Unbelievably Small

Trump gets tremendous credit for doing what Obama and Kerry merely talked about, namely, doing not much. But symbolism counts and Trump has certainly given world leaders pause for reflection. From The American Interest:

Back in the real world, however, the strike was being read for what it is: a demonstration that this Administration is less reluctant to use force than the one that preceded it. And though Russia was the big power most directly challenged by the strike, Putin was perhaps not even the primary intended recipient of the message. The strikes occurred just as President Trump was having dinner with Xi Jinping of China, and, according to AFP, Trump delivered the news to Xi personally. The subtext was unmistakeable: Get serious about North Korea; our recent threats were not idle. Don Corleone himself couldn’t have set a better table.

China won't tolerate a Korea unified under Southern leadership aligned with the West. But they do have an heir to the throne handy if Trump starts to seem even more problematic than Kim Jonh Un.

Comments

[Account Deleted]

Appalled--- I get the joke! ;) Not to worry... the Troll Who Shall Remain Nameless is the only one I hush. It's like shooting fish in a barrel. :)

[Dave (in MA)]

Cripes, multiple gunshot victims at a San Berdino elementary school. Link in a sec.

[Dave (in MA)]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/multiple-gunshot-victims-reported-california-school-fire-officials/story?id=46708063

[Cecil Turner]

reports are that about 20% of Assad's air assets were put out of commission by this strike.

Didn't see that, but I'd rate it as dubious. Our BDA guys claimed about 20 aircraft destroyed, which would be
closer to 10% of Syria's inventory (though all these numbers are less than reliable, as even that souce admits). And as long as Russia is providing air support, it's a bit irrelevant anyway.

Also their radar capability in the area--has been hit.

Again, the Russians can replace and improve anything lost in a hurry. And they probably will. The refueling/repair facilities were the biggest loss. But even there, to put it in historical context, this would be considered a minor setback to the Cactus Air Force.

It clears up Trump's campaign messaging which needed to be done--ASAP

I heartily concur.

[jimmyk]

Happy Birthday, Stephanie!

The NYT was gloating about Tillerson taking a more anti-Russia stance than Trump, with swipes at Trump for being unrealistic and naive. I didn't read far enough to see whether they mentioned Hillary's reset button.

[Thomas Collins]

CH, re Levin's comments linked in your 2:07 post: A declaration of war is a legal status in international relations. The absence of a declaration of war doesn't prevent POTUS from acting under his Commander-in-Chief and Executive powers to take military action. Proposing a constitutional amendment would simply give succour to the Rand Paul wing of the GOP and the peacenick wing of the Dems, which in national security matters is not a good thing.

[Clarice Feldman]

In all the talk about the syrian strike--what happened with the much ballyhooed stuff about the Russian missile defense system and radar there?

I did see some Russian article which said those weren't at the airfield--I'm afraid I don't believe that.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2619872/

Mattis says it was 20%.

[Account Deleted]

On point: "extolling electric cars without thinking about where the electricity comes from."

And furthermore---- how much fuel gets burnt transporting cadmium for those cost-ineffective batteries back and forth to japan for processing and back to North American sites for component manufacture.

AND! Just wait for the unsustainable bill to come due when all those batteries need to be "recycled".

The other day I chopped the legs out from under a eunuch in the checkout line who was yammering about how people have it all wrong about electric cars using fossil fuels from power plants "because of Obama more power plants have switched from coal to natural gas."

My Colombo-like reply: "So let me get this straight, Olaf. Yer tellin' me that natural gas is NOT a fossil fuel?"

It was a Monty Python "Bridge of Death" moment from the look on Olaf's face and the checkout guy's snicker (Ernie the Bad Poet):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPOyOM7wxlE

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Clarice,

I have no idea. I saw a story that Russia had sold information on the system to the Israelis. I have no idea if that is true or someone making something up.

I saw another story which said they turned it off, and another which said it didn't function properly.

All of this is giving me a headache. Can't know who to believe.

[Captain Hate]

Proposing a constitutional amendment would simply give succour to the Rand Paul wing of the GOP and the peacenick wing of the Dems, which in national security matters is not a good thing.

Far be it for me to question the legal bona fides of someone who worked for SS&D but it's difficult to imagine Ol' Yeller erring on that side.

[Rae]

Again, the Russians can replace and improve anything lost in a hurry. And they probably will. The refueling/repair facilities were the biggest loss. But even there, to put it in historical context, this would be considered a minor setback to the Cactus Air Force.

***********

Ugh--true.

I was surprised about their A2/AD systems.

Are they not all they are cracked up to be--or were they not covering that area.

[Porchlight]

As far as Syria goes, though, one has to convey that one is willing to fight a war in order to avoid having to fight one.

I've been trying to express this thought elsewhere, but this is far better than any of my efforts. Thanks, sbw.

[Momto2]

Happy Birthday, Stephanie! I hope you are having a wonderful day!!!

[Captain Hate]

Flying pigs incoming:

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/washington-post-gives-susan-rice-four-pinocchios-for-claim-obama-got-syria-to-rid-itself-of-chemical-weapons/

[Account Deleted]

"I have no idea. I saw a story that Russia had sold information on the system to the Israelis. I have no idea if that is true or someone making something up.

I saw another story which said they turned it off, and another which said it didn't function properly."

And there is another story circulating that the Syrian air command didn't feed the marmots that run the generators which power the entire shootin' match.

;)

(i'm out of practice with conference calls.... There are 7 scheduled for today. Used to be able to focus on gritty tasks between sessions. But today.... I'm JOMmin out. 8 minutes before the next one.

[Clarice Feldman]

Having spent some time in Russia, my money's on it didn't work.

[Account Deleted]

And if BezosWorldNews were to give The Rat some pinocchios on this gas issues, that would be like rhinos ballet dancing.

[Old Lurker]

You've gotta keep up with the conspiracies, Clarice. Since they say Putin set it all in motion as a favor for Trump, then it only makes sense that he would just turn off his own systems so Trump could look good.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://dailycaller.com/2017/04/09/jim-mattis-was-probably-furious-and-all-you-can-talk-about-is-how-assad-is-a-great-guy/

[Rae]

Proposing a constitutional amendment would simply give succour to the Rand Paul wing of the GOP and the peacenick wing of the Dems, which in national security matters is not a good thing.
Posted by: Thomas Collins | April 10, 2017 at 02:38 PM

*******************

Nightmare fuel.

I wish Trump would tell Toyota to build their plant somewhere out of Rand Paul's "area".

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Old Lurker,

Ain't that the truth. I have had it up to my eyeballs in "false flag" or "Putin helped" theories.

It's ridiculous.

[Cecil Turner]

In all the talk about the syrian strike--what happened with the much ballyhooed stuff about the Russian missile defense system and radar there?

I've only taken a glance at it, but it appears the airfield wasn't well protected. It was far enough away from the missile systems (near Latakia, about 75 miles from the target) that they'd have line of sight issues with it even over the water . . . and virtually no chance over the terrain. The S-400 might be able to intercept a missile 200+ miles away at high altitude, but the envelope is a whole lot smaller for low-flying targets.

[henry]

Dylan Roof gets nine life sentences.

[Cecil Turner]

Are they not all they are cracked up to be--or were they not covering that area.

The latter, I think. Shayrat is an outlying field (which is what you'd expect for chem weapons storage . . . often as dangerous to the user as to the target). And the Russians unsurprisingly put the missile system in place to protect their own assets, not their allies'.

I also think they'd do better with some smaller systems (the SA-6 descendants with some new funky name I can't remember) rather than that giant long range hyper-capable S-300/400 SAM system . . . but they probably couldn't find enough skilled operators to make 'em work.

[Threadkiller]

it's difficult to imagine Ol' Yeller erring on that side

It is well documented that Levin maintains that the 14th Amendment of Constitution, as the congressional debates prove, only conveys US citizenship if the US is your SOLE allegiance at birth.

He also argues that one is eligible for POTUS if ONE of their MANY citizenships, at birth, is to the US.

Sometimes Ol' Yeller hunts, sometimes he foams..

[Jane]

Fox Biz reports that Putin knew about the Sarin attack in advance.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Jane,

That is bad.

[Jim Eagle]

CT,

Anything the Rooskies put in place for AD the Israeli's already have a counter-measure and now with Trump, "Jim" and T-Rex in place they know their cooperation is valued. Plus the Israeli's are "inside the inside" and know exactly where Assad is at all time.

Next time, he and his AF General version of Eichman tries gas again, I would say the odds are a Tommy will be programmed for his pencilled necked head.

If I remember my NBC training from about 40 years ago, the problem with gases is stability, temperature and controlled environment including casings. Could the Syrians be using because the munitions are reaching their "own goal" potential?

[Barbara]

"Having spent some time in Russia, my money's on it didn't work."

Posted by: Clarice Feldman | April 10, 2017 at 02:54 PM

That would be my best guess too, Clarice.

I remember reading about the first time one of our Shuttle craft or capsules docked with a then "Soviet" craft in space. One of our astronauts later commented that when they got their first view inside the Soviet craft, it looked like something that had been built in their garage.

Not to diminish Russian capability or technology, but I imagine that their quality control standards and procedures are not as stringent as they could be.

[lyle]

Endnote to yesterday's Masters: WSJ has a short write-up today pointing out that Ernie Els managed to finish dead last with a score 20 above par. Yikes, there, Big Easy.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/us-releases-flight-path-plane-syria-chemical-attack/story?id=46651125

[Jim Eagle]

lyle,

The Big Easy's mind isn't on golf anymore. He is really becoming the world leader in Autism. Spends more on that than golf. He show's up because he is a professional but shouldn't, if you know what I mean.

Now way Freddy can shoot +1 and Ernie +20 if that wasn't so. Els way more accomplised on the big stage than easy going, bad back Couples.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

3 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior U.S. official says U.S. has concluded that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack last week.
1 reply 2 retweets 1 like

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/04/jacka-governor-not-endorse-trump-sexual-comments-resigns-sex-scandal-former-aide/

Masks continue to be pulled off as the Trump era continues.

[Appalled]

Miss M:

I really hope that was an off the record, but authorized statement, rather than another f-ing leak.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Appalled,

Me too. We will see.

I tell you, there are days when I wish I didn't know so much.

But then I would probably not know all of the good stuff going on, either.

Gotta run get a couple of things at the store.

[Account Deleted]

Oy vey. Let the pearl clutching begin:

http://ktla.com/2017/04/07/michigan-boy-11-hangs-himself-after-girlfriend-fakes-suicide-in-alleged-social-media-prank-juvenile-charged-reports/

[Account Deleted]

Fake noodle from al-Reuters?

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-putin-tillerson-idUSKBN17C13K

[Account Deleted]

"mideast crisis".... wtf is that anyway?? Redunderheadedness.

Mideast IS crisis. Who's on first today?

[Frosty Bud]

T

[Jim Eagle]

One thing Trump has going for him is Putin is such a meglomaniac and full of himself, even more than Trump, that he will miscalculate. No one has ever challenged him. No wonder he sends aircraft within range and ships right next to ours.

He truly believes that those photos of him shirtless on horseback makes him the new Awnald. He isn't even close.

I would continue to keep the pressure on his ego. Make him make the first mistake.

[Frosty Bud]

It's amazing how many, like Trump, see arrogance as confidence...kevlar?

Full of words of self-import. Trying to fill the gaping void..the odor of shite emanating from the piehole..what goes in comes out.

[Frosty Bud]

Jack-off!!

Great minds..lol.

[DrJ]

Comment by Frosty Bud blocked.

And life is good.

[Jim Eagle]

He does keep the killfile and narcisolater active. I think he may be an investor.

[Old Lurker]

Big bucks to the person who can make KillFile work on an IP Address.

[Frosty Bud]

Drj gets royalties with every adware comment.

Kevlar? How about a little linguistic swordplay?

But it's speed-chess so you won't have time to check the Thesaurus.

[Old Lurker]

No comment required:

"WSJ's Peggy Noonan wins Pulitzer for commentary; NY Times garners three awards;"

[Jim Eagle]

Did I just see a banner that Peggy Noonan won a Pulitzer?

[Jim Eagle]

Know I am even doubting the Nobel's for science and medicine. If they are so off the mark for Peace and Literature, how come they are always spot on for the STEM areas?

I can't quibble with those but they do go shaky on Peace, don't they?

Now we have to rethink the pulitizer, since the Rome Sentinel hasn't won one yet, or has it?

[Frosty Bud]

A couple have tried it been shamed into shrinkage, but lack the integrity to admit defeat...sometimes departing the field at half-time believing victory is obvious.

Ignatz?

[Old Lurker]

Nobel shoulda stuck with gunpowder.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Old Lurker,

Surely if one can make an ad blocker, one could block IP addresses.

There would be a monetary value to it beyond this web site.

You could block on other sites which have trolls. You could even make it send a message every time your target has been blocked along with a count, like this:

"ATTENTION! Old Lurker has AGAIN blocked you for the 327th time. You can keep typing, but nothing you write will be read. Pity."

[Fat Fred's Trout Farm]

You act like it's purity of heart you want to preserve, but it's your little bubble, so fragile and delicate, it can't tolerate a discouraging word, that you protect like it was your ballsack.

Pussies Galore. ..Fear of fear itself.

[Tuna Melt]

Heh. You can't unring a bell..

[DrJ]

Comment by Fat Fred's Trout Farm blocked.

And life is good.

[DrJ]

Comment by Tuna Melt blocked.

Ditto.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://dailycaller.com/2017/04/10/prominent-democrats-call-for-anti-war-congresswoman-to-be-ousted-from-office/

This is lefty kabuki, if you ask me. Some of them want her out because they are afraid she will run for president in 2020.

I don't think they really care if she met with Assad.

[henry]

If they cared about meeting with Assad, Pelosi would get dumped.

[Account Deleted]

Dr. Savage is savaging POTUS this afternoon. That the ChiComs have put 150,000 troops on the NOKO border is a bleak harbinger for the USA.

Alleges POTUS is surrounded by "stupid people."

We'll certainly see.

Frosty Bung= latest KillFile shit eater.

[Jim Eagle]

DrJ,

Only way is TM banishment but that won't happen so you will be keystroking forever. Me? I just SOB.

[Ahi Poke]

It's a new Guinn essential entry...

16 rounds of golf in only 11 weeks.

He's beating the crap out of Obama.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://apnews.com/19772be1238e49fbb62c509a5b659b3d

More on the chemical attack. I am sorry, but this type of stuff needs an official on-the-record comment. It's also made hours before Mattis is supposed to meet with his counterpart.

[DrJ]

JiB, it is a single click. Even I can do that!

[Ahi Poke]

Wise move, kevlar. An ass-kicking was assured.

[Ahi Poke]

I got a terabyte of 'em.

[henry]

Anonymous, unauthorized... Egg?

[Thomas Collins]

I agree that Levin is not trying to help the peacenicks, CH. I just think that will be the result. Proposing the amendment will give the peacenicks more of a forum, and the talking point that the amendment wouldn't be needed if POTUS already had the power to attack without a war declaration.

[JimNorCal]

New thread

[Clarice Feldman]

OL, facepalm--what was I thinking?