Saturday, August 31, 2019

@18:00, , 8/31/19

|


1

Leslie H. Gelb, 82, Former Diplomat and New York Times Journalist, Dies

Sam Roberts at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago
He was an editor, columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for The Times and served in a variety of government posts.
 
"Mr. Gelb originally endorsed the Iraq War, too, for reasons that, perhaps, suggested that not much had changed since Vietnam.
His initial support for the war, he said, “was symptomatic of unfortunate tendencies within the foreign policy community, namely the disposition and incentives of supporting wars to retain political and professional credibility.”"
 
He was late learning. 
He did learn. 
Imperialism is no excuse.
 
I never thought I had a problem killing people.
I had a problem killing at the orders of another.
This is not conscientious objection by the military definition. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscientious_objection_in_the_United_States 
 

‘I Am on My Way to Being Very Well,’ Justice Ginsburg Tells Thousands of Fans

Adam Liptak at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago
The appearance, part of a run of public events after her latest cancer treatment, gave nervous liberals hope that she would outlast President Trump.
 
She has persisted.
It is a source of joy.
 

Open Thread

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 1 hour ago
Use the comments on this post to discuss topics not related to recent posts.
 
Sooner is better.   As soon as you can is best. 
 

Both Parties See Control of the Senate as Pivotal. Here Are the Key Races They’re Watching.

Carl Hulse at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago
Republican-held seats in Arizona, Colorado, Maine and North Carolina are top targets for Democrats but both sides are keeping an eye out for wild cards.
 
Yes.
 

Body of Michigan Man Deported to Iraq Is Returned to the U.S.

Mariel Padilla at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago
Jimmy Aldaoud died in Baghdad of a “diabetic crisis” after his deportation. His funeral is scheduled for next week.
 
The administration is almost always wrong.
 

How a Trump Tax Break to Help Poor Communities Became a Windfall for the Rich

Jesse Drucker and Eric Lipton at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago
Opportunity zones were created as part of the Trump tax law to lure investment to distressed areas. But much of the money is fueling real-estate developments targeting the affluent.
 
The Opportunity Zones are destructive of urban life.
 

Trump’s Twitter War on Spelling

Sarah Lyall at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago
The president’s supporters don’t mind his linguistic slips, but lexicographers and grammarians worry about the permanent effect on language.
 
Yes.   Trump needs an undecorative secretary.
 

North Korea Says Hope of More U.S. Talks Is ‘Disappearing’

Choe Sang-Hun at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago
The North said it might “re-examine all the measures we have taken so far,” a vague threat that could encompass its moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests.
 
The meaning is clear.
The syntax is clumsy. 
 

Kirsten Gillibrand Exits and a One-Night Debate: This Week in the 2020 Race

Maggie Astor and Matt Stevens at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago
A departure trims the Democratic primary field to 20, the September debate lineup is set and President Trump gets another challenger.
 
Time is passing.
 
10 

U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Wandering Iranian Oil Tanker

Alan Rappeport and Daniel Victor at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 18 hours ago
The vessel, still at sea, has been at the center of a power struggle between Iran and the United States.
 
Iran continues to win.
 
11 

Amid Recession Worries, Trump Points Finger at American Businesses

Peter Baker at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 20 hours ago
With his re-election hopes on the line, the president seeks someone to blame in case the economy turns south.
 
"The president’s search for economic villains comes amid signs of a slowdown, exacerbated by uncertainty from his showdown with China over the future of the relationship between the two largest economies in the world." 
 
12 

Trump’s Personal Assistant, Madeleine Westerhout, Shared Intimate Details of First Family

Katie Rogers, Annie Karni and Maggie Haberman at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 20 hours ago
Mr. Trump said Friday that his Ms. Westerhout had been drinking when she “said things about my children” to reporters, comments he called “a little bit hurtful.”
 
Trump never learned to spell.
 
13 

In a Tweet Taunting Iran, Trump Releases an Image Thought to Be Classified

David E. Sanger and William J. Broad at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 20 hours ago
The president’s tweet, which included a high-resolution satellite image of the damage, was unusual because Iran had neither acknowledged the accident nor blamed the United States.
 
Diplomats are important. 
 
14 

World Bank to Investigate if China Loan Funded Muslim Detention Camps

Alan Rappeport at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 22 hours ago
Lawmakers in the United States have raised questions about whether a $50 million loan for a project in Xinjiang is being misused.
 
China is a sovereign nation.
 
15 

Why Labour Unions Matter(ed)

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 1 day ago
Since it’s coming up on Labour Day weekend here in Canada I thought I’d write a basic post on labour unions. There’s been a vast effort, funded by huge amounts of money, to discredit unions: to say they’re bad for workers. That’s simple nonsense, but as with things like climate change denial, nonsense backed with […]
 
I encourage you to read it and check his facts and reasoning.
 
*************************************************************************** 
 
16 

Trial for Men Accused of Plotting 9/11 Attacks Is Set for 2021

Carol Rosenberg at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
A military judge on Friday set Jan. 11, 2021, as the start of the death penalty trial at Guantánamo Bay of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four men accused of plotting the attacks.
 
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is not guilty.
The planners are probably all dead. 
 
17 

Michael Flynn’s Lawyers Escalate Attacks on Prosecutors

Adam Goldman at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
Lawyers for Mr. Flynn, the former national security adviser, said they believed prosecutors had material that could exonerate him. The government dismissed those claims.
 
Tell Michael Flynn's lawyers what is known as is required by law.
 
18 

Universities Face Federal Crackdown Over Foreign Financial Influence

Erica L. Green at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
The Education Department has begun a crackdown on colleges and universities that fail to disclose gifts from foreign governments, fearing undue influence.
 
This is not the government's concern.
First Amendment.
 
19 

Third U.S. Soldier Dies in Afghanistan in Just Over a Week

Thomas Gibbons-Neff at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
The Army Special Forces soldier died in Zabul Province, in the country’s southeast, at the start of a joint mission with Afghan commandos.
 
Afghanistan is a sovereign nation.
 
20 

Poland Had the Royal Castle Ready. Then Trump Canceled His Trip.

Marc Santora at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
Ahead of national elections, Poland’s governing party had hoped that President Trump’s visit would give it a boost and blunt concerns that it was undermining democracy.

Donald Trump does not do diplomacy.

||

No comments:

Post a Comment