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MARCH 6,  2022

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT: 

AMERICANS ARE FEELING THE PAIN – OVERNIGHT:  Inflation is roaring.  Americans feel it every day.  And Americans vote.  From PJ MEDIA:  If your grocery bills continue to frustrate you, you’re not alone. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released its report on worldwide food prices for February, and prices hit a record high last month. The February FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) reached a new high of 140.7 points, which reflects an increase of 3.9% over January and a whopping 20.7% over this time last year.  The FFPI serves as a “measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities,” notes the FAO. This month’s increase was largely due to “large increases in vegetable oil and dairy price sub-indices.” Cereal and meat prices are up as well, though not as high, while sugar prices are down.  “A much bigger push for food price inflation comes from outside food production, particularly the energy, fertilizer and feed sectors,” said FAO economist Upali Galketi Aratchilage. “All these factors tend to squeeze profit margins of food producers, discouraging them from investing and expanding production.”  If this continues, and voters blame the Democrats, November can see a bigger political blowout than we've seen in decades.  I feel the Democrats' pain.  Not really.

March 6, 2022       Permalink

YOU SAY YOU AREN'T DISGUSTED ENOUGH WITH AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY TO START A REVOLUTION?  PLEASE READ THIS, AND RECONSIDER.   FROM REUTERS: 

Iran got a much better result in the nuclear talks than expected, the head of Russia’s delegation Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov told Iranian media over the weekend.

“I am absolutely sincere in this regard when I say that Iran got much more than it could expect, much more,” Ulyanov told Iranian news outlet IRNA. “Realistically speaking, Iran got more than frankly, I expected or others expected. This is a matter of fact.” 

Ulyanov said that Iran fought for its interests “like lions… for every comma, every word and as a rule quite successfully.”

In addition, the ambassador said that Russia and China worked well together in the talks.

“I can recollect dozens of such cases when, on rather serious significant questions, we managed together to get positive results, close to what we wanted to achieve,” Ulyanov stated.

Ulyanov’s remarks came as the negotiations for Iran to return to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal appeared to be near their end.

Among the concessions to Iran that Israel has been concerned about are allowing Iran to keep its advanced centrifuges even when they are out of use, and lifting the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization by the US, as well as rescinding all sanctions placed by the previous US administration, including those put in place due to terrorism and human rights violations.

The Western parties to the talks - US, UK, Frances and Germany - rejected a suggestion to have the centrifuges transferred to Russia for safekeeping until the agreement expires, because they do not trust Russia, KAN reported.

Last-minute demands by Moscow that the US and Europe carve out an exception from Ukraine-related sanctions so that Russia can trade with Iran are delaying the renewal of the JCPOA.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sought to dispel talk of such obstacles on Sunday when he said that the sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine had nothing to do with a potential nuclear deal with Iran.

"These things are totally different and just are not, in any way, linked together. So I think that's irrelevant," Blinken said in an interview with CBS's "Face the Nation" show. He added that a potential deal with Iran was close, but cautioned that a couple of very challenging remaining issues were unresolved.

Yet a senior Iranian official told Reuters earlier that Tehran was waiting for clarification from Moscow about the comments from Lavrov, who said Russia wanted a written US guarantee that Russia's trade, investment and military-technical cooperation with Iran would not be hindered in any way by the sanctions.

COMMENT:  I am thoroughly disgusted.  We apparently are giving up the store.  And in exchange for what? 

We are in deep trouble, and don't count on Field Marshal Biden or Grand Admiral Harris to get us out of this.

March 6, 2022       Permalink

MARCH 5,  2022

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT: 

DISGRACE – OVERNIGHT:  The Biden crowd regularly figures out new ways to mess things up.  Get this one, from Law Enforcement Today:   AUSTIN, TX – House Republicans are seeking a hearing to investigate how the Biden administration released a suspected Islamist terrorist into the United States after being stopped crossing the southern border illegally.  Issam Bazzi, a 50-year-old Venezuelan born in Lebanon, is not supposed to be in America due to his suspected connections to terrorist groups. Yet thanks to the Biden administration, he now lives in Michigan. https://t.co/SsdhFJDzSe  Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, sent a request to House Democrats requesting authorization to hold the hearing, writing:  “There is no known case in which a foreign national who pinged on a terror watch list was simply released on his own recognizance.  The facts in the case strongly suggest that the Biden Administration failed to follow appropriate protocols with respect to suspected terrorists.”  The letter sent to subcommittee Chair Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) was signed by eight Republican subcommittee members.  Democrats are unlikely to permit the hearing, and one aide to Rep. Biggs told The Federalist, “They’re ignoring us.”  Of course they are.  The modern Democratic Party has little interest in border control or national defense.  It doesn't have much regard for the country either.

March 5, 2022       Permalink

IT'S GETTING TENSE IN THE EAST – OVERNIGHT:  The US and Britain warn their citizens to get out of Russia.  From Hot Air: 

The US State Department is warning Americans not to travel to Russia and warning those who are already in Russia to leave “immediately” lest they face harassment by Russian security forces.

Do not travel to Russia due to the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions, terrorism, limited flights into and out of Russia, and the arbitrary enforcement of local law.  

U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately.  Limited commercial flight options are still available.  Overland routes by car and bus are also still open.  If you wish to depart Russia, you should make arrangements on your own as soon as possible.  If you plan to stay in Russia, understand the U.S. Embassy has severe limitations on its ability to assist U.S. citizens, and conditions, including transportation options, may change suddenly.  U.S. citizens who are able to depart Russia for another country and are in need of emergency assistance upon arrival may contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in that country.

The UK issued a very similar warning today to its citizens.

If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes…

Before the latest update, the advice had been that people outside Russia should not travel to the country.

The warning of possible harassment of US citizens may have come a little too late for one WNBA all-star player. Brittney Griner was arrested at the airport after authorities claimed they had found drug residue in her suitcase.

COMMENT:  I'm assuming the harassment of American and British citizens is a direct response to the sanctions we have placed on Russia.  It is critical that the Western countries not back down in imposing those sanctions, even though there will be some blowback.  The Biden administration, which has a spine of whipped cream, must now show rare courage, and commit this country to the long game against Putin's Russia.  The president must especially speak to the young generation, the generation that knows little about World War II or the Cold War.  He must teach the importance of sacrifice and endurance.  I don't know if he'll get far.

March 5, 2022       Permalink