So, you basically describe why I have trouble with Syria. We're basically stuck there.
The First 100 days
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So, you basically describe why I have trouble with Syria. We're basically stuck there.
Joe Fan
10,000+ Posts
This ADP Report is out -- Private companies add 213,000 jobs in January, easily topping expectations
- The strong jobs growth comes even after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history.
- “The job market weathered the government shutdown well. Despite the severe disruptions, businesses continued to add aggressively to their payrolls,” says Mark Zandi of Moody’s Analytics.
I have a Jewish friend (old college buddy) who is trying to film a documentary about the Kurds who totally agrees with you. He lives in Iraq. He had a Masters in International Studies from Columbia (specializing in policy analysis). That dude has a crazy life.
The banner on his FB page says, "Free Kurdistan."
Here's one of his rants on FB (written last June):
"President Obama appeased Iran and was impotent in Iraq and Syria; major reason we are in this quagmire. Thought General heavy Trump Administration would do better. His bromance with Putin and lack of understanding of the Region has made matters worse. Ankara, Baghdad, Tehran, Moscow, and Damascus wreaking havoc in Region, and chaos helps their cause. Assad right in that West wants him gone; wrong in that they are succeeding. West is impotent in Syria. President Obama was weak; but meant well; do not yet understand Trump's philosophy. I agreed with moving Embassy to Jerusalem; but there should have been a simultaneous independent Palestine, with a Capitol in East Jerusalem; and believe that could have happened if Kurdistan was independent; most of you do not get that...sol brief explanation. Kurds most genetically linked to Jews; many Kurds relocated to Israel. Israel only Country to back Kurdish Referendum (France said they would not stand in the way). Trump tilted policy in Middle East from appeasing Iran to once again backing moderate Gulf States; they would have backed an Independent Sunni Kurdish State if we led the way. If we had backed President Barzani's referendum; and simultaneously called for an independent Kurdistan and Palestine (Capitol in East Jerusalem) and that Muslim Countries recognized Israel's right to exist; no one could have argued against. Not Israel (they were being recognized) or any Muslim Country, as all clamor for a free Palestine. Russia could not oppose for same reason. Opportunity for peace in the Region and peace goes through Hawler...and balance of power will shift to Pro-Western and anti-TERROR. Time to change the narrative."
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Is it possible that Trump is wanting to take care of the Dreamer's but not before he gets a highly publicized acknowledgment and support from the Left to shore up the border and it's just a big public negotiation because grand-standing is how DC works? Could it be that simple?
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
Revisiting a big win for Scott Walker and Trump, Foxconn's $10B investment in Wisconsin.
That giant plant is turning into an R&D campus for knowledge workers. Evidently it's not profitable to manufacture LCD panels in the US because labor is to expensive.
That giant plant is turning into an R&D campus for knowledge workers. Evidently it's not profitable to manufacture LCD panels in the US because labor is to expensive.
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
His base will never agree to "take care of dreamers" in any other way than escorting them out of the country. Any path to citizenship will be called amnesty and be spun as encouraging illegal immigration by the Coulter's of the right.
The D's won't accept anything other than a path to citizenship for Dreamers. An extension of DACA, something Trump is attempting to end, is a non-starter.
Ok, so the company lied. Three things: 1) Take away all tax incentives. Can that be done? 2) Tariffs to equalize the cheap labor? 3) What do the unions say about the wage gap problem?
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
1) Hopefully the Wisconsin incentives are tied to job creation like the Amazon deal was.
2) Equalize cheap labor? Not possible. Labor costs are largely a function of supply and a healthy economy.
3) They should be encouraging their members to skill up and become knowledge workers.
I want them to receive an achievable path to citizenship BUT want the door slammed behind them. Stop the bleeding.
I know a couple of Dreamers here in Austin. It's hard to look them in the eye and think of deporting them. They are struggling; waitressing and taking night school as they can. Lot's of problems. Car breaks down, no money. No insurance. They aren't getting over on anybody. They aren't geniuses either. All the political rhetoric is exaggerated when it comes to these people. They were dragged over by their parents who knew the law and now are pawns.
I think DACA is an executive order right? Administrative relief as opposed to a law change. I am not in favor of the President changing the law. I think it was spun as resource management (meaning a President has wiggle room on managing the law) but I believe the reality was that it was election time.
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
Yes, that's my understanding too. Essentially the EO said the federal government won't pursue deportation procedures for these individuals. Not sure if the EO opened up any other rights. The Trump Admin tried to end it but they lost a significant case in court that the SCOTUS refused to take up.
Agreed. In some way DACA is much different than "the wall". A POTUS pet issue (popular with their base) who can't get Congress to move on what they perceive as an important topic...then EO. I'm expecting Trump to take a similar move for the wall. Though I believe we need to a path to citizenship for Dreamers, I don't support the use of EO to do it nor will I support Trump's use of the National Emergency procedures to build a wall.
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
Trump didn't like hearing his intelligence chiefs support their assessment on Iran.
“We continue to assess that Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities we judge necessary to produce a nuclear device,” the assessment reads."
Sounds like Iraq Redux all over again. Look, if I was in charge of the safety of the American people I'd be losing sleep over the idea of when would it be too late to stop them. I suppose we've told all the usual suspects that we will annihilate them if one nuclear bomb is detonated on foreign soil. Of course Obama had a red line or something in the sand over chemical weapons.
It's my opinion that Iran et al (our enemies in the Islamic world) consider it their right to do whatever they want in terms of energy and national defense on their soil. I don't believe they are intending on neutralizing themselves just because we tell them too. This is all a major juggling act.
Sounds like Iraq Redux all over again. Look, if I was in charge of the safety of the American people I'd be losing sleep over the idea of when would it be too late to stop them. I suppose we've told all the usual suspects that we will annihilate them if one nuclear bomb is detonated on foreign soil. Of course Obama had a red line or something in the sand over chemical weapons.
It's my opinion that Iran et al (our enemies in the Islamic world) consider it their right to do whatever they want in terms of energy and national defense on their soil. I don't believe they are intending on neutralizing themselves just because we tell them too. This is all a major juggling act.
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
The Iran deal was not billed as permanently stopping Iran in their pursuit of any nuclear weapon, from my memory. A specific timeline was added to the deal. What it did was delay development of nuclear capabilities (w/ inspections) during the course of the deal. This assessment reinforces that the deal is working but at risk of falling apart if Iran doesn't receive the agreed upon investment from signatory parties.
My real issue is when POTUS, any POTUS, take a political stance to influence the intelligence assessments. In hindsight, we know that happened with Gulf War 2 and it is a very dangerous development.
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Israeli intelligence says something differently than ours and their intelligence is better.
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Monahorns
10,000+ Posts
ISIS has been our ally against Assad. The Obama Administration actually created them by arming the Sunni jihadists in Northern Iraq and pointing them in Syria's direction.
We aren't fighting ISIS in Syria!
Let me be clear we are in a small theater, we have been protecting Kurdish groups against ISIS. But we have also been arming ISIS and acting as their air cover elsewhere.
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
It's a relatively cheap and lower risk investment to maintain influence in a critical "power keg" of the world. I much prefer having 2k troops in support roles in Syria than 10's of thousands of troops on the front lines in other war zones.
In reality, our presence also occupies the attention of the Soviets.
So it would seem it's a garrison of sorts. It's hard to imagine that 2,000 troops can have so much impact.
Monahorns
10,000+ Posts
We created the powder keg. There wouldn't be any Syrian war and Russia wouldn't be there if the US hadn't armed ISIS to begin with.
The only collateral damage about leaving is the Kurds. Maybe some diplomacy. Plus the only Kurds that are in danger are in Turkey. The Syrian and Iraqi Kurds at this point don't have anything to fear.
Also, there are no Soviets. If there were, the Democrats would totally for whatever they were doing.
The only collateral damage about leaving is the Kurds. Maybe some diplomacy. Plus the only Kurds that are in danger are in Turkey. The Syrian and Iraqi Kurds at this point don't have anything to fear.
Also, there are no Soviets. If there were, the Democrats would totally for whatever they were doing.
Seattle Husker
10,000+ Posts
That's the beauty of the arrangement. We're acting as coordinators without putting our soldiers in serious harms way.
@bystander it's okay I’m sure Obama will go on a world tour apologizing for his failed policies.
LongestHorn
2,500+ Posts
I so wish I could pull the old posts from this board when we liberals and old intel guys were warning about the neocon intel that led to the Iraq invasion. Where do you suppose that came from? And who was warning against listening to it? Moreover, it was the NYTimes that was breaking those stories, but I guess a broken squirrel is right sometimes.
You don't think that left a mark on the IC and made them a better organization today? I do and they are. But you're all deep state, right? Is there a Corsi book you might recommend?
And if posters have read and would like to recommend/discuss an intel book that isn't the Bible, please share. By Way of Deception: The Making and Unmaking of a Mossad Officer was my first read on Israeli methods/theory. Author is a former katsa in the Mossad.
You don't think that left a mark on the IC and made them a better organization today? I do and they are. But you're all deep state, right? Is there a Corsi book you might recommend?
Like the USS Liberty, Pollard, Operation Olympic Games et al.? May I ask for a link, please?
And if posters have read and would like to recommend/discuss an intel book that isn't the Bible, please share. By Way of Deception: The Making and Unmaking of a Mossad Officer was my first read on Israeli methods/theory. Author is a former katsa in the Mossad.
I wonder why Hillary didn't know about the apparent flawed intelligence but people on this board did.
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