Blog: If I understand this

From CNN:  The targeting and killing of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which opened an undeclared war with Iran, is the first time in history the US — in this case working with Israel — openly killed the leader of a foreign country, according to CNN presidential historian Tim Naftali. 

For those keeping track, the US has now decapitated two foreign governments — both US adversaries overseeing vast oil reserves — in the past two months. Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro is in New York awaiting trial and Khamenei is dead. 

There is actually a ban on US involvement in assassinations in US law – most recently in an executive order signed by Ronald Reagan. It is still technically in effect.

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For the right-wingers who think the above is ok because he was a bad person, how about Kim Jong Un?  Isn’t he just as bad?  Wait, Trump said Un sends him “love letters.”  Unquote.

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I would add that it was the first time we kidnapped a head of state, Maduro in Venezuela, but that isn’t true – George H.W. Bush kidnapped Noriega in Panama (recall Bush was head of the CIA when it made deals with him, which he went back on).

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Going to PT (Physical Therapy) about lower back and hip these days.  Experience shows it will help with the hip but not cure anything.  A chunk of titanium might be required as in my other hip.  Back is better but we’ll see.  I have a goal of being able to stand/walk for 30 minutes without pain or needing to sit down, something I cannot do now.   The people there are very good, although the place is small and very noisy.  Oh, well, comes with age.

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Wife and I have started getting our sandwiches from Subway.  I usually get one or two already-made ones from the grocery, but Subway ones are fresher and you get just what you want.

Their foot-long ones are so large I get two or three lunches from one.

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Last weekend was a bad one for my college basketball viewing.  Watched parts of three games of teams I root for – B.C., Gonzaga and Purdue – all lost, with two of those games upsets.  Must be me.  Update: BC beat Notre Dame in its last game of the season, so that’s good.

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Another good idea? 

Training for ICE agents was drastically cut amid a hiring spree last year.

According to records seen by The Post: The agency removed about 240 hours from its basic training program, including half the 56 hours once spent on firearms training.

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I consider this to be very good news:  The jury has found Colin Gray, the man whose teenage son is accused of killing two students and two teachers in a shooting at Georgia’s Apalachee High School, guilty of second-degree murder and all other charges.

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To remind you that “it’s all about Trump:” Just days before the United States launched a major military operation in Iran, FBI Director Kash Patel fired a dozen agents and staff members from a counterintelligence unit tasked with monitoring threats from Iran, according to two sources familiar with the matter. They were ousted for a simple reason: Each was involved in the investigation of President Donald Trump’s alleged retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

“Alleged?”  Really?  You didn’t see the dozens of boxes of documents stacked up in a pool storeroom at Trump’s hotel/club?  A mirage, perhaps.

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From Huffpost, Tuesday:  Military Commander Tells Troops Bombing Iran Is ‘Part of God’s Divine Plan’ — One commander had a “big grin” on his face while saying Donald Trump “has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran,” a service member said.  — Never mind those “ten rules” you received.

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And yes, Jackie is back on the nest at the Big Bear Eagle cam, with two new eggs.

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I saw an ad online for what was advertised as “an adults only” beach getaway; the ad featured a family of four; yes, including two kids.

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Our Justice Dept. (read, Trump’s lawyers) now issued a policy that basically says agents can burst into any residence for almost any reason, or “no knock.”  Beware.

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My friends, what is going on in our world (the only one we will ever have) is one reason why . . .  I watch sports!

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From the Atlantic:  he United States, Israel, and their Gulf allies are using up scarce and costly munitions at an astounding rate. These losses can’t be replenished nearly quickly enough to avoid possible global repercussions, as far more formidable adversaries than Iran—Russia and China—assess the war-fighting capacity that America holds in reserve. If they conclude that the West has burned through too many interceptors to defend itself, Russia might pursue aggressive action against NATO, or China could move against Taiwan. – Great, another disaster to worry about!  This is not good for my blood pressure.

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From CBS:  Tariff refund delays could cost U.S. taxpayers $700 million a month ($23 million per day) in interest, report finds – yeah, that Trump, he’s just a “very stable genius.”  This is on top of:  The federal government is estimated to owe American businesses up to $175 billion in tariff refunds.

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Update Wednesday:  The Senate refused to even attempt to rein in Trump and his war powers.  Cowards still.  I wonder if they know how far this takes us to a president having total power to wage war, and how dangerous and unconstitutional it is. Update, the House did the same.

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This doesn’t sound good:  A record share of Americans are tapping their retirement savings accounts to cover emergency expenses, according to new data from financial services firm Vanguard.  But the economy is great, right, Donald?

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So, now Trump wants an “unconditional surrender” from Iran.  But it’s not a real “war?”  That’s what we demanded from Germany in 1945.  I think of all our “wars” and “military actions” the last time we followed the Constitution where the President asked for a declaration of war, and Congress did just that, was after Pearl Harbor in 1941.  So, lessee – after Germany and Japan did surrender unconditionally, we (and allies) occupied both countries for many years.  Are we prepared for that?

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And:  Is Cuba next? “I’m going to put Marco over there,” Trump tells CNN. Would be third targeted adversary this year. – Gee, did Putin put that country on his list for Trump to have too?  So, a reporter asked Trump about the news that Putin was helping Iran target Americans, and Trump told him it was “a stupid question,” and did not answer.  Our president.

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And recall some of Cadet Bone Spurs’ comments about our war dead:  Trump did not want to visit the graves of American soldiers buried in the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris because, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers,” The Atlantic reported.

During that same trip to France, according to the article, Trump said the 1,800 US Marines killed in the Belleau Wood were “suckers” for getting killed.

Of course, none of the Trump kids have volunteered; much like Romney’s five sons – no service.

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Of course, Trump did not go to Jesse Jackson’s funeral.  His base would hate that!

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In closing for today, I’ll just say that war is the ultimate distraction. 

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All take care,

Kevin