Hi there, !
Today Sun 06/17/2018 Sat 06/16/2018 Fri 06/15/2018 Thu 06/14/2018 Wed 06/13/2018 Tue 06/12/2018 Mon 06/11/2018 Archives
Rantburg
533915 articles and 1862585 comments are archived on Rantburg.

Today: 42 articles and 97 comments as of 19:57.
Post a news link    Post your own article   
Area: WoT Operations    WoT Background    Opinion        Politix   
Taliban supreme leader offers direct negotiations with the United States
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 3: Non-WoT
8 18:43 Spot [11] 
3 18:08 si vis pacem, para bellum [13] 
9 12:34 rjschwarz [10] 
8 15:03 USN, Ret. [8] 
1 13:52 Vast Right Wing Conspiracy [10] 
2 07:52 Procopius2k [5] 
Page 1: WoT Operations
0 [5]
5 23:54 Seeking Cure For Ignorance [11]
1 08:38 Frank G [5]
0 [3]
0 [5]
0 [9]
0 [5]
2 11:55 trailing wife [12]
0 [15]
0 [13]
1 12:21 Mullah Richard [8]
0 [5]
2 10:20 Besoeker [9]
0 [7]
0 [6]
0 [10]
0 [4]
Page 2: WoT Background
6 19:10 AlmostAnonymous5839 [11]
6 09:28 Raj [15]
0 [8]
3 18:46 Spot [16]
1 10:51 Chusong Wittlesbach7306 [8]
0 [9]
1 16:51 lord garth [16]
0 [9]
2 12:28 ranture [5]
0 [5]
5 23:18 CrazyFool [12]
0 [9]
0 [3]
0 [8]
2 12:56 jpal [5]
7 10:28 DarthVader [7]
Page 4: Opinion
8 21:56 gorb [8]
Page 6: Politix
7 22:06 Besoeker [10]
3 16:51 Bobby [9]
-Lurid Crime Tales-
Rev. Al Sharpton Gave Himself A $437,555 "Bonus"
[TMZ] Activist got huge payout from not-for-profit group he heads. The not-for-profit "social justice organization" headed by Rev. Al Sharpton paid the New York activist a whopping $437,555 bonus--on top of his $250,000 salary--according to the group's most recent tax return submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.
Note they didn't specify which decade. He's been a bit "deficient" in those matters
The hefty payment to Sharpton was revealed in a filing by the National Action Network, the Harlem-based group Sharpton founded nearly 25 years ago. The organization's 2016 tax return, which Sharpton signed in November 2017, disclosed the "one-time bonus" to the 63-year-old civil rights leader.

According to its tax return, the National Action Network "works within the spirit and tradition" of Martin Luther King Jr. and promotes "an agenda that includes an equal standard of justice and decency for all people regardless of race." Sharpton, who serves as the group's president and CEO, spends an average of 40 hours a week working for the organization, according to the tax return.

The "Christian activist social justice organization" has 34 employees and 125 volunteers and reported $5.821 million in revenue in 2016 (the most recent year for which financial records have been made public). Expenses for 2016 totaled $5.817 million.

Sharpton's 2016 "base salary" was $250,000. The bonus payment ballooned his total compensation to $687,555.

In justifying the bonus, the National Action Network--which Sharpton controls--told the IRS that, over the past 25 years, Sharpton had "periodically declined compensation to ensure that the organization had sufficient operating funds to fulfill its payroll obligations and maintain ongoing operations." The organization added that it had previously "received the services of the President and CEO without fully compensating for his services.
Posted by: Frank G || 06/14/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It amazes me that the IRS does not seem to have any liens on Sharpton or this 'nonprofit' for his back payroll taxes.
Posted by: Raj || 06/14/2018 8:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Venda, Tswana, Tsonga, Swazi Khoisan, San Khoi, Khoikhkhoi, Ndebele, and several other Bantu and non-Bantu speaking tribal hierarchies (kings, headmen, etc) even though not part of the official South African government structure, receive gov't stipends. It's an effective method of insuring political loyalty keeping the shi* level down. Some might refer to it as political blackmail. This might answer the lingering IRS question, I don't know.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/14/2018 8:59 Comments || Top||

#3  How humanitarian of him.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/14/2018 10:08 Comments || Top||

#4  the National Action Network "works within the spirit and tradition" of Martin Luther King Jr.

Well I guess so!
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/14/2018 10:35 Comments || Top||

#5  Not bad pay for being a rabble-rousing community organizer trouble-maker and shakedown artist. Beats working for a living. Almost as good as being a Congress-critter.
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/14/2018 11:00 Comments || Top||

#6  "Travel and Entertainment Expenses are reimbursed separately"
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 06/14/2018 11:31 Comments || Top||

#7  Preachin', it be hard mofo work brother
Posted by: Cheaderhead || 06/14/2018 15:56 Comments || Top||

#8  $437,555? Cheapskate Al.
Posted by: Spot || 06/14/2018 18:43 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
I’d love to get US military out of South Korea: Trump
[PRESSTV] US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
has said drawing down American troops in South Korea was not a part of negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Pudge Jong-un
...the overweight, pouty-looking hereditary potentate of North Korea. Pudge appears to believe in his own divinity, but has yet to produce any loaves and fishes, so his subjects remain malnourished...
, but stated that he would love to get American military out of the Korean peninsula.

In an interview broadcast on Wednesday, Trump said that a troop drawdown was "never discussed" during the historic summit with Kim in Singapore on Tuesday, apparently trying to calm the nerves of skeptics in America who blame the president of planning to give away too much to Kim in pursuit of a nuclear agreement.

"I am sure he would like that. It was never on the table. We sort of understood that was never on the table," Trump said.

However,
corruption finds a dozen alibis for its evil deeds...
he reiterated his old desire to lower the American military presence in South Korea.

"I would love to get the military out as soon as we can because it costs a lot of money and a lot of money for us," Trump said.

North Korea has long demanded US troops be removed from the Korean peninsula as part of a nuclear deal, but the US has been at pains to stress the issue is not a bargaining chip.

The US has about 28,500 service members stationed in South Korea.

Trump said at a presser following the summit with Kim that the United States was stopping "very provocative" and expensive military exercises with South Korea to facilitate denuclearization negotiations with North Korea.

Posted by: Fred || 06/14/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  Hooray! Bring the troops gone, close the bases. Peace dividend!

After that, we get started on closing the bases in Africa and Europe. No longer needed and we are flat broke paying for the security of other countries' borders. Use the money saved to secure our own border.
Posted by: Herb McCoy || 06/14/2018 1:10 Comments || Top||

#2  Herb takes a beating around here for his GTFO attitude about many colorful places around the globe. I'd like to take this opportunity to share in his beating. Bullets fly the same everywhere. Dirt is pretty much the same everywhere. Uphill is, well, gravitationally, pretty much a known problem. Contact with the populace is fairly straightforward: The ones who do not run immediately need to be shot.
You don't need lots of guys garrisoned overseas to learn those things. Those who have a taste for frauleins or mama-sans should get on the mil attache track or go get on their own dime.
Lets protect our own borders and get Prompt Global Strike down to the physically constrained 18-20 minutes.
Posted by: M. Murcek || 06/14/2018 5:53 Comments || Top||

#3  Please add me to the GTFO beating list. Of course an aggressive GTFO strategy will put a great many 'regime change' mechnanics in McLean, VA and Foggy Bottom out of work...or redirected to their fok'n primary focus of intelligence collection and actual diplomacy (as opposed to global shi* disturbing).
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/14/2018 9:09 Comments || Top||

#4  I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.

Many have taken this oath. Unfortunately, during the last and recent previous administrations, the threat has been greater domestically than foreign.
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/14/2018 10:56 Comments || Top||

#5  I understand the sentiment, truly. But President Obama adopted withdrawal in Iraq and then Afghanistan, with interesting results that have been felt far beyond Iraqi and Afghan borders. Perhaps what is needed is a clear and actionable definition of victory in each area of operation, followed immediately by an overwhelming execution of the steps needed to achieve that victory.

Looking at the current situation in Iraq and Syria with regard to ISIS, it appears that is President Trump’s approach, though I’d be happier if he took the situation of the Kurds more seriously.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/14/2018 11:19 Comments || Top||

#6  That's because we've adopted the concept of a 'kinder gentler' war. Notice that when we bombed the **** out of two belligerent powers and the population felt it, they've never gotten around to re-militarizing again or had the stomach to do so. To quote Gen.Sherman - "War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it; the crueler it is, the sooner it will be over."
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/14/2018 11:30 Comments || Top||

#7  Count me in the GTFO Camp. Edward N. Luttwak (in his Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire) made an observation:
The Roman Empire, as empires do, got sucked into occupying everything because it might be used to attack land behind them. The Roman Republic used a doctrine of "paranoid preemptive self-defense" establishing a ring of allies client states and marching out in massive, "destroy everything and then go home" campaigns.
Wars are expensive, but defending every bit of useless dirt near your borders will bleed you dry.
Posted by: magpie || 06/14/2018 12:22 Comments || Top||

#8  'Kinder, gentler' war? Bullfeathers!

Bring back the Rockeye and napalm.
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 06/14/2018 15:03 Comments || Top||


Historic First DPRK-U.S. Summit Meeting and Talks Held
[Rodong Sinmun] Kim Pudge Jong-un
...the overweight, pouty-looking hereditary potentate of North Korea. Pudge appears to believe in his own divinity, but has yet to produce any loaves and fishes, so his subjects remain malnourished...
, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, held the summit meeting and talks with Donald J. Trump, president of the United States of America, at Sentosa Island of Singapore on June 12, 2018 for the first time in the histories of the two countries.

Thanks to the fixed decision and will of the top leaders of the two countries to put an end to the extreme hostile relations between the DPRK and the U.S., which lingered for the longest period on the earth on terms of acute confrontation and to open up a new future for the sake of the interests of the peoples of the two countries and global peace and security, the first DPRK-U.S. summit is to be held.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 06/14/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1 
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy || 06/14/2018 13:52 Comments || Top||


Europe
Greece’s PM faces impeachment over Macedonia deal
[PRESSTV] Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras may face a no confidence vote in parliament over his decision to finally sign on a deal that allowed neighboring Macedonia to keep its name, which is identical to a northern province in Greece.

The opposition New Democracy party said on Wednesday that it planned to submit a motion of no confidence against Tsipras over the Tuesday deal reached in Skopje, in which Greece agreed to call the former Yugoslav nation the "Republic of Northern Macedonia".

The historic agreement, which settled nearly three decades of name dispute, should now go to a referendum in Macedonia, while it also needs the approval of parliaments in the Balkan country as well as Greece.

However,
we can't all be heroes. Somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by...
a source in the New Democracy said the center-right party would submit the no confidence motion after an ongoing debate on bailout reforms end on Thursday.

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis had earlier criticized Tsipras for signing the deal, saying it would become "deeply problematic" as the premier lacked the authority to sign it.

"We are in a situation that is unprecedented in Greece’s constitutional history. A prime minister without a clear parliamentary mandate willing to commit the country to a reality which will not be possible to change," Mitsotakis said on Wednesday.

Posted by: Fred || 06/14/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [13 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Macedonia was a powerhouse at one time. Even over Greece. This entry into Euro vision caused a huge problem just using origin country being Macedonia. She didn't win, Politics always politics; https://youtu.be/rydVezxCoW8
Posted by: Dale || 06/14/2018 9:13 Comments || Top||

#2  The Greeks have been allowed to indulge in this nasty idiocy for entirely too long. Thank goodness someone over there is finally showing some sense, though it appears it won’t stand.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/14/2018 11:50 Comments || Top||

#3  That country should more correctly be named "Slav Macedonia" (hence their lack of connection to the three Macedonian regions in Greece).

In fine, this modern nation will fall apart within a couple of decades because the Albanian minority (25%) is reproducing faster than the Slavs (50% of kids age 0-4 are moslems).

Aaah, the perpetual balkanization of the Balkans.
Posted by: si vis pacem, para bellum || 06/14/2018 18:08 Comments || Top||


Germany calls on Europe to counter Trump's 'America First' policy
[PRESSTV] German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has called on European countries to join forces and confront US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
's "America First" policy, amid the ongoing trade war between the two sides.

In his first major policy speech since taking office, the German FM said Wednesday that the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
should try hard to establish a "balanced partnership" with Washington.

That would require the EU to work with Washington where possible, fill the voids in areas where the US is withdrawing, and push back where it is crossing red lines, the top diplomat added.

"We Europeans have to act as a conscious counterweight when the US crosses red lines," he said at an event organized by the pro-European organization United Europe
...also known as Moslem Lebensraum...
in Berlin. "Where the US government aggressively throws into question our values and interests, we have to react more robustly."

Posted by: Fred || 06/14/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Violating European values? Like free riding on NATO?

You have to realize, these people literally grew up under the US security umbrella. To them, it is an unassailable fact of life. They are free to bash America for being a fascist militarist, protest against it, spew vile abuse against the American scum, all secure in the knowledge the free defense will always be there. Thus when Trump threatens to withdraw it unless Europe pays its fair share, they perceive America as cruel and vindictive. This is their birthright, not a kind act of generosity from America.

This always happens with welfare recipients. They quickly grow used to it and cannot conceive a world without the free money. They're like pathetic alcoholics, withdraw their booze and they might die from seizures. If Europe had to pay fairly for defense, they wouldn't be able to fund their lavish welfare states, nor would they be able to look down on the Americans for being fascist baby killers. This outcome must be avoided at all costs.

If we have to pay to have allies, then fuck them.
Posted by: Herb McCoy || 06/14/2018 1:06 Comments || Top||

#2  Ignore them and endeavor to be the best (#1) at whatever task is undertaken.

Posted by: Besoeker || 06/14/2018 4:02 Comments || Top||

#3  As the guy said in Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters: "Cherman air supremacy..."
Posted by: M. Murcek || 06/14/2018 5:40 Comments || Top||

#4  I wonder how much Iran paid for his speech.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 06/14/2018 6:32 Comments || Top||

#5  So long and thanks for all the fish.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/14/2018 7:51 Comments || Top||

#6  Pay your own way or fuck off.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/14/2018 9:00 Comments || Top||

#7  The 'Colonials' are failing to heed the European Elite, eh? Sucks to be you.
Posted by: magpie || 06/14/2018 10:20 Comments || Top||

#8  We're America bytches.
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/14/2018 11:02 Comments || Top||

#9  Herb McCoy is right, welfare perverts thinking of individuals and nations and should be avoided at all costs. IN the long run being cut off from leaching upon Uncle Sam will be good for all involved.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 06/14/2018 12:34 Comments || Top||


Science & Technology
NASA's Opportunity rover falls silent
[Al Jazeera] NASA experts have expressed concern over an unprecedented "massive Martian dust storm" that has engulfed the Opportunity rover mission.

The storm covers an area as large as North America and Russia combined - a quarter of the surface of Mars - and has left the golf-cart-sized rover temporarily unable to conduct science operations.

The US space agency's rover runs on solar power and has entered low power mode to conserve energy.

Mission engineers believe it is unlikely the rover has enough sunlight to charge back up for at least the next several days, NASA said in a statement earlier this week.

Posted by: Fred || 06/14/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Need to add a pic of the sick robot head from Lexx
Posted by: M. Murcek || 06/14/2018 6:04 Comments || Top||

#2  ET phone home.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/14/2018 7:52 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
11[untagged]
6Islamic State
4Houthis
3Hamas
3Govt of Syria
3Moslem Colonists
2Commies
2Govt of Iran
1Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters
1Arab Spring
1Antifa
1Govt of Iran Proxies
1Taliban
1Narcos
1Lashkar e-Taiba
1Palestinian Authority

Bookmark
E-Mail Me

The Classics
The O Club
Rantburg Store
The Bloids
The Never-ending Story
Thugburg
Gulf War I
The Way We Were
Bio

Merry-Go-Blog











On Sale now!


A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
Click here for more information

Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
Glenmore
Frank G
3dc
Skidmark

Two weeks of WOT
Thu 2018-06-14
  Taliban supreme leader offers direct negotiations with the United States
Wed 2018-06-13
  ISIS corpses litter Euphrates after Syrian Army wipes out terrorists trying to cross
Tue 2018-06-12
  34 militants killed in NDS Special Forces operation in Nangarhar
Mon 2018-06-11
  Austria Is Shutting Down Mosques And Ejecting Imams
Sun 2018-06-10
  Wasserman Schultz Refuses To Respond To Accusations She Attempted To Shut Down Awan Probe
Sat 2018-06-09
  Iran Facilitated Passage Of 9/11 Attackers, Iranian Politician Says
Fri 2018-06-08
  German-Jewish teen found raped, murdered; Turkish refugee suspect arrested, Iraqi refugee suspect fled to Iraq
Thu 2018-06-07
  Syria opens Homs-Hama highway after near 7-year closure due to war
Wed 2018-06-06
  Shin Bet says it thwarted plot to assassinate prime minister, Jerusalem mayor
Tue 2018-06-05
  Teenager, Linked to ISIS, Guilty of Plotting Attack on London Museum
Mon 2018-06-04
  Gay wedding cake: "Narrow" Victory for Religious Rights
Sun 2018-06-03
  Salahuddin Adventures: 4 troops kaboomed, turban wipes out entire family
Sat 2018-06-02
  Commander: Iraqi, U.S.-backed troops take hold of Nineveh borders with Syria
Fri 2018-06-01
  Incendiary kite terrorism rages on despite Gaza ceasefire
Thu 2018-05-31
  Police dog DIES as axe-wielding man shrieking ‘Allahu Akbar' attacks armed officers in Dutch city of Schiedam


Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
18.218.38.125
Help keep the Burg running! Paypal:
WoT Operations (17)    WoT Background (16)    Opinion (1)    (0)    Politix (2)