BREAKING: Sen. Lindsay Graham proposes 15-week national abortion banCloseThe apparent attack on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday represents a dramatic escalation in regional and international tensions. Coming just one month and one day after an attack on four other oil tankers in the same area, oil prices have spiked upward in fear of what might happen next.What's going on here? Blame Iran.The United Arab Emirates and Saudis might want a United States showdown with Iran but they would not risk jeopardizing the U.S. relationship by conducting a false flag attack. Moreover, the...…BREAKING: Sen. Lindsay Graham proposes 15-week national abortion banCloseThe apparent attack on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday represents a dramatic escalation in regional and international tensions. Coming just one month and one day after an attack on four other oil tankers in the same area, oil prices have spiked upward in fear of what might happen next.What's going on here? Blame Iran.The United Arab Emirates and Saudis might want a United States showdown with Iran but they would not risk jeopardizing the U.S. relationship by conducting a false flag attack. Moreover, the...WW…

The European Union proclaims it is a global beacon for human rights, the rule of law, and the advancement of a broadly shared and prosperous peace. All noble ideals.Sadly, on Friday, the EU offered a sad reminder that its rhetoric is increasingly detached from reality. At least as applied to the greatest threat to those noble ideals, Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party.After all, just as President Trump took very significant action to hold China accountable for its immolation this week of the Sino-British accord and Hong Kong freedom, the EU did, well, not a lot. Nothing more, that...…The European Union proclaims it is a global beacon for human rights, the rule of law, and the advancement of a broadly shared and prosperous peace. All noble ideals.Sadly, on Friday, the EU offered a sad reminder that its rhetoric is increasingly detached from reality. At least as applied to the greatest threat to those noble ideals, Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party.After all, just as President Trump took very significant action to hold China accountable for its immolation this week of the Sino-British accord and Hong Kong freedom, the EU did, well, not a lot. Nothing more, that...WW…

Pulitzer-winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman wants you to stay at home until January. At least, that's the only logical way his tweet on Saturday can be deciphered.Wow. Good luck. A reminder that none of us are safe until all of us are safe. — Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman)OK. Neera Tanden's politics aside, she has always been personable when we've met previously. I feel bad for her and wish her a speedy and as painless-as-possible recovery. But Krugman's argument isn't ultimately about Tanden. It's about the nation. And as I said, Krugman's necessary extension is that...…Pulitzer-winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman wants you to stay at home until January. At least, that's the only logical way his tweet on Saturday can be deciphered.Wow. Good luck. A reminder that none of us are safe until all of us are safe. — Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman)OK. Neera Tanden's politics aside, she has always been personable when we've met previously. I feel bad for her and wish her a speedy and as painless-as-possible recovery. But Krugman's argument isn't ultimately about Tanden. It's about the nation. And as I said, Krugman's necessary extension is that...WW…

How the Mexican drug cartels must toast Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.Declaring an end to the drug war in January 2019 with the promise of "Hugs, not bullets," AMLO hoped the immensely powerful cartels would stop slaughtering each other and innocent people. He believed that the drug gangsters would reward an end to aggressive government security operations by respecting each others' turfs. It was a very bad bet.The cartels have shown their gratitude only with unrestrained violence. Some 31,000 people were in Mexico in 2019. The measure of this loss is truly catastrophic....…How the Mexican drug cartels must toast Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.Declaring an end to the drug war in January 2019 with the promise of "Hugs, not bullets," AMLO hoped the immensely powerful cartels would stop slaughtering each other and innocent people. He believed that the drug gangsters would reward an end to aggressive government security operations by respecting each others' turfs. It was a very bad bet.The cartels have shown their gratitude only with unrestrained violence. Some 31,000 people were in Mexico in 2019. The measure of this loss is truly catastrophic....WW…

President Trump doesn't seem to realize that 0.93 is less than 1.36. Perhaps I'm being a little facetious here, but the point stands.On Wednesday, explaining his reduction of U.S. military force level in Germany from 36,000 personnel to 24,000, Trump was clear as to his rationale. "We don’t want to be the suckers anymore ... We’re protecting Germany, so we’re reducing the force because they’re not paying their bills. It’s very simple. They’re delinquent. So we’re reducing the force. Now, if they start paying their bills … I would think about [canceling the redeployment out of Germany]."On...…President Trump doesn't seem to realize that 0.93 is less than 1.36. Perhaps I'm being a little facetious here, but the point stands.On Wednesday, explaining his reduction of U.S. military force level in Germany from 36,000 personnel to 24,000, Trump was clear as to his rationale. "We don’t want to be the suckers anymore ... We’re protecting Germany, so we’re reducing the force because they’re not paying their bills. It’s very simple. They’re delinquent. So we’re reducing the force. Now, if they start paying their bills … I would think about [canceling the redeployment out of Germany]."On...WW…

Addressing an audience at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library on Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo explained the world's greatest and most dangerous lie.Namely, that Xi Jinping's "dream" of Chinese Communist Party global leadership is compatible with humanity's interests.On the contrary, Pompeo argued, "We must admit a hard truth that should guide us in the years and decades to come, if we want to have a free 21st century, and not the Chinese century Xi Jinping dreams of: The old paradigm of blind engagement with China has failed. We must not continue it. And we must not return to...…Addressing an audience at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library on Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo explained the world's greatest and most dangerous lie.Namely, that Xi Jinping's "dream" of Chinese Communist Party global leadership is compatible with humanity's interests.On the contrary, Pompeo argued, "We must admit a hard truth that should guide us in the years and decades to come, if we want to have a free 21st century, and not the Chinese century Xi Jinping dreams of: The old paradigm of blind engagement with China has failed. We must not continue it. And we must not return to...WW…

Google will lay a new undersea communications cable between the United States and Britain and Spain. The cable will support increased data flows across the Atlantic. But "Grace Hopper," as the cable is named, will also attract some interesting intelligence activity.The first point to note is that the British end of the cable will come ashore in Bude, Cornwall, on England's southwest coast. While many U.S. cables land at Bude, that location is also home to a joint base of the U.S. National Security Agency and its British equivalent, Government Communications Headquarters. GCHQ-Bude conducts...…Google will lay a new undersea communications cable between the United States and Britain and Spain. The cable will support increased data flows across the Atlantic. But "Grace Hopper," as the cable is named, will also attract some interesting intelligence activity.The first point to note is that the British end of the cable will come ashore in Bude, Cornwall, on England's southwest coast. While many U.S. cables land at Bude, that location is also home to a joint base of the U.S. National Security Agency and its British equivalent, Government Communications Headquarters. GCHQ-Bude conducts...WW…

JP Morgan: "We will decline to comment."Bank of America: No response. Morgan Stanley: No response. Goldman Sachs: No response.That's how those four banks reacted to my question on Thursday as to their position on the new Chinese security law in Hong Kong and whether they are opposed to said law. The recently announced law gives effect to of its treaty obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and its subjugation of Hongkongers .But in the banks' response to my question, we see a rather striking dichotomy between the way in which major American banks are responding to the Black...…JP Morgan: "We will decline to comment."Bank of America: No response. Morgan Stanley: No response. Goldman Sachs: No response.That's how those four banks reacted to my question on Thursday as to their position on the new Chinese security law in Hong Kong and whether they are opposed to said law. The recently announced law gives effect to of its treaty obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and its subjugation of Hongkongers .But in the banks' response to my question, we see a rather striking dichotomy between the way in which major American banks are responding to the Black...WW…

BREAKING: Sen. Lindsay Graham proposes 15-week national abortion banCloseIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scored a remarkable win on Monday, when he and his main political opponent, Benny Gantz, agreed to form an emergency coalition government to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.The deal means that Netanyahu's leadership of Israel is secured for the next eighteen months. Gantz will then take over. Still, there's no doubt that this can be considered anything but a huge win for Netanyahu.First and most obviously, Netanyahu is staying in power. This follows three successive...…BREAKING: Sen. Lindsay Graham proposes 15-week national abortion banCloseIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scored a remarkable win on Monday, when he and his main political opponent, Benny Gantz, agreed to form an emergency coalition government to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.The deal means that Netanyahu's leadership of Israel is secured for the next eighteen months. Gantz will then take over. Still, there's no doubt that this can be considered anything but a huge win for Netanyahu.First and most obviously, Netanyahu is staying in power. This follows three successive...WW…

"We're all in this together," proclaims Beijing's coronavirus to the world.Of course, in reality, Beijing is only in this to save its ruling Communist Party.Take the arrest this weekend of more than a dozen Hong Kong democracy activists. Those detained are accused of engaging in "unlawful assemblies" last fall, and their number includes Hong Kong Democratic Party founder and barrister Martin Lee, entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, and former 17-year city legislator Margaret Ng. But, while these three have long been central to the Hong Kong democracy movement, only Lai was a regular street...…"We're all in this together," proclaims Beijing's coronavirus to the world.Of course, in reality, Beijing is only in this to save its ruling Communist Party.Take the arrest this weekend of more than a dozen Hong Kong democracy activists. Those detained are accused of engaging in "unlawful assemblies" last fall, and their number includes Hong Kong Democratic Party founder and barrister Martin Lee, entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, and former 17-year city legislator Margaret Ng. But, while these three have long been central to the Hong Kong democracy movement, only Lai was a regular street...WW…