It’s Saturday…
First things first, I need to say…
To Halodoc for taking time out her busy schedule so I could do some real life adulting yesterday…
Quick update:
So, Thursday was our annual trip to UCLA medical center for Alli’s check-up. Everything is great.
She goes back in summer, but not because of concerns; she’s switching from the ped’s heart clinic to adult care.
Afterward we went to Disney California Adventure before heading home.
It’s random thoughts Saturday…
I had a semi-plan of how this article was going to go when I started it last night, but then the Blender went down, and my train of thoughts were derailed…
Obviously, the issue(s) were resolved since…
But now it’s really Saturday; two hours before post time and I’m randomly thinking about things to discuss…again…
So, let’s start with Russia/Ukraine…
Foreign policy as I’ve mentioned a million times before today is not in my wheelhouse…
The thing is–it’s not that I can’t understand reports such as…
or…
President Vladimir Putin launched exercises by Russia’s strategic nuclear missile forces on Saturday and Washington said Russian troops massed near Ukraine’s border were moving forward and “poised to strike”.
[Snip]
Russia ordered the military build-up while demanding NATO prevent Ukraine ever joining the alliance but says Western predictions it is planning to invade Ukraine are wrong and dangerous. It says it is now pulling back. Washington and allies say the build-up is mounting.
Reuters. 02/19/2022.
Russian-backed separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine declared a full military mobilisation after ordering women and children to evacuate to Russia, citing the threat of an imminent attack by Ukrainian forces.
Kyiv denied the accusation. It and Western leaders say the mobilisation, evacuation and increased shelling across the ceasefire line this week are part of a Russian plan to create a pretext for an invasion of Ukraine.
The issue lies for me as to who and who isn’t good sources for deeper dives or loose fact-checks of the information.
I’m not saying they lie, I’m saying if they do; I’m not sure I’d notice the lie…
So my coverage of things from a foreign policy stand-point seems shallow to me…
But let’s give it a tiny whirl…
Early this morning my time happening in Munich, Germany was the Munich Security Conference. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was advised not to attend the Conference for fear that Russia would take that opportunity to escalate the already tense situation at the border of Ukraine.
Now according to Christopher Miller of BuzzFeed News; his bio on Twitter says: Correspondent @BuzzFeedNews covering nat sec, extremism. Spent 11 years in Ukraine & East Europe. DM for Signal or send tips to: christopher.miller@buzzfeed.com
Zelensky (as he spells it, but from what Google says it’s Zelenskyy) said:
Zelensky says "the security architecture in Europe is broken. It’s time for a new one."
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 19, 2022
He says of the current Russia threat, "This isn't about war in Ukraine. This is about war in Europe."
On NATO: "We are told the doors are open but that we are not allowed."
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 19, 2022
Zelensky says after years of dodging the question it's time for an answer as to whether Ukraine can be welcomed in NATO.
Zelensky mentions the escalation in the Donbas and massive shelling there in recent days, which I heard myself on the frontline in Mariinka yesterday.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 19, 2022
Zelensky says we are ready to look for the keys to end the war in any format of negotiations. It doesn't matter where in the world we will agree on peace to end war in Ukraine. What is important is the understanding that it's not only us who needs peace, world needs peace.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 19, 2022
Zelensky on US intel vs Ukrainian: The intel I trust is mine. I trust Ukrainians who understand what's going on in our borders. We're not living in delusion, we understand what can happen. But putting ourselves in coffins & waiting for Russian troop is now what we're going to do.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 19, 2022
Zelensky continued: We aren't going to live in a state of expecting war tomorrow. How can we live if we think everyday the offensive will happen?
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 19, 2022
Zelensky the comic comes back out for a moment. "Wait a second. Cyberattack," he says as his translation piece drops out. "See the Russians are here," he says. A few chuckles from the audience.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 19, 2022
Clarifying Zelensky's quip: "The Russians are not here but they're here."
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 19, 2022
Zelensky asked if was afraid to come to Munich. "No," he says. "I'm sure our country is in good hands. These are not just my hands, these are the hands of my soldiers and citizens."
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 19, 2022
"I had breakfast in Ukraine and I'll have dinner in Ukraine, as well."
Vice President Kamala Harris also offered remarks.
Found via the Owl what seems to be a pretty basic background on the Russia/Ukraine conflict…
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT):
I found this via FRANCE 24 English YouTube…
Vice President Harris remarks come via the White House YouTube…
And that’s pretty much what I found today…
Moving back into my comfort zone…
Yesterday, the National Archivist confirmed early reports that they did indeed find classified information among the 15 boxes returned to them by Twice Impeached 45…
The letter was sent in response to Rep., Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) Chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee’s letter dated February 9th, 2022…
It was posted to the Oversight.House.gov website on February 10th, 2022…
Three points of interest from David Ferriero U.S. Archivist’s letter:
4. Are the contents of the boxes of records recovered by NARA undergoing a review to determine if they contain classified information? If so, who is conducting that review and has any classified information been found?
Answer: NARA has identified items marked as classified national security information within the boxes.
7. Has the Archivist notified the Attorney General that former President Trump removed presidential records from the White House? If not, why not?
Answer: Because NARA identified classified information in the boxes, NARA staff has been in communication with the Department of Justice.
8. Is NARA aware of presidential records that President Trump destroyed or attempted to destroy without the approval of NARA? If so, please provide a detailed description of such records, the actions taken by President Trump to destroy or attempt to destroy them, and any actions NARA has taken to recover or preserve these documents.
Answer: In June 2018, NARA learned from a press report in Politico that textual Presidential records were being torn up by former President Trump and that White House staff were attempting to tape them back together. NARA sent a letter to the Deputy Counsel to the President asking for information about the extent of the problem and how it is being addressed. The White House Counsel’s Office indicated that they would address the matter. After the end of the Trump Administration, NARA learned that additional paper records that had been torn up by former President Trump were included in the records transferred to us. Although White House staff during the Trump Administration recovered and taped together some of the torn-up records, a number of other torn-up records that were transferred had not been reconstructed by the White House.
Archives.gov. 02/18/2022.
As always it seems the asshole had to confess that yeah, he had classified Intel but so what, he had the right or something…
anyone but “Trump,” there would be no story here. Instead, the Democrats are in search of their next Scam. The Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax turned out to be a Democrat inspired fake story to help Crooked Hillary Clinton. Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax #2, and so much more,
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) February 19, 2022
*flashback*
ABC News: *Posted January 6th, 2006 but says February 8th, 2001:
Former President Clinton and his wife, Sen.Hillary Rodham Clinton, have sent $28,000 worth of household goods back to Washington after questions arose over whether the items were intended as personal gifts or donations to the White House.
“We have been informed that it is being shipped back, and the National Park Service is ready to receive it, take possession of it and take custody of it,” Jim McDaniel, the National Park Service’s liaison to the White House, said Wednesday.
“The property is being returned to government custody until such time that the issues can be resolved. It may well turn out that that property is rightly the personal property of the Clintons.”
ABC News.
*Guessing it was a reissued article as other media sources reported it was 2001 as well*
has all been a Hoax. The Fake News is making it seem like me, as the President of the United States, was working in a filing room. No, I was busy destroying ISIS, building the greatest economy America had ever seen, brokering Peace deals, making sure Russia didn’t attack Ukraine,
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) February 19, 2022
making sure China didn’t take over Taiwan, making sure there was no inflation, creating an energy independent country, rebuilding our military and law enforcement, saving our Second Amendment, protecting our Border, and cutting taxes. Now, Russia is invading Ukraine, our economy
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) February 19, 2022
is being destroyed, our Border is once again overrun, and the mandate continues. Instead of focusing on America, the media just wants to talk about their plan to “get” Trump. The people won’t stand for it any longer!”
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) February 19, 2022
I’ll have more on the above…
This is my personal point of interest from the letter, which doesn’t mean I don’t take issue with the three main points, it’s just this one is a personal trigger…
5. Is NARA aware of any additional presidential records from the Trump Administration that may be missing or not yet in NARA’s possession?
Answer: NARA has identified certain social media records that were not captured and preserved by the Trump Administration. NARA has also learned that some White House staff conducted official business using non-official electronic messaging accounts that were not copied or forwarded into their official electronic messaging accounts, as required by section 2209 of the PRA. NARA has already obtained or is in the process of obtaining some of those records.
Archives.gov. 02/18/2022.
This is the point where I say; I told you fucking so, TOS….
That’s right; in 2017, I hammered story after story before we had our own sandbox to play in that Twice Impeached 45’s bullshit tweets mattered. That son-in-law Jared “could play Damien in a remake of The Omen” Kushner using WhatsApp to conduct government business was a terrible no good idea…
That if it mattered to them about her damn emails (as it should) then they should hold the President of the U.S., to the same if not higher fucking standard than her…
I was told I was just mad she didn’t win…
I was told I had no idea what I was talking about and shouldn’t worry my cat lady head over social media shit posting…
Well…
This is an Open Thread.
