Random News and Notes 11 July
On this date in 1776, the Continental Congress selects Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut and Robert R. Livingston of New York to draft a declaration of independence. They have come to be known as the Committee of Five.
The revolutionary treatise began with reverberating prose:
“When, in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the Causes which impel them to the Separation.
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.“
The annual congressional baseball game was held last night. Republicans extended their winning streak to six straight with an 11-2 victory over Democrats at Nationals Park, drawing over 30,000 fans and raising a record $3.2 million for charities like the Boys & Girls Clubs and U.S. Capitol Police Memorial Fund. Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt took MVP honors for his third-inning diving grab that robbed extra bases, plus two hits and two walks.
Florida Rep. Greg Steube pitched a complete game. House GOP leader Steve Scalise led off the lineup after surviving a 2017 shooting at a practice for that year’s game.
President Trump has announced (warned? tipped off?) Iran will be attacked every day they do not sign a deal.
Frankly, as someone who watches that region closer than most, I will tell you right now that there will be no deal with Iran. The Ayatollahs might agree to something but there will be no effective enforcement mechanism. Worse, in two years when Trump is out of office, they will do whatever they want anyway.
The only way there is any durable deal is if the death cult is removed from power in Iran.
I also have an issue with the things Trump said about the Kurds. He said that weapons intended for the Iranians were given to the Kurds but the Kurds kept them.
“We actually sent them weapons and we were very disappointed by the Kurds, to be honest with you. The Kurds let us down… I think they kept them for themselves. I think it’s a disgrace. But I’ll remember that, Kurds, I’ll remember that.”
The problem is the claims are mostly false.
I have deep contacts across Kurdistan from my time working for the KRG. I asked my contacts – people who would know – about this when he said the same things a few months ago. They all said it didn’t happen.
In fact when you look deeply into these claims you find that there was a plan to use the Kurds to smuggle arms to the Iranians, but it never happened. Why? Because Erdogan in Turkey, who hates the Kurds, objected.
In more Iran related news, President Trump said there were plans on the table to take Kharg Island. For those who don’t know, Kharg is the primary oil terminal for Iran.
I’m not sure that is a good idea. The blockade seems to be working, and all that there is on Kharg are industrial sites and oil facilities. Oh. and a bunch of IRGC loyalists in an extensive tunnel system.
There is a lockdown and evacuation occurring at the Pentagon as this is being written. Building systems detected an air quality problem, prompting the Pentagon Force Protection Agency to lock down corridors 4 through 7 on floors 2 through 5 in the A-rings and issue shelter-in-place orders.
Arlington County Fire & EMS joined PFPA’s hazmat team on site, with response efforts centered in the courtyard. This is still an active and ongoing situation and we will be updating as needed.