The Twilight Zone

“ Imagine if you will , a situation in which the economy of a nation is overdue to experience an economic collapse of epic proportions , but remains endlessly at the brink .
Every day , a collapse is more likely , yet the economic house of cards remains in a state of suspended animation .
Some people become increasingly edgy , while others become more complacent .
Only a few choose to actually prepare for what ’ s coming .
“ An impossible situation ?
Yes .
But we ’ d be well-advised to recognise that it couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” For those old enough to remember The Twilight Zone , the quirky “ what if ” American television programme , this episode introduction by host Rod Serling would seem to fit right into the show ’ s format .
The programme ran from 1959 to 1964 , presenting somewhat unreal twists on the normal world we live in .
Each episode would examine how people would deal with the episode ’ s situation and generally end with a moral lesson from Mister Serling as to the nature of mankind .
The Twilight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 36.80 Buy New $ 40.35 Strangely , the above episode , as unlikely as it might have seemed a mere decade ago , is playing out in real life .
Stocks are climbing in price , whilst dividends are in decline or , for some of the fastest-growing companies , non-existent .
Bonds are a worse bet , yet a bond bubble of epic proportion exists .
The world ’ s governments are dumping US debt , yet the Fed is buying billions of dollars of debt each month .
Indeed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as fast as the economy that must pay for it .
Quantitative Easing was invented to bail out banks in 2008 , but continues to this day , long after the problem was claimed to have ended .
Benefits from Welfare and Social Security programmes are at an all-time high , yet they ’ re underfunded to the point of certain collapse in the near future , independent of the other impending economic calamities .
Meanwhile , multiple unnecessary wars are being waged at a staggering cost to a nation that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being threatened with possible warfare if they don ’ t “ behave.
” We ’ re in the extraordinary situation of being in the longest boom period in history , yet there ’ s no real boom , only the illusion of one .
At such a time , it would be predictable that those who have become worried would flood toward precious metals , as they have done for thousands of years , whenever the economic situation became untenable .
Yet only a tiny portion of the world ’ s population are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the major economies of the world been in an economic bubble that includes virtually everything .
And yet , incredibly , this situation has existed for over a decade .
Technically , we ’ ve been in a depression since 2007 and yet the bubble that should have burst back then simply keeps growing .
Unleashing Usury : How ... Westra , Richard Best Price : $ 12.61 Buy New $ 24.95 So , does this mean that the age of crashes is over , that the bubble can expand forever without bursting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will most certainly burst , and the more inflates , the worse the eventual debacle will be .
We ’ re therefore in a state of suspended animation , waiting for the shoe to drop .
Some of the best economic minds began to warn about the coming crash as its causes began to take shape decades ago .
And almost to a man , they predicted that it would have taken place already , at least five years ago .
But how might they have estimated a possible date for such an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pin down as to timing .
Well , all of them ( and here I must include myself ) made the assumption that conditions would have become so economically unsupportable by now that surely a collapse would have been a virtual certainty .
And in this we were conceptually correct .
Where we were mistaken was that all logic supported the assumption that , once conditions had reached that point , money would begin to exit the system , ensuring a crash .
Historically , this is always what happens .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money makes an exit .
Yet , this time around , whenever money has left the system , it has been replaced by dramatically increased debt , obscuring the fact that the smart money has begun its exit .
Therefore , we ’ ve continued to appear as though we remain in a boom – the longest boom in history .
Unfortunately , the vast majority of people are unable to recognize the plethora of signs that are indicating that the economy has been hollowed out .
In addition , stats like inflation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Clinton administration , to mislead the population into believing that they ’ ve not risen to depression levels .
On Tyranny : Twenty Les ... Snyder , Timothy Best Price : $ 5.00 Buy New $ 5.79 The icing on the cake has been that the media – 80 % of which are owned by the same six Deep State corporations – deliver a daily message that the economy is on the rise and the public should “ buy , buy , buy !
” Not surprisingly , those who provided an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are regularly told , “ You ’ ve been crying , ‘ Wolf !
’ for years .
The crash hasn ’ t happened .
You were wrong.
” And this criticism is not unearned .
There ’ s no question that the timing has been prolonged beyond all expectations .
However , the fundamentals remain the same and , today , are far more pronounced than they were in 2007 .
Back then , we expected a small crash , which did occur , followed by the “ eye of the hurricane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to five years when a false recovery would take place .
That “ eye ” proved to be artificially expanded by the Deep State ’ s diverse players , to the ultimate detriment of virtually all people .
The second , major crash – predicted prior to 2007 to occur several years after the 2007 minor crash – is not only still looming ; it ’ s more certain than ever before .
The fundamentals remain the same and will reach their logical conclusion .
To be sure , this has led those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic debacle for decades , to have the sensation of suspended animation for several years .
Not surprising then , that the present state of affairs seems like an episode of The Twilight Zone , with the unfortunate twist that this is not a television show ; it ’ s an artificially delayed reality .

“Imagine if you will, a situation in which the economy of a nation is overdue to experience an economic collapse of epic proportions, but remains endlessly at the brink. Every day, a collapse is more likely, yet the economic house of cards remains in a state of suspended animation. Some people become increasingly edgy, while others become more complacent. Only a few choose to actually prepare for what’s coming.
“An impossible situation? Yes. But we’d be well-advised to recognise that it couldn’t only occur… in the Twilight Zone.”
For those old enough to remember The Twilight Zone, the quirky “what if” American television programme, this episode introduction by host Rod Serling would seem to fit right into the show’s format.
The programme ran from 1959 to 1964, presenting somewhat unreal twists on the normal world we live in. Each episode would examine how people would deal with the episode’s situation and generally end with a moral lesson from Mister Serling as to the nature of mankind. The Twilight Zone: The... Best Price: $36.80 Buy New $40.35 (as of 04:23 UTC - Details)
Strangely, the above episode, as unlikely as it might have seemed a mere decade ago, is playing out in real life.
Stocks are climbing in price, whilst dividends are in decline or, for some of the fastest-growing companies, non-existent. Bonds are a worse bet, yet a bond bubble of epic proportion exists. The world’s governments are dumping US debt, yet the Fed is buying billions of dollars of debt each month.
Indeed, debt is now growing at least twice as fast as the economy that must pay for it.
Quantitative Easing was invented to bail out banks in 2008, but continues to this day, long after the problem was claimed to have ended.
Benefits from Welfare and Social Security programmes are at an all-time high, yet they’re underfunded to the point of certain collapse in the near future, independent of the other impending economic calamities.
Meanwhile, multiple unnecessary wars are being waged at a staggering cost to a nation that’s already insolvent, yet additional countries are being threatened with possible warfare if they don’t “behave.”
We’re in the extraordinary situation of being in the longest boom period in history, yet there’s no real boom, only the illusion of one.
At such a time, it would be predictable that those who have become worried would flood toward precious metals, as they have done for thousands of years, whenever the economic situation became untenable. Yet only a tiny portion of the world’s population are doing so.
Never in history have the major economies of the world been in an economic bubble that includes virtually everything. And yet, incredibly, this situation has existed for over a decade. Technically, we’ve been in a depression since 2007 and yet the bubble that should have burst back then simply keeps growing. Unleashing Usury: How ... Westra, Richard Best Price: $12.61 Buy New $24.95 (as of 03:15 UTC - Details)
So, does this mean that the age of crashes is over, that the bubble can expand forever without bursting?
Well, no. The bubble will most certainly burst, and the more inflates, the worse the eventual debacle will be.
We’re therefore in a state of suspended animation, waiting for the shoe to drop.
Some of the best economic minds began to warn about the coming crash as its causes began to take shape decades ago. And almost to a man, they predicted that it would have taken place already, at least five years ago.
But how might they have estimated a possible date for such an event? Economic crashes are notoriously difficult to pin down as to timing.
Well, all of them (and here I must include myself) made the assumption that conditions would have become so economically unsupportable by now that surely a collapse would have been a virtual certainty.
And in this we were conceptually correct. Where we were mistaken was that all logic supported the assumption that, once conditions had reached that point, money would begin to exit the system, ensuring a crash.
Historically, this is always what happens. When a crash is near, the smart money makes an exit. Yet, this time around, whenever money has left the system, it has been replaced by dramatically increased debt, obscuring the fact that the smart money has begun its exit.
Therefore, we’ve continued to appear as though we remain in a boom – the longest boom in history. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people are unable to recognize the plethora of signs that are indicating that the economy has been hollowed out.
In addition, stats like inflation and unemployment have been fudged ever since the Clinton administration, to mislead the population into believing that they’ve not risen to depression levels. On Tyranny: Twenty Les... Snyder, Timothy Best Price: $5.00 Buy New $5.79 (as of 03:22 UTC - Details)
The icing on the cake has been that the media – 80% of which are owned by the same six Deep State corporations – deliver a daily message that the economy is on the rise and the public should “buy, buy, buy!”
Not surprisingly, those who provided an early warning to the coming economic crisis are regularly told, “You’ve been crying, ‘Wolf!’ for years. The crash hasn’t happened. You were wrong.”
And this criticism is not unearned. There’s no question that the timing has been prolonged beyond all expectations. However, the fundamentals remain the same and, today, are far more pronounced than they were in 2007.
Back then, we expected a small crash, which did occur, followed by the “eye of the hurricane,” a quiet period of three to five years when a false recovery would take place.
That “eye” proved to be artificially expanded by the Deep State’s diverse players, to the ultimate detriment of virtually all people.
The second, major crash – predicted prior to 2007 to occur several years after the 2007 minor crash – is not only still looming; it’s more certain than ever before. The fundamentals remain the same and will reach their logical conclusion.
To be sure, this has led those economists who have been tracking the pending economic debacle for decades, to have the sensation of suspended animation for several years.
Not surprising then, that the present state of affairs seems like an episode of The Twilight Zone, with the unfortunate twist that this is not a television show; it’s an artificially delayed reality.


lewrockwell--2020-08-11--Beirut Devastated: the New Paradigm May Be Explosive

Sometimes the news cycle and the geo-political cycle simply part company .
This is one such occasion – the devastation of Beirut Port .
What happened there is destined to constitute a major geo-political event – whatever way its sequellae should cascade out and shape the future .
There are good , historic reasons for this parting of the ways : One ( which explains the regional silence ) , is that we have not yet had the forensics .
Yes , satellite photos galore , but not the nitty-gritty from the ground .
Not the forensics .
The main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ shape ’ its story of the explosion in advance of the Special Tribunal verdict on the death of Rafic Hariri ( now due on 18 August ) , and which is expected to indict Hizbullah members .
Yet there are still many unanswered questions .
It will be a further few days until these forensics become available from the site .
They will of course be contested , and may resolve very little .
Against this silence , awaiting word from key players , the western and Israeli media headlines are churning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ , and their ‘ wrap-ups ’ from Beirut .
It is however , far from wrapped-up .
More questions arise as the days pass .
And the region has a collective memory of such geo-political inflection points .
Pray for Lebanon Beiru ... Buy New $ 16.99 The ‘ popular ’ 1953 uprising against PM Mossadegh , which transpired to be an MI6/CIA coup , and which – subsequently – was to usher in the game-changing Iranian Revolution ; the 2005 assassination of Rafic Hariri , which led to Syria ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computer patterning of calls ( of unknown content ) on ‘ families ’ of cell phones – was institutionalised into shaping the culpability of Hizbullah , and concomitantly , the movement ’ s widespread terrorist designation .
( Hizbullah has , from the outset , disputed the western/international narrative on the Hariri assassination ) .
Yet the truth is , that what happened to Rafic Hariri remains still obscured in the fog of partisan war ( as maybe will be the fate of this week ’ s Beirut devastation ) .
In Syria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became another ‘ turning point ’ , amidst the roar of U.S. Tomahawk missiles ( as Assad became a Chemical Weapons pariah ) .
Yet , documents from the OPCW in last days show the chemical weapons claim was a fabrication .
Yes , the region has good cause to pause .
On the one hand , we have not had the forensics on the Port explosion , and on the other , we have Trump ’ s assertion – later reiterated by him – that he was told by his military generals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attack ” ( a bomb ) .
The President did not “ speculate ” that it was an attack .
He said plainly that his generals had told him so .
This statement can not entirely be air-brushed out of the calculus .
And nor can the exact mirroring of the strangely unified ‘ shape ’ and mushroom effect of the Beirut main explosion with a similar ‘ unexplained explosion ’ some months ago in Syria – be discounted .
And finally , there is the question : Were there three explosions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to be a perfectly binary outcome .
Either the devastation resulted from culpable negligence by the port security authorities , or was a bold attempt to audaciously ‘ explode ’ the current regional dynamics ; to re-shape narratives and radically to re-cast geopolitics .
Both are possible .
The Hizbullah Phenom ... Alshaer , Atef Best Price : $ 6.83 Buy New $ 26.00 What then ?
The Israeli narrative is that the destruction in Beirut will cause the Lebanese population to rise up against Hizballah , and will demand that its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Israel of course would welcome the visibility into Hizbullah ’ s arsenals that this would entail ) .
The scheduling of an emergency UNSC meeting for Monday , and calls to place Lebanon under international supervision , suggest that western states will be seeking to use the crisis further to weaken and constrain Hizbullah .
March 14th will seek to capitalise on what has happened to mobilise the Lebanese against Hizballah , but it is unlikely to get the domestic resonance that others may anticipate .
The port of Beirut historically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has no single security structure , and these latter are no friend to Hizbullah .
The port is also open to inspection by UNIFIL .
If the management of the facility were to be characterised , it would be said to be one of decay and rampant venality .
It is possible that this – culpable negligence leading to accident – was responsible fully or partially , for what happened .
If so , it would seem that public anger may focus more on the corrupt Za ’ im ( the ‘ capos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ravaging the economic structure for their own enrichment for decades ) , than necessarily be directed at Hizbullah .
Indeed , the present government may have a tough time to survive – even though it was not in office at the time any negligence may have occurred .
That responsibility belongs to the Old Guard .
Were it to transpire that Trump was broadly correct , and that what occurred was an attack of some sort , it would not be hard to answer to the question cui bono ?
Israeli journalists are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s auspicious timing : That “ Lebanon [ now ] is bound to implode ” , and that the explosion ’ s ‘ shockwaves ’ will discomfort Hizbullah for a long time to come , but more especially in advance of the Special Tribunal report .
Forensic Scientist T S ... Buy New $ 15.99 One Israeli journalist added that the explosion “ at Lebanon ’ s main port sends a warning message to Iran , too , who only about a month ago said it would deploy ships and oil tankers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a vessel that would host a power station , which would give Beirut electricity … Israel and the United States in particular , fear these ships , if they do make it to Lebanon , would start a regular supply line not only of oil , flour and medicine , but also of weapons , ammunitions and missile parts ” .
Much then , hangs on the forensics : Was this a bold ‘ false flag ’ initiative to upturn the strategic status quo ( of the kind on which Israel once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and making use of a publicly known vulnerability at the Beirut port – the storage of 2,700 kg of ammonium nitrate – in order to destroy Hizbullah ’ s strategic place in the region , and to shift politics in an unexpected new direction ( favourable to Israel ) ?
Or , a further example of Lebanese élite lassitude and venality , caring only for themselves and nothing for the well-being of its people ?
If the former , and events presage a renewed attempt to crush Hizbullah , the new regional paradigm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of individual contributors do not necessarily represent those of the Strategic Culture Foundation .

Sometimes the news cycle and the geo-political cycle simply part company. This is one such occasion – the devastation of Beirut Port. What happened there is destined to constitute a major geo-political event – whatever way its sequellae should cascade out and shape the future. There are good, historic reasons for this parting of the ways: One (which explains the regional silence), is that we have not yet had the forensics. Yes, satellite photos galore, but not the nitty-gritty from the ground. Not the forensics.
The main stream media is in a hurry to ‘shape’ its story of the explosion in advance of the Special Tribunal verdict on the death of Rafic Hariri (now due on 18 August), and which is expected to indict Hizbullah members. Yet there are still many unanswered questions. It will be a further few days until these forensics become available from the site. They will of course be contested, and may resolve very little.
Against this silence, awaiting word from key players, the western and Israeli media headlines are churning out ‘everything you need to know’, and their ‘wrap-ups’ from Beirut. It is however, far from wrapped-up. More questions arise as the days pass. And the region has a collective memory of such geo-political inflection points. Pray for Lebanon Beiru... Buy New $16.99 (as of 04:24 UTC - Details)
The ‘popular’ 1953 uprising against PM Mossadegh, which transpired to be an MI6/CIA coup, and which – subsequently – was to usher in the game-changing Iranian Revolution; the 2005 assassination of Rafic Hariri, which led to Syria’s exit from Lebanon – and on flimsy computer patterning of calls (of unknown content) on ‘families’ of cell phones – was institutionalised into shaping the culpability of Hizbullah, and concomitantly, the movement’s widespread terrorist designation. (Hizbullah has, from the outset, disputed the western/international narrative on the Hariri assassination).
Yet the truth is, that what happened to Rafic Hariri remains still obscured in the fog of partisan war (as maybe will be the fate of this week’s Beirut devastation). In Syria, the Chemical Weapons story for Douma became another ‘turning point’, amidst the roar of U.S. Tomahawk missiles (as Assad became a Chemical Weapons pariah). Yet, documents from the OPCW in last days show the chemical weapons claim was a fabrication.
Yes, the region has good cause to pause. On the one hand, we have not had the forensics on the Port explosion, and on the other, we have Trump’s assertion – later reiterated by him – that he was told by his military generals that what happened in Beirut was “an attack” (a bomb). The President did not “speculate” that it was an attack. He said plainly that his generals had told him so.
This statement cannot entirely be air-brushed out of the calculus. And nor can the exact mirroring of the strangely unified ‘shape’ and mushroom effect of the Beirut main explosion with a similar ‘unexplained explosion’ some months ago in Syria – be discounted. And finally, there is the question: Were there three explosions?
So, we await what is likely to be a perfectly binary outcome. Either the devastation resulted from culpable negligence by the port security authorities, or was a bold attempt to audaciously ‘explode’ the current regional dynamics; to re-shape narratives and radically to re-cast geopolitics. Both are possible. The Hizbullah Phenom... Alshaer, Atef Best Price: $6.83 Buy New $26.00 (as of 04:24 UTC - Details)
What then? The Israeli narrative is that the destruction in Beirut will cause the Lebanese population to rise up against Hizballah, and will demand that its munitions be removed away from population centres. (Israel of course would welcome the visibility into Hizbullah’s arsenals that this would entail). The scheduling of an emergency UNSC meeting for Monday, and calls to place Lebanon under international supervision, suggest that western states will be seeking to use the crisis further to weaken and constrain Hizbullah.
March 14th will seek to capitalise on what has happened to mobilise the Lebanese against Hizballah, but it is unlikely to get the domestic resonance that others may anticipate. The port of Beirut historically has been a Sunni patrimony. It has no single security structure, and these latter are no friend to Hizbullah. The port is also open to inspection by UNIFIL. If the management of the facility were to be characterised, it would be said to be one of decay and rampant venality. It is possible that this – culpable negligence leading to accident – was responsible fully or partially, for what happened.
If so, it would seem that public anger may focus more on the corrupt Za’im (the ‘capos’ of the system that have been ravaging the economic structure for their own enrichment for decades), than necessarily be directed at Hizbullah. Indeed, the present government may have a tough time to survive – even though it was not in office at the time any negligence may have occurred. That responsibility belongs to the Old Guard.
Were it to transpire that Trump was broadly correct, and that what occurred was an attack of some sort, it would not be hard to answer to the question cui bono? Israeli journalists are already preening themselves over the ‘event’s auspicious timing: That “Lebanon [now] is bound to implode”, and that the explosion’s ‘shockwaves’ will discomfort Hizbullah for a long time to come, but more especially in advance of the Special Tribunal report.
Forensic Scientist T S... Buy New $15.99 (as of 04:24 UTC - Details) One Israeli journalist added that the explosion “at Lebanon’s main port sends a warning message to Iran, too, who only about a month ago said it would deploy ships and oil tankers to Lebanon. There were even talks of a vessel that would host a power station, which would give Beirut electricity … Israel and the United States in particular, fear these ships, if they do make it to Lebanon, would start a regular supply line not only of oil, flour and medicine, but also of weapons, ammunitions and missile parts”.
Much then, hangs on the forensics: Was this a bold ‘false flag’ initiative to upturn the strategic status quo (of the kind on which Israel once prided itself), hiding beneath, and making use of a publicly known vulnerability at the Beirut port – the storage of 2,700 kg of ammonium nitrate – in order to destroy Hizbullah’s strategic place in the region, and to shift politics in an unexpected new direction (favourable to Israel)?
Or, a further example of Lebanese élite lassitude and venality, caring only for themselves and nothing for the well-being of its people?
If the former, and events presage a renewed attempt to crush Hizbullah, the new regional paradigm indeed may be explosive.
The views of individual contributors do not necessarily represent those of the Strategic Culture Foundation.


lewrockwell--2020-08-11--What If We Are Wrong?

What If We Are Wrong?

Since the advent of the coronavirus in the United States , we have been told over and over again by every government official and health professional that we should practice social distancing .
To reinforce the importance of social distancing , we have been bombarded with slogans like “ Shop smart , stay 6 feet apart , ” “ Do your part , stay 6 feet apart , ” “ Safety first , stay 6 feet apart.
” And my favorite : “ 6 feet apart or 6 feet under.
” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) .
” We should all practice social distancing , which the CDC explains as : “ To practice social or physical distancing , stay at least 6 feet ( about 2 arms ’ length ) from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
” Here is how the CDC answers the question : “ Why practice social distancing ?
” : The War on Drugs Is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 5.87 Buy New $ 5.95 COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact ( within about 6 feet ) for a prolonged period .
… Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick , it is important to stay at least 6 feet away from others when possible , even if you—or they—do not have any symptoms .
Here are the CDC “ tips for social distancing ” : When going out in public , it is important to stay at least 6 feet away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covering to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
When using rideshares or taxis , avoid pooled rides where multiple passengers are picked up , and sit in the back seat in larger vehicles so you can remain at least 6 feet away from the driver .
Only visit stores selling household essentials in person when you absolutely need to , and stay at least 6 feet away from others who are not from your household while shopping and in lines .
It is safest to avoid crowded places and gatherings where it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet away from others who are not from your household .
If you are in a crowded space , try to keep 6 feet of space between yourself and others at all times , and wear a cloth face covering .
Consider going for a walk , bike ride , or wheelchair roll in your neighborhood or in another safe location where you can maintain at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and other pedestrians and cyclists .
So , all Americans should maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Free Society Laurence M. Vance Best Price : $ 13.55 Buy New $ 17.54 But what if we are wrong ?
According to guidance from the United Kingdom ’ s National Health Service : “ Keep your distance from people not in your household ( 2 metres apart where possible ) .
” “ Stay two meters apart .
It ’ s not such a difficult thing .
Do it , ” said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson .
There is just one problem .
Six feet does not equal two meters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Americans are wrong ?
What if the Americans are wrong by 6.74015748 inches ?
Instead of social distancing by 78.74015748 inches , we have only been social distancing by 72 inches .
How may fewer cases of Covid-19 would the United States have had if only we had practiced an extra 6.74015748 inches of social distancing ?
How much sooner could we have ended the lockdowns if only we had practiced an extra 6.74015748 inches of social distancing ?
How many fewer hospitalizations would the United States have had if only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of social distancing ?
How much suffering could have been alleviated if only we had practiced an extra 6.74015748 inches of social distancing ?
How many lives could have been saved if only we had practiced an extra 6.74015748 inches of social distancing ?
War , Empire , and the M ... Laurence M. Vance Best Price : $ 5.24 Buy New $ 9.79 But wait a minute .
According to the Australian government Department of Health : “ One way to slow the spread of viruses , such as coronavirus , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you and others , the harder it is for the virus to spread .
As states and territories ease restrictions , it is important everyone continues to stay 1.5 metres away from others wherever possible.
” One and a half meters is less than 2 meters .
One and a half meters is less than 6 feet .
One and a half meters equals just 59.05512 inches .
The conclusion seems inescapable : Australians are doomed .
Or perhaps social distancing of 6 feet , 2 meters , and 1.5 meters are all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Best of Laurence M. Vance

Since the advent of the coronavirus in the United States, we have been told over and over again by every government official and health professional that we should practice social distancing.
To reinforce the importance of social distancing, we have been bombarded with slogans like “Shop smart, stay 6 feet apart,” “Do your part, stay 6 feet apart,” “Safety first, stay 6 feet apart.” And my favorite: “6 feet apart or 6 feet under.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “Limiting close face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).” We should all practice social distancing, which the CDC explains as: “To practice social or physical distancing, stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces.”
Here is how the CDC answers the question: “Why practice social distancing?”: The War on Drugs Is a ... Laurence M. Vance Best Price: $5.87 Buy New $5.95 (as of 09:10 UTC - Details)
COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) for a prolonged period. … Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it is important to stay at least 6 feet away from others when possible, even if you—or they—do not have any symptoms.
Here are the CDC “tips for social distancing”:
When going out in public, it is important to stay at least 6 feet away from other people and wear a cloth face covering to slow the spread of COVID-19.
When using rideshares or taxis, avoid pooled rides where multiple passengers are picked up, and sit in the back seat in larger vehicles so you can remain at least 6 feet away from the driver.
Only visit stores selling household essentials in person when you absolutely need to, and stay at least 6 feet away from others who are not from your household while shopping and in lines.
It is safest to avoid crowded places and gatherings where it may be difficult to stay at least 6 feet away from others who are not from your household.
If you are in a crowded space, try to keep 6 feet of space between yourself and others at all times, and wear a cloth face covering.
Consider going for a walk, bike ride, or wheelchair roll in your neighborhood or in another safe location where you can maintain at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and other pedestrians and cyclists.
So, all Americans should maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from anyone outside of their immediate family. The Free Society Laurence M. Vance Best Price: $13.55 Buy New $17.54 (as of 04:55 UTC - Details)
But what if we are wrong?
According to guidance from the United Kingdom’s National Health Service: “Keep your distance from people not in your household (2 metres apart where possible).” “Stay two meters apart. It’s not such a difficult thing. Do it,” said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
There is just one problem. Six feet does not equal two meters.
Seventy-two inches equals 6 feet.
One inch equals 0.0254 meters.
Two meters equals 78.74015748 inches.
Two meters equals 6ft 6.74015748 inches.
What if the British are right and the Americans are wrong? What if the Americans are wrong by 6.74015748 inches? Instead of social distancing by 78.74015748 inches, we have only been social distancing by 72 inches. How may fewer cases of Covid-19 would the United States have had if only we had practiced an extra 6.74015748 inches of social distancing? How much sooner could we have ended the lockdowns if only we had practiced an extra 6.74015748 inches of social distancing? How many fewer hospitalizations would the United States have had if only we had practiced an extra 6.74015748 inches of social distancing? How much suffering could have been alleviated if only we had practiced an extra 6.74015748 inches of social distancing? How many lives could have been saved if only we had practiced an extra 6.74015748 inches of social distancing? War, Empire, and the M... Laurence M. Vance Best Price: $5.24 Buy New $9.79 (as of 09:10 UTC - Details)
But wait a minute. According to the Australian government Department of Health: “One way to slow the spread of viruses, such as coronavirus, is physical distancing. The more space between you and others, the harder it is for the virus to spread. As states and territories ease restrictions, it is important everyone continues to stay 1.5 metres away from others wherever possible.”
One and a half meters is less than 2 meters.
One and a half meters is less than 6 feet.
One and a half meters equals just 59.05512 inches.
The conclusion seems inescapable: Australians are doomed.
Or perhaps social distancing of 6 feet, 2 meters, and 1.5 meters are all arbitrary numbers that mean absolutely nothing.
The Best of Laurence M. Vance


lewrockwell--2020-08-11--Let The Dogs Out

Let The Dogs Out

If he actually makes it through the Democratic “ mostly-virtual ” Convention to be held ( sort of ) in Milwaukee next week ( but really on the Internet ) , Joe Biden ’ s acceptance speech will not be a live event .
Instead , Mr. Biden ’ s head will be clamped in place , as in a Civil War era photograph , so that the audience won ’ t see his earpiece while an aide feeds him his lines — they wouldn ’ t dare rely on the candidate reading off a teleprompter .
And you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
They ’ ll have to cut-and-paste the video so drastically it will look like an early edit of Ed Wood ’ s fifties ’ classic Plan Nine from Outer Space .
One has a sense that a whole lot of scrambling is going on behind the scenes in DNC-ville this week leading up to the party ’ s dreaded coronation — and in other places , too , such as Bedminster , New Jersey… the fabled seventh floor of the FBI headquarters… across Pennsylvania Avenue at William Barr ’ s Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hallowed chambers of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals .
Fallout : Nuclear Bribe ... Bruner , Seamus Buy New $ 25.20 Mr. Biden ’ s ominous stalling on his veep pick sends the signal to casual observers that this whole nomination pudding remains badly un-baked .
Surely a few not-insane party higher-ups must know that Uncle Joe is not up to actually hitting the campaign trail .
They don ’ t dare imagine what will happen as he is wheeled out to face those sparse crowds of “ dog-faced pony soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land .
Some kind of rolling debacle , fer sure : shouting matches , push-up contests , and moments of humiliating aphasic blankness .
Is it back to basement , then ?
I guess so — but what about those debates Mr. Biden signed on for ?
They ’ d never permit him to show up live .
Instead , citing possible Covid-19 exposure , they ’ ll proffer a “ virtual ” Zoom hook-up , and once again Mr. Biden will be rigged with the trusty earpiece to be fed his lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some other excuse and just pull him out altogether .
The foregoing assumes that Mr. Biden remains the Democratic Party ’ s candidate for president , which is assuming a lot .
Meanwhile , I ’ d like to see some aerial drone footage of the parking circle at Hillary Clinton ’ s Chappaqua , New York , hideaway this week… the limos coming and going , the CNN mobile video vans parked on the grass with a tangle of cables running up to the house… the coup to end all coups… .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Branko Best Price : $ 12.00 Buy New $ 13.46 And what of the mysterious action in Bedminster , New Jersey , Mr. Trump ’ s hideaway ?
He made the intriguing remark last week at a campaign stop in Ohio : “ I have a lot of rich enemies .
You won ’ t see me for a while.
” Rumors abound in the non-seditionist news media that something ugly is about to drop .
Something , perhaps , that might bust open a suppurating fistula of Deep State corruption of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sepsis .
Something that perhaps involves the evidence-trail of money-laundering that emanated out of Ukraine during Barack Obama ’ s second term — a whole fetid , reeking dumpster-load of evidence stealthily gathered under-the-radar by Rudy Giuliani lo these many months — of which the roles of Joe and Hunter Biden are already richly documented , but which may involve many other government poohbahs of both parties .
And I say evidence because , as a skilled former federal prosecutor , Mr. Giuliani knows the difference between aspersions and proof .
Was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s duck-and-cover time ?
Shadowland : From Jeffr ... Thomas Horn Best Price : $ 15.00 Buy New $ 15.11 Attorney General Barr sat through a leisurely chat with Mark Levin on TV last night , a curious hour of understatement and elision , especially concerning the momentous matter of US Attorney John Durham ’ s way-overdue actions in the Russia Collusion hoax .
Mr. Levin dropped the ball so many times in his questioning that it seemed deliberate — for instance failing to ask whether Mr. Barr had detected any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Flynn .
There ’ s plenty of reason to suppose that Robert Mueller ’ s lawyers royally misbehaved in that case , colluding with FBI director Christopher Wray to withhold a ton of exculpatory evidence even to this day .
There are plenty more reasons to suppose that the entire Mueller investigation was a knowing , seditious sham , and that several of his “ team ” members — e.g .
Andrew Weissmann , Jeannie Rhee , Brandon Van Grack , Zainab Ahmad , Aaron Zebley , plus US Attorney Tanisha Guahar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserve to be indicted for their efforts to overthrow a president .
( And , of course , there ’ s a long list of other now well-known characters in the DOJ , FBI , CIA , and other festering places who played roles in Coup-O-Rama ) .
Licensed to Lie Powell , Sidney Best Price : $ 17.87 Buy New $ 23.93 Speaking of General Flynn , his mandamus petition comes before an en banc session of the DC Court of Appeals on Tuesday .
It ’ s hard to see how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panel ’ s order under a mandamus petition for DC District Judge Emmet Sullivan to vacate the case , as now demanded by the federal prosecutors who brought it in the first place .
We won ’ t rehearse the tedious legal arguments , except to say that where there is no prosecution , there is no case , and Judge Sullivan has no standing to act as prosecutor himself under the separation of powers in the constitution .
But in these dark days of a weaponized judiciary , with its Lawfare henchmen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no telling what bad faith gears may be turning in that mill .
So , buckle up for what , all of a sudden , looks like an action-packed week .
Lay in some tonic water and gin for both Covid-19 relief and some self-prescribed anesthesia as America unleashes its dogs of war upon itself .
The Best of James Howard Kunstler

If he actually makes it through the Democratic “mostly-virtual” Convention to be held (sort of) in Milwaukee next week (but really on the Internet), Joe Biden’s acceptance speech will not be a live event. Instead, Mr. Biden’s head will be clamped in place, as in a Civil War era photograph, so that the audience won’t see his earpiece while an aide feeds him his lines — they wouldn’t dare rely on the candidate reading off a teleprompter. And you know what? It still won’t work. They’ll have to cut-and-paste the video so drastically it will look like an early edit of Ed Wood’s fifties’ classic Plan Nine from Outer Space.
One has a sense that a whole lot of scrambling is going on behind the scenes in DNC-ville this week leading up to the party’s dreaded coronation — and in other places, too, such as Bedminster, New Jersey… the fabled seventh floor of the FBI headquarters… across Pennsylvania Avenue at William Barr’s Department of Justice… and three blocks east in the hallowed chambers of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Fallout: Nuclear Bribe... Bruner, Seamus Buy New $25.20 (as of 04:53 UTC - Details)
Mr. Biden’s ominous stalling on his veep pick sends the signal to casual observers that this whole nomination pudding remains badly un-baked. Surely a few not-insane party higher-ups must know that Uncle Joe is not up to actually hitting the campaign trail. They don’t dare imagine what will happen as he is wheeled out to face those sparse crowds of “dog-faced pony soldiers” assembled in middle-school cafeterias across the land. Some kind of rolling debacle, fer sure: shouting matches, push-up contests, and moments of humiliating aphasic blankness. Is it back to basement, then? I guess so — but what about those debates Mr. Biden signed on for?
They’d never permit him to show up live. Instead, citing possible Covid-19 exposure, they’ll proffer a “virtual” Zoom hook-up, and once again Mr. Biden will be rigged with the trusty earpiece to be fed his lines. Or they’ll cook up some other excuse and just pull him out altogether. The foregoing assumes that Mr. Biden remains the Democratic Party’s candidate for president, which is assuming a lot. Meanwhile, I’d like to see some aerial drone footage of the parking circle at Hillary Clinton’s Chappaqua, New York, hideaway this week… the limos coming and going, the CNN mobile video vans parked on the grass with a tangle of cables running up to the house… the coup to end all coups…. Yesterday’s Man:... Marcetic, Branko Best Price: $12.00 Buy New $13.46 (as of 03:45 UTC - Details)
And what of the mysterious action in Bedminster, New Jersey, Mr. Trump’s hideaway? He made the intriguing remark last week at a campaign stop in Ohio: “I have a lot of rich enemies. You won’t see me for a while.” Rumors abound in the non-seditionist news media that something ugly is about to drop. Something, perhaps, that might bust open a suppurating fistula of Deep State corruption of which RussiaGate was one mere subsidiary side-pool of sepsis. Something that perhaps involves the evidence-trail of money-laundering that emanated out of Ukraine during Barack Obama’s second term — a whole fetid, reeking dumpster-load of evidence stealthily gathered under-the-radar by Rudy Giuliani lo these many months — of which the roles of Joe and Hunter Biden are already richly documented, but which may involve many other government poohbahs of both parties. And I say evidence because, as a skilled former federal prosecutor, Mr. Giuliani knows the difference between aspersions and proof. Was Mr. Trump intimating back in Ohio that it’s duck-and-cover time?
Shadowland: From Jeffr... Thomas Horn Best Price: $15.00 Buy New $15.11 (as of 04:26 UTC - Details) Attorney General Barr sat through a leisurely chat with Mark Levin on TV last night, a curious hour of understatement and elision, especially concerning the momentous matter of US Attorney John Durham’s way-overdue actions in the Russia Collusion hoax. Mr. Levin dropped the ball so many times in his questioning that it seemed deliberate — for instance failing to ask whether Mr. Barr had detected any prosecutorial misconduct in the pursuit of General Michael Flynn. There’s plenty of reason to suppose that Robert Mueller’s lawyers royally misbehaved in that case, colluding with FBI director Christopher Wray to withhold a ton of exculpatory evidence even to this day. There are plenty more reasons to suppose that the entire Mueller investigation was a knowing, seditious sham, and that several of his “team” members — e.g. Andrew Weissmann, Jeannie Rhee, Brandon Van Grack, Zainab Ahmad, Aaron Zebley, plus US Attorney Tanisha Guahar, and possibly Mr. Mueller himself — deserve to be indicted for their efforts to overthrow a president. (And, of course, there’s a long list of other now well-known characters in the DOJ, FBI, CIA, and other festering places who played roles in Coup-O-Rama).
Licensed to Lie Powell, Sidney Best Price: $17.87 Buy New $23.93 (as of 05:55 UTC - Details) Speaking of General Flynn, his mandamus petition comes before an en banc session of the DC Court of Appeals on Tuesday. It’s hard to see how they can get around their earlier three-judge panel’s order under a mandamus petition for DC District Judge Emmet Sullivan to vacate the case, as now demanded by the federal prosecutors who brought it in the first place. We won’t rehearse the tedious legal arguments, except to say that where there is no prosecution, there is no case, and Judge Sullivan has no standing to act as prosecutor himself under the separation of powers in the constitution. But in these dark days of a weaponized judiciary, with its Lawfare henchmen grubbing away in the shadows, there’s no telling what bad faith gears may be turning in that mill.
So, buckle up for what, all of a sudden, looks like an action-packed week. Lay in some tonic water and gin for both Covid-19 relief and some self-prescribed anesthesia as America unleashes its dogs of war upon itself.
Reprinted with permission from Kunstler.com.
The Best of James Howard Kunstler


lewrockwell--2020-08-11--Huawei, Tik-Tok, and WeChat

Huawei, Tik-Tok, and WeChat

First , let ’ s dispel the combined notion that China spies on everyone and the US spies on no one .
There is so much public evidence to destroy both these assertions that I won ’ t bother repeating them here .
I will however remind readers that a few years ago China more or less banned Windows 8 from the country because it was discovered that the O/S had a built-in NSA back door .
It seems that Germany reported on this first , but the devastating proof was at an IT conference where a Microsoft executive was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusation .
He did not deny it because the person making the accusation was the person who discovered it and had with him the proof , but refused to discuss it and changed the subject .
But this is hardly news .
Forty years ago it was proven that all Xerox copy machines delivered to foreign embassies and consulates in the US were “ espionage-ready ” .
Also , for at least 20 years , and perhaps much more , it was common knowledge that when any foreign embassies , consulates , banks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardware from US suppliers , those shipments were intercepted by UPS , delivered to the CIA and/or NSA for installation of “ extra ” hardware and software before delivery to their destinations .
This was one of the confirmations by Edward Snowden .
Any search on this will give you millions of hits unless Google chooses that moment to lose its memory .
You ’ ve Got Disse ... Mulvenon , James C. Best Price : $ 8.55 Buy New $ 20.00 Trump ’ s problems with Huawei are twofold .
The most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s lunch when it comes to innovation and invention and Trump would like to slow this down by destroying Huawei and is clearly making every possible effort in this regard , including bullying and threatening half the known world against using Huawei ’ s products .
But this is the small part of the problem ; the real issue is espionage .
There is no practical value in disputing the assertion that Cisco and other American hardware and software firms install back doors to all their equipment for the convenience of CIA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is replacing Cisco and those other American firms with its better and less expensive equipment .
That part is okay , but how can the CIA and NSA approach Huawei and ask the company to build back doors into its equipment so the US can spy on China – among all other countries ?
There is no solution to this problem other than to trash Huawei ’ s reputation by accusing it of being an espionage threat and having the company ’ s equipment banned .
And this applies not only to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eyes Espionage Network , involving the US , Canada , the UK , Australia and New Zealand .
Briefly , this was set up to break laws while pretending no laws were being broken .
It is generally against the law for a government to spy on its own citizens , but that law doesn ’ t apply to a foreign government .
So Canada spies on Australian citizens and sends the information to the Australian spooks who can claim they did nothing wrong .
Rinse and repeat .
The sad part is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usually of little interest to the four minor participants but all of it is shared with the US who are frothing to spy on the entire world and to take possession of “ every communication ” of every kind in the entire world .
Thus , it isn ’ t sufficient to ban Huawei only from the US because this company ’ s equipment would castrate the NSA ’ s effort in the other four nations .
Thus , US bullying to ensure each of its five eyes is Huawei-free .
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it or not .
Tik-Tok is nothing of consequence , except that it is in direct competition with similar American platforms and has proven too popular and too competitive to be permitted to survive .
This is just a cheap , below-the-belt and illegal-as-hell shot at China .
No threat , no nothing .
However , as with all similar IT products and platforms it contains much personal information especially useful for marketing , which has so far been the private property of people like Google , Facebook and Twitter .
Thus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : either simply kill Tik-Tok on some trumped-up accusation ( if you ’ ll excuse the expression ) of espionage , or force a sale to an American company .
Either way , China loses massively while the political oppression and marketing value of that personal information remains safely in trusted American hands .
You Will Be Assimilate ... Goldman , David P. Buy New $ 17.00 Since few Americans are familiar with WeChat , let me give you a description .
Many of these functions are available in the West through various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same extent nor with the same convenience .
With WeChat we can transmit text and voice messages , photos and videos , and other files of any description even of many Mb in size .
We can send and receive both text and voice messages in any language because WeChat has an excellent translation function in combination with one of its partners which translates not only text and voice , but will extract and translate all text contained in photos , handy for restaurant menus if you can ’ t read Chinese .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but video calls to anyone anywhere that transmit over the internet .
It is so convenient that WeChat is the default communication choice for a great many people for most purposes .
WeChat also has a Moments platform where we can post text , photos , videos , that are visible to those on our contact lists while selecting those who can view and who can not , reserving some posts for close friends and others more generally public .
In China we have two primary online payment systems , one operated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other by WeChat .
Its use is nearly universal in China and both are free to the user .
During the past several years I can not recall a single instance where I had cash in my pocket ( even small change ) when I went anywhere or was shopping for anything .
Even to purchase a small bunch of green onions at a street market , the vendor has a QR code which my phone scans and the payment into their bank account is automatic .
With WeChat , we can send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to share the cost of lunch , you can pay the entire bill and I transfer my share to you through WeChat .
If I ever need cash , I could go to any shop or even approach a complete stranger and ask for 1,000 RMB and instantly repay him into his WeChat account .
It is frequently used to transfer money internationally this way , sending dollars to a friend in one country and receiving RMB into a WeChat account in China .
Instant , secure , and free of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second , with a concurrent text message confirmation from the bank of both sides of the transaction .
WeChat is the main reason people can travel anywhere in China with only a mobile phone and passport ( and a change of clothing ) .
Through WeChat , people can purchase plane or train tickets , pay taxi fares and hotel bills , restaurant tabs , in the same way .
Another useful WeChat function is real-time GPS location sharing .
If a group is traveling to a destination in several cars , WeChat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locations in real space and time .
If I am meeting a friend at a shopping mall or park or other large location , with this GPS function we can see each other ’ s location in real time and I know which way to walk to encounter my friend .
Hidden Hand : Exposing ... Ohlberg , Mareike Buy New $ 27.00 We have WeChat groups which we can create with any number of participants for any convenient purpose .
During the COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai we had a temporary WeChat group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that functioned better than any supermarket and with much less trouble .
If I want to have a Christmas party I form a group of those I plan to invite , and all our discussions and planning take place within that platform .
Most communities ( small portions of residential districts ) have a WeChat group for notification of community events and sharing important information .
The point with Trump ’ s “ sanction ” of WeChat is first that it will terminally disrupt international communications between China and the US for students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for all those in the US who have frequent communications with China , effects felt more seriously by those in China , which is a plus for Trump .
Second , Trump ’ s administration is uncomfortable with the extent to which WeChat is encroaching on the American turf of Twitter , Facebook , WhatsApp , Instagram and more , with already around 100 million downloads in the US , and his actions are partially to reclaim that turf by simply banning a competing medium that is threatening to take over and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platforms .
But most important is the espionage and censorship role of Trump ’ s initiative .
As the censorship noose tightens around Facebook and Twitter , Americans are naturally moving to WeChat .
The real issue is not that WeChat poses any danger to the US in any sense but , as with Huawei , the CIA and NSA can not very well approach WeChat and ask for automatic sharing of all that personal relationship data .
Therefore , under the guise of China being untrustworthy , the US government simply bans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US can send or receive any message without the NSA having a copy .
A huge plus is that any news not fitting the official narrative will then be strangled at birth , as Google , Facebook and Twitter are now doing .
If Microsoft or another American firm were to buy WeChat , then of course all is well since it is US firms , not Chinese , who automatically share all personal contact data with their government .

First, let’s dispel the combined notion that China spies on everyone and the US spies on no one. There is so much public evidence to destroy both these assertions that I won’t bother repeating them here. I will however remind readers that a few years ago China more or less banned Windows 8 from the country because it was discovered that the O/S had a built-in NSA back door. It seems that Germany reported on this first, but the devastating proof was at an IT conference where a Microsoft executive was interrupted during a speech with precisely this accusation. He did not deny it because the person making the accusation was the person who discovered it and had with him the proof, but refused to discuss it and changed the subject.
But this is hardly news. Forty years ago it was proven that all Xerox copy machines delivered to foreign embassies and consulates in the US were “espionage-ready”. Also, for at least 20 years, and perhaps much more, it was common knowledge that when any foreign embassies, consulates, banks and other corporations ordered computers and similar hardware from US suppliers, those shipments were intercepted by UPS, delivered to the CIA and/or NSA for installation of “extra” hardware and software before delivery to their destinations. This was one of the confirmations by Edward Snowden. Any search on this will give you millions of hits unless Google chooses that moment to lose its memory. You’ve Got Disse... Mulvenon, James C. Best Price: $8.55 Buy New $20.00 (as of 04:27 UTC - Details)
Huawei
Trump’s problems with Huawei are twofold. The most obvious is that China is eating America’s lunch when it comes to innovation and invention and Trump would like to slow this down by destroying Huawei and is clearly making every possible effort in this regard, including bullying and threatening half the known world against using Huawei’s products. But this is the small part of the problem; the real issue is espionage. There is no practical value in disputing the assertion that Cisco and other American hardware and software firms install back doors to all their equipment for the convenience of CIA and NSA access. But suddenly Huawei is replacing Cisco and those other American firms with its better and less expensive equipment.
That part is okay, but how can the CIA and NSA approach Huawei and ask the company to build back doors into its equipment so the US can spy on China – among all other countries? There is no solution to this problem other than to trash Huawei’s reputation by accusing it of being an espionage threat and having the company’s equipment banned. And this applies not only to the US, but to the entire Five Eyes Espionage Network, involving the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Briefly, this was set up to break laws while pretending no laws were being broken. It is generally against the law for a government to spy on its own citizens, but that law doesn’t apply to a foreign government. So Canada spies on Australian citizens and sends the information to the Australian spooks who can claim they did nothing wrong. Rinse and repeat. The sad part is that the “intelligence” received is usually of little interest to the four minor participants but all of it is shared with the US who are frothing to spy on the entire world and to take possession of “every communication” of every kind in the entire world. Thus, it isn’t sufficient to ban Huawei only from the US because this company’s equipment would castrate the NSA’s effort in the other four nations. Thus, US bullying to ensure each of its five eyes is Huawei-free. And that’s the entire story, like it or not.
Tik-Tok
Tik-Tok is nothing of consequence, except that it is in direct competition with similar American platforms and has proven too popular and too competitive to be permitted to survive. This is just a cheap, below-the-belt and illegal-as-hell shot at China. No threat, no nothing. However, as with all similar IT products and platforms it contains much personal information especially useful for marketing, which has so far been the private property of people like Google, Facebook and Twitter. Thus, Trump kills two birds with one stone: either simply kill Tik-Tok on some trumped-up accusation (if you’ll excuse the expression) of espionage, or force a sale to an American company. Either way, China loses massively while the political oppression and marketing value of that personal information remains safely in trusted American hands. You Will Be Assimilate... Goldman, David P. Buy New $17.00 (as of 04:27 UTC - Details)
WeChat
Since few Americans are familiar with WeChat, let me give you a description. Many of these functions are available in the West through various platforms, but not always to the same extent nor with the same convenience.
With WeChat we can transmit text and voice messages, photos and videos, and other files of any description even of many Mb in size. We can send and receive both text and voice messages in any language because WeChat has an excellent translation function in combination with one of its partners which translates not only text and voice, but will extract and translate all text contained in photos, handy for restaurant menus if you can’t read Chinese. We can place not only voice calls but video calls to anyone anywhere that transmit over the internet. It is so convenient that WeChat is the default communication choice for a great many people for most purposes. WeChat also has a Moments platform where we can post text, photos, videos, that are visible to those on our contact lists while selecting those who can view and who cannot, reserving some posts for close friends and others more generally public.
In China we have two primary online payment systems, one operated by Alibaba (called Alipay) and the other by WeChat. Its use is nearly universal in China and both are free to the user. During the past several years I cannot recall a single instance where I had cash in my pocket (even small change) when I went anywhere or was shopping for anything. Even to purchase a small bunch of green onions at a street market, the vendor has a QR code which my phone scans and the payment into their bank account is automatic.
With WeChat, we can send money to each other. If we want to share the cost of lunch, you can pay the entire bill and I transfer my share to you through WeChat. If I ever need cash, I could go to any shop or even approach a complete stranger and ask for 1,000 RMB and instantly repay him into his WeChat account. It is frequently used to transfer money internationally this way, sending dollars to a friend in one country and receiving RMB into a WeChat account in China. Instant, secure, and free of all fees. It all happens within a second, with a concurrent text message confirmation from the bank of both sides of the transaction. WeChat is the main reason people can travel anywhere in China with only a mobile phone and passport (and a change of clothing). Through WeChat, people can purchase plane or train tickets, pay taxi fares and hotel bills, restaurant tabs, in the same way.
Another useful WeChat function is real-time GPS location sharing. If a group is traveling to a destination in several cars, WeChat displays an active GPS map showing all locations in real space and time. If I am meeting a friend at a shopping mall or park or other large location, with this GPS function we can see each other’s location in real time and I know which way to walk to encounter my friend. Hidden Hand: Exposing ... Ohlberg, Mareike Buy New $27.00 (as of 04:18 UTC - Details)
We have WeChat groups which we can create with any number of participants for any convenient purpose. During the COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai we had a temporary WeChat group for the purchase of meat and vegetables that functioned better than any supermarket and with much less trouble. If I want to have a Christmas party I form a group of those I plan to invite, and all our discussions and planning take place within that platform. Most communities (small portions of residential districts) have a WeChat group for notification of community events and sharing important information.
The point with Trump’s “sanction” of WeChat is first that it will terminally disrupt international communications between China and the US for students, scientists, diplomats, media reporters, for all those in the US who have frequent communications with China, effects felt more seriously by those in China, which is a plus for Trump. Second, Trump’s administration is uncomfortable with the extent to which WeChat is encroaching on the American turf of Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and more, with already around 100 million downloads in the US, and his actions are partially to reclaim that turf by simply banning a competing medium that is threatening to take over and seriously downgrade the popularity of similar American platforms.
But most important is the espionage and censorship role of Trump’s initiative. As the censorship noose tightens around Facebook and Twitter, Americans are naturally moving to WeChat. The real issue is not that WeChat poses any danger to the US in any sense but, as with Huawei, the CIA and NSA cannot very well approach WeChat and ask for automatic sharing of all that personal relationship data. Therefore, under the guise of China being untrustworthy, the US government simply bans WeChat and thus no one in the US can send or receive any message without the NSA having a copy. A huge plus is that any news not fitting the official narrative will then be strangled at birth, as Google, Facebook and Twitter are now doing. If Microsoft or another American firm were to buy WeChat, then of course all is well since it is US firms, not Chinese, who automatically share all personal contact data with their government.
Notes


lewrockwell--2020-08-11--Flight from New York

Flight from New York

New York City is in Serious trouble .
Indeed , all diverse US cities are in trouble , especially those ruled by Democrats .
The combination of coronavirus and unchecked rioting and looting have undermined their economies .
Working at home has taught businesses that they do not need to accumulate employees in office complexes .
Working at home saves money for businesses and employees .
With profits and raises harder to come by , dispensing with office complexes and commutes is cost effective .
High income people who no longer need to work in office complexes do not need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can escape to Mystic Connecticut or somewhere else .
The Tyranny of Good In ... Paul Craig Roberts , La ... Best Price : $ 6.96 Buy New $ 8.95 On top of the depression of Manhattan office and apartment prices from the emerging work-at-home culture , we have the assault on NYC residents from the breakdown of law and order and the Democrat mayor ’ s decimation of the police budget in order to pay NYC hotels for housing the homeless , drug addicts , and child abusers in upper income West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only in New York City that people are deciding against downtown locations .
In Minneapolis , the police department has publicly announced that the police are unable to protect the public from robbery and abuse .
The police advise the public that when confronted by robbers , “ do as they say ” .
This might be good advice for Minneapolis citizens , but it is advice that violates the “ broken windows ” theory of policing , which says that disorder and visible signs of crime create an environment that encourages more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth of this theory in Portland , where the toleration of disorder by city authorities has brought the city more than 70 days of disorder .
Aftifa and Black Lives Matter have been given immunity by public authorities for their acts of violence and destruction .
The Minneapolis city council has compounded the city ’ s problem by its effort to defund and disband the city ’ s police department , with one member of the council arguing that the need to be protected from theft and violence is a form of privilege @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Daryl Best Price : $ 20.00 Buy New $ 9.95 Think about this for a minute .
Assume you are the owner of a Minneapolis business or an outside investor considering an investment in the city .
Would you want an investment in a city in which the mayor and city council , state attorney general and state governor think that the police—not rioters and looters—are the number one threat to public safety ?
No you wouldn ’ t , not unless you are crazy , but that is the way Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council , told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that concerns over public safety and the future of the city ’ s police department have some companies looking to leave downtown .
“ Almost overnight the brakes went on in downtown , ” Cramer said .
“ The point where it all started to change was the day the City Council announced it supported defunding the police department.
” Cramer said in a six-week period from that day there were 45 companies that indicated they were either moving out of downtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer moving downtown , and there were 13 companies in that group with 100 or more employees and one with 600 .
Technocracy : The Hard ... Wood , Patrick M. Best Price : $ 33.00 Buy New $ 24.59 Levin Lewis , executive director of the Minneapolis Business Owners and Managers Association , told KSTP that some high-end development deals have stalled because of public safety worries , and it could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars .
Flight from Chicago will be next .
If we add to the problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in public safety and the abandonment of office building complexes , the homelessness that now afflicts high income cities such as Manhattan , Malibu California , Seattle , and San Francisco , it is obvous that urban existence is losing its charm .
There is a larger and more dangerous issue that has gone unreported by presstitutes .
The “ George Floyd protests ” were organized multi-city acts of violence led by the largely white organizations—Antifa and Black Lives Matter—funded by Jewish and Gentile billionaires , philanthropic foundations , and corporations .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubt it has anything to do with police violence .
What it has achieved is to worsen race relations by portraying blacks as violent , lawless , and disrespectful of others and their property .
It is another wedge driven in to disunite the American people .
In Minneapolis 80 % of the black population oppose disbanding the police .
Black businesses suffered along with others from looting and burning .
The “ George Floyd protests ” was not a black event .
It was a white event organized and paid for by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is now satire .
We need to get to the bottom of this , but it won ’ t happen .
The presstitutes will only cover it up .
The FBI is too busy investigating Russian media and “ white supremacy ” groups to look into the real fomenters of racial conflict .
The Best of Paul Craig Roberts

New York City is in Serious trouble. Indeed, all diverse US cities are in trouble, especially those ruled by Democrats. The combination of coronavirus and unchecked rioting and looting have undermined their economies.
Working at home has taught businesses that they do not need to accumulate employees in office complexes. Working at home saves money for businesses and employees. With profits and raises harder to come by, dispensing with office complexes and commutes is cost effective.
High income people who no longer need to work in office complexes do not need expensive Manhattan brownstones and apartments. They can escape to Mystic Connecticut or somewhere else.
The Tyranny of Good In... Paul Craig Roberts, La... Best Price: $6.96 Buy New $8.95 (as of 07:10 UTC - Details) On top of the depression of Manhattan office and apartment prices from the emerging work-at-home culture, we have the assault on NYC residents from the breakdown of law and order and the Democrat mayor’s decimation of the police budget in order to pay NYC hotels for housing the homeless, drug addicts, and child abusers in upper income West Side Manhattan.
And it is not only in New York City that people are deciding against downtown locations. In Minneapolis, the police department has publicly announced that the police are unable to protect the public from robbery and abuse. The police advise the public that when confronted by robbers, “do as they say”.
This might be good advice for Minneapolis citizens, but it is advice that violates the “broken windows” theory of policing, which says that disorder and visible signs of crime create an environment that encourages more crime and disorder. We see the truth of this theory in Portland, where the toleration of disorder by city authorities has brought the city more than 70 days of disorder. Aftifa and Black Lives Matter have been given immunity by public authorities for their acts of violence and destruction.
The Minneapolis city council has compounded the city’s problem by its effort to defund and disband the city’s police department, with one member of the council arguing that the need to be protected from theft and violence is a form of privilege. Cultural Cancer: Treat... Kane, Daryl Best Price: $20.00 Buy New $9.95 (as of 04:04 UTC - Details)
Think about this for a minute. Assume you are the owner of a Minneapolis business or an outside investor considering an investment in the city. Would you want an investment in a city in which the mayor and city council, state attorney general and state governor think that the police—not rioters and looters—are the number one threat to public safety? No you wouldn’t, not unless you are crazy, but that is the way Democrats think.
Steve Cramer, president and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that concerns over public safety and the future of the city’s police department have some companies looking to leave downtown.
“Almost overnight the brakes went on in downtown,” Cramer said. “The point where it all started to change was the day the City Council announced it supported defunding the police department.” Cramer said in a six-week period from that day there were 45 companies that indicated they were either moving out of downtown or were a business that was no longer moving downtown, and there were 13 companies in that group with 100 or more employees and one with 600.
Technocracy: The Hard ... Wood, Patrick M. Best Price: $33.00 Buy New $24.59 (as of 03:55 UTC - Details) Levin Lewis, executive director of the Minneapolis Business Owners and Managers Association, told KSTP that some high-end development deals have stalled because of public safety worries, and it could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Flight from Chicago will be next.
If we add to the problems afflicting cities, such as the breakdown in public safety and the abandonment of office building complexes, the homelessness that now afflicts high income cities such as Manhattan, Malibu California, Seattle, and San Francisco, it is obvous that urban existence is losing its charm.
There is a larger and more dangerous issue that has gone unreported by presstitutes. The “George Floyd protests” were organized multi-city acts of violence led by the largely white organizations—Antifa and Black Lives Matter—funded by Jewish and Gentile billionaires, philanthropic foundations, and corporations. This financing has not been investigated. I doubt it has anything to do with police violence. What it has achieved is to worsen race relations by portraying blacks as violent, lawless, and disrespectful of others and their property. It is another wedge driven in to disunite the American people.
In Minneapolis 80% of the black population oppose disbanding the police. Black businesses suffered along with others from looting and burning. The “George Floyd protests” was not a black event. It was a white event organized and paid for by whites. This is so true that it is now satire.
We need to get to the bottom of this, but it won’t happen. The presstitutes will only cover it up. The FBI is too busy investigating Russian media and “white supremacy” groups to look into the real fomenters of racial conflict.
The Best of Paul Craig Roberts


lewrockwell--2020-08-11--Ex-Colleagues See Durham Dropping Bombshells Before Labor Day

While much speculation inside the Beltway says U.S. Attorney John Durham will punt the results of his so-called Spygate investigation past the election to avoid charges of political interference , sources who have worked with Durham on past public corruption cases doubt he ’ ll bend to political pressure — and they expect him to drop bombshells before Labor Day .
Durham ’ s boss , Attorney General Bill Barr , also pushed back on the notion his hand-picked investigator would defer action .
Under Democratic questioning on Capitol Hill last week , he refused to rule out a pre-election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you commit to not releasing any report by Mr. Durham before the November election ?
” Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell ( D-Fla. ) asked Barr , citing longstanding Justice Department policy not to announce new developments in politically sensitive cases before an election .
Who is John Brennan ?
Rubini , Greg Buy New $ 9.99 Justice Department policy prohibits prosecutors from taking overt steps in politically charged cases typically within 60 days of an election .
Accordingly , Durham would have to make a move by the Friday before Labor Day , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Durham has kept a tight lid on his investigation into the origins of the specious Russiagate investigation of Donald Trump and his 2016 campaign , leading to rampant speculation about who he might prosecute and whether he would take action ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election .
That could well be of historic consequence , since his probe involves both the Trump administration and high-level officials in the previous administration , including Trump ’ s presumptive Democratic rival , former Vice President Joe Biden .
Recently declassified FBI notes show Biden offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Flynn in early January 2017 .
Another declassified document reveals that Biden was among those who requested Flynn ’ s identity be “ unmasked ” in foreign intelligence intercepts around that same time .
The Spy Operations on ... Rubini , Greg Buy New $ 9.99 If Durham announces criminal indictments or plea agreements involving former officials operating under the Obama-Biden administration , or releases a report documenting widespread corruption , independent voters could sour on Biden and sympathize with Trump .
On the other hand , kicking the ball past the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I would find it hard to believe that he punts under any circumstances , ” said former assistant FBI director Chris Swecker , who knows Durham personally and has worked with the hard-nosed prosecutor on prior investigations .
He pointed out that Durham would risk throwing away 16 months of investigative work if he delayed action beyond the election .

While much speculation inside the Beltway says U.S. Attorney John Durham will punt the results of his so-called Spygate investigation past the election to avoid charges of political interference, sources who have worked with Durham on past public corruption cases doubt he’ll bend to political pressure — and they expect him to drop bombshells before Labor Day.
Durham’s boss, Attorney General Bill Barr, also pushed back on the notion his hand-picked investigator would defer action. Under Democratic questioning on Capitol Hill last week, he refused to rule out a pre-election release.
“Under oath, do you commit to not releasing any report by Mr. Durham before the November election?” Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.) asked Barr, citing longstanding Justice Department policy not to announce new developments in politically sensitive cases before an election. Who is John Brennan? Rubini, Greg Buy New $9.99 (as of 04:32 UTC - Details)
“No,” the attorney general curtly replied.
Justice Department policy prohibits prosecutors from taking overt steps in politically charged cases typically within 60 days of an election. Accordingly, Durham would have to make a move by the Friday before Labor Day, or Sept. 4.
A low-profile prosecutor, Durham has kept a tight lid on his investigation into the origins of the specious Russiagate investigation of Donald Trump and his 2016 campaign, leading to rampant speculation about who he might prosecute and whether he would take action ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election.
That could well be of historic consequence, since his probe involves both the Trump administration and high-level officials in the previous administration, including Trump’s presumptive Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. Recently declassified FBI notes show Biden offered input into the investigation of Trump adviser Michael Flynn in early January 2017. Another declassified document reveals that Biden was among those who requested Flynn’s identity be “unmasked” in foreign intelligence intercepts around that same time. The Spy Operations on ... Rubini, Greg Buy New $9.99 (as of 04:32 UTC - Details)
If Durham announces criminal indictments or plea agreements involving former officials operating under the Obama-Biden administration, or releases a report documenting widespread corruption, independent voters could sour on Biden and sympathize with Trump. On the other hand, kicking the ball past the election could dispirit Trump’s base.
“I would find it hard to believe that he punts under any circumstances,” said former assistant FBI director Chris Swecker, who knows Durham personally and has worked with the hard-nosed prosecutor on prior investigations.
He pointed out that Durham would risk throwing away 16 months of investigative work if he delayed action beyond the election.
Read the Whole Article


lewrockwell--2020-08-12--Lincoln’s Kind of ‘Soldier’

Lincoln’s Kind of ‘Soldier’

A neighbor of mine who is unfamiliar with my career and writings recently thought he could stump me with the question of who was Lincoln ’ s first choice as commanding general of the Union Army in the “ Civil War.
” He mistakenly thought he would surprise me with the answer of Robert E. Lee .
Yes , Lincoln did offer the job to Lee on the recommendation of his real first choice , General Winfield Scott ( Known to the troops as “ Ole Fuss n ’ Feathers ” because of his penchant for decorating his hat and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The aged Scott gave way to George McClellan in November of 1861 , something that Lincoln would soon regret .
The first major battle of the war , the First Battle of Bull Run , was a spectacular defeat for the U.S. Army , which was sent hysterically fleeing back to D.C. under bombardment .
According to James Robertson ’ s fascinating biography of Stonewall Jackson ( Stonewall Jackson : The Man , the Soldier , the Legend ) , near the end of the battle Jefferson Davis himself appeared on the battlefield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer named Thomas Jackson .
Jackson said to his president : “ Give me ten thousand men and I will take Washington.
” At that point Davis knew next to nothing about the man who from that day on would be known to the world as “ Stonewall ” Jackson , and so he declined .
( Jackson was an eccentric physics professor and artillery instructor at VMI before the war ) .
Had Davis accepted the offer the war could very well have ended the next day .
The Problem with Linco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New $ 29.99 The war was all downhill for Lincoln for the next year , at which time he decided that George McClellan had to go .
McClellan was eventually replaced by Major General Ambrose Burnside , who promptly led the Union Army to another catastrophic defeat in the Battle of Fredericksburg in December of 1862 .
But Burnside was not Lincoln ’ s first choice at that point , either .
His first choice was the Italian militarist Giuseppe Garibaldi ( See Rory Carroll , “ Garibaldi Asked by Lincoln to Run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italian militarist to command the U.S. Army because he had recently commanded an invasion of Sicily to force it to merge with Northern Italy and be ruled by one king , his boss King Victor Emmanual II .
At the time Sicily was not just an island but all of Southern Italy – Calabria , Lucania , Basilicata , Campania , Puglia , Abruzzi , and Molise .
This “ southern kingdom ” was the wealthiest of all the Italian regions and one of the wealthiest regions of Europe .
Like Lincoln , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a large empire , and federalism or states ’ rights stood in his way .
Garibaldi was his henchman who forced Sicily and the rest of Italy to come under the monopolistic , dictatorial rule of Victor Emanuel II .
According to Italian historian S. Ben Piazza ( Garibaldi , Italian Unification , and Sicily ) , Emmanuel was attracted to Garibaldi because of his reputation as “ an international adventurer [ i.e.
, mercenary and pirate ] and freebooter , better known for his paramilitary forays and terrorism carried out against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
” ( emphasis added ) .
Stonewall Jackson : Th ... Robertson , James Best Price : $ 4.84 Buy New $ 69.90 Garibaldi quickly raised an army that seized the vast gold stores of Sicily , one of the biggest acts of plunder in all of European history .
Much of the loot was shared with Northern Italian politically-connected business supporters of Emmanuel , much as Lincoln ’ s economic policies were nothing if not a vast expansion of corporate welfare ( protectionist tariffs , government-subsidized railroads , government control of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was plundered and impoverished , just as the American South was by Lincoln ’ s invasion .
Late in his life Garibaldi stated that he would never try such a thing again for fear of being “ stoned to death ” from having caused so much “ squalor and hate.
” It was that very performance , however , that earned him the offer of commanding general of the United States Army by Abraham Lincoln .
He was Lincoln ’ s kind of soldier .
At around the same time ( Spring of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a thick Russian accent was rapidly gaining favor with Lincoln .
Ivan Vasilievitch Turchaninov was from the Cossack region of imperial Russia and was a member of the Czar ’ s personal protection regiment who had participated in the terroristic crushing of Polish and Hungarian uprisings .
He somehow made it to America in 1856 and , lo and behold , became employed by the Illinois Central Railroad where Abraham Lincoln was the general counsel .
He changed his name to John Basil Turchin , became a Republican , and was given command @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Garibaldi : Hero of Ita ... HIBBERT , CHRISTOPHER Best Price : $ 21.80 Buy New $ 22.32 “ Turchin ” became notorious when in early May of 1862 his troops occupied Athens , Alabama after the Confederate cavalry had vacated the area .
He told his men that “ I shut my eyes for two hours , ” by which he meant that they had a license to loot , rape , and plunder ; and so they did .
The “ sacking of Athens ” stripped all of the shops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the population was rampant .
As was the gang rape of black women .
When word of this reached Major General Don Carlos Buell , he relieved “ Turchin ” of his command and commenced court martial proceedings .
The presiding judge at the court martial was future president , Brigadier General James Garfield , who said he was “ horrified ” at how Athens , Alabama was “ sacked according to Muscovite custom ” ( Frederick Williams , The Wild Life of the Army : Civil War Letters of James A.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ court found “ Turchin ” guilty and was sentenced to dismissal from the army .
At that point Abraham Lincoln intervened by overturning the conviction and promoted “ Turchin ” to brigadier general instead , a move that was ratified by a vote of the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate .
This sent the message to all other Union Army officers that this is how the war is to be waged – against civilians , Russian style .
And so it was , for the next three years .
It is little wonder , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his biography of General Sherman entitled Marching through Georgia , would write that had the Confederates won the war , “ they would have found themselves justified .
.
.
in stringing up President Lincoln and the entire Union him command for violation of the laws of war , specifically for waging war against noncombatants.
” The Wild Life of the A ... James Garfield Best Price : $ 18.50 Marching Through Georg ... Kennett , Lee B .
Best Price : $ 2.31 Buy New $ 8.52 The Best of Thomas DiLorenzo

A neighbor of mine who is unfamiliar with my career and writings recently thought he could stump me with the question of who was Lincoln’s first choice as commanding general of the Union Army in the “Civil War.” He mistakenly thought he would surprise me with the answer of Robert E. Lee. Yes, Lincoln did offer the job to Lee on the recommendation of his real first choice, General Winfield Scott (Known to the troops as “Ole Fuss n’ Feathers” because of his penchant for decorating his hat and uniform with colorful bird feathers). The aged Scott gave way to George McClellan in November of 1861, something that Lincoln would soon regret.
The first major battle of the war, the First Battle of Bull Run, was a spectacular defeat for the U.S. Army, which was sent hysterically fleeing back to D.C. under bombardment. According to James Robertson’s fascinating biography of Stonewall Jackson (Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend), near the end of the battle Jefferson Davis himself appeared on the battlefield and was approached by a little-known Confederate officer named Thomas Jackson. Jackson said to his president: “Give me ten thousand men and I will take Washington.” At that point Davis knew next to nothing about the man who from that day on would be known to the world as “Stonewall” Jackson, and so he declined. (Jackson was an eccentric physics professor and artillery instructor at VMI before the war). Had Davis accepted the offer the war could very well have ended the next day.
The Problem with Linco... DiLorenzo, Thomas J. Buy New $29.99 (as of 11:50 UTC - Details) The war was all downhill for Lincoln for the next year, at which time he decided that George McClellan had to go. McClellan was eventually replaced by Major General Ambrose Burnside, who promptly led the Union Army to another catastrophic defeat in the Battle of Fredericksburg in December of 1862. But Burnside was not Lincoln’s first choice at that point, either. His first choice was the Italian militarist Giuseppe Garibaldi (See Rory Carroll, “Garibaldi Asked by Lincoln to Run Army”).
Lincoln wanted the Italian militarist to command the U.S. Army because he had recently commanded an invasion of Sicily to force it to merge with Northern Italy and be ruled by one king, his boss King Victor Emmanual II. At the time Sicily was not just an island but all of Southern Italy – Calabria, Lucania, Basilicata, Campania, Puglia, Abruzzi, and Molise. This “southern kingdom” was the wealthiest of all the Italian regions and one of the wealthiest regions of Europe.
Like Lincoln, Victor Emmanual II wanted to be king of a large empire, and federalism or states’ rights stood in his way. Garibaldi was his henchman who forced Sicily and the rest of Italy to come under the monopolistic, dictatorial rule of Victor Emanuel II. According to Italian historian S. Ben Piazza (Garibaldi, Italian Unification, and Sicily), Emmanuel was attracted to Garibaldi because of his reputation as “an international adventurer [i.e., mercenary and pirate] and freebooter, better known for his paramilitary forays and terrorism carried out against civilian populations in South America . . .” (emphasis added). Stonewall Jackson : Th... Robertson, James Best Price: $4.84 Buy New $69.90 (as of 07:12 UTC - Details)
Garibaldi quickly raised an army that seized the vast gold stores of Sicily, one of the biggest acts of plunder in all of European history. Much of the loot was shared with Northern Italian politically-connected business supporters of Emmanuel, much as Lincoln’s economic policies were nothing if not a vast expansion of corporate welfare (protectionist tariffs, government-subsidized railroads, government control of the money supply).
Southern Italy was plundered and impoverished, just as the American South was by Lincoln’s invasion. Late in his life Garibaldi stated that he would never try such a thing again for fear of being “stoned to death” from having caused so much “squalor and hate.” It was that very performance, however, that earned him the offer of commanding general of the United States Army by Abraham Lincoln. He was Lincoln’s kind of soldier.
At around the same time (Spring of 1862) another foreign military man with a thick Russian accent was rapidly gaining favor with Lincoln. Ivan Vasilievitch Turchaninov was from the Cossack region of imperial Russia and was a member of the Czar’s personal protection regiment who had participated in the terroristic crushing of Polish and Hungarian uprisings. He somehow made it to America in 1856 and, lo and behold, became employed by the Illinois Central Railroad where Abraham Lincoln was the general counsel. He changed his name to John Basil Turchin, became a Republican, and was given command of the Nineteenth Illinois Infantry in 1861. Garibaldi: Hero of Ita... HIBBERT, CHRISTOPHER Best Price: $21.80 Buy New $22.32 (as of 07:12 UTC - Details)
“Turchin” became notorious when in early May of 1862 his troops occupied Athens, Alabama after the Confederate cavalry had vacated the area. He told his men that “I shut my eyes for two hours,” by which he meant that they had a license to loot, rape, and plunder; and so they did. The “sacking of Athens” stripped all of the shops of their wares, and armed robbery of the population was rampant. As was the gang rape of black women.
When word of this reached Major General Don Carlos Buell, he relieved “Turchin” of his command and commenced court martial proceedings. The presiding judge at the court martial was future president, Brigadier General James Garfield, who said he was “horrified” at how Athens, Alabama was “sacked according to Muscovite custom” (Frederick Williams, The Wild Life of the Army: Civil War Letters of James A. Garfield, p. 121). The court found “Turchin” guilty and was sentenced to dismissal from the army.
At that point Abraham Lincoln intervened by overturning the conviction and promoted “Turchin” to brigadier general instead, a move that was ratified by a vote of the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate. This sent the message to all other Union Army officers that this is how the war is to be waged – against civilians, Russian style. And so it was, for the next three years. It is little wonder, then, why historian Lee Kennett, in his biography of General Sherman entitled Marching through Georgia, would write that had the Confederates won the war, “they would have found themselves justified . . . in stringing up President Lincoln and the entire Union high command for violation of the laws of war, specifically for waging war against noncombatants.”
The Wild Life of the A... James Garfield Best Price: $18.50 (as of 07:12 UTC - Details) Marching Through Georg... Kennett, Lee B. Best Price: $2.31 Buy New $8.52 (as of 07:12 UTC - Details)
The Best of Thomas DiLorenzo