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FEBRUARY 19,  2022

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT:

THE PEOPLE'S REVOLT IS SPREADING:  The truckers' protest in Canada has now been largely broken up, but the memory lingers.  And Americans give their vote of approval.  From Breitbart:   Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invoked rarely used emergency powers to try to stop truckers who have gathered in the country’s capital of Ottawa to protest government vaccine mandates required for conducting cross border business.  In the United States a poll found that the majority of likely American voters support the truckers — and think a similar protest south of the border is a good idea.  Rasmussen Reports found that 59 percent of respondents support the convoy, including 42 percent who “strongly support” it.  Thirty-three percent of voters oppose the trucker protest against Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions, including 21 percent who “Strongly Oppose” the protest.  I fully expect to see a Canadian-style protest here. It's so very American, and the fact that the truckers have been put down by Prime Minister Justin (tuffy) Trudeau makes them even greater martyrs.

February 19, 2022       Permalink

UKRAINE LATEST – OVERNIGHT:  Nothing much has changed.  The world waits for a Russian invasion of Ukraine, which President Biden appears to believe is imminent.  Many reports say that Russian troops are moving into an attack mode.  And yet, this crisis reminds me of screenwriter William Goldman's observation about Hollywood:  "Nobody knows anything."  We still don't know what is in Russian President Putin's mind.  What we're getting is a truckload of informed speculation.  From the Jerusalem Post: 

Multiple explosions were heard on Sunday in the center of the separatist-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, a Reuters witness said.

A loudspeaker in the area asked citizens to exercise caution. The origin of the explosions was not clear. 

According to an official statement by the Donetsk People's Republic Militia, Ukraine has opened fire 82 times on the territory of rebel-controlled areas with the use of mortars and artillery cannons.

This comes just days after artillery shelling was heard near Donetsk airport and Elenovka, a village in the Donetsk province.

Fueling Russia-West tensions over Ukraine, the rebels and Ukrainian government forces accused each other of violating ceasefire agreements on Thursday and using heavy weaponry including mortars and artillery.

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet him for talks to deescalate tensions as rumors of an impending invasion continue to grow, the Associated Press reported.

COMMENT:   American Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with his Russian counterpart on Wednesday. 

One effect of the Ukrainian crisis has been to divert attention from the rapidly concluding Iran nuclear talks, being held in Vienna.  The White House is expressing guarded optimism that an agreement with Iran is close, but is also saying that the talks must end within a matter of days, that Iran must make some decisions.  Again, nobody knows anything.  However, cautionary voices are now being heard from Congress, saying that the proposed agreement is awful, even worse than the original 2015 Iran nuclear deal.  Three members of the American negotiating team have already resigned, apparently in protest over Washington's concessions.

Nothing would shock me about the outcome of the Iran talks.  The U.S. negotiators are led by super-appeaser Robert Malley, who performed the same function for Barack Obama.  The result was that awful 2015 deal, which President Obama couldn't submit to the Senate as a treaty because it had so little support.  He made it an executive agreement.  We may see the same movie again, if anyone knows anything.

February 19,  2022     Permalink

FEBRUARY 18,  2022

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT:

UKRAINE ON THE BRINK – OVERNIGHT:  Biden believes an invasion is near.  From Fox:   NATO allies, including White House officials, are concerned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to depart Kyiv for the Munich Security Conference this weekend, sources told Fox News Friday.  Allies of the 30-member alliance are reportedly worried that Russia could exploit the president’s absence as tension in Eastern Europe has reached a boiling point not seen in decades.  Zelensky, who is set to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday, is expected to be a key target if Russia does successfully invade Kyiv, sources confirmed.  President Biden said Friday he is "convinced" that Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine.  In answer to questions from reporters as to whether he believed it would be a mistake for Zelensky to leave Ukraine at this time Biden said, "It may not be…the wise choice, but it's his decision." "That's a judgment for him to make," Biden said. "It's in the pursuit of a diplomatic solution."  A senior U.S. defense official told Fox News Digital there is a strong possibility of a "significant invasion" by the Russian military in the coming days and Kyiv is its sites. The official said Russian military forces have left their barracks and that roughly 40-50% of Putin's troops have moved into attack positions — putting them within striking distance of the Ukrainian border.  The president speaks with such certainty about an invasion.  I wish I could have greater confidence in his judgment, but it has been wrong so often during his long career.  If Moscow does invade, we will face a major foreign-policy crisis.  Ukraine does not have the military strength to defend itself.  It will almost certainly lose without troops from other countries, and the president has already said that no American troops will be involved.  If Ukraine is absorbed by the Russian state, our humiliation, and image of weakness, will be greater.

February 18, 2022       Permalink

JUSTICE IS DONE, AND THE LEFT DOESN'T LIKE IT – OVERNIGHT:  Remember Kim Potter?  She's the white Minnesota police officer, with years of honorable service, who, in pursuit of a fleeing black suspect, moved to tase him but, in the heat of the moment, accidentally drew her gun instead and killed him.  After a controversial trial against a background of anti-police hatred, she was convicted of manslaughter.  She has now been sentenced.  From Fox: 

Ex-Minnesota officer Kim Potter was hit with 16 months behind bars for killing Daunte Wright after mistaking her gun for a Taser during a traffic stop.

Judge Regina Chu handed down the sentence over the objection of prosecutors after the former officer apologized to the victim's family. Potter will serve 16 months in prison followed by eight months of supervised release.

"To the family of Daunte Wright, I am so sorry that I brought the death of your son, father, brother, uncle, grandson and nephew," said Potter, sobbing, as she turned to face them in the courtroom. "Katie, I understand a mother’s love, and I am sorry I broke your heart. My heart is broken for all of you."

The judge said that Potter honorably served her community for 26 years and hundreds of letters "painted a portrait of a woman who touched a lot of people in a good way."

Chu told the courtroom that Potter was clearly remorseful. "She showed that today, she showed that when it happened," the judge said, fighting back tears. "She never intended to hurt anyone. Her conduct cries out for a sentence significantly below the guidelines." 

The sentencing range on first-degree manslaughter is slightly more than six years to about 8 ½ from which a judge can depart if there are mitigating or aggravating circumstances.

Potter was attempting to arrest Wright on an open warrant April 11 of last year for failure to appear on a weapons charge when she drew her gun instead of her Taser. 

She was trying to protect a fellow officer on the other side of the car, who could have been dragged and seriously injured when Wright tried to drive off, Chu said.

"This is not a cop found guilty of murder for using his knee to pin down a person for 9½ minutes as he gasped for air," said the judge, comparing the case to that of former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering George Floyd in the same courthouse. "This is a cop who made a tragic mistake." 

Potter was convicted by a jury in December of first-degree and second-degree manslaughter for the killing of Wright. Under Minnesota law, a defendant is only sentenced on the top charge.

COMMENT:  There was, of course, instant outrage from the perpetually aggrieved.  They wanted the judge to destroy Kim Potter's life.  They wanted their time on CNN.

But Judge Chu possesses that rarest of attributes – a patient wisdom.  Her work was thorough, her commitment to true justice was inspiring.  The sentence she handed down was correct.  Justice won.  The mob did not.

February 18, 2022       Permalink