Foreign Digest: North Korea, Iran, Russia and Ukraine

North Korea: Donald Trump drastically reduced annual military exercises with South Korea, in part as punishment for the United States ally’s choice not to provide support against the Islamic Republic of Iran.  The exercises are critical for defense of South Korea against Communist North Korean aggression.  But what is worse even that Trump would compromise global security for a policy difference with an ally, is that he stated clearly that he was giving in to North Korean objections to the exercises as threatening and provocative, and that he is also influenced by personal overtures and flattery by its tyrannical regime.  Thus, unreasonable demands by dictators and their psychological influence determine American foreign policy and security under Trump, just as his own pecuniary considerations do, as foreign States conduct business with him, instead of what is in the best interest of the United States and global security.  Trump’s foreign policy is devoid of any moral principles, but is instead transactional, as if the U.S. has no interests.  Communist North Korea has sent thousands of troops in support of Russian aggression against Ukraine, among other support.  The Hermit Kingdom invaded its southern neighbor in 1950 and has attacked it from time to time ever since.  The U.S. led a successful United Nations mission to defend South Korea from North Korean and Communist Chinese aggression and has defended South Korea, which is an ally and major trading partner. 

Iran: Like some of his predecessors, Trump has continued to allow Iran to delay the destruction of its nuclear and missile program by making diplomatic offers.  The Islamic Republic, a theocratic tyranny, is the world's worst state sponsor of terrorism. 

Ukraine: Ukraine struck an Iranian military transport ship in the Caspian Sea last month.  The Islamic Republic has been supplying Russia militarily during Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.  The Russian Federation invaded the former Soviet Republic in 2014, seizing Crimea, then fully in 2022, in violation of international law and Russian recognition of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as I have posted. Last week, the Russians engaged in a double-tap strike on a civilian target, to add to their myriad war crimes.  A double-tap strike is a second attack on a site, after first responders and other rescuers have arrived.  And as I have also posted, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China, along with handful of their allies, are what I call the Axis of Rogues.

Update: Two Dead in the Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak

    In my last post, I provided an update on Pennsylvania’s latest measles outbreak. Since then, two deaths have been reported, which are the first in America this year. Both were of people who were unvaccinated. The deaths from measles are the first reported in Pennsylvania in 35 years.

Update on the Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak

    The number of cases in the latest measles outbreak in Pennsylvania continues to grow. I noted in my July 12 post that the number of cases had exceeded 100. Now, the total number in two separate outbreaks in the State for the year had grown to nearly 380 by the end of last week, with a rapid increase recently, versus 16 for all of last year. Health officials believe the true number of cases is much higher. The start of the new school year will likely accelerate the spread. 

     Measles, a virus which was the leading cause of childhood deafness, can cause organ failure and even death, is the most contagious disease. It can be prevented by a safe and effective vaccine. Over half of Pennsylvania’s cases are in Lancaster County, which has a relatively low vaccination rate. It is the home to the largest concentration of Anabaptists, who tend not to vaccinate. All of the State’s cases are of unvaccinated people. Of Pennsylvania’s schoolchildrend, only 93% are vaccinated, which is short of the 95% needed to prevent spread. Other States in America are also continuing to experience measles outbreaks. 

    As I have posted, vaccine hesitancy has increased in recent years because of unfounded concerns about vaccine safety, spread by conspiracy theories on the far left and far right, exacerbated by libertarian opposition to vaccine mandates even for schoolchildren, and amplified by Russian disinformation.