This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: Foreign Policy

  • Iran Seizes, Then Apparently Releases 10 US Sailors

    Yesterday evening and this morning, looks like a bit of drama played out. Iran’s state news claims the Iranian Revolutionary Guard seized 2 US riverine boats crewed by 10 US sailors while those boats were in the Persian Gulf. The Iranian medial also claims the sailors have now been released; however, US sources do not appear to have yet confirmed that. It’s unclear whether the two riverine boats were also released.

    Prior to their release, a Revolutionary Guard spokesman said the sailors would be “debriefed”. They also accused the boats of exhibiting “unprofessional acts” and of possibly having intentionally entered Iranian waters.

    The two boats apparently drifted into Iranian waters after having mechanical problems. They were enroute from Bahrain to Kuwait.

    Given the fact that the POTUS gave the State of the Union address yesterday and other recent incidents between Iranian and US naval forces, does anyone out there really think the timing here was coincidental?

  • So . . . We’re Screening Refugees “Thoroughly”, Eh?

    So the       gang of feckless fools and clueless tools running the show in DC today      current Administration tells us. Well, then, “Riddle me this, Batman – how did this happen””?

    Yep, you guessed it:  both of those “fine fellows” were reportedly admitted to the US as “refugees” from the Middle East.  In fact, one of them came via Syria – in 2012.  Hell, one of the two reportedly went back to the ME and fought for ISIS after coming to the US as a “refugee” – then freaking returned to the US after doing so.

    Both are now currently facing Federal charges related to supporting terrorism.

    But don’t worry.  We’re screening those Syrian refugees coming here today “thoroughly”.   According to the      mouthpiece for the clown krewe in charge      current Administration’s spokesman, Josh Earnest, “No one’s allowed to short-circuit this system.”

    Yeah, right.  You believe that BS, and I’ll make you a great deal on a bridge.

  • Even More “Good News”

    Remember a few days ago when we found out that Da’esh had captured a Syrian passport machine and a stock of blank Syrian passports?  Well, guess what?

    It’s apparently not only Syrian passports that Da’esh can counterfeit.

    German newspaper Welt am Sonntag recently reported that Western intelligence sources believe Da’esh also has acquired the ability to counterfeit Libyan and Iraqi passports.  They further believe that Da’esh has acquired “tens of thousands” of such blank passport forms.

    Welt am Sonntag also reported that Da’esh has already begun using counterfeit passports to raise funds.  They’re reportedly selling them for 1500 Euros each.

    The two unidentified terrorists involved in the Stade de France attacks in Paris had fake Syrian passports – though it’s unclear if they obtained them from Da’esh or not.  They used them to enter Europe.

    But don’t worry.  Even though we plan to admit thousands of Syrian “refugees” to the US, we’re completely safe.  We’re subjecting everyone claiming to be Syrian refugees to a “thorough screening”.  And we know our screening process for refugees and other visa applicants is so good that we couldn’t possibly ever admit a terrorist – right?

    Yeah – it certainly is.

  • “Red Line”, Eh?

    Former SECDEF Hagel is in the news again.  And this time, it looks like he’s talking about his former boss.

    In a recent interview, Hagel claims that he gave the OK in 2013 to plans for a strike on Syria – on Damascus, specifically.  Hagel indicates he OKed those plans on 30 August 2013, after Assad’s forces had apparently used chemical weapons. The POTUS had very publicly previously indicated that use of chemical weapons by Assad was a “red line” that would result in US action.

    Hagel claims, point blank, that the POTUS overruled him later that day, while forces were standing by awaiting orders to execute.

    Here’s what the Administration had to say in reply:

    A senior administration official defended the decision to Foreign Policy, saying Obama was not prepared to take military action without consulting Congress first – and the diplomatic deal that had Assad relinquish his weapons resulted in a Syria “free of its chemical weapons program.”

    Pure bullsh!t. The current Occupant, 1600 Penn Ave, Wash DC, and his enablers didn’t give a hoot in hell about Congressional authorization for the use of force when we conducted military operations against the government of Libya in 2011 – nor did they comply with the War Powers Act’s requirements for Congressional notification as the operation dragged on. The Administration’s claim here nothing but a transparently obvious attempt at spin. Nor do I believe for one minute that Syria has given up 100% of their chem weapons, either.

    Fox News has a longish article about Hagel’s claims. Regardless of what you think of Hagel, this one’s probably worth reading.

  • Great. Just Freaking Great.

    Remember when the current       DC clown krewe        Administration told us that it planned to admit thousands of “Syrian refugees”? Remember when it told us “don’t worry, be happy” – because any such referees would be “thoroughly” investigated and vetted and would therefore pose no threat to US security?

    Remember when people raised objections? You know, when numerous people – noting that a large number of fake Syrian passports had been observed among alleged Syrian refugees, and also noting that the Syrian government wasn’t exactly cooperative with the US these days – worried that terrorists might infiltrate the US by claiming to be refugees?

    Well, “riddle me this, Batman”.  Just how are we going to vet those “Syrian refugees” when the Syrian government is uncooperative – and if Da’esh not only has an authentic Syrian passport machine but also has “boxes of blank (Syrian) passports”?

    The question isn’t hypothetical.  Apparently Da’esh acquired both an actual Syrian passport printing machine and a supply of blank Syrian passports  when they captured the city of Deir ez-Zour this past summer.

    Yeah, it looks like this is gonna turn out great.  Just freaking great.

  • “We have not contained ISIS.”

    At least a few people in charge DC are still in touch with reality.

    Remember about a month ago, when the POTUS flatly stated that Da’esh, AKA ISIS, had been contained? You know, when he said, “I don’t think they’re gaining strength. What is true is that from the start, our goal has been first to contain, and we have contained them”?

    You probably also remember what happened a couple of days later. That would be the Da’esh terrorist attacks in Paris, which killed 130 and injured literally hundreds more.

    Great “containment”, eh?

    Anyone with a clue knew the POTUS was “out to lunch” when he made that statement about Da’esh (AKA “ISIS”). Well, yesterday someone in a position to know flatly contradicted the POTUS. That someone would be the CJCS, Gen Joseph Dunford. This article’s title is a direct quote from his answers to questions posed by members of the House Armes Services Committee yesterday.

    Gen Dunford further indicated that while Da’esh may have been tactically contained in selected areas in Syria and Iraq, “strategically they have spread since 2010.” He further indicated that the group now poses a threat well outside of Syria and Iraq – specifically, in Egypt, Nigeria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon and Jordan.

    It’s kinda obvious that Gen Dunford omitted at least one other area where Da’esh poses a threat, too – Europe.  Paris rather demonstrated that.

    “Contained”? Yeah, right. I’m pretty sure that wasn’t rain wetting the leg of my trousers this time, either. Tell us another one, Mr. President.

    Geez. It would be damn nice to see Administration officials – including the POTUS – simply tell us the truth vice trying to peddle blatantly obvious BS. But with this current      gang of naive and incompetent fools and tools calling the shots in DC      Administration, I won’t hold my breath waiting.

  • Throwing Good Money After Bad?

    Stripes today has an article  indicating the US Deputy SECSTATE has announced US pledges of another nearly $100M to support “Syria’s opposition”.  Presumably, that’s the “non ISIS”, moderate Syrian opposition – assuming any of those creatures still exist today.  The aid will go to “support local and provincial councils, civil society activists, emergency services and other needs on the ground inside Syria.”

    Well, whatever isn’t stolen or diverted theoretically will, anyway.  I’m guessing a fair chunk will end up used for other purposes – and possibly even in ISIS’s coffers.  But maybe I’m wrong.

    The article goes on to say that Saudi Arabia “wants Assad gone”, and that the timing of his departure – along with the departure of “foreign fighters” – are major sticking points in ending the Syrian civil war.  Gee, ya think?  I’d have never guessed.  How about we file that bit of wisdom in the “No Sh!t” category?

    Of course Assad’s departure is a sticking point – he has no intention of departing, and he’s currently running part of Syria.  Further, both Assad and those “foreign fighters” have their own interests in being there, and in preventing an ISIS takeover of Syria – kinda like we do, actually.  So that’s obviously a “sticking point”, too.  Sheesh.

    This new pledge brings to $500M the amount the US will have spent supporting the Syrian opposition since 2012.   Now it seems to me we could have spent all that money far more effectively, given the results we’ve gotten to date.  But maybe that’s just me.

    “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”  I said that years ago, and I see no reason to change my mind now.

    Sometimes the devil you know is indeed better than the one you don’t.  If you don’t believe that . . . think back 3 years, then look at ISIS today.

  • China complains of US Navy’s violation of their territorial waters

    China complains of US Navy’s violation of their territorial waters

    Mick sends us a link to an article about the Chinese getting thier panties in a wad because the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen got a little too close one of their newest island creations in the South China Sea;

    “The actions of the U.S. warship have threatened China’s sovereignty and security interests, jeopardized the safety of personnel and facilities on the reefs, and damaged regional peace and stability,” the Chinese ministry said on its website. “The Chinese side expresses its strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition.”

    Meanwhile, the Philippines welcomed the sail-past by the USS Lassen, calling it a way of helping maintain “a balance of power”.

    The article relates how the Chinese have been building islands where there were none before constantly pushing the edges of their territory out towards other nations. The Obama administration has determined that China and the Pacific Rim is the site of our next war, you know, despite the fact that we haven’t ended any wars in the middle east and there’s evidence of Russian aggression in eastern Europe, so I guess they’re doing their best to aggravate the Chinese to make their predictions come true. While I agree that we shouldn’t let the Chinese push around, but we should probably solve some of the other problems created by this administration before we start throwing our lessening weight around somewhere else.