Dedication

We maintain and continue this committee of correspondence in memory of our founder and mentor, Colonel W. Patrick Lang. The image to the right is Marcus, a character from William S. Burroughs’s “The Coming of the Purple Better One.” Colonel Lang would refer to Marcus sometimes in clever jest, sometimes in biting social commentary and sometimes simply because he liked Marcus. May everyone who corresponds here do so in a similar spirit.

Posted in Administration | 12 Comments

AVAILABLE now FROM iUniverse, Amazon and Barnes and Noble in hard cover, soft cover, and digital.

The Portable Pat Lang

Essential Writings on History, War, Religion and Strategy

From the Introduction:

“In the aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Col. Lang created his own blog which to this day still serves as a committee of correspondence for a large network of former military and intelligence officers, diplomats, and scholars of international affairs.

Since its launch in 2005, the Turcopolier website has had over 40 million unique visits.

Since leaving the government, he has also authored five books, including a Civil War espionage trilogy, a memoir of his years in government service, and a primer on human intelligence.

This present volume—his sixth book—is an anthology of some of his most important writings. The content speaks for itself.  So have at it.”

Posted in My books | 4 Comments

Nope. There are no 150-year-olds on Social Security. It’s COBOL!

Programmers Donald Cropper, K.C. Krishnan, Grace Hopper and Norman Rothberg with console of Univac I.
(Image: IEEE History Center)

Elon Musk claimed that his team found 150-year-old people collecting Social Security! He implied there were dead people being sent benefits, with checks cashed by someone else. But no—the people getting paid are very much alive.  They are collecting their own benefits.  They’re not committing fraud. They’re just not 150 years old, of course. Reports say that his group at DOGE is made up of fairly young people.  What those kids don’t realize is that Social Security uses VERY OLD computers.  They’re programmed with an old version of the programming language COBOL.

A bit of history.  On May 20, 1875 a bunch of countries got together to create the International Bureau of Weight and Measures which established uniform standards of mass and length.  Later on, the Bureau established rules for dates as well.  The dates standard used a starting date of May 20 1875 to honor the creation of the Bureau. Old versions of COBOL use that date as a baseline.  Social Security’s computers use that old version. Dates are stored as the number of days AFTER May 20 1875.

So what happens if Social Security doesn’t know a birthdate?  That field is empty in its records.  Thus that person appears to have a birthday of May 20 1875—about 150 years ago. That’s why the crack team of youngsters Musk uses found 150-year-old people in Social Security getting benefits.  It’s all really as simple—and as stupid—as that. You’d think that those bright MAGAheads would notice that ALL those 150 year olds have THE SAME BIRTHDAY: May 20, 1875. But they didn’t.  Genius Elon Musk didn’t.  And, of course, STABLE GENIUS Donald Trump didn’t either.

Sigh.

UPDATE: [15 February 2025]

In the discussion below, there are questions about the baseline in COBOL being May 20 1875. There are many different versions of COBOL.  Early versions used the standards set in ISO 8601:2004. Here’s the relevant info for that version from the Wikipedia link:

The standard uses the Gregorian calendar, which “serves as an international standard for civil use”. ISO 8601:2004 fixes a reference calendar date to the Gregorian calendar of 20 May 1875 as the date the Convention du Mètre (Metre Convention) was signed in Paris (the explicit reference date was removed in ISO 8601-1:2019). However, ISO calendar dates before the convention are still compatible with the Gregorian calendar all the way back to the official introduction of the Gregorian calendar on 15 October 1582.

So what I posted was correct. (You doubters! I fart in your general direction!)  The date was removed in later versions of the ISO standard. And it’s understandable that COBOL programmers didn’t know or didn’t remember this obscure fact. The information isn’t spelled out explicitly in the COBOL programming language, it’s simply part of the standard ISO definition used in the early versions of COBOL.

Since SS stores your birth date as the number of days after the base date of 5/20/1875, when SS calculates your age it subtracts your birth date from today’s date.  If your birth date is blank in the database, it shows as 5/20/1875 in the calculation.  Thus you’re almost 150 years old. It’s not that COBOL itself has that info—it’s that the Gregorian calendar used by COBOL works that way.

Also, probably the people Musk found are NOT actually getting benefits. They’re in the database, but SS has security methods to make sure that people who seem to be too old do not get benefits. I think the age limit is 114, but I’m not sure.  I’m too lazy today to check. Many employed undocumented immigrants have fake Social Security numbers. They pay INTO SS but will never get payments FROM SS.  SS welcomes their money. No one ever complains about that.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/2/14/2303889/-Nope-There-are-no-150-year-olds-on-Social-Security-It-s-COBOL?

Comment: Another rookie mistake by Musk and his team of whiz kids. I don’t expect those kids to immediately know the intricacies of old COBOL code, but either they or the AI tools they are using should have spotted the pattern of so many same birthdates and flagged it for further examination. Doesn’t say much for xAI Grok, Musk’s endeavor in the field of AI, which they’re probably using. Musk should have checked before shooting his mouth off about 150 year old (or dead) Social Security recipients.

TTG

Posted in Cyber, Technology, TTG | Leave a comment

Senate’s MAHA caucus readies legislation as RFK Jr. is confirmed

“The MAHA caucus is committed to improving health outcomes by prioritizing nutrition, providing access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods, and focusing on primary care availability to tackle the root causes of chronic diseases,” Marshall said in a statement.

Throughout his confirmation process, Kennedy focused on the need to address nutrition and food systems to improve the country’s overall wellbeing — a reframing of the usual health policy debates in Congress. The Senate’s Make America Healthy Again Caucus, formed to back the policy goals of incoming HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was readying legislation as the Senate confirmed the nominee Thursday.

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), founder of the caucus, described a “package of bills” as he was going to vote to confirm Kennedy. He said the bills sought to improve the nation’s nutrition and agriculture systems, with a focus on soil health, regenerative farming and reworking the dietary guidelines. “We do need to prioritize and organize,” Marshall said of the caucus’ legislative plans. Marshall didn’t share a firm timeline for submitting the legislation but suggested Congress needed to move quickly on the MAHA agenda.

Throughout his confirmation process, Kennedy focused on the need to address nutrition and food systems to improve the country’s overall wellbeing — a reframing of the usual health policy debates in Congress. And he was backed by a movement of MAHA supporters, who argue the health system should focus on nutrition and exercise more than pharmaceutical solutions. Senators said they saw the power in the MAHA movement, which flooded their offices with calls and emails urging support for Kennedy.

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/02/13/congress/commerce-pick-lutnick-clears-hurdle-00204085

Comment: The confirmation of RFK Jr has always focused on the issue of vaccines… that and his weird-as-shit behavior. Beyond his issues with vaccines, he’s a strong proponent of a food as medicine approach to better health. It’s hard to argue with that unless you’re part of big agriculture, the factory food industry as well as big pharma. Michelle Obama was pushing this food as medicine approach and Republicans crucified her for it. But now there’s a whole Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus in the Senate crewed by Republicans. Good on them. I wish them well in this endeavor along with RFK Jr. All those Democratic lawmakers who applauded Michelle Obama’s White House garden and healthy school lunches should jump on this. 

TTG

https://stateline.org/2025/02/12/state-lawmakers-embrace-rfk-jr-s-health-policies/

https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-marshall-announces-make-america-healthy-again-caucus/

Posted in Health Care, Policy, TTG | 31 Comments

Munich Security Conference in the shadow of Donald Trump

The traditionally close ties between the US and Europe have defined the Munich Security Conference for decades. Despite some differences, there has always been a solid foundation. Everyone worked well together and respected each other. But since US President Donald Trump has come into office, such certainty has been crumbling. This is why the conference has also acted as an indicator of how good trans-Atlantic relations are. And now it is set to kick off this coming Friday.

One thing is certain: A different wind is now blowing from the United States after the first few weeks of Trump’s second term as US president. “America First” is Trump’s unwavering mantra, even if it comes at the expense of his allies. These tensions are likely to shape some of the debates to be held in the conference rooms of Bayerischer Hof, the prestigious Munich hotel where politicians, military leaders and experts will meet from February 14 to 16.

Sixty heads of state and government are expected to attend the MSC, which is regarded as the world’s most important forum for security policy. From the new US administration, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have confirmed their attendance but not the new US secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth. In addition, conference chair Christoph Heusgen has announced that one of the largest delegations from the US Congress ever to attend the MSC is expected. Among the guests is also the new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

The MSC is an informal meeting at which no decisions are made. That is why the event encourages an open exchange of views, and conflicts are not swept under the carpet. And Donald Trump has already set a new, sharper tone in trans-Atlantic relations. “We were being ripped off by European nations both on trade and on NATO,” read a quote by Trump during his election campaign published in the “Munich Security Report” to accompany the conference. He went on to say to Europe: “If you don’t pay, we’re not going to protect you.”

According to Trump, the European NATO partners’ insufficient investment in their armies is a thorn in his side. He has also repeatedly criticized Germany on this topic. Previously, the US has paid the lion’s share of NATO’s costs and offered Europe reliable military protection. Trump now wants this to come with conditions: He is demanding that the allies spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defense. Germany is struggling to meet the 2% that is now regarded as a minimum requirement in NATO. Republican Trump has already proven that he can drastically cut US funds from international organizations. According to the “Munich Security Report,” Trump’s camp has also justified this by arguing that even a global power like the US has only limited resources and must use them for the good of its own country. “Indeed, the notion of ‘resource scarcity’ has become a central premise of Republican foreign policy thinking,” the report states.

This could also have a negative impact on aid for Ukraine, where the US had previously led the way. There is certainly no shortage of things to talk about for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, who are both expected in Munich. In the run-up to the conference, rumors have been circulating that Kellogg could present the Trump administration’s plan for ending the war in Ukraine at the security conference.

In response, conference chairman Heusgen has remained cautious: “We hope that Munich will be utilized, and we also have indications that it will be used to make progress towards peace in Ukraine.” Heusgen expressed the hope that a peace plan could take shape in Munich. The diplomat emphasized, however, that Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty would have to be preserved. Heusgen was previously a foreign policy adviser to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and German ambassador to the United Nations in New York.

However, representatives of the Russian government have again not been invited to the MSC. The prerequisite for an invitation is “a willingness for dialogue,” stressed Heusgen, “and as long as President Putin does not recognize the government in Kyiv or Zelenskyy, I do not think that such a dialogue is possible.” Representatives of the Russian opposition and nongovernmental organizations, however, are welcome in Munich.

https://www.dw.com/en/donald-trump-russia-ukraine-war-nato-global-security-v2/a-71565151

Comment: Trump has blown both ways since he’s been in office. First he continued the military aid to Ukraine even while stopping the USAID support (which was substantial) while continuing the stronger sanctions on Russian oil and gas implemented by Biden in his waning days in office. He also talked of even stronger sanctions. And then, yesterday, he seemed to be more supportive of Russian objectives. Taking NATO membership for Ukraine off the table is really no big deal. NATO has refused membership to Ukraine for thirty years. No US troops as peacekeepers is also nothing new. I never saw that happening. Even the wild statement that Russia fighting hard for the captured territories and losing a lot of people in the process somehow entitles them to those captured territories isn’t that far from just recognizing reality. Unless Putin’s government totally collapses, withdrawing from all territory previously captured is not realistic.

But Trump is in a dilemma. He promised to end the war quickly. He may even truly be concerned about the continuing death and destruction. He can totally back out of US support of Ukraine including refusing to enforce sanctions. That will put Ukraine in a truly hard place, but it is no guarantee that the fighting will stop. With the US out of the picture, Russia will be emboldened to continue to what they conceive as ultimate victory. Ukraine will continue to resist and much of NATO will continue to support Ukraine in this struggle. Trump’s promise will prove empty. To avoid appearing ineffective, he may find it necessary to stay engaged, even if it’s just to continue and increase the sanctions. Besides, the sanction on Russian oil and gas flow into his promise to make this country the leading exporter of oil and gas to the world.

What comes out of this meeting of the Munich Security Conference should give us a better insight into what the future holds… or not.

TTG

Posted in Europe, Russia, TTG, Ukraine Crisis | 47 Comments

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Renames Fort Liberty to Fort Bragg

While flying aboard a C-17 from Joint Base Andrews to Stuttgart on February 10, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum renaming Fort Liberty in North Carolina to Fort Bragg. The new name pays tribute to Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero who earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his exceptional courage during the Battle of the Bulge. This change underscores the installation’s legacy of recognizing those who have demonstrated extraordinary service and sacrifice for the nation.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4062245/secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-renames-fort-liberty-to-fort-bragg

Comment: Well that’s a pretty slick solution. A lot of us old timers are just too familiar with the old names to change at this stage in our lives. Growing up, I never really dwelled on the Confederate namesakes of these posts. It was always the Benning School for Boys and Fort Bragg, Home of the Airborne to me. Hell, Fort Moore isn’t even the Home of the Infantry anymore. It’s the Maneuver Center of Excellence. Time marches on.

Roland Bragg was at least a paratrooper once stationed at Fort Bragg. He’s a far better namesake than Braxton Bragg. I wonder if he realized who Braxton Bragg was. Ole Braxton was known for his incompetence and losing battles, an embarrassment even to the Confederates. He was probably the inspiration for Lil’ Abner’s Jubilation T. Cornpone.

The Fayetteville Observer gives the best background on Roland Bragg that I have found so far. I actually like the idea that his most heroic incident occurred because both he and his German captor were Masons, an amazing stroke of luck.

I never liked the name Fort Liberty. I’m surprised the renaming commission could’t come up with something better than that. There are plenty of military heroes worthy of being commemorated. Liberty was a lazy choice.

TTG

https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/military/2025/02/11/who-is-roland-bragg-who-fort-bragg-fort-liberty-fayetteville-nc-pete-hegseth/78417011007

Posted in Policy, TTG | 30 Comments

Worldwide count lets backyard birders ‘be part of a great big effort’

Cathy Dyson | Fredericksburg Free Lance Star

Photographed last month, the American Goldfinch is wearing its duller winter colors and is sure to be one of the species spotted in the Great Backyard Bird Count. MARY CHAMBERLIN FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

When talking with birdwatchers, in person while they listen for species or over the phone as they gaze out the window at feeders, remember the cardinal rule. Bird sightings come first, conversations, second.

That was obvious on a particularly splendid morning last week as 10 people flocked to Old Mill Park in Fredericksburg. Amy Gardner of the Wren & Sparrow store leads a free bird walk at 9 a.m., on the first and third Tuesdays from November to March, in partnership with Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events. Em Ford was on the younger side of the attendees, and she chirped about how more millennials are taking up birdwatching. She’s excited about the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 14-17, “when the world comes together for the love of birds,” according to the website at https://www.birdcount.org.

People are asked to step outside or go to parks and other favorite places and spend at least 15 minutes, not just recording species spotted, but counting the actual number of birds. Data is used to better understand populations and to help scientists monitor and protect them.

Ford, the garden coordinator for Downtown Greens, loves the “citizen science aspect” of the GBBC, as it’s called. “That is so super important in getting as many people involved and is how people will start caring about the preservation of all these things,” she said. “It just makes this hobby, which is a very pertinent part of conservation … oops, sorry, there’s a heron in flight.” Then, after the leggy waterbird left its perch along the Rappahannock River, Ford resumed her train of thought, saying how the count is an easy way for anyone to do science. “Backyard bird counts show what we have in our neighborhoods, what we can see just by walking out the front door and I think it’s incredibly important,” she said.

The Great Backyard Bird Count, at www.birdcount.org, is sponsored by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society and Birds Canada. Several state parks across Virginia are hosting events for people who want to gather with other likeminded individuals — birds of a feather, if you will. “People who enjoy birds usually like to enjoy them with other people who enjoy birds,” said Lucia Craven, an education support specialist at Caledon State Park in King George County.

Caledon will host five sessions, each lasting an hour, on Feb. 15 and 16, for people who want to count the many feathered species at the park. Information is available at dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/caledon. Craven was looking out the window of the Visitor Center as she talked about the bird count, and like Ford, found herself distracted by creatures in such fine feather. “There’s a Carolina chickadee,” she announced in mid-sentence.

Likewise, the spotting of numerous Eastern bluebirds made her feel like warmer weather is on the way. Bluebirds stay in the area year-round, but the mere sight of the colorful plumage, amid the dull-colored landscape, made her think of spring. “It’s fun to look at birds in the winter versus the summer because they don’t always look the same,” Craven said, and “it’s nice to do it with other people who might see things that you do not. Even experienced birders can brush up on skills when they’re with others who can identify birds by call rather than sight.”

https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/sightings-old-mill-park-amy-gardner-em-ford-february-14-17-virginia-caledon-mumuration/article_dc69f024-e4bf-11ef-9f45-5fbe669cf46b.html

Comment: This was the lead story and lead photo in my Sunday morning newspaper. It was a refreshing respite from the onslaught of recent and continuing national and international news. I love my local paper for continuing to publish stories like this. What really caught my eye was the photo of the American Goldfinch. I did not realize that our Goldfinches had Winter colors. They’re still pretty. I’m accustomed to seeing large flocks of them descend on my flower garden in the Fall to devour the cone flower seeds. Apparently that’s one of their favorite foods.

Experienced birders said they’ve learned how to look at a sea of black, when birds such as starlings, red-winged blackbirds, common grackles and brown-headed cowbirds descend on a backyard feeder, and estimate how many birds the flock contains. LOU CORDERO, THE FREE LANCE–STAR

In addition to this long article on the Great Backyard Bird Count, Cathy Dyson had a second article in the Sunday paper with “Tips on counting crows and other birds.” Unfortunately, unless you subscribe to the Free Lance-Star, you probably can’t read the rest of this article or learn Cathy’s tips on how to the count crows in a murder. Doesn’t matter. I’m sure you can figure it out and be ready to spend some quality time in your back yards for this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count.

https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/great-backyard-bird-count-amy-gardner-wren-and-sparrow-merlin-ebird/article_c23f24b2-e582-11ef-a246-f7090d954e83.html

By the way, I was going to publish this article this morning, but the Verizon FIOS was out in the neighborhood most of the day. Thank God I still get a morning newspaper.

TTG

Posted in Local News, Nature, TTG | 6 Comments

Baltic grid divorce will further isolate Russian exclave in the EU

Kaliningrad faces new isolation within Europe as the Baltic States have opted for the European electricity grid over Russia’s. When the Soviets won Königsberg in 1946, the fortress-like slice of land between Poland and Lithuania was their bulwark in the Baltic Sea. Today, the ever more isolated exclave hosts nuclear-capable Iskander missiles and much of the Russian Baltic fleet. Following Moscow’s war on Ukraine, the EU started restricting overland access to the encircled piece of Russian territory. In response, the Kremlin said Kaliningrad “will always be” the country’s outpost in the Baltic.

Until now, the exclave has remained connected to the electricity grid controlled by Moscow. But from 7 to 9 February, the Baltics will transition away from the Russian power grid and, in doing so, they will take the nuclear-armed exclave out of the mega-grid controlled by the Kremlin. “After Baltic Power System synchronisation with Continental Europe, Kaliningrad area will operate in the island mode,” said Lithuanian grid operator Litgrid, who is in charge of the grid cut alongside their Baltic counterparts.

Energy islands – grids without external connections – are rare in Europe. Such networks are more challenging to operate, as they cannot rely on cross-border flows to balance power supply and demand variations.

On 8 February, the Baltics will “switch off all the power connections to Russia and Belarus… and these lines will be dismantled,” the Litgrid spokesperson told Euractiv. “Russia has not welcomed this transition,” said Susanne Nies, an energy expert at the Helmholtz Zentrum in Berlin, adding that Moscow had “employed various tactics” to disrupt the divorce process, ranging from cyberattacks to disinformation campaigns about rising energy bills. She and other experts in the region fear that the Baltics’ grid divorce could be overshadowed by Russian sabre-rattling. “Russia may also claim that Kaliningrad, its exclave and former Königsberg, is at risk,” said Maciej Jakubik, European programme coordinator at Polish think-tank Forum Energii.

While the grid divorce will further isolate the region, “this situation has been anticipated and discussed for over a decade, and island tests conducted since 2019 have proven successful,” he added. Litgrid confirmed to Euractiv that Kaliningrad had tested its ability to run a stable grid by itself annually “for quite some time now.” However, the exclave is not actually at risk, Nies says, citing its four power plants: “One coal-fired and three gas fueled.” Gas supply for the plants is secured in three ways: a floating LNG terminal, a pipeline to Belarus, and an expanded gas storage of 0.8 billion cubic metres. “The resources ensure the necessary gas supply for power generation,” explained Nies.

The Balts are already preparing for Russian pushback. “In response to recent incidents, Lithuania and Poland have enhanced the protection of the [cross-border power cable] LitPol Link,” said Jakubik, which means surveillance, physical enhancement and increased coordination. “All countries have also increased their cybersecurity services,” he added. The end will all be worth it, however, says Nies: “This is a historic leap toward energy security,” which will “reinforce the broader vision of a secure, interconnected, and resilient European energy market.”

https://www.euractiv.com/section/eet/news/baltic-grid-divorce-will-further-isolate-russian-exclave-in-the-eu/

Comment: In the grand scheme of things, this is not that big a story. But it does mark a significant step in the rebuilding of the new Iron Curtain. And judging by the Eurelectric link below, there was a lot to the process besides cutting some transmission lines. The next step will be converting the Baltic rail lines to European standard from the wider Soviet gauge. That will make the Baltic countries truly part of Europe.

As the article states, Kaliningrad is not in any dire trouble. I do wonder how long that pipeline from Belarus to Kaliningrad will stay operational. My guess is that there is an existing contract similar to the gas pipeline transit contracts between Russia and Ukraine. Once the contract is up, the gas will stop flowing through the pipeline. The same will probably happen to the existing rail line to Kaliningrad. Then Kaliningrad will become a true island.

https://www.eurelectric.org/in-detail/grid-synchronisation-and-energy-security-the-baltics-case/

Posted in Baltics, Energy, Russia, TTG | 29 Comments

Trump’s suggestion that US ‘take over’ the Gaza Strip is rejected by allies and adversaries alike

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump’s proposal that the United States “take over” the Gaza Strip and permanently resettle its Palestinian residents was swiftly rejected and denounced on Wednesday by American allies and adversaries alike. Trump’s suggestion came at a White House news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who smiled several times as the president detailed a plan to build new settlements for Palestinians outside the Gaza Strip, and for the U.S. to take “ownership” in redeveloping the war-torn territory into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump said. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs.”

The comments came amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, during which the militant group has been turning over hostages in exchange for the release of prisoners held by Israel. Egypt, Jordan and other American allies in the Middle East have already rejected the idea of relocating more than 2 million Palestinians from Gaza elsewhere in the region. Following Trump’s remarks, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement stressing the need for rebuilding “without moving the Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip.” Saudi Arabia, an important American ally, weighed in quickly on Trump’s expanded idea to take over the Gaza Strip in a sharply worded statement, noting that its long call for an independent Palestinian state was a “firm, steadfast and unwavering position.” “The kingdom of Saudi Arabia also stresses what it had previously announced regarding its absolute rejection of infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, annexation of Palestinian lands or efforts to displace the Palestinian people from their land,” the statement said.

The prime ministers of Australia and Ireland, foreign ministries from China, New Zealand and Germany, and a Kremlin spokesman all reiterated support for a two-state solution. “Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year, as it was 10 years ago,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Trump has already made waves — and upset longtime allies — suggesting the purchase of Greenland, the annexation of Canada and the possible takeover of the Panama Canal. It was not immediately clear whether the idea of taking over the Gaza Strip was a well thought out plan, or an opening gambit in negotiations.

“The comments last night were, of course, very concerning,” said Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. “I always adopt the approach when it comes to the U.S. administration of: judge them based on what they do and not what they say.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told state-run Anadolu Agency that Trump’s proposal on “deportations from Gaza is not something that either the region or we would accept.” “Even thinking about it, in my opinion, is wrong and absurd,” Fidan said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for the United Nations to “protect the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights,” saying that what Trump wanted to do would be “a serious violation of international law.” Hamas, which sparked the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, said Trump’s proposal was a “recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region.”“Instead of holding the Zionist occupation accountable for the crime of genocide and displacement, it is being rewarded, not punished,” the militant group said in a statement. In its attack on Israel, Hamas killed some 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and took about 250 hostages. Israel’s ensuing air and ground war has killed over 47,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to local health authorities who do not say how many of the dead were fighters. The war has left large parts of several cities in ruins and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people.

In the U.S., opposition politicians quickly rejected Trump’s idea, with Democratic Sen. Chris Coons calling his comments “offensive and insane and dangerous and foolish.” The idea “risks the rest of the world thinking that we are an unbalanced and unreliable partner because our president makes insane proposals,” Coons said, noting the irony of the proposal coming shortly after Trump had moved to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development. “Why on earth would we abandon decades of well-established humanitarian programs around the world, and now launch into one of the world’s greatest humanitarian challenges?” Coons said.

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American member of Congress from Michigan, accused Trump in a social media post of “openly calling for ethnic cleansing” with the idea of resettling Gaza’s entire population.

https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-trump-netanyahu-db2c407baf803291a4acf6edfd708c48

Comment: The last two weeks have been far more reminiscent of the age of empires than America first except for the gutting of USAID. Trump said he’s been thinking about this for quite some time, probably not as long as Greenland, but maybe longer than Panama. I do wonder if he discussed this with Netanyahu earlier than just before the press conference. Bibi looked a little taken aback when Trump laid out the plan. I wonder what he truly thinks of the plan. Is he ready to give up Gaza to the US in exchange for a penthouse suite in the future Trump Gaza Spa and Resort?

Does Trump really think this is going to be just another redevelopment project or does he realize disappearing the Palestinians from Gaza is something Israel has been unable to do with over a year of high intensity fighting and bombardment? I suppose he could impose a true blockade of aid and wait for the Palestinians to starve to death or he could drive them into the sea militarily or firebomb the lot of them. Or as some MAGA apologists say, this is just the opening bargaining position in an attempt to solve an intractable international problem.

Another question in my mind is what is running through the minds of Rashida Tlaib and the other supporters of Palestinians and apologists for Hamas. They must be feeling pretty damned stupid for refusing to support Harris for not being sufficiently supportive of the Palestinians. That’s a fatal flaw in a lot of “all or nothing” liberal activists.

TTG

Posted in Borg Wars, Israel, Palestine, TTG | 154 Comments

“Trump says he will continue funding Ukraine’s war effort — but he wants something rare in return”

President Donald Trump says he wants access to Ukraine’s bonanza of rare earth and critical minerals in exchange for the billions of dollars in military aid Washington has been supplying to Kyiv. It’s an idea previously suggested by Republican senators and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who sought to appeal to Trump’s dealmaker persona as a way of keeping alive Washington’s support of Kyiv. “We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earth and other things,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. “I want security of the rare earth, and they’re willing to do it.”

As well as being a global breadbasket — Ukraine is a huge supplier of wheat and other agricultural commodities — the country also has a rich seam of rare earth and critical minerals. Elements such as lithium, gallium and neodymium are crucial in producing a vast range of technologies that include electric vehicle batteries, solar panels and cutting-edge military hardware. As such, the U.S. and China among others have increasingly coveted them.

Trump’s comments Monday came as Ukraine and its European neighbors anxiously awaited details of his plan to end the war in Ukraine that Russia launched with its full-scale invasion three years ago. Though the president has offered few details of how peace might be achieved, his overriding complaint has been that European nations have not contributed as much as the $175 billion in assistance that makes America Ukraine’s biggest donor. He also reiterated his long-held desire Monday that “we’re going to stop that ridiculous war.”

That impulse has prompted nervousness among Kyiv’s supporters that Trump may try to force a ceasefire favorable to Russian President Vladimir Putin. With Russia making steady battlefield gains, Putin has shown no appetite for a truce without significant territorial gains and a promise Ukraine will never join NATO.

Zelenskyy has said in the past that he sees the war as one between Russia and the West, not just Ukraine, and as such has implored Western countries to provide more weaponry. The Ukrainian president has also made positive comments about working with Trump — some analysts say that he has little choice — and now there appears to be some agreement on the subject of rare earth minerals.

China dominates the global market for rare earth metals, securing rights to mine some 60% and produce up to 90% of the world’s supply, according to the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies. That’s partly due its vast “Belt and Road” infrastructure project through which it has developed ties to resource-rich countries. But also its willingness to process these environmentally damaging materials on behalf of Western countries, which until recently have been happy to offload this burden.

Ukraine is a key player, too, with upward of 5% of the world’s mineral supply, according to its national Geological Association. Many of those crucial minerals are under the frigid trenches and minefields in eastern Ukraine, however, and at risk of falling into the hands of Putin. Zelenskyy’s office on Monday welcomed Trump’s comments as “part of the Victory Plan that President Zelensky presented to President Trump in the fall,” but warned that “we must ensure the security of Ukraine and these resources so that Russia does not simply seize them physically.”That so-called “victory plan,” proposed by Zelenskyy in October, offered “strategic partners” such as the U.S. “a special agreement” to access deposits of uranium, titanium, lithium, graphite that Ukraine says are worth trillions of dollars.

Trump appearing to adopt this plan shows Zelenskyy’s success in appealing to the president’s dealmaker instinct, according to Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House, a London-based think tank.m“Zelenskyy knows how Trump likes to make deals, and this plan was to make Ukraine an asset, not a liability,” Lutsevych said. “But we still do not know Trump’s strategy. We know bits of it but he says very little, and we only know what he says.”

When asked about Trump’s comments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday that it was merely “an offer to buy aid” rather than “provide it on a free of charge basis. It is better, of course, not to provide it at all and thereby contribute to the end of the conflict,” Peskov added.

Though many in Europe still fear that Trump may hand Putin a win, Ukrainians themselves appear to trust the American president more than their EU counterparts. A December poll by the New Europe Center, a Ukrainian nongovernmental organization, found more than 44% of respondents said they trusted Trump — higher than most other European countries.

One of those maintaining a positive outlook is Taras Byk, 41, a consultant and civil activist in Kyiv. He told NBC News that the rare-earth proposal would be a “win-win scenario for both Ukraine and the USA. We would like to cooperate as equal partners,” he said, “if this exchange will lead to the retreat of Russia, such an option is much better than war.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/trump-says-will-continue-funding-ukraines-war-effort-wants-something-r-rcna190555

Comment: This NBC article is pretty damned complete. Zelenskiy proposed the deal. Trump finds it compelling. And the Kremlin is deeply worried that the deal will come to fruition. 

I’m thinking that Trump will insist that the EU purchase LNG from the US rather than from Russia and continue upping their defense spending and support of Ukraine as part of the deal. This would be a good deal for Trump and Ukraine. It would have initial costs for the EU, but would eventually be best for them and the Atlantic alliance (or at least the European alliance). Putin and Russia would be the immediate loser, but with the war over, the sanctions would fall away for the most part and Putin could start investing in bettering the lot of Russians and rebuilding his armed forces. 

TTG

Posted in TTG, Ukraine Crisis | 46 Comments

In NASA asteroid samples, scientists discover key building blocks of life

A NASA video from October 2023 shortly after the sample was returned to Earth

In samples taken from a distant asteroid, scientists have discovered a host of organic molecules, including key building blocks of life. The surprising finding suggests the chemical ingredients necessary for life may have been widespread across the early solar system. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which launched in 2016, scooped up bits of dust, soil and rocks from the asteroid Bennu and then brought them to Earth in 2023. The 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid is thought to have formed in the first 10 million years of the solar system’s existence.

An analysis of that collected asteroid material, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, indicates that the samples included thousands of organic compounds and 14 of the 20 amino acids that life on Earth uses to form proteins. The samples also contained four “nucleobases” — the main components of DNA and RNA, which store and transmit genetic blueprints within our cells. The researchers did not find evidence of life itself on Bennu; rather, their results bolster the theory that asteroids that crashed into Earth when it was young may have delivered the necessary ingredients for life to take hold. The findings could also mean that the chances life formed on other planets and moons in the solar system could be higher than scientists previously thought. “The OSIRIS-REx mission is already rewriting the textbook on what we understand about the ingredients thought to be necessary for the emergence of life in our solar system,” Nicky Fox, the associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said Wednesday in a news briefing.

Similar organic molecules, including amino acids, have been detected in meteorites before, but these fragments of space rocks are imperfect specimens because they are studied after enduring fiery trips through Earth’s atmosphere.

Whereas meteorites have been exposed to and contaminated by conditions on Earth that could skew scientific results, gathering samples directly from an asteroid in space is like peering into a time capsule from the nascent solar system. “What’s so significant about the OSIRIS-REx Bennu findings is that those samples are pristine,” said Danny Glavin, an astrobiologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

The return canister that carried the Bennu samples shielded them from harsh conditions during atmospheric re-entry, Glavin said. “The bottom line is: We have a higher confidence that the organic material we’re seeing in these samples are extraterrestrial and not contamination,” he said. “We can trust these results.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-asteroid-samples-scientists-discover-214224865.html

Comment: So this small sample from the asteroid Bennu contained 14 of the 20 amino acids that life on Earth uses to form proteins and four nucleobases — the main components of DNA and RNA, which store and transmit genetic blueprints within our cells. All that from one sample taken from one asteroid. The sample also contained abundant carbon and water. Sounds to me like good evidence that life originated elsewhere and just happened to be deposited on Earth. I find it also reasonable to believe that those building blocks of life were deposited elsewhere in the universe or at least within our solar system. Have any of these things been detected on our Moon or on Mars yet?

TTG

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02472-9

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08495-6

Posted in Science, Space, TTG | 16 Comments

Thoughts on the Potomac Air Crash

I’m willing to wait on the NTSB investigation, but one claim, or series of claims, have given me pause. It concerns the altitudes of both the Blackhawk helicopter and the airliner at the time of impact. Experienced pilots have said that helicopters along that Potomac flight route should be below 200 feet AGL. Some, including our new SecDef have suggested the Blackhawk was well above that altitude.

Airliners on approach to DCA flying up the Potomac should be 400 to 500 feet AGL. That much makes perfect sense. However, in order to land, an airliner has to eventually descend to ground level to land. That also makes perfect sense, but I haven’t heard that obvious fact mentioned.

Drawing a straight line from the south end of runway 33 to the far side of the Potomac is approximately 4,000 feet. That point is the approximate crash point. Assuming a 3 degree glide path, common for airliners, the airliner would have to be 200 feet AGL at that point based on my ancient knowledge of trigonometry. That would put both the airliner and the Blackhawk at the same altitude without the Blackhawk pilot making an altitude error.

Am I missing anything here?

TTG

Posted in Current Affairs, Local News, TTG | 97 Comments