Russian Attempted Funding of the Italian Trumpist League Party

An Italian court last week shelved a criminal case against members of the far-right anti-migrant League Party for an attempt in 2018 to obtain illegal foreign funding for their party from Russians in the form of millions of dollars’ worth of fuel, which was revealed in a videotape of a clandestine meting of League officials and Russians. The League leader, who is a supporter of Donald Trump, was similarly sympathetic to Russian Federation tyrant Vladimir Putin, an ex-Soviet intelligence officer, and whose party is part of the current ruling coalition, falsely claims vindication of his denials and demands an apology, but the judge noted that prosecutors had definitely proven the League officials had sought illegal foreign campaign contributions, but were unable to bring forward a prosecution only because they could not identify the Russians involved in the attempt. The League leader, who is currently Transportation Minister and at the time of the attempt was also in government, blocked even an inquiry into the matter, using the excuse that the attempt was not successful. Last year, the League leader and other officials accepted flights paid for by the Russian dictatorship to discuss Russian “peace” initiatives after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Although the League does not support Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, it has been skeptical of continued Italian military support for Ukraine, in contrast to the other right-wing parties in the governing coalition and the Prime Minister. Russia interferes in foreign elections in many ways, both openly and covertly, including through financing far-left or far-right parties and organizations sympathetic to it, as has happened in France, the United States and Austria, for example.

Bill Clinton Regrets Leaving Ukraine Vulnerable to Russian Aggression

Bill Clinton recently expressed regret for an agreement he and the British negotiated with Russia and Ukraine in 1994 when he held the office of President of the United States that left the former Soviet Republic vulnerable to Russian aggression, despite the terms of the deal, as happened in 2014 in Crimea and eastern Ukraine and more fully last year. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Soviet nuclear weapons (long-range missiles with nuclear warheads) were left not only in the Russian Federation, but in three other Soviet Republics, including Ukraine. With non-proliferation of nuclear weapons as a goal, the Western allies struck a deal with Russia to recognize the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea and eastern Ukraine, in exchange for the removal of the weapons, which Russia feared, from Ukrainian territory. The U.S. and the United Kingdom guaranteed Ukraine’s security, but this guarantee fell far short of the kind of protection offered by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to its members against the much more powerful Russian Federation. Clinton theorized that if Ukraine had retained its nuclear weapons, Russia might have been deterred. Regardless of the merits of his thought, his expression underscores that the Anglo-American security guarantees given to Ukraine were obviously inadequate. NATO, which Ukraine has wanted to join, is a defensive alliance, whereby an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Under Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, an ex-Soviet intelligence officer who is trying to restore the Soviet Union, Russia opposes NATO because it is an obstacle to Russian aggression. Although not directly involved in the fighting, the U.S., the U.K. and other NATO members are providing support to Ukraine against Russian aggression, which violates not only the 1994 agreement, but international law.

Pushback Against Legalization of Marijuana Abuse

There has lately been some encouraging pushback against the trend legalization of marijuana abuse, which lately was becoming a one-sided debate. Oklahoma voters last month rejected a referendum to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. I had posted in November that voters had rejected legalization referendums in the 2022 General Election in Arkansas, North and South Dakota, despite the recent trend. An organization called Smart Approach to Marijuana which opposes federal legalization of the drug, led by a former federal official who worked for presidential administrations of both parties, hosted a summit in Washington, D.C. last week. They and health officials have been pushing back against the trend, led by the marijuana industry, of the “legitimization, commercialization and normalization” of marijuana and especially against the recent rushing toward full legalization, which has tempted to politicians to use it to increase tax revenue at the cost of public health. The organization, which is the only one representing opposition to legalization, has been successfully opposing state legalization referendums and federal and state legislative legalization proposals. President Joe Biden, a liberal Democrat, had pardoned people for the federal offense of possession of marijuana, none of whom had been imprisoned for simple possession, contrary to pro-marijuana arguments that there were. Those who are incarcerated for possession by States or territories are usually only through plea deals in exchange for dropping charges for dealing. Biden also ordered a scientific review of the drug’s classification, but he is not in favor or legalization. The anti-legalization organization, which supports the review because it is confident it will illuminate the harms of marijuana abuse, similarly opposes criminalization, meaning that they support civil offenses for recreational use of the drug. Their position is based on the conservative view of government responsibility for public health, in contrast to some “conservatives” who focus only on economic or fiscal matters, or who are more libertarian and thus oppose reasonable public health regulations. Leaving aside any supposedly scientifically proven medical benefits, most doctors, scientists and medical associations oppose legalization, citing a growing body of evidence of the harms of the addictive, mind-altering poison that is often a gateway to the abuse of even worse drugs. There has also been public pushback in some States against overly loose medical marijuana laws. There have also been many unintended consequences of legalization laws that have harmed public health. The anti-legalization organization also notes the use of the scientific name “cannabis” for marijuana by the pro-marijuana industry to make it seem more scientific and thus acceptable. The species name includes hemp, the commercially useful variety of the plant that does not contain the mind-altering compound. Thus, “cannabis” is a shibboleth like “gaming” is for the gambling industry, both of which are misleading and distracting from the harms. The success of the opposition to marijuana abuse is encouraging to true conservatives concerned about public health and safety, and should be supported by them.

Italian Migrant Policy Changes

The right-wing Italian Government recently declared a national migrant emergency because of a recent increase in migrants coming to Italy, usually intent on going on to other European Union States. Migrants are coming from Africa and Asia. The opposition criticized the declaration’s implication that migrants, including refugees seeking asylum, are an “emergency.” Several Regions exercised their prerorgatives to reject national the appropriation of funds for the national commissioner for the territories. The influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference observed that the increase in migrants was not an “emergency,” to which the Government agreed, citing only the technical matter of Lampedusa, the island off Sicily where the migrant acceptance facility is not large enough to handle an increase in the flow. The Government, which enacted through Parliament its proposals for some minor measures against migrants and refugees seeking asylum, also enacted an increase in legal immigration, which is necessary because of population decline and a labor shortage, which would thereby discourage illegal entry. The United Nations meanwhile warned Italy against its policy of making it more difficult for non-governmental organizations’ ships rescuing migrants to land with restrictive regulations that risk lives. The European Union, of which Italy is a member, also opposes the restrictions. Italy has been pleading for EU support for the costly rescues and migrant processing, while working with Tunisia and other States where migrants embark and targeting human smugglers. One of the main parties in the ruling coalition, the League, is a Trumpist anti-migrant party.

Foreign Digest: Russia, Syria, China and Taiwan

Russia: One of the leading opposition leaders in Russia, Vladimir Kara-Murza, last week became the latest opponent of the Russian dictatorship of ex-Soviet intelligence officer Vladimir Putin to receive a lengthy prison term for expressing his opposition to the Russian aggression against Ukraine , in violation of human rights. Opponents to tyranny in Russia, are imprisoned, assaulted, murdered or driven into exile, where even there they are often attacked by Russian agents. Kara-Murza, like main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, who is facing additional trumped-up charges, are both center-right leaders who support liberty, representative government and free markets. They and other opponents of Russian aggression have been persecuted for expressing their beliefs. The European Union is extending visas to the imprisoned Russian opposition leaders. Syria: The United States conducted another raid in northern Syria, killing Islamic State terrorists. The IS is an offshoot of al-Qaeda in Iraq, the Iraqi branch of the Islamist terrorists responsible for the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks on New York, Virginia and over Pennsylvania that killed nearly 3,000 people, the deadliest in history. The U.S. has maintained a force in Iraq and Northern Syria since the IS took over large swaths of territory and declared a “caliphate” in 2014. The Americans led an international force against the IS that took away all their territory. Al-Qaeda and Iranian-backed jihadis are also sometimes targeted, especially since the latter has been attacking U.S. forces, as I have been posting. Communist China and Taiwan: The United States continues to conduct freedom of navigation exercises in the Taiwan Straight, between Communist China and the Republic of China (Taiwan). Red China claims the area, which is in international waters. Meanwhile, Taiwan is opening a de facto consulate in Milan, the Italian financial capital, while Italy considers whether or not to renew the Communist Chinese Belt and Road infrascture initative, as its trade with Taiwan increases. Under a previous populist government, Italy became the only Western State to have joined the trade infrastructure program designed to increase Communist Chinese influence. The United States is urging Italy not to renew the initiative. Italy and the European Union oppose Communist Chinese threats of violence against Taiwan, which is the part of China not conquered in 1949 by the Communists during the Chinese Civil War.

Foreign Digest: Peru and Finland

Peru: Peru’s Marxist president was impeached earlier this year for violating the Constitution attempting to become a dictator. Not only the Congress and the Vice President, who succeeded him as President, but the military, police and civil society declined to acquiesce to the move toward authoritarianism, according to Nobel Prize-winning Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa in a column in Newsweek. As I have posted, this trend toward authoritarianism has become common among elected governments, especially in Latin America, inspired by late Socialist Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, such as in Russia and Turkey. Vargas notes the dictatorships of Venezuela, Communist Cuba and Marxist Nicaragua were among the leftist governments, including several elected ones, supporting the deposed Peruvian President and continuing to try to isolate Peru diplomatically. The United States, the European Union and other free States have supported the new President in the face of violent protests. As Peru returns to a degree of stability, elections are next scheduled in 2026. Vargas warns of an attempt from the illiberal left to take over Peru that could cause an illiberal response from the authoritarian far right, as has been a common concern around the world. Finland: In the Finnish parliamentary elections last week, the main center-left party’s bloc lost a close three-way election to the conservatives. The liberals govern currently in a coalition with centrists. The popular center-left Prime Minister, widely hailed for her effective response against the Coronavirus Pandemic, and who led Finland’s successful membership application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that was completed last week, and its strong military and humanitarian support of Ukraine against Russian aggression, declined to stand for election. The center-right won the most votes and seats and the right to try to form a government, but were far short of a necessary majority. They will continue the same defense and foreign policy as the ruling coalition. The main issue in the campaign was welfare spending promoted by the liberals versus austerity promoted by the conservatives. The far-right anti-migrant Finnish party came in close second. With the close results and the divisions between the blocs, it is unclear how a coalition government will be formed.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Amid another year of excess death because of pandemic and war in Europe, we celebrate the destruction of Death by our Savior, Jesus Christ, for though our bodies remain mortal, our souls are created for eternal Paradise.

2023 Blog View Report

Last week was the fourteenth anniversary of the start of the tracking of visits to my blog by StatCounter. There have been over 7,500 visits, defining them narrowly as pageviews at least one our apart, not counting my own visits or those of non-humans. I also have not been counting visits for which the page visited cannot be tracked, which has become the most common type of visit. As I have noted before, visitors make themselves less trackable than before, which means that sometimes the city cannot be tracked and seldom any more the words searched, and increasingly even the page viewed. Although StatCounter offers more specific tracking than the blog host, Blogger, the latter tracks far more pageviews. According to StatCounter, there continue to be visits from around the world of both newer and older posts, while the trend of most visitors landing on the blog homepage continues. Thank you for visiting. Please continue to visit regularly, as I continue to post for liberty and representative government.

Asa Hutchinson, a ”Non-Trump” Conservative Republican for the GOP Presidential Nomination

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced his candidacy for the presidency today as a self-described “non-Trump” candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. He is a much-experienced public servant, having been a lawyer, federal prosecutor, member of the United States Congress, federal Drug Enforcement Administration chief and Homeland Security official before recently completing two terms as Chief Executive of the Diamond State. Hutchinson, who has a conservative track record and who was one of the leading members of House of Representatives elected in the Republican wave in 1994 that won the majority in the lower legislative chamber for the first time in 40 years, has been a critic of Donald Trump, the disgraced leader of the Republicans who was backed for the GOP nod and the presidency by ex-Soviet intelligence officer and Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, and who has non-conservative views. Trumpism is defined by a populist mixture of views and of manifestations of poor character, namely protectionism, nativism, isolationism, authoritarianism, corruption, dishonesty, disloyalty and cruelty. Hutchinson has identified Trumpism as the Republican party having lost its way from its conservative beliefs. He also dismisses the recently-indicted election fraudster and corrupt businessman who is attempting to regain the presidency as a circus sideshow that the party should stop focusing on, while he advised Trump to focus on his due process. Although Hutchinson is not defining himself as an anti-Trump candidate, he is the first among a handful of candidates who identifies as a non-Trump candidate in the field that is expected to continue to grow.

Freedom House 2023 Report: 50 Years for Liberty and Representative Government

Freedom House issued its 2023 Report, its fiftieth anniversary report: Marking 50 Years in the Struggle for Democracy | Freedom House https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2023/marking-50-years. Although there is much more freedom around the world than a half-century ago, the report finds that global freedom declined for the 17th straight year. Most States around the world are not free. There were declines in freedom particularly in some African and Latin American States, where coups and coup attempts have become common. But there were increases in liberty in nearly as many States than declines, which was the narrowest deficit in 18 years, perhaps marking a turning point. Lesotho and Colombia notably became fully free. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has led to gross human rights violations, but aggression, as well as the typical corruption of authoritarian States, as opposed to competence, has created a contrast with free States, whose solidarity against aggression was encouraging for the cause of freedom. The erosion of liberty and representative government by elected governments continues to be a factor in the decline of freedom globally. Assaults on the freedom of expression and on the independence of the judiciary have been typical methods of elected leaders who become authoritarians. By contrast, free elections and respect for judicial independence have led to more freedom in other States.

Foreign Digest: Russian and China

Russia: Russia has targeted Baltic States, Nordic States and Poland with disinformation designed to sow divisions and promote support for the Russian aggression against Ukraine, according to a report last week from a group of French cyber experts. The attacks come from both Kremlin-affiliated groups and the Russian Federation government. Sweden, Lithuania and Poland have been hardest hit. These attacks are in addition to Russian cyberattacks against European States that target infrastructure, according to American cyber experts, such as those against Italy, for which the Italian Government said Russia was responsible. The United States last week urged its citizens to leave Russia after the arrest of an American on phony espionage charges, a typical tactic of dictatorships. Meanwhile, Finland’s application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has been ratified by all 30 members and it will be formally admitted in a few days to the transatlantic defense pact, the most successful defense pact in world history. Finland’s NATO membership is a sharp break from its infamous neutrality during the Cold War, which led to the coining of the word Finlandization to signify a policy of neutrality adopted out of fear, which the Fins suffered as neighbors of the Soviet Union. The ex-Soviet intelligence officer Vladimir Putin, the Russian tyrant who is trying to restore the Soviet Union, prompted the Finnish application to join NATO by his aggression against Ukraine. Sweden’s NATO membership application is still pending because of Turkish opposition over Kurdish guerillas, as membership must be ratified unanimously, but the Scandinavian State is nonetheless being protected by NATO during its application process. Communist China: Several European States, like the United States, have recently banned the official use of a Chinese social media platform that can be used for espionage. The U.S. and its western allies have become increasingly vigilant about Communist Chinese infiltration of technology, infrastructure, etc. The European Union last week created a policy to shield members from intimidation, such as Communist China’s retaliation against Lithuania for strengthening its official ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan).