Eric Swalwell is at best, a dupe

I'm saying that because it's the best thing I can say about the man, and I try not to engage in ad hominem attacks.  Saying he's a dupe or a patsy is pretty safe to say given his history, and frankly it's going easy on him.  Even as a dupe, how is he allowed to continue in Congress, without any contrition on the subject.

The end of universities?

Jordan Peterson discusses  with Yeonmi Park her experience at Columbia University after her escape from North Korea:

Dictator Watch - Palace intrigue in North Korea

Kim Jong Un has had his sister's two top aides executed. The meaning, an implications as explained by North Korean defector, Yeonmi Park:

Trump's North Korea approach might be working

Earlier today I posted about a John Bolton policy attack on president Trump with regard to North Korea.  Here are some other push backs on why Bolton is being just a little bit over the top with it.

John Bolton slams president Trump on Korea

It's the 'why' that's unclear.  The president is trying a different approach on North Korea to the one used by previous administrations that clearly has not made the slightest bit of difference towards the rogue nation's nuclear ambitions.

The clip explains president Trump's rationale but not Bolton's. It suggests that Bolton is a neocon (neo-conservative). But it does not explain why neocons might want a more aggressive, military approach on North Korea. Since neocons are globalists, a military option would probably be Bolton's preferred option. I have always respected Bolton's tough stance on a number of foreign policy issues. But a tough stance does not always equate to an effective approach. President Trump is trying a new tack on an old, heretofore unsolved problem. Given that the old approach has taken decades and resolved nothing, it would seem a new approach deserves a fair shake, which does not mean just two years.

Dictator Watch: North Korea

Kim Jong Un had officials executed after the failed last summit with the U.S.

Saturday Learning series - Geography (North Korea)

North Korea, what can you say?  Well, this at least:



The flag:



And as a bonus, Kim Jong Un, crazy person:

On Again, Off Again North Korea Summit will happen

In Brief, the on again off again USA - North Korea summit between president Trump and Korean leader Kim Jung Un is going to happen.  It might not happen for months, but it will happen. And it will happen before November. Korea needs it, despite the posturing because they are not only getting pressure from China but Kim Jung Un can cement his place in North Korean history as a standout from his familial predecessors. Or at a minimum as a way to stall American until the next Chamberlainian Democrat president comes along and appeases his nuclear ambitions. China needs it as something to placate president Trump as a success he can share before the midterm elections in the hope that he will owe them something in respect to American-Chinese relations and other issues (think ZTE for example).  And of course president Trump needs it for the aforementioned domestic political reasons.

President Trump's abrupt cancellation was two things (1) a negotiation ploy to pressure Kim Jong Un to back off his rhetoric and (2) a chance to look tough at home. It was destined to be reversed shortly afterwards and it was.

No surprise.  The summit will happen.  Not only that, it will produce some positive result.  Mark my words.

Imagine if North Korean peace talks happened on Obama's watch.

Imagine what liberals would do and say.  Oh wait, you don't have to imagine:

Let's get real. The press would be
in the midst of a collective orgasm if this Korea summit happened under Obama's watch. So let's call the meeting what it is... an unalloyed good thing.

— Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) April 27, 2018

Tillerson out at State: doesn't mean much, but...

President Trump has fired Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State today. In minutes Tillerson will be on CNBC talking about it.  It seems they had opposing views on a few issues, most notably Iran, which is difficult given the upcoming talks on with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.  

The firing doesn't mean much as president Trump seems to hire and fire as needed - it's his way of doing business.  But, the Tillerson response is a potential wildcard.  Regardless of that the Left will return down the path of Trump's White House is too chaotic.  It could influence some low information voters. Then again, Tillerson may not have anything bad to say and might even use the opportunity to shore up the president's stature. We'll see.

Some of us however, might feel that a bit of chaos is exactly what D.C. needs.  How do you shake things up without breaking a few eggs along the way?

UPDATE: Tillerson read a prepared statement and did not take any questions, it was very professional.  It might be the last we hear from him on this, or perhaps he simply felt this was not the time to discuss politics and to focus on the transition of his authority and role.

Shocker - president Trump to talk with North Korean leader

There's shock on the Left that president Trump's tough talk on North Korea has led to Kim Jong Un's apparent willingness to both talk, and denuclearize the Korean peninsula.

Via the BBC:

North Korea agreeing to discuss denuclearisation "is evidence that President [Donald] Trump's strategy to isolate the Kim regime is working," US Vice-President Mike Pence has said.

He said the US had made "zero concessions" and "consistently increased the pressure" on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

An unprecedented summit between the two leaders is due to take place by May.

It comes only months after the pair hurled insults at each other.

Mr Trump has hailed the dizzying shift in North Korea's position as "great progress" but said sanctions would remain in place.

South Korean envoys earlier briefed the US president on the meeting they had this week with Mr Kim, saying he was now "committed to denuclearisation".

South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said the news of the Kim-Trump meeting had come "like a miracle".

Did I just recently mention president Trump is winning? Yes. Yes I did.

Dictator Watch - North Korea goes full nuke

While I'm starting out the year on a Dictator Watch note, I might as well comment on the North Korea has the bomb and the rocketry to hit anywhere in America situation.  While some are again saying that president Trump has put the world closer to nuclear war than ever before, the hyperbole just does not stack up to scrutiny.  We've seen from the president before a methodology in staking out a tough initial bargaining position before a negotiation.  That is most certainly the same case in this instance.

Granted that concern might be part of a planned leak to frighten Kim Jong Un into a negotiation. That won't stop CNN from freaking out of course. And we don't know for sure at this point if Kim Jung Un is simply full of bluster himself.   However, even if the capabilities he claims to have are bogus, they are certainly not that far off from a future reality. That's my issue; there seems to be a fundamental lack of concern by many people in the media about a tinfoil hat leader of a rogue nation having nuclear capabilities that hold the potential to decimate an American city.  That's a situation that must be resolved and quickly.  The previous administration bungled the North Korea situation as badly as it did the Iranian issue.  This administration will get results, perhaps imperfect but positive, and it will be in stark contrast to the failure of the Obama administration.

Meanwhile, war

While you were busy grousing about the president's comments about the NFL, in which he did not mention race, this happened.

North Korea's foreign minister on Monday accused President Donald Trump of declaring war, saying that gives the rogue regime the right to shoot down U.S. strategic bombers.

Pyongyang could target planes even when they are not flying in North Korean airspace, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told reporters in New York.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country," he said.

Why would North Korea think that? Apparently because of this:

Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

Just like a communist to claim the president said something that he explicitly did not say.

North Korean Nuclear Test

North Korea has apparently conducted an underground nuclear test earlier today. The incident registered as a 5.1 magnitude earthquake. North Korea claims the test was of a Hydrogen Bomb, as opposed to a lower yield Atomic Bomb. South Korean spies claim it was of the latter type.

Regardless, the test drew international condemnation, including from that of their benefactor/protector, China. The U.S. joined in the condemnation.

I would expect no further action from the United States. The president is focused far too keenly on his next domestic agenda item, gun control. He also has a history of excessive softness on foreign policy; with Russia, with China, with Syria, multiple instances with Iran, with Venezuela and previously with North Korea. He's soft and the international perception is that he is ineffectual in projecting American influence.

In other words, he's not going to do anything, and the world is currently an unpoliced Wild West where you can do anything you want without consequences. For example, you can conduct a test of an underground nuclear detonation and get not even a slap on the wrist but rather the geopolitical equivalent of rolling eyes.

ISIS hacks U.S. military social media, but was it really them?

Today, ISIS hackers or their sympathizers apparently broke into the U.S. military's social media and posted seriously threatening messages.  It's not really that scary, but it is meant to be intimidating as well as a morale boosting win for ISIS supporters.

It is not clear whether the hackers are actually with the Islamic State, sympathizers with the militants, or simply pulling a prank on the Pentagon. But J.M. Berger, an analyst and non-resident fellow with the Brookings Institution, said there is reason to believe it could be someone affiliated directly with the Islamic State.

Here's my take on this. If I were Russia or China, if the hacking against the U.S. government or say...Sony, looked as if it were coming from ISIS or North Korea, that would not be a bad thing. In fact it would be really convenient for me.

It distracts the West from my own nefarious intentions, and it looks like it might continue to spur further fanatical terror attacks that cost me nothing but harm my geo-political enemies.

Russia is suffering from sanctions (supposedly) and certainly from the price of oil. They have every motivation to be angry with the West. It's not beyond them to lash out in ways they believe they have no cost to undertake. And China has had a relentless push into cyber espionage since the Clinton era. It's part of their DNA at this point.

Paranoid? Maybe, but if I were U.S. Intel, I would not overlook either of those possibilities.

If I Were Sony... #IfIWereSony

I'd be capitalizing on the free publicity for the movie "The Interview" and put the movie out and I'd do it on Christmas Day.  Bold, newsworthy, and more free publicity.  In fact I'd amp up the advertising to include the hacker attack and the threats.

I bet you'd get people going to see the movie as a form of statement to North Korea, who might not even otherwise go to see it.

But that's just me.

Hackers defeat Sony

So the ridiculous (as in not a political documentary but rather farcical comedy) movie The Interview has lost all backing from Sony because hackers who broke into Sony's emails and put out numerous emails embarrassing executives have threatened theaters 

Sounds like the work of North Korean cyber warfare.  The whole country is starving and they're trying to build nuclear missiles.  The leader seems obsessed with Dennis Rodman and clearly takes Hollywood seriously.  So a movie that farcically talks about assassinating him would be most unwelcome.  

Do you seriously think Anonymous, would be intent on stopping a Seth Rogan, James Franco comedy?  The same pair that recently appeared on Naked and Afraid to spout poop humor are an affront to a group aligned with "the 99%"?  No.  

Sony, the comedy was not high brow stuff, but seriously, this was a gutless move.  America is about freedom of speech.  Sony is about CYA I guess. This is almost as distasteful as Obama on Cuba.

North Korea is a problem guns might have to solve

This is a mobile post.  Don't expect any fancy formatting or an embedded photo.  I haven't mobile posted in a few years or a few phones. 

In any case, I don't have a lot to share except one observation.  Attention it seems has drifted from gun rights/gun safety to the apparently existential nuclear war threat from North Korea.   The irony is that there is a belligerent actor in the scenario and in order to prevent any dangerous attacks, the United States has ensured that it has armed itself effectively in order to counter any aggressive or hostile acts.

You know, because a well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Korean War II?

Click to enlarge.

I haven't had a Dictator Watch posting in quite some time, but I probably should have been a little more attentive.  The threat of international pariahs like Kim Jong Il do not just go away because the United States and other Western economies have turned a blind eye.  Being busy with a faltering economy and being preoccupied with a midterm election does not stop foreign despots from busying themselves with suppressing their own people or aggressively attacking nearby nations.

No.  In fact it encourages them to do so.

Another Korean War?

Isn't this a timely statement?

"If the (South Korean) enemies try to deal any retaliation or punishment, or if they try sanctions or a strike on us .... we will answer to this with all-out war," Col. Pak In Ho of North Korea's navy told broadcaster APTN in an exclusive interview in Pyongyang.

Timely for President Obama, involved in two wars and a hotly contested Arizona border issue, strained relations with Israel, and Iran acting tough on nukes.  What better way for the President to look weak or unconcerned than to ignore or soft pedal the issue?  Or, if he talks tough, what better way to upset his left base?

And what about North Korea?  We'll sink your ship but if you retaliate, it's war.  Gee, seems like it's war already.