Russia may be circumventing Biden's financial sanctions through mining for gold!

--And other valuable minerals worldwide.  They're in the Horn of Africa, as reported in the recent Brooking's online think-tank meeting last week, probably brought in by China, who's establishing a military base in the region.

While chaos pervades--the area is plagued by lack of humanitarian aide in the form of relief from food deprivation and oil for fueling.

Indeed, as the participants at the meeting pointed out, the area is being invaded by all-manner of groups, including terrorists, hungry for the minerals, possibly including gold, that are only recently being mined by any group that gets to "it" first, apparently!

Russia has for some years been working the mines and deposits of minerals in Venezuela.  These financial assets from mining probably are not subject to the sanctions on Russian financial disclosures already frozen through the imposition of United States' sanctions.     

Just my take-away from the Brooking's discussion on the Horn of Africa!    

It's ok to carry the fight for Ukraine into Russia!

I have been told that it's now 'ok' for the Ukrainian military to search out for targets to hit within Russia, itself.  

I can only say, "God speed!"

My opinion. 

What peace talks are occurring over Yemen War came about when the Houthis took on the Saudis in Saudi Arabia!

 President Zelenski is right: Russia is destroying Ukraine into oblivion and with impunity--no visible effect on the Russian lands.  

Does that  make sense?  It brought the Saudis to the negotiating table over Yemen atrocities. 

Will NATO allow the entire Ukrainian people to lose their identity before anything but promises come from the West?

Oh, this is reprehensible!  My opinion--how sad.  

Trip to New York City in July

I just received the outcomes of my trip to NYC on May 7th.  The results are beyond expectations and are promising indeed to warrant another trip. 

So, I'm putting together a day trip in July, sometime.  The problem I encountered at the Port Authority Terminal on May 7 was no cab would stop to pick me up at Port Authority.  I've got two places--one in Greenwich Village and another down at Canal Street, both in lower Manhattan.  I'd really prefer taking a cab around and back to Port Authority due to time constraints.  I'm  not planning on the subway for transportation, though it was suggested; and it would entail much more time!

Thanks in advance for anything you can arrange.

JLO 

  

Former PM Tony Blair's perceptive comment about President Putin, heard today on GPS program, CNN

The former Prime Minister commented on the analysis show GPS that President Putin had started out being President with a reformer's zeal only to realize that wasn't getting the results that would keep him in power, so he essentially joined with his comrades to rule the country in corrupt fashion!

Interestingly, I had reasoned to much the same conclusion that while he did well as President early on, he became autocratic and forceful of his own positions upon his people.  There seemed to be that moment about 7 or 8 years into his administration, when he changed, markedly.

I raise the observation, because President Zelensky had tried to institute reforms in his government at the urgings of the United States, but complained finally, that the task was impossible to achieve.  I never did learn how he resolved the matter in his own mind.

But if these former Communist countries that to some degree have accepted capitalism today are still rooted in cronyism and favoritism at the expense of justice and fairness in transactions, a wholesale sweep of the culture would seem necessarily appropriate (in the near future).

My opinion; and perhaps the opinion of Tony Blair voiced today on CNN's GPS Show.

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Johnson's Britain welcomes immigrants!

This silliness in the US to stop immigration from the south has got to stop!  Oh yes, meet with the foreign governments in Central America and inform them through their treatment of the poor and the unwanted in their countries, they're losing the life's blood of their country's future.  After all, many great scientists and world renowned movers in industry and education have migrated at some point in their life to the shores of the United States or some other advanced nation in the world.

Like Britain.  You know, just now Britain even with Brexit in place is welcoming foreigners.  "Despite the many disruptions oof covid-19, Britain is issuing more work and study visas. The vast majority are not going to Europeans.  In 2921 people from India received almost 99,000 study visas, up  from a low point of 16,000 in 2015.  Nigerians were granted 10,000 skilled-worker visas and 43,000 study visas--about as many in the previous four years put together!...Filipinos received almost 10,000 skilled-worker visas, putting them in third place behind Indians and Nigerians." (The Economist April 9th, 2022 issue, p. 43)

Meaning in my opinion, if the nations valuing education to a lesser degree can't keep their workforce, the advanced nations will take them!  There's something to a university that benefits the society's development. 

As I say, my opinion. 

 

The sad truth: refugee children worldwide receiving less of an education!

 Africa, notably, want children who attend schools to pay for their education.  In countries across the continent, a public education isn't free.

This failure to consider educating children as a major priority of the society is a glaring determinant in keeping poverty a major feature of African life for many, many in the "backward" hinterlands.

The condition is reflective in the life of refugee children worldwide.  There is a glimmer of hope in what's happening for Ukrainian refugee children, ending up in Poland, however. Writes the Economist (April 9th, 2022 issue, p. 40) "Ukraine's refugee children are receiving more help than migrant kids elsewhere in the world. The UN thinks only about half of all children who have fled across an international border are getting lessons of any kind."  And specifically about Africa, countries are after investment funding for major world companies to establish manufacturing plants in their countries.  When, the continent is so lacking in prioritizing the education of children a major and essential societal concern?  THINK OF THE CHILDREN!! 

Are the world governments so gullible as to withhold judgment of the claims by Russia, the Invader?

Let the matter that Ukraine is fighting for the cause of Nazism be taken up on the agenda of a United Nations' Assembly meeting.

Given the lack of evidence for the charge against the Ukrainian Government, let the matter be open for debate.  Let India and China, to mention, just two of countries on the fence, come out against the position of the invaded Ukraine.  And let them demonstrate their "fair-minded handedness" of the Russian invasion of Russian troops.  Let it be made clear that Ukraine has not done nothing to Russia, except experienced the invasion of the Crimea, 7 years before; and has had to endure it, prior to Russia's recent announced invasion, to possibly obliterate the country--which has led to the current hostilities between them.

Or, cannot India nor Turkey nor China risk suffering from possible retaliatory trading acts that might be perpetrated against them by Russia, their current partner friends on the international, commerce scene?  Quite possibly, Russia would at least threaten them, should they disagree with its claim of Nazi infiltration into Ukraine.  

My opinion.

   

22nd Century Issue: How much cultural variation will a society stand?

Right now, American society through its governmental apparatus is trying to address the social issue of abortion--specifically, will society tolerate women's having an abortion of a fetus?

But there's a number of issues that some society or another is attempting to resolve:  a man having more than one wife (in some places where polygamy is permitted), homosexuality and the raising of children within that environment, and permitting more than one government to occupy a region within the boundaries accepted as the government ruling the same region (claims of a caliphate over lands ruled by an recognized government controlling the region as made by jihadists), and on and on it goes.

What is the prevailing practice in democracies is to enable citizens to cast the prevailing judgment of the people or in the instance of the US, to enable the Supreme Court to make its ruling based on its interpretation of legal precedent established over time.

Malcolm X recommended that certain states enforce a prevailing practice within the confines of their own state (as I interpret his writings).  This is what, essentially, some states are trying now with respect to abortion.

The point I'm making is that this problem is a recurring one and the more used practice in resolving the differences over a practice is to let the dominant culture within a multi-faceted milieu establish the rule of law.  But in the case of abortion, that doesn't work, for while society could permit the practice of abortion, the other side of the issue is claiming that abortion, what it views as an instance of genocide is condoning murder of a baby (while some culture allowing the practice claims a fetus is not a human being)!

The point I'm making that with the advent of modern science and its technology, the issue is becoming more pressing to favor cultural differences and variation permitted in law and condoned by prevailing cultural allegiance within the society.

And the paradigm I frequently allude to is Canada--where Quebec is culturally French but within the Canadian regime.

And, note, the United States government still acknowledges that the Indian tribes may practice their traditional old ways on their tribal lands--at least, to some degree.  

      

It's Time for the Russian people to contact their oligarchs and work together with the West

NATO and the US and the EU are waiting for change in Russia, starting with the Russian people's voice.

President Putin can be replaced with a new President; and democracy can enter even into the Kremlin!  No more need for distrust and sabotage.

I believe; my opinion.  

Brookings: "The Future of American Air Power" Discussion in Two Parts

On May 2, 2022, the Brookings Institution presented an online topic on the expanded use of the US Air Force in the world today.  I have long felt this topic has been neglected, because there is little thought given to what the Air Force could be doing for our allies and theaters of battle around the globe to make use of air power in places of conflict where we could bring up to speed use of the skies such that all mankind be free and independent--faster! 

That is to say, we must do everything we can to promote democracy through the US' sharing our advanced technology in the deploying of drones, missiles, hypersonics, airborne warning and control systems--all that can used in battle on the side favoring democracy and freedom of all peoples.  We must reach out with our use of technology in such instances worldwide (my opinion).  Doing so can only add to our reputation of promoting peace and prosperity in the cause of equitable justice for all.

Right now, our relationship with the courage-imbued Ukrainians to aid and train them in their struggle to remain free and independent is exemplar of what the US military can do to help struggling nations worldwide to maintain their borders and culture from invasion and subjugation.  And, it is the Air Force that is technologically in position to act as mentor to those allies who could benefit from US expertise during their existential battlements.

It is with this understanding of my vision of US Air Force--advising our partners in the use of air power capabilities to deter aggressive nations threatening them that I approached the two segmented discussions of the future of US Air Power--as lending a hand to our friends in need of technological upgrade.

Mt. Mike O'Hanlon, Brookings was the moderator of the first segment on the topic.  He interviewed the Hon. Frank Kendell, Secretary of the US Air Force.  It was brought out right at the outset that the US Air Force has a tall order: help stop aggression in the cause of peace, and do what-you-can to deter Russia's claws clamped upon Ukraine.  That is to say, be an adviser to our partners and friends in modern warfare techniques.

The opening up of outer space to military hardware and base exploration offers even more opportunities.

The Air Force extends its mission with an invitation to the industry to help in solving operational problems along the way.  It is anxiously anticipating working with its allies, e.g., Japan, upon possible missile threats, e.g., from N. Korea.  

Part 2 brought back Mr. O'Hanlon as moderator with Stephen Mueller of Northrop-Drummond, Mike Moeller, VP, Pratt-Whitney; and Ms. Rebecca Grant, Pres. of Iris Independent Research.  They talked about the technical problems encountered in connecting a present platform, operational, while building a new platform, and the importance of testing thoroughly before committing to any new technology, even by setting up mock conditions.  All very, gloriously, technical! 

My status report

My projects are doing well indeed!

I've got more things on the horizon to work on, but in time.  I want to thank my team, my sponsors worldwide, the Pentagon, and above all, the United States in having faith that I could do what I've already accomplished or have paved the way for civilization to progress.

For my part, I am thankful for having been given this opportunity to serve my country and my world.  

I am looking forward to doing more, as long as I can!  

Thank you.