Tag: terrorism

WORLDWIDE TERRORISM ON THE ASCENSION

The following blog is based on information disseminated by multiple media sources supplemented by my personal opinion where noted.

We are at war! Not with Russia. Not with China. Not with Iran. Not with any of the other “bad actor” countries prominently in the news. Actually, not with any individual country at all.

We are at war with radical Islamic terrorism, and we have been for some time. Many people trace the commencement of this war to the 9/11 attacks. I contend that the war goes back much further, all the way back to the Crusades in the 11th and 12th centuries. In any event, at the present time radical Islamic terrorism is omnipresent. Most of us are focused on the US, but as the recent attacks at Brown University and Bondi Beach in Australia illustrate the perpetrators can strike anybody, anywhere, at any time.

The definition of terrorism varies in different countries depending on their laws and legal systems. To me, however, terrorism involves violent acts or threats intended to create fear, intimidate civilians, or coerce governments for political or ideological goals.

The Global Terrorism Index, produced annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace, systematically ranks 163 countries based on the impact of terrorism, considering factors like the number of incidents, fatalities, injuries, and property damage. Based on the GTI for 2024, which utilizes data from 2023, Burkina Faso, which most people (including me) have never heard of, is the country most impacted by terrorism, accounting for a quarter of all terrorism-related deaths globally in 2023. Burkina Faso is a tiny landlocked country in West Africa, bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Ivory Coast to the southwest. It covers an area of 274,223 km. In 2024 the country had an estimated population of approximately 23 million.

The incidence and impact of terrorism have become increasingly concentrated. The epicenter of global terrorism has shifted from the Middle East to the Central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, which now accounts for over half of all global terrorism deaths. Most of the top ten affected by terrorism were located in that region. If you’re wondering, Israel was #2. The US did not make the top 10.

For the most part the sub-Saharin countries on that list live in a constant state of terrorism perpetrated by internal strife and even by the government against its own people. According to the GTI terrorism remains a serious worldwide threat. The data in the 2024 report denotes an overall increase in deaths from terrorism worldwide of 22% to a total of 8,352 in 2023, the most since 2017. Moreover, attacks are becoming more deadly. Over 90% of terrorist attacks and 98% of terrorism deaths in 2023 occurred in conflict zones, underscoring the strong link between conflict and terrorism.

For purposes of this blog, I will focus on terrorism as it relates to Western democracies. In 2023 the US accounted for 76% of terrorism-related deaths in Western democracies. By its very nature a terrorist act can occur anywhere, by any person at any time. As we have seen “soft” targets, such as a concert, a school, a place of worship, a mall, or a beach are inviting targets. Two recent attacks – at Brown University and Bondi Beach, Australia – illustrate this point. More on them below.

Most democracies, by their very nature, present a myriad of easy targets. We know that attacks are inevitable and predictable. We just don’t know where or when. For example:

  1. The US, Australia, UK, and France, among others, have sizeable Muslim populations that are disaffected, have failed to assimilate and are virulently antisemitic. The people are prone to recruitment by terrorist organizations. Many of them have carved out enclaves that are ruled by Sharia law, and even the police are loath to enter.
  2. Many countries have lax immigration policies and no or inadequate vetting. In Europe terrorists can move about easily from country to country. Thus, a terrorist entering a country with lax immigration policies can easily move to one with strict policies undetected and unimpeded.
  3. In the US due to the Biden Administration’s open border policy for the last four years as many as 18 million potential bad actors are believed to have gained entry undetected. We have no idea who they are, where they are, how many, or their intent.
  4. In many cases democratic countries’ civil rights laws and liberal politicians and policies have hampered law enforcement from acting until an attack is already in progress. Also, there is often limited funding and manpower.
  5. Many immigrants that have been vetted and approved for entry have become radicalized afterwards. Perhaps, a program of periodic vetting is needed. However, there would be restrictions emanating from a lack of sufficient funds and manpower.
  6. According to journalist Miranda Devine Australia’s lax immigration policies and strict gun laws have put them in the same boat as the US.
  7. Most governments have failed to curtail antisemitism, thus allowing it to fester. Often government officials and members of law enforcement, themselves, are antisemitic or at least indifferent. Thus, violent protesters are free to operate with impunity. The most common manifestation of this has been at various US colleges.
  8. Antisemitic-related attacks in the US, Australia and elsewhere have become common, particularly since 10/7/23. These include not just murders, rape and other violent crimes but also peaceful protests that often turn violent.
  9. Even locales that have strict gun laws are prone to violence because they hinder or prevent regular citizens from arming themselves, while perpetrators still manage to obtain weapons.
  10. In Australia politics has been a major factor. Government officials’ reluctance to identify certain people as potential terrorists for fear of being accused of bias is a problem. This was the problem regarding Bondi Beach.
  11. Like the Dem Party in Minnesota the Australian Labor Party panders to Muslims, perhaps due to the fact that they outnumber Jews 7:1 and constitute a strong and reliable voting bloc.
  12. Journalists who have dared to write about the terrorism problem have been denigrated as Islamophobic.
  13. In many cases potential terrorists are identified and placed on watch lists, because the country’s laws make it difficult to detain or deport them until they actually commit a crime. Often, persons on the Watch Lists are not monitored sufficiently due to incompetence or limited manpower.
  14. Just in the last week I became aware of four terrorist plots – (1) the shootings at Brown University, (2) the shootings at Bondi Beach, (3) a planned attack in LA that was thwarted by the FBI, and (4) Parisian officials canceling a planned NY Eve celebration due to fear of terrorist attacks by “rampaging migrant gangs.” French officials have been criticized for “giving in,” but one can argue that cancellation is better than suffering a tragic attack.
  15. The BB attack was a typical example of law enforcement incompetence. With Hanukkah approaching several Jewish leaders had warned officials that an attack of some kind was a strong possibility. In retrospect the Chanukkah by the Sea event was a tempting “soft” target and should have had better security. The perpetrators were a father and son who had suspected ties with a convicted ISIS terrorist. The Australia Daily Telegraph reported that both had traveled to an area of Southeast Asia that is a known ISIS training ground. Furthermore, supposedly the son was “known” to law enforcement and despite having “Islamic fundamentalist views” was disregarded as a “low level threat.” Somehow, between them, the pair owned six fully licensed weapons that were supposedly used for hunting. That dubious situation should have been a “red flag.” Why did they need six weapons to hunt? And did they actually hunt? Multiple witnesses and cellphone footage showed that when they commenced firing, inexplicably police in the area did not intercede for at least ten minutes while the perpetrators continued to mow down victims! That is inexplicable and unconscionable. It was only after an unarmed bystander interceded that they returned fire. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is known to be hostile to Israel and soft on antisemites. But, like a typical politician, in the wake of the BB attack, he tried to adjust his previous position by characterizing the massacre as “an act of evil, antisemitic terrorism… [adding] an attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.” Knowing his background, those comments rang hollow.
  16. To put it succinctly, the investigation of the Brown University shooting has been botched. As I write this it is nearly one week since the attack, and we have no more information than we did on Day 1. Usually by this time we know the identity of the shooter, what he looks like, his motive and his life history. Often, he would have been caught already. The press conferences have largely been attempts at “CYA” and a waste of time. The incompetence of the University and Town police has been astounding.

Conclusion

As I said at the beginning we are in a war with radical Islamic terrorism. Their oft-stated goal goes beyond the destruction of Jews and the State of Israel. Their ultimate goal is the destruction of all “non-believers” and Western civilization, itself.

The perpetrators are well organized, well-financed, relentless, and ruthless. Currently, most governments and law enforcement agencies, hampered by liberal/woke/socialist laws, policies and attitudes are ill-equipped to thwart them. Furthermore, terrorists have to be successful only once; the burden is on law enforcement to be successful every time.

As I said above the attacks, though fewer in number, have been getting more deadly. New Years Eve is in two weeks. We’d better “step up our game” quickly.

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9/11- ARE WE RIPE FOR ANOTHER ATTACK?

Today, Thursday, is September 11, a date that will always have special meaning for all Americans, indeed for all decent people worldwide. Like December 7 and November 22, September 11 is a date that will, in the words of former president FDR, “live in infamy.”

This year will mark the 24th anniversary of the horrific event. I am sorry to say that, in my view, the US is in grave danger of a replication. This view has been supported by warnings issued by a variety of officials from GOP politicians to the heads of all of our intelligence agencies such as Homeland Security, the FBI and the CIA. And yet, I have seen little or no evidence that enough is being done to prepare for it. Why? With the passage of time memories have faded, and as a nation we have grown complacent.

Every anniversary has presented the heightened danger of additional terror attacks. In addition to the many obvious high value targets, such as ground zero, Times Square, and sporting venues there are a plethora of soft targets, such as churches, schools and malls.

Inexplicably, in 2021 the Biden-Harris Administration (“BH”) opened our borders to allow anyone and everyone to enter the US. The number of illegals that entered during the BH is downright staggering. Estimates vary but the general consensus is that as many as 20 million may have entered the country illegally during the BH.

The scary truth is that no one knows the actual number due to the unknown number who entered undetected and the additional numbers of “got-aways.” Additionally, few of the illegals were vetted properly. It is logical to believe that a goodly portion of them were terrorists, criminals, drug dealers, women and child traffickers, and others who would do us harm. Even if only 1% of the illegals fall into the aforementioned categories of “bad actors,” an overly conservative estimate to be sure, that would mean there are in excess of 200,000 of them running loose in the country.

Since President Trump took office in January ICE has rounded up and deported thousands of illegals, but that is just a proverbial “drop in the bucket.” The overwhelming majority are still at large. We have no idea where they are or what they are planning. I fear it is only a matter of time until we find out.

Of all the ill-conceived and ill-advised BH policies, and there was a plethora of them, opening the border to one and all was arguably the worst. I have described this, at length, in previous blogs. Suffice to say, even absent a terrorist attack the devastating political, economic, financial and social ramifications of this policy are already being felt. If not corrected, I predict the long-term negative ramifications of this open border policy will be incalculable.

Tuesday, September 11, 2001 began as a beautiful late summer day in NYC, pleasant temperatures and a brilliant blue sky. That would soon change. At 8:46 a.m. ET, Americans’ safe and secure lives changed forever. Like Japan’s sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and the JFK assassination, undoubtedly, most everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when they first heard of the attack. At that moment, the first hijackers’ plane crashed into the north tower of the WTC. This was followed quickly by a second plane crashing into the south tower, and, later, a third one crashing into the Pentagon. Incredibly and inexplicably, by 10:28 am both towers had collapsed.

Later in the day, a fourth plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, PA. It is believed that this fourth plane was bound for a target in Washington, D.C., perhaps, the White House or the Capitol, and it would have succeeded but for the heroism of some of the passengers on board. The true story of the passengers on that flight is told in the compelling, dramatic and true tv movie The Flight That Fought Back, which is shown periodically. I strongly recommend it.

As I said, this year will mark the 24th anniversary of those horrific attacks. They resulted in just under 3,000 deaths. Most of those were workers who were trapped in their offices and consumed by fire or smoke/chemical inhalation. They could not escape because most of the stairwells were blocked.  Many victims have only been identified due to their DNA, in some cases many years later.

Compounding the tragedy was the fact that NYC’s 911 operators were not as well informed as they should have been. Thus, they were advising callers from inside the towers not to descend the stairs on their own. Some of them proceeded to the roof hoping to be rescued by helicopter. Unfortunately, helicopters could not land on the roofs due to the heat and thick smoke. Many of us who were watching on tv witnessed the awful sight of people jumping to their deaths (in some cases, actually holding hands with others for support) rather than awaiting their fates from the fire.

The horror of the attacks, themselves, was amplified by the fact that the victims were not soldiers but innocent civilians who were merely working at their jobs.  In addition to the thousands of civilians, police officers, firemen and EMS workers that were killed in the attacks, themselves, thousands more volunteer workers and even people who lived or worked in the vicinity have ended up contracting various illnesses from inhaling the many carcinogens in the air and dying subsequently, in some cases many years later. 

In the years since the attacks, the U.S. government has spent billions of dollars providing health care and compensation to tens of thousands of people who were exposed to the toxic dust that billowed over parts of Manhattan when the twin towers collapsed. More than 140,000 people are still enrolled in monitoring programs intended to identify those with health conditions that could potentially be linked to hazardous materials in the soot and debris. Health officials have estimated that there are many more who, for whatever reasons, are not enrolled in any such program.

Many of us know or know of someone, such as Jamie Testa, a close family friend, who suffered this fate.  These people were heroes. They didn’t have to be at ground zero. They volunteered to help rescue people who were trapped under the rubble, because that is what Americans do. Tragically, they paid with their lives. Even today, 24 years later, people are still contracting diseases and dying.  Horrifying as it may seem, some doctors have predicted that eventually these victims will exceed the 3,000 killed on 9/11. Thus, the tragedy of that date has never gone away completely, and to some extent, never will.

The primary illnesses are cancer, respiratory disorders, asthma, COPD and gastroesophageal reflux disorder. In addition, in the aftermath health workers noted a significant increase in anxiety, depression and PTSD. As I said, many of the above have manifested themselves years later. Even now, new cases are being presented. The number of documented cancer cases, alone, has tripled in the past few years. The physical, mental and emotional toll has been astounding. An estimated 18,000 people have contracted illnesses from the toxic dust. Moreover, there is speculation that 9/11 has caused health issues in babies whose mothers were pregnant at the time of the attacks, such as premature birth, respiratory problems, below average weight, and increased neo-natal requirements. The ramifications have been incalculable and everlasting.

This was the deadliest attack on US soil ever. By comparison, the shocking Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which, as I said, President FDR characterized as “a date that will live in infamy” resulted in “only” 2,400 deaths, and they were mostly military personnel.

Various ceremonies, vigils, memorials, and tributes are scheduled throughout the day in venues around the world. Some of the highlights:

  1. A sunrise memorial service at Point Lookout on Long Island.
  2. Various dignitaries, including VP Vance, will speak in NYC at ground zero by the two memorial pools ringed by waterfalls and parapets inscribed with the names of the dead mark the spots where the twin towers once stood.
  3. There will be a moment of silence at 8:46 am eastern daylight savings time, the exact time AA flight #11 struck the WTC. This will be followed immediately by the reading of the names of the victims. This is my personal favorite part. I find it especially poignant, particularly when some names are read by the victim’s surviving spouse or children.
  4. The “Tribute in Light” ceremony featuring two blue beams of light will last from dusk to dawn.
  5. There will be other commemorative ceremonies at the Pentagon and at Shanksville, PA to honor the passengers of flight 93.
  6. The day’s events will be telecast on many major tv channels and livestreamed on U tube.

In addition to the deaths there was significant damage to the economy of NYC and the US as a whole. The entire Wall Street area, including the financial markets, was closed until September 17. Air travel was disrupted. Americans’ psyche was severely damaged. The cleanup of the WTC area was not completed until May 2002. All in all, it took 3.1 million man-hours to clean up 1.8 million tons of debris at a cost of $750 million.  Internationally, countries were generally horrified and supportive, although some of the people in some Muslim countries, such as Iraq, were seen to be celebrating.

Fifteen of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, with the others having originated from Egypt, Lebanon and the UAE. The terrorist group, Al Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, quickly claimed responsibility. Bin Laden had declared a holy war on the US and had issued a fatwa calling for the killing of Americans. Following 9/11, bin Laden became public enemy number 1. Eventually, the US exacted revenge, hunting him down, killing him, and scattering his remains in an undisclosed area.

In the aftermath of the attacks, Americans wanted to know how our intelligence agencies had failed to anticipate them. Who had “dropped the ball?” Amid many investigations and finger-pointing it became obvious that the major factor was a failure to communicate and share intelligence and information. For example:

l. The CIA had intelligence reports that a terrorist attack was forthcoming, but it was expecting it to be in Israel, not the US.
2. The CIA knew that two known terrorists had slipped into the US.
3. The FBI had information of certain anomalies at some US flight schools.
4. The Justice Department policies advocated very limited intelligence-sharing, even with other agencies.
5. The CIA and NSA were reluctant to reveal sources of information and their methods of attaining it.
6. None of these agencies reported their information to each other or to the White House.
7. In 2004 Attorney General John Ashcroft testified to the “9/11 Commission” that the “single greatest structural cause…. was the wall that segregated or separated criminal investigators and intelligence agents.”

I hope that the coordination and information-sharing among these agencies have been enhanced since 9/11, but I have my doubts. As time has gone on, I sense that we have grown more and more complacent and the various alphabet agencies have resumed “guarding their own turf” rather than sharing intelligence and information for the greater good.

According to the Census Bureau, as of 2023 some 83 million Americans weren’t even born on 9/11/01. They did not experience the horrific events of that day. They have no firsthand knowledge of those horrific events that are now an indelible part of our country’s history. It is imperative that we keep those memories alive. In my opinion, parents should make a concerted effort to educate their children on the tragedy of 9/11, what happened, how it happened and what it means. This is especially critical, because the curricula in many schools are failing to do this. The danger is that as time passes the populace will forget, and we should never allow that to happen. Educate your kids! We must never forget!

Americans’ lives have changed considerably since 9/11. Many believe that not all of these changes are good or even necessary. For instance:

1. The US created the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate and oversee intelligence activities and security. In addition, it passed the USA Patriot Act. These agencies have improved our readiness and security but at the price of certain civil liberties. There is, and should be, a balance between security and liberty, and depending on one’s political point of view the pendulum may have swung too far, or not far enough, toward security.

2. Enhanced security at airports and train and bus terminals has made travel more complicated, time-consuming, and nerve-wracking. Some people have curtailed or ceased their travel entirely, particularly internationally.

3. Many parents are apprehensive, if not paranoid, about letting their children go outside to play or ride their bicycles in the neighborhood. Also, they accompany their children to the school or school bus stop and pick them up at the end of the day. The various terrorist attacks in schools in recent years have done little to assuage these fears and concerns. Schools have ramped up security protocols. Some have even hired armed guards. Some people have advocated arming teachers.

4. On the plus side, there has been a significant increase in patriotism and gratitude toward veterans.

In the last few years, I have noted a marked increase in anti-Americanism. This has manifested itself in riots on college campuses and in the streets. Often, these anti-American riots have been conjoined with anti-Israel/antisemitic/pro-terrorist/pro-Palestinian riots, which have grown alarmingly in frequency and intensity ever since Hamas’ attack on Israel last October 7. Furthermore, NYC is on the cusp of electing a communist and avowed antisemite as mayor.

Moreover, some people have been “down-playing” the 9/11 attacks. For example, Rep Ilham Omar, one of the notorious “Four Horsewomen of the Apocalypse,” aka “The Squad,” who has uttered many disparaging remarks about America and Americans, has summed up 9/11 as “some people did something.” Really? Is she kidding? It’s easy to write off her and others of her ilk as “kooks,” but she does have followers who place credence in what she says.

I encourage everyone to find the time to visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. It is on the site of the original WTC complex in lower Manhattan. It occupies approximately one-half of the acreage of the original complex. It features two huge waterfalls and a “survivor tree,” which symbolizes resilience and strength. Take the time to stroll around this beautiful area. Take one of the many tours. You will find them most informative. Yes, it is tragic to be reminded of the horror of that day, but, on the other hand, it is uplifting to be reminded of the heroism and resilience of many first responders and even ordinary citizens and to experience the healing that has occurred. Remember, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

CONCLUSION

As I said above the sad fact is that we as a nation have grown complacent again. We have forgotten many of the “lessons” we learned on 9/11 and in its immediate aftermath. Consequently, at the present time, we are at grave risk of a repetition. And, as bad as 9/11 was the next one could be worse, far worse. This situation has had and will continue to have incalculable political, economic, social and military consequences for our nation, none of them good.

The Trump Administration has been exploring ways by which the federal government might take control of the 9/11 memorial plaza and its underground museum, which are now run by a public charity. One possibility would be to declare the site a national monument. I think that would be a good way to keep the memory of that date alive.

Undoubtedly, many of you experienced 9/11 firsthand. Please feel free to share your experiences.

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IRAN’S COMEUPPANCE

The following is a compendium of various news reports regarding the Israel-Iran War, which, as most of us know is currently raging in the Middle East, supplemented by my own opinion sprinkled in where noted.

In my view, almost anyone who was paying attention to world events knew it was only a matter of time. It was obvious that Iran, despite its continuous denials, was developing nuclear weapons and the capacity to deliver them. Also, everyone knew that it would not hesitate to use them once it was able to do so. Iran has been very blunt with respect to its goal to destroy Israel and then wreak havoc on other countries it perceived to be enemies, including the US.

I maintain it was equally obvious that Israel would never allow Iran to possess such weaponry. Jews have already suffered through one Holocaust; they do not need another.

Israel has been at war since its founding as a nation. It knows this war is literally a fight to the death. If the US leadership were to continue in its appeasement policy, it was prepared to act alone. Once Donald Trump became president and the US expressed unwavering and unconditional support of Israel’s “no nuclear weapon for Iran” policy the die was cast. I’m surprised it waited so long to “drop the hammer,” but I suppose Trump and Netanyahu wanted to give peace a chance.

As I have written many times Trump is not wishy-washy like Joe Biden and other former US presidents. He says what he means and means what he says. He gave Iran 60 days to agree to a deal, and on the 61st day he gave Israel the go-ahead. In turn, Israel has unleashed holy hell on Iran. In just a few days Israel has destroyed much of Iran’s nuclear capacity, killed much of its leadership and nuclear scientists, virtually destroyed its air force, and has the country at its mercy.

As I said, Trump has repeatedly said he wants peace, but he is prepared for war. The US already had substantial assets in the ME region, and recently, as a show of force, it tasked another aircraft carrier group to the area due to what the US military termed “an emergent operational requirement.” As the expression goes, “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”

Messrs. Trump and Netanyahu have been working closely together to thwart Iran. In a sense they have been providing a blueprint of how to deal with a genocidal terrorist autocratic regime. Now, it appears that there is a real chance to transform the geopolitics of the ME. In due course, perhaps other Arab nations will join the “Abraham Accords” that Trump has been advocating. You may have noticed the deafening silence from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the other ME nations. They didn’t want Iran to have nuclear capacity either. No one does. No one trusts them not to use it.

Predictably, the biggest opposition has been coming from within the US from the TDS-afflicted far-left wing of the Dem Party and their allies in the media. For example, Hakeem Jeffries wants it both ways. While acknowledging that “Iran should never be allowed to become nuclear capable” he has backtracked by advocating for a “reduction in hostilities.” Doofus Tim Walz is bemoaning the fact that the US, by its unwavering support of Israel, has ceased to be a “neutral arbitrator.” Not to be outdone, Ilhan Omar has chimed in with what the NY Post termed her usual “antisemitic dog whistles.” As expected, the country’s leading Jewish politician, (Up)Chuck Schumer, has failed to express support for Israel. One of the few voices of reason among Dem leaders has been PA Senator John Fetterman who told the Jewish Insider he was “shocked by his ‘party pals’ ‘ views.” I say, he shouldn’t have been.

Iran is the very definition of a rogue nation with an unhinged leadership. It is an integral part of a rogue’s gallery of nations that includes Russia, China and North Korea. It has been the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism. Through its proxies, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, the Hootie’s and other terrorist organizations it has fomented mayhem and death throughout the ME, Europe and the US. It has attempted to assassinate President Trump at least twice, and it is reputed to have several terrorist cells active in the US. In my view, it deserves what it gets.

CONCLUSION

Clearly, Iran’s leadership, through arrogance or blind hatred, miscalculated the situation. They were used to dealing with appeasers like former presidents Biden and Obama whom they were able to “string along” with deceit and deception and who offered only tepid support for Israel. They didn’t realize that Trump is totally different from them. Their insane hatred of Israel blinded their reason, and now they will pay for it.

Now, Israel is in total control of the situation. If it chooses it could assassinate the Ayatollah, and destroy Iran’s oil fields, which would render the country leaderless and bankrupt. Trump has urged some restraint “for now.” Perhaps, he is patiently waiting for the Iranian people to rise up and displace the country’s current leadership, which is reputed to be widely unpopular. The Ayatollah could always follow in the footsteps of Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad who fled to Russia. However, Trump’s patience won’t last forever. The situation has been evolving rapidly. Stay tuned.

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IRAN’S COMEUPPANCE

What are the three words that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khomenei, and the rest of its leadership group dread more than any other? Repeat after me: it’s “drill, baby, drill.”

In 2020 Iran was on the brink of bankruptcy. The US’s fossil fuel production and exportation and Trump’s sanctions were strangling its economy. But then, the Biden Administration’s ill-advised policy of restricting US fossil fuel production coupled with relaxing sanctions and cash payments enabled Iran to flourish financially. In addition, it provided Iran with the means to finance its nuclear program and provide funding and other means of support to various terrorist groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Trump’s re-election will change all that. Iran’s leadership is cognizant of that, and therefore it is, or should be, very, very concerned. More on that below.

Trump has made no secret of his intent. He has long been a strong supporter of the US fossil fuels industry. He has been repeating his mantra of “drill, baby, drill” for months. It has become one of the cornerstones of his campaign. This will also include building new refineries, power plants, and reactors and reopening the Keystone Pipeline. In conjunction with increasing production he maintains that his policy will “slash red tape” and reverse many restrictions and regulations regarding US carbon emissions.

The US has more oil reserves than any other country, and it has the ability to become the number one producer and exporter of oil and gas. The Green New Deal advocates will squawk, but Trump’s landslide election victory has given him the power to proceed. That was his approach during his first term, and it worked as I noted above. Even more concerning to Iran is that Trump has the reputation of saying what he means and meaning what he says.

Multiple media sources have reported that Trump will initiate his fossil fuel policy within a few days of his inauguration. The people elected him for that purpose, and he will be only too eager to follow through. The likelihood is that Trump fossil fuel policy will exert maximum pressure on Iran (as well as other fossil producing countries).

According to Reuters Trump is prepared to enact a “wide-ranging energy plan” to explore and drill for oil and gas, including off the coast of the US and on federal lands, for both domestic use and export. For example, according to Bloomberg.com Trump has advised that his administration will be “ready within seconds” to do so.

Newsweek and Montana’s Livingston Enterprise reported that Mike Dunleavy, Alaska’s governor, has been urging Trump to commence exploring for fossil fuels in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This would be very controversial. The potential economic benefits would be substantial as the lands sits on an estimated 7 -12 billion barrels of oil. On the other hand, the ANWR is an ecosystem that supports some 700 species of plants and animals. Various environmental groups have long been opposed to developing this area. Their opposition has been supported by a goodly portion of Congress.

In my view Trump’s fossil fuel policy will yield various benefits:

  1. He has claimed his policies will reduce energy prices “in half within 12 months,” which, in turn, will reduce inflation. Exaggeration? Hyperbole? Perhaps, but I wouldn’t bet against it.
  2. It will exert maximum pressure on Iran (as well as other fossil producing countries) to be more flexible in their relations with the US.
  3. Trump will likely exert pressure on Iran to (1) curb its support of terrorist organizations, (2) curtail its development of a nuclear weapon, and (3) and tone down its hostility toward Israel.
  4. Similarly, Russia’s oil revenue would be reduced and with it its influence over our European allies who are presently overly dependent on Russia for their oil. Furthermore, the loss of revenue would impair its ability to fund its war with Ukraine, which might make it more amenable to negotiating a settlement.
  5. It will roll back much of the wasteful and inflationary Green New Deal. He has vowed to “rescind all unspent funds.” Despite its many flaws and wasteful provisions, the GND has many supporters even some among the GOP, so the expectation is that he will direct his staff and allies in Congress to “use a scalpel rather than a sledgehammer” in effecting cuts.
  6. Trump will likely take a hard look at electric vehicles. They have their supporters and detractors, but there is no need to make them mandatory as the Dems want to do.

CONCLUSION

Trump’s overall energy policy is supported by a clear majority of Americans. For the reasons cited above its implementation will benefit the country economically, politically, militarily, geopolitically, and security-wise. Some parts of it will be implemented on Day 1; other parts will take a few weeks or months; still other parts will take longer or may be blocked entirely. However, we can be confident that Trump will follow through to the best of his ability. He has his strong mandate. He will not be deterred.

He will make America united again. He will make America strong again. He will make America respected again. He will make America safe again. Most importantly, he will make America great again.

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SEND YOUR KID TO COLUMBIA

Attention: Parents of college-age kids. We all know that choosing the right college is critical for your child’s future. In that vein, I want to make you aware of an exciting new undergraduate program that Columbia University will begin offering next semester. This program will be the first of its kind. Your kid will have the unique opportunity to learn various skills that will prepare him/her/it/them/shem/whatever to survive and prosper in the new world.

The following courses will be offered:

  1. Protesting
  2. Flag burning
  3. Occupying a college campus
  4. Resisting authority.
  5. Mocking your parents.
  6. Hate America chants
  7. Hate Israel chants
  8. Hate Jews chants.
  9. Holocaust denying.
  10. How to conduct an intifada against non-believers.
  11. Antisemitism
  12. White privelege
  13. White suppression of Blacks, native Americans and everyone else.
  14. Alternative American history featuring how the west was REALLY won.
  15. The identity and location of “the river” and “the sea.”

In addition, your kid will have the unique opportunity to be taught, by hologram, by exciting guest lecturers such as Adolph Hitler, Pol Pott, Fidel Castro, Genghis Khan, and Muhammed. This will give them a real perspective on history and social issues.

All this for the low, cost of $90,000 a year according to Wikipedia.

And the best part. Your kid will have the opportunity to win a scholarship to study abroad in Iran where he/she/them/shem/whatever can experience the glories of life in a totalitarian regime firsthand. Kids that have expressed hatred for America and the American way of life will find this particularly rewarding. Just think how refreshing it will be to live a life unencumbered by the pesky U. S constitution and the Bill of Rights. Freedom of religion, speech and the press and the rest of the Bill of Rights is overrated anyway. Right?

Women, in particular will get the experience of a lifetime. They will get to wear their very own genuine hijab. Just be careful not to remove it in public. Violators will be subjected to fines or imprisonment or worse. According to Amnesty International women in Iran are subjected to extensive “discrimination in law and practice in relation to marriage and divorce, inheritance, child custody, nationality and international travel.” That last one means that your daughter’s trip may very well be a one-way ticket.

If he/she/them/shem/whatever is really lucky he/she/them/shem/whatever will meet the Iranian man/woman/them/shem/whatever of his/her/them/shem/whatever dreams, marry, and raise a family in Iran. Of course, it may be problematic for you to travel to see your child or the grandkids, but so what. They probably won’t want to see their imperialist, warmongering, racist grandparents anyway.

Those who opt to forego the above-described semester abroad in Iran will graduate and hit the open market with a degree from a prestigious Ivy League college. Of course, it may be problematic to find a post-graduate job with a major in terrorism, antisemitism or hate speech. Stodgy, uninformed Human Resources personnel who espouse traditional American values may not look kindly on graduates with those majors particularly if they are accompanied by vile, hateful social media posts and/or suspensions from school. See below cartoon. That could very well prove to be the proverbial “fly in the ointment” or the “monkey in the wrench” for your child’s career.

CONCLUSION

Of course, the foregoing was “tongue in cheek.” I exaggerated to prove a point. However, parents and students should be cognizant of the consequences of the actions such as we have seen in the past few weeks. I get that some students may be young and stupid and easily manipulated. But parents should be wise and experienced enough to know that actions have consequences. I maintain that one of the primary responsibilities of parents and colleges is to prepare students to succeed in the real world. I fear that many are failing to do so, which does not augur well for the next generation.

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