Tag: World Affairs

Prepare For War

I recently read an article that says the Brits have been warned to prepare for all out war in four years….

I post this for I want any of my UK readers to confirm that they have seen this prediction….

The British public should be prepared for “widespread war in Europe” within the next three to four years, military experts have said.

Russia’s increasingly audacious incursions into Eastern Europe risk spilling over into an all-out “hot” conflict that engages Nato, while Vladimir Putin’s current “grey war” activity of sabotage, cyber attacks and disinformation is expected to be “on steroids” before the end of the decade.

The chairman of the UK’s National Preparedness Commission, Lord Harris, told The i Paper that Britain needed to be better prepared, both militarily and across society, for a widespread conflict of this nature happening in the next few years.

This includes stockpiling emergency supplies to be used in the event of a war or major attack on critical national infrastructure, such as water, electricity or transport networks.

Harris, a Labour peer, said Britons needed to prepare for their lives “being changed or likely to be changed in the foreseeable future”, including having 72 hours worth of provisions if there was a major attack on infrastructure or a power cut caused by a hostile state

He suggested that the Government should make its “Prepare” website – which offers advice on readiness for emergencies such as floods and power cuts – more “in your face” and run regular ad campaigns on radio, TV and social media, as well as lessons for schoolchildren.

Britons told to prepare for ‘widespread’ war in Europe within three to four years

Please let me know if you have seen this or have more information than is presented in the article.

Do you believe the prediction?  If so why?

If true then it should have wide ranging implications across the globe.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

The Death Of American Diplomacy

For a few years I was employed by the US State Department as an analyst….and I have watched the role of State as the diplomatic corps for the nation diminish…..until we come to today and the whole idea of diplomacy has become something of a dream replaced with idiots that would not know true diplomacy if it bit them in the ass.

Today Donny’s secretary of state, Rubio, is so incompetent that he allows his role in the world to be dictated by a mad man….

In the past few days, senior US diplomats in two friendly countries – France and Denmark – have been summoned to receive diplomatic protests from the host government. This is unusual.

Denmark has called in the US charge d’affaires (as the ambassador has not yet been confirmed) after intelligence reports suggested there were covert efforts by the US in Greenland to stir up opposition to Danish rule.

And in Paris, the new US ambassador, Charles Kushner, was summoned after publicly criticising the Macron government for not doing more to curb anti-semitism – but sent one of his staff instead.

Trump’s approach to diplomatic relations dispenses with the usual niceties, the traditional courtesies, and cuts to the chase: who’s bigger than who? The suggestion is that if it is Trump, then he expects you to do what he wants. Where a foreign government continues to disagree with his policy, he seems willing to support efforts, as in Greenland, to change the government or publicly pressure them to change.

US president Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) advised his successors to speak softly and carry a big stick. Trump clearly prefers to speak loudly and use the stick liberally, especially on the country’s allies. This is a new US diplomatic game.

https://theconversation.com/how-the-trump-administration-changed-the-rules-of-international-diplomacy-by-a-former-british-ambassador-264053

American diplomacy is in rapid decline……use India as an example…..

Recent US administrations (Bush, Obama, Trump) have often decided to send career foreign service officers to New Delhi—which is all to the good, after all, Pickering was a career foreign service officer. Such men and women often bring a deft touch in confronting nettlesome problems.

President Joe Biden’s (or the person who was actually making the decisions for Biden) choice for Ambassador to India was, for reasons that remain obscure, the nepo-mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti. The downward trend in quality seems set to continue. Last week, President Trump announced that a former errand boy for Sen. Rand Paul’s office (an office that seems to attract self-important types who think that plagiarizing Wikipedia is a substitute for speechwriting) who somehow parlayed that role into a publishing partnership with the Trump sons (the partnership produced the imaginatively titled Letters to Trump—available for a cool $100 at trumpstore.com) will be his nominee to head the diplomatic mission in New Delhi. Sergio Gor, a 38 year old native of Malta with zero diplomatic or foreign affairs experience (but, as it happens, ample experience as an amateur wedding DJ) will take the reins in New Delhi pending Senate confirmation (or, more likely, a recess appointment). It is said that for the last 7 months Gor has been the Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, but there is little evidence of his time there, as scores of political appointments remain unfilled.

From Galbraith, Moynihan and Pickering to Garcetti and Gor. The long decline of American statecraft continues.

https://original.antiwar.com/james-carden/2025/08/28/the-decline-of-american-diplomacy/

This decline is troublesome because the world is a tinder box than ks to the last 5 presidents and without some sort of diplomatic mission this decline will accelerate to reach of no return.

It is sad because the US could be an agent for peace but that idea has been kicked to the curb by warmongering d/bags…..matters not the party both are as guilty as the other.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

A Disturbing Chinese Report

China has made it back into the conversation and the news….I guess Gaza is not that important now (but that is a mistake) and Donny has imposed more tariffs on China and the markets took a hit.

And of course China fired back at the imposition of more tariffs…..

Beijing has vowed countermeasures against Washington if US President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to impose new 100% tariffs on Chinese imports.

Trump’s latest threat came after China unleashed a raft of export restrictions on rare earth minerals last week. The escalating tensions threaten to derail months of progress in trade talks.

“Resorting to threats of high tariffs is not the right way to engage with China,” a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said Sunday, in Beijing’s first comments on the threat.

“If the US persists in acting unilaterally, China will resolutely take corresponding measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” the spokesperson added. “Our position on a tariff war remains consistent – we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/12/business/china-warns-us-of-counter-actions-if-trump-doesnt-walk-back-his-100-tariff-threat

What does that rhetoric mean?

But for me there is more disturbing news than the economics of stupid…..you need to READ this article…..very disturbing.

Here’s a “Dr. Strangelove”-sounding idea: drop three consecutive nuclear missiles on the same target.

The Chinese military simulated this shock and awe scenario in a miniaturized lab experiment in order to see what kind of damage would happen, according to the South China Morning Post, and published their findings earlier this month in the science journal, Explosion and Shock Waves.

They found that striking a target with multiple nuclear munitions in rapid succession leaves a bigger crater and causes way more destruction than a single detonation — duh — but the scientists claim that the research is relevant because it’s the first laboratory test to accurately simulate the damage from such a brutal attack.

But the true value from this test is probably that the military could glean data from the paper to build better bunkers that could withstand such an apocalyptic situation — a matter that’s on everybody’s mind as China and the United States size up each other’s weapons arsenal amid rising geopolitical tension.

The scientists in the paper in particular singled out the power of American and Russian weaponry such as a “new generation of low-yield earth-penetrating [nuclear missile] warheads” as a cause for concern.

For the missiles strike test, the team of Chinese military scientists produced a large metallic vacuum chamber with heavy, thick walls but small enough to fit in a lab room. Inside the chamber, they used pressurized gas to pierce three glass spheres buried in quartz sand to simulate a rapid succession of nuclear explosions, while cameras captured every second of these blasts.

They ran calculations that referenced the US Palanquin test in 1965, which was held to identify the impact from a nuclear detonation; in that long-ago experiment held in Nevada, the explosion left a crater radius of 119 feet and a depth of around 69 feet.

https://futurism.com/science-energy/chinese-military-multiple-nuclear-strikes

When will these fuckers stop worrying about the bombs and do something useful for humanity?

Any deep thoughts?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

“Unlawful Combatant”?

That sorta sounds like an oxymoron…..

Just yesterday Donny made his policy unknown on these attacks on boats and such…..

President Trump has declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and says the United States is now in a “non-international armed conflict” after recent US strikes on boats in the Caribbean, according to a Trump administration memo obtained by outlets including the AP and the New York Times.

  • A source tells the AP that Congress was notified about the designation by Pentagon officials on Wednesday. Pentagon officials could not provide a list of the designated terrorist organizations at the center of the conflict, a matter that was a major source of frustration for some of the lawmakers who were briefed, the source says.
  • The move comes after the US military last month carried out three deadly strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean. At least two of those operations were carried out on vessels that originated from Venezuela. Democrats have been pressing Trump to go to Congress and seek war powers authority for such operations.
  • The notice to lawmakers said Trump has determined that drug cartels are “nonstate armed groups” and that their actions “constitute an armed attack against the United States,” the Times reports. “Based upon the cumulative effects of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, the president determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations.” The Times notes that in international law, “non-international armed conflict” normally refers to civil wars.
  • Several senators, Democrats and some Republicans, as well as human rights groups, questioned the legality of Trump’s action. They called it potential overreach of executive authority in part because the military was used for law enforcement purposes, the AP reports. By claiming his campaign against drug cartels is an active armed conflict, Trump appears to be claiming extraordinary wartime powers to justify his action.
  • In a statement to CNN, Democratic Sen. Jack Reed said the administration “has offered no credible legal justification, evidence, or intelligence for these strikes.” Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, added: “Drug cartels are despicable and must be dealt with by law enforcement. But now, by the President’s own words, the US military is engaged in armed conflict with undefined enemies he has unilaterally labeled ‘unlawful combatants,’ and he has deployed thousands of troops, ships, and aircraft against them. Yet he has refused to inform Congress or the public. Every American should be alarmed that their President has decided he can wage secret wars against anyone he calls an enemy.”

Where the Hell did this sort of doublespeak originate?

In 2001, President George W. Bush declared certain fighters for Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan to be “unlawful enemy combatants.” This designation, made by a presidential order, was intended by the Bush administration to effectively remove prisoners so designated from protection under the Geneva Conventions. The designation led to prisoners being held without access to lawyers or judicial reviews to determine whether they should have been kept prisoner. It also led to a string of Supreme Court decisions and efforts by Congress to overcome those decisions. The concept of unlawful enemy combatants is not new, dating back at least to the nineteenth century.

…

The designation “unlawful enemy combatant” impacted two legal areas: the rights of foreign citizens captured outside the United States and the rights of individuals (including American citizens) captured inside the United States. Unlike traditional “prisoners of war,” the treatment of whom is covered by the Geneva Conventions and whose release depends on the cessation of hostilities between states, “unlawful enemy combatants” do not belong to a recognized government entity engaged in a formal state of war with the United States.

Civil libertarians challenged this policy as a violation of the Constitution. In the case of prisoners held abroad, the Supreme Court eventually ruled that such prisoners must be brought before military tribunals conducted according to ordinary standards of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In June 2008, the Supreme Court expanded on this opinion, ruling in the case of Boumediene v. Bush that the military tribunals did not provide an adequate substitute for a hearing in a federal court. The Boumediene decision effectively gave designated unlawful enemy combatants the same status as any civilian arrested and held in the United States. Leading up to the Boumediene decision, details of military tribunals hearing the cases of unlawful enemy combatants had been the source of a prolonged tug-of-war involving the administration, Congress, and the Supreme Court.

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/unlawful-enemy-combatants

I understand the concept but without more details it is just chest thumping to get on camera.

Another slippery slope waiting to happen.

Any thoughts?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Democracy For A Peaceful World

Since the early years of my schooling I was taught that the US was a beacon of freedom and democracy in this world.

The original mission statement for the Department of State was that it was to promote democracy and human rights….I believe that mission statement has been changed in the last few months.

The high moral ideal that democracy promotes peace is being challenged these days.

This is an article from Switzerland…..

Switzerland is not only a peaceful, democratic country, it is also – as stated in its constitution – committed to democracy and the peaceful “coexistence of peoples” worldwide. The extent to which democracy and peace are linked from a Swiss perspective is demonstrated by the fact that the promotion of democracy is the responsibility of the “Peace and Human Rights” department in the foreign ministry.

The perspective that democratisation brings peace has also had an impact internationally since 1945. Since the Second World War, the number of interstate wars has decreased and the number of democratic states has increased.

In 2024, there were once again more autocratic states than democratic ones. And liberal democracies, which respect the rights and freedoms of the individual, have even become a rare form of government. Only 900 million people live in a liberal democracy. In contrast, 72% of the world’s population live in a dictatorship. This is the highest number since 1978. At the same time, Western countries, above all the US, are scaling back their promotion of democracy abroad.

Are these developments linked to the many conflicts that exist around the world?

In addition to peace, prosperity in particular has long been a promise of democratisation, political scientist Karina Mross told Swissinfo. “But the example of China has undermined this argument. Especially since China is trying to define its own form of democracy,” she said.

A few years ago, China presented an argument as to why dictatorship is “a democracy that works”External link. Authoritarian states are trying – also in international organisations – to counter the liberal order with their own alternative model of values and prosperity.

If the economic argument is dropped, the question arises as to whether democratisation is at least a guarantee for peace.

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/global-elections/does-democracy-really-make-the-world-more-peaceful/89646855

In recent years I have not seen the promise of democracy brings with it a peaceful world.

Has anyone else had this vision?

What makes anyone think that a country that spends a trillion dollars on war prep is working for a more peaceful world?

Indicators point o a problem….

In 2024, the number of state-based conflicts worldwide reached its highest level since 1946. Military expenditures have risen for 10 consecutive years, surpassing $2.7 trillion annually.

A record number of children have been victims of armed conflict, and gains in women’s rights hang in the balance around the world amid record levels of conflict.

The world is confronting converging crises. In September 2024, the United Nations convened the Summit for the Future, an initiative by the UN secretary-general aimed at addressing the collapse of the post-Cold War multilateral system, as well as the increasing number of conflicts and humanitarian emergencies. All of this is occurring in the climate change era.

https://theconversation.com/the-world-on-the-brink-why-governments-must-invest-in-peace-not-just-arms-264543

The world does not need more wars….even our once proud nation has been slowly drifting away from being a safe place….

Global Peace Index (GPI), released annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace, provides a look at the country’s overall safety and security—and it’s concerning. The Index rates more than 160 nations on factors like crime, conflict, and military spending. In the most recent report, the United States ranks near the bottom.

The 2025 results officially place the U.S. among the least peaceful countries in the world. Here’s more insight into why America’s score is so low and how it compares with other nations.

https://www.thetravel.com/study-shows-us-one-of-least-peaceful-countries-in-the-world/

How sad is that?  But not to worry it will make america great again, right?

Just wondering.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Big Three Meet

Over the weekend three members of the BRICS, China, Russia and India, met and discussed the happenings of the day…..

At a summit in Tianjin, eastern China, on Monday, the leaders of China, Russia, and India offered a carefully choreographed show of unity aimed at the West. Cameras caught Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Narendra Modi exchanging handshakes and laughter, with Modi at one point linking hands with Xi and Putin, who represent an alternative world order challenging the US, per the New York Times. The summit was part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which drew over 20 regional leaders and featured speeches that subtly rebuked US foreign policy. Xi urged members to reject “Cold War mentality” and “bloc confrontation,” while Modi endorsed multilateralism and a larger global role for countries like India.

The discussions, coming as the US escalates tariffs on India and tightens its stance toward China and Russia, are seen as a response to Washington’s hardline trade policies, which have nudged India closer to the other two powers. Modi’s warm gestures, including a shared limousine ride and lengthy conversation with Putin, marked a shift from India’s traditionally cautious approach to relations with China and Russia.

While China and India remain at odds over territorial issues, Modi said there was an “atmosphere of peace and stability” between them, per the BBC. India’s economic reliance on the West cannot be easily replaced by Russia, whose economy is weakened by sanctions. But as one analyst tells the Times, “the White House should grasp that its policies will result in other countries looking for alternatives to meet their interests.”

Interesting since China and India have been at each others throats over some deposited border territory….did they make nice?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, on Monday, and told the Russian leader that New Delhi and Moscow should deepen cooperation in “all sectors.”

The comments from Modi are the latest sign that tariffs and other pressure from the US won’t impact India’s import of Russian oil and its trade relationship with Russia in general. In a post on X, Modi shared a photo of himself and Putin in a vehicle en route to their meeting, and said conversations with the Russian leader were always “insightful.”

After the meeting, Modi described the talks as “excellent” and said they discussed “ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in all spheres, including trade, fertilizers, space, security, and culture.”

In Tianjin, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered remarks in which he criticized “bullying” practices, an apparent reference to US sanctions and other economic pressures. Xi, Modi, and Putin briefly huddled together at the summit, and the 10 SCO member states called out the US by name in a joint declaration that condemned the recent US-Israeli war on Iran, which is an SCO member.

The statement said that the SCO states “strongly condemn the June 2025 Israeli and US military aggression on Iran targeting civilian nuclear infrastructure, causing casualties (and) violation of international law and UN Charter principles.” They also strongly condemned “acts causing civilian casualties and humanitarian disasters in Gaza.”

(antiwar.com)

Is it possible that Donny and his silly foreign policy have brought together these partners for mutual security?

Think about that….3 heavily nuked up countries.

The New Cold War is getting hotter?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

3 From The East

A couple of nations from the diabolical East will meet and compare notes….China, Russia, North Korea…..should we be worried?

Chinese President Xi Jinping is making a bold diplomatic play as he prepares to host both Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender, which ended its occupation of regions of China. It’s the first time the three leaders will gather together. The Sept. 3 gathering in Beijing, to bring together leaders from 26 countries in all, including Indonesia, Iran, Cuba, Pakistan, and Malaysia, serves as a high-profile showcase of China’s expanding influence on the world stage, per the BBC and NPR. While President Trump continues to struggle for a diplomacy breakthrough in Ukraine and seeks another meeting with Kim, Xi is demonstrating his ability to convene key players.

Kim’s presence is especially notable, marking the first time a North Korean leader has attended a Chinese military parade since 1959. Despite speculation that Kim’s growing alignment with Putin might have frayed ties with Beijing, his first visit to the country in six years signals otherwise. The visit also offers Kim “legitimacy,” per the BBC, as he shares a stage with other world leaders. Xi, meanwhile, stands to gain leverage in upcoming negotiations with Washington. Trump, who’s under pressure to resolve trade tensions and will be in the region at the end of October, has said he’s open to meeting Xi. As the BBC reports, “Xi will want the strongest hand possible as negotiations go on” and, following this visit, “he may even have information his US counterpart does not.”

Is this a strategy session on dealing with the US?

Are we looking at a new bloc to counter US adventurism?

Will this be more troubles in the Pacific?

Will this be money thrown at a ‘rising’ threat?

Should we be worried?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

 

China In The Crosshairs

Donny has been rabid about the tariffs and sanctions he has placed on China some go as high as 125%…..and then out of the blue a pause to give China time to do whatever it is they think it will do.

Is this competition with China a winning strategy or is it just BS from a cluttered mind?

China’s economy is already one-third larger than the U.S. economy and growing far more rapidly. This was true before Donald Trump took office, but the growth gap has been even larger in the first six months of this year.

China’s economy has been growing at more than a 5.0 percent annual rate. Meanwhile the US economy grew at just a 1.2 percent annual rate. Put in dollar terms, China’s economy has grown by roughly $1 trillion in the last six months, while the US economy has grown by just $180 billion.

This comparison doesn’t really mean much to any of us in our daily lives. People care about whether they have jobs, rising wages, and living standards. Things don’t look great on the wages and living standards front either, but I’ll leave that one for now.

The point here is that if we envision ourselves in a Cold War competition with China, we’re losing badly. I know that China’s growth statistics must always be viewed with skepticism (that may be true here soon as well), but there is little doubt that over long period of times they are pretty much on the mark.

Over the last half century China has gone from Sub-Saharan Africa living standards to upper middle-income living standards. This means that even if the 5.0 percent growth reported for the first half of the year may not be exactly right, it is likely in the ballpark.

So, we shouldn’t be like Donald Trump and say we can ignore the numbers. We are behind China and falling further behind. Those are the facts that the New Cold Warriors need to recognize.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/08/11/in-trumps-competition-with-china-china-is-winning/

Will all these half-ass policies actually make China greater?  After all we are having a mini Cold War with China in and around the South China Sea……

Two certainties have emerged after seven months of Donald Trump’s control of America’s national security policy. First of all, there is no comprehensive national security policy and no likely candidate in the administration for formulating and managing a comprehensive policy. Second, the greatest challenge in the national security arena is China—the most important bilateral policy in the entire global arena—and the Trump administration is doing everything it can—whether intentional or not—to make China great and to worsen America’s standing vis-a-vis China. The dumbing down of the United States continues under Trump, and China’s standing in the global community is becoming stronger.

Over the past 75 years, China has rarely relied on the use of military power—in Korea in the 1950s to stop the advance of U.S. forces, and in 1979 to “teach the Vietnamese a lesson,” which didn’t go well for Chinese forces. Conversely, the United States has relied on the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to pursue wars that were neither winnable nor affordable (Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq), and to use covert action unsuccessfully in overthrowing democratic governments in Iran, Guatemala, the Congo, and Chile.

U.S. military engagements that were designed to last weeks and months turned into decades of military engagement and occupation. Nearly every administration claimed it was not engaged in nation-building, but hundreds of billions of dollars were wasted in doing exactly that—nation-building. And, of course, the ridiculous absurdity of the Iraq War that was going to introduce democracy as a model for the entire Arab world. No strategic purpose was served by any of these interventions. And apparently no lessons were learned.

Meanwhile, China has transitioned from one of the poorest nations in the world to the second-largest economy with nuclear-armed forces growing at a record pace. Over the past 40 years, China has had the world’s fastest-growing economy with annual growth rates that often exceeded 10% a year. China’s economy grew over five percent in the first half of this year; the U.S. economy expanded by one percent. Meanwhile, U.S. tariff policy is losing friends around the world.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/08/08/trumps-policies-will-make-china-great-again/

The only people that are suffering the consequences of this competition are the consumers…..when will that be accounted for?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

What Are The Odds?

Let’s have a little fun on this Friday….

I thought I would close today with a small question on a larger issue…

Since taken office Donny has made it clear that he wants the Nobel Peace Prize…..one of his MAGA stoolies in Congress has nominated then that brutal warmongering prick BiBi has also jumped on the band wagon….next was Pakistan nominating because of Donny’s help with the India situation and now anew slug has also joined in the nominating process….Cambodia.

Cambodia has joined Pakistan and Israel in nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, crediting the US president with “visionary and innovative diplomacy” that ended border clashes with Thailand.

A letter from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Thursday addressed to the Norwegian Nobel Committee said he wished to nominate Trump “in recognition of his historic contributions in advancing world peace”.

“President Trump’s extraordinary statesmanship – marked by his commitment to resolving conflicts and preventing catastrophic wars through visionary and innovative diplomacy – was most recently demonstrated by his decisive role in brokering an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand,” Hun Manet’s letter said.

(aje.com)

Contributions for world peace?

Seriously?

Blind obedience to Israel and its brutal destruction of Palestine, unprovoked attack on Iran and threats to go to war over an island….none of that sounds peaceful to me….but that aside….just for fun what are the odds that he will win the coveted Peace Prize?

The nomination has sparked renewed attention on Trump’s chances of winning the prestigious award. According to betting aggregator Oddschecker, Trump’s current odds of securing the prize range from 17/2 (10.5%) to 6/1 (14.3%), placing him as the second favorite among bookmakers. Leading odds makers including Ladbrokes and Coral list him at 6/1, while William Hill offers 11/2 (15.4%) and Sky Bet and Paddy Power give 17/2. Russian political figure Yulia Navalnaya, widow of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, remains the frontrunner for the prize following her husband’s death in prison last year. Trump’s candidacy reflects the high-profile yet polarizing nature of his international diplomacy. While his influence is undeniable, experts note that the Nobel Committee often weighs broader geopolitical implications and controversies surrounding nominees. Other contenders for the award include United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

(knewz.com)

Do you have an idea on the odds?

That does it for me today….enjoy your weekend and as always….Be Well and Be Safe….

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Will Putin Do It Again?

Will he launch more drones on Ukraine?

Will he try another massive military push in Ukraine?

Good questions but for this post they are moot….it seems some analyst thinks Putin will make a move on Moldova and soon.

A US intelligence expert believes the nation will be making ‘another offensive military campaign’, as it was suggested another post-soviet State would be attacked: Moldova, on the border of Ukraine.

The small country has been subject to severe pressure from Russia in the past and has a large Russian-speaking population.

Ivana Stradner, who studies Russia’s security strategies and military doctrines, explains in The Telegraph that its media spreads ‘outlandish claims’ that Moldova is laced with Western intelligence services. Adding to reasons why the nation may target the Eastern European spot, the media also claims ‘MI6 is taking control of the Moldovan elections’.

Plus, Moscow has even made claims that intelligence in Moldova has been working with Ukraine to ‘sabotage Russia’.

So, these claims would suggest Moldova is being used as a weapon against Russia by the West. Therefore, it could lead to it falling into the same situation as Ukraine.

US intelligence expert Rebekah Koffler also explained the idea Russia may launch another attack in the coming years.

“As a military intelligence analyst specialising in Putin’s thinking and Russian military strategy, I agree with Rutte’s assessment about Russia’s readiness for another offensive military campaign in just a few years,” she wrote for The Telegraph.

“I’m less convinced that a NATO country is likely to be the Kremlin’s next target, unless the alliance directly intervenes in Ukraine by deploying troops onto the battlefield.

“Nevertheless, what NATO does or doesn’t do in the next few years could be highly significant in determining whether Putin decides to attack another post-Soviet state, such as Moldova.”

(ladbible.com)

My thoughts are…..first does he have the assets to start another conflict?  I mean he cannot close his adventure into Ukraine so does that bode well for another conflict?

Granted I do not have access to classified info but by the accounts that are in the public domain I do not see another adventure in the best interests of Putin.

Moldova might be an easy target for him but will it really help the situation in the region?

Donny has given Putin 10 or 12 days to bring the Ukraine adventure to a close….but will that just be another yo-yo policy from the administration?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”