TheFrontPageCover
~ Featuring ~
China Tariffs: More Moves and Counter Moves .
DHS Secretary Nielsen on
Nat'l Guard to Border - Bodies, no Bullets
{ rickwells.us } ~ Making the point that border security is homeland security, which is national security... DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen spoke to White House reporters about the plans to position national guard troops at the southern border with Mexico. Unfortunately, Nielsen’s response to a question she was asked on the rules of engagement indicates it will likely be a toothless repeat of previous efforts, a partially substantive, partially show deployment. The National Guard Troops will perform sentry duty, oil changes, bake the birthday cakes for the illegal children, and treat their scabies, with an undetermined number of Border Patrol Agents then freed up to do the job they were hired to do, border protection. Nielsen says the troops will be engaged in aerial surveillance and “support functions” like those conducted when Bush sent the guard to the border, while he was still in the globalist closet. What’s the optimum height for the hanging of a piñata?... https://rickwells.us/dhs-nielsen-guard-border/.
Putin announces defeat of Islamic State in Syria
{ conservativeinstitute.org } ~ With their Caliphate crumbling in both Iraq and Syria, ISIS’ territory has been reduced to a small strip of land along Syria’s Euphrates River Valley near the border with Iraq... In March, officials from the U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve reported an escalation in precision air strikes aimed at denying any safe quarter to the remnants of the Islamic State. On Wednesday, the Interfax news agency quoted Putin as saying that ISIS had been defeated in Syria, although he cautioned that the terrorist organization remained a source of international violence and instability. Referring to ISIS’s unconventional military potential, the Russian president said: “It is evident that despite its military situation, this terrorist group retains a significant destructive potential, and the ability to change its tactics quickly and attack countries and regions around the world.” In a clear instance of putting the cart before the horse, Putin’s declaration comes months after declaring “victory” in Syria as a result of meeting the very narrow strategic objective of ensuring the survival of the Assad regime. However, Brookings non-resident senior fellow Pavel Baev explained how this was not Putin’s first triumphant declaration of victory in Syria... https://www.conservativeinstitute.org/islam/islamic-terrorism/putin-announces-defeat-islamic.htm?utm_source=boomtrain&utm_medium=automated&utm_campaign=ci1&utm_source=boomtrain&utm_medium=automated&utm_campaign=ci1 .
In Illinois, synthetic marijuana blamed
for 2 horrific deaths from bleeding
by Leslie Eastman
{ legalinsurrection.com } ~ Illinois public health officials are sounding the alarm about synthetic marijuana that is being distributed in the Chicago area and the central part of the state... Users have been hospitalized with severe bleeding, and now fatalities are being reported. Synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2 or Spice, has been linked to 56 cases in which people in the state experienced severe bleeding after using the substance, officials with the Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement. The users were hospitalized — and two of them died — after coughing up blood, finding blood in their urine or bleeding from their noses or gums, officials said. State health officials are struggling to find the source and a way to stop it. “While there have been cases of adverse effects from synthetic cannabinoids, we have not seen the severe bleeding on this scale,” Melaney Arnold, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health, said Tuesday in a statement to The Washington Post. “We continue to investigate cases as they come in to try to identify what product they may have used and where they obtained it. However, synthetic cannabinoids are unregulated and identifying a source or sources is difficult... https://legalinsurrection.com/2018/04/in-illinois-synthetic-marijuana-blamed-for-2-horrific-deaths-from-bleeding/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LegalInsurrection+%28Le%C2%B7gal+In%C2%B7sur%C2%B7rec%C2%B7tion%29.
You’ve Been Hoodwinked. (Perhaps.)
by Sharyl Attkisson
{ sharylattkisson.com } ~ If you watched the mash-up of Sinclair station anchors reading their national promo and were convinced it was something evil and nefarious, you’ve been hoodwinked... A few of you asked for my view on this continuing propaganda campaign put together by certain political interests and Sinclair’s competitors, as Sinclair seeks to close on a deal to buy Tribune companies. From what I can tell, this issue breaks down along ideological lines, and minds are not likely to be swayed. My friends on the far left are convinced that Sinclair anchors reading a national promo is Hitler-esque Orwellian brainwashing. My friends on the far right are happy and hopeful that Sinclair might, indeed, be pushing conservative views. Those in the middle don’t care or seem to think it’s much ado about nothing. There’s legitimate debate to be heard on many topics surrounding media fairness and consolidation. It’s obviously perfectly fine for you to disagree, but I find nothing to argue with in the nonpartisan, national Sinclair promos at issue. The text is printed at the end of this article. You can decide for yourself. In fact, I’ve heard many conservatives and liberals alike make these same points: That we have a problem with one-sided, false and biased news; that some reporters are pushing agendas; and that untrue stories are being published without proper fact checks. These assertions are pretty indisputable, wherever you sit... https://sharylattkisson.com/2018/04/04/youve-been-hoodwinked-perhaps/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SharylAttkisson+%28Sharyl+Attkisson%29 .
Hamas pays families of Gazans killed in border clashes with Israel
{ timesofisrael.com } ~ The Hamas terrorist group which rules the Gaza Strip said on Thursday it was paying compensation to the families of Palestinians killed in clashes... with Israeli forces on the border. In a statement, a Hamas spokesperson pledged $3,000 to the relatives of those killed by Israeli fire. Palestinians injured by Israeli troops in the clashes would receive $200-$500 in compensation, depending on the level of injury, the Hamas spokesman said. The payments were being provided “in light of the difficult economic conditions experienced by our people in the Gaza Strip as a result of the continued Israeli siege,” Hamas said. IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis said on Saturday that all those killed were engaged in violence. Manelis said on Friday evening that the army had faced “a violent, terrorist demonstration at six points” along the fence. He said the IDF used “pinpoint fire” wherever there were attempts to breach or damage the security fence....
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China Tariffs: More Moves and Counter Moves
by Thomas Gallatin: On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods, specifically targeting electronics, aerospace and machinery products. These new 25% import tariffs are designed to penalize China for its policies that force American companies to surrender their proprietary technology to the Chinese government. In calling for these tariffs, Trump noted again that China has long engaged in unfair trade tactics with the U.S., including stealing American trade secrets and technologies via cyber theft. As Trump foresaw, Beijing was quick to hit back, announcing that it will level $50 billion in tariffs against U.S. goods, specifically agricultural products, such as soybeans and beef, as well as the auto industry. The Wall Street Journal notes that China focused on “goods that were chosen to hit U.S. states that supported President Donald Trump.” News of the tariffs sparked fears of an escalating trade war, which sent stocks plummeting again. However, it’s important to note that none of these tariffs have been enacted, and there is likely a lot of wheeling and dealing that will occur before any are imposed.
Trump responded to fears of a trade war, tweeting, “We are not in a trade war with China, that war was lost many years ago by foolish, or incompetent, people who represented the U.S. Now we have a Trade Deficit of $500 Billion a year, with Intellectual Property Theft of another $300 Billion. We cannot let this continue!”
One interesting factor here is the clear motivational differences behind the tariff threats between Trump and Beijing. Trump is right about the unfair trade imbalance and Chinese theft of U.S. company intellectual technologies, and his intent is to rectify the situation. Beijing on the other hand is seeking to keep the gig going and has reacted with tariffs specifically designed to hurt Trump politically. China isn’t interested in fair trade; rather the totalitarian government is aiming to weaken Trump politically so that he is forced to capitulate to its abusive trade practices.
It is the twisted “advantage” a totalitarian government has over that of a representative democracy. The Chinese governing elites are free to force their will on their populace with little political blowback. In a representative democracy, however, the president is ultimately beholden to the will of the people, and therefore Trump’s options are limited. That said, while politically speaking Beijing may have an advantage, China is still behind the eight ball on this issue economically — it has much more at stake than does the U.S. Jianguang Shen, an economist at Mizuho Securities, notes, “Beijing is facing a difficult time now as it has resorted to its core weapons, such as soybeans and cars. If the disputes escalate, what else can Beijing use?” In other words, in the geopolitical chess match, Beijing is countering with a big move in the hopes of creating enough political blowback in the U.S. to force Trump to back off his tariff threats. Will it work?
~The Patriot Post
https://patriotpost.us/articles/55136-china-tariffs-more-moves-and-counter-moves
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