Ouverture , a black former slave-turned-revolutionary , and was imbued with the Jacobin spirit driving the concurrent revolution in France .
Before the revolution , Haiti was known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” due to its immense wealth and beauty .
In many ways , it was wealthier than the newly created United States .
From there , the two countries ’ paths diverged .
L ’ Ouverture was the George Washington of Haiti .
Like Washington , he was a great general and impressive leader of men .
And perhaps surprisingly enough , he had been a slave owner .
After leading his new country in victory over the British empire , Washington famously stepped away from power and resigned his position as commander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his job was done .
Then , after serving his country as the first elected president under the Constitution , Washington again returned to civilian life .
In 1801 , Thomas Jefferson succeeded John Adams to become the third president of the United States , marking the first time in recorded history where one “ party ” replaced another in power without a resort to bloodshed .
In America , appealing to ballots instead of bullets would become the norm .
It was a norm sustained by the endurance of the Constitution and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , L ’ Ouverture made himself dictator for life in Haiti , with the ability to appoint his successor .
After seizing power , L ’ Ouverture re-implemented a system that mirrored slavery in all but name .
He even restored the importation of slaves from Africa shortly after banning the practice .
Here was a man , a black man , who had tasted the bitter tears of slavery and led a slave rebellion , yet ushered in a new form of slavery to maintain his island nation ’ s wealth and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as one New York Times writer noted , an “ abolitionist saint.
” Instead , he was a desperate leader of a beleaguered nation , searching for a way to sustain its independence in a hostile world while maintaining his grip on power .
He was captured by the French military in 1802 and replaced by his lieutenant , Jean-Jacques Dessalines .
Dessalines then made the fateful decision in 1804 to murder the island ’ s white inhabitants , in one of the first genocides of the modern world .
Despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly all of the island ’ s remaining inhabitants were black or mixed race , racial prejudice remained widespread and racial distinctions were systematized .
“ Blacks and mulattos , who had both been victims of race prejudice in colonial times , now became perpetrators , as long-standing grudges led each group to eye the other , and foreign whites , with suspicion , ” wrote historian Philippe Girard in his book “ Haiti : The Tumultuous History—From Pearl of the Caribbean to Broken Nation.
” The most ruthless form of “ social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to equality and liberty , but an ongoing cycle of vengeance , recriminations , and hostility .
Haiti became isolated and avoided because of its inability to protect the lives and property of citizens and outsiders .
In two centuries , it stumbled through countless regime changes , civil wars , and more genocides .
The Pearl of the Caribbean—which had power and wealth that rivaled the United States at its founding—became the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere .
But what of the United States ?
Despite the fact that slavery existed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the institution held an untenable position in a country based on the words of the Declaration of Independence , crafted by a slave owner , that “ all men are created equal ” and endowed by their creator with unalienable rights .
The Constitution , which intentionally never mentions slavery by name , provided the means by which liberty , justice , and eventually emancipation could be realized .
And they were .
The American system may look messy , especially to outsiders , but it has an incredible way of succeeding through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failures of fallen human beings .
Out of a deeply imperfect world , Americans have forged a more perfect union , as Abraham Lincoln called it .
This was carried out through our system of limited self-government .
It was embedded in the culture that produced a Washington , a man who was tireless in devotion to his country and , like Cincinnatus , humbly returned to civilian life when his duty was done .
It was a system built on the rule of law , debate , and deliberation .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is time to stop celebrating our imperfect past and its imperfect heroes .
But America was not built by abstractions or gods .
It was created by men and women created in the image of God , but fallen from grace .
America became great , and not simply because of the Constitution and the Declaration , as much of a cornerstone to this country as they are .
No , it was built from that foundation by generations of men and women committed to government of the people , by the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was sustained by countless Americans who stepped into the arena , who have clung to , defended , and advanced what began in 1776 .
The fact that our Founders , like Washington and Jefferson , were imperfect men who owned slaves should not lead to damnation of their life ’ s work , but hope .
Their country , through time , abolished an unjust institution that it was born with .
Flawed people can be great , and so can flawed nations .
Once in our history that system broke down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a president committed both to ending slavery and ultimately to restoring both the union and the Constitution .
As countless other revolutions devolved into anarchy , violence , and then tyranny , the American republic rose and gained strength .
It transformed from a colonial backwater at the edge of the world to a mighty empire of liberty .
It became a place where people—of almost all races and backgrounds—strive to get in rather than claw to get out .
The history of human affairs is not a place where one finds lasting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deprivation are the norms of life on this earth .
We are all the descendants of slavers and the enslaved .
But in America , we ’ ve managed to escape the wheel of history , we ’ ve managed to create a system that “ bends toward justice ” rather than toward the more natural human condition of depravity .
In this moment in which so many are committed to rewriting and purifying our past , committed to tearing it down in the name of social justice , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this country has achieved in such a short time .
America always has been great , and it can be greater still , as long as we don ’ t abandon the good things that brought us here .

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
This oft-repeated and commonly misused quote—which stems from a 19th-century sermon—was cited by Martin Luther King Jr. and, more recently, President Barack Obama.
Many take it to mean simply that there is an inevitability to world events and that we should seek to be on the right side of history, so to speak.
In these days, when seemingly all of American and Western history has come into question, it’s easy to focus on the individual sins of our history to condemn the whole.
Perhaps we can reach our perfect future if only we purge the ugliness of the past and dispense with all the dissenters who stand in the way, this line of thinking goes.
One of the great problems with our current “war on history” is how much of America and its Western civilizational origins now are defined as uniquely bad in comparison to the rest of the world.
Case in point: a recent tweet by liberal astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
European Colonial History in six words: “Is that yours? It’s mine now.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) July 11, 2020
Taking what other people have is essentially the norm through almost all of human history. Most, if not all, societies have had no qualms about taking from others if they were strong enough.
Recently, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., actually said on the Senate floor that America “created” slavery, a ridiculous and utterly false contention.
Such gibes and attacks on America are becoming tediously common.
Distorted Notions
In a sense, our view of history is skewed by our own success.
So many Americans have enjoyed such enormous prosperity that when we find flaws and failures, especially in a past that often seems so alien to our world, our instinct increasingly is to condemn it as fundamentally rotten, the people irredeemable.
Many Americans now have distorted notions of what should and shouldn’t be, and how the world generally has operated.
In America, we lurch toward justice because we have a just system, or at least a system that allows for justice and the truth to succeed in a sea of uncertainty, falsehoods, and injustice.
For that we should be thankful because this development certainly was not inevitable.
Just look, for instance, at the history of the second country in the New World to declare independence, after the United States.
Haiti, like the U.S., was born in revolution. In 1791, a slave uprising toppled French authorities in Saint-Domingue—later renamed Haiti—and brought an end to colonial rule. It was one of history’s rare cases of a slave uprising succeeding.
The rebellion was led by Toussaint L’Ouverture, a black former slave-turned-revolutionary, and was imbued with the Jacobin spirit driving the concurrent revolution in France.
Before the revolution, Haiti was known as the “Pearl of the Caribbean” due to its immense wealth and beauty. In many ways, it was wealthier than the newly created United States.
Ballots, Not Bullets
From there, the two countries’ paths diverged.
L’Ouverture was the George Washington of Haiti. Like Washington, he was a great general and impressive leader of men. And perhaps surprisingly enough, he had been a slave owner.
After leading his new country in victory over the British empire, Washington famously stepped away from power and resigned his position as commander in chief of the Continental Army when his job was done.
Then, after serving his country as the first elected president under the Constitution, Washington again returned to civilian life.
In 1801, Thomas Jefferson succeeded John Adams to become the third president of the United States, marking the first time in recorded history where one “party” replaced another in power without a resort to bloodshed.
In America, appealing to ballots instead of bullets would become the norm. It was a norm sustained by the endurance of the Constitution and culture of self-government.
Also in 1801, L’Ouverture made himself dictator for life in Haiti, with the ability to appoint his successor.
After seizing power, L’Ouverture re-implemented a system that mirrored slavery in all but name. He even restored the importation of slaves from Africa shortly after banning the practice.
Here was a man, a black man, who had tasted the bitter tears of slavery and led a slave rebellion, yet ushered in a new form of slavery to maintain his island nation’s wealth and power.
L’Ouverture was not, as one New York Times writer noted, an “abolitionist saint.”
Instead, he was a desperate leader of a beleaguered nation, searching for a way to sustain its independence in a hostile world while maintaining his grip on power.
‘Racism Cut All Ways’
L’Ouverture’s reign was short.
He was captured by the French military in 1802 and replaced by his lieutenant, Jean-Jacques Dessalines.
Dessalines then made the fateful decision in 1804 to murder the island’s white inhabitants, in one of the first genocides of the modern world.
Despite the fact that, following this massacre, nearly all of the island’s remaining inhabitants were black or mixed race, racial prejudice remained widespread and racial distinctions were systematized.
“Blacks and mulattos, who had both been victims of race prejudice in colonial times, now became perpetrators, as long-standing grudges led each group to eye the other, and foreign whites, with suspicion,” wrote historian Philippe Girard in his book “Haiti: The Tumultuous History—From Pearl of the Caribbean to Broken Nation.”
“In nineteenth-century Haiti, racism cut all ways,” Girard wrote.
The most ruthless form of “social justice,” genocide, led not to equality and liberty, but an ongoing cycle of vengeance, recriminations, and hostility.
Haiti became isolated and avoided because of its inability to protect the lives and property of citizens and outsiders. In two centuries, it stumbled through countless regime changes, civil wars, and more genocides.
The Pearl of the Caribbean—which had power and wealth that rivaled the United States at its founding—became the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
A More Perfect Union
But what of the United States?
Despite the fact that slavery existed at the time of the founding, the institution held an untenable position in a country based on the words of the Declaration of Independence, crafted by a slave owner, that “all men are created equal” and endowed by their creator with unalienable rights.
The Constitution, which intentionally never mentions slavery by name, provided the means by which liberty, justice, and eventually emancipation could be realized. And they were.
The American system may look messy, especially to outsiders, but it has an incredible way of succeeding through the muck of ordinary politics and the failures of fallen human beings.
Out of a deeply imperfect world, Americans have forged a more perfect union, as Abraham Lincoln called it. This was carried out through our system of limited self-government. It was embedded in the culture that produced a Washington, a man who was tireless in devotion to his country and, like Cincinnatus, humbly returned to civilian life when his duty was done.
It was a system built on the rule of law, debate, and deliberation.
There are some who would say that perhaps it is time to stop celebrating our imperfect past and its imperfect heroes.
But America was not built by abstractions or gods. It was created by men and women created in the image of God, but fallen from grace. America became great, and not simply because of the Constitution and the Declaration, as much of a cornerstone to this country as they are.
No, it was built from that foundation by generations of men and women committed to government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It was sustained by countless Americans who stepped into the arena, who have clung to, defended, and advanced what began in 1776.
From Flawed to Great
The fact that our Founders, like Washington and Jefferson, were imperfect men who owned slaves should not lead to damnation of their life’s work, but hope.
Their country, through time, abolished an unjust institution that it was born with.
Flawed people can be great, and so can flawed nations.
Once in our history that system broke down. We were fortunate enough to have a president committed both to ending slavery and ultimately to restoring both the union and the Constitution.
As countless other revolutions devolved into anarchy, violence, and then tyranny, the American republic rose and gained strength. It transformed from a colonial backwater at the edge of the world to a mighty empire of liberty. It became a place where people—of almost all races and backgrounds—strive to get in rather than claw to get out.
The history of human affairs is not a place where one finds lasting liberty and justice for all. Cruelty and deprivation are the norms of life on this earth. We are all the descendants of slavers and the enslaved.
But in America, we’ve managed to escape the wheel of history, we’ve managed to create a system that “bends toward justice” rather than toward the more natural human condition of depravity.
In this moment in which so many are committed to rewriting and purifying our past, committed to tearing it down in the name of social justice, it’s important to reflect on the undeniable success this country has achieved in such a short time.
America always has been great, and it can be greater still, as long as we don’t abandon the good things that brought us here.


bonginoreport--2020-07-21--Walter E. Williams: Historical Ignorance and Confederate Generals

The Confederacy has been the excuse for some of today 's rioting , property destruction and grossly uninformed statements .
Among the latter is the testimony before the House Armed Services Committee by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley in favor of renaming Confederate-named military bases .
He said : `` The Confederacy , the American Civil War , was fought , and it was an act of rebellion .
It was an act of treason , at the time , against the Union , against the Stars and Stripes , against the U.S .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ facts about our founding that should be acknowledged .
Let 's start at the beginning , namely the American War of Independence ( 1775-1783 ) , a war between Great Britain and its 13 colonies , which declared independence in July 1776 .
The peace agreement that ended the war is known as the Treaty of Paris signed by Benjamin Franklin , John Adams , John Jay and Henry Laurens and by British Commissioner Richard Oswald , on Sept. 3 , 1783 .
Article I of the Treaty held that `` New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Providence Plantations , Connecticut , New York , New Jersey , Pennsylvania , Delaware , Maryland , Virginia , North Carolina , South Carolina and Georgia , to be free sovereign and Independent States . ''
Delegates from these states met in Philadelphia in 1787 to form a union .
During the Philadelphia convention , a proposal was made to permit the federal government to suppress a seceding state .
James Madison , the Father of the Constitution , rejected it .
Minutes from the debate paraphrased his opinion : `` A union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( would ) provide for its own destruction .
The use of force against a state would look more like a declaration of war than an infliction of punishment and would probably be considered by the party attacked as a dissolution of all previous compacts by which it might be bound . ''
During the ratification debates , Virginia 's delegates said , `` The powers granted under the Constitution being derived from the people of the United States may be resumed by them whensoever the same shall be perverted to their injury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of New York and Rhode Island expressed similar sentiments ; namely , they held the right to dissolve their relationship with the United States .
Ratification of the Constitution was by no means certain .
States feared federal usurpation of their powers .
If there were a provision to suppress a seceding state , the Constitution would never have been ratified .
The ratification votes were close with Virginia , New York and Massachusetts voting in favor by the slimmest of margins .
Rhode Island initially rejected it in a popular referendum and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 32 against .
Most Americans do not know that the first secessionist movement started in New England .
Many New Englanders were infuriated by President Thomas Jefferson 's Louisiana Purchase in 1803 , which they saw as an unconstitutional act .
Timothy Pickering of Massachusetts , who was George Washington 's secretary of war and secretary of state , led the movement .
He said , `` The Eastern states must and will dissolve the union and form a separate government . ''
Other prominent Americans such as John Quincy Adams , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quincy III and Joseph Story shared his call for secession .
While the New England secessionist movement was strong , it failed to garner support at the 1814-15 Hartford Convention .
Even on the eve of the War of 1861 , unionist politicians saw secession as a state 's right .
Rep. Jacob M. Kunkel of Maryland said , `` Any attempt to preserve the union between the states of this Confederacy by force would be impractical and destructive of republican liberty . ''
New-York Tribune ( Feb. 5 , 1860 ) : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Revolution of 1776 , then we do not see why it would not justify the secession of Five Millions of Southrons from the Federal Union in 1861 . ''
The Detroit Free Press ( Feb. 19 , 1861 ) : `` An attempt to subjugate the seceded States , even if successful , could produce nothing but evil — evil unmitigated in character and appalling in extent . ''
The New-York Times ( March 21 , 1861 ) : `` There is a growing sentiment throughout the North in favor of letting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fought for independence from the Union just as George Washington fought for independence from Great Britain .
Those who label Robert E. Lee and other Confederate generals as traitors might also label George Washington a traitor .
Great Britain 's King George III and the British parliament would have agreed .
Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University .
To find out more about Walter E. Williams and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists , visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com .

The Confederacy has been the excuse for some of today's rioting, property destruction and grossly uninformed statements. Among the latter is the testimony before the House Armed Services Committee by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley in favor of renaming Confederate-named military bases. He said: "The Confederacy, the American Civil War, was fought, and it was an act of rebellion. It was an act of treason, at the time, against the Union, against the Stars and Stripes, against the U.S. Constitution."
There are a few facts about our founding that should be acknowledged. Let's start at the beginning, namely the American War of Independence (1775-1783), a war between Great Britain and its 13 colonies, which declared independence in July 1776. The peace agreement that ended the war is known as the Treaty of Paris signed by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay and Henry Laurens and by British Commissioner Richard Oswald, on Sept. 3, 1783. Article I of the Treaty held that "New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and Independent States."
Delegates from these states met in Philadelphia in 1787 to form a union. During the Philadelphia convention, a proposal was made to permit the federal government to suppress a seceding state. James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, rejected it. Minutes from the debate paraphrased his opinion: "A union of the states containing such an ingredient (would) provide for its own destruction. The use of force against a state would look more like a declaration of war than an infliction of punishment and would probably be considered by the party attacked as a dissolution of all previous compacts by which it might be bound."
During the ratification debates, Virginia's delegates said, "The powers granted under the Constitution being derived from the people of the United States may be resumed by them whensoever the same shall be perverted to their injury or oppression." The ratification documents of New York and Rhode Island expressed similar sentiments; namely, they held the right to dissolve their relationship with the United States. Ratification of the Constitution was by no means certain. States feared federal usurpation of their powers. If there were a provision to suppress a seceding state, the Constitution would never have been ratified. The ratification votes were close with Virginia, New York and Massachusetts voting in favor by the slimmest of margins. Rhode Island initially rejected it in a popular referendum and finally voted to ratify — 34 for, 32 against.
Most Americans do not know that the first secessionist movement started in New England. Many New Englanders were infuriated by President Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which they saw as an unconstitutional act. Timothy Pickering of Massachusetts, who was George Washington's secretary of war and secretary of state, led the movement. He said, "The Eastern states must and will dissolve the union and form a separate government." Other prominent Americans such as John Quincy Adams, Elbridge Gerry, Fisher Ames, Josiah Quincy III and Joseph Story shared his call for secession. While the New England secessionist movement was strong, it failed to garner support at the 1814-15 Hartford Convention.
Even on the eve of the War of 1861, unionist politicians saw secession as a state's right. Rep. Jacob M. Kunkel of Maryland said, "Any attempt to preserve the union between the states of this Confederacy by force would be impractical and destructive of republican liberty." New-York Tribune (Feb. 5, 1860): "If tyranny and despotism justified the Revolution of 1776, then we do not see why it would not justify the secession of Five Millions of Southrons from the Federal Union in 1861." The Detroit Free Press (Feb. 19, 1861): "An attempt to subjugate the seceded States, even if successful, could produce nothing but evil — evil unmitigated in character and appalling in extent." The New-York Times (March 21, 1861): "There is a growing sentiment throughout the North in favor of letting the Gulf States go."
Confederate generals fought for independence from the Union just as George Washington fought for independence from Great Britain. Those who label Robert E. Lee and other Confederate generals as traitors might also label George Washington a traitor. Great Britain's King George III and the British parliament would have agreed.
Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University. To find out more about Walter E. Williams and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.


bonginoreport--2020-07-21--WHO Official Promotes Conspiracy Theory Website to Defend China

A top World Health Organization official promoted a report from a website that traffics in conspiracy theories to bolster China 's false claim that the communist regime was the first to report the existence of the coronavirus .
WHO communications director Gabby Stern tweeted on Monday false claims that `` Taiwan never provided any warning '' to the organization `` about the novel coronavirus or its transmissibility . ''
Her tweet linked to an article published by the fringe website The Grayzone .
The site is run by Max Blumenthal , the son of Hillary Clinton confidante Sidney Blumenthal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , anti-Israel stance , and his website routinely publishes conspiracy theories that adopt China ’ s false rhetoric about the coronavirus pandemic .
The article , headlined , `` With US support , Taiwan planted deception about warning World Health Org of Covid , '' says Taiwan never informed the WHO about the emerging virus in the early days of the pandemic .
This contradicts evidence provided by Taiwan and later the United States showing that the WHO was alerted by colleagues in Taiwan in late December that a new virus was spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fringe website raises fresh questions about the embattled health organization 's judgment , particularly given The Grayzone ’ s pro-China bent .
The WHO is already under fire from the United States and other nations for its response to the coronavirus pandemic , which they view as overly deferential to China .
Stern 's promotion of the article has drawn outrage in Congress , where China hawks see the international organization as doing damage control on behalf of the Communist Party .
The Washington Free Beacon first reported this month that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that China was first to report the virus , now known to be false .
However , the WHO , under the leadership of director general Tedros Adhanom , has continued to promote Chinese propaganda about the pandemic and its response .
`` I find it deeply disturbing that a top WHO spokesperson would share a ridiculous conspiracy theory aimed at the US and Taiwan from an outlet that has defended Hezbollah , attempted to rationalize the CCP ’ s abuses against the Uyghurs , and propagated anti-Semitic content , '' Rep. Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of Congress ’ s China Task Force , told the Free Beacon on Tuesday .
`` It ’ s abundantly clear that the WHO needs reform from the top down .
Director general Tedros , and those that help him appease the CCP and parrot their propaganda , should have no place at the WHO , '' McCaul said .
The Grayzone has emerged as one of China ’ s top media defenders since the pandemic spread across the globe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. pushes conspiracy theory on China ’ s coronavirus death toll to deflect from Trump administration failures . ''
The article defends China against accusations it covered up the virus , saying such accusations are part of an `` effort to redirect American outrage onto a foreign bogeyman . ''
It further alleges that China never hid its death toll from the world , despite reports from dissidents and others that the Communist Party imprisoned scientists and others who spoke out about the pandemic .
Another Grayzone article from March 30 spread conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States .
That article claimed `` the real origin of the coronavirus '' is `` political , global , and made in the USA . ''
`` Maybe the virus is some shadowy American warfare program that backfired , '' the website stated .
Other articles have defended China ’ s abuse of the minority Uyghur population .
One article , for instance , claimed China ’ s well-documented forced labor camps are a fiction created by the United States to drive a `` Cold War PR blitz . ''
The website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s tough economic sanctions campaign on Iran and published pieces defending the U.S.-designated terror group Hezbollah .
Max Blumenthal , the site ’ s editor in chief , is prominent in anti-Israel circles and has lent his support to extremist voices such as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad .

A top World Health Organization official promoted a report from a website that traffics in conspiracy theories to bolster China's false claim that the communist regime was the first to report the existence of the coronavirus.
WHO communications director Gabby Stern tweeted on Monday false claims that "Taiwan never provided any warning" to the organization "about the novel coronavirus or its transmissibility." Her tweet linked to an article published by the fringe website The Grayzone. The site is run by Max Blumenthal, the son of Hillary Clinton confidante Sidney Blumenthal. Max Blumenthal is known for his pro-Iran, anti-Israel stance, and his website routinely publishes conspiracy theories that adopt China’s false rhetoric about the coronavirus pandemic.
'Taiwan never provided any warning to @WHO about the novel coronavirus or its transmissibility. The email, the contents of which have been confirmed by both Taiwan and @WHO, did not contain any new information about the coronavirus... https://t.co/EDRIRCUIFw — Gabby Stern (@gabbystern) July 20, 2020
The article, headlined, "With US support, Taiwan planted deception about warning World Health Org of Covid," says Taiwan never informed the WHO about the emerging virus in the early days of the pandemic. This contradicts evidence provided by Taiwan and later the United States showing that the WHO was alerted by colleagues in Taiwan in late December that a new virus was spreading.
The official’s promotion of a fringe website raises fresh questions about the embattled health organization's judgment, particularly given The Grayzone’s pro-China bent. The WHO is already under fire from the United States and other nations for its response to the coronavirus pandemic, which they view as overly deferential to China.
Stern's promotion of the article has drawn outrage in Congress, where China hawks see the international organization as doing damage control on behalf of the Communist Party. The Washington Free Beacon first reported this month that the WHO quietly edited claims on its website that China was first to report the virus, now known to be false. However, the WHO, under the leadership of director general Tedros Adhanom, has continued to promote Chinese propaganda about the pandemic and its response.
"I find it deeply disturbing that a top WHO spokesperson would share a ridiculous conspiracy theory aimed at the US and Taiwan from an outlet that has defended Hezbollah, attempted to rationalize the CCP’s abuses against the Uyghurs, and propagated anti-Semitic content," Rep. Michael McCaul (R., Tex.), lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of Congress’s China Task Force, told the Free Beacon on Tuesday.
"It’s abundantly clear that the WHO needs reform from the top down. Director general Tedros, and those that help him appease the CCP and parrot their propaganda, should have no place at the WHO," McCaul said.
The Grayzone has emerged as one of China’s top media defenders since the pandemic spread across the globe.
An April 1 article claimed the "U.S. pushes conspiracy theory on China’s coronavirus death toll to deflect from Trump administration failures." The article defends China against accusations it covered up the virus, saying such accusations are part of an "effort to redirect American outrage onto a foreign bogeyman." It further alleges that China never hid its death toll from the world, despite reports from dissidents and others that the Communist Party imprisoned scientists and others who spoke out about the pandemic.
Another Grayzone article from March 30 spread conspiracy theories about the virus originating in the United States. That article claimed "the real origin of the coronavirus" is "political, global, and made in the USA."
"Maybe the virus is some shadowy American warfare program that backfired," the website stated.
Other articles have defended China’s abuse of the minority Uyghur population. One article, for instance, claimed China’s well-documented forced labor camps are a fiction created by the United States to drive a "Cold War PR blitz."
The website also has decried the Trump administration’s tough economic sanctions campaign on Iran and published pieces defending the U.S.-designated terror group Hezbollah.
Max Blumenthal, the site’s editor in chief, is prominent in anti-Israel circles and has lent his support to extremist voices such as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.


bonginoreport--2020-07-21--What Congress Must Do to End the Coronavirus Recession

This week , Congress will fight it out over whether to reauthorize the supercharged unemployment benefits established in the COVID-19 relief bill .
Extending the benefits would be a grave mistake .
It would turn legislators ’ initial error into a long-term flaw in our economy .
In March , Congress passed the $ 2 trillion behemoth CARES Act .
Among other things , the legislation boosted state-level unemployment benefits by adding $ 600 per week on top of whatever each state normally pays .
The result of this well-intentioned but poorly-thought-out expansion of the welfare state was that for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government benefits paid far more than going to work .
A whopping 70 % of the unemployed now face a financial disincentive to return to work .
In New York , for instance , an individual who normally earns $ 36,000 annually can collect unemployment benefits roughly equivalent to a $ 49,000 salary .
Basic math tells you what comes next .
“ When we asked our employees to come back , almost all said , ‘ No thanks , ’ ” restaurateur Kurt Huffman wrote in the Wall Street Journal .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll have to take a pay cut.
” This skewed incentive structure was , arguably , justifiable for a few weeks or even months as we wanted workers to stay home to “ flatten the curve ” of the coronavirus pandemic ’ s spread .
However , the CARES Act made these lush benefits available for four months , and House Democrats want to extend them through 2021 .
Congressional Republicans face widespread pressure to extend the benefits beyond the July 31 deadline and not be “ heartless ” or “ rip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crisis .
( Workers would , of course , still have the usual state-level unemployment benefits available ) .
Yet reality does not care about these emotional appeals .
The facts to date have overwhelmingly confirmed the elementary intuition that paying people more not to work is no recipe for economic recovery .
Heritage Foundation economists project that the federal expansion of unemployment benefits caused roughly 14 million additional workers to flock to the unemployment rolls and led to a roughly $ 1 trillion- $ 1.5 trillion drop in the size of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the benefits beyond July 31 , the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has found that this would lead to juiced-up spending in the short term , but , much more importantly , it would increase unemployment in 2020 and 2021 as well as shrink the economy in 2021 and beyond .
Plus , these massive welfare programs are expensive , and with the federal government already set to run a nearly $ 4 trillion deficit this year , we simply can ’ t afford it .
The CBO concluded that the government debt incurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest rates up — lowering investment and the economy ’ s maximum sustainable output.
” Proponents of the supercharged unemployment system such as the liberal-leaning Brookings Institution argue that the expanded benefits can ’ t truly be dragging down the economy because the rules say workers aren ’ t allowed to quit their job for no reason and take the benefits .
Also , if beneficiaries are offered their job back but decline , employers can report them and have them removed from the rolls .
This is true on paper but false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CARES Act made it so anyone who has “ to quit his or her job as a direct result of COVID-19 ” can claim benefits , and there is no meaningful determination of what this must entail or verification system in place .
So , essentially anyone can claim this , cite some COVID-19 economic harm , and start cashing government checks that exceed their typical income .
Yes , it is technically true that employers can report employees who won ’ t come back to work .
However , most won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PR nightmare for a business owner who gets called out for having employees removed from unemployment relief amid a pandemic .
And regardless , the unemployment bureaucracy is far too overloaded and backlogged to do anything about most reports anytime soon .
Moreover , this misdirection fails to address the much bigger issue .
Unemployed individuals who lose their job permanently currently have no incentive to take a new job when more jobs become available .
Secondly , proponents argue that the ultralush unemployment benefits are necessary to prop up consumer spending .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to correct structural flaws sabotaging our economy than it is to prop up consumer spending temporarily , at taxpayer expense , through welfare largesse .
Just reducing the federal bonus to $ 200 weekly or capping overall benefits at 80 % of previous income would go a long way toward restoring a functional incentive structure .
Yet even this might prove a heavy lift politically and will undoubtedly draw criticism .
Still , it ’ s obvious that you can ’ t foster economic recovery while paying people more not to work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have the courage to correct this systemic flaw amid Democratic attacks and media pressure or whether they will simply cave to the inertia of big government yet again .
Brad Polumbo ( @ Brad_Polumbo ) is a fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education .

This week, Congress will fight it out over whether to reauthorize the supercharged unemployment benefits established in the COVID-19 relief bill. Extending the benefits would be a grave mistake. It would turn legislators’ initial error into a long-term flaw in our economy.
In March, Congress passed the $2 trillion behemoth CARES Act. Among other things, the legislation boosted state-level unemployment benefits by adding $600 per week on top of whatever each state normally pays. The result of this well-intentioned but poorly-thought-out expansion of the welfare state was that for the average worker, staying home on government benefits paid far more than going to work.
A whopping 70% of the unemployed now face a financial disincentive to return to work. In New York, for instance, an individual who normally earns $36,000 annually can collect unemployment benefits roughly equivalent to a $49,000 salary.
Basic math tells you what comes next.
“When we asked our employees to come back, almost all said, ‘No thanks,’” restaurateur Kurt Huffman wrote in the Wall Street Journal. “If they return to work, they’ll have to take a pay cut.”
This skewed incentive structure was, arguably, justifiable for a few weeks or even months as we wanted workers to stay home to “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus pandemic’s spread. However, the CARES Act made these lush benefits available for four months, and House Democrats want to extend them through 2021.
Congressional Republicans face widespread pressure to extend the benefits beyond the July 31 deadline and not be “heartless” or “rip away support” for unemployed people during a crisis. (Workers would, of course, still have the usual state-level unemployment benefits available).
Yet reality does not care about these emotional appeals. The facts to date have overwhelmingly confirmed the elementary intuition that paying people more not to work is no recipe for economic recovery.
Heritage Foundation economists project that the federal expansion of unemployment benefits caused roughly 14 million additional workers to flock to the unemployment rolls and led to a roughly $1 trillion-$1.5 trillion drop in the size of the economy. As far as extending the benefits beyond July 31, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has found that this would lead to juiced-up spending in the short term, but, much more importantly, it would increase unemployment in 2020 and 2021 as well as shrink the economy in 2021 and beyond.
Plus, these massive welfare programs are expensive, and with the federal government already set to run a nearly $4 trillion deficit this year, we simply can’t afford it. The CBO concluded that the government debt incurred by expanding this program would “drive interest rates up — lowering investment and the economy’s maximum sustainable output.”
Proponents of the supercharged unemployment system such as the liberal-leaning Brookings Institution argue that the expanded benefits can’t truly be dragging down the economy because the rules say workers aren’t allowed to quit their job for no reason and take the benefits. Also, if beneficiaries are offered their job back but decline, employers can report them and have them removed from the rolls.
This is true on paper but false in practice.
In reality, the CARES Act made it so anyone who has “to quit his or her job as a direct result of COVID-19” can claim benefits, and there is no meaningful determination of what this must entail or verification system in place. So, essentially anyone can claim this, cite some COVID-19 economic harm, and start cashing government checks that exceed their typical income.
Yes, it is technically true that employers can report employees who won’t come back to work. However, most won’t do so. Imagine the potential PR nightmare for a business owner who gets called out for having employees removed from unemployment relief amid a pandemic. And regardless, the unemployment bureaucracy is far too overloaded and backlogged to do anything about most reports anytime soon.
Moreover, this misdirection fails to address the much bigger issue. Unemployed individuals who lose their job permanently currently have no incentive to take a new job when more jobs become available.
Secondly, proponents argue that the ultralush unemployment benefits are necessary to prop up consumer spending. Yet it’s far more important to correct structural flaws sabotaging our economy than it is to prop up consumer spending temporarily, at taxpayer expense, through welfare largesse.
Just reducing the federal bonus to $200 weekly or capping overall benefits at 80% of previous income would go a long way toward restoring a functional incentive structure. Yet even this might prove a heavy lift politically and will undoubtedly draw criticism.
Still, it’s obvious that you can’t foster economic recovery while paying people more not to work. The only question is whether congressional Republicans will have the courage to correct this systemic flaw amid Democratic attacks and media pressure or whether they will simply cave to the inertia of big government yet again.
Brad Polumbo (@Brad_Polumbo) is a fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education.


bonginoreport--2020-07-21--McEnany Cites Specific Laws Justifying Constitutionality of Feds Acting In Portland

During Tuesday ’ s White House press briefing , Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany cited 40 U.S. Code 1315 as evidence that the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) is operating legally in Portland , Oregon .
ABC ’ s Jon Karl had asked “ [ W ] here in the Constitution does the president derive the authority to send federal law enforcement officers to the streets of American cities against the will of the elected officials in those cities ?
” McEnany answered that Code 1315 “ gives DHS the ability to deputize officers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Customs and Border Patrol and Secret Service as quote ‘ officers and agents.
’ They can be deputized for the duty , in connection to the protection of property owned or occupied by the federal government and persons on that property , ” she continued .
“ When a federal courthouse is being lit on fire and commercial fireworks being shot at it , being shot at the officers I think that falls pretty well within the limits of 40 U.S. Code 1315.
” Karl then asked if President Trump sees any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if “ that ’ s a matter of protecting federal property , how far does that power extend to the streets of Portland .
What are the limitations of that , the authority to protect it ?
” McEnany responded that , “ [ U ] nder the law we believe they can conduct investigations of crimes committed against federal property or federal officers .
In the case where you have someone shooting off a commercial grade firework and then running across the street , we don ’ t believe that extends past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been under fire by riots for almost two months with the mayor ’ s and the state ’ s governor ’ s seeming approval , federal law enforcement had no other choice but to go in and stop the chaos themselves .
As reported by the Daily Caller , border patrol agents detained people in Portland last week to “ investigate links to assaults on law enforcement officials and vandalism on federal property.
” In a statement , Customs and Border Patrol said that , “ [ W ] hile the U.S. Customs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every American ’ s right to protest peacefully , violence and civil unrest will not be tolerated .
Violent anarchists have organized events in Portland over the last several weeks with willful intent to damage and destroy federal property , as well as injure federal officers and agents .
These criminal actions will not be tolerated.
” No country can possibly survive if insurrection is tolerated .
Hence , these Leftist mobs need to be stopped .
Thank God for the Trump administration and its response .

During Tuesday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany cited 40 U.S. Code 1315 as evidence that the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is operating legally in Portland, Oregon.
ABC’s Jon Karl had asked “[W]here in the Constitution does the president derive the authority to send federal law enforcement officers to the streets of American cities against the will of the elected officials in those cities?”
McEnany answered that Code 1315 “gives DHS the ability to deputize officers in any department or agency, like ICE, Customs and Border Patrol and Secret Service as quote ‘officers and agents.’ They can be deputized for the duty, in connection to the protection of property owned or occupied by the federal government and persons on that property,” she continued. “When a federal courthouse is being lit on fire and commercial fireworks being shot at it, being shot at the officers I think that falls pretty well within the limits of 40 U.S. Code 1315.”
Karl then asked if President Trump sees any “limitations to that power” and if “that’s a matter of protecting federal property, how far does that power extend to the streets of Portland. What are the limitations of that, the authority to protect it?”
McEnany responded that, “[U]nder the law we believe they can conduct investigations of crimes committed against federal property or federal officers. In the case where you have someone shooting off a commercial grade firework and then running across the street, we don’t believe that extends past the jurisdiction.”
After the Portland has been under fire by riots for almost two months with the mayor’s and the state’s governor’s seeming approval, federal law enforcement had no other choice but to go in and stop the chaos themselves. As reported by the Daily Caller, border patrol agents detained people in Portland last week to “investigate links to assaults on law enforcement officials and vandalism on federal property.”
In a statement, Customs and Border Patrol said that, “[W]hile the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) respects every American’s right to protest peacefully, violence and civil unrest will not be tolerated. Violent anarchists have organized events in Portland over the last several weeks with willful intent to damage and destroy federal property, as well as injure federal officers and agents. These criminal actions will not be tolerated.”
No country can possibly survive if insurrection is tolerated. Hence, these Leftist mobs need to be stopped. Thank God for the Trump administration and its response.


bonginoreport--2020-07-21--Google Appears To Blacklist Major Conservative News Sites

Google appeared to have removed a large number of news sites from its search pages on Tuesday morning , with Breitbart , Daily Caller , and the National Pulse all affected by the blackout .
The search engine powerhouse , which lamented President Trump ’ s election in 2016 and published a document entitled “ The Good Censor ” , was – for a period of time – not showing results for sites like The National Pulse , Breitbart , Citizen Free Press , the Daily Caller , Red State , The Bongino Report and more .
The search engine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication of this story and insisted that the affects of this “ technical issue ” were also affecting left wing websites such as DailyKos and OccupyDemocrats .
The issue appears to have been resolved , as of 1:30pm EST .
When a Google user tried to find Breitbart.com for example , the site delivered stories about Breitbart , but not a link to the Breitbart homepage .
Conversely , when searching for the racist New York Times , Google returned a whole suite of options for the user to find the Times homepage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and search for keywords .
Google issued an update via its Twitter account which read : “ We are aware of an issue with the site : command that may fail to show some or any indexed pages from a website .
We are investigating this and any potentially related issues.
” Incidents such as these can seriously affect web traffic .
Search results account for around 7 percent of Breitbart ’ s traffic , 8 percent for The Daily Caller , and nearly 25 percent for WarRoom.org .
The news comes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kassam observing a drop in conservative news sites from the platform a few days prior : While users can still access the sites , the links no longer appear when leaked report revealed how Google intended to remove whatever they called “ harmful content ” .
On the run-up to a Presidential Election there can be no doubt that the almost monopolistic company is using its position to harm the re-election chances of President Donald Trump , and aid candidate Joe Biden by hiding stories skeptical of the latter from Google users .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 91.75 % of market share of search engines , with Bing at 2.75 % , Yahoo at 1.7 % , Baidu at 1.02 % , Yandex at 0.92 % , and DuckDuckGo at 0.49 % .
This story has been updated to reflect Google ’ s position .

Google appeared to have removed a large number of news sites from its search pages on Tuesday morning, with Breitbart, Daily Caller, and the National Pulse all affected by the blackout.
The search engine powerhouse, which lamented President Trump’s election in 2016 and published a document entitled “The Good Censor”, was – for a period of time – not showing results for sites like The National Pulse, Breitbart, Citizen Free Press, the Daily Caller, Red State, The Bongino Report and more.
The search engine reached out to the National Pulse following publication of this story and insisted that the affects of this “technical issue” were also affecting left wing websites such as DailyKos and OccupyDemocrats.
The issue appears to have been resolved, as of 1:30pm EST.
When a Google user tried to find Breitbart.com for example, the site delivered stories about Breitbart, but not a link to the Breitbart homepage.
Conversely, when searching for the racist New York Times, Google returned a whole suite of options for the user to find the Times homepage, and also browse their sections, and search for keywords.
Google issued an update via its Twitter account which read: “We are aware of an issue with the site: command that may fail to show some or any indexed pages from a website. We are investigating this and any potentially related issues.”
Incidents such as these can seriously affect web traffic.
Search results account for around 7 percent of Breitbart’s traffic, 8 percent for The Daily Caller, and nearly 25 percent for WarRoom.org.
The news comes on the back of National Pulse editor Raheem Kassam observing a drop in conservative news sites from the platform a few days prior:
https://twitter.com/RaheemKassam/status/1285378195475369984
Mediaite reporter Charlie Nash pointed out this morning:
Just noticed Google has removed several conservative websites from search results (at least on my end, in the UK). RedState, Breitbart, Daily Caller, Human Events, and more – all like this for pages of results pic.twitter.com/v2PHFgZ3zY — Charlie Nash (@CharlieNash) July 21, 2020
While users can still access the sites, the links no longer appear when leaked report revealed how Google intended to remove whatever they called “harmful content”.
On the run-up to a Presidential Election there can be no doubt that the almost monopolistic company is using its position to harm the re-election chances of President Donald Trump, and aid candidate Joe Biden by hiding stories skeptical of the latter from Google users.
I can no longer find @Breitbart or @TheNatPulse on Google, either in news results or regular search. Where did they go? pic.twitter.com/d0O0TF2eHM — August Takala (@RudyTakala) July 21, 2020
As of June 2020, Google had 91.75% of market share of search engines, with Bing at 2.75%, Yahoo at 1.7%, Baidu at 1.02%, Yandex at 0.92%, and DuckDuckGo at 0.49%.
This story has been updated to reflect Google’s position.