[Federalist] Daniel Richman, the law professor who leaked classified FBI records to the media at Comey's request, refused to disclose when exactly he became Comey's attorney.
You may read further if necessary.
A friend of former FBI director James Comey who leaked sensitive FBI memos to The New York Times in the wake of Comey’s firing in 2017 now claims to be Comey’s personal attorney. Daniel Richman, a law professor at Columbia University, told The Federalist via phone on Tuesday afternoon that he was now personally representing Comey.
The revelation comes in the wake of news that Comey was interviewed by the special counsel’s office last year. According to The New York Times, the line of questioning from the office of special counsel Robert Mueller focused on memos that Comey wrote and later leaked after he was fired from his job by President Donald Trump. A review of FBI policies governing the handling of sensitive government documents suggests Comey violated FBI policy by leaking the memos, which were produced on government time, using government equipment, and directly related to his official government responsibilities, according to Comey’s own testimony before Congress.
#2
I keep flashing on the pictures from Nuremberg and the Stalin purge trials with 150 defendants facing the dozen or so judges in a dark courtroom with armed guards.
#6
This shouldn't be allowed since Comey's buddy was complicit in the criminality (leaking of classified info). Comey pulled this $hit with Hillary's servergate. Recall that Hillary made Cherl Mills her attorney and she was allowed to sit in on the questioning of Hillary. Hillary and Mills then invoked attorney-client privilege thus hiding behind that screen. To further protect Clinton and other associates in the cabal were granted immunity by Comey.
#9
What Matt said - I'd want to see the signed engagement letter, a copy of the retainer fee check (both sides) that Comey wrote and a copy of the part of Comey's monthly bank statement showing that it cleared before I'd allow this 'privilege' to stand in court.
[StarTribune] Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman is convening a grand jury to gather evidence in the 2017 shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, but said he still will decide whether Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor
...first Somali-American on the Minneapolis police force, he was put through the fast track training for college grads. The day of the shooting, with almost two years experience he was the senior man in the car...
will face charges in her death.
About 35 to 40 Minneapolis police officers have been subpoenaed to testify, according to Bob Kroll, president of the Minneapolis Police Federation, the union that represents the department's rank-and-file officers. Among them was Matthew Harrity,
...the junior officer in the car...
Noor's partner the night Damond was killed, and the only living witness aside from Noor. His attorney, Fred Bruno, said Harrity was served Wednesday.
Freeman's decision to use a grand jury is the latest turn in a case that has gained international attention since July 15, when Noor shot and killed Damond, 40, an Australia native, after she reported a possible assault behind her south Minneapolis home.
Harrity told investigators that on the night of the shooting that he and Noor were responding to a sexual assault report behind Damond's south Minneapolis home and were startled by a loud sound, according to a press released issued by the BCA three days after the shooting. Immediately afterward Damond Ruszczyk approached the driver's side window of the squad, according to the BCA. Noor, sitting in the passengers seat, pulled his gun and fired, hitting Damond through the open driver's side window.
Noor declined to be interviewed by the BCA.
"Unless someone else comes forward, the BCA does not have additional interviews scheduled at this time," the agency said in its July 18 news release. A few days later agency investigators spoke to a bicyclist who was seen immediately before the shooting and later watched as police attempted to resuscitate Damond.
The agency turned the case over to Freeman on Sept. 12.
#1
"startle" means flinch. During the time it took Damond to get from the back of the car to a spot in front of the driver's face, you get over "startle" and go do deliberate.
Posted by: Richard Aubrey ||
01/25/2018 8:19 Comments ||
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#2
and I don't think shooting across the car interior (in front of your partner's face) is a standard taught practice....
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/25/2018 9:06 Comments ||
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#3
a standard taught practice....
'Crossfire' is not a standard civilian taught practice.
This is really disconcerting. The Navy needs a total overhaul.
The U.S. Navy’s newest Littoral Combat Ship, USS Little Rock, will have to spend its winter up north instead of Florida’s warmer waters after the ship became stuck in ice in Montreal.
The USS Little Rock, which was commissioned in Buffalo, New York on December 16, should be well on its new homeport in Mayport, Florida by now, but a delayed departure and colder-than-normal temps across the region means the ship is now stuck in Montreal indefinitely.
In December, the USS Little Rock was transiting the St. Lawrence River on its way to the Atlantic when it suffered relatively minor damage to "feedback cables", sending the vessel back to Montreal for repairs.
But while repairs to the cables were completed on Jan. 4, cold weather and ice had already set in, making it impossible for the ship and crew to depart. "The ship was ready to depart Montreal, but the extreme cold, subsequent condition of the St. Lawrence Seaway and availability of icebreakers and support ships caused the delay," a Navy spokesperson told USNI News.
With no thaw expected for months, the cold weather means the Little Rock could now be stuck in Montreal until March, or whenever the ice melts.
"Because of their extended port visit due to the weather and icy conditions, underway testing and assessments will be adjusted and re-scheduled," the spokeperson told USNI News.
Little Rock is the fifth Freedom-variant LCS to join the U.S. Navy fleet. She was constructed at Marinette Marine Corporation in Marinette, Wisconsin.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/25/2018 14:03 ||
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#1
Just as well - it saves from the embarrassment of the engines shitting the bed or whatever other mishap usually befalls these LCS's.
Another tureen of poutine.
The crew of the lightship grew green,
But they ate every bite,
Then lined up 'neath the light
In their usual nightly routine.
[All Africa] Former Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Eunice Sandi Moyo yesterday lost her parliamentary seat after Zanu-PF notified Parliament of her expulsion from the ruling party.
Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda notified the House that he had been informed by Zanu-PF that Ms Sandi Moyo was no longer a member of the party.
"On the 22nd of January 2018 Parliament was informed by Zanu-PF that Honourable Eunice Sandi Moyo proportional representative for Bulawayo had ceased to be a member of Zanu-PF and no longer represented the interests of the party in Parliament," Adv Mudenda said.
"A proportional representative vacancy has arisen by operation of the law. The necessary administrative measures would be undertaken to inform the President and the Zim-bob-we Electoral Commission in terms of section 39 (1) of the Electoral Act." The expulsion of Ms Sandi Moyo followed the ejection of 11 Zanu-PF members from Parliament last week and five others in December.
The 17 politicians were part of the G40 cabal whose expulsion was adopted at the Zanu-PF Extraordinary Congress in December following recommendations made at an extraordinary sitting of the party's Central Committee in November last year. Meanwhile, ...back at the chili cook-off, Chuck reached for the green sauce... the National Assembly yesterday paid respects to the late Zaka East politician Dr Samson Mukanduri, who died at his home on Monday. Following the announcement of his death by Adv Mudenda, parliamentarians observed a minute of silence in Dr Mukanduri's memory.
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01/25/2018 00:00 ||
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[All Africa] Zanu-PF deputy national commissar Omega Hungwe suspects that exiled former higher education minister and G40 kingpin, Jonathan Moyo, may have used juju for his meteoric rise in the ruling party. I guessed that. Didn't you?
She said this while addressing the party's inter-party district meeting held in Mutare on Sunday. Hungwe said Moyo never went through the normal vetting process and channels when he "joined" the party despite his history of attacking President Bob Muggsy Mugabe Nonagenarian President-for-Life of Zim-bob-we who turned the former Breadbasket of Africa into the African Basket Case. Dumped in November 2017 when the Missus decided she wanted to be president, and opposed heer might against Crocodile Mnangawa Important safety tip: If your opponent goes by the name Crocodile andf your title is Shopper in Chief let him win.... while he was outside government.
"I think Moyo used some juju because he never went through cell or branch but he just rose to Politburo. He was just catapulted to the top echelons of the party," said Hungwe.
The allegations of juju are common in Zanu PF as former President Robert Mugabe also accused his former vice presidents Joice Mujuru and Emmerson Mnangwagwa of consulting traditional healers in the middle of the night to topple him.
Hungwe also claimed that Moyo was on the American spy agency, CIA, payroll specifically to destroy Zanu PF from inside.
The Dzivarasekwa MP said Moyo and his allies, namely exiled former national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, ex-youth leader Kudzayi Chipanga, Grace Mugabe and former vice president Phelekezela Mphoko, were working together to destroy the party from inside.
Hungwe claimed that Moyo was sent by the Americans and later recruited Kasukuwere who later infiltrated the State House through the former first lady.
"Kasukuwere later recruited Grace Mugabe. They were both on America's spy agency payroll. Moyo used the slogan if you can't beat them join them," said Hungwe.
She said the youths interface rallies were part of a strategy to destroy Zanu PF once and for all.
"The agenda of the Interface rallies was to destroy the party. We were going to lose the elections if Mugabe remained at the helm of the party come 2018. Where do you think that old man was going to take us to?" she said.
She blasted the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) for losing track of its main job, saying it was focusing on factional fights.
"When President Mnangagwa was then minister responsible for the CIO it was professional. The organization later lost track and started to meddle into succession politics," said Hungwe.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/25/2018 00:00 ||
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#1
Get hit by a choo-choo? That's juju.
The putschists who shoot you? Just juju.
Them missing, too! Juju!
Use juju? Well, should you?
And Joos? Too jejune! It's all juju.
[Al Jazeera] Zim-bob-we's President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on Wednesday "transparent" elections will take place in the country before July.
The new leader, in attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, told world leaders and investors Zim-bob-we is "open for business".
"Next month I will be able to make a proclamation of elections, so I believe that elections will not be in July, they will be earlier than July," he said.
Mnangagwa, 75, became Zim-bob-we's president in November after the military ousted Bob Muggsy Mugabe Nonagenarian President-for-Life of Zim-bob-we who turned the former Breadbasket of Africa into the African Basket Case. Dumped in November 2017 when the Missus decided she wanted to be president, and opposed heer might against Crocodile Mnangawa Important safety tip: If your opponent goes by the name Crocodile andf your title is Shopper in Chief let him win.... , 93, who ruled for 37 years.
The vote will be Mnangagwa's first test of legitimacy since assuming the role. He promised to respect the results of the election.
"We want to have free, fair, credible elections, free of violence," he said, adding international election observers would be welcome.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/25/2018 00:00 ||
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[Al Jazeera] Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni ...President-for-Life of Uganda. He assumed office in 1985. His primary virtue is being prefereable to both his predecessors, Idi Amin and Milton Obote... has said he loves 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... for being "frank" with Africans, after Trump allegedly called African countries "shitholes".
Trump made the comment at an immigration meeting earlier this month, according to senators present at the White House meeting. The US president denied making the comment, saying he used "tough language".
"America has got one of the best presidents ever," Museveni said on Tuesday while addressing members of the regional East African Legislative Assembly in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
"I love Trump because he tells Africans frankly. Africans need to solve their problems. They need to be strong. In the world, you cannot survive if you are weak and it is the fault of Africans if they are weak," Museveni said.
Museveni's comments came hours after the US ambassador to the East African country described Trump's controversial remark as "obviously quite disturbing and upsetting".
During his State of the Nation address on January 1, Museveni, who came to power in Uganda more than three decades ago, called Trump an honest man.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/25/2018 00:00 ||
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[AlAhram] Saudi authorities are still holding 95 people in a purported anti-corruption campaign that was launched nearly three months ago by the kingdom's influential crown prince, Saudi press quoting the attorney general reported on Wednesday.
A Saudi infographic shared on social media said that detainees who have not agreed on financial settlements to close their case will soon be referred to the Public Prosecution for trial.
Billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is reportedly among those still being held since early November when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ...Crown Prince of Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... as of 2016.... ordered the stunning arrests of top princes, businessmen and officials. The prince is chairman of the publicly traded Kingdom Holding, which has investments in twitter, Apple, Citigroup, and the Four Seasons hotel chain. He is also an investor in ride-sharing services Lyft and Careem.
If a financial agreement cannot be reached, the attorney general has previously said that detainees will be prosecuted, investigated further and could face six months or more imprisonment.
At least 11 princes were among those detained in the surprise sweep that began Nov. 4. Many of the detainees have been held at the luxurious Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh, which has been closed to the public since. The hotel's website is taking reservations again starting Feb. 14.
While the Saudi public has for decades complained of rampant government corruption and misuse of public funds by brass hats, the arrests of top business figures and princes, and the secrecy shrouding who was detained and what their alleged crimes were, have foreign investors worried.
State-linked Sabq news website quoted Attorney General Saud al-Mojeb on Wednesday as saying 90 detainees in total have been released after agreeing to settlements involving cash, real estate and other assets. He says a total of 350 people were questioned in the sweep.
Among those detained were two of the late King Abdullah's sons, including Prince Miteb bin Abdullah who was fired from his post as head of the National Guard the night of his arrest. After paying an undisclosed sum, the prince was released and later photographed smiling with his younger cousin, the 32-year-old crown prince, at a horse race in late December. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was even filmed kissing Prince Miteb's shoulder in a sign of respect.
The crown prince heads the anti-corruption committee that was formed by his father, King Salman ...either the largest species of Pacific salmon or the current Sheikh of the Burnin' Sands, King of the Arabians, Sheikh of the Burning Sands, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Lord of Most of the Arabians.... . The committee has carried out the orders of arrest, investigations and negotiations. The committee has previously said that Sherlocks uncovered at least $100 billion in corruption.
Also purportedly detained and released is Ibrahim al-Assaf, a former finance minister under King Salman. He is now leading Saudi Arabia's delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland ...home of the Helvetians, famous for cheese, watches, yodeling, and William Tell... this week as a minister of state and member of cabinet.
#1
Hmm, why did Bush senior and junior speak out in protest of Trump soon after the soft coup There?, When they made no comment during the Obama Admin? The money was shut off (Trump closed the spicket of funds, and no Antifa protest transpired that weekend......or since).
Posted by: Joe of the Jungle ||
01/25/2018 17:03 Comments ||
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[Al Jazeera] Widely popular former president Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva has been banned from running in elections this year after an appeals court upheld corruption-related convictions.
Opinion polls suggest the former leftist leader would win October's general elections comfortably.
He vehemently denied the corruption charges and said he is the victim of a political witch-hunt to stop him from running.
"If I had one percent in the polls, no one would want to stop me from running," Lula da Silva said last week.
The court's verdict was delivered on Wednesday in the southern city of Porto Alegre, where thousands of Lula da Silva's supporters gathered with signs bearing the slogan "Elections without Lula is fraud."
Posted by: Fred ||
01/25/2018 00:00 ||
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[Russian Reality] Moscow. 25 Jan. INTERFAX.RU ‐ Support in Russia of Islamic education through major state institutions will continue, Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting with the Muftis of centralized religious organizations of Muslims of Russia and the leaders of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy.
"We certainly will support further (Islamic education if), (...) we will continue to support large state universities," the President said.
He also noted the importance of Muslim spiritual education among youth, in an environment where a lot of problems and ideas, sometimes destructive.
"But with these ideas, even destructive, you can only fight one way ‐ using other ideas. Such who promote and educate people in the theological Academy, which was created here (Bulgarian Islamic Academy ‐ if), in other academies and educational institutions (...) in Moscow, Ufa, and the Caucasus", ‐ said the head of state.
[FOX] NBC News is reeling after "Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt appears to have been badly fooled by North Korean propagandists -- giving a cheery report from a ski resort in the Hermit Kingdom that looked to be bustling when it was widely known to actually be a ghost town. That's Lester trying his hand at the pole.
Holt -- who returned early from North Korea after scathing reviews -- reported for "Nightly News" from the Masikryong ski resort on Monday, a facility that is the brainchild of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and is typically empty. The resort, built to create the appearance of a prosperous nation, was largely deserted during peak 2017 ski season, according to multiple reports.
But for Holt’s appearance, the North Korean government appears to have brought in skiers ‐ wearing identical outfits ‐ and staged the scene, something Holt did not appear to realize.
[Ynet] The United States tightened its economic crackdown on North Korea over its nuclear arms program on Wednesday, imposing sanctions on nine entities, 16 people and six ships it accused of helping Pyongyang develop weapons of mass destruction.
The US Treasury said it imposed sanctions on two China-based trading firms involved in exporting millions of dollars worth of metals and other goods used in North Korea’s weapons industry.
The US Treasury also imposed sanctions on officials belonging to the Workers Party of Korea who are operating in China, Russia and Georgia’s Abkhazia region and urged those countries to expel the individuals.
"Treasury continues to systematically target individuals and entities financing the Kim regime and its weapons programs, including officials complicit in North Korean sanctions evasion schemes," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.
Mnuchin said the United States was targeting individuals in China, Russia and elsewhere and "calling for their expulsion from the territories where they reside."
"We are sanctioning additional oil, shipping, and trading companies that continue to provide a lifeline to North Korea to fuel this regime’s nuclear ambitions and destabilizing activities," Mnuchin added.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added 16 people to its list of specially designated nationals. It also listed nine entities, including the North Korean Ministry of Crude Oil Industry, and six North Korean-flagged ships.
The action enables the United States to block any assets held by the individuals or firms in the United States and prohibits US citizens from dealing with any of the listed companies or individuals, the Treasury said
[AmericanMilitaryNews] - The US recently sent nuclear bombers to North Korea that can carry tactical nukes that would be perfect for taking out Kim Jong Un.
- Some have suggested that a quick tactical nuclear strike on North Korea could cripple the country’s nuclear infrastructure with few casualties.
- Recent reports have suggested President Donald Trump considering a strike on North Korea, but some experts and politicians think the idea of a tactical nuclear strike is a recipe for disaster. More at link.
“Not my president! Not our president!!” They’re absolutely right, which is why their protests are useful only for our amusement.
[AlAhram] Thousands of anti-capitalist protesters marched through Zurich on Tuesday and other major Swiss cities to demonstrate against a planned visit by U.S. 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... to the World Economic Forum's annual meeting this week.
Leftists organisers had called for protests under the mottos "Trump Not Welcome" and "Smash WEF!"
Trump is due to speak on Friday at the WEF meeting in the Alpine town of Davos, an annual meeting of global business and politicians where protests have been banned.
Flag-waving demonstrators, whom Zurich police estimated at 2,000, carried anti-globalist and environmentalist placards such as "No Trump, no coal, no gas, no fossil fuels" as they marched toward Zurich's financial district, where bankers had been warned to stay clear of the approved demonstration.
Swiss television RSR showed a sign that read "Who was the Shithole?", in reference to reported remarks by Trump about Haiti and African countries, which he has denied.
Similar protests took place, with several hundred protesters each, in public squares in Geneva, Lausanne and Fribourg. Geneva signs read "World Economic Fiasco", "racist sexist capitalist" and "Don't touch women's rights".
Paolo Gilardi, Geneva demonstrator organiser, told Rooters TV: "While the Swiss Federal Council (Swiss cabinet) is about to welcome and unroll the red carpet for Mister Trump, well we think that the population has something to say."
"... this policy is unacceptable because the goal of this policy is to reduce the planet to fire and blood and to assure the powerful people’s domination over the rest of the world."
Earlier in Geneva, protesters laid a wreath at the entrance of the U.S. diplomatic mission in memory of Heather Heyer, who was killed in Charlottesville, Virginia amid festivities between hundreds of white supremacists and counter-protesters last August.
After the rally, Trump inflamed tensions by saying there were "very fine people" on both sides, drawing condemnation from some Republican leaders and praise from white supremacists.
Earlier this month, demonstrators also protested against Trump's visit in the Swiss capital of Bern.
That march went off peacefully, unlike violent anti-WEF protests in several Swiss citities in the early 2000s.
More than 4,000 Swiss soldiers have deployed to guard Davos alongside 1,000 police, while a no-fly zone was put in place to protect delegates.
[NATION.PK] Police are running after former Malir SSP Rao Anwar and his team members accused of killing Naqeebullah Mehsud in a fake encounter.
Sources privy to the matter revealed that Sindh police Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) have directed the teams to carry out the raids for the arrest of SSP Rao Anwar and his team members.
It is worth mentioning here that the Sindh government refused to issue no objection certificate to former SSP Rao Anwar, shown at Islamabad airport before flying for Dubai.
Denials of concern authorities proved that the NOC to fly abroad was fake and SSP Anwar trying to leave the country to avoid trail. However, some people cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go... Rao Anwar have reportedly claimed that he was not trying to flee but sought leave abroad to met his family members. Talking to media, Rao said that he had reservations over the team constituted to probe the murder of Naqeeb. He said that "I will appear before the court with the evidences against committee members."
Sources privy to the matter revealed that the Sherlocks have recorded the statements of witnesses whom saw the police raid and arrest of Naqeebullah from his shop and also witnessed of extrajudicial killing.
Sources said that the witnesses unearth the actual facts stating that the police picked up Naqeebullah and shifted him to unknown place and finally killed him with other three accused persons in an alleged encounter.
They further added that a number of other victim families have also approached to the concern investigation team providing evidences against the Rao Anwar extrajudicial killings.
Sources said that majority of the complainants providing the tangible evidences against the Rao Anwar as families of mostly victims had filed the petition in the court to know the whereabouts of their missing persons but Rao claimed to have killed them in alleged encounters. Sources said that people have been killed in encounters were kept in the custody even for a years before killing in encounters.
A senior police officer citing the Rao’s encounter pictures of couple of months ago witnessing handcuff snuffies killed during an encounter. Police official said that Rao Anwar left the city after completing 1992 operation and came back in the city as Pakistain People Party (PPP) came into the power in 2009 and posted him as SHO Docks cop shoppe where he first promoted as Deputy Superintendent of Police and remain posted in District South.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/25/2018 00:00 ||
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Roads and ports in Pakistan, ports and a canal in Thailand? The wily Communist Chinee sure does get around.
[ATimes] General Saiyud Kerdphol, the military engineer of Thailand’s winning Cold War-era anticommunism campaign, believes now is the time to build the Kra canal – a long-envisioned channel through the country’s southern isthmus that would connect the Indian and Pacific Oceans and dramatically shorten East-West shipping routes.
And for the massive infrastructure undertaking to finally break ground after centuries of pondering, the nonagenarian former supreme commander believes the monumental decision cannot be taken by any government and thus must be conceived and graced as “the king’s canal.”
While it’s unclear if any formal representations have been made to the monarch, the canal does have one rich and powerful new backer: China.
Beijing’s newly appointed ambassador to Bangkok, Lyu Jian, has said in recent high-level meetings that China envisions the Thai canal as part of its US$1 trillion ‘One Belt One Road’ (Obor) global infrastructure initiative, according to Thai government officials and advisors briefed on the discussions.
While China aims to link the initiative with the junta’s Eastern Economic Corridor industrial, logistical and real estate development plan, including via a long-stalled high-speed rail line connecting the two nations via Laos that broke symbolic ground in December, it is apparently the first-time Beijing has actively promoted the canal as part of the Obor program.
Until now, Beijing has publicly distanced itself from private Chinese companies which have engaged Thai trade groups to probe the project’s potential. That includes a memorandum of understanding entered by the China-Thailand Kra Infrastructure and Development Company and Asia Union Group to study the canal signed in Guangzhou in May 2015.
Jinsong Zhao, a maritime expert at state-led Shanghai Jiao Tong University, suggests the canal could put Thailand at the center of a “third revolution” of fast-transport global trade, where e-commerce driven sales require ever quicker door-to-door delivery of goods that is limited in the region due to the long shipping route through the Malacca Strait.
“To my Thai friends: Don’t waste your time, don’t delay this project,” Jinsong implored at a conference on the canal held last September in Bangkok. “We have technology, we have capacity, we have money, we are happy to help. It’s good for Thailand, Asia and the whole world.” He said if Thailand waited another 20 years, it would be “fatal” to winning China’s support.
#3
Actually the best (least mountainous) route would cross the Burmese border near the base of the peninsula. This would also eliminate to travel through the pirate infested Malacca Straights.
Of course, it would require the Thai and Burmese governments to actually cooperate with one another.
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
01/25/2018 11:48 Comments ||
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[ATimes] One of Myanmar’s strongest and most powerful ethnic armies has a new leader, one more aligned with China and apparently less keen to win sympathy from the West for his group’s long armed struggle for autonomy in a federal union.
In January, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the political wing of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), elected General N Ban La, 70, as its new chairman. The KIA is now engaged in intense fighting with the Myanmar military in the country’s northern region bordering with China.
Under N Ban La’s leadership, the Kachin rebel movement has moved to forge an alliance with the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the country’s largest armed militia which maintains close ties to Chinese security forces.
Last year, the KIA joined the Federal Political Negotiating and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), an alliance led by the UWSA that also includes armies from the Shan, Kokang Chinese, Ta’ang (Palaung) and Arakanese ethnic minorities, as well as a group in easternmost Shan state comprised of a mixture of peoples.
The FPNCC represents 80% of all armed rebels in the country, and with China’s apparent backing, Beijing has emerged as a main – some would argue sole – interlocutor in the conflict between Myanmarauthorities and ethnic armies. The “first chairman” of the FPNCC is the UWSA leader Bao Youxiang, with N Ban La serving as its “second chairman”, a position he assumed before becoming the KIA’s new chairman.
In an exclusive interview with Asia Times, N Ban La said Kachin relations with China have become a lot easier since the KIA joined the Wa-led coalition: “Our people can now travel more freely in and out of China,” he said.
There are even indications that China might allow the internally displaced person (IDP) camps inside KIA-controlled areas – where tens of thousands of civilians who have fled recent fighting now languish – to receive supplies of food and medicines from the Chinese side of the border. Until now, cross-border shipments have been severely restricted.
The Myanmar government and military are now blocking international agencies from providing any humanitarian support to the camps. At the same time, other sources assert that Chinese security agents have told the Kachins not to engage with the West – or India and Japan, with whom N Ban La’s predecessors aimed to maintain friendly contacts.
[DrRichSwier] Representatives from the National Center for Public Policy Research confronted Walgreens executives at last week’s annual shareholder meeting over the company’s partnerships with left-wing activists that lobby for sanctuary city policies.
According to our research, Walgreens has supported the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and UnidosUS, formerly known as the National Council of La Raza. In 2015, LULAC organized a letter which was signed by La Raza asking Members of Congress to oppose legislation that would compel cities and municipalities to enforce standing immigration law. LULAC has also approved a resolution in support of sanctuary cities at its annual convention. Walgreens has also partnered with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the National Urban League, organizations that support sanctuary city policies as well.
At the shareholder meeting, Justin Danhof, Esq., General Counsel for the National Center, submitted the following questions:
Does Walgreens’ support of these groups indicate that Walgreens believes states and localities can flout federal law and not turn over the names of arrested illegal immigrants to federal authorities ‐ even if they’ve committed violent felonies?
Because 80 percent of Americans surely include current and potential customers, do you see any potential downside for Walgreens related to the company’s support of groups lobbying for sanctuary cities and amnesty?
If these groups do not represent Walgreens’ position on immigration, then why would you fund them?
What exactly is the company’s stance on immigration reform?
Walgreens Vice President for Communications and Community Affairs Chuck Greener responded to these questions saying, "Having listened to your question and the points you’ve made... we’re going to go through all of our donations and certainly take those views into consideration."
Soothing words to make an irritant go away, not a committment to change anything.
After the meeting, Danhof released the following statement:
I am pleased Walgreens committed to reviewing its charitable giving. It’s a shame, however, that executives wanted no part in answering the substance of our question during this public meeting.
Whether its executives acknowledge it or not, Walgreens is funding radical groups lobbying for illegal sanctuary city policies. They say their charitable contributions are not intended to weaken our immigration policies, but they were quick to cut me off when I reminded them that their money is fungible. Once Walgreens donates to a charity, it has no legal right to direct the charity’s actions.
Will Walgreens review its charitable giving policies with due diligence? The company’s leadership may be best influenced by customers who don’t want their shopping dollars to fund support for sanctuary cities. The buttons below will let you contact Walgreens corporate to tell them why supporting groups like LULAC and UnidosUS are bad for business.
Contacting Walgreens will influence their decision if you are a genuine customer and you are polite.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy ||
01/25/2018 00:00 ||
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A massive effort to short their stock might rub their noses in their asses.
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.
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.
President-for-Life of Uganda. He assumed office in 1985. His primary virtue is being prefereable to both his predecessors, Idi Amin and Milton Obote...
Crown Prince of 
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...home of the Helvetians, famous for cheese, watches, yodeling, and William Tell...
[Russian Reality] Moscow. 25 Jan. INTERFAX.RU ‐ Support in Russia of Islamic education through major state institutions will continue, Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting with the Muftis of centralized religious organizations of Muslims of Russia and the leaders of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy.
North Korea
[ATimes] General Saiyud Kerdphol, the military engineer of Thailand’s winning Cold War-era anticommunism campaign, believes now is the time to build the Kra canal – a long-envisioned channel through the country’s southern isthmus that would connect the Indian and Pacific Oceans and dramatically shorten East-West shipping routes.
[ATimes] One of Myanmar’s strongest and most powerful ethnic armies has a new leader, one more aligned with China and apparently less keen to win sympathy from the West for his group’s long armed struggle for autonomy in a federal union.
[DrRichSwier] Representatives from the National Center for Public Policy Research confronted Walgreens executives at last week’s annual shareholder meeting over the company’s partnerships with left-wing activists that lobby for sanctuary city policies.
