Helping a friend of my brother's whose wife is stuck in Montreal because of the confusion over restrictions on U.S. immigration. She is Iranian .... her American husband lives in San Francisco and they are both visiting Montreal for the annual car show. I should be in front of my computer in the next few hours to resume blogging.
Update 15:29 EST: Problem solved .... their problem had nothing to do with U.S. immigration restrictions .... it was a misunderstanding with U.S. customs that was quickly resolved .... they are flying out tonight. But it was still an interesting and educational day. My brother is as progressive as you can get .... and since his friends are from uber-liberal San Francisco .... I expected to get an earful from them about Trump this and Trump that .... but it did not happen. In fact .... it was the complete opposite. They are not Trump supporters .... but they are beyond fed-up on how out-of-control the U.S. border has become .... and are wondering why other countries are not on Trump's list. As I said .... an interesting and educational day .... watching and hearing the main stream media go into a melt-down over a White House trying to control it's border .... and hearing people who are being impacted by it saying the opposite.
Monday, January 30, 2017
President Trump Reorganises The National Security Council. Adds His Chief Strategist To The Council
Steve Bannon attends as Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on Saturday. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
NPR: With National Security Council Shakeup, Steve Bannon Gets A Seat At The Table
President Trump has reorganized the National Security Council by elevating his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, and demoting the director of National Intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Bannon will join the NSC's principals committee, the top interagency group for discussing national security. The National Security Council is the staff inside the White House that coordinates decision-making by the president on such matters, in coordination with outside departments including the State Department and the Pentagon.
It's an unusual decision, NPR's Mara Liasson reports. "David Axelrod, for instance, who had a similar job as Bannon in the Obama administration, never sat in on principals meetings," she added. When such figures seen as part of the political wing of the White House have participated in broader National Security Council meetings, it has sparked sharp criticism from the national security establishment.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: The White House defends its decision .... Trump Administration Defends Bannon’s Role on Security Council (NYT). More here .... Trump chief of staff: defense officials not off NSC after Bannon move (The Guardian). What's my take .... national security, wars, defense and intelligence policies .... these are always issues that have been politicised by every President in the past. The optics of putting chief strategist Steve Bannon on the NSC certainly do not look good .... but in reality .... politics is what drives many of the national security decisions that comes out from the Council. As to reports that the Joint Chief and other senior intel officers have been left out .... this is a mistake .... but since this announcement the White House Chief of Staff is now saying that these officials have not been left out of the NSC.
More News On President Trump Reorganising The National Security Council And Addsing His Chief Strategist To The Council
Bannon Is Given Security Role Usually Held for Generals -- NYT
White House backs Steve Bannon attending national-security meetings -- AP
Trump adds Steve Bannon to national security team -- CBS
Trump gives National Security Council seat to ex-Breitbart chief Steve Bannon -- The Guardian
Trump gives Stephen Bannon National Security Council role -- USA Today
Trump National Security Council Shake-Up Elevates Stephen Bannon -- Fortune
The man behind Trump? Still Steve Bannon -- Politico
Are Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham 'Looking To Start WWIII'?
The joint statement of former presidential candidates John McCain & Lindsey Graham is wrong - they are sadly weak on immigration. The two...— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017
...Senators should focus their energies on ISIS, illegal immigration and border security instead of always looking to start World War III.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017
Politico: Trump: McCain and Graham 'looking to start WWIII'
President Donald Trump lashed out Sunday at Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham for publicly second-guessing his executive order on refugees, calling them "weak on immigration" and "looking to start World War III."
The rebuke, in a pair of Sunday afternoon tweets, came after McCain (R-Ariz.) and Graham (R-S.C.) criticized Trump's executive order on immigration and refugee policy in a joint statement Sunday. They said they "fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism."
Trump responded a few hours later.
Read more ....
Update #1: McCain, Graham lead in GOP criticism of Trump ban, many others stay mum (CNN)
Update #2: Trump accuses McCain, Graham 'looking to start World War III' (UPI)
WNU Editor: President Trump was elected with a mandate .... and he is pushing it. But this mandate is not what the Republican leadership wants .... so they are pushing back. Not surprising .... their fight is coming out in the open .... Tensions simmer below surface as Trump, Republicans map strategy (Reuters).
U.S. President Trump and South Korean Acting President Hwangg Kyo-ahn Vow To Strengthen Defenses Against North Korea
Reuters: Trump, South Korea's Hwang agree to strengthen defenses against North Korea: White House
U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn agreed to take steps to strengthen joint defense capabilities to defend against North Korea's nuclear threat, the White House said on Sunday after a telephone call between the two leaders.
"President Trump reiterated our ironclad commitment to defend (South Korea), including through the provision of extended deterrence, using the full range of military capabilities," the White House said in a statement.
It also said Trump and Hwang discussed the upcoming visit by the new U.S. defense secretary to Japan and South Korea, where shared concerns about North Korea will top the agenda.
The United States and South Korea have agreed to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system designed to protect against North Korea's growing nuclear and ballistic capabilities despite objections from China, which says the radar could penetrate Chinese territory.
Read more ....
More News On U.S. President Trump and South Korean Acting President Hwangg Kyo-ahn Vowing To Strengthen Defenses Against North Korea
Trump Tells South Korea That Alliance With U.S. Is ‘Ironclad’ -- NYT
N. Korea resumes ideological indoctrination of S. Korean abductees: source -- Korea Herald
South Korea, U.S. vow to strengthen defenses against North Korea -- Japan Times/AFP
Trump and South Korean PM discuss N.Korea, THAAD in phone call -- NK News
Donald Trump vows 'ironclad commitment' to South Korea against North Korea threats -- International Business Times
Trump, S. Korean Acting Leader Discuss Measures Against N. Korean Threat -- Sputnik
North Korea Has Restarted Its Plutonium Reactor
CNN: As Secretary Mattis prepares for Asia visit, North Korea starts reactor
Hong Kong (CNN)North Korea appears to be restarting a plutonium reactor just as US Secretary of Defense James Mattis prepares to visit neighboring South Korea and Japan.
An analysis of new satellite imagery from 38 North, a North Korea tracking project associated with the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, concludes that country is preparing to restart the reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear facility.
The images show that most of a river near the reactor is frozen over, except for where water originating from a reactor outlet mixes with the river -- indicating that the reactor is likely operational.
Read more ....
More News On North Korea Restarting Its Plutonium Reactor
North Korea likely to have restarted plutonium reactor, says US think tank -- South China Morning Post
North Korea has restarted reactor to make plutonium, fresh images suggest -- The Guardian/Reuters
New images appear to show North Korea has restarted a reactor at its nuclear weapons site after plumes of water are spotted -- Daily Mail
North Korea Restarts Yongbyon Plutonium Reactor, Institute Says -- Bloomberg
North Korea restarts nuclear reactor used to fuel weapons program -- DW
North Korea appears to have restarted plutonium reactor: think tank -- The Age
Think tank says satellite images indicate North Korea has 'restarted plutonium production for nuclear weapons' -- IBTimes
North Korea Restarts Plutonium Production Reactor -- Sputnik
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Attack At Quebec City Mosque Leaves 5 Dead
AFP: At least five dead in shooting at Quebec City mosque: media
Quebec City (AFP) - At least five people were killed and several people wounded after gunmen opened fire at a mosque in Quebec City, media reported.
A Quebec police spokesman confirmed that there were people killed, but did not say how many.
Two suspects in the shooting were arrested, he said.
Police did not rule out the possibility of a third suspect who had fled the scene.
The motive of the attack was not immediately clear. Police set up a perimeter around the mosque.
A few dozen people were inside the Islamic Cultural Center when the shooting began just after 8:00 pm (0100 GMT Monday), CBC reported, citing its French-language service Radio-Canada.
According to CBC, Quebec City Police Constable Etienne Doyon said at the time of the attack mostly men were gathered at the mosque for evening prayers.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: After spending a day and evening skiing with the GF and friends .... I sit down in front of my computer and the first thing I see is this terrible story. For those who may not know .... I live in Quebec. And talk about timing .... only yesterday I was writing about my own personal experience on how immigration has changed the community that I live in (the link is here) .... and how Canadian government policy towards open immigration has created a growing resentment against the immigrant ghettos that are now forming on the island of Montreal. And while I do not know the details of tonight's terror attack .... I can say with confidence that the group responsible are French-Quebec nationalists who decided to target an ethnic community that is not like them (i.e. white French Quebecers). For those who may not know .... here is a little education about Quebec. To begin .... it is not like the rest of Canada. It is a French province that has traditionally been very hostile towards other ethnic groups .... it was first directed at the English (who over the years have simply left the province), and while the Quebec/Canadian media prefers not to talk about it .... it is now being directed at the immigrant communities. This xenophobic mindset is deeply rooted .... and while many Quebecers will deny it .... it is there. I have experienced it first hand more than once (in both my personal and professional life) .... and while I do have a thick skin .... it has left a bitter taste in my mouth. I will update this story tomorrow when more details become available, and I will give my own explanation/analysis on how Canada's immigration policy of letting in refugees is creating a resentment within the French population of Quebec who see these immigrants as a threat to their cultural identity.
More News On Tonight's Attack At A Mosque In Quebec City That Has Left 5 Dead.
5 dead, 2 arrested after shooting at Quebec City mosque -- CBC
Mosque president says 5 dead in Quebec City shooting -- AP
Five dead in Quebec City mosque shooting: mosque president -- Reuters
Shooting at a Quebec City mosque, multiple dead -- CTV
At least five killed in shooting at Quebec City mosque -- FOX News
Multiple people reported killed and injured by gunmen at Quebec City mosque -- Washington Post
Update 12:10AM EST: Just watched CTV News (one of Canada's major news networks) where the anchorwoman is basically blaming President Trump for tonight's terror attack in Quebec City. These people are so clueless.
Homeland Security: President Trump's Executive Orders Will Not Be Impacted By Recent Court Rulings
USA Today: Homeland Security: Judge's stay has little impact on travel ban
A federal judge's emergency order halting deportation of immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations trapped at U.S. airports will have little impact on the overall implementation of President Trump's executive order, the Department of Homeland Security said Sunday.
"President Trump’s Executive Orders remain in place — prohibited travel will remain prohibited, and the U.S. government retains its right to revoke visas at any time if required for national security or public safety," DHS said in a statement. It added: "No foreign national in a foreign land, without ties to the United States, has any unfettered right to demand entry into the United States."
Read more ....
Update: Trump Immigration Ban Still In Place Despite Court Ruling, Says DHS (NBC)
WNU Editor: As I had mentioned last night .... where was the media/activist outrage when President Obama did the same thing when he restricted visas to Iraqis wanting to travel to the U.S.? But history aside, I expect this fight will now enter the courts and that public protests against these restrictions will continue .... but overall the impact on this executive order is clear .... travel to the U.S. from some countries is going to be difficult, and on the broader picture .... U.S. border agents will be told to enforce the law. On a personal note .... I know people in both Russia and Ukraine who want to immigrate to the U.S. and who have asked me in the past 24 hours on what they should do. I told them bluntly .... follow the law and do it properly and legally. The U.S. is now restoring control of its borders, and they will only permit immigrants who follow the rule of law .... and for those who do not .... you will be deported.
Russia Tries Nation Building In Syria
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets with Syrian opposition representatives in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)
Maxim A. Suchkov, Al-Monitor: Russia offers outline for Syrian constitution
On Jan. 27, Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hosted a group of Syrian opposition representatives in Moscow. After the talks earlier this week in Astana, Kazakhstan, Moscow was looking to double down on its mediation role, even though big news wasn’t expected from the meeting at Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
A Russian journalist covering the event was skeptical: “These aren’t the militant opposition groups that were present in Astana; this is just some ‘tamed opposition.’” Indeed, the people involved in the Moscow meeting were mainly from the so-called Hmeymim, Moscow-Cairo and Astana opposition groups that are deemed Russia-friendly, though it took Moscow time and effort to make it happen.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: This attempt at nation building is just that .... an attempt .... nothing more than that.
Could NATO Survive If The U.S. Withdraws?
VOA: Could NATO Survive without US Support?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is seeking ways to save NATO if the United States decides to cut back on its support for the alliance.
European leaders are not sure what to expect under the new U.S. administration.
President Donald Trump has questioned the future of the 67-year-old alliance, calling it “obsolete.”
Trump accused European nations of not paying their fair share to support NATO operations. In addition, he has said the alliance has not been used effectively to fight terrorism.
On Thursday, British Prime Minister Theresa May said she believes NATO should continue guaranteeing the security of Europe. But she thinks the alliance needs to be reformed.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: Of course NATO would survive without U.S. support .... but it will be a shell of its former self, and it will not be able to sustain military operations over any long period of time.
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