Category talk:USA

March 2017
Bizarre reported pending appointment of Fiona Hill as a senior adviser on European and Russian policy, "well-known scholar of Russian President Vladimir Putin" (sample), Brookings institute --which in the past has launched Susan Rice. Sample shows that she studied sources and attempted some methods to analyse (learned in her intelligence officer job perhaps); but I am not sure she actually understands what is going on, and that the method applied is particularly useful, academically or more importantly for a sane practical politics. --Resup (talk) 23:34, 5 March 2017 (UTC)

[http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/03/03/done-paul-craig-roberts/ What Is To Be Done? — Paul Craig Roberts]; (more spot-on than the above, IMHO). --Resup (talk) 23:47, 5 March 2017 (UTC)

After Trump win

 * Flynn on Flynn, Feb. 14, 2017
 * ''“It wasn’t about sanctions. It was about the 35 guys who were thrown out,” Flynn said. “So that’s what it turned out to be. It was basically, ‘Look, I know this happened. We’ll review everything.’ I never said anything such as, ‘We’re going to review sanctions,’ or anything like that.”


 * 'Guardian' on Strategic Initiatives Group vs National Sec Council (in the end), Feb. 14, 2017
 * --Resup (talk) 01:09, 15 February 2017 (UTC)

January, 2017
Trump-Putin phone call (in progress)(Kremlin read-out)--Resup (talk) 18:50, 28 January 2017 (UTC)

December, 2016
Trump receives 'very nice' Christmas letter from Putin - CNN, December 23, 2016. Response & text link

Putin press conference (Engl), addresses nuclear weapons controversy in particular, December 23, 2016.

November, 2016
At this point, situation is uncertain. Russian officials stated that they had some contacts with Trump election team, but it is unlikely to be substantial. At this point, there were no substantial after-win official contacts, although Trump stated that they are planned. In the meantime, Russian presidential spokesman Peskov cautiously stated two key Russian positions(1) opposing NATO enlargement. "Trump may be able to convince NATO to move troops away from the Russian border", a key concern since promises given to Gorbachev that NATO will not move East were broken. All Russian presidents and overwhelming part of society were against such moves and considered it as hostile; NATO is viewed as at least an opponent, and among power ministries, defense and  security, as possibly an enemy. Moving towards border decrease missiles arrival time and increase chances for a successful first nuclear strike if that is launched, in particular. Significant steps were taken by Russia to prevent NATO moving East, and conflicts in Georgia and Ukraine had that underlying reason (2) Crimea. Peskov stated that this is not under negotiation, and that Russia is prepared to wait for as long as it takes for this to be accepted. This position reflects standing of the Russian leadership, and is supported by strong public majority in Russia as well as Crimea. Even before the post-Maidan events of 2014, there were several referendums in Crimea where locals were trying to gain independence from Ukraine and.or join Russia. Crimea move from Russia to Ukraine 'for the occasion of an anniversary of Russian-Ukrainian friendship' was viewed as arbitrary/voluntaristic but of little practical effect while USSR was still in place. That changed after USSR collapse and was not properly addressed in the process of chaotic USSR collapse by Russian and Ukrainian administrations; anti-Gorbachev and pro-Western positions of Yeltsin administration were prevailing considerations. Crimea is also a strategically important base of the Russian Black Sea fleet. It was maintained under a lease while Crimea was under Ukrainian control; there was a sentiment that the deal may be endangered post-Maidan, and Russia took steps to establish security control, while the public sentiment was strongly pro-Russian throughout.

Trump position with respect to NATO is briefly 'America first' (and an expectation of improved relations with Russia), but details and relationship with Russia are not spelled in detail at this point,- apart from a cautious hope for the best. --Resup (talk) 11:13, 13 November 2016 (UTC)
 * Trump interview before the win, Transcript: Donald Trump Expounds on His Foreign Policy Views - NY Times, March 26, 2016 (addresses Ukraine issue)--Resup (talk) 11:28, 13 November 2016 (UTC)

Putin-Trump phone conversation -Trump/Media@ptt.gov readout;Kremlin readout (Eng), 14 Nov. 2016 --Resup (talk) 21:33, 14 November 2016 (UTC)

Sources, before Trump win

 * 'Putin Would Eat President Trump for Lunch', by Leonid Bershidsky, bloombergview.com, Jul. 31, 2015
 * In June, Trump told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly why he'd likely have a "great relationship" with the Russian leader. "He’s got a tremendous popularity in Russia, they love what he’s doing, they love what he represents," Trump said. "I was over in Moscow two years ago and I will tell you — you can get along with those people and get along with them well. You can make deals with those people. Obama can’t."
 * Can Donald Trump Build A Campaign To Last? by Jessica Taylor, npr.org, July 29, 2015.
 * Trump for President? Paul Craig Roberts, June 20, 2015 --Resup (talk) 08:33, 1 August 2015 (UTC)


 * "We are moving to a big war" (i.e. bigger conflict in Syria)- Says the former head of the intelligence department of the Ministry of Defense Michael Flynn, Kommersant (Rus), 21.12.2015. (google translate).
 * But if there is cooperation between Russia and USA, we don't really have to. ---Not a proxy war, but not a cooperation either at this point; no common vision of goals and means/ rules. If something is too arcane or plain idiotic, that does not work well for Russia. For the US, seems hard to see things as they are, not as they were set, or meant, to be. )
 * On government-to-government level, Russia would say (as in World Order-Putin interview to V Soloviev) that not only the US, but they too, have interests, and everybody should follow equally understood and applied transparent rules. (Any objections to that needs to be sent to Kremlin). --Resup (talk) 13:22, 27 December 2015 (UTC)

The 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia announced it will send 12 A-10 Warthog attack planes and crews to Central and Eastern European to bolster NATO’s “Operation Atlantic Resolve,” an ongoing show of military might meant to deter Russian aggression in the region. Earlier there were plans to eliminate A-10s due to budget cuts --Resup (talk) 13:17, 15 August 2015 (UTC)


 * Beginning of March -announced 28.3.2016 Brennan visited Moscow


 * 30.3.16 A highly placed representative of the US president administration told Interfax that USA does not plan any joint operations with Russia to liberate Raqqa. (Earlier, an assistant head of Russian FM Oleg Syromolotov stated to Interfax that military departments in USA and Russia are discussing coordinating actions to liberate Raqqa. --Resup (talk) 18:24, 30 March 2016 (UTC)


 * 17 June 2016. Close encounter of the Navies (video) -Russia protests. --Resup (talk) 13:46, 28 June 2016 (UTC)


 * US diplomat tackled by a cop in Moscow -video, RFE/RL report, 7 July 2016. Announced persona non grata and mutual accusations as a follow-up.  --Resup (talk) 20:50, 7 July 2016 (UTC)


 * CBS News, Sept. 11, 2016
 * CIA director John Brennan: Russia is both an “adversary” and, on certain issues, must be an ally. “Russia is a formidable adversary in a number of areas, also there are areas that we need to be able to work with Russia, specifically in Syria”  --Resup (talk) 17:38, 11 September 2016 (UTC)
 * an entry for Russia here should have been: Ukraine first  (the actual entry is up to the Russian president) --Resup (talk) 18:02, 11 September 2016 (UTC)


 * John Kirby, US DOS Spokesperson Daily Press Briefing, Washington, DC September 28, 2016
 * MR KIRBY: The consequences are that the civil war will continue in Syria, that extremists and extremists groups will continue to exploit the vacuums that are there in Syria to expand their operations, which will include, no question, attacks against Russian interests, perhaps even Russian cities, and Russia will continue to send troops home in body bags, and they will continue to lose resources – even, perhaps, more aircraft. The stability that they claim they seek in Syria will be ever more elusive, and it’s hard to imagine how a continued war – not just a civil war now, but increasingly more violent extremist activity in Syria – can be in the interest of a nation that says, that claims, and has claimed publicly time and time again that what they want to see is a whole, unified, pluralistic Syria and a stable Syria, a secure Syria, a Syria where they want to continue to have a defense relationship and a presence. So that’s what’s in it for them.
 * QUESTION: Well, when you say – just a quick follow-up – when you say that extremists will exploit the vacuum and that could include attacks on Russia’s cities and Russia could send its troops back in body bags, that also could suggest that perhaps the rebels could start sending home their troops in body bags.
 * MR KIRBY: It’s going to mean, again, more violence, more war, and you can expect casualties on both sides of this (etc.)


 * (RU MoD, RU FM responded in kind, etc).
 * --Resup (talk) 18:31, 29 September 2016 (UTC)

Recent history
9/11, ‘We’re the only plane in the sky’, Politico, September 11, 2016.--Resup (talk) 04:59, 12 September 2016 (UTC)
 * Gordon Johndroe: [Putin] was important — all these military systems were all put in place for nuclear alerts. If we went on alert, we needed Putin to know that we weren’t readying an attack on Russia. He was great — he said immediately that Russia wouldn’t respond, Russia would stand down, that he understood we were under attack and needed to be on alert.
 * Ari Fleischer: Putin was fantastic that day. He was a different Vladimir Putin in 2001. America could have had no better ally on September 11th than Russia and Putin.

Money and Men
"Some people just do not fit well into a highly skilled market-based economy. They are perfectly decent people,- we will send them off to Afghanistan. But they are not going to command a big price. You still want to get them most out of their abilities. But if their abilities leave them unable to earn much more than the poverty level ... we ought to do something additional for them..."-Warren Buffett.
 * (Among familiar characters, those who 'do not fit well' may include Strelkov, Mozgovoi for Novorossia, perhaps some American counterparts like Stanley McChrystal; perhaps Putin and Trump in their roles as politicians; and quite many, though not all, artists and scientists. Those who 'fit well' had diverse contributions-including the current pre-WW3 looking crisis ...--Resup (talk) 22:48, 10 September 2015 (UTC))

Legal Matters
The Rule Of Law No Longer Exists In Western Civilization — Paul Craig Roberts --Resup (talk) 10:09, 9 January 2016 (UTC)

Foreign Policy consultants for election campaigns

 * Trump foreign policy team
 * Hillary Clinton team is said to have 'several hundred' advisers; on foreign policy, Jake Sullivan and Laura Rosenberger are at the helm.
 * --Resup (talk) 13:13, 30 March 2016 (UTC)

Events
Explosions at USA military base in Japan reported (foxnews) --Resup (talk) 18:36, 23 August 2015 (UTC)

Arrests

 * MOSCOW, December 25. /TASS/. Russian national A. Burkov (no name is given) was on December 13 detained in Tel Aviv airport and placed under arrest on US authorities’ warrant, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s commissioner for human rights, democracy and rule of law, Konstantin Dolgov, said in a comment posted on the ministry’s website Friday. "We hope the Israeli authorities will prevent extradition of A.Y.Burkov to the United States, where he, like many other Russian nationals, would surely be in for politicized and biased justice," Dolgov said. --Resup (talk) 15:20, 25 December 2015 (UTC)
 * Not showing up on ATF or Interpol searches. There are records on arrestwarrant.org, unclear whether at all related.


 * Earlier, another man Yu. V. Efremov was arrested in Finalnd on a US warrant (said to be by a US branch of Interpol)-Novaia Gazeta, Russian FM, 23.12.2015. Efremov is a MOI colonel in reserve, formerly a sniper in Afghanistan campaign, a body guard team member of the former Defense Minister Shaposhnikov, and a spetznaz commander. He is said to attend a NSSF  firearm exhibition in USA in 2011 legally, and has visited Germany and Finland several times.--Resup (talk) 15:44, 25 December 2015 (UTC)
 * He does not come up Interpol on Interpol wanted search, --only another younger Efremov from Ukraine does...

Sources Discussion
Somehow US independents seem to be more visible in Russian sources (where Robert Parry, Steven Cohen, PC Roberts appear often enough and fairly upstream to spot them easily for a non-converted. While Russian opposition has considerably more visibility/traction at home, and quite enough abroad. Those guys at Citizen Initiative (mainpage) call for 'national dialogue' but it seems to me what they are quite inaudible and invisible in the US, so not a great chance for a dialogue to happen. Actually, not sure how a national dialogue in USA (on X, for anything)  is supposed to happen at all. It is a one way flow from the top through media to the ground level, seems to me. In Russia, much harsher top hand, yet people take more notice. Glad to know if that I am getting it all wrong.  --Resup (talk) 00:12, 27 June 2016 (UTC)

Dancing with Bears, (with said to be (or is it?)  German -Russian pact in the making on top). Unsure what's going on here, but one could not really, full time, dance WITH the bear back in 1989, and right now, well, I guess, depends on what the dance is (and overall feels more like 1989 than later in 90's after the USSR collapse) --Resup (talk) 11:19, 27 June 2016 (UTC)


 * He has a biography on his page. Helmer has been wrong before but is always an interesting read with a good sense of humour. As to the German-Russian "pact", I wish it were true and certainly a lot of important people in Germany have turned from criticism of Merkel to pure anger after Brexit. But what makes me wonder is that he claims that Schäuble is involved, who has been the embodiment of loyalty for all of his political life. As to your previous post, I unfortunately agree that the "dissident" voices have absolutely no chance to get a hearing in the US media other than by those already convinced reading "fringe" outlets or watching RT. --CE (talk) 12:33, 27 June 2016 (UTC)


 * "National dialog" here seems to mean national, of the nation, its people, or government, or anything, in a friendlier tone. It does seem to be trying for as close to official as possible, but it wasn't close. They did get the mayor of Salem, Oregon to send regards. Might be a Llama exchange program in the works (I made that up). Some fairly esteemed folks, but clearly not in or out of the State Department or even a top-tier think tank, etc. anytime soon. Glad they did it, especially the Crimea visit to show the other side of (Crimexit?), if only to show how lacking such initiatives are among our decrepit-minded official class. --Caustic Logic (talk) 14:03, 27 June 2016 (UTC)

Gordon Duff of Veterans today, with (another) weird article. With his colorful 'rhetoric' (let's say) aside, claims westerners were captured... --Resup (talk) 20:14, 5 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Follow-up: "U.S. jets abandoned Syrian rebels in the desert. Then they lost a battle to ISIS",  Washington Post, 6 July 2016;
 * "Defeat under Abu Kemal", Cassad, 7 July 2016 (multimedia and referring to Western sources on losses) --Resup (talk) 09:34, 8 July 2016 (UTC)

Senator Richard Black. "Outspoken Virginia state senator travels to Syria in support of Assad", Washington Post, April 27, 2016
 * "U.S. Policy in Syria: An Interview with VA Senator Richard Black", interviewed by Jeff Steinberg, EIR,  of LaRouche PAC (political action committee), May 6, 2016 --Resup (talk) 13:05, 9 July 2016 (UTC)
 * VA State Sen. Richard Black's Address to April 7 Schiller Conference

Carter Page: Donald Trump aide slams America's policy on Russia during speech in Moscow, Telegraph, 8 July 2016


 * https://www.donaldjtrump.com/lp/mainstream-media-accountability-survey, noticed on February 17, 2017
 * Qs 7. Do you use a source not listed above? 8. Which online source do you use the most? (A: ourselves? ) --Resup (talk) 23:51, 17 February 2017 (UTC)


 * McCain the free (MSM) press defender on NBC, Feb. 19, 2017 --Resup (talk) 16:59, 19 February 2017 (UTC)


 * RT finds the weirdest ex-'Mossad agent' of the century, Juval Aviv, Israeli-American, who takes typical globalist/'Democratic' line, predicts Trump impeachment, etc. Hopefully, garbage. --Resup (talk) 16:37, 22 February 2017 (UTC)
 * On starting comments, two state vs 1 state: maybe Trump does not have a clue, but nor anybody else (while long history of preceding effort achieved quite little on the ground). So it's more like, let's try something else, and not necessarily a sinister political/reelection plot. Recent poll shows that only Israeli Arabs support 1 state solution (for gaining equal rights), while majority of Israeli Jews oppose (for preserving identity), and Palestinians oppose too (for want of a state). No other solution is too popular either. So the poll essentially supports the status quo --which nobody really likes. --Resup (talk) 09:56, 23 February 2017 (UTC)


 * So called McCain & Russian pranksters audio;--but is this really McCain??? --Resup (talk) 19:16, 22 February 2017 (UTC)

Elections

 * Donald Trump to Meet With Senator Joni Ernst, a Possible Running Mate, NY Times, July 4, 2016. --Resup (talk) 19:52, 4 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Donald Trump selects Mike Pence as VP CNN, July 16, 2016 --Resup (talk) 13:05, 22 July 2016 (UTC)
 * On the issues: Donald Trump, acceptance speech;  Mike Pence.
 * RNC platform (full link there)
 * --Resup (talk) 11:21, 23 July 2016 (UTC)


 * Hillary Clinton selects Kaine for Vice President.
 * On the issues: Hillary Clinton, (acceptance speech - to appear);  Tim Kaine.
 * DNC platform
 * Syria: "negotiated political transition that ends Assad’s rule", and providing "greater humanitarian assistance". Russia: discussed in the threats category (pp 42-43; ..."deter Russian aggression" (Ukraine/Syria)... stand by the Russian people (ie pro-Western opposition).
 * --Resup (talk) 17:04, 5 August 2016 (UTC)


 * Independent candidates here. Many of them. Typically get few votes (less than 1 % in 2012; so less than in Iran) --Resup (talk) 12:04, 23 July 2016 (UTC)

Healthcare

 * Clinton: keep Obamacare +  'make a “public option” possible. She will also support letting people over 55 years old buy into Medicare' . Reality is that for low income and little prior coverage those monthly costs (just for nothing-for having it; and there is a penalty for not having it) are completely unaffordable. (For that category at least) it is a scam. The promise here is wishy-washy is no sense it will be meaningfully fixed. Public option did not pass Congress and may not passed again, so this may not happen and will be blamed on Congress.
 * Trump: repeal Obamacare, and... . Health savings account will not change actual costs (by more than tax benefit, like 20-30 % or whatever); and such savings may be 100% lost if not used. On top of that, some ideas, but what will be the real consequences of those ideas is (very) unclear.
 * There is a serious problem affecting many people shut out of health care for financial reasons. There is a recognition of the issue existence by the candidates, and talking points, but not a fix. (And no White Helmets for this too).--Resup (talk) 13:04, 25 October 2016 (UTC)


 * Total health care expenses, in 2013 figures, 17 % of GDP, 9008 USD per person (2.85 trln USD total).
 * Obamacare enrollment, about 12 mln people, total cost, about 108 bln USD.
 * Still uninsured: 11.4% of population, about 36 mln people. Their health expenses will be about 325 bln USD
 * Total affected, Obamacare or uninsured, about 48 mln people, about twice the 2013 population of Syria.

Campaign expenses
expenses by all presidential candidates still remaining in the race: about 1.8 bln USD as of October 21, 2016 (and what did this buy?That would pay average health costs of 200 thousand people for a year...)--Resup (talk) 13:04, 25 October 2016 (UTC)

High Techs Speeches

 * (Place reserved for Google speech for HC at DNC convention) --Resup (talk) 13:05, 22 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Not in front of the curtain; Mike 'the no Large Sodas' Bloomberg as some replacement (full video). Curious, but what is that he is really trying to do? The weakness is obvious to everybody himself included, keeps repeating that his endorsement applies 'this November'. Positions himself to run  next time, if Trump is the winner?  If this is so important/he is so worried, why he is not trying now, mulling over his own run for a long time? --Resup (talk) 23:05, 29 July 2016 (UTC)


 * "Full Speech: Peter Thiel / First Investor in Facebook - Republican National Convention"- video --Resup (talk) 13:05, 22 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Peter Thiel -2, 31 October, 2016 --Resup (talk) 15:27, 31 October 2016 (UTC)

Apologies

 * Trump apology (video), Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2016.
 * Video, youtube, 8 Oct. 2016.

The famous Christiane Amanpour-Lavrov interview
Amanpour-Lavrov, CNN, published on Oct 13, 2016

Debate transcripts

 * First debate, moderator Lester Holt, anchor of “NBC Nightly News", September 27, 2016


 * Second debate, St Lois, town hall format, ABC moderators: politico.com, NY Times, October 9, 2016


 * Third debate, moderated by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, October 19, 2016, Las Vegas

Gettysburg
Trump’s First 100 Days Speech in Gettysburg, October 22, 2016 text,video

Polls
As of October 22, 2016, Hilary Clinton leads in most of the battleground states. She has 136 more projected electoral college voters (262 to 126, with 150 toss up). General national polls show closer race than electoral college predictions. (Polls use sampling; if more and different sort of people will show up massively, it can possibly be not very accurate). --Resup (talk) 15:38, 23 October 2016 (UTC)
 * Sampling-related, zerohedge --Resup (talk) 02:25, 24 October 2016 (UTC)

Polls are tight, within margin of error, realclearpolitics.com.

US military, 67% Trump, 21 % Clinton, military.com, 2 November 2016. --Resup (talk) 15:18, 6 November 2016 (UTC)
 * Military females, 50% Trump, 36% Clinton
 * Military black or African American, 27 % Trump, 59% Clinton

Weiner probe emails
Video: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton spoke to reporters Oct. 28 in Des Moines about the FBI's new inquiries into the private email server she used as secretary of state, in : "Computer seized in Weiner probe prompts FBI to take new steps in Clinton email inquiry", Washington Post], 28 Oct. 2016
 * --Resup (talk) 11:40, 29 October 2016 (UTC)

Security scares

 * Trump hustled offstage in Nevada after security scare, returns shortly thereafter - Fox News (video); express.co.uk (another video/photos), happened in the evening of November 5, 2016, in Reno, Nevada.
 * IS calls for attacks..., full access with paid subscription, Site Intel group, November 5, 2016
 * --Resup (talk) 12:17, 6 November 2016 (UTC)

And the winner is...
Presidential elections results by state and map -NY Times, November 9, 2016

Donald Trump's victory speech - CNN, November 9, 2016


 * --Resup (talk) 17:31, 9 November 2016 (UTC)

The Morning After

 * "On Nov. 9, Let's Forget Donald Trump Happened", by Noah Feldman - BloombergView, October 23, 2016
 * --Resup(talk) 23:35, 23 October 2016 (UTC)

Obama Administration

 * BREAKING: Julian Assange Will Agree To US Extradition Under One Condition: Obama Must Grant Clemency To Manning, by Ryan Saavedra, The Gateway Pundit, January 12, 2017
 * Chelsea Manning to Be Released Early as Obama Commutes Sentence - NY Times, January 17, 2017

(comment: at times of war, military censorship is appropriate. --Resup (talk) 10:29, 18 January 2017 (UTC))

Official
Transition team official web site (greatagain.gov)
 * Defense: against radical ideologies, terrorism, +for nuclear and cyber security
 * Energy: deregulation (and redefining environmental policies)
 * Health: repeal Obamacare, allow purchasing insurance across state lines, enable States to experiment with innovative methods to deliver healthcare
 * Finance, dismantling Dodd-Frank
 * ''The Dodd-Frank economy does not work for working people. Bureaucratic red tape and Washington mandates are not the answer.  The Financial Services Policy Implementation team will be working to dismantle the Dodd-Frank Act and replace it with new policies to encourage economic growth and job creation.
 * Trade: bringing jobs back to USA

Security

 * Incoming national security adviser H. R. McMaster (wiki) The Pipe Dream of Easy War -NY Times, July 20, 2013
 * It's not just technology; it's an instrument of policy and it is human.

Address to the Congress, February 28, 2017
Uplifting, masterful speech, with a call for unity; and essentially the same core agenda. Critics note that specifics are missing. --Resup (talk) 19:06, 1 March 2017 (UTC)
 * ''Absent from Trump’s discussion of these issues was any proper explanation of how any of his proposals would be paid for. He did say his trillion-dollar infrastructure plan would be “financed through both public and private capital,” but he didn’t provide any details.
 * (1 trillion-dollar infrastructure plan was advocated by Democrats initially).
 * On foreign policy front, support for NATO, and vaguely/generically stated wish to have more peaceful world and to establish new friendships (it was not explicitly stated which friendships)