Sunday, March 17, 2024

Russian Supporters of Liberty Protest the Russian Presidential Elections

The Russian presidential elections took place this weekend, but they were not free and fair amidst an intolerance of freedom of expression and of any significant competition. Ex-Soviet intelligence officer Vladimir Putin, who has ruled Russia tyrannically since 1999, either as president or prime minister, is assured of another six-year term, after constitutional changes he proposed ended term limits. The Kremlin-controlled Russian electoral commission, which had barred two serious opposition candidates from standing for president, will count the votes and, as they have a history of doing, will ensure that the totals only show a large win for Putin, with only a token opposition to provide a false sense of democratic legitimacy. Ballot stuffing and multiple voting are two methods the regime uses to ensure itself a large vote total. A victory for Putin has thus been pre-arranged, with the result not the significance of the election, but only the propaganda value of a large margin of victory. Only parties and candidates that do no criticize Putin are allowed to stand for office or get elected. But the liberal opposition took advantage of the opportunity to stage a brilliant form of protest that could not subject them to arrest, unlike any other peaceful protest. Different factions of the opposition offered various suggestions for demonstrating their disapproval of Putin, either by boycotting the election or by showing up to vote at the same time today, which thousands of Russians did across the Russian Federation and also at Russian diplomatic missions abroad where Russian citizens could vote. The protestors opted to spoil their ballots by voting for more than one candidate, or writing in the name of late Russian liberal leader Alexei Navalny or anti-Putin or anti-war slogans, or voting for one of the three Kremlin-tolerated opposition candidates. There were also numerous incidents of vandalism of polling stations. Navalny had approved the plan before the opposition leader was killed by the Putin regime in an arctic prison last month on political charges. But the Putin regime could not hide the long voting lines today and the photographs Russian voters took of their spoiled ballots. The protest was also intended to reassure Russians, despite the repression of dissent that has fragmentated the opposition, with many opponents in prison or exile, that they are not alone in their desire for liberty and representative government.

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Save Time (and Money) and Improve Health and Safety by Abolishing Wasteful Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time should be abolished, and with it the wasteful, in terms of time and money, semi-annual changing of the clocks, with its disruption of the circadian rhythm for sleep, harmful health effects, and increase in automobile accidents. Although some people appreciate the earlier light in the afternoon after the switch to DST and even propose to remain on DST permanently as a solution to the problems caused by having to change the clocks, they forget that no law can alter daylight by changing the revolution of the earth around the sun and thus increase the total amount of daylight whatsoever. The tradeoff for an hour more of sunlight in the afternoon, therefore, is an hour less of it in the morning and thus an increase of accidents, including for pedestrians, especially for students on the way to school. Remaining on standard time, in synchrony with the sun, would be the healthiest and safest solution.

Latest Updates on Russia, Ukraine and Moldova

Russian War Crimes: The World Criminal Court issued arrest mandates to two Russians for war crimes committed in Ukraine as part of the Russian aggression against the former Soviet Republic. The Court has already issued an arrest warrant for Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, the ex-Soviet intelligence officer who is trying to restore the Soviet Union/Russian Empire. Meanwhile, the Bishop who is the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church made a pastoral visit to the United States, where there are many Parishes in the Eastern Rite Church, which is in full Communion with the Catholic Pope. He pleaded for more American aid to Ukraine to defend itself against the Russians. The Bishop reported the killing and imprisonment of Priests and the destruction or damage of hundreds of churches and other spiritual structures in the territories occupied by the Russians, as Russia deliberate target religions other than those Ukrainian Orthodox churches loyal to the Russian Orthodox Church, which is loyal to Putin. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is the largest church in Ukraine. It had split from the Russian Orthodox Church before the full-scale Russian invasion. The second largest church is the Catholic Church, mostly Latin Rite, but also Eastern Rite. The Ukrainian Catholic Bishop also noted the lack of religious freedom not only for Catholics, but Protestant Christians, Jews and Muslims in Russian-occupied Ukraine. Russia has been conducting genocide against Ukraine to destroy its culture, as “Czar” Putin falsely claims Ukrainians do not have a separate identity from Russians. Before it was part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine, like all former Soviet Republics and much of the Russian Federation, had been part of the Russian Empire. but with its own language, history and culture. Russian Intimidation of Exiles: Russia has labeled Garry Kasparov, the greatest chess player in history who is a conservative Russian opposition leader living in exile in America, a “terrorist.” As I have posted, dictatorships label any opponent as “terrorist,” including not only guerillas who attack government targets, as opposed to targeting innocent civilians to cause mass terror, which is the definition of terrorism, but even those who simply exercise their freedom to express criticism. And as I have also posted, Russia charges exiles with crimes and even assaults or murders them on foreign soil, including with radioactive and chemical weapons. Russian Interference in Moldova: Moldova, a former Soviet Republic, accuses Russia of interference in local elections, funding anti-government protests, engaging in disinformation and even bribery of voters. Russia maintains troops in a breakaway part of Moldova next to the Ukrainian border against Moldova’s wishes. Russia is trying to discourage the approval of a Moldovan European Union membership referendum later this year. In the meantime, like much of Europe, Moldova has weaned itself off Russian energy to become more independent, after Russia had hiked prices to bully it, as well as increased its defense spending. Although constitutionally neutral, Moldova and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have an official partnership. Like other former Soviet Republics and Soviet Satellite States in Eastern Europe, Ukrainians and Moldovans prefer liberty and representative government and to trade with the West, instead of being dominated by a Russia imperialist “czar.”

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Update: Sweden Has Joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

After a policy of neutrality during the Cold War, dating back even to before the Second World War, Sweden has joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the most successful defensive pact in history, as its membership has been formally accepted by NATO. Although Sweden had long been a strategic partner of NATO because of threats from the Russian Federation, the full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine prompted the shift in Swedish policy, just as it did in neighboring Finland, which had also been neutral since the start of the Cold War in the post-Second World War period, as Finland shares a long border with the Soviet Union and its Russian successor. Sweden has a small border with Russia, but also shares the waters of the Baltic Sea. NATO, which has 32 members, is led by the United States. Its strength relies on its provision that obliges support from each of the other members if any one member were attacked. The only time it was invoked was by the U.S. after the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks by the Islamist al-Qaeda terrorists. Through this mutual pledge of defense of allies, the Soviet Union and Russia have thus been deterred from invading NATO members since its founding in 1949, which has kept the peace in Europe, enhanced American security by deterring aggression and thus keeping Russian conventional and nuclear forces from getting any closer, and encouraged transatlantic trade that has fostered prosperity.

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Updates on Russia, Ukraine and Moldova

The Russian opposition: A Russian dissident who is the co-founder and co-leader of the Memorial Foundation, a 2022 Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization, was sentenced to prison last week for criticizing Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Nobel Committee accused the Russian Federation of attempting to silence critics. Longtime Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin is an ex-Soviet intelligence officer who is trying to restore the Soviet Union/Russian Empire. Although only a few were allowed in the church for the funeral Mass yesterday for Alexei Navalny, the center-right leader for the cause of liberty and representative government in Russia who died under harsh imprisonment for his political opposition, thousands of Russians gathered outside the church, in the Russian winter and amid heavy police presence, after the Kremlin had warned that protesters would face prosecution. The mourners chanted that Russia would be free and other anti-Putin statements. There were relatively few arrests there, but across Moscow and another 18 cities, there have been over a hundred arrests, as the freedom of peaceful assembly is not tolerated. Many Russians are continuing to pay their respects at Navalny’s grave. As I had posted, over 400 Russians were arrested after protesting the death of Navalny, the biggest protests since the first six months after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine two years ago. Thousands were prosecuted and given harsh prison sentences after those protests. As I have posted, Putin will allow only non-critical opponents in the upcoming presidential elections, but the Russian opposition is a witness to the Kremlin’s oppression gives hope and honor to the Russian people. Israeli support for Ukraine: Israel announced last week that it is supplying defense aid to Ukraine. Israel has grown concerned about Russia’s closeness to Iran, which exports Islamist revolution and is the worst state sponsor of terrorism in the world, including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, who murdered over a thousand Israelis in October. Russia is allied with Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist organization, in support of the tyrannical Assad regime of Syria’, Iran main ally. The United States, Canada, most European States, and several East Asian States have imposed sanctions on Russia and many have supplied humanitarian or even defense aid to Ukraine. Russian aggression was widely condemned around the world, including overwhelmingly through the United Nations, but most States try to maintain diplomatic neutrality. The shift in Israel’s position toward a more pro-Ukrainian stance is encouraging. Russian attacks on the West to influence elections: Italy’s intelligence agencies issued a report accusing Russia of being the most active actor in hybrid attacks against Italy and the West, using espionage, cyberattacks, disinformation, and the manipulation of migratory flows, particularly aimed at influencing the upcoming European parliamentary elections. Russia has particularly been trying lately to undermine Western support for Ukraine. Release of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia: A Vatican envoy who is the head of the Italian Bishops Conference was able to get Russia to release many children kidnapped from Ukraine, one of many documented war crimes committed by the Russians. Thousands of children, as well as adults, remain in Russia. The papal envoy has been trying to mediate an end to the war. The return of kidnappees has been a priority of the Holy See, in addition to the ending the war. Russian interference in Moldova: The Russian speaking separatists in the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria, on the border with Ukraine have request diplomatic recognition as a show of support from Russia. Russia maintains troops there against Moldova’s wishes. The U.S. and its allies support Moldovan sovereignty. Moldova, which, like Ukraine is a former Soviet Republic, is concerned about a Russian invasion, as Putin claims a right to protect Russian-speakers as an excuse to restore the Soviet Empire. Moldova seeks membership in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Foreign Digest: Communist China, Papua New Guinea and Iran

Communist China and Papua New Guinea: Papua New Guinea last week rejected a Communist Chinese proposal to station police on its soil. Peking uses the presence of police on foreign soil against exiles. The United States, which had signed a security agreement with Papua New Guinea last year that I had posted about, had discouraged the move. The U.S. has been trying to counter growing Communist Chinese influence in the Pacific. Iran: There was record-low turnout in the parliamentary elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran yesterday, as opponents to the theocratic Islamist regime urged non-participation to deprive the elections, which are not free and fair, of legitimacy. The tyrannical Iranian theocracy only permits candidates who do not oppose Islamism, and do not permit basic freedoms.

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Foreign Digest: NATO, Communist China, Palau and Venezuela

NATO: Although United States President Joe Biden is a liberal, he supports the candidacy of the center-right Prime Minister of the Netherlands as the next Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The center-left Biden has increased American defense spending every year and taken a tough stand against Russian aggression amidst other global threats. The change in leadership in NATO comes at a time both when the organization is at its strongest in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine, which is a neighbor to NATO and a strategic partner that is seeking full membership, and with Finland having recently joined and Sweden soon to join because the two formerly neutral Nordic States fear Russia, but also faced with uncertainty because of the presidential candidacy of pro-Russian Donald Trump, who does not recognize the benefit of the alliance to American security and thus treats it like a protection racket, instead of the most successful defensive pact in history. Communist China and Palau: The Prime Minister of Palau last week exposed Communist Chinese attempts to lure the U.S. ally to recognize diplomatically Communist China over the Republic of China on Taiwan. Peking promises grand projects to boost tourism to the Pacific island State that is in free association with the U.S. Communist China has been successful in luring other States around the world to switch their recognition from Taiwan, which is the part of China that the Communists were unable to capture during the Chinese Civil War in 1949 and to which the government and supporters of the Republic of China fled. The U.S. has been countering Communist Chinese moves in the Pacific through security guarantees and trade relations. The failure of the U.S. Congress to ratify the new Free Association agreement signed last year with Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia an the Marshall Islands is creating an opportunity for Peking to exploit. Although the three States in Micronesia became independent in the 1980s and 90s from American administration since the Second World War, they have been in free association with the U.S., with the U.S. responsible for their defense, among other close ties. Venezuela: The opposition to the Venezuelan Socialist dictatorship has compiled a dossier cataloguing a multitude of violations by the regime of the accord mediated between the opposition, who favors liberty and representative government, and the dictatorship, to hold free and fair elections. The dossier was sent to Norway, which had mediated the accord last year in Barbados. Venezuela’s Socialist regime barred the united opposition candidate from seeking the presidency in the elections later this year. The Socialists have ruled since being elected in 2000 and then consolidating power through authoritarianism. The opposition candidate, who is conservative, is leading in the polls, as she continued to campaign, despite the ban on her candidacy.

Second Anniversary of the Russo-Ukrainian War and other Russian Machinations

It has been two years since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which came after the Russian Federation had seized part of Ukraine in 2014 and fomenting a secessionist rebellion in eastern Ukraine. Russia is committing aggression, war crimes and genocide against its neighboring former Soviet Republic, despite having recognized Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, in exchange for the removal of Soviet nuclear arms from Ukrainian soil and a compromise over the Soviet Black Sea Fleet. But Russia is led by Vladimir Putin, an ex-Soviet intelligence officer who intends to restore the Soviet Union. The tyrant had invaded another former Soviet Republic, Georgia, in 2008, and keeps troops in a breakaway part of another, Moldova, against its wishes, among various attempts to reconstitute the Soviet Empire. Putin’s aggression is a threat to European allies and trading partners of the United States and to America directly, as his advances bring his conventional and nuclear forces closer, while his aggression would encourage other dictators were it to succeed, thereby undermining the principles of independence and self-determination. In addition to deterring aggression, Ukraine is enhancing American and world security by degrading the capacity of the world’s most powerful rogue state, which is being aided by other rogues, like Iran and North Korea. Even short of invasions, Putin interferes in the politics of other States, including not only former Soviet Republics and satellites, but in Western Europe and America, with propaganda to promote Russian interests and disinformation to create divisions, undermine confidence in the truth and in elections, and to support election outcomes favorable to his interests. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally, Italy, has observed an intensification of Russian disinformation that seeks not only to portray Russian aggression against Ukraine favorably, but to suggest military aid for Ukraine is futile, even though the Russian economy cannot support the war over the long term, particularly in light of increasingly strict international economic sanctions, according to ANSA, the Italian wire service. ANSA reports that he noted Russian disinformation is intended to influence elections and emphasized NATO as the best defense for liberty and representative government. Russia last week banned Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe, the U.S. broadcasters of news and information from a pro-freedom and representative government perspective, as the Czar cannot tolerate any domestic dissent. The U.S. last week urged all Americans to leave Russia, even those with dual citizenship, after yet another U.S. citizen was taken into custody in Russia unjustly. In addition to political interference, Putin engages in direct attacks on other States, including cyberattacks, or even physical attacks, such as recently in NATO ally Estonia, a former Soviet Republic, where Russian agents vandalized a Cabinet Minister’s car, a Jewish site and a monument, in addition to poisonings of exiled Russians on foreign soil with radioactive chemicals or nerve gas. The Republican-led U.S. Senate approved more defense aid to Ukraine earlier this month by a more than two-thirds majority, but the Trumpist GOP leadership of the House of Representatives has blocked any vote for aid, even though a similar-sized majority of members support aiding Ukraine for the sake of American security through the deterrence of aggression. The delay by the House is causing a depletion of Ukrainian munitions and battlefield advances by Russia. Ukraine has been able to hold out far longer than the few days that Putin expected because of the tenacity of the Ukrainian people and the unity of the U.S. and its allies in opposing aggression, but the hard-won sacrifices of Ukrainians must not be rendered useless by giving any more ground back to the aggressor.

Monday, February 19, 2024

Restore Washington's Birthday as a Unifying Holiday, Instead of Exacerbating Divisions over Other Presidents

I post every year that Washington’s Birthday should be restored as a holiday, which is the legal name of the federal holiday, but not that of most States in the American Union and not in common parlance, as it is usually referred to as “Presidents’ Day” or some iteration thereof, and the holiday is never celebrated on George Washington’s February 22 birthday. I note the day is intended to honor Washington not only for his presidency, but for his contributions as the General who led the Continental Army to victory in the War of American Independence and as a Founding Father of the United States. The focus on the presidency on this holiday thus limits the focus of his greatness only to one aspect, while the focus on Presidents in general detracts greatly from Washington, who is not only the first and greatest President, but the indispensable man of the American Revolution. I have noted how this mis-directed focus includes honoring scoundrels or discussing presidential errors. This year, it especially is divisive because of a greater than usual focus on ratings of the Presidents by historians. Such ratings are always controversial, but are exacerbated by the obvious ideological bias of the historians toward the left, although nowadays there is also some danger of bias by some on the far right. Furthermore, historians should know better than to judge incumbent Presidents, without sufficient perspective, let alone access to the full historical record, which even makes it difficult for historians to judge recent predecessors fully. Thus, instead of the holiday serving as a unifying event, in practice it exacerbates the divisions harming America. Restore Washington’s Birthday as the name of State holidays and in thus in common parlance, observe it on February 22, and focus on the greatness of Washington as an inspiring example to Americans of civic duty and respect for liberty, equality, and representative government.

Sunday, February 18, 2024

European Digest: Updates on the European Union and the Measles Outbreak

European Union: Italy will lead the European Union’s mission in the Red Sea to protect international shipping from attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi Shi’ite rebels of northern Yemen. The EU mission is in addition to the international one lead by the United States, with which some European and EU members are participating. Meanwhile, the EU leader, who is seeking another term, is proposing a defense commission as an auxiliary to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the mutual defense pact led by the United States that has deterred a Soviet/Russian invasion of Europe since 1949. Europeans are anxious because doubts have been raised about American commitment to world’s most successful defensive alliance in history because of the recent remarks by Donald Trump I posted about that treated the organization, which has been a bulwark of American security, as a protection racket that extorts its members to pay up, even though the organization does not rely on dues, but on mutual commitment to defense. Trump, whose candidacies for U.S. President were backed by Russia, encouraged the Russian invasion of NATO members who do not meet the voluntary goal of spending at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense. Trump is currently discouraging the Trumpist-led U.S. House of Representatives from approving defensive aid to Ukraine, where Russian invaders have been advancing after American aid has run out. The EU and other European States have been trying to fill the gap to stop Russian aggression. American security depends on the support of the principles of independence, self-determination, and sovereignty and thus the opposition to aggression. Measles Outbreak: The measles outbreak in parts of both Eastern and Western Europe has spread to multiple countries in Western Europe. Anti-vaccination conspiracy theories on both the far left and the far right have decreased vaccination rates and thus the necessary herd immunity that had protected against such contagious diseases, as vaccines are effective and safe, and certainly better for health than the diseases they prevent. Measles, like certain other contagious diseases, had nearly been eradicated in America and Europe until the late 2000s, with the rise of the anti-vaccination movement. Vaccine hesitancy in Europe and America has been exacerbated both by libertarianism and Russian disinformation, which uses the anti-vaccination movement as a kind of biological warfare against the West.

Russia Has Killed Alexei Navalny and Barred a Center-Right Anti-War Presidential Candidate

The tyrannical Russia regime of Vladimir Putin has killed Alexei Navalny, the 47 year-old center-right leader for the cause of liberty and representative government in the Russian Federation. The political prisoner and founder of a persecuted political party and an organization that exposed the corruption of the regime had been imprisoned in harsh conditions on various prisons for four years, most recently above the Arctic Circle, as I had posted recently, and denied adequate medical care. The European Court of Human Rights and the leading private international human rights organization had condemned his mistreatment, which caused his death. Poisoned by nerve gas in 2020, Navalny fled to Germany for treatment, and then courageously returned to Russia, whereupon he was immediately arrested. I have often posted how Russia routinely uses radioactive chemicals or a particular kind of nerve gas to poison enemies at home or abroad, including Russians living in exile. As I have posted, journalists, human rights supporters, and opposition leaders are routinely persecuted, beaten or poisoned, murdered, or driven into exile. The judiciary is not independent in Russia, while Putin does not tolerate basic freedoms. The previous liberal leader, Boris Nemtsov, was shot and killed near the Kremlin in 2015. Both Nemtsov and Navalny had opposed the Russian annexation of Crimea. Currently, other opposition leaders, such as Victor Kara-Murza, are imprisoned or in exile. Kara-Murza, who has not been heard from in weeks, suffers a malady from two poisonings in 2015. He is serving a long prison sentence in Siberia for his criticism of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. There was outrage around the world against Putin for Navalny’s death. There were protests in dozens of cities across Russia, the largest in a year and a half since a wave of protests against the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As usual, the Russian dictatorship responded with mass arrests and crackdowns even on the laying of flowers as a memorial. Four hundred Russian protestors were arrested. The protests come days after the Russian dictatorship rejected the appeal of the decision I had posted about by the electoral commission to bar Boris Nadezhdin, a center-right municipal legislator, professor and activist from standing for president against Putin in this year’s elections. Navalny had supported Nadezhdin’s candidacy. Only opposition candidates and parties, such as Communists and ultra-nationalists who do not criticize Putin are permitted to seek election to the presidency. Putin has ruled Russia either as President or Prime Minister for 24 years and his successful effort to repeal a constitutional prohibition on term limits will allow the ex-Soviet intelligence officer to remain in power until 2030. Navalny had urged Russians to vote for anyone but Putin, just as he had urged Russians to vote for any candidate for any office other than those from Putin’s party, which sometimes has been a successful strategy in demonstrating opposition to the dictatorship. Meanwhile, Russia has been advancing militarily in Ukraine while the Trumpist-led United States House of Representatives has continued to delay the funding of defensive aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, while European States have been trying to fill the gap with the vital support of the shipments of arms and munitions.

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Italy Recalls the Foibe Massacres by Communists

On the anniversary last week of the Foibe massacres, Italy has opened a museum to remember the victims of the Foibe, which is a name for a certain type of deep ravines on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, which were the scene of atrocities committed during the Second World War by Communists. Communist partisans under Josep Broz Tito massacred 15,000 Italian civilians from 1943 to 1945 in the former Yugoslavia in Italy and in what is now Slovenia and Croatia by throwing them into the foibe. Tito went on to become the dictator of Yugoslavia until his death in 1980. The partisans, who were fighting the Axis, targeted Italian fascists, but other non-fascist Italians were also victimized. The Italian population of the Istrian Peninsuala and Dalmatia was largely “ethnically cleansed,” to borrow a phrase invented in the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia by Serbs inspired by the Serbian Communist Yugoslav dictator at the time, as the many ethnic Italians who lived there were forcibly removed and their lands seized. The Communists tried to cover their crimes by destroying village population records. Leftwing anti-fascists had ever since ignored the Foibe massacres with a “wall of silence,” as the Italian President said in this year’s commemoration of the massacre, but in recent decades, Italy has treated the Foibe similarly to the various massacres committed by the Nazis against Italian civilians during the war, after Italy had joined the Allies in a War of Liberation. As there were tens of millions of victims of Communism around the world, it is easy to forget some of the individual incidents, even one that victimized thousands, but it is important to remember heinousness of the atrocities and the humanity of the victims, lest the evil ideology of Marxism become attractive again.

Donald Trump Encourages Russian Aggression against NATO Members

Donald Trump yesterday encouraged Russia to invade members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the alliance in which the United States and the other allies pledge mutual defense against an attack. NATO is the most successful defensive pact in history, as it has deterred the Soviet Union and now its successor, the Russian Federation, whose leader, a former Soviet intelligence officer, is trying to restore the Soviet Empire. Members of the alliance have been increasing their defense spending for a decade since establishing the goal of spending at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense. But Trump, who has criticized the alliance based on the defense spending levels of members since he made a trip to the Soviet Union in 1986 in which he was enticed to conduct business, falsely implies that the organization is based on dues that some are not paying to the organization, as if the U.S. is bearing an extra burden for their inadequate spending. Moreover, Trump wrongly believes the alliance is of no benefit to America, as if it were only to the benefit of the other members. In fact, the only time the NATO treaty provision for mutual self-defense was invoked was against al-Qaeda after the Islamist terrorist organization’s attacks on America on September 11, 2001 that killed a record three thousand people. Trump fails to appreciate that the deterrence of the mutual pledge of support of the members deters attacks, which thus protects American security from aggressors, particularly the Russian Federation, whose leader, Vladimir Putin, is an ex-Soviet intelligence officer intent on trying to restore the Soviet Empire. Among other machinations, Russia has invaded two former Soviet Republics, Georgia and Ukraine, and stations troops in a third, Moldova, without its consent. It backs the dictator of another, namely Belarus, and has stationed nuclear weapons there, thereby bringing them into closer range to NATO members. The defense forces of the other NATO members, and their willingness to station American and NATO forces on their soil, form a bulwark for the defense of the American homeland by deterring further Russian aggression. Trump, who lied about not continuing to conduct business with Russia during his presidential campaign in 2016, openly called for Russian interference in the elections against his opponent, which it began to do within minutes of his specific request. Trump accepted the Russian interference and his campaign coordinated messaging with information the Russians had stolen and released through their cut-out, which was only one facet of a “sweeping and systematic” Russian “active measures” campaign of interference in the American elections that won Trump the Republican presidential nomination and the general presidential election, according the Republican Special Counsel, U.S. intelligence agencies and the GOP-led Senate Intelligence Committee. In office, Trump undermined American policy of defense against Russia in a number of ways. Therefore, it is reasonable to fear that Russia would similarly heed Trump’s call to invade NATO members. I had posted last month that the U.S. defense bill that was signed into law included a provision that would require congressional approval of withdrawal from NATO, instead of only a presidential act, but the fear remains that Trump could simply undermine NATO in various other ways, as his recent comments encouraging more Russian aggression prove. Meanwhile, Putin’s American presidential candidate has been continuing to discourage continued Congressional approval of defense funding for Ukraine, which is aiding his friend Putin’s war of aggression and genocide. Trump’s candidacy should be considered disqualified by conservatives for several reasons, all of which are the result of his poor character, but his threat to American security is the most critical reason of all.

Russian Presidential Election Update: The Dictatorship Rejects the Center-Right Candidate

As expected, the Russian electoral commission last week rejected the presidential candidacy of the center-right anti-war candidate, Boris Nadezhdin, even though the municipal legislator, professor and television pundit had more than twice the requisite signatures. As I have posted, under Russian election law, candidate from parties not represented in Parliament, such as Nadezhdin’s, may either be nominated by a meeting of a certain number of people or gather the signatures of at least 100,000 people from a minimum number from each of at least 40 regions across the Russian Federation. Hundreds of thousands of Russians stood in lines in sub-zero weather to sign for Nadezhdin, whose platform was to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to engage with the West on friendlier terms. Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and exiled Russian leaders supported Nadezhdin, whose support had unnerved the tyrannical regime of Vladimir Putin, the ex-Soviet intelligence officer. Putin has used elections to gain power and to rule as an autocrat for over 24 years as basic freedoms are not tolerated. In addition to journalists and human rights activists, political opponents are persecuted, jailed, assaulted, poisoned, murdered or driven into exile, and sometimes even murdered abroad. Only token opponents and parties that do not oppose Putin are tolerated to provide the appearance of democratic and thus popular support, while the Kremlin controls media, using state control for propaganda and disinformation. Nadezhdin plans to appeal the electoral commission’s challenges of certain signatures, but Putin has long since eliminated judicial independence in Russia. The authoritarian Putin had succeeded in eliminating term limits so he could continue to rule for another six years. There is no chance Nadezhdin would be allowed to win the presidential election, but his candidacy would be an platform for grievances against Putin and give hope to the Russian people for freedom, an embarrassment and threat which the Putin regime cannot allow.

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Foreign Digest: Ukraine and Hungary, and Iran

Ukraine and Hungary: The European Union approved $50 billion military aid to Ukraine to defend it against Russian aggression, after Hungary dropped its objections regarding the budget. Decisions by the EU require unanimity among the 27 members. The move comes while American aid has been held up by populist Congressional Republicans who have been trying to use the aid to Ukraine and Israel, which is battling Iranian-backed terrorists, as leverage to force a deal to restrict refugees seeking asylum from persecution. Meanwhile, Hungary’s nationalist and illiberal Government is still blocking Sweden’s entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, for which unanimity is also required among its members. Sweden abandoned its longtime neutrality after Russia invaded Ukraine, as did neighboring Finland, which joined NATO last year. Iran: The United States has been striking Iranian proxies in Iraq and Syria after one of the militant groups struck an American outpost in Jordan that supports the U.S. mission against Islamist terrorists, particularly the Islamic State, the offshoot of al-Qaeda. The attack by the Iranian-backed militants killed three Americans and wounded over two score more. The Islamic Republic of Iran, the greatest state sponsor of terrorism in the world, foments Islamic revolution of Muslims around the world. It supports terrorists and militants not only in Iraq and Syria, but in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip and Yemen, among other places. The U.S. has been striking pro-Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq over the last three years and especially the last few months, after the militants increased their attacks.

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Foreign Digest: Gaza Strip, Venezuela, Nepal, Slovakia and Russia

Gaza Strip: There were protests in the Gaza Strip against Hamas, the Islamist terrorist organization backed by Iran that has ruled the autonomous territory after splitting with the Palestinian Authority, which rules the West Bank. Gazans suffer because Hamas has focused more on munitions and tunnels than their needs and has subjected them to a war with Israel after the Iranian-backed Hamas launched a terrorist attack on October on the Jewish State that killed over a thousand civilians and injured several thousand more. Hamas also took hundreds of hostages. Among the many international casualties and hostages were several Americans. Venezuela: After a campaign of intimidation, arrests and vandalism against the Venezuelan representative republican opposition ahead of the elections promised after an internationally mediated deal between the Socialist dictatorship and the opposition, Venezuela has ruled the opposition candidate ineligible and thus broken the agreement. The Socialists have tyrannically ruled the South American State since 2000 after seizing power through elections and then usurping representative government and violating human rights. Nepal: Nepal has banned Nepalese from volunteering to fight in the Russo-Ukrainian War, most of whom were fighting on the side of the Russian aggressors. The Himalayan State has also asked for its citizens fighting in the war to be sent home. Slovakia: The new leftist President of Slovakia who had threatened to cut off aid to Ukraine, has changed his mind in response to Russian war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in its aggression against Ukraine. He signed an agreement to continue aid. Slovakia is an ally of the United States as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Russia: Anti-war opposition candidate Boris Nadezhdin has gathered the requisite number of signatures to seek the presidency in this year’s Russian presidential elections. The municipal legislator, professor, television pundit and former aid to a Russian Prime Minister had to obtain at least 100,000 signatures, with a certain minimum from at least 40 regions across Russia. A previous candidate had been nominated by an alternate process of a gathering of a requisite number of people, but the Kremlin-controlled state election commission rejected her nomination. Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, an ex-Soviet intelligence officer, does not tolerate anything more than opposition by certain extreme parties that make his party seem moderate, as long as they do not criticize him harshly. Human rights activists, political opponents and journalists are routinely jailed, assaulted, murdered, or driven into exile. The main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, who is from the center-right, and who has been imprisoned on multiple charges by the judiciary that is loyal to Putin, after surviving assassination attempts, and is currently a political prisoner in Siberia above the Arctic Circle in solitary confinement again, backs Nadezhdin. Another major Putin who is in exile supports the opposition candidate. Nadezhdin opposes Russia’s aggression against the former Soviet Republic of Ukraine, in violation of Russian recognition of the former Soviet Republic’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is becoming less popular because of conscription, heavy Russian losses and the effects of international economic sanctions. Putin, who wishes to restore the Soviet Empire, authorized an invasion of Ukraine in 2014 to seize Crimea and then a full-scale invasion in 2022. Nadezhdin favors a rapprochement with the West.

Sunday, January 21, 2024

It Is Not Too Late to Deny Donald Trump the Republican Presidential Nomination

With former Governors Asa Hutchinson and Chris Christie suspending their presidential campaigns, there is no major anti-Trump candidate currently seeking the Republican nomination for President. As Hutchinson observed, character and principles no longer matter to a plurality of Republican primary voters, who believe the ends justify the means in defeating their political opponents. The few remaining candidates in the once-crowded GOP field present themselves only as more electable or effective alternatives to Donald Trump, whom they criticize mildly only for his style or electability or governing challenges because of his lack of focus on issues or understanding of constitutional processes, while overtly appealing to Trumpists by supporting Trumpism. As I have observed, Trumpism is not conservatism, but a populist mix of protectionism, nativism, isolationism and authoritarianism. The remaining Republican candidates would support Trump, whom they had supported in both his elections and praise for his presidency, if he were the GOP nominee again, even if he were convicted of felonies. Trump has been indicted by grand juries for various federal and state crimes, including election interference in both 2016 and 2020, and stealing federal documents, including many that were classified top secret. The Trump alternative candidates have not ruled out pardoning him or even the insurrectionists he inspired who assaulted the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 to try to keep Trump in power by thwarting the constitutional process of the Congressional certification of the votes of the Electoral College for President and Vice President. Trump had lost the election, which was confirmed by Republican elections officials, federal and state Judges, and members of Congress, and officers from his own Administration with relevant responsibilities. But there is still hope for anti-Trump Republicans, as there are five strategies to deny Trump or a Trumpist the nomination or the presidency, short of backing a liberal Democratic ticket in the General Election to deter Republicans from continuing to back the losing strategy of offering Trumpism to the electorate. A qualified true conservative (non-Trumpist) candidate could still enter the Republican primaries, or at least one could be chosen by Delegates to the Republican National Convention, if they were free to vote their consciences for someone who actually believes in the party’s conservative platform, as they had been before 2016, especially if a rule were adopted against backing a nominee convicted of federal felonies, for example. The Republican National Committee is also empowered to withdraw a nomination after the Convention and choose a non-Trumpist conservative. An independent conservative Republican could seek the presidency in the General Election as part of an independent or third-party ticket. Finally, Republican Presidential Electors could choose a non-Trumpist as President. Republicans do not have to acquiesce to a leader with poor character, contempt for the Constitution, and a lack of shared conservative principles, if they prefer instead to win elections and effectuate conservative policies.

Foreign Digest: Yemen, Nicaragua and the Baltic States

Yemen: Yemen has asked for American and allied help versus the Houthis, the Iranian-backed Shi’ite rebels who control northern Yemen. The United States is leading an international coalition to protect international shipping through a crucial route in the Red Sea, as I have posted, against attacks by the Houthis. Nicaragua: A Nicaraguan Catholic Bishop and several Priests fled their Central American State and arrived in exile in America after suffering persecution by the Marxist Sandinista dictator, Daniel Ortega. Ortega has particularly targeted the Catholic Church, as part of his repression against religious and private civic organizations in Nicaragua. Baltic States: The Baltic States, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, announced they are jointly building additional defenses on their borders with Russia and Belarus. The former Soviet Republics fear a Russian invasion, such as against other Soviet Republics, like Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014, while Russian troops are in a breakaway Russian-speaking part of Moldova against its wishes. Russia’s tyrant, ex-Soviet intelligence officer Vladimir Putin, who wants to restore the Soviet Union, uses the presence of Russian speakers, as there are a large minority in the Baltic States from the period of the Russian Empire, as an excuse to conquer. Russian troops conducted a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in part through the former Soviet Republic of Belarus, which is ruled by a pro-Kremlin dictator.

Monday, January 15, 2024

The Philadelphia Election Commission’s Leadership Change Has Bolstered Election Integrity

There was a change of leadership earlier this month on the three-member Philadelphia Election Commission, which includes two Democrats and a Republican, the body that oversees elections in Pennsylvania’s largest city and county. With the move, power has been devolved to each Commissioner, including the Republican member, after a Democratic Commissioner and the sole GOP member worked together to oust the Democratic Chairman, who had centralized power and planned to increase the power of the chair further. Each member will now have the power to hire staff, and election administration and operations will be managed separately. The Republican Commissioner is a protégé of Al Schmidt. Schmidt is the elections watchdog I have posted about who is now serving as Pennsylvania Secretary of State, the department with responsibility for state elections. He uncovered election fraud committed to the benefit of Democrats in the overwhelming majority in Philadelphia, but also bravely rejected the false claims of election fraud Donald Trump and his supporters about the 2020 General Election for presidential and vice-presidential Electors in Pennsylvania, which Trump lost, and for which Schmidt suffered the ad hominem attacks and physical threats that opponents of Trump typically experience. Trump’s loss in the Keystone State, as in other States, was upheld by Republican federal Judges and members of Congress, in addition to being validated by officers within the Trump Administration with relevant responsibilities. With the change of leadership on the Philadelphia Election Commission, election integrity versus both the usual cheating by Democrats and the false claims of election fraud by Trump supporters has thus been bolstered, which will help safeguard the election process in the Commonwealth for the General Election in November, including for Electors.

Sunday, January 14, 2024

Conflict of Interest: Donald Trump’s Receipt While in Office of Foreign Government Money

An investigation by an oversight committee of the United States House of Representatives found that Donald Trump had received millions of dollars from foreign governments while he was President, according to a media report earlier this month. The investigation found the businessman had received $8 million over two years from 12 governments, including Communist China. The money went to his businesses, which are in the forms of limited liability companies owned by him. Because such companies are legal pass-throughs of income to their owners personally, income to them is effectively income directly to their owners, and not a fictitiously independent entity, as Trumpists argue. Moreover, Trump had promised he would give up control of his businesses during his presidency to his children to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest, but he continued to be aware of his businesses and their income and continued to promote them, sometimes by public means. The income from foreign governments flagrantly violated the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. Trump was supposed to ask Congress for permission to receive income from foreign governments, but never did. The Emoluments Clause was intended by the Framers to prevent conflicts of interest between American and foreign interests. Trump, who lied about not continuing to engage in business with Russia while a candidate for the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2016, based his foreign policy while in office not on the interests of America, which he did not understand, but his personal interests, often advantageously to authoritarian regimes, including those hostile to American interests. Russia had helped Trump win the GOP nomination and presidential election in 2016 in a “sweeping and systematic” way, according to the Republican federal Special Counsel, and confirmed by U.S. intelligence agencies and the GOP-led Senate Intelligence Committee. Trump and his campaign welcomed Russian support, timed their messaging to the release they knew of ahead of time of information stolen by the Russians and publicized through their cutout, and amplified Russian propaganda and disinformation. The problem of the conflicts of interest of the President validates my effort as a Republican Committeeman to instruct Pennsylvania’s delegation of Republican National Convention Delegates in 2016 to insist on the giving up of such conflicts of interests by presidential and vice presidential nominees, in addition to vetting nominee’s eligibility and requiring nominees to release publicly their federal tax returns before nominating Trump. Like many others across America, I was among a group of Republican officials in my County who resigned, instead of backing a candidate of poor character with ties to Russia, with populist beliefs and authoritarian tendencies and little shared conservative ideology. No changes to the GOP nomination process or federal law have been made to address the problem, and the constitutional disupte about the Emoluments Claus was litigated by Trump to delay the matter until it became moot when he left office, but would have to be raised by the Congress were he to regain the presidency.

Foreign Digest: Russia, Ukraine, Yemen, Taiwan and Communist China

Russia and Ukraine: The lack of United States Congressional approval of military aid to Ukraine is emboldening the Russians in their aggression against their neighbor. As I have posted, aid has run out until Congress approves another authorization, but Republicans are insisting on curtailing the human rights of refugees seeking asylum from persecution in exchange for aid to Ukraine and Israel. The Russian Federation launched a full-scare invasion of the former Soviet Republic two years ago, after seizing some Ukrainian territory in a partial invasion in 2014, in violation of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity that Russia had recognized. Russia is led by a tyrannical ex-Soviet intelligence officer who intends to restore the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, there have been increased protests in Russia against the war, particularly by family members of draftees. A municipal legislator is gathering signatures for the presidential election on a platform of opposition to the draft and support for peace. Yemen: The United States and the United Kingdom, supported by several Western and regional allies, struck multiple targets in Yemen late last week to degrade the capacity of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels who control much of the northern part of the state on the Arabian Peninsula that has been in civil war for a decade, after more attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and on the American-led coalition to protect the freedom of navigation in that region that I had posted about at the end of the year. Taiwan and Communist China: In the Taiwanese Presidential Elections yesterday, the Vice President and candidate of the ruling party that favors independence for the Republic of China (Taiwan) won the presidential elections with a plurality of votes. The nationalist party that is more accommodationist toward Communist China came in close second. A party whose position was in between those of the two main parties enjoyed a strong third-place finish. In the simultaneous parliamentary elections, the pro-independence party won a plurality of the votes, but not a majority and will thus have to compromise. Communist China interfered in Taiwan’s elections to divide the Taiwanese, undermine confidence in elections and representative government, and to intimidate what it claims as a renegade province. The election interference is in combination with an ongoing campaign of military incursions into Taiwan’s security zones. After the Communists seized power in China in 1947 following a civil war, the Government of the Republic of China and its supporters fled to the island of Taiwan and some other islands off the coast of mainland China. The incoming President of Taiwan has stated that he would not declare independence formally, which is a line Peking has threatened would lead to war, as he states the Republic of China is already independent, for which he seeks more international recognition. He favors engagement and trade with Communist China, not confrontation. The United States has diplomatically recognized Communist China’s government and officially maintains a “One China” policy, but maintains informal diplomatic relations and trade relations with Taiwan and has pledged to defend it. An unofficial American delegation will visit Taiwan’s incoming leadership. The U.S. provides arms and materiel to Taiwan and has defended the freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait of the South China Sea, which Communist China claims as its territory, contrary to international law.

Update: Another Measles Outbreak in Pennsylvania

The latest measles outbreak in Pennsylvania I posted about in my last post has spread to Delaware. What started in a children’s hospital in Philadelphia among unvaccinated children has spread to other children and adults. As I have been posting, this outbreak is but the latest in America, as in Europe, since vaccine hesitancy since the 2010s has revived measles and other diseases that had nearly been eradicated into common contagions again. The measles outbreak is occurring amidst an early peak of the influenza season in the northern hemisphere and a sharp spike in the Coronavirus-2019, among other contagious respiratory illnesses. Like measles, mumps and diphtheria, all these diseases are exacerbated by hesitancy to receive vaccines that are effective and safe.

Sunday, January 7, 2024

Another Measles Outbreak in Pennsylvania

There is yet another measles outbreak in Pennsylvania, as vaccine hesitancy since the 2010s has revived the disease that had nearly been eradicated in America, as I have been posting. Anti-vaccine conspiracy theories on the far left and far right, amplified by Russian disinformation, as well as libertarian objections to vaccine mandates, have decreased vaccination rates for several contagious diseases, leading to widespread outbreaks in Europe and America of diseases that had been waning on nearly eradicated, even though vaccines are effective and safe—much safer than the diseases they prevent or at least minimize the severity of. Vaccine hesitancy has also contributed greatly to the spread of the Coronavirus 2019, leading to millions more cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Because not everyone can be vaccinated effectively for various health reasons, those who cannot rely upon the “herd immunity” of a large majority of their fellow human beings to protect them from contagion by getting vaccinated. It is morally responsible for those whose health permits to receive the recommended vaccines to stop the spread of contagious diseases.

Update: Poland’s New Conservative Prime Minister Has Been Sworn into Office

After Poland’s parliamentary elections in October that I posted about, the center-right party won the most votes and seats in the Polish Parliament, but was short of the necessary majority to form a government. After the President, who is from the ruling far-right party that was defeated because of its drift toward authoritarianism, gave a mandate to the conservative party leader to form a government, a coalition government was assembled with smaller parties. The former President of the European Union was sworn into office last month as the Polish Prime Minister, along with his cabinet ministers. Poland is an ally of the United States in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and is a bulwark against the Russian Federation. The new Polish Government is continuing its arms support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Foreign Digest: Serbia, Nicaragua and Bolivia

Serbia: The parliamentary elections in Serbia in mid-December have sparked mass protests because of numerous serious allegations of fraud. The political opposition, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union have criticized the elections. A few dozen polling places are revoting this weekend, but the opposition maintains the entire elections, in which the nationalist and pro-Russian ruling party won a plurality of votes, should be discarded. Serbia, which is supported by the Russian Federation, is a candidate for membership in the European Union. As I have posted, in addition to concerns about its closeness with Russia, Serbia, which supports ethnic Serbs in the other independent States of the former Yugoslavia, has been the matrix of ethnic conflicts since Yugoslavia, which was dominated by Serbia, began to break up in 1991 when its last Communist dictator, the Serbian Slobodan Milosevic, began to foment nationalist tension against ethnic minorities to maintain power. He was later imprisoned and tried for crimes against humanity. Nicaragua: Nicaragua has been arresting more Priests since my last update on the increasing oppression in the Central American State by the Marxist regime of Daniel Ortega against the Roman Catholic Church, as part of his increasing authoritarianism. Some of the Priests had called for the release of a Bishop imprisoned by the Nicaraguan tyrant, who has violently cracked down on peaceful protests, imprisoned all his election opponents before the last election, and has banned most civil and religious organizations. The Marxist Sandinistas, led by Ortega, seized power in a coup in 1979 and ruled oppressively until pressured by United States support for rebels to allow free and fair elections in 1990, which they lost. But after being elected to the presidency in 2007 on the promise of keeping Nicaragua free, Ortega has held onto power ever since by breaking his promise by becoming a dictator. After being a darling of the Left during the Cold War, when liberals and Democrats mostly opposed American support for the rebels, even liberals have been appalled at Ortega’s current repression. Bolivia: The Constitutional Court of Bolivia has reversed its 2017 and has ruled that the far-left former Bolivian President is barred from seeking another term as president in 2025, after having served three terms previously between 2006 and 2019, despite a constitutional term limit of two terms. His attempt to amend the Constitution to eliminate term limits was rejected by the Bolivian voters in a referendum and he was later driven from power by a popular revolt. After the former President’s leftist party won the next presidential elections, the new President’s administration prosecuted and imprisoned the opposition leader who acceded to the presidency under the terms of the Bolivian Constitution in the interim. Like Marxist Nicaragua and Communist Cuba, Bolivia is an ally of Socialist Venezuela, which has encouraged leftist anti-American parties across Latin America and which have become authoritarian, often undermining elections and with Presidents usually holding onto power for life.