Random News and Notes 18 March
We start in Florida, where Hillsborough county sheriffs deputies used a grapple to stop a fleeing suspect. The incident occurred on March 14 around 7:25 p.m. near West Waters Avenue in Tampa. The deputies tried to arrest 38-year-old Danny Wilson III over a child support warrant after a stop sign violation when he fled the scene. An officer deployed the Grappler Police Bumper, which entangled his tire and tethered it to the patrol car for a quick, controlled stop.
Wilson faces charges including aggravated assault on officers, fleeing at high speed, and drug possession. And of course he says I din du nuffin. Also, child support? HAHAHAHA
There was a special election in Virginia last night to fill the delegate seat in the 98th district. Republican C. Andrew Rice defeated Dem Democrat Cheryl Smith 62.5% to 37.5%.
The district was Sears+7 in November. I typically do not put too much stock in local off-cycle elections and this one is no different. They typically aren’t the bellwethers they are made out to be.
Staying with elections, yesterday was primary day in Illinois. I only bring this up becuase that retard Ro Khanna endorsed a bunch of candidates. Every one of his endorsees in a contested race lost.
Oh well. It is Illinois, so they will elect a Dem anyway. One is as bad as another I guess.
President Trump has issued a 60 day waiver of the Jones act. The Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920) is a federal statute requiring that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried on ships that are U.S.-built, -owned, -registered, and -crewed.
. . .The waiver allows foreign-flagged vessels to transport oil, natural gas, fertilizer, coal, and other commodities between U.S. ports to ease supply chain disruptions and mitigate rising energy prices amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran and related market volatility.
The Jones Act is a nifty bit of 1920’s protectionism that has endured for 106 years.
Epic Fury News
You may see reports that euro countries like France and Spain are refusing overflight permission for US bombers involved in Operation Epic Fury. While it is likely true, the US typically does not overfly populated areas with live bomb loads.
Keep in mind, the range of US strategic bombers like the B-1 – the aircraft referenced in the post above – is effectively limitless as long as they can refuel.
More new weapons are making their combat debuts in Iran. This time it is the GBU-72 A5K a 5000lb version of the MOP bunker buster. According to CENTCOM, several were dropped on hardened missile launch sites near the Straits of Hormuz.
Todays CENTCOM update