Politics

[HookMeUpII]

Interesting bit of dialogue about some of Trump's choices from the "news" propaganda wing of the Kremlin. They seem happy.

Of course they are lol. Of course they are going to play into the media. Seriously, give them a bit more credit than what you're seeing for face value.

They've been meddling since 2016. They know exactly what they are doing by playing into whatever media narrative here supports the dissent in our nation.

 

[Red Leg]

Of course they are lol. Of course they are going to play into the media. Seriously, give them a bit more credit than what you're seeing for face value.

They've been meddling since 2016. They know exactly what they are doing by playing into whatever media narrative here supports the dissent in our nation.

"from the "news" propaganda wing of the Kremlin." I think I actually get that.

 

[HookMeUpII]

" from the "news" propaganda wing of the Kremlin."

Yup. And FWIW (been a while since I've been on):

Hegseth: He's a mistake. But we have to just see how it goes. His personal life has no bearing on his ability to perform (IMO) but it's really piss-poor. Not something I support. I can throw that stone because I can 100% say I've never cheated on my wife, let alone my pregnant wife. He just does not have the experience for the job. However, now I guess lets see how it goes.

Gabbard: Not confirmed yet but I personally find her fit for the job. Once again, the media has taken completely out of context what she has said in the past. She was a dem but we all knew that wasn't going to last.

 

[Brent in Az]

Border patrol has already been fired on by the Cartel from across the border as migrants are trying to cross
What I would do, is have some Apache gunships on standby, and zip across the border and turn those cartel guman into ugly stains on the Mexican soil.

 

[mdwest]

Yup. And FWIW (been a while since I've been on):

Hegseth: He's a mistake. But we have to just see how it goes. His personal life has no bearing on his ability to perform (IMO) but it's really piss-poor. Not something I support. I can throw that stone because I can 100% say I've never cheated on my wife, let alone my pregnant wife. He just does not have the experience for the job. However, now I guess lets see how it goes.

Gabbard: Not confirmed yet but I personally find her fit for the job. Once again, the media has taken completely out of context what she has said in the past. She was a dem but we all knew that wasn't going to last.

Hegseth is growing on me... I'll admit I was very concerned about the nomination at first though..

That said, the pick for Deputy SECDEF I think is exactly what the doctor ordered.. Stephen Feinberg is a former army officer (infantry, ranger qualified, etc), Ivy League educated, billionaire, who has decades of experience running major corporations in addition to being a top 1% type in investment capital and private equity, that's run and sat on the boards of multiple major defense firms, is a staunch conservative, and has prior experience working at the highest levels of government (previously chaired the Intelligence Oversight Board, chaired the Presidents Intelligence Advisory Board, etc..etc..

He is (IMO) the type of person Hegseth needs "running" the DoD, while Hegseth chases down Trumps primary agenda items... A Hegseth/Feinberg combo I think is very promising.. Hegseth is a "front man".. Feinberg is a bit of a recluse and likes being the guy behind the scenes, pulling all the levers, and making things happen.. He doesn't need the money or the influence that being in the #2 seat in the Pentagon will give him.. Its going to be hard for lobbyists, senators, congressmen, defense executives, or anyone else to influence him into doing anything he doesn't want to do or doesn't believe is "right" or correct for the DoD.. he cant be "bought" and he doesn't really need to increase or improve his realm of influence and power.. and like I said before, he's practically a hermit.. he certainly isn't worried about gaining attention or being in the spot light.. he'll be more than happy enough to let Hegseth and Trump take all of it.. Hes just a guy that likes getting things done..

 

[Hunt anything]

Border patrol has already been fired on by the Cartel from across the border as migrants are trying to cross
What I would do, is have some Apache gunships on standby, and zip across the border and turn those cartel guman into ugly stains on the Mexican soil.

Use some of the Ukrainian killer drones and chase them for a few hundred yards so they have time to think about what’s about to happen to them and then turn them into a red mist in the desert.

 

[spike.t]

I'll let @spike.t provide any details he wishes, but paging through the critical support AID provides in just Zambia, I suspect we are all likely to find Africa a far less welcoming and far more Sino-centric place to try and spend a few days hunting in the not too distant future.

OK this is what Joe is talking about...was sent it this morning. By someonei n one of the government ministries....not sure how accurate etc...but there is a USAID PEPFAR office block behind the house....also bit of local political bias in it


TERMINATION LETTERS ISSUED, NO ONE TO REPORT FOR WORK TOMORROW IN ZAMBIA ALL VEHICLES PARKED AND GRATUITY TO BE PAID AS PEOPLE CRY AND MOURN OVER THE SUDDEN SHIFT IN THEIR LIVES YET GOVERNMENT IS QUIET.

It is very disheartening to imagine what has happened today to all USAID funded projects across the country and to imagine the negative impact of the US withdrawal is making us go insane . For example some USAID funded projects are :

Partners in USAID projects

Tetra Tech ARD: A prime partner in the Lusaka Province from 2018 to 2023

FHI 360: An implementer in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Partnerships and Learning for Sustainability (WASHPaLS) project

Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF): An implementer in the Water and Development Alliance (WADA) project

Save the Children: A partner in the Partners in Development project

Ideas 42: A partner in the Partners in Development project

Think Action: A partner in the Partners in Development project

Camber Collective (LMT): A partner in the Partners in Development project

Luapula Foundation: A partner in the Partners in Development project

Global Communities: A partner in the Emerging Farmers Partnership GDA project

Coreva Agriscience: A private sector partner in the Emerging Farmers Partnership GDA project

John Deere: A private sector partner in the Emerging Farmers Partnership GDA project

Copper Rose Zambia: A youth-led organization that partners with USAID in the MOMENTUM project .

PEPFAR also is funded by USAID and here is what we have lost and must quickly begin to do .

PEPFAR Zambia is the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program in Zambia. PEPFAR's goal is to help Zambia eradicate AIDS by 2030.

What does PEPFAR do in Zambia?

HIV prevention, care, and treatment: PEPFAR provides funding for HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs

Other disease prevention and treatment: PEPFAR funds programs to prevent and treat other diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, cervical cancer, and COVID-19

Family planning: PEPFAR increases access to family planning

Maternal and child health: PEPFAR improves maternal and child health

Nutrition: PEPFAR funds programs to improve nutrition

Gender-based violence: PEPFAR funds programs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence
Small grants: PEPFAR provides grants to community-based organizations that work to prevent HIV

How does PEPFAR operate in Zambia?
PEPFAR's Country Operational Plan (COP) outlines the U.S. government's annual investments in Zambia's HIV response

PEPFAR's Strategic Direction Summaries (SDS) summarize the COPs.

How do we navigate this critical moment with a leader like HH who never feel for people? you need a very compassionate and caring leader to go round this as Lungu did when we had COVID 19.

All workers in thousands are out including those who were working for PEPFAR at the embassy no one is left they have been flow back to he US and jobs terminated .

Trump says he is realigning his foreign Aid policy it's actually a disaster.

 

[mdwest]

Border patrol has already been fired on by the Cartel from across the border as migrants are trying to cross
What I would do, is have some Apache gunships on standby, and zip across the border and turn those cartel guman into ugly stains on the Mexican soil.

Unfortunately the USBP doesnt have Apaches.. and the US Military doesn't have the authority to carry out that mission (for now)..

that said.. what Zeihan didn't discuss in his video that was being commented on earlier is... the US has a history of hitting "terrorist" targets on foreign soil.. with, or WITHOUT another country's permission..

I wouldn't take drone strikes against cartel leadership residing in Mexico off the table.. especially the ones that live/work within a few hundred miles of the border..

I don't think Trump is ready to give that order just yet...

But if Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden, etc have ALL authorized strikes against Al Q, ISIS, Houthi, Al Shebab, etc "terrorists" in places like Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya.. all countries we have NOT declared war against, and all countries we didn't ask permission from before we hit "terrorist" targets..

I don't think its too much of a stretch that Trump might consider sending a reaper or two into Mexico to hit a Jalisco or Zeta leader to send a very clear message to those newly declared "terrorists"...

Again, I wouldn't expect to see that happen in the immediate future.. Trump is going to want to "warn" the cartels first... then he's going to "warn" the Mexican govt that they better get their shit together "or else"..

but 6 months from now... it wouldn't surprise me at all to find out that NSA and other intel agencies have gone on a major cyber offensive to take out and disrupt cartel bank accounts and other major material assets.. followed by a couple of very well placed hellfires into the mansions of cartel leaders ala Clear and Present Danger...

 

[Red Leg]

Hegseth is growing on me... I'll admit I was very concerned about the nomination at first though..

That said, the pick for Deputy SECDEF I think is exactly what the doctor ordered.. Stephen Feinberg is a former army officer (infantry, ranger qualified, etc), Ivy League educated, billionaire, who has decades of experience running major corporations in addition to being a top 1% type in investment capital and private equity, that's run and sat on the boards of multiple major defense firms, is a staunch conservative, and has prior experience working at the highest levels of government (previously chaired the Intelligence Oversight Board, chaired the Presidents Intelligence Advisory Board, etc..etc..

He is (IMO) the type of person Hegseth needs "running" the DoD, while Hegseth chases down Trumps primary agenda items... A Hegseth/Feinberg combo I think is very promising.. Hegseth is a "front man".. Feinberg is a bit of a recluse and likes being the guy behind the scenes, pulling all the levers, and making things happen.. He doesn't need the money or the influence that being in the #2 seat in the Pentagon will give him.. Its going to be hard for lobbyists, senators, congressmen, defense executives, or anyone else to influence him into doing anything he doesn't want to do or doesn't believe is "right" or correct for the DoD.. he cant be "bought" and he doesn't really need to increase or improve his realm of influence and power.. and like I said before, he's practically a hermit.. he certainly isn't worried about gaining attention or being in the spot light.. he'll be more than happy enough to let Hegseth and Trump take all of it.. Hes just a guy that likes getting things done..

That is my take on the new DEPSECDEF as well. Hegseth can also take the brunt of the childish nonsense such as removing Milley's two portraits.

Hegseth: He's a mistake. But we have to just see how it goes. His personal life has no bearing on his ability to perform (IMO) but it's really piss-poor. Not something I support. I can throw that stone because I can 100% say I've never cheated on my wife, let alone my pregnant wife. He just does not have the experience for the job. However, now I guess lets see how it goes.

Gabbard: Not confirmed yet but I personally find her fit for the job. Once again, the media has taken completely out of context what she has said in the past. She was a dem but we all knew that wasn't going to last.

I have concerns with regard to Gabbard's world view. Until I couldn't take her or Tucker any longer, she was a regular guest and essentially joined hands with Douglas Macgregor to parrot the Kremlin's talking points on the Ukraine War. She has also spent a lot of energy publicly embracing the whole evil military industrial complex nonsense. Those positions have of course endeared her to the neo-isolationist movement within MAGA, but will not gain her much traction with a meaningful number of the republican senate caucus. I do not know if it is true or not, but the perception is that her one-on-one meetings have not gone all that well.

It will be an interesting vote to see whether senators like Graham vote their beliefs or decide to simply support the president.

 

[YancyW]

Unfortunately the USBP doesnt have Apaches.. and the US Military doesn't have the authority to carry out that mission (for now)..

that said.. what Zeihan didn't discuss in his video that was being commented on earlier is... the US has a history of hitting "terrorist" targets on foreign soil.. with, or WITHOUT another country's permission..

I wouldn't take drone strikes against cartel leadership residing in Mexico off the table.. especially the ones that live/work within a few hundred miles of the border..

I don't think Trump is ready to give that order just yet...

But if Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden, etc have ALL authorized strikes against Al Q, ISIS, Houthi, Al Shebab, etc "terrorists" in places like Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya.. all countries we have NOT declared war against, and all countries we didn't ask permission from before we hit "terrorist" targets..

I don't think its too much of a stretch that Trump might consider sending a reaper or two into Mexico to hit a Jalisco or Zeta leader to send a very clear message to those newly declared "terrorists"...

Again, I wouldn't expect to see that happen in the immediate future.. Trump is going to want to "warn" the cartels first... then he's going to "warn" the Mexican govt that they better get their shit together "or else"..

but 6 months from now... it wouldn't surprise me at all to find out that NSA and other intel agencies haven't gone on a major cyber offensive to take out and disrupt cartel bank accounts and other major material assets.. followed by a couple of very well placed hell fires into the mansions of cartel leaders ala Clear and Present Danger...

I am short on time before a meeting, but something that isnt being talked about much is US companies who have a history, and in some cases their SPO of paying off cartels as part of their business model in Mexico. That has become an incredibly big issue, you pay off the cartels now, you are funding a foreign terrorist organization.

 

[mdwest]

OK this is what Joe is talking about...was sent it this morning. By someonei n one of the government ministries....not sure how accurate etc...but there is a USAID PEPFAR office block behind the house....also bit of local political bias in it


TERMINATION LETTERS ISSUED, NO ONE TO REPORT FOR WORK TOMORROW IN ZAMBIA ALL VEHICLES PARKED AND GRATUITY TO BE PAID AS PEOPLE CRY AND MOURN OVER THE SUDDEN SHIFT IN THEIR LIVES YET GOVERNMENT IS QUIET.

It is very disheartening to imagine what has happened today to all USAID funded projects across the country and to imagine the negative impact of the US withdrawal is making us go insane . For example some USAID funded projects are :

Partners in USAID projects

Tetra Tech ARD: A prime partner in the Lusaka Province from 2018 to 2023

FHI 360: An implementer in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Partnerships and Learning for Sustainability (WASHPaLS) project

Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF): An implementer in the Water and Development Alliance (WADA) project

Save the Children: A partner in the Partners in Development project

Ideas 42: A partner in the Partners in Development project

Think Action: A partner in the Partners in Development project

Camber Collective (LMT): A partner in the Partners in Development project

Luapula Foundation: A partner in the Partners in Development project

Global Communities: A partner in the Emerging Farmers Partnership GDA project

Coreva Agriscience: A private sector partner in the Emerging Farmers Partnership GDA project

John Deere: A private sector partner in the Emerging Farmers Partnership GDA project

Copper Rose Zambia: A youth-led organization that partners with USAID in the MOMENTUM project .

PEPFAR also is funded by USAID and here is what we have lost and must quickly begin to do .

PEPFAR Zambia is the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program in Zambia. PEPFAR's goal is to help Zambia eradicate AIDS by 2030.

What does PEPFAR do in Zambia?

HIV prevention, care, and treatment: PEPFAR provides funding for HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs

Other disease prevention and treatment: PEPFAR funds programs to prevent and treat other diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, cervical cancer, and COVID-19

Family planning: PEPFAR increases access to family planning

Maternal and child health: PEPFAR improves maternal and child health

Nutrition: PEPFAR funds programs to improve nutrition

Gender-based violence: PEPFAR funds programs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence
Small grants: PEPFAR provides grants to community-based organizations that work to prevent HIV

How does PEPFAR operate in Zambia?
PEPFAR's Country Operational Plan (COP) outlines the U.S. government's annual investments in Zambia's HIV response

PEPFAR's Strategic Direction Summaries (SDS) summarize the COPs.

How do we navigate this critical moment with a leader like HH who never feel for people? you need a very compassionate and caring leader to go round this as Lungu did when we had COVID 19.

All workers in thousands are out including those who were working for PEPFAR at the embassy no one is left they have been flow back to he US and jobs terminated .

Trump says he is realigning his foreign Aid policy it's actually a disaster.

Sadly, USAID is indeed a disaster... for every dollar they spend that actually does something positive, there are many more that get spent either on mindless, needless bullshit.. or in the administration and management of USAID itself..

They (Trump Administration) literally just stopped the transfer of $50M in Palestinian "relief" through USAID.. that was supposed to used to buy the Palestinians condoms..

Lets see... the Palestinian Authority still has not denounced Hamas or Hezbollah.. and is still providing relief and support to those terrorist organizations... but.. USAID thinks a priority in 2025 is to send over a container ship full of rubbers at the tax payers expense..

Ribbed for the tax payers pleasure I suppose...

 

[mdwest]

I am short on time before a meeting, but something that isnt being talked about much is US companies who have a history, and in some cases their SPO of paying off cartels as part of their business model in Mexico. That has become an incredibly big issue, you pay off the cartels now, you are funding a foreign terrorist organization.

100% spot on..

Its been almost 15 years.. but I did some consulting work (security) for a large Canadian manufacturer (electronic components) that had facilities in a couple of different places in northern Mexico for a couple of years.. it was part of their business model (acknowledged, not hidden in any way, etc) to pay off the cartels to keep their employees safe and to keep the stuff in their warehouses and trucks from being stolen..

Im certain US companies are doing the same thing...

 

[Red Leg]

Sadly, USAID is indeed a disaster... for every dollar they spend that actually does something positive, there are many more that get spent either on mindless, needless bullshit.. or in the administration and management of USAID itself..

They (Trump Administration) literally just stopped the transfer of $50M in Palestinian "relief" through USAID.. that was supposed to used to buy the Palestinians condoms..

Lets see... the Palestinian Authority still has not denounced Hamas or Hezbollah.. and is still providing relief and support to those terrorist organizations... but.. USAID thinks a priority in 2025 is to send over a container ship full of rubbers at the tax payers expense..

Ribbed for the tax payers pleasure I suppose...

I do not think anyone disagrees with that general assessment. But, I would argue a more deliberative process that didn't impoverish, sicken, or perhaps even kill people would have made more sense. I truly believe this methodology is aimed at the domestic audience for political traction rather than an efficient analysis and management process.

It will be interesting to see how far China is willing to step into the vacuum.

 

[spike.t]

Going to be bad news for lot of people here.....if retrovirals for hiv dy up...bad..I know normal great people here who take them...not a stigma...doesn't take long for them to start getting sick if don't take them......

 

[gbflyer]

Sadly, USAID is indeed a disaster... for every dollar they spend that actually does something positive, there are many more that get spent either on mindless, needless bullshit.. or in the administration and management of USAID itself..

They (Trump Administration) literally just stopped the transfer of $50M in Palestinian "relief" through USAID.. that was supposed to used to buy the Palestinians condoms..

Lets see... the Palestinian Authority still has not denounced Hamas or Hezbollah.. and is still providing relief and support to those terrorist organizations... but.. USAID thinks a priority in 2025 is to send over a container ship full of rubbers at the tax payers expense..

Ribbed for the tax payers pleasure I suppose...

I’ll get told I’m full of it again probably by a couple patriotic experts here but anyway:

My uncle and a good friend of mine were involved in a project in the Philippines after the Mt Pinatubo eruption. They were dredging a river filled with ash or what they called Lahar. They had to try to make deals with local leaders for a place to waste the material, which involved many tactics including outright bribery. Most places, the mud flowed back into the river as quickly as they pumped it out onto the banks anyway. It was a Raytheon subsidiary they worked for, funded by….USAID. Millions of dollars wasted.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Border patrol has already been fired on by the Cartel from across the border as migrants are trying to cross
What I would do, is have some Apache gunships on standby, and zip across the border and turn those cartel guman into ugly stains on the Mexican soil.

Oh for sure. They've also had known leaks where family was compromised by the cartel, domestically.

I don't disagree with you. But, there are repercussions. So what you're saying is materially different. First off, I remember the case you are talking about. They fired across the border and killed the BP agent. Sending an apache gunship or letting ole' Spooky go winchester in that case is a bit different.

If we send CAG, DEVGRU, or whatever unit it is over there, and they get lit up...doing the same carries a different weight. We, at that point, sent a unit in-country and then had to use air assets to assist. This becomes a Russia/Ukraine type situation.

Obviously, I don't really care and every single one of the cartel can be off'd as far as I'm concerned. However, that creates quite the political storm.

 

[rookhawk]

Going to be bad news for lot of people here.....if retrovirals for hiv dy up...bad..I know normal great people here who take them...not a stigma...doesn't take long for them to start getting sick if don't take them......

Ironic that these African nations are giving up their resources in perpetuity, along with their logistics and ports, to the PRC. Yet America is expected by our Judeo-Christian values to save their people from death via drug and aid programs.

If we were infinitely wealthy, I’d save everybody’s life via nutrition, education, medicine, and any other aid. But we’re not. We have big problems here at home and America is the number 1 priority. The number 2 priority is our direct neighbors, Canada and Mexico. We help our neighbors 2nd. 3rd priority is all of our allies that have economic and military alliances. We owe Germany, England, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries our support.

Guess where starving people in Africa rank versus starving people in Detroit?

America has specialized in spreading ourselves thin and doing a shit job at 1000 things instead of doing a good job at 100 things.

It’s that simple. We fix Detroit before we fix Nairobi. We provide aid to those that cooperate with us rather than our enemies first. Our aid has only resulted in comforting the masses under dictatorships, rather than causing revolutions that would bring in Uncorrupted interests.

I’m sick of paying for all of it when so little goes to help those that deserve it the most.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Hegseth is growing on me... I'll admit I was very concerned about the nomination at first though..

That said, the pick for Deputy SECDEF I think is exactly what the doctor ordered.. Stephen Feinberg is a former army officer (infantry, ranger qualified, etc), Ivy League educated, billionaire, who has decades of experience running major corporations in addition to being a top 1% type in investment capital and private equity, that's run and sat on the boards of multiple major defense firms, is a staunch conservative, and has prior experience working at the highest levels of government (previously chaired the Intelligence Oversight Board, chaired the Presidents Intelligence Advisory Board, etc..etc..

He is (IMO) the type of person Hegseth needs "running" the DoD, while Hegseth chases down Trumps primary agenda items... A Hegseth/Feinberg combo I think is very promising.. Hegseth is a "front man".. Feinberg is a bit of a recluse and likes being the guy behind the scenes, pulling all the levers, and making things happen.. He doesn't need the money or the influence that being in the #2 seat in the Pentagon will give him.. Its going to be hard for lobbyists, senators, congressmen, defense executives, or anyone else to influence him into doing anything he doesn't want to do or doesn't believe is "right" or correct for the DoD.. he cant be "bought" and he doesn't really need to increase or improve his realm of influence and power.. and like I said before, he's practically a hermit.. he certainly isn't worried about gaining attention or being in the spot light.. he'll be more than happy enough to let Hegseth and Trump take all of it.. Hes just a guy that likes getting things done..

I think you articulated what I can get my head around regarding the "front man" approach. Makes sense. I'm all for giving people a shot. Trump is an out of the box thinker for sure. Hegseth is used to the media presence. He also, actually, served so that adds some major points.

Lets see what happens. I'm willing to give him a shot and see what he can do.

Gaetz, now that's a guy I think we can all agree that the world is better for the fact he withdrew.

 

[Hunt anything]

What am I missing? Isn’t this just a pause in funding for these programs? Granted it doesn’t look good at all but there is way too much waste. They need to find a more efficient way to allocate money but they should do it ASAP before China, Russia and others step in to fill the void.
Wasn’t a stay put on the hold by a judge as well?

 

[Hunt anything]

There is also some misinformation out there, I heard a talking head last night complaining about USFWS spending money on a marsh in New Mexico (I think) to improve habitat for Mexican ducks. If it was USFWS money , it was almost 100% certain money derived from migratory bird hunting stamp money not tax money. I guess you can call it tax money for the “privilege” to hunt migratory birds.