Military Flights Over Montreal All Day Today

WNU Editor: A friend called me this afternoon asking me if I knew why were there continuous military flights over Montreal today. I went outside and saw four contrails going east. My friend said this was the third time that he saw such flights. All of them were at high altitudes, and all of them were going in the same direction. 

Later in the day I spotted three more contrails, all going in the same direction (see picture above). I have never seen anything like this in all of my years of living in Montreal. There is clearly a lot of military activity in Canada's air space today, and if I was to hazard a guess, all of these flights are going to Europe. 

Update: That is my neighbor's cherry blossom tree blooming in the second photo. It only lasts 3 - 4 days, but it is always a sight to see.

Editor's Note

I will be busy this afternoon organizing relief funds from Montreal for the tens of thousands of refugees now pouring by the hour into Poland and Hungary. The priority for me is medicines (insulin, antibiotics, etc.) and personal protective products. After-all. People still need their meds, and the pandemic is still raging in that part of the world. All of this is being done through the churches, and the Red Cross. 

I know what we are doing is a drop in the bucket, but if we do not do it, who will?

On a personal note. I am frustrated that I am only able to post on WNU 10% on what I am learning and hearing as this war continues to rage. There is so much news and information that is not being reported on. The media on all sides are in propaganda mode and pushing a certain narrative, while conditions on the ground are the opposite,. And what is more frightening is no one is reporting on where this is all heading.

Sighhhh ....

There are so many hours in a day, and there is only so much that I can do.

Blogging will return later this evening.

One more thing.  

For 8 years on WNU I always posted on my fear that Donbas will escalate into a major war, and what must be done to avoid it. No need to to do that anymore. No one listened, and those who did condemned me on this blog (even today) and elsewhere. And now the war has arrived.

But life goes on, and we must change with the times. This blog included. I will be shifting my focus to what is next, and more specifically, how this war will change everything. 

And trust me on this. The geopolitical changes that will come out of this war will be immense.

My Take On The Russia - Ukraine War

I know the invasion is underway, but a part of me is still in denial. 

This is not what I wanted.

I have been up for almost 22 hours so I will be brief.

Russia will win this military conflict. On that I have no doubt.

Russian intelligence, with the help of many collaborators within the Ukraine government and military, will give the Russian military all the information necessary to attack and wipe out key Ukrainian positions. That has probably already happened.

The Russian air force now own the skies, and their Sukhoi-25s, like the US Air Force's A-10, will make mince meat out of any ground force. 

And then there is Russia's artillery. It will be this weapon platform that will determine how long (or quick) this war will last.

I expect heavy fighting on the Donbass front lines. This is where the bulk of Ukraine's top military forces are located, and they will fight. 

I am already reading reports that along the northern border of Russia, specifically near Kharkiv where I also have family, the border guards are not fighting. I am not surprised on hearing this. This region is dominated by Russian-Ukrainians, and they have no stomach to engage against advancing Russian armor. I also expect little if any fighting on the streets of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city.

I am reading reports that Russia has landed forces near Odessa. I expect fighting in some parts of this city. But it will end quickly. This is another region that has a large Russian-Ukrainian population. 

On a personal note. There was a time when I wanted to buy a house near Odessa on the Black Sea to retire. I had agreed on the price, but in the end it did not happen. It is always strange to reflect on past decisions and wonder where one would be if you had taken a different path.

I do not expect street-to-street fighting in Kyiv. There will be opposition, and a hostile population, but widespread fighting is not going to happen.

Western Ukraine will be Indian country for the Russian military. I can see a lot of fighting and destruction in this part of the country, especially if the Ukrainian leadership decide to fight which I expect some will.

President Zelensky will relocate to Lviv as the fighting approaches Kyiv. From there, he will then flee to the West. I give him a few weeks at best.

I expect tens of thousands of casualties from this war. More if Western Ukraine decides to resort to guerilla warfare. 

In the end the human and economic cost will be enormous. 

I expect 2 - 3 million refugees. Maybe more. Most will flee the country after the war when they realize that there is no future for them. Or it will take too long to rebuild everything.

This is a war of choice. A choice that President Putin decided to take. But the outcome will be Russia owning a broken and destroyed Ukraine, and being responsible for healing and rebuilding it. I shudder when I think of that.

Russia is now a pariah in the international community. It will be the responsibility of the next Russian leader to repair it. When that happens is something that no one knows. 

I am signing off right now. I need sleep. Blogging and my analysis of this war will return when I wake up.

One final note. My 96 year old mother still does not know that Ukraine is being invaded. She grew up in a city 60-70 kilometers West from Moscow, and she has seen it all. 

Thank God my father is not alive. He grew up in a city south of Kiev. He also saw it all.

Growing Worries On The Future Of Canada And Ukraine

WNU Editor: I will be brief, and after this post I am going to crash and fall asleep.

It has been a long day. Spent most of my time talking to my family and friends in Ukraine. 

To say that everyone is upset and frustrated with what is happening right now is an understatement. Everyone is hoping for the best, but preparing for the worse. I am helping as much as I can. But there are limits to what one can do in situations like this.

Same thing from my family and friends in Russia who, without exception, now all believe that Putin will green-light a military incursion into Ukraine. They are all getting ready for sanctions, and the severe consequences that it will bring.

No one I know wants a war, but as I always enjoy saying. "No one wants war, but war wants you". 

As for Canada .... the country that I live in .... not a good day. 

Our civil liberties and rights are now suspended, and while the media calls it the "Emergency Act", it is really a form of martial law. 

The Canadian Federal government now has immense powers, and you just know that they will be using and abusing it. 

I will not be surprised if we start to see and hear reports of Trudeau's critics being targeted by law enforcement and by the many governmental agencies that can make your life a living hell. I expect people's bank accounts are going to be targeted. This Prime Minister has an authoritarian streak, and he does not take kindly to his opponents and critics. 

I also do not expect this "Emergency Act" to end anytime soon. Governments never like giving up power when they have it, and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau certainly does not strike me as someone who will give it up quickly.

Tucker Carlson's analysis on what is happening in Canada is spot on (see below). Unfortunately, this message and point of view is not being presented on Canada's main networks. With the exception of independent media, which I predict will also be targeted by the "Emergency Act", the main stream media is peddling the government's narrative without exception.

Why I Will Never Kneel

A police officer kneels outside Los Angeles Police Department headquarters on Tuesday during a protest after the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

Washington Post: The next front in the culture war: Police kneeling

President Trump on Wednesday retweeted a claim that New York City police were being asked to “bend a knee to terrorists”

The scene was one of many hectic ones this week in Washington, D.C.: A police officer is being urged to kneel by protesters, and he obliges, before he’s quickly brought to his feet by fellow officers. Then he kneels again, this time before being pulled back by his colleagues and losing his balance. He resumes standing in front of the line of protesters.

Other footage of the same scene shows another officer briefly kneeling next to him (warning: some explicit language in that link).

As unrest rages across the country, scenes like this are becoming part of the culture war over policing and the protests. To some supporters of the protests, they are a show of good faith by police officers over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. To others, they’re empty gestures or even sinister allusions to how Floyd was killed. And to some critics of how the police are handling the unrest, they demonstrate capitulation in the face of the mob.

President Trump waded into this on Wednesday morning for the first time, retweeting a message that included attacking New York City police for being “tasked to bully Orthodox Jews and bend a knee to terrorists.”

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Throughout history bending the knee has always been used by conquerors, dictators, and authoritarian governments to extract fealty and cooperation from those who have been vanquished, conquered, and suppressed. It is also a form of  humiliation .... to degrade those who are not part of your country/class/race/or movement. The Nazis used this tactic during the Second World War before executing their prisoners. Mao used this during the cultural revolution to humiliate his perceived enemies. But I have recently learned that American blacks have a different history when it comes to bending the knee. I am sure they had to give the knee to their slave masters centuries ago, but the Civil rights movement in the sixties used bending the knee as a means to protest .... The Rise of the Black Activists (Saturday Evening Post). Colin Kaepernick is not the first to bend the knee, but he is the first that I know of to do it against the US flag and anthem. So I am curious. Would you kneel in today's environment? Would you kneel to show solidarity to American blacks that some are now demanding?

Update: I would not kneel because the Nazis did this. My history (which is Russian) is different. Correction. Very different.

There Is A Lot Of Fear, Panic, And Anger Out There

It has been a rough 12 hours. While I am in my little world of peace and tranquility hidden in the woods of the Laurentians in Quebec, there is panic, fear, anger, and worry among many people that I know out there in the real world. My girlfriend's youngest daughter works part time at a pharmacy to help her earn extra money while going to university, and is afraid to go to work today because she knows that it it is only a question of time before those who are really sick start showing up to buy pain killers and flu medicine (I told her to go to work to assess the situation, and if it is bad, walk out). A business partner and close friend was told that he was laid off this morning from a job that he has had for 25 years. A friend who runs a family store that has been in business for 60 years does not know how he can make ends meet by May. A couple who run a gym and who I have known for 20 years (it is where I also go to train), cannot last more than two months. My brother who works in the biotech and pharmaceutical field in the Bay area in California is filled with anger and hatred at Trump, and is blaming him for the pandemic?!?!?!? I can list 3 more calls from others who are voicing the same fear/panic/anger/and despair in their voice.

Since yesterday my message to everyone has been the same .... Remain calm, keep self control, do not panic, be safe and healthy, stay happy, stay positive, be active, do all the right things, and stay productive. This is just another episode in life where the times are difficult and tough, but in the end this will all pass, and by doing all the right things today will in the future bring rewards and contacts that you never thought was possible.

Sghhh .... aside from the readers of this blog (and again a super thanks to all of you for the messages that you are sending to me), I realized this morning that no one is listening to me.

Welcome To The New World

WNU editor with his mom at a medical clinic in Montreal

WNU Editor: My mother is participating in a clinical trial on memory. I was thinking of cancelling her appointment this morning, but she convinced me that she wanted to go. Showed up at the clinic where they first screened us for a temperature. I asked if they have turned anyone away, and they told me that they advised a patient who arrived earlier with a fever and a harsh cough to go to the hospital ER. There were only two people in the waiting room (they looked very healthy), and when they left the staff in the clinic cleaned the chairs. My mother's appointment with her doctor was quick, and we were out of the place within 20 minutes. I asked my mother's doctor on what was he is facing . He told me that he has been advised to be ready for a storm of patients in the coming weeks. He was happy to hear that we were going to isolate ourselves along with my girlfriend's daughter in my chalet in the Laurentians of Quebec until this blows over.

Some observations from Montreal. Driving to and from the clinic was surreal. The streets and highway had little if any traffic (I would say that it is down by 80%). All the people that I know who have offices with employees have closed their doors until further notice. I have not received my newspaper since Friday. The Montreal Gazette has told me that they have problems with delivery. The postman came by, so that service is still working. I am well stocked with food and supplies to last a long time. But many that I know are panicking because they are not ready both financially and with supplies to withstand this for more than 2 or 3 weeks.

Wow! While writing this post I just saw a military C-130 plane fly in front of my home on its way to (I presume) Dorval airport. I live in front of the St. Lawrence river, and the last time I saw a military aircraft fly in front of my home was right after 9/11, and it was two CF-18s flying over the Saint Lawrence seaway. Talk about ominous signs on what is happening.

I am now getting ready to leave. My plan is to leave later today after supper when traffic is non-existent. Blogging will be light for now, but when I am up north sequestered away in my isolation, I will be having the time and focus to blog continuously.

This Is What My Brother Told Me About The Covid-19 Coronavirus

WNU Editor: My brother lives in the Bay area in California. He has a doctorate in chemistry, but his specialty is in making sure that the new drugs and products that he makes for the company that he works for gets approved by the FDA. He is also responsible for the manufacturing of a product that many drug makers use in testing the quality of their drugs before it is distributed to customers. He is considered to be one of the best in his field, and because of his work he has close contacts within the FDA, and the NIH.

He called me last night at 1:00 AM wanting to talk. He was depressed and deeply troubled with what he is seeing, hearing, and learning. First things first. The Bay area has shut down. As he told me this morning. The highways are empty. The schools are closed or closing (his kids are home today and will be home until further notice). All events and activities have been cancelled. And almost everyone has made the decision to self isolate. But he does not think it is going to make a difference. Because of the nature of this virus, he has been told that a majority of Americans are going to get it. He is also 100% sure that he will get it. Because of the nature of his work, and the many people that he needs to meet, it is only inevitable that he will be contracting it. He has also been told that this emergency is going to last for at least a year. On a bright note. He told me that the pollution has dissipated, and for the first time since he moved there in the 1990s, he is seeing the stars like he has never seen them before.

He also told me a few other things, much of what we already know. This disease is very contagious, and dangerous for certain segments of the population (the old, people with immune deficiencies, and health issues). There will also be no Covid-19 vaccine for at least 18 months. There is also a very real possibility that this disease will taper off during the summer, but may come back in the fall.

He is also worried about our mom. She is 93, and we take care of her here. We are fortunate that she is physically well and strong. But she is 93! Soon to be 94 (next month). As she told me this morning. She lived through the Second World War and its aftermath. This is nothing new.

What 'Blue Wave'?

Dov S. Zakheim, National Interest: What Happened to that "Blue Wave"?

At best, there was a wavelet, not the much vaunted "Blue Wave."

There was no Blue Wave on Election Day. At best, there was a wavelet. The Democrats took the House, but the number of seats that “flipped” from Republican to Democrat was far lower than that of 2010, when the Democrats lost sixty-six seats, or for that matter, smaller than the average turnaround in a midterm election held after a new president had assumed office two years earlier.

President Donald Trump naturally has claimed victory, as everyone expected he would, unless Republicans had lost the Senate as well, which they did not. They added seats. The Democrats, and their supporters in the mainstream press and cable television, are crowing about the House. But just as Trump may be misreading his victory—he has yet to feel the pain of ceaseless House hearings and investigations of his conduct and that of his leading appointees—so the Democrats need to rethink just what the country was telling them.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: When I went to bed last night I reflected on the results of the midterms and the only thought that went through my mind was .... why do people vote for politicians who promise to raise your taxes, and who are committed to limiting the driving forces for your economy (i.e. energy production, taxes, etc.). When I woke up this morning and reflected on the results .... a different view formed.  When I looked at last night's results and the history of such elections .... the loss of Republican House seats was below the usual number that is lost in a midterm, and in the Senate the Republicans actually won a few seats while losing only one. Considering the massive advantage that the Democrats had in raising campaign funds, coupled with an overwhelmingly supportive media, the retirement of over 40 Republicans, and President Trump's negatives .... I can understand why expectations for a Blue Tsunami were there, and I can understand why many Democrats are not happy (if not angry) that it did not happen. The failure of not capturing the Senate must also be a huge disappointment for the Democrats. It is true that they had a large number of seats to defend, but these were incumbents, and they were supported by a vast machine of supporters and funds, while the Republicans had three open seats that were ripe for the taking. But the Democrats lost 3 Senators, and this now gives President Trump a great deal of leverage to make sure that his nominees for government posts, the cabinet, and for the courts will proceed without much trouble. And as for the Republican Senators who were President Trump's foes in the past .... they are now gone (McCain, Corker and Flake), and will not torpedo or block his agenda. I should also add the Republican Party is now unified behind President Trump. Those who supported President Trump were successful in their election bids, while many who opposed him were defeated. That is a message that I am sure many Republican insiders are going to take from this election.

As for the Democrats .... they now have an opportunity to govern and to show to the American public that they are a viable alternative to the Republicans. Unfortunately .... I do not see that happening. Many who won yesterday are hardcore progressives, and they are taking their election win as a mandate to go after President Trump. And while I do expect some of the "elders" in the Democrat Party will try restrain them, the problem is that their hatred towards President Trump is far more important to them than governing. This hatred also includes senior Democrat leaders who have made it very clear today on what they want to do .... Incoming Democrat Chairman: Dems Will Go ‘All-In’ On Russia, Impeach Kavanaugh For ‘Perjury’ (The Federalist). So get ready for the subpoenas, televised hearings, and investigations. Unless of course the White House decides to do an Eric Holder .... I BET DEMOCRATS ARE WISHING that Obama Attorney General Eric Holder had not set a precedent that the AG may simply ignore subpoenas from the House of Representatives. (Instapundit).

WNU Editor's Commentary On The U.S. Election

President Donald Trump rallies with supporters at Missoula International Airport in Missoula, Montana, October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WNU Editor: Some people wanted to know my opinion on Tuesday's U.S. midterm elections .... so I was busy this evening discussing what I believe will be the result when all the votes have been cast, and how this result will impact the U.S. Presidency for the next two years. I am going to give a more detailed analysis later on Tuesday .... I am just too tired right now, and I need to be sharp Tuesday morning. But before I crash for tonight, here are some observations starting with how struck I am on how this election cycle has evolved to became a national referendum on President Trump. The media wanted it to be like this. The Democrats wanted this election to be all about President Trump. And more importantly .... President Trump also wanted this election cycle to be all about him, his policies, and the direction that he wants to lead the country. I have been following U.S. elections for years, but I have never seen a U.S. President covered by the media in the manner that President Trump has been covered since he announced his run for the Presidency in 2015. This overwhelmingly negative coverage would have destroyed any politician .... but in the case of President Trump, he is someone who feeds on it and throws it back at those who attack him. His supporters are also quite a sight to see .... because no politician throughout American history has been able to draw consistently the massive crowds that President Trump has been able to gather on very short notice. There is no planning or making arrangements for people to show up to any of rallies .... what happens is an announcement is made, and then tens of thousands of people show up. This tells me that President Trump's base of support is deeper and stronger than what it was in the 2016 Presidential election. In 2016 many Republicans were unsure and/or hostile of then candidate Trump .... especially among the Republican establishment. There was also skepticism among many Republicans that he would keep his promises, and that his personality would self-destruct his campaign. What a difference two years make. Today .... any doubts on President Trump among the Republican base are no longer there. In this election cycle the Republican base is solidly behind President Trump, and they are going to vote in numbers that we have never seen before. I know that the Democrats are also motivated and inspired to vote .... but they were also motivated and inspired to vote in 2016, and that did not work out. The wild card are the independents, and how will they vote. My guess is that these people will be voting primarily on local issues, and do they feel that the country is going in the right direction. It is these voters who will decide on who will win and who will lose this Tuesday.

Blogging will return when I wake up.

Why I Love Canada And The U.S.

Statue Cruises

Nolan Peterson, Daily Signal: ‘I’ll Never Be the Same’: My Ukrainian Wife’s First Trip to the United States

KYIV, Ukraine—How do you measure America’s greatness?

By the size of its economy, or the strength of its military?

By the height of its city skylines, or the audacity of the moon landings?

Perhaps, by the heroism of the Marines who landed on Iwo Jima, or of the Army soldiers who landed on Omaha Beach?

Maybe. But America’s greatness is not always measured like in the movies or a campaign speech. Sometimes, an anonymous act of gratitude is proof enough, even if we, as Americans, don’t always see it that way.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: As someone who is from eastern Europe, I can understand why Nolan Peterson's Ukrainian wife finds America more than overwhelming. Young people in Ukraine, Russia, and elsewhere in eastern Europe have a clear vision on what type of life they want to live .... and for many of us in Canada and the U.S. we are living it right now.

Why I Blog

Wavell Blog: Defence Blogging: Why, When and How.

UK defence blogging is growing in strength and popularity, and the Wavell Room has been instrumental in helping push both acceptance and legitimacy of the role of the British Military Blogger as an entity that can communicate the role of the Armed Forces, debate thorny issues and show loyal dissent to encourage debate about how things could be done differently.

But blogging is not easy or straightforward though, and for every blog that succeeds, many fail. I want to use this article to set out what has worked for me, and my thoughts on what anyone thinking of blogging needs to consider.

Read more ....

WNU editor: It felt strange to read the above article .... and the reason why is because I cannot relate to it. All the points that the above author puts down on the why/when/and how to blog is not what I do when it comes to WNU. It is the opposite. To begin .... I started this blog because I wanted to work on my written English, and I wanted to chronicle/record the news stories that interest me. My goal was never to reach a large audience, or to influence opinion. On the contrary .... I wanted to do this blog only for myself. Nothing less and nothing more. That is why I am always surprised .... and humbled .... when I look at the traffic stats for WNU. I never expected this.

98,400 posts spread-out over 11 years. Tens of millions of visitors to WNU. Tens of millions of page views. Awards and recognition for being one of the top news blogs in the world. Receiving emails from diplomats, generals, journalists, media personalities, politicians, soldiers, former soldiers, fellow bloggers, Hollywood stars, think tanks, scientists, foreign policy experts, business men and women, and .... more important to me .... the general public. It has been a fascinating ride. And it is not going to end. The joy I have in doing this blog has not changed one iota during these 11 years. I am never short of stories to post. I am always learning something new. And the bonus is the input that I receive from all of you .... the reader, who have made all of this possible.

So again .... to all of you .... many thanks for your support, encouragement, and feedback. Words cannot adequately explain how honored and humbled I am with this recognition.

My Thoughts On The Awarding Of The Nobel Peace Prize To Nadia Murad And Denis Mukwege

The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict https://t.co/4H91woKf4r pic.twitter.com/r6kf4CYjQB

— CNN (@CNN) October 6, 2018

WNU editor: When I started this blog 11 years ago one of the first posts that I did was on the use of mass rape by Sri Lankan soldiers on Tamils during their civil war. Since then I have lost count on how many posts I have done covering conflicts where sexual crimes were committed on a massive scale. It was also during this time that I began to realize that these crimes should be viewed as a war crime, and punished as such. Today's awarding of the Nobel Prize to Nadia Murad, a 25-year-old from Iraq and Denis Mukwege, 63, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a small but important step in making the world aware on how horrific these crimes are, and why they must be treated as war crimes. Kudos to the Nobel Committee for their decision on who should be awarded this year. It was one that I did not expect.

9/11 Changed The World

United Airlines Flight 175 flies low toward the South Tower of the World Trade Center, shortly before slamming into the structure. The north tower burns after an earlier attack by a hijacked airliner in New York City, on September 11, 2001. (Reuters/Sean Adair)

Rep. Steve Russell, Military Times: How Sept. 11 changed America

I remember where I was when I heard the news. It was Sept. 11, 2001. I was serving as the aide-de-camp to the commander of all American-based U.S. Army forces. We were having a welcoming ceremony.

At the time, I didn’t realize how much that day would change my own life. Now as I look back, I realize how much Sept. 11 changed it and our country forever.

As the new deputy commander, I had to interrupt the general and whisper that a second plane had hit the World Trade Center.

We knew immediately we were at war.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: September 11 did not only changed America .... it changed the world. After the second plane had hit the World Trade Center .... and the Pentagon was on fire ... that was the moment in time that I realized that America was at war and nothing will be the same. I then called my brother in San Francisco where I woke him up and told him that the U.S. was now at a state of war. To say that he was shocked is an understatement (he misunderstood me, he initially thought the U.S. had experienced two nuclear strikes). As he told me later .... he and everyone else knew that nothing was going to be the same anymore. In my case .... I followed the news, and told my family and friends in Russia and Ukraine that it would be best to stand aside and let the U.S. go after the terrorists who did this. The next day I decided to take some time off from work. I visited New York City 10 days later to see an old friend. The airport was surreal. It was empty. No one was traveling. As for my experience in New York City. That experience .... the posters of missing people, the smell in the air, the unity and purpose among New Yorkers to overcome this tragedy and to bring justice to those who caused it .... I will never forget. I then flew to the Bay area to visit my brother, and spent the next week in Napa and wine country. And yes .... nothing has ever been the same since then.

The Longest Day Of The Year Is Today

🇬🇧 Thousands gather at #Stonehenge to celebrate the #SummerSolstice2018 📸 Geoff Caddick for @AFPphoto pic.twitter.com/4VY30p4B7r

— AFP news agency (@AFP) June 21, 2018

WNU Editor: For some reason I have always loved this day .... the longest day of the year.

Editor's Commentary -- Singapore Summit

It has been an interesting few hours. I suspect that much of what was discussed will be disclosed in the next day or two. I found both men unsure of themselves .... especially Kim Jong-un. But that is not surprising .... there has never been a U.S. - North Korean meeting like this one. I found when they gathered for their working lunch President Trump was clearly in a very positive mood .... while Kim Jong-un had the look of a man who was not sure on what was going to happen next .... and his delegation also looked very unsure of themselves. That is just the impression that I was getting .... I could be very wrong. But there is one thing that I am sure about. The energy and atmosphere from this summit is/was very different from the South - North Korea summit that occurred two months ago .... in that summit everyone was smiling and radiating positive energy. This one was more business like .... and definitely more serious.

In closing .... this editor is now going to bed. Blogging will return tomorrow morning with full updates on what happened today, as well as other news.

My Take On Today's Violence On The Israeli - Gaza Border

Reuters

WNU Editor: 58 killed, 2700 wounded. If Hamas wanted to divert media attention to their cause from today's celebrations on the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem .... they succeeded. But there were suppose to be 100,000 protesters at the barricades today .... not 40,000 .... and no one was able to breach the border. There were riots in the West Bank .... but even that was less than what many had expected. Arab governments condemned Israel .... but I also found their protests to be muted .... I guess their focus was elsewhere. Many governments in the West stayed away from the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem .... but I felt that most wanted to avoid this entire story .... their attention was also focused elsewhere. The Palestinian cause has clearly lost momentum .... and after watching today's violence on the border I cannot help but feel that this was more of a cry of desperation. That after being told throughout their lives that one day they will be able to return to Palestine to claim their ancestral homes .... there is a realization among many that it is not going to happen .... that as a people they are defeated, and are just being more marginalized with the passage of time. Hamas is calling for riots in Jerusalem and the West Bank for tomorrow .... and a few will probably break-out .... an the press will cover it. But after that .... everyone will move on to the next big story in the world .... and the Palestinians will be ignored .... again.

My Take On The Comey Memos And Where The Mueller Investigation Is Going To Go From Here

WNU Editor: I took the time and read the Comey memos this morning (you can read it here). Bottom line .... there is nothing there. No obstruction. No collusion. No indication that President Trump told Comey to forget about Michael Flynn. But these are the same memos that were leaked to the New Your Times and used by the media, never-Trumpers, and Democrats to pressure the Justice Department to create a Special Counsel. But after a year of investigations and allegations of crimes from numerous anonymous sources .... there is still no evidence to implicate or indict President Trump. So what was the purpose for this entire year-long affair? To change public opinion against President Trump? To attack his allies? To neutralize his agenda? Everyone has an opinion, but from where I am standing I can say with confidence that they have failed. Public opinion has not changed when it comes to President Trump .... and if anything .... President Trump's base is still solidly behind him. And more aggravating to those who oppose him .... President Trump has been quietly implementing his agenda during this entire time.

Another sign to me that everything is starting to unravel was this announcement this morning .... Democratic Party files lawsuit alleging Russia, the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks conspired to disrupt the 2016 campaign (Washington Post). I have seen many bogus stunts before .... but this is one takes the cake .... a last ditch attempt to find the evidence that Mueller cannot find. Here is an easy prediction .... this suit is going to be thrown out of court. Another prediction .... the Mueller Counsel is going to look for a way to gracefully get away from all of this, and to save face. But the big problem for those who support the Mueller Counsel will be to placate a lot of Democrats and never-Trumpers who are convinced that President Trump will be facing impeachment or worse in the future. Considering how much this story has been played up over the year to keep this constituency energized .... it is not going to be an easy job.

One final note .... for the past year I have had to read U.S. press reports, commentary, and politicians talk and build-up how powerful Putin is, that he dictates U.S. policy, that he can influence and corrupt U.S. elections, and that President Trump is being blackmailed by the Kremlin. Being someone whose nationality is Russian and who has some knowledge on how things work in Russia .... I can say with confidence that Russian President Putin does not deserve this type of recognition or respect. Not even close. And while I can understand why many in the U.S. would like to believe otherwise, my hope is that those who do respect the institutions that makes the U.S. an incredible country step up and say enough is enough. That tearing down and undermining the power and strength of these institutions because your candidate lost an election serves no one well, and worse .... it only bolsters an image of Putin that he does not deserve.

My Take On Today's Repeal Of U.S. Government Regulations And Rules Over The Internet

WNU Editor: First things first .... a little background on what I know about the internet, and the hardware that drives it. To begin .... I still remember my first modem .... a 2400 baud box, which was then  followed by the 4800 baud modem .... which I did not buy because I knew was it was going to be quickly followed by the introduction of 9600 baud modems. This was then followed with 14.4Kpbs modems, a 28.9Kbps modem, and then the holiest of all modems ..... U.S. Robotics and their 56k modem. There was no turning back then. The first stock that I invested in was Northern Telecom .... around 1995-1996 .... because I knew that their products would be in demand as the internet became more known and accessible. Ditto with Cisco. And did these companies fly until they crashed in 2000 (I bailed out in 1999). But even though these companies disappeared .... new companies emerged that made the web faster, efficient, and easier to use. Ditto with the explosion of websites and projects on the web .... starting with Netscape (around 1994-1995 if I am correct) .... to where we are today. In my own case .... I started a computer hardware company with some friends in the mid 1990s in Canada, as well as starting a number of web projects. We even had a project that bought the domain names of major companies (before they realized the value of these web addresses).... knowing too well that they would be wanting to make a deal with us to get those domain names back. And yes .... each and everyone of these companies did come to us. I also backed my cousin's husband who started with his friends an internet service provider in Moscow .... as well as web projects .... including an amateur attempt to do a YouTube type of project .... but we were ahead of our time .... the bandwidth/storage/and technology to do this was not available. But that is the point .... with time companies saw this limitation as an opportunity, and eventually they did develop the technologies that made these opportunities possible. As for governments .... aside from a U.S. agency that assumed the role of determining who owned their web address .... during this time their involvement on the web was minimal at best.

A personal experience made me realize that this golden age of the web was coming to an end ... and it happened in Russia when the Russian government made the decision to regulate the web like a utility with its own version of "Net Neutrality". Not surprising ... that brief explosion of innovation and excitement in Russia died when these rules became enforced .... and the reason why is simple .... we all knew that we could not make money in an industry that was regulated by the Kremlin, because we knew that they would only favor the big web companies and their friends. This was followed by Y2K, hacking scares, network vulnerabilities and how important these networks are to keep the economy humming .... yup .... everything started to change then, and yes .... governments started to position themselves to play a bigger role.

Flash forward to today ...  the debate on what should be the role of government in regulating how the web should be managed is raging. From my own long personal and business experience .... I can say unequivocally that the web grew and developed because market forces were at play. I learned in the 1990s that for new technologies and ideas to be developed for the web by risk takers and entrepreneurs .... they need to operate in an unregulated environment, because if it is not there .... like in Russia when it imposed their rules .... they will go elsewhere. Unfortunately .... with today's FCC vote .... the media in the U.S. and elsewhere is not focused on what I am saying. It is focused on the premise that companies will not act fairly, and that users will be punished. And I understand that point .... a dozen years ago a Canadian communications company blocked one of their union's website during a strike. But that example also proved that if a company does behave like this .... there will be a backlash, and in this case the company in question .... Telus .... was condemned in public, in the media, and in government. Talk about bad publicity. But it should be noted that Telus is an exception to the rule .... not the rule.

Where do we go from here? This debate is not over. The Silicon Valley giants want the web to be regulated and controlled .... Here's how tech's responding to the net neutrality vote (CNet), and they have the money, resources, and patience to revisit this issue in the future. And this issue will be revisited.

Why Are American Progressives Addicted To Calling Their Political Opponents Hitler Or Nazis?

Barack Obama addresses the Economic Club of Chicago. Photo by Lisa Zucker

Crains Chicago Business: Invoking the specter of Nazi Germany, Obama warns against complacency

American democracy is fragile, and unless care is taken it could follow the path of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

Mixed in with many softer comments, that was the somewhat jaw-dropping bottom line of Barack Obama last night as, in a Q&A session before the Economic Club of Chicago, the Chicagoan who used to be president dropped a bit of red meat to a hometown crowd that likely is a lot closer to him than the man whose name never was mentioned: President Donald Trump.

Read more ....

Update #1: Obama invokes Hitler's rise in stark warning to America (The Independent)
Update #2: Obama warns of complacency, notes rise of Hitler (The Hill)

WNU Editor: I grew up in a family that knows to well what Hitler and the ideology of Nazism did. On my fathers side, he and my uncles fought for the Soviet Army from Stalingrad to Berlin and they saw it all .... especially my father .... the enormous destruction, mass graves, two Nazi death camps, and the deaths and maiming of many of his friends and colleagues. And in the family itself .... a number of relatives and family members murdered, disappeared, or crippled. On my mother's side .... it is even worse. She came from the city of Vyazma, a city 75km from Moscow. And when the Nazis were finished, a prewar population of about 50,000 was down to only a few hundred. There is a mass grave not from the city, many of my relatives are buried there. Yup .... growing up I received a first hand education on what Nazism is, where it started, why it started, why it succeeded, what it did, and why this evil had to destroyed. And the sad fact is that the physical scars of Hitler and Nazism are still present in Russia, and they will probably be there for the next few hundred years. In my case .... I will not say that I am an expert on Hitler and the Nazis .... but I know a lot about the man and his movement .... certainly far more than most people in the West. That is why when I first started to live in the West (Canada) .... I was always bemused that this term was bandied around so freely .... that this political person is a Nazi, neo-Nazi, or Hitler. No more now. In fact .... today .... when I hear this type of language used I get angry. These comparisons are not only wrong, but by associating it in the manner that it is being done today (presently this label is being used against President Trump and the current political climate in the U.S.), they are actually diminishing the pure evil of what Hitler was, and what the Nazis actually did. As for President Obama invoking the specter of Nazi Germany in describing the climate of the U.S. today .... even though there is no relation to the Germany of the Weimer Republic and the rise of Hitler in the 1930s .... I am disappointed. This is not only intellectually wrong, but for someone like me with my background .... morally reprehensible.